It's All About FOOD

Mandarin Pom Cranberry Sauce

2011-11-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

Yay! Cranberry time! This years berries are spin on last years. Celebrating tomorrow with part of the family and then work like mad and then off to the desert for Turkey day and dust and cold climates.

Mandarin Pom Cranberry Sauce

12 oz bag of cranberries
3/4 cup white sugar
a shake cinnamon
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
1/4 cup Cointreu
1 28 oz can mandarin oranges drained
1 cup dried cranberries

In a saucepan combine berries, sugar, juice, and liquer. On medium heat simmer untilthe bearries burst and the sugar dissolves. Approxiamately 20-25 minutes. Add the mandarin oranges and dried cranberries the last 5-10 minutes. Let cool before serving. Best to refrigerate overnight so the flavors can mix perfectly. Serve in a fancy dish along your turkey and other fixins. Enjoy!

Cookies and Cream Fudge

2010-12-16T00:56:00.000-08:00

Cookies and Cream White Chocolate Fudge

Candy making is part of holiday baking too. Don't be afraid to try candy making. There are many recipes and ingredient combinations to explore. Oh sugar, honey honey...

1 7 Oz. Jar Marshmallow Creme
1 tsp Almond Extract
12 oz bag White Chocolate Chips

Put these ingrediants in a large mixing bowl.

One stick butter
2 1/2 cups sugar
5 Oz. Lowfat 2% Evaporated milk

Chopped Oreo Cookies

In a large saucepan, combine 1 tsp butter, sugar and E. milk. Set remaining butter aside. Bring to a boil on medium heat until candy thermometer reads 233 degrees F. Stir continuously. Once the thermometer reads 233 degrees F, add the remaining butter and stir. Bring the mixture back to a boil and stir continuously. Once bubbled up, take off heat and carefully pour mixture into your large bowl of marshmallow, chips and almond extract. Stir until all chips are melted and the mixture becomes a smooth and combined snowy white mixture.

Pour half of the white chocolate fudge mixture into a lightly greased 8 x 8 square pan. Level fudge out with a spoon and let sit for a minute or two. Sprinkle Oreo cookies pieces on top of fudge. Using the palm of your hand or finger tip lightly press the cookie pieces into the top surface of the fudge. Pour remaining mixture on the top of the cookie pieces. Level again to make sure cookies pieces are covered. So the cream filled middles of the cookies don't melt put fudge in the freezer for about ten minutes. Remove from freezer and set on counter and allow fudge to set. Once cooled, cut and put in bags for gifting.

Captain-Cranberry Pom-Mandarin Compote

2010-11-20T14:10:00.001-08:00

Where do the days go. Could it possibly be holiday time? As a kid it seemed like an eternity until the holidays. As an adult one day it's May then you blink and it's November. I love the holiday time, I just wish I would take more time out to enjoy it. This time of year is always so crazy trying to figure out scheduling and balancing time between three families. Splitting the holidays makes you nuts!!! First holiday to tackle... THANKSGIVING! It's my first married Thanksgiving! I will be home cooking for a small group and he will be in the desert. I want to have a home cooked meal with the family, and he wants to be out in the desert making folks eat his dust! It works.

Captain-Cranberry Pom-Mandarin Compote

1 12 oz bag of Cranberries
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup POM pure pomegranate juice
a shake cinnamon
1/4 cup Captain Morgan Rum or Bacardi 'O' Orange rum
2 cans Mandarin oranges, with the juice drained

In a saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, pom juice and the Captain Morgan. On medium heat simmer the berries and liquids, until the cranberries burst and the sauce becomes a bit thick approximately 20-25 minutes. Add the mandarins the last 5-10 minutes. Let cool before serving. Best if made the day ahead so flavors can meld. Refrigerate and serve in a fancy compote dish on your holiday table.

Sloppy Joes

2010-08-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

Sloppy Joes. Stirs up a few memories. My Mom would make them periodically. She'd use a little mustard, ketchup and if she felt fancy a little brown sugar. She'd even squirt the ketchup and mustard in a happy face. (:

Crockpot Sloppy Joes

1 1/2 pounds Lean Ground beef browned halfway seasoned with Lawrys Garlic Salt
1 can tomato paste
1 can Rotel Original
1 packet Onion Soup
1 can diced tomatos chili ready
Hamburger buns

Optional...
Cheddar, Monterey, Muenster, Pepper Jack Slices
Dill pickle slices

Combine above ingredients (minus buns, cheese and pickles) in your crockpot. Stir, set the time and do what ya need to do. Serve on hamburger buns with a slice of cheese and some sliced dill pickles. Enjoy!

A Couple Days Late Posted, But Worth The Wait

2010-06-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads!!! I made this recipe for all the Dad's in the family on Sunday morning. Most of the Dad's I know LOVE peanut butter and chocolate. Below you will find a simple recipe to make something truly delectable!

#1 DAD Peanut Butter Balls

1 1/4 cup Skippy Natural Peanut Butter
1 cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies
12 ounces Plymoth Pantry Chocolate Candy Coating

In a large bowl combine graham crumbs, powdered sugar and peanut butter. Stir. Add Rice Krispies by 1/2 cup increments and stir until all combined. Refrigerate for one full hour. Shape peanut butter mixture into balls using a level tablespoon. Melt Chocolate Candy Coating as directed on the package. Dip each ball in chocolate until covered. Rest on waxed paper or parchement for about 20 minutes or until chocolate is set. During the summer months I store the PBB's in the 'frige. Store in an airtight container. Gift and watch the smile on your Dad's face. (:

Quick and Cheap Faux Mochas

2010-04-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

In a previous post I wrote about Faux Mochas for camping. I write today for the everyday. The affordable tasty Java fix. To be truly honest these Faux Mochas Quick and Cheap are delicious and making this at home saves me about 4 bucks. The ingredients are simple.

It's a beautiful thing, no line to wait in and money stays in your pocket.

Quick and Cheap Faux Mochas

Trader Joe's 100% Columbian Instant Coffee ($3 to $4 at your Local Trader Joe's)
Packets of Nestle or Swiss Miss or whichever brand you prefer of Hot Chocolate (The Manufacturers are getting fancy these days I picked up Caramel Mocha and Dark Chocolate)
Hot Water or Hot Low Fat Milk
Low Fat Whipped Cream

In your coffee cup heat approxiamately 8 ounces water or Milk. Add hot chocolate packet and stir. Then add one tablespoon TJ's Instant Columbian Coffee. Stir again. Top with a little Whip cream if you would like and wha-la Faux Mocha.

Corned Beef aka Mustard Meat 28413

2010-03-15T18:21:00.001-07:00

Rob grew up with corned beef, I did not. Twelve years ago I was introduced to the ever so salty dark rosy pink meat. My first experience was pretty good. Each time I have had it since I have a greater appreciation for corned beef. With St. Patrick's Day in two days, I decided to post a recipe. My trusty crockpot will yet again supply sustenance for yet another meal.

Crockpot Mustard Meat 28413

One 1 1/2 to 2 pound corned beef
six-eight red potatoes cleaned
One onion sliced in six wedges
One twelve ounce Bud Light or beer of your choice
A few shakes Lawry's Garlic Salt
A few shakes dry ground mustard
One head of cabbage quartered

Sprinkle seasoning on the bottom of crock. Add meat, if the corned beef had a seasoning packet use it. Line the sides of meat with potatoes and onion wedges. Sprinkle a little more seasoning on that. Pour beer over and around the sides of the meat. Lay the quartered cabbage pieces on top of that and put the lid on the crock. Set the temperature to low and cook for six to eight hours. When ready to serve remove the meat from crock and allow it to cool on the cutting board for 10-15 minutes. Slice the meat and serve with a potato or two and some cabbage. Dip pieces of meat in mustard. Enjoy!

If there is leftover meat use it for sandwiches.

Crockpot Chicken Asparagus Macaroni

2010-03-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to go out to dinner. There is something so nice about, someone else's kitchen getting messed up and someone else getting to do the dishes. However, a home cooked meal is safe and can be healthy. Safe because you control what goes into it and how it is prepared. Healthy because you can can make it lower in fat and you choose the quality of your ingredients.

Crockpot Chicken Asparagus Macaroni

2 10 3/4 ounce cans Campbell's 98 percent Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup
8 ounces Light Sour Cream
8 ounces low fat milk
A few shakes Lawry's Garlic Salt
A few shakes ground red pepper
1/2 tsp ground mustard seed
2 cups cooked and diced chicken (breast or thigh meat)
1 cup cooked asparagus
1/2 cup diced red, green and yellow bell pepper
3 green onions diced
1 16 ounce bag of large elbow macaroni
1 cup mozzarella
2 cups cheddar cheese

Spray your crockpot bowl with oil. Combine soup, sour cream and milk in the crockpot bowl. Add seasonings, stir and set aside. Boil the macaroni for six minutes. Drain and set aside. Add chicken and vegetables to the soup mixture. Now add hot macaroni and stir. Add Cheeses and stir. Put the lid on the crockpot and set the temp to high. Cook in the crockpot for tow hours. Serve Crockpot Chicken Asparagus Macaroni with a healthy lettuce salad.

Crock Pot Meatloaf

2010-03-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

I work long days, 4 days a week. There is something so nice about coming home from work to find dinner has been made. The crock pot insures that I can have this luxury. Yesterday morning I ran some errands and picked up some ground beef. Not sure what I was going to put in the crock pot. It was cold outside with a chance of rain and Meatloaf popped in my head.

Crock pot Meatloaf

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 egg
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
a few shakes Lawry's Garlic Salt
a couple shakes ground red pepper
1 tsp Cajun spice seasoning
2 diced green onions
1 cup crushed seasoned croutons

3 Potatoes cut in thirds
1 cup carrot pieces

Mix the above ingredients together and shape meat into a loaf. Place in the bottom middle of the crock pot. Add potatoes and carrots to the side of loaf. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

You can glaze the top of meatloaf with a mix of ketchup or barbecue sauce mixed with brown sugar if you would like for 15 minutes with the crock pot set on high.

Meyer Lemon Agave Margarita

2010-02-07T12:30:00.000-08:00

One of my dear friends is Celiac. She is trying to live gluten free and as sugar free as possible. When she indulges in a cocktail it is often hard to find mixers that are low in sugar and ones that contain no gluten. Over the years I have tried different natural sweeteners and combinations of fresh lemon and lime juices to make the perfect Gluten and sugar free Margarita. Today, I think I might have done it!!!

And thanks to my Dad, we have fresh off the tree Meyer Lemons!!!

Meyer Lemon Agave Margarita

2 large Meyer Lemons (one sliced and the other quartered, seeds removed)
2 small 16.9 oz bottles of water
1/4 cup Agave Syrup
1/2 cup Triple Sec
1/2 cup White Tequila (I like Sauza)

In a pitcher, drop in the slices of lemon. Pour one bottle of water over lemon slices. Pour half of the second bottle of water into the pitcher. Pour agave sryup into the half bottle of water. Shake and then pour that into the pitcher. Add triple sec and tequila. Stir. Squeeze quartered lemons into the mixture.

Serve over ice or blend with ice. Either way drink responsibly!

Twisted Overnight Casserole

2010-01-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

When I started this blog a couple years ago, my first post was in January and it featured casseroles. My Grandma John's Overnight Casserole. Below you will find a twist on GJ's Casserole.

Twisted Overnight Casserole

2 cups Rotelle Pasta
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can Cream of Celery Soup
One and a half soup cans of Low fat milk
2 teaspoons pimento
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon dried chives
1 tablespoon minced onion
A few shakes Lawry's Garlic Salt
a couple shakes ground red pepper
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
2 cooked chicken breasts shredded

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese to top casserole and
1/2 cup buttered bread crumbs, crushed croutons, buttered cornflakes or smashed up cheese it. Use to top casserole the last 15-20 minutes of cooking time.

Combine soups, milk, pimentos, seasoning and cheeses in a medium bowl and stir. Add pasta and stir. Spray the bottom of a medium/large casserole dish with no stick cooking oil spray. Layer some pieces of chicken on the bottom. Spoon some of the soup mixture over chicken. Layer more chicken and then soup until all ingredients are used up.

Refrigerate overnight! Take out when ready to cook. Bake at 375 degrees F for an hour or until casserole is bubbly and cheese topping is melted.

Crispy Chewy Chocolate Powdered Sugar Cookies

2009-12-10T09:43:00.001-08:00

I have been on a mission to find a recipe for these cookies a certain bakery on Ventura Blvd makes. No such luck. When I try to recreate them, they turn out funky. So after many tries... this recipe is not at all like them but an excellent substitute. These turn out similar to the Chocolate Crackle Cookie variety.

Crispy Chewy Chocolate Powdered Sugar Cookies

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

1 box Brownie mix, milk or dark chocolate (whatever you prefer)
1 cup flour
a few shakes cinnamon

In your mixing bowl combine dry ingredients and mix. Then add the following wet ingredients. Mixing after each addition.

1/2 cup water or milk
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 bag chocolate chips
1/4 cup coconut flakes (optional)
1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Powdered sugar

The dough will be sticky using a teaspoon drop spoonfulls of dough into powdered sugar. Roll until dough ball is covered in powdered sugar. Place cookie on parchment covered cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until edges are set. Edges should be a bit crispy and centers chewy and browine like.

I took these to work and no one complained!

What To Do With Hot Dogs and Hot Dog Buns Leftover From Camping

2009-11-30T14:18:00.001-08:00

Rob did the shopping for the Thanksgiving Weekend Camp Trip to California City. He always buys loads of hot dogs in many varieties and loads of Hot dog buns. We always come home with lots of hot dogs and lots of buns. So, below is a list of uses for such leftovers.

Uses for Hot Dogs

1. Chop hot dogs and make hot dog soup
2. Slice hot dogs and use in place of pepperoni on a pizza (Thanks, Mom!)
3. Fry sliced hot dogs or hot links and use as an appetizer served on a tray with mustard
4. Freeze them, for later use.
5. Using chopped hot dogs and hot dog buns make dressing! (Recipe to follow)

Uses for Hot Dog Buns

1. Make garlic cheese buns!
2. Use instead or hamburger buns for sloppy joes!
3. Use as the bread in bread pudding!
4. Chop and use to make croutons!
5. Use along with chopped hot dogs and make dressing!

Mint Fudge

2009-11-14T12:52:00.001-08:00

Starbucks has their Peppermint Mocha. Baskin Robbins has Mint 'n Chip Ice Cream. I have my Mint Chip Fudge.

Mint Chip Fudge

1 7 Oz. Jar Marshmallow Creme
1 tsp Vanilla
12 oz bag Guittard Green Mint Chips

Put these ingrediants in a large mixing bowl.

One stick butter
2 1/2 cups sugar
5 Oz. Lowfat 2% Evaporated milk

Mini Chocolate chips (frozen)

In a large saucepan, combine 1 tsp butter, sugar and E. milk. Set remaining butter aside. Bring to a boil on medium heat until candy thermometer reads 233 degrees F. Stir continuously. Once the thermometer reads 233 degrees F, add the remaining butter and stir. Bring the mixture back to a boil and stir continuously. Once bubbled up, take off heat and carefully pour mixture into your large bowl of marshmallow, chips and vanilla. Stir until all chips are melted and the mixture becomes a lovely light shade of mint green.

Pour into a lightly greased 8 x 8 square pan. Level fudge out with a spoon and let sit for a minute or two. Sprinkle frozen chocolate chips on top of fudge. Using the palm of your hand, lightly press the mini chips into the top surface of the fudge. So the mini chocolate chips don't melt put fudge in the freezer for about ten minutes. Remove from freezer and set on counter and allow fudge to set. Once cooled, cut and put in bags for gifting.

Pecan or Walnut Bars

2009-11-01T07:54:00.000-08:00

Any time is a good time for sweets! I am not so much the fan of walnuts, but as an adult I have acquired the taste for Pecans. Add them to cookies, Great. Make a crust out of them for cheesecake, Delish!

For these bars you can use Pecans or Walnuts. Both would be tasty in these bars. You could even do both!

Pecan Or Walnut Bars

For the Crust

2 cups flour
1/3 cup white sugar
1/8 tsp salt
a couple shakes cinnamon
2/3 cup salted butter

For the Pecan or Walnut Part

3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tbs. melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs, white thingies removed
2 cups pecan or walnut pieces

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the crust ingredients until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Pat the crust into a greased 13x9" pan or into smaller pans or greased mini muffin tins. Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown. While the crust is baking mix sugars, butter, vanilla and eggs. Once well combined, fold in the nuts. Pour over warm crust and bake for 30 minutes.

Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes

2009-10-21T22:06:00.000-07:00

Yams, sweet potatoes... whatever you want to call them. I am NOT a fan. Never have been. The thought of a potato being sweet, eww. My Mom never made the Sweet Potato Casserole with brown sugar and spice topped with mini marshmallows. As a wee youngster I remember listening and watching Oaklahoma! wondering why in the heck would anyone make a pie out of potatoes and sweet ones? Ga-Ross!

In my previous post I made a tri tip roast in the crockpot with beer. It was one of the best crockpot meals I have had in a LONG time. Robby even truly enjoyed. Maybe because it cooked in Bud Light all day, and included Meat and Taters. Anyway, he said he did not want any of the yams on his plate. I certainly didn't either, until I tasted one little bit of it on a fork. The taste was amazing. The sweet potates were not sweet. Instead they were savory and garlicy and beefy. They were awesome. I was then inspired to mash them. And mash them I did and I actually enjoyed them tremendously!!!

If I were to make the Yams/Sweet Potatoes again, this is what I would do.

Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes
makes 6 servings

3 yams or sweet potatoes (each chopped in 3 or 4 pieces)
Water to cover potates
3 tbs beef base
1 tbs minced garlic
1 tsp italian seasonings
1/2 tsp Lawry's seasoning salt
a few good shakes ground red pepper
1 can Bud Light beer
1/4 cup butter in slabs

Boil potatoes in beef broth and Bud Light with Italian Seasonings and garlic, over high heat until potato chunks are fork tender. Remove potato pieces from pot. Place in your mixing bowl. Mix until blended adding a slab of butter and mixing a bit after each addition. Add a little of the broth to make the mashed consistancy to your liking. Sprinkle a little salt and red pepper over mashed taters and mix again. Enjoy!

You are Welcome!

Drunken Crockpot Tri Tip Roast

2009-10-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

At Ralphs, I found a nice little tri tip. The price was right, I bought it. Tonight we will dine on a meal cooked in the Crockpot.

Drunken Crockpot Tri Tip Roast

One 1 1/2 pound Tri Tip
3 Red Potatoes
2 Butter White Potatoes
1 Yam cut in thirds or quartered
2 Carrots, cut into 2 inch chunks
Italian Seasoning
Lawrys Seasoning Salt
Ground Red Pepper
1/2 Cup Water
1 Tbs. Beef Base
1/2 tsp. Minced Garlic
1 12 oz. can Bud Light beer

Season the bottom of crockpot with the seasonings. Place Tri Tip on top of seasoned bottom. Sprinkle the top with seasonings. Place potatoes and yam pieces over meat. Place carrots around potatoes and over meat. Sprinkle the tops with Italian Seasonings. In a small bowl mix water, beef base and garlic. Microwave for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and stir. Pour beer in the bowl, stir again. Pour Beef and Beer mixture over the contents of crockpot. Depending on when you are serving your meal, put the cover on the pot and set on high for 4-6 hours of low 6-8 hours.

Serve the Meat and Potatoes to your Man with Buttered Wheat toast and a Bud Light!

My List From Popper

2009-10-17T22:22:00.001-07:00

Popper was Robby's Maternal Grandfather. What a guy! We think of him often and miss him dearly. He was one in a million. One of the most intelligent and wise men ever. He could have written the questions to at least 4 Trivial Pursuit games without having to do any research.

Memories of Popper often revolve around food. I found a special paper this week, on it a list, dictated to me by our beloved Popper from many years ago. The note paper has little angels on it and reads...

Some days, the only place to go is UP!
Until Heaven is ready, I'll just send a note.

This list has all of the things any good Italian Family would need in their refrigerator or home.

Bottles and Packages of things

Genoa Salami
Hot ham (has red pepper edges)
Proscuitini (has black pepper edges)
Sliced Provolone
Wedges of sharp cheese
Salamette (regular)
Pepperoni
black olives
greek olives
breads and rolls
regular italian provolone
Pecorino (sheep) Parmesan Cheese (at least 3 pounds)
wine

He also told me the best places to by these items.

Monte Carlo in Burbank on Magnolia
Romano's in the Valley

Crispy Faux Fried Chicken Nuggets Or Strips

2009-10-08T21:18:00.000-07:00

A day ago, I took some chicken out of the freezer. I thawed it in the fridge a day. It was still frozen. So I bathed it in a bath of buttermilk and some spices and created something wonderful.

Crispy Faux Fried Chicken Nuggets or Strips

Chicken breast (boneless and skinless) cut into bite size pieces
buttermilk
Lawrys Seasoning salt
ground red pepper

Panko Bread crumbs or crushed crackers
salt and pepper

Put your chicken pieces in a bowl. Sprinkle chicken with the seasonings. Pour enough buttermilk to cover and stir until pieces are bathing in the milk. Cover and put bowl in the refrigerator overnight.

When ready to cook your Crispy Faux Fried Chicken Nuggets or Strips. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Remove chicken from the fridge. On a plate pour a mound of Panko Bread crumbs or crushed crackers. Use a fork and remove a piece of chicken from the buttermilk bath. Coat both sides of chicken in crumbs and place on a baking sheet. Do this to all of your chicken pieces, adding more crumbs as needed to the mound on the plate to coat pieces. Sprinkle the tops of crumbed chicken pieces with a little salt and pepper.

Pop the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 30-45 minutes until pieces of chicken are cooked.

Serve with Seasoned corn and Mashed potatos or baked potatos. Enjoy.

Ode To Fall Crockpot Roast

2009-09-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

For some, fall has come. Yesterday it was 103 degrees F. YUCK. Too hot. Way too hot. One of my co-workers had her husband pull out her fall harvest decorations. She is ready to decorate and make her house FALL-tastic. I am still trying to cool off from yesterday. At LifeasMom.com she is having her Thursday Ultimate Recipe Swap. You must check it out. This happens each week and you won't be disappointed. Last week's swap was featuring FOOTBALL foods. This week is Favorite Fall foods.

Ode To Fall~ Crockpot Roast

4 small Russets potatoes
4 small yukon gold potatoes
1 cup chunks of carrots
1/2 purple onion cut in sixths (wedged)
3 Celery stalks chopped in bite size pieces
2 pounds pork butt or Beef Round Roast or One whole chicken
Lawrys Seasoning Salt, Lawrys Garlic Salt, Fresh cracked pepper
Sweet Baby Ray's Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce

Take the Crockpot out of your cabinet or storage facility. Rinse it off or clean it. Season the bottom of your crock pot. Season your choice of protein by rubbing it with dry seasonings. Then massage it with some barbecue sauce and place that in the bottom of the crock. Arrange potatoes, carrots, onion and celery around that. Put the top on the crockpot. Set it for the right amount of time and heat according to when you start preparing your dinner. I usually put mine on in the morning before I go to work, set on low for 10 hours. Everything is perfectly cooked when I get home. Oh and does the house smell amazing.

Serve with a crusty baguette and a little lettuce salad.

A Toast To Fall

2009-09-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day of summer. Here in California, it does not feel like it. It was 95 degrees of dry heat. I like the warmth and the sun, but it would be nice to feel crisp cool air and actually start to see the leaves change. Maybe in another two months. But to celebrate with those who are enjoying fall and pulling out their harvest decor... two special drinks to welcome the new season.

Fall Orange Bitter

1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 cans Campari
2 cans water

In a pitcher, empty the contents of the orange concentrate. Fill the concentrate can with Campari and pour over the orange. Fill the can with water and add. Fill the can with water again and add. Stir. Serve over ice with a slice of orange.

Harvest Island Iced Tea

Are you ready for this twist?

1 part Citron Vodka
1 part Captain Morgan
1 part Campari
1 part Triple Sec
1 1/2 parts Sweet and Sour
splash of Diet Coke or Coca Cola

Pour various components over ice and swizzle. Enjoy!

Be sure to check out Festive Spiked Punch under drinky-poos!

Easy Cheesecake With Strawberries

2009-09-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

Every Sunday Dinner, I try to bring a dessert. This week was Easy Cheesecake With Strawberries! Thanks to Ralphs for the 99 cents a pound Strawberries!

Easy Cheesecake With Strawberries

One premade Graham Cracker Crust
One block Cream Cheese room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 Bisquick (I had no flour, substitution, Baby!)
1 egg
a few shakes cinnamon
1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 pound cleaned and quarterd strawberries
2 tbs. sugar

Sweetened Whipped cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In your mixing bowl, whip the cream cheese until fluffy. Add sugar and mix. Add Bisquick and mix. Remove white thingees from eggs and mix together. Finally add cinnamon and almond extract. Scrape sides of bowl with spatula and mix once more. Pour cheesecake mixture into Graham cracker crust. Spoon mixture around until level in the crust. Place cheesecake in oven for approximately 20 minutes or until edges are set. Allow to cool.

When ready to serve. Take a slice of cheesecake, top with a little whipped cream and a some sweetened berries. YUM YUM YUM! The flavors sing in your mouth.

Summer Drinky-poos

2009-09-19T10:58:00.001-07:00

Summer. As summer is winding down. The temps are still toasty. There is something so wonderful about a cup filled with ice and a wonderful liquid concoction to quench your thirst. Below you will find three Fruity liquid concoctions made with various types of alcohol so every guest will have a choice.

Summer Margarita

1 can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 1/2 cans filled with Margaritaville Silver Tequila
1 1/2 cans water
juice from one lime
sliced lime wedges
ice

Pour lemonade concentrate in a pitcher. Using the empty concentrate container/can, add the Tequila and additional water. Stir. You can serve this concoction over ice or you can blend it. The Magic Bullet is awesome blending up this yummy cocktail.

Malibu Ma-orange-o

1 can frozen Hawaii's Own Mango Orange Concentrate
1 1/2 cans filled with Malibu Coconut Rum
1 1/2 cans water

Pour the Mango Orange concentrate into a pitcher. Using the empty concentrate container/can, fill with amounts listed above of Malibu Rum and water. Stir. You can serve this Delicious drink over ice or blend. Excellent either way.

Pink Lemon Drop

1 can Raspberry Lemonade Frozen Concentrate
1 1/2 cans filled Gordon's Vodka
1 1/2 cans water

Pour the Raspberry Lemonade Frozen Concentrate into a pitcher. Using the empty concentrate container/can, fill with amounts listed above of Vodka and water. Stir. You can shake and serve this over ice or blend.

Enjoy your Summer Drinky-poos responsibly!

If you do not drink alchol, prepare the concentrates substituting the alchol for more water.

Rob's Trout In Foil

2009-08-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

Grant Lake is not the prettiest lake in the June Lake Loop, but it has many Trout. Brown trout the rarity, Rainbows a plenty. The last two weekends we went to Grant. About six hours to get there, but well worth the drive. Last weekend I actually caught my limit. This weekend I got skunked. I prefer the catch and release method personally and I don't dine on fish. Rob loves fishing and loves to eat his fresh catch. Being the Anti-fish gal I am, he cleans and prepares the fish. He even will unhook my fish. It must be love.

Rob's Trout In Foil

Whole Fresh trout, cleaned, scales on
sliced lemon
lemon wedges
Lawry's Garlic Salt
Fresh Cracked Pepper
Cajun Seasoning Sauce
pats of butter
aluminum foil

Tear a large, heavy duty piece of aluminum foil. Rinse your trout. Sprinkle the inside of the fish with seasonings. Sprinkle a little lemon, place a few lemon rounds inside and a pat or two of butter. Wrap the trout in the foil.

Repeat with the remaining ingredients.

Place aluminum foil wrapped trout on your heated grill and cook. Cook trout on each side for about 5 minutes. Remove from grill allow to cool for a few minutes. Carefully unwrap the foil to avoid steam burns. To insure a cooked trout the eyes will be white. If the eyes are not white, re-wrap and put the fish back on the barbie. Once cooked allow to cool a bit. Using a fork loosen the scales and peel the skin off the fish. Once all of the scales are removed from the body, carefully loosen the meat from the head. Very carefully pull the head and the skeleton away from the the meat. There are a lot of bones in trout. If you do this carefully, the skeleton will be attached to the head. The car cuss is kinda funky looking, Halloween like. Everyone who has tried the trout this way LOVES it. No need for tartar sauce.

It's Not Just for Steak

2009-08-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

Just got home from camping in the Sierras. This weekend while camping, I experimented with condiments to make a marinade. Ingredients were limited as the Men did the shopping. The guys bought two large packages of chicken. 6 bone in breasts and about a dozen boneless skinless chicken breasts. They must have thought they were serving an army. Anyhow, using a few simple ingredients I whipped up a tasty marinade.

Grant Lake Chicken

Chicken Breasts
A-1 Steak Sauce
Lawry's Seasoning salt
Barbecue Sauce
Fresh cracked pepper

Clean chicken. Sprinkle both sides with Lawry's Seasoning Salt. Pour a little A-1 over the chicken. Stir. Pour a little Barbecue Sauce over the chicken. Stir again. Sprinkle a little fresh cracked pepper over the chicken. Stir and allow chicken to marinate for a little while.

Barbecue until juices run clear. Enjoy

Sunrise Fruit Salad

2009-07-23T21:37:00.000-07:00

Sunrise Fruit Salad. The other day I posted Sunset Fruit Salad. What a great fruit salad that was. There are so many beautiful summer fruits. This salad features the lighter colored fruits. Fruit salads could not be simpler.

Sunrise Fruit Salad

Bite size pieces of pineapple
Green Grapes
Bite size pieces of Honeydew
Mandarin orange slices

Combine fruits. Refrigerate. Serve. Enjoy.

My friend suggested serving fruit with toasted coconut! Give it a try.

Sunset Fruit Salad

2009-07-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

There are so many beautiful summer fruits. So many beautiful colors. I made this salad today in honor of my friend Renee.

Sunset Fruit Salad

cut cantelope in bite size pieces
cut ripe pineapple in bite size pieces
cut Seedless watermelon in bite size pieces
red seedless grapes
blueberries

In a large glass bowl layer pieces of cantelope, watermelon and pineapple. Sprinkle clean grapes and clean blueberries on top. Layer until all fruits are used up. Refrigerate. Enjoy!

?

2009-07-03T00:01:00.001-07:00

Spicy Meatball Sloppy Joes

2009-06-22T22:04:00.000-07:00

Sloppy Joes seasoned like a Spicy Meatball. Hmmm? What do you think? These were FANTASTIC! Oh my gosh!

Spicy Meatball Sloppy Joes

One pound lean ground beef
Lawrys Garlic salt
fresh cracked pepper
1 Tbs. Dried chives
1/2 tsp. Italian seasonings
one small can tomato paste
one can diced tomatos with jalapenos

whole wheat hamburger buns or rolls
provolone cheese

Brown the ground beef with the seasonings until cooked. Add the tomato paste and diced tomatoes. Stir and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Put a slice of provolone on each half of the bun. Top one side with meat mixture and top with the other half of the bun. Serve and Enjoy!

God Bless America

2009-05-24T00:39:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend is not just a three day weekend. I think often times, people look forward to long weekends because it's an extra day off. In turn, they forget why mail isn't delivered or banks are closed and might even think of that as an inconvenience.

In Elementary School, every morning after the Pledge of Allegiance, our teacher would let a fellow student pick a Patriotic song to sing in the morning. I have never forgotten this chorus and I think of it often.

And I'm proud to be an American ...where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died...who gave that right to me.
And I'd gladly stand up; next to you...and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land...God bless the USA!Chorus from

God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood.

Men and Women serve our great Country. They make personal sacrifices to serve and protect America's Freedom. Some even make the ultimate sacrifice. This Memorial Day weekend take time and reflect. Whether you agree with the current wars being fought overseas, Respect and Remember what these brave Men and Women have done for our Country.

Red, White and Blue Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter room temp
3/4 cup firm packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 packet Maple and Brown sugar Oatmeal
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dried blueberries

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a mixing bowl combine butter and sugars. Mix well until fluffy. Add the egg and mix. Add extracts and mix again. In a seperate bowl combine dry ingredients (not chips or dried fruit) and stir. Add 1/2 cup of the dry ingredients at a time and mix after each addition. Do this until all dry ingredients are used up. Fold in the chips and dried fruit.

On a cookie sheet using a tablespoon drop rounds of dough approxiamaately 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are set. When done, remove from oven and transfer from baking sheet to a cooling rack. Eat one when it is still warm.

What To Do With Leftover Taco Meat???

2009-05-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

I cook for two most of the time. When it is just the two of us there is always leftover taco meat. I find I can get two meals out of one by doing this. I save a little money and have variety for meals. Below you find my recipe for Crockpot taco meat that is out of this world. One of my boyfriends friends LOVES the taco meat and is so happy when he happens to stop by and I offer him Tacos. Every time he asks for the recipe and he cannot believe it was made in the Crockpot.

Taco Meat 28413

One pound lean ground beef or turkey
1- 28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 4 oz can green chiles
1 packet taco seasoning (we use PACE)

Brown the ground meat halfway in a fry pan. Drain fat. Set aside. In your Crockpot, dump in tomatoes and chilies and stir. Add meat and stir. Add seasoning and stir again. Put the top on the Crockpot and cook on low for 6-10 hours.

When you are ready to assemble tacos you can serve them in fresh fried tortillas in canola oil. You can use corn tortillas or taco size flour tortillas. Top your tacos with cheese, sour cream, salsa, shredded lettuce... whatever you heart desires.

Now what to do with the leftovers...

Turn leftover meat into Taco Salad

Use the leftover meat for Crockpot Meat Sauce for Pasta by adding one 28 oz can of diced tomatoes and one 28 oz can Marinara Sauce. Doctor that up with some Italian seasonings and a bay leaf. Cook on low for 6-10 hours. It makes the best meat sauce.

Freeze the leftover meat for later use for tacos or your meat sauce

Turn your leftover meat into Sloppy Joe's. Add a can of tomato soup, heat it up and serve on hamburger buns.

Spicy Cheesey Cornbread

2009-05-11T21:06:00.000-07:00

There is something so comforting about Cornbread. You can serve it with chili or soup. You can serve it alongside Barbecue. Whichever way you do, it is delicous. Serve it with a barbecue Chicken chopped salad. Just make it and enjoy it.

Spicy Cheesey Cornbread

One 8.5 oz package Betty Crocker Cornbread mix
1/3 cup milk
3 Tbs melted butter
One egg
Lawry's Garlic Salt
1 Tablespoon Grated Parmesan and Romano Cheese blend
2 slices Jalapeno Jack cheese chopped or cheddar if you prefer
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a small mixing bowl, combine mix, milk and butter. Stir in the egg. Add a few shakes garlic salt. Stir in cheese and corn. Spray the bottom of a small pie pan with cooking spray. Pour mixture and spread evenly into pie pan. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Check for doneness with toothpick after 20 minutes. When cornbread is done, remove from oven and spread a little butter on top. Allow butter to melt and seep in. Serve warm with whatever you made for dinner. Sit back and savor every bite.

Roasted Zucchini and Carrots

2009-05-08T21:23:00.001-07:00

Trader Joe's had Zucchini Squash. I couldn't resist. I know in just a few short months, my Dad's garden will have an abundance of the green gems, but I needed a zucchini fix. So I bought some. Here is what I did with it.

Roasted Zucchini and Carrots

Zucchini
Carrots
Olive oil
Lawry's Garlic Salt
Onion Powder
Celery Salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Clean the zucchini and slice into 1/2 inch slices. Slice carrots. Spray the bottom of a casserole dish with cooking oil spray. Arrange a layer of zucchini and carrot rounds on the bottom. Season with the seasonings. Drizzle a little olive oil over the vegetables. Arrange another layer and do the same. Pop in the oven for 30-45 minutes. Check on it at the 30 minute mark to see how the cooking process is going. You want them to be fork soft. Remove from oven when the are cooked to your liking. Serve them up with whatever you'd like.

Crockpot Barbecue Chicken

2009-05-07T21:29:00.001-07:00

A long long time ago on the other side of Bouquet Canyon lived one of my friends. Her Mom was always going the extra mile for her only daughter, Kimberly. One day after softball practice, I was lucky enough to be invited to have dinner at Kim's house. I had never had barbecued chicken with barbecue sauce. We would barbecue but rarely were things basted with BBQ sauce. It just wasn't something my Dad did. Kim's Mom served the Sweet and Savory Barbecue Chicken over rice. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted. Kim did not like it. I was in heaven and begged her Mom for the recipe. She said it was really easy.

Bernie's Barbecue Chicken on Nicki Lane

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 bottle of your favorite Barbecue sauce
salt and pepper

In the bottom of your Crockpot place 2 chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper. Pour barbecue sauce over breasts. Add the other two on top of that, season and pour more sauce on top. Place the lid on Crockpot and cook on low for most of the day. Easy enough?

Shred chicken a bit and stir so BBQ sauce covers. Serve Barbecue Chicken over a bed of rice.

Thanks Bernie!

Chocolate Caramel Chewy Cookies

2009-05-06T22:36:00.000-07:00

Chocolate chewy goodness. That is what these decadent chocolate concoctions are. A simple recipe with only a few ingredients. Quick to whip up and not too long in the oven and wha-la, instant YUM.

Chocolate Chewy Cookies

One Box Devil's Food cakemix
one packet Maple and Brown sugar oatmeal
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup milk
1/2 stick melted butter (1/4 cup)
1 tsp Kahlua
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
2 or 3 rolls of Rolo candies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, combine cakemix, oatmeal and cinnamon, stir a bit. Add liquids. Mix slowly. It will start out crumbly add egg and mix until well combined. Fold in nuts and chocolate chips. Unwrap the Rolos and set aside. Spray cookie sheet lighty with cooking spray. Using a small gravy ladel, scoop up some dough. Round it off a bit and place on the cookie sheet. Take a Rolo and place it in the middle of the cookie. Do this until you run out of dough. Approxiamately 18 cookies. You can use a tablespoon if you would prefer smaller cookies. Bake in the oven for 13-15 minutes or until edges are set.

Remove from cookie sheet and cool. Store cookies lined on wax paper in an air tight container.

Brown Bananas Make...

2009-05-04T20:56:00.001-07:00

I had some leftover bananas from the Fishing Snacks. They were nice and ripe on the verge of too ripe. So, in honor of the bananas and not wanting to be wasteful these muffins have been created. I'm not a fan of the banana. But, I can't let these go to waste. Check out LifeasMom.com's new blog, Good Cheap Eats. She has great ideas for just about everything. I went to the new blog the other day to see her post about bananas. http://www.goodcheapeats.com/2009/04/yes-we-have-brown-bananas.html

Chocolate Cinnamon Oat Banana Muffins
Makes 18 muffins

4 Ripe medium bananas
1/3 cup melted buttah (butter)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 packet Maple and Brown Sugar Oats
1 tsp baking soda
a shake or two salt
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup Hershey's cinnamon chips
1/8 cup chopped pecans

Turn the oven to 350 degrees F. In your mixing bowl combine bananas and butter and mix. Add sugar and mix. Add the egg and mix. Add the vanilla and cinnamon. Mix. Add Oat packet and mix. Add b. soda and salt. Add 1/2 cup of the whole wheat flour at a time and mix after each addition. Fold in the chips and pecans.

Line with muffin papers or spray your muffin tin. Spoon mixture until each cup is half full. Pop in the oven and bake 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven. Allow to cool a bit and serve with a little buttah!

Jello Dessert

2009-05-03T21:08:00.000-07:00

So many types of Jello. So little time. The varieties are unbelievable. Amazing how the flavors of Jello can change in the last few decades. There are many types of Jello Desserts. You can go to LifeasMom.com for her families favorite Pretzel Jello Dessert concoction.

Here is my Jello Dessert. I made it last night so it would have plenty of set up time. If you are daring, give it a try.

No Cook Jello Creamy Graham Dessert

For the crust

1 1/2 cups crushed Graham crackers
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 cup fine grated coconut
1/8 cup ground pecans
1 Tbs Hersheys Cocoa powder
1/3 cup melted butter

Creamy Layer

12 oz Neufectel Cream Cheese softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbs milk
1 cup Low fat Cool Whip

Jello Layer

Cherry Jello
2 cups hot water
1 1/2 cup cold water
2 cups cleaned and cut strawberries

In a bowl mix the crust ingredients. Pat into the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Set aside. In a mixing bowl whip cream cheese until fluffy. Add sugar and mix. Add vanilla and milk. Whip again until combined. Fold in the Cool Whip. Spoon Creamy mix onto crust layer evenly. Cover the 9 x 13 with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator. Put hot water in a large bowl. Add jello and stir. Let cool a bit. Add cold water and stir. Put the jello bowl in the refrigerator too it needs to set a bit. In one to two hours remove jello and the 9 x 13 from the 'frige. Spoon half of the jello mixture on top of the creamy layer. Artistically place strawberry pieces on jello layer. Pour remaining Jello on top of the berries making sure they are covered. Cover dessert and put it back in the refrigerator overnight. When ready to serve top with a little Cool Whip. Enjoy!

Wedge Salad

2009-05-02T08:18:00.001-07:00

What is a Wedge Salad? Crisp cool lettuce wedged and topped with yummy things. The first time I was presented a wedge salad my eyebrows got a little bent and eyeballs did a double take. I wasn't sure if the wedge of iceberg bothered me or what. I had never seen, nor heard of a wedge salad. But I tried it. It was fantastic! The vinaigrette dripped down into the wedge. The toppings just perfect and the crispness of the iceberg was amazing. To be quite honest, eating a wedge salad is easy. Date friendly. You don't have to worry about the size of lettuce. You have control of the amount of lettuce that makes it to your fork as you get to cut it.

Simple Wedge Salad
Serves 4-6 depending on appetites

One head of iceberg, root area removed. Rinsed and cleaned.
4 pieces cooked bacon crumbled
1 cup Kraft Natural Three Cheese crumbles
Mustard Vinaigrette
Fresh cracked pepper

Cut iceberg into 4 to six wedges. Rinse each wedge and dry with a paper towel. Place wedges onto their own salad plate. Pour dressing over wedge. Top with equal amounts of toppings. Crack pepper on top of each wedge before serving.

Bleu Wedge Salad
Serves 4-6 depending on appetites

One Head of Iceberg, root area removed. Rinsed and cleaned.
One cooked and cooled spicy sausage sliced and chopped in pie pieces
Bleu Cheese crumbles
Bleu Cheese dressing
Fresh cracked pepper

Cut iceberg into 4 to six wedges. Rinse each wedge and dry with a paper towel. Place wedges onto their own salad plate. Pour dressing over wedge. Top with equal amounts of toppings. Crack pepper on top of each wedge before serving.

Fancy Strawberry Wedge Salad

One Head of Iceberg, root area removed. Rinsed and cleaned,
1/2 cup strawberries (quartered)
1/2 cup feta crumbles
1/2 cup candied pecans or walnuts
White Wine Vinaigrette

Cut iceberg into 4 to six wedges. Rinse each wedge and dry with a paper towel. Place wedges onto their own salad plate. Pour dressing over wedge. Top with equal amounts of toppings.

Serve these tasty, crisp unique salads and watch your guests faces. It will be rather entertaining.

Mini Tornado Skewers

2009-04-30T07:51:00.000-07:00

What is a Tornado? At a local meat market/restaurant you could pick up these savory chicken preparations called a Tornado. Sadly, the meat market/restaurant is gone. But, for the past few years since its closing I have been able to recreate the Tornados.

This is my rendition in smaller scale.

Mini Tornado Skewers
serves 4

4 skinless boneless chicken breast each cut into 4 pieces (16 chicken chunks)
Lawry's Garlic salt
Cajun Seasoning
8 slices of bacon cut in half
4 skewers

Sprinkle chicken chunks with garlic and Cajun seasoning. Take slice of bacon and wrap it around the chicken. Pierce with skewer so that bacon ends are fastened. Put 4 Tornados on each skewer. Repeat until all ingredients are used up.

These can be frozen at this point for later use. Or you can bake them in a 350 degree F oven for 30-45 minutes. Check with a meat thermometer to make sure it is cooked properly. If bacon is not browned enough you can nuke each skewer for 30 seconds.

I serve these with rice and seasoned corn off the cob. See the post under sides for Herb Corn. Yummy

Pickled Eggs

2009-04-27T21:18:00.001-07:00

What do you do with the dozens of dyed Easter Eggs? Rob's family uses them in a family tradition that has lasted decades. Pickled Eggs. You know that I am not an egg fan, but I make these yearly for Rob and our Fishing Trip.

This is not the exact family recipe. I don't have it. Robby showed me how many years ago and below is my adaptation.

Pickled Eggs

A large glass jar
hard boiled eggs
carrots
celery
jalapeno pepper slices
banana peppers
pepperchinis
minced garlic
salt and pepper
Pickling spices (optional)
a few beets
white vinegar

Peel the eggs. Place a few in the bottom of your jar. Add some carrots and some celery. Add some J. pepper slices and B. pepper and pepperchinis. Layer again with some eggs. Sprinkle some salt and pepper. Add a beet. Layer more carrots, celery, J. pepper, B. pepper, and pepperchinis. Do this until jar is full and looks pretty and colorful. Sprinkle more salt and pepper on top and add a spoonful of minced garlic. Add pickling spices if you choose. Pour vinegar on top until the jar is full with liquid. Secure the lid on the jar and turn jar upside down so ingredients mix.

Store in the refrigerator. Eggs are best given a couple weeks to pickle.

Snacks For Fishing

2009-04-24T00:40:00.001-07:00

The annual fishing trip!!! Fishing, Family, Food and Fun. That is what is instore this weekend! What Snacks will I pack???

Fresh cut Pineapple
Fresh Strawberries
Red and Green Grapes
Bananas

Celery
Carrots
Green Onion Dip

Gallo Salame
Pepper Jack
Sargento Low Fat string cheese
Pretzels

Avacados and Great Guacamole Mix
Tortilla chips

Pickled Eggs
Pickled Grapes (Go to Smitten Kitchen in my blog roll)

The list above provides snacks a plenty! Healthy ones too!

Meatless Main Dish

2009-04-22T22:17:00.000-07:00

Recipes a plenty to be posted Thursday over at LifeasMom.com. Check it out. The recipe swap for this week is focusing on MEATLESS Main dishes. I had to think hard about what I make as a main dish without using meat. Aside from Spaghetti or Mac and Cheese the only thing I could think of was...

Spicy Cheesy Sandwich

2 pounds Extra Sharp cheddar
1 small can chopped olives
2 10 oz can Rotel with green chilie
1/2 small jar of pimientos
3 green onions sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 stick butter melted
Salt and pepper
2-3 dozen small french bread rolls or sourdough
1 roll aluminum foil

Slice rolls, leaving one side hinged. Carefully remove the insides of rolls and put them in a large bowl. Add cheese, olives and Rotel to the roll insides. Mix well. In a serperate bowl add melted butter, garlic, green onion slices and pimiento. Pour this mixture on top of the bread cheese mixture and mix well.

Cut aluminum foil into 12 inch sheets. Take a roll and stuff it with 2-3 tablespoons of cheesy mixture. Place roll on aluminum foil and then wrap the cheesy sandwich. Do this to all of the rolls.

These can be frozen. (Highly reccomended, makes a quick dinner) Bake for 15-20 minutes in a 375 F degree oven. These are DE-Lish!

Happy Birthday Larry Carrot Cake

2009-04-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

Today is my boyfriend's Dad's Birthday. He is having a cook out, where he is serving up smoked meats that he will be cooking up all day today. Larry is the King of the Grill, the Smoker, the Crockpot... When we dine at Larry's, we are always treated with a multi-course meal which is AWESOME! I always bring dessert! In honor of his Birthday I will bring Carrot Cake Cupcakes. Hopefully he will enjoy these Birthday Cupcakes Baked with LOVE with a little twist.

Chocolate Carrot Cake Cupcakes

One box Spice Cake Mix
One box Chocolate Pudding
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup finely shredded carrots
1/2 cup finely shredded coconut
1/2 cup plus 2 tsp finely chopped pecans optional
1/2 cup raisins optional

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. In your mixing bowl combine cake mix, pudding and hot water and mix. Add Oil and mix. Add egg one by one and mixing after each addition. Fold in the sour cream and mix. Add carrots and coconut. If you choose to add pecans and raisins, add those and mix until blended. Fill your cupcake holders 1/2 full and bake 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool. Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting.

Not Too Sweet, Not Too Cheesy Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8oz block Neufectel Cream Cheese (room temp)
1/3 cup butter (room temp)
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

In your mixing bowl combine Cream Cheese and butter and mix until light and fluffy. Add Powdered sugar by the 1/2 cup and mix well after each addition until all p. sugar is used up. Add vanilla and whip more until fluffy. Spoon frosting into piping bag and frost each cooled cupcake. Top cup cakes with the extra finely chopped pecans.

Happy Birthday Larry!

Honey Mustard Chicken

2009-04-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

Von's had a sale on salad dressing. Personally, I am a fan of homemade Italian salad dressing. Homemade dressings are not always easy to transport while camping. So I purchased a Roka Blue Cheese for veggies. Ranch for just about everything else. Honey Mustard because I wanted to give it a try as a marinade. The bottle reads Honey Dijon ("that's a fancy word for mustard" hee hee) Vinaigrette dressing and marinade. I used it as a marinade and created this.

Honey Mustard Chicken

Skinless, boneless chicken chopped into square like chunks
salt
pepper
Lawry's Garlic Salt
Kraft's Honey Dijon Vinaigrette dressing and marinade

Salt and pepper chicken chunks. Place chunks in a Ziploc bag. Pour some Honey Dijon onto chicken and massage bag contents until all pieces have been bathed in marinade. Zip the bag removing excess air. At this point put in the 'fridge or pop in the freezer.

When I prepared mine, I took a bag of HM Chicken out of the freezer, allowed it to thaw in the 'frige. I doubled up some heavy duty aluminum foil and made my own make shift tray. I heated up the grill and put my marinated chicken in the foil tray and cooked the chicken over the grill. I cooked it for 10 minutes and then stirred and sort of flipped the pieces of chicken around. I cooked it for an additional 10 minutes and served the HM Chicken over Trader Joe's Rice Medley. YUMMY and very moist chicken!

Tax Day Treat

2009-04-15T22:11:00.000-07:00

I sent a big check off to Uncle Sam today. It's ok, I owed. I haven't received many refunds being self employeed and that's fine. But tonight, as I wind down from work, I did my usual surfing the net and like a fat stimulus or refund check in the mail, I find a recipe, that just thinking about it makes me smile, drool and want to cry at the same time. I love sugar but aside from that...

Head over to LifeasMom.com for Thursdays recipe swap. They are swapping cookie recipes and you will find a very special family recipe. A coveted recipe from a Culinary Queen! This Queen has been influential in my love for cooking and baking. She was my Gramma John.

Check it out immediately, make the cookies and celebrate my Gramma John's AWESOMENESS with each delectable bite!

Barbecued Potatoes and Barbecued Maui Onions

2009-04-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

Sounds a bit weird but both are awesome! These are a huge part of our camping cuisine.

Barbecued Potatos

potatos that have been microwaved until soft sided
olive oil spray
garlic salt
pepper
aluminum foil

Tear a piece of aluminum foil that would fit the potato. Place your potato on the foil. Spray potato with olive oil and then sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper. Wrap your potato. Do this until you have the desired amount of potatos.

Put your foil wrapped potatos on the grill and cook 3-5 minutes on a side.

Remove from the grill and carefully peel off foil and top your potato with your favorite fixins. These are fantastic and receive 5 star reviews each time they are served.

Barbecued Maui Onions

Maui Onions
butter tabs
salt and pepper
aluminum foil

Trim ends and peel the outside layer off your onion. Make slits across the top of onion that form the shape of a asteric. Place onion on a sheet of aluminum foil. Place butter tabs in the slits. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put these on the grill when you start cooking the meat. They are so good and will carmelize a bit if cooked long enough. Enjoy!

Cutie Orange Bundt

2009-04-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

This bundt is YUMMY. The perfect mix of butter cake with orange and oats. Top with a light glaze and you have the most delicous cake. Serve as a dessert or alongside coffee or tea.

Cutie Orange Bundt

One box Butter Recipe Golden cake mix
2/3 cup orange juice
1/2 cup olive oil
one packet Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal
1 tbs. cinnamon
3 eggs
one California Cutie Mandarin orange peeled, skinned and broken into little orange bits

Cinnamon sugar
Cinnamon
one packet Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal

Simple powdered sugar glaze

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of your favorite bundt pan with non-stick spray and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Set aside.

In your mixing bowl compine cake mix, orange juice and oil. Mix on low. Add the oatmeal packet and cinnamon and mix again. Add an egg and mix after each addition. Fold orange bits into your cake mixture.

Pour half of the batter into your bundt pan. Sprinkle half of second oatmeal packet onto batter. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and more cinnamon. Pour the rest of the batter over. Sprinkle the top with remaining oatmeal and a little more sugar.

Place your cake in the oven for about 45 minutes. Toothpick test, when cooked remove from oven and allow to cool. Once cooled glaze your Cutie Orange Bundt.

Later enjoy as dessert or over coffee talk!

Spicy Beef Dip Sandwiches

2009-04-09T15:08:00.001-07:00

Sam's Club has some really yummy whole wheat hoagies. The bread is sooooo good. You can use it for garlic bread, simple with butter, bread pizzas, but my favorite way to use it is for Spicy Beef Dip Sandwiches! YUM, Yum, yum. These sandwiches have recieved rave reviews in the garage.

Most of these ingredients can be purchased at Sam's Club. One stop shop, unless you don't want to buy bell peppers and onions and onions in bulk.

Spicy Beef Dip Sandwiches

Whole wheat hoagies
Jalepeno Jack cheese slices

sliced onion
sliced bell peppers
butter or olive oil
salt and pepper

Sliced Roast beef
Tone's Beef Base
water

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Slice a hinge into your hoagie bread. Open bread without seperating it and top with slices of jack cheese. Pop those in the oven.

Place onion and bell peppers onto a small fry pan and saute a bit and cook on low.

In a pan or pot place slices of roast beef. Cover with water and add a tablespoon or so of beef base. Cook over the stove until beef is warmed and beef broth is created.

Remove cheesey toasted hoagies from the oven. Top cheese with a bit of the b. pepper onion mixture and then top with beef. Ladle some of the broth into ramekins and serve immediately. These sandwiches are perfect for a cold day.

St. Paddy's Day Cake

2009-03-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorites to make for St. Patrick's Day. What is a holiday with out a dessert? LifeAsMom.com is having her Ultimate Recipe Swap this Thursday focusing on St. Patrick's Day cuisine. Be sure to check it out.

St. Paddy's Day Bundt Cake

One box yellow cake mix
one small box french vanilla pudding
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup Bailey's Irish Cream Liquer
6 drops green food coloring
4 eggs (no white thingies)
1/2 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine dry ingredients. Mix. Add hot water, and mix. Add oil and mix. Add one egg at a time, mixing between each addition. Once combined fold in sour cream.

Spray the bottom and sides of a bundt pan. Sprinkle a little sugar around the bottom. Spoon cake batter into the bundt pan evenly. Sprinle the top with a little sugar. Place in the oven and bake 35 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow cake to cool. Remove from pan and place cake on a plate. Dust with powder sugar.

Serve with fresh whipped cream and some green sprinkles.

Marinated Flank Steak

2009-03-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

Rob has a few favorite meals from his childhood. One of them is flank Steak. This weekend, I will post another favorite... Mustard Meat. His family usually marinates the meat in Lawry's Teriyaki which is fabulous. But, I enjoy making homemade Teriyaki sauce and I change it up a bit each time. The recipe below is the recipe for the Flank Steak we had two weekends ago in Cal City. It was mighty fine and we served it with the Grilled Asparagus from a previous post.

Jamie's Teriyaki Marinated Flank Steak

Flank Steak cut into 1 to 1 1/2 inch strips seasoned with Lawry's Garlic salt and fresh cracked pepper

Depending on how much meat you are about to marinade, you might want to double this

1 cup Kikkoman Soy Sauce
1 tbs. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/8 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup honey or agave syrup or maple syrup (I used Maple)

Mix marinade together. Set aside. Put seasoned meat strips into a large Ziploc bag and pour marinade over. Make sure marinade hits each piece. Place bag in refrigerator. Overnight is best if possible. The flavors really get into the meat.

Grilled Asparagus

2009-03-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

It's green and it's healthy. There are many things you can do with Asparagus. Below are two quick and easy recipes that you can cook on your grill. Little preparation and big on taste.

Larry's Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

2 dozen Asparagus Spears rinsed and trimmed
12 slices Prosciutto cut in half so you have two long strips
cream cheese room temperature

Spread a little cream cheese on the spear about a half inch below the fancy part running along the length of spear. Take your prosciutto strip and wrap the spear, making sure the top of the prosciutto attaches to the cream cheese and then fasten on the end also.

Do this until ingredients are used up. Place spears on a heated grill and turn until the prosciutto is heated and a bit crispy.

Garlic Grilled Asparagus

24 Asparagus Spears rinsed and plain end trimmed
Olive oil spray
Lawry's Garlic Powder

Line up your spears on a plate if you are going to grill them directly on the grill. If you are going to steam them in aluminum foil on the grill, line your spears on a generous piece of aluminum foil. Spray your spears with olive oil, roll spears a bit and spray other side. Then sprinkle with Lawry's Garlic Powder. Depending on your cooking method grill without foil for 5 to 10 minutes. Cook in the foil for 10 to 15.

Serve with whatever else you choose to grill and enjoy!

Something Yummy for Sunday Morning

2009-02-21T17:38:00.001-08:00

There is something nice about spending time with loved ones on a Sunday morning and enjoying something yummy to eat. Below you will find a recipe for a breakfast cake that you make the night before. You simply wake up, pop it in the oven and in less than an hour and some cooling time you have a Delicious sweet breakfast to enjoy with your coffee, mimosa, tea or milk. Pair that with some fresh fruit and you have a lovely Sunday breakfast.

Overnight Whole Wheat Apple Breakfast Cake

2/3 cup butter softened
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 packets instant Apples and Cinnamon Oatmeal
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
a dash nutmeg
a dash cloves
1 cup buttermilk

Combine butter, sugar and eggs. In a seperate bowl combine dry ingredients and mix together. Slowly add dry mixture to butter mixture and blend, alternating dry additions with buttermilk. When ingredients are combined and cake batter has formed... Spray the bottom of a 9 x 13 and pour batter into the dish. Combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 tsp cinnamon and a packet of plain oatmeal and sprinkle over the top of the cake. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refridgerator overnight.

The next morning remove cake from the 'fridge and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. When oven is heated pop the cake in the oven. Start your coffee and fresh fruit preparations. Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool a bit. Enjoy your time with your family.

Cinnamon Apple Breakfast Cake

2009-02-17T08:08:00.001-08:00

I love baking. Others don't like it so much because I bring it to work. I once was accused of "bringing cakes to work to make co-workers fat like me", she who said it no longer gets to enjoy my cakes anymore as I don't work with her and after 15 years I realized she was not a friend. Baking relaxes me and it makes me happy to be able to share these creations with people. If the baked good ends up being their breakfast or a snack for the day, mission accomplished!

Cinnamon Apple Breakfast Cake

One box Spice Cake mix
One packet Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal
1/2 cup lowfat milk
1/2 cup olive oil
3 eggs
cinnamon

One packet Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal
Cinnamon Sugar
Cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of a 11 x 9 inch disposable aluminum casserole tin. Spray the bottom with non-stick spray.

In your mixing bowl combine, cake mix, oatmeal, milk and oil. Mix. Add cinnamon and mix again. Add eggs one by one and mix after each addition. Pour half of the batter into tin. Sprinkle half of oatmeal packet, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and cinnamon. Pour the remaining batter over oatmeal layer and then sprinkle a little more sugar and the other half of the oatmeal on the top.

Bake for about 45 minutes. Toothpick test. Once cooked, allow to cool. Serve with fresh fruit and coffee or tea. Enjoy.

The Frugal Faux Mocha

2009-02-16T22:55:00.001-08:00

With every single thing carrying a higher price tag. It kills me to pull 5 bucks out of my wallet for a Mocha at the local Coffee Slinging Joint. I have gift cards carrying balances, but I am saving those little babies for a rainy day when I am in desperate need of a something to make me feel cozy and a caffeine fix. On camping trips in remote locations where there are no Starbucks on any corner you pass, I created the Frugal Faux Mocha.

The Frugal Faux Mocha

Fresh brewed strong coffee
One packet hot chocolate mix
flavored creamers if you want a fancy FF Mocha
Canned Low Fat Whipped Cream

In your favorite coffee mug or disposable camping cup, dump the contents of one hot chocolate packet. Fill with your freshly brewed strong coffee. Gently stir as if you were a Barista. If you want to make your FF Mocha fancy add a bit of flavored creamer.

Sit back and enjoy. Daydream about the shoes you could buy with the money you save from not buying the expensive coffee alternative every day in one week.

Variations...

You can use flavored coffee. Like Hazelnut, Vanilla or add cinnamon to your favorite coffee. Then you won't need flavored creamers.

If camping and you don't have Canned whip cream use a few of the marshmallows you would use for S'mores! (:

Question for the Day? Do you think Starbucks would ever make a drive thru that would accomodate a large truck and a travel trailer?

Chocolate Covered TOUCHDOWN Pretzel Sticks

2009-01-31T12:04:00.001-08:00

Superbowl is tomorrow!!!! Tick tock tick tock... Last night in preparation Rob's family and I mixed up 60 pounds of Italian Sausage Meat to stuff in casings later today! Sausage will be another post, for another time.

For now it's...

Chocolate Covered TOUCHDOWN Pretzel Sticks

One Bag Trader Joe's Whole Wheat Honey Pretzel Sticks (YUM)
One container of Candiquik melted as directed on package
Crushed candied pecans
Mini M & M's
Toasted Coconut
Crushed Heath Bars
mini chocolate chips

Line counter top with wax paper or parchment. Holding one end of the pretzel and using a spoon or butter knife, dip into chocolate and use the utensil to help cover the pretzel with coating. Sprinkle topping on to the chocolate covering and place on the wax paper or parchment. Do this until Candiquik is used up. Set aside until cool and then store in an airtight container in a cool place.

Serve your TOUCHDOWN Pretzel Sticks on Superbowl on a cute platter to your guest. Their expression will let you know you scored.

Low Fat Flavorful Cake

2009-01-25T16:32:00.000-08:00

McCormick.com is a perfect site for recipes. They have recipes to compliment all of their spices and seasonings. You should check it out. A few years back I found a Low Fat Vanilla Cake on the site. I tried to find it and was unsuccessful. The thing that I remember about the cake was it used egg whites and had no oil. The cake is really good. Serve it up with fresh fruit and light whip cream and you have a yummy lower fat dessert.

Low Fat Cinnamon Vanilla Cake
inspired by recipe found on McCormick.com

1 yellow boxed cake mix
1 1/3 cup water
1/3 cup Captain Morgan Rum
3 egg whites
a few shakes cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
seeds from half a vanilla bean

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Dump cake mix into mixing bowl. Add water and rum and mix. Add egg whites one by one and mix. Add vanilla and cinnamon and mix. Spray your cake pan and pour the batter in. Bake for 35 or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow cake to cool.

When ready to serve top with fresh sliced strawberries and light whipped cream. Enjoy! You won't even miss the fat.

Buffalo Chicken Taquitos!!!

2009-01-18T08:11:00.000-08:00

Yum, Yum and YUM! People will go nuts with this twist on Buffalo Wings. I tried this about a year ago and our the garage guests went wild. Less mess and less finger licking.

Buffalo Chicken Taquitos

36 corn tortillas softened in heated oil set aside on paper towels
3 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
1 6 oz. Red Rooster Louisiana Hot Sauce
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl combine, chicken, cheese and sauce. Stir. Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of the chicken mix onto the corn tortilla. Roll the tortilla and fix it with a toothpick. Keep rolling and tooth picking until all of your ingredients are used up.

Bake on cookie sheets for 15-20 or until flautas are browned and crispy. Allow to cool a bit and serve with celerey sticks and ranch dressing. Be sure to remove toothpicks from the flautas before serving.

We double and triple this recipe. (Uncooked flautas can be frozen. I did this and sprayed some with oil spray and cooked them. They were perfect)

Refrigerate leftover flautas. They are fabulous nuked in the micro for 15 seconds.

Cut these flautas in half to make appetizers.

Jello Shooters Baby, For Superbowl or Other Fun Party Situations...

2009-01-16T20:56:00.000-08:00

Jello Shooters have been around for a couple decades. I was introduced to them in the mid ninties at a party. I am not a fan of Jello, but these Jello Shooters sure make some party goers smile. Do not serve them to individuals under 21 years of age and be sure to let parents of those under 21 that the jello is for adults.

Top Five Reasons to Make Jello Shooters
1. They are not messy like regular shots
2. They give you a warm and cozy feeling going down
3. Jello is fat-free
4. You can buy sugar free jello
5. Party goers will think you ROCK!

The recipe is pretty simple. You can mix and match your Jello and alcohol combinations. I have concocted some pretty tasty shooters over the years.

Jello Shooters

1 small box Jello any flavor
1 cup hot water
1 cup clear alcohol.
little plastic souffle cups

In a large glass measuring cup with a spout, boil one cup of hot water in the microwave for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave. Pour Jello granuales into the hot water and stir, until granuales dissolve. Let cool. When mixture is cool add one cup of clear alcohol. Stir. Set aside.

Line a cookie sheet with some souffle cups. Fill them 3/4 full with Jello mix. Place in the refrigerator until they are set. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Here are some of my yummy Jello and alcohol concoctions.

Margarita Shooter
Lime Jello
1/2 cup Triple Sec
1/2 cup Tequilla

Cape Cod Shooter
Cranberry Jello
Vodka

Lemon Drop Shooter
Lemon Jello
Vodka or Limoncello

Cherry Bomb Shooter
Cherry Jello
Campari

Captain Shooter
Orange Jello
Captain Morgan

Raspberry Shooter
Raspberry Jello
Chambord

Malibu Shooter
Pineapple Jello
Malibu Rum

Enjoy your Jello Shooters, responsibly.

Superbowl Eats XLIII

2009-01-04T18:51:00.000-08:00

27 days until Superbowl. Which teams will we see play in Tampa Bay, Florida? Whichever two teams make it, we must serve the best Superbowl Eats to honor them. We will eat to honor, their dedication, sweat, tears, and the fact that they bring families and friends together the first weekend of February for decades.

Pigs in Blankies
A Hot Appetizer everyone will love.

Pilsbury Crescent Rolls
Little Smokies
Your favorite Barbecue Sauce

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove Little Smokies from the plastic package. Dump them onto a microwave safe plate and nuke 'em for about two minutes. Remove Lil' Smokies from Microwave. Open and unroll crescent rolls. Cut each triangle into 4 triangles. You should get 32 Pigs in Blankies from one roll. Pop in the oven for 12-15 minutes. They should be golden brown. Serve on a platter with barbecue sauce.

Antipasti Tapas
These are simple and look great on a platter

Chunks of Salami
Chunks of Cheese (spicy jack, cheddar)
Red onion in one inch slice, cut in sixths
jalapeno stuffed olives or black olives
fancy toothpicks

Take a chunk of salami and pierce it with the fancy toothpick. Take a piece of onion and pierce that. Then cheese and top with the olive. Easy, a bit time consuming, but everyone will love these. They look great and taste terrific.

Hard Boiled Egg Footballs
For those on a protein diet.

Hard Boiled Eggs
Brown Food Dye
White crayon

Using the white crayon, draw to lines that meet around the ends of the hard boiled egg to resemble the lines on a football. In between those lines make the little lace marks. Place eggs in food dye, until the desired brown is dyed.

'Tater Skins

Small red potatoes
Canola oil spray
celery salt
shredded cheeses
green chilis
bacon bits
green onion or chives

Sour cream or ranch dressing

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Clean and pierce your potatoes. Place them on a microwave safe plate. Nuke 'em for about 2-3 minutes per side. If they feel done, cut them in half. If not nuke 'em another minute or two. After you cut them in half, use a spoon and carve out a little bowl for your toppings. Discard extra potato or use it if you want to make twice baked skins. (See directions below for those) On a cookie sheet, place potato halves skin side up and spray with canola oil and then sprinkle them with celery salt. Place the cookies sheet in the oven and bake them for 8-10 minutes. Pull them from the oven, flip them over and top them with cheeses, chilis and bacon bits. Place them in the oven for 8-10 more minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve hot with sour cream or ranch dressing.

Twice Baked Tater Skins
Everyone loves them and you can make them with bacon or vegetarian style.

Follow the recipe above. Using the potato you scooped from skins, place in a bowl. Add a little butter and mash. Then add a little milk and mash. Once potato mix is mash potato consistency add a little cheese and chives. Fill baked seasoned skins with a spoonful of the potato mix and top as you would the skins as listed above.

Yummy Garlic Bread

2008-12-30T23:38:00.000-08:00

Oh, the WalMart sure has some fun choices for bread. Italian style with herbs or sesame seeds. Sourdough, French, and the yummiest of all that I have found there... Whole Wheat French Loaf. It is simply delish. Oh and at $1.50 a loaf you can't beat it. Originally, I was going to make a big ole sandwich out of it, but tonight I made Yummy Garlic Bread to accompany Cheese Raviolis and Marinara sauce with a little Chipoltle ham in it. Um um umm.

Yummy Garlic Bread

One loaf Whole Wheat bread from the WalMart cut horizontally into two pieces
Butter, softened
Italian Herbs in a grinder
Garlic Powder
salt

Spread some butter on both halves of the bread. Sprinkle with garlic powder. Grind some Italian Herbs on the bread. Sprinkle a bit of salt. Pop in a 375 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Cut into slices and serve with Pasta, or salad or with Steak and taters. Enjoy!

Pizza Grilled Cheese

2008-12-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

First for dinner I made some frozen food from Trader Joes. Rob and I are NOT frozen food people. He ate half of his dinner and I nibbled at mine. Later on, I found myself to be hungry. So I made a grilled pepper jack cheese sandwich on sourdough. It was warm, toasty cheesey and garlicy. Simply divine.

Then, I remembered that I had pepperoni and salami in the deli drawer. The Pizza Grilled Cheese was then created.

Pizza Grilled Cheese

Sourdough bread
pepper jack cheese
pepperoni
salami
butter
garlic powder
salt

Pizza Sauce
Grated Parmesan Reggiano

On a microwave safe plate take two pieces of bread. Layer one side with cheese and salami, layer the other side with cheese and pepperoni. Top one side with another piece of cheese. Microwave for 30-45 seconds. Assemble the sandwich and butter each side. Place sandwich on the pan and grill on high heat. Flip and cook. Flip until both sides are toasty and golden brown. Sprinkle sandwich with Parmesan Reggiano.

Serve your sandwich with warmed pizza sauce for dipping. This sandwich is amazing!

Almond Shortbread Snowballs

2008-12-15T08:46:00.000-08:00

I baked. I made a few cookies that I have not made before. As I child, my big sister would make similar cookies but used pecans. As an adult, I created my own with almonds. They passed the test, my Mom, an almond fan, loved them and ate every last one I gifted her in her tin.

Almond Shortbread Snowballs

1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp almond extract
2 cups unbleached flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup finely chopped raw almonds
powdered sugar to coat cookies

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a bowl combine flour, salt and almond bits. Cream butter. Add p. sugar and mix together. Add almond extract and mix. Slowly add flour mixture until dough is set. Place dough balls on cookie sheet and bake 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven, take cookies from cookie sheet and cool on paper towels. Cool completely and roll cookies in powdered sugar.

Shortbreads With a Kiss

2008-12-12T00:13:00.000-08:00

Oh my my. These cookies melt in your mouth. They do. They are flipping fantastic. You must make these immediately. They are that good. Well make them if you like shortbread cookies and Hershey Kisses.

Shortbreads With a Kiss

1 cup unsalted butter room temp
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached flour
1/4 tsp. salt
Powdered sugar in a shaker
Unwrapped Hershey Kisses

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Set aside. In the KitchenAid mixer, whip up the butter. Add the powdered sugar and whip until smooth. Add the extract and mix again. Slowly add the flour mixture and mix. Once completely mixed shape dough into a ball and wrap it with plastic wrap. Put dough in the fridge for about an hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove dough from frige. Line cookie sheet with parchment. Using a teaspoon, scoop dough. Roll it into a ball and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle cookies with powdered sugar and then press one Hershey's Kiss into each cookie. Allow to cool. Enjoy!

Coconut Ginger Honey Cookies

2008-12-08T17:54:00.001-08:00

I love honey and I love coconut. Over the last year or two I have grown to like ginger. This cookie recipe combines all of those ingredients so nicely. This is sure to be a new holiday cookie for me.

Coconut Ginger Honey Cookies

2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter
2 tablespoons finely chopped crystalized ginger
1/4 cup fine grated coconut
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup Wilcox Honey

1/4 cup or more of the fine grated coconut to roll dough balls in

Combine flour, b. soda, and salt in a bowl and whisk. In another bowl beat butter and brown sugar together. Mix until light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix. Add ginger and coconut. Mix until those ingredients are incorporated. Add half of the flour mixture and mix on low speed. Add the other half and mix again.

Put dough in the 'fridge for about an hour. Remove dough from the 'fridge. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Using a teaspoon scoop dough and shape into balls. Roll balls in coconut and then place on the cookie sheet. Bake 12-14 minutes or until edges are set a bit. Dough will flatten out.

Cool on a rack and enjoy.

Holiday Baking Time

2008-12-08T08:22:00.000-08:00

I have this itch to bake. I bake once a week, usually for Sunday dinner. It's Holiday time people. We need to bake something. In previous posts, under sweets you will find some recipes for yummy things that can be gifted.

Super Sweet Bars
Kahlua Coconut Rolo Brownie Cups
Cinnamon Chocolate Fudge for Christmas
Christmas in July Cookies
Variety Brownies in One Pan
Re-Inventing Chocolate Chip Cookies
A Twist on an Old Sweet

Each of the above mentioned would make a lovely addition to any baked goodie gift.

One recipe that always screams Christmas is Sugar Cookies. My Mom would make the dough. She would roll it out and cut it with our favorite cookie cutters. Bake them and once cooled she would let us paint them with Colored Powdered Sugar glaze. Oh the memories!!! We would make such a mess and indulge in a sugar high.

As an adult, I have tried to make sugar cookies and have been unsuccessful. But if you have a recipe, the time and the patience... DO MAKE SOME and make some memories at the same time.

CVS is having a sale on Hershey's Chocolate. Thanks for the CVS tips LifeasMom.com, RUN don't walk over there, as Hershey kisses make an excellent topper on so many cookies recipes. Make Peanut Butter or Shortbread cookie dough, bake and remove from the oven and top the cookie with a kiss. You will be glad you did. And if you purchase $20 worth of Hershey's Chocolate, CVS will give you $10 bucks back in Extra Care Money. Seriously, get a CVS card.

Over the next week or two, I will bake and post my recipes. Embrace the Holiday Season and try to enjoy the rest of 2008.

Pepper Jack Crescent Rolls

2008-12-07T19:21:00.000-08:00

I made Pot Roast with carrots, potatoes, purple onion and celery. YUM! I simply sprinkled the meat and veggies with garlic powder, celery salt and fresh cracked pepper. The only thing missing was some kind of bread. I didn't have a nice crusty sourdough round. But, I did have sitting in my 'fridge a tube of those Pilsbury Crescent Rolls. How can I make a yummy carb out of that?

Pepper Jack Crescent Rolls

One roll Pilsbury Crescent rolls
8 one inch by 3 inch thin slices of Pepper Jack cheese
Olive oil spray
Grated Parmesan Reggiano
Italian Seasoning grinder

Preheat oven to 375 degree F. Open roll of Crescents. Seperate into the 8 triangles. Place a piece of cheese on the larger end of the dough and roll as indicated on the directions and place on a cookie sheet. Spray each roll with olive oil and sprinkle with cheese and grind a little seasoning on top of that.

Pop them in the oven and bake 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and serve with your meal. Enjoy.

What To Do With Leftover Turkey

2008-11-28T00:29:00.000-08:00

My brother and his roommates welcomed 40 people to their home for Thanksgiving. The 20 somethings prepared an amazing feast. Two 22 pound Organic Free Range Turkeys from Sprouts Market in San Marcos. My sister cooked up a bird too. All 3 Turkeys were fantastic. We had 2 oven baked and one cooked on the grill. One Citrus and Ale Brined, one buttered, and one chili spiced. YUM. Fortunately, lots and lots of leftover turkey.

Top Ten Things To Do With Leftover Turkey

1. Turkey Tacos
2. Turkey Tortilla Soup
3. Turkey Enchiladas
4. Turkey Sandwiches on Rye Bread
5. Turkey Salad made like Tuna or Chicken Salad
6. Turkey Nachos
7. Turkey and Rice
8. Turkey Chili
9. Turkey Calzone
10. Turkey Wraps with spinach and cranberry sauce

Make the most of your turkey leftovers and keep in mind, so you don't get Turkey overload... make the meals ahead and freeze them.

I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Mmmm Mashed Potatoes

2008-11-23T20:18:00.000-08:00

Mashed Potatoes. Who doesn't like Mashed Potatoes? One major Turkey Day component is Potatoes. Weither you whip or mash them, they are simply fantastic! This year I tried two ways to make my potatoes.

Mmmm Mashed Potatoes

Boiled Russet Potatoes
Butter
Buttermilk
Salt and Pepper

Put your hot cooked potatoes in a bowl. Mash them with a potato masher. Add butter and mash some more. Slowly add buttermilk and mash and stir. Add a little buttermilk until the potatoes are the right consistency. Add salt and Pepper to taste. Put your potatoes in an insulated dish or put them in a small crock pot to keep them warm.

Spicy Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

Boiled Red Potatoes with the skins on
Butter
Buttermilk
Garlic Salt and Pepper
Small chunks of Pepper Jack cheese

Place your potatoes in a bowl. Mash them. Add butter. Mash and stir. Add buttermilk and stir until potatoes are the right consistency. Season your mashed potatoes to taste. Stir in chunks of cheese. Serve and enjoy!

Three Thanksgiving Vegetable Sides for Vegetarians or Everyone

2008-11-20T08:11:00.000-08:00

Below you will find three holiday sides that are sure to tempt any guest's pallete. Sides are important meal options. The Turkey cannot stand alone without his supporting actors.

Trader Joe's Green Bean Casserole

6 tbsp unsalted butter, plus more for dish
1 medium onion
1 pound mushrooms, quartered
2 tsp coarse salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
24 oz bag Trader Joe's frozen French Green Beans
6 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
8 oz. Trader Joe's Gourmet Fried Onion pieces

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp. butter. Add onion and saute until it begins to soften about 4 minutes. Add mushrooms, and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Season with 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Set aside to cool.

Cook French Green Beans according to directions on the bag. Melt the remaining 4 tbsp butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour, whisk constantly until mixture begins to turn golden, about 2 minutes. Pour in milk, and continue whisking until mixture has thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in remaining Salt and pepper. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Pour over beans and toss to combine.Butter a 9" x 13" glass dish and spread the green bean mixture.Heat broiler, positioning rack about 8 inches from heat. Cook casserole, covered, until mixture is bubbly and heated through, about 10 minutes. Uncover, and cook until top is golden brown, about 30 seconds. Sprinkle Trader Joe's Gourmet Fried onion pieces over top and serve.

Broccoli Casserole Bonnie Olson

Steamed broccoli (2 bags Trader Joe's Broccoli in the bag) with butter
1 can cream of broccoli soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1-2 cups cheese

Mix together in a bowl. Grease a casserole dish and spread broccoli mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top of casserole. Bake at 375 degrees or until bubbly.

This side will knock your socks off. Way way too good to be vegetables!

Cheesy Vegetable Bake From Robby's Auntie Paula

3 Roma Tomatoes sliced
1 large green bell pepper (sliced in rings)
1 large yellow bell (sliced in rings)
1 large red bell pepper (sliced in rings)
1 large onion sliced into rings
Olive oil spray
lemon juice
Lawry's garlic salt
1 pound grated mozzarella cheese

Spray the bottom of casserole dish with olive oil. Place veggie slices in the dish. Sprinkle with the garlic salt. Sprinkle the lemon juice over the top. Bury the veggies with the mozzarella cheese. Pop it in a 350 degree F oven until cheese is melted bubbly and a bit golden brown. Serve it. YOU will love it. That is if you love tomatoes, bell peppers and onion. This makes a beautiful addition to any holiday plate.

Turkey Tricks

2008-11-18T19:36:00.000-08:00

I made my first turkey when I was 19. It was good. So cooked and so tender, it fell right off the bones. As a receptionist, I learned many things, about people, customer service, life experience, and food. You can learn a lot in the Beauty Industry, especially while clients wait for their hairdresser or manicurist. That year I learned many Turkey Tricks that made my first Turkey amazing, even if it was not picture perfect.

Turkey Tricks

1. Brine it in a salt, herb and pumpkin ale mixture.

2. Mix butter and minced garlic together and place it under the skin of the turkey.

3. Bake it in one of those turkey bags.

4. Make sure you remove the bag of yucky stuff from the turkey.

5. Place a small apple and small onion in the cavity. It makes a super moist bird.

6. Make little slits in the the turkey and push garlic cloves into the little holes.

7. Inject the turkey with one of those fancy marinades.

8. Rub your turkey with a mix of herbs and spices.

9. Pour gingerale over your bird.

10. Kosher salt is amazing. Rub salt onto your bird.

Easy Yummy Lower Fat Pumpkin Cheesecake

2008-11-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

Heck of a title don't ya think? It's true. All of those descriptors are true. I made this out of one cup of fresh pumpkin and took it to Sunday dinner. Rob LOVED it and asked for a second piece, half the size of the first piece. He even said it tasted exactly like Pumpkin Pie!!!!

EASY Yummy Lower Fat Pumpkin Cheesecake

One Keebler Ready Made Graham crust (love these things)
1 and a 1/2 block Low Fat Cream Cheese (room temp)
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin
2 eggs
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
a pinch of nutmeg
a pinch of ground cloves
1 tbs. flour
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In your mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add pumpkin and eggs and sugar and mix until well combined. Add spices and mix. Add flour and vanilla and mix again. Pour mixture into prepared graham cracker crust. You will have some left over. Pour that into a ramekin so you can bake it and taste it before you serve it. Ha (: Be sure to pull the ramekin out long before the pie.

Bake your delectable EASY Yummy Lower Fat Pumpkin Cheesecake for 1 hour. Remove from oven allow it to cool. Top pie the Ready Crust Plastic top and put that sucker in the refrigerator for a few hours or until ready to serve. Sometimes overnight is best. Serve with Cool-Whip or homemade whip cream. What ever makes you happy. It should be about being HAPPY.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Baked Pumpkins and Pumpkin Cupcakes

2008-11-15T22:45:00.000-08:00

So I baked 2 pumpkins between yesterday and today. Normally I have boiled them. But the Queen Of Pumpkins from Lombardi Ranch bakes her pumpkins. She says wash it real good. Snap off the stem thing, put it on an old cookie sheet and bake it in the oven until it is soft and collapses a bit. Let it cool then cut into it, peel off the skin and puree it. I did this and yielded 15 cups of pumpkin. Enough for 6 small pumpkin pies and 2 large batches of pumpkin bread and Pumpkin Cupcakes and a half recipe of Paula Dean's Pumpkin Cheesecake.

It will be interesting to see if Robby can tell a difference in the pumpkin. I'm not going to tell and I can guarantee he does not read my food blog. Ha!

Pumpkin Cupcakes
Makes about 24 cupcakes

2 1/4 cup sifted flour
1 tbs. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs, white thingies removed slightly beaten
1 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup cinnamon chips

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Green sugar sprinkles
Brach's Pumpkin Mallow things

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and mix. Add pumpkin and mix. Stir in dry ingredients alternating with the buttermilk. Mix until smooth after each addition. Add chocolate and cinnamon chips. Line muffin tins with cups or use souffle cups on a cookie sheet. Fill cups half way. Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool. Frost with Chocolate Buttercream. Sprinkle some of the green sugar and then top with one of the Brach Pumpkins. Enjoy your festive treat!

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

2008-11-12T22:45:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Crazy how time flies. Below you will find two sides. Both have one ingredient in common, corn.

My Dad LOVES Scalloped Corn. My Grandma John would make it for him. He loved it. It was and is one of his favorite Holiday side dishes. The recipe calls for simple ingredients. My Grandma never really wrote her recipes down. She was a bit of this and a bit of that cook. Everything she made was magic, both baking and cooking.

My Version of Dad's Favorite Scalloped Corn

1 can Green Giant Cream Style Corn
1/4 cup yellow corn
1/4 cup white corn
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. sugar
a few shakes salt
a few twists fresh cracked pepper
1 package (tube) of Ritz Crackers (broken to bits)
1 egg

Mix the above ingredients well. Pour into small greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees F until set and golden brown.

Dad rated 5Star on 11/25/04

This side is one of my favorites and the color combinations on the plate are so lovely. The taste of this corn is so yummy. No one ever complains about it.

Herb Corn

2 cups yellow corn
2 cups white corn
1/2 cup butter (melted)
1 tsp dill weed
1 tsp italian seasonings
1 tsp garlic salt

Combine ingredients. Microwave or place in oven until warmed through.

Thanksgiving Appetizers...

2008-11-06T22:05:00.001-08:00

I have not posted in awhile. Sorry. My life has changed in my job realm. Change is good, right? Anyhow, trying to get adjusted to a new work environment has taken up most of my spare time.

Can you believe TURKEY day is right around the corner? Nuts. Where has this year gone?

LifeasMom.com is having a Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipe Swap. So, you gotta CHECK it out! Lots of good stuff over there. Don't miss out. When you are there check out the other Recipe Swaps. You will not be disappointed.

When I can I will post some Thanksgiving Side Dishes. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas. But first things first!

Pistachio Cake makes Frankenstein Cupcakes! ! !

2008-10-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

With Halloween here on Friday, I have decided to make Pistachio Cake. I am going to bake them in souffle cups. Once cooled, pull them from the cups. Paint the sides and bottoms with a glaze. Frost the tops with Black Chocolate Frosting (from a previous post) to make Frankenstein's hair, put some of the same frosting in a piping bag for eyes and a mouth! And then use candy corns for the plugs. Cute or what?

Pistachio Cake

One box yellow cake mix
one small box pistachio pudding
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup canola oil
4 eggs (no white thingies)
1/2 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine dry ingredients. Mix. Add hot water, and mix. Add oil and mix. Add one egg at a time, mixing between each addition. Once combined fold in sour cream.

Place 24 souffle cups on a jelly roll pan. Fill each cup a little less than 2/3 full. Pop in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool and decorate as suggested above. Make glaze out of powdered sugar and water.

Sweet Tea

2008-10-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

One of my friends, comes to her morning appointments with me, armed with a cup of Iced Sweet Tea. I never could understand why she picked Iced Sweet Tea instead of coffee. She makes gallons of her tea and has it daily.

She would speak of a restaurant that makes the best Iced Sweet Tea and Chicken sandwiches. When she flies home to North Carolina, her Daddy always has her Iced Sweet Tea and Chicken Sandwich waiting for her in the car. Never thinking I'd ever get to experience either, I kinda put that Dream Meal for my friend on the back burner.

Until May 2007, I made a trip to see my sister and her family is Kansas. I had asked my sister about this restaurant and she knew the name and shared that there was one minutes away. So we loaded up the kids, ran the errands, stopped at the library and then to the infamous restaurant. I ordered a Chicken Sandwich and LOVED it. My sister doesn't care for their food too much. I LOVED it. The Sandwich, the waffle cut fries fried in peanut oil. Just delicious. But in my haste, I forgot to order the Sweet Tea.

I visited Kansas again this past August. I made sure not to miss the tea. I ordered a chicken sandwich with fries and a large Iced Sweet Tea.

NO WONDER SHE LOVES THE STUFF AND DRINKS IT EVERY MORNING. It ROCKS. It is so amazing. The blend of tea they use is unbelievable. They sweeten it just the right amount. I bought a gallon. I heard their Hand squeezed Lemonade was amazing too. (My sister loves it) I bought a gallon of it too!

I have since dreamed about the tea. The tea in my sister's new neck of the woods, was not as good as the tea in Kansas. Maybe Kansas water tastes a little better. The tea was good. I found some Irish Breakfast at Trader Joe's the other day and I made some with that. The taste is very similar. So I have a placebo, until I visit my sister again.

Sweet Tea

a cup of hot water
one Irish Breakfast Black Tea bag
1-2 tsp simple sugar syrup
1 cup of ice

Put your tea bag int the hot water. Allow it to steep for a couple minutes. Stir in the sweetener. Pour over the glass of ice. Sit back and enjoy.

The restaurant has made it's way west! I am so happy. A few locations that require a bit of a drive. My sister has relocated back to California and luckily in her new neighborhood there is a Chick Fil-A!!! You must check it out as soon as you see one. Pull over, get in there and order yourself a yummy meal. Honest, it is that good!

Beef Stew for 2

2008-10-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

I love my crock pot. I do. It is my friend. It makes my dinner. It's not that messy. It makes my house smell good. It's contents comfort me and fill my tummy. One of my favorite things to make in the crock pot is Beef Stew. A few simple ingredients and wha-la, a meat and potato meal.

Beef Stew for Two

a pound of lean beef cubed
Lawry's Garlic Salt
Salt and pepper
6-8 small to medium sized Red Potato's
1 cup mini carrots
1 cup celery chunks
1 small onion chopped
1/4 cup water

Season the bottom of the Crock pot. Place potatoes on the bottom. Put meat on top of that. Season a little more. Arrange carrots, celery and onion on top of that. Season a little bit more and sprinkle water on top. Put the lid on the crock pot and let the crock pot do the cooking! 4-6 hours on high or 6-8 on low. Serve it up and enjoy. We make our potatoes like baked potatoes.

Robby likes a baked potato. I do too. I like mine with butter, chives, salt, and pepper. He likes his...

Baked Potato Rob's Way

1 large baked potato
a pat or two of butter
1/4 cup small curd cottage cheese
salt and pepper
chives if you have them but you don't have to get that fancy

Take your baked potato and cut an x in the middle of it. Squeeze from both ends and kind of mush the potato a bit. Stuff your pats of butter in the slits. Top with your cottage cheese and then salt and pepper. Sit back and enjoy your baked potato! The use of cottage cheese is a healthier choice than the old favorite, sour cream.

Check out LifeasMom.com for her recipe swap. You won't be dissapointed as this weeks swap is Meat and Taters!

Festive Spiked Punch

2008-10-21T23:56:00.000-07:00

The holidays are around the corner. Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then... I won't rush it. Below are recipes for some fun spiked punch drinks.

Mulled Apple Cider

Jug of Apple Juice
Mulling Spice packet
Cinnamon Sticks
Captain Morgan rum

Pour Apple Juice and Mulling Spice into a pot and boil. Let set until it cools. Strain and pour into a pitcher and refrigerate. When ready to serve pour some Cider into a glass of ice and top off with some Captain. Swizzle and serve.

Cranberry Orange Punch

Jug of Cranberry Juice
Juice of an orange
Frozen Slices of an orange
Bacardi Orange Rum

In a punch bowl, pour Cranberry Juice into a punch bowl, squeeze juice from the orange into the Cranberry juice. Stir. Pour half the bottle of Bacardi O into the punch bowl. Stir again. Float frozen oranges on top of the punch. Serve punch in a glass with ice. Float a piece of orange slice on top as a garnish.

Black Chocolate Frosting

2008-10-20T17:11:00.001-07:00

Halloween is next Friday! Where has this year gone? Black is a color I associate with Halloween. Black Cats, Witch hats, bats... you know what I mean. Black Frosting would be good for lots of occasions. Over the Hill Parties or Animal Print cakes.

I have made Black Frosting one other time. One of my friends went through a long and troublesome divorce. A bunch of her girlfriends helped her celebrate the finality with a Divorce Party at a local wine bar. It was nice to celebrate the end of that hard time with loving support from all of her girls. I made black frosted cupcakes. They turned your teeth blueish black. The frosting was a butter cream with Wilton's black food coloring. It was good, it tasted black. But the color and the aftermath of black frosting was interesting. However, a true black frosting.

I made a different version of black frosting yesterday. Instead of using a ton of black food dye, I made a Hershey's Chocolate Frosting recipe and then added the black food coloring and a little cinnamon. The black was a brown black. The taste was pretty good.

Black Chocolate Frosting

1 stick butter melted
2/3 cup Hershey's Cocoa
a couple shakes cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1 16 oz box powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
Black Food coloring

Combine butter and cocoa. Stir until combined. Add vanilla and cinnamon. Slowly add powdered sugar and then a little milk, stir. Do that until ingredients are used up. If you need more milk, add a little more. Add black food coloring until the desired shade of black is achieved.

You can frost with a butter knife or pipe it through a bag.

Boiled Pumpkin Equals Fresh Pumpkin for Recipes

2008-10-17T21:03:00.001-07:00

My boyfriend will only eat pumpkin pies with Fresh Pumpkin. He can tell the difference. Only the past year or two have I even attempted making a Pumpkin Pie. Tedious chore, labor of LOVE for Robby's Favorite Birthday and Holiday dessert. Fresh Pumpkin and homemade pie crust are a must, too. Bottom line, only Pumpkin Pies made by his Mom, Diane are the best. Hands down, Di is the Queen of the Pumpkin Pie.

Here is what you need.

One Large Jack O' Lantern Pumpkin uncarved.
A large stock pot
Water
Cuisinart
Ziploc bags
Sharpie Marker

Clean your pumpkin with soap and water. Rinse well and dry it. Carefully cut the top off of your pumpkin. Remove seeds and set aside if you want to roast them later. Using a bread knife, saw into the pumpkin. I usually cut 6 to 8 slabs, and then I cut the slabs into smaller chunks. Toss the chunks into your stock pot filled with water. Put the pot on the stove and cook until the pieces are fork tender. Sorry, I have not timed it. I do other things while my pumpkin is boiling, so check them periodically. Once pumpkin chunks are fork tender take them off the stove and drain them. Allow them to cool. Once pumpkin chunks are cooled, take a paring knife and cut the skin from the the chunks. (the first time I ever made pies, I called Robby's sister to ask how this process is done, she gave me directions. I did not write them down. I got to the cooled point, called her to double check and asked do I peel the skin from the chunks? She said No, thinking I was going to peel them before boiling. Anyway, I tried to run them through the Cuisinart and the skins would NOT blend up. My pies were made with the skins. People ate them though.) Process the chunks in the Cuisinart. Measure two cups of Pumpkin puree per bag or however much you see fit. I do two cups for pumpkin bread and pumpkin pies. Label your bags with the Sharpie.

Freeze them and use them for all your Holiday baking or for a Harvest Pumpkin Soup!

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

2008-10-15T22:23:00.000-07:00

LifeasMom.com is having a recipe swap. Pumpkin recipes a plenty! Life As Mom is a great site. Check it out! Every once in awhile she has a Recipe Swap. Last week was apples. This week its pumpkin. Here is my pumpkin creation. These pumpkin cupcakes are more bread like than cake like. But sooooo good

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

1 cup fresh or canned pumpkin
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1 3/4 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin pan with liners or place souffle cups on a baking sheet, set aside. Sift together dry ingredients and set aside. In a large mixing bowl combine pumpkin, eggs, oil and milk. Slowly add flour mixture until well combined. Fill cups to 2/3 full and bake in the oven 25-30 minutes or until tooth pick comes out clean. Let cakes cool.

Cinnamon Frosting

2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp cinnamon
a pinch ginger
1 stick butter (room temp)

Combine pwd. sugar and milk. Stir. Add vanilla, and stir. Add spices. Add butter and whip until fluffy. Frost your cooled cupcakes. Enjoy!

Football Foods

2008-10-12T15:50:00.000-07:00

Football Season is here! Football Foods are a necessity. There are plenty of things you can toss in the crock pot, that will be ready in a few hours that are out of this world delish! Below you will find a few recipes for Good Eats! These will get you to Superbowl!

Buffalo Chicken Legs

One dozen Chicken Legs (or more depending on the size of your Crock Pot.)
Lawry's Garlic Salt
Pepper

Sprinkle the bottom of the Crock pot with the seasonings. Put the Chicken Legs, meaty end down in the Crock pot. Sprinkle with more seasonings. Depending on how much time you have cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. The legs will cook and skin will turn golden in the crock pot. When legs are cooked, drain broth from pot. (Reserve broth to make soup with or toss it) Mix the 2 ingredients below.

Red Rooster Hot Louisiana Sauce
1/4 - 1/2 cup melted Butter

Pour sauce over legs in the crock pot. Make sure legs get covered in the spicy stuff. Leave them in the crock pot until ready to serve. Turn crock pot to warm or low.

Serve with Ranch dressing and a few celery or carrot sticks.

Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

3 bags Papa Luigi's Meatballs (12 per bag) or 36 homemade pre-cooked Meatballs
1 cup Sweet Baby Ray's Sweet Vidalia Onion barbecue sauce
1/4 cup Wilcox honey (our friends keep bees and their bees make the best honey)
3 Tablespoons Knott's Boysenberry Jam

Put Meatballs in the crock pot. In a bowl combine the BBQ sauce, honey and jam. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave another 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat until sauce is well combined and the pour over meatballs. Stir until all meatballs are sauced. Keep on low heat for about 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours. These are delish! Serve with fun toothpicks.

Layered Brownie Bars

2008-10-08T00:00:00.001-07:00

Brownies... what a yummy dessert. These were created back in the late 90's. They are one of my favorites and they look so darn delectable.

Layered Brownie Bars

One box brownie mix made as directed on box
One recipe of your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of a 9 X 13 or jelly roll pan. Press your favorite cookie dough into the bottom of the pan. Make sure it is even. Pour the brownie mix on top of the cookie dough. Spread until brownie mix is even. Pop it in the oven and bake according to the box directions. Toothpick test and add time accordingly.

Allow to cool. Cut and serve your delicious brownies and pat yourself on the back.

Time for Hot Dips

2008-10-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

It's cooling off a bit. Salsa makes a fun dip, but as the temperatures cool, it's time to bake up some yummy dips. Hot and Cheesy, calorie laden dips. YUMMY. There is something comforting about a Hot Dip. Below you will find two common hot dips. Most ingredients can be found at Trader Joe's.

28413 Spinach Dip

1/2 cup frozen spinach drained
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
1/2 cup monterey jack cheese shredded
1/4 tsp. minced garlic
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. Italian herbs
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded (to top the dip)

In a small bowl, mix the spinach, sour cream and cheeses together. Add the garlic and seasonings and mix. Spray the bottom of an au gratin dish or small souffle dish or large ramekin dish with oil. Transfer dip from bowl to whatever you are going to bake it in and top with the extra cheese. Pop that in the oven and bake for 30 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Sometimes I nuke it first and then put it in the oven so cheese gets bubbly and golden. Microwaving also speeds the cooking time a bit.

This amount of dip will serve 3-4 people as an appetizer. You can double or triple depending on how many guest you are having.

Serve with french bread cubes, or tortilla chips, or pita chips or Miss Vickie's Nine Grain Simply Salted Chips!

28413 Artichoke Dip

1 can Trader Joe's Canned Artichoke (when drained ends up being 8.5 oz)
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. Italian herbs
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cube cream cheese (softened)
1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

approximately one cup of cheese to top.

Chop Artichoke in the Cuisinart. Dump chopped Artichoke in a medium sized bowl. Add garlic and seasonings and stir. Add sour cream and stir. Add cream cheese and stir. Slowly add cheeses, stirring between each addition. Pour dip into a greased 8 x 8 casserole dish or smaller ones. Sprinkle cheese on top. I put mine in smaller oven proof containers, wrap and freeze for later use. Dip freezes well. If baking a frozen one you can speed up cooking time by microwaving. Otherwise, bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.

This amount of dip will serve 6-8 as an appetizer, unless you divy it up into the smaller containers.

Serve with tortilla chips, bread slices, pita chips, whatever your little heart desires. Enjoy.

Waffles

2008-10-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

I ran out of Bisquick. I really wanted a nice crispy waffle. I tried to be healthy about it too.

Here goes...

Waffles

1 cup unbleached flour
1 packet Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/4 cup percent milk
a few shakes cinnamon
1 egg (with thingies removed)
1 tbs. canola oil

Get your waffle maker out of the cupboard. Dust it off. Plug it in. Wipe waffle maker with a paper towel. Spray it with a little bit of oil. Wipe if off again. Mix the above ingredients together. It might be a little lumpy because of the oats. When waffle maker is heated and ready, pour a little batter into reservoirs and shut the maker. I cooked mine for 2-3 minutes. The waffle maker light said ready but the waffles were not crispy or cooked enough.

Serve them hot with butter and syrup. We ran out of maple so we had ours with boysenberry and blueberry syrup.

Super Sweet Bars

2008-10-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

Super Sweet Bars. Layers of sweet, ooey, gooey goodness. They are almost too sweet. The base of these bars are made with a box of cake mix.

Super Sweet Bars

One box of Devil's Food Cake Mix
1/2 cup butter or Margarine

Mix together with a fork or pastry blender until crumbly. Pat the crust into the bottom of a Jelly Roll pan.

1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup coconut
1 cup nuts (slivered almonds, cashew, pecans...)
1 cup Heath Bits O' Brickle (optional)
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

Sprinkle chips on the crust layer. Layer the coconut. Layer the nuts. Sprinkle the Bits O' Brickle. Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the layers of sweet goodness.

Bake for 20-30 minutes in a 350 degree F oven.

Maple Oatmeal Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

2008-09-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

I made some of these to take to San Marcos to see my family. They lasted all of about a day. They are good and a little on the healthy side with the addition of the oatmeal packets.

Maple Oatmeal Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 packets Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal
2 2/3 cups flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 cup chocolate chips
2/3 cup Heath bits o brickle

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In your mixing bowl combine butter and sugars. Mix until creamy. Add the egg (with white thingies removed). Add vanilla and cinnamon. Mix. Add baking soda and salt to your flour, add a little of the flour mix at a time and mix until all flour is used up. Now add the packets of Oatmeal. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips and Heath bits o brickle. On your cookie sheet drop by tablespoon full and bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are set. These are delicious!

Italian Beef Sausage Patty Burgers

2008-09-27T21:57:00.000-07:00

Oh, were these burgers ever good! My taste buds are still singing "That's Amore". Yum, Yum and more YUM! If you like Italian Sausage YOU WILL love this recipe for a burger!

Italian Beef Sausage Patty Burgers

One Pound Ground Beef
1 Tbs. Italian Herbs
1/2 tsp. Lawry's Garlic Salt
1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/8 tsp. Onion Powder
1/2 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper
1 tsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup sour cream

Combine all ingredients in your KitchenAid bowl. Using the dough hook, mix well. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated and the meat is whipped. I used the dough hook because all the other attachments were dirty. Use the dough hook. It makes a tender burger. Using wax paper and two dessert plates, put piece of wax paper on plate. Take one sixth of the burger mix, roll it into a ball and place on the w. paper. Take another sheet of the w. paper and place it on top of meat. Take the other dessert plate and smash the meat to make a patty. Stack patties on another plate. Once you have made all six patties, put them in the freezer to chill.

While meat is chilling chop the following. One medium red onion and one large bell pepper. Saute the onion and pepper in a pan with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Warm a little Trader Joe's Pizza Sauce in the microwave.

Fire up the grill, Take patties from the freezer and place on the hot grill. Butter your hamburger buns, set aside. Cook for 2-3 minutes and flip. Place buns on grill to toast. Make sure they don't burn. Once burgers are cooked, pull them off the grill. Remove buns when they are toasted to perfection.

Take a toasted bun, spread a little pizza sauce on the bun. Place a slice of Provolone or Mozzarella on top of sauce. Put a burger patty on top of that. Top the burger with a little of the sauteed onion and pepper. Eat and Enjoy and savor every bite.

Spicy Chicken Noodle SOUP

2008-09-24T23:24:00.000-07:00

It was hotter than heck today. 99 degrees, walking on the asphalt felt like you were walking in an oven. HOT!

One of the local markets had Campbell's Soup on sale. I stocked up on a few cans. Soup is good for the soul sometimes. I bought a potato one and a chicken noodle one. NO soup from a can tastes like a homemade soup. Sorry, sometimes close but not really.

This soup is one of my favorites. I actually love it. It is a twist on a traditional soup.

SPICY Chicken Noodle

One Rotisserie Chicken with broth in the container or 3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts cooked and shredded
5 tablespoons of Better than Bouillon Chicken Broth base
5 cups Hot water
1 tsp. chopped jalapeno
1/4 tsp. minced garlic
1 Tbs. Italian herbs
1 can Rotel Tomatoes and Green Chilis
Sliced carrots
sliced celery
chopped onion
1 bell pepper chopped (optional)
1/2 cup corn (optional)
1 pound pasta, (bowties, fusilli, penne, whatever you like) cooked put in a Ziploc and refrigerate.

Take out the crockpot. Set pot to low. Remove the chicken from the whole rotisserie chicken (use light and dark meat) and place in crockpot or put your shredded chicken in the crockpot. Combine bouillon and water, add to crockpot. Stir in jalapeno, garlic and Italian herbs. Add your tomatoes, chopped or sliced veggies. Cover pot and do what your need to do. The smell of this soup is amazing. If you are sick or have allergies, this soup will help clear your sinuses. It truly is a tasty soup. I crave it sometimes.

When ready to serve, pull the pasta from the fridge or from your drained pot if you prepare the pasta just before serving. Place some noodles in your bowl. Nuke them for 10 seconds if you want. Then ladle some of your Spicy Chicken Soup over your noodles. Sprinkle a little cheese over it if you would like to. Eat and Enjoy and if you are sick FEEL BETTER!

Deviled Eggs

2008-09-23T21:20:00.000-07:00

Deviled Eggs... I have never ate one. I have a sincere dislike of eggs. I especially loathe the little white funky thingies that hang off both sides of the yolk. You might notice that I make notations on certain recipes, like following egg, white thingies removed. But I hard boil them and make Egg Salad for Rob or on occasion for Sunday dinners or Superbowl I make Deviled Eggs. I've even been known to sunny side up an egg a time or two. But deviled eggs. Are they evil? "The term deviled came from 18th century England, relating to cooking in fiery hot spices or condiments." -Ron Lester. Check out his informative article here http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/216014/the_origin_of_the_deviled_egg.html?cat=22

28413 Deviled Eggs

1 dozen eggs boiled and shells peeled
1/2 cup mayonnaise
salt and pepper
Extra Spicy Hungarian Paprika

Slice your eggs in half. Voila, 24 appetizers. Carefully remove the yolk halves into a small mixing bowl. Set the deviled egg shells on a platter. Mash the yolks up with a fork. Add the mayo and mix it up, until a bit creamy. Salt and pepper the mixture and stir. If you like your yolk mix creamier add more mayo.

I make my D. Eggs fancy by putting an icing tip in a sandwich sized Ziploc bag. I trim the corner of the bag. Put the icing tip part in the bag and twist the part to secure tip in the bag. Spoon the yolk mixture into the Ziploc and pipe the yellow mixture into the egg white shells. After all the shells are filled, pour some paprika into your hand and sprinkle a pinch of paprika onto each D. Egg. They sure look extra perty with the fancy tip piped yolk mix.

Other toppings or additions you might want to consider:
Bacon
green onion
a slice of black olive
diced ham
salsa
tabasco

Serve with pride.

Kahlua Coconut Rolo Brownie Cups

2008-09-22T22:07:00.001-07:00

Say that fast a few times...

I made these to take to the Compassionate Friends Family Picnic. Compassionate Friends is a group of People who have something in common. They have all dealt with tremendous loss, the loss of a child, one family lost both of their sons in the same car accident. They had a balloon release in honor of the Children that the Compassionate Friends group had lost. I went with my friend Katie and her family in memory of Taylor. The event was amazing. Emotional but amazing. Taylor loved the sweets!

Kahlua Coconut Rolo Brownie Cups

One package Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix (10.25 oz)
1/3 cup canola oil
2 Tablespoons Kahlua liqueur
1 egg
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup shredded coconut

2 packs of Rolos
1/4 cup shredded coconut

In a small mixing bowl combine the brownie mix with the oil and Kahlua. Stir. Add the egg (removing white thingies) and stir. Now add chocolate chips and coconut. Line a muffin tin with cupcake holders or use the Jumbo aluminum cupcake holders on a cookie sheet. You will get 10 with the Jumbo cups. I'm not sure how many with the smaller ones, maybe a dozen. Fill each cup with a generous scoop of brownie mix. Press one Rolo candy info each brownie cup. Sprinkle a little coconut on top and pop them in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-28 minutes. Smaller ones less time. Jumbo ones 25-28 minutes.

These brownies are really good. Really GOOD.

Beef Ribs

2008-09-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

I was walking through the market. Stumbled over to the Meat Department, spotted some ribs and asked for 3 small slabs. I remembered how my Aunt Peg boils them and then slathers barbecue sauce all over them and then grills them. Rob loved her ribs, so I was going to try and recreate them. Below is what I did.

Beef Ribs

A few slabs of beef ribs
meat tenderizer
garlic salt
Mrs. Dash Chipotle seasoning
water

A spicy Rub of various seasonings
Any kind of Barbecue Sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray's Sweet Vidalia Onion, Brown Sugar and Maple and Honey Chipotle)

I filled my stock pot with water, I sprinkled meat tenderizer, garlic salt and Mrs. Dash into the water and stirred it. Add ribs and bring water to a boil. Boil for about 15 minutes. Carefully remove ribs from the beef stock and place on a jelly roll pan. Sprinkle rub seasoning over ribs. Squirt your favorite barbecue sauce over ribs and brush with a brush or use a fork to spread the sauce.

Heat up your grill and grill ribs on low, bone side down for 10 minutes. Turn the ribs over and grill them for another 10 minutes. DON'T forget them on the grill. I made rib briquets. Only a few of my ribs were salvageable. But man were they good. Extra barbecue sauce helped with the extra crunchy carcinogen nuggets.

I served my ribs with PW's Crash Potatoes. Load them with cheese and butter and sour cream and your meal of Meat and Potatoes is done.

Ground Beef Crockpot Chili

2008-09-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

Finally some relief from the summer heat and a bit financially at the gas pump! With the not so scorching temps outside, I have been craving some comfort crock pot food. Chili is one of those meals. My Mom makes a bean variety that is amazing and I miss it. Rob loathes beans so I have to make the no bean variety. When Rob and I first started dating about 11 years ago, he showed me this technique on how to make ArSE Kicking Chili with chunks of beef. I made it this recipe the other night. It is really easy and so amazingly delicious!

Ground Beef Crock pot Chili

One pound ground beef
a little olive oil
1 small onion chopped up
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
1 small can green chilis
1 Tbs. minced garlic
1 package Carroll Shelby's (brown bag) or Six Gun Chili Mixin's (yellow and orange bag)
1 medium jar Pace Picante Sauce
a little olive oil

Frito Scoops
Grated cheddar cheese
Sour Cream
Chopped onion

Take your Crock pot out of your cabinet and dust it off or go the local WalMart and invest in one. You will love your Crock pot. It will become your friend and you will soon depend on it. Pour a little olive oil in a skillet and saute your bell peppers and onion for a minute or two. Add your ground beef and start browning it. Only brown it about half way. Dump the meat into your crock pot. Dump Pace Picante Sauce on top of the meat. Stir it up a little bit. Take the big seasoning packet from the Chili Seasoning bag and sprinkle it over meat mixture. Stir. Add the can of green chilis. Put the top on the crock pot and set your pot to the low setting. Go do what you need to, then a few hours later enjoy the best chili ever. EVER! When serving put some Fritos in the bottom of your chili bowl. Spoon a big spoonful on the chips then, top with cheddar cheese, sour cream, onions. Eat it and LOVE it!

Mini Tostada Appetizers

2008-09-15T18:38:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I semi browned a pound of ground beef for our weekly or bi-weekly Taco Night. I added garlic, a packet of Pace Picante Taco Seasoning, and a small can of green chilis. Dumped that in my crock pot and left it there to cook for the rest of the day, while I shampooed my carpet, did my banking, returned some stuff to WalMart. Somehow I forgot to eat some lunch. So, not wanting to spoil my appetite for dinner, I used up some of Mission Round Tortilla chips, I bought for 97 cents a bag (Thank You VONS) to make Mini Tostada Appetizers!

Mini Tostada Appetizers

Mission Tortilla Rounds (pick some perfect ones)
a can of refried beans
seasoned ground beef
shredded cheese blend
sour cream
guacamole
salsa

This is real easy. Heat your beans and beef. Take your perfect tortilla rounds. Spread a little of the beans onto the chip. Sprinkle with a little bit of the cheese. Spoon a little ground beef on top of that. Nuke in the micro for a few seconds. Top with a little more cheese, sour cream, guacamole and salsa if desired. Eat them and Enjoy them. I know I did and they were YUMMY!

Apple Cinnamon Chimichangas

2008-09-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

This recipe is similar to Food Network's Ingrid Hoffman's Apple Chimichangas. She uses a pear and an apple. I used fuji apples. Check out her recipe at http://www.foodnetwork.com/. You won't be disappointed. Below is what I used to make tonight's dessert for Sunday dinner. No complaints!

Apple Cinnamon Chimichangas

1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 large cored fuji apples, no skin, sliced
1/4 cup tequila
1/4 cup triple sec
8 tortillas
2 cups canola oil

Powdered sugar
Cinnamon sugar
1/2 Fat Dryers Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Melt your butter in a large skillet. Add brown sugar and cinnamon to butter and stir. Stir and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Add your sliced apples and cook them for about 5 minutes or until they softened a bit. Add the alcohol and continue to cook another 5 minutes.

Wrap your tortillas in a paper towel and nuke for a minute until they are soft. Spoon 1/2 cup or so of the apples onto your tortilla. Fold it like a burrito and fix the side with a toothpick. In a smaller frying pan, heat your canola oil. Fry each chimichanga until crispy and golden brown. Transfer them to a paper towel to absorb excess oil. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar. Serve hot with a scoop of Vanilla Bean Ice cream. Drizzle some of the syrup from the apples on top of chimichanga and ice cream. ENJOY!

Sponge Candy, Honeycomb, Sea Sponge aka. REALLY GOOD LIGHT AS AIR CANDY

2008-09-10T22:25:00.000-07:00

I first stumbled across this stuff in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. I was there for a wedding. On one of the last days, it was rainy, I was staying at the St. Paul hotel and I suited up and headed out umbrella in hand and walked a couple blocks to the store filled with sugar...

Candyland. If you are ever in Minnesota's Twin Cities, I highly recommend you go there. If you are flying, plan to have an extra suitcase to fill with your sweet loot! Check out their website www.candylandstore.com.

When I returned home, I enjoyed tasty popcorn and the sponge candy! When the sponge candy ran out, I had withdrawls and then I went cyber surfing to find a recipe. This website is amazing. Truly amazing and it doesn't stop with sponge candy. There are lots of recipes. If you have time and like fudge, they have fudge types I have never even heard of. The site is www.thatsmyhome.com/general.sponge.htm

That's My Home's Sponge Candy

1 cup sugar
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 T. vinegar
1 T. baking soda

Combine sugar, corn syrup and vinegar in a heavy saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Then cook to 300 degrees F or to the crack stage. Remove from heat and stir soda in quickly as it will froth up almost double or triple in size. Pour into a buttered pan. Cool and break into pieces.

Candyland covered their sponge candy with dark or milk chocolate and WOW. This stuff is amazing!

I have made this with light corn syrup and brown sugar. Very good anyway. I am going to try it with honey one of these days. They call it honeycomb... hmm?

CROCK POT Pork Tenderloin Spaghetti Sauce

2008-09-09T22:20:00.000-07:00

Say that fast a few times, never mind. I picked up a pork tenderloin from Sam's Club a while ago and froze it. I left it in the 'fridge to thaw. I opened the package and realized there were two tenderloins. Last night, with one of them, I made Rob's Pork Chops and Rice. I altered the recipe a bit by using chicken broth instead of water in the rice. It was good. With the other, I made CROCK POT Pork Tenderloin Spaghetti Sauce! The meat cooks all day in the sauce and WOW is it ever good. Very tasty, meaty and just plain delish!

CROCK POT Pork Tenderloin Spaghetti Sauce

One 28 oz can Diced tomatoes
One 28 oz can Trader Joe's Marinara Sauce
1 Tbs. Italian herbs
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 Tbs. Minced Garlic
1 Tbs. Lawry's Garlic Salt
Fresh Cracked Pepper
A few shakes Red pepper flakes if you'd like
One Pork Tenderloin (trim fat)

Sprinkle Garlic salt on the bottom of your CROCK. Place tenderloin on garlic salt, sprinkle remaining garlic salt on pork. Crack some pepper on the tenderloin. Dump diced tomatoes and marinara sauce on top pork. Add remaining seasonings and stir. Set CROCK POT on low and cook for most of the day. Tenderloin will break apart when you stir sauce after a day worth of cooking.

Boil Pasta of your choice and serve pasta with your delicious CROCK POT Pork Tenderloin Spaghetti Sauce! We had it over Spaghetti tonight and it was FANTASTIC!

Fantastic Guacamole

2008-09-03T07:42:00.001-07:00

I was not always a fan of avocado. Yep, sad but true. I have a bit of an allergy to the bumpy black skinned chloropyhl filled mass of deliciousness. Occasionally, my mouth swells when I eat it. Same goes for honeydew and kiwi fruit. It must be a verdant thing.

Anyway, as I have grown and matured in the ways of the taste buds..

I love Guacamole. I'd like to say I make it all by myself. Well, I cut the avocado and remove the seed and scrape the green goodness from the skin, but I use a mix. I do, use a mix. It is Fantastic! They sell it spicy and mild. I have tried both and LOVE both. The seasonings in the packet are amazing. The Guacamole is so good. When people eat it they go nuts and say it is the best.

So below is the not so secret ingredient for Fantastic Guacamole

FANTASTIC GUACAMOLE

Two large ripe avocados
One packet McCormick's Produce Partners Great Guacamole Spicy or Mild Seasoning Packet

Simply follow the directions on the back and enjoy.

Red Rice

2008-09-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

When in Kansas, I made Red Rice to go with Flautas for dinner. In the past I have used salsa but my Sister suggested tomato paste. I have not used tomato paste much. But the Red Rice was amazing.

Red Rice

1 1/2 cups white rice
2 Tbs butter
Half a can of tomato paste
Garlic Salt
Pepper
3 cups chicken broth

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and add rice. Stir. Cook on medium to high heat to coat rice with butter and toast it a bit. Add tomato paste and seasonings. Stir. Add broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Serve with whatever you'd like. It is very tasty!

Produce A Plenty From Tom's Farm in Corona, California

2008-08-31T22:30:00.001-07:00

I spent a week in Kansas with my sister and her family. What a wonderful week and I was lucky enough to meet my newest niece. She is the sweetest little bundle of girlness. Flew in Friday morning. I rushed straight back to work to spend two hours in traffic coming from LAX airport. Holiday weekend 1:30pm GRIDLOCK. Made it to work with like 10 seconds to spare. I worked until 9, came home packed again and left early Saturday morning to Glen Ivy's Hot Springs in Corona, California.

WOW. I needed the spa treatments and the R and R. I work really long days, sitting mostly and my body was gets really tweaked. Glen Ivy was great. I am still detoxing. On the way to the Hot Springs is this really great point of interest. Tom's Farm. My friend and I decided we would check it out Sunday before heading home. OMG. The produce in the market was amazing. I saw things I have only heard about. I wish I had my camera, because if I had it you would see pictures of the most amazing produce in California. Okra, rhubarb, fennel bulbs, ginger...

Tom's Farm has a market. I came home with a cart full of produce and other goodies.

With the red and black plums I will make a Pork Tenderloin with Plum Sauce.

With the peaches I will make a hot and crusty Peach Cobbler.

With the pickling cucumbers I will make Refrigerator pickles.

The grapes will be eaten and enjoyed.

The fresh green beans were turned into Dilled green beans tonight. YUM!

The yellow and white corn was boiled and served with butter and salt and pepper tonight. YUMMY!

The Roma Tomatoes will turn into bruschetta, and salsa, and a fantastic accompaniment to a sandwich.

SPONGE Candy. OH my my. This stuff is amazing. The first time I tasted it, it was in St. Paul, Minnesota at the Candyland Store. Tom's Farm's Candy store is amazing too!!!

They even had a huge selection of GLUTEN FREE products.

If you are ever in Corona, California you must visit. It is located at 23900 Temescal Canyon Rd. Their website is www. tomsearms.com

I will post some of the recipes from the above mentioned items in the next couple of weeks.