My Simple Kitchen

Hot Pizza Dip

2010-01-07T13:32:00.003-05:00

This is an old Pampered Chef recipe that makes for a delicious appetizer, snack, or even lunch during all of this chilly weather!

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning (or just combine a little oregano, basil and garlic powder)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup shredded fresh Parmesan cheese
1 can (8 oz) pizza sauce

Garnish: 2 Tbsp. chopped green bell pepper or 2 Tbsp. green onion slices

Preheat oven to 350. Combine cream cheese and Italian seasoning in small bowl. Spread onto bottom of a small baking dish (PC's Mini Baker if you have it). In another small bowl combine mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle half of it over the cream cheese. Spread pizza sauce over it and then sprinkle with the other half of the mozz/Parm mixture. Top with garnishes (I didn't do any!) Bake 15-18 minutes or until bubbly.

Serve with toasted baguette slices or fresh vegetable dippers!

Chicken Enchiladas

2009-10-03T11:30:00.002-05:00

Publix has their Pace Picante Sauce on sale this week...buy one, get one free. Food Lion has Kraft Shredded Cheeses on sale this week...buy one, get one free. And they have boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $1.79/lb. So guess what this means?? It's time for Chicken Enchiladas!!

1 medium onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken
1 (12 oz) jar picante sauce, halved
3 oz. cream cheese
1 tsp. ground cumin
2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
8 (6 inch) flour tortillas

Heat oven to 350. In a large skillet saute onions in butter until soft. Add chicken, half of the picante, cream cheese and cumin. Stir until combined. Add 1 cup of the cheese. Stir and remove from heat.

Spoon 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture in each tortilla. Roll up and place in 7x12 baking dish. Top with remaining Picante sauce and cheese. Bake for 15 minutes.

Yum!!

Peanut Butter Bites

2009-02-17T13:39:00.003-05:00

This is a quick and simple treat to make that's full of protein and healthy goodness! Perfect for children and toddler-hands! Thanks Elise for this delish after-school snack!!

1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter (crunchy will work, too, or even almond butter)
3/4 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup raw honey

Mix well and roll into 1 inch balls. Place on waxed paper-lined pan and refrigerate at least one hour before serving. Store covered for up to one month- if there are any left!

Praline Thumbprint Cookies

2008-12-02T12:14:00.003-05:00

No photo for these...the last thing I think about when these cookies come out of the oven is a photo!! They are too good not to eat up immediately!

This recipe comes from a local church cookbook and the woman who makes them every year at the holidays is a good friend of my sister. We started making them ourselves (we were tired of praying that Leslie would get some from her at cookie swaps! :) about two years ago, and they are heavenly.

Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well at a medium speed. Add flour, mixing well. Stir in chopped pecans and vanilla. Shape dough into one inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press thumb in center of each cookie to make an indention. Bake at 375 for 15-17 minutes. Do not brown. Cool on wire racks.

Praline Filling

1/2 cup butter
dash salt
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add brown sugar and salt. Bring to a boil. Let boil 2 minutes. Remove praline mixture from heat and cool to lukewarm. Stir in powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Beat with a wooden spoon til mixture is smooth. Spoon about 1/2 tsp. of the praline filling into each indention.

Enjoy with a cup of hot tea and a good holiday read.

Crockpot Chili

2008-11-06T13:40:00.001-05:00

This is a great meal to put together in the morning and let it sit slow cooking all day. It's also great to assemble ahead of time and freeze...then just thaw the Ziploc the night before and plop in the Crockpot the next morning. This is an adaptation of the chili recipe that came with my Crockpot.

1 lb. ground beef, browned
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can pinto beans, undrained
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
2-3 Tbsp. chili powder
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper

Cook on low for 5 or so hours.

Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, Tostito scoops, or rice.

Brown the Beef

2008-10-30T10:56:00.003-05:00

If you want to make life simpler in your kitchen, do some of your work ahead of time. I went grocery shopping this morning and bought 4 lbs. of organic ground beef. That's about what I buy for two weeks worth...two ground beef dishes a week. When I walked in the door, I immediately got out my big ol' family skillet and browned all four pounds of beef with about 1/2 of a large sweet onion. I drained it and now it is cooling.

I have labeled 4 freezer Ziploc bags for the meat once it has cooled. One will be for Crockpot Chili. The others are for spaghetti sauce, lasagna, and Cincinnati Chili. I will freeze the Crockpot Chili with all of the ingredients in with the beef...beans, tomatoes, spices. For the spaghetti sauce and lasagna, I just will split up the beef into their quart size bags to be ready for when I need it for sauce. For the Cincinnati Chili, I will just add the spices for that recipe, and freeze (in my cabinet I already have the tomato sauce and tomato paste for that recipe...and I took a Sharpie and put a big "X" on those cans so that I know they are to be used for freezer food).

Browning the beef ahead of time will save you time in the future because you only had to do it once instead of four times (which also decreases your dishwashing time!) and it also makes you know that you have meals planned and ready to go.

photos by dronir

Pecan Chicken Spread

2008-10-30T07:26:00.006-05:00

As the holidays get closer, we always need some good stand-by appetizer or bring-to-a-party recipes. My sister has had this recipe for at least 20 years and it's always a crowd pleaser. It's original name was "Chicken Loaf", but let's face it...anything with "loaf" in it doesn't sound appetizing. So I renamed it. But it's just as delicious as ever.

1 1/2 cups cooked, minced chicken
1/3 cup minced celery
2 (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp. Heinz 57
1/2 tsp. curry
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Blend together cream cheese, Heinz 57 and curry. Add chicken and celery and stir. Form into ball or dome. Cover with parsley and nuts. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Serve with crackers.

I know. Sounds weird to have Heinz 57. But trust me, this is awesome!

photo by fuzuoko

Seasonal Freezer Cooking

2008-10-15T09:36:00.005-05:00

I am back at freezer cooking again. I now have a "fall freezer cooking" menu which gave me the great idea to do "seasonal freezer cooking". For me that means to come up with a new freezer cooking menu every three months according to the season of the year and the cravings that come when those seasons arrive. I usually prepare about 14 meals which will then be rotated six times. This keeps my thinking and planning to a minimum and allows me to pick up meat on sale when I shop knowing what I will do with it once I get home.

So here is what we just finished up eating and what I will prepare again later today:

Sesame Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken
Honey Lime Chicken
Cincinnati Chili
Crockpot Chili
Spaghetti Sauce
Fajitas
Steak Kebobs
Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kebobs
Citrus-Lime Pork Chops
Crockpot Cinnamon Pork Tenderloin
Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Easy and tasty meals put together quickly and stored away in Ziplocs in my freezer. Which frees
me up for all the crafty goodness I am doing in preparation for Holiday gift-giving! Cooking now means more time for creativity later!

What's a few of your favorite fall meals?

photo by wwsjr

Grilled Pork Tenderloin

2008-10-14T08:20:00.004-05:00

This is a great grilled pork tenderloin recipe that feeds a crowd. Marinate, grill and slice into thin medallions. I marinate the pork and then freeze it in a Ziploc until I need it! Kroger has their pork tenderloins on sale this week for $1.99/lb so stock up and freeze them!

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. sherry
1 1/2 tsp. dried minced onion
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 pinch garlic powder
2 (3/4 lb) pork tenderloins

Marinate 6-12 hours. Grill for 20 minutes.

photo by tiny bites

Roasted Potatoes

2008-10-08T17:17:00.003-05:00

We love potatoes. They are inexpensive, filling, and extremely versatile. And with our busy lives and crazy economy, those are great attributes to have! Potatoes can easily be your main dish when baked and served with lots o' toppings....or as a hearty side dish...and it's really hard to mess these guys up.

Our long time favorite way of eating potatoes is to roast them. My sister got me hooked on these about 15 years ago. Back then we just quartered red potatoes, put them in a 9x13 pan, drizzled a stick of butter over them, sprinkled some poultry seasoning, and then baked at 450 for an hour.

These days I do the same exact thing...I just substitute delicious lime-pepper seasoning for the poultry seasoning. Delish... and a staple with our cheeseburgers.

Another recipe that I tried this evening is for Garlic Red Potatoes. These were more "elegant" and would be wonderful paired with sauteed chicken breasts.

4 lbs. red potatoes, quartered
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 Tbsp. and 1 tsp. minced garlic
2 tsp. salt
2 lemons, juiced
2 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Place potatoes in a 9x13 pan. In a small bowl combine butter, garlic, salt and lemon juice. Pour over potatoes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake COVERED 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes. (I actually had to add another 10-12 minutes to that.)

Serve!

Cutting A Red Pepper

2008-10-06T10:21:00.003-05:00

You must run over to this blog and see how to cut a red pepper so that no pesky seeds are on your knife, cutting board, or pepper pieces.

Don't you just love clever cooking tips?

Taco Soup

2008-09-19T16:06:00.003-05:00

This is an old stand-by for the fall and winter. It's great when you can buy canned veggies on sale or buy-one-get-one free. It serves a crowd and is quite filling. We eat half and I freeze the rest!

1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion
3 cans diced tomatoes
1 can pinto beans
1 can corn
1 can black beans
1 can diced green chilies
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

Brown beef and onion in large pot. Drain. Add everything else (I drain the corn and rinse the black beans first)...heat through!

Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, and if you have some, a sprinkling of cilantro!

Taco Chicken Wraps

2008-09-04T17:45:00.005-05:00

Today I pulled out my Crockpot for the first time since winter. I am slowly moving away from my summer grill-dependence and towards the Slow Cooker to get autumn dinners prepared early in the day.

This recipe is one that I received at a Freezer Cooking seminar a few years ago. I had never tried it until today, but it's tasty and filling so it'll be a keeper for sure.

1 lb. frozen corn
3-4 frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 packet taco seasoning mix
16 oz. salsa
2 cans black beans

Tortillas, sour cream, cheese, and lettuce.

Layer all ingredients in Crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Stir at 4 hours. Stir again at the end...when you stir this time, the chicken will break apart/shred and the mixture will thicken.

Serve with whole-grain tortillas and all the fixin's!

photo by MariSheibley

Vegetable Chowder

2008-09-04T14:45:00.003-05:00

My tummy has been under-the-weather this week and everything I eat seems to make me feel bad. So as I was debating my lunch choices today, I thought:

"a bowl of simple soup is just what I need!"

So I reached for my More-with-Less Cookbook because I thought it would give me the best chance of a recipe with the ingredients I have on hand. And it delivered, as usual. This is a simple vegetable chowder that is easy to throw together for a warm, nourishing lunch.

1/2 cup rice, uncooked
3 chicken bouillon cubes
5 cups water
1/2 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced potatoes
1 minced onion
1/2 cup finely cut celery
1 cup canned tomatoes
2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Bring to a boil and simmer 45 minutes. Add when ready to serve:
1 cup milk
Heat almost to boiling and serve immediately.

No frills, just soupy comfort.

photo by peskymac

Cantaloupe Soup

2008-08-29T17:56:00.003-05:00

I found this recipe in a Susan Branch Summer Cookbook today and since I have tons of cantaloupe on hand that needed to be consumed, I tried this! And we found it very refreshing!

1 large ripe cantaloupe
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

Cut cantaloupe in half, remove seeds, scoop out flesh and put it into the blender with all other ingredients. Blend until smooth. Chill well and garnish with flowers.

Tastes like sherbet!

Shrimp and Grits

2008-06-19T12:40:00.003-05:00

I made Shrimp and Grits last night...a South Carolina favorite...for some dear friends. Right now I am eating the leftovers for lunch and I just had to jump on here and share the recipe with you.

The shrimp are cooked a la Paula Deen from this recipe. Bacon, shrimp, green onions, lemon juice, parsley and garlic. Super duper quick and easy.

But the best grits are "Old Post Office Grits" and here is the recipe:

1 cup water
1 cup grits
1 cup half and half
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp. salt
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (optional)...I do it without!

Combine 1st 5 ingredients and cook on very low heat until boiling while stirring occasionally. Add salt and butter and cheese. Cook for about 20-30 minutes. Put in crock pot to keep warm. If using stone ground grits, it will need to cook longer.

These are the richest, most divine grits. Is this meal healthy for the body? Probably not :) But healthy for the soul? Ah yeah.

Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup

2007-12-22T19:22:00.000-05:00

I bought a big ham last weekend and it has provided at least four dinners for us! I have particularly enjoyed using some for this wonderful soup fully of creamy goodness. Perfect recipe for your leftover holiday ham and a winner with the children.

3 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup water
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tsp. flour
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped ham

In a large pot, add the 1st 7 ingredients and simmer until potatoes are tender.
In a separate bowl, mix flour and milk. Add to soup and cook until thickened.
Stir in cheese and ham and simmer until melted.

Serve and enjoy!

Holiday Snickerdoodles

2007-12-19T16:00:00.000-05:00

Snickerdoodles have been a holiday tradition in my family for a long time. These are simple yet delicious and addicting! They are wonderful with a cup of hot tea and a friend :)

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. cream of tartar (found in spice section of your grocer)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375.

Combine 1st 4 ingredients in a small bowl. In another bowl, combine butter and sugar until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla. Stir well. Add flour mixture and stir until soft dough forms.

Roll into 1 inch balls and roll in mixture of 2 Tbsp. sugar/1 tsp. cinnamon. Place on cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.

Bake 9-11 minutes and remove to cooling rack. Cool completely.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

*the ones pictured above were done using my cookie press*

Grandma's Pumpkin Bread

2007-11-17T19:39:00.001-05:00

My dear friend Laura has used this recipe from her grandma since 1994...it was a Southern Living recipe that is just delicious. She makes it every fall and came over to my house this week to make a big batch. My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I poured the batter into my stoneware mini loaf pan, my mini muffin pan (the greatest size for toddlers!) and my stoneware crock. We have eaten on it all week and I still have four mini loaves in my freezer! Enjoy!

2 sticks butter, softened
3 eggs
2 3/4 cups sugar
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour (I used white wheat flour)
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups packed pumpkin (about 1 and 1/2 cans)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 cup pecans

Mix and bake at 325 for 1 hour (for a loaf pan). For mini loaf pans, about 30 minutes or so. Just use a cake tester to check! Mini muffins take little time at all.

Simple Granola

2007-10-29T10:41:00.000-05:00

This is from the More-with-Less Cookbook and I have some baking in the oven right now! I had all of the ingredients on hand and am hoping this will be a simpler way to have our daily granola with out purchasing it in the store.

Preheat oven to 250.

Combine in a large mixing bowl:
2 cups whole wheat flour
6 cups rolled oats
1 cup coconut
1 cup wheat germ

Blend together separately:
1/2 cup water
1 cup oil
1 cup coconut
1 cup honey or corn syrup
2 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. salt

Add blended liquids to dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Spread out on 2 greased cookie sheets and bake 1 hour or until dry and golden.
Store in covered containers.

Simple Marinara Sauce

2007-07-11T16:45:00.000-05:00

I think that I got this recipe from the Flylady website years ago. It is so easy and delicious for a simple meatless tomato sauce...tonight we will have it over spinach fettuccine.

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 clove garlic, pressed
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
2 Tbsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4-1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper

Heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for a minute or two. Add tomatoes and all the spices. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Much cheaper than buying a jar of sauce and it tastes more "fresh" to me too!

Derby Pie

2007-07-03T09:32:00.000-05:00

This has been a family holiday staple for many many years and as of late it has made its way into the every day menus...it's too good to wait for! My daughter and I made two yesterday afternoon in about 5 minutes. Enjoy this sweet treat any time of the year!

This is the "real" recipe and in parentheses is how I now make it in order to be a wee bit healthier.

2 frozen flaky pie crusts
3 beaten eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar (organic cane sugar)
3/4 cup flour (whole wheat pastry flour)
3/4 cup melted butter (organic)
1/2 tsp. vanilla (organic)
1 1/2 cups chocolate morsels
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Mix well and pour into pie crusts. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream. Makes 2. Freezes beautifully!

Lentil and Brown Rice Soup

2007-06-25T09:35:00.000-05:00

I don't usually associate soup with summer. But when my cupboards were seemingly bare and dinnertime was upon us, I stumbled upon this recipe which included all the things that I regularly keep on hand. It is delicious, freezes well, and very simple and hearty.

5 cups chicken or vegetable broth
3 cups water
1 1/2 cups lentils, rinsed
3 carrots, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 large celery stalk, chopped (1/2 cup)
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1/3 tsp. dried basil
1 cup long grain brown rice
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste

Bring all ingredients to a boil (except salt and pepper). Reduce heat; cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for 45-55 minutes or until lentils and rice are tender. Remove bay leaf and discard. Add salt and pepper. Serves 8-10.

Ode to the Omelet

2007-06-20T19:20:00.000-05:00

Omelets are wonderful way for a woman to get her protein, calcium, and even all the goods in green leafies for either breakfast or lunch! I am no omelet expert at all but this is what I have been eating lately and thought I would share the energy with you!

2-3 eggs, whisked with a little water
Shredded cheese (cheddar, colby jack, mozzarella, parmesan)
Garlic salt
Baby Spinach

Pour into a small saute pan over medium heat and let sit until edges get firm. I sprinkle a handful of whatever grated cheese I have on hand on one side of the eggs along with a sprinkling of garlic salt and a small handful of baby spinach! Use a flat spatula to gently fold 1/2 of the eggs on top of the other half (does that make sense?!) I also tilt the pan towards the spatula while I do it so that the egg slides onto the spatula. Let cook for a few minutes on lower heat and then flip and let a cook just a little longer so that there is some light browning.

Enjoy!

Summer Smoothies

2007-05-30T08:13:00.000-05:00

My children and I love just love all the fresh summer berries and can't get enough! For breakfast, pull out the blender and make easy, tasty, and healthy smoothies for the whole family.
Here is what we drank this morning:

1 cup organic plain yogurt
1 cup organic milk
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 of a banana
A little bit of sugar, honey, or raw agave nectar to taste!

Blend and enjoy!

Sisterchicks Chicken Salad

2007-04-16T12:24:00.000-05:00

As the weather begins to warm, I begin to keep this wonderful chicken salad on hand to share with special friends at the spur-of-the-moment. My good friend Kristen and I loved to eat chicken salad when we "lived life together" with our small children in Kentucky. Since then I have come to the place of always sharing chicken salad in my home with special girlfriends. This recipe is one that I got from my pastor's wife many years back and have always always enjoyed it.

4 cups cooked, cubed chicken breasts
1 cup seedless red grapes
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup mayo
2 Tbsp. Dannon Vanilla Yogurt
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Mix all together and chill.

Popcorn Possibilities

2007-04-04T08:20:00.000-05:00

I have fond memories of my mother having a Stir Crazy popcorn popper. When I was young, we would go watch church league basketball each Tuesday, and before we would leave for the games, my mom would pop bunches and bunches of corn, bag it in garbage bags, and we would share it with everyone sitting around us. This is my most vivid memory of learning the joy of sharing and the happiness it gave me to bless others with something as simple as popcorn. And it always made me so proud of my mom that she was blessing others with something simple from her kitchen.

So when I found this popcorn popper 9 years ago at a yard sale (for only $1.50!), I snatched it up. Number 1 reason was because I just love popcorn and was sick of the microwaved stuff. And the deeper reason was because of the warm memories it kindled of childhood and I wanted to create special kitchen memories with my little ones.

The Stir Crazy has brought us countless yummy bowls of popcorn as we watch movies, sit around the table talking, or for a snack-on-the-go for our nature walks. Forget the overpriced, greasy microwave stuff! This only takes corn kernels and a bit of oil and kids think watching it pop is the best entertainment. Popcorn is our usual afternoon snack...sometimes with just a sprinkling of salt and sometimes with melted butter. Others I know like to use seasoning salt or even brown sugar. I have always loved tossing in some plain M&M's :)

You can still buy these poppers at your local Target, Walmart, etc. Or you can do it the old fashioned way and do it in a pot on the stove. In either case, popcorn is a wonderfully easy nutritious snack that almost everyone loves.

And now there are tons of websites that offer great recipes to give popcorn an interesting, new spin. This "adult popcorn" looks delicious and I can see my children loving this recipe for cinnamon crunch popcorn. And who would have thought curried popcorn might be yummy?

The popcorn possibilities are endless. This is a new way to be creative with an old favorite and to make some warm fuzzies. Grab the kids, the spices and have some fun poppin' today!

Black Bean and Salsa Chicken

2007-03-22T11:48:00.000-05:00

I saw my friend Stephanie this morning and she reminded me of a wonderfully simple recipe in which I always keep the ingredients on hand for a quick go-to dinner.

1 jar of your fave salsa
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1-2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexi-blend cheese
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Place chicken in baking dish and cover with salsa and beans. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Sprinkle cheese over top and let bake another 5 minutes. Moist, yummy chicken!! You could even serve it with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.

I serve it with rice and corn on the cob.

Honey Ginger Grilled Salmon

2007-03-21T16:22:00.000-05:00

This is an easy grilled salmon marinade that we have enjoyed many times. I just love salmon so much and love to try new ways of fixing it. Salmon is so fabulous for your health and you can read here why that is so! I serve this dish with grilled asparagus and baked sweet potatoes.

1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup orange juice
1/4 cup honey
1 green onion, sliced thin
1 1/2 lbs salmon fillets

In a gallon Ziploc, combine first six ingredients; mix well. Place salmon in bag and seal tightly. Turn bag gently to distribute marinade.

Refrigerate 15-30 minutes and turn bag occasionally. (I also put this together and freeze the salmon in the marinade. It thaws nicely in the frig the day you want to use it.)

Grill salmon over medium heat for 12-15 minutes per inch of thickness. Brush with marinade up until the last 5 minutes of cooking time. Discard leftover marinade!

Serves 4

Freezer Cooking Revisited

2007-03-16T13:56:00.000-05:00

It is that time again for Leslie and I to spend our St. Patrick's Saturday filling the freezer. Being able to pull out a tasty meal from the freezer has been a big blessing especially since I have had a sinus infection, allergies and general fatigue.

The menu for tomorrow is as follows:

Basic Muffin Mix
Two Derby Pies
Basic Spaghetti Sauce
2 sets of hamburger patties/buns
2 Poppyseed Chicken casseroles
2 Caribbean Steaks
Honey Ginger Salmon
Fish with Cilantro and Lime
Lemon Grilled Fish
Flank Steak in marinade
2 Sesame Chicken
2 Mexican Beef and Bean Wraps

Mike is going to do some of buying at Sam's Club for me this afternoon and the rest I will purchase at Publix. Everything will be put into Freezer Quart and Gallon bags. We are going to start at 10 am and hope to finish by 4 pm with weary feet but full freezers.

Mexican Beef and Bean Wraps

2007-03-10T13:51:00.000-05:00

These are so healthy and delicious!

1/3 lb. lean ground beef
1/3 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and drained
2/3 cup chunky salsa
1 16 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2/3 cup cilantro, chopped
Whole grain tortillas

Combine beef and oatmeal. Brown in skillet over medium heat for 8-10 minutes. Remove and drain. Add beans, spinach, spices, and salsa to the pan. Heat through. Remove from heat and stir in cheese and cilantro. Place in warmed tortillas and enjoy!!

Lasagna Presto

2007-03-06T09:12:00.000-05:00

This is a great recipe that I received from a friend. It's easy to double for when you have company and I serve it with garlic bread and a Caesar Salad.

8 oz egg noodles
1 lb. ricotta cheese
1/2 lb. mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg (use only 1 egg when doubling)
15 1/2 oz. jar spaghetti sauce (extra is good)
1/2. lb. ground beef
Salt and Pepper to taste

Brown beef and add the sauce. Cook noodles according to package directions and drain. Combine noodles, ricotta, mozzarella (reserve 1/2 cup for topping), parmesan, egg, salt and pepper.
Spread a little sauce on bottom of greased 2 qt. casserole. Put half of noodle mixture over sauce, repeat with remaining sauce and noodles, ending with sauce. Top with mozzarella.
Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes. (Bake for 40 min. if doubled)

You can double this in a 9x13 pan. Also you can add sausage or mushrooms.

Spinach Tortellini Soup

2007-02-24T09:33:00.000-05:00

This is a tasty, simple recipe that you can quickly put together for a filling meal.

2 cans chicken broth
2 cans diced Italian tomatoes
1 pkg. (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach
1 bag frozen cheese tortellini
Oregano to taste

Simmer for 45 minutes. Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Wonderful with garlic bread.

Baked Oatmeal

2007-02-22T09:19:00.000-05:00

This is a delicious recipe that all of my children love!

1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup sugar, honey or maple syrup (I prefer maple syrup)
2 eggs
3 cups oatmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup milk

Mix oil, sugar, and eggs with mixer until yellow and glossy. Add remaining ingredients and beat on medium until well blended. Add optional ingredients such as apples and raisins.
Bake at 400 for 30 minutes in 9x13 pan.
Serve warm with milk, brown sugar , raisins, or dates if desired!

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

2007-02-16T15:00:00.000-05:00

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded flat
4 basil leaves
1 Tbsp. oil

Drizzle oil on one side of each breast and lay basil leaf on top of oiled side.

In small bowl combine:

1/2 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes
4 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/3 tsp. rosemary
1/3 tsp. oregano
Salt and pepper to taste

Spoon equal amounts of this filling on top of each basil leaf. Carefully roll the edges of the chicken breast around the filling and secure with toothpick. Place seam side down in baking dish. Drizzle with a little more oil and bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes.

Sesame Chicken

2007-02-14T11:36:00.000-05:00

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small chunks
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 Tbsp. oil
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tsp. ginger, fresh or powdered
sliced green onions, optional

Mix all together (make a double batch and freeze the second one!), marinate for a few hours and then broil for 10-15 minutes, turning once!
Serve with steamed broccoli and brown rice.

2 weeks of meals

2007-02-12T13:37:00.000-05:00

On Saturday my sister Leslie and I prepared 2 weeks worth of meals for our freezers! It took about 5 hours (we both think it would have been less if we had planned a bit better), but it is an amazing sight for hungry eyes to find all that beautifully prepared food! We made burger patties and froze them along with some buns, beef and bean burritos, stuffed chicken breasts, sesame chicken, caribbean steak, crockpot barbeque chicken, crockpot beef and peppers, poppy seed chicken, meatloaf, and chicken scallopini. Most of these were simply freezing the meat along with a marinade...when I defrost, it will either be grilled, put in the crockpot or baked.

These are very easy meals that will be accompanied by fresh vegetables and salads. If any of these recipes interest you...just comment. We froze everything in gallon ziploc bags FLAT so that everything stacked neatly on top of each other. We labeled each bag with a sharpie with instructions on how to cook the meal.

Grab a buddy, schedule a Saturday, and fill your freezers full of food!

Delicious Living

2007-02-09T15:59:00.000-05:00

I picked up Delicious Living magazine from my local health food store and found an interesting article about how Japanese people keep their weight and eating under control.

"Japanese women have the greatest longevity on Earth and the lowest obesity levels in the developed world. You may think it's all in our genes, but when Japanese people shift to unhealthy foods and too-big portions, they get fat, just like I did. What's our secret to staying slender? Fresh seasonal foods prepared in the healthiest, simplest ways and served in modest portions on beautiful dishes--a style of celebrating food that lets the natural beauty and flavor of the ingredients shine through"

So not only does simple cooking, buying produce local, and basic beauty bring me kitchen happiness, it also means a healthier, celebratory lifestyle. All year long, the Japanese "eat with their eyes" not only their mouths. "We take time to enjoy the natural goodness and beauty of the food".

Here's to eating healthy, modest portions on beautiful dishes and taking the time to savor and admire the beauty of your meal!

Making Your Table Pretty

2007-02-08T11:39:00.000-05:00

It doesn't take much to create a pleasing centerpiece. I laid out an eyelet tablecloth I found at a garage sale for 50 cents and filled an enamelware pot with Granny Smith apples.
A basket filled with pinecones is nice for the winter. I love bowls full of lemons and limes. I also love bringing nature inside and cut some greenery or small branches and put them in a hurricane vase. Or put some "flower money" in your food budget and pick up a pretty bouquet from your grocery store. White pillar candles always add warmth and beauty and can be bought regularly and inexpensively and placed in hurricane vases. Your family will appreciate the extra small touches you take to make the dinner table inviting, warm, and pretty. And you may then linger longer as you eat and enjoy some wonderful conversation and memories.
Here's to a pretty table...simply!

Groovy Guacamole

2007-02-07T17:46:00.000-05:00

One of God's most wonderful creations is the avocado. I started this love affair about 10 something years ago. Not only are they rich in potassium, vitamin A, folate and good fat that lowers cholesterol, avocados are DELICIOUS and wonderful in wraps, on sandwiches, and my perennial fave, guacamole.

I belong to a fruit and vegetable Coop and get my avocados for only 50 cents. I allow them to ripen on my counter for a few days, and then I put the ones I haven't used yet in the frig. They can keep several weeks in there without spoiling!

Here's an easy guacamole that I make almost daily:

2 ripened avocados
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 fresh lime, squeezed
1-2 cloves garlic, pressed

Here is a link to the health benefits of avocados.
And for those of you with babies, they make the perfect first baby food!! Just mash and serve!

Key West Style Cuban Marinade

2007-02-07T16:46:00.000-05:00

This is my new favorite marinade that I find at my local grocery store Publix. It is Nellie and Joe's Key West Style Cuban Marinade with lime juice, orange juice, canola oil, onion, garlic, oregano, salt, habanero peppers and spices. It is delicious to use to marinate chicken, grill and slice for fajitas. We are going to grill some tonight with red peppers and onions and then top on a whole grain tortilla with cheese, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole. OH BABY! I am salivating just thinking about it!

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust

2007-02-05T16:55:00.000-05:00

This recipe is for use in your bread machine!
Add the ingredients in this order and then use the dough setting on your machine.

1 cup water, room temperature
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast

Wipes Solution

2007-02-05T08:23:00.000-05:00

If you choose to stop using disposable wipes for your baby, you can begin to simply use baby washcloths as wipes or cut up old flannel receiving blankets and sew 2 squares together to make a nice soft wipe. There are also many places you can buy cutie wipes online. This is a wipes solution you can make to keep in a squirt bottle to spray your cloth wipe before using OR keep it in an old wipes container with your cloths soaking in it.

1/8 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp. Baby shampoo
4 drops tea tree oil
8 drops lavender essential oil
3 cups water

You can find the oils in any natural health food store. Tea tree has anti-microbial and antibacterial properties and lavender gives a wonderful soothing scent!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

2007-02-04T14:30:00.000-05:00

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup oil
1 1/3 stick butter
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup nuts, chopped (optional)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
12 oz. chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar...add the rest!
Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

I love sharing food

2007-02-02T12:33:00.000-05:00

I started this recipe blog as a place to share recipes with one another and to inspire each other to cook loving meals for our families. Everything is so fast food and junky these days and I love living a simpler schedule so that I can cook healthy, tasty meals for family and friends. I want my children to have memories of being with me in the kitchen and having the safety of routine dinner times together around the table. I read a book recently called "The Surprising Power of Family Meals: How Eating Together Makes us Stronger, Healthier, and Happier" by Miriam Weinstein. It shows the wonderful impact regular meals together make on all of us.

Although I try to eat organic and what I deem to be healthy, I still love me some comfort foods and Southern-style cooking. So you will see a variety of recipes on here that we simply enjoy.

I also want to chronicle my sister Leslie and my adventures in once-a-month cooking...also known as Freezer cooking. We are trying to get our shed wired for electricity so that we can buy a used chest freezer. Until then I will use our humble freezer space and Leslie has some space in her extra frig in her garage. Our next cook day is on February 10th and we are attempting to make 2 weeks worth of meals for our freezers.

And I may even share all my failed attempts at bread baking! I would love to get a sourdough starter and bread going so we shall see how that pans out. Forgive the pun :)

We'll just see where this blog goes, but I will mainly be using it to post recipes that we enjoy. I also have many thoughts about dining vs. eating and how to make mealtimes meaningful, beautiful, and fun. I also want to jump into the world of simple entertaining and de-myth how hard it is to most people to open up their home. Hospitality should be simple!

Happy Happy Dining Adventures with your Friends and Family!