When I go shopping, I shop mostly for items that are versatile and can be used in a variety of different recipes for a variety of different dishes ( except for the training pants I still buy, which are only good for one thing). I also try to spend as little as possible while still being reasonably healthy. But like most people in the world I am also busy ( or lazy on occasion) ...
make ahead
Last Minute Gift – Chunky Chocolate Cookie Mix
Here it is...crunch time. The day after tomorrow is Christmas and the excitement in the air is nearly palpable. The tree is trimmed, the turkey is thawed, the gifts are... CRAP! GIFTS! I forgot to get a gift for my neighbor/cousin/UPS guy/hairdresser/random person at my door! I need something quick, something that doesn't require a trip to a store. Food! I am NOT baking ...
Beef Braised in Red Wine
I know what you are thinking. "Why in the world is she braising anything in August? It's hot outside!" Normally I would agree with you, but the last few days have been unseasonably cool. Mid 70's all week! Weather like that just gets me thinking about autumn which is probably my favorite season. And where there is autumn there is pot roast! And I LOVE pot roast. But I don't ...
Orange and Ginger Chicken Wings
Today is my kind of morning. It is currently just after 8 o'clock and everyone, even the kids, is still asleep. The only sound is the gurgling of the coffee pot and the sound of me pecking on the keyboard. Ahh....peace and quiet. It's a commodity in my life. So hard to come by in fact that some days it never actually happens. Somedays the kids wake up grumpy and don't actually ...
Under Pressure: Canning Part 2
Okay, you have collected all of your items on the canning checklist and you have a bushel of vegetables washed and prepped. Many vegetables require pressure canning in order to be stored safely. These foods are low in acid and have to be processed at higher temperatures in order to kill any harmful bacteria such as botulism. These vegetables include green beans, squash, ...
It’s all Greek to Me – Chicken Souvlaki
For some reason, there are several foods that I only really enjoy when made into something. For example; I'm not a big tomato eater, but I love tomato sauce; I hate cabbage, but I could eat sauerkraut everyday; I think raw cucumbers are unappetizing, but I could eat enough tzatziki sauce to make me Greek. I'm weird, what can I say. So, anyway, if there is any culture that is ...
Kebaaaaaabs
For some reason, whenever I talk about kebabs I always seem to say it with a Jersey accent. I don't know why. It just sounds nice...kebaaabs.Anyway, summer is the perfect time for kebabs. They are the perfect grill food. A great way to feed many or just a few. They can be marinated and assembled earlier in the day and then thrown on the grill for dinner. I like chicken kebabs ...
Mmmmm…Donuts
Sometimes, inspiration hits me late at night. Actually, most of my good ideas hit me at night sometime after the kids have finally gone to sleep and I have relaxed a little. Anyway, last night I was thinking about the big wad of refrigerator dough I had in the kitchen and what exactly I should do with it. And then it hit me, DONUTS! And they would be healthy ( sort of) because ...
Starting Something – Sourdough Part 1
Gloom and Doom. That's the word on the street these days. Everyone is tightening their belts and pinching their pennies in case they lose their job, inflation skyrockets, or the nation collapses in on itself. Whatever the reasoning there is no doubt that people are looking for more and more ways to spend less. Well, I'm throwing my idea into the hat...make some dough. ...
A Cheap Date – Chicken Kiev
It feels like FOREVER since I have posted an entry. I consider that to be a testament to just how busy I have been. The last 10 days have been seriously hectic. I got my first large order for bags ( okay it was only 5 bags, but that's big for me), I signed up to do my very first craft show in May, we have been potty training the twins, and on top of all that we have all had a ...
A Little Bit of Spring – Pasta Salad
I am totally over wintertime. I hate being cold all the time and as a tightwad I refuse to turn up the heat. I just want it to be sunny and warm outside. I am ready for Spring. Unfortunately, Spring is a long ways away. Today's weather was beautiful...until you went outside. It was bright and sunny and very cold. As I stared out the window I thought that I would love a nice ...
Chicken Pot Pie
I love this recipe for chicken pot pie. It uses envelopes of turkey gravy and Hollandaise mix which really helps to thicken up the filling and gives it a really rich flavor. I also use store bought pie crusts. I can't make a pie crust to save my life ,so I am thankful these things are around. Make sure you pull the crusts out of the freezer when you start. Turn the pans for the ...
Mom’s Maple Glaze
I don't know what it is about the holidays that brings back every sweet, distant memory of my mother's cooking. I guess because it was always delicious, well almost always delicious. It always came with a house full of people with love,warm conversation and maybe the odd heated political debate.There were always a bunch of kids, 7 of us to be exact.( I was only related to one ...