Changes.... 1 Nov 2015 9:11 AM (9 years ago)

I've been away from blogging for quite a while and I know that's quite a sin in the blogging community but and I'm going to try a little bit different approach. The Fireman and I are now empty-nesters and we are embracing this with double fists. We've been trying to get away on as many little vacations as we possibly can for the last six months and there are many changes in our family, many!

First, The Torured Teenager is in her fifth and final year at college and preparing to go to law school this is a huge accomplishment because one day I may need her as a lawyer because I jaywalk a lot. The Baseball Player is now graduated from Boot Camp and at AIT at Fort Sill and awaiting orders to go to his base in Hawaii..lucky little bastard. Although deployment is looming around the corner and something that I'm going to have to face once again as we did with our oldest boy but we'll get through it just like we did before.

You will notice I rarely write about our older two children and it's because they are grown and I chose to protect their privacy although we are very proud of them and all their accomplishments. Our oldest daughter is finishing up her psych major which she's already using on her younger siblings. After raising four kids I will be her first patient. Our oldest boy just finished playing tight end for Uncle Sam. You might see them sneak into some of my travel blog posts in the future.

Being an empty Nester I have to admit I don't do as much cooking as I used to so we're going to move onto the "shenanigans" part of my blog and it'll have to do more with traveling, they'll be lots of food involved because we still eat but I hope you enjoy.

A.

My Mom's Macaroni and Cheese 22 Mar 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

My mom is not much of a cook. This she will admit to any of you. But the woman can boil pasta an melt velveeta like nobody's business. Growing up, macaroni and cheese was make homemade only for special occasions. Any other time it came out of a box. Macaroni and cheese in general is something that one bite and I am transported into time. Funny that my son will not eat it this way. He finds it too cheesy. I do not know where this child came from.

My Mom's Macaroni and Cheese
2 TB butter
2 TB flour
1 cup whole milk warmed up (micro works perfect 1 minute)
2 cups elbow macaroni cooked but not all the way
1/2 box veleveeta cubed
1 tsp dry mustard
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

in a sauce pan melt the butter

while the butter is melting put the milk in the micro for a minute to take the chill off

and cube up the cheese

add the flour and mix with a whisk and cook for about a minute

it should look like this

add the milk and keep whisking

and add the mustard

when the milk is thick enough that you can coat the back of a spoon and draw with you finger, add the cheese and stir with a wooden spoon until melted.

add some black pepper, or dont... but resist the urge to grab some jalapenos and tortilla chips

butter a baking dish

add your noodles and resist the urge to dump into a bowl, the noodles arent cooked all the way (well mine might be lol

Dump into a baking dish and pop into a 350 degree preheated oven for 20 minutes

oh my...pure heaven

Mustard- and Brown Sugar- Rubbed Salmon 20 Mar 2013 6:00 AM (12 years ago)

I have been trying to eat clean. I know the blog posts you see on here don't always depict that. The rest of my family has to enjoy food and then there are times you just need to try a new recipe. I have been trying to swap out full fat for reduced and portion control. That is huge! I am also trying to eat more fish. Unfortunately the adults in our home are the only ones that like fish. When The Ballplayer was little we could trick him into eating fish sticks by saying they were chicken. That isnt going to work now I am afraid. He likes what he likes and wont budge.

This was a very easy recipe. I bought a huge bag of frozen salmon (think costco) and took out a couple pieces and tossed into the fridge in the morning.

I liked this recipe because the whole dinner was about 326 calories for us.

Mustard- and Brown Sugar- Rubbed Salmon
recipe adapted from Preventive Magazine
2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
4 salmon fillets (6 ounces each), skin removed
1 teaspoon olive oil

Stir together the sugar, salt, pepper, cumin, and mustard in a small bowl. Press the sugar mixture evenly onto the top surface of the fish.

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the fish, rub side down, for 4 minutes or until the rub dissolves and darkens slightly (being careful not to burn). Flip the fish and cook for 3 minutes or until the fish is opaque

carefully flip

DINNER!!!

Do you ever play with a classic recipe? Dijon Chicken Fried Steak with Pan Gravy 20 Mar 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

Sometimes I feel like changing things up and boy did I this time! I took a family favorite and spun it! Some liked it and some not so much. My kids are not a fan of sweet potato mash. I am not sure if it is a texture thing or that they just love my mashed potatoes with all the heart stopping goodness and refuse to love anything else. Elverything else on this meal was a hit. The Dijon was a nice change for a dinner time meal.

Dijon Chicken Fried Steak with Pan Gravy
4 cube steaks
4 tb dijon approx
1 cup flour
salt and pepper
1/2 cup oil

I started with smearing Dijon Mustard on both sides of the cube steak

I like to put the flour into a pie pan and then season with salt and pepper

Poor Louie is not impressed. Maybe when I start frying meat he will be

I took a smear of flour and floured a cookie sheet so I could put the floured steaks on the cookie sheet

dip the steaks into the flour and really press the flour into the steaks

Then place them onto the cookie sheet and put into the refrigerator uncovered for 30 minutes

add about 1/2 cup oil to your cast iron pan and heat on medium high. Fry the meat until golden brown on both sides

When the meat is all cooked remove all oil except 2 TB leaving any crumbs in the pan. add 2 TB flour using a whisk. Add using a whisk 2 cups of warm milk (I like to put mine in a microwave for a minute or so before) and cook on medium until it becomes thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Add salt and pepper to taste. (sorry I got busy on the phone and didn't take any pictures of the gravy)

DINNER!!!

Do you ever play with a classic recipe?

Do you have a favorite Meatloaf recipe? Mine happens to be Italian Meatloaf 18 Mar 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

I have a girlfriend that has meatloaf every Monday. Meatloaf Monday as she calls it. I love that! I always loved meatloaf as a kid. I would get excited for the leftovers, not caring for the dinner. I would beg my mother to just make me a sandwich for dinner. Please! She would never allow to. To this day when I make my family meatloaf I sneak a half sandwich before dinner. I cant help it. I don't care the calories it blows my diet. It is meatloaf and I am going for the glory! This recipe is not figure friendly, but it happens to be my family's favorite. It is the one that I go back to time and time again. This is a HUGE recipe. You can make either 2 logs of meatloaf or my favorite is to make one meatloaf and then make meatballs and freeze them for later in the month. Use a throw away pan and sseparate them on the pan. You will just need to bake them.

Italian Meatloaf
1/3 cup whole milk
2 slices good quality white bread with crust removed
1 pound italian sausage or ground pork
2 pounds ground beef (not too lean you can drain the fat later)
1 package prosciutto
1 egg
1/2 cup onion finely chopped (or you can grate it)
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 TB low sodium Worcestershire sauce
1 cup parmesan grated (use the fresh)
1/3 cup Ketchup
salt and pepper (easy on the salt the pork is salty)
Preheat oven 325

remove the crust from the bread. You could make croutons out of it if you don't like wasting it!

Add the milk to a bowl. My Gram would heat it. I found that you have to let it cool down then before adding to the meat.

cube up the bread

add the bread to the milk and let soak while you do everything else for the meatload

I like fresh Parmesan cheese. The stuff that is already grated taste funny and melts differently

I am grating my onion. I like the way it makes my meatloaf really moist

I always add twice the amount of garlic because I am going to use my microplane and grate it down to

No chunks of garlic this way

add the hamburger and cheese

squeeze out the bread from the milk and dump into the bowl

Add the pork and the chopped up prosciutto

add the egg but take a fork to it first

I never measure Worcestershire sauce!

Add 1/3 cup ketchup

mix until it is combined but do not over mix or the meatloaf will be tough

My gram and my mother always made theirs in a loaf pan. because I use meat that is fatty I use a 9x13 pan and shape into a loaf and then drain off the fat

Shape into a log. Notice I have leftover. You could make a second one and freeze or make a pan of meatballs

put into the oven and bake 45 minutes. After 45 minutes pull out and glaze the meatloaf.
To glaze the meatloaf take
1/2 cup Ketchup
1/2 cup Chili sauce

Mix well.

Cover Meatoaf and bake for additional 15 minutes. Meatloaf should be completely cooked inside. You have pork products and beef products here!

DINNER!!

Are you a leftover hater? 16 Mar 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

Certain dishes just beg to be made into a sandwich. Meatloaf, Roast Beef and Corned Beef. My kids don't share the enthusiasm us adults have for it. In fact I would guess one will drive thru Taco Bell and the other will eat cereal. I made a Twice Baked Corned Beef last night and all I could think about was the possibility of the sandwich. It has to be on rye bread and heavy on the mustard. No cheese for me or vegetables. It's all about the meat for me. The Fireman will want cheese and all the fixings. Just put a pickle on the side and we'll call it good. Serve with some leftover Warm Potato Salad and call me happy!!

St. Patricks Day doesnt have to be about Corned Beef... 15 Mar 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

Guinness Beef Stew

St. Patrick's Day doesn't have to be about Corned beef. I have so many friends that despise it. I love love love it personally but I understand how it is not everyone's favorite. Heck my kids don't particularly like it so I get it. This however, my brats love. What is not to love about stew? And I love meat that cooks in beer, it just gets this deep flavor that I crave. This was done on the stove top but if I was to do it all over I would dump it all into a crock pot.

Guinness Beef Stew
Olive oil for browning the meat
1 pound (or package) of chuck beef stew meat
5-6 cloves of garlic chopped
1 box of beef broth
1 cup of Guinness Beer
1 cup of red wine (please grab something you would drink or ask for a recommendation from your grocer)
2 TB tomato paste
1 Tb sugar
1 TB dried thyme
2 TB Worcestershire sauce
2 Bay leaves
2 TB butter
3 pounds of potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups baby carrots
2 cups celery cut into chunks
Salt and Pepper

Heat oil in an extra large sauce pan. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Brown the meat in batches.

Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the chopped garlic and sauté. Do not burn it.

Add the tomato paste and cook for a minute.

Add Guinness, red wine, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, thyme, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 hour.

Add vegetables to the pot!

In frying pan, melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the potatoes and onions and saute until golden brown. Resist the urge to eat out of the pan while it is cooking.

Add to the meat mixture. Let simmer until vegetables are soft.

This could be made in the crock pot. I would use larger chunks of meat and I would brown the meat and add all the ingredients including the potatoes and vegetables. Leave the vegetables in very large chunks. Set on low and let simmer all day.

Reuben Sandwich 14 Mar 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

I love leftovers that go into a sandwich. Meatloaf, pot roast, whole chicken, turkey and corned beef. I dont even want to eat them for dinner, but just make a sandwich or sammich as we say it around my house. Corned Beef is especially good in a sandwich! squirt some mustard on it and I am in heaven. But tonight I am going all out and making Ruebens! As a little girl I did not like these because they had sauerkraut on them and swiss cheese. Two items that I just couldnt get over but as an adult I love it. It helps if you rinse and squeeze out all the water from the sauerkraut. It takes the bite out of it that was a bit too much for me. Swiss cheese is just something that I have grown to love over the years. This wasn't too bad as far as calories goes too. It was about 400 calories, using reduced fat Swiss cheese and light mayo.

Reuben Sandwich

Can of Sauerkraut

leftover corned beef or deli corned beef

thousand island dressing (I made some homemade-more on that later)

Swiss cheese)

Russian Rye Bread

I just bought a can of sauerkraut, It was just the two of us having sandwiches. Rinse and press out all the water

I had about half of this from last night

I made homemade thousand Island Dressing using equal parts light mayo, ketchup and relish

I like a sandwich that is not too dry so I dress it on both sides

add the warmed meat with melted cheese andsauerkraut

DINNER!!!

Do you have a Favorite Corned Beef Recipe? 13 Mar 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

My Grandmother had the best corned beef recipe of all time. But I didn't have her recipe and I needed to come up with something that was equally good. Hers had a sweet orange glaze on it that was to die for. This is nothing like it. But after playing with it this has become a family favorite. A favorite of The Fireman's. Just recently I have acquired my Gram's recipe and will be making it soon. I know that tradionally Irish Corned Beef has no glaze but you cant tell my family that. They beat to their own drum as do I.

Twice Cooked Corned Beef
I've purchased the biggest roast I could.

Dump into the crockpot and if it includes spices in a packet, sprinkle over the roast. Place the roast fat side down.

Cook slowly in crock pot till just about perfect. Mine was three hours on high. You could put this in the crockpot in the morning and put on low. Just dont overcook. We are going to glaze it and stick it back into the oven.
Take out of the crockpot. Place in casserole pan
Cover with brown mustard.Dump brown sugar over mustard. Rub into meat.
(note, if I was to do it again, I would NOT cover it. I went after the sugary crust on the bottom.)
Stick into the oven for 20 minutes at 375 degrees.
Let sit a good ten minutes (oh I snuck pieces) so slicing is easier. If you are only using for sandwiches then refrigerate overnight before putting on a slicer, if your lucky enough to have a deli slicer. I have to do it slowly with a knife.

Guinness Braised Beef Brisket 12 Mar 2013 8:38 AM (12 years ago)

I am totally in love with Corned Beef! It doesn't have to be March or St. Patrick's Day for my family to toss it in the crock pot. The Fireman loves my recipe for Corned Beef. I cook it until it is just about to fall apart but where it is still holding its shape and then cover it with brown mustard and brown sugar and put in the oven to crust up. It is heavenly. But it is in no way traditional. Even the way my beloved Gram made it is not traditional. She would cook it the same way and then toss it in the oven with a orange sauce. My family loves bold flavors. I saw this recipe in my Cooking Light Cookbook and thought I should give it a try. I mean, come on, it is cooked in beer and you cant go wrong in The Fireman's eyes cooking in beer.

Guinness Braised Beef Brisket

recipe adapted by Cooking Light

2 cups water

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped carrot

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup Guinness stout

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup tomato paste

1/4 cup chopped fresh or 1 tablespoon dried dill

1 (14 1/2-ounce) can low-salt beef broth

6 black peppercorns

2 whole cloves 1 (3-pound) cured corned beef brisket, trimmed

Combine first 11 ingredients in a large electric slow cooker, stirring
until well blended; top with beef. Cover and cook on HIGH 8 hours or
until beef is tender. Remove beef; cut diagonally across grain into
1/4-inch slices. Discard broth mixture.

I stuck my crock pot on low while I was preparing all the ingredients. I don't cook on low anymore. I am too last minute of a cook for cooking on low. We will be cooking on HIGH, starting at 1pm and eating at 6.

I am missing the brown sugar here. I know..always something

Add the liquids, sugar, tomato paste and peppercorns. I DID NOT ADD THE WATER. In my Crock Pot it is not needed. I can cook meat with very little water and the 2 cups of water was WAY too much.

Add the dill, and it will look like soup

add the veggies and now it really looks like soup. The Ballplayer came into the kitchen and asked if we were having soup for dinner.

put the meat on top and cook until fork tender. About six hours

I added four potatoes to the pot, two hours before the meal was done

Meat is done and Louie is aware of it!

Slice up the meat

It is so tender yet holds it shape

DINNER!!! I pared with some Braised Cabbage. Heavenly!

Do you have a favorite scone? 11 Mar 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

Its hard to imagine but life has had me so busy lately that I have had not an extra second to work on my blog. St. Paddy's Day is my all time Favorite holiday. I love it even better than Christmas and it is because of the food. But I haven had the time to even think about the food lately until today. I have one week to enjoy all of the St. Patrick's Day foods I can and get them on or repeated on my blog. This happens to be my favorite scone recipe! And I have tried many.

In a large mixing bowl add
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Mix well

In a small bowl add
1/2 cup sour creme
2 eggs
Mix well

Grate frozen butter on cheese grater.

Add to flour mixture. Use your fingers to mix. It will be like pebbles.

Add the liquid mixture to butter/flour mixture.

Mix to distribute. It won't come together completely. DO NOT ADD WATER!!

Turn out onto floured area.(notice I am so into taking pictures that I forgot to add flour to my own surface! oops)

Knead with hands two minutes or until it comes together.
Flatten out and add 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries. Fold over an knead into dough.

Form into an 8 inch circle or a circle that is 3/4 inch thick.

Transfer to a cookie sheet and cut into 8 triangles. Separate each. Now my Gram liked to have them an inch apart. I like to have them closer together. It makes the cook time a little longer but they are more moist!

Take two TB milk, brush over top of scones.

Sprinkle with sugar and cook 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes

BREAKFAST!!!

What is your favorite flavor of scones?

Quick Parmesan Noodles 22 Feb 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

I wing meals so often that I cant even blog about it. For example, the noodles that I am posting today are so simple that I cant even really take a ton of pictures. But it is so much better than any box variety you can buy and is so easy you probably shouldnt tell your family. It'll be our secret.

Quick Parmesan Noodles

Noodles (I used 1/2 pound)

Pasta water

1 cup of fresh grated Parmesan

2 TB Butter

1 TB chopped Sage

start cooking your noodles. I am using whatever I have in my cupboard. While the pasta is boiling away, carefully scoop about 1 cup of the boiling pasta water. Then drain noodles and I just toss them back into my hot pan with 2 TB butter which melted immediately and then dump the cheese on the hot noodles and add some of the pasta water until you get a cheesy consistency that is perfect. No milk needed

Homemade Biscuits 20 Feb 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

My Gram would make the best biscuits growing up and each and every time I swear she did it different. Sometimes I saw her grab a box a biscuit and other times I saw her make them homemade with Crisco or butter. I think it just came down to what she had on hand. The Ballplayer loves biscuits and he doesn't have a favorite just as long as they are covered in butter. I made these quite some time ago.

Homemade Biscuits
2 cups all purpose flour plus flour to dust the counter
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1 cup buttermilk (you can make buttermilk using whole milk and a TB vinegar if you are missing this)

Take all dry ingredients and cut butter into them and then add enough buttermilk until it is shaggy. Turn out onto a floured surface and roll out to 1/2-1 inch thickness (I really dont measure) and cut out with biscuit cutters (I use a class) and place into a HOT BUTTERED cast iron pan and bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes (more like 15 for my oven) I always run a cube of butter over mine right after they come out of the oven. It is a trick my Gram did.

BREAKFAST!!!

Pizza Break Apart Bread 18 Feb 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

This is all the Country Cook's fault. She posted a recipe for Cheesy Bacon Ranch Bread which I blogged, and then had the audacity to changed and make Cheesy Jalapeno Bread (The Fireman's favorite) but while coming up with The Fireman's Fave bread, we also came up with this one. This is perfect for kids, perfect for watching your favorite game and perfect for movie nights. If you like pizza you will like this.

Pizza Break Apart Bread

recipe adapted by The Country Cook

1 french load

1 package pepperoni (turkey works great here)

1 package shredded mozzarella

1 stick butter (I use unsalted since I watch my salt)

garlic powder (I didn't measure but approx 1 tsp)

you could also use Italian seasoning too!

Using a sharp bread knife, cut the bread going in both directions but don't cut all the way through the bottom. Lay the whole loaf on enough foil to wrap the loaf in.

Stuff Cheese in every crevice

top with chopped up pepperoni.

Just stuff it in there! Then melt the butter and add with the garlic power and drizzle all over the bread

Cover and bake 15 minutes in 350 oven

then uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes

Then dig in!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts & Apples 15 Feb 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

So everyone is hopefully recovered or recovering from Valentines Day. I am back on on my healthy eating. I try to eat under a certain calorie limit a day and at times it feels like it's anything goes. I generally try to be good so I can savor that one glass of wine a day. I made this a while back with pork. Many like to have applesauce with pork. I personally wasn't raised with that tradition but thought I would try to see what all the fuss was about. I didn't like brussel sprouts growing up, in fact I despised them, but have since found that I can roast any vegetable and find it to be my favorite. In fact you don't even have to have fresh, frozen will work, although I haven't tried it in this particular recipe.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts & Apples
1 package fresh Brussel Sprouts
1 apple
1 lemon
salt and pepper

Start by spraying a cooking sheet with cooking spray and the slice brussel sprouts in half and cube up the apple. If you are afraid to salt and pepper everything, then salt and pepper the brussel sprouts before adding the apple. I didnt care. Sweet does well with salt and pepper.

Squeeze lemon all over the veggies

Roast in a preheated 425 degree oven flipping when the veggies/fruit is brown on one side. I like mine pretty brown so I really let them caramelize.

I mean what is not to love about this?

I could eat this for dinner and forget the pork!

Double Decker Brownies 13 Feb 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

I saw these all over Pinterest last year. Pinterest is very very dangerous for me. I end up looking at recipes on my PHONE and then saving recipes to my iPhone with the intention of making them one day (I am 600 strong, so if there is a support group, I am first to go) and then I order pizza for dinner. No joke! These didn't even have a blog to go with them just a picture which I took a screen shot of with the intention of using for Christmas baking. Knowing how terrible I am about posting (I mean really, I can save these babies for next year you you all would like...) I was thinking that these are perfect for Valentines Day! I bought a special pan from Walmart for these. I think it was called a square muffin pan. It wasn't expensive and considering the outcome of these babies, it was all worth it even if I only use the pan once a year. I was thinking of using it for corn bread but I really like using a cast iron pan.Now you can make whatever chocolate chip recipe you like. I like the Toll House recipe. I know it by heart. And make whatever brownie recipe that you love. You can make it from a box. I don't care. But you need both for this recipe. At the same time. And then you need stuff to stuff in the double decker brownies. The Ballplayer loved the ones I made with a Peanut Butter Cup in the middle. I also made some with a Peppermint Oreo in them. But the best were the ones with pretzels in the middle. The sweet and salty was a perfect combo.

Double Decker Brownies
1 recipe chocolate chip cookie dough
2 recipes brownie
oreos, snap pretzels, peanut butter cups
cooking spray

prepare all your cookie dough and brownie dough

Spray pan really well. I didnt with my first batch and I regretted it. I used a small ice cream scoop (I always use them for making cookies) and clean hands to spread it out into the bottom of the pan.

Then Pick your stuffing. I did everything I could get my hands on.

Then I used the large ice cream scoop I had and covered the cookie dough/stuffing layer

Bake 350 for 20 minutes (my oven is a dinosaur so check your double decker brownies)

Let cool completely before trying to take out of the pan. I found it took a careful pry with a butter knife and the would pop out.

Coke Cola Cake 11 Feb 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

I am taking a break from my healthy eating to show you a recipe I made way back when and promised I would get out on my blog, but then the holidays hit and time got away from me. Valentines Day is coming upon us so very soon and if you know me, that means very little to me. I am not big on it, probably because my anniversary is right around that time and it trumps Valentines Day any day. But if you like to bake for Valentines Day, this is an easy recipe that came to me from The Country Cook. Her Blog is amazing and her recipes have ruined my diet more than once. And I say that in the best of ways. I believe that moderation is the key. The original recipe called for no oil or eggs and I messed up and used it and it turned out so good so I am blogging it with the eggs and oil.

Coke Cola Cake
recipe adapted by The Country Cook

1 box (15.25 oz) Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
1 small box (4 oz.) Instant Chocolate Pudding
Ingredients listed on back of cake mix box
1 1/3 cups Coca Cola
1 stick unsalted butter
3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
4-6 tbsp. heavy cream or milk* (see notes below)
(I used 3 eggs and oil on the package)

2 cups (packed) powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

The Country Cook's Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees

Prepare cake mix according to package directions.
But instead of adding water, you will replace that amount with Coca-Cola.
Add in dry instant pudding mix to the batter as well.
With this mix, it called for 1 1/3 cups of water, I substituted that with 1 1/3 cups of Coca Cola.

Spray 9x13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Pour batter into baking dish and bake according to package directions (usually 35-39 minutes).

Just before cake is ready to come out of the oven, start making frosting. In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, start melting one stick of butter/margarine. Then stir in confectioners sugar. (I didn't follow directions which shouldn't surprise you, I just mixed in a bowl. The Country Cook did hers in a pan over the stove)

Frost over warm cake. Yes warm cake.

I could barely wait to cut into it. I mean I have two hungry boys at home!

Roasted Beet Salad 8 Feb 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

It is a known fact in my house I do not like beets. My daughter loves them. My husband loves them. I cant handle the smell of them. If we do to a restaurant and they are on a salad I will kindly move mine to my sweet husband's dish, knowing how he will appreciate them. (He does the same thing with raw tomatoes.) When my CSA delivery service had beets in it, The Fireman was thrilled. Me, not so much. Researching online, I was told that I would like them roasted homemade. They would taste different. Sweet. Not like dirt. They were right. Now I don't want to order them on salads but I will have them homemade. And next year when they come in my bag of goodies I will look into making brownies or cakes out of them.

Roasted Beet Salad

recipe adapted from BLOSSER URBAN GARDEN

2 Beets

olive oil

foil

lemon

Dijon mustard

honey

walnut pieces (about 1 TB per salad)

I have to admit the smell was disturbing to me and I questioned making the dish but being a foodie will try anything once.

Cut off the greens and scrub clean. Beets can and will stain anything and everything. After scrubbing clean and patting dry with a paper towel, I laid on the foil I was going to cook into.

Once on the foil drizzle with a little olive oil. I actually took one hand and made sure it was covered with the oil and then salted.

Fold up the foil leaving space for it to steam

place on a cookie sheet

Roast 400 degrees for about 45 minutes or until a fork pierces easily (think of checking a baked potato)

See! Fork tender!

I made my beets in the morning so they would be cool for the salad. I wasnt sure if I was ready for hot beets. I like to make dressings in mason jars. Just mix

juice of one lemon

1 tsp Dijon

1 tb honey

about 1/4 cup olive oil (I dont really measure)

salt and pepper

shake up

Arrange baby greens on a plate or bowl, slice beets and arrange, add about 1 oz goat cheese to each salad and sprinkle with walnuts. Drizzle 1 TB dressing over the salad

DINNER

Roasted Artichoke Salad 6 Feb 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

I know January is over but I am still TRYING to eat healthy and as much and many vegetables as I can. This happens to be one of my favorite "salads" to make. It is so simple that I am almost embarrassed to share it but it is so good that I have to. I am also embarrassed to tell you that if The Fireman is on duty, I will make this and eat the whole BOWL (yes I did just confess that) for dinner. This is a warm salad although I am sure it is good cold too (but it doesn't make it to being cold in my house.) I buy frozen artichokes from Trader Joe's. When I make into there, I literally buy all the bags they have of them. Trader Joe's is a dangerous store for me. I usually want to buy all the cheese they offer as well as their vegetables. The Fireman will want to buy chocolate and a big block of it. Dangerous store!

Roasted Artichoke Salad
1 bag of frozen artichokes
2 cloves garlic
Pam cooking spray
Kraft Zesty fat free Italian Dressing

These are the frozen Artichoke Hearts I buy. I have only found them at Trader Joe's. If you find them at another store, let me know!

Spray cooking spray on a cookie sheet. My sheets are really old so they take some spray or anything will stick. Season with your favorite seasoning. I like Creole, but plain salt and pepper would be fine

grate a couple cloves of garlic over it. Garlic Powder would also work.

Roast in a preheated 400 degree oven until brown about 10 minutes and then flip and cook another 10 minutes

Put in a bowl

Put 2 Tb dressing over, toss

DINNER

Super Bowl Recipes 1 Feb 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

The Fireman is a serious Steeler fan. I'm more a college football fan. I know! You're shaking you're head but I enjoy it more. Something about college football and the spirit of the sport. The way the schools get all involved. Even the sportscasters talk differently. Professional ball just doesn't do it for me. But the appetizers at the game, that is what I am talking about! Even if it is just the hubby and I sitting at home watching the game, I try to make a little something for us to snack on. Here is a list of some of my favorite Football snacks!

Baked Pub Cheese!
Even The Tortured Teenager is making this one for her football games. It is a winner!!

Buffalo Wings!!
Every football game has wings and beer at it right? Buy extra because these will be a hit!

Jalapeno Spinach and Artichoke Dip!!

This is one of my favorites. I could grab this dish and a bottle of wine and leave the game and be happy. Ok maybe that is not appropriate.

Saucy Poppers

What is better than cheesy dip at a Football game? Jalapeno Poppers!! Ok if you have both you are really special!! These are really bomb by the way.

Simple Salsa

Chip and Salsa is pretty much a no brainer around here, you have to have it. I try to make mine homemade as often as I can. It's that easy.

Cheesy Jalapeno Bread 30 Jan 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

A couple weeks ago I showed you this great recipe for Cheesy Bacon Ranch Bread and it was so yummy but if you know me, the whole time I was thinking about how I was going to change the recipe. My wheels were turning with each bite I shoved in my mouth. So the next week I made three more and considering one member of the house is counting her calories, one doesn't like cheese, that only leaves The Fireman to eat two loaves of french bread. In the next two weeks I will show you the other ones I made. They are perfect for Super Bowl parties. See...I am thinking about you!! This happened to be The Fireman's favorite. I made it for The Tortured Teenager while she was home this Christmas. She agrees, it's a winner. The beauty of this is that there is nothing to this recipe. Literally! So maybe you dont want to share this while I want you to.

Cheesy Jalapeno Bread
recipe adapted from The Country Cook
1 loaf of french bread
1 package pepper jack cheese
1 cube of unsalted butter (ok buy salted but I watch my salt intake)
1 tsp garlic powder

yep thats it!

Take a bread knife and carefully slice the loaf into slices without slicing through the bottom

then slice lengthwise again without slicing though the bottom. it may look like it is is squished but once you add the cheese it'll pop back to life

This is when I transfer the loaf to a large amount of foil big enough to wrap it in.Now take the pepper jack cheese and stuff into each slice.

Melt the butter in a bowl and add the garlic powder. Drizzle the butter all over the loaf

Wrap the bread in foil. Arent you grad you laid out foil before?

Bake 350 for 20 minutes then uncover and bake for an additional 20 minutes

DIG IN!!!

Low Carb Turkey (or Chicken) Enchiladas 28 Jan 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

So we know I am always late with my posts, I thought about saving this for next Thanksgiving but this screams JANUARY! After Thanksgiving I needed to lighten up my dishes. I had been on a weekend of heavy dishes and if I was going to lose any more weight ever or not gain any of the weight I lost, I needed to get off the Turkey day calorie over load. The beauty of this recipe is that it works for not only turkey but chicken. I happen to be in a house with a child that hates enchiladas. I know...how is this child related to me? I could live off enchiladas every day! But with only two adults eating enchiladas it makes a perfect opportunity to freeze some for a night when I am too busy to cook. The way I developed this recipe 1 enchilada was 255 calories. If you are counting calories make sure to add up the calories and make sure with the ingredients you buy you get the same calculations. Different brands have different calorie counts.

Low Carb Turkey (or Chicken) Enchiladas
2 cups reduced fat Mexican Cheese
2 cups turkey or chicken meat (rotisserie meat would work great here)
1 small can green enchilada sauce
10 TB fat free sour scream
Low carb tortillas

Put the meat in a bowl. I like the turkey or chicken nice and chopped up small. If you like it larger then go big.

Add the sour cream. Trust me, when counting calories, you want creamy and cheesy.

Add 1 cup of the cheese

Mix well

I have some of these aluminum trays. These are the 8x8 size. I dont toss them after I use them but just scrub them and store for the next time. One is for tonight and one for the freezer.

Normally I would just dip in the pan I am rolling the tortillas in but it is so small that a pie pan is needed. Pour enough sauce to cover the bottom of the 8x8 baking pan and about 1/2 cup in the pie pan. you can always add more if you run out

These are the low carb tortillas I found. I went for the ones with the least amount of calories and sodium.

Now dip both sides of the tortilla

add 1/2 cup of the turkey or chicken mixture to the tortilla

roll it up and move to one side of the pan

repeat the process until the pan is filled

Cover with 1/2 cup of cheese and repeat the process for the second pan. Take whatever remaining sauce is leftover and drizzle over the enchiladas. Bake 350 degrees (preheated) for 30 minutes. Now if you freeze this for another night, bake for 45 minute to an hour

Add a salad with a low calorie dressing and you have a very satisfying meal for low calories

DINNER!!

Grilled Peaches over Baby Greens with Parmesan and Prosciutto 25 Jan 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

I am ALWAYS behind in posts so bear with me but this recipe screams JANUARY! It's a clean meal with great flavors. The recipe for this calls for goat cheese which if you know me, I LOVE goat cheese. I discovered it a year ago after thinking it was gross. I had never even tasted it before but thought it was gross. I was sooo wrong. It is like cream cheese with a kick. And now I am in love. I have to have it in my house at all times along with feta and Parmesan. But when I made this recipe, I was out of goat cheese. I had gone on a binge eating it on a salad with freshly roasted beets the night before. I was out and had to find an alternative. So rough, right? Parm it was! But you will love this recipe with all the changes, I promise! I loved it so much, I made it twice in one week. That is saying something. A recipe is lucky to be made twice in one year around here.

Grilled Peaches over Baby Greens with Parmesan and Prosciutto
recipe adapted by
Cooking Light
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
3 peaches, pitted and each cut into 6 wedges
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Dash of kosher salt
10 cups baby greens

2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into 1/4-inch strips
2 oz Parmesan shaved

Some of my best recipes come out of recipe books! Cooking Light has some of the best recipes

Bring vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.

Reduce heat, and simmer until vinegar is reduced to 2 tablespoons (about 2 minutes).

Remove from heat

stir in honey. Cool to room temperature

Get your grill ready and hot. The Fireman just happens to be grilling chicken. Slice up peaches. I sprayed with cooking spray in the house on both sides afraid they would sick. If you are using a grill pan spray the spay on the grill pan.

Prepare the greens. I put the amount that we were going to use in a bowl so I could dress the greens before putting them on the plate.

Combine oil, pepper, and salt in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add baby greens , tossing gently to coat.

Arrange baby greens mixture on a platter or bowls.

Place peach wedges on grill rack coated; grill 30 seconds on each side or until grill marks appear but peaches are still firm. Remove from grill; set aside.

Louie is not happy about us grilling.

Lucy is

They are getting so big so fast

peaches are getting marks on one side. They look so good.

I wish you could smell these

Top with prosciutto.

and then cover the prosciutto with the peach wedges and then drizzle with balsamic syrup; sprinkle with cheese.

DINNER!!!

Sweet Roasted Rosemary Acorn Squash Wedges 23 Jan 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

I originally made this for Thanksgiving. And I have a rule that if I don't post the recipe during Thanksgiving I will save it for next year. But then I made it again two weeks later during the Christmas season proving maybe it was also a Christmas dish. So I thought I would save it for Christmas next year. But then (hang with me) the grocery stores had acorn squashes again last week and again I just had to make them again. I like these maybe just as much if not better than Candied Yams. I know that is saying a lot. It's the sweet and spicy. Although the second and third time I made these I used less butter and brown sugar (a girl has to watch her waist after all)

Sweet Roasted Rosemary Acorn Squash Wedges
2 acorn squash
Salt
1 stick butter
1/2 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut the acorn squash in half from top to bottom using a sharp knife.Use a spoon to scrape out the stuff inside.

Cut each half into 4 equal wedges, and then place the wedges, skin-side down, in a baking dish.

I am making a half batch of this recipe if you didnt notice

and my farm delivered veggies (and herbs) as in Rosemary were left out. They are very dry. Oh well

Combine the butter, brown sugar, salt, rosemary and chili powder in a bowl and mix into a paste.

Smear the paste all over the squash.

Roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Then baste with the butter mixture from the bottom of the pan and return to the oven for another 20 minutes.

Serve in the baking dish, drizzling more sauce at the end

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Bread 21 Jan 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

I think I first saw this on Pinterest. It is a dangerous website. I go on it looking for inspiration and find myself on it all day collecting recipes that I haven't used yet and then we end up eating pizza for dinner. No joke. But this I kept eying on my phone for a while until I finally decided we needed to try it. While this recipe is amazing it created a monster, being that the next weekend I had to try to make other flavor possibilities. There are only three in my house and one is watching her weight and one doesn't eat cheese. I really need to start giving my neighbors food. I am not joking.

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Bread
recipe adapted from The Country Cook

Ingredients
1 round loaf of sourdough (or similar) bread
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup-3/4 cup chopped cooked bacon (I threw a couple in the Micro)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tbsp. dry ranch dressing mix

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Using a sharp bread knife, cut the bread going in both directions but don't cut all the way through the bottom.

Place shredded cheese in between the slices. Really pack it in there as best you can.

This part takes the longest amount of time in this recipe so be patient.

This is also why you wouldn't want to use a really soft bread or else it would tear too easily why you packed the cheese in.

Now add in bacon (as little or as much as you like). Do your best to get in between the slices.

Now take 1 tbsp. dry ranch dressing mix and add it to the butter.
You can add more dry mix if you like a stronger ranch taste.
Give it all a good stir until combined.

Now pour or spoon the butter mixture over top of the bread.

Now wrap the whole thing up in aluminum foil and place on baking sheet.
Bake at 350F degrees for 15 minutes.

Unwrap from the foil and bake for another 10 minutes (or until the cheese is melted).

I warned you! This is good!

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Super Bowl Recipes 1 Feb 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

Cheesy Jalapeno Bread 30 Jan 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

Low Carb Turkey (or Chicken) Enchiladas 28 Jan 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

Grilled Peaches over Baby Greens with Parmesan and Prosciutto 25 Jan 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

Sweet Roasted Rosemary Acorn Squash Wedges 23 Jan 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Bread 21 Jan 2013 5:00 AM (12 years ago)