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7/29/09

Something New To Us: Buying Half a Cow

As a child growing up in a busy household with three younger brothers somewhere in the heartland of America, there was a portion of the grocery store that I never shopped in with my parents. The meat department.

And when I learned how to brown ground beef there was a step I never had to do. Draining the fat. I never thought about it. Never knew that anyone did. Let me tell you why....

Years later, my new sister-in-law called me one day and in the course of conversation asked me if my family didn't drain the fat from the pan after we browned ground beef. I asked her why she would ask such an odd question and her response was that she and my brother argued over draining the fat from the ground beef. He didn't do it which upset her and he told her we never did that growing up. She, knowing my love of cooking and baking couldn't believe this.

I was never a real fan of ground beef and had sat through many lectures at the kitchen table while a teenager after I picked out the ground beef from my chili or taco salad. A hamburger from McDonalds I could eat, but chunks of ground beef? Not so much. So it's no wonder that I never bought nor ate ground beef after graduating and moving out. It was only after speaking to my SIL and discussing ground beef that we came to the answer together; we didn't drain the fat because there was no fat to drain!

My SIL's family grew up eating ground beef from the grocery store. My family grew up eating beef we bought straight from the farm and had butchered to our specifications. All our ground beef came wrapped in white butcher paper with our name stamped on it in red ink. Their ground beef came in a clear package with a bloody pad at the bottom of it. Our freezer was stocked full of white wrapped packages year round as we continuously bought our beef and ham this way.

We knew no other way.

And our ground beef, when browned, would yield hardly a teaspoon of fat, at that. There was nothing to drain.

Mystery solved.

And now, about 15 years later it's come full circle as I prepare to buy half a cow from... my brother and SIL! Yes, they, still married and with three teen and pre-teen boys raise cows, pigs and sheep and have a few horses in the mix as well. His call this week was to see if we wanted a side of beef as he just took it to the butcher. It had to hang for about 10 days and then would be ready to cut to our specifications.

I haven't a clue what I'm doing. I've never in my life bought a 'side' of beef but with three teenagers and a husband and a love of grilling steaks and burgers I'm anxious to cut down on our grocery bill and feed my family healthy, organic beef - raised by my own nephews and brother. The initial cost will be huge - probably $600-800 total (I have to find out the weight of the cow and decide what cuts of meat we want) but it's a good investment and hopefully we'll be set for beef at least until next Spring or Summer!

I'll keep you up to date as I venture into new territory for me - as I know nothing about the process and will be calling the meat locker later today.Print Friendly and PDF

7/28/09

Homemade Horseradish Sauce

Kraft has a secret recipe that I'm just hooked on... it's their Creamy Horseradish Sauce. First tried a few years ago on roast beef, I've since kept it on hand at all times for most of my sandwiches, be it turkey or even ham. It adds a zing I love without being too 'hot'.

Even though I don't mind purchasing the bottle of dressing I'd love to be able to make a homemade version. So far I've not found one that comes close... but I continue to try! Here is another version I found and want to add to my files for collection although I think in the end I'm going to have to have a 'trial and error' day where I gather about 5 or 6 versions and tweak them all myself until I come up with something that works. Until then? I buy my bottle of delicious creamy horseradish sauce and search through recipes that look promising!

Horseradish Sauce

1 c sour cream
1/4 c grated fresh horseradish
1 T Dijon mustard
1 t white wine vinegar
1/2 t kosher salt
1/4 t freshly ground black pepper

Place all of the ingredients into a medium mixing bowl and whisk until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld. Sauce can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 2 to 3 weeks.Print Friendly and PDF

7/26/09

Lemon Dijon Grilled Shrimp

It's a beautiful Sunday morning and I'm sitting at the kitchen counter reading the news and sipping my coffee. The sun is out, the sky is blue and it's the most amazing morning. I feel happy and relaxed and smile for no reason other than the burst of emotion that comes when I let myself relax and just 'be' in the moment.

I do have to bring my teenage son and 2 friends to camp today but after I return, I have no pressing plans. Oh, the house could use straightening, dishes to be done and with three teens there is always another load of laundry I could do, but I don't work at the office today and we have enough groceries that I don't have to push through crowds to shop for bread and milk on my 'day off' this weekend and really, I can just relax if I wish.

Which of course is exactly when I love to cook! Tonight I'll be using the grill of course - that's a given with me on as many summer nights as I can. I have almost 3 gallons of freshly picked green beans from our garden to use up and although I have 3 steaks thawed and ready to cook, my mouth waters at the thought of even more seafood. I'm always craving seafood!

Thanks to Southern Living and their family of cooking magazines, I found this recipe and tweaked it only a bit before adding it to my files. See what you think!

Lemon Dijon Grilled Shrimp

1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped red onion
2 tablespoons capers
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup boiling water
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 1/4 pounds unpeeled jumbo shrimp
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
Cooking spray


Peel shrimp, leaving the tails intact. Starting at tail end, butterfly each shrimp, cutting to, but not through, underside of shrimp.

Combine the dill, onions, vinegar, capers, lemon, salt, honey, mustard, black pepper, hot pepper sauce and garlic in a blender and blend until smooth. Add the oil and water and blend again.

Combine shrimp, 6 tablespoons of the vinaigrette, and red pepper in a large zip-top plastic bag. Seal and marinate in refrigerator 15 minutes, turning bag occasionally.

Prepare grill to medium-high heat. Remove shrimp from marinade; discard marinade. Sprinkle shrimp evenly with salt and black pepper. Place the shrimp, cut sides down, on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 2 minutes on each side or until done, basting frequently with the remaining 6 tablespoons of vinaigrette.Print Friendly and PDF

Turkey Piegga



At our local high school in addition to the regular lunches, ala carte menu where you can buy pizza or a sandwich and the typical fruit, granola bars and other food choices, they also offer a special lunch choice that is often menu items that would be found in a restaurant or even another country. One of those foods caught the attention of my oldest daughter last year and she would rave about the Turkey Piegga.

Always glad to make my own version of foods my kids rave about I decided to make a Turkey Piegga based on the ingredients my daughter remembered from her school lunch; spinach, some basil, bread, maybe some mayonnaise, and some cheese on a flat bread.

Looking through my cookbooks and files, I didn't find it. Looking on the internet I found that it seemed to be a sandwich that only 'schools' across the nation made and called a Piegga. I couldn't find a clear, concise version that was similar to what my daughter was describing.

Finally, giving up, I wrote to the head cook of the school and requested the information. She was more than happy to give it to me and to hear that one of the students loved it so much that they were trying to make it at home.

I added this recipe to my files and I hope you do too!

Turkey Piegga

Dough for (2) 16” pizzas
Olive oil – 1 oz.
Italian seasoning – ¼ oz.
Shredded Parmesan – 3 oz.

Turkey – 1 lb.
Provolone cheese – 8 oz.
Spinach – 6 oz.
Fresh basil – ½ oz.
Olive oil – 1 oz.
Kosher salt
Pepper –
Mayonnaise – 4 oz.


Mix together olive oil and Italian seasoning. Proof pizza crust to double in thickness, brush with olive oil/Italian seasoning mix. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 convection oven 5-8 minutes.

Place one of the baked crusts upside down – layer as follows;

Turkey
Provolone
Mayonnaise
Spinach
Basil
Salt, pepper, olive oil

Top with second crust.

Cut into 10 pieces. Sandwich can be prepackaged and served cold or grilled on a Panini grill for 3 minutes to serve hot.



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7/22/09

Beef and Aspragus Rolls

I work at a non-profit organization that holds a huge 'gala' every year. Last night I attended a committee meeting for the planning of it and granted, it was about 6:pm and I was starving anyway, but when they were discussing food and said "heavy appetizers" my mind started to drift to various delicious, wonderful, fabulous appetizers. I love 'grazing' and I love appetizer style dinners. My whole family does. Small portions of various kinds of finger foods are the perfect 'dinner' choices for many NFL Football game days in our house.

With appetizers on the mind I decided to start breaking out some old appetizer files of mine. This is one that looks pretty around Christmas time as the red and green colors are bright and colorful but of course can be served any time of year!

Beef and Asparagus Rolls

14 oz. rump steak
1 T worcestershire sauce
2 t high quality mustard
1/2 lb. asparagus
1 red bell pepper
3 T canola oil

Partially freeze the steak for ease of slicing. Cut into thin slices. Combine the steak, sauce and mustard and chill and marinate for at least 30 minutes. Cut asparagus and pepper into 2 inch strips. Boil, steam or microwave just until tender and drain. Wrap a piece of steak around a piece of asparagus and pepper and secure with a toothpick. Repeat until all the slices are used. Heat oil in a pan and cook until well browned. Serve! (You can get about 36-45 appetizers out of this).Print Friendly and PDF

Raspberry Melting Moments

Melting Moments are one of the cookies my friends and I call a "Grandma" cookie. They are an old recipe, tweaked and loved by almost all. I often roll the dough into a log and chill or partially freeze to make slicing easy and then slice it into coins to bake. You can do them however you want. This version has a light layer of raspberry jam which I love and the glaze adds a drizzle of chocolate which others love. I make sure to use a simple confectioner's (powdered) sugar glaze with no chocolate for me! Both side by side are pretty though.


Raspberry Melting Moments

2 c flour
1 c cornstarch
1 c confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 c butter
2 t vanilla extract
Seedless raspberry jam

In a bowl stir together flour, cornstarch and sugar. In a large mixer bowl beat butter until smooth, add flour mixture and vanilla. Shape into 3/4 inch balls and place 1 1/2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten crisscross style with a lightly floured fork. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

Cool slightly then spread lightly with raspberry jam. Drizzle each cookie with the glaze;

Glaze
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 t butter
1 t milk

Melt and mix in double boiler or low in microwave but don't over cook!Print Friendly and PDF

7/21/09

Salmon Salad with Dill Vinaigrette

It seems I have seafood on the mind this week and tonight is no different. A family favorite in our house is salmon - especially grilled with lemon pepper, garlic and a host of other spices topped with a mixture of lemon butter I make myself without a recipe by just throwing a little of this and a little of that together with a stick of softened butter, rolling it into a log and chilling it before slicing into coins to serve, melting slowly over the hot salmon.

However, on hot summer nights a cold salad sounds heavenly and if you have a few basic ingredients on hand you can whip up a delicious salmon salad with tomatoes, capers and a dill vinaigrette.


Salmon Salad

2/3 cup NAKANO Seasoned Rice Vinegar Roasted Garlic or Original
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried dill weed, divided
4 salmon fillets, about 5 ounces each
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
16 asparagus spears
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1 tablespoon capers Hearts of Romaine lettuce

Combine rice vinegar, garlic, salt and 1 teaspoon dill weed to make dill vinaigrette; stir well. Place salmon fillets in a shallow non metallic container. Add 4 tablespoons dill vinaigrette; marinate 30 to 60 minutes. Drain salmon and discard marinade. Grill or saute salmon, starting with the skin side down, until cooked as desired. Cover and set aside.

Add olive oil to remaining vinaigrette. Blanch asparagus and place in shallow, rimmed dish. Drizzle 3 tablespoons vinaigrette over asparagus. Combine tomatoes, capers, 2 tablespoons vinaigrette and remaining 1/2 teaspoon dill weed.

To serve, arrange lettuce leaves and 4 asparagus spears on each serving plate. Remove skin from salmon and place one fillet on each plate. Spoon a generous ribbon of tomato mixture over salmon, lettuce and asparagus. Serve with remaining dill vinaigrette, as desired. Salmon may be served hot, room temperature or cold. Serves 4



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More Shrimp!

Shrimp... shrimp... shrimp. I could have it numerous times a week and never tire of it. I think I should just move to Florida or another coastal city so I could ensure myself a nice fresh daily ration!

You might already make a version of this recipe as it uses the usual lemon, garlic and pepper but it's always nice to have a recipe to 'remind' you to make it. So what are you waiting for!?

Grilled Shrimp

2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 to 2 1/2 pounds peeled, deveined shrimp (12 to 15 per lb.), rinsed and drained
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
2 or 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground pepper
Lemon wedges

In a bowl, mix salt and sugar. Add shrimp and stir gently to coat. Cover and chill 45 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse shrimp well and drain; also rinse and dry bowl.

Return shrimp to bowl. Add olive oil, parsley, lemon peel, garlic, and pepper. Mix to coat. Thread shrimp on metal or soaked wooden skewers, running skewer through the body once near the tail and once near the head end of each shrimp so it looks like the letter C.

Lay shrimp skewers on an oiled barbecue grill over hot coals or high heat on a gas grill (you can hold your hand at grill level only 2 to 3 seconds); close lid on gas grill. Cook, turning once, until shrimp are bright pink and opaque but still moist-looking in center of thickest part (cut to test), 5 to 6 minutes total. Serve with lemon wedges to squeeze over shrimp.Print Friendly and PDF

Basic White Milk Cake or Cupcakes - Sturdy and Delicious




Here is a simple recipe you can make as a cake or cupcakes for your new neighbor (in honor of my best friend) and topped with either frosting and sprinkles or even just a delicious homemade whipped cream dollop this simple old fashioned milk cake can't be beat!


Basic White Milk Cake

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners. In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.Print Friendly and PDF

7/20/09

Spicy Grilled Shrimp

When it comes to recipes lately I seem to gravitate towards my favorite Southern Living cookbook. It's not surprising that one of the only emailed recipe 'newsletters' I receive is also stems from this company.

This month they had some amazing seafood recipes, and as it's probably my number one favorite main dish foods, I dove in with excitement to see what new idea's they had. While most recipes are reinvented many times over by simply tweaking, and I already make a version of them myself, I saw this marinade and it caught my attention because it used an egg!

Already tweaking it - (as my readers know I never follow a recipe completely and always tell you to play with your food!) I found a tweaked version that added a bit of key lime and honey to it. Yum! I am adding it to my files because it just looks too delicious to pass up!

Shrimp Marinade with Balsamic Vinegar

1 egg yolk
1 T balsamic vinegar
1 t Dijon mustard
1 t of key lime zest
2 T honey
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 c olive oil
1 1/2 t seasoned salt
3/4 t onion powder
3/4 t paprika
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 t ground white pepper
1/4 t freshly ground black pepper
1/4 t dry mustard
1/4 t dried oregano
1/4 t dried thyme
1/8 t ground red pepper

Place first 3 ingredients in a blender; process until smooth. With blender on, add oils in a slow, steady stream until blended. Add seasoned salt and remaining ingredients; process until smooth. Cover and store in refrigerator. Use as a marinade for shrimp before grilling.Print Friendly and PDF

7/18/09

Jamaican Jerk Shrimp

Long time readers know that I love mango's and am a long-time fan of mango salsa. I'm also a huge fan of grilled shrimp and I think I could have it for dinner 5 nights a week and be perfectly content! This recipe comes from David Bonom in Coastal Living's January edition and combines the grilled shrimp I crave with the mango salsa I love.


If you have Jamaican Jerk seasoning in your cupboard and shrimp in the refrigerator or freezer, consider this one for tonight.











Jamaican Jerk Grilled Shrimp

1 mango, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 avocado, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 pounds unpeeled large raw shrimp
1 red onion, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons Jamaican Jerk Rub

Combine the mango, avocado, bell pepper, cilantro, lime juice, sugar and salt to make the salsa and set aside in a bowl.

Peel shrimp, leaving tails on; devein. Toss shrimp and onion with oil in a large bowl, sprinkle with Jamaican Jerk Rub, and toss to coat. Grill shrimp and onion over medium-high heat (350° to 400°) 6 minutes, or just until shrimp turn pink, turning once. Chop onion and add to salsa mixture, stirring gently. Serve shrimp with salsa.






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Part 3 in my Keurig Coffee Brewer Files

It's early Saturday morning I'm sitting in my kitchen, at the laptop, with the patio door open to an unexpectedly chilly morning and a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee. For my daily readers following the process of my experience with my Keurig, I do indeed have another update.

My long time readers were there when I had my first cup of coffee brewed in a Keurig last year. I was determined that would be my next coffee maker. When our BrewStation started to leak all over the counter (a model flaw in that particular model I've since found out) I took the opportunity to invest in the Keurig I had been longing for.

I was so excited to show my readers how to use the machine as well as how to use the My K-Cup to brew with their own freshly ground coffee; "how to use the My K-cup style" cups for the Keurig brewer". And unfortunately had to post an update just two weeks later when it
stopped working
.

My latest update? A new Keurig that we swapped out at the store on Thursday. It's only been two days but it's been primed properly and I'm enjoying my third cup of coffee from it thus far.

I love this brewer so much so that I've spoken about it not only on two of my websites, but to my parents, friends and have put it on my 'wish list' at work to the Board of Directors. I plan on bringing in my own Keurig at at our next Board Meeting in August to see if they can be swayed. I work for a non-profit organization and in this economy I'm not likely to have this request granted, but a girl can try! (And perhaps if I bake brownies to go with that freshly brewed coffee they can be persuaded to acquiesce my request?)

So I still love Keurig and I'm hopeful our new 'swapped out' machine will give us delicious, freshly brewed coffee for a long time!Print Friendly and PDF

7/16/09

Another Horseradish Sauce

For my everyday readers I thought I'd update you that I am sitting here this morning sipping coffee made in my old 'back up' coffee maker. The Keurig wasn't working again yesterday so my husband took it to work with him this morning and will return it to the store. We are hoping we just got a lemon and a new model will work longer than the two weeks we had this one. It didn't seem to be a clogged nozzle issue, instead it was something in the electrical system as most of the buttons wouldn't work, not even the 'menu' button. The only button that worked was the power button. It worked for a day and a half and then would stop again. As much as I hate returning items, it must be done.

In the meantime! My quest for a copy cat recipe of the delicious condiment; Kraft's Creamy Horseradish Sauce. How I love this stuff! I've been keeping my eyes open for recipes similar or some that I may be able to tweak to make a match and so far I've not found one as good as the real thing. Still, I persist as I am hoping I can make a similar product for pennies on the dollar. Here is one I found and added to my collection in my quest for a comparible.


Creamy Horseradish Sauce

1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup fat free sour cream
1 1/2 T light mayonnaise
1 T prepared horseradish
1/4 tsp coarsely ground black pepperPrint Friendly and PDF

Coffee Dessert



My notes from this hand written recipe said it was a very very old recipe from the upper East Coast.  I've not made this one yet, but it's from my collection of old recipes.  Have you tried it?  If so, what did you think?

Coffee Dessert

1 1/2 cups cold coffee
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup whole milk or half-and-half
1 package plain gelatin
2 eggs, separated
1 tsp. vanilla

Soften the gelatin for 10 minutes in the milk. Dissolve the sugar in the coffee and whisk in the beaten egg yolks. In a saucepan, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly. Remove from the heat and whisk in the gelatin-milk mixture. Return to medium-low heat and whisk for two minutes more. Cool the mixture to room temperature. Beat the egg white with vanilla til it holds stiff glossy peaks. Fold gently and thoroughly into the coffee mixture. Pour into little molds or dessert dishes and chill. There will be a thin clear dark-coffee layer on the bottom, then a creamy cafe-au-lait layer, then a fluffy top. Very refreshing on a hot day. Good with a dusting of cocoa powder on top.Print Friendly and PDF

7/15/09

Homemade Shredded Beef Tacos

The taste of homemade shredded beef taco's is delicious and really can't be beat if you have the time to make it. Using a slow cooker helps since it cooks without any work on your part! Here is a recipe that starts off as a Southern Living recipe but with the addition of some extra spice gleaned from adding bits and pieces from other recipes, you end up with a tasty meal that is perfect for a summer party in your back yard.



Homemade Shredded Beef Tacos

2 pounds boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
2 cups beef broth
1 small white onion
1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
1/2 medium-size green bell pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Flour or corn tortillas, warmed
Toppings: shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream

Sprinkle beef evenly with salt and cook beef, in batches, in hot oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes or until browned on all sides. Remove, reserving drippings in Dutch oven. Add 1 tablespoon chili powder, cook the drippings and seasoning, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste. Add 2 cups beef broth, and stir, scraping bits from bottom of Dutch oven. Return beef to Dutch oven, and stir.

Place beef mixture in a 4 1/2-quart slow cooker. Add onion and next 4 ingredients. Cook on high 4 hours or on low 6 hours or until beef is tender. Serve with warm tortillas and desired toppings. For a spicy blend, add into a food chopper; 5 garlic cloves - diced ; the juice of 3 lime halves; 2 Tblsp chopped fresh cilantro; 1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes; 1/2 jalepeno pepper seeded and chopped. Add this to the meat while cooking in the slow cooker.


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Don't Forget to Enter for a Chance to Win a Beach Bag!

Sipping my morning coffee (yes I'm still using the Keurig... it seems to have overheard me threatening to take it back and it's behaving perfectly for the last two days) and just reminding my readers and those new to the site to check out the post below for a chance to win a summer beach bag bonanza from Old Bay Seasoning! Totally free to you - all you have to do is email me to throw your name in the hat. (Your name isn't passed along to anyone and I don't keep it for anything - I just use it to contact you if you are the winner!).

In honor of Old Bay todays recipe is for a zesty party dip you can serve with vegetables, crackers or chips. It's quick and creamy and can be especially pretty when served in a hallowed out bell pepper!

OLD BAY Party Dip

16 oz. sour cream
1/2 c mayonnaise
1/4 c sliced green onions
1 T Old Bay seasoning

Mix sour cream, mayo and onions with the Old Bay seasoning and chill at least 1-2 hours for the flavors to blend before serving with crackers, vegetables or chips. This makes about 2 1/2 cups.




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7/12/09

Update to my Keurig Coffee Review (edited to add an update link)

Two weeks ago we invested in a Keurig coffee brewer. I raved about it to my friends, I sent the link to their website to two of my coffee loving friends and posted about it on two of my websites. I decided that the bad reviews it was getting online about it not working was because the people who wrote them must not have primed it properly when they first bought it or they were not cleanly it properly or descaling it. I made up many excuses as to why this wonderful machine would not work for others.

Also in the back of my mind was the employee at the car dealership where I had my first Keurig coffee, who had to come fix the machine twice, both times I was there. She said their machines jam constantly and break down continuously but that Keurig knows this and that Keurig doesn't even 'fix' their own machines anymore. They just come out every 6 weeks or so and give them a new machine and take the broken one. The dealership gets the machines for free and they just buy the coffee so they continue the 'broken machine' cycle because they aren't really out any money by doing so.

I should have listened.

Today, just two weeks after purchasing and using our Keurig Coffee Brewer, it stopped working.

This morning I enjoyed two cups of coffee before my husband was up for the day. He brewed one cup and left for work. After he left I decided to have one more cup while I read the online news.

I got... nothing.

The machine said it was ready. The lights blinked, asking me which size to brew. But when I pressed the button? Nothing.

Soon I found none of the buttons were responding, not even the 'menu' button. I of course tried to turn the machine off, unplug it for a bit, cleaned the nozzle with a paperclip to be sure it wasn't plugged (it wasn't) and removed and returned the water reservoir to it's place. Nothing. Once in a great while it decides to spit out about a tablespoon of hot water (I'm not wasting coffee k-cups, I'm just trying to get straight water to come out) but a tablespoon of hot water is about all it gives, and only every 8th or 9th attempt.

The hot water it gives in that tablespoon is completely clear with no grounds and really, it can hardly be very dirty after only two weeks of use!

My husband said he will try to return it to the store as I've heard and read it's a major pain to deal with Keurig directly. Hopefully because it's a new purchase, the store will accept it as defective and let us return it.

The big question? Do we get another Keurig or do we admit that the reviews are right and they should be avoided?




Part 1



Part two




Update: I've had a number of emails asking me if I updated again after this article. Yes... unfortunately I did have to update again. And again. You can find the most recent one here. The short version? We were on our 3rd Keurig brewer in 4 months.

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Chocolate Torte


This recipe is from this months edition of the 'email' newsletter from Coastal Living. Although I love to cook and bake, I do not enjoy receiving recipes by newsletter or email so I only receive the e-newsletters from two places. Instead I dream up what I want to make, I look for about 3-4 versions of it and read through them and then I 'play' with the recipes to make them my own. Tweaking them to my own families tastes, my craving or what we have on hand.

This recipe originally had a fruity sauce served with it that I knew my crew would turn up their noses at. I'm leaving that out and tweaking it with a light drizzle of caramel and melted white and dark chocolate drizzled over the top. 'Playing with the recipe' - I hope you do the same.

Chocolate Torte

10 T butter, softened
2/3 c powdered sugar
1 large egg white
2 c flour
2T cocoa powder
1 1/2 c heavy whipping cream, divided
16 oz. bittersweet or sweet dark chocolate, chopped and divided
2 extra-large eggs
1 c sugar

Combine butter, powdered sugar, and egg white in a medium bowl, stirring until well blended. Mix in flour and cocoa powder, stirring until a soft dough forms. Press dough into a 10-inch tart pan. Cover and chill 1 hour.

Line crust with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake at 375° for 35 minutes. Remove parchment and weights; let crust cool.

Heat 1 1/4 cups cream in a heavy saucepan over medium heat until very hot. Remove from heat, and add 12 ounces chocolate, stirring until smooth. Stir in eggs and sugar, whisking until blended. Strain to remove lumps, if necessary.

Fill crust with chocolate mixture. Bake at 300° for 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool completely.

Combine remaining 1/4 cup cream and remaining 4 ounces chocolate in a glass measuring cup. Microwave on high at 30-second intervals, stirring occasionally, until mixture is smooth. Spread over top of cooled tart. Let stand 30 minutes or until set. Slice and serve.

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7/10/09

Homemade Cake Donuts Like Grandma Makes

Although my family thinks me a nut, I'm a 'plain vanilla' kind of girl when it comes to ice cream, a 'double helping of vegetables' instead of chocolate cake and a 'plain cake donut with white frosting and colored sprinkles' kind of girl when it comes to pastries.

As a child growing up in a tiny town in the Midwest I remember being about 10 years old and walking to the corner gas station/convenience store early on Sunday mornings. Although I'm sure they wouldn't do it now, the employee working used to let me go into the back kitchen area where they made their donuts fresh every day and I actually would make the donuts - hot grease and all. I then got to frosting and sprinkle or sugar them and after 'working' for a half hour or so would be rewarded with a box of a dozen fresh donuts to take home.

I adore cake donuts (and crullers) and consider them one of my top 10 comfort foods.


Cake Donuts

4 c all-purpose flour
1 c sugar
3 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
1/2 t nutmeg
1 c buttermilk
1/4 c butter, melted, or 1/4 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs, slightly beaten
Oil for deep frying

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, salt and nutmeg. Whisk to blend. Stir in the buttermilk, melted butter or oil, vanilla and eggs. Don't over beat. Mix just until moist.

Chill dough for about 30 minutes for easier handling. Heat your oil to 375°. On a well floured surface, knead dough for 2 minutes just until it is no longer sticky and is easy to work with. Using half of the dough, roll out to 1/2" thickness; cut with a floured doughnut cutter. Slip doughnuts into the hot oil and fry for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per side, or until deep golden brown.

Drain on paper towels. Dip in powdered sugar or a cinnamon sugar mixture or wait for them to cool a bit before frosting.Print Friendly and PDF

7/5/09

Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans


In 2002 I started to make this summer chicken salad and about once every summer I continue to make it when the craving becomes overwhelming. My kids aren't big fans of salads that combine fruit and chicken - probably because I'm not either (!) but this is one that caught my eye and my taste buds years ago and I just adore it. My hint is to not skimp on the chicken in this one... nor the pecans. Add more if you like, but not less!



Chicken Salad

2-3 lbs. boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
3/4 c pecan pieces, toasted
2 c red seedless grapes
1 c mayonnaise
4 t apple cider vinegar
5 t honey
2 t poppy seeds
2-3 stalks celery, diced
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, honey and poppy seeds. Cook the chicken and dice or if your chicken is partially frozen, it is the perfect texture to chop or dice before cooking. Cool. Combine the chicken, dressing, grapes and pecans with the celery.




Chop chicken either before cooking if it's still partially frozen
or chop after it's cold for ease in cutting.


The poppy seed and honey dressing is amazing.


Serve on a bed of lettuce or inside a scooped out melon.


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7/4/09

Got Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal? It's Under Recall

While readings the news online I stumbled across this news release that has quietly been spread but not loud enough! So many people use these little instant oatmeal packs for their babies and toddlers (we won't discuss the sugar content of these foods in todays article...) but it's something you'll want to check your cupboards for. Here is a snippet of the recall notice;


Malt-O-Meal Co. is voluntarily recalling oatmeal that contains instant nonfat dry milk that may be contaminated with salmonella.

The instant nonfat dry milk came from Plainview Milk Products Cooperative of Minnesota which is recalling products made over the past two years due to the possible contamination. Many of Plainview's products were sold to other food makers.

Minneapolis-based Malt-O-Meal is recalling "Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal" sold in cartons and variety packs with best-if-used-by dates of June 30, 2009 to Oct. 28, 2010.

The oatmeal is sold nationally under brands including Cub Foods, Diamond Crystal, Fastco, Flavorite, Foodland, Good 'n Hearty, Hearty Traditions, Hy-Top, IGA, Mom's Best Natural, Megaroons, Millville, Our Family, Richfood, Shop 'n Save and Smart Menu.Print Friendly and PDF

7/3/09

Frozen Beer Margarita's


When I saw this frozen beer margarita recipe in Southern Living about 2 years ago (?) I copied it down but not being a beer person I never made them. The little umbrella and the pastel colors make me think of Florida... the ocean... and blue sparkling waters. Mean while I'll sit and sip my morning coffee while I look at miles of corn fields!


Beer Margarita's

1 cup frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
1 cup tequila
1/2 cup orange liqueur (like Triple Sec)
Crushed ice
1/2 to 1 cup cold beer

Stir together first 3 ingredients until well blended. Fill 4 medium glasses with crushed ice. Pour limeade mixture evenly into glasses. Add beer to taste.



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Pomegranate Margarita's


I love pomegranate juice. I love margarita's (only the slushy frozen kind!) and I love making color-coordinating drinks for the holidays. So this Fourth of July weekend I'm a on a roll to bring my readers some red, white & blue to add to their festivities!

This RED drink goes well with the patriotic theme and the frozen goodness is refreshing on a hot summer night. The quality of pomegranate juice you use in this will make all the difference. If you can afford it and aren't serving too many, the fresh juices you'll find in the veggie and fruit department are the best. If it's for a crowd I'd go to the juice aisle and get a more affordable bottle. *wink*

Pomegranate Margarita's

4 c crushed ice
1 c pomegranate juice
1/2 c orange liqueur (triple sec)
1/2 cup tequila
1 tablespoon lime juice
Optional: If you have a fresh pomegranate, add 1/2 of it (or about 4 T pomegranate seeds
Lime wedges
Coarse salt
Garnish: lime slices

Process first 5 ingredients, and, if desired, pomegranate seeds in a blender 30 seconds or until frothy. Rub rims of 6 glasses with lime wedges; dip in salt to coat. Pour margarita evenly into prepared glasses. Garnish, if desired. Serve immediately.Print Friendly and PDF

Frozen Sangria

Not being much of a drinker I've only had Sangria a couple times in my life. The first was at a home party of a good friend in Minnesota. I found it to be delicious and fruity and perfect to serve to guests on a hot summer evening.

I personally like 'frozen' drinks when I do have one. I'm a girly girl I guess (or a kid at heart) but the slushy drinks win out for me or else I'll just sip a Diet Coke or ice cold water. This Sangria is fun! It's fruity and slushy and I can just taste how good it would be this Fourth of July as well as looking good on a table decked out in red, white and blue!

Now it starts with pre-made or pre-bought sangria from the store and then is doctored up a bit. But a delicious alternative is to start with the same amount of Cranberry juice. This is a good option if you holiday party includes children or others who prefer not to drink alcohol.

1 galon sangría
1 (12-oz.) can frozen limeade, thawed
1 (2-liter) bottle lemon-lime soft drink like 7-up or Sprite
2 cups sliced oranges, lemons, and limes

Place a large (2-gallon) zip-top plastic freezer bag inside another 2-gallon zip-top plastic freezer bag. Double bagging helps with avoiding leaks or spills. Place bags in a large bowl. Combine sangría, limeade, and lemon-lime soft drink in the inside bag. Seal both bags, and freeze 24 hours.

Remove mixture from freezer 1 hour before serving, squeezing occasionally until slushy. Transfer mixture to a 2-gal. container. Stir in fruit.Print Friendly and PDF

Chicken Chimichangas


When I was in high school my Mom was able to buy certain grocery foods in bulk through her place of work. On a whim she bought a large (very large!) container of frozen ground chicken. It was using this ground chicken that I 'made up' chicken chimichangas for my own family and then after high school when I married my husband I continued to make them using a large can of chicken as it was just the two of us and one large can of cooked chicken from Costco fed us. Now, with 3 teenagers we certainly don't buy that anymore but use cooked, chopped or shredded chicken that I grill or cook myself.

This recipe comes from my files. It's not the one I usually make but very similar and of course I ALWAYS tell my readers; Play with your food! Add and delete spices and ingredients that you know your family loves or hates.... make it your own!

Chicken Chimichangas

1 (16 oz.)jar picante sauce or salsa
7 cups chopped cooked chicken or canned chicken
1 small onion, diced
2 1/2 t ground cumin
1 t fresh minced garlic
1 t dried oregano
1 t salt
20 (8-inch) flour tortillas
3 c shredded Cheddar cheese
Serve with: guacamole, sour cream, shredded lettuce, diced tomato

Combine 1 1/2 cups of the salsa or picante sauce with the chicken, onion, cumin, garlic, oregano and salt. Microwave or cook in a saucepan with a lid covering for about 20 minutes. Place about 1/3 cup of the filling onto a flour tortilla and top with a mound of cheese (2-3 tablespoons). Fold in 2 sides of tortillas to enclose filling. Fold over top and bottom edges of tortillas, making rectangles. Secure with wooden picks. Place, folded side down, on greased baking sheets. Spray the chimichangas with cooking spray (like Pam) or brush with oil.

Bake at 425° for 8 minutes; turn and bake 5 more minutes. Remove picks; top with remaining picante sauce and serve with the delicious toppings.Print Friendly and PDF

Tequila Mojitos

It's the holiday weekend here in the US and many are gearing up for backyard barbecues, grill outs, picnics, camping and pool parties. In May we started to talk about summer drinks for adults (alcoholic) and I hoped to bring you a lot of new ideas to try. I haven't counted them but I think we've gotten up to about 10 or so. Let's see if I can get my readers a few more to add to their collection to try this weekend.

A typical Mojito will have just sugar, lime, mint and rum. But as with every recipe, you can play with it a bit and see what you get. I think this recipe I found through Southern Living sounds more like a margarita but the addition of mint makes it a mojito. See what you think.


Tequila Mojitos

1 c water
3/4 c sugar
1 c fresh mint sprigs
2 c lemon-lime soft drink like 7-up or Sprite, cold
1 c fresh lime juice
1/2 c tequila
Garnish: fresh mint sprigs, lime slices

Make a simple sugar syrup by bringing 1 cup water and the sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan. Boil, stirring often, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; add mint sprigs, and let stand 2 hours or until mixture is completely cool. Pour mixture through a wire-mesh strainer into a pitcher, discarding mint. Stir in lemon-lime soft drink, lime juice, and tequila. Serve over ice. Garnish, if desired.Print Friendly and PDF

7/1/09

Homemade Mayonnaise


The other night at dinner my 13 year old found out through the course of our family conversation that mayonnaise had eggs in it.
"Eggs?!" she exclaimed, she didn't believe us.
"Honey, mayonnaise is eggs. Whipped with a bit of oil and some spices. That's why you can make cakes with it." "You put mayonnaise in our cakes!?"
She was even more aghast. Perhaps this was more information than she wanted! Ha ha.
"Well yes, your favorite chocolate cake that I make with the whippy marshmallow like frosting? That cake is made with mayonnaise."

I think I completely grossed my 13 year old out. *grin*

Yes indeed, mayonnaise is... eggs. And delicious eggs at that! Such a fresh taste you'll want to smear it on everything from a grilled turkey burger to a tomato, lettuce and bacon sandwich. There are many (many, many, many) versions for homemade mayonnaise. Some are basic with little flavor, some are intense with crazy additions, others are a basic mild spicy version even a delicious hint of lime.

Here is just one version that includes just a touch of spice to give it a great flavor.

Homemade Mayonnaise

2 large eggs
2 T lemon juice
2 t Dijon mustard
3 drops hot pepper sauce
1 1/2 c oil
Salt



Combine the eggs, lemon juice, mustard, and hot pepper sauce in a blender or food processor. Blend 5 to 10 seconds and with the processor or blender still running, add the oil in a very slow stream through the opening in blender cover. Drizzle it slowly and don't rush it as you want to incorporate the oil. Blend until smooth, scraping sides occasionally for even blending. Add just a tiny dash of salt to enhance the flavors of the spice. Season to taste.


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Displaying Your Cookies, candies and cupcakes

With Fourth of July festivities right around the corner many are preparing cookies, cupcakes and other tiny desserts to share at big backyard bashes. While thinking about how to display cupcakes for the summer holiday I suddenly thought about how I display them at Christmas... on 3-tier stands.


Why not dig them out for summer festivities as well!? Grab your holiday decor box, dig out the three tiered stands, place your Fourth of July goodies on the serving platters and then invest in red, white and blue wide ribbon to fashion a bow at the top to show off your desserts with a patriotic flair!



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