Apple Cranberry Chutney

I made this for Thanksgiving with baked brie. It was so good Kelly asked me to bring it to Christmas. Here is a new favorite. Apple Cranberry Chutney. I used apple/pear mix and dried cranberries instead of raisins.

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/508/AppleCranberry_Chutney39726.shtml

Freezing Scalloped Potatoes?

Can you freeze Scalloped Potatoes? Do you bake them first?

To the fifth holiday party
I brought along with me
five homemade liqueurs
(limoncello, kahlua, amaretto, Irish Cream, and cranberry, yum!)
red & green sugar-coated popcorn
chile-rosemary infused olives,
homemade Bloody Mary mixer,
and a flavored olive oil with a fabulous loaf of crusty bread

So, instead of a recipe, I was going to tell you the story of how I will NOT be giving cranberry liqueur as gifts this year. Let’s back up to Thanksgiving weekend: I set up cranberry liqueur to cure for the three weeks. Fast-forward to Tuesday of this week: I went to have a facial and left my 5-year-old home with my 12-year-old and two of his friends. I made the decision to leave my cell phone in the car, because the last two times I had a facial, my phone rang off the hook—“emergencies” from my older two sons, not very relaxing.

When I returned to the car from my facial, my cell phone read, “18 missed calls” (17 from 12-year-old son at home; 1 from 15-year-old son who was called by 12-year-old son after I didn’t answer my phone 17 times). Problem? Yup, from what I have ascertained, 12-year-olds were getting a snack from the pantry. They returned to the video games. They heard a dripping sound in the kitchen. They walked into the kitchen.

“Jude, why is your pantry bleeding?”
“I don’t know.”
Jude opened the pantry.

Apparently when the pantry door was closed, the 2-gallon glass canister of flour banged against the 2-gallon glass canister of just 3-week-old cranberry liqueur. Guess which canister got a hairline fracture? Yup, cranberry liqueur.

Anyway, Jude is a good boy. He did a good job cleaning up the very sticky cranberry-sugar-water-vodka mixture. He called me, his brother, finally his father, to make sure he was doing the correct thing. But, boy, did that floor need a good washing the next day!

What did I learn? Next time I have a facial it is going to be while the kids are in school.

Now I’ll share another little family anecdote with you. When I was a Freshman at UMass-Amherst I bought a cookbook that had been put out by the staff and faculty as a fundraiser for my father for Christmas. In that cookbook there was this recipe for Irish cream that became a family favorite. Each of us makes batches each Christmas (and St. Patrick’s Day). Years later I found out that my brother, Brendan, will not share the recipe. He tells his friends that it’s a “secret family recipe.” Well, I don’t think it’s a secret. Try it, enjoy it.

To the fourth holiday party
I brought along with me
red & green sugar-coated popcorn
chile-rosemary infused olives,
homemade Bloody Mary mixer,
and a flavored olive oil with a fabulous loaf of crusty bread

Red and green sugar-coated popcorn

1 c sugar
1 T unsalted butter
3 T water
Couple drops red and green food coloring
6 c popped butter-flavored popcorn

In a large, heavy pot over medium heat, combine sugar, butter, and water. Stirring constantly, cook until thick, about 5 minutes. Working quickly, remove from heat, divide in two, and add red food coloring to one, and green food coloring to the other. Immediately add popcorn and stir to coat evenly. Turn onto a sheet of parchment paper to cool. Package in holiday takeout food containers.

To the third holiday party
I brought along with me
chile-rosemary infused olives,
homemade Bloody Mary mixer,
and a flavored olive oil with a fabulous loaf of crusty bread

Chile-rosemary infused olives

1¼ c olives, preferably a mixture of black and green
2 T extra virgin olive oil
1 T lemon juice
1 thin-skinned orange, scrubbed but not peeled, cut into small chunks
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 fresh green chile, deseeded and thinly sliced

Place the olives in a large bowl and add the olive oil, lemon juice, chunks of orange, rosemary sprigs and chile. Stir together, then cover (or transfer to a jar and seal). Place in the refrigerator.

For the next 2 days take the olive mixture from the refrigerator, uncover and stir gently, every 12 hours or so. Cover again and return to the refrigerator to continue marinating.

After 2 days of marinating in the refrigerator, remove orange pieces and place in canning jars according to manufacturer’s instructions. Tie with a ribbon, and voila, a gift!

Pumpkin Bread

When I was first working in New York City, my friend and co-worker Bridget brought her Mom's Pumpkin Bread in for Thanksgiving. It has been a favorite fall treat of mine, every since.

Thanks Spunky. I think of you every fall!:)

Mix:
 3 1/2 c. flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinamon

1 tsp nutmeg

3 c. sugar

Add in:
1 c. vegetable oil

4 eggs

2 c. pumpkin

2/3 c. water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Pour mixture into into 2 greased 9X5X3" loaf pans.
Bake 1 hour 15 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool before removing from pans.

It is so moist and delicious.
It is also great to make mini-loaves and share as gifts. My kids love to bring them in for teachers.

To the second holiday party
I brought along with me
homemade Bloody Mary mixer,
and a flavored olive oil with a fabulous loaf of crusty bread

Bloody Mary mixer
makes enough mixer for 8 cocktails

3 c V-8 juice
2 t prepared horseradish
1 t salt
½ t freshly ground pepper
1½ T fresh lemon juice
2 t Worcestershire sauce
½ to ¾ t Tabasco

Stir ingredients; pour into an airtight bottle. Mixer can be refrigerated up to 1 week.

For each cocktail, combine 3 ounces of mixer with 1 ounce of vodka, and pour into a glass filled with ice.

If you’ve been reading my blog for any time, you know that I like the idea of giving friends homemade food gifts, especially around the holidays. However, with holidays being what they are, I do not like the idea of adding stress to the holidays. Here are some simple and stress-free gifts for friends this Christmas.

To the first holiday party
I brought along with me,
a flavored olive oil with a fabulous loaf of crusty bread

Flavoring olive oil is a relatively easy prospect:

1. Heat your oil in a saucepan.

2. Add your desired flavorings: garlic, basil, rosemary, orange zest, or lemon zest and let sit for a few minutes until the ingredients are very fragrant.

3. Cool, strain and store in an airtight container. Add a fresh sprig of your herb or piece of your zest for a decorative touch. Add a note for the recipient that once opened the oil should be stored in the fridge and used within 10 days.

Pickled Peppers

Katie,

George wants to know if you will share Nonni's Pickled Peppers recipe? He even claims HE will try to make them!

Flank Steak with Creole Hash Brown Stuffing

I have been wanting to try this for quite awhile and finally got around to it yesterday. It was yummy, but spicy and I didn't even put the full amount of creole seasoning. I am looking forward to trying the pizza stuffing next:)
http://hyshamecho.blogspot.com/2010/08/stuffed-grilled-flank-steak.html

This is an excellent pie crust primer: http://www.newburyportnews.com/lifestyle/x2073119552/Pie-crust-primer-Dessert-isnt-just-about-the-filling. And just in time for Thanksgiving.

Check it out.

Thanksgiving

Now that Halloween is over, I am ready to turn my attention to my Thanksgiving menu. I am hosting my husband's family here. One thing I need to be conscious of this year is that I only have an oven, stove and microwave to cook in - no convection oven as in the past. That means I need to be conscious of how much I need to get into the oven after the bird comes out to rest.

I am thinking I might do a pumpkin soup first course and will probably do the make-ahead mashed potatoes. I think the Moriarty stuffing is a must (the only recipe I know of that was passed down through my father-in-law, and the only food I ever saw him help prepare), and it is quite good. Aside from that, I haven't decided.

What are you making this year?

Nestlé® USA issues allergen alert on Raisinets® Fun Size Bags

According to nestleusa.com, Nestlé is initiating a voluntary recall of Nestlé® RAISINETS® Fun Size Bags (10 oz) with a production code of 02015748/UPC number 2800010255, which may contain undeclared peanuts. People who have allergies or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. Nestlé is taking this action out of an abundance of caution.

Nestlé® RAISINETS® Fun Size Bags (10oz) with a production code of 02015748 were distributed only in the U.S. to Target, Shop Rite, and Don Quixote retail stores. Three complaints have been received to date. While this product is labeled with a precautionary statement “made on equipment that also processes peanuts,” the product should not, but may contain some peanuts that are not declared on the label.

Cheese danish

I may have missed this somewhere on this site, but I’m looking for Sue Morrow’s cheese danish recipe. Does anyone have it?

Chicken Divan Recipe - HELP!

I was at a loss as to what to make for dinner tonight, and George requested Chicken Divan. The recipe he wanted, is, (of course!), the recipe that the Dunicans first ate when Mrs. McCormack made it for the church fair one year, many, many ages ago. We all loved it and Mom requested the recipe -- it then became a staple in our house -- cheap, easy, fed a crowd, what more could Mom ask for? I believe it was a standby for many of our families for many years after, as well. I haven't made it in a long time and I couldn't find my recipe tonight, so I did my best from memory -- I know the basics chicken, rice & broccoli, a sauce made with Cream of Chicken (I substituted Cream of Broccoli), mayo, lemon juice & curry powder, and topped with some cheddar.

Any of my sisters have the original recipe?

According to boston.com (http://www.boston.com/business/gallery/product_recalls/?p1=Upbox_links):
Frozen peas recalled due to possible broken glass
Recalled: Oct. 18, 2010
The Pictsweet Company is recalling packages of frozen green peas because some of the packages may contain glass fragments. The peas were sold at Wal-Mart stores throughout the US, and Kroger stores in the Southeast. Affected packages include Kroger 12-ounce Green Peas, Kroger 12-ounce Peas and Carrots, Great Value 12-ounce Steamable Sweet Peas, and Great Value 12-ounce Steamable Mixed Vegetables.
Consumers are advised to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Fall is here, and it is, perhaps the most beautiful Fall I’ve seen. It has been sunny and warm with soft winds. Really perfect.

To celebrate such perfection I prepared Sautéed chicken with apples and cranberries, healthy, yummy, quick, and very, very Fall-like. Enjoy!

Sautéed chicken with apples and cranberries

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
flour
salt
pepper
butter
¼ c apple jack or brandy
¼ c apple cider, or apple juice
¼ c cranberry juice
¼ c chicken stock
½ c fresh cranberries, or dried if fresh are not available, more if you like
2 apples, preferably tart, Granny Smith
juice of 1 lemon

Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Pound chicken breasts to about ¼" thick cutlets. Dredge cutlets in salt-and-pepper-seasoned flour. Melt butter in hot skillet. Sauté in skillet about 3 minutes on each side, until golden brown, but not completely cooked through. Remove cutlets to plate, cover loosely with foil, and set aside.

Deglaze skillet with apple jack. Add cider, cranberry juice, chicken stock, and cranberries. Return cutlets to skillet. Simmer about 10 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and sauce reduces slightly. Remove cutlets, sauce, and cranberries to serving platter.

Dice apples and toss in lemon juice. Sauté in skillet until slightly golden, but not too soft. Spoon over top of cutlets and serve.

If you prepare this ahead and want to freeze or refrigerate it to serve later, let cool before packaging in airtight container in refrigerator or freezer.
To prepare and serve: If frozen, defrost in refrigerator the day before you plan to serve.
To heat in microwave: Heat at 70% power for about 3 minutes, until heated throughout. Do not over-microwave or chicken will become tough.
To heat on stovetop: Place in skillet over medium-high heat until chicken is heated through, about 7-10 minutes.

New Veggie Recipes

I went to a CSA yesterday with a friend to share in her bounty and came home with some swiss chard, okra, tomatillos and bok choy. Anyone have any great recipes for these?

healthy breakfast

Breakfast for Erin is always a challenge. She doesn't always like to eat unless. She does like pancakes and waffles but not the frozen kind and I don't have time to make them often. Did I mention that she is not a fan of fruits and veggies. We started the school year with a new agreement. She needed to find healthy breakfasts with fruit that she could make herself and would eat. She did a great job. Last week she made Pumpkin waffles. Made the batter at night cooked up a big batch, froze the extras and has been eating them all week. Last night she mixed up Mary Fran’s scones using mixed dried fruit, she not a fan of raisins but likes dried cherries and strawberries. I think she still has plans for some pumpkin pancakes. We'll see what else she comes up with.

To make it easier I am editing the post to add to more links, thanks Bridget, Katie and Caitlin.

Breakfast cookie

On the go options

Breakfast cookie option 2

The Steak EVERYONE loves!

This summer we were lucky enough to visit Brendan & Sarah and enjoy Sarah's Korean Flank Steak. Since we returned, it has been a big request in our house, and one recipe that EVERYONE enjoys (YEAH!). Tonight, I am serving it with a peanutbutter noodles with shredded carrots and cucumbers. Can't wait!

Korean BBQ

Korean Marinade for Flank Steak

3 lb flank steak (while we love this with flank steak, we have used it with other cuts of meat as well and it works great) 1/2 c soy 1/2 c white sugar 1/2 c water 1/4 c sesame oil 1/4 c sake or I use whatever wine I have left over in the fridge 2 T chopped garlic (or more if you like it more garlicky) 1 T sesame seeds 1 t black pepper 1 bunch of scallions, washed and rinsed well. (If you don't have scallions, feel free to throw in some white onion wedges in with the beef after marinating.) Set aside scallions and meat. Mix everything else together in a large bowl (marinade ingredients.) Layer in green onions as you place in the flank. Continue until all flank is marinated. Pour remaining marinade on top. Marinate at least 8 hours or overnight if possible. I personally have found that a 24 hour soak yields the best flavor. If you are planning to freeze, you can allow it to soak and then portion off what you want into ziploc bags OR immediately put into bags and freeze. Try and put a bit of marinade into each bag when freezing. You can grill it on the bbq (our family favorite) or broil it in the oven for about 12-15 minutes, depending on your preference for rare, medium or well. *You can boil the marinade and serve with the steak for added yumminess.

Gnocchi with Shrimp, Asparagus, and Pesto

I made this Cooking Light recipe for dinner tonight. YUM! (I added some roasted grape tomatoes as well, because I can never resist the tomato/basil combo).

Gnocchi with Shrimp, Asparagus, & Pesto

• 2 quarts plus 1 tablespoon water, divided
• 1 (16-ounce) package vacuum-packed gnocchi (such as Vigo)
• 4 cups (1-inch) slices asparagus (about 1 pound)
• 1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup basil leaves
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
• 2 tablespoons preshredded Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
• 4 teaspoons extravirgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a Dutch oven. Add gnocchi to pan; cook 4 minutes or until done (gnocchi will rise to surface). Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon; place in a large bowl. Add asparagus and shrimp to pan; cook 5 minutes or until shrimp are done. Drain. Add shrimp mixture to gnocchi.

Combine remaining 1 tablespoon water, basil, and next 4 ingredients (through garlic) in a food processor; process until smooth, scraping sides. Drizzle oil through food chute with food processor on; process until well blended. Add salt and basil mixture to shrimp mixture; toss to coat. Serve immediately.

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1634729

*I made it ahead of time to feed dinner in shifts tonight and fed Holland right after school before soccer and religion. She had an additional cold helping.

Crockpot/Slow Cooker Healthy Meals for the Fall

It is that time of year, again. Back to School (and Back to School Nights) and in my house, it is back to soccer and swimming, religion, and now scouts... There are very few nights in the fall that we will all be home at the same time to sit down and have dinner together. Add to that the cooler weather coming in & for me that means -- Crock Pot Meals. They stay warm and are easy to have ready and serve up when needed.

Here are a few crock pot links with some healthy and delicious looking recipes I am looking forward to trying this fall:

http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking-101/techniques/slow-cooker-classics-00400000001101/

http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/vegetarian-recipes/slow-cooker-recipes.php

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/8-slow-cooker-recipes-00000000008818/index.html

http://www.bhg.com/recipes/vegetarian/ideas/10-slow-cooker-vegetarian-favorites/

In particular, I am looking forward to trying these 2 this week:

Pesto Lasagna with Spinach & Mushrooms (I have never done lasagna in the crockpot, looking forward to this experiment)

• 4 cups torn spinach
  2 cups sliced cremini mushrooms
  1/2 cup commercial pesto
  3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
  3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded provolone cheese
  1 (15-ounce) carton fat-free ricotta cheese
  1 large egg, lightly beaten
  3/4 cup (3 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese, divided
  1 (25.5-ounce) bottle fat-free tomato-basil pasta sauce
  1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
  Cooking spray
  1 (8-ounce) package precooked lasagna noodles (12 noodles)

Arrange the spinach in a vegetable steamer; steam, covered, 3 minutes or until spinach wilts. Drain, squeeze dry, and coarsely chop. Combine spinach, mushrooms, and pesto in a medium bowl, stirring to combine; set aside.

Combine mozzarella, provolone, ricotta, and beaten egg in a medium bowl, stirring well to combine. Stir in 1/4 cup Parmesan, and set aside. Combine the pasta sauce and the tomato sauce in a medium bowl.

Spread 1 cup pasta sauce mixture in the bottom of a 6-quart oval electric slow cooker coated with cooking spray. Arrange 3 noodles over pasta sauce mixture; top with 1 cup cheese mixture and 1 cup spinach mixture. Repeat the layers, ending with spinach mixture. Arrange 3 noodles over spinach mixture; top with remaining 1 cup cheese mixture and 1 cup pasta sauce mixture. Place remaining 3 noodles over sauce mixture; spread remaining sauce mixture over noodles. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. Cover with lid; cook on LOW 5 hours or until done.

Slow Cooker Ratatouille

• 1-1/2 cups cubed, peeled (if desired) eggplant
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped yellow summer squash or zucchini
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped tomato
• 1/2 of an 8-ounce can no-salt-added tomato sauce
• 1/3 cup coarsely chopped red or green sweet pepper
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 4 1/2-inch-thick slices baguette-style French bread
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons finely shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon snipped fresh basil

In a 1-1/2-quart slow cooker, combine eggplant, squash, chopped tomato, tomato sauce, sweet pepper, onion, salt, black pepper, and garlic.
 

Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 4-1/2 to 5 hours or on high-heat setting for 2 to 2-1/2 hours. If no heat setting is available, cook for 4 to 4-1/2 hours.
 

For Parmesan toast: Preheat broiler. Brush one side of each bread slice with olive oil. Place bread slices, oiled sides up, on a baking sheet. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat about 15 seconds or until toasted (watch carefully to avoid burning). Sprinkle bread slices with 1 tablespoon of the Parmesan cheese. Broil about 15 seconds more or until cheese is melted.
 

Stir basil into mixture in cooker. Serve in shallow bowls with Parmesan toast. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Makes 2 servings.

 

Make-Your-Own Granola Bars

Maeve can bring in a morning snack to school. I offered her the options of home morning snacks from the summer, usually fruit or cracker & cheese, nuts & dried fruit. None are as exciting as the granola bars (not the dry kind Dad gets) or fruit snacks the other kids bring. I don't on a regular basis buy chewy granola bars or fruit snacks - and don't want to make them a habit. To compromise we decided to try making Chewy granola bars that were healthy and even have some dried fruit and nuts. I let you know how they go over at school. Ok. So the first one was not as big a hit as I hoped. Katie had this one pinned it was great.  First batch went in a day, and I didn't even add chocolate chips. This time I am so I'm doubling the recipe  no bake granola bars

green tomatoes

I'm not a tomato fan. My husband is. So I always plant some. This year we got more than he can eat or we can give away. We also still have loads of green one on the vine. Wondering if I and the girls will like them more green I'm trying them tonight in a soup. It helps that it is 65 degrees - welcome fall. Green Tomato and ham soup.

Fruity desserts, anyone? I’m typically an “if-it's-not-chocolate-don’t-waste-my-time-or-calories” dessert eater. But we’re trying to get more fruits into our diet, and I figured fruity desserts might be a good way to do that.

(I might also be less tempted to eat dessert.)

I do a great apple pie and a great apple crisp that my boys love (recipes below), I’ve even done a rustic apple tart, yum! and artsy. But even apples get a little old after a while.

My pumpkin cheesecake is to-die-for, but not exactly helping the waistline.

I often add dried cranberries to my chocolate chip cookies by substituting 2 cups of chocolate chips and 1 cup of dried cranberries in my Halloween Candy Cookie recipe, again not really waistline-friendly. Ditto my Chocolate, Fruit, and Nut Clusters.

Peach Melba in a Pail was a great summertime dessert, I may have to revisit that one with low-fat frozen yogurt, fat-free Cool Whip^®, and 100-calorie Oreo^® Thin Crisps. Regina's Polka Dot Ice Cream Pie with fat-free frozen yogurt and fat-free sorbet is great for summer too.

Will’s Favorite Apple Crisp
serves 8

6 large apples, peeled and sliced
1¼ c sugar, divided use
1 c flour, plus 2 T
1 t baking powder
½ t salt
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, not quick-cooking
1 egg
8 T butter, melted
vanilla ice cream, optional

Preheat oven to 375°. Place 1 c flour, ¾ c sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl until mixture is the texture of coarse meal. Add oats, and use your hands to toss and squeeze mixture until large, moist clumps form. Transfer to freezer to chill while you prepare apples.
Combine ½ c sugar and 2 T flour in bowl. Add apple slices and toss to coat. Place coated apples in deep baking dish.
Crack egg into another bowl. Beat. Pour egg into oat mixture and stir with fork until crumb-like. Sprinkle topping evenly over fruit. Spoon melted butter evenly over topping, covering all crumbs. Set dish on baking sheet on middle rack of oven and bake for 40 minutes until topping is brown and apples are tender. Top with ice cream and serve while warm. Can also be baked in individual dishes. Works great with pears too.

Evan’s Favorite Apple Pie

6 to 8 apples, such as Granny Smith, Cortland, Rome, or a local variety of tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
juice of half a lemon
¾ c sugar
1 t cinnamon
¼ t nutmeg
2 T all-purpose flour
double piecrust*
2 T butter, cut into chunks
milk, for glaze
vanilla ice cream, optional
cheddar cheese, optional

Heat the oven to 425°. Place the apples (about 6 cups) in a large mixing bowl. Pour the lemon juice over the apples and add the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and flour. Toss well. Spoon the spiced apples into the piecrust-lined pie plate and dot with the butter. Place rolled-out dough loosely on top of the apple mixture. With a fork or mini cookie cutter, make a decorative pattern around the outside of the pie plate. You can also cut pie dough ornaments from extra crust to place on top of the pie, and cut slits in the dough to allow the steam to escape. Brush the top with milk for a glaze.

Place the pie in the preheated oven (lay a sheet of aluminum foil on the rack below to catch any juices). Bake for 45 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and you can see the juices bubbling. If the crust begins to brown before the pie is fully baked, cover it with foil. Let pie cool slightly, then slice it into wedges. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a slice of cheddar cheese.

What are your favorite fruity desserts?

Picnic Food

My kids' school always does a back to school picnic, where you bring your own food. I have tried different things with varying success, including feeding them before we go, making something to bring, or grabbing a pizza on the way. Anyone have a great picnic dinner item that the kids can't resist or can eat on the run?

This year I don't think I'll be able to feed them before because of other activities, and my husband and I are going out to dinner after the picnic, so I am looking for something just for the kids.

Tailgating Recipes

I know it's real last minute, but we just found out that we have baseball games at 5pm and 8 pm tomorrow night. What are your favorite Tailgating recipes? Thanks for sharing!

Polka Dot Ice Cream Pie

My daughter Holland turned 10 yesterday! We can't believe she is double digits! We are big chocolate lovers here and often have some form of chocolate for birthdays, but Holland is also a sherbet/sorbet lover and this year asked me to surprise her with some kind of ice cream cake/pie. I have been saving this recipe for years and been meaning to try it -- Holland's birthday seemed like a perfect time and it was a HUGE hit.

Scoop balls of 3 different flavored sherbets, whatever your preference is (we used lemon, raspberry & blood orange) and freeze.

Soften 2 pts of vanilla ice cream and spread 1 pt. in a graham cracker crust. Push frozen sherbet balls into ice cream. Spread another pt of ice cream on top. Refreeze. Top with additional sherbet balls before serving.

I may never make a cake with eggs and oil again.



I have been cooking all summer for a Weight Watchers client, and I have been having a blast checking out new, delicious, healthy recipes. By far, two of my favorite sources are Hungry Girl: Tips and Tricks ... for Hungry Chicks and Gina's Weight Watchers Recipes. Their recipes are lighter versions of things I want to cook anyway. They have great tips and tricks, they send email right your inbox, and their sites are easy to navigate.

Earlier this summer, I received this email tip from Hungry Girl: The Great Cake Debate (FIVE 2-Ingredient Recipes!). I love these ideas, but by far, the diet soda makes the lightest, fluffiest cakes I have ever had. I may never make a cake with eggs and oil again. Betty Crocker SuperMoist Dark Chocolate with Diet Coke, Betty Crocker Carrot cake with diet ginger ale, Betty Crocker Yellow cake with diet ginger ale ... no one can tell the difference.

Let me know which ones you try!

Once again, necessity is the mother of invention: It's hot so no one really feels like cooking, or eating; I have tons of leftovers in my fridge, but no full meal; we're eating on the run this week, we go from baseball games to Yankee Homecoming concerts at Waterfront Park. So, today I made Roasted fingerling and asparagus salad to take with us.

The fingerling potatoes had been roasted with a whole head of garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil, and asparagus. I put them together on a tray with the garlic cloves to squeeze onto the potatoes, added some roasted chicken breast, put a sprig of rosemary on top and sprinkled a little more olive oil. That's summertime, and the living is easy.

Great food/family recipe!

Who among us doesn't link family & food, food & family? I know the Dunican clan sure does!

A friend of mine from Fordham wrote this great essay about her Grandfather and the sauce he lovingly prepared. Now she lovingly prepares this same sauce. I have been voting for her everyday, but can't do it through my phone for some reason, so as we hit the road, I thought I'd share the link with all of you. If you have time to click through, read a great essay and vote for her, that would be great. You can vote once a day. Enjoy!

http://bourdainmediumraw.com/essays/view/101

Garlic Grilled Tomatoes

I made these last night for George's birthday. We all loved them! The kids could have easily eaten more, next time I will make more than 1 tomato/person! So simple, yet such great flavor.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/garlic-grilled-tomatoes-recipe/index.html

Summer Pasta Salad Twists

I think I may have to try these 2 recipes this summer.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/BUFFALO-CHICKEN-PASTA-SALAD-1231059

Antipasto Pasta Salad
http://www.bullz-eye.com/grub_for_guys/2010/pasta_salad_trio.htm

Cream-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes

I made these for my son Brendan's 1st communion and they were a huge hit. I think they were the only cupcake (I made 3 different kinds) that were wiped out at the party -- and people were looking for more.

Now, I'm going to re-make them for Cara's birthday tomorrow, but I will be dying the cream in pinks and purples to go with her princess theme.

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/cream-filled-chocolate-cupcakes

Party favrites?

I am planning a Ladies' Night for my Birthday! I plan on serving appetizers, drinks and desserts. I figure I'll make a few of my favorite appetizers (make ahead), others will bring stuff also. I'll probably make the Shrimp cocktail from the above post, or Regina's Crab meat Cheese Spread. I'll do my Brie with chutney and probably fresh mozzarella, basil and tomato. What suggestions do you have?

Getting dinner on the table, when you'd rather be at the beach, in the pool, in the garden, or playing with the kids, is a challenge on summer days. Not to mention the nights like tonight when it's much too hot to turn the oven on, slave over the stove, or even the grill.

While cooking for my Weight Watchers client today, I stumbled upon this easiest of yummy dinners ... Thai coconut curry shrimp over jasmine rice (for those of you counting, one serving of shrimp with one cup of rice is 7 Weight Watchers Points).

You may not have some of the ingredients on hand, Thai red curry paste and fish sauce, for example, but buy them and you will definitely continue to use them, in this recipe and other Asian specialties, even to marinate chicken, fish, and veggies for the grill.

Jasmine rice, like white rice, cooks in only 15 minutes, not like it's longer-cooking brown and Basmati cousins. Even in today's 93° (and rising) temps, I can stand cooking 15-minute rice and stir-frying for less than 10 minutes. Especially when the results taste this good.

Thai coconut curry shrimp over jasmine rice
serves 4

cooking spray
4 green onions, chopped, whites and greens separated
1 T Thai red curry paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
salt, to taste
6 oz light coconut milk
2 t fish sauce
¼ c fresh cilantro, chopped
4 c jasmine rice, cooked

Cook jasmine rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick skillet or wok to medium-high heat and spray with cooking spray. Add green onion whites and red curry paste and sauté 1 minute. Add garlic and shrimp, season with salt, and cook about 2-3 minutes. Add coconut milk, fish sauce, and mix well. Simmer about 2-3 minutes, until shrimp is cooked through. Remove from heat, mix in green onion greens and cilantro. Serve over rice. Enjoy!

To save even more time today, I bought the shrimp peeled & cleaned, and I used already-minced garlic from a jar in the produce section.

“I am not a glutton — I am an explorer of food.”

— Erma Bombeck

This sounds good, but the waists of my pants these days might differ in their opinion. So, one of our New Year’s resolutions around Chez Habib is to eat healthier and watch our portion sizes. As a culture, we are all guilty of super-sizing. Start reading serving sizes on labels, you’ll be surprised by how many servings you and your family might actually be consuming. (My older kids recently told me that one of the best lessons I’ve taught them is to be cognizant of what the serving size really is — they don’t always follow it, but they know where to find it if they choose to ;)

One of my new favorite recipes is Sweet Hot Tofu from myrecipes.com. What I love about it is that it’s so adaptable. The first time I make a recipe, I usually try to make it as directed so I can evaluate whether it’s a “keeper” or not. When I first made it for my daughter and I for lunch, I thought it would benefit from the addition of broccoli, so I added broccoli to the leftovers and had them for lunch the rest of the week.

One of my clients loves shrimp and Asian food, so Sweet Hot Shrimp with Broccoli often appears on her menu. Another client loves chicken, voil&agrav;! Sweet Hot Chicken and Snow Peas! What are your favorites? Give it a try yourself.

Sweet hot tofu
serves 4
(modified from myrecipes.com)

1 14-oz package firm, reduced-fat tofu
1 c rice
2 c water
2 t canola oil
2/3 c fat-free, low-sodium vegetable stock(use chicken or seafood stock if you desire modifying the recipe)
1/4 c hoisin sauce
1 T dry sherry
1 t cornstarch
2 t low-sodium soy sauce
1 t honey
1/2 t dark sesame oil
dash of crushed red pepper
2 t fresh ginger, minced or grated
2 t garlic, minced or grated
1 c broccoli, cut into bite-size florets
1/3 c green onions, thinly sliced

Drain tofu, wrap in several layers of paper towels or kitchen towel, and place under a heavy plate for about 30 minutes.

Bring rice and water to a boil in a medium saucepan, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes. Once rice is done, add broccoli florets to saucepan and replace cover. Broccoli with steam.

In a small bowl, combine stock, hoisin, sherry, cornstarch, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, and crushed red pepper, stirring well. Set aside.

Cut tofu into 1-inch cubes. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu and sauté for 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove from skillet.

Add ginger and garlic to pan. Sauté 30 seconds. Stir in broth mixture, and cook 1 minute, or until thickened, stirring constantly. Add tofu and broccoli to pan; cook 30 seconds, stirring gently to coat. Remove from burner and add green onions. Serve immediately over rice.

Shrimp Cocktail

Check out this twist on Shrimp cocktail! I think I'll try it!
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/appetizers-snacks/mediterranean-shrimp/

Let me know if you try it!

Father’s day is Sunday, June 20th. Let’s think of and share about our fathers ... and, of course, food.

1. Does your father cook? If so, what’s his specialty? What’s your favorite thing that he makes?

2. What’s your father’s favorite meal? Is this what you’ll be making him on Sunday?

3. What’s your funniest food-and-father story?

4. What’s your most tender food-and-father story?

Anyone else out there have questions?

Pop corn cake

POP CORN CAKE

1 cup popcorn – popped 1 pkg. Large gum drops

Mix and put into greased pan.

8 oz. Peanuts 1 16 oz. Pkg. Marshmallows

melted with 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup oil

Erin's favorite treat. Grandma usually makes it for her at the cabin for her birthday.

Summer Salads

Katie posted on her former in home cooking blog (now moved here) about summer salads yesterday. I laughed, because I made two salads to go with dinner last night, and was looking for some more for this week.

First, I tossed blanched green beans with halved cherry tomatoes, basil and balsamic vinegar. Simple and delicious.

For my second salad, I made a thai cucumber salad. I also added shredded carrots. Delish. I have included the cucumber recipe below. Both of these salads are likely to be new go-tos for me this summer. So easy, and so great!

Ingredients

• 3 large cucumbers, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
• 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts

Directions

1. Toss the cucumbers with the salt in a colander, and leave in the sink to drain for 30 minutes. Rinse with cold water, then drain and pat dry with paper towels.
2. Whisk together the sugar and vinegar in a mixing bowl until the sugar has dissolved. Add the cucumbers, jalapeno peppers, and cilantro; toss to combine. Sprinkle chopped peanuts on top before serving.

It’s June and none of my clothes fit, so I’m planning to serve a new salad every day. Today I marinated crispy “stir-fry veggies” in an Asian dressing and put them on top of field greens. I used cucumbers, sugar snap peas, snow peas, carrot shreds, celery, bean sprouts, and water chestnuts. Yum! We topped it with sliced grilled chicken that had been marinated in hoisin sauce. Double yum!

Asian ginger-sesame dressing

3 cloves garlic, minced
2 T minced fresh ginger root
½ c sesame oil
1/3 c rice vinegar
½ c low-sodium soy sauce
3 T honey
¼ c water

Combine all ingredients in a jar or bowl and mix well.

Kale

Brad planted a bunch of Kale in our early spring garden - I've never cooked with it before. Anyone got some recipes or pointers. Some will be ready this week, I think.

The Purcell sisters have a fabulous book, Cocktail Parties, Straight Up! and e-newsletter, Sisters' Secrets to Confident Entertaining filled with tons of great recipes for food and drinks, and tips for fun entertaining. One of my favorite recipes is their Sweet Potato Spread. You’d never believe something so tasty could be so healthy! I recently served it at a Veggie Demo for the New You 2010 Healthy Lifestyle of Newburyport contestants. It was a huge hit! My kids just think it’s orange hommus. Serve it with wedges of foccacia bread, as the Purcell sisters recommend, or with pita chips, or — ultra-healthy — with cut up veggies.
Sweet Potato Spread
Makes 3 cups of spread

3 large sweet potatoes (about 2 lb), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes (I baked the sweet potatoes whole, then scooped out the tender flesh (less hands-on work)
2 medium carrots, peeled and finely chopped
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
2 T tahini (sesame paste)
¾ t salt
¼ t curry powder
¼ t ground cumin

Preheat oven to 400°. Place the sweet potatoes in a shallow roasting pan and cover with foil. Roast for 15 minutes. Uncover and continue roasting until soft, about another 30 minutes.

While potatoes are roasting, combine the carrots and onion with ½ cup water in a medium nonstick skillet. Bring to a boil; reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Uncover and cook until water evaporates and vegetables are tender, about 3 minutes.

In a food processor, combine the sweet potatoes, tahini, salt, curry powder, and cumin. Process until smooth. If necessary, add water to make a spreadable puree. Add carrot-onion mixture and pulse until blended.

Serve at room temperature or chilled, with wedges of focaccia.

Memorial Day is Monday, May 31st, and with it comes Barbecue Season. But while you’re hanging out in the yard, loitering over the grill, sipping a cocktail, watching the kids run around, bacteria could be contaminating your meal. A watchful eye on a few key areas will go a long way to keeping your family and friend free from food-borne illness all summer long.

Thaw safely. It’s great to have food in the freezer — a spur-of-the-moment party always at the ready! But be careful how you bring it from the freezer to the table. Food safety experts recommend thawing foods in the refrigerator or the microwave oven or putting the package in a water-tight plastic bag submerged in cold water and changing the water every 30 minutes. Changing the water ensures that the food is kept cold, an important factor for slowing bacterial growth that may occur on the outer thawed portions while the inner areas are still thawing. It is not advisable to thaw meat, poultry, or fish on the counter or in the sink without cold water; bacteria multiply much more rapidly at room temperature.

Avoid cross-contamination. Grilling adds great flavor to meals, and makes summertime entertaining both fun and easy. However, once you’ve placed your raw meat on the grill, wash the plate thoroughly with hot soapy water, or get a clean plate for the cooked, ready-to-eat foods. Cooked foods should never be placed on a plate that held raw meat. Thoroughly cook all meat, poultry and seafood, especially shellfish.

Keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot. Once ready to serve, you don’t want your food’s temperature in The Danger Zone (40°F–140°F) for any longer than necessary. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration recommends that you keep hot foods hot (use a warming tray or Sterno or votive candle under your serving dish) and cold foods cold (use a bed of ice under your food) while you serve them. Do not leave food out for more than 2 hours (this includes preparation time and the time it was in the car after you left the grocery store).

The foods that are most likely to cause illness if left unrefrigerated are:

• meat, poultry, and fish (both raw and cooked;
• salads made from starchy ingredients such as pasta, potatoes, rices, and other grains;
• anything containing raw or cooked eggs such as mayonnaise and potato salad, cream pies; and
• anything else containing dairy products.

If serving sour cream– or mayonnaise-based dips, be sure to keep the bowl on ice and avoid direct sunlight if at all possible. If holding your party at the beach, a park, on a boat, or at some other remote location, bring a cooler full of ice and keep all foods that may spoil cold until they are ready to be cooked or eaten. If possible, use two separate coolers—one for drinks and snacks, which people will be dipping into frequently, and a second one for meat and other dishes that stay closed, and therefore colder, until it’s time for the meal. Also, if possible, keep raw meats separate from cooked meats.

If you’re serving snacks and appetizers that will likely be sitting out for a while, stick to foods that don’t need refrigeration, such as fresh veggies, fresh fruit, breads with oil-based dips, nuts, and chips (tortilla chips with salsa provide a healthful addition to your menu as well).

Prepare your foods well. Thoroughly wash raw fruits and vegetables with tap water. Even those fruits and vegetables that do not have pesticides grow very close to the soil—another key bacteria-causing agent.

Cover and store leftover cooked food in the refrigerator as soon as possible. Cooked foods can also breed bacteria. Make sure you refrigerate, or place in a cooler with ice, any unused portion of cooked food (again, keep cooked meats separate from raw meats). If this is not possible, discard the leftovers.

Hot foods should be refrigerated as soon as possible within two hours after cooking. Don’t keep the food if it’s been standing out for more than two hours. Don’t taste-test it, either. Even a small amount of contaminated food can cause illness. Date leftovers so they can be used within a safe time—generally, they remain safe when refrigerated for three to five days.

If in doubt, throw it out; it’s not worth a food-borne illness for the small amount of food usually involved. Eat Well, Live Well, Be Well.

I love a meal that makes itself while you tend to your life ... Enter Chicken Thighs with Balsamic Vinegar and Mushrooms. This slow-simmering meal leaves you with time on your hands, your kitchen smelling great, and lots of yummy sauce to sop up with delicious crusty bread.

Chicken thighs with balsamic vinegar and mushrooms

1 lb skinless, boneless chicken thighs
salt and pepper to taste
6 oz dried mushrooms OR ¾ lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
6 cloves garlic
¼ c balsamic vinegar
¼ c beef broth
¾ c chicken broth
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf
¼ t dried thyme

Boil water and reconstitute dried mushrooms in 1 cup hot water for 10 minutes. Drain mushrooms; strain and reserve liquid. Salt and pepper the chicken. Add chicken, mushrooms, garlic, vinegar, broth, tomatoes, bay leaf, thyme, and reserved liquid to crockpot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (high for 4-6 hours). Serve with mashed potatoes or egg noodles or crusty bread to sop up all that yummy flavor.

Funky Chunky Chocolate Bars

Funky Chunky Chocolate Bars

1 yellow cake mix
1 stick margarine, plus 2 TBSP
2 eggs
1 can sweetened cond .milk
1/2 package chocolate chips

Mix cake mix, melted stick of margarine and eggs together. Spread 2/3 of this in the bottom of a greased 9x11 pan.
Mix sweetened cond milk, chocolate chips and 2 TBSP margarine over low heat until melted, then spread this evenly over the cake mix layer.
Drop remaining cake mix batter over the top.
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes

Darci made them for mother's Day and they were great. I made them at Maeve's request and used Chocolate cake mix.

Wonderful.

Slow cooker pork recipes

This Italian Roast Pork was so easy, delicious and done in 5 hours on LOW. I was concerned, but the thermometer read done! Nice meal to come home to!
http://www.familycircle.com/recipe/pork/italian-pork-roast/

I love my BBQ Ribs: I put a rub on them, then grill them, and finish them off in the oven with a mixture of BBQ sauce and beer. I tried these last weekend for a family get together, I wanted something in the crock pot so I could go to an AM soccer game and a PM baseball game and have things ready when we walked in the house. I may never go back to my original:)
http://www.familycircle.com/recipe/pork/asian-style-ribs/

Black bean soup

Looking for a yummy, quick, healthy, hot dinner on this cold day? Check out the Black bean soup recipe.

Today is unseasonably cold in New England, sunny but cold. I’m taking advantage of it to clean out the freezer and the pantry and make a tasty treat for my family to each when we come in, freezing, from baseball somewhere between 5:30 and 7 pm.

This is an easy, yummy, spicy black bean soup. It can be made in the crockpot, and tailored to your family’s specific &ldqou;spicy quotient” (add less salsa or less spicy salsa—smoky or smoked garlic salsa works very well with black beans, just omit the extra garlic), thickness preference (add more broth or stock, or fewer beans), and other likes and dislikes (omit garlic and red pepper, add onions or diced tomatoes, use vegetable broth rather than chicken for a vegetarian soup).

I had 4 cups of chicken stock in the freezer, so I used that, but canned (or boxed) stock is fine too.
Black bean soup

2 t olive oil
1 t minced garlic
1 red peppers, diced small
6 15-oz cans black beans
½ 14-oz jar Mrs. Renfro’s Green Salsa, more for spicier soup, less for milder soup (Mrs. Renfro’s also has a very good Smoky Garlic Salsa that is excellent with black beans, if you use this one, omit the extra garlic and the oil above, the oil is only for cooking the strong taste out of the garlic)
4 c chicken stock

Heat olive oil in stockpot or crockpot. Add garlic and peppers, cook until garlic is translucent and peppers start to soften. Process 3 cans of beans in the blender with salsa (in batches). Add stock, bean mixture, and whole beans (rinsed) to the garlic and peppers.

Simmer for at least 30 minutes, until soup is warm and flavors have blended. Flavor will benefit from additional simmering, so feel free to let it simmer longer, just keep it over a low flame and stir occasionally so beans don’t stick to bottom of pan and burn. If you like, garnish with additional diced red peppers or thinly sliced scallions.