A New Discovery - Garden Spinach Herb Wraps

We had a quick, but really good dinner Friday night.  I found these green wraps in the grocery store.  Yes, they really are green.  They are Garden Spinach Herb Wraps (made by Mission) -- They smell a little pungent coming out of the package, but they're very tasty.  We made Turkey Picnic Wraps.  The recipe was on the back of the package - I only made a couple of changes.  Following is our recipe:

6 Mission Garden Spinach Herb Wraps
1/2 cup Miracle Whip
2 tsp  Southwest Seasoning
2 oz shredded Colby Jack (or a cheese of your choice)
1/2 lb deli turkey (thinly sliced)
1 tomato (thinly sliced)
Fresh baby spinach leaves

Mix Miracle Whip and Southwest Seasoning.   Allow to sit while you prep other ingredients.  Wash and spin dry your spinach leaves.  Slice your tomato as thinly as you possible can.

Heat your wraps on an ungreased skillet over medium-high heat for 10 - 15 seconds.  Flip and heat for another 5 - 10 seconds.

Evenly spread the mayo mixture on the tortillas.  Sprinkle cheese over the mayo.  Layer each tortilla with turkey, tomato and spinach leaves, leaving about 2" at one side covered with mayo mixture only.  Fold in the sides until they meet in the middle.  Beginning at the side layered with turkey, roll up each tortilla.  Cut in half and serve.

I don't usually like wraps, but these were very good.  The whole family liked them.

A Creative Snack Bowl

I recently found this recipe on Food Network.  It's a snack bowl formed out of snack mix.  They call it Super Bowl.  I think it's clever and a really neat idea.  And . . . it's edible.

2 large egg whites
2 Tbsp water
6 cups snack mix (such as Chex Mix or Asian rice cracker mix)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Beat the egg whites and 2 Tbsp water in a large bowl with a mixer until slightly stiff peaks form.  Add the snack mix and toss until evenly coated.  

Generously coat a 3-quart ovenproof bowl with cooking spray and place the snack mix in it.  Crumple a large sheet of foil and mold it into a bowl shape about 1/3 the size of the 3-quart bowl.  Coat the outside of the foil bowl with cooking spray and press into the snack mix to make a well in the middle, forming the snack mix into a bowl shape.  

Place the bowl with the foil in the oven and bake until the snack mix sets - 30 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let cool slightly (about 5 minutes).  Carefully remove the foil.  Cool 30 more minutes, invert the edible bowl onto a plate and cool completely.  Fill with your choice of snack mix. 

This is a GREAT Grocery Shopping Week

Take advantage of all of the grocery store Super Bowl specials this week.  It's the perfect week to stock up on chicken wings, ribs, chili ingredients, crackers, cream cheese, and anything else "Super Bowl Party".  If the budget allows, buy extra and freeze or store for future use.

For the first time in more years than I can remember we won't be hosting guests for Super Bowl.  Paul, Katy & Christian have the better TV, so this year we're moving the party to their house.  Our three Chihuahuas (Beethoven, Belle & Jazzy) will be so disappointed.  They love party food.  We'll have to bring home a "doggie bag".  (Okay, pun intended - I don't claim to be the next stand-up comedian.)

Dierbergs has some good pricing this week.  There are special Thursday specials - take advantage of those if you have time.  Be sure to check out their ad.  As always, Dierbergs is my first choice for produce and meat. Nobody else comes close to their quality.

Enjoy your Super Bowl festivities and be safe.

Honey and Spice - Glazed Pork Chops

I ran across this recipe on MyRecipes.com.  It sounded so good I decided to try it for dinner tonight.  It was a quick and easy recipe and very good!  Give it a try.

1/4 cup honey
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cloves
4 boneless butterfly pork chops (about 1/2" thick)
salt and pepper to taste

Combine first five ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together.

Heat a large frying pay over medium-high heat.  Spray the pan with cooking spray.  Place pork chops in the pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned.  Reduce the heat to medium and pour the honey mixture over the chops.  Cover the frying pan and allow to cook for 10 minutes or until pork chops are done.

I served this with Stove Top Stuffing and sweet corn.  We had a good meal ready in less than 30 minutes.  That's a winner in my book.

A Money Saving Idea - Make Your Own Chicken or Beef Stock

I love to cook and I love to find ways to add extra flavors to my favorite recipes.  Often times I add chicken or beef stock to a recipe that calls for water.  It's wonderful in veggie recipes, casseroles, and soups.  I don't know about you, but the price of a 15 oz can of chicken stock surprises me.  It really isn't cheap.  So . . . I make my own.

I buy split chicken breasts (on sale at Food For Less for 98 cents per pound this week) and remove the skin and remove the bone.  Place the skin and bones in a stock pot with two carrots, 1/2 onion (diced), one potato (diced - not peeled), three stalks of celery (sliced and including leaves), 16 cups of water, salt and pepper to taste.  If you happen to have a tomato that you need to use, throw it in too.  Cook over high heat, bringing to a full boil.  Allow to simmer for 30 minutes.  Allow to cool.  Remove the skin, bones, and veggies.  Place stock into 4 cup containers with a slight amount of air space to spare.  Freeze until ready to use.

Do the same thing with beef scraps when you buy a roast and trim it and cut it into stew meat or stir fry meat.  It makes a delicious stock and can be used in so many recipes.  And ... yes, it's so much cheaper than buying canned or boxed stock.

Super Bowl Party Recipes - Layered Taco Dip

Regular Sunday football food just won't suffice for your Super Bowl Party.  Layered Taco Dip is one of our favorites for Super Bowl Sunday.  Give it a try for your party.  Oh, this is so good!

1 (16 oz) can refried beans
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese (softened)
1 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp Southwestern Seasoning Mix
2 garlic cloves pressed
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Optional toppings such as diced tomatoes, thinly sliced green onions, sliced pitted ripe olives, snipped fresh cilantro or additional sour cream

Tostitos

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spread refried beans over bottom of baking dish.  Combine cream cheese, sour cream, seasoning mix and garlic; mix well. 

Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over beans.  Spread cheddar cheese over top.  Bake 15 - 20 minutes or until cheese is melted. 

If desired, dice tomatoes and thinly slice green onions.  Slice olives.  Sprinkle tomato, onions, and olives.  Garnish with additional sour cream.  Serve with Tostitos.

Cook's Tip:  Taco seasoning mix can be substituted for the Southwest Seasoning, if desired.

The Daffodils Are Coming Up!

Earlier in the week I noticed that the daffodils are starting to come up.  I know it will be at least a month or more before they bloom, but it gives me hope that these grey cold days of winter will come to an end.  It has been more than two weeks since we last saw the sun here in St. Louis.  For those of us whose mood is so sunshine dependent, it makes it rather hard to stay happy and upbeat.  Around 5:00 p.m. today we did see just a few peeks of sun through a couple of breaks in the clouds, but the weather forecast for the coming week is all clouds and snow flurries for the week.  Yuk - it's even going to be cold again!

Look carefully at the picture and you'll find the little green leaves poking up through the mulch.

Thank you, Mother Nature.  Spring will come again!

I Just Love The Dierbergs Shopping Experience

I've said this again and again, shopping at Dierbergs is not like shopping at any other grocery store in the area.  The stores are clean and bright.  The aisles are wide.  The produce is fresh and it just looks so good.  The meat looks wonderful too.  There is a large variety of items - I can find things at Dierbergs that I just can't find at other grocery stores.  The employees are great too.  They are always friendly and very professional.  The whole shopping experience is many steps above shopping anywhere else.  It doesn't hurt that my daughter works there.  But, I loved it even before she started working there.

If you're a cook who uses lots of produce, it's definitely worth the extra money to check out Dierbergs.  It's certainly worth the trip.  I think you'll be sold like me.

Beef & Broccoli

Our family really likes Chinese food, but I have to admit, I've never been any good at duplicating any Chinese dish.  Well, tonight was the exception.  Emily and I tried our hand at Beef & Broccoli and it was a dish we were both proud of.  We even got compliments from Luke, which almost never happens.

1 lb of beef (sliced thinly across the grain)
1/2 cup corn starch
3 large heads broccoli (cut into florets)
1 large onion (cut into thin slices)
1/2 lb baby carrots (sliced very thin)
1 lb button mushrooms (sliced very thin)
1 can water chestnuts sliced
6 green onions (sliced very thin)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp Ponzu
4 cloves of garlic minced
1 tsp ground ginger (or 4 tsp grated fresh ginger)
1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
4 Tbsp soy sauce
2 1/2 Tbsp plum sauce
2 1/2 Tbsp honey

Combine the garlic, ginger, vinegar, soy sauce, plum sauce and honey.  Mix well and set aside until ready to use.

Prep and slice the veggies into individual dishes ready to add the pan when needed.

Preheat a large skillet.  Add the olive oil and sesame oil.  Place the beef into the corn starch and lightly dredge.  Shake off any excess cornstarch.  Add the beef to the hot pan and cook for about 5 minutes.  Add the carrots and water chestnuts and cook for two minutes.  Add the onions and broccoli and cook for another two minutes while tossing all ingredients constantly.  Add the Ponzu to the pan and cook for another two minutes.  Pour the reserved sauce over the beef and vegetables.  Add the mushrooms and green onions.  Stir while cooking for another minute or until well mixed and the mushrooms are slightly cooked.

Serve this over thin spaghetti or white rice.

This one got thumbs up from even our pickiest family members.

Mandarin Orange Cake

If you're looking for a unique dessert, give this one a try.  It's very good, and not nearly as rich as most.

2 cups flour                              2 tsp baking soda
2 cups sugar                             2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs                                      2 cans Mandarin oranges (drained)

Mix all ingredients together and beat 3 minutes.  Pour into 13 x 9" pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes.

Topping
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
6 Tbsp butter
6 Tbsp milk

Place all ingredients over low heat on the stove until melted and well combined.  Poke holes all over the cake and pour the topping over the cake while it's still warm.