This recipe is an inspiration from, believe it or not, two different recipes that have nothing to do with one another. I made a salmon dinner for my hubby's birthday this week. I don't usually prepare seafood unless it's crab, lobster or shrimp. But . . . for the hubby's 60th birthday, I had to make an exception. The salmon was baked with an Asian glaze and I almost liked it.
I'm a lover of sweet potatoes and I'm always looking for ways to fix them that the family will find appealing. I chunked the 3 lbs of sweet potatoes and topped them with the Asian glaze and baked them. They are delicious! And not loaded with brown sugar and butter.
3 lbs of sweet potatoes (peeled and chunked)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup honey
3 Tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp sesame seeds (I toasted them)
1 tsp dried minced onions
3/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel and chunk the sweet potatoes and place them in a foil-lined 13 x 9" baking pan. Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, turning halfway through.
Combine the remaining ingredients and stir to mix well. Pour the mixture over the sweet potatoes and stir to coat. Roast the potatoes for 20 more minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to sit for five minutes before serving.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Liam Cracking Up
Kids are priceless! My grandson, Liam was just finishing dinner tonight as I was watching American Idol. I simply cleared my throat and he totally cracked up. This poor child laughed so hard he couldn't catch his breath. His face was totally red! I ran for the camera hoping to recreate the moment. This was as close as I came. Note the mashed potatoes in his hair, eyes, ears, and lap. Needless to say, his glasses had to be removed -- it's a little tough to see through mashed potatoes.
This is a can't miss! Give yourself a smile moment and watch this video.
This is a can't miss! Give yourself a smile moment and watch this video.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Super Bowl Menu
I am a football fan, and Super Bowl Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year. It's the biggest game of the year! Food is part of the game experience, but should not take the host away from the excitement.
So . . . here we go . . . This was our Super Bowl menu this year.
2 Tbsp olive oil
3/4 tsp oregano
Fresh ground pepper (to taste)
Use a toothpick to skewer the tomato, then the cucumber, then the olive and finish with a cube of mozzarella cheese. Repeat until all ingredients are gone.
Arrange on a serving platter.
Put lemon, oil, fresh pepper and oregano in a jar and shake to mix well. Drizzle dressing over the skewers just before serving.
This is a very easy dish to make and it looks really impressive.
So . . . here we go . . . This was our Super Bowl menu this year.
There was plenty of good food. The menu centered around "Hooter's Chicken Wings" (not pictured here - they went into the large white serving bowl). I deep fry wings breaded in the Hooter's brand breading and then coat them with Hooter's wing sauce just before serving. We had an assortment of fresh veggies and dips (Dill and Fiesta Ranch) and fresh fruit. There was fresh shrimp and cocktail sauce, Guacamole and Tostitos, sliced cheeses and Greek Salad Bites. The table looked great and the food was yummy!
The Greek Salad Bites are so easy to make and they are delicious. You have to give this recipe a try when you want to impress your friends.
3 - 4 Persian cucumbers sliced into 1/4" rounds
12 cherry tomatoes (halved) -- look for small round ones
24 black olives
1 pkg of fresh mozzarella cheese (cut 24 square cubes)
Dressing
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice2 Tbsp olive oil
3/4 tsp oregano
Fresh ground pepper (to taste)
Use a toothpick to skewer the tomato, then the cucumber, then the olive and finish with a cube of mozzarella cheese. Repeat until all ingredients are gone.
Arrange on a serving platter.
Put lemon, oil, fresh pepper and oregano in a jar and shake to mix well. Drizzle dressing over the skewers just before serving.
This is a very easy dish to make and it looks really impressive.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Breakfast for Dinner
The weather has been very cold this week and it's definitely been the perfect week for comfort food. Tonight we took it one step futher . . . we had breakfast for dinner. Who doesn't like that?
The menu: Scrambled eggs
Bacon
Fried potatoes and onions
Country gravy
It was definitely a home run dinner. The only thing missing was everyone dressed in their PJs.
Last weekend my hubby asked me, "How do you make your eggs so fluffy?" I guess the grandkids don't like his eggs so much. :)
My secret to fluffy eggs is to add about 1/2 cup of milk to about 12 eggs. Whip with a whisk until somewhat frothy. Pour into a pan with melted butter over medium heat. Keep your egg mixture moving so it does not brown. Your eggs will be fluffy and yellow - not skinny and brown.
The menu: Scrambled eggs
Bacon
Fried potatoes and onions
Country gravy
It was definitely a home run dinner. The only thing missing was everyone dressed in their PJs.
Last weekend my hubby asked me, "How do you make your eggs so fluffy?" I guess the grandkids don't like his eggs so much. :)
My secret to fluffy eggs is to add about 1/2 cup of milk to about 12 eggs. Whip with a whisk until somewhat frothy. Pour into a pan with melted butter over medium heat. Keep your egg mixture moving so it does not brown. Your eggs will be fluffy and yellow - not skinny and brown.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Enchiladas - Not Out of the Box
Every once in a while I feel the need to totally revamp a recipe either to use specific items I have in the pantry or just because I feel like changing things up. Last night we had Enchiladas, but they weren't the boxed El Paso dinner. I used my Quesadilla Casserole filling and rolled it in whole grain tortillas and topped it with Enchilada sauce. Hands down, these were the best Enchiladas I've ever eaten.
1 lb ground beef
1 tsp seasoning salt
1 onion, diced
1 - 15 oz can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 - 15 oz sweet kernel corn (drained)
1 - 15 oz tomato sauce
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp oregano
1 - 15 oz Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce
1 cup shredded Cheddar or Cheddar Jack cheese
8 - 10 whole grain tortillas
Brown the ground beef with the diced onion. Drain.
Combine beef, black beans, corn, and tomato sauce. Add all spices and heat until bubbling.
Pour 1/2 cup mixture onto a tortilla and roll. Place the rolled tortilla into a 9 x 9" baking dish
Repeat until all tortillas are used.
Pour the enchilada sauce over the rolled tortilas.
Sprinkle cheese over the top.
Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
Serve topped with sour cream.
1 lb ground beef
1 tsp seasoning salt
1 onion, diced
1 - 15 oz can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 - 15 oz sweet kernel corn (drained)
1 - 15 oz tomato sauce
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp oregano
1 - 15 oz Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce
1 cup shredded Cheddar or Cheddar Jack cheese
8 - 10 whole grain tortillas
Brown the ground beef with the diced onion. Drain.
Combine beef, black beans, corn, and tomato sauce. Add all spices and heat until bubbling.
Pour 1/2 cup mixture onto a tortilla and roll. Place the rolled tortilla into a 9 x 9" baking dish
Repeat until all tortillas are used.
Pour the enchilada sauce over the rolled tortilas.
Sprinkle cheese over the top.
Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
Serve topped with sour cream.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
McCormick Gourmet - Bourbon Spiced Pork
I discovered a new product in the grocery store last week. It's a spice/seasoning packet found in the gravy/sauces/seasoning section of the store, and it's called McCormick Gourmet. There were several flavors, but I chose to try the Bourbon Spiced Pork. There is a recipe on the back of the package, "Bourbon Spiced Pork with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples", and it was just delicious.
1 pkg McCormick Gourmet Bourbon Spiced Pork seasoning mix
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 pork tenderloins (about 1 lb each)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup orange juice
3 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 lbs) peeled and cut into 1" cubes
2 apples, cored, unpeeled and halved
Combine seasoning mix and brown sugar. Reserve 1/4 cup aside. Brush pork with oil. Rub with remaining seasoning mixture. Place pork in the center of a large shallow baking pan.
Mix reserved seasoning mixture and orange juice in large bowl. Add sweet potatoes and apples; toss to coat well. Arrange sweet potatoes and apples, cut sides down, around pork.
Roast in preheated 425 degree oven for 30 - 35 minutes or until pork is done and sweet potatoes are tender. Toss sweet potatoes and apples with pan juices; serve with sliced pork.
Because I decided on a whim to try the new seasoning packet tonight, I had to work with the ingredients I had on hand. I replaced the pork tenderloins with butterfly pork chops and the sweet potatoes with butternut squash. Dinner was absolutely delicious! You have to try this one.
Thanks, McCormick for a fantastic new product! I will definitely be trying the others.
1 pkg McCormick Gourmet Bourbon Spiced Pork seasoning mix
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 pork tenderloins (about 1 lb each)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup orange juice
3 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 lbs) peeled and cut into 1" cubes
2 apples, cored, unpeeled and halved
Combine seasoning mix and brown sugar. Reserve 1/4 cup aside. Brush pork with oil. Rub with remaining seasoning mixture. Place pork in the center of a large shallow baking pan.
Mix reserved seasoning mixture and orange juice in large bowl. Add sweet potatoes and apples; toss to coat well. Arrange sweet potatoes and apples, cut sides down, around pork.
Roast in preheated 425 degree oven for 30 - 35 minutes or until pork is done and sweet potatoes are tender. Toss sweet potatoes and apples with pan juices; serve with sliced pork.
Because I decided on a whim to try the new seasoning packet tonight, I had to work with the ingredients I had on hand. I replaced the pork tenderloins with butterfly pork chops and the sweet potatoes with butternut squash. Dinner was absolutely delicious! You have to try this one.
Thanks, McCormick for a fantastic new product! I will definitely be trying the others.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Resolutions for the New Year
Call me a rebel, but I don't usually make a list of resolutions before New Year's Eve. My list of resolutions usually develops as the new year progresses.
2012 ended with a few unexpected things popping up:
1. My car needs new tires - front only
2. The crack in my windshield ran all the way across the driver's side
right in my line of vision
3. The ice maker in the freezer quit making ice
4. The ceramic cook top on my stove cracked
Each of these was discovered literally within 24 hours of the new year beginning. I don't know if this is simply a crappy ending to 2012, or a tough beginning to 2013. I choose to believe it's a crappy ending. 2013 should be a fantastic year!
My first resolution is to get my financial house in order. It won't be easy, but it can be done. With two kids in college and a retired hubby who watches our 3 grandchildren everyday, finances can be challenging.
My second resolution is to make better use of the limited space we have in our little house. We have a portion of our space that is not utilized to its fullest potential. My hubby is a pack rat who has issues with parting with anything. Not me - if it's not being used, it needs to go!
My third resolution is to laugh more. I believe humor helps even out any situation. I find myself totally stressed out quite often and it affects my ability to concentrate and even participate in some daily activities. My mood is just awful and I'm certainly no fun to be around when I'm stressed out. All of that should change in the next few months - stress levels should reduce immensely - and laughter will come more naturally again.
We can all find areas in which our lives can use improvement. The choice is ours to do something about it.
2012 ended with a few unexpected things popping up:
1. My car needs new tires - front only
2. The crack in my windshield ran all the way across the driver's side
right in my line of vision
3. The ice maker in the freezer quit making ice
4. The ceramic cook top on my stove cracked
Each of these was discovered literally within 24 hours of the new year beginning. I don't know if this is simply a crappy ending to 2012, or a tough beginning to 2013. I choose to believe it's a crappy ending. 2013 should be a fantastic year!
My first resolution is to get my financial house in order. It won't be easy, but it can be done. With two kids in college and a retired hubby who watches our 3 grandchildren everyday, finances can be challenging.
My second resolution is to make better use of the limited space we have in our little house. We have a portion of our space that is not utilized to its fullest potential. My hubby is a pack rat who has issues with parting with anything. Not me - if it's not being used, it needs to go!
My third resolution is to laugh more. I believe humor helps even out any situation. I find myself totally stressed out quite often and it affects my ability to concentrate and even participate in some daily activities. My mood is just awful and I'm certainly no fun to be around when I'm stressed out. All of that should change in the next few months - stress levels should reduce immensely - and laughter will come more naturally again.
We can all find areas in which our lives can use improvement. The choice is ours to do something about it.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
HGTV Dream Home
I have been religiously entering the sweepstakes to win the HGTV Dream Home on Kiawah Island, SC. The home is absolutely gorgeous and who wouldn't want to live there? Today, I realized what I'd be giving up if I win that $1.5 million home. I'd have to give up MY KITCHEN. I have the perfect cook's kitchen. We've lived in our home since 1984 and it has had multiple renovations - mostly involving the kitchen and dining room. It's my perfect space. Sure, I would like to have a new home, but it would mean giving up the space I've spent years perfecting. Not so sure how I really feel about that.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Merry Christmas
"Merry Christmas" -- It's a standard greeting among Christians this time of year. I'm not a believer in being politically correct -- I tell everyone Merry Christmas. It's a heartfelt greeting from me to you. I would certainly not be offended by a greeting of your religion. I would warmly accept it and thank you.
We exchange not only greetings with our friends and family, but gifts as well. We share God's greatest gift of all -- He sent Jesus into the world. We exchange gifts with one another in recognition of Jesus' birth. God's love is endless - and so is the wrapping paper on the floor after our gift exchanges.
My family, like many others has grown to the point that we have multiple family celebrations and many directions to go during the holidays. It's often difficult to manage, but somehow we find a way. Most of us were at my sister's home in Jefferson City, MO to celebrate. Poor Kim, she cleaned her house (and it looked great when we all got there) just so we could totally destroy it with wrapping paper, fingerprints, bedding and suitcases. She was certainly a good sport about it! We have become quite a large group when we're together. It was a great time for everyone. Thank you, Kim and Tim for letting us invade your normally quiet home.
We traveled home tonight. I have to say we were ready to be home. Everyone was tired. But . . . our hearts were full of love. Being with family recharges us. We are reminded of the things that are really important in life. What is more important than spending time with the "House That Built Me"? I know, that's a country song; but think about it. When we spend time with our family members, no matter where we are, we are spending time in the house that built us. We are reminded of the parts of our childhood that made us the people we are today.
I love my family -- we're a neurotic bunch, but we're great! I challenge any family to have more laughter in a room than we find. We are a hugely opinionated bunch -- and we often disagree, but love conquers opinions. We have fun at one another's expense, but in the end we stick together. Blood is indeed thicker than water. Family comes first.
Merry Christmas, my friends!
We exchange not only greetings with our friends and family, but gifts as well. We share God's greatest gift of all -- He sent Jesus into the world. We exchange gifts with one another in recognition of Jesus' birth. God's love is endless - and so is the wrapping paper on the floor after our gift exchanges.
My family, like many others has grown to the point that we have multiple family celebrations and many directions to go during the holidays. It's often difficult to manage, but somehow we find a way. Most of us were at my sister's home in Jefferson City, MO to celebrate. Poor Kim, she cleaned her house (and it looked great when we all got there) just so we could totally destroy it with wrapping paper, fingerprints, bedding and suitcases. She was certainly a good sport about it! We have become quite a large group when we're together. It was a great time for everyone. Thank you, Kim and Tim for letting us invade your normally quiet home.
We traveled home tonight. I have to say we were ready to be home. Everyone was tired. But . . . our hearts were full of love. Being with family recharges us. We are reminded of the things that are really important in life. What is more important than spending time with the "House That Built Me"? I know, that's a country song; but think about it. When we spend time with our family members, no matter where we are, we are spending time in the house that built us. We are reminded of the parts of our childhood that made us the people we are today.
I love my family -- we're a neurotic bunch, but we're great! I challenge any family to have more laughter in a room than we find. We are a hugely opinionated bunch -- and we often disagree, but love conquers opinions. We have fun at one another's expense, but in the end we stick together. Blood is indeed thicker than water. Family comes first.
Merry Christmas, my friends!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Christmas Plans 2012
From Thanksgiving to Christmas is a blur every year. There is just so much to do. There are decorations to put up, goodies to bake, gifts to buy and wrap, cards to write, meals and events to plan, and a house to keep clean for the expected and unexpected guests. Add that to our normal everyday schedules of work and watching kids and it's no wonder sanity is lacking during December.
Years ago as our family grew older and there were multiple family events to attend, my family decided that we would leave Thanksgiving Day to celebrate with the other side of the family. We plan our Thanksgiving meal for the Friday evening after Thanksgiving. Most of us have to travel, so it gives us Friday to make the trip and then we have the weekend to spend together and then travel back home again.
Christmas for our family is celebrated together on Christmas Eve. This is a tradition that's rich with family history. My grandfather's birthday was Christmas Eve, and as a child I remember so many family Christmases with all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, sister and brother. We were part of a very large family and there were so many of us, but those were special times. We would go to church Christmas Eve -- Grandpa Mohr was a Lutheran pastor. Oh, how I loved the Christmas hymns! I still do. My mom sang "Oh Holy Night" during the service and she would always bring tears to my grandpa's eyes. He loved to hear her sing. And our family has a special connection to "Silent Night, Holy Night". That beautiful song was written by Joseph Mohr, my great-great-great-great-great uncle. After church we'd all go back to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We kids had to stay upstairs while Santa Claus came to deliver gifts and talk with our parents and grandparents. (Of course, we kids could hear everything -- the anticipation was almost unbearable!) Then . . . it was finally time to read the Christmas story from the Bible and then open gifts. Christmas Eve will forever be the time that our family will celebrate Christmas together.
Having firm dates set allows us to plan for the holidays easily. This year, Christmas Day is on a Tuesday which makes travel more difficult. We'll travel Christmas Eve after work -- hoping everyone arrives by 8 or 9 pm for our gift exchange. I can hardly wait to see Liam open his gifts this year -- he is at such a cute age! We'll have Christmas Day to spend together before driving home that night so everyone can be back to school and work on the 26th.
I plan to fix a big dinner at home to celebrate with Eddie's mom and the kids at home. We still need to schedule a day that will work for her. A couple of Luke's friends and Eddie's friends have asked when they can come over for Christmas dinner too. (I just love that they love to come over to eat!) The more the merrier! I have a bad habit of making way too much. I'm seriously considering the same menu as our Thanksgiving dinner. It was so good this year! Now, we just have to plan the date.
Sending wishes for a sane and very Merry Christmas to all of you!
Years ago as our family grew older and there were multiple family events to attend, my family decided that we would leave Thanksgiving Day to celebrate with the other side of the family. We plan our Thanksgiving meal for the Friday evening after Thanksgiving. Most of us have to travel, so it gives us Friday to make the trip and then we have the weekend to spend together and then travel back home again.
Christmas for our family is celebrated together on Christmas Eve. This is a tradition that's rich with family history. My grandfather's birthday was Christmas Eve, and as a child I remember so many family Christmases with all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, sister and brother. We were part of a very large family and there were so many of us, but those were special times. We would go to church Christmas Eve -- Grandpa Mohr was a Lutheran pastor. Oh, how I loved the Christmas hymns! I still do. My mom sang "Oh Holy Night" during the service and she would always bring tears to my grandpa's eyes. He loved to hear her sing. And our family has a special connection to "Silent Night, Holy Night". That beautiful song was written by Joseph Mohr, my great-great-great-great-great uncle. After church we'd all go back to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We kids had to stay upstairs while Santa Claus came to deliver gifts and talk with our parents and grandparents. (Of course, we kids could hear everything -- the anticipation was almost unbearable!) Then . . . it was finally time to read the Christmas story from the Bible and then open gifts. Christmas Eve will forever be the time that our family will celebrate Christmas together.
Having firm dates set allows us to plan for the holidays easily. This year, Christmas Day is on a Tuesday which makes travel more difficult. We'll travel Christmas Eve after work -- hoping everyone arrives by 8 or 9 pm for our gift exchange. I can hardly wait to see Liam open his gifts this year -- he is at such a cute age! We'll have Christmas Day to spend together before driving home that night so everyone can be back to school and work on the 26th.
I plan to fix a big dinner at home to celebrate with Eddie's mom and the kids at home. We still need to schedule a day that will work for her. A couple of Luke's friends and Eddie's friends have asked when they can come over for Christmas dinner too. (I just love that they love to come over to eat!) The more the merrier! I have a bad habit of making way too much. I'm seriously considering the same menu as our Thanksgiving dinner. It was so good this year! Now, we just have to plan the date.
Sending wishes for a sane and very Merry Christmas to all of you!
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