Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Mom's Bran Muffins


The All Bran box that set on our kitchen table when I was a kid in the 1950's never tempted me. For one thing, I knew what natural laxative meant! Once a week, just like clockwork the box of ExLax would come out of the medicine chest and I'd be offered that little chocolate "treat." Saturday morning meant two things, cartoons and many trips to the bathroom! Mom was a bit of a health nut, she shopped according to food value... i.e. nutrition so we didn't have Ko-Ko Pops. Sad, I don't even know how to spell it correctly! Even though I stayed away from the cereal, you couldn't keep me from eating these muffins that Mom made often. The recipe used to be on the back of Kellogg's All-Bran box, but it's not there anymore. A quick Google Search will bring you all the variations on this delicious recipe. Perfect for a healthy snack or breakfast, they are only 163 calories each! 


Apple Walnut Bran Muffins
makes 24 muffins
2 large golden apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup butter
3 cups All-Bran
1 cup boiling water
2 cups buttermilk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup walnuts
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

In a skillet, saute apples in butter until tender, about 10 minutes. Combine cereal and water in a large bowl, then stir in buttermilk, eggs, sugar, raisins/walnuts and apples with butter. Combine dry ingredients; stir into apple mixture just until moistened. Bake as many as desired, then just refrigerate the remaining dough in a tightly covered container for up to 2 weeks (batter will be very thick). Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Makes about 24 standard-size muffins. 

Tuesday, February 28, 2012


Out of the blue, in the most unlikely of all places, yet another school shooting has happened in America. Yesterday I was on Facebook when I saw some disturbing posts from Chardon. My daughter's friend Kim was frantic, the idyllic little town her family calls home was upside down with helicopters circling, police barricades and tv cameras everywhere.



Every parent in every town in America can feel the pain and fear that that these families now know first hand. We can't fathom that it would happen here, but neither could Chardon.


Over the next few days they will dissect the possible reasons, already they are saying the shooter was bullied. Some students said they knew he had a bad home life. Even with all the pressures that teens face, none of this makes any sense.



It was sunny and the wind was making the flags over town fly proudly Monday. It felt like just another normal day in our little town and I was thinking how Chardon felt just like this, until yesterday.

Monday, February 27, 2012

I do windows!


I have a big job ahead of me this week, window washing. Never mind that we have 28 windows in this house, the biggest problem is that our upper levels are 3 stories up. Don't be thinkin' we live in NYC, Granny Mountain is in the woods on the side of a mountain, that's the reason it's so steep you get a nosebleed in our bedroom! I watched a YouTube video with professional window washer tips, I'll be using their secret cleaner... it's HERE. There's a reason they get paid the big bucks, it's  a little like plumbing, you can read all you want how to put in a little rubber washer but fixing that drip never is as easy as it sounds. So, be praying for me as I tackle the top windows. They actually "tip out" so I'm not going to standing on a ledge like the granny in the picture!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Cake for Breakfast


'When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,’ said Piglet at last, ‘what's the first thing you say to yourself?’
‘What's for breakfast?’ said Pooh. ‘What do you say, Piglet?’
‘I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?’ said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.'It's the same thing,' he said!

Good news last week, you may have missed it since it was on the news Valentine's Day. It seems eating chocolate cake for breakfast may just make you lose weight! If that's not your favorite you can substitute a cookie or some chocolate mousse or even ice cream. Sounds a little crazy doesn't it, but Honest to Pete it's the latest study from a team of researchers at Tel Aviv University. They've stumbled onto some Earthshaking evidence that says adding dessert to a balanced 600-calorie breakfast that includes proteins and carbohydrates can help dieters shed weight and keep it off in the long run. I know, this is too good to be true. You might as well tell me chocolate and wine will make me live longer.... uh, that's true too!

Researchers put 193 obese, nondiabetic adults into two groups. They ate low-carb diets of 1,400 calories a day for women and 1,600 calories a day for men. But one group was given a low-carb 300-calorie breakfast and the other was given a 600-calorie breakfast that was high in protein and carbohydrates, and always included a dessert. Weight loss was about equal for the two groups at 16 weeks. But after 32 weeks, those who added a cookie or cake or ice cream to breakfast had lost an average of 40 pounds more than those who ate the lighter, low-carb breakfast.

 Maybe that's where I've failed, I should have been eating my cake for breakfast!


Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Spring Fever

I went by the Farmer's Co-Op last week and thumbed through the seed packets. Just in planning mode at this point, but it won't be long until Old Man Winter packs his bags and leaves our part of the country. Spring Time is just around the corner in all her green glory. I can't wait!

I have lots of plans this year, I keep seeing great ideas in magazines and on Pinterest. I love the idea of re-purposing something old and it seems I'm not the only one. It just brings a smile to your face to see something like this old chair, painted and pretty again, filled with
petunias and sweet potato vine.

I'd love to have a little potting shed at the edge of our woods, haven't mentioned it to Jerry yet... finding just the right time!

The best thing worst thing about having country property is that you have the resources available to you to "make" whatever you want, i.e. rocks, timber, even some plants. The reality of how much hard work making your own Shangri La is the only thing stopping us most of the time.

That, and flat land. When we lived in town I longed for a mountain, now that we live on a mountainside, I look at pictures like this and sigh... it's that
"Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side" thing!


I do want a Bottle Tree like Aunt B.'s
I need to ask her where she found her blue bottles...

For now this will have to satisfy me! Maybe I could help Old Man Winter pack his bags...



Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Don't Cry over Spoiled Milk, use it!

You don't normally come to my blog for beauty tips, but since it's Valentine's Day I want to share one of my favorites. After all, we want to look our best as we set across the table tonight in that romantic restaurant!

One thing I can count on every winter is dry skin, it happens when I don't bathe myself in lotion on a regular basis. Oh I have the lotions, it's just putting them on where I fail miserably! Every room has an arsenal of creams, lotions or oils. So why don't I use them, well... when I get out of the shower I'm in a hurry to get my clothes on and rush cause I'm already late for something. Is that your life too?

When I wash my hands I give myself a quick pump. Invariably, in less than 2 minutes my hands are back in water. ugh!

Bedtime is perfect, time to pull out the products that really moisturize. We are currently using Vaseline Intensive Care's Gel Body Oil. It's industrial strength, it made my dry heels smooth as a baby's bottom in a couple of nights. The bad thing about it is that it doesn't absorb easily. As long as you're putting socks on it's ok to climb right into bed, but slathering it all over is a little like I've been to one of those baby oil wrestling matches that they charge to get into!

Cleopatra's "Milk Bath" has been around for awhile, the Queen of Egypt has been credited as the founder of milk based skin care. There are many variations on the recipe, but it's as simple as adding milk to your bath. It needs to be the full fat whole milk version, after all we want our skin to be plump and round even if we don't want our backside to look like that! Just add up to 5 cups of milk to your hot bath, then soak for about 30 minutes, using a washcloth or loofah to gently exfoliate. Add a few drops of Neutrogena's Body Oil with Sesame to the water and you will get out of the tub a new woman!

The reason this works is that milk contains Lactic Acid. Just like the beauty products I love so much, my Hope in a Jar by Philosophy uses lactic acid to penetrate the skin's deepest layers and exfoliate. I found this recipe online and haven't tried it out yet.... I'm waiting for my milk to spoil!

Fermented Milk Bath
One of the best home treatments is - bathing in extremely fermented whole milk. The milk must be allowed to curdle.
1/2 gallon of this added to a warm bath and soaking in this for at least 20 minutes will give the smoothest and silkiest skin imaginable. Far superior to a mere milk bath. This solution softens the skin more effectively than loofah scrubbing or dry brushing.




Monday, February 13, 2012

Extreme Shoveling

Arkansas may be having it's mildest winter ever, but Europe is suffering one of the worst winters ever.
Schools have closed, public transportation has all but stalled and people are struggling to keep their homes warm. Climate change is affecting us all, from the hottest summers on record to the wettest springs and the coldest winters. This time last year we were recovering from 24" of freshly fallen snow. Jerry was home, simply because he couldn't get out of the driveway until he shoveled it, and it wouldn't stop snowing long enough for him to make a dent in the job!



We had several snows last winter, one after the other for about 6 weeks. It was like Mother Nature was mad at us. Shoveling became a weekly chore, boots remained at the door and coats, hats and gloves never got put away.
Sometime around snow #4 or 5, Jerry decided he was going to buy a snow plow for next winter. Up till then, he had said we live too far South to own a snow plow. Something about us not getting enough snow. We have one now setting in the garage... waiting!

You have time to do some deep thinking when you're going back and forth, shoveling. Things like where you'd like to retire.

Chicago's not on the list, or Minneapolis either. He's not a snow person, I blame it on his early years spent in Puerto Rico and Florida. Deprived of the white stuff, he grew up to HATE IT. From the first cold day in the fall to the last cool day in the spring he mentions how much he dislikes the cold.


I'm thinking it's probably too late to change him!

*We're in Dallas this morning visiting our kids and it's snowing at our house on Granny Mountain!!! Maybe he'll get to use that snow blower after all!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

R.I.P. Bennie Bear
1999-2012

He was King of Granny Mountain, Ben was a rescue dog, our daughter Amy took him into her heart at a time she needed unconditional love...the kind that only comes from a pet. We welcomed him with open arms, and he worked his magic on all of us. He healed Amy's broken heart, he gave Jerry and me many happy years of devoted love, he was friend to every dog he ever met. Ben loved each and every one of us with the no strings attached, full on, lick you in the face devotion that canines are known for.
Granny Mountain was a happy home for Ben, he loved setting on this patio with us, under the trees watching the squirrels and deer. He loved boat rides to Horseshoe Bend and car rides to McDonalds. In time we can smile and say his name but for now, we'll quietly remember just how much we loved him.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Valentine Gifts for Pennies!

It's been a busy week on Pinterest, lots of great ideas for Valentine's Day next week. Do you have something special in mind or does the pocketbook still feel a little "light" from Christmas? I saw just an idea on Pinterest this week if that's the case. It won't cost you one single penny and it's a very special gift for a family member.


The Dates Our Lives Were Forever Changed
from The Memory Gallery on Etsy is sold out...
but with a little patience I made one for us starting with our wedding date, then the days our daughters were born and then our grandsons. You have to fiddle with the font and the size to get it to fit on the paper, then change the color of the script that repeats the dates. Find a simple frame, probably up in the closet and you have just made a gift from the ♥


Carrot and Banana Dog Treats
What about Fido? We love our pets too! This is a great idea from 17 Apart

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 
1/2 cup cornmeal 
1 bunch fresh carrots, finely chopped or grated 
2-3 fresh bananas, peeled and mashed 
1 beaten egg 
1/3 cup vegetable oil 
1 tablespoon brown sugar (*optional, we went without) 
1/2 cup cold water

Go over to 17 Apart for the complete directions how to make these healthy dog biscuits for your special pup!
Another way to remember that special year you met, year you married, your children's birth years.
♥Special♥
A shadowbox made with a simple branch to represent the "Family Tree." This would bring tears of joy to Grand or Great-Grandparents!

I'm doing this for our Grandson Ewan who's celebrating a birthday this week! One or several balloons in a big box to open will be FUN! Great idea from Happiness Is.






Would these Chocolate Dipped "Hi Hat" Cupcakes make you feel loved?
I thought so... pop over to Oh Cupcakes for the recipe!


Or you could make a Cherpumple for your beloved. It's 3 stacked layers - a cherry pie baked into a chocolate cake, a pumpkin pie in a spice cake, and an apple pie in a yellow cake then covered in frosting. I'm not pulling your leg... go to Eating Out Part V if you are brave enough to make this one!





For my Valentine's treat I'd love to be right here on this sandy beach with my special someone watching as the sun sets!












Maybe with a couple of these...Mango Margaritas from Food and Wine!








































Thursday, February 9, 2012

It's the little things...

Most of you thought I ought to lay off the popcorn before bed after I shared the crazy dream I had the other night. I've had a popcorn Jones for as long as I can remember, in fact I inherited that from Mom. It was a rare night that she didn't pull out the "popcorn pot," add a little Wesson oil and then unscrew the big Ball jar that held the golden kernels. Come to think of it, her parents had the addiction to the fluffy stuff too! Every summer Grandpa grew enough rows for the whole family to have a stash. He actually grew several varieties of corn in the Big Garden, not to be confused with the smaller "salad garden" on the east side of the house. There was sweet corn for eating, Hickory King corn for cornmeal and feed corn for the chickens. So, it's in my genes, I'm not in control of inherited traits! 

Every night, 8ish or so... Jerry says, "Do you want a little popcorn?" I always answer yes. Then he gets up and makes it. We use a Presto Microwave Popcorn Popper, I bought it at Wal-Mart a long time ago. Like 10 years or more. I would say it's been a good one. You just pour in 1/3 cup popcorn kernels and push the Popcorn Button on your microwave. No oil, no bags, if you buy Orville Reddenbacher popcorn it costs roughly 15 cents a batch (6 cups popped). That fits into my thrifty budget that I'm still having to follow after 41 (42 years this June) of wedded bliss. One of the reasons it's worked is popcorn... it's the little things!



Tuesday, February 7, 2012

A Book and it's Cover



Are you watching the new show "The Voice?" We tuned in Sunday night after the Super Bowl, along with about a million and half other people. Time slots are pretty important in TV Land and the show's executives knew that scheduling season 2's premiere right after the Super Bowl would assure a good audience. We look forward to American Idol each season, The Voice gives a little more background about each contestant than Idol. They tell how they have arrived at this dream of singing, what they do in real life and then they perform. Without the background, you'd be tempted to "write them off," they don't look the part. Entertainers have to look the part, or do they?

Kevin Taylor, who won America's Got Talent competition a few years ago didn't impress the judges with his appearance as he strolled onto the stage, his ball cap backwards just like his Southern drawl. The audience and judges laughed as he explained he was a chicken catcher back home in Kentucky. "How many can you catch," they asked as they snickered? Kevin answered politely that 6  guys catch 60,000 a night, 8 at a time. The audience roared, no one believed him. It seemed impossible... almost as impossible as him winning the competition in 2009.

Kevin's star is rising still, he's touring and has written a new CD called "Long Ride." Look for him, he may not look the part but that's just because we haven't opened the book... we're just looking at the cover!

Monday, February 6, 2012

House Tour Turns Ugly

I think I ate too much popcorn yesterday. I had some in the afternoon to dull my appetite for dinner and then last night when my husband fixed his bowl of popcorn I had another serving. Too.much.fiber. I guess it was no surprise that weird dreams would follow! I had one of those on-going-detailed-disturbing-dreams that stays with me instead of evaporting as soon as my feet hit the floor. It all ties into things that are swirling around in this old brain of mine. Are you ready... this is going to take a few paragraphs!

We were being transferred and Jerry had went ahead like he always does, but in the dream he had BOUGHT a house without me! That would never have happened in real life, but in the dream we were going to see the new house. It looked ok from the outside, the front door was cottage style with a wreath on the door of fresh flowers that had withered and died. Then there was a little table with a lamp on it on the porch beside the front door. When we went in, the rooms were large but the kitchen, OMG it was so teeny-tiny that I couldn't imagine where we'd put everything! The cabinets were horrible and had rough hewn wood on the fronts, not cabin like, just old unfinished wood. The stove didn't fit right and I was wondering why in the heck he would have bought this house. We walked into the living room and I saw the GRAND staircase, it was magnificent with ornate wrought iron banister and I forgot completely about the itty-bitty kitchen and ran up the stairs to see the rest of the house!

The house tour turned ugly as soon as I got to the 2nd floor, there was furniture everywhere, someone else's stuff. The sofa and chairs were that mauve and blue that was so popular in the 1980's, hey I used to have a couple of chairs just like the horrible ones in my dream! The more I looked the worse it got. There was a second kitchen up there, but the two sinks had water pouring out of them. Then I realized the people that had owned the house still lived there and their dogs and cats were everywhere. The cats had made a mess and I began to tear up the carpets to clean. In the process I could see Contact Paper (that sticky paper you line cabinets with) and it had been put on the hardwood floors in the kitchen. When I pulled it up, there were pictures all over the floor of the family that had lived there!

Are you following this dream, or have I lost ya? There was so much detail, every room had more chairs and stuff everywhere... sewing machines, fans, antiques, boxes. The only thing that could have made me dream this, other than too much popcorn... is maybe, just maybe, I've been watching too many American Pickers. I did have a conversation this week with Aunt B. and she reminded me we need to make a trip back down to Hackett to go visit the lawnmower shop. It's been there a long time and he's collected just about every kind of lawn and garden object known to mankind. I took pictures of his lawmower graveyard when we were there this summer. I searched and searched to find my pictures so I could show you, but they are gone into the bowels of the computer. I have a feeling that when we do go, it might just bring on another nightmare!

Sunday, February 5, 2012

David Letterman's Mom's Strawberry Pie


David Letterman's Mom's Strawberry Pie
1 9 inch pie shell -- baked
1/2 pt Strawberries, fresh -- Washed and hulled
1/2 c Granulated sugar
2 tb Cornstarch
3/4 c Orange juice
1/2 ts Red food coloring
Whipped cream
Mix sugar and cornstartch, then add orange juice and food coloring. Cook until clear. Add strawberries to glaze and pour mixture into pie shell. Serve with whipped cream.

Beer Braised Chicken Verde



Beer Braised Chicken Verde

tablespoon canola oil or vegetable oil
cup chopped onion (1 large)
cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup unsalted butter
teaspoon ground cumin
teaspoon ground coriander
teaspoon chili powder
teaspoon dried Mexican oregano or dried oregano, crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 ounce bottle Mexican beer (such as Modelo Especial or Pacifico)
11 - 12 ounce can tomatillos, drained
4 - 4 1/2 ounce can diced green chile peppers
1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins
1. In a 4-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Add butter, cumin, coriander, chili powder, oregano, and salt. Cook and stir until butter melts.
2. Add beer, tomatillos, and chile peppers. Bring to boiling. Add chicken. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 15 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink, stirring every 5 minutes to break up the tomatillos. Using a slotted spoon, transfer chicken from the cooking liquid to a cutting board. Gently boil the cooking liquid, uncovered, about 10 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, using two forks, pull chicken apart into shreds.
3. Place chicken in a medium bowl. Add 1 cup of the reduced cooking juices; stir to moisten. Use chicken mixture as filling for quesadillas or tacos; pass the remaining cooking juices.

Tacos el Pastor


Tacos el Pastor
medium peeled and cored fresh pineapple
dried pasilla and/or guajillo chile peppers
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup vinegar
cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoonsalt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
pounds boneless pork loin, cut into 1/2-inch slices
16 inch corn tortillas
cup chopped onion (1 large)
Snipped fresh cilantro
Lime wedges
Bottled hot pepper sauce
1.Cut pineapple into 1/2-inch-thick slices, reserving juice; cover and refrigerate pineapple and reserved juice separately.
2. Remove stems and seeds from chile peppers. Place peppers in a medium bowl and add enough boiling water to cover. Allow peppers to stand about 30 minutes or until soft; drain, discarding water.
3. In a food processor or blender combine chile peppers, any juice from the pineapple, the orange juice, vinegar, garlic, salt, cumin, and cloves. Cover and process or blend until nearly smooth.
4. In a 3-quart baking dish arrange pork slices in a single layer, overlapping slices as necessary. Pour chile pepper mixture over pork slices, spreading evenly. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 24 hours. Remove pork from marinade, discarding marinade. Stack tortillas and wrap in foil.
5. For a charcoal grill, place tortilla packet on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Place pork slices and pineapple slices on the grill rack alongside the foil packet directly over medium coals. Grill pork and pineapple slices for 6 to 7 minutes or until pork slices are slightly pink in the center and juices run clear (160 degrees F), turning once. Grill tortilla packet for 10 minutes, turning once. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Grill tortilla packet, pork slices, and pineapple as directed above.)
6. Coarsely chop pork and pineapple and combine in a large bowl. Fill warm tortillas with pork and pineapple mixture. Sprinkle each taco with chopped onion and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges and, if desired, hot pepper sauce.
Print Recipe

Roasted Tomato Salsa


Roasted Tomato Salsa ~Yes, this IS that great restaurant salsa recipe! 
2 1/2 pounds roma tomatoes (about 15)
fresh jalapeno peppers
medium head garlic
teaspoon salt
medium white onions, finely chopped
2/3cup lightly packed cilantro leaves, snipped (1/4 cup)
teaspoons cider vinegar
Tortilla chips
1. Core the tomatoes. Place in one side of a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Halve the jalapeno peppers. Remove stems and seeds. Place, cut side down, in the other side of baking pan with tomatoes. Peel away outer skin from garlic. Cut off the pointed top portion with a knife, leaving the bulb intact but exposing the individual cloves. Add to pan. Roast, uncovered, in a 450 degree F oven for 25 minutes or until tomatoes are soft and pepper skins are charred. Cool.
2. Remove tomato skins. Press to remove garlic paste from individual cloves of garlic. Place garlic, jalapeno peppers, and salt in a food processor bowl or blender container. Cover and process or blend with a few pulses until finely chopped. Add half of the tomatoes; cover and process or blend with a few pulses until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add remaining tomatoes to food processor bowl or blender container; cover and process or blend with a few pulses until coarsely chopped. Stir into tomato mixture in bowl.
3. Stir onions, cilantro, and vinegar into tomato mixture until combined. Cover and chill several hours to blend flavors. Serve with tortilla chips. Makes about 4 cups.

Apple Walnut Bran Muffins


Apple Walnut Bran Muffins
makes 24 muffins
2 large golden apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup butter
3 cups All-Bran
1 cup boiling water
2 cups buttermilk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup walnuts
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

In a skillet, saute apples in butter until tender, about 10 minutes. Combine cereal and water in a large bowl, then stir in buttermilk, eggs, sugar, raisins/walnuts and apples with butter. Combine dry ingredients; stir into apple mixture just until moistened. Bake as many as desired, then just refrigerate the remaining dough in a tightly covered container for up to 2 weeks (batter will be very thick). Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Makes about 24 standard-size muffins. 

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Super-Town


My last stop yesterday was the grocery store. I had several errands to run; the post office, the bank, and by the time I finally got to the grocery store it was after 5 and the lines were long. I stood there waiting, watching people and I started thinking how different it is now from when I was a kid in the 1950's. When Daddy got off work on Fridays, we'd all pile into the car and head off to Brown's Grocery. For Mom it was more than a weekly grocery trip, it was an outing. She and Daddy would push the cart, reading and looking for "something new to eat!" Mom was a list maker, meticulous in her ways...she never wanted to run low on anything so items were jotted down all week long in preparation of Friday night's outing. My brother and I would either tag along behind them or park ourselves in front of the magazines with instructions to "be good." That wasn't a suggestion, it was a direct order given with "that look" from Mom. She had it down pat, she could sear your eyebrows with that look..it meant business!

Brown's Grocery had rows of cans, lined up and stacked in little pyramids to make them look like there was more. Boxes of cereal were 3 or 4 deep and if I try I can name the brands..there were Post Toasties, Rice Krispies, Bran Flakes, Sugar Pops, Sugar Flakes, Malt-o-Meal and oatmeal, and the boxes were so small compared to what we buy now. Loaves of bread were short, sodas were in 10 ounce bottles, orange juice came in those little 3 ounce cans that only made like 3 cups of juice! We'd have 3, maybe 4 bags of groceries, and that was a whole week's worth.

When I got home yesterday, I put away the case of dog food, the 196 oz. Tide, I struggled with the 50 lb. bag of bird seed and I wondered how we got to Super-Town.


Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Super, Super Bowl Food!

Super Bowl Sunday makes us decide, good or bad? There will be lots of temptations out there, Buffalo This and French Fried That. Maybe we'll just have a little of each, that's the way I like to do when faced with hard decisions! Here's some of the most popular Super Bowl fare that's out there right now...


Jalapeno Popper Dip Print
Substitute low fat cheese and mayo to lighten this up~
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temp
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup parmesan
1/2 can sliced pickled jalapenos
2 jalapeno peppers, de-seed and chop finely
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Mix the cream cheese, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, parmesan and jalapenos in a bowl and pour into a baking dish. Mix the panko bread crumbs and parmesan and sprinkle over the dip. Bake in a 375F oven until bubbling hot and golden brown on top, about 20 minutes.


Applebee's Wonton Chicken Tacos Print
for a healthier version go HERE
1lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts (sliced into small chunks)
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons stir fry sauce
8 tablespoons Asian toasted sesame dressing
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
1 cup coleslaw mix
2 tablespoons Asian toasted sesame dressing
10 wonton wrappers
oil (for frying)
4 tablespoons green onions (sliced)
4 tablespoons cilantro (chopped)
4 tablespoons red onion (diced)

In a bowl or sealable plastic bag. Combine stir fry sauce, Asian toasted sesame dressing, soy sauce, and teriyaki sauce. Add chicken and mix well with the sauce. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
In a medium bowl toss coleslaw mix with 2 tablespoons of Asian sesame dressing. Set aside.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over high heat. Add chicken with the marinade and stir fry until the chicken is fully cooked. Remove from the skillet and transfer to a bowl. Add about 1/2 inch of oil to the skillet over medium high. Fold the wonton wrappers into a triangle formation (imagine "taco") but do not seal. Use tongs to keep the wrapper open and fry one side at a time until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. To make tacos- place a small amount of the chicken mixture into the bottom of the fried wonton. Top with coleslaw mixture, green onion, cilantro and red onion.



Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pulls (a.k.a. Crack Bread) Print
from Plain Chicken
1 unsliced loaf of (round is preferable) sourdough bread
8-12 oz cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
3 oz bag Oscar Mayer Real Bacon bits
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 Tbsp Ranch dressing mix

Using a sharp bread knife cut the bread going both directions. Do not cut through the bottom crust. Place slices of cheese in between cuts. Sprinkle bacon bits on bread, making sure to get in between cuts. Mix together butter and Ranch dressing mix. Pour over bread. Wrap in foil the entire loaf in foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Unwrap. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.


Loaded Baked Potato Dip Print
from My Recipes
1 (2.1-oz.) package fully cooked bacon slices
1 (16-oz.) container sour cream
2 cups (8 oz.) freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/3 cup sliced fresh chives
2 teaspoons hot sauce
Garnishes: cooked, crumbled bacon; sliced fresh chives; freshly cracked pepper
Serve with: waffle fries

Microwave bacon according to package directions until crisp; drain on paper towels. Cool 10 minutes; crumble. Stir together bacon and next 4 ingredients. Cover and chill 1 to 24 hours before serving. Garnish, if desired. Serve with crispy, warm waffle fries. Store leftovers in refrigerator up to 7 days.




Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls Print
from Annie Eats
For the egg rolls:
2 cups frozen corn, thawed
1-15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1-9 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry with paper towel
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
1-7oz can diced green chiles, drained
4 green onions, finely chopped
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 package of egg roll or wonton wrappers

Preheat oven to 425F. Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.
In a large bowl mix together corn, beans, spinach, cheese, chiles, onions, cumin, chili powder, salt and cayenne pepper. Using a small spoon, scoop a small amount of filling onto the wrapper. Starting at a corner, carefully start to roll the wrapper. When it’s slightly rolled, tuck in the two side and continue rolling to the last point. Wet your finger with water and dab a bit on the corner to seal the egg roll. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling, placing them slightly apart on the baking sheet.
Lightly spray the tops of the egg rolls with cooking spray and bake for 15 minutes, flipping them at least once during baking. Serve with salsa or Avocado Ranch Sauce.
For avocado ranch:
3/8 cup mayonnaise
3/8 cup sour cream
3 Tbs buttermilk
1/2 Tbs olive oil
1/2 Tbs lemon juice
1/2 green onion, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1 avocado, peeled and pitted
Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth. Use immediately.


Mudslide Brownies Print
My advice is to budget for this splurge, these get 5 ♥'s!
6 (1-oz.) unsweetened chocolate baking squares
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, divided
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
4 teaspoons espresso powder, divided
2 tablespoons plus 2 tsp. coffee liqueur, divided
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
2 tablespoons whipping cream or half-and-half
2 tablespoons vodka
2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Garnish: chocolate-covered espresso coffee beans, chopped

Melt 4 chocolate baking squares and 1/2 cup butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and transfer to a large bowl. Add sugars; stir well. Stir in eggs, 2 teaspoon espresso powder, and 2 teaspoon coffee liqueur. Add flour and salt, stirring until blended. Stir in pecans.
Spread batter into a lightly greased aluminum foil-lined 13" x 9" pan (or see note). Bake at 325° for 20 to 25 minutes or until brownies appear set on top. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
Melt remaining 2 chocolate baking squares and 2 Tbsp. butter in heavy saucepan, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in remaining 2 tsp. espresso powder, whipping cream, vodka, and remaining 2 Tbsp. coffee liqueur. Add enough powdered sugar to make a good spreading consistency, beating at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Spread frosting over cooled brownies; garnish, if desired. Let stand until frosting is set. Use foil to lift uncut brownies out of the pan. Cut into bars to serve.
Note: For really thick, showy brownies, we baked these in an 11" x 7" pan at 325° for 26 to 28 minutes. If you prefer not to add any alcohol to this dessert, you can use sweetened coffee. Instead of the coffee liqueur and omit the vokda.



Turtle Bay Resort Lava Flows Print
A delicious tropical treat~ from The Coterie Blog
46 oz pineapple juice
40 oz coco lopez
1 pint half and half
ice
frozen strawberries in syrup
2 tablespoons water
clear cups
straws

It's really easy but my measurements aren't exact. It's one part pineapple juice to one part coco lopez (cream of cocnut, it's in a can.) Usually it takes about three cans of coco lopez to one big can of pineapple juice. Then you add half and half until it turns white. So I'd say about 1 pint of half and half. In a separate bowl puree strawberries, sugar and water. Or you can puree frozen strawberries in syrup with a little water that seems to work a little better. You want it to be somewhat thick, almost like a syrup texture. Pour strawberries in the cup about an half an inch to an inch high. Put ice in your blender and pour the coconut mix in unitl it's at an even height with the ice. Blend, then pour in the cup with strawberry mix. The strawberries should come up the sides of the cup. If it doesn't, either thin out your strawberries a little bit, or before pouring the coconut take the cup and swish the strawberries around so they stick on the sides of the cup.
Yummy additions: Blend a banana in with the pina colada. That's my favorite way of having it.
Blend and friut in with the pina colada. That's how T-Bay makes all their smoothies.
Cut a pineapple in 4 sections around the core. Take one section and cut in half length-wise. Make a 1/2 inch insertiondown the length of the section. Cut width-wise in 1 inch sections. you can use this to go on the side of the glass. We also put a marichino cherry with an umbrella and poked it into the pineapple.


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