Archive for the ‘Recipe’ Category

• yummy cajun dinner

  Date: 2010.08.03 | Category: Recipe | Response: 0

  http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/grilled-shrimp-gumbo-889046/

• Meringues

  Date: 2010.08.02 | Category: Recipe, Twins | Response: 0

  Baking with the girls is always fun. Especially when my daughter Alexis is the one who flipped through the cookbook and requested that we make this recipe.

  Baking meringues is time consuming yet rewarding.  There were times that I “sucked all the oxygen out of the room.”  But we still had fun.  Enjoy the clip.

• Chocolate Almond Zucchini Bread

  Date: 2010.07.29 | Category: Recipe | Response: 0

  This recipe is taken from page 41, of the “Best of the Best from Wisconsin Cookbook”.  If you’re looking for an excellent series of cookbooks as you move around the country, the “Best of the Best” series is the way to go.

  3 eggs

  2 c sugar

  1 c oil

  2 oz melted chocolate

  1 tsp vanilla

  2 c zucchini, shredded

  3 c flour

  1 tsp cinnamon

  1 tsp salt

  1/4 tsp baking powder

  1 tsp baking soda

  1 c toasted almonds

  Ingredient notes: I use almond extract, and whole wheat flour. When I don’t have almonds on hand, I use pecans and place on top)

  Beat eggs until lemon colored. Add sugar and oil. Mix. Add chocolate, extract, and zucchini.  Mix. Add dry ingredients; mix. Mix in almonds.  Bake 350* in 2 greased or Pam-sprayed loaf pans for 50 min.

  Note: I have also baked in a bundt pan. When using loaf pans, I sprinkle nuts on top with a few chocolate chips.

• Blueberry Pound Cake

  Date: 2010.07.29 | Category: Recipe | Response: 0

  1 c butter, softened

  2 c sugar

  4 eggs

  1 tsp vanilla

  2 c flour

  1/2 tsp salt

  1 tsp baking powder

  2 c fresh or frozen blueberries, tossed in additional 1 c flour.

  Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time an beat until light and fluffy.  Add vanilla.  Sift 2 c flour, salt, and baking powder together. Add sifted ingredients to creamed mixture and beat.  Fold blueberry/flour mixture into batter.  Pour into tube or bundt pan which has been buttered and coated with sugar.

  Bake 325* for 1 hr and 15 min.

  Notes:

  This recipe is from my friend Sonia.  She and I used to pray together every Sunday night.  Thanks to her for copying this recipe for me as part of my wedding gift.

  I used cinnamon sugar, my friend Wendy plans on using purple sugar.

• Great Husbands, Great Ideas

  Date: 2010.05.26 | Category: MFM, Recipe, Twins, garden, personal | Response: 1

  Great Husbands. Great Ideas.

  No, I’m not being sarcastic.  At least not now.

  Several months ago, we started planning the 5th birthday party for the twins.  Rob had the idea of doing a “Garden” Themed birthday party.  I had heard of another neighbor doing this party, and thought it would be an ok idea.  But as Rob elaborated on his plans, I began to stiffen, balk, and inwardly rebel.  I did not want to follow his plan. I was thinking, “oh, great…”

  You see, I was afraid.  I was afraid of how it would turn out, of what the children would think, of how we’d manage the grandiose idea, and of what the neighbors would think.  However, I’ve walked with the Lord long enough to know that when a wife submits to her husband both are blessed.

  My idea of a party was to provide continuous entertainment with all the guests bringing toys or other presents.  Rob’s idea seemed completely revolutionary. We talked through both our ideas, and came up with a plan.

  The day of the party, 12 children poured into our backyard. The decorations were a few balloons and a banner leftover from another party.  We started off with face painting.
  

  Each child decorated a pot and planted their own snapdragon flower to take home and “baby.”  We had bought most of the pots on clearance at the end of last season and saved some containers from others. The leftover plants were planted in our front flower bed after the party.

  

  The girls and I made a poster board sized flower for “pin the butterfly on the flower” game.  

  The girls and I transformed a yellow bundt cake into a caterpillar.  It was very simple and fun to do.

  I  served bug shaped macaroni and cheese and pink lemonade.  At the end everyone took a turn squishing their feet in the mud. We’d planned on planting the seeds, but it had rained. Squishing in mud was much more fun.

  

  We had other games planned but we ran out of time. Once again Rob and I collaborated and I listened and  every child was totally thrilled.  It was probably the best party we’ve ever done.

  We plan on sharing the produce of the garden with those who came to our party come harvest time! Thanks, Nina, for being the party photographer!

• Rachael Ray’s “Grilled Steak Sandwich…I Mean, Salad — No! Sandwich!”

  Date: 2010.04.25 | Category: Recipe | Response: 0

  taken from the cookbook 365: NO Repeats, page 261.  I looked for this recipe on line and did not find it.

  8 oz day old chewy farm-style bread, cubed

  5 Tbsp balsamic vinegar (eyeball it)

  1/4 c. + 2 Tbsp EVOO (olive oil)

  2Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary leaves, from 2 sprigs

  Coarse black pepper

  1.5-2 lb skirt steaks

  4 small vine ripe tomatoes, chopped

  1 small red onion, chopped

  8 oz fresh or smoked monzarella, cubed

  1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, torn or shredded

  Coarse Salt

  Directions:

  Preheat a grill pan or outdoor grill to high.

  *Place bread in medium mixing bowl and cover with water. Soak the bread for 3-5 minutes.

  In a shallow dish, combine about 3 tbsp of the balsalmic vinegar with about 2 tbsp of the EVOO, the rosemary and a liberal amount of black pepper.  Add the steaks to the dish and coat thoroughly, then marinate for 5-10 minutes.

  After the bread has soaked, working in small batches, remove it in handfuls from the water and wring it out without mashing or tearing it. You do not want wet bread, so wring it out carefully and place in salad bowl.   Add tomatoes, onions, monzarella, and basil.  Toss a few times, then dress with remaining 2 TBSp balsamic vinegar, 1/4c EVOO (3-4 times around the bowl) and salt & pepper.  Adjust the seasonings and let the salad sit for the flavors to come together.

  Season with steak with salt and grill the meat for 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute.

  Slice the meat very thin on a sharp angle against the grain. Divide the bread salad among 4 serving plates and top with a few slices of the Balsamic Steak.

  Makes 4 Generous Servings

  *Those of you who like to do recipes exactly as printed in the book will say I didn’t make this recipe at all when you see what I did to it. I decided to make this recipe at the last minute so I had to make modifications / Substitutions.  I did not wet and dry the bread. I used 8 slices of Brownberry brand Country White bread from my freezer, cubed.  I didn’t have red onion — I used the green and yellow that I had on hand.  I didn’t have fresh basil — I used alot of dried basil (3 times around the bowl) and 1 cup shredded iceberg. I used shredded monzarella. I already had in my deep freezer some Round steak thinly bias cut against the grain.  I defrosted and marinated this meat.

  We all absolutely loved this recipe, even in its modified form. I look forward to making this recipe according to directions.

• Pea Cheese Salad

  Date: 2010.03.25 | Category: Recipe | Response: 0

  Pea Cheese salad, from Better Homes and Garden cookbook *, page345.

  10 oz pkg frozen peas

  1 c cubed cheddar cheese

  2 hard cooked eggs, chopped

  ¼ c celery chopped

  1-2 tsp chopped onion

  2 tbsp diced pimento or sweet red pepper

  1/3 c mayo

  ¼ tsp salt

  1/8 tsp pepper

  Optional garnish: lettuce leaves, 6 medium tomato “bowls”

  Cook frozen peas according to pkg directions. If desired cook in chicken broth for enhanced flavor. Thoroughly drain and cool.

  In large bowl, combine peas, cheese cubes, hard-cooked eggs, celery, onion, and pimiento or sweet red pepper. Stir in mayo, salt and pepper, toss to mix. Cover and chill 4-24 hrs. Stir well. If desired serve in tomato bowls on top of lettuce leaves.

  *I have no idea what year this book is. The copyright page fell out! The “red and white checked” cookbook is my go-to cookbook for delicious, easy, standard recipes.

• Cappuccino Pound Cake

  Date: 2010.01.14 | Category: Recipe | Response: 0

  1 box dromedary pound cake mix, prepared to pkg directions

  3 tbsp Aldi brand Cappuccino Mocha drink mix

  Powdered Sugar glaze

  There you have it.

  There’s also this elaborate version of the recipe from Southern Living, which I will post later.

• Cake Pictures

  Date: 2009.12.14 | Category: Holidays, Recipe | Response: 0

  I wanted to create a separate post for pictures and explanation of my Jesus Birthday Cake.

  Here is the finished cake. This is really the first successful decorated cake I’ve ever made, and it still looks like a newbie did it. . .

  

  Here are photos of my assembling the cooked layers of cake.

  

  I made a simple devil’s food cake from scratch.  I put half the batter in one pan, and the other half of the batter I tinted red with food coloring, then put it in the other pan.  I made a recipe of  “Busy Day Cake” flavored with almond extract and colored with green food coloring for the top layer.  I probably could have added more green to get the layer a brighter green.  I made a buttercream frosting and crumb coated the cake yesterday.

  I made marshmallow fondant which was surprisingly easy.   I found the recipe and directions on this site.  I watch videos of others making it on youtube.   I let the fondant rest overnight in the fridge, then I rolled it out this morning. 

  Applying the 30″ long piece to the side of the cake was surprisingly simple.  I should have just rolled one large circle and draped it over the whole cake, but I was afraid of creating pleats in the sheet of frosting.  I also think I may have rolled my fondant too thin.  I have quite a bit left.   You’ll notice the stars at the upper edge of the cake — I’m hiding the seam.  Here’s some photos of applying the fondant.

  

  Working with the fondant was easy.  It does stretch.  I love the smooth finish, and now will probably frost all my special event cakes with fondant. The girls enjoyed kneading it, eating it, making roses, and cutting out hearts.  Both Alexis and Rachel are naturals in the kitchen.

  

  

  

• Jesus’ Birthday Cake

  Date: 2009.12.12 | Category: Holidays, Preschool, Recipe, Twins | Response: 0

  Jesus’ Birthday Cake is a round three layer cake with frosting and decorations, each of which has special symbolic meaning. I received this recipe from “SF,” one of my mentors from PGCC.

  MEANINGS

  1. Shape: The shape is round to represent the World into which Jesus is born.
  2. Bottom layer: The bottom layer is black (chocolate) representing the fact that all men have sinned. This is why Jesus came to earth.
  3. Middle layer: Red. Add red food coloring to remaining chocolate batter, or use a strawberry or cherry flavored cake with red food coloring. This layer symbolizes Jesus’ blood that was shed for our sin.
  4. Top layer: Green (use food coloring). Symbolizes the new life that we have in Jesus Christ after our sins have been washed away.  (typically I will make a sponge cake recipe (single layer) for this layer.  If you use a cake mix, you could make cupcakes with the leftover batter. )
  5. Frosting: Pure White, symbolizing the righteousness and purity of Jesus Christ.
  6. Decorations: A border of hearts around the side of the cake reminds us of Brothers and sisters united in Christ, circling the earth as his witness. (use frosting hearts. or use heart shaped “redhots”. at valentine’s day, you can use candy hears, with messages put toward the frosting).
  7. On top of the cake is a Gold/Yellow star — like the start that shone heralding his Birth and lighting the way to the stable. (This should be the siz pointed star of David. Six is the number of man and shows that the grace of God includes us all — not only the Jewish people whose Messiah is our Saviour.)
  8. A single large Red candle in the center represents Jesus Christ who came into the dark world to bring it light and truth.

  Celebration: gather around the cake. Explain the significance/symbolism associated with each part of the cake/decor.

  If celebrating Christmas:

  • Read the Christmas story from Luke.
  • Light the Big Red Candle, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.
  • Give each person a smaller green candle.
  • One by one, have everyone light their small green candle from the large red candle. then put their green candle around the edge of the top of the cake, to represent that we are to be the light of the world to others.
  • Sing Silent Night.
  • Pray and thank God for sending His son into the world to forgive our sins.
  • Blow out the candles and proceed with your family/group traditions for Christmas.

  If celbrating God’s love for us  (at Valentine’s Day):

  • Read 1 John 4
  • Light the Big Red Candle.
  • Give each person a smaller green candle.
  • One by one, have everyone light their small green candle from the large red candle. then put their green candle around the edge of the top of the cake, to represent that we are to be the light of the world to others.
  • Pray and thank God for loving us so much and sending His son into the world to forgive our sins.

  I’ll be trying this out for the first time this year.