Sunday, January 5, 2014

Hello fellow bloggers and followers!  It's been a very long time since I posted anything.  A lot of things have changed in my life.  I have become recently divorced this year and have moved in with a wonderful man and my youngest son.  I still love to cook and have just now felt like it is time to continue with my blogging.  It makes me feel joy to cook for the men in my life and to share these meals with you.

Today's meal was a hearty Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder with Grandma's Honey muffins.  I found these recipes on Tasteofhome.com.  They were both quick and easy recipes with powerful flavors.  I would add either another can of diced green chilies or maybe some fresh jalapeno peppers to the chowder to kick up the heat a bit and maybe a tsp of vanilla to the honey muffins to make them sweeter.  Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.  My son, Dylan, loved both of these recipes.  As a matter of fact, he just walked in from being out most of the evening and is snacking on a honey muffin.  My boyfriend came home from a long day of disc golfing and enjoyed the leftover chowder and muffins.  He did save a little for lunch tomorrow.  I am hoping the flavors of the chowder only get better overnight.  I suggest if you want a hearty, warm, tasty meal on a cold winter evening then you should try this!  If you do, please let me know what you think!  Thanks for dishing with Di!


Friday, May 20, 2011

Birthday Dinner

Well, tonight really didn't go as planned, but the food was good.  Today is my daughter's birthday.  Allie turned 18 and she asked me to make her steak, cheesy mashed potatoes with bacon and green beans for supper and a strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert.  I had to work today so I mixed up the cake and threw it in the oven when I got home.  I went upstairs to change my clothes and relax a bit before having to go back down and take the cake out.  Well, I took one look at my computer, remembered I had food to serve in cafe world and promptly forgot about the cake!!!!  Luckily it didn't burn when Allie took it out of the oven but it may turn out a little dry.  We haven't eaten it yet.  I wish the feeling at dinner would have been nicer, but that's how the cookie crumbles sometimes.  Dinner, itself, did taste very good though.  I hope the rest of the evening mellows out and we can enjoy the start of what's supposed to be a beautiful weekend.  Thanks for dishin with Di.  blessings and good eating!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

nothing much!

hey gang!  Well, this morning I forgot to take something out for supper, so it was a YOYO night.  (You're On Your Own).  I actually had a bowl of corn pops until Jonathan came home with a pizza from Marios.  I fought it for a while, but then decided that I needed to eat a piece.  I really wish I hadn't though cuz now I don't feel so good.  I am looking forward to that cup of coffee I'm going to get in about 5 minutes though!  Sorry I didn't have any recipes to give you tonight, but every now and then you've gotta have a YOYO kind of night.  Thanks for dishin with di!  Blessings and good eating!

Monday, May 16, 2011

YeeHaw!!!

Evening friends!  I just got back from a very nice awards ceremony for the high school student council where Jonathan received a few awards!  I am so proud of him!  What a wonderful example he is setting for his peers and those younger students.  Anyway, we had to rush supper a bit but it was still quite delicious.  As a matter of fact, I'm looking forward to leftovers for lunch so I can really savor the flavors.  The menu tonight included Cowboy Kabobs and Crowd-Pleasing Scalloped Potatoes.  The kabobs were done on the grill after being marinated for close to an hour in a flavorful sauce.  The scalloped potatoes were cooked in a sauce using Philadelphia Cream cheese and chives spread.  It was amazing!  Todd is not a potato guy and he said these were his favorite.  That must be some recipe!  Anyway, here are the recipes for tonight's menu.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

COWBOY KABOBS

What You Need

1/3 cup A.1. Original Steak Sauce
1/3 cup  KRAFT Original Barbecue Sauce
2 tsp. KRAFT Prepared Horseradish
1   beef top round steak (1-1/2 lb.), cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
9 pearl onions
1 large  red pepper, cut into 9 strips

Make It


MIX first 3 ingredients until well blended.
THREAD meat onto 18 skewers; place onion or pepper strip at end of each skewer. Place kabobs in shallow glass dish. Pour steak sauce mixture over kabobs. Refrigerate 1 hour to marinate, turning occasionally.
HEAT grill to medium heat. Remove kabobs from marinade; discard marinade. Grill kabobs 4 to 6 min. or until meat is done, turning occasionally.

CROWD-PLEASING SCALLOPED POTATOES

What You Need
1 tub (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Spread
2 cups  fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup milk
10 slices  OSCAR MAYER Bacon, cooked, crumbled and divided
4-1/2 lb. Yukon gold potatoes (about 12), cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1   onion, thinly sliced
1 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Colby & Monterey Jack Cheeses

Make It

HEAT oven to 400ºF.
COOK cream cheese spread, broth and milk in saucepan on medium heat until cream cheese is melted and mixture comes to boil, stirring constantly with whisk.
RESERVE 2 Tbsp. bacon. Layer half each of the potatoes, onions and remaining bacon in 13x9-inch baking dish; repeat layers. Add cream cheese sauce; cover.
BAKE 1-1/2 hours or until potatoes are tender and top is golden brown, uncovering and topping with shredded cheese and reserved bacon the last 10 min.

Thanks for dishin with Di.  Blessings and good eating!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Delicious sandwich!

Good evening friends!  What an absolutely beautiful evening here in NC.  I was so ready for supper by the time the race was done and hustled down to the kitchen to make these wonderfully delicious sandwiches-Cheddar Bacon BBQ Chicken Breast sandwiches. Extremely tender breasts of chicken basted in bbq sauce with grilled onions and Kraft's Deluxe cheddar bacon cheese on toasted Italian Bread.  Mama Mia!!  Todd gave this sandwich 5 stars!  I would definitely make it again and think you should too!  We sided it with some leftover corn on the cob and some potato chips.  Perfect lovely sunday evening supper.  Here's the recipe:

CHEDDAR BACON BBQ CHICKEN BREAST SANDWICHES

What You Need

4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 lb.)
1 small  onion, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
1/3 cup KRAFT THICK 'N SPICY Original Barbecue Sauce
8 slices  Italian bread, toasted
4 KRAFT DELI DELUXE Process Bacon Cheddar Cheese Slices

Make It

HEAT grill to medium-high heat.
GRILL chicken and onions 8 min., turning onions frequently. Transfer onions to bowl. Turn chicken; grill 7 to 9 min. or until done (165ºF), turning occasionally.
CUT chicken into strips. Add barbecue sauce to onions; toss to coat.
FILL toast slices with chicken, cheese and onions to make 4 sandwiches.

Thanks for Dishin with Di.  Blessings and good eating!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

corn fest!

hello friends!  I know it's been awhile since I last posted.  I guess I was discouraged because my pictures weren't coming out real good.  Well, I realized that I didn't always have to have a picture to go with my recipe.  I don't have any wonderful recipes for you tonight because my chicken hadn't thawed all the way by the time I wanted to use it and maybe you're like me and hate to use the microwave to defrost.  I always end up cooking it a little bit and then the chicken comes out rubbery.  YUCK!!!!  So, I put the chicken in a bag and put it in the fridge and will use it tomorrow.  Todd and I decided to do something we only do a couple times a year.  We had a corn fest!!!!  What's a corn fest you may ask?  Well, I put a big pot of water on to boil and throw in as much corn on the cob as will fit in the pot and that's all we eat for supper.  I know it's weird, but boy that corn tasted good and no one complained.  I will make the Cheddar Bacon BBQ Chicken Breast Sandwiches tomorrow night.  Sounds good doesn't it?  I can hardly wait!  Until then....good eating and many blessings!  Thanks for dishin with Di!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

I'M BAAAAAAAACK!

Well hello out there if anyone is left!!!  Sorry about my long absence; not really sure what happened except that life seemed to get in the way of my good intentions.  I'm back now though and hope to be fairly consistent from here on out.  I came back with a fairly simple but delicious dish!  I know at this time of the year we are not thinking soup and sandwiches for supper.  Usually for me, anyway, that's a fall supper and sometimes even winter, but hardly ever once the weather warms up, but I must say I am glad I chose this recipe.  It' is Bacon and Potato Soup and it was wonderful! I made grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches to go with it for the kids.  I especially loved this recipe because there is no gluten in it at all, so I don't get sick when I eat it.  Yippee!!! That's always a plus for me though I usually eat whatever I want whether it's good for me or not.  I am a thorn in my doctor's side to say the least.  hehehe  Ok so let me get down to business and post the pic and recipe so you, too, can enjoy this simple and delicous meal!  Enjoy!

BACON POTATO SOUP


Ingredients

  • 6 thick slices bacon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped carrots
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • 4 cups low fat, low sodium chicken broth
  • 4 cups cubed potatoes
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

  1. Cook bacon until crisp in 3-quart saucepan, remove and drain well on paper towels. Discard bacon grease and wipe pan thoroughly with paper towel.
  2. Meanwhile, prepare vegetables. Add olive oil to saucepan and add onion, carrot, and celery as they are cut up. Saute until onion is soft but not brown, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Stir in chicken broth, potatoes, and pepper; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, about 10-15 minutes.
  4. Stir in cheese, heating just until melted--do not boil. Chop bacon and add to soup. Adjust seasoning to taste by adding salt, if desired. Serve at once
Well there it is foodies!  Thanks for hanging in there with me and continue to dish with Di!!  Blessings and good eating!