Spooky box of wine

 True!

This is a fake foam pumpkin I bought from the local craft store. We measured the nozzle on the box of wine spout.  Then we drilled a hole in the front with a paddle bit. We carved the top like you would a traditional pumpkin. Then we dropped the bladder from the box of wine in and pulled the spout out of the hole. If I'm serving white wine or a sangria I toss in a couple ice packets. 

Always a crowd pleaser! And doubles as a great Halloween decoration.

Upstairs Fridge

  Yep enough said!

Burnt beans

  Burnt Beans

1 Bags of Fresh Green Beans

1/4 Cup Chicken Broth

3-4Tbs Balsamic Vinager

1 Tbs Olive Oil

Garlic Powder

Dehydrated Onions

Herb Blend

Add the olive oil to a sauté pan. Steam the green beans in the chicken broth adding the spices. Once the beans turn bright green and start to soften up turn the stove top to high and add the balsamic. Toss the beans until all the liquid is absorbed and they begin to get a little char on them. 

Enjoy 

Northern White Bean and Ham Soup

1bag of dried northern white beans

1/4 lb ham

1 cup fresh/frozen kale

3 large carrots

1/2 large sweet onion

Garlic

Itailan Spice blend

Onion and herb blend

Dried onion

1 box of chicken or beef broth

Soak your beans overnight in three times the amount of water. I used left over ham from Christmas Day. It was perfect before going into the soup but after OMG! I also had some homemade chicken broth on hand. I still ending up using 1/2 a box of beef stock in addition. Add all the ingredients to your trusty crock pot on low for about 6 hours. The beans will be very soft perfect if you want to zizz them up with an emersion blender that would be super yummy! Enjoy :)

  

Buttercream Recipe

Do you love a light but sweet buttercream?  Then this is it!  It can be whipped up quickly and is just yum.  I do sift the confections sugar one cup at a time.  It is a bit tedious but worth the step for that light and fluffy texture.

Buttercream recipe

1 1/2 sticks butter

1/4cup criso

1 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 cups confectioners sugar

2-4 tablespoons milk

To make a Crumb Coat for a two tier 6" & 8" make a double batch.  Check the consistency after each tablespoon of milk.  6 Tablespoons seemed good for the frosting decor but when it got warm the frosting became a bit drippy. 4 Tablespoons seemed to be the sweet spot :)

Left Over Turkey and Corn Chowder

White and Dark meat skin and bones removed chopped in small pieces

Left over mashed potatoes (or store bought works well too)

2 cans cream of chicken soup

Small Bag of frozen corn with peppers and onions

A little garlic powder salt and pepper

Add chicken broth and milk until you get the consistency you like.

Serve with shredded cheese on top

Yum!

Zucchini on the Grill

Do you love zucchini but get tired of the boring pan saute? Give this yummy grilled method a try. It's the perfect blend of owey goewy yumminess that we all love in a great side dish.  Plus, it's not too terrible for us.

4 zucchini
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup bread crumbs
garlic powder
onion powder
mix blend cheese

Scrap the insides of the zucchini to make a boat.  Generously rub with olive oil, cracker pepper and sea salt.  Mix the zucchini pulp with the remaining items.  Stuff the filling back into the boats, sprinkle a little more cheese on top and grill.

Chicken and Artichoke Hash Brown Casserole

Do you like breakfast for dinner? Or an awesome brunch dish on Sunday morning?  Then this one is for you.  It's the perfect balance of protein and starch in a creamy rich base.  You will feel like you are indulging with every bite!  YUMMO

Two cups cooked chicken
1 Can artichoke hearts diced
1/2 sweet onion
3 Tablespoons Butter
1 Can cream of chicken soup
1 Bag of hash brown potatoes
Dashes of garlic powder
Black pepper
Cheddar cheese

Saute onion with butter. Add artichokes and chicken.  Add a few dashes of chicken stock and spices. Mix in soup and hash browns. Pour mixture into baking dish and cover with cheese.  Then bake at 375 covered with foil for 30 minutes.  Taking the foil off for the last 15 minutes to brown the top.  YUM

Orange Beef and Beans

 This beef dish is great if you have leftover steaks or roast.  The perfect way to jazz up the leftovers and transform them into something new.  Or you can start with fresh beef as well.  You'll never order take out again!  Promise ;)

1 1/2 of chopped beef
1/4 cup orange marmalade
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup teriyaki
1Tbls lime juice
1 Tbls  sesame oil

1 Tbls Garlic Powder
1/2 sweet onion
1 bag fresh green bean or broccoli

Put beef in crock pot. Mix together the next 5 ingredients and pour on top of beef. Chop onion and place on top. Cook on low 5-7 hours. Add Thai noodles and steamed green beans or broccoli. Cover with noodles and veggies have softened up a bit. And enjoy!!

Or you can put fresh green beans with some seseame oil on them in a tight foil packet. After you have everything in the crock pot out the foil packet on top. Cover with the lid and let them steam along with the rest of the meal. Yummy

 

Curry coconut corn and potatoe chowder

Small bag of Frozen corn

Simply potatoes with onions 

Box chicken stock

Can of coconut milk

2tsp graham Masala 

1 block hot curry from box

1 package of instant potatoe with garlic

Dash of garlic power

Salt pepper to tast 

High in crock pot for 3-4 hrs until potatoes are tender 

White Bean Chicken Chili

 White bean chicken chili

Place a whole small chicken in the crock pot cover with a boxed low sodium chicken broth, garlic powder, chicken spice, and onion. Cook 6-8 hours. Remove chicken from the crock pot, de-bone it and remove the skin tear into it size pieces, set aside. Strain liquid from crock pot threw a small mesh strainer, set aside. Add the onions to the shredded chicken. Pour some of the liquid over the shredded chicken. Cool broth and the chicken overnight.

The next day scrap the layer of fat off of the broth and pour into the crock pot. Add the chicken and the remaining ingredients. Cool on low about 3-4 hours. I wait to add the corn when I'm about an hour out from serving the chili.

Day 1:

Whole chicken or two very large breast with bones and skin

Large sweet onion diced 

3 Tbls garlic powder 

3 Tbls Montreal chicken spice 

Day 2:

4-cans northern white beans

2-cans cream of chicken soup

2-small cans of mild green chilies

1-pack of mild chili spices 

Homemade chicken broth 

The shredded chicken

A bag of frozen corn microwaved and streamed

Serve with sliced bread or white corn chips sour cream and shredded mozzarella 

Thanksgiving Turkey

We used a frozen turkey and it turned out perfectly.

Brine the turkey for 48 hrs
buttermilk
chopped onion
fresh chopped garlic
2 tsp salt
2 tbls black pepper

We used a roasting pan to cook the bird. Before putting in the pan loosen the skin to add the following herb blend:

Fresh sage
Tyme
Garlic
Minced Shallot

Place the following inside the bird:

Rosemary
Cut orange
Cut onion


Pour a cup of chicken broth in the pan. Roast on the highest setting for 30min then turn the pan down to 325 and roast for another 3-3.5hrs.

Spritz Cookies

1 1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons almond extract
4 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Thoroughly cream butter and sugar. Add egg, vanilla and almond extract; beat well. Sift together flour and baking powder add gradually to creamed mixture, kneading to smooth dough. Do not Chill!!!

Force dough through cookie press onto un-greased cookie sheet. Bake in hot oven 400 degrees 8 minutes. Cool makes 6 dozen.

Southern Style Sweet Potato Casserole

Ahhh. This should really fall into the dessert category.

Ingredients:
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter

topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans

combine first 6 ingredients. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2 to 2 quart casserole dish. Mix Remaining ingredients together and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until hot and browned. serves 6-8

Sunflower "Chicken" Salad

Ok, so here goes the yo yo again. This time we are inspired by our friends and neighbors. Yes, they are almost 10 years younger than us and hiked the AT. But, alas we are inspired. Vegan they say. Hugh? Vegan really? Well let's just say the Babers and I can barely make it through it week with out falling off of the wagon. So here we go with our take on vegetarian :) Nice compromise.

8 oz dry unsalted shelled sunflower seed
3 tablespoons Veggie Mayo (we tried Nasoya pretty good)
1/2 cup jumbo mixed raisins
1/8 cup diced yellow onions
1/8 cup diced celery
salt and pepper to taste.

Soak the sunflower seeds in water for about 24 hrs. The seeds will split and separate from the skin. They may even begin to sprout. Once they are desired tenderness strain and put into food processor. Chop until meat like texture. Mix sunflowers seeds with the remaining ingredients. We had ours on a vegan multi gran flat bread with lettuce and cucumbers. Yum!

Oven Baked Crunchy Califlower

Oven Baked Crunchy Cauliflower

Well my family & friends from the northern region can appreciate this...in the south we fry everything. I mean everything...Snickers, Milky ways, Pickles you name it but never (I repeat never) have I seen fried Cauliflower on the menu. Mind you... the delightful little town I'm from fried cauliflower is served at every food establishment; from The Wounded Minnow to Ray's Drive Inn. So, I'm on a mission. A mission to make fried cauliflower healthy....Here it goes. We love it but let's face it nothing is like fried....A tribute to my family and friends of fried cauliflower land. Have some for me! (extra salt)

One head of cauliflower
1 cup Panko Crumbs
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh grated Swiss cheese
Cracked Sea Salt & Pepper

Slice the head of the cauliflower about 1/4" slices. Lightly spray oil olive on the baking pan or use Pam. Place the cauliflower in a baking pan. Be sure you use a baking pan that allows the bottoms to brown. Drizzle with a few tables spoons of water. (It really doesn't take much to steam the cauliflower). Bake 400 degrees. Check after about 15 minutes and see if the bottoms are Browning a bit if so flip them the best you can. If they are not quite softening up add a couple more tablespoons of water. Continue baking until the cauliflower is at the desired softness. Sprinkle with the cheeses and the panko crumbs then spray again with olive oil or Pam and replace in the oven. The cheese should melt and the panko will brown just a bit. Yum Yum!

Pass me a beer and I feel like I'm home!

Checkout: Cauliflower $2.50, Panko on hand, Cheese $3.00

Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip

I love this one out at parties. However, every recipe I've seen calls for frozen spinach. I don't care for any frozen veggies especially spinach. So here it goes Mandy's version with fresh spinach. Enjoy!

one bag fresh baby spinach (washed & chopped)
jar of artichoke hearts (in oil)
1/2 8oz bag of fresh shredded Parmesan Cheese
1/2 8 oz bag of fresh Swiss Cheese
1/4c. sour cream
3 cloves fresh garlic
1 small yellow onion


Saute in a large non-stick pan (that has a tight fitting lid) chopped garlic and diced onion with a drizzle of olive oil. Stir until the onions turn a bit golden. Add two tablespoons of water and the entire bag of spinach (I took the time to chop the spinach with a large knife before adding it...made a nice difference when dipping). Place the lid on and let steam down. May need to add another table spoon of water but don't over do it with the water. Once the spinach steams down add the sour cream and stir to coat the spinach. Add about 3 diced artichoke hearts stir well. Transfer the spinach mixture to a baking dish and add the cheese to the top wait until bubbly and a bit toasted on top. Serve with sliced french bread or crackers. Yum Yum and healthy too!

Check out: Spinach $3.50, Artichoke Hearts $2,50, Cheese $3.00 Onion $0.25, Garlic on hand, Olive Oil on hand, $10.00

Spinach Side Dish

1 Bag Fresh Spinach
1 Container 8oz Feta Cheese Crumbles
1 Bag Whole Wheat Boil in Bag Rice

Open bag of spinach and put in a strainer in the sink. Cook rice according to directions. When rice is finished cooking pour pot of rice bag and water over the top of spinach in the strainer and cover with a lid. Let sit a few minutes until the spinach begins to wilt. Toss spinach with rice and feta in the same pot that you cooked the rice in. Viola. (my Babers favorite, Elli loves it too)

Checkout: Spinach $3.00, Feta Cheese $2.00, Whole wheat rice in the boil in bag box $0.50. $5.50 for your side dish. Not bad and great for you!!

Easy Turkey Stroganoff

Ingredient List:

1lb Ground Turkey
1/2 small yellow onion
1 stalk green onion
3 cloves chopped garlic
1 pint reduced fat sour cream
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup white cooking wine
3 tablespoons of butter
1 package 8oz of feta cheese crumbles
many shakes of dried parsley (to taste)
a few tablespoons of flour (to thicken)
1 box Ziti noodles
1 bag fresh spinach
a few dashes of cracked sea salt

Saute in a deep frying pan butter, green & yellow onion until semi-clear. Add Turkey and cook until no longer pink. Add chicken broth simmer. Add sour cream, wine, and parsley. Be sure to continually stir. Simmer a bit and add flour until broth thickens to creamy texture. Add Feta, sea salt and spinach. Serve over pasta.

Turkey 1lb $6.00
Feta $2.00
Broth $1.00
Sour Cream $1.00

Other ingredients should be on hand.

My dear friend Dani and I created this one night. She wanted to make a beef stroganoff for my baberoni and I...we had to much beef lately. So together we created this fantastic meal. I enjoyed her cooking STYLE!

Pecan Pie by Dani A+

Ingredients:
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon melted butter
1 cup light corn syrup
1 1/4cup pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 unbaked 9" pie shell

D
irections:
Preheat over to 375 degrees. Beat eggs, vanilla, sugar and salt together. Add butter and syrup; mix in pecans.
bake 40-45 minutes in pie shell.

yummy!