Happy New Year 2015

I must extend a warm "Thank You" from my heart to all of you who take the time to read these posts.  I appreciate your comments and words of encouragement!  This blog is now one year old and I hope to keep writing for many more!

Since it's the time to make New Year's Resolutions, may I offer a bit of advice?  Keep them simple, doable and smart.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths...Honor the Lord with your wealth...Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due..." Proverbs 3

Whatever your heart's desires are for this new year, make a simple plan to pray about them, commit them to God, and then listen to his words and wisdom for your life.  Small permanent steps in the right direction are always better than grand bursts of effort that don't last.  I love how Proverbs lays out simple truths for how to live.  God loves us so much that he doesn't leave us in the dark about how to navigate life on earth.  I've quoted just a few nuggets of wisdom from this great book.  My heart has been comforted innumerable times from the wisdom I found there.

So, make plans to be healthier, exercise regularly, work on relationships, be generous...but make those changes small and from the heart.  They will probably last!

Remembering Mom

It's the time of year to get sentimental.  This ceramic Christmas Tree was made in the 70s and my mother absolutely loved it.  She's been gone almost 31 years but I never stop missing her.  Every year when I bring this tree into my living room I can't help but think of all the Christmases that my mom made special.  Moms do that.  They think of things that no one else does and they get them done for their families.  Thanks, Mom, for all  those great memories!

This photo is from a friend of mine, Gilda.  She puts together a "few of her favorite things" in her kitchen -  her Mom's retro 1950s Betty Crocker Cooky Book, her Mother-in-law's kitchen Christmas tree, her Gram's measuring cup and her Father-in-law's retro flour sifter.  All these precious memories lovingly displayed in one spot to treasure and remember loved ones.

What Christmas memories are a focal point in your home this season?

Homemade Caramel Corn

I got this recipe from a book called "Better Than Store- Bought" that I've had for decades.  It's true - some things are just better made at home!  If you like Cracker Jack,

you'll LOVE this homemade version.

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.

Start with 8-12 cups of freshly popped popcorn spread onto 2 baking sheets with edges.  Mix 1 cup almonds or peanuts into the popcorn.

In a heavy bottomed saucepan mix:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/8 cup water
1/2 cup molasses
1 tsp salt

Heat the mixture at medium heat and stir until everything is combined.  Then let it boil gently and DO NOT STIR.  Put a candy thermometer into the mixture to measure the temperature.  When it reaches 250 degrees remove from heat and stir in:

1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda

Pour syrup over the popcorn and gently stir to coat.  Don't worry about covering all the popcorn now, you will have more time to evenly distribute the syrup later.

Place the pans into a 250 degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes and take out every 10 minutes to stir and coat the popcorn.

Once it's cooled you can store it at room temperature in a plastic bag or container.

I like to give small bags of this away as gifts.  

The Easiest and Best Pie Crust in the World

This is a wonderful pie crust recipe from my friend, Susan.  She's an expert pie baker and this is her standard crust.  Most crust recipes use shortening or lard, and we all know that eating too much of that stuff isn't good.  The beauty of this recipe is that it uses oil instead, a healthier alternative to lard!

This makes enough for a one-crust pie.  Double it if you need a top crust.

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup oil (any type)

3 Tbsp. cold water

Mix flour, powdered sugar, and salt together and make a well in the center.  Pour liquids into well and stir thoroughly with a fork.  Place in pie pan and pat in place with a spatula or your fingers.  If you need a top crust, roll out between 2 sheets of wax paper.  Before baking you can sprinkle with sugar.  It browns nicely!

Chocolate Molten Cakes

When I'm in the mood for chocolate I want rich, dense, real chocolate.  Here's a great recipe that can be easily doubled for guests!  I hope the step-by-step photos help.

Chocolate Molten Cakes

4-5 ounces dark chocolate (I use Aldi dark chocolate)

½ stick butter

1 Tbs red wine

1 tsp vanilla

¾ cup powdered sugar

2 eggs

1 egg yolk

½ cup flour

Grease 4 standard custard cups/ramekins (4 in. across), or 6-8 smaller ones (3 in. across).  I made 12 smaller molten cakes by doubling this recipe for a ladies' dinner I served.

Place on a baking sheet. 

Microwave butter in a large glass bowl until melted.  Stir in chocolate until completely melted.  Always melt chocolate at low power otherwise it will seize up.

I use a Pyrex glass bowl and give it short microwave zaps and it always melts beautifully.

Add wine, vanilla, and sugar and stir well.  

It might seem stiff, it’s ok.  Just keep stirring.

Add eggs, yolk, and flour.  The mixture will look odd,  just keep stirring then it will gel together and look like a shiny cake batter.

Pour into cups and bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees for 13 minutes for ramekins (11 minutes for smaller cups).  I serve them hot by placing the ramekin on another small dish.  I warn everyone that the chocolate dish is hot. They will be runny on the inside but firm around the outside!

Tony's Savory Polenta

Here's how Tony makes his Savory Polenta.  We serve this as an appetizer under a beautiful Roasted Stuffed Pepper.

Start by browning a couple of cloves of minced garlic in olive oil.  Add  a chopped jalapeno or some crushed red pepper if you want some heat.  Add a quart of chicken stock and heat slightly, then slowly whisk in 1 cup of corn meal.  Keep stirring until the mixture thickens to an "oatmeal" consistency.  You may have to add more corn meal if it's too thin.  It may need a little salt and pepper to taste.

Once it thickens, lower the heat and continue stirring for at least 5 minutes until the meal cooks through and softens.  Flavor with some Pecorino Romano or other Italian cheese. Serve hot!

Oven Roasted Stuffed Peppers

Tony and I served an appetizer recently of these Roasted Stuffed Peppers.  They are wonderful!  Here's how we did it:

Brown some Sweet Italian Sausage and Ground Beef with a little olive oil, chopped garlic, a small onion chopped, some grated carrot, some chopped cabbage.  When meat is browned and all other vegetables are soft, remove from heat and add some cooked rice and Italian cheeses (Romano, Parmesan, Asiago...).  Cut red bell peppers in half and remove seeds.  Stuff the peppers generously.

Layer them on a baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes until nicely browned like this.

We served this on a bed of Savory Polenta (recipe to come!), but mashed potatoes would be nice also.

Pie Crust 101

It's pie-baking time!  Here's the recipe for my tried-and-true pie crust:

For a 9 inch 2 crust pie, mix 2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2/3 cup Butter Flavored Crisco in a mixing bowl with a pastry blender.  

Don't overmix it.  There will still be lots of lumps and it should resemble coarse meal like this:

Add 3-4 tablespoons cold water and stir with a fork until the dough comes together like this:

Divide the dough in half and roll out on a floured surface.

I fold the dough in quarters like this to transfer it to my pie plate:

Prick the bottom of the dough with a fork all over and fill with your favorite fruit filling.  Here's my apple pie filling:

3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 t salt, 1 t cinnamon, 1/2 t nutmeg,

1 1/2 T flour, 6+ large apples sliced.

Place 2 T of butter cut into pieces on top of fruit. Roll out the other half of the crust and position on top.

Seal the edges, cut some slits in the top, brush with milk, sprinkle with sugar, and bake - 425 degrees for 10 minutes, lower the heat to 350 and bake for another 30-40 minutes until filling is bubbling out of the vents!

Hungry??  Go make a pie!

New York Cheesecake

Here's a really nice easy recipe for a New York style cheesecake from my friend, Rick.  I made this recently for some friends and it was a big hit!

For the crust:
Mix 1 1/2 C sugar, 1 1/3 C graham cracker crumbs, 1 1/2 sticks melted butter and press onto the bottom and sides of a 10 inch spring form pan.

For the filling:
Cream together in a large mixing bowl 3 packages cream cheese, 1 1/2 C sugar and 1 pint sour cream until very creamy and smooth.  Then add 5 eggs, 2 t vanilla and 2 t lemon juice.

Pour into the crust and bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes until nicely browned on top and the center doesn't tremble when the cake is gently shaken.  I put a pan on the rack under the cheesecake while it's baking to catch any melted butter that might drip out while it's baking.

I'm glad I remembered to take this photo before it was all gone.  Enjoy!

Chicken and Sausage Pesto Pasta

Here's a recipe from Tony.  We love to serve this if we have a large dinner party.  It's a whole meal in one dish.  If you like pesto, you'll love this!  If you don't know what pesto is, check it out here:

Fresh Basil Pesto 

Brown some Sweet Italian Sausages slowly in a heavy-bottomed pan with some oil.  Get good coloring on all sides.

Brown Chicken Tenderloins or Chicken Breast pieces in some oil.  Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Tony slices the sausage links with a diagonal cut, and cuts the chicken tenderloins in half.  Then he adds steamed broccoli florets and some roasted red peppers or tomatoes.  You could add olives, artichokes, steamed carrot slices, or another veggie.  Toss all this with some cooked pasta and pesto.  Voila!  Here's the finished product.  It's a great dish!

Nina's Rice Pudding

My mother-in-law, Nina, is an amazing cook.  I'm so glad that I've learned some good techniques and great recipes from her.  Here's a simple rice pudding that has an old-world feel. It's perfect for a crisp fall day!

Start with 5 cups of whole milk, 1/3 cup sugar and a half stick of butter in a heavy bottomed pot.

Heat it on medium high until the butter melts.  Then add 3/4 cup rice.  Don't use the good stuff, cheap rice is best!

Lower the heat to simmer, and cook this slow and long, stirring every 5 minutes or so.  Don't go too far away until you know that the milky rice is just bubbling softly.  Make sure the heat isn't too high.  If you've ever had milk boil over on the stove, you know what I'm talking about.

It should start to get "thickish" in about an hour, but it could take longer.  Remember that it will thicken up much more when it cools, so don't let it get too thick on the stove.

When it's done add 1-2 teaspoons of vanilla and pour into a glass dish to cool.  I put plastic wrap right over the top of the surface so that it doesn't form a rubbery "peel" as it cools.  Refrigerate for at least an hour.  Sprinkle with cinnamon before serving.

You could add some raisins during the cooking if you like! I've also tried this with coconut milk and it's really nice.

Let me know what you think!

Clean Your Grill!

Fall is a great time to get outside on a sunny day and do some clean up!  If your grill is anything like mine, it needs some TLC after a lot of summer grilling.  I get some old rags and some spray cleaner and wipe down the outside and the knobs well.  Then I take out the grates and the "tent-shaped" covers that direct the flames.  I scrub all those as best I could.  The grates go in the dishwasher to remove grease and really loosen all the grime.

Then I scrape out all the bits of charred ash from the bottom of the grill with a spatula.  After that I wipe out the storage area underneath and all the utensils that we keep there.

Now my grill is ready to go for another round of great cooking.  Tony's been making some killer rubs for racks of ribs lately...more to come...

Tile and Hardwood Floor Care

I have tile floors in my kitchen and wood floors almost everywhere else except in the bedrooms.  I don't like wall-t0-wall carpet because it's so difficult to keep clean and it's impossible to get ALL the dirt out of carpet.  Here are my tips!

I have 2 Swiffer mop heads, 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs.  I don't buy the expensive refill cloths, I just make my own!  If you have old t-shirts (and everyone does!!) you can cut rectangles larger than the surface of your Swiffer mop and use them instead.  I have piles of these cloths ready to go when I decide to clean my floors.  I use one per room and toss them in the wash easily.

When I see dirt on the kitchen tile, I dust with a dry/slightly damp cloth.



If more aggressive cleaning is needed, I dampen the cloth and spray a little cleaner on the floor before mopping.  I do this often in the kitchen around the sink and stove where most of the messes happen.  From start to finish this takes me less than 5 minutes - much easier than traditional mopping.

For my wood floors dry/damp mopping is what I do most. I have felt pads under the feet of all my big furniture so I can slide it when necessary and clean underneath.  The pads protect the floors from scratches.  If your floors get scratched, and they will, just darken the spot with stain or a dark marker.  My floors have many imperfections that give an aged "patina" look to them.  A new scratch only looks bad because it's usually light colored.  So darken it up and don't worry about scratches anymore!

If you have pets you will need to do dust mop a lot more often.  (Side note:  You should check and change your furnace filters often also!  Pet hair clogs those up quickly.)

When I think my wood needs more than dusting, I dampen the cloth with water and then sprinkle a little white vinegar as well.  The vinegar is safe on polyurethane surfaces and will remove grime.

The best secret to having clean floors is.......DON'T WEAR SHOES IN YOUR HOUSE.  I learned this trick the first time I visited friends in Canada.  I asked my friend a question about her "new" carpet.  She informed me that it was over 10 years old.  As I stood there guffawed wondering how beige carpet could look so good after 10 years, she told me that no one in Canada wears shoes inside the home.  Then I noticed the pile of shoes by the door and thought that I should try this back home.  Well, it works!  Lots of dirt and small stones get stuck onto your shoes.  If they never travel past the doorway you don't have to sweep as often.

less dirt = less cleaning = happy people = more free time

Acorn Squash Time!

Next to my garden I have a compost pile where we put all our kitchen vegetable and fruit scraps.  This summer I got a surprise - a huge squash vine started growing out of the pile.  I had no idea what it was because I don't grow any vines.  Then I saw the acorn squash growing and I was delighted!  To date I've harvested 8 beautiful squash.  Here's how I cook them:

Cut them in half, scoop out the seeds, nestle them in a glass baking pan.

In the centers put some brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, pecans or walnuts, and a pat of butter.  Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.  I make a pan full and refrigerate them.

I love this as a dinner accompaniment or a snack!

What do you do with acorn squash?

Laundry Stain Treatment

Laundry stains are not difficult to treat.  I have a few products that are "must-haves" in my laundry room.  

Dawn Dish Liquid

1 part Liquid Laundry Detergent (any kind) & 1 part Ammonia

Lestoil

Here are my basic laundry stain rules:

1.  Men's dress shirts - put a line of Dawn across the collar and cuffs and rub in with a toothbrush just before washing.  It gets the "ring" out and keeps the shirts like new longer.

2.  Food stains that aren't greasy - rub the Ammonia mix in with a toothbrush just before washing.  Don't let this sit overnight on clothes, especially cotton or khaki, because it can remove some color.

3.  Grease stains - rub Lestoil on the spot and let it sit for a few minutes before washing.  If it doesn't come out the first time, DON'T machine dry the garment.  Try the Lestoil again and let it sit a little longer, then wash.  If the stain is still there, try it again and let the garment soak in some cold water with Lestoil for a few hours, then wash.  I've had great success with this process!!

4.  White clothes & underarm stains - sorry, I don't have a magic wand for this.  From what I've read the yellowing is an enzyme reaction and not a stain.  That's why stain removers and bleach don't work.  The best defense against yellowing is to get the sweat out of the garment as quickly as possible after wearing.  If you put the garment in a bucket of cold water to sit until you're ready to wash a load, that will work. If you're favorite white blouse is yellowed, I'm afraid you'll have to buy another one!

5.  Whites and light-colors  - I love to hang clothes outside. The sun is a tremendous stain-fighter.  It will bleach out red food stains and wine stains from your clothes while it brightens up white t-shirts and linens.

You may notice that bleach is not on this list.  I'm not a fan. Bleach deteriorates elastic from socks and underwear and erodes other fabric fibers.  I think it's more harmful than helpful so I don't use it often.

I hope something here is helpful.  What's your favorite laundry product?

Creating a Landscaping Bed

Most of my landscaping lessons I've learned the hard way, and this one is no exception.  I can't count how many hours I've spent digging up sod so that I could make room for plants.  When I took my Master Gardener class several years ago, one of the presenters showed us another way to create a planting bed that is SO much easier than what I used to do. Here's an example from my backyard that I just finished.

I needed to extend the curved edge of one planting bed by a couple of feet.  I laid down 10-layer-newspaper sections on top of the grass up against the edge of the existing bed.  

I carefully placed the edges right where I wanted the end of the new bed to be.  I wet the newspapers with a hose as I went along so that the wind wouldn't undo all my hard work.

I covered all the newspapers with a 2-3 inch layer of topsoil and compost, tamping it down with my hands along the edges.

Finally I put down a thick layer of mulch to inhibit weeds and keep the roots cool around my new dappled willow bush.



And that's it!  The newspapers will kill the grass over the winter, and I'll be able to dig through it and plant anything I want next spring.  This is MUCH easier than digging up sod. And leaving the grass in place gives the new bed some height without using so much topsoil.

Do you have any landscaping tips??  I'd love to hear them!