When the Lights Go Out

The cold snap eased it's grip on the area.  So imagine our surprise when we came home to find no power!  There were no weather issues, the ride home uneventful (thank God), and no power lines down that we could see.  Even though everything looked to be OK, we still had no power. 

The first order of business was to get the fire started to warm up the house.  Even though it wasn't as cold as it had been, 10 degrees is not exactly tropical.  So after the fire was roaring away, it was time to think of dinner.  Pancakes had been planned.  So, out came the cast iron skillet and griddle cakes it was.  It reminded me of camping in the summer time, however, cooking on a gas stove with a flame that could be regulated sure made cooking easier!  Only one pancake got over cooked.  The rest were golden and fluffy.  I used another skillet to pan fry sausages.  Our dinner consisted of griddle cakes, sausages, applesauce, and mugs of hot tea.  We ate by  candle and lamplight.  The house slowly warmed up from the wood stove, and we were full and satisfied. 

Usually when the power is out it's weather related so leaving the house to go to a restaurant is not an option.  I began thinking of meals that could be made easily when you need to "rough it."  A gas stove  makes life a lot easier, because all you have to do is use a match to light the stove top pilot light.  If all you have is an electric range, it's time to brush off the grill and do some grilling.  Small camp stoves are fabulous to use in the house (make sure you ventilate properly) and provide the needed heat to cook.   (DO NOT use these items to heat the house.  That is VERY dangerous.   If you have a way to boil water, you have the beginnings of a meal, power or not.

One year, the power went out, and we went into "roughing it" mode.  Wood stove cranking, candles lit, kerosene lamps blazing away, and hot plates of pasta.  Just as we sat down to dinner, the lights all blazed on, and the TV started blaring.  Without a word, my son got up from the table and turned everything off.  "That's no fun." he said.  "We'll turn them all on after dinner."  How can you beat that?

The recipes below are all one or two pot dinners.  My choice for cooking these types of meals are cast iron skillets or dutch ovens, or the heaviest stainless steel skillet or pot.  They can handle the heat  from extended cooking.   They can be assembled on a gas or camp stove.  Grilling is also an option as well as hopping in the car and going to your nearest restaurant!

Sausage, Potatos, and Onions
1 pkg kielbasa
4 to 5 washed, peeled, and sliced potatos
1 onion, peeled, and sliced
1 can beef broth
1/2 c water
 2 tsp greek seasonings.
salt and pepper to taste

In large skillet, put potatos and onions.   Slice kielbasa on a diagonal and add to skillet.    Pour beef froth and water over ingredients.  Season to taste.  Put lid on and simmer for 30-40 min or until potatos are fork tender.  Serve hot.

Chicken and Biscuits
(This is a great way to use up leftover chicken)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced carrots
1 Tbsp minced garlic
6 cups chicken broth (2 cans)
salt and pepper
2 cups cooked chicken
In dutch oven, heat oil over low heat.  Add celery, onions, carrots, and garlic.  Cook until tender.  Add the stock and chicken .  Simmer for 10-15 min.
Biscuits
(You can use Bisquick or any other premixed biscuit mix, but this is a yummy version)
1 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
3 Tbsp butter (cold)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp herbs of your choice (thyme, sage, parsley, tarragon, chives
Mix the dry ingredients together.  Cut the butter into the flour mix.  Add buttermilk and using a whisk barely mix the ingredients together.  (Don't OVER beat..your biscuits will be tough).  Drop the biscuits by scoop into the hot, bubbling, mix. Cover and  cook for 10 min over low heat.  Serve immediately.

Rob's Favorite Turkey (or Chicken) Hash
2 Tbsp butter
1 bag frozen tater tots (need I say more?)
2 chops cooked, chopped turkey or chicken
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
fresh parsley, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes

In skillet, melt butter.  Add the frozen tater tots and cook until they start to brown, 2-3 minutes.  Add the turkey(chicken), broth, and garlic.  Stir to combine.  Season to taste.  Let the hash simmer, stirring occasionally or until all the liquid is absorbed.  Add the chili sauce the last 5 min of cooking and stir. 

Angel Hair with Sundried Tomatos and Feta
(This is a 2 pot meal)
Cook angel hair pasta (Reserve some pasta water)
In skillet use 2Tbsp olive oil
Saute one onion, finely diced
Add:
2Tbsp tomato paste
3 Tbsp parsley
1/2 cup chopped sundried tomatos
1 cup white wine

Add pasta directly into the pan with sauce.  Use reserved pasta water to thin it.  Cook until warmed through 5-7 min.  Crumble in 1/4 cup feta cheese and fresh parsley.  Serve immediately.

One Pot Rice Pudding
3 cups milk

1 cup Minute White Rice, uncooked

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1/2 tsp cinnamon and nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Combine milk, rice, sugar, raisins and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Beat eggs and vanilla lightly in a small bowl. Stir small amount of hot mixture into eggs.Add cinnamon and nutmeg.   Stirring constantly, slowly pour egg mixture back into hot mixture. Stirring constantly, cook on low heat 1 minute until thickened. DO NOT BOIL.
3. Remove from heat. Let stand 30 minutes. Serve warm. Store any remaining pudding in refrigerator.

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Cheesy Sausage Quesadillas
8 oz browned and drained turkey sausage (casings removed and crumbled)
1 cup cooked Minute Rice
1/2 cup canned corn (drained)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese (optional)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup salsa
1 pkg flour tortillas
Sour Cream
Guacamole

In small bowl combine cooked and drained sausage, rice, corn, and cilantro.
Heat skillet over medium heat. Spray tortilla with cooking spray. Place tortilla, coated side down in skillet. Spoon 1/4 rice and sausage mixture onto tortilla. Sprinkle with cheeses. Spray another tortilla, coated side up and put that on top of mixture. Cook for 2-3 min on each side, or until cheese melts. Top with salsa, sour cream, and or guacamole if desired.

**You can also make this in the microwave. Do not use cooking spray on the tortillas. Make quesadillas and then cover with a damp towel. Cook 1-2 min or until the cheese is melted.

Nachos

Cheese Sauce
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 can milk
2 tsp yellow mustard
1 Tbsp Worchestershire sauce
2 tsp Tabasco sauce

Whisk together in a saucepan until heated and thickened.

Brown in saucepan 1 lb ground beef. Drain
Mix in 1 pkg taco seasoning (Mix with water according to pkg directions)

1 cup diced tomatos
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 bunch of diced, green onions
1/2 cup black olives **optional**
sour cream
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Salsa**(optional)
Green chilis **(optional)
Guacamole
1 bag nacho corn chips

On a plate, put 1 cup nacho chips. Spoon 1/4 cup ground beef mixture. Top with cheese, lettuce, tomatos, and other fixings according to taste. If more spice is desired, a few dashes of tabasco will spice it right up.



Peanut Sauce
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp corn starch
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1/2 cup hot water
1/4 cup peanut butter
red pepper to taste

Wisk soy sauce, lemon, corn starch, & garlic. In small saucepan wisk peanut butter and hot water together. Stir in soy sauce mixture. Add red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer until sauce thickens. Serve with cooked chicken

Chicken Orzo Salad
1 box small pasta (small shells, rings, or orzo) cooked, and drained
4 c cooked, chicken breasts, diced
1 cup red and green grapes
2 c cucumbers, diced
1/2 c celery, diced
1/4 c minced onion

Dressing
2 cups mayo
1/4 c half and half
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt and pepper

Mix dressing ingredients together

In seperate bowl mix salad ingredients. Pour dressing on top and chill.

Toasted Chick Peas

1 can chick peas (garbanzo beans) rinsed and drained

Pour chick peas on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Drizzle 1/4 cup olive oil on top of chick peas. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt, 1 Tbsp cumin powder, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes (optional)

Bake 350 for 30-35 min or until chick peas are toasted through.

Make It Hot When it's SOOO Cold

There's nothing sexier than something that is "Hot".  This week we are smack in the middle of winter.  Cold, frozen, snowy, slushy, crap.  When the weather man said that this weekend was going to be well below zero, we filled the wood box, bought extra milk and hibernated.  As I was beginning to complain about how cold it was, I was trying to think of a way to bring back the heat from the summer.  Heat!  I got it! 

I dug out the various hot sauces and Hubby qued up the DVR to tape various Western movies.   If it was going to be frigid outside, we were going to make it smoking on the inside.   The different spices and hot sauces were varying  colors of reds and oranges and we tasted them on the end of a toothpick.  Some were so hot that they made the nose run and the eyes water.  Others were subtle and warmed the back of the tongue and throat.  Either way, we laughed to watch each other taste the different degrees of spice.  Even the names of the various spices are enough to put a smile on your face.  "Fire in the Hole", "Texas Tongue Torch," "Butt Burner", and the hottest sauce we have "Dave's Insanity Sauce" are some of the various devil's brews that will heat your entire being.  Aren't the names great?

Red chilies, roasted cumin,  cayenne pepper, pickled chilies, different vinegars, chili powder, fresh garlic, ginger, and wasabi powder in various combinations make for lethal concoctions that look innocent enough but can reduce someone to tears.  I have often thought that the older one gets, the more they can handle spicy foods due to the facet that  taste buds  dull as we age.   The beauty of these spices is that you can spice to taste.  Some like it hot, others don't care for that much spice and like a slow mellow heat, while others enjoy a sweet tang that spices up the tongue and cheeks.  Chicken wings are a great way to experiment with different degrees of heat and spice.

Watching classic movies like "Shenandoah", "Two Mules For Sister Sara", and "Have Gun Will Travel" put us all in the western frame of mind.  Hot, dusty, sunny heat  along with plates of Nachos spiced with Tabasco and bowls of chili redolent with red chilies and roasted cumin made us all remember that summer is coming. 

In a few months we'll be lounging in front of the AC slurping cool and frosty drinks and this winter freeze will be a memory.  But for now, heat it up inside.  Make a cup of hot coffee or cocoa, put a shot of Kahlua in  it, make a plate of Nachos or wings and add a dash or two of hot sauce.  Can you hear the guitars and maracas?  Ole! 

This week's menu is inspired by peppers and spice. 
***Means that recipe is included.

Sunday
Chili
Cornbread

Monday
Cheesy Sausage Quesadillas  ***
Green Salad

Tuesday
Pancakes
Sausage

Wednesday
Nachos***
Fresh Fruit Salad with apples, kiwi, mandarin oranges, red grapes

Toasted Chick Peas***

Thursday
Chicken Kabobs
Peanut sauce***
Rice
Green Beans

Friday
Chicken Orzo Salad*** (Made with left over chicken from Thurs)
Sour Cream Quick rolls (Made with only 4 ingredients)***

Little MouseKitchen: Great Mornings

Little MouseKitchen: Great Mornings

Finnish Pancake

Heat Oven to 400. Melt 1/4 cup of butter. Put the melted butter in a 9 inch pie plate

In blender, put:
1 c milk 2/3 c flour
2 Tbsp sugar 2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla pinch of salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Blend well, scrapping the sides. Pour batter in center of the pieplate that contains the melted butter.
Bake 30 min. NO PEEKING! When done, it will be puffed and golden. Serve right away with honey or maple syrup.

Omlettes for a Crowd
Yes, this does work, it's very easy and the omlettes are delicious.

Fill a large kettle with water and bring it to a boil.

Prep your omlette fillings ahead:
Shredded cheddar cheese diced cubes of ham
diced green peppers diced onions
diced mushrooms crumbled cooked sausage
diced scallions diced tomatos
fresh salsa sweet red chili sauce
diced feta cheese

Then in large mixing bowl whisk 6-8 eggs, salt and pepper, and 1/4 cup water. Combine thoroughly and then put by 1/2 cup fulls in resealable plastic bags. You can refrigerate the egg mixture until ready to cook. Open the bags and put in whatever omlette filling you want. RESEAL the bag.

Drop the bags into boiling water. Simmer for 5-8 minutes. The omlettes will cook in the bags and you will see the egg firm. Take the bags out with tongs and allow to cool slightly. Open the bag and the finished omlette wil slide out. You can cook 2 or 3 at a time, depending on how big your pot of boiling water is.

French Toast Casserole
Can be prepped the night before and tastes better if it is.

Take a loaf of Italian bread and break into cubes. (You can use whatever bread you have on hand.) In a 13x9x2 baking dish, spray lightly with cooking spray. Put the bread cubes in the baking dish.

Whisk together in a separate bowl:
2 cups of milk 6 eggs
1/2 cup sugar 2 Tbsp vanilla
1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Pour over the bread cubes. Dot the top of the casserole with butter.
Mix together 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon. Sprinkle on top of the casserole.

Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight (or bake immediatly)

Preheat your oven fto 350. Bake with the foil on for 50 min. Take the foil off for the last 10 min of cooking.

Serve hot with maple syrup or honey

Cheddar Apple Sausage Strata
Can be prepped the night before.
Take 6 slices of bread. Anykind will do. I use Sourdough Italian. Cut the crusts off. Spray a 13x9x2 baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the slices of bread side by side in the baking dish.

Crumble and brown 1 lb sweet turkey sausage in a skillet. Drain off the fat. Put the cooked sausage crumbles on top of the bread.
Add 2 cups peeled, cored, and diced apple
Add 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Whixk in a seperate bowl
6-8 eggs
1 cup milk
Salt & pepper
2 tsp Greek seasoning

Pour over the bread, sausage, apple mixture. Cover with foil and refrigerate over night.

Preheat oven to 375. Remove foil and bake 50-60 min. Check with a knife inserted. If it comes out clean it is done.

Granola with Dried Cherries
4 cups oatmeal
2 cups slivered almonds
1 cup shaved coconut
1 1/2 cups dried cherries or dried apricots
1/2 cup veg oil
1/3 cup honey (or maple syrup)
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp nutmeg

Mix all together. Pour out onto a baking sheet and bakein 350 oven for 30 min.
Allow to cool and then bag up.

Bills' Favorite Buttermilk Pancakes
1 egg
1 c buttermilk
2 Tbsp melted shortening or veg oil
3/4 c whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt

Beat egg. Add remaining ingredients in order and beat until smooth. Pour by ladle fulls on greased skillet. Allow bubbles to form and then flip. Cook until golden brown. Serve with LOTS of real maple syrup.

Great Mornings

There is nothing like a delicious breakfast.  Think about it.  It doesn't matter if you are on vacation, if you are home for the weekend, if there has been a sleepover or the night after a party, or if you are by yourself and you have woken up when you WANT to and not when you HAVE  to, a delicious breakfast begins the day and gives you the strength to deal with whatever life decides to hand you.  One of my most memorable breakfasts, was when we were in Bermuda.  Hubby and I had fresh pineapple, bacon, hot tea and coffee.  That was it.  But the pineapple was so fresh, it puckered your mouth while the juice ran down your arm. Served overlooking the beautiful, warm turquoise waters it was breakfast at it's finest.

There are many kinds of breakfasts.  There are the conventional kinds that include  cereal, eggs, and toast to the unconventional and just as delicious kinds that include cold pizza, chicken, or cheese and rice.  Breakfast is just that....breaking your nighttime fast.  On a day to day basis, I'm not a huge, regular breakfast eater.  I enjoy breakfast, but am often content with a scalding cup of freshly brewed  tea.  The experts will tell you that that is not wise and not good for the diet, and I agree.  So as a nod to this I will bring a bag of dry cereal or granola with me to munch on, or a piece of fresh fruit.  Except in the winter, when I will make steaming bowls of oatmeal, and how can you resist hot oatmeal with apricot preserves or maple syrup stirred in.

One of my favorite breakfasts is Sunday morning breakfast.  After church, when we come home, the skillets are taken out, the toaster heated, the tea kettle is on the back burner, and breakfast preparations commence.  It can be anything from toast, bacon, and tea, to french toast and sausage, to omelets with all the fixings, to Belgium waffles with strawberries and whipped cream.  Another favorite breakfast is when we go camping.  Bagels, sliced in half, and buttered thickly, and then cooked over the coals of the fire in a skillet and are to die for.  Buttery, toasted bagels, scalding cups of tea or hot cocoa, ( or coffee in Hubby's case), and thick slabs of ham or bacon fried in the same skillet that we toasted the bagels in.  Delicious!

We often have overnight guests, and I really enjoy prepping and making breakfast.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not at my best in the morning so I do most of the prep ahead, and many of my dishes are already put together the night before so I just pop them in hot water or in the oven while I get a hot cup of tea to get my brain moving.

This morning I found an old recipe from a friend.  It was a recipe from her grandmother and we hadn't had it in a very long time.  It was easy prep, and could be done while I drank my first cup of tea.  It was called Finnish Pancakes, and was prepped in the blender.  When baked, the dish is a delicious, hot, custardy, popover type pancake.  It puffs up beautiful and golden in the oven and is served with honey or maple syrup.  This would be a lovely, impressive, and easy breakfast to make for guests.  I was going to take a picture of it, but it was devoured before I had the opportunity to.  It may sound different, but it's delicious and very easy.  Serve with bacon and fresh fruit and you have a lovely breakfast treat.

This weeks recipes pay homage to breakfast treats...so break out the bacon and the maple syrup!
***Indicates recipe to follow.
Sunday
Finnish Pancakes***

Monday
Omelets for a crowd (YES, you can make omelets ahead, AND give your guests what they want!)***

Tuesday
French Toast Casserole***
Cheddar Apple Sausage Strata***

Wednesday
Homemade granola with dried cherries***

Thursday
My Grandfather's Favorite Buttermilk pancakes***
Bacon

Friday
Breakfast for One
Poached Eggs on Toast
Fruit Yogurt

Little MouseKitchen: Magic Chicken Soup

Little MouseKitchen: Magic Chicken Soup

1 lb boneless, skinless, chicken breasts (or in a pinch use two drained cans of cooked chicken chunks)
On a baking sheet, season chicken breasts with salt & pepper. Drizzle both sides with olive oil. Roast in a 400 degree oven for 40 minutes, or until the juices run clear. When done, allow to cool slightly (15 min)

In a sauce pan, add 1 c chopped celery
1 c chopped onion
1 c chopped carrot
2 Tbsp minced garlic
4 c of your favorite chicken stock
1 c water
salt, pepper to taste
2 tsp Greek Seasoning (McCormick spice blends)

Simmer on low heat for 30 min.
Cut the chicken breasts into chunks and add to the broth.

Simmer for 30 more min. (The longer the soup simmers, the better it tastes.)

Cook separately 2 cups of rice or noodles...your choice.
Add the rice or noodles in the last 10 minutes of cooking. They will absorb the flavor of the broth, without turning the soup starchy.

Applesauce Bread
Cream together
1/2 c shortening
1 cup sugar

Add 1 1/2 cup applesauce
Mix together

Add:
2 c sifted flour
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped nuts

Stir all together. Pour into a pan sprayed with cooking spray and bake 350 for 40 min or until a knife inserted comes out clean.
(I cook mine in a cast iron skillet)

Linguine With Clam sauce
1 box linguine
2 cans clams (drained)
1 box or can of chicken broth
1/4 cup white wine
2 tsp oregano,
 2 Tbsp parsley,
2 tsp garlic salt or 2 Tbsp Greek seasoning from McCormick
  You can add the fresh spices and salt and pepper as you go.
Mix the clams, broth, wine, and seasonings in a pan.  Simmer for 15 min.  Cook and drain linguine.  Pour sauce over hot pasta and sprinkle on grated cheese

Couscous with Pine Nuts and Spinach
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup couscous.
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup pine nuts
2 cups baby spinach
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Bring the broth to a boil. Add the couscous, take off the heat, and cover. Let sit for 10 min. Fluff with a fork
In a skillet pour 2 Tbsp olive oil and saute 2 Tbsp garlic and pine nuts. Saute for a minute or two on low heat. (Be careful to not let the garlic burn.) Fold the couscous, spinach, feta, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with steak

Gone all Day Turkey Dinner
1 lb ground  turkey
1 med onion, chopped
1 cup frozen corn
1/4 cup Italian dressing
1 tsp steak sauce (we use A1)
1 can cranberry sauce
1 box stuffing mix

Combine turkey, onion, corn, dressing, and  steak sauce in a slow cooker.  Top with cranberry sauce and put the dry stuffing mix on the top.  Cover with lid.

Cook on low for 6-7 hours.

Magic Chicken Soup

Do you remember being sick?  What helped you to feel better?  Getting sick when I was a kid meant that the house went into "sick mode".  Ginger ale was poured and  the carbonation stirred out, saltine crackers with honey were put on small plates, the smell of Lysol and Vicks vapo-rub permeated the house, and a pot of chicken soup went on the stove.

What gives chicken soup it's healing powers?  Is it actually a chemical substance that helps to strengthen the body?  Does it help the body's immune system fight off what ever germs have taken hold?  Is it easily digestible so that the body can convert  and use it quickly to repair whatever is damaged?  Or is it that someone has taken the time, effort, and consideration  to show that they love you and will simmer a pot of broth, meat, and veggies and pamper you until you feel like you can join the human race again?  Maybe it's all of the above.

There are many home remedies and comfort foods out there for when you are feeling feeble.  Sometimes, you just don't have a pot of homemade chicken soup on hand when the flu hits.  Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup was a staple in our house in the winter and in the closet of the dorm room in college.  There is something just a little comforting when you open that red and white can.   Hot tea with lemon and honey (and sometimes a drop of the Irish), would loosen and soothe a cough.   Jello with fruit  would brighten the room with it's fun colors and was fun to eat, and soft puddings (butterscotch... mmmmm) would slide down  a sore throat easily.

This week, Hubby is not at his best, and the chicken soup is on the stove.  The smell of Lysol is in the air, and ginger ale, orange juice, tea, and hot Tang are the beverages of choice.  Even if your house is healthy this week, wash your hands and put on a pot of hot comforting soup.  You will feel rejuvenated by the magic of chicken soup.

*** Indicates recipe following
Sunday
Chicken Soup w noodles or rice **
applesauce bread***

Monday
Linguini with clam sauce***
Green Beans

Tuesday
Grilled steak
Couscous with pine nuts and spinach***

Wednesday
Gone all day Turkey Dinner (Slow cooker meal)***

Thursday
Lasagna Soup
Garlic Bread

Friday
Pancakes
Bacon