Just for Starters

There is something about a plateful of appetizers that gets a party, a gathering, or just a date night started.  Little plates of "nibbles" placed around a room set a tone and encourage mingling and munching.
When I was a kid, Chex Mix was one of the original 'nibbles" .   Bowls of  the crunchy, salty, snack would disappear at a rapid rate.  Remember the harvest gold, sunset yellow, and avocado green Tupperware bowls with the sealing lids?  They would keep the Chex Mix fresh and crunchy, and until my hands got strong enough to pop the seal, would keep the Mix safe from early munching!

Classic Chex Mix
3 cups Corn Chex® cereal
3 cups Rice Chex® cereal
3 cups Wheat Chex® cereal
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup bite-size pretzels
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Directions

1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
2. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

Another favorite were plates of cheese and crackers.  Bricks of cheddar, Munster, Swiss, and Monterrey jack would be sliced, cubed, and served alongside crackers (usually Ritz or Chicken in a Biscuit crackers).  Nowadays, there are so many different kinds of crackers and cheeses, the combinations are endless.  Some new favorites are Crandale Cranberry cheese, Halloumi, Hunter's cheddar, and Horseradish cheddar.  You can pair these with Stoneground wheat crackers, water crackers, or Parmesan crackers.  The Parmesan crackers are so easy to make.  If you have a food processor, you can make your very own snack crackers.  They are rich, crunchy, and melt in your mouth.

Parmesan Crackers

2 c grated parm cheese

1 stick of room temp butter

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp black pepper

Pulse all together in a food  processor.

Add 1 1/4 c flour

1/4 tsp salt

Pulse flour and salt to cheese mix.  When it creates a ball take it

out of the food processor and roll it into a log.  Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze until

firm.  Approx 30 min.

Slice and bake 350 for 22 min

Veggies and dip as well as fruit platters with dip are another classic appetizer.  When I was in college, we had an "appetizer night" on our last night of classes.  We all brought goodies to nosh on while we celebrated the end of  classes.  (I brought  spicy Chex Mix...how can you go wrong with that?) One of my classmates brought a fruit platter with a sweet, creamy fruit dip.  It was addictive and delicious and the perfect compliment to chunks of pineapple, strawberries, grapes and  kiwi.  She was generous and gave us all the recipe.  I couldn't wait to bring it out and amaze everyone!  It became one of my signature contributions to parties.

Fruit Dip

1 pkg cream cheese, softened

1 cup Marshmallow fluff

2 tsp vanilla

Use a mixer and combine.  Put in the refrigerator for 30 min before serving.

(Just try to keep your fingers out of it! )

So the next time you want to make an evening special, for 100, 10, or just 1, get out of your favorite plates, chill the wine, cider, or beer.   Chunk some cheese, slice some fruits and veggies,  open a sleeve or bake your own crackers, arrange them (remember mixing colors, textures, and heights make a plate interesting and appetizing  to look at) and set them around.  Mix up a batch of Chex Mix and who knows what'll get started!

Weekly Menu
Monday
Ginger Beef Soup***
Rice Noodles

Tuesday
Turkey Hash (one skillet meal using left over turkey from Sun***)
Mandarin Oranges

Wednesday
Sausage, Cheddar and apple bake***
Green salad

Thursday
Spaghetti w tuna, feta, and tomatoes***
garlic bread
Green beans

Friday
Baked "Fried"  Chicken
French Fries
Carrots

Spaghetti-Feed the Multitudes

Tis the season for company.  Have you noticed when the weather gets cooler, and the soccer games come to an end, that we all head to visit friends and family?  I think most everyone remembers their mother's spaghetti sauce.  Spaghetti was one of the very first things I learned to cook. 

Mom taught me how to make spaghetti sauce over the stove in the kitchen of our trailer.  We had a big stainless steel, copper bottomed pot, a cast iron pan to brown the ground beef and onion, and assorted slotted spoons and colanders.
The house smelled of garlic and spices, and I loved chopping the onions and green peppers.  Mom's spaghetti sauce was chunky with bits of vegetables, ground beef, and lots of tomatoes.  No one else's sauce ever measured up or tasted quite right.  We always drained our pasta when it was cooked and rinsed it under cold water.  Mom always said that rinsing it would keep the pasta from sticking together.
My dad loved spaghetti and we always had it once a week.  There is something  very warm and comforting about coming home to a spaghetti dinner.   We would have spaghetti, garlic bread, and green salad and shaker Parmesan cheese out of the green can.  Sometimes, Mom would make meatballs to drop in the sauce.  Large, cold glasses of milk would wash it all down. 
My hubby's mother will  make great pots of spaghetti sauce when the family comes home to visit. (She has 5 children, 10 grandchildren, and to date 3 great grandchildren.  A family meal is an event!  An ordinary family dinner is well over 15 people.  Pasta fits the bill nicely.  Kettles of pasta cook, while Granny fills her crockpots with sauce.  Spaghetti works because folks can choose between sauce or no sauce, plain or with cheese.   Many of her grandchildren when dinner is over will  leave and take home canning jars filled with her special sauce.  One of my nephews even requested containers of Granny's sauce for his graduation present so that he could store it in the freezer for ready made meals!
So when company comes calling, bring them down memory lane and serve spaghetti.  Ditch the green can and get a nice wedge of Parmesan cheese, grate it over the hot pasta.  Change it up, and serve pesto with the spaghetti sauce.  Toss in a handful of shrimp instead of ground beef.  The "pasta"-bilities are endless!   Do you remember rolling your first fork full?  

***Recipes can be found in the Pages section of the blog.***

Monday
Spaghetti w meat sauce***
Garlic bread
Green Beans

Tuesday
Pork Tenderloin (braised in the Crock pot)
Couscous
Applesauce
Carrots

Wednesday
Chicken Parmesan (with sauce from Mon)***
Rotini noodles
Green Salad

Thursday
Easy Clam Chowder***
Rolls

Friday
Ham Steak
Scalloped Potatos
Brussel Sprouts

My Favorite Things

Think of this in tune with "My Favorite Things."
Pizza and Cheesecake
and Ocean Waves Crashing,
Blue Glistening Earrings and
Soft 'Taters Mashing,
Red tulips bundled and Saphires in rings
These are a few of my favorite things.

Opening nights and Children who're happy
All Scottie puppies and Bubble gum snapping
White wine and Movies and People that sing
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the tics bite, when the tax stings
when I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my family and friends
And then I don't feeeeeel soooooo bad.



That splash is me.  This is pure bliss.



 Green Margaritas and Bacon that sizzles
Sweet Breakfast Muffins and Cream cheese you drizzle
Old books and New Books and Hot cups of tea
These are what can mean the whole world to me.

When the Cold Bites
When Meanness stings
When I'm feeling bad
I simply remember my family and friends, and then I don't feeeeeel sooooo bad!

   For all of you have enjoyed my blog so far, thanks for the complements and thanks for reading.  It means more than you know.  The menu this week holds some my favorites.  Light on calories, some probably not, but these are some of my favorite comfort foods.  Michael....you are my hero.
***Recipes can be found in the Pages section of the blog.

Monday
Meatloaf  ***
Mashed Potatos
Broccoli

Tuesday
Portobello Mushroom Burgers***
Tabouli salad***

Wednesday
Grilled steak
Grilled potatos
Grilled asparagus
Margaritas (after rehearsal)

Thursday
Lasagna (Thanks Mom, This was my favorite dinner of all time!!!)
Garlic Bread
Salad
Cherry Cheesecake***

Friday
Chicken Kormi with  Apples and Coconut ***
Rice

I Really Wanted a Puppy

"I really wanted a puppy, and they brought her instead." I would say to people when they would ask how I felt about my sister.  There are 13 years difference between the two of us.  Yes, I'm older and have to say it, I'm taller.  But I'm here to set the record straight today, on the week of her birthday.  I wanted a sibling.  Badly. 

I was so excited when my parents announced that they were expecting.  I didn't care if it was a brother or sister.  When Kristal was born, I stayed with my Grandfather.  He came in at 3:00 AM and woke me to tell me that I had a new sister, and that Mom and Dad and "Kristal" were fine.  I snuggled back down into the covers, with my hand on the dog, and lay there with my eyes wide open trying to imagine this new person that I was going to meet the next day.  Dad picked me up from school early, and brought me out to the hospital.  I had a little sign that had her name on it and a picture of  the doll "Strawberry Shortcake".   I had made it  for the bassinet and flowers for Mom.  I was pretty nervous about meeting Kristal and seeing Mom.  Were they going to have room for me?  Was I going to like it? 

I remember walking into the "Snuggery" and Dad brought me up to the window of the nursery.  There in a white bassinet was my sister.  Dark haired, pink faced, and tiny.  Oh so tiny.  I fell in love right there.  We gave the sign to the nurse and she put it right on the bassinet.  We walked down to Mom's room, where she was waiting.  She had her arms out and enveloped me in a big hug.  Dad brought Kristal in, and Mom and I and Kristal sat together while Dad snapped pictures.  I wanted to bring her home right then.  There was room for me.  And yes, I was going to like it. 

Kristal called me "Sisser" for the longest time.  We lived in a trailer for many years, and she always got up earlier than me. (UGH)  With Dad and Mom egging her on, she would trundle down the hallway.  She was too short (hehehe) to reach the door knob, but she quickly learned that if she got going fast enough she could pop the door open by running into it full tilt with a "HI SISSER!"  That was NOT what I wanted to hear early in the morning after a dance or a date.  Snuggling in bed was not an option.  She would get giggling and start tickling and rough housing.  So I talked her into making a "nest".  However, the "nest" was in my laundry hamper!  She fit perfectly.  She would crawl in my hamper, I'd cover her up, and enjoy 20 minutes of sleep.  If I came up with the idea, she thought it was great.

How awesome is that?

Over the years, we have had so many good times.  13 years difference didn't phase us in the least.  In fact, it made our relationship stronger.  I got to help play Santa Claus, I got to help be the tooth fairy, I got to be the one that snapped photos of cheerleading, dancing, concerts,  & plays. I got to take her to NY city for the first time and watch her face light up when we watched the Phantom of the Opera.  (Even though I got the date wrong and we ALMOST didn't get to see the show at all!  But thanks to a very kind doorman, we had awesome seats.)  For many years, she backed me up.  Then as she got older, it was my turn to back her up.  I got to see her graduate from college, be her sponsor at confirmation, be her Maid of Honor, and held her hand when we gave Dad back to God.  I couldn't ask for a better friend. 

It's Kristal's birthday this week.  She is also expecting and there will be  13 years difference between her child and my child.  Funny how life can circle around.  So, setting the record straight once and for all....I am still older and still taller, but I really didn't want a puppy...I really wanted a sister. Not only did I get a sister, I got a best friend.   Happy Birthday!!

This week's menu is Kristal inspired.  These are her favorite childhood meals.  There are stories behind each meal, and she should remember all of them!

Monday
Stew (venison or beef)
Cheesy Garlic Biscuits ***

Tuesday
Tacos
Fruit

Wednesday
Chicken with Rice and Cashews***
Green Beans

Thursday
Fettuchini Alfredo ***
Green Salad
Garlic Bread
Marble Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Friday
Dijorno Supreme Pizza
Butter lettuce salad

Walking With Heroes

Again, what I plan to write about, and what comes out in this blog, seem to be two different things.  I was planning on writing about comfort today....After the stormy weather we've had, comfort food came to mind, but then I thought that we had much more stormy weather ahead, so I would wait.  Isn't that like life though?  You deal with one round of  stormy weather and then you think, "Well, I've weathered that, I'll hang on until the next round."
Then I thought I would write about pets and how they gave comfort. (See the theme?)  And then I took part in the annual  Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in my hometown. 
The dictionary says that Comfort is "any attempt to relieve pain or stress, one who provides relief; to aid or assist. "
Today  a whole town, community, area, & county turned out to give comfort.  They came together to honor and support survivors, family, friends, & caregivers of breast cancer.  That's comfort.   Every symbol of comfort was there: prayers, quilts, handmade food, music, pets, balloons, family, friends, tears, laughter, hugs, and togetherness.   Anything that could be done to give relief was done. Pugs in pink tutus?  It sure made me laugh!   Elaine Gibb is the coordinator for Salem and a survivor.  She is a true hero in every sense of the word.  As I watched women from every age and walk of life stand together in  sisterhood, comfort came to mind.  We were there to give as much as we could. 
Tammy Butler beautifully sang Melissa Ethridge's song called "I Run for Hope".  Everyone has a Mother, Sister, Daughter, Aunt, Grandmother,Wife, Friend.  Love them....Here are the lyrics.

It's been years since they told her about it
The darkness her body possessed
And the scars are still there in the mirror
Everyday that she gets herself dressed
Though the pain is miles and miles behind her
And the fear is now a docile beast
If you ask her why she is still running
She'll tell you it makes her complete

[Chorus:]
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother, your sister, your wife
I run for you and me, my friend
I run for life
It's a blur since they told me about it
How the darkness had taken its toll
And they cut into my skin and they cut into my body
But they will never get a piece of my soul
And now I'm still learning the lesson
To awake when I hear the call
And if you ask me why I am still running
I'll tell you I run for us all

[Chorus:]

And someday if they tell you about it
If the darkness knocks on your door
Remember her remember me
We will be running as we have before
Running for answers
Running for more

I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother, your sister, your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister, your daughter, your wife
For you and me my friend
I run for life
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for life

Menu for the Week (Have dinner with your Mom, Sister, Aunt, Friend..you'll be glad you did)

Sunday
Guinness Stew***
Applesauce

Monday***
Pasta Fagioli with Sausage
Bread for Dipping

Tuesday
Beef Stroganoff
Noodles

Wednesday
Sesame Chicken
Snow Peas
Rice

Thursday
Spinach Salad
Ham with Peach sauce

Friday
Michael is bringing home Indian take out!!!!

Apples for the Children

One of my favorite times of year as a teacher was "apple season."  I taught preschool for 10 years and told this story every year.  It never got old, and the expression on the children's faces was priceless.  Did you know that apples were magic?  Well they are!  Try it and see the smiles on the faces of the folks (big and little).

The Little Red House

There was once upon a time a little boy who was tired of all his toys and, tired of all his play.  "What shall I do ?" He asked his mother.  And  his mother, who always knew beautiful things for little boys to do, said, " You shall go on a journey and find a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside."         

This really made the little boy wonder. Usually his mother had good ideas, but his thought that this one was very strange. "Which way shall I go?" He asked his mother. "I don't know where to find a little red house with no doors and no window ."  "

    

 The little boy went on until he came to the great brown barn were the farmer kept barrel of fat potatoes and baskets of yellow squashes and golden pumpkins. The farmer himself stood in the doorway looking out over the green pastures and yellow grain fields. "Do you know where I shall find a little red house with no doors and no windows  and a star inside?" asked the little boy of the farmer. The farmer laughed too. "I lived a great many years and I never saw one." He chuckled, "But ask Granny who lives at the foot of the hill. She knows how to  make molasses, taffy and popcorn balls, and red mittens! Perhaps she can direct you."        

 So the little boy went on farther still, until he came to the Granny, sitting in her pretty garden of herbs and marigolds. She was wrinkled as a walnut and as smiling as the sunshine. "Please, Dear Granny," said the little boy. "Where shall I find a little red house with no doors and no windows  and a star inside?"

         Granny was knitting a red mitten, and when she heard the little boy's question, she laughed so cheerily that the wool ball rolled of her lap and down the little pebbly path. "I should like to find that little house myself," she chuckled. " I would be warm when the frosty night comes and the starlight would be prettier than a candle. But ask the wind who blows about so much and listens at all the chimneys. Perhaps the wind can direct you."        

 So the little boy took off his cap and tipped it politely to the Granny and went on up the hill rather sorrowfully. He wondered if his mother, who usually knew almost everything had perhaps made a mistake. The wind was coming down the hill as the little boy climbed up. As they met, the wind turned about  and went along, singing  beside the little boy. It whistled in his ear, and pushed him and dropped a pretty leaf into his hand. "I wonder," thought the little boy, after they had gone along together for awhile, "if the wind could  help me find a little red house with no doors and no windows a star inside."         

The wind cannot speak in our words, but it went singing ahead of the little boy until it came to an orchard. There it climbed up in the apple tree and shook the branches. When the little boy climbed up, there at his feet lay a great rosy apple. The little boy picked the apple. It was as much as his two hands could hold. It was red as the sun had been able to paint it, and the thick brown stem stood up as straight as a chimney, and it had no doors and no windows. Was there a star inside?  

The little boy called to the wind, "Thank you," and the wind whistled back, "You're welcome."  Then the little boy gave the apple to his mother.  His mother took a knife (AT THIS POINT , START CUTTING AN APPLE CROSSWISE) and cut the apple through the center.  Oh, how wonderful! There inside the apple, lay a star holding brown seeds.         

"It is too wonderful to eat without looking at the star, isn't it?" the little boy said to his mother. "Yes indeed"

After I cut the apple open, we would all look at the star inside.  I would then take the apple and we would dip the apple in paint and make star prints with it.  Needless to say snack would be apple slices and peanut butter that day!

This week's menu is fall inspired.  Lots of apples, cozy casseroles, and soups. 

Sunday

Pot Roast

Mashed Potatoes

Carrots

Monday

Cider Glazed Chicken***

Waldorf Salad***

Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges

Tuesday

Pork Tenderloin (Crock Pot)

Applesauce***

Green Beans

Wednesday

Clam Chowder

Applesauce bread***

Thursday

Cheesy Ziti Toss***

Green Salad

Garlic Bread

Friday

Nachos

Homemade Salsa

Saturday

Footlighter's Party & Plan for Walk For Hope  (Think Pink!!)

Pomegranite Cosmopolitans ***

International Discoveries

Normally I shoot for 1 post per week.  That seems reasonable so far.  However, last night in our house we had "Taste Epiphany".  In other words we had some new foods that had never before come out of our kitchen, and I just had to write about them.



See what I mean?  Aren't they cute?



First is butternut squash.  Normally I am not a fan.  Can't help it, it's just the way it is.  From the time I was little, my Mom will confirm, squash in ANY form was just not something that I cared for.  I would take the "try it, taste it," two bites, and still would rather eat sawdust than squash.  (In my defense however, I would eat pumpkin pie.  That didn't even count as squash in my book.)  This past week, I had been blessed and given two lovely, fresh butternut squash.  They were gifts from 8 year olds that I couldn't possibly tell  that I didn't care for them.   I took them with good grace and thought "Now what?"  They sat on my counter not singing and dancing like the squash on "Veggie Tales", but sitting stationary, daring me to try them.

Soup....hmmmm... I would make butternut squash soup.  If it didn't work, the chickens would like it.   Apples....hey.. we have apples fresh from the orchard.  Hmmmmmm....So I cooked the squash and apples and some onion together in a dutch oven.  I have become absolutely enamored with Indian food and Indian spices, so I started spicing up the broth.  I added cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, nutmeg. salt and pepper.  I then chopped fresh cilantro and threw that in.  The boys got in the act and said it would be better with some heat to it. So in went red pepper flakes.  OH MY GOSH!  2 BOWLS LATER....we were all eating butternut squash and apple soup with Indian spices.  Yes, Mom I ate my squash. 

To go with the soup, I thought grilled sandwiches would be good.  In the grocery store  I had picked up a package of Halloumi cheese.  Halloumi cheese is a Greek cheese that can be sliced and grilled as is.  You slice it up, pop it on a skewer, or in a pan and grill it until it gets golden brown.  It's very similar in texture to Indian paneer cheese.  (Never met a cheese I didn't like.)  It doesn't get sticky and nasty in the pan, but caramelizes beautifully.  I had never had or tasted it so thought I'd give it a try.  It was amazing!

I grilled up a whole plateful of cheese.  We assembled turkey, apple, and grilled Halloumi sandwiches and cooked them panini style.  Delicious. 
Greece and India in one night.  Wonder where our taste buds will travel to tonight!

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
In dutch oven take 2 Tbsp butter and sweat 1 small onion diced for about 5 min.
Add 3-4 cups peeled, seeded, and diced butternut squash
2-3 cups chopped, peeled, and seeded apple (any variety.  I used Macs)
2 Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp cinnamon
2 bay leaves
2 cans of chicken stock
Allow to come to a boil and let simmer until squash and apples are soft.  Take bay leaves out of soup.  Reserve 2 cups of soup (if you want some chunks of squash or apples.  Hubby likes texture and doesn't care for totally pureed soup.)  Puree the remaining soup.  Add reserved soup back in. 
Add:
1/4 c brown sugar
salt and pepper
2 tsp grated nutmeg
Red pepper flakes to taste ( can be omitted)
Chop fresh cilantro and add into soup.  Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and cilantro.  (This would be very tasty with fresh Naan.)

Grilled Halloumi, Turkey, and Apple Sandwiches
Arnold Multigrain Sandwich Thins
Deli Turkey
Halloumi cheese
Peeled Sliced Apples
Butter

In a heated grill pan, slice the Halloumi cheese.  You do not need to grease the pan.  The cheese will generally not stick.  I used cast iron and it really didn't.  Grill the cheese 1-2 minutes on each side.  The cheese will turn golden brown and will retain it's shape.  Take the cheese off the heat.
Thinly butter the outsides of the bread this.  Assemble sandwiches with turkey, apple, and cheese.  Put the  top on  the sandwich and grill 2-3 minutes each side until golden brown.