Sleepy Saturday

Aren't Saturdays wonderful? I spent most of the day lazing around and doing laundry. We had a semi emergency with my uncle overnight. A 4:00 a.m. call constituted a hurried trip to his house in town. He is fine, but after being startled awake I couldn't get back to sleep after we got back home, so I took advantage of the situation by having an afternoon nap. Something I never do and almost feel guilty about. It's that same kind of guilt I have when I am out of work legitimately sick. My parents believed that you go to work no matter what. I even tell my co-workers I would rather do their job as catch their germs when they are sick, but still the guilt.



We had errands to run so Ronnie and I had supper at Fatz tonight. Some kind of fried seafood thingy that was actually pretty good.



I was kinda proud of myself tonight, we went to the Ingles and I saved $4.80 with my coupons. I usually clip coupons with every intention of using them and then throw them away when they have long ago expired. With the economic uncertainty that surrounds all of us, I am truly looking at ways where I can economize.



So......, Until Tomorrow

S~~~

TGIF

This week has been 3 weeks long. January does this to me every year.

That said, I have had an interesting week. On Wednesday night our office was invited for dinner to a new Asheville restaurant called Scratch. Unbelievable !! The owner's (former 28806 partner, Eric Backer) concept and creativity was amazing, from the wonderful food and great service to the eclectic menu and 1917 building. The bartender even makes his own tonic water. If you find yourself hungry in downtown Asheville (Broadway) lunch or supper, give it a try. You will not be disappointed.

NEW PRODUCT ALERT......................
Ragan put me on to the new Scoops, with a hint of jalapeno. WOW, they are great. We had them tonight with supper.

Now onto supper this cold Friday night...............
I love to eat out on the weekends, end of discussion, but tonight that wasn't to be.
Remind me NEVER to bet with my own personal "Guitarman" (remember the Bread song from the early 70s') husband on music...........
In a moment of delusion I was sure that it was Gary and the Pacemakers, not Gerry (come on it's Jerry with a G, what do you expect?) and the Pacemakers that did "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" . I bet a restaurant meal of my choice against a home cooked meal of Ronnie's choice. I lost, I cooked, his choice.

Taco Salad
Chips and Queso
Toasted Angel Food Cake w/Cinnamon Sugar and Whipped Cream

I had never thought to toast angel food cake, even though I love it and common sense says it has to be better toasted with sugar on top.
Last summer Ragan and Eric took our uncle (Eudy) over to Bryson City to visit his son (Brently), grandson (Bryson) and daughter in law (Crystal) who were vacationing in Bryson City.
A friend of Brently's served it to Ragan and she shared how good it was. I hope you like it as well as we do. BTW, angel food cake is on sale at the Ingles for $1.99 this week.

1 - store bought Angel Food Cake
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Slice as many slices of eat as you want to serve. The proportions of butter and spices will cover
about 6 pieces.
Melt butter and brush over cake slices. Combine the sugar, cinnamom and nutmeg. Sprinkle over cake slices. Broil until golden brown and toasty. Watch carefully as it will burn quickly.

Enjoy.
Until Tomorrow.............
S~~~

Winter Blues

I have the winter blues, I am so tired of cold weather. If I can't have snow then I want Spring.
When I find forced blooming bulbs in the store in January, I can't resist. Tulips are one of my top three favorite flowers and I enjoy them blooming inside almost as much as when the come up naturally in Spring. These are such a pretty color, pink with hints of yellow. ..They are a bit taller than usual and I know they won't last long, but that's ok. I still have a touch of Spring peaking around the corner. As a bonus they will bloom next year in our yard.

Today we (Deb, Lynn, Michael and I) visited the Western North Carolina Arboretum. Even at the end of January it was beautiful. The bonsai garden is amazing. I have never been there in the Winter before and I expected it to be desolate. Even with all my complaining about the cold, this does prove that all four seasons have their own beauty.

Tonight is American Idol, so supper was quick!!

Grilled Chicken Salad
Navy Bean Soup (recipe posted January 19)
Bread Sticks

So, Until Tomorrow..............
S~~~

Monday Monday

I apologize for being MIA this weekend. Somehow the time just flew by and I failed to sit down and take the time to write anything.

We finally made it to the new P.F. Chang's in Asheville on Saturday for a late lunch. The Lettuce Wraps are the very best. The Crab Rangoons were good, but none will ever measure up to the ones they served at the now defunct Tong Sing's in Black Mountain. Ronnie and I shared the Mongolian Beef since we had two appetizers and it was delicious. I can't wait to go back, I love Asian food!!
Actually, I love all food, but this weekend Asian was my favorite.

Exciting news on the Mexican food (another favorite) front. Papas and Beer is moving to the old Lone Star Steak House location on Tunnel Road. The original location is on Brevard Road in the strip mall near the K Mart. It is great Mexican. They have a salsa bar where you choose your own salsas. Can' t wait for them to open on Tunnel Road. We can make it there for lunch, it is impossible to get to Brevard Road, have lunch and make it back to North Asheville in time.

All this Asian and Mexican food put us in the mood for Italian tonight.

Supper tonight goes like this:

Lasagne
Tossed Salad with Goat Cheese
Diner Style Garlic Bread*

Diner Style Garlic Bread
1 loaf unsliced French Bread
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. dried parsley

Slice bread through the middle. Mix mayonnaise, garlic, Parmesan cheese and sugar. Spread over bread halves. Broil until golden and bubbly on top. Sprinkle with parsley.

I thought about posting my lasagne recipe but then I realized everyone already has a favorite of their own. Hope you enjoy this slightly different garlic bread instead.

So Until Tomorrow...........
S~~~

National Pie Day

Can you believe it? Today is National Pie Day!!!! When I first saw that news item this morning I knew I needed to bake a pie!!I love pies of all kind. My great Grandmother and Mother used to make a sweet potato pie (really a cobbler, but they never called it that), with sliced sweet potatoes in a deep dish casserole. I didn't have a recipe, only a memory.
I improvised for sure as my great Grandmother never heard of and my Mother never used the refrigerated Pillsbury crust. So many sweet potato pies are similar in taste and texture to pumpkin, but this is completely different. Ronnie loves sweet potatoes so this pie was most definitely a hit.

What are your favorite pies? My list goes something like this, in no particular order:

Pumpkin
Coconut Cream
Lemon Cream
Butterscotch
Milk Chocolate Cream
Cherry Cobbler
Peach Cobbler
Egg Custard
Peanut Butter
Sweet Potato

Post your comments and your list, I would love to know what your favorites are.

To round out National Pie Day I decided homemade pizza (pie) was in order for supper tonight.

Pizza with Turkey Pepperoni, Brown Sugar Ham (on my half only), Onions, Green Peppers, Mushrooms and Extra Cheese

Sweet Potato Cobbler*

Sweet Potato Pie (Cobbler)
1 - pkg. Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust (2 crusts)
3 - medium sweet potatoes - peeled and sliced
3/4 - cup sugar
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 - tsp. nutmeg
1 3/4 cups milk or cream (divided)
1/4 stick butter - slice into thin pieces

Peel sweet potatoes and slice in 1/4 inch slices. Place in a sauce pan and cover with water, adding a little salt, cook over medium high heat until slightly tender. Drain well. Using a deep pan cover bottom of pan with one crust. Cut to fit bottom only loosely. Mix together sugar, cornstarch and nutmeg. Layer one layer of sweet potatoes, 1/2 of the sugar mixture and 1/2 cup milk, and 1/2 butter slices, and pieces of pie crust left over from where you trimmed the first crust. Make 2 layers. You may not have enough extra crust for both layers but that is ok. Cover with the second crust. Bake a 400 approximately 45 minutes or until golden on top. Remove from oven and immediately cut top crust into pie, add the remaining 3/4 cup milk. Let stand 15 minutes at least. Enjoy!

So, Until Tomorrow.........
S~~~

Thursday Night Brussels Sprouts

Tonight we had one of my favorite vegetables, the much maligned Brussels Sprouts. Either you love them or you hate them, I love them, Ronnie hates them. I like them steamed, sauteed, roasted or deep fried. I have never had deep fried Brussels Sprouts but they must be good. I mean, isn't everything deep fried really good? I really shouldn't say that, it isn't culinary correct, is it?

This is the way supper shaped up tonight.



Parmesan Ranch Baked Chicken
Risotto
Honey Glazed Carrots
Sauteed Brussels Sprouts*

Sauteed Brussels Sprouts

2 slices bacon - diced
24 - fresh Brussels Sprouts
1/4 small onion - diced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. brown sugar

Fry bacon until almost done. Remove bacon from pan. Wash Brussels Sprouts and remove the stem end and the outer leaves. Halve or quarter depending on the size. Add to the pan with onion, salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Cook until golden brown. Add bacon pieces if you like.

Until tomorrow...........
S~~~

Wednesday Night Supper at Fatz

Tonight was just one of those rare nights when I could not possibly put supper on the table.
First, I needed fuel for my car, and pumping gas is one of my ten least favorite things to do.
Thank goodness I have a husband who loves me, puts up with my many quirks and pumps my gas. So, once I got home we had to go back out again. We decided to have supper at Fatz ( I know, that is a terrible name for a restaurant). A cheeseburger for Ronnie and Shrimp and Grits for me. Not very exciting for sure, but still we made home in time for American Idol.

Tonight's recipe comes from the Massarani kitchen. Lacy shared a recipe for Salsa Chicken that she made for supper. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Salsa Chicken

4 - 6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 - 16 oz. jar Salsa
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 packet Taco Seasoning Mix
1/2 cup Sour Cream

Place chicken breasts in the bottom of a oblong Pyrex Dish, sprayed with Pam.
Combine salsa, cream of mushroom soup and taco seasoning mix. Pour over chicken.
Bake at 400 for approximately one hour. Remove chicken from sauce and stir in sour cream. Ladle sauce over chicken when serving.

Until Tomorrow.............
S~~~

Snow Cream .................

Well, the snow was a non event. This is just dress rehearsal for the real thing. Nonetheless, I posted the photo taken this morning from our deck.

I just a few minutes ago opened an email from Toni, friend and loyal follower of this blog (thanks bunches, Toni). She wondered about a recipe for snow cream. I am embarrassed to say I have never had snow cream, other than the Mayfield Farms kind. Just asked Ronnie if he had snow cream when he was little and he seemed to remember a lot of talk about it, but no actual snow cream.

A quick internet search does reveal a simple recipe that I will be happy to try just as soon as my snow gets here.

Snow Cream

1 cup snow
1/2 cup whipping cream or half and half
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix cream, sugar and vanilla well. Slowly add snow to desired consistency. Eat and enjoy!
You might want to try some other flavorings: cinnamon, butterscotch, almond or rum.

Supper tonight was super easy. I love hot dogs, we just don't have them very often.

Hot Dogs (Hebrew National)
Chili
Cole Slaw
Potato Wedges
Warm Winter Lemon Cake*

Warm Winter Lemon Cake

1 (18 1/4 ounce) box yellow cake mix
1 1/3 cups water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs

2 cups milk
1 1/4 cups water
2 (3 1/2 ounce) boxes instant lemon pudding mix (4 serving size)
1/3 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350°.
Spray a 9 x 13-inch pan with Pam.

Prepare cake mix as directed on package.
Pour batter into prepared pan.

Pour milk and water into a large bowl. Add dry pudding mixes and granulated sugar.
Beat with a wire whisk until well blended.
Pour over cake batter in pan.
Place pan on baking sheet and bake approximately 55 minutes - 1 hour.

Cool in pan 20 minutes. (Mixture will thicken slightly as it cools).

It is so good, similar to chocolate pudding cake except with lemon. Yummmm.

Until tomorrow.......

S~~~

It is SNOWING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quick, let's all run to the Ingles.............Have you got your milk, bread, eggs and (if you live in McDowell or surrounding counties) your Hunter's livermush? It is coming a snow!!!! Knee deep for sure.

I am so excited to see the snow. I am standing in my front door with my nose pressed against the glass just like a kid. Please, please, please let it accumulate enough to blanket this gray winter landscape.
If it does, tomorrow I will post a "front my front deck" photo.

No supper exactly tonight in the Taylor household. The guys (SideStreet) are practicing tonight and I am still playing with my new quesadilla maker. I will take them a quesadilla snack down to the studio in a few minutes. Ok, enough about the quesadilla maker. I know I am boring you to tears with my new toy. Just go buy one and you will understand. We may need to start a 12 step program, or at least exchange recipes.

I was thinking yesterday about the items that I couldn't cook without. (Can you tell I love lists?)
Not counting the staples like milk, eggs, flour, sugar, salt and pepper, etc., what are the products in your kitchen that you consistently use? You know, those things that you use to add your own special touch. Share your list, inquiring minds want to know!!.

Here are mine - in no particular order:

Lipton Cream of Chicken Cup of Soup
Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
McCormick California Style Bottled Minced Garlic (the only jarred garlic I will use)
Onions
Rosemary (fresh and dried)
Mayonnaise
Whole Grain Mustard
Prepared Horseradish
Celery Seed
Cayenne
Limes and Lemons
Chicken Stock

Since we are all going to be snowed in tomorrow. I am posting the perfect snow day recipe.


Navy Bean Soup

1- lb. Navy Beans or White Beans
Parboil beans in water approximately 10 minutes. Drain and rinse well.
3 Cups Chicken Stock
3 Tablespoons Ham or Chicken Base (Better Than Bouillon)
1 Medium Onion (Chopped)
1 Tsp. Black Pepper
1 Tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
1 Tsp. Sugar
½ Tsp. Celery Seed
1 Clove Garlic – Crushed (or 1 tsp. McCormicks California Style Garlic)

Cook beans w/ above ingredients until very done. If not using a pressure cooker, you may need to add water.
Once beans are cooked and almost falling apart add:

1-2 Cups Additional Chicken Stock
1-2 Cups Half and Half, Milk or Cream
2-3 Packets of Lipton Cream of Chicken Soup Mix (dry)

Heat through until velvety and smooth.


Until Snowy Tomorrow.............
S~~~

Quesadilla Madness

Well, today I finally got around to making quesadillas for supper. I can honestly say the $20 for the quesadilla maker was $20 well spent. If you love quesadillas run don't walk to the Target or the WalMart to add this to your kitchen collection. Perfectly crisp quesadillas without flipping. So much better than the mess I make when I use a skillet. If I had young children I would think this would be a must have. Most kids will eat good for them things they wouldn't ordinarily touch if you put it in a tortilla. Maybe I will even try it out on the guys (SideStreet) when they practice this week.

Ronnie and I made a quick stop at the Target again today and I found a treasure. Archer Farms Creme Brulee. Always one of my favorite desserts, I was thrilled to find it frozen and packaged in cute little reusable terra cotta ramekins. All you do is sprinkle the provided sugar on the top and broil 6 minutes, let rest 10minutes and wow, really good Creme Brulee.

Tonight was a fun supper.

Turkey and Cheese Quesadillas*

Queso and Chips

Sliced Avocados

Creme Brulee

Turkey and Cheese Quesadillas

4 - 10 inch flour tortillas
4 - slices of cheese (I used the Land o Lakes White Cheddar w/ Jalapenos and Cayenne Pepper)
1/4 lb. Deli Turkey, shaved (I used the maple honey D&W)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1- medium zucchini
1 - medium onion
1- 8 oz package sliced mushrooms
1/4 tsp. sugar (optional)
1/2 tsp.salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. minced garlic

Thinly slice the onion and zucchini and saute in olive oil with mushrooms, sugar (if using, it helps to caramelize the vegetables, a taste I like, but leave out if you prefer), salt, pepper and minced garlic. Cook until lightly browned over medium heat.
On a flour tortilla layer turkey, vegetables and cheese.
Cook 4 minutes in the quesadilla maker or in a skillet sprayed with Pam cook 2-3 minutes on each side.

Enjoy
Until Tomorrow.....
S~~

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...............

It was so very cold today. I think 20 maybe was the high temp. I worked with two electric heaters and a blanket wrapped around me, and to complete this classy look I donned my red gloves with the fingers cut out for typing!!!

I had a meeting upstairs this morning and as I was leaving the Blue Ridge Dining Room I just happen to glance down to the underground spa area where there was a beautiful frozen waterfall. It was gorgeous. I will post a photo within the next few days. I didn't have my camera, but Michael, my friend and co-worker was gracious enough to get the shot for me.

I am hoping to purchase a new camera this weekend. We have a 3 or 4 year old point and shoot (Canon Power Shot - 6mp). It is definitely time to upgrade, plus I want to be better about posting pictures for you. Any recommendations that you might have would be greatly appreciated!!! Remember I LOVE your comments!!

I really wanted to make Quesadillas tonight but I didn't want to get out of the car long enough to go into the grocery store. So, tomorrow we will have a heat wave and maybe even get above freezing which hopefully will compel me to venture out to the Ingles for the much anticipated Quesadilla supplies.

So tonight we will have some homemade chili from the freezer and watch a movie that my good friend Cyndi shared with me titled "The Note".


Enjoy your weekend!!

Until tomorrow..........
S~~

I Went To Target Today...............

Yep, spent my lunch hour at the Target. That can be a dangerous thing to do, although today wasn't too bad. I came away with a quesadilla maker. Don't yell yet, I know exactly what Alton Brown says, never buy an appliance that only has one use, but......................., you never know.

I am a big quesadilla fan. I never order anything else at Mi Pueblito. There are a million different ways to make them, and hopefully I can come up with some creations of my own.

We have kinda been temporarily captive in our own home since Gibson's unfortunate tangle with what we believe to have been a coyote. He needs to be taken out about every three hours, so we don't venture far away. So, I will have fun this weekend playing with my new toy. I will post the results and some recipes too after I give it a test drive.

Now then, back to my adventures at the Target.........they have practically the entire store on sale!! I bought 2 silicone basting brushes with stainless steel handles for $1.29 on clearance and Tazo Passion Tea for $2.50 a box, (don't go to the River Hills location for this, I cleaned them out).

Not on sale, exactly, but I bought a bottle of Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc that was wonderful!!. The distributor was there ordering wine and I got to talking to him and he had great things to say about this one. I didn't feel that it was just a sales pitch, because I actually had chosen a more expensive Santa Margarita. Anyway, this was the second time that someone had mentioned this wine to me, so I felt I was destined to have a bottle. You know you can't mess with destiny.

Bottom line, it is definitely worth the $12 I paid.

One of my favorite wine sites www.cheapwineratings.com gives it a 90, which is pretty good.

This is what they have to say:
"The intensity in the nose is good and it is a highly tropical Sauvignon Blanc. Pineapple, honey, melon, pear and a hint of flint give this wine a wonderful bouquet. When I first opened the bottle, it didn’t have the vegetal characteristic that many SBs from New Zealand have, but after it opened up a distinct green pepper aroma came to the surface. The palate is flavorful, well balanced and just as exciting as the nose. It has lemon, pear, melon, apple and mineral flavors. The finish is fairly long and enjoyable. All told, this is a great Sauvignon Blanc at a decent price."

Supper at Casa Taylor tonight looked something like this:

Asian Pineapple Salmon*

Wild Rice

Roasted Broccoli

5 Flavor Pound Cake

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc


Asian Pineapple Salmon

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 water
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. ketchup
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/8 tsp sesame oil
1 Tbsp. hot mustard
2 tsp. Asian chili paste1/2 minced garlic
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

1 -15 oz can pineapple tidbits - drained

Mix all ingredients and let stand for 20 minutes.

1 salmon fillet

1 Tbsp. olive oil

Place olive oil in pan and heat, add salmon and cook over medium heat 3 minutes. Pour sauce and pineapple over salmon and cook an additional 5-8 minutes minutes depending on the thickness of the fillet.

I know that sesame oil can be a tad expensive, for just 1/8 tsp. but it really does make a difference in Asian food. Just buy the smallest bottle you can find.

So, Until Tomorrow.........
S~~

American Idol Tonight ..........

OK. I admit it......., I wussed out tonight. Traffic was horrible coming home from work (I actually drove home in the snow from Asheville) and it was imperative that I not miss American Idol tonight. So, supper tonight was at Moon Doggies on the five lane.
I had the open face roast beef sandwich and Ronnie had the spaghetti with a salad, Italian dressing. Not bad at all for a quick supper on a cold, cold night.

Now, on another note.
In one of the comments Sharon mentioned remembering her Mother making salmon croquettes and that make me think of foods that reminded me of my childhood.
While we did have mostly balanced meals those are not what I remember the most.

These come to mind....

Buckwheat Pancakes
Peanut Butter and Butter Sandwiches
Pulled Butter Mints
Cornbread and Milk
Rice for breakfast
Tang
Oatmeal Cream Debbie Cakes
Popcorn and Milk
Chocks Vitamins (you can understand why - see above)

Post your comments and let me share in your memories.

On an American Idol note. The ones I loved:
Emily from LA, Ca. (Barracuda)
Deanna from Kentucky (Sitting on the Dock of the Bay)
Stevie from Phelan, Ca. (At Last)
Cody (horror boy) from Detroit, Mi.
Alex from Studio City, Ca. (Baby Come To Me)
Scott MacIntire (And So It Goes)

I absolutely DID NOT like bikini girl.

Remember I promised wanderings and ramblings.

Until Tomorrow

S~~~

Tonight's Sunset at Supper

I much prefer sunsets to sunrises. To say I am not a morning kind of girl is an understatement.
This was tonight's sunset taken from our front deck. In an effort to search for positive things to say about winter, the sunsets are much more vibrant.

I am so excited about the comments and email I have received about this blog. Please know I read and appreciate every word. Thanks so much for taking the time to visit.

Just in case anyone missed it........., American Idol begins tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Supper tonight was nothing special, but I did commit to posting whatever it is, so here ya go......

Hamburger Steaks w/ Mushroom Horseradish Sauce
Herb Roasted Potatoes*
Green Beans
Crescent Rolls

Herb Roasted Potatoes

2 Medium Potatoes

4 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Rosemary

Garlic Powder

Seasoning Salt

Pepper

Scrub potatoes, do not peel. Cut potatoes in half length wise. Place a wooden spoon beside the potatoes and cut accordion style by cutting down to the handle of the wooden spoon, making sure not to cut all the way through. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with Pam. Brush 1 tablespoon of olive oil on each potato. Sprinkle with crushed rosemary, garlic powder, seasoning salt and pepper. Bake 35 minutes at 425 or until lightly brown on top.

Until Tomorrow.......

S~~

Celebrating Daddy's 83rd Birthday

Every little girl idolizes her daddy, at 52 I continue to idolize mine. Yesterday he turned 83 years young. He was born 3 years before the great depression swept our country. Daddy was born of hard working mountain stock. My grandfather was a logger and worked hard during the depression to make sure his family was provided for. My grandmother raised a garden big enough to feed her family. Surely these difficult times shaped the man who was to become my Daddy. Working hard came natural to him. After working 40 years at one company Daddy retired in 1984. Retirement is surely a state of mind, because slowing down hasn't been part of his retirement. He is healthy, active and is still one of the two smartest men I have ever met.

So, tonight our family celebrated the birthday of the man who in his own quiet yet strong way has selflessly loved and taken care of each one of us.

On our table tonight........

Maple Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Scallops Scampi (for the two that don't eat pork)

Butter Beans

Rice and Mushroom Pilaf

Mixed Green Salad with Cranberries and Goat Cheese

Parker House Rolls

Peggy's Butterscotch Pie*

Sweet Tea with a hint of Bergamont

Pomegranate Tea

My Mother's best friend, Peggy, made this pie often, it has always been one of our favorites.

Peggy's Butterscotch Pie

1 cup light brown sugar

1 1/2 cup evaporated milk

4 Tbsp. butter

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

3 egg yolks

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine brown sugar, milk, butter and cornstarch in a heavy sauce pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until it reaches a boil. Remove from heat. Stir 1/2 cup of the hot mixture to the egg yolks, then add back to the brown sugar and cream mixture. Continue cooking, being sure to keep stirring until it return to a boil. Stir in vanilla.
Pour into a pre-baked pie crust.
Top with whipped cream or a meringue make from the reserved egg whites.

Until tomorrow...........

S~~

Summer In My Kitchen Window

This is a passion flower cutting that has been in our kitchen window for a few weeks. Ronnie was just hoping to keep it healthy throughout the winter, we never expected to see blooms.

Just wanted to share this little bit of summer in January with you before I got busy cooking for tonight.

I'll be back later tonight to post the menu for my Daddy's 83rd birthday celebration.

Until then.....
S~~~

Are You A Name Brand Snob?

OK, I admit it. I am a brand name snob. My Mother was and she taught me well. Also, I think my aversion to store brands comes from the term "off brands". I don't want anything "off", especially when it comes to my food. Ronnie on the other hand will gladly have me buy the store brand for the items that he eats that I don't. The one exception to that is his A-1 Steak Sauce, he will accept no imitation. Trust me when I say he loves him some A-1. A little beef and a lot of A-1.


With the economy going south I wish I could break the pattern and at least try a few different store brands. There are inconsequential items like vinegar that don't bother me at all, Laura Lynn is just fine there. I guess since I don't drink it straight up it really doesn't matter. Do you feel most name brands deliver enough quality to justify price?


Here are a few things that I refuse to compromise on:


1. Peter Pan Reduced Fat Peanut Butter ( much better than the full fat version)

2. Cape Cod Potato Chips

3. Bounty Towels

4. Heinz Ketchup

5. Campbells Soups

6. Kraft Mayonnaise

7. Scott Bathroom Tissue

8. Welch's Grape Jelly

9. Claussen's Pickles

10. Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce


11. And last be certainly not least, it has got to be Diet Coke, never ever Pepsi.


I would greatly appreciate your comments, list the items you are loyal to and the great store brands that you have found. I really want someone to persuade me to try the store brands.


In case you are wondering whats on the menu at Chez Taylor tonight.............
It was my least favorite, leftover night.

Until Tomorrow........

S~~~

Fickle January teased us again, no snow, only flurries. I need at least one good snow before
I start dreaming of spring, supper on the grill, deck parties, boat drinks...............

Tonight's supper is Lacy's (our daughter, living in Philadelphia) favorite dish. When she was away in school every chance she had to come home this was her request. Hopefully, before too much longer she and her husband Bashar will have the opportunity to transfer closer to home.

Lacy Jay's Chicken Stew

3 - chicken breasts
5 cups water
4 chicken bouillon cubes
1 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. celery seed

1 carton chicken stock

3 - packets of Lipton Cream of Chicken Cup of Soup
1 - can cream of chicken soup
1 tsp. garlic powder

1 package of 8 large flour tortillas
2 - cups milk

Cook chicken breast until tender in water, chicken bouillon cubes, pepper and celery seed. Remove chicken from broth to cool.

Stain and measure broth. If you do not have 6 cups of broth add enough chicken stock to make 6 cups.
To the broth add:

3 - packets Lipton Cream of Chicken Cup of Soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 tsp. garlic powder
Heat over medium heat stirring until mixture is well combined.

Remove the skin and bones from the chicken and cut into small pieces.
Add to the broth mixture. Bring to a simmer.

Take one package of flour tortillas and and cut into strips about 1 inch wide. Drop into the boiling liquid. Continue cooking approximately 20 minutes or until the flour tortillas are very tender.

Remove from the heat and add:
2 cups milk

Return to low heat for 5 minutes - do not boil.

Enjoy.

Until tomorrow

S~~

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....................

I love the snow and it seems that the last few winters we have only been teased by messy snows that complicated travel. I want a snow that leaves no doubt as to the impossibility of my driving. Snow that covers everything, a winter wonderland, so pristine that we don't see the bleakness of January. So keep your fingers crossed and maybe we will see more that just a few flurries.

There are certain foods that just go well with cold and snowy weather. Hot chocolate, chili, spaghetti, soups, chicken and dumplings, oyster stew and beef stew to name only a few. Comfort foods to get us through the cold days. For me weather influences menu selection in a big way. I have files for winter, summer, fall and spring recipes. Post your comments and let me know what foods you enjoy in the winter.

Tonight's menu reflects the slight chance of snow in the forecast.

Frances's Baked Spaghetti*

(This isn't the exact recipe that my friend and former co-worker, Frances, gave me. I actually lost the one she shared. I call it Frances's because it is similar to hers and I always think of her when I make it. Frances, if you are out there we miss you!!)

Chopped Salad with dried cranberries, blue cheese and cranberry balsamic vinaigrette

(I usually think that store bought dressings are a big waste since you can make your own in minutes plus they are much, much better, the exception is the Maple Grove Vinaigrette. They are fat free and delicious, both the cranberry and the raspberry).

Quick and Easy Garlic Rolls

Frances's Baked Spaghetti

1- 8 oz. pkg. of thin spaghetti - cooked al dente and drained

1-15 oz. carton ricotta cheese

1 cup milk

2 eggs - well beaten

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. course ground pepper

1 cup Parmesan Cheese

1 - qt. spaghetti sauce
(I use my homemade sauce I keep in the freezer, jarred sauce may be substituted)

2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

Cook spaghetti al dente and drain. Add ricotta cheese to hot pasta.
Combine milk, eggs, salt, pepper and nutmeg and pour over pasta and ricotta mixture. Mix well.
Pour into a prepared 9x13 inch pan. Layer Parmesan cheese, spaghetti sauce and sharp cheddar. Cover tightly with foil. I spray the side touching the cheese lightly with Pam before covering.

Bake at 400 for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes or until lightly brown and bubbly.

Remember THINK SNOW!!!

Until tomorrow

S~~

Rainy Days and Tuesdays Rarely Get Me Down

I love the rain. A warm January rain, just my kind of day, well almost. The perfect rainy day would be to stay home and cuddle up with my book with Sissy or Cagney (or both) on my lap and drink hot chocolate. In my dreams.........

From the what I did today pages: I left work at 11:00 a.m. to get my nails done. I thought on a rain soaked Tuesday I could just breeze in and out. Well, of course that was not to be. I sat and waited 25 minutes. As I waited I kept thinking I need to take these acrylics off and stop this. I always dread going to have them done, the boredom is killer here. This coming from a gal who prides herself on NEVER being bored. Then there is the little fact that I am spending $50 a month having my nails done. I'm not really sure in this economy I can justify that luxury. Hmmmm, maybe I am my Daddy's daughter after all. Anyway, skipping to the chase, I walked out and went to get supplies to remove the acrylics. I think I can still remember how to do my own nails, maybe. I will let you know if I find myself back in the nail salon later this week.

Supper tonight is another one of those meals that I grew up eating. My Daddy did most of the day to day cooking in our house, Mother baked (she was an incredible baker actually) and cooked on Sundays. Daddy will be 83 on Saturday and he is still cooking and I am still learning from him!! My cole slaw, cornbread or gravy will never touch his. So, with a few minor modifications of my own I will share one of Daddy's recipes with you today.

So supper tonight looks like this:

Salmon Croquettes*

Wild Rice

Green Beans

Cole Slaw

Rene Barbier Mediterranean White
(a good grocery store white recommended by my co-worker and friend Lynn Grabey. When Lynn makes a wine suggestion, I listen. She has lived all over Europe and has had opportunity to enjoy great wines)

Salmon Croquettes

1 - 15 oz. can of pink salmon ( I always look for the kind that is skinless and boneless, otherwise you have to take out all the skin and bones, yuck!)

1 egg - lightly beaten

12 saltine crackers - crushed ( you may need more at the end to get the right consistency)

1 small onion - chopped

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbsp. mayonnaise

1 Tbsp. ketchup

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. lemon pepper

1/2 tsp. baking soda

Mix well and shape into patties. These may be baked at 375 for approximately 20 minutes or pan fried at this point. Be careful if you pan fry, they burn easily.

Until tomorrow

S~~~

Just Another Marvelous Monday

The worst part about Monday is the Sunday night dread. Truthfully, once Monday arrives it usually turns out to be a great day. Mondays always fly by.

It was actually nice to be back to work in an odd kind of way. Even though I love new things and love to change things, routine is important to me. Not to mention the fact that I truly do love my job and especially the people I work with.

Have you noticed the new addition to Sunset Suppers? Check out the checkerboard square pictures on the right side. These are our fur babies. Top right is Cagney - our almost 5 month old ball of fire baby Shih Tzu. Next to her is our lone kitty cat Gatsby - our 8 year old Turkish Van who loves nothing better than to play in the water. Bottom left is Gibson - our 3 year old Yellow Lab who is recovering nicely (see Saturday January 3 for details). Lastly, Sissy, the one who stole my heart originally, she is a beautiful 6 1/2 year old long coat chihuahua. I can't believe I was 45 years old before I owned my first dog. I guess we are making up for lost time now though. At any rate we took care of that empty nest problem quite nicely.

Supper tonight was one of my go to meals. I always wanted Mother to bake chicken when I was growing up (remember those 1960s Shake and Bake commercials?), but in our house chicken was usually saved for Sunday and always fried. Mother always cut up her own chickens. I did try that once many years ago in a moment of frugality, I realized I didn't do too well when Ronnie wasn't sure what might be light meat and what was dark meat. The wings were the only part we could positively identify.

Stuffed Chicken w/ Creamy Dijon Sauce *

Creamed Potatoes

Sugar Glazed Carrots

Butter Beans

Bogle Sauvignon Blanc

Stuffed Chicken w/ Creamy Dijon Sauce

4 - boneless skinless thin chicken breast

3/4 cup mayonnaise (I only use Kraft light)
2 tbsp. whole grain mustard
1 tbsp. prepared mustard
1 tbsp. sugar



2 cups dry bread crumbs (lately I have started using panko)
1/2 grated Parmesan cheese (the green bottle )
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. red pepper
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. course ground pepper

1 1/2 cup shredded cheese (I use the 4 cheese Italian blend when I can find it, Swiss is good also)

Rinse chicken under cold water. Pat dry with paper towels.

Combine the mayonnaise, whole grain mustard, prepared mustard and sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes. Mix well again.

Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan, onion powder, garlic powder, red pepper, salt and pepper.

Spread chicken with mayonnaise mixture. Coat with bread crumbs. Place cheese to one side of chicken breast and fold over.

Place on a prepared baking sheet. Bake 40 minutes at 350.


Creamy Dijon Sauce

1 can cream of chicken soup
2 tsp. whole grain mustard
1 tsp. prepared mustard
2/3 cup milk (whatever kind you want based on the richness desired)

Combine in a 2 quart sauce and heat through.

Let me know if you try it, as always I welcome your feedback.

Let's learn from each other!!

Until Tomorrow

S~~

Saturday January 3, 2009

Quiet Saturday here on the Taylor home front. Another beautiful winter day.
Ronnie played Paul Bunyun, clearing a space for our new fence. A fence was not something we wanted but necessity comes into play here.
Gibson, our beautiful Yellow Lab wandered into either a pack of coyotes or dogs. After being gone for almost 48 hours he somehow managed to drag himself home the Monday before Christmas. We had been sick with worry and had exhausted every imaginable resource in finding him. He was covered in blood and was missing his all of his front teeth and part of an ear.
We carefully slid him onto a blanket and rushed to the Animal Clinic of Marion.
Dr. John and the entire staff were wonderful. They immediately stabilized Gibson and were incredibly kind to us. After having surgery on Tuesday, Gibson was home with us on Christmas Eve. His life will be a bit different now, no more running free as he was accustomed. For now, he is living inside, but once the fence is up he will have a place to run and play and still time inside as he chooses.

While Ronnie lumber jacked I just caught up on laundry and read.

Supper tonight was once again super easy.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Homemade Potato Soup *

3-4 medium potatoes - peeled and diced
1 - small onion - diced
3 cups chicken stock or enough to completely cover potatoes
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. pepper

Combine in a 4 qt. pan and cook until potatoes are tender.
Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

Add:
4 cups milk ( reduced fat, half and half , evaporated or whole milk - depending on the richness you prefer)
3 packets Lipton Cream of Chicken Cup of Soup
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. celery salt
1 Tbsp. butter

(You might add more milk to adjust the consistency)

Top with your choice of paprika, parsley or shredded cheese

Cook over low heat until heated through.



Something that you might like to look for........
Ala Julia Child I did have a couple of glasses of Montenovo Valdorras Godello while I made the soup. A very good white that had not been on my radar. It was recommended by the good folks at the Wine Guy when I was considering bringing a white wine to our October wine party. A light crisp wine. Check it out, very reasonably priced and very good, I do like that combination!!

Until tomorrow

Friday - January 2, 2009

Happy second day of 2009. It was a gorgeous day in WNC, sunny and slightly cold, just exactly what you expect for early January. I never mind the colder temps on days I can hibernate. I go back to work on Monday after our winter hiatus and you can bet I will not be enjoying colder weather then!! I am truly a summer kind of girl, born in July.

Supper tonight is one of those easy meals, mostly from the freezer. I love making large quantities of our favorite dishes that freeze well for nights like this when I don't want to spend copious amounts of time in the kitchen.
Friday nights are great, the entire weekend is a blank canvas. Tonight I want to watch a movie I found in the cheapy bin at the WalMart, "Bobby".

Here is how supper is shaping up at the Taylor's.

Country Style Steak and Gravy
Julia's Squash Casserole*
Rice (for the gravy, of course, and maybe for breakfast too with milk and sugar, yum...)
English Peas
Biscuits (I can make biscuits, I just don't see why I should when Pillsbury does such a great job)
Hibiscus Tea

Julia's Squash Casserole

4-5 medium yellow squash
1 can cream of something soup (chicken, mushroom, celery or onion)
1 & 1/2 sleeve Ritz crackers ( I like the roasted veggie variety)
4 Tbsp. melted butter
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper

Slice squash thinly and cook in salted water until tender. Drain well.
Combine soup, melted butter, sugar and salt & pepper with 3/4 of the crushed crackers. Fold in drained squash. Place in a buttered square casserole and top with remaining cracker crumbs and dot with butter.
Bake at 375 approximately 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Until tomorrow.