Just a short note to let you know I will be back in a few days.
Lacy-Jay and Bashar are home and I don't want to miss a moment of time with them.
In the interim, maybe some of you wonderful cooks could post your favorite recipes!!!
I will be checking in, hoping for some great recipes.
So, until tomorrow............
S~~~
Friday, June 26, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Beautiful Father's Day
Yesterday I celebrated Father's Day with the three Father's in my life, my Daddy, my husband Ronnie, and my uncle Eudy. I feel so fortunate that my Daddy is active and healthy at 83. He is still the smartest man on earth, doesn't every daughter feel that way about her Daddy?
It was a beautiful day here, even though it was a bit on the cloudy side we didn't have any rain. We decided with the humidity to keep supper inside and move dessert to the deck when it was much more comfortable. The heat outside isn't a big problem for me, I can do 90 quite nicely, but I know everyone doesn't feel that way.
I struggled all week with my menu and finally fell back on the old standard of a surf and turf.
Roasted Beef Tenderloin w/ Red Wine and Mushrooms
Spicy Baked Salmon
Potato Casserole
Butter Beans
Tomato, Buffalo Mozzarella and Basil Salad
Honey Wheat Bread w/ Roasted Garlic Spread
Creamy Dreamy Key Lime Pie
Everything turned out really well except the salmon, which was good but a bit on the too spicy side to serve for company. I wanted to make the tomato salad for color and to use some of my basil, so Ronnie had to slice them for me as you know my aversion to tomatoes.
The potato casserole was the copycat Cracker Barrel recipe with a few modifications.
Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole
1 bag refrigerated hashbrowns w/ onions and peppers (frozen works also)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 mayonnaise
1 egg - beaten
1/8 cup cream (or milk)
1 tsp. Mortons Season All
1 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. celery seed
2 cups shredded sharp cheese
Combine all ingredients and bake at 375 about 40 minutes or until lightly brown.
So, until tomorrow...........
S~~~
It was a beautiful day here, even though it was a bit on the cloudy side we didn't have any rain. We decided with the humidity to keep supper inside and move dessert to the deck when it was much more comfortable. The heat outside isn't a big problem for me, I can do 90 quite nicely, but I know everyone doesn't feel that way.
I struggled all week with my menu and finally fell back on the old standard of a surf and turf.
Roasted Beef Tenderloin w/ Red Wine and Mushrooms
Spicy Baked Salmon
Potato Casserole
Butter Beans
Tomato, Buffalo Mozzarella and Basil Salad
Honey Wheat Bread w/ Roasted Garlic Spread
Creamy Dreamy Key Lime Pie
Everything turned out really well except the salmon, which was good but a bit on the too spicy side to serve for company. I wanted to make the tomato salad for color and to use some of my basil, so Ronnie had to slice them for me as you know my aversion to tomatoes.
The potato casserole was the copycat Cracker Barrel recipe with a few modifications.
Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole
1 bag refrigerated hashbrowns w/ onions and peppers (frozen works also)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 mayonnaise
1 egg - beaten
1/8 cup cream (or milk)
1 tsp. Mortons Season All
1 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. celery seed
2 cups shredded sharp cheese
Combine all ingredients and bake at 375 about 40 minutes or until lightly brown.
So, until tomorrow...........
S~~~
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Father's Day Plans?
Father's Day is just days away. Do you have big plans? I will cook for Ronnie, Daddy and Eudy on Sunday. I'm still a bit unsure about my menu. Share yours and maybe I can steal your ideas.
While we are discussing Father's Day let me share with you my pet peeve. Who really calls their Daddy father? No one that I know. Just try to find a card that says Daddy. If by chance you do find one it will most likely be precious enough to have come from a 5 year old, not this 52 (at least for a few more days) year old southern girl who will always call her daddy Daddy, never dad or father. I would call him John first. Actually, Mother told me when I was little that I did call them John and Betty, go figure.............
Tonight I promised Ragan one of my favorite cookie recipes so I decided to share with you also.
Salty Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
one stick unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for sprinkling. (I always use kosher salt for the sprinkling)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups rolled oats (I like quick cooking oats - do not use instant, also Quaker Oats really do make a difference here)
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the shortening, butter and sugar until light. Beat in the egg. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda and stir into the sugar/shortening mixture. Mix in the vanilla and oats. Cover the bowl and chill the dough for 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray two baking sheets.
Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll into small balls, flatten with the bottom of a glass. Lightly sprinkle the surface of the dough with salt.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they're just lightly colored at the edges. Remove them from the oven, let rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
So, until tomorrow............
S~~~
While we are discussing Father's Day let me share with you my pet peeve. Who really calls their Daddy father? No one that I know. Just try to find a card that says Daddy. If by chance you do find one it will most likely be precious enough to have come from a 5 year old, not this 52 (at least for a few more days) year old southern girl who will always call her daddy Daddy, never dad or father. I would call him John first. Actually, Mother told me when I was little that I did call them John and Betty, go figure.............
Tonight I promised Ragan one of my favorite cookie recipes so I decided to share with you also.
Salty Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
one stick unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for sprinkling. (I always use kosher salt for the sprinkling)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups rolled oats (I like quick cooking oats - do not use instant, also Quaker Oats really do make a difference here)
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the shortening, butter and sugar until light. Beat in the egg. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda and stir into the sugar/shortening mixture. Mix in the vanilla and oats. Cover the bowl and chill the dough for 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray two baking sheets.
Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll into small balls, flatten with the bottom of a glass. Lightly sprinkle the surface of the dough with salt.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they're just lightly colored at the edges. Remove them from the oven, let rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
So, until tomorrow............
S~~~
Monday, June 15, 2009
We All Scream For Ice Cream
Where did the weekend go? I intended to blog on Saturday then again on Sunday but somehow it just never happened.
What I did do was buy a new ice cream freezer. I have had one of the tabletop Cuisinart freezers for several years. In the move (almost 3 years ago now), I misplaced the cylinder that goes into the freezer. I finally broke down and replaced it after giving up hope of ever finding the missing part. I know, Murphy's law will probably kick in now and it will turn up downstairs in a stray tote.
Anyway, in preparation for Lacy and Bashar's visit next week we have a new ice cream maker. Ice cream is one of those things that makes everyone smile. Lacy quickly reminded me that many years ago (I'm talking probably 15 years) I had promised to make her cherry sherbet and for whatever forgotten reason failed to come through on my promise, so cherry sherbet will most assuredly be made.
I know everyone has made the sherbet using 1 - 2 litre bottle of soda (your choice) and one can of sweetened condensed milk. You can use whatever flavor to make the sherbet of your choice. Orange soda for orange sherbet, 7 up or Sprite for lemon lime, Cheerwine for cherry sherbet, peach soda for peach sherbet......................................
I am also interested in a recipe that I saw online. You can reduce the amounts using two of everything or even one of everything. Peaches may also be substituted for bananas, coconut could be added, the possibilities are endless.
Six Threes Ice Cream
3 cups sugar
3 cups cream
3 cups milk
3 bananas - mashed
3 oranges - juiced
3 lemons - juiced
In a large bowl, whisk together sugar and cream until sugar is dissolved. Mix in the milk, mashed bananas, and fruit juices.
Pour mixture into ice cream maker. Freeze according to manufacturer's directions, about 45 minutes.
Share your favorite homemade ice cream. I plan to try several this summer!!
So, until tomorrow........
S~~~
What I did do was buy a new ice cream freezer. I have had one of the tabletop Cuisinart freezers for several years. In the move (almost 3 years ago now), I misplaced the cylinder that goes into the freezer. I finally broke down and replaced it after giving up hope of ever finding the missing part. I know, Murphy's law will probably kick in now and it will turn up downstairs in a stray tote.
Anyway, in preparation for Lacy and Bashar's visit next week we have a new ice cream maker. Ice cream is one of those things that makes everyone smile. Lacy quickly reminded me that many years ago (I'm talking probably 15 years) I had promised to make her cherry sherbet and for whatever forgotten reason failed to come through on my promise, so cherry sherbet will most assuredly be made.
I know everyone has made the sherbet using 1 - 2 litre bottle of soda (your choice) and one can of sweetened condensed milk. You can use whatever flavor to make the sherbet of your choice. Orange soda for orange sherbet, 7 up or Sprite for lemon lime, Cheerwine for cherry sherbet, peach soda for peach sherbet......................................
I am also interested in a recipe that I saw online. You can reduce the amounts using two of everything or even one of everything. Peaches may also be substituted for bananas, coconut could be added, the possibilities are endless.
Six Threes Ice Cream
3 cups sugar
3 cups cream
3 cups milk
3 bananas - mashed
3 oranges - juiced
3 lemons - juiced
In a large bowl, whisk together sugar and cream until sugar is dissolved. Mix in the milk, mashed bananas, and fruit juices.
Pour mixture into ice cream maker. Freeze according to manufacturer's directions, about 45 minutes.
Share your favorite homemade ice cream. I plan to try several this summer!!
So, until tomorrow........
S~~~
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Grilling Season
Grilling season is finally here. We aren't the couple that you see out on the deck in 20 degree weather bundled up in coats and hats trying to grill a steak or two. No, winter is for roasts, lasagna, hearty soups and the like at the Taylor's. That said, when warm weather rolls around we will be found more often than not grilling. Pizza, steak, pork chops, vegetables of all kinds, hot dogs, seafood, hamburgers, chicken a million different ways, you name it, it's better on the grill.
The recipe tonight is from supper last night.
No cooking here tonight Sidestreet is practicing.
BBQ Orange Pork Chops*
Five Spice Rice
Grilled Corn (leftover from Sunday, see, I am trying)
Tiny English Peas
BBQ Orange Pork Chops
4 - 1" thick pork chops
2/3 cup orange juice
1/4 cup olive oil
4 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
3/4 cup barbeque sauce ( homemade or your favorite store bought)
1/2 cup orange marmalade
salt and pepper to taste
Combine orange juice, olive oil, soy sauce, garlic and red pepper flakes in a large (1 gallon) reclosable bag. Add pork chops and marinade 30 minutes to one hour.
In a small bowl combine the barbeque sauce and orange marmalade.
Remove pork chops from the marinade and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Spread one half barbeque sauce and orange marmalade over top of pork chops.
Grill 10 minutes (this may vary depending in your grill) and turn. spread remaining barbeque/ orange mixture over top. Continue cooking until pork chops reach 160 degrees.
So, until tomorrow...........
S~~~
The recipe tonight is from supper last night.
No cooking here tonight Sidestreet is practicing.
BBQ Orange Pork Chops*
Five Spice Rice
Grilled Corn (leftover from Sunday, see, I am trying)
Tiny English Peas
BBQ Orange Pork Chops
4 - 1" thick pork chops
2/3 cup orange juice
1/4 cup olive oil
4 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
3/4 cup barbeque sauce ( homemade or your favorite store bought)
1/2 cup orange marmalade
salt and pepper to taste
Combine orange juice, olive oil, soy sauce, garlic and red pepper flakes in a large (1 gallon) reclosable bag. Add pork chops and marinade 30 minutes to one hour.
In a small bowl combine the barbeque sauce and orange marmalade.
Remove pork chops from the marinade and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Spread one half barbeque sauce and orange marmalade over top of pork chops.
Grill 10 minutes (this may vary depending in your grill) and turn. spread remaining barbeque/ orange mixture over top. Continue cooking until pork chops reach 160 degrees.
So, until tomorrow...........
S~~~
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Grilling Tonight
I am basking in this beautiful spring day. The weather is perfect. It is finally warm.
We are grilling on the deck tonight. No particular plan, we just don't want to waste a single night where we can enjoy this weather.
I always go to BiLo or Sam's for salmon. I picked some nice fillets yesterday at BiLo and will probably use my go to salmon recipe. Add some grilled corn on the cob and roasted potatoes with onions, simple salad and we have supper. Easy peasy. For dessert I will slice a cantaloupe I got yesterday. I hope it is a good one!!
Favorite Grilled Salmon
2 boneless salmon fillets
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
pepper to taste
Combine brown sugar, Dijon mustard, soy sauce. Old Bay and pepper.
Spread over the top of the salmon fillets.
Grill approximately 10 - 15 minutes.
Note:
I have a Holland Grill so it usually takes the full 15 minutes. If you are using direct heat most likely 10 minutes will be plenty.
So, until tomorrow.........
S~~~
We are grilling on the deck tonight. No particular plan, we just don't want to waste a single night where we can enjoy this weather.
I always go to BiLo or Sam's for salmon. I picked some nice fillets yesterday at BiLo and will probably use my go to salmon recipe. Add some grilled corn on the cob and roasted potatoes with onions, simple salad and we have supper. Easy peasy. For dessert I will slice a cantaloupe I got yesterday. I hope it is a good one!!
Favorite Grilled Salmon
2 boneless salmon fillets
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
pepper to taste
Combine brown sugar, Dijon mustard, soy sauce. Old Bay and pepper.
Spread over the top of the salmon fillets.
Grill approximately 10 - 15 minutes.
Note:
I have a Holland Grill so it usually takes the full 15 minutes. If you are using direct heat most likely 10 minutes will be plenty.
So, until tomorrow.........
S~~~
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The Brand Name Girl Discovers Aldi
Remember my post about brand name snobs? Well, I think I am a recovering brand name snob.
Truthfully, there are a few I refuse to give up. Among those are Bounty Towels, Welch's Grape Jelly Horizon Organic Milk and of course, Diet Coke.
Aldi has been around for a while. I knew about it, I even went in a time or two. Daddy and Florence have shopped there on a regular basis for years, Ragan has discovered an all new love of cooking that Aldi fits into nicely. I held out thinking Aldi was something like Go Grocery. I truly dislike Go Grocery, it is dirty and smelly. Unlike Go Grocery Aldi primarily stocks their own brands.
I reluctantly decided to do some research and see what Aldi was all about. I quickly discovered that Aldi and Trader Joe's are owned by the same company. Hummmmmmm, I love Trader Joe's. I stock up every time we visit Lacy and Bashar. Next I found a site that reviewed Aldi products.
I made some notes and took off to Aldi.
First, you need a quarter. You put your quarter in the buggy to release it. When you return it you get your quarter back. OK, that works for me. No loose buggies dinging my car.
The store is small, no frills but very clean.
Some of the items I purchased are:
Fresh Sweet Corn - 4 ears $1.49
Fresh Pineapple $1.49
Deli Style Sliced Swiss Cheese $1.99
8 oz. Whipped Cream Cheese $1.29
64 oz. 100% White Grape Juice $2.29
100 oz. HE Laundry Detergent $6.99
6 oz. Tomato Paste $ .39
8 oz Tomato Sauce $ .25
Limes (6) $ .99
4 oz. Sliced Mushrooms $ .55
Roasted Vegetable Crackers $1.69
Onion Soup Mix $ .69
24 oz. Salsa $1.49
Lemons (6) $1.49
Envelope Taco Seasoning $ .33
Avocados $ .99
These are the items that I have tried so far. I would purchase every single one again. In fact, I would go so far as to say some are actually better than the name brand.
The fresh corn was the very best we have had all year.
There are a few brand names available also.
You will need to either bring bags or purchase them there. Large plastic bags are ten cents and paper bags are six cents.
All of our surrounding towns have Aldi, Asheville has two, Morganton, Lenior and Forest City have one each. Hopefully, Marion will have one soon.
Let us know if you are an Aldi devotee. What do you buy? What will you not buy again?
So, until tomorrow...............
S~~~
Truthfully, there are a few I refuse to give up. Among those are Bounty Towels, Welch's Grape Jelly Horizon Organic Milk and of course, Diet Coke.
Aldi has been around for a while. I knew about it, I even went in a time or two. Daddy and Florence have shopped there on a regular basis for years, Ragan has discovered an all new love of cooking that Aldi fits into nicely. I held out thinking Aldi was something like Go Grocery. I truly dislike Go Grocery, it is dirty and smelly. Unlike Go Grocery Aldi primarily stocks their own brands.
I reluctantly decided to do some research and see what Aldi was all about. I quickly discovered that Aldi and Trader Joe's are owned by the same company. Hummmmmmm, I love Trader Joe's. I stock up every time we visit Lacy and Bashar. Next I found a site that reviewed Aldi products.
I made some notes and took off to Aldi.
First, you need a quarter. You put your quarter in the buggy to release it. When you return it you get your quarter back. OK, that works for me. No loose buggies dinging my car.
The store is small, no frills but very clean.
Some of the items I purchased are:
Fresh Sweet Corn - 4 ears $1.49
Fresh Pineapple $1.49
Deli Style Sliced Swiss Cheese $1.99
8 oz. Whipped Cream Cheese $1.29
64 oz. 100% White Grape Juice $2.29
100 oz. HE Laundry Detergent $6.99
6 oz. Tomato Paste $ .39
8 oz Tomato Sauce $ .25
Limes (6) $ .99
4 oz. Sliced Mushrooms $ .55
Roasted Vegetable Crackers $1.69
Onion Soup Mix $ .69
24 oz. Salsa $1.49
Lemons (6) $1.49
Envelope Taco Seasoning $ .33
Avocados $ .99
These are the items that I have tried so far. I would purchase every single one again. In fact, I would go so far as to say some are actually better than the name brand.
The fresh corn was the very best we have had all year.
There are a few brand names available also.
You will need to either bring bags or purchase them there. Large plastic bags are ten cents and paper bags are six cents.
All of our surrounding towns have Aldi, Asheville has two, Morganton, Lenior and Forest City have one each. Hopefully, Marion will have one soon.
Let us know if you are an Aldi devotee. What do you buy? What will you not buy again?
So, until tomorrow...............
S~~~
The ABC's of Me
A reader sent me this and asked me to post. Just a simple way of getting to know each other. Copy and paste into comments and let us know about you too!!
A - Age: 52
B - Bed size: King
C - Chore you hate: Ironing
D - Dogs' names: Sissy, Cagney and Gibson (We have a cat too, Gatsby)
E- Essential start to your day: Diet Coke (I know, I know)
F - Favorite color: Blue
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H – Height: 5' 2"
I - Ink - Blue or Black: Blue
J - Job title: Sales Manager - Accents on Asheville
K - Kmart or Kohl's?: Kohl's
L- Living arrangements: Just my husband and me at home with our fur babies
M - Marriage: Happily married to Ronnie for 31 years
N – Name (Complete): Susan Lyn Robinson Taylor
O- Orange Juice - With or without Pulp - Definitely without
P - Pet Peeve: Selfish people.
Q - Quote: "Southerners have a genius for psychological alchemy...If something intolerable simply cannot be changed, driven away or shot they will not only tolerate it but take pride in it as well." " — Florence King
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Summer or Spring?: Summer
T - Time you wake up: 7:02 am on workdays - I love to sleep late otherwise.
U- Underwear: Clean
V - Vegetable you dislike: I love all vegetables unless you consider tomatoes a vegetable. I do classify them as vegetables even though I know they are really a fruit.
W - Ways you run late: I rarely run late. I am John Robinson's daughter after all. That said I am not usually early either.
X - X-rays: I've had a few - I guess they couldn't think of much for X
Y - Yummy food you make: French Onion Soup - Key Lime Pie
Z - Zoo animals: My favorite are the monkeys
So, until tomorrow..........
S~~~
A - Age: 52
B - Bed size: King
C - Chore you hate: Ironing
D - Dogs' names: Sissy, Cagney and Gibson (We have a cat too, Gatsby)
E- Essential start to your day: Diet Coke (I know, I know)
F - Favorite color: Blue
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H – Height: 5' 2"
I - Ink - Blue or Black: Blue
J - Job title: Sales Manager - Accents on Asheville
K - Kmart or Kohl's?: Kohl's
L- Living arrangements: Just my husband and me at home with our fur babies
M - Marriage: Happily married to Ronnie for 31 years
N – Name (Complete): Susan Lyn Robinson Taylor
O- Orange Juice - With or without Pulp - Definitely without
P - Pet Peeve: Selfish people.
Q - Quote: "Southerners have a genius for psychological alchemy...If something intolerable simply cannot be changed, driven away or shot they will not only tolerate it but take pride in it as well." " — Florence King
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Summer or Spring?: Summer
T - Time you wake up: 7:02 am on workdays - I love to sleep late otherwise.
U- Underwear: Clean
V - Vegetable you dislike: I love all vegetables unless you consider tomatoes a vegetable. I do classify them as vegetables even though I know they are really a fruit.
W - Ways you run late: I rarely run late. I am John Robinson's daughter after all. That said I am not usually early either.
X - X-rays: I've had a few - I guess they couldn't think of much for X
Y - Yummy food you make: French Onion Soup - Key Lime Pie
Z - Zoo animals: My favorite are the monkeys
So, until tomorrow..........
S~~~
Monday, June 1, 2009
Blueberries and Summer
I know it really isn't summer yet....., that's OK, it's close enough.
This weekend was so beautiful, but it sure did go by like a whirlwind.
Yesterday I made Blueberry Lemon Tea* for Ronnie ( I don't eat blueberries, it is that seed thing again). We put BBQ chicken on the grill, fresh creamed corn and had a salad from the garden. For dessert I made a Chocolate Covered Cherry Cake.
Tonight we grilled pizza. Honestly, if you aren't making your own pizza sauce you are missing out. It makes all the difference in the world. Try the one posted here and I promise you won't ever buy sauce again.
Blueberry Lemon Tea
1 (16 ounce) package blueberries
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
8 cups water
3 family-size tea bags
3/4 cup sugar
Bring blueberries and lemon juice to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
Remove from heat, and pour through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a pitcher, using the back of a spoon to press out juice. Discard solids. Wipe saucepan clean.
Bring 8 cups water to boil in same saucepan;add 3 family size teabags, and let stand 8 minutes. Remove and discard teabags.
Pour into pitcher with blueberry juice mixture and stir in sugar. Cover and chill 1 hour.
Serve over ice.
Sorry to be so short tonight but I am having some minor computer problems.
So, until tomorrow...........
S~~~
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