We all have momentous occasions in our lives that we will never forget. Three that come to mind for me are the births of both my children and the day I found out that chocolate was good for you.
To be more specific, dark chocolate that contains more than 70% pure cocoa is good for you.
When I saw the word “chocolate” used in the same sentence as the phrase “good for you”, however, that was good enough for me. The world became a brighter place. Life made more sense. [Read more...]
Have you ever dreamed about having the perfect holiday dinner? Have you ever seen those Norman Rockwell-type photographs in magazines and cookbooks showing a holiday dinner that looked almost too beautiful to eat? Have you ever promised yourself that some day you would set a table like that?
Guess what? Even though food is a huge, traditional part of celebrating the holidays, it will always be more about the people who are eating together than it will be about the food being eaten.
If you try too hard to make your holiday dinner just right, you may cause yourself more stress than you need—and you may miss out on some special moments. It isn’t about following mom’s instructions to the letter and measuring just right when you and she are cooking together. It’s about the laughter and memories you share as you’re chopping and mixing. It isn’t about being able to declare that you made that pumpkin pie from scratch (including growing the pumpkin yourself), it’s about the stories that are told around the table as the pie is being eaten. [Read more...]
Are you tempted to purchase bakery cakes?
Preparing cakes yourself for holiday dinners does not require hidden talent. The right toppings and fillings will make it special.
Chocolate cake with fresh strawberries – two layer.
1 boxed mix chocolate cake prepared
1 container prepared white icing for two layer cake
1 pint (or more) whole fresh strawberries (smaller ones)
Chocolate flavored topping or strawberry glaze
Whipped cream
This works best right before serving and is very quick. Frost your first layer and arrange plain sliced strawberries in a single layer (do not add sugar). Add second layer and frost. Cut remaining strawberries in half and press into icing. Serve cake portions with a drizzle of strawberry glaze or chocolate topping. Finish with swirled whipped cream.
Spice Cake with canned apple pie topping – one layer (Approximately 9” x 13 or 14”).
One boxed mix spice cake prepared
One container prepared white icing
One small can apple pie filling
One jar maraschino cherries w/stems well drained or blotted dry
Transfer cooled cake to flat sheet cookie pan. Create 10 servings by piping frosting to form raised edges on each serving to contain apple filling. Remove excess syrup from apple filling, reserve for other use. Dice apples in remaining syrup and stir well. Spread apple mixture to cover exposed cake on each serving inside the ridges. Add a cherry to top each servicing. Pre-slice the cake between icing ridges.
Cake is very versatile and lends itself well to baking ahead of time. Just bake, freeze, wrap in plastic, and return to the freezer stored on a metal baking sheet to prevent breakage. Remove plastic wrap and thaw before frosting or filling.
Steaming hot soup full of tummy satisfying ingredients is particularly well suited to cold weather and to begin your holiday dinner.
Soup has many advantages over other foods. Vegetables can be hidden inside and the picky eater will never know the difference – pulverize them in a blender. Just stifle the urge to ask, “Do you know what you just ate?” or giggle uncontrollably when they eat it and ask for more. [Read more...]
Here’s the truth: Kelly McCausey is a terrible cook.
Still, she occasionally excels with cheater recipes that make use of super simple ingredients – like her Easy Chicken Enchiladas. The only skills necessary are the ability to boil water and use a microwave.
You’ll need:
Mix the cooked rice, one cup of shredded cheese and chicken together with the Taco Seasoning and about 1/3 the can of Enchilada Sauce.
Spoon the rice and chicken mixture down the center of your flour tortilla and roll it up.
Take a plate, spoon some enchilada sauce onto the plate and lay the rolled up tortilla on it. Spoon more enchilada sauce on top and then scoop a handful of shredded cheese on top of that.
Pop the plate in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. (I prepare each plate individually and serve it piping hot with sour cream.)
