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Royal Foodie Joust Entry: Pork and Asparagus Rolls on Wilted Spinach
2009-03-12 05:00:00
Here is my entry for this month's Royal Foodie Joust for which the 3 ingredients are, lemongrass, almonds and asparagus. Even the littlest noseminers liked this one.Pork and Asparagus Rolls on Wilted Spinach Serves 212 spears asparagus4 one-inch thick slices pork tenderloin2 four-inch lengths of lemongrass1/4 cup whole unsalted almonds2 teaspoons orange marmalade6 ounces fresh baby spinach1 Tablespoon thinly sliced green onion1/4 cup soy sauce1/2 teaspoon minced garlic1 Tablespoon Sherry2/3 cup beef stock1 Tablespoon cornstarchsalt and pepper to tasteneutral oil such as canola for fryingRemove woody ends of asparagus spears and tie the spears together. Cut the outer leaves of the lemongrass away from the tender centers and set aside. Steam asparagus spears with water prepared with these outer lemongrass leaves and salt. Steam lightly for 2-3 minutes only. Set aside.Pound tenderloin slices thin. Do this very gently. Pork tenderloin is already very tender and over-pounding will caus...
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Veggie Wednesday: Cauliflower and Pear Curry
2009-03-11 05:04:00
Last week we had one of those throw-together-meals for dinner. Cubed chicken breasts, bagged frozen veggies and bottled curry sauce. I also had a few pears on-hand that needed to be used, so I threw them into the mix. The combo of cauliflower and pear was so good that I decided to make it again as a vegetarian dish.Ever since my friend Jodie sent me a bunch of fun stuff from Japan, including several packages of Vermont Curry , I've been hooked on it. It's sweeter than most other curries and smoother, as well. I took the Wafuu recipe from Saveur and did my own thing with it, using pears rather than apples and using my own blend of veggie. Here is the recipe with my changes in blue. Of course, the curry blend you use will change the flavor of the finished dish, so make sure to use a curry you're fond of.Japanese-Style Chicken Curry(Wafuu Curry)SERVES 4Wafuu curry has a cult following in Japan, where many fondly remember eating it at home and at school functions. The recipes vary fro...
More About: Pear , Cauliflower , Wednesday

Bacon Pie
2009-03-07 22:30:00
Bacon pie, it turns out, may be just a joke. Dear George asked if I ever made bacon pie - my response was, "What's that?" He told me he had friends who talked about it and made it out to be the best stuff going. The only reference I could find online was at an urban dictionary - something about it being consumed with root beer. I also consulted Mr. Dave, author of Ridiculous Food Society of Upstate New York and he told me the only pie he could recall having was more akin to the Bisquick 'Impossible Pie' type and served with gravy rather than having gravy in the pie. Oh, and Dave has more bacon recipes than a person should and each one looks heart-stoppingly delicious. And I do mean heart-stoppingly.No matter, I came up with my own recipe based on what George told me, which was, "eggs, sausage, bacon and gravy". There are several other names I could think of for this pie like: Heart Attack Pie, Stroke-For-Sure Pie, Go-Broke-Quick Pie or Lard Butt Special, but I think for now we'l...
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Veggie Wednesday: Sofrito Rice and Beans
2009-03-04 14:42:00
Sofrito is an ingredient that plays a very large role in any type of Hispanic cooking. However, there are two distinct ways of making it; one involves tomatoes and one does not. I've used both and it really depends on my mood as to which will find its way into a dish, but for this dish it was the green sofrito made without tomatoes.This sofrito is another of those things I made by throwing together the ingredients until it 'looked good'. There is a good recipe for it HERE. I simply tossed green peppers, cilantro, garlic and onion into the blender and chopped it fine. I store mine in the freezer in small batches until needed. This isn't a typical Hispanic recipe - just something I made for lunch when this was all that I had on-hand.Sofrito Rice and Beans 2 tablespoons oil1 cup green sofrito2 cups uncooked rice - rinsed 3 cups cooked pinto beans4 cups water plus more as neededHeat oil in a heavy bottomed pot and add sofrito. Cook and stir until fragrant. Add rice and toss until wel...
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Bacon in the Budget
2009-03-03 15:43:00
Bacon Pancakes - recipe belowBacon is quickly taking on a role as the new chocolate as of late and I'm on that wagon, for sure. Bacon lovers are coming 'out of the closet' with a fervor and I'm more than happy to join the ranks of newly outted pork belly fanatics whether it's PC or not.However (come on, there has to be a 'however' here) bacon is expensive and not-so-good for a person's health. What to do? Bacon ends. I'm not talking the fat-only type, and don't let your butcher get away with handing that to you, I'm talking the kind with a good amount of meat still on them and all the flavor of the picture-perfect slices. There are many areas where you can actually purchased boxes of bacon ends for your freezer. If you don't have that available, ask at the meat counter.Here's the health part; it doesn't take a lot of bacon to get a good bacon flavor. Take those ends and cook them up until crisp. Drain well and crumble into bacon bits. While you're at it, save the baco...
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Daring Bakers' Challenge: Chocolate Valentino and Ice Cream
2009-02-28 06:00:00
What a truly delicious challenge we had for the Daring Bakers in February! The February 2009 challenge is hosted by Wendy of WMPE's blog and Dharm of Dad ~ Baker & Chef.We have chosen a Chocolate Valentino cake by Chef Wan; a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Dharm and a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Wendy as the challenge.I make a version of this delicious flourless chocolate cake that we call Chocolate Mousse Torte here at home. However, I rarely make ice cream for several reasons. For a family our size it's expensive, I don't have an ice cream maker and I really don't like to play the 'check and stir' game all day long. I did it for this challenge, though and decided on an apple dumpling ice cream made with vanilla ice cream studded with apples, cinnamon, sugar and pie dough squares. Yum!Here are the recipes:Chocolate ValentinoPreparation Time: 20 minutes16 ounces (1 pound) (454 grams) of semisweet chocolate, roughly chopped½ cup (1 stick) plus 2 tablespoons (146 grams tot...
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Veggie Wednesday: Mandarin Orange and Cucumber Rice Salad with Orange Bloss
2009-02-25 18:48:00
This is a dual-purpose recipe; it works perfectly for Veggie Wednesday and is my submission to the Royal Foodie Joust for this month. The ingredients this month were Satsuma (or any other orange citrus) - zest, fruit or juice, shallots and Edible Flowers. I couldn't find anything fresh (don't ever eat edible varieties if they are bought at the florist - check HERE for more tips) and there weren't any dried varieties I wanted to use, so I broke out one of my flower waters - orange blossom this time - and invented this rice salad.It's very bright and fresh tasting - just like Spring!Mandarin Orange and Cucumber Rice Salad with Orange Blossom VinaigretteServes 6Vinaigrette:1 Tablespoon olive oil2 Tablespoons orange blossom water1 Tablespoon pomegranate vinegar (or other fruited vinegar)1/2 cup liquid from canned mandarin oranges1 shallot - minced1/2 teaspoon saltSalad:2 cups water1 cup rice1 shallot - diced finely1 Tablespoon vegetable oil1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced...

More on Food Budgeting
2009-02-23 15:32:00
I'm sure for anyone reading here often you've surmised that nearly every recipe posted is of the frugal variety. Other than the occasional recipe that contains an expensive ingredient or two, I stick to what I know: Feeding many for little.It's no secret that much of what I cook is from scratch with as little processed junk as possible. A few of my favorite budget-minded recipes from the archives:Homemade Toaster TartsWhole Wheat Bread with HoneyCorn Fritters with Black Bean SalsaHummus and Tomato Melt (using Hummus and Wheat Pita)Tortilla EspañolaVeggie Fajitas with Homemade Whole Wheat Tortillas and Refried BeansLinguine with Baby Spinach and AlmondsCreamed Peas and Carrots on ToastOrange-Ginger Chicken TabboulehLebanese ZucchiniSausage Sandwich TartFried Green TomatoesStacked SaladThree Bean SaladApple CakeWacky CakeChicken RecipesSimilarly, nearly everything I've posted to Family.com has been in the frugal family, so take a look there, as well. I'm working in getting recip...
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Sunday Dinner: BBQ-Fried Chicken
2009-02-22 14:56:00
This photo is one of the little one's plates - I always cut the tenders from the chicken breasts as they are easier for tiny hands to grasp.This week's Sunday Dinner is a combination of things my family loves. Declan (our 9 year-old son) could probably live on barbecue sauce; he puts it on almost everything. The rest of the family is crazy about fried chicken so I put the two together and it was a hit.I was able to find boneless, skinless chicken breasts at Valley Farm this week for $1.99 a pound - hard to beat these days - and along with homemade breadcrumbs (I never, ever buy them) from a leftover French batard I had, this was quite the frugal dinner.BBQ-Fried Chicken Smashed Potatoes Steamed BroccoliCarrot CupcakesBBQ-Fried ChickenServes 4The larger crumb on these makes them crunchier but can be harder to work with. Be sure to press the breadcrumbs onto the chicken well before frying.4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves - pounded or cut to even thickness1/2 cup barbecue sa...
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Baked Grits and Eggs with Cheese
2009-02-21 19:44:00
I've been eating grits since I was very young - perhaps shortly after birth - I'd have to ask mom. My family is not from The South - Midwest actually - but there's such a strong Southern influence in and around where my mom grew up that I have a fairly good grasp of Southern food. That's a good thing because some of the finest food in the world was born in the rural south here in the U.S. and it's something I think every good cook needs to have in their repertoire.Not only is Southern food hearty and full of flavor, it's also economical - which is also a good thing. When we were young my mom would often make grits, eggs and bacon for breakfast on weekends and there is nothing quite like those flavors blended together.I like to change things up a little and add cheese or green onion to my grits, but the kids don't always like that, so I usually cook up grits with cheese or even just lots of butter for them. This dish is a couple of my favorites all in one.Please don't use ins...
More About: Baked , Eggs , Cheese

Homemade Hummus and Wheat Pita
2009-02-17 17:18:00
Hummus and whole wheat pita is one of my very favorite things. In fact, I joke with my son Ian that he's 'half hummus and pita' because I ate it so often when I was pregnant with him. I used to pay big money to get good hummus and pita and then I started making my own. Not only did it taste better, but it's so much cheaper that I don't buy the pre-made stuff any longer. I paid less than $5 for both the pita and hummus - a far sight less than when I bought it at the grocery.It's also a lot easier than you may think. Here are the recipes I use most often.HummusMakes 2 cups2 cups cooked and drained garbanzo beans (chickpeas)1/2 cup tahini - sesame paste1 teaspoon minced garlic1 teaspoon saltjuice of 1 lemonToss everything into a blender and pulse until smooth. For this one I added in a cup of diced red pepper. You can add in other veggies, etc. just make sure to balance out the liquid so the hummus isn't too thin.Cooked chickpeasLemon, garlic, tahini and saltRed pepperRed Pepper...
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The Lehigh Valley Food Co-Op Update!
2009-02-14 20:39:00
From the most recent Lehigh Valley Food Co-Op e-mail:We are very pleased to be opening our Virtual Farmers' Market with Coop Store very shortly. We will commence our first ordering cycle starting Feb 17th. It will run until March 16th with delivery on March 19th if everything goes as planned. We need your help with ideas on what types of Bulk, Personal Care, Household care, and Produce items that your family usually buys to run your household. Keep in mind the brands you prefer. We will compile the list for easy ordering via our website. Please respond promptly. Come to the Macungie Fire Company on Feb 17th from 7-9pm for the Launching of the website, check out the facilities and meet some producers! Address is 31 S. Walnut St. in Macungie, PA 18062 - RSVP to the e-mail or 610-965-6198. Membership work hour shifts are in need of being filled for weekly Thursday Delivery. Now is your time to help! Wednesday will be a 2 hr sh...
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Balasia's Valentine's Day Dinner and News
2009-02-12 17:36:00
If you're a vegan, vegetarian or anyone who enjoys great vegetarian food, the place to be this Valentine's Day is Balasia in Emmaus.Here is the fixed-price dinner-for-two menu available for Valentine's Day:Valentines Day Dinner - Saturday, February 14thPrixe Fixe $125Dinner for Two Will Include:SoupSaladEntreeBalasian Cocktailhot tea, teeccino, or organic coffeeVegan Treats dessert and surprise giftContact 484-330-6405 or balasia-world@hotmail.com for reservations and further information.Get there NOW before time runs out! The news of the day for Balasia is as follows:*Balasia will be on a brief hiatus beginning shortly after Valentine's Day. Our secret new location will be disclosed within the next year. Make your reservations now to experience the unique culinary adventure that IS Balasia! Call for details 484-330-6405*
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Wacky Cake: Frugal, Vegan ... Delicious
2009-02-10 06:00:00
Long ago and far away when I was young my brothers and I had the good fortune of being nourished by wonderfully talented cooks: our mother, our step-mother and our grandmothers. All four went above and beyond the call of duty by making sure that we were not only getting decent nutrition, but that we enjoyed all that we ate.When they weren't feeding us food that kept us healthy, they were doing very bad things, like feeding us too much Wacky Cake . Now, remember, in the 70's vegetarianism was just taking hold here in the U.S. and moms and grandmoms were still of the 'June Cleaver' variety; that meant dessert every night. Having been products of the Depression and World War II eras or, in the case of our mom and step-mom, having been fed by someone who was the product of the Depression and World War II eras, one of the more popular cakes to make was Wacky Cake.Prepared in one pan without eggs, milk or butter, it was not only fast, but thrifty and filled the dessert slot as well as ...
More About: Vegan , Frugal , Delicious

Bonefish Grill for Valentine's Day
2009-02-09 15:09:00
Looking for a little extra this Valentine's Day? Head on over to Bonefish Grill for your celebratory sweetheart meal and you'll receive "a complimentary 1.2 oz Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa bar at the end of (the) meal. Additionally, a tasting card outlining the Lindt Master Chocolatier?s ?Five Senses of Chocolate Tasting? process will be provided to highlight the optimal way to identify and enjoy premium chocolate."Valentine's Day hails as the day when more chocolate is purchased and given than on any other day of the year. Why not get a fabulous meal to go with that chocolate? Bonefish Grill and Lindt & Sprungli, master Swiss chocolatiers, are teaming up for this one-time event, so don't miss it! Check out the store locator at the Bonefish Grill website and find the menu for your location so you can plan your night.

The Other Fish
2009-02-05 06:01:00
In the realm of 'Things Anne Has Not Yet Tried' not only was there authentic chow mein, there was also sushi. I, like many others, couldn't get past the idea of eating raw fish. It didn't matter that I had eaten raw ground beef as a child, there was something about raw fish that just didn't seem right. There were also the many warnings about parasites and bacteria and food borne illnesses to think about. My own daughters had sushi far before I had and told me how they would never eat sushi again (never mind that it was a stomach virus that made them sick, not the sushi). So, I had set myself against it. Maybe I would eat a California roll, but even then, how often did I frequent establishments that served sushi of any form, even the cooked variety?Along comes my brother Bobby. He has been eating sushi for 20 years at least 2 times a week. To say he is addicted would be putting it mildly; he may also be pushing the boundaries of 'guilty pleasure' at this point. Nevertheless, h...
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Cooking with Anne in the News
2009-02-04 15:38:00
Cooking with Anne , and more specifically, Short Order Mom, are in the local newspaper today! Read up about it at The Morning Call (permalink HERE).While this is exciting news, please remember to check out my other post (below) today about the Wildflower Cafe. Thanks!
More About: News , Cooking , In the News , The News

Veggie Wednesday: Wildflower Cafe
2009-02-04 06:00:00
If you are a vegetarian or vegan (or anybody who enjoys good food, for that matter) living in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas, here's a weekly event you won't want to miss:Wildflower Cafe , at 316 South New Street between 3rd and 4th Streets in Bethlehem, is having a $5, all-you-can-eat vegan pancake breakfast every Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM. We make each batch unique with different ingredients, and genuinely enjoy serving the community in this way. We hope you will come and join us ; we'd love to see you!Good for the environment and the economy! Sadly, I haven't been in yet at all, but I hope to be able to check it out soon and bring you lots more info on this great little spot on the South Side of Bethlehem. They are also a part of the listing of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in and around the Lehigh Valley.
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Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Muffins
2009-02-04 02:38:00
Walking through the grocery today with my daughter, Megan she picked up a mammoth muffin and pointed to the top, "Look, see that sparkly sugar on top? Why don't you make muffins like this, woman?" Yes, she calls me 'woman' and points to the fact that Jesus also called his mother 'woman' as her reasoning for doing this and not being disrespectful. Right.Anyway, I can make muffins like that, I just don't because I like to limit sugar consumption here to what is in food without making it worse by putting sugar on the food as well. I caved and made them for her. This combines two of my favorites - chocolate and cinnamon.Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Muffins Makes 12 large muffins3 cups flour1/2 cup white sugar1/2 cup packed brown sugar1 tablespoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 1/2 cups milk1 teaspoon vanilla extract2 eggs - beaten1/2 cup oil or melted butter (I like olive oil for baking)1 12 ounce package mini chocolate chipslarge grained sugar - I use Wilto...

Chow Mein Trauma
2009-02-01 00:44:00
I just had real chicken chow mein for the first time in my life. I bet you're wondering how a foodie like myself, at 40 years old could ever have gotten away with that. Well, it starts with the trauma I endured as a child. Yes; trauma. Everyone's mom did it, so I know I'm not alone here and I hope that we can share our traumatic memories and help one another through this.Mom was wonderful in the 70's, wasn't she? Making sure we were clothed, shoed, well-fed and educated. The caring didn't end there - oh, no - there was the spotless house (brought to us by Heloise), the car pooling to little league games, the plastic covered furniture, Sunday School and family dinners. Ah, yes, family dinners provided by the other Mrs. ; Mrs. Paul, Mrs. Butterworth, Mrs. Smith and so on.Not that mom didn't cook, she did - at least my mom did - but with so many shortcuts available of the canned/frozen/packaged variety, who could blame dear old mum for making use of them? One thing that my own m...
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Book Review: Table Talk
2009-01-26 22:42:00
Every so often a cookbook comes along that captures my attention, keeps me reading until the very last page and leaves me feeling as though the author were a close friend. Table Talk by Carol McManus, owner of Espresso Love on Martha's Vineyard, is one such cookbook.Once I picked this book up I was not able to put it down until I read it from cover to cover. I holed myself up in a comfortable spot and devoured it in a single hour. I was up and making Presidential Muffins before the book was fully closed and thinking about our next meal together as a family. I was inspired to do exactly what this book intends to inspire: sit us all down at table and enjoy one another without feeling like I needed a rest after making dinner.The recipes in this book range from special to everyday and each one is something even a novice cook can pull off. The best part is that each recipe is tried and true and designed to make a parent's life in the kitchen easier so that more time can be spent with ...
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Foodbuzz 24,24,24: There's No Place Like Home
2009-01-25 19:08:00
What's the number one thing kids miss while away from home at college? The food. My oldest daughter, in her second year at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, can attest to that and tells me so often. Many times she calls home to find that we're having one of her favorite foods for dinner and she'll say, ?I want to come home!?Cassidy is one of my biggest fans, and as such she talks to her friends about my blog and my work quite often. She told me that her friends wanted to come home with her and have dinner. I wanted to do just that for quite some time and when it came time to submit a proposal for the January Foodbuzz 24,24,24 Event, I decided that a dinner based on comfort foods stepped-up a bit would be just the thing. We were all excited when I found my proposal was accepted!I had Cassidy ask her friends ahead of time what their favorite comfort foods were and also which food they missed the most while away from home. There were the expected answers; mashed potatoes, macaron...
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Chocolate-Crusted Chocolate Tarts
2009-01-23 04:28:00
We had these for dessert last night and they were spectacular. I didn't have everything on-hand so I improvised, but the result was so good there's no way you'd know they weren't supposed to be that way.The recipe is from the Better Homes & Gardens 2003 cookbook - you can find it HERE. I've added the changes I made in blue.Chocolate -Crusted Chocolate Tarts Makes: 8 servingsPrep: 25 minutesBake: 25 minutesCool: 30 minutesStand: 30 minutes Ingredients * 1 recipe Chocolate-Hazelnut Tart Shells (see recipe below) * 10 to 10-1/2 ounces 85-percent-cocoa chocolate or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (1 12- ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips) * 3/4 cup whipping cream (I only had milk on-hand and used 1 cup in lieu of cream and milk) * 1/2 cup milk * 3 tablespoons flavored honey (raspberry, cinnamon, or ginger)(omitted) * 1 egg, lightly beaten * Halved or chopped hazelnuts (filberts) (optional)(almonds)Directions1. Preheat oven to 325 degree F. Pr...

Share Our Strength - Operation No Kid Hungry
2009-01-18 02:20:00
Share Our Strength has launched a brand new campaign to raise funds to help end childhood hunger. "Operation No Kid Hungry " responds to President-elect Obama's call to action to end childhood hunger by 2015.Share Our Strength has partnered with AT&T to offer two great ways that you can support and participate in "Operation No Kid Hungry":1. Donate by text: Text "SHARE" to 20222 on your mobile device to donate $5. AT&T will match all text donations up to $100,000. Help us meet this challenge grant! Find out more at http://strength.org/get_involved/text_don ation/2. Hold a food drive: Beginning January 19th, a national day of community service, help feed those in need by holding your own community food drive. Visit http://Strength.org to find a food bank and a list of the most needed nutritious foods.For more information about "Operation No Kid Hungry" and how you can help end childhood hunger, visit Share Our Strength's website: http://strength.org.
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Budget Meal Planning
2009-01-16 16:14:00
In these tough economic times, what's a person to do when it comes to eating? Budget ing for food is one thing, but being able to actually spend that money wisely so that you can feed your family is a completely different matter. I am going to share with you how I feed our family of 9 on a budget of $150 or less per week. It really is doable and we don't eat beans every night. In fact, beans rarely make it into our menu.I've already written about how I plan and the lists I make, and I'll elaborate on that below, but I think the best way to show how I'm accomplishing this seemingly impossible feat is to share with you what we eat. Let's start with recent weeks, for instance.Our budget the past few weeks was $60 less than usual and the cupboards after the holidays were nearly bare, so it was even more of a challenge than usual. We haven't been eating like kings, but nobody is starving and I've even had requests for seconds on several of these meals.In no particular ord...
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What's Goin' On?
2009-01-14 17:32:00
I may be MIA from my blog here, but I'm not lazing around off screen. I'm working on some posts for this blog and work and A Thousand Soups as well as being interviewed for a local paper. With the economy in a bind, I've decided to start sharing how we eat here for about $150 a week. It's nothing fabulous, but worth sharing. After all, I began this blog with the idea that I would journal our family recipes so the kids would have something to look back on. Our normal every day food isn't all gourmet, just like any large family, and I'd like to share a little more of that.I won't pass completely on fabulous culinary creations, but the general gist needs to be toned down a little in light of the fact that we aren't well-to-do.So, if you want to stick around for some good old 'normal' food, please do so and know that I'll have posts up really soon.
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Italian Eggs
2009-01-07 16:51:00
What makes these eggs "Italian "? A movie! Moonstruck, to be exact. There is a scene in Moonstruck where Cher's character is making breakfast and she hollows out a slice of bread, tosses it in a frying pan and adds an egg to the hollowed out center. From the time I first saw that movie (long time ago!) I've been making this particular variation of those eggs.Start with a nice large loaf of Italian bread and cut into thick slices.Hollow out the center of each slice. Heat some oil in a heavy frying pan and add the bread.Add an egg to the center of each slice of bread. Do this slowly so the egg begins to set and doesn't flow out from underneath the bread. Cook until the bottom of the egg is well set.Flip once and allow to cook for a few minutes longer.Top with mozzarella cheese and lid the pan for a few minutes until the cheese melts.Voila! I sometimes add Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb to the top of the eggs for extra flavor.
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Sunday Dinner: Chuck Roast
2009-01-04 20:59:00
Chuck Roast PotatoesCarrotsGravyGreen Salad with Tri-Colored PeppersDinner RollsI do believe chuck roast is one of the finest foods known to man. It fits my new 'slow' outlook on life and is well worth the wait. It absolutely takes me home - simple, delicious and hearty. I was able to pick up a boneless chuck pot roast for $1.99 a pound yesterday. That's a huge savings over what they normally cost, and right now I was very grateful for that find. Chuck comes from the shoulder area of a steer and gets more exercise than the nether regions of the animal, so it can be tough if not cooked properly. Chuck benefits from a long slow roast in liquid, also known as braising. Add vegetables toward the end of cooking time for a one-pot meal you can't go wrong making.Chuck Roast and VegetablesServes 8 (or in our case, 9!)1 4-pound boneless chuck pot roast2 tablespoons oil6 cloves garlic - chopped2 teaspoons kosher salt1 teaspoon large grind pepperherbs such as thyme or rosemary - as desired...
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Get the Vote Out for Illick's Mill!
2009-01-03 01:42:00
This has nothing to do with food, but is dear to my heart, so here it is. This is a grant that my daughter, Megan has written for a local organization. They need your help to be in the top 15. The voting ends on January 9th, so there is a little time left still. Please read this and vote if you feel led to. Thank you!************************************* ****I am part of the Illick's Mill Project. In October, I wrote a grant for $10,000. Tons of people applied for this grant. How it works is:1. 30 finalists are chosen from the all of the applications,2. People vote for which two teams they like the best everyday through December,3. The 15 most voted for all win $10,000.The Illick's Mill Project was chosen as one of the 30 finalists. We could really, really use the extra $10,000. So, I'm asking you to help us by voting for us.How to Vote :Either-A. Go to www.genv.net/bestbuy and choose the Illick's Mill Project and one other team to vote for (you must choose two teams!),ORB. Text B...

Slowing it Down
2009-01-01 17:52:00
I think this world is spinning faster than most of us can hold on and that's a stressful way to live. I'm a firm believer that stress will cause more damage to one's health than anything else. 2008 went by so quickly that I can barely recall what went on. The funny thing is, the faster things go, the less I seem to get done.I don't think I or my blog could be considered as the 'fast food' type, but just in case, I'm declaring this space a Slow-er Food spot - at least for this year. I'm not going 'whole hog' here, because we are a large family and sometimes convenience is just more ... well ... convenient, but I am all for rolling the clock back on our food choices and taking the time to really notice what we're eating, how it's being prepared and what it actually tastes like. There's nothing worse than finishing a meal without having tasted it because you're too busy to notice. Slow food is also usually more budget friendly and that suits my Scot spirit just fine.2009 ...