Thinking Ahead!

What an absolutely clever idea – Freezer Recipes/Once a Month Cooking! This is how it works…making meals over a one to two day period, stockpiling the freezer, thawing out your pick the night before and than you are good to go. A home cooked meal versus fast food or cereal again.

As I started looking into this a little further – there are tons of resources on this lens – I imagined the possibilities even though it’s just the two of us right now. By planning ahead we could pick up the things that are on sale, then compliment the dish with something from our garden or the farmer’s market. I think it’s a marvelous idea for large families that are busy with sports and school stuff.

The book (above), delivers some yummy new recipes that are easily stored and don’t look or taste like frozen meals when they’re served days later, per a Ladies Home Journal review.

Is this something you would try in your home?

Do the Hulaa Laa!

Pass me a pupu platter please…gotta get me some of this–> Best-Ever Hawaiian Potato Salad! Just because there is a hula dancing pineapple here doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll find that ingredient in this Hawaiian potato salad…I’ll leave ya guessing til you point and click on the link

Thought it would be fun to put together a super easy menu idea for a luau – Hawaiian potato salad included! Prepare most of the food the night before so you can eat and hula the night away.

• Polynesian Bites on a Bamboo Platter – In the center place a bowl of macadamia nuts or honey roasted peanuts and include any of these ideas. Sliced tropical fruits, pineapple with bacon, crunchy baby lima beans, variety of sushi rolls and magic mango bread. If you have more ideas we’d love the share in the comments.
• Veri Veri Teriyaki Chicken Skewers – Marinade chicken tenders (laced on a skewer) and or chicken wings overnight in this best ever teriyaki sauce. As guests arrive put the chicken on the barbecue – serve hot.
• Sweet and Sour Carrots – Make this the night before and heat through at serving time. My family recipe share on Bukisa.
• Any variety of tropical juices and juice blends, plus plenty of Mai Tais.

How’s that sound to you?

Just Ducky

From the Chef Extraordinaire comes a recipe to prepare wild duck.  You even get to take a trip to Alaska, tour his kitchen AND see photos with the step-by-steps to prepare this yummy recipe.

Many moons ago I tried making a roasted duck, key word being tried. It did not turn out very appetizing at all. If I had it to do all over again, you betcha’ I’d have used this wild duck recipe. It’s now etched in my recipe-to-try part of my brain.

Chef Keem is extraordinary for sure, especially because he makes me laugh too!

Popeye Would Love This!

Anything green and leafy on my plate as a kid made me turn up my nose. That is until Popeye gave me the courage to try just a few bites of spinach…lol! He’d be especially proud that I’d be gobbling down this recipe today…no problemo!

From start to finish you’ll have Heather’s recipe for Spinach Casserole on your table in under 45 minutes. I always appreciate a quick and good for you recipe that makes it to the table in under an hour. Have this delicious recipe as a side dish or as an appetizer, she gives you that option.

How do you like to eat your spinach?

Any Days a Holiday With Cheesecake!

Not much to say when we hear cheesecake other than ooh laa laa! Unless, hmm you faint and the paramedics need to arrive to revive! Take a second to breathe because I have some really HUGE cheesecake news…10, 9, 8, 7 laa laa la…

Did you know March 6th is National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day? I know, huh? Now don’t go super snooping, I could not find the origin in all my searches. Gotta say though, who would want to argue?

Damn have I got a treat to share! You got it…a super, dreamy cheesecake lens. Best ever Aunti katkat is like the cheesecake queen on Squidoo, seriously folks. Here’s the lens – Perfect Holiday Cheesecake Recipes, now you be the judge. [Sweet Tooth Warning: It's like the most delish cheesecake place ever!]

Have a cheesecake lover in your life? Send them a FREE e-card from 123Greetings.

Addiction Confession – Popcorn!

Who among us is addicted to popcorn? See me over here raising my hand really high? I’ve a late night habit of popcorn nibbling. Warm milk for some, comforting and crunchy popcorn for me.

Dizzying moment to find and read every word of All About Popcorn! History and interesting tid-bites pack this lens. Laughed out loud to read this: Want to do a fun little experiment the next time you are popping corn? Just stand back and watch because popcorn is said to be able to pop up to 3 feet up in the air…yep done that when I’ve walked away for a sec while the popcorn is spinning in the air popper and forgot to put on the lid.

So for all you popcorn addicts out there head in to take a look at this fab lens, make sure to try a recipe or two and leave a message as well!

Cha, Cha For Chili!

As the weather twists and turns for many of us from chilly to warmish it’s still not too late to put a pot of chili on the stove. Make it Vegetarian Chili, you’ve killed two birds with one stone. A warm comforting dish to take the bite out of the chill AND a healthy alternative to meat this, meat that!

I’ll be the first to fess up that meat in my chili has been standard fair…Ms. Heather is making me consider alternatives to my thinkin’ – one meal, one night at a time and that is a ding-damn good thing, thank you very much! What is your take on meatless chili? Or for that matter, being a vegan or vegetarian?

Tossing Noodles, Pad Thai Style!

Whenever I’ve a craving for Pad Thai, off to the Teriyaki  Zone 2 in Ridgefield WA I go. It’s authentic food served up with a friendly smile. Now that I found How To Make Pad Thai I’d really like to give it a try at home.

Bests…

-it’s gonna be fresh
-I can adjust the seasonings to my tastes
-many of the unique ingredients can be found at the dollar store
-the how to is on this lens
-if I screw it up I have my go to place already figured out

Toss up your Pad Thai in your home wok…we shall go on this adventure together. Sound good?

Have Your Steak, Save Money Too!

Just the other night we opted for ribs instead of steak because we did not feel like pulling out the barbecue. Well shoot! Wish I’d found How To Cook Steak On The Stove, although it is tucked in my memory and on my Squidoo faves now.

From Filet Mignon to T-Bone steaks and every other cut of  steak in between you’ll be the chef of your own domain. Rather than heading out to eat, which can be extremely spendy, try the steak cooking tips from this lens. You could even add a little restaurant ambiance by setting your own table in linens, lighting a few candles and donning your chef cap Sounds like my kind of meal anyway…ahh the comforts of home. How do you like your steak?

Lodge Logic Pro Cast-Iron Grill/Griddle – You can’t go wrong with cast iron and the Lodge Logic brand has been around for years. Even heat and perfect grill-marks for your steaks and more. Flip it over to use it for pancakes, eggs and bacon. This piece of cookware is very versatile. Available on Amazon.com.

It’s Greek to Me!

Layers of good food are included in this  Greek Moussaka Recipe.

From a lovely designed lens to step-by-step instructions on how to make this delicious lamb and eggplant casserole you’ll be pleased to peruse this lens like I did. Besides the combo of my personal favorites…lamb and eggplant, I’m especially intrigued by the yogurt and cheese topping suggested for this Moussaka recipe.

Originating in the Middle East the Arabic term for Moussaka means chilled. Variations across the Internet include a wide variety of ingredients and methods. This lens is a great starting point.

Recommended Cookbook:
The Olive and the Caper: Adventures in Greek Cooking – For those willing to surrender to this cookbooks searingly bright palate of flavors, it’s a boon to the kitchen!