Recipe: Sesame Ginger Coleslaw

One perk of having vegan relatives is sometimes trying something different and healthy and SO delicious.  This stuff is awesome.

Sesame and ginger coleslaw

2 cups cabbage (shredded)
1 carrot (shredded)
2 green onions (diced)
1 handful cilantro (chopped)
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/2 lime (juice)
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon ginger (grated)
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions:
Mix the cabbage, carrot, green onion, and cilantro in bowl
Mix the vinegar, lime juice, oil, honey, ginger, in bowl
Toss together and garnish with sesame seeds.

Eat as an appetizer on tortilla chips!  So good!

Recipe: Cookies for Santa

It's quickly approaching the holiday season.  Everyone is hurrying to get ready.  And what is the most important task to get done?  Well of course, baking the cookies for ME Santa.  Seriously, hospitality is important and we should make sure I he gets some of his favorites.  So, I recommend that you have plenty of these on hand...

Snowball Cookies

1/2 c. soft butter (do not substitute butter) 2 T. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 1 c. flour 1 c. finely chopped pecans 1-2 c. powdered sugar for rolling Cream butter and gradually add powdered sugar. Add vanilla, creaming well. Gradually add flour and nuts. Mix thoroughly. Shape into 1 to 1 1/2 inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 35 minutes. Bottoms should be slightly brown. Tops will probably still be white.While still warm, roll in sifted powdered sugar. Then immediately roll in powdered sugar again. Sift some more powdered sugar on top. Cool.

Instant Food: Healthy Choice Cheese Tortellini

So, I tried this instant lunch, Healthy Choice, Cheese Tortellini.   I would definitely lose weight if I ate this everyday.  It's like a few soggy noodles in a vat of tasteless tomato sauce.  I don't recommend that you eat this.

Recipe: World's Best Meatloaf

This is the best meatloaf ever.  I mean, bacon really makes anything good, amazing anyway.  But, just the combination of the sweet and salty flavors is fantastic.  I alsolove howevery recipe brigs up the memories of when you tried it first, or a time when you especially enjoyed it. This was adapted from a cookbook that a roommate had in college. We tried it out one day and LOVED it.

• 4 strips bacon
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar, optional
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 1 medium onion, finely choppe
• 2/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
• 1 large egg, slightly beaten
• 1/3 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasonings
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup evaporated milk or whole milk
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Preparation:

Cut bacon strips in half crosswise and coat with the 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. In a large skillet, cook the sugared bacon for about 2 minutes to render some of the excess fat. Or, cook on a paper plate in the microwave for about 1 minute.

Saute onions in saucepan until turning brown.

Heat oven to 350°. Line a baking pan with foil and lightly oil the foil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, pork, onion, bread crumbs, egg, cheese, Cajun seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper, and milk. Put the mixture on the prepared foil-lined baking pan and shape into a loaf.

Mix together ketchup and brown sugar.   Spread over the loaf and arrange the bacon strips over the top.  Save leftover sauce to be served with the finished meatloaf.

Bake until bacon is crispy and meat loaf is firm, about 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing or moving to a serving platter.
Serves 6.

Recipe: Enchiladas

We tried a new enchilada recipe last night.  It was really good, but I think I may just modify our normal recipe instead of following this one.

But, I liked the black beans, and the sour cream in it, those were great, also I'm still thinking, but making it layered might be a little easier than the rolls we usually do, so that worked too.  So, here is a delicious recipe.

• 1 pound ground beef 
• 1 onion
• 1/4 cup Italian Dressing
• 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning
• 1 cup salsa
• 8 oz sour cream
• 6 flour tortillas (10 inch)
• 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• Tomato
• Lettuce

Directions

• In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in Italian dressing, taco seasoning, and salsa; set aside.
• Place two tortillas, overlapping as necessary, in the bottom of a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Cover with one-third of the meat mixture; top with sour cream; sprinkle with 1-1/3 cups cheese. Repeat layers once, then top with remaining tortillas, meat and cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Yield: 6-8 servings.
• Serve with freshly chopped tomatoes and lettuce.

Comfort Food: Lasagna

If you are my daughter, winter means eating lasagna sandwiches.  Ok, I don't get the sandwich part, but lasagna is a great food.

This week we devoured another pan of the stuff.  

1 lb. ground beef
1 32 oz  jar of spaghetti sauce
1 16 oz container of cottage cheese
1 12 oz container of ricotta cheese
2 eggs
4 cups of mozzarella cheese
9 Cooked lasagna noodles

In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef. Drain the grease. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, eggs, salt and ground black pepper.To assemble, in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish evenly spread 3/4 cup of the sauce mixture. 

Cover with 3 uncooked lasagna noodles, 1 3/4 cup of the cheese mixture, and 1/4 cup sauce. and 1 cup of mozzarella. Repeat layers. Top with 3 noodles, remaining sauce, remaining mozzarella. 

Cover with aluminum foil.Bake in a preheated 350 degree F(175 degrees C) oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Soup!

It's the time of year when warming up with a nice bowl of soup feels so good.  Tomato soup with grilled cheese, vegetable soup, or the ever popular bowl of chili with fritos and cheese.  What is your favorite kind of soup?

One of our favorite chili recipes is:

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 onion
1 12 oz can of hot chili beans
1 12 oz can of diced tomatoes

Brown beef and onions in pan.  Drain grease.  Add beans and tomatoes.  Simmer for 10 minutes.  Enjoy!

Pink - Try

Because this song id stuck in my head, I'm posting it...

 

Recipe: Pumpkin Pie

I love that this recipe does not need sugar!  Also, it fits in the pie crust perfectly so I do not have a bunch of filling left over.  PLUS, it tastes great, the kids approve too.

Ingredients

• 1 15oz can of canned pumpkin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
• 1 pie crust
• Whipped cream, for topping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the pumpkin. Add the sweetened condensed milk and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.
Pour the filling into the pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount of whipped cream. 

Christmas

We've started getting ready for Christmas.  Setting up the tree, cooking, and the best part!  Christmas music!  Here's a song for today.

Recipe: Sweet Cream Pie

Here is one of my favorite pie recipes, we are enjoying today.  

Pastry for 9-inch one crust pie 1 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Nutmeg

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Prepare pie pastry.

Place flour and sugar in bowl.  Add 1 c. cream and mix well.  Slowly mix the dry and liquid ingredients (the prevent the cream from whipping). Add rest of cream, vanilla extract and continue stirring. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Pour into crust.

Bake 10 minutes; reduce heat to 325 degrees F. and continue baking for approximately 45 to 55 minutes. Center will appear soft, but pie will set up as it cools. Do not over bake. Remove from oven.

Making Pies

I spent the afternoon making pies for the FEAST tomorrow.  There is something so special about taking the time to make a special meal for your family.  It connects you, not only to the food, and to your family, but also to your memories of the people who taught you this particular dish.

And SMELL, oh man, smell has an amazing power to bring back the memories and feelings of the past.  The smell of apple pie baking reminds me of my dad and the way he would love to make them for us.

But, cooking is also an act of love, and I look forward to seeing everyone digging in and enjoying the food tomorrow.

What did you make today?  What memories do food bring to you?

Song of the Day

This was a great performance.


 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is coming up fast! If you weren't having turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pie, what would you eat?

 If you could break tradition and just eat something you love, what would it be? I think honestly, I'd have some homemade pizza, or maybe enchiladas, or even a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.

 But, since we're keeping with tradition, I'm looking for a recipe for a delicious side dish.

 Maybe this one for asparagus... http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Almond-Asparagus

 Or maybe I should have broccoli cheese casserole...  What are you having this Holiday?


 Gerald Van Dielen can be found on Google+ and Twitter.

Comfort Food - Chili Mac

One of my families favorite recipes is Chili Mac.  This recipe is sooo easy to do.

Ingredients:
Chili flavoring powder packet
Turkey Sausage
Rotel Tomatos
Shredded Cheese
Macaroni



Directions:
Brown the sausage.  Add Rotel Tomatoes and chili flavoring and simmer about 10 minutes.  Cook the macaroni.

Assemble the ingredients and ENJOY!

Gerald Van Dielen can be found on Google+ and Twitter.

Food

One of the best comfort foods... Bacon!  Today my son and I had bacon and eggs for dinner.  Such a simple  and delicious meal.  :)

I saw a picture recently of bacon roses.  This is the coolest idea ever....



http://www.bitrebels.com/design/how-to-make-a-bouquet-of-bacon-roses/
Gerald Van Dielen can be found on Google+ and Twitter.