February 14, 2012 · 3:57 pm

How to Make a Heart Cake for Your Valentine

Teenagers love Valentine’s Day!  It’s not just about boyfriends and girlfriends.  They want to share the day with their friends and families and sometimes their teachers.  School was really buzzing today with candy, flowers, cards, stuffed animals, cake, cookies,  and balloons.  There was some buzz around my room, too.  Word got out that I was decorating Valentine Cakes for my classes and  you would have thought I was giving away one hundred-dollar bills.   It was only cake and not even one made from scratch!

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February 7, 2012 · 9:15 pm

A Taste of New York

One word could describe our guest speaker last week Doug Wasdyke and that would be WOW!  We were so fortunate  to be able to have Chef Doug visit my classes and share his expertise.   It was a day to remember.  It is not often that high school students get to meet an executive chef and are able to get first hand information about the culinary field.  As soon as he stepped into my classroom I knew that we were in for a treat.  He was very much at ease with each class.  It was as if he had been teaching high school students his entire life.   Before I had taken attendance he enlisted the help of a student  with the cooking while he did the talking.  They loved him.   Now at little bit about Chef Doug.

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January 26, 2012 · 5:45 pm

Dream Bars

One of my best childhood memories is my hometown bakery.  My sister and I would stop by on our way home from school almost everyday.  I had quite a few favorites such as huge butter cookies, cream horns dusted with powdered sugar, and date nut bars.  All of the above were enjoyed with a Tab or a big cup of coffee depending on the season and the weather.  I have been searching for the recipe to make the perfect date nut bars and this one is pretty close.  The bottom layer is similar to a shortbread cookie and the top layer is a mixture of dates, coconut,  and nuts.   Delicious!    Sorry, but I’ve got to run.  I brought home school work which is calling my name.  I have about 400 papers that are graded, but have not been put into the gradebook.    So I am off to do my real job!

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January 20, 2012 · 4:47 pm

Portuguese Kale and Potato Soup

Never in a million years would I have made this soup except for the fact that a huge bag of kale arrived in my CSA box.  I’ve cooked kale before, but I have never had results like this.  I just cannot gush enough about this soup!  I am just loving the collection of  recipes in Gourmet Quick Kitchen.  I have not been disappointed in any of the recipes so far!  And this is one of the best soups ever!

Start to finish it takes 45 minutes and that includes removing the ribs from a pound of kale.  But, it has one small catch.  Don’t plan to serve it until the next day.  The flavors need 24 hours to come together.  This broth has a surprising amount of depth to it especially considering the small number of ingredients.  It’s close to a French onion without the beef broth.  In fact, water is the only liquid.

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January 16, 2012 · 9:39 pm

Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits made Ina’s Way

I am a big fan of Ina Garten.  She has the type of personality that makes a person think that they can do just about anything in the kitchen.  You know she gives you that, “How easy is that?”  Well, this is one of her biscuit recipes and it is easy and absolutely wonderful.

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January 8, 2012 · 9:19 pm

Goat Cheese with Olives, Lemon, and Thyme

This appetizer from Gourmet is just what we all want and need.  It is so good and can literally be ready in 20 minutes.  What else could you want?  Deliciousness?  Yes, it has that.  I love it!  You might need this for your next football party or when you and your friends get together for dinner.  It is the perfect appetizer!    I don’t have fresh thyme at my beck and call so I purchased some three times to make this.  It did not happen and now I am left wondering why.  Maybe because it is just too easy!

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January 4, 2012 · 8:41 pm

Brucciloni

I love Italian food and if it’s a little fancy, but easy that makes it even better.  I haven’t made this in a long time because it is very hard to find a round steak that has both the top and bottom round. Check with your local butcher and if you can find the cut of meat then anyone can make this!  I made it when I was first learning to cook.  You just might need a second had to help tie the roll with string.  Although I did do it by myself today.  Brucciloni is a round steak that is stuffed with a sort of meatloaf.  The stuffing is ground meat, chopped onion, and Italian bread crumbs.  Roll it up.  Tie it.  Brown the roll in olive oil.  Simmer in a good red sauce for about an hour.  Serve with your favorite pasta.  It is so yummy!  You are going to love it.  Top it with a little parmesan cheese and use some really good bread to soak up the last of the rich red gravy.  You can do it.  I can’t because I have enjoyed the holidays too much!

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January 2, 2012 · 8:50 pm

Top 10 Post of 2011

Hope that all of you had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!  I’m not going to bore you with my resolutions that are probably the same as everyone elses.  You know get yourself organized, eat healthier, and exercise more frequently.  I just want to enjoy life.  It is as simple as that!  With that said here are the top 10 posts of this year.  Several of them had the help of Stumble Upon by some of my blogger friends Dine and Dish and A Cook and Her Books.  Thanks to all of you that read my blog.  I really appreciate it!  I still have many things to get done that you have asked for, so don’t think that I have forgotten.  I havent.  The printer friendly recipe is being worked on now.  I do feel good about the recipe index.  It was needed and took a long time for me to finally sit down and do it. So here’s to another year gone by and new one to do with what we would like.  Let’s make it a good one.  Any day will be good with any of the following recipes.

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December 28, 2011 · 1:45 pm

Taco Soup

It doesn’t have to be a cold, rainy or snowy day for me to love a hot bowl of soup.  I love soup on any day anytime!  With much skepticism I made this soup not really expecting the flavor that it produces.  Using packaged taco seasoning,  ranch dressing, and two kinds of olives you have to admit that it is a wild combination.  But, it works and it works quite well.

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December 21, 2011 · 3:02 pm

Chai for Christmas Anyone?

I just love this new-found recipe for an easy to make Chai tea.   What is not to love about cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and cloves?  It’s just right for the holidays.     If you indulge at a coffee shop you will find their Chai Tea is good, but it is expensive and tops out at about 400 calories.  Here is one that you can make at home in a snap with about 17 calories per teaspoon.    So you’re not much a tea drinker no problem.  Try this in your morning cup of joe.  It is divine.

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