Monday, December 5, 2011

Mayo or Miracle Whip?

For me it has to be Mayo and Hellmann’s is the best ! Here is a wonderful recipe featuring Hellmann’s!

Parmesan Crusted    Chicken

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/4 lbs.)
  • 4 tsp. Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 425°.
  2. Combine Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise with cheese in medium bowl. Arrange chicken on baking sheet. Evenly top with mayonnaise mixture, then sprinkle with bread crumbs.
  3. Bake 20 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.

Also terrific with Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Light Mayonnaise or Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Canola Cholesterol Free Mayonnaise.
Cost per recipe*: $7.16 Cost per serving*: $1.79
*Based on average retail prices at national supermarkets
TIP: Omit Parmesan cheese and have Magically Moist Chicken on table in less then 30 minutes.
Calories 370, Calories From Fat 210, Saturated Fat 4g, Trans Fat 0g, Total Fat 23g, Cholesterol 100g, Sodium 390g, Total Carbohydrates 2g, Sugars 1g, Dietary Fiber 0g, Protein35g, Vitamin A 2%, Vitamin C 2%, Calcium 8%, Iron 6%

For me it has got to be Mayo! Hellmann’s is the best!

You can make so many things with it!

Check out this wonderful giveaway at  makeit-loveit.com

Sponsored by Hellmann’s ! A $100 gift card to Cooking.com! Who could not use more cooking gadgets?  I know I am hoping Santa is going to bring me a set of knives and a French rolling pin!!

Good luck !!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Did you know? ….

 

Did you know you can make your own buttermilk?

I am not talking about making sour milk by adding lemon juice or vinegar, I am talking real buttermilk.

Take  1 cup of cultured buttermilk and put it in a quart jar and fill the jar the rest of the way with plain milk (whole or 2% ) put lid on and leave on counter top for 24 hours then refrigerate . Will keep up to 2 weeks . When you are down to your last cup of buttermilk add milk again and repeat. It is bottomless!!

 

Did you know you can make your own yogurt?

Crockpot Yogurt

You don’t need a yogurt maker, just a Crockpot and 1/2 cup yogurt ,

--8 cups (half-gallon) of whole milk--pasteurized and homogenized is fine, but do NOT use ultra-pasteurized.--1/2 cup store-bought natural, live/active culture plain yogurt (you need to have a starter. Once you have made your own, you can use that as a starter)
--thick bath towel
The Directions.
This takes a while. Make your yogurt on a weekend day when you are home to monitor.
I used a 4 quart crockpot. This is so exciting. Plug in your crockpot and turn to low. Add an entire half gallon of milk. Cover and cook on low for 2 1/2 hours.

Unplug your crockpot. Leave the cover on, and let it sit for 3 hours.
When 3 hours have passed, scoop out 2 cups of the warmish milk and put it in a bowl. Whisk in 1/2 cup of store-bought live/active culture yogurt. Then dump the bowl contents back into the crockpot. Stir to combine.

Put the lid back on your crockpot. Keep it unplugged, and wrap a heavy bath towel all the way around the crock for insulation.
Go to bed, or let it sit for 8 hours.
In the morning, the yogurt will have thickened---it's not as thick as store-bought yogurt, but has the consistency of low-fat plain yogurt.
Chill in a plastic container(s) in the refrigerator. Your fresh yogurt will last 7-10 days. Save 1/2 cup as a starter to make a new batch. If you  want greek style yogurt, after it has been refrigerated put some cheese cloth in a strainer and and pour in yogurt  set up over a bowl to catch liquid. Put in fridge and let it set for a day ,discard the water that has drained off. The yogurt will be nice and thick. You can now flavor with fruit ,but I find it is better to do that as you are getting  ready  to serve . Just add chopped fruit and a little bit a of honey ,such a good tasty and healthful treat!

 

Did you know …. You can make your own Granola?

 

It is so good! Much better than what you get in a box and the money you save is crazy!!

Homemade Granola
3 1/2- cups uncooked old fashioned or quick oats
1 - stick + 1 tablespoon real butter
1/2 - 2/3 - cup honey (your preference)
1/4 - cup light brown sugar
1/4 - teaspoon salt
1 - teaspoon cinnamon sugar
1/2 - cup wheat germ
2 - tablespoons flax seed
1/2 - 3/4 - cup almond pieces
1/2 - 3/4 - cup pecan pieces
1/4 - cup sunflower seeds
1/2 - 3/4 - cup dried cranberries or other dried fruit
1/2 - cup raisins
First melt the butter in a 3 - quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the honey and salt and briefly heat with the butter until foamy and bubbly. In a separate bowl mix together the oatmeal, wheat germ, nuts, brown sugar and cinnamon sugar if adding dried cranberries and raisins add them as well. Turn off the heat and add the oatmeal mixture. Stir until everything is coated. Pour the mixture onto a lightly greased baking sheet.
Spread the mixture out evenly and pat down. Bake it at 375° for 10 minutes (watch carefully) It will be a golden brown color. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes using a spatula or flipper slide it under the granola to loosen it a bit so it does not stick. Let cool on the baking sheet about 30 minutes then break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

023

So easy and the possibilities are endless. I did not have wheat germ and did not put it in,I just increased the oatmeal. You can change the kind of nut you want ,just any combination YOU like.

 

I love the combination of pork and apples with onions,so good and it is sweet but savory.

I made up a recipe with pork spare ribs and apples and put it it the Crockpot,So yummy! You could also put in a cast enameled pan like this:

Picture 094 

My new pan from Paula Deen!!!  Did you hear me scream??? Okay back to the recipe!!

4 pork spare ribs

3 or 4 apples (cored and sliced)( I used home canned apples)

1 large onion sliced thin(I used home canned caramelized onions)

2 cloves of garlic minced

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup chicken broth

salt /pepper

fresh thyme

If using the enamel pot , use a bit of oil and brown(salt and pepper) the ribs till brown on both sides,remove from pan and  and sauté the onions and garlic until they are Carmel colored. Add apples ,thyme and cook until tender.  Place the ribs on top  and add the broth and put lid on and place in 325*  oven  for  hours and check to see if the meat is fall off the bone tender. If not then cook for about 30 more minutes.  I served this with fried potatoes and Greens would have been really good with it.

If using Crockpot ,put apples and onion ,garlic ,thyme in and place ribs(salt and pepper) on top. Add broth and cook for 6 hours on low and 4 on high. Mid way thru submerge the ribs down in the apples. Cook till the ribs are falling off the bone.

So good!5027087201_5022f5d85f

 

Tonight for dinner I made up this recipe for Queso Chicken soup. It was so creamy and spicy good!! It is a keeper!

Queso Chicken Soup

 

2 cans rotel tomatoes

2 cans chicken stock

1 onion chopped

1 large garlic clove chopped fine

2 chicken thighs

1 jar of  Monterey Jack cheese mexican cheese sauce

1 can black beans(drained and rinsed)

1  1/2 tsp cumin

salt/ pepper

1/2 a brick of cream cheese in cubes

 

This recipe is for a 4 quart slow cooker.

Put chicken,rotel,onion,garlic, cumin, beans, broth, salt and pepper in crockpot and cook on low for six hours.

take chicken out and let cool to de-bone. While chicken is cooling add cheese sauce and cream cheese. Stir to combine ,taste for seasonings and adjust.  Add chicken back in and let it heat back up. Serve with chips ,add hot sauce if desired.

This was really good! Loved it!

images (49)

 

Enjoy!

Until next time!

Nana Nita

Monday, January 24, 2011

I Think I Might Be An Italian Or A Mexican!

 

 

I was born in Wisconsin, which is about as far from Mexico or Italy as can get ! I like a lot of your basic all American cuisine, but nine times out of ten I go for Mexican and Italian flavors.

I wanted to make some soup, it is so versatile, the possibilities are  endless.  I was thinking about Tortilla soup but I was kind of chickened out. I had a pork roast in the freezer that called to me. I love Carnitas  and I thought, hey why not take all of those flavors and turn it into soup!

Turns out I had to make up my own recipe because, apparently there is no such thing as Carnita soup! Who knew I was on the cutting edge! 

 

Carnita Soup

1 pork roast (trim some of the fat)

4 cups chicken broth

1 jalapeño chopped (with the seeds)

1/2 bunch cilantro(chopped)

1 onion chopped

2 large garlic cloves chopped

1 Tblsp cumin

1 chipotle chili chopped with a bit of the sauce

1 small can of green chilies

salt/ pepper

1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)

1 cup frozen corn 

shredded  montery jack

sour cream

avocado (sliced)

chips or heated tortillas

1 lime sliced

 

Take pork and rub it with salt, pepper and cumin,

boston-butt

put it in Crockpot and pour the stock to the side of the roast,not on top. Add onion, garlic,chilies,peppers,cilantro(save some for garnish)and cook on low until meat is fall apart tender.

Take meat out and and set aside. At this time you will want to get the fat off the top of your broth. (I did this part the day before and put the pork and the broth in the fridge and then you can lift the fat right off) I only used 1/3 of the pork for the soup, It was enough for us to have about 2 bowls each and some left over.  Add the beans,corn and 1/3 of the pork chopped.  Let it cook on low for four hours in the Crockpot. Taste  for seasoning and adjust, it will be spicy!

images (43) Serve with sour cream and and avocados and with chips, squeeze the lime in your bowl right before serving. Sprinkle with cilantro.

Now you have 2/3 of  pork roast left over to play with.  Divide it in half and put in freezer bags and pop in the freezer,you will then be a leg up on a quick fix later on. I do this frequently because it is just my husband and I, most of the time a whole roast of anything is too much. I will probably take half and make enchiladas and the other half chop and fry and make carnitas. The possibilities are endless, just use your imagination and let me know what you can come up with.

On to Italy, now bear in mind, I am not from Italy, so these are not authentic like your little Italian Grandma made. This is my recipe that I came up with and like.

Italian Meatballs

1 lbs ground beef

bread crumbs (Italian style)

1/4  onion grated

2 large garlic cloves finely chopped

1/4 C fresh shredded parmesan cheese

2 eggs

salt /pepper

1 Tbls Italian seasoning ( I used my home grown, which is stronger than store bought so you may want to adjust to your taste)

2 Tblsp milk

In large bowl, mix meat, eggs, onion,garlic, salt, pepper, cheese . Add bread crumbs (the amount depends on the the feel ) about  1/2 cup or so. Add milk and mix but not to vigorously(it will make them tough)  you may have to add a bit more bread crumbs.

In a non-stick skillet make a small little patty and cook it for you to taste. If it needs more salt or herbs you may adjust it now. ( do not skip this step, you will not know if you have seasoned properly if you don’t, and you can not season them after you cook all of them)

I do not like big meat balls, I make them smaller than most. Make all of them up.images (45)

At this point you may put them on a cookie sheet and freeze and use them later or :

Brown in skillet.images (44) Do this in batches , so you don’t overcrowd the meatballs. with a slotted spoon remove and drain.  Now at this point you may freeze them and use later or I put them in the Crockpot and put a quart jar of my homemade marina sauce on top and put on low for 4 hours.

images (46)

  I made Meatball subs.

images (48)

Really tasty! 

 

Until Next time!

 

Nana Nita!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Beef Stew, Crab Wantons and Jam….What??!!

 

 

These things do not go together,but It is what I have been up to.

So here it goes….

 

First things first,It has been cold and snowy and just seemed like a Beef Stew kind of day. I did not have a lot of the normal vegetables I usually use(peas,corn,green beans) so I improvised. I liked the changes, I hope you will too.

 

 

Beef Stew

 

1 lb of stew meat

2 large carrots chopped

1 medium onion chopped

2 stalks celery chopped

2 cloves garlic  minced

2 cups sliced mushrooms

1 tomato chopped

4 cups beef broth

salt /pepper

1/2 flour

oil

 

Chop meat in to small bit sized pieces,images2

salt and pepper meat. In a lidded container put flour and meat and cover it shake to coat meat with flour. Shake off excess flour,set aside.

In a heavy bottomed dutch oven put oil in to coat bottom of pan. Heat to med high,and put in half of the beef ,brown on all sides.

images (42) Browning-Meat-3548-300x266

Remove with slotted spoon and repeat with remaining meat.

 2340355232_0e595ec1e4  

Add more oil if needed and sauté vegetables except the tomato, until the onions are tender. Add the beef back to pot and add the tomatoes and the broth.  Bring to boil and turn temperature down to simmer and simmer for 4 hours until meat is tender. The broth will thicken as it simmers. Taste for seasoning. We really liked the addition of the mushrooms,so good and beefy.

 images (37)

 

 

I love Chinese food! Those little Crab Ragoons are so good,I had to come up with a way to make them at home.

These are baked not fried so in my simple mind they are HEALTHY! Do not judge me. The entire package of cream cheese means nothing, I mean these are small bites….Lets move on.

 

Creamy Wantons

 

1 (8 oz. ) package cream cheese ,softened

1/4 cup plain bread crumbs( I used Panko )

1 small clove garlic (minced)

1 tsp sugar

1 pinch of salt

2 cups imitation crabmeat (about 3/4 lb)

30 refrigerated wanton wrappers

 

Pre-heat oven to 350* coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray

In food processor put crab meat and garlic, bread crumbs,and cream cheese. Pulse till combined..

Place 1 tsp crab mixture in center of each wanton.

images (41)

brush the edges lightly with water then fold in half (one point to point) and press to seal..

 images (40)

Place on the cookie sheet.

 

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden,turning once  halfway thru baking.

 

Picture 083

These are really good! You could use Duck sauce to dip theses in,Ummm. I did not have any but yummy!

Picture 086

If you really wanted to, you could pan fry,I won’t tell!

(Note) I put the filling in a container and keep in fridge,then as a snack ,you can just make up some as needed. I don’t know how they would do to make up ahead and freeze I’ll get back to you on that.

 

Now on to the Jam…. I love to make jam, the possibilities are endless, Just think of the combinations of fruit,once you learn the method it is easy!

 

Christmas Jam

Okay, I know Christmas is over ,but sometimes you have big plans and buy all the stuff to do something and then you forget to do it. So….to keep from having all the fruit go bad you make Christmas Jam in January…just let the season continue.

 

2 cups fresh cranberries

1 medium orange

1/2 cup water

1 (10 oz) frozen strawberries,thawed and crushed

3 cups sugar or more

2 pouches liquid pectin

1 Tbsp butter

 

Zest orange  into cranberries in the food processor,then discard peel and chop the orange and put in processor ,pulse to desired texture. Then throw in the strawberries and give a quick chop,then mix sugar in pan,add water and butter. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes,stirring constantly.(at this point I tasted the jam for sweetness, mine needed more sugar, it is to be sweet/tart but not that tart. So taste and add sugar as needed) Bring to a rolling boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in pectin. Stir for 4 to 5 minute:pour into sterile jars,leaving 1/4'”headspace. Wipe jar rims,adjust lids and rings . Water bath 10 minutes.

Picture 085

See how pretty  it is in the jar? Christmas red ..or hey how about Valentines Day red ??Yeah …um ..that’s what I meant …

Valentines Day Jam..See I am ahead of the game!

Enjoy ,until next time!

 

Nana Nita