I was cooking up a storm last week, after my sister-in-law gave me a copy of January’s Semi-Homemade magazine. Everything looked so good, and the real thing wasn’t far off from the pictures. We loved the fruit-topped salmon, roasted chicken and vegetables, and apple-accented pork loin. Then I ran out of recipes. I really wanted to keep making new meals, so I reached into my cupboard and pulled out some old copies of Food & Wine I had never made the time to peruse. Three issues later, I hadn’t found a single recipe that sounded good. Many of them had pickled this or imported that. Some of the recipes were downright weird. Who would want to eat Pickle-Brined Chicken or Olive Oil Bundt Cake? And what the heck is a Feta-filled Arepa? The pictures on the covers were nowhere to be found inside the pages. (more…)
Topic: ‘Around the House’
New Year New You
Do you make New Year’s resolutions each year? Do you stick to your resolution, or give up after a short time? Each year during the first few weeks of January, tons of new people show up at the gym with stylish workout clothes and new shoes. The regulars have to change their routine to accommodate the lack of machines, but they don’t usually complain. They know that most of the new people will disappear by March… and they do. The “temps” haven’t made health a priority and may not be motivated by much more than a pant size.
Where do you fall in this picture? Do you make physical health a priority? Do you make it easy for you spouse to stay fit? Physical and mental health go hand in hand, espsecially if you live an executive lifestyle. Dinner parties and other social functions provide a constant temptation to eat the wrong foods, have a second or third drink, and promise to make it up later. Physical exercise is key in not only burns calories, but relieving stress. Eating the right foods provides energy for clear thought.
Take a look at your eating habits. Are you eating whole grains? Do you consciously prepare healthy meals or just eat whatever tastes good? Is your family eating different colors of fruits and vegables? What you eat really does make a difference in how you feel. Try putting out a bowl of fresh fruit that is washed and ready to bite into when a quick snack is needed. Don’t be afraid to microwave some fresh vegatables last minute-it’s a great way to cook them quickly and keep their beautiful color (if you don’t overcook them). Make some cookies with oatmeal or whole wheat flour, and avoid using prepared foods and mixes from the grocery store. If you want to make something chocolate, look for recipes that use cocoa powder, rather than baking squares or chips. These are all simple ways to improve your health with very little effort.
Did you know that regular exercise keeps your body looking and feeling younger? Make exercise a priority for everyone. Take time every day to do something, even if it’s just a few crunches in front of the tv. Evening walks can be a family affair that even the dog will enjoy. Encourage your children to participate in a sport and be supportive when your spouse sets time aside to work out. Exercise shouldn’t be a “vanity thing” but rather a part of your plan for the future. You may be busy, but not staying healthy may land you in bed where you won’t get anything done. Fifty is the new thirty. Don’t be afraid to act like it.
Here’s the biggest challenge.. break that nasty habit! If you’re a smoker, go to your doctor and find out what options you have. There are choices ranging from patches to antidepresents that work for many people. Do you drink more often than you should? Try counting your drinks to see just how much you really drink and consider cutting it out entirely if you have a problem. Maybe your bad habit is road rage, or some other response that shoots your blood pressure to an unhealthy level. Whatever it is, get rid of it. You’ll be better for it.
The new year is fast approaching. What is your plan for the future? There’s no time like the present to refocus your attention on good health and start working toward a healther tomorrow.
Making Your Home Sweet Home
Moving again? It’s always tough to get settled and feel like you’re “home.” Another wingspouse shared her secret to making her husband feel settled sooner. She hangs the same plaque in the front entrance of every home they move to. Dori packs this little treasure where she can find it quickly, and then hangs it as soon as the moving crew leaves. Her husband associates “home” with this wall decoration and looks for it when he comes in the door.
After Dori shared her secret with me, i started to reflect back on our moves. We also had a consistent item that existed in every home we lived in… I just hadn’t realized the significance. We built our first home while Mark was still in practice. We thought it was going to be the home where we would stay, raise children, and eventually retire. We poured our hearts (and money) into the design of this home and finished it off with a beautiful dwarf japanese maple in the front landscaping. Three years later, we were packing up to accept a full-time VPMA position elsewhere. The home we chose also had a japanese maple in the front yard, and we joked that it was a sign we were meant to live there. This pattern continued until our last move, when Mark became a full-time consultant. Our new home didn’t have a japanese maple in the front yard, so… we put one in. Coincidence? I don’t think so. A Japanese maple tree is our “plaque.”
My friend recognized that a simple consistency, a familiar item on the wall or in the front yard, can be comfort food to the soul. What is your family’s symbol of “home?” What have you done to take advantage of it’s comforting effects?
Recipe for Classy Cookies that Impress
Everyone loves edible art. Painted cookies are right up there as one of my favorite goodies to bring to the office. The first time I proposed our family spend a day icing cookies, there were sighs and moans. Since when did boys like to decorate cookies? – Since I found this cool technique to really make it fun. In fact, just yesterday I invited another family over to decorate with us. My friend didn’t think her 15 year old son would be very excited about decorating, but he ended up making several to give to his girlfriend. Can you say “cool points?”
Don’t worry about having all kinds of special tools and ingredients. The only mildly unsual ingredient is powdered egg whites and once you find it, it stays good a long time. Believe it or not, I use plastic baggies to pipe the icing on. It’s fast, easy to handle, and I throw them away when I’m done.
Here’s the secret… Use the icing recipe below, because it has the right texture and dries hard enough to transport later.
Here’s the technique… Put some icing in a baggie and rubberband it shut. Snip off one tiny corner to use for piping. Do this for each color you’re using. Draw bullseyes on the cookie in different colors so they touch each other. Now drag a toothpick from the center of the cookie to one of the points. Repeat for each point until the cookie is symetrical. If you want a flower petal appearance, do the same thing but then drag the toothpick between the first set of lines but in the reverse direction (outside to center). Baggies and toothpicks also make it easy to drop dots or swirls of color on the snowflakes. Candied beads also dress up the cookies nicely. Since metallic beads are no longer considered safe to eat, I buy “naked” candies beads and roll them in cookie luster dust, purchased online.
If you want some great cookie dough recipes, email me. I have a nice sugar cookie, chocolate almond cookie, or spiced gingerbread cookie recipe I’ll send you.
Cookie Icing Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 16-oz bag powdered sugar
- 3 Tbsp meringue powder (or powdered egg whites)
- paste food colorings (to make vivid colors)
- 1 tsp flavored extract (lemon, almond, buttercream, orange, vanilla, etc)
Directions:
Mix at low speed, powdered sugar, meringue powder, and 1/3 cup warm water until mixture is stiff and knife comes out clean, about 7 minutes. Now add extract and enough water so that the icing briefly holds its shape but then blends back in. Mix well. This extra water thins the icing so the colors can bleed on the cookie.
Divide the icing into separate baggies and then tint each frosting bag with food colorings or pastes as desired (pastes will give you more vivid colors). I always buy the primary paste colors and mix everything else. Those colors enable you to mix everything from Christmas colors to the 70’s style flower child orange-great for flowers.
Recipe for Creamy Red Pepper Sauce Over Pasta
Saute sliced red pepper and garlic in olive oil until red pepper is softer, then add chopped basil. When basil is limp like spinach, puree all together and set aside.
Glaze onion (cook on med low until translucent) with paprika, and then add red pepper puree back into the pan. Mix half and half with the flour (flour dissolves best in cold liquid) and pour all into the red pepper mixture. Heat until boiling, then turn down and add cheese. Stir until melted. Add butter to make it creamy. Then add hot sauce, salt and pepper to taste. (You’ll want to be generous with the salt to get the best taste.)
Add any other ingredients desired, heating thoroughly, and then serve over whole wheat pasta.
Notes: Yes, home roasted red peppers taste better… if you have an extra hour or so. Yes, it’s great without the optional add-ins. No, you don’t have to use whole wheat pasta.
Recipe – Layered Sandwich for Wine Night
Marinade:
1 ½ tsp Dijon
1 T balsamic v
¼ c virgin olive oil
salt & pepper
Gradually add together w/wisk. Add 2 T warm water into it. Set aside.
Sandwich:
1 loaf rustic Italian bread (ciabatta)
½ c prepared black olive paste
3 med red peppers (blacken, then wrap in plastic, cool, then cut into strips)
8 oz fresh goat cheese
8 oz marinated artichokes
6 oz prosciutto (thin sliced)
¼ lb. peppered salami (sliced)
2 ½ c loosely packed mixed herbs (such as basil, cilantro, parsley)
Slice loaf lengthwise and hallow out. Spread olive paste. Layer, peppers, goat cheese, artichokes, prosciutto, salami, herbs. Wrap w/plastic wrap. Weigh down. Set aside overnight. Add vinaigrette 1 hr before serving.
Recipe for Tomato Basil Pie
One of my friends insisted this dish was “to die for” and wouldn’t stop bugging me until I made it. Despite the fact that I can’t stand stewed tomatoes, this dish became one of my favorites! I thnk making it with fresh garden tomatoes and basil is the key.
3-4 large tomatoes; peeled, seeded & drained
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup fresh parmesan cheese (optional)
pie crust – baked
1 cup each mayo and cheddar cheese, mixed
Prepare pie crust according to directions. Slice tomatoes (thicker is recommended) and place a layer in the bottom of pie crust. Add the onions, basil, salt, pepper and parmesan cheese. Place another layer of tomatoes. Spread mayo and cheese mixture over top.
Bake @ 400 for 30-40 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is deep brown.
NOTE: I usually cut back on the mayo.
Recipe for Spiced Cracked Olives (Great with Drinks)
2 lbs large green olives, drained
2-3 small, whole, dried red hot chilies
4 garlic cloves
3 sprigs each of dill, thyme, oregano
2 tsp fennel seeds
Olive oil
Make a lengthwise cut in each olive, cutting to the pit to allow flavors to penetrate. Place everything in a large jar, pouring enough olive oil to cover the olives. Cover tightly, refrigerate for several days, then remove olives from the liquid and serve. Keep the oil to marinade more olives, cook with, or use in a salad dressing.
Recipe for Goat Cheese Salad with Raspberry Dressing
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that this recipe is easy and delicious. HOWEVER, I giggle everytime I think about the fact that a rocket scientist got me hooked on this (no joke)! Thanks, Shell.
2/3 cup frozen raspberries, thawed
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons minced red onion
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
2 5-ounce logs soft fresh goat cheese, each log cut into 4 round slices (chevre basil and garlic is best)
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sliced almonds
2 teaspoons butter, melted
6 ounces mesclun mix (about 8 cups lightly packed)
Blend first 7 ingredients in processor. With processor running, gradually add oil. Add poppy seeds and blend 5 seconds.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Pat each goat cheese slice to 1/2-inch thickness. Whisk egg and 1 tablespoon water in small bowl to blend. Place flour in another small bowl. Place almonds in shallow dish. Roll goat cheese slices in flour, then dip into egg mixture, then roll in almonds to coat, pressing gently to adhere. Place cheese in glass baking dish; drizzle lightly with butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until almonds are lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Divide mesclun among 4 plates.
Top each with 2 warm cheese slices. Drizzle with dressing; serve. (Serves 4)
