Category Archives: food

addiction.

Posted on 01/27/2010 | Leave a comment

I have a confession to make. I’m addicted to …
I’m addicted to …
to …
okay, I’m addicted to these!!!

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See them there! It’s January 27th, and I’ve had my first Cadbury Egg sighting!
Yippee!

IMG00224e1 Oh.
My.
Heavens.
Now, the tradition goes like this. The first time I see them each year, I buy 3. So guess what!? I have 3 Cadbury Eggs in my possession, and I can’t wait to taste the first one!

I don’t know what it is about these overly-sweet, calorie-laden eggs that gets me every year, but it’s my indulgence. It’s because of these eggs that I cannot give up chocolate for Lent. I’m serious.

Please tell me you’ve got a similar ridiculous indulgence?
Please!?

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recipe: brownie bites

Posted on 01/14/2010 | 1 Comment

Mmm … who doesn’t love brownies? While they’re quite yummy, when made in the traditional manner, they just don’t present well. This is a quick and easy fix for ugly brownies!

.:| brownie bites |:.

What you’ll need …

a box of brownie mix and any associated ingredients (oil, eggs, water, etc.)
approx. 6 oz. white melting chocolate
approx. 6 oz. milk chocolate chips (you could also do semi-sweet, dark, etc.)
assortment of berries – I used blueberries, raspberries and blackberries

What you’ll do …

(I purchased this Wilton Brownie Squares Mold, but you could also use a mini-muffin pan.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray mold/pan with no-stick cooking spray or line muffin pan with mini paper cups. Prepare brownie mix per instructions; fill mold/pan cups 2/3 full. (Note: A typical box brownie mix will make approximately 48 minis, so plan for two batches or have two pans ready!)

Bake 15-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan for approximately 15 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely.

Melt chocolate (I melted in the microwave according to instructions on the package.) and spoon approximately 1 tsp. of chocolate over each brownie bite. Garnish immediately with fruit and allow to harden. Refrigerate if desired. (I needed the chocolate to harden quicker, so I put them in the fridge. I also prefer them cold – but that’s just me.)

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If you try them, let me know what you think and what other changes you might have made. Next time, I’m going to stick with only white chocolate and mix some crazy colors in there!

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recipe: deli stromboli

Posted on 09/21/2009 | Leave a comment

This is a recipe I adapted from the “Ham & Cheese Stromboli” on the Pepperidge Farm website. It was simple, quick, and had a great flavor, too!

.:| deli stromboli |:.

What you’ll need …

17.3 oz package Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets, thawed (use both sheets)
1 egg
1 Tbsp. water
1 9-oz. package Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Turkey (any variety – I used Oven Roasted)
1 9-oz. package Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Ham (any variety – I used Honey)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

What you’ll do …

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unfold 1 pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface; roll into 16×12-inch rectangle with floured rolling pin. With the short side facing you, layer on one half of the pastry half of the ham, turkey and shredded cheese. Starting at the short side (Where you just placed the ham, turkey & cheese), roll pastry like a jelly roll, tucking sides in as you go. Place on a greased cookie sheet seam side down. Whisk egg and water and brush stromboli with the egg mixture. Repeat for the second stromboli.

Bake for 25 minutes or until the stromboli is golden brown. Remove from the baking sheet and cool on a wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes.

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As a reference, one of these strombolis fed my husband and I. If you wanted to make just one, you certainly could, and easily. My theory, however, is well rooted in leftovers, so I’d always prefer to make it once and have some for later. :0) And it WAS good leftover! I also prefer to use all of the ingredients if I can, so doubling the original recipe allowed me to use up everything – the puff pastry, turkey, ham, and cheese!

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recipe: kielbasa … again!

Posted on 08/22/2009 | Leave a comment

I warned you; I LOVE this stuff. On this particular occasion, it wasn’t a planned meal, so I worked from what we had on hand. Boy, did that ever work out! Here’s how it went …

. : | Kielbasa … Again! | : .

What you’ll need …

2 handfuls baby carrots, sliced lengthwise
freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 Tbsp. garlic salt
olive oil
1 bunch asparagus, cut into 2″ lengths
1 medium onion, cut in half & sliced
1 package Hillshire Farm Turkey Kielbasa, cut into coins

What you’ll do …

Heat olive oil in medium pan; add carrots, pepper & garlic salt and saute 3 minutes. Add in asparagus & onion; saute to desired doneness (I prefer my veggies to be a bit crisp, but you might like them otherwise.). Remove veggies from pan. Add a bit more olive oil and kielbasa; saute until kielbasa begins to brown. Return veggies to pan and heat through. Great served over brown rice!

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bad memory?

Posted on 08/18/2009 | Leave a comment

I always have great intentions – I’ll take chicken, fish, or some other main course out of the freezer to thaw for the following night’s dinner … and then I’ll forget it was thawing and find it the next morning. Some things just don’t thaw fast enough in the fridge, you know. Sigh … by the next morning, it’s been out for too long and is no longer any good.

If this sounds like something you’ve been known to do, I’ll share with you my secret. Maybe it will work for you, and maybe it won’t.

I put my thawing whatever in the bathroom sink! I always wash my face and brush my teeth before going to bed, so I HAVE to look in the bathroom sink. Fortunately, it’s usually late enough that it’s been the perfect length of time for thawing!

There you have it -  your tip of the day. Have something creative you’d like to share? Please do! And if this works out for you, let me know that, too!

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recipe: grilled kielbasa

Posted on 08/15/2009 | 1 Comment

If I had to choose my last meal, it would be kielbasa with peppers and onions, for sure. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s so true. I LOVE that stuff!

Through experimenting, I’ve discovered more than half a dozen ways to prepare it, and that’s only a glimpse of what I’m sure I could come up with. I only have half a dozen prep methods because I love them so much and usually want to make it a tried and true way as opposed to trying something new!

Here’s my second favorite way of preparing kielbasa – a perfect summer meal!

. : | Grilled Kielbasa w/ Peppers & Onions | : .

What you’ll need …

2 packages Hillshire Farm Polska Kielbasa (I use turkey b/c it’s the healthiest they make.)
2 medium onions, sliced
4 peppers – various colors, sliced
4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 Tbsp. fresh oregano, coarsely chopped
sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
olive oil

(Note: You could easily halve this recipe; I make a lot b/c we LOVE the leftovers for lunch the next day.)

What you’ll do …

Remove kielbasa from package and slice into 1/2″ coins. Combine with sliced peppers and onions. In separate bowl, combine chopped garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Over pre-heated grill, combine all ingredients except olive oil in coated grill basket; drizzle with olive oil and mix. Grill to desired doneness, usually 20-30 minutes (I like grill marks on my kielbasa and vegetables, but it’s up to you.).

Great served over brown rice!

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this week in food …

Posted on 08/10/2009 | Leave a comment

Aah, the second installment of what we’re eating this week! Let me start by saying that last night’s dinner ROCKED. For now, here’s what else is on the menu for this week:

  • breakfast burritos (eggs, onion, turkey bacon and cheese in whole wheat pitas) with pan-fried potatoes (Yes, again! They’re so good, and so easy!)
  • grilled buffalo chicken with potato packets and green beans
  • grilled halibut (Caught just a few weeks back by my dad on a trip to Alaska! Yum!) – side dishes TBD once I decide how I’ll prepare the fish
  • Fair food! It’s the week for our county fair, so we plan to take Lily one day this week and enjoy some yummy-tasting, artery-clogging treats – fries and funnel cake are on my plate, for sure!

IMG_9804 Now, to last night’s dinner. We had roasted garlic burgers, and they were SO good! After deciding that I wanted my house to smell like roasted garlic (I LOVE the smell!), I roasted one head of garlic (with olive oil, sea salt, and pepper – 400 degrees for 30 minutes) and made it into garlic paste. I then mixed that with 1.5 lbs. of lean ground beef (Hamburgers were already on the menu, and what was I to do with my roasted garlic?) and made 6 patties. My husband and dad grilled the burgers and I topped them with shredded sharp white cheddar cheese and caramelized onions. The burgers were served on rolls brushed with homemade garlic butter. Oh. My. Gosh. They were SO good! (And no, I don’t have pictures! I thought about it after the fact! Duh!)

So, what are YOU eating this week?

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link of the week …

Posted on 08/07/2009 | Leave a comment

Free chocolate, anyone?

From “Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act:”

Times are tough and we at Mars want to help. How, you ask? Every Friday through October, Mars will give away free* real chocolate to 250,000 people. That means you can enjoy your favorite Mars’ candy brands—M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, 3 MUSKETEERS®, MILKY WAY® and DOVE®— for free*!

Now, I ask … what are you waiting for!? Go here and feed your chocolate fix!

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this week in food …

Posted on 08/02/2009 | Leave a comment

I’m always forgetting what options I have when it comes to dinner ideas. I’ve made some really yummy meals over the years, but when it comes time to remember them again … yeah, right!

In an effort to add more variety to my “catalog” of menu ideas, the plan is to post here what’s planned for the week. Hopefully this will help me remember some of these awesome meals so I can make them again!

Without further ado, here’s this week’s menu …

  • Strawberry salad (walnuts, cranberries, feta cheese, grape tomatoes, strawberries) w/ balsamic grilled chicken
  • Breakfast burritos (eggs, onion, bacon, cheese) with pan-fried potatoes
  • Hawaiian ham steak w/ grilled onions and peppers over brown rice
  • Grilled kielbasa w/ grilled zucchini & potato packets
  • Chicken sandwiches w/ mac and cheese & peas

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hungry and vita-yummy!

Posted on 07/13/2009 | Leave a comment

A long, long time ago, I had the pleasure of being introduced to this rockin’ company, Vitalicious and their VitaTops muffins via my daily HungryGirl e-mail. I’ll admit that I was a little hesitant to place my first order. Seriously, how good can 100 calorie, high fiber, vitamin-laced muffins be? My friends, these things ROCK! They are so good, and I’m addicted!

I think I’ve tried just about every variety that Vitalicious makes … yes, every variety minus the Banana Nut and Golden Corn, as I don’t enjoy banana nut bread or corn bread. The VitaBrownies are great, too! And everything is so good for you … 100 calories, low fat, high fiber and protein, and packed with vitamins. The only downfall you might be able to call these out on is the sugar content.

I store them in the freezer, and my favorite time to eat them is after they’ve thawed for just about an hour – they’re still cold, but no longer frozen. I usually eat them for breakfast, but they also make a great, healthy dessert.

It’s been a while since I’ve ordered any, and when I got the latest offer for 10% off an order of the new Chocolate Mint VitaTops, I jumped. Not only am I crazy over VitaTops, but I adore the combination of chocolate and mint. I can’t wait to get them! When I do, I’ll let you know what I think – I just have a feeling I’ll love them!

So, if you haven’t tried VitaTops, VitaMuffins or VitaBrownies, do it now! And if you aren’t signed up for the HungryGirl e-mail, you’re missing out on some GREAT weight loss, health and fitness ideas.

(And no, I’m not receiving any sort of incentive for promoting these two companies – I just honestly love them and want to share them with you!)

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