Category Archives: Food

Food

Easter Story Cookies

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This recipe and activity floats around every year. My kids are finally old enough to start understanding the process so I think we will do it this year. It is a great homeschool activity because you are doing religion, math (measuring and cooking), and science.

EASTER STORY COOKIES

To be made the evening before Easter

You need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. Vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300 degrees Immediately
(this is important-don’t wait until you’re half done with the recipe)!

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with
the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after
Jesus was arrested.He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. Vinegar
into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty
on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand.
Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed
by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.
Add 1cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that
Jesus died because He loves us.
He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes
until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white Represents –in God’s eyes —
the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts.
Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb
where Jesus’ body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven,
close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in
the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair
when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.
Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.
The cookies are hollow!

On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to
find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9

Share The Easter Cookie Story With Friends and Family!

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Food

Bacon Salt

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Yes, you heard me right. There is Bacon Salt. Apparently there are 3 types: Original, Hickory, and Peppered. I was telling NerdDad all about this and his eyes got big and he wondered why you would use regular salt ever again;). Here is the really fun part. It is Kosher, Vegan and calorie free. All the baconny goodness without any of the guilt!

(HT: Props and Pans)

Food

Freezer Friday: Make Ahead Chicken

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Welcome to Freezer Friday. The goal here is to make our lives easier. Due to the fact I have 4 little ones and homeschool, I need all the help I can find. Simply post a recipe that can be made, frozen and then later reheated(thawed, etc) and consumed. Make sure that you include freezing and reheating instructions in your post. Then come here and add you post (not your blog) into Mr. Linky.
Now for some disclaimers:
If it isn’t a recipe, I will delete it.
If it can’t be made ahead, I will delete it.
If you don’t have a family friendly site, I will delete it.
Now onto the food fun!

Meat is always the most time consuming part of making a meal. I make my chicken a month at a time. I buy fresh chicken breasts in bulk (which is a relative term). Then I put them in 9 X 13 baking dishes and season them. Then cover the bottome of your dish with water and cover. This prevents the dry, horrible chicken. Then I bake them at 350 degress for 45 minutes to an hour. You allow them to cool and then freeze. You can freeze them whole and reheat that way. But, I dice them up and freeze them in 2 cup incrememnts (the standard for most recipes). Then just pull them out and put into dishes. Since it is diced, the chicken is very to thaw by just putting under running water for a few minutes. I add it to pasta, Hamburger Helper and an easy Chicken and Rice dish.

Technorati Tags: chicken, freezer friday, cooking

Food

Easy Chocolate Souffle

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So I found this easy individual chocolate souffles that only have 79 calories (and 0.6g of Fat) in Cooking Light. These are all ingredients that are usually on hand, so it is great to meet that craving or entertaining guests.

Ingredients:
4 1/2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 Tablespoons Dutch process cocoa
2 Tablespoons fat-free milk
1/4 Teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg white
1 Teaspoon powdered sugar

Process
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Coat 2 (6 ounce) ramekins with cooking spray; sprinkle each with 3/4 teaspoon of sugar
3. Combine 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, flour, cocoa and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook 2 minutes, stirring until smooth. Spoon chocolate mixture into a medium bowl; cool 4 minutes. Stir in vanilla.
4. Place egg white in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until soft peaks form. Add remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form(do not overbeat). gently stir 1/4 egg mixture into chocolate mixture; gently fold in remaining egg white mixture. Spoon mixture into prepared dishes. Sharply tap dishes 2 or 3 times to level. Place dishes on a basking sheet, bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until puffy and set. Sprinkle each souffle with 1/2 teaspoon powdered sugar. Serve immediately.

Now of course I had to make a couple of changes. I used 2% milk (that is what we had). I also used sweetened cocoa because NerdDad doesn’t like things to dark chocolately. It was great!

Technorati Tags: Chocolate,Desserts, Entertaining

Food

Asparagus – Quick and Easy

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When I got married I realized that there were many elaborate recipes containing vegetables but there were very few sources to tell me how to just cook it. One of my favorite veggies is asparagus but I don’t want it just boiled. That is a promise that all the flavor and vitamins will be in the water not in the asparagus. So here are 2 easy ways. In prep for both, bend 1 spear of the asparagus until it naturally breaks. Depending on when in the season you are is how much of the end needs to go. So this gives you the perfect indicator. Then cut the rest to match. Then toss the asparagus in the oil of your choice (olive has the best flavor) and salt, pepper and garlic salt.
The Indoor Method:
Set your oven to 400 degrees. Put your prepared asparagus on a jelly roll or sheet pan. Roast it for 15 to 20 minutes.
The Grill:
I have a little rack that is made to warm buns. I put my asparagus there and cook it for 10 minutes. Make sure you turn it so it cooks evenly.

All times are approximate. When the asparagus starts to go a little limp, it is done. Eat it by itself or add it to rice or salads!

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Food

Easy Tilapia

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Tilapia is a mild white fish that is very affordable (I just got some this weekend for $3.99/lb). I get it frozen and sealed in plastic. If fresh or freshly thawed it doesn’t have any fishy smell. Since I cook the easy way, this is a very simple recipe.

Ingredients:
Seasoned Bread Crumbs
Seasonings (I use Pappys, could be any combo of chili, paprika, salt and pepper)
Tilapia Fillets

Process:
Mix Bread Crumbs and Seasonings. Dredge fillets in mixture and fry in hot skillet with oil. How you know when to turn it is when the fillet is white half way up the meatiest point. Then flip and finish cooking until white all through.

That is it!

Food

Freezer Friday: Make Ahead Hamburger

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Welcome to Freezer Friday. The goal here is to make our lives easier. Due to the fact I have 4 little ones and homeschool, I need all the help I can find. Simply post a recipe that can be made, frozen and then later reheated(thawed, etc) and consumed. Make sure that you include freezing and reheating instructions in your post. Then come here and add you post (not your blog) into Mr. Linky.
Now for some disclaimers:
If it isn’t a recipe, I will delete it.
If it can’t be made ahead, I will delete it.
If you don’t have a family friendly site, I will delete it.
Now onto the food fun!

Make Ahead Hamburger

This is really more of a process than a recipe. The purpose for this is to have packets of hamburger, of about 1 pound weight, waiting for you cooked and ready to go in the freezer. I think take it out and put it into spaghetti, cheeseburger pie, hamburger helper or anything that calls for hamburger. You can even add taco seasonings to it after it is cooked to do tacos or taco baked potatoes.

Basically, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then put your hamburger into an appropriate sized cooking dish. For example, I did about 8 pounds this week and split it between a 9×13 and an 8 1/2 x11. Then season and stir like you would in a skillet. You will use a lot of seasonings because you are cooking a lot of meat. I personally use garlic, Pappy’s, and chili powder. Place the dishes in the oven and turn on the timer for 15 minutes. The come back and stir the meat, placing back in the oven for another 20 minutes if needed. Continue this process until all the meat is cooked. Then drain off (I tend to spoon it out) most of the grease. Let cool. Then divide it into 1 pound (or what ever size you use) packages. Then freeze nice and flat. To use it you have a couple of choices. You can set it on the counter or in the refrigerator to cool. Another way is to take the nice frozen meat and crumble it into a skillet, add a little water and thaw that way.

So add you recipe and enjoy cooking!

Technorati Tags: Cooking, Freezer Fridays, Make Ahead

Food

Strawberry Amaretto Pastries

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I saw the year’s first strawberries so I was reminded of a recipe I used to make at parties when I sold Pampered Chef. It seems hard but it really isn’t. It is girly and delicious! I think I will use this for a tea party with the kids and any Easter Entertaining(when the strawberries get good and cheap;).

The Pampered Chef ®
Strawberry Amaretto Pastries
Recipe

1/2 package (17.3 ounces) frozen puff pastry sheets (1 sheet), thawed
1/2 cup sliced almonds, divided
2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
1 orange
1 container (8 ounces) sour cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 cups thawed, frozen whipped topping
12 large strawberries, sliced

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Unfold pastry dough onto Large Round Stone. Coarsely grate half of the almonds using Deluxe Cheese Grater. Combine grated almonds and half of the sugar; sprinkle evenly over surface of dough. Lightly press almond mixture into dough using Baker’s Roller®.
2. Using Pizza Cutter, cut dough lengthwise into three strips; cut strips crosswise into four squares for a total of 12 squares. Using Mini-Serving Spatula, separate squares evenly over surface of baking stone. Bake 16-18 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Remove from baking stone; cool completely.
3. Place remaining almonds in Small Oval Baker. Microwave on HIGH 2-3 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring after each 30-second interval; coarsely chop using Food Chopper and set aside. Zest entire orange using Lemon Zester/Scorer. Combine zest and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar; set aside.
4. Whisk sour cream, powdered sugar and almond extract in Classic Batter Bowl using Stainless Whisk. Fold in whipped topping using Small Mix ‘N Scraper®. Slice strawberries using Egg Slicer Plus®. Split open each pastry square; arrange half of the strawberries into bottom of each shell. Top each with about 2 heaping tablespoons of the filling and sprinkle with chopped almonds. Top with remaining sliced strawberries and sprinkle with sugared orange zest. Place tops of pastry shells over filling. Serve immediately.