POPPY SEED DRESSING

POPPY SEED DRESSING
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup QUALITY honey
1/2 cup champagne vinegar
3/4 cup avocado oil
1 tablespoon grated onion
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
1 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard (optional)

  • Combine sugar , salt and vinegar in a sauce pan, heating over LOW heat until sugar dissolves.
  • Remove from heat and whisk in honey.
  • Pour into a quart jar.
  • Add avocado oil, onions, poppy seeds and mustard if using.
  • Shake WELL to mix.
  • Refrigerate until needed.
  • Shake before serving.

NOTE: This is a perfect dressing to serve over FRESH fruits like watermelon, peaches and avocados.

PICKLED CARROTS

PICKLED CARROTS
Scant 2 cups baby carrots, cut into small sticks
1 SMALL red chili,
1/2 cup champagne vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 LARGE clove garlic, FINELY minced
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds, (optional)
2 teaspoons sea salt

  • Place carrots and chile in a pint size mason jar.
  • In a saucepan bring the vinegar, water, garlic, sugar, coriander seeds, sea salt and mustard seeds (if using) and bring to a SLOW boil.
  • Pour vinegar mixture over carrots.
  • Cool 15 minutes.
  • Seal and refrigerate.

BROCCOLI OR CARROTS?

A friend asked me recently why I don’t list my entire meal on my menu plan.  I told her it was because I never know what I will be serving with it until I go to the store.  She was surprised and shocked I went to the store more than once a week.  Since I only cook from scratch, including the sides and vegetables, I shop 2-3 times a week so I am using the freshest of produce.  I don’t want to list broccoli as my vegetable and then not like the way it looks at the market and switch to carrots.

So my question is, how often do you grocery shop?

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 35 of 2021

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

I hope that as we begin this last week of August and edge towards September and the Fall season that you are all enjoying the end of summer as you start thinking about your kids returning to school, cooler and crisper weather and Pumpkin spice beginning to fill the air.

We had a great week away at the beach, but I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen midway through Monday. We were almost to our destination, but in the middle of nowhere, when I had an episode of Long QT syndrome, food poisoning, reactive hypoglycemia or ???? and I was down for the count. When I came to I had a very scared husband! Fortunately hubby was driving when it happened. I hate scaring hubby to death, but unfortunately I did it again. He doesn’t do well with not having control (neither do I), but it’s doubly scary when neither of us has control.

When I came to I realized, well I’m not sure what I realized entirely except that our final destination for a place to land long term NEEDS to be someplace with much better and much more medical care than is available here. I need to be back with doctors that are better versed in my needs. The medical professionals here keep leaving and that leaves those left behind strained on patient overload – not enough time in a day to see to all the patients in need. It was like that even before the pandemic.

Checking in to our hotel was a bit strained too as someone had canceled our upgrades and downgraded our room at an increased price though! After working that out and FINALLY getting settled in we ordered in some dinner and relaxed listening to the waves. By Tuesday morning I felt much better and we began to tackle nature on our terms. 😀 and had a great week.

It was a nice break and wonderful anniversary gift to ourselves, but this week is back to the day to day life.

It is supposed to be rather mild and actually nice this week. I’m really looking forward to it.

Hot water and peach yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING – I need to vacuum and will be doing the laundry tomorrow as we still don’t have a new washer from Whirlpool. I hope this is the last time we have to go do it at the laundromat.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS – I have an early appointment with my doctor this morning to discuss the increasing hypoglycemia issues I’m having. I’ll do the errands and groceries on the way home. I also have some packages to drop off at UPS.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS – I’ll tackle the mess on my desk on Tuesday. It piled up a bit while we were gone.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING – I did most of September’s list yesterday.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX – The Vault, Gunpowder Milkshake and Z Nation runs
  • REDBOX – The MISFITS and Till Death
  • DISNEY+ – Outer Banks
  • DVD – Jumper, Grey
  • CABLE – Guy’s Grocery Games, Buddy VS Duff, Clash of the Cones, MasterChef, Chespeake Shores, NASCAR, BIG Bang, Night Court

I started a book, The Magnolia Inn by Anne-Marie Meyer, but didn’t get very far as the waves were lulling me to sleep each night before I could read very far.

There are sooooo many favorites from last week! You can see almost all of them on my InstaGram.  I hope to finish editing and posting later today. I’ll leave you with just this one of Yaquina Head Lighthouse for now and to see the beach was a welcome change this past week for so many reasons.

AND A KITCHEN FUNNY 😀

 

 
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
PISTACHIO CRUSTED HALIBUT with CREAMED PEAS
PORK TONKATSU with WATERMELON TOMATO SALAD
PAN SEARED CHICKEN BREASTS with TOMATO HERB SAUCE and CARROT COINS
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
ROAST CHICKEN with HOT BUTTER SAUCE and MASHED POTATOES
PAN SEARED CHICKEN with WALNUT CREAM SAUCE and MASHED POTATOES
CHICKEN RAGU over PASTA with SALAD
DESSERT
NECTARINE COBBLER

  • PICKLED CARROTS
  • POPPY SEED DRESSING
  • BAKED GENERAL TSO CHICKEN
  • BROWN SUGAR RUBBED TRI-TIP

MEXICAN STREET CORN LOADED TOTS ~ FAITH & FOOD FRIDAY #13

I’m still featuring my Mary & Martha GRACE meal prayer box on Faith and Food Friday, hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

THIS WEEK’S PRAYER: Dear God, Thank you for dinner time when we pause and reflect on our day. Teach usto love You more, follow You more closely, and be a reflection of You to others. Thank you for our food and all the ways You bless us. Amen.

MEXICAN STREET CORN LOADED TOTS

PICKLED RED ONIONS
1 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 large red onion, sliced thinly

  • Heat the vinegar, sugar, salt and 1 cup water in a small saucepan, stirring until the sugar and salt dissolve.
  • Pour over the onions in a small jar.
  • Let cool completely, then refrigerate.

CHILI LIME CREAM
2/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1 teaspoon chili powder, plus more for garnish 
FRESH ground sea salt, to taste
Zest of 1 lime 

  • Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, chili powder, salt and lime zest. Set aside.

LOADED TOTS
One 1 3/4-pound bag frozen tater tots
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 pound ground chuck
1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels or FRESH 2 ears corn, kernels removed
1 can rotel tomatoes, drained
8 ounces shredded mozzarella
6 ounces crumbled queso fresco
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped 
1/2 bunch green onions, sliced 
Pickled Red Onions
Lime wedges, for garnish 

  • Preheat the oven to 450°.
  • Place the tots on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
  • Bake until golden and crispy, 25 to 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile brown ground beef until crumbly and just about cooked through. Drain of excess grease.
  • Add most of the green onions, reserving a few for garnish, and saute’ a minute more.
  • Add rotel tomatoes and corn, stirring to combine well.
  • Remove the tots from the oven and sprinkle evenly with browned beef mixture, all of the mozzarella and half of the queso fresco to cover.
  • Bake until melty, 3 to 5 minutes.

ASSEMBLY

  • Sprinkle with remaining queso fresco and add big dollops of the lime cream.
  • Garnish with the chopped cilantro, green onions, Pickled Red Onions, a dash of chili powder and salt.
  • Squeeze fresh lime juice on top and enjoy!

MAGIC COBBLER aka FLOATING FRUIT CAKE

I was given the original recipe many years ago by a woman I worked with. It was delicious, but it used a box mix and canned peaches so and I wanted to update it to a scratch recipe using fresh fruits when possible.

This is a super fun recipe in that the batter and fruit actually trade places during the baking process ending with a crunchy biscuit topping over sweet, juicy fruit. My favorite flavor is peach, but it works just as well with cherries, blackberries, blueberries, apples or ANY fruit combo you can think of!

MAGIC COBBLER aka FLOATING FRUIT CAKE updated

FILLING
8 cups about 10 peaches peeled and sliced OR 32 ounces of sliced frozen peaches, thawed and drained well
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla

  • In a large mixing bowl toss peaches with vanilla, sugar and cinnamon and set aside.

TOPPING
12 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

  • Preheat oven to 300°.
  • Spray 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In another large mixing bowl whisk together the butter, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and milk.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan.
  • Layer evenly with peach slices.
  • Bake for 1 hour or until browned and bubbly.

NOTE: You can use other fruits, but omit the cinnamon if using berries such as blueberries, blackberries or raspberries.

NOTE: When taking this out of the pan for serving you can easily turn it into this cute little trifle.

PRETZEL CRUSTED CHICKEN

This is the perfect recipe to enjoy with a nice cold beer.

PRETZEL CRUSTED CHICKEN
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast steaks
1 1/2-2 cups salted pretzels, any shape
1 tablespoon FRESH thyme leaves, chopped
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 LARGE eggs
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons avocado oil

  • Place the pretzels in a food processor and grind until fine.
  • Heat a large stainless steel skillet with butter and vegetable oil over medium high heat.
  • Transfer the ground pretzels to a shallow dish, add the thyme, salt and pepper.
  • Beat 2 eggs in a second shallow dish with a splash of water.
  • One at a time, coat each chicken breast in the egg and then the ground pretzels.
  • Add the pretzel-coated chicken breast to the skillet, cooking in a single layer, about 3 or 4 minutes on each side, until the juices run clear and breading is evenly browned.

CHEESE SAUCE
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
2 1/2 cups, sharp yellow cheddar cheese, shredded (see notes)
2 heaping tablespoons mayonnaise
FRESH chopped Parsley leaves
1/4 small Vidalia onion, finely chopped

  • While the chicken is frying, in a medium sauce pan over medium heat, melt the butter and add the flour to it.
  • Cook flour and butter for 1 minute and then whisk in the milk.
  • When the milk comes to a bubble, stir in the cheese and mayonnaise until smooth.
  • Season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Remove from the heat.
  • Plate chicken and drizzle with the cheese sauce.
  • Sprinkle with parsley and finely chopped onion if desired.

NOTES:

  • Changing the cheese can change the flavor profile A LOT!

Originally posted June 29, 2011 without a picture so I updated it 😀

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 34 of 2021

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

With the craziness of the world around us we did cancel our BIG trip that was supposed to begin this week. Our BIG anniver sary will still happen this week though so we were able to find lodging at the coast this week that is reasonably priced, will allow us to be beach bums for a few days while still avoiding crowds and enjoying the surf, sun, cooler temperatures and lack of the heavy smoke in the air that we have been tortured with the last couple weeks. I stocked up on snacks and such so we can be self sufficient. 😀

We weren’t sure yet on Friday if we were going to be able to go though. On Thursday afternoon while I was running errands I stopped at one place, turned off the car and removed the key. Attached to the key was the ENTIRE ignition switch! I was able to put it back in and start the car (SURPRISINGLY). When we went to the mechanic Friday morning (thankfully he was able to fit us in) the part wasn’t available 🙁 He eventually found it and told us to come back around 4PM. By 530PM we were on our way thankfully. $300 poorer, but on our way.

It’s already warmer here right this minutes than it is going to be at the beach all week! I’m going to be in heaven. We’re so looking forward to this trip. 😀 The lows are in line with each other, but the highs will be heavenly at the beach!

Hot water and apricot carrot pineapple baby food squeeze

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING all on hold this week – it will all be here when we get home 😀
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS all on hold this week – it will all be here when we get home 😀
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS all on hold this week – it will all be here when we get home 😀
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING all on hold this week – it will all be here when we get home 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • IT WILL ALL BE THERE WHEN WE GET HOME:D

I have several books loaded and hope to get a lot of reading done this week.

I did get quite a few #RailArt pictures of the #LumberTrain this week, but have yet to finish editing them. I did especially like this #CherryBomb one
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
OUT OF TOWN
OUT OF TOWN
OUT OF TOWN
OUT OF TOWN
OUT OF TOWN
??
??
DESSERT

  • PRETZEL CRUSTED CHICKEN & BEER CHEESE SAUCE
  • LOADED MEXICAN STREET CORN TOTS
  • MAGIC COBBLER aka FLOATING FRUIT CAKE 

CHICKEN YAKITORI

There is a sentimental backstory to this recipe. When I was in college I was a server in a steakhouse that had these skewers on the menu. This was a highly coveted dish by ALL the staff on busy nights because you could seriously eat a bite on your way through. I can’t even count how many of these plates we all shared eating a bite here and there.

At the restaurant we used a pre-prepared sauce from the distributor, but I’ve been working to develop a scratch recipe that I was happy with. I can report that I’ve done it.

Yakitori literally means ‘grilled bird’ in Japanese and is prepared on charcoal grills on skewers as they were designed for portability as a “street food”. Charcoal is the preferred method of cooking as it produces high heat and strong flames while giving off little to no water vapor.

After grilling the skewers are usually dressed in a “tare” sauce which is a dipping sauce best described as a sweet thickened soy based sauce, but there are MANY different variations. Many cooks will season the skewers while they are grilling in addition to a dipping sauce.

One of the keys to success with this dish is uniformly sized pieces of everything on the skewer.

CHICKEN YAKITORI aka JAPANESE CHICKEN on a STICK

SKEWERS
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 LARGE bunch green onions or 1 Vidalia onion cut into wedges
1 pineapple cut into 1 inch cubes
avocado oil
10 to 12 (5-inch) bamboo skewers

  • Soak skewers in water for 30 minutes.
  • Cut the white and light green part of scallions into 1 inch pieces.
  • Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes.
  • Alternate each chicken slice with a piece of pineapple and a scallion lined up perpendicular to the skewer.

TARE (YAKITORI) SAUCE
½ cup Bragg’s liquid aminos
½ cup mirin
¼ cup sake
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons PACKED brown sugar
1 teaspoon FRESH grated ginger
2 green onions, green tops minced

  • In a small saucepan whisk together the mirin, liquid aminos, sake, water, brown sugar, grated ginger and green parts of scallion, and bring it to a boil over high heat.
  • Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is reduced by at least half. It will take about 30 minutes.
  • Let it cool to room temperature before using. The sauce will thicken with a glossy shine as it cools. Reserve ⅓ of the sauce in a small bowl for final coating after the chicken is  cooked.

Note: You can make the sauce ahead of time omitting the green onion part. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 months.

PREPARATION

  • Heat grill to medium high.
  • Grease the grate of the grill to avoid the chicken sticking on the grate.
  • Place the skewers on top.
Sear for 4 minutes.
  • Turn skewers and sear the other side for 4 minutes.
  • Brush with sauce and grill 2 more minutes.
  • Flip and brush the other side and grill 2 more minutes.
  • Repeat the flipping and brushing until chicken is cooked through.
Transfer the skewers to a serving plate.
  • Brush the chicken again with the reserved sauce.

PEANUT CHICKEN RAMEN & PEANUT CHICKEN SALAD

PEANUT CHICKEN RAMEN
2 LARGE chicken breasts grilled to your liking OR 2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken pieces
Yakisoba noodles for 4
1/2 pound Beech mushrooms
3 large green onions, sliced thin
1 cucumber, sliced
A handful of snap peas, trimmed
1 red, yellow and orange mini pepper, sliced
pickled onions
Chopped cilantro, optional

PEANUT SAUCE
1/2 cup salted creamy peanut butter (see notes)
2-3 tablespoons BRAGG’S liquid aminos
2 tablespoons maple syrup
+/- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce, depending on your heat level
Juice of 2 FRESH limes
+/- 1/4 cup water (to thin)

  • Whisk together the peanut butter, liquid aminos, maple syrup, chili sauce and lime juice in a medium mixing bowl.
  • Add water a little at a time until a thick BUT pourable sauce is formed.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more maple syrup for sweetness, chili garlic sauce for heat, lime juice for acidity, or liquid aminos for saltiness.

NOTE:

  • Almond butter or Cashew butter SUBSTITUTE WELL for Peanut butter.
  • If your sauce becomes too thin, add more nut butter.
  • If your sauce is too thick, thin with more water.
  • FRESH grated ginger to taste adds another layer of great flavor.

NOTE: The leftovers added to torn lettuce make a wonderful salad 😀

CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN with GRIDDLE POTATO LATKE and GREEN CHILE GRAVY ~ FAITH & FOOD FRIDAY #12

I’m still featuring my Mary & Martha GRACE meal prayer box on Faith and Food Friday, hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

THIS WEEK’S PRAYER: Thank You Lord, for good things to eat, for refreshing things to drink, for the love and laughter we share, for the blessings. You pour on us each day. We love You! Amen.

CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN with GRIDDLE POTATO LATKE and GREEN CHILE GRAVY
CHICKEN
2 LARGE boneless chicken breasts
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup Wondra
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 LARGE eggs
1/2 cup Panko crumbs
2-4 tablespoons butter (enough to keep chicken from burning~add as necessary)

  • Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts.
  • In a shallow glass pan, pour buttermilk over chicken 1-2 hours prior to cooking.
  • Make sure to coat chicken well and turn at least once during soaking.
  • Drain, but do NOT rinse the buttermilk off.
  • In a medium sized fry pan melt the butter over medium heat. As butter melts and begins to very slightly sizzle, prepare breasts.
  • In a shallow pan mix together the flour, salt and pepper.
  • In another shallow pan whisk eggs until well blended.
  • In another shallow pan add Panko crumbs.
  • One at a time, dredge each chicken breast in flour mixture, then egg mixture and then Panko crumbs.
  • Add to sizzling butter.
  • Cook 4-6 minutes each side depending on plumpness.
  • Keep chicken warm.

POTATO LATKE
2 pounds russett potatoes
1 SMALL bunch green onions
several sprigs FRESH thyme
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 LARGE eggs, lightly beaten
3-4 slices crumbled bacon pieces

  • Drape a clean cheesecloth over a colander.
  • Grate the potatoes and onion and place inside the lined colander.
  • Sprinkle with salt, toss and let drain in the sink for 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Squeeze as much moisture as possible out of the potato-onion mixture.
  • Combine with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, lemon juice, lemon zest, beaten eggs, bacon pieces and panko and in a medium bowl and mix to form a pasty mixture.
  • Fold the thyme into the mix.
  • Cover with plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  • Place a 10-inch cast-iron skillet on medium heat and allow to heat for 5 minutes.
  • Also, preheat the oven to 350°.
  • Add 4 tablespoons of the oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan.
  • When oil is hot add potato mixture and gently press with spatula to flatten the mixture so it evenly covers the bottom of the pan.
  • Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes.
  • Transfer to oven and bake for 10 minutes. By this time, the latke should be firm enough to flip without falling apart. Transfer the pan to the stove.
  • Place a plate over the pan and carefully invert to flip the latke.
  • Slide it back into the pan and bake for another 10 minutes.

TOPPING
WHOLE milk ricotta cheese
1 green onion, FINELY minced
Juice of LARGE lime
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Whisk everything together until smooth and chill until needed.

GREEN CHILE GRAVY
1 LARGE can chopped green chiles
1 bunch green onions, chopped
Handful FRESH Italian Parsley
couple sprigs FRESH thyme
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons WONDRA flour
2 cups homemade chicken bone broth
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste

  • In a food processor combine green chiles, green onions, Parsley and thyme.
  • Pulse until smooth.
  • In a large sauce pan melt butter over medium high heat.
  • When butter is sizzling sprinkle with flour and whisk until golden.
  • Whisk in green chile mixture and bone broth.
  • Bring to a SLOW boil, reduce heat and simmer until reduced and beginning to thicken,
  • Season to taste with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.

HONEY BOURBON PECAN CHICKEN

HONEY BOURBON PECAN CHICKEN

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 LARGE stalk celery, FINELY diced
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 mini bottle Honey Jack Daniels
1 tablespoon Bragg’s liquid aminos
1 tablespoon Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (optional)
1/2 cup SMALL chopped toasted pecans
2 tablespoons QUALITY honey
1/2 cup unsalted butter, COLD and diced

  • Whisk together the brown sugar, Jack Daniels, liquid aminos, Worcestershire sauce and Dijon if using. Set aside.
  • Generously season chicken breasts with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Heat avocado oil in large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Sear chicken breasts 4 minutes on each side JUST until cooked through.
  • Remove chicken to platter and keep warm.
  • Add celery and asparagus if using, sauteing 2-3 minutes.
  • Add Jack Daniels mixture to skillet and bring to a simmer.
  • Turn off heat and add cold butter, whisking until smooth.
  • Stir in the honey and pecan pieces.
  • Return chicken to pan, turning to coat in sauce.
  • Plate chicken pieces.
  • Drizzle with sauce and serve immediately.

NOTE:

  • You can find the small little travel size Jack Daniels bottle in the liquor store with various flavors. I’ve tried most of them and find you can’t go wrong 🙂 Apple is great also as is Fireball Cinnamon.
  • I eliminate the mustard due to a life threatening allergy, but I hear it is a wonderful flavor addition.
  • I also like to saute’ some asparagus tips in the sauce for a bit more elegant flair.