Friday FIll Ins


Hosted by Janet

1. Wait! Wait, don’t forget to be thankful for all that leftover turkey for sandwiches today.
2. Thanksgiving is followed at once by a shopping frenzy.
3. The trouble is mot people forget the real reason for the season and get all caught up in the hype.
4. My mind is many miles away.
5. With a faint pop y knee clicked back into place.
6. The mesquite tree outside my window is all shadowy and ominous.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to hanging out with family, tomorrow my plans include a college football game and Sunday, I want to seriously relax!!
aprons 3

Lemon Meringue Pie: What Did You Bake Today?

One of our favorite pies to have at all major family dinners is lemon meringue pie. The filling is made in the microwave lickety split. The meringue is made using America’s Test Kitchen’s no weep secret. The pie crust is our old tried and true prebaked.
Lemon Meringue Pie:
1 1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cup sugar
dash salt
1/2 cup cornstarch dissolved in 1/3 cup water
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (we used more of those wonderful lemons from Florida)
4 egg yolks
1 Tbls butter

In a large microwave safe bowl, combine water, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil in the microwave (at this point, you can’t ruin it, so just keep adding minutes until it boils). Add the cornstarch/water mixture and boil until clear (2 minutes at a time until it reaches that state). Add the lemon juice and egg yolks and cook until thick (1 minute at a time, stirring after each minute). Add butter, cool and fill a 9 or 10″ baked pie shell.

For the Meringue:
4 egg whites, room temperature

1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbls cornstarch
1/4 cup water

Combine the cornstarch and water and microwave until it looks Vaseline (no joke!). Beat the egg whites and sugar until soft peaks appear. Add the cooled cornstarch mixture a dollop at a time and whip until stiff peaks form. Top the lemon pie while it is piping hot, sealing the edges (meringue to crust) and bake 325 degrees for 7 minutes.
What Did You Bake Today?

Party time!

REMEMBER THAT ALL REGULAR MEMES WILL DISPLAY JUST BELOW THIS PARTY LINK FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS.

YAY!! WOOHOO!! It’s finally here.

We’re having a party here at the OuR KrAzY kItChEn and you’re invited. Bring your favorite recipe, decorating idea, pictures, anecdotes and let’s have some fun together.
  • Do you have a special pumpkin pie recipe recipe?
  • What is your favorite side dish recipe?
  • Do you have a favorite apple recipe?
  • Do you have special way to carve a turkey?
  • How about a party punch that’s perfect for the Thanksgiving crowd?
  • What is your idea of a best decorating idea?
  • Stop by the buffet table and grab a cup of cheer and an appetizer.
  • Sign Mr. Linky and let us know what you’re bring to the party using the following format. For example: Tamy @ 3 Sides of Crazy (Family Favorite Cheese Ball) or Martha @ Menagerie (Fool proof Gravy)

All of us here at ThEKrAzYkItChEn look forward to visiting with you and having a great time at this party. We hope you enjoy yourselves.

Thirteen unrelated, but helpful tips…

  1. Visine is a fast fix for a sudden break out. It constricts the blood vessels soothing the redness and swelling.
  2. Toothpaste will do the same thing.
  3. Club soda will help loosen a rusty bolt.
  4. A club soda dampened cloth used to wipe down chrome faucets will remove water spots and soap scum.
  5. Soak your genuine gems in club soda over night and they will sparkle by morning.
  6. Rinse your hair in club soda after swimming will prevent chlorine from turning your hair green.
  7. 6 cloves of garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil cured together for 2 days and then applied to your feet for 7 days will cure athlete’s foot.
  8. Apply a thin layer of egg white under your eyes. Allow it to dry and rinse with lukewarm water. The amino acids nourish the skin and tighten the pores to reduce inflammation.
  9. Kiwi slices are packed with skin smoothing anti-oxidants and vitamin C which soothes puffy skin and lightens dark circles.
  10. 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt will soothe a sunburn.
  11. 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt will de-spot copper pots. Rub it in and et it sit 5 minutes. Rinse with cool water and buff dry.
  12. Substituting yogurt in your favorite dip will reduce the fat by half.
  13. Harness the power of positive thinking by retraining your brain to focus on what you want, dreaming big, following the golden rule and filtering out the negative.

wildatheart

We interrupt this regularly scheduled meme to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a safe and happy holiday and Get your Spatulas ready!
We would also like to announce our upcoming new meme to kick off the new year. Dave from My Year on the grill will be joining our team for a weekly event. He will be featuring experiments with recipes he’s collected from other bloggers. Dave recently guest hosted at Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? for us and has a wonderful sense of humor and will certainly give us all a run for our money.

Look for I CAN COOK THAT on Thursdays beginning New Year’s Eve.

BLACKBERRY SOUFFLES





They serve up great for a Sunday brunch buffet.

BLACKBERRY SOUFFLES
6 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 ounces cream cheese, cut into eight 2 inch cubes
2 cups sliced blackberries

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Spray 8 ramekins with PURE.
  • Beat together eggs, water, and salt.
  • Fill ramekins 2/3 full with egg mixture.
  • Top each one with a cream cheese cube.
  • Evenly sprinkle brown sugar on top of each ramekin.
  • Top each one with blackberries.
  • Bake 15 minutes or until brown sugar is melted and eggs are set.
  • Slide out of ramekins (if you want), dust with powdered sugar and the rest of the blackberries.

wildatheart

Chicken Chow Mein ~ Dieter’s Delight

I’m filling in for Pam today so I hope you enjoy this recipe.



I use my salad spinner for draining pasta to get all the excess water out.


CHICKEN CHOW MEIN

3 tablespoons peanut oil
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1 cup sliced celery
5-6 cups shredded Napa cabbage
1 cup bean sprouts
1/2 cup sliced carrots
2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
4 tablespoons cold water
1-2 cups shredded chicken pieces
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes +/-
1 pound spaghetti or vermicelli

  • Prepare spaghetti according to package directions.
  • Over a medium high flame heat the peanut oil in a heavy skillet.
  • Saute’ the celery, onions, bean sprouts and cabbage until cabbage is wilted.
  • Remove with a slotted spoon.
  • Add a bit more oil and saute’ chicken pieces.
  • Remove with a slotted spoon.
  • Add the broth, sesame oil, soy sauce and sugar. Simmer for several minutes.
  • Whisk the cornstarch into the cold water until smooth.
  • Add to the broth mixture and bring to a boil.
  • Add vegetable mixture and chicken pieces back in, heat through and coat well.
  • Toss with prepared pasta and heat through.

It’s almost Turkey day!!


Thanksgiving will be here before you know it! Have you made your grocery shopping list? Check out the Vons ad for your local store here. I did and found some wonderful sales! I am saving a bundle on preparing our feast. We are going to have a house full for several days and I want to make it special for everyone! There is also a helpful Meal Planning Guide.

Hurry, the FREE turkey with minimum purchase offer ends Monday, 11/23. I’m doing my shopping this week to avoid the crowds. I found everything I needed from yams and pumpkin pies to wheat thins and bread for turkey sandwiches the next day to prepare a terrific feast for my family easily and most of it was on sale. Using your club card will increase your savings even more.

One of the most amazing items they have is the recipe for their 2-Hour Turkey. It is a very simple recipe with excellent results. The whole crowd will think you spent the entire day in the kitchen!


You will also find some wonderful decorating ideas.


Not sure what to do with all the leftovers? Check out their recipes at the Leftovers Lounge.



I can’t wait to try the Warm Turkey Bacon Salad and the Garlic Lover’s Turkey Enchiladas.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

FULL DISCLOSURE: In the interest of full disclosure I was contacted and asked to voice my opinion and Domino Sugar links in exchange for a Domino Sugar gift card. I did this because I believe in the product and the recipes and not for payment.

Fudge Bottom Brownies & Peanut Butter Fudge Drops ~ Cookies that look like you spent all day in the kitchen, but there isn’t even any baking!

Did you know that Domino Sugar and C&H Sugar are the same great pure cane sweet goodness? The name is based on where you live! You should head on over and check out their websites for some fun and creative recipe ideas from themed parties, cookies and edible ornaments to mixes in ajar for the upcoming holidays. Here is one of our favorite recipes from their recipe files to get you started.

FUDGE BOTTOM BROWNIES
BROWNIES
1 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup Domino® Granulate Sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup walnuts, chopped
3/4 cup Domino® Light Brown Sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cups boiling water

TO SERVE
2 packages fresh raspberries
2 tablespoons Domino® Granulated Sugar
whipped cream
1 milk chocolate bar, for shaving
1/2 cup chocolate melting candies or almond bark, for hearts

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Combine first seven ingredients, stirring until blended.
  • Stir in nuts.
  • Spread mixture into an ungreased, 8-inch square baking pan.
  • Whisk light brown sugar and cocoa. into boiling water.
  • Pour over batter and bake 40 minutes or until cake portion is set.
  • To serve, puree 1 1/2 packages of fresh raspberries with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in a food processor or blender until smooth.
  • Puddle raspberry puree over the bottom of the plate and sprinkle edges of plate with chocolate shavings.
  • Arrange a generous piece of warm brownie in the center of the puree and top with a large dollop of whipped cream.
  • Arrange chocolate hearts in whipped cream and serve immediately.
  • To prepare the chocolate hearts, heat chocolate melts in your microwave at 20 second intervals, stirring between intervals, until smooth.
  • Pour melted chocolate into small freezer bag and snip one corner to create a pastry tube.
  • Pipe heart shapes onto waxed paper and allow to cool until hard.

One of our favorite nieces is coming to visit this weekend so I whipped up these yummy cookies using her favorite Hershey’s kisses. These are for you Kat! They are keepers too I’ll use for our upcoming Christmas cookie party!


PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE DROPS
2/3 cup Hot water
10 ounces Land of Lakes cocoa mix
2 cups JIF creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3 cups C&H powdered sugar, divided 2cups + 1 cup
2 cups crushed vanilla wafers
2 cups crushed ginger snaps
72 Hershey Kisses (I like the cherry cordials)

  • Whisk together the hot water and cocoa mix until smooth.
  • Add peanut butter and corn syrup. Blend until smooth.
  • Add 2 cups powdered sugar and stir until well blended.
  • Stir in cookie crumbs until well blended.
  • Spray wax paper with PURE (these will be sticky so don’t forget this step).
  • Drop heaping teaspoonfuls of dough onto the wax paper.
  • Place the remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar in a shallow bowl.
  • Roll each piece of dough into a ball and dredge in powdered sugar.
  • Press your thumb into the center and fill with a Hershey’s kiss.
Don’t forget our Upcoming Cookie Party!

FULL DISCLOSURE: In the interest of full disclosure I was contacted and asked to voice my opinion and Domino Sugar links in exchange for a Domino Sugar gift card. I did this because I believe in the product and the recipes and not for payment.

Fudge Bottom Brownies & Peanut Butter Fudge Drops

Did you know that Domino Sugar and C&H Sugar are the same great pure cane sweet goodness? The name is based on where you live! You should head on over and check out their websites for some fun and creative recipe ideas from themed parties, cookies and edible ornaments to mixes in ajar for the upcoming holidays. I did and here is one of my favorite recipes from Domino Sugar and C&H Sugar to get you started.

FUDGE BOTTOM BROWNIES
BROWNIES
1 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup Domino® Granulate Sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup walnuts, chopped
3/4 cup Domino® Light Brown Sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cups boiling water

TO SERVE
2 packages fresh raspberries
2 tablespoons Domino® Granulated Sugar
whipped cream
1 milk chocolate bar, for shaving
1/2 cup chocolate melting candies or almond bark, for hearts

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Combine first seven ingredients, stirring until blended.
  • Stir in nuts.
  • Spread mixture into an ungreased, 8-inch square baking pan.
  • Whisk light brown sugar and cocoa. into boiling water.
  • Pour over batter and bake 40 minutes or until cake portion is set.
  • To serve, puree 1 1/2 packages of fresh raspberries with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in a food processor or blender until smooth.
  • Puddle raspberry puree over the bottom of the plate and sprinkle edges of plate with chocolate shavings.
  • Arrange a generous piece of warm brownie in the center of the puree and top with a large dollop of whipped cream.
  • Arrange chocolate hearts in whipped cream and serve immediately.
  • To prepare the chocolate hearts, heat chocolate melts in your microwave at 20 second intervals, stirring between intervals, until smooth.
  • Pour melted chocolate into small freezer bag and snip one corner to create a pastry tube.
  • Pipe heart shapes onto waxed paper and allow to cool until hard.

One of our favorite nieces is coming to visit this weekend so I whipped up these yummy cookies using her favorite Hershey’s kisses. These are for you Kat! They are keepers too I’ll use for our upcoming Christmas cookie party!

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE DROPS

2/3 cup Hot water
10 ounces Land of Lakes cocoa mix
2 cups JIF creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3 cups C&H powdered sugar, divided 2cups + 1 cup
2 cups crushed vanilla wafers
2 cups crushed ginger snaps
72 Hershey Kisses (I like the cherry cordials)

  • Whisk together the hot water and cocoa mix until smooth.
  • Add peanut butter and corn syrup. Blend until smooth.
  • Add 2 cups powdered sugar and stir until well blended.
  • Stir in cookie crumbs until well blended.
  • Spray wax paper with PURE (these will be sticky so don’t forget this step).
  • Drop heaping teaspoonfuls of dough onto the wax paper.
  • Place the remaining 1 cup of powdered sugar in a shallow bowl.
  • Roll each piece of dough into a ball and dredge in powdered sugar.
  • Press your thumb into the center and fill with a Hershey’s kiss.
Don’t forget our Upcoming Cookie Party!
wildatheart

FULL DISCLOSURE: In the interest of full disclosure I was contacted and asked to voice my opinion and Domino Sugar links in exchange for a Domino Sugar gift card. I did this because I believe in the product and the recipes and not for payment.