13 Resolutions for 2010

If I put my resolutions out here for all to see, do you think that I will have a better shot at meeting them?  More than likely, I will have to print them out and post them all over the house in order to succeed. 

Here are some things that I want to accomplish:

1. Continue to catalog pictures and stories of my family (see Saturday Stories).  Make cds of the pictures for all of my brothers.

2. Successfully make all 52 things I have listed for my new "Make Your Own Monday" feature.

3. Make more visits to your blogs.

4. Lose 10 pounds.

5. Follow a better exercise regimen.

6. Read 10 books.  Got any suggestions?

7. Plant a garden...a great big one! (this won't  be my first, just my first in AZ)

8. Find at least 5 things each day for which to be truly glad. (a little Pollyanna-ish, but needed)

9. Encourage my children to do more things for other people. (start by example)

10.  Get my right shoulder back to normal (I go in for an MRI as soon as my insurance oks it)

11. Find some of the things I have been missing since my move....which means unpacking and repacking anywhere from 5 to 15 boxes in the garage.

12. Making time to play the piano again....learn a few new pieces.

13. Grind more grains and use them in my cooking/baking.  And while I am on the subject of grains, has anyone noticed that all-purpose flour is no longer what it used to be?  Has anyone noticed that it contains barley now?  Has anyone noticed that their baked goods aren't turning out as well?  I had some 25lb bags of great flour....100% wheat.  Now that they are gone, I can't find any more.  What happened?????

thursday-13.com

Tweet

Starlight Mint Chocolate Cake

I wanted to make a wonderful WOW type dessert for our big Christmas Eve dinner.  I don't know that I succeeded, but this is what I made.  It was the 1951 Pillsbury Bake Off Grand Prize winner.  My biggest mistake was in using the high altitude directions.  They were decidedly not necessary and I believe they made the cake dry.  I left them out of the directions below.

Starlight Mint Chocolate Cake:
Frosting
2 (3-oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
6 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup hot water
1 cup chocolate chips, melted

Cake
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 eggs
2 cups flou
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. In large bowl, combine cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter, vanilla and peppermint extract; blend until smooth. Add powdered sugar alternately with hot water, beating until smooth. Add melted chocolate; blend well.   In another large bowl, combine 2 cups of the frosting mixture and 1/4 cup butter; blend well. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add flour, baking soda, salt and milk; beat until smooth. Pour batter evenly into greased and floured pans.  Bake at 350°F. for 30 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pans. Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled.  To assemble cake, place 1 layer, top side down, on serving plate. Spread with about 1/4 of frosting. Top with second layer, top side up. Spread sides and top of cake with remaining frosting.  Garnish with crushed candy canes.  Store in refrigerator.

Tasty Tuesdays

Tempt Your Tummy Tuesdays

Tuesdays at the Table

Tweet

Gingerbread House 2009

So.  I joined the Daring Bakers.  I feel like I am blogging with the big boys now. 

December's challenge was a gingerbread house.  In the past, I have bought a few of those kits for the kids to put together.  When they were even younger, we attempted a few milk carton/graham cracker creations.  This time, however, I had to make it from scratch and the entire thing had to be edible.  I also wanted the thing to be frugal.  There was no way I was going to the store to buy a ton of candy to decorate it.  I went to the internet to search for some ideas.

Here is the template I created.  Note to self: gingerbread expands when baking and nothing will end up plumb.

   I used shredded wheat cereal for a thatched roof.  I used crackers for the doors and windows.  Royal icing kept everything well glued together.

 Finally, I decorated the house with regular frosting.  Our wood burning stove was going and the frosting began to look really runny, so I took it out onto the front porch to firm up... I forgot about it until bedtime, but luckily the neighborhood cats didn't eat it.

  My brother thought my attempt at snow on the roof  looked like a couple of birds had flown overhead.  Luckily, my children thought it was neat-o and have since consumed most of it.

Tweet

Merry Christmas!

               

I want to wish all of you wonderful bloggy friends a Merry Christmas!

There are so many of you that have become a special part of this blogging experience. Thank you for your sweet comments and encouragement.

Whether Santa is generous or on a strict budget this year, may your holiday be filled with memories and love!

Tweet

The Blue Cheese Won!

I really am trying to be calm, but I'm having a hard time not jumping up and down.  If you will recall, I entered a shortbread cookie contest a few weeks ago.  I entered a savory blue cheese currant appetizer pinwheel.  This morning I went over to the Sophistimom's site and found out that my entry won.  The prize is  a year's supply of butter.   WHOO HOOO!!!!

Tweet

Holiday Snack: Sweet Chex Mix with Almonds

We were given a bag of this from a neighbor years ago.  I fell in love with the first bite.  I did not, however, find the recipe for years.  It was a burr in my shoe that I couldn't find it.  Then, one day, I was reading through a cookbook and Shazam!  I found myself reading this very recipe.  I made it for all of my friends that following Christmas.  We were given another bag of these goodies this year.  It was gone in half an hour.


Sweet Chex Mix with Almonds:
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
12oz box Rice Chex (or Golden Grahams or Corn Chex or a combo)
2 cups coconut
1 7oz pkg. slivered almonds
Mix cornsyrup, butter, sugar and salt in a microwave-proof bowl. Microwave until boiling. Remove, stir and cook 2 more minutes. It should be boiling vigorously by now. Add baking soda, then vanilla. Stir well. Meanwhile in a large bowl, combine cereal, coconut and almonds. Pour sauce over cereal mixture and stir until well coated. Spread out on a greased jelly roll pan. When cool, break up and place either in bowl to eat immediately or zip-loc bags to save until no one else is around  give away to your friends.

Tempt Your Tummy Tuesdays

Tasty Tuesdays

Tuesdays at the Table

Tweet

Coming in 2010: Make Your Own Monday

I am already looking to 2010 resolutions.  Last year, I started Saturday Stories where I record stories of my parents, grandparents and beyond.  It's been a great project.  I will continue it until I run out of stories.  This year, join me on Mondays as I seek to figure out how to make our favorite store bought items from scratch.  My list of foods includes ravioli, pop tarts, ketchup, and pizza rolls.  I am hoping to come up with 52 recipes that match or excede my family's fondness for these factory made foods.  I may run out of ideas, so if you have a challenge for me, leave it in the comments any time.  Here's to an adventure filled 2010!!! Tweet

Saturday Stories: Santa's Visits

I don't usually tell Saturday Stories about my in-laws. There are still so many stories from my own side to record, but this season begs for a tale about my father-in-law.




My father-in-law was the type of person who considered all people his friends. He would talk to anyone, he would share with anyone, he would help anyone. For many years through the 1980s and 90s, he'd borrow a Santa suit and arrange with a few families to visit their homes. Sometimes, he'd be handed a few presents on the sly to give to the children. Other times, he'd just show up with a bag full of candy canes or little oranges. It gave him a lot of joy to see the surprise on the children's faces when he'd show up at their very own homes to see if they'd been good.



My husband got to drive “Santa” around. You'd not believe how unweildy a Santa suit can be. There was no way he would have been able to drive himself. The Good Guy helped with presents or figuring out which door to enter or setting up cameras if the parents had arranged for that, too.



One year, on the way to a prearranged destination, they passed a house that was obviously holding a large family Christmas party. After they finished with their visit, my father-in-law made the Good Guy stop at the party they had passed. He ran up to the front door and banged loudly on the door. Imagine the surprise when the owner of the house opened the door to find Santa Claus on the porch. All of the children near the door started shouting, “Santa! Santa! Santa is here!!!” What could the parents do? In barged my father-in-law with candy canes for all. He sat down in a chair and the children formed a line (that seems to be an automatic response in kids). The grown ups in the house cautiously reached for their cameras while keeping an eye on this stranger who had invaded their party. After all of the kids had had a chance to talk to Santa, my father-in-law got up and left as mysteriously as he'd arrived.



After that, Santa started crashing one party every year. He got a huge kick out of the looks on both the surprised parents and the thrilled children. No one ever turned him away. After our children had joined our family, we'd try to visit on the nights of his adventures. For a few years, they were thrilled that Santa knew where Grandma and Grandpa lived. Sadly, my father-in-law passed away before all of my children were old enough to remember those visits. That is part of the reason I am recording these stories. Tweet

Hot Mulled Cider

This is one of my favorite drinks to serve during the holidays.  My kids beg for it as soon as November hits and would drink it until spring if I'd make it that often.

Hot Mulled Cider
3 quarts apple cider or juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp whole allspice
1 1/2 tsp whole cloves
3 small cinnamon sticks
1/4 tsp salt
lemon and/or orange slices
Tie spices up in cheesecloth. Combine all ingredients and simmer 20 minutes. If you don't have cheesecloth, just strain the spices out before serving. Serve warm. Your home will smell heavenly while this is cooking.

Holly Bloggy Christmas - Recipe Edition
Friday Feasts
Food on Friday
GCC Recipe Swap
Foodie Fridays

Tweet

What's Been and Will Be Done

1.The tree is up. It stood naked for about 4 days and then we got around to the lights and ornaments. Princess Pat is finally old enough to get Christmas. She loves to stand in front of the tree and look at all of the ornaments. She is very good about not touching, though we had to move one ornament that was made out of candy...she kept saying that it was for her and that she could crunch it.


2.I attended a nativity festival at church. I was amazed at the different and very beautiful creches. The most amazing display was the entire town of Bethlehem...just like a regular Christmas village, only with ancient dwellings and people dressed in Biblical type clothing. It was gorgeous.

3.We had carolers come to sing at our front door. They even brought cookies. All of the kids thought that was pretty neat.

4.I made the treats for the neighbors and friends. I usually end up making 30-40 plates of goodies. This year, I only did about 20 and they were popcorn balls. It was probably the easiest batch of goodies I have ever made.

5.I finished my shopping on Tuesday. I had a $10 off $10 at Penney's and so off to the mall I went with the Good Guy and Princess Pat. Because there is a cat adoption place located there, too, we had to stop to see the kittens. Princess Pat always cries when we have to end one fun activity and begin something less exciting. She cried from one end of the mall to the other; but then we passed the place where Santa was sitting in his “house.” Did she stop? No, she started on a long tirade about how Santa didn't like her and wasn't going to come to our house. I couldn't get out to the car fast enough. I will reaffirm my belief that the two's are nothing on the terrible three's.

6.All of the presents are wrapped and sitting at the top of my closet. Those that had to be mailed have already arrived at their destination. I have always admired fancy wrappings. My sister-in-law worked for a time as a professional present wrapper. Her gifts put mine to shame every year.

7.I attended The Engineer and The Comedian's school holiday musical concert last night. It was really well done. All of the grades knew their songs and sang with gusto. The Engineer has a fondness for singing and because he is really tall for his age, was easy to pick out on the back row. The Comedian was placed behind a particularly tall girl. We had a hard time seeing him most of the time. Luckily, that girl moved around a lot in her space, so we could see him in flashes.  His ADHD meds had, by this time, worn off.  He sang, he poked his neighbors, he danced, he had fun.  It was all good.

8.The Christmas Eve dinner menu is planned. We always have BBQ beef brisket, twice baked potatoes, vegetables, rolls and pie. The kind of pie is the only variable we have from year to year, but even then, it's probably going to be apple, raspberry and maybe pumpkin.

9.I didn't send cards this year. I usually write a long letter about the family and send a picture and card, but financially it's impossible this year. Hopefully, I won't be removed from the “send to” list of family and friends.

10.I still need to bake gingerbread boys and hang them from the dining room light fixture. I think I will do it around the 20th. That should give them enough time to start falling by Christmas. See this post.

11.I want to make a gingerbread house. Sometimes we buy the kits, but I think it will be fun to make it from scratch this year.

12.On the Sunday before Christmas, I am accompanying some musical numbers at church. I may be substituting for the organist, too, but I still need to check on that.

13.Despite what I have or haven't done this year, it is, as always, my favorite time of year. I appreciate the colorful decorations, the beautiful music, the wonder of the children. I find comfort in the quiet times, when I pause and reflect on the real reason for the festivities.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, KJV)
 

 

 

Thursday 13

Tweet

Homemade Ornament Tradition

In the 1960s, when my parents were young marrieds, they had no money for Christmas ornaments. They made their own out of whatever materials they happened to have. One particularly memorable ornament was made from a toilet paper roll covered with fabric and tassels. Others were made by tracing cookie cutter shapes onto felt. These ornaments meant a lot to my parents. It showed ingenuity in poverty. They still put them on their tree to this day.

My grandmother, however, did not agree that newlyweds should have to scrounge around at Christmas. She vowed that her granddaughter (me) would not have that problem. She started making me nice ornaments on my first Christmas. She made one that first year, two the next year and so on up to my twelth Christmas. For the next few years after that, she made me a dozen each year. Now, all these years later, my tree is covered with memories. I have other ornaments that people have given me or that I have made myself, but those that Mamie made are the most precious. Some, like the ones made for my fifth Christmas made out of lifesaver rolls, didn't stand the test of time. Others, like the salt dough ornaments from my seventh Christmas, are too fragile to put out while my children are young. Most, however, are sturdy and child proof.
There are crocheted angels:

There are clothes pin soldiers:

There are matchstick/christmas card stables:

There are also crocheted bells, felt soldiers, crocheted snowflakes, strange egg carton/foil stars and these ingenious tuna can/key chain creations made with ribbon and star stickers:

All combine to make a beautiful tree:

 

 

Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash: craft edition

Tweet

Holiday Brunch Idea: Potato Egg Casserole

Have you seen these potatoes at Costco?

 

You simply add hot water to the carton and let them sit 10 minutes and voila! you have plump shredded fresh-like potatoes from a pantry item. 

 

You can throw them in a frying pan and have browned crunchy yummy potatoes by themselves.  OR.  You can use them as an ingredient.  (Note: you get 8 cartons in a package for less than $7)

I saw this recipe over at the Pioneer Woman a few weeks ago.  It sounded like a great base for some experimenting.  You could use bacon or ham instead of sausage if you so desired.

Potato Egg Casserole:

6 cups shredded potatoes (2 pkg rehydrated hashbrowns or use frozen or fresh)

1/2 cup onion, diced fine

1 red pepper, diced fine

2 Tblsolive oil/butter

1 lb bulk sausage (I went the frugal route and made one pattie per person....add more it you want)

1 1/2 dozen eggs (2 per person), beaten

2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp thyme

salt & pepper to taste

Form patties with the sausage and cook until done.  Saute the onion and pepper in the oil until soft.  Grease a 9 X 13 pan.  Combine the onion, pepper and potatoes and put in the bottom of the prepared pan.  Place the patties evenly over the potatoes.  In a large bowl combine the remaining ingredients.  Make sure the eggs are well beaten, it's a lot of eggs and you don't want an errant yolk remaining whole.  Pour over the sausage layer and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until done.   Serve with salsa, ketchup or bbq sauce if desired.

 Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday

Tuesdays at the Table

Tasty Tuesdays

Tweet

Holiday Gift Idea: Popcorn Balls

 I just finished making 160 popcorn balls to give away to neighbors and friends.  I dyed half red and half green and then wrapped them in pink or green plastic wrap.  I thought these would be a pretty economical thing to make this year as my only expense was butter.  All of the other ingredients were pantry items.

Popcorn Balls:

(makes 40)

8 quarts popped popcorn

4 sticks butter (1 pound)

1 bag mini marshmallows

1 cup corn syrup

2 2/3 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla

food color, if desired

In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter.  Add the sugar and corn syrup.  Stir constantly until it boils and then continue for 3 minutes more.  Remove from the heat and add the vanilla and coloring, if desired.

 

 In a huge bowl, combine the popped corn and the marshmallows. 

Pour the hot butter mixture over the popcorn and stir until completely covered.  Let sit about 5-10 minutes. 

Butter you hands and form into balls.  Place the popcorn balls onto waxed paper lined baking sheets.  Wrap with plastic wrap.

 mouth watering mondays

tatertots and jello for holiday gifts in the holly bloggy Christmas bash

  Monday Munchies
Holiday Treats Week
Merry Merry Munchies Week 

Tweet

Saturday Stories: Gram's Christmas Eve Parties

 Gram, my great grandmother, loved Christmas.  She was an amateur artist and would paint Christmas figures on huge pieces of wood and decorated her house, yard and roof with them.  The year she won the town's Christmas decorating contest was one of the highlights of her life.

 Gram had five children and as they grew up and had families of their own, she claimed Christmas Eve as the night for her family to gather to celebrate. From all over the county, her children and grandchildren would come for a sumptuous feast (ham, roast beef on weck, scalloped potatoes, tossed salad, rolls, cookies - the menu didn't vary much) and a big exchange of gifts.  All of the aunts and uncles gave presents to all of the cousins.  Often, Santa himself would make an appearance, too.  Gram hired professionals to play the part, but once in a while a family member (her son or brother) would get the honor.  One year when my parents were dating, Gram invited my dad to dress up in the Santa suit.  It was a big deal to be asked.

As the years went by and the grandchildren began to have families of their own, the gatherings grew larger and the distances traveled grew longer.  The venue remained the same.  The laughter and fun grew with the increased numbers.  Her tiny house was filled to the brim.  The house was located on a large corner lot and had a very big curving driveway that went from one street to the other, forming a right angle through the property.  She had an enclosed  back porch through which we entered the house.  I don' t think I ever used her front door.  Her kitchen was teenincy. There was a bedroom and bathroom off the kitchen and then another bedroom off the big living room.  That was the entire house, but it was plenty for us. 

 Here is a four generation picture of me at age 8, my mom, Mamie and Gram & Bunk

 

Tweet

Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce

Gingerbread is generally thought of as little boys who run away yelling "you can't catch me" or constructed houses decorated with icing and candy, but here is the cakey warm Old World version.  I found this recipe in a 1936 Pennsylvania Dutch cookbook.  I combined it with a lemon sauce from the 1945 American Woman's Cook Book.  It was a great combination.

Gingerbread:
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1 cup molasses
2 eggs, well beaten
3 cups flour
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp allspice
1 cup sour milk (that's what the recipe says, I added 1 tsp lemon juice to milk)
1 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1/4 cup boiling water
Cream the butter and sugar.  Add the molasses and eggs and mix well.  Combine the flour and spices and add alternatively with the milk to the molasses mixture.  Stir in the dissolved soda.  Pour into a well greased 9 X 13 pan and bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Lemon Sauce:
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbls cornstarch
1 cup water
juice of 1 large lemon
dash salt
2 Tbls butter
Combine sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan.  Add water and heat until it boils and is thick and clear.  Continue cooking 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and add salt and lemon juice.  Add butter last.

Vintage Recipe Thursday

Foodie Friday

Food on Fridays

Friday Feasts

GCC Recipe Swap

What Did You Bake Today?

Tweet

13 Random Facts About Me and an Award to Pass

Dave over at My Year on the Grill gave me this award.  Thanks, Dave!! The rule of this award is that I reveal 7 random facts about myself and then pass it on.  As it's Thursday, I thought I'd enlarge the list to 13 and kill two birds with one stone.

Random Facts About Me

1.Almost every time a virus goes through our house, I get a cold sore instead of getting sick. I guess as the Mom, that's a good thing, but it's still a toss up which whether I'd rather have; illness or a nickel sized sore on my face.

2. I have a thing for disaster movies, especially the B-rated ones. I have seen every Airport, Earthquake, Tornado, Blizzard, Volcano movie I can get my hands on. I do not, however, like real disasters...

3.The only states I haven't ever visited are North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

4.Other than the USA, I have been to Canada, England, Wales, Ireland, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia and Guam (though that is technically still the US).

5.The only time I have ever been skiing was in Michigan on what Westerners would call a mole hill. I frost bit my fingers that night as I vainly tried to learn to get my skis into that stupid V shaped plow maneuver. Since then, I can't touch frozen foods without my fingers burning. It makes defrosting the freezer a little more than inconvenient.

6.I will always remember the time I fell in the mud at recess in fifth grade. I was wearing peach colored pants and had to go to the nurse's office to wait for my mom to come with clean clothes.

7.I lost the school spelling bee because I spelled “committee” wrong.

8.I recently found my 2nd grade best friend on Facebook.

9.My profile picture, the red house, is the house my mother grew up in. My grandparents painted it red after they bought it in the 1940s. The people who bought it from them in the 1980s painted it a less ostentatious color. It was for sale on realtor.com 3 years ago. Periodically, I check for all of the old houses I knew as a child.

10.I am extremely unsentimental about objects. It drives my siblings and my in-laws nuts. I have, however, learned not to get rid of anything without asking if one of them wants it first...the hard way. Yeah, I sold some family pieces at a garage sale and am still in trouble 20 years later.

11.I went blonde for a few years. It was funny, as a natural brunette, to find that blondes really do get more attention. I didn't like the color against my skin tone, though and went back to my natural dark brown hair. Then, as the gray hairs started to number more than one, I decided to dye it again. Now I sport a sassy black color. At least it matches my eye brows.

12.I only like about 1 out of every 589 photographs taken of me, so you won't see many on this blog. There are a few however, but you'd have to look through the Saturday stories to find them.

13.I learned to tie my shoes on an Air Force Base in Thailand when I was four. I won't let my daughter have velcro shoes as I did my sons. They still have a hard time tying and it drives me nuts.


Now, to pass on this award, I am sending it to a few blogs I have recently found:
BCP...My Life
Multiply Delicious
Mystery Lovers Kitchen
My Finds Online Tweet

Cheater BBQ: Review, Recipe and GIVEAWAY(Closed)

THE WINNER WAS #12, ILLINOIS LORI

I recently received a copy of the cookbook Cheater BBQ in the mail.   Imagine how much fun a cookbook junkie like myself had with a cookbook based on an unfamiliar, but totally wonderful new concept in cooking!  Then, as an added bonus, I was asked to interview the authors, Min Merrell and R.B. Quinn.  For a small-time mom like myself, that was quite an opportunity. 

R.B. is an old-school BBQ aficionado who has been cooking outdoors since his mom put him in charge of the family brazier (that's fancy talk for outdoor cooking pit/bbq).  Min is a food marketing and recipe development veteran of more than 20 years.  She is also the one who convinced R.B. that there was a quicker way to get wonderful tasting barbeque.  Enter the cheater techniques. 

By using an oven or a slow cooker, aluminum foil and a good helping of "bottled" (a.k.a. liquid) smoke, these two have opened the way for common folk (that's you and me) to rival the BBQ Gurus of the food world.  We can take cheap cuts of meat and create meals to rival those served in such restaurants as Tony Roma's... for a tiny fraction of the cost!! Cheater BBQ has recipes for rubs, brines, barbeque sauces as well as such yummy sounding dishes as Chinese Restaurant BBQ Ribs, Filipino Adobo-Q Chicken and Besto Pesto Burgers as well as the pulled pork, oven briskets and bbq chicken you would expect. They also included ideas for using up the leftovers.

Now for those of you that may be a little concerned about the safety or naturalness (I may have just made up that word) of liquid smoke, never fear.  It is all natural.  It is exactly what it sounds like: bottled smoke.  Through a process in some ways similar to distillation, smoke is captured,  filtered of carcinogens, and then added to water to become the product that will save you time and money.  When I asked Min and R.B. if they had gallons of the stuff on hand, they said that they had bought gallons of all four flavors of Colgin brand ( can be found here), quarts of Wrights (which is more concentrated and can be purchased here and is also the cheaper of the two brands), but that they also found the small bottles to be the perfect size to use on a big cut of meat.  R.B. even admitted that he has been known to have those small bottles in his car's glove compartment....just in case.

Min and R.B. said that many recipes call for too little liquid smoke.  In order for 6 pounds of beef to get that smokey BBQ flavor, to penetrate the outer fat or membranes of meat, a good amount of bottled smoke must be used.    One of the added benefits of cooking your meats this way is that the flavor stays...it even gets better with time.  You can prepare these dishes a day or two before you have guests over and then reheat them without losing any taste.  You can freeze these dishes without losing any taste.

If you are sitting on the fence about this whole cheating thing, let me share with you the recipe that Min and R.B. swear will convert you.

Low and Slow Texas Oven Brisket:
1 medium onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, chopped
4-6 lb beef brisket, with a layer of fat
3-4 Tbls Cheater Chili Dry Rub (1/4 cup chili powder, 2 Tbls kosher salt, 2 Tbls coarsely ground black pepper, 1 Tbls garlic powder, 1 Tbls ground cumin)
1/4 cup bottled smoke
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
Heat oven to 250 degrees.  Scatter onion and garlic in the middle of a sheet of aheavy duty aluminum foil large enough to generously wrap around the meat.  Lay the brisket on top and rub all sides with the dry rub.  Pour the bottled smoke and Worcestershire sauce over the meat.  Seat the foil around the meat.  Carefully place the foil pack in a large roasting pan.  Roast the brisket for 7-9 hours, until the internal temperature reaches 190 degrees and the meat is pull apart tender.  Remove the brisket from the oven.  Open the foil and allow the juices to collect in the pan.  Move the brisket to a cutting board and thinly slice it against the grain.  Serve with the warm meat juices.

And to help you have the opportunity of trying the Cheater BBQ technique yourself, I have been given one extra cookbook to give away.  US entrants only, please.

You may enter by leaving a comment.  Make sure that you include a way for me to contact you if you win. 

Because it is Christmas, you may enter once a day, every day until the contest ends on Monday, December 14, 2009 at 10pm PST. Just keep coming back to this post and commenting. 

The winner will have 24 hours after I send the email announcing the good news that they have won to respond.  After that, I will pick a new winner.  I will also post the winner at the top of this post, too.

note: other than the cookbook, I received no compensation for this review.  All opinions are my own.
This is linked to Tasty Tuesday, Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table,  Tightwad Tuesdays, Works for Me Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Crockpot Wednesdays, and What's Cooking Wednesdays Tweet

Blue Cheese Currant Shortbread Rounds

I was checking Facebook the other day and found a shortbread baking contest over at sophistimom being sponsored by Challenge Butter.  Those participating have to use the basic recipe Jaime, the sophistimom, has posted and then we have to tweak it and make it our own.

Here is the original recipe:

2 sticks butter

2/3 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

Mix and bake 300 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Here is what I did to change it:

Blue Cheese Currant Shortbread Rounds 

2 sticks butter

2/3 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 Tbls finely chopped chives

3 Tbls currants

3 oz cream cheese

1 1/2 oz blue cheese

2 tsp heavy cream

Cream the butter and sugar.  Add the flour and salt.  Mix in the chives and currants.  Roll out on top of plastic wrap to form 1/4 inch thick rectangle. (this step eliminates the need for flour on the counter and makes it easy to roll up). 

 

Combine the blue cheese, cream cheese and heavy cream in a bowl until smooth.  Spread it out all over the  top of the shortbread dough.  Roll it up like cinnamon rolls.

Slice into 1/4 inch slices and put on a cookie sheet ( I highly  recommend you use a Silpat or other silicon baking sheet liner, but it's not necessary). 

 

Bake 325 degrees for 17-19 minutes.  You want these a little bit brown around the edges.  The chives and cheese caramelize on the bottom and create an amazing foil to the sweetness of the shortbread and currants.

These would be great to serve at a New Year's Eve party.

Tweet

Saturday Stories: When Mom Saw Santa

When my mom was about four, she contracted German measles and scarlet fever a week before Christmas. In those days, the rule was close the curtains and keep the patient in the dark. Mamie and Bumpa's house didn't have central heating, but they had what was called a round oak stove in the “winter living room”. It was about 5 feet tall and round. It had a place at the bottom for the ashes and in the middle was the wood section. It looked like one of these.

Thin strips of mica set above the wood section acted as a window to let you see the flames. Mom was kept on a couch in that room because it was the warmest in the house.




Part of the treatment of the disease was breathing treatments. Mamie would pour boiling water into a metal bowl along with either a glob of Vick's or a bit tincture of benzoin. A blanket was put over a chair, over the bowl and then over mom's head. Her doctor made house calls to see how mom was doing. All of the household kept their voices down. Everyone was really worried about her.



It came time for the annual Christmas Eve party up at Gram and Bunk's house. It was the family social event of the year. All of the aunts and uncles gave all of the cousins gifts, so it was a night of great excitement for all of the children in the family. Mamie stayed home with mom because she didn't drive, while Bumpa took mom's sister to the party. Mom felt so disappointed. When they came home, they showed her her gifts from the family. She remembers that she received a new coloring book and a box of crayons.



The family Christmas tree was in the same room as mom's sick bed. After all of the family had gone to bed and the house was quiet and dark, mom heard a noise. It scared her a little bit because all of the rest of the family were upstairs. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she could see someone rustling over by the tree. She saw something big and round and thought maybe it was the top to Mamie's old fashioned agitator washing machine. She was sure that she had seen Santa Claus putting something behind the tree.



In the morning, before she was allowed to see the tree (remember the room was dark), she told the family that Santa had come in the night. Her much older sister asked her about what time it had been. Mom told her and Marilyn said that she had heard reindeer hooves on the roof at about the same time. Bumpa went behind the tree and brought out a two wheeler bike for mom.



It was a simpler time, when children didn't have big expectations. There was no television or magazines full of toy advertisements. There was only the Sears catalog for wishing. Most likely, Bumpa had found the bike on one of his bakery routes and had paid fifty cents for it second hand. He and Mamie had painted it to make it look better, but it certainly wasn't brand new. Mom, however, couldn't have cared less. She was thrilled with the bike. She wasn't allowed out into the cold weather after she recovered, so her parents let her learn to ride the bike in the kitchen. Tweet

Marshmallows, Grahams & Chocolate: Must Be S'mores

I found a recipe for a marshmallow sauce that with a little tweaking sounded yummy, but then I needed to come up with something over which to serve it.  Here are the very rich results:

 

S'mores Bars:

Crust:
1 pkg graham crackers, crushed
1/2 stick butter, melted

Filling:
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 stick butter, melted
4 Tbls cocoa
2 eggs
2/3 cup evaporated milk

Sauce:
1 7oz jar marshmallow fluff
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla

Combine the crushed grahams and butter.  Press into the bottom of a greased 9 X 9 pan.  Combine the filling ingredients and pour over the graham cracker crust.  Bake 375 degrees for 40 minutes.  Remove from the oven and cool.  Microwave the cream in a 4 cup microwave safe bowl until it boils rapidly.  Stir in the entire jar of fluff until smooth.  Add the vanilla.  When the chocolate squares are cooled completely, cut into squares and ladle the marshmallow sauce over it. 

Food on Friday

Friday Feasts

What Did You Bake Today

Foodie Friday

GCC Recipe Swap

Dessert Friday

Tweet

13 Food of the Month Clubs

I thought it would be fun to see how many "of the month" clubs I could find.  I was amazed at the variety of foods you can have delivered to your house on a monthly basis.  From pickles and olives to beef jerky, there is something for everyone.  Here are thirteen that may whet your appetitie or fill a gift giving need you may have or may just inspire you start your own business...


1.Cheese

2.Fruit

3.Meat

4.Coffee Cake

5.BBQ Sauce

6.Cookies

7.Bagels

8.Potato Chips

9.Pie

10.Breakfast

11.Spice

12.Bread

13.Chocolate

 
 
 
Check out thursday-13.com Tweet

Christmas Cookies (the official recipe)

These cutout cookies came into our family during my grandmother's reign.  Every Christmas she made these delectable goodies.  Mom carried on the tradition and soon these cookies were simply known as "Christmas Cookies."  Sure, we had other varieties, but these were special.  When I got married and made these for The Good Guy, he was assured that he had made a good choice in helpmeets.  We got greedy, however, and I started making them all through the year.  Instead of calling them "Christmas Cookies," we started calling them "Cutouts."  I would make them in all sorts of shapes and send them with him to work at Microsoft.  One of his co-workers loved them so much that she asked her Jewish temple to hire me to make cookies for their women's meeting.  For over a year, I baked between 10 and 20 dozen cookies per week for them (I had a repertoire of many cookie recipes).   When I "retired" from that exhausting job, I continued to make these cookies.  This past year, my son, The Musician, asked for them for his birthday instead of cake.  They are that good.

Christmas Cutout Cookies:
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter (only use real butter)
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 Tbls milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Cream butter and sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Combine dry ingredients and gradually add. Chill 1 hour.

Roll 1/2 inch thick and cut into shapes.

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet 400 degrees for 5-8 minutes.  Don't let them get brown.

Frost when cool.

Frosting: 3 cups powdered sugar creamed with 2 Tbls butter. Add just enough milk and vanilla to achieve a smooth spreading consistency.

These cookies freeze well (unfrosted) and you can double or triple the recipe with great results.

 

Tempt Your Tummy Tuesdays

Tasty Tuesdays

Tuesdays at the Table

Works for Me Wednesday

Mouth Watering Mondays

The Krazy Kitchen Christmas Party (starting Dec. 17)

Monday Munchies

Rose Haven's Christmas Cookie Exchange (starts Dec 14)

Family Recipes (December round-up)

Exemplify Online Cookie Exchange

The Creative Mom's Cookie Exchange

Tweet