Final Presentation and Farewell

Click on the link for some Newsworthy Information!

https://prezi.com/lis4t6c1luzw/edit/#181_24309637

"The Quest"

 Let's Make Breakfast Sandwiches

"The Formula"

"The Formula"

1 can Pillsbury Biscuits

1/2 pound cooked bacon

8 fried eggs with yolks broke

8 slices swiss cheese

Assemble for a Quick and Easy Breakfast

"The Formula"

"The Formula"

"Quest Complete"

Listed below is the link for the "Potion" Pillsbury Grands Flaky Biscuits


http://www.pillsbury.com/products/biscuits/grands-refrigerated-biscuits/flaky-layers-butter-tastin

From the "Easter Menu Plan"
"Your Mission"

Deviled Eggs

"The Quest"

"The Formula"

"The Formula"

"The Formula"

Hard Boil 12 Large Eggs 
Peel and Cut hardboiled eggs in half removing the yolks

In a small bowl 
Mash the yolks
Add 1/4 cup of finely chopped onion
2 Tbls. of sweet relish (drained)
1 1/2 Tbls. yellow mustard
1/4 C. mayonnaise (add a little more mayonnaise as needed for appropriate texture of mixture)
1 -2 Tbls. white sugar (potion)
Mix all together and scoop into the hollowed out egg halves
Sprinkle with paprika

"Potions: Paprika and Sugar"

"The Weapon"

"The Weapon"

I just love these connecting
containers.  They are great for taking with you to a family gathering and then when the eggs are gone you can bring home leftovers.  I have included a link for you to look at where you can find them.
http://www.containerstore.com/s/kitchen/food-storage/specialty/snap-n-stack-egg-tainer/123d?productId=10031117

Happy Easter!!

We enjoyed a Ham, Green Bean Casserole, Macaroni. and Cheese, 

Deviled Eggs and a Brocolli Salad 

Here are some other ideas for a nice Easter Meal

www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/easter-recipes-table-settings

"March Madness" is Here

 "My Guy Joe" won't leave the Couch!!

My solution is:

"Chicken Quesadillas"

"The Formula"

"The Formula"

"Your Mission"
You will need an onion, some red, orange, and yellow bell peppers.  Chop these items into strips as shown.

"The Formula"

"The Formula"

Two Chicken Breasts sauteed until cooked, remove chicken breasts and slice into strips.

Saute' peppers and onion in 2 Tbls. butter for about 2 - 3 min.  Add the strips of chicken and follow the directions listed on the McCormick Fajitas seasoning packet. 
www.mccormick.com/Spices-and-Flavors/Recipe-Mixes/Mexican/Fajitas-Seasoning-Mix

"The Formula"

"The Formula"

In a separate pan, use 1 Tbls. butter for frying purpose. 
  Place your flour tortilla in pan and top with shredded cheddar cheese, put part of the mixture on top of the cheese, add more cheese on top of the mixture then top with another flour tortilla and flip when ready.  

"Quest Complete"

"Quest Complete"

 When crunchy on both sides remove from heat cut in quarters and ready to serve.  Should make four large fajitas top with sour cream, guacamole and salsa.


"The Potion"
www.mccormick.com/Spices-and-Flavors/Recipe-Mixes/Mexican/Fajitas-Seasoning-Mix
"The Weapons"
Two pans for one for the mixture and one to flip fajitas.
"Quest Complete"

What happened to Sun?

I wasn't feeling too well this week so I made a dinner that was easy and fast!

I am sure you have heard of it and probably even tasted it.  Chances are it was different because there are many varieties out there.  

"The Quest"

Tuna Casserole

"The Formula"

"The Formula"

2 cups cooked elbow macaroni

1 can sweet peas

1 can sweet kernel corn

2 cans Tuna in water (drained)

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients 

Bake in oven at 350 

30 minutes until warm

"Potions"

Add cheddar cheese to top

Add 1 can of mushrooms

Some other varieties of Tuna Casserole are out there, but I am going to link you to a true Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole.

tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/old-fashioned-tuna-noodle-casserole/

"Let's Grill Out" 

"The Quest"

"The Quest" 

Here are a few items we grilled out while the weather was good enough for being outside.

 Take advantage of the weather while you have the opportunity it will get you out the door, give you fresh air, and make you feel better.

Grilling out is also a healthier choice for you and your family.

"The Formula" 

With different meat choices (pork chops, hamburgers, and rib eye steaks) we let them warm up a little and the only seasonings used on all three are garlic salt and pepper.  We do not deviate from the seasonings very often.  We always have them on hand and they work great on most meat choices.

"The Formula"

 Green Beans:  I used canned green beans. They were in the pantry so that is what I used for the hamburger night.

I drain them, rinse them and then fill the can back up with water.
I seasoned with dried minced onions, salt and pepper.  Cook until the onions are cooked up. 

"The Formula"

 Asparagus Spears:  Fresh asparagus, I seasoned with garlic salt and real butter.

 I covered the dish with aluminum foil and baked in the oven at 375 for about 20 - 25 minutes. 

 You cook these to "your taste" crunchy or not - crunchy is healthier. 

I served these on Steak and Pork Chop night. 

"The Formula"

Sweet Potato 

Sweet Potato: Scrub clean and coat with butter, salt, pepper, and wrap in aluminum foil.

Bake in the oven at 450 for 1 hour - 1 hour and 15 min depending on the size.  Be careful when baking they leak often, you might want to put a pan under them. 

I have heard that these are very good for you as well - I am not sure if my way of doctoring then up is the healthiest but they are tasty!!

Fried Potatoes

"The Formula"

These are your basic Idaho potatoes peeled and sliced. Fry them in a skillet with about 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil and season them with Lawry's seasoning salt.

After I get these into the cooking process about 20 minutes I will add sliced sweet onions and cook the potatoes until done about an additional 25 minutes.

I know they will cook quicker when they are covered and I will do that sometimes, but My Guy Joe likes them crispy too.

"The Potions"

These are the seasonings I often use with the addition of pepper.

The minced onions are great in canned green beans they offer a different and good flavor.

Lawry's makes alot of salt choice seasonings, I have included the URL for easy view.  I use mainly the Garlic Salt with Parsley and the origional Season Salt.  www.mccormick.com/lawrys/flavors/spice-blends

"The Weapons"

These are the weapons "My Guy Joe" uses to grill out.

He made me put that little pink spray bottle in the picture because, he says, when the fire gets too high you can spray with the water bottle (I have never seen him use it) but I don't watch him all the time.

It is a good idea to have the other items: Spatula, Tongs, Lighter, Fork, Meat basket and an oven mitt.  I enjoy grilling out you definitly get a different flavor to your meals and that is a very nice change.

Do you ever feel you "Wear Too Many Hats?"

 Clip Art 

Sometimes my days and weeks run together and I wonder how I get anything done! 

This was one of those two week periods for me!!

So I had been writing papers, taking exams, taking pictures, uploading, downloading and researching for papers.
I took a quick break. When I came back to my computer all I saw, was a red screen and "don't do anything call 1-800-000-0000", so I did.  A scam, so I spent hours trying to fix my problems. Finally, thanks to the "Geek squad", and about $200.00 later my computer is working again. Needless to say, I still had papers (saved to Word) to finish and an exam to take. So I decided to cook dinner while the "Geek Squad" did whatever they do!!

I made what I lovingly call the: "Couch Salad"

"The Formula"

"The Formula"

"The Formula"

The Quest:"The Couch Salad"

The Formula:
Mix all the items in a large bowl

1 head Romaine Lettuce (Chopped)

1 Red or Orange Pepper (Chopped)

1/4 C. Red onion (Chopped)

2 T. Pepperoncini Peppers 

1/4 C. Black Olives

1/4 C. Fresh Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese (1/4 Cup)
1 Large Chicken Breast (Sliced and Chopped)
(sauteed in 2 T Olive Oil)
Creamy Caesar Dressing

"The Potion"

Potion: "Ken's Steakhouse Creamy Caesar's"www.kenfoods.com

Weapons: 

1 Skillet, 1 Bowl, and maybe a Fork

"The Formula"

Quest Complete

I hope Love found you on Valentines Day!!

On Valentine's, I baked a pie a Cherry Pie for "My Guy Joe"!! 

The recipe was very easy and it only took me about 20 minutes to prep, well maybe about 35 with my cell phone malfunctions. I have included the directions and a special potion or two.
www.pillsbury.com/product/pie-crust
Ignore (I wanted to Poke him) the little Pillsbury Doughboy saying "D'ough"! Look under the product  choice and you will find the refrigerated pie crust needed for this recipe.

Easy Cherry Pie 

 "The Quest"

"The Formula"

Quest: Easy Cherry Pie
Formula:
Oven set at 425 degrees

2 pie crusts - see the URL address above

Mix all these items in bowl, let sit while you prepare your pie dish,

3 Cans tart cherries (drained) or 4 c 1/2 C. fresh tart cherries
1 1/3 C. Sugar
1/4 C.  Flour
Save for later
2-3 T Butter reserve 1 T Butter for "The Potion"

Grease a glass pie dish
Line dish with your first pastry
Pour your mixture into the first pastry
Dot your filling with pads of 1/4 T of butter each (about 6)
Cover your pie with the second pie crust
Tuck the second crust to the first around the edges using a fluted design
Gently cut a small +  in the middle of the pie crust, from there cut longer lines into the pie sections of the +, then cut smaller lines at the each of the four tails of the +.

Potions:  Melt 1 to 1 1/2 T of butter. Use a pastry brush - brush melted butter onto

the pie crust and then sprinkle with sugar prior to baking.
Bake in preheated (425 degrees) oven for 45 minutes

Weapon:
Bake first 20 minutes then place a foil band around the crust edge
Continue to bake an additional 25 minutes

"The Potion"

"The Potion"

"Weapon - The Foil Band"

Quest Complete

Christina's Corner

When I started out in life, I wanted to be all things good to everybody, did I mess up? You betcha!!, in more ways than I care to comment on.  One area I've learned a little bit about is cooking.  It's like rocket science, read it, interpret it, and do it BAMM!!, you got it.  Well not so much all the time.  I messed up (still do) in the kitchen quite a few times, but I keep trying.

Some of the tricks I have learned along my journey through the kitchen are listed below, maybe they can help you.

1. Don't get rid of a pan because you think you'll never use it again. Good and useful ones are not cheap, people come up with new recipes all the time and those pans might come back to their "Glory Days".
2. Homemade macaroni and cheese is always a crowd favorite, so are homemade cookies.
3. My corner of the house is the kitchen, there are some very important deals that take place in the kitchen and no where else. So find your corner, let the cards fall where they may, and lets cook something up. http://www.eatingwell.com/healthy_cooking/healthy_cooking_101_basics_techniques/healthy_cooking_basics/must_have_kitchen_tools

How was your Super Bowl?

Mine was Great!  I love Peyton Manning not necessarily the Broncos but Peyton, YES!! This was a tough super bowl for me because I thought the Panthers earned the right to be there.  I wanted the them win, but being a Colts fan I love Peyton.  Thanks to the Bronco's defense Peyton won his second super bowl ring.  I was happy for him and I hope he retires from playing the sport .

I went to a little gathering and they had some fun things to eat there.  One that stood out to me was the buffalo chicken bites.  This is a twist to an old recipe I used to make a few years ago worth mentioning and for you to explore. http://www.ro-tel.com/recipes-buffalo-chicken-bites-6723.html

Quest: Go to the Website listed above.
Formula: Follow the directions and use your potions wisely.
Potions: Use the hot sauce to your taste, ranch is great for cutting the bite and sprinkle cheese on top before cooking till it  melts.  Or you could use your potions for other quests.
Weapons: Use a mini muffin tin to keep them from rolling around while cooking (this pan is a forever pan - it should remain as part of your arsenal in the kitchen, especially if you have young children).
Enjoy!!!