Food & Recipes Blogroll - Want Something Yummy?

Fun, Cool And Creative Kitchen Gadgets And Tools

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:49:00 +0000

I love to make delicious food with cool and hip kitchen tools or gadgets, so I thought I would share a few I found that caught my attention. Of course, I'm always looking for a way to slice my food without slicing my fingers and these cool kitchen gadgets fit the bill.

The first is just a standard egg slicer. This particular egg slicer happens to be from IKEA.

It is bright yellow
Faster, safer than using a knife
Slice your egg with one quick motion
Has a removable steel frame
Easy to clean construction
Dishwasher safe

I can almost taste some homemade Fancy Bright Beet Pickled Deviled Eggs. Yum!

There are also egg slicers that look fun like this cleverly shaped cartoon character egg slicer from Neatoama.

Slice hard and soft boiled eggs evenly
Faster, safer than using a knife
Slice your egg with one quick motion
Only hand washable

If you're going to slice eggs, then how about slicing a soft fruit like a banana. The Hutzler 571 Banana Slicer is pretty cool.

Faster, safer than using a knife
Great for cereal
Plastic, dishwasher safe
Slice your banana with one quick motion
Kids love slicing their own bananas

My choice for a banana slicer, however, has to go to Chef’n Banana Slicer by Williams-Sonoma.

Easy-to-use tool
Lightning-fast slicing of bananas
Creates thin, uniform slices
Stainless–steel blades for precision slicing
Safe, innovative design
Dishwasher safe

While you're admiring the Chef’n Banana Slicer by Williams-Sonoma you might as well also check out the Chef’n Strawberry Slicer by Williams-Sonoma too.

Easy-to-use tool
Lightning-fast slicing of strawberries
Creates thin, uniform slices
Stainless–steel blades for precision slicing
Safe, innovative design
Dishwasher safe

This would work so great for the No Eggs No Bake Banana Split Cake With Cream Cheese. Yes, that is definitely one of my all time favorite desserts. Not only does it look beautiful, but it tastes divine. So having all the banana slices the exact same width would only add to the perfect.

There's another choice that will slice not only eggs, but it will also slice fruit, vegetables and other soft, edible foods. This tool is called a mandoline. Picture below is a nice one from Williams-Sonoma called the Chef'n Pull'n Slice Mandoline.

Safety head completely covers blade
Accommodates foods up to 3.5 inches in diameter
No-skid feet provide greater stability and safety
Several blades - straight, French fry and julienne
Adjusts for desired slice thickness
Hand wash to prevent blades from dulling

I wouldn't need this strawberry slicer to make a Perfect Strawberry Milkshake, but I'm sure I could find a recipe that required perfect slices of strawberries!

With such a fancy and efficient mandoline, why wouldn't I choose it over the individual slicers that are made for a specific food? Maybe if I say klutzy, my meaning will fly over your head, but what if I said that I don't like to eat my own skin.

Honesty people!! Mandolines always take a little piece of me because my fingers and knuckles get in the way. Actually, I think the mandoline blade jumps up and bites me, but that story will have to wait until later.

Enhance Your Cooking Experience

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:54:00 +0000

Even if you only cook occasionally, while cooking it makes a huge difference to use the proper utensils. Not only is it easier to prepare a delicious meal, but they look great. Take for instance non aluminum cookware like Kenmore's 10 piece Nonstick Stainless Steel Cookware Set. I own this set, use the pieces all the time and adore them!

Another great addition to the kitchen is small casserole dishes. You can cook in them, pop them out of the oven and immediately serve them on the table because they look so pretty. Especially small casserole dishes that are red. (wink)

So after you have cooked and baked, it is time to serve the delicious meal on oval dinner plates. When I spend hours preparing a meal, when everyone sits down to eat it, I want the food to be enhanced by the dishes as well. That just throws the meal into another dimension.

Preparing and serving a meal can be as fun as eating a meal! Well....almost as fun!

My opinions are valued and I was compensated by my friends at become.com for this post.

Cooking Fiend

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:12:00 +0000

Guest post by Jewel Cole

While my family would rather be watching games on direct tv I’d rather be cooking. I guess you can say preparing food is my hobby and boy, it’s something I get a lot of joy out of! I don’t know why it took me so long to learn to cook but since I never learned growing up I sort of had to teach myself. I feel like I’ve gotten pretty good, though, from watching all my cooking shows and reading through my dozens of cookbooks.

I’m pretty partial to Italian cooking and I really love the idea that soon I’ll be able to impress a dinner party! My husband and kids don’t complain because they love eating my mistakes as well as my successes and I know that it won’t take long before I get the chance to try out some of my very own recipes on them. They’re my biggest cheerleaders and I’m so happy they’re so supportive of my hobbies and who I want to be. I feel like such a supported woman!

My opinions are valued and I was compensated by my friends at Expert Satellite for this post.

Kitchen Equipment Envy

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 02:55:00 +0000

Having spent many years as a General Manager of a large hotel, I have the tendency to get excited over heavy duty, commercial grade, hospitality supplies & kitchen equipment.

I remember the day the new upright freezer arrived. It was BIG and so SOLID! I totally put the refrigerator I had at home to shame, but it had much more of a workout each day too. There was a lot to love about that upright freezer, but I loved the digital temperature showing on the outside. It was easy to monitor with just a glance, and I definitely needed to be able to check things quickly.

Before I ever started working at a hotel, I never knew there was a commercial microwave oven. I thought everything was cooked on huge stoves or warmed in big ovens. Apparently I was wrong. There were many foods that were put into the microwave at breakfast to give it that last few seconds of intense through and through heat.

This equipment is built not only sturdy, but also with a design that is easy to keep clean. Think about it...stainless steel can be thoroughly sanitized without having to worry about destroying it. I currently have stainless steel sinks and love them! I can't tell you how many sinks I have chipped the porcelain off of or scratched beyond repair. Give me stainless steel and I'm a happy girl! I would be an even more thrilled with a new refrigerator with glowing digital numbers on the outside telling me what the temperature of my strawberries and whip cream are on the inside.

My opinions are valued and I was compensated by my friends at CFM for this post.

Peanut Brittle at See's Candies

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 06:01:00 +0000

I remember the delicious sweetness that hit me the first time I walked into a See's Candies. The confections were perfectly lined up on the glass shelves beckoning for me to try them all. No, really, I could hear the candy talk to me! I've spent many delightful afternoons relishing the deliciousness of the my individual choices for the day.

I think the first item I ever tried at See's Candies was an orange cream covered with milk chocolate. It just melted in my mouth and I had to buy more because one just wasn't enough.

As much as I love chocolate and as delicious as See's Candies truffles and assortments taste, I think at the top of my list is the peanut brittle which tastes like my grandmother made it. The peanut brittle wasn't too hard or too soft and if you've ever tried making it yourself on a humid day, you know how difficult it is to get the candy just right. Without even reading the ingredients, I can tell that the finest nuts are used and great care is taken to make this fun candy. Besides, peanuts are really good for you, so I think it should be added to one of the main food groups!

See's Candies make perfect gifts and the convenience of ordering online can't be emphasized enough especially during the holiday season. Of course, if you ever get the chance, there's nothing better than standing in front of lighted shelves filled with heavenly confections by See's Candies. I think this one sentence sums it up well...

"See's Candies is a premiere chocolate candy store that has been specializing in high quality chocolates and friendly, old-fashioned service since 1921."

Mama always said practice makes perfect. See's Candies has been delighting customers for a very long time. I guess Mama was right after all.

My opinions are valued and I was compensated by my friends at See's Candies for this post.

Scrubs In The Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:34:00 +0000

When I plan a cooking day, I don't always want to wear an apron and yet, I want to wear something simple. Not simple like my pajamas, but more stylish. On those days when I want to be very comfortable and cook, I don a pair of scrubs.

For me it is all about comfort while cooking, so the drawstring pants are a must!

Have you ever thought about wearing nursing scrubs when cooking all day or even just a meal? They are inexpensive, comfortable, easy to clean, attractive and versatile. Isn't that just a super idea?

Cheap scrubs from Blue Sky Scrubs can be purchased in a wide array of colors. In the original scrub line, the colors are vibrant. Here are just a few...

Scrub clothing, specifically the Original Scrubs have the following visual characteristics:

stitching on both back pockets of the scrub bottoms
stitching on the pocket of the scrub top
scrub pants are between a flare-leg and a boot-cut
scrub tops are tapered at the waist

So they are not just big, baggy scrubs like was common many years ago. The scrub tops and scrub pants would obviously be comfortable to work in if you are in the medical field, but I think a pair or two should be a staple when you cook. I wish I had thought of this when my daughter was young! I would have just loved having her wear the Blue Sky Scrubs for kids and I'm sure she would have loved them too. Scrubs are so durable, sturdy and I wouldn't have to worry about her messing up an expensive outfit.

A rather fun item at Blue Sky Scrubs are the fashion-forward scrub hats and scrub caps for women. You wouldn't ever have to worry about hair falling in the food again! They carry three different hats:

The patented Pony scrub hat®

I wish that when Alyssa was splatter painting, we had the Pony scrub hat® to protect her hair from all the paint. Currently, this hat can be purchased in hundreds of colors and designs

The Pixie scrub hat®

The Poppy scrub hat™

Scrubs are no longer ugly, boring uniforms. Instead, they are a fashionable and stylish alternative for casual wear during many activities spanning from cooking, crafting and nursing to sleeping in them as pajamas.

Just add a cute pair of earrings and you're set!

My opinions are valued and I was compensated by my friends at Blue Sky Scrubs for this post.

Coke Baked Beans

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:54:00 +0000

Coke Baked Beans

Ingredients:

8 strips thick bacon
1/2 cup diced onion
2 cans great northern beans
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon prepared spicy mustard
1/8 cup jalapeno peppers (optional)
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 can Coke

Instructions:

Cook bacon and onion until brown.

Mix remaining ingredients.

When bacon and onion is brown, add remaining ingredients in a casserole dish.

Stir thoroughly.

Bake at 325º for 45 to 50 minutes.

Croutons

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 03:59:00 +0000

Image: source

Homemade Croutons

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Dice French bread (fresh or stale) into 1/2 to 3/4 inch cubes.

Place on baking sheet.

Drizzle(don't soak) with olive oil or garlic oil and toss with hands until all sides are well coated.

Optional: Sprinkle with salt, garlic salt or garlic powder.

Bake approximately 5 minutes. Remove from oven and toss/shake (to ensure croutons are evenly toasted). Return to oven to bake until light brown (approximately 5 more minutes).

Remove from oven and cool completely. Store croutons in an airtight container or use on salads.

Measuring Spoons and Cups

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Mon, 31 May 2010 06:45:00 +0000

Since a large, glass measuring cup was broken today (breakage is a common occurrence), it started my brain wheels turning. We all have to eat and some of us have to cook, so why not learn how to use our kitchen utensils properly and enjoy looking at them.

A measuring cup or spoon is a kitchen utensil used primarily to measure the volume of ingredient, either liquid or dry, when cooking. They come in all shapes and sizes, but still serve the same purpose as an aid to determine the proper amount of all ingredients.

Liquid measuring cups have the amounts listed on the outside of the cup. When measuring a liquid, fill the cup to the appropriate indicated line while keeping the cup on a level surface. Always read the amount with eyes level with the appropriate line.

When measuring dry ingredients, fill the spoon or cup to over flowing, tap lightly, and run a flat surface (spatula) across the top to level the surface. Return the excess to the original container. It is important to use the appropriate cups when measuring to ensure accurate amounts.

Here are some examples of measuring spoons and cups.

Image: source

The Ultimate Shelf Life Guide

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:30:00 +0000

This is AWESOME!

Have you ever had a food product or dish and wondered, "Is it still good to eat?" or "How is the best way to store this item?"

All you have to do is go to Still Tasty and everything you want to know about your food dish safe storage time can be found with very little effort.

The site also gives you the opportunity to ask questions. Some of the previous questions asked are:

Is Raw Ground Beef OK if It’s Turning Brown?

My Olive Oil Has Turned Cloudy: Is it Still OK?

Should You Wash Grapes Before Storing Them?

I found a wealth of information about things I had forgotten or didn't know. I'm so excited to share this wonderful site with my family and friends.!

Moist Chocolate Cake

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 04:55:00 +0000

I know you are going to read this recipe and say, "Is she nuts?" Just take my word for it, this recipe works! It is super fluffy and tastes so chocolaty delicious! Besides that, you can make it in five minutes!! I'm not kidding!

Ingredients:

2 c. sugar
1-3/4 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. cocoa powder
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 c. milk
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. boiling water
Chocolate Icing/Frosting

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F.

2. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

3. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.

4. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat for 2 minutes with a mixer.

5. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

6. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

7. Cool 10 minutes and then remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.

8. Frost with chocolate icing/frosting.

Serves 10 to 12

BLOGNTWEET...
The forum for savvy women and men!
Join here.

Recipe - Dessert - The Beautiful Cake

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:20:00 +0000

Have you ever told a white lie? You are going to love this, especially all of the ladies who bake for church events:

Alice Grayson was to bake a cake for the Baptist Church Ladies' Group in Tuscaloosa, but forgot to do it until the last minute. She remembered it the morning of the bake sale and after rummaging through cabinets, found an angel food cake mix and quickly made it while drying her hair, dressing, and helping her son pack up for Scout camp.

When she took the cake from the oven, the center had dropped flat and the cake was horribly disfigured and she exclaimed, "Oh dear, there is not time to bake another cake!"

This cake was important to Alice because she did so want to fit in at her new church, and in her new community of friends.

So, being inventive, she looked around the house for something to build up the center of the cake. She found it in the bathroom - a roll of toilet paper. She plunked it in and then covered it with icing. Not only did the finished product look beautiful, it looked perfect.

Before she left the house to drop the cake by the church and head for work, Alice woke her daughter and gave her some money and specific instructions to be at the bake sale the moment it opened at 9:30 and to buy the cake and bring it home. When the daughter arrived at the sale, she found the attractive, perfect cake had already been sold. Amanda grabbed her cell phone & called her mom.

Alice was horrified-she was beside herself! Everyone would know! What would they think? She would be ostracized, talked about, ridiculed! All night, Alice lay awake in bed thinking about people pointing fingers at her and talking about her behind her back.

The next day, Alice promised herself she would try not to think about the cake and would attend the fancy luncheon/bridal shower at the home of a fellow church member and try to have a good time. She did not really want to attend because the hostess was a snob who more than once had looked down her nose at the fact that Alice was a single parent and not from the founding families of Tuscaloosa, but having already RSVP'd, she couldn't think of a believable excuse to stay home.

The meal was elegant, the company was definitely upper crust old south and to Alice's horror, the cake in question was presented for dessert! Alice felt the blood drain from her body when she saw the cake! She started out of her chair to tell the hostess all about it, but before she could get to her feet, the Mayor's wife said, "what a beautiful cake!"

Alice, still stunned, sat back in her chair when she heard the hostess (who was a prominent church member) say, "Thank you, I baked it myself."

Alice smiled and thought to herself, "God is good."

BLOGNTWEET...
The forum for savvy women and men!
Join here.

Redhead Riter's Magnificent Meatballs

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0000

It took years before I finally learned how to cook a delicious meatball. Before finally getting it right, they were always tough and dry. Sometimes they reminded Alyssa and I of bouncing rubber balls. That was just pathetic. But that saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try and try again" has been my "meatball motto" and it is exactly what I have done.

My meatballs are juicy and tender with magnificent flavor, thus the name Redhead Riter's Magnificent Meatballs.

So here is my recipe:

2 1/2 lbs of hamburger (sirloin burger or Angus beef burger with less than 10% fat is best)

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup milk

1/2 medium white onion diced small

1 teaspoon powdered garlic

2 tablespoons original Mrs. Dash

2 tablespoons Montreal Steak seasoning

1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

Combine all ingredients together with your hands in a large bowl and form the mixed meat into 1 1/2 inch balls. Cook in olive oil (approximately 3 tablespoons) coated frying pan until dark brown. Do not turn the meatballs until they have cooked slightly so that they do not fall apart.

When the meatballs are finished cooking, remove them from the frying pan and drain on paper towels.

These meatballs can be used with spaghetti sauce, submarine sandwiches or with rice. Lately, we have been making a lot of meatball submarines and topping them with Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce. For a free bottle of your own without having to jump through hoops, go to Country Bob's Becomes A Winner.

BLOGNTWEET...
The forum for savvy women and men!
Join here.

Recipe - Main Dish - Southwestern Wraps

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:25:00 +0000

This recipe has reduced fat without sacrificing flavor.

Southwestern Wraps

Ingredients

1 cup fresh diced tomatoes
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon lemon juice
4 fat-free flour tortillas, 10 inches in diameter
1 cup low-fat black bean dip
1 cup chopped iceberg lettuce
1/4 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/2 cup salsa with corn
to taste - chopped jalapenos

Directions

In a small bowl, stir together the diced tomatoes and chopped cilantro. Add lemon juice and stir. Set aside.

Alternately place tortillas between a moistened, but not wet, paper towels and put in the microwave for 25-50 seconds on high to warm.

Heat the black bean dip in a microwave-safe bowl until the dip is hot but not bubbling. Stir every 15 seconds to help distribute the heat.

Evenly distribute ingredients on the 4 tortillas as follows: spread the black bean dip on the tortilla and add lettuce, tomato mixture, both cheeses, sour cream, salsa and jalapenos. Fold two opposite sides of the tortilla over the filling, then alternately close the other two sides over creating a compact roll.

Serve while hot and eat it guilt free!

BLOGNTWEET...
The forum for savvy women and men!
Join here.

Brownie Swirls

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:45:00 +0000

Description

If you like peanut butter and cream cheese, you'll love this recipe. It is semi-homemade, so it is really a snap and looks and tastes like it was made completely from scratch. It is a brownie with a mixed swirl of peanut butter and cream cheese on the top.

Yields
16

Cooking Time
25 mins.

Ingredients

3 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1/3 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter (I love the chunky for texture)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs (divided)
1 package (1 lb. 6.5 oz.) brownie mix with chocolate syrup pouch
1/3 cup water (room temperature)
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 2-quart square or rectangular casserole dish/pan (not metal).

2. With an electric mixer and in a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, granulated sugar and 1 egg until smooth and creamy; set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, combine the brownie mix, contents of chocolate syrup pouch, with the remaining 3 eggs, water and oil until well blended. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the brownie batter.

4. Here's the time saver...Pour the remaining batter into the casserole dish and microwave on for 5-6 minutes on High until the top is still wet in center and the sides are slightly set. Spread the peanut butter mixture evenly over the hot brownie.

5. With a fork, gently swirl the reserved 2 tablespoons of brownie batter into peanut butter mixture. Be gently and careful to ensure that you do not disturb set brownie already in the pan.

6. Bake in preheated oven 15-20 minutes or until top is set and just browned at edges. Do not over cook. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely before cutting or it will run and be mushy. Tastes most delicious with a scoop or two of vanilla bean ice cream.Fattening? Of course not!

You don't believe me?

Well, it is fattening, but occasionally a little sweetness and splurging is okay. If it isn't, please don't tell me. I want to remain delusional.

Dental Floss

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:02:00 +0000

Dental Floss...It's not just for cleaning in between your teeth!

Here's a few uses for the non-flavored kind of dental floss:

tie turkey and chicken legs together
keep separated meet together i.e. beef or pork roast
cut cheese by tying it which will easily slice through the cheese creating an even cut
cut hard boiled eggs
slice a cake horizontally without having to worry about splitting the layers or making that many crumbs
separate food from a baking tray or cookie sheet

Surprising isn't it?

Bacon Shrimp with Garlic

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:14:00 +0000

Appetizer or Main Dish

Ingredients

* shrimp
* garlic - at least one bulb....I used 4
* dried red pepper to taste - I like lots!
* lemons
* limes
* peppered bacon

Instructions

1. Peel and devein the shrimp. That black line across the edge needs to come out.

2. To create the marinate, combined the crushed garlic, equal parts of lemon and lime juice and red pepper in a large freezer bag and add the cleaned shrimp. Mix it all together in the bag, close it tight and then refrigerate for approximately 5 hours.

3. After marinating, drain shrimp, and wrap each shrimp with half a slice of uncooked bacon and secure with a toothpick or skewer two on the same stick.

4. Broil on high in the oven turning halfway through cooking. Do not over cook.

Serve on a bed of brown rice.

Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:32:00 +0000

Is there anyone out there that isn't already salivating? I think I can even smell these delectable cinnamon rolls.

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup water
1/2 package 3.4-ounce instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoon milk
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups bread flour
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped (optional)
1/4 cup raisins (optional)
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cups pecans or walnuts, chopped (optional)

Instructions

1. Rolls: Place melted butter, water, instant pudding, 1 cup milk, egg, granulated sugar, salt, flour and yeast in bread machine following manufacturer's instructions. Set for dough cycle.

2. After completion of dough cycle, remove from machine and roll out to an approximate 17 x 10-inch rectangle.

3. Filling: Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon. Spread 1/2 cup softened butter over dough. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon mixture over top. Add walnuts or pecans if desired.

4. Roll tightly from long end, pinching edges closed when completely rolled. Slice rolled dough into 1/2-inch slices or larger if a larger bun is preferred.

5. Place into greased cake pans or a cookie sheet. If using cake pans, use three 9-inch pans. Let rise until doubled. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden. Do not over bake.

6. Frosting: Combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup softened butter, confectioners sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoon milk and vanilla extract. Spread on very warm rolls. Sprinkle with pecans or walnuts if desired.

Now try to eat just one.

Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Bisquits

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:30:00 +0000

Here it is....Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Do you know ANYONE that doesn't just love these bisquits?

Cooking Time: 10 min

Ingredients

2 cups Bisquick
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup butter cold butter

Brush on Top:

2 tablespoons butter, melted
¼ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Pinch salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Mix Bisquick with small chunks of cold butter. Cut butter into it with pastry cutter.
Mix Bisquick mixture with milk and cheese until a soft dough forms.
Drop spoonfuls onto an ungreased cooking sheet.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown.
Mix butter, parsley flakes, salt and garlic powder. Brush mixture over warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheet.

I Love Bacon

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:38:00 +0000

I love bacon. I mean I LOVE BACON. There just isn't anything like it. I don't even leave the tiniest of crumbs of bacon on my plate and I practically inhale the whole meal.

This recipe is not only beautiful, but oh so full of yummy bacon!

The ingredients are:

2 pounds thick cut bacon
2 pounds Italian sausage
1 jar of your favorite barbeque sauce
1 jar of your favorite barbeque rub

The presentation is fantastic. Read and see exactly how to create this delicious recipe at Bacon Explosion.

Carrabba's Italian Grill Bread Dip Mix

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:42:00 +0000

Description

This is a flavorful bread dip is packed with herbs and spices. Try this restaurant copycat recipe next time you have company. It's a quick and easy appetizer that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried parlsey
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Grind together.
To use, put 1 tablespoon of mixture in a small bowl. Pour extra virgin olive oil over and mix together. Dip warm sourdough French bread into the mixture.

Taken from RecipeLion

Classic Pecan Pie by Karo

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:14:00 +0000

I got the recipe straight from Karo Syrup and I would think they know how to do this right!

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 60 to 70 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Yield: 8 servings

* 1 cup Karo® Light OR Dark Corn Syrup
* 3 eggs
* 1 cup sugar
* 2 tablespoons butter, melted
* 1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Pure Vanilla Extract
* 1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) pecans
* 1 (9-inch) unbaked or frozen** deep-dish pie crust

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Mix corn syrup, eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla using a spoon. Stir in pecans. Pour filling into pie crust.

3. Bake on center rack of oven for 60 to 70 minutes (see tips for doneness, below). Cool for 2 hours on wire rack before serving.

4. **To use prepared frozen pie crust: Place cookie sheet in oven and preheat oven as directed. Pour filling into frozen crust and bake on preheated cookie sheet.

5. RECIPE TIPS: Pie is done when center reaches 200°F. Tap center surface of pie lightly - it should spring back when done. For easy clean up, spray pie pan with cooking spray before placing pie crust in pan. If pie crust is overbrowning, cover edges with foil.

6. NUTRITION TIP: To reduce calories, substitute new Karo® Lite Syrup for the Karo® Light or Dark Corn Syrup.

7. High Altitude Adjustments: Reduce sugar to 2/3 cup and increase butter to 3 tablespoons. Reduce oven tempera

Spices - Cinnamon

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:54:00 +0000

The fragrant smell and taste of cinnamon is undeniably one of my favorite spices. When the holidays roll around, it is one of the most widely used as well with a proported15.5 million ounces of cinnamon are purchased in U.S. grocery stores.

Points of Interest:

The main importer of true cinnamon is Mexico and is used in the preparation of chocolate.

Cinnamon is high in antioxidant activity.

Cinnamon has been reported to have remarkable pharmacological effects in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance. I wonder if this means I can eat as much apple pie as I want to eat.

It has also been used to treat diarrhea and other problems of the digestive system.

It is also said that a mixture of cinnamon combined with honey will make an effective recipe to aid in weight loss. That sounds like my type of weight loss plan!

Cinnamon grows in the tropical highlands of Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia. Cinnamon quills are hand-harvested by farmers in Indonesia, the largest producer of cinnamon in the world.

When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.

Cinnamon should be stored in a tightly sealed glass container in a cool, dark and dry place.

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Recipe: Old Fashioned Taffy

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:51:00 +0000

I remember the first time I made salt water taffy with mother. My sister and I complained constantly that it was "burning our hands" as we were pulling it. Although we complained, we didn't want to stop!

In contrast, I also remember making taffy with my daughter and niece. Neither of them complained about anything! I guess each generation improves on the last. They just couldn't wait to get their hands in the goo and were happy to pull and pull until it was finished. I can still remember their little fingers twisting the wax paper around each piece.

Salt water taffy began about one hundred years ago in the 1920's. Although it was a favorite in the 1950's, it is still popular today. The original pulling method was to throw and pull it over hooks. The third video below shows this method.

This recipe is tried, tested and true. It has now lived through three generations in my family and has helped fill our lives with wonderful memories. This is another recipe card from my families recipe boxes given to them last year. I also gave them food goodies which included the banana bread recipe in the previous post and this salt water taffy.

Click Image to enlarge
for the recipe card

These videos are short and just TOO fun to watch!

This really is a perfect recipe to make with children, so I hope if you have any in your life that you will make a few taffy memories with them.

Recipe: Banana Bread

noreply@blogger.com (The Redhead Riter) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:30:00 +0000

Taking a recipe from the recipe box today. First up is my mother's Banana Bread recipe with photos of my niece and her first attempt at the recipe. It was delicious!

Click image to enlarge and print if desired.