Better Bruschetta

I have been on a bruschetta kick for the last few months. After sampling some at a couple of restaurants, I've come up with a favorite recipe that combines my favorites.

Ricotta Mix:

3/4 c. Ricotta
2 large fresh basil leaves finely chopped
1/2 lemon zested
2 Tbs. heavy whipping cream

Whip all ingredients together with a hand mixer until smooth.
A Microplane Zester makes easy work of the lemon.

Tomato Mix:

1/2 pkg. Cherub cherry tomatoes (finely diced)
3 large fresh basil leaves finely sliced
2 cloves garlic finely sliced
2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine tomatoes with basil, garlic and olive oil. It can be used immediately, but it is better to allow to marinate 30 or more minutes to get a fuller flavor. I use a garlic slicer to speed slicing the garlic.

Bread and Garnish
Sliced baguette brushed with olive oil
Thinly sliced Parmesan Cheese

Brush bread with olive oil and toast bread either in oven or toaster oven. Spread with ricotta mix and top with tomato mixture. Garnish with Parmesan Cheese Serve immediately.

Knitting - 100 Needles at a Time

We recently purchased a knitting machine. It is a used Bond knitting machine, which is an entry-level model. I like to crochet, and recently had a friend teach me the basics of knitting. I like how knitting looks, but am slow and really never mastered the art.

Then along came the knitting machine. The machine has 100 "needles.". Actually, they are individual "latch hooks" that pull the thread through in a pattern. You can easily knit a large project in an evening or two rather than spending several weeks or months on it. This is the perfect type of knitting for a type-A individual.

There is a bit of a learning curve getting started with a knitting machine. We watched YouTube videos to get the basics. Some machines come with training videos. It took a couple of evenings to get the hang of it.
Once you master the basics, there are many patterns available, and you can make anything from an afghan, to a sweater, hat, scarf, or placement -- anything you could make with a regular pair of knitting needles only much faster.

Although I only have one scarf under my belt, I have learned a couple of tips so far:

1. Buy a smooth, light to medium weight yarn. It is hard to work with thin or thick yarn. The light and mid-weight ones glide through the machine more easily.

2. It is easier to rip out a mistake than to try to fix it. The rows unravel easily leaving the loops still on the machine. If you drop one or two stitches (which will happen), then sure, go ahead and fix them by pulling the yarn through the loops that were missed. However, if you have more than a couple of stitches to fix, it is probably better to rip it out and start over since knitting a row or two does not take much time.

3. Weight is your friend. Their is a weight bar that you use to start the project, but should your project be a larger or longer one (like my scarf) you need to keep tension on the yarn loops so they stay properly on the machine. You can purchase knitting machine weights to attach to your projects, which is an important addition to your machine.

I still have a lot to learn about machine knitting. It is an exercise in patience until you get the hang of it. Having a more expensive machine would probably solve some of the issues, but these can run into the thousands of dollars. I will stick with my $90 eBay model and muddle along.

I'll keep you posted as I complete other projects and learn more about machine knitting. These are some photos of my machine and an example of a knitting machine weight.

Pecans - From Tree to Tummy

My friend's pecan trees worked overtime this year. She had so many pecans, that she shared them with me, as long as I picked them up. This was an easy task as she has a pecan roller. This little gadget works great. Rolling it on the ground takes little effort, and the pecans pop right into the cage. They remain there until you dump them out. It is a real back saver.

Once collected, we wash and crack them. This is very labor-intensive. I prefer to crack them by hand. My friend has a fancier table mounted hand cracker. I find I have more control with the hand cracker. The key to getting whole pecans or halves seems to be in removing the shell in the center of the nut first, thus preventing breaking the nut in half. This prevents having to pick little bits of nut meats out of the shells. It is easy to shell the pecans while watching TV, so I just keep some handy as I view my favorite shows.

While raw pecans are tasty, nothing compares to the roasted ones. to roast the pecans:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place nuts in a shallow pan. Spray with cooking spray and shake to coat the nuts.

Bake nuts for exactly 10 min. (longer and you may scorch them, shorter and they aren't fully roasted.)

Remove from oven and immediately salt (I use popcorn salt as it is finer and sticks better).  Enjoy!

 

Enjoy a Special Family Valentine's Day

Going to a restaurant on Valentine's Day is the last thing I want to do. Long lines, crowded tables and often rushed, poorly prepared food is not what I consider a celebration.

Celebrating at home with your family is much more fun. We've done it for years and my children look forward to our home party.

We start with special food. I generally create a favorite meal. Heart-shaped jello, valentine's cookies, decorated cupcakes, cake pops, etc. have made the celebration. I sometimes make meatloaf in a heart-shaped pan and cover it with ketchup.

Next is the party. Everyone makes a valentine "mailbox." Sometimes these have been from kits, other times they  have been empty cereal boxes or large envelopes. Each family member needs one (you can make one for less crafty or grumpy family members). Then during the day each family member places Valentines for each person and small gifts in their box. After dinner we open our cards. It becomes a nice time to show how much we love each other.

Another feature of our party is a Valentine hunt. Red construction paper hearts, pre-purchased foam or cardboard hearts or heart-shaped doilies work nicely. Also some Valentine candy sweetens the hunt. A few "prize" hearts contain special treats (like a free trip for ice cream, a gift card, staying up 1 hour past bedtime
--whatever is appropriate for the age children you have). Much like an Easter egg hunt, the children scour the house for well-hidden hearts. Sometimes they are too well-hidden and we find them months later.

We often fill a jar with M&Ms or other candies and have a guessing contest. The one who guesses closest to the actual number wins the jar of candy (although they generally share). We count after everyone has guessed, so the counting is part of the process.

Finish the evening with a romantic movie or a family board game. Then when the kids go to bed, Mom and Dad can enjoy a glass of wine and relax together.

Free Movies

Free Movie Previews - If You Don't Mind the Wait

I recently came across a way to view movies free before they come out in theaters. There are a number of companies that offer free screening passes to help build buzz about upcoming films. They also like to have full audiences when members of the press screen movies. So how do you get in on this free deal?

1. Register at free screening sites.

GoFoBo is the largest free moving screening site. Most of the screenings run through GoFoBo. You can sign up free on their Website so that you can information about upcoming screenings.

Other sites to find out about screenings and to enter contests for tickets include: Red Carpet Crash, Advance Screening, Moroch Productions, I Watch Mike and my personal favorite Get Screening. There are others, but these are some of the major ones.

2. Not all cities have all screenings. These movie screenings are done only in certain markets. Most major cities get all of them. Smaller locales get fewer ones. Don't be disappointed if you don't live near a major metropolitan area if there are limited showings.

3. Be prepared to arrive early. They overbook these showings to ensure a full house. If you want your choice of seats you will need to arrive about 3 hours before showtime. You may get in arriving an hour early (I have done that), but you will probably be separated from your guest or have to sit in the front row. I generally take a folding lawn chair (they allow this) and set up camp for a few hours. Since much of my work is on computer, it doesn't really matter where I do it. I bring a WIFI card, a laptop, but some popcorn and I am set for the afternoon. If I do this, I have my choice of seats. You can generally bring one guest. They usually arrive about an hour prior to the show. This is when they start seating. You can hold one place in line at our theaters without any problem.

4. No electronics. Take your phones and any electronic devices to your car prior to seating. No devices of any kind are allowed in so that the movie is not pirated. That means cell phones, e-readers, tablets, etc. have to be left in your car. Otherwise they confiscate them and you have to retrieve them at the end of the show.

5. Enjoy the crowd. I've met several people since April when I started attending these events. There are a group that always goes to every screening. Overall, they are a nice bunch of folks, so take some time to talk to your fellow movie lovers in line. They are an interesting bunch.

6. Remember it is a free movie. OK, so you have to wait, it may start late as they try to get everyone seated, there will be a person you don't know sitting right next to you, and some people are jerks. It is a FREE movie and you are getting to see it before the general public. Deal with it.

7. No previews. One thing I enjoy about the screenings are the movie starts immediately. So if you hate the ads, these screenings are perfect.

8. Tweet and repeat. After going to a screening, it is polite to post or Tweet about the movie. Your review is one of the first for the movie. You were invited to share the buzz. It's OK to pan a movie if it wasn't good, but regardless of whether you liked or did not like the movie--share your impressions.

A Healthier Meatloaf

Mom’s Tofu Meatloaf

A few years ago, I discovered the health benefits of tofu. The bad thing is, it is a hard sell when trying to feed it to your husband and kids. I found out, though, if you hide it they will eat it. Ground beef is the best disguise for tofu. It is virtually undetectable when soft tofu is mixed in thoroughly. It provide a much softer texture to meatloaf and hides well in spaghetti sauces and other hamburger-based dishes. Even Hamburger Helper ramps up the protein and decreases the fat with a little tofu. Here is one of my favorite disguises for tofu.

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef (leaner is better)

¾ block of soft tofu

1 egg beaten

¼ c. ketchup

1 small onion chopped

1 c. uncooked oatmeal

2 T. Barbecue Sauce

Directions:
Combine tofu into ground beef until it is thoroughly combined. Add remaining ingredients. If mixture is too moist, add additional oatmeal until desired consistency is obtained. Coat loaf pan with cooking spray. Pat hamburger mixture into pan to form loaf. Cook 350 for 45-60 minutes. During the last 10 minutes, spread additional ketchup over the top of the meatloaf and finish cooking time.  Serves 6.

Kabobs - Fun and Fabulous

Having guest over for dinner. Get them to help cook. Kabobs are a great way to get guests talking and socializing around food. Assemble all the ingredients and let your guests assemble his or her own custom kabobs. You can use different colored permanent markers to identify each individual's kabob once they come off the grill. The guest gets exactly what she or he likes to eat,

and you get help with the assembly! You can pick and choose your ingredients to offer guests. The ones below are our favorites. We have family members with pepper allergies, so we typically do not offer peppers.

Easy Beef Kabobs

2 lbs. sirloin steak cut into 1 to 1-1/2" cubes

1 c. Baby carrots

1 head fresh broccoli

1 small summer squash

1 bag pearl onions

1 lb . fresh mushrooms (stems removed-caps only)

2 stalks celery

1 pkg cherry tomatoes 

Green or red peppers (optional)

2 pkg. McCormick's Meat Marinade

1/2 c. oil

1/4 c. tbsp. vinegar

1 tbsp. water

1/4 c. red wine (Cabernet or Syrah works well-optional)                                                                  

Wooden skewers

Directions: Prepare McCormick's Meat Marinade according to directions (blend seasoning mixes with oil, vinegar and water) and add red wine if desired. Place sirloin in a bowl or plastic container. Use half the marinade and pour over cubed sirloin. Pour the other half of the marinade for the mushroom caps. Let both marinades sit a minimum of 15 minutes (longer is better).

Boil carrots until tender so that a skewer can penetrate the carrot. Peel squash and cut into chunks. Cut the celery stalks into 1-1/2 inch pieces. Break broccoli head into skewer size portions.

Soak wooden skewers in water while meat and mushrooms marinate.

Assemble kabobs, alternating ingredients per diner's preferences (use only the ingredients you like).  Grill kabobs turning frequently until meat is to desired doneness.

Serve with rice.

Photo by Alex Mestas - Lights Out Films

Muffin Mess

Filling muffin tins is typically a messy job. Spills on a muffin tin become rock hard after baking resulting in extra cleanup time. Even using muffin tin liners (cupcake papers) doesn't eliminate the mess caused by drips.

So what is the best way to fill those pesky muffin tins?

There are several options from using decorating bags or zipper bags with an end cut out to careful spooning.
However, the two options I like best are:

1. Use a cookie scoop. The scoop allows you to measure even portions and the release provides a drip free method for filling the cup.

2. Use a canning funnel. The funnel, with its large opening, is the perfect size to direct batter into a muffin tin.

Perhaps you have other solutions to the problem. If so, feel free to share them with us.

European Bead Bracelets

I recently started making European Bead Bracelets. European beads are the craft name for beads that fit Pandora, Trolli, and other similar type bracelets. While the brand-name bracelets can cost hundreds of dollars  each to complete, you can make your own for around $10 or less. Using the same beads you can also make watches, earrngs and necklaces for a complete set. Beads, charms and other supplies are readily available at craft stores and through online retailers such as Amazon.

Adding charms and spacers make for a more balance look compared to just using beads alone. You need to add a "stopper" bead at the end of the bracelet or watch so that the beads don't tumble off when the bracelet/watch is unfastened.

These are easy to make as the bead holes are large. Jump rings (plain round rings) are used to finish off the chain/bracelet and to attach charms. There are special spacer beads that have a loop on them that allow charms to be attached.

Beyond this, your imagination is the only thing else required. These make a great gift as you can customize the colors and charms to the recipient's interests, favorite colors or life event (graduation, birthday, wedding, new baby, etc.). A bracelet can be completed in just a few minutes, so it is great for a last-minute gift.

Try out Euro beads. They are fun, easy and highly personalizeable.

A Personal Twist on Chicken Pasta Salad

Every time I take my chicken pasta salad to an event, everyone wants the recipe. I have to laugh because there really isn't much to the recipe--it starts off with HEB Creamy Parmesan Pasta Mix. When I tell people this, they are a bit surprised. Actually, the mix is pretty bland, but it is my personal twist that makes it special.

This is true for many recipes or instant mixes. As is, they are ho-hum. You have to be a bit creative and willing to experiment to take ho-hum to ho-yeah! Sometimes it may be a special spice, an extra flavorful or premium ingredient or the addition of meat, cheese, etc.

In the case of the chicken pasta salad, here is how I make it "mine."

Prepare one box of HEB Creamy Parmesan Pasta Mix according to directions and make the following changes.

Use premium olive oil, but reduce the amount to 1 Tbs.

Use the juice of 1/2 lemon or lime

Add 1 Tbs. of red wine vinegar

Add 2 Tbs. of Melting Pot Garlic Wine Seasoning (makes anything taste better)

Add 2 c. cubed, cooked chicken breast

Add 1/2 additional c. of mayonnaise

Mix all ingredients. Let set for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to combine.


As you can see, there is nothing "magic" about this recipe. The changes came from trial and error, but the result is fabulous. Don't be afraid to experiment. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but overall you will wind up with better recipes even from mixes.

Peanut Butter Cups Without the Wrapper

Need a quick dessert that is delicious and easy? Try this Peanut Butter Bar recipe. It tastes like the commercial peanut butter cups. The only thing missing is the wrapper.

Ingredients: 
1 cup butter or margarine, melted

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 cup smooth peanut butter

Topping:
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

4 tablespoons peanut butter

Directions

1.In a medium bowl, mix together the butter or margarine, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners' sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.

2.In a metal bowl over simmering water, or in the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the peanut butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Spread over the prepared crust. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Peanut-Butter-Bars-I/Detail.aspx?prop24=etaf

Revisiting Steak

I rarely (no pun intended) can finish a steak when I order it in a restaurant. With the escalating portion sizes, it is almost impossible for me to leave without leftovers.

The problem with reheating steaks is that they really don't taste good the second time around. I finally found a way for a good reheated steak.

The trick is to cook the steak like the restaurant--in butter. I melt 2 T. of butter in a skillet and reheat the steak on medium heat. I order my steaks medium so that they won't be more than medium well when reheated (unless you like a well done steak). I also use my favorite seasoning--Melting Pot's Garlic Wine Seasoning. You can order this online or buy it at the restaurant. I love this seasoning on meats, in soups, salads, eggs, just about any savory dish. It really freshens up the flavor of a leftover steak.

Serve the reheated steak with the melted butter from the skillet. You will enjoy a moist, flavorful steak that is almost as good the second time around.

Being a Vintner

I never thought I would ever be a vintner... wine connoisseur, perhaps but vintner, no. That all changed November 3 when I bottled my first batch of wine. Actually, the whole process started 45 days earlier. My friend, Julie who also shares the same birthday with me, and I decided to split a batch of wine and bottle it as part of our birthday celebration.  We went to a place called Water2Wine where we learned how wine is made.

Interestingly, wine starts out as purified water that is muddied with clay. You beat the mud into the clay, add the grape juice,   sprinkle on yeast,  place it in a special plastic container and wait for 45 days. During that time, our friends at Water2Winetook care of our fermenting grape juice. They kept the bottle  watered. This means that they added water to the valve which allowed air to escape from the fermentation process.

Bottling the wine took more effort than I realized. First we had to design a label that would suit the wine and the vendor. To bottle the wine first you wash the bottles. Next the bottles had to be disinfected and dried. A specialized pump filled the bottles and then another piece of machinery easily put the corks in the bottle. finally the label had to be applied and the foil was heat sealed on to the top of the bottle similar to a Shrinky Dink.

 We called our wine Two Doctors Since my friend and I are both doctors. We chose a pomegranate zinfandel because it wasn't too sweet and it wasn't too dry. It was a nice moderate wine that everyone could enjoy.

 If you ever get the chance to make your own wine, I would highly encourage it. It is a fun process, and having your own perfectly made wine is such a treat.

Acid Washing Tile

I recently had a service come to clean my tile floors. They informed me that the alkaline wash they would use would not get the tile completely clean and that I needed a $75 acid wash in addition. They said that especially in kitchens, grease from the stove builds up on the tile. The acid wash is the best way to get rid of the grease. I said no thank you to the added fees and decided to try the acid wash myself.

I did a little research and found I had everything I needed to do an acid wash. Since we have a pool, I had muriatic acid on hand. I use it to clean our filter cartridge, so I always have a bottle laying around. If you don't have a bottle, it can be purchased at any pool supply store. Also I found that there are lower fume versions (like the one above) available. I can't speak for how well they work, but they would be safer.

I mixed the muriatic acid in a 3 to 1 ratio with water. Then I sponged it heavily on my tile and let it do its work for 5 minutes. Then, using plain water in my Hoover floor machine, I rinsed the floor and sucked up the acid wash. The floors and grout looked amazing. Mine were so bad, there are a few places where I need to do a second wash, but overall the tile looked great and there was no apparent harm to my floor machine. I did very little scrubbing and yet the tile was sparkling.

You have to have the house well ventilated as the acid puts out some nasty fumes. Do not try this without having the windows open and wearing rubber gloves is a good plan as well.

If you practice a little safety precautions, I think this is something that you can certainly do on your own and save a bunch in cleaning bills. 

La Madeleine's Tomato Basil Soup

I can't believe I have never posted this recipe. It is one of my favorite soups. I've served it several times and it rivals La Madeleine's version with more work but less expense. Serve it with fresh bread, cheese and wine and you will be dining in fine French style. 

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 4 cups fresh tomatoes, cored, peeled, and chopped (8-10) or 4 cups canned whole tomatoes, crushed
• 4 cups tomato juice (or part vegetable or part chicken stock)
• 12 -14 basil leaves, washed fresh
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 lb sweet unsalted butter
• salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• lemon juice (optional) 
• few drops of red food color

Directions:

Prep Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 1 hr

1. Combine tomatoes, juice/and or stock in saucepan.
2. Simmer 30 minutes.
3. Puree, along with the basil leaves, in small batches, in blender, food processor (or better yet, one of those handy hand-held food blenders, right in the cooking pan). Return to saucepan and add cream and butter, while stirring, over low heat. Garnish with basil leaves, and add a few drops of red food color to enhance appearance.

Kids and Politics

This current political season offers a great opportunity for you to engage your children in the political process. Voter turnout and grassroots participation in politics has been waning for decades. Parents need to explain the political process to kids if we have any hopes of maintaining our democratic way of life.

Seven Suggestions for Developing Future Voters

1. Set a good example. If your children see you voting, they'll be more likely to follow your lead when they are older. Take them to the polls with you (if they are old enough), so they can see you vote and see how the process works.

2. Talk about news stories. Use dinner time to engage in a little old-fashioned political debate.

3. Ask your kids who they would vote for and why? You might get some interesting answers.

4. Mention the political ads and signs when you're driving in the car. Discuss how the signs got there (volunteerism) and why do people display their support in this way.

5. Volunteer yourself to help with campaign efforts. If the task is simple, let you kids help out.

6. Talk to your children about why voting is an important responsibility in our country.

7. When discussion get heated either in your own home or in the media, talk to your children about civility and respecting other people's positions--even when they are different from your own. Civil discussion is lacking in modern society, so teaching children that the discussion are great, but that they need to be done with respect will help the democratic process for years to come.

Chicken Velvet Soup

We have a local restaurant, La Fiesta Patio Cafe, that serves amazing soups. One of my favorites is their Chicken Velvet Soup. One of my friends tried the recipe I found which was a close approximation, but still not quite as good. Here is the recipe she used:

Chicken Velvet Soup

6 T. Butter
1/3 c. flour
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. light cream
3. c. chicken broth
1-1/2 c. finely chopped, cooked chicken

Melt butter in saucepan. Blend in flour; add milk, cream and broth. Cook and stir until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Reduce heat. Stir in chicken and a dash of pepper. Heat again to just boiling. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

I added a dash of Melting Pot's Garlic and Wine seasoning to it, which was not like the original, but very flavorful. If anyone has a better or different Chicken Velvet Soup that may be closer to Patio Cafe's soup, please feel free to post your recipe. Enjoy!

Stained Glass Mosaic Stepping Stone

I took a class on how to make a stained glass mosaic stepping stone at our local stained glass store, Anything Goes With Glass. I had a Groupon so that I could afford the class. I took the class with a friend's daughter who is an amazing artist (no pressure for me!)

They provided a pre-cut stained glass focal for us. I chose a flower and they also provided a center glass stone for the project. This is how they get rid of their glass scrap pieces. They had all sorts of types of glass. I decided on an abstract pattern (the only one in the class who did this - I just didn't want to be compared to the artist next to me.) We selected glass and glued our pieces onto a concrete stepping stone. You have to be careful that none of the glass extends beyond the edges, otherwise when someone steps on it, it can crack and break off.

We went to lunch while the glue dried. When we returned it was time to grout. We were given black grout for the project. I was glad I chose primarily light-colored glass because it really pops with the dark grout. We were shown how to mix the grout to the consistency of thick frosting. We applied it to the glass with a grout float and spread it evenly across the glass. We then wiped the excess off with a damp rag. We got the final haze off the glass with an eraser (which works really great to shine up the glass).

I used grout sealer when I got home so that the stepping stone would be weatherproof. I was pleased with the final product. If you haven't tried mosaic, it is really fun and rewarding.

Fishy Stuff

My family is not particularly fond of fish. OK, they really do not like fish at all. As a result, we rarely have it for dinner. That is until I discovered steelhead trout. This fish, related to salmon and freshwater trout, has an exceptionally light, non-fishy flavor. It filets cleanly, so there are very few/no bones.

I sampled this fish at a local market demo and discovered a great, easy way to prepare it. The secret is Colorado Spice Sweet Salmon Herb Rub. Rinse the chicken and generously rub the Herb Rub on the filets. Heat butter and garlic in a saucepan and add filets. Cook 5-7 minutes per side until golden brown.

Breakfast Casserole

This is a great casserole to make overnight and have ready for guests in the morning. It is easy to make for a large group. Our church served this for Easter Sunrise Services, which is how I got the recipe.

The homeless ministry where I have volunteered makes this casserole by using any available buns or bread broken up to cover the bottom of the pan, instead of bread slices. This seems to work just as well and is a good way to get rid of extra or dry bread.

Here is the recipe:

Cheese and Bacon Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

8 slices of bread (opt. remove crusts)

2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

2 c. cheddar cheese (sharp give more flavor)

10 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled (sausage may be substituted)

6 eggs

 3 c. milk

½ tsp. sale

Dash of pepper

Soft Margarine

Directions:

Butter bread and arrange it in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Top with cheese and bacon. Mix the rest of the ingredients and pour over bread, cheese and bacon. Set in refrigerator overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 min. Serves 12.