Sunday, May 23, 2010

HOMEMADE KETTLE CORN

I know, for me, when I go to the beaches in South Carolina and there is any kind of festival, there is ALWAYS kettle corn near! And it is so freaking good, I can hardly stand it. Then, you get home you wish you had more. There may be a few stands around, but they are hard to find and when you do find them, the lines are FOREVER long. So, I decided to go on a hunt for a good recipe. I randomly found one online, and then sort of tweeked it to me and now I am sharing it with you! 


Ingredient List:
Butter Flavored Oil
Sea Salt
1/4 cup sugar (I use organic sugar, but you can use white or brown)
1/2 cup white popcorn 

1.Cover the bottom of the pan with oil and add 3 popcorn kernels. 
Not too deep, but enough for the kernels to be peeking out.

2. Cover the pot and place it on the heat. Set your flame to about 6 or just over medium heat. Make sure you shake these around while the oil is heating. When the 3 kernels pop, the oil is ready.

3. Remove the pot from the flame and add your popcorn kernels first, then your sugar on top of it. Then stir it VERY QUICKLY. (this is so important because the oil is hot and it will pop the popcorn quickly.) But make sure that you are getting the sugar good and mixed in with the oil and kernels. 

4. Cover your popcorn mixture and place back on the heat. You need to shake the this intermittently almost the entire time it is popping. It may take a minute for it to start popping but shake it, put it on the heat, shake it, heat, etc, even after it starts popping. Great thing is its a mini workout! Burn a few calories before you eat a few! ;) 

5. Transfer your popcorn to a large bowl. Sprinkle IMMEDIATELY with salt. I use a good amount of salt because the great thing about Kettle Corn is the sweet to salt ratio. 

6. With your hands mix the salt into the popcorn while gently separating the kernels. It cools quickly, so you need to do this right away.

7. Now that is is nice and seperated, it is ready to eat!!!!!!

Seriously easy and most definitely worth the time!!!!!


Monday, May 17, 2010

SOUR CREAM CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

I know there are a million recipes out there for cookies. And most of them are wonderful! I found this one YEARS ago on a grocery store shelf cookbook magazine. If I could give credit to the origin of this, I would. I promise! But I have no idea the name of the little magazine, and I have made a few tweeks through the years. But let me tell you this, they will be a staple cookie in your house after the first time you try them!!!

In these photos, my son is the cook! These are his favorite cookies and he loves to make them himself! And these are the kind of cookies that are even better after they cool!

SOUR CREAM CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Here is the page right out of my personal cookbook for these cookies!
























Ingredients:
1 Butter Flavor Crisco Stick
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup of granulated organic sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup warm organic raw honey
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups of organic flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 cups semi-sweet choc chips
OPTIONAL - 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
















Preheat your oven to 375.
Spray your pan with non stick spray! (I am using my oil mister!)
















Combine Crisco, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large bowl.






























Beat at medium speed with a hand mixer until well blended.
















Beat in egg, sour cream, honey and vanilla. Beat at medium speed until well blended.












































































In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Make sure all ingredients are well combined. I just use a large whisk for this.



























































Combine into the creamed mix, one cup of the dry mix at a time using an electric mixer at low speeds until well blended.














































Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts (if desired)






























Drop rounded TBSP 2 inches apart






























Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE. It will absolutely ruin the cookies.

















10 minutes have passed!!! They are ready to come out!
















Put them on a cooling rack to cool. ENJOY!
(And trust me, you will!)













Sunday, May 16, 2010

BASIL & ROSEMARY

I just bought a little basil and a little rosemary plant. Got a small oblong pot for them and I put them in the window in my kitchen. There two big benefits to these little plants in my kitchen.

1- The smell of basil makes me happy!
I don't know why, but it just does. I love it. I can just pick a leaf and smell it till there is no more smell left!!!

2- I have fresh herbs to add to any dish I am making!!!!
As long as I water them properly and keep turning them in the sun, they will continue to grow and share!

Go and get one! You will never regret it!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

THE BEST WRAP... EVER!!!!
















Ingredients:
Whole Wheat Wraps
Fresh Sliced Avocado
Fresh diced Tomatoes
Kalamata Olives
Hummus
Thin Sliced Aged Swiss
Grilled Chicken (mine is lemon pepper chicken)
Drizzle of Spicy Oil
Panini Grill or a George Foreman


Step 1 - Cook and slice your chicken.
I marinate mine for about 5 minutes in Lemon Pepper and olive oil. Then I grill them on my stove top grill.
Lemon pepper is a spice which is made by mixing lemon zest with pepper.

Step 2 - Lay out a wrap

Step 3 - Lay down your cheese, then your chicken, then your avocado, tomatoes, olives and a dollop of hummus (spread it out)

Step 4 - Drizzle Spicy Oil over all of it

Step 5 - Wrap it up.
This is an art. My husband makes me do it, he just makes a mess!!! I really just lay one side over all of it, then scoop and tuck it under all the ingredients, fold the sides in and roll it up!

Step 6 - Put it in your panini grill until it is nice and golden. Slice it in half and enjoy!!!!!!!

Let me tell you, this is SOOOO addictive! We have been eating it a lot lately! It is really delicious and you can change out ingredients to fit you and your family.
If you are a vegetarian, you could sub grilled tofu for the chicken. The options are endless.
But this particular one is my ALL TIME favorite!!!!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

QUESADILLAS

In honor of Cinqo di Mayo I am posting one of our favorite dishes! Quesadillas!
These are simple to make and a family favorite in our household!!!

QUESADILLAS

INGREDIENTS:
Chicken
Cheese
Tortilla Shells
Taco Seasoning
Onions
Peppers
Mushrooms (optional)

















Meet my favorite new kitchen gadget!!!
My oil mister!
Saves me tons on Non Stick Spray and it is far healthier and a greener way to cook!























I heat up my pan for cooking the chicken and give it a quick oil spray.
I like to put my chicken down on a hot pan or grill!
















Cook it up!
















Cut, Clean and slice your red, yellow, orange and/0r green peppers.
(I prefer red, I think they are tastier and a touch sweeter)





























































Then cut up your onions.














































I heat up the pan and then throw in the onions and peppers together with a little spray of oil.















Next step is to cut up the chicken, throw it back into the skillet you cooked it in.
Add a half a cup of water and a sprinkle (or more) of taco seasoning.














































Next, I put the tortilla on a hot skillet, add cheese, meat and veggies.
I let the cheese melt a bit then close the tortilla and flip it over.































I like to add jalapenos!!! Spicy is good!
















I serve mine with a side of sour cream, and some homemade guacamole!
(Recipe coming!!!)


















This is so good, it will become a weeknight kind of meal! 
Enjoy!

KID TIP
I dice up the cooked onion and peppers and add them into the cheese.
Melt it all together with chicken on top. My kids love it and are healthier for it!!!
I also serve it with a side of crispy carrots and some organic ketchup (corn syrup free!). Another thing kids love! ;)