Sweet and Sour Chicken

Do you like sweet and sour chicken? I must say that at first that seemed a bit odd to me it was not one of the country dishes that my mom or grandma would make. When I got older though I had an opportunity to try it and I simply love it. This recipe serves 4 but can easily be doubled

2 chicken breasts, sliced

1/2 onion, split into wedges

2 green onions

1 can pineapple, including juice

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup distilled white vinegar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons cornstarch, blend with a tiny bit of water to avoid lumps

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

I used a skillet, but feel free to use a frying pan.  Cook the chicken that you have cut into strips, salt and pepper as desired.

On the stove, over medium high heat, mix together pineapple juice, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire, garlic, mustard and ginger.  Whisk as the mixture heats up.  Once it starts bubbling, gradually whisk in your cornstarch mixture.  Remove from heat.

Add sweet and sour sauce to your cooked chicken, then add in pineapple chunks, onion and green pepper.  Cover with lid and let the vegetable cook down until onions are almost completely transparent and green peppers are no longer crispy.  Serve over rice.


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Crunchy Baked Chicken

Looking for a delicious dish to serve the family tonight? Check out this chicken recipe with a bit of crunch. Easy to make and oh so good

This is a very easy chicken dish to make.  Feel free to bread it the night before and just bake in the oven.  I match this with a baked potato and carrots.  It is also excellent with spaghetti.

4 chicken breasts, pounded out
2 cups Kellogs Corn Flake Crumbs
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 cup of milk
Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix together Kellogs, paprika, salt and pepper.
Pour milk into a separate dish. Dip chicken breast into milk and then coat with Kellogs mixture.  Place into a 9 x 13" pan, coated with non-stick cooking spray.

Bake for about 15 minutes, the chicken has been pounded and will dry out quickly













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breakfast egg and sausage casserole

Breakfast Egg & Sausage Casserole is the perfect dish to serve during the month of January. It will not only help keep you warm and filled but also is great to help celebrate national egg month. Take a bit of time fix up this for your family and enjoy

This is a breakfast, or dinner dish that my mom has made in the past.  It is one of my favorites.  I substitute the sausage with ground turkey, and the eggs with egg substitute.

Ingredients:

4 slices white bread, cubed

1 lb sausage or ground turkey

1 tomato, chopped

1 bunch of green onion chopped

12 eggs, beaten

1 cup shredded cheese, use any cheese you would like

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Salt & Pepper to taste

Mix together all ingredients and put into a 9 x 13'' pan, sprayed with non stick cooking spray.  Refrigerate overnight.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Bake for an hour or until firm.

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Happy Strawberry Ice Cream Day

Today is that day that the celebrates the taste of Strawberry ice cream. The thought of those red, ripe, juicy strawberries are churned and frozen in with some fresh cream and a bit of sugar to make that delicious perfect dish of strawberry ice cream.  Everyone can enjoy and celebrate this day For over a thousand years the mixture of frozen ice and fruit and ice cream and fruit have been around. It is reported that as long ago as 3000 BC people in China served their guest sweetened juices mixed with snow or ice shavings. Strawberry ice cream ranks third in popularity of ice cream flavors with the first two being chocolate and vanilla. Celebrate the special holiday with this recipe that would be perfect to serve guest on valentines day as well


Virgin Strawberry Margarita Ice Cream Cake-9 large portions

Crust

• 1 1/4 cups pretzel crumbs
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar

Filling

• 1 1/2 cups strawberries,pureed or mashed well
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
• 1/3 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed (I only had 1 lime on hand and used lemon juice as well)
• 3 large scoops of vanilla ice cream-softened

Directions:

• Combine pretzel crumbs, butter, and sugar and mix well.
• Press crust mixture firmly into the bottom of an 8×8 pan.  I placed a sheet of saran wrap on top before pressing my hands into the crumb mixture, it’s a lot cleaner and the crust ends up nicer.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the condensed milk, lime juice, strawberries, and soft ice cream and blend well.
• Pour the mixture right on top of the crust, then freeze for at least 6 hours.
• To serve: take the pan out of the freezer and allow it to sit for a few minutes before cutting into it.  I find that using a flat-edges spatula works best.

Glaucoma Awareness

January is Glaucoma Awareness month  Glaucoma is a vision impairment that causes damage to the optic nerve in the eye that worsens over time. Pressure inside the eye can build up and take the sight of an individual.

The leading cause of preventable blindness in the U.S is glaucoma Focus is placed on the word glaucoma. Some tips to help you prevent this terrible disease from yourself and your loved ones:

One of the best ways to prevent glaucoma is to get regular eye exams. Half of those that suffer have no idea that they even have glaucoma. Those at risk for developing glaucoma should have a complete eye exam including eye dilation every year or two. People over 60 with close family members who have glaucoma, African americans, Asian Hispanics, and those who may have had eye injury, nearsighted, people with hypertension, and steroid users are among the top risk but regular eye exams are a good idea for everyone.

Signs and Symptoms of Glaucoma

The signs and symptoms of glaucoma vary from one individual to the next.  Top signs and symptoms

• Vision Loss
• Eye Redness
• Hazy Eye (Infants in particular)
• Seeing Halos Around Lights
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Eye Pain
• Narrowing of Vision (Tunnel Vision)

The test for glaucoma focuses on the optic nerve.  It allows the optometrist to see changes in the eye as glaucoma progresses.  This type of test is standard, does not cause pain, and takes very little time to administer

If diagnosed with glaucoma it is very important to take the medication prescribed. It is estimated that around 40% glaucoma patients do not follow guidelines prescribed to them. Taking prescribed medication exactly as prescribed is essential to prevent sight loss.

Every health professional you see should be aware of your glaucoma diagnosis and the medication you take. Knowledge is the key to prevention and treatment.

Reporting any changes in your eyes is very important to keeping eyesight once diagnosed with glaucoma

Kentucky Burgoo

January is a good month for soup. To me soup is a comfort food as my mother and grandmother served it a lot in the fall and winter months. Burgoo is a dish that you either really like or you don't. Where we are from there are many burgoo dinners that raise money for different causes. My dad loved it and my mother hated it. He did not know this on their first date and he took her to a burgoo dinner where she sat and ate pickles and crackers. He learned after that she did not like it. I personally love it because it is thicker than many soups and stews. However, the old tale of the folks making burgoo in big iron kettles and then whatever happened to fall in fell in never to be known and all cooked up together is one that I personally don't want to think about and rather like to follow a recipe like the one below.

Kentucky Burgoo Recipe

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 3 hours, 10 minutes
• Yield: Serves a small army. Or 12-16.

This recipe makes a lot! Feel free to halve. Otherwise, it makes great leftovers.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3-4 pounds pork shoulder or country ribs, cut into large pieces (3 to 4 inches wide)
• 2-3 pounds chuck roast, stew meat, or other inexpensive cut of beef, cut into large pieces (3 to 4 inches wide)
• 3-5 chicken legs or thighs (bone-in)
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 5 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 quart chicken stock or broth
• 1 quart beef stock or broth
• 1 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes
• 2 large potatoes (we used russets)
• 1 bag of frozen corn (about a pound)
• 1 bag of frozen lima beans (about 14 ounces)
• Salt and pepper
• 4-8 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• Tabasco or other hot sauce on the side

Method

1 Heat vegetable oil on medium-high heat in a large soup pot (at least 8 quart size). Salt the meats well on all sides. When the oil is shimmering hot, working in batches brown all the meats. Do not crowd the pan or the meat will steam and not brown well. Do not move the meat while browning a side. Let the meat pieces get well seared. Remove the browned meats to a bowl.
2 Add the onions, carrots, celery and green pepper to the pot and brown them. If necessary, add a little more oil to the pot. After a few minutes of cooking, sprinkle salt over the vegetables.
3 When the vegetables are well browned, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more, until fragrant. Add back the meats, and the chicken and beef broths and the tomatoes, stir to combine. Bring to a simmer, cover, reduce the heat and simmer gently for 2 hours.
4 Uncover and remove the meat pieces. Strip the chicken off the bone and discard skin if you want. Break the larger pieces of meat into smaller, more manageable pieces. The reason you did not do this at first is because the meats stay juicier when they cook in larger pieces. Return all the meat pieces to the pot and bring it up to a strong simmer.
5 Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks about the same size as the meat pieces (if using new potatoes, you can skip the peeling, but russets you'll want to peel). Add them to the stew and cook them until they are done, about 45 minutes. When the potatoes are done, add the Worcestershire sauce, mix well and taste for salt. Add more Worcestershire sauce to taste if needed.
6 Add the corn and lima beans. Mix well and cook for at least 10 minutes, or longer if you’d like. Here is the point where you decide whether you want a burgoo that’s been hammered into a thick mass or a stew with bright colors in it. It’s your call.
To serve, taste one more time for salt, and add either Worcestershire or salt if you want. Serve with crusty bread or cornbread and a bottle of hot sauce on the side.

recipe source here

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Rubber Ducky Day

National Birth Defects Awareness Month

January is national birth defects prevention month. The goal for this awareness is to raise awareness and educate the public. The National Birth Defects Prevention Network is a resource like none other to offer more information.

Birth Defects Awareness Month events have several goals, including:

• Raise awareness of the prevalence of birth defects. Many people are not aware that a baby is born with a birth defect every four-and-a-half minutes. A message for a custom birth defects bracelet might say, “Birth Defects Awareness – January 2014”.
• Educate people about birth defects that can be prevented. Folic acid can help prevent some birth defects, so one a bracelet may include the message “Did you take your folic acid today?” to help spread that message.
• Support families of babies with birth defects. Birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies every year and cause 1 in 5 infant deaths.  A message of support may say something like “Love Conquers All Learn More About Birth Defects”.
• Raise money for research about birth defects. While a birth defect may be caused by genetic or environment factors, over sixty percent of birth defect causes are currently not known. The more that is discovered about the causes of birth defects, the more likely doctors are to find ways to prevent them.
• Inform people about specific birth defects. There are thousands of different birth defects. Birth defects include Anencephaly, Congenital Heart Defects, Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate, Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum, Hydrocephaly, Microtia, and Spina Bifida

Marzipan Day

Today is marzipan day. Did you even know that sweet bakery art even had a day of its own?? Well I have long loved the work that is done with marzipan. My mother worked in a large bakery for several years starting work there after her children were grown. My children her grand-children loved for her to decorate their birthday cakes. She did an awesome job. Now my thought just turned to the thought that some of you may not know what marzipan is so may be this will help



Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of sugar or honey and almond meal, sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract. It is often made into sweets; common uses are chocolate-covered marzipan and small marzipan imitations of fruits and vegetables. It is also rolled into thin sheets and glazed for icing cakes, primarily birthday, wedding cakes and Christmas cakes. This use is particularly common in England, on large fruitcakes. Marzipan (or almond paste) may also be used as a cake ingredient, as in stollen. In some countries, it is shaped into small figures of animals as a traditional treat for New Year's Day. Marzipan is also used in Tortell, and in some versions of king cake eaten during the Carnival season. Traditional Swedish Princess Cake is typically covered with a layer of marzipan that has been tinted pale green.^[1]

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Get Your Desk Organized

Time to organize your desk whether in the office or at home. The holidays may have thrown your whole system off or you may think that you are one of those individuals that knows where it all is and works better with a messy desk. I so agree with you in some ways but in others I think it works so much better with a bit of organization. There are a few tools that may help you get this done

An accordion folder is worth the investment and can be a big help. A good one will help you organize all your important papers (bills, important letters, copies of anything you need to keep) One great thing is that you will be able to put everything in one tidy folder.

Bookends come in handy when searching through those old cookbooks looking for ideas, or doing a bit of research.

finding items that multi task like the lamp will help you save room and come in very handy. There is a pen stand connected to the lamp and this can make it awesome to keep pens and pencils just where you need them as well as offer you a bit more light when needed

Every time I think I get it all organized I get in a hurry need something and I am unable to find it because of a messy drawer. The drawer organizer can stop this and keep it all together.

I love dry erase boards at any given time I can jot down what I need to do, shop for or even what supper is. Keeping organized to me also includes keeping an organized schedule

desktop drawers are great for keeping the clutter in one place. You can use it to store receipts, chargers or whatever is needed.

Good luck cleaning your desk



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Easy Curried Chicken Salad

I love chicken salad with fruit and nuts. Easy Curried Chicken Salad goes just a bit further and offers spice as well Today is also national curried chicken day so no better time to share a great recipe for a lunch or even an easy supper. Enjoy

 

 

Easy Curried Chicken SaladAdapted from Ina Garten
6 servings

1 whole roasted deli chicken (or leftover chicken meat equaling about 1-1 1/2 pounds)
Olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1/3 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup Major Grey’s mango chutney
3 tablespoons curry powder
2 stalks celery, diced
2 green onions (white and green parts), chopped
1/4 cup raisins
1 heaping cup red grapes, sliced in half
1 cup whole roasted, salted cashews

Remove the chicken meat from the bones, discard the skin, and dice the chicken into large bite-size pieces.
For the dressing, combine the mayonnaise, wine, chutney, curry powder, in a large bowl and mix until smooth. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Combine the chicken with enough dressing to moisten well. Add the celery, green onions, raisins and grapes, and mix well.
Refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend. Add the cashews and serve. 

Quick Strawberry Twinkie Cake

I know you may not see it now but love is in the air. The cupid is about to get a hold of many that could use a hug right now and when he does it will be a time when you will want to make up something sweet. If you are still like me you will want to make something up easy and quick as well. This quick recipe for Strawberry Twinkie Cake may fit just the bill. Enjoy

 

2 cups cold milk
1 (5 1/8 ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix
1 (15 ounce) package Hostess Twinkies (cream filled sponge cakes)
4 cups fresh sliced strawberries
1 (8 ounce) carton frozen whipped topping, thawed
additional strawberry, halved for garnish

In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes; let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set; set aside. Slice the Twinkies in half lengthwise; place filling side up in an ungreased 13x9x2 inch dish.
Spread the pudding over the top of the sliced twinkies. Arrange sliced strawberries over the pudding and then spread the whipped topping over the strawberries. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before cutting.
Garnish with strawberry halves if desired. Refrigerate any leftovers.


recipe source  Food.com

 

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Winter is Great for Reading

WE love to read any time of the year but when the winter weather is here and there is not much else we can do we spend a lot of time reading. Recently I came upon a giveaway that if you are like us you will want to enter.

the giveaway for the book

Giveaway location at the blog Savings In Seconds
giveaway ends 1/15

Easy homemade Spaghetti Sauce

I believe that my gift of love is service. I love to prepare dishes that my family loves and when I have time I love to make it all homemade. It shows my love for them and the food we share taste great and I know exactly what is in it as well. I hope you enjoy find some time to share a dish with your family That's what I really love to do.

Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce1 lb hamburger
1 onion, chop
¼ c chop celery
1 can (29 oz.) tomato sauce
2 ½ c tomato juice
1 can (14 ½ oz) diced tomatos
1 can (12 oz. tomato paste
2 t sugar
2 t chili powder
1 t salt
1 t garlic powder
1 t dried basil
1 t dried oregano
½ t pepper
4 bay leaves
spaghetti
grated parmesan cheese

In large skillet brown meat, onion and celery over medium heat til meat is no longer pink: drain. In a 4 or 5 qt slow cooker Mix sauce, juice, tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar seasonings and beef. Cover and cook 6 hours til heated through Discard bay leaves Serve with spaghetti sprinkle with cheese.


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Strawberry Cheesecake Salad

Looking for a tasty treat to share with your friends on valentine day or to finish a romantic meal up? Well the strawberry cheesecake salad offers just that. While the berries are not in season currently they are still available in the grocery store. I can remember a time when I was much younger where fresh fruit was much harder to find now though if you are looking for something with a bit of red and pink and sweet over all then check out this special dish



Strawberry Cheesecake Salad

 12 oz. whipped topping
1 small package of cheesecake pudding (powder)
3 (6 oz) strawberry yogurts (I use Yoplait)
1 lb fresh strawberries, sliced
3 bananas, sliced (add just before serving or they brown)
miniature marshmallows (add just before serving)

Thaw whipped topping and in a large salad bowl stir together whipped topping, yogurts, and pudding powder. Let this set up in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. Wash and slice strawberries. You can add strawberries to salad or wait to add them with sliced bananas and marshmallows just before serving. Keep refrigerated.

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