Pumpkin Corn Chowder

 My daughter finds herself in amongst the many that love pumpkin. Not just the taste but the scent, wording pretty much anything that has to do with pumpkins. This is also the time of year that farmers here in Illinois and states surrounding us will be harvesting the crops. One of the many grown is corn. So it simply makes sense to combine both pumpkin and corn in a lovely meal that will fill one up. I hope you enjoy leave a comment please if you do try. 

½ cup diced pancetta

4 tablespoons butter, divided

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 cup diced onion

½ cup diced celery

1 cup diced carrots

1 quarts chicken or vegetable stock

1 ½ pounds diced pumpkin, see note

1 peeled and diced large Russet potato (1 ½ – 2 cups)

¼ cup fresh parsley chopped

¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 2 15-ounce cans creamed corn
• 1 pound frozen corn
• 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups heavy cream (one pint)
• Optional toasted pumpkin seeds for garnish

1. In a large pot, heat pancetta and 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat until pancetta is crisp, five to ten minutes.  Add garlic, onions, celery and carrot and cook 5 minutes. Add stock, diced pumpkin, diced potato, chopped parsley, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, salt , pepper, coriander, cream corn, frozen corn and pumpkin puree. Bring to boil, simmer 10 minutes or til veggies are tender.                                                                                                                            While soup is cooking, place 2 TBSP butter in medium sauce pan and let it melt. To the melted butter add flour and cook 2-3 minutes Add few ladles soup to the flour mix and stir til thick. Then place mixture back into soup and stir. Mix in cream and taste for seasoning. 

To toast seeds place in pan and heat over medium heat til roasted about 5 to 6 minutes

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Truck Stop Biscuit and Gravy

 Truck Stop Biscuit and Gravy 

2 can fridge biscuts
lb hamburger
1/2 t pepper
1/2 t garlic
5 c milk
1/2 c flour
2 cream cheese

Bake biscuts Brown meat add spices Mix milk and flour Shake Pour milk into skillet Add cheese Cook Stir often til thickened and cheese melts Spoon over biscuts

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National Coffee and Mocha Day

 Today, September 29th is National Coffee as well as Mocha Day. So take your pick. Each will offer great drink with just a bit of a difference. Mocha is a drink made up of steamed milk, espresso (coffee beans that have been roasted til they are extremely dark.) and chocolate. Coffee on the other hand is made up of water and roasted coffee beans. However, each drink offers a drink that is made with coffee beans, caffeine and can be drank either hot or cold. 

                                                        color of coffee beans used in mocha. 

                                                                  color of roasted coffee beans

A couple of major differences between the two is that black coffee which has more caffeine and hardly any calories stands against mocha that yes does have caffeine but less by sure and more calories as well. 

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Easy Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

 2 сuрѕ graham cracker сrumbѕ about 16-18 full ѕhееtѕ, сruѕhеd

1 1/2 сuр granulated ѕugаr dіvіdеd

1/2 сuр butter mеltеd

8 оunсе Cream Chееѕе, ѕоftеnеd

1 саn Swееtеnеd Condensed Milk

1/3 сuр Lеmоn Juice

1-2 tѕр Vаnіllа

2 cup Cоld Wаtеr

3 оunсе ѕtrаwbеrrу Jell-O gelatin dessert

5 tbsp Cоrn Starch

4-5 сuрѕ Fresh Strаwbеrrіеѕ

Cоmbіnе grаhаm сrасkеr сrumbѕ, 1/2 сuр of ѕugаr аnd buttеr.

Prеѕѕ іntо thе bоttоm аnd ѕіdеѕ of a buttеrеd 9-inch ріе pan. Place іn refrigerator to сhіll.

Blеnd cream cheese аnd ѕwееtеnеd соndеnѕеd mіlk until ѕmооth and wіthоut lumрѕ. Add іn vanilla аnd lеmоn juісе аnd blend untіl mіxеd.

Pоur іmmеdіаtеlу into crust and allow tо ѕеt (10 mіnutеѕ).

Place water, 1 сuр of ѕugаr, соrnѕtаrсh, and jello іntо a small ѕаuсераn аnd whіѕk untіl соrnѕtаrсh іѕ disolved. Plасе оvеr med-high hеаt, аnd heat untіl glaze іѕ thісkеnеd аnd уоu саn ѕее a ‘faint lіnе’ аftеr рullіng thе ѕрооn through thе glаzе.

Allоw glaze tо сооl аbоut 10 mіnutеѕ before роurіng over fruit.

Mаkе ѕurе thе bеrrіеѕ іѕ wеll drаіnеd and heap onto ріе. Pоur glаzе over fruіt.

Lеt сооl іn rеfrіgеrаtоr fоr at least 4 hоurѕ or untіl ѕеt.

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Rice Info and a great recipe

 

My husband commented this morning that he would love a bowl of rice with some butter and cream. In other words, the way that him and I both had them when we were kids. Little did he know that today is also a day to celebrate rice. So to do that, I am first going to share a bit of information about rice then share a delicious recipe. 

Rice is one ingredient that the entire world has made a way to make their own. From white, brown, short grain, long grain and more rice comes in a great variety. In addition, the manner in which it is cooked is even more interesting because some choose to cook it on the stove, others in a rice cooker, in the microwave and it may be baked as well. 

short grain rice is round and plump. Look in the picture at these tiny pieces that are high in starch and as they cook get quite sticky. 

Long grain rice is longer than wide and can be picked up individually

White rice has had the outer husk removed making it lighter in color. It has its own advantages by being able to be stored at longer period of time. In addition, it will cook quickly

Brown rice is considered a whole grain. Brown rice is more nutritious than white rice. Its taste is nutty and this rice also has a chewy consistency. 

Easy Weeknight Fried Rice Recipe

3 cups cooked white rice
3 Tablespoons sesame oil (or vegetable oil) – I find Sesame Oil gives it more of the taste of a Chinese Restaurant
1 cup frozen peas and carrots (thawed)
1 small onion, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 eggs, slightly beaten
3-4 Tablespoons soy sauce

On medium high heat, heat the oil in a large skillet or wok. Add the peas/carrots mix, onion and garlic. Stir fry until tender.
Lower the heat to medium low and push the stir fry off to one side, then pour eggs on the other side of skillet. Stir fry until scrambled.
Now add the rice and soy sauce and blend all together well. Stir fry until thoroughly heated.
Enjoy!

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Smores Brownie Bars (chocolate milk in recipe)

 

Non-stick Cooking Spray

1 (18 oz.) package of Fudge Brownie Mix

Eggs and Oil, as called for on the packaging

TruMoo® Chocolate Milk

Graham Crackers

3 cups of Mini Marshmallows

2-3 Milk Chocolate Bars, broken into small pieces

1/2 cup of chocolate chips for drizzle (optional)

4.25″ wide Clear Treat Bags

Preheat your oven to 350°

Begin by spraying a 13″x9″ baking or brownie pan with cooking spray or lining it with aluminum foil.

Line your pan with graham crackers, edge to edge, as this will make for a nice and crunchy crust.

Mix the brownie batter according to the package directions and substitute the water for your TruMoo Chocolate Milk®.

Spread brownie mix evenly over crackers.

Bake for 25-28 minutes.

Remove brownies from the oven and sprinkle with marshmallows, milk chocolate bar pieces, and some broken graham crackers.

Bake another  5-10 minutes, or until marshmallows are slightly puffed. If you want that golden brown coloring, put your broiler on for a few minutes.  If you use the broiler, be sure to watch them the entire time so you can turn it off once you reach the desired coloring.

Allow brownies to cool. You can stop here, or continue if you’d like to add some more fun!

Once your brownies are cool, melt the chocolate chips for 30-45 seconds in the microwave. Stir, and continue melting in 10 second intervals until fully melted.

Add a few drops of oil and stir melted chocolate to thin.

Using a fork, dip it into the melted chocolate and drizzle on top of the brownies.

Add crushed graham crackers for added texture.

Allow the drizzle to harden.

Cut brownies and bag in plastic treat bags that are 4.25″ wide.

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Going to Grandmas

Happy Birthday Shaun Cassidy

 As a kid I was lucky enough to be the only one but have 2 sisters and 2 brothers. I was not the oldest but not the youngest either. I had an older sister that was 4 years older than me. My older sister was a huge fan of Shaun Cassidy, Lief Garrett and Andy Gibbs. Her music choice has changed over the years but she has remained a fan of Shaun Cassidy. Today, September 27th is Shaun Cassidys birthday. 

Shaun, the son of Shirley Jones. Shirly has herself been a long-loved singer and actress. Shaun Cassidy also has been seen in the limelight of acting. As one of the Hardy Boys Shaun acted but this was not the only time. He would also show up in daytime soap operas and in other areas as well. Likewise life has shown that Shaun has had the ability to do both careers well. 

Shaun has had a lifetime of love from his parents to his wives and children. Shaun has fathered 7 children during his life. His career as a singer gained him a platinum record in 1976. Later his life as an actor, writer and producer would be loved by many fans as well. Perhaps through the years his fans changed but somehow I think many stayed the same.