Spinach Artichoke Rice

A quick gander in the refrigerator gathers just a glimpse at a gourmet gathering.  Observe as I turn leftovers into a lucious treat.  Leftover chicken and rice, leftover spinach artichoke dip, some parmesean cheese (shaky cheese as my kids used to say) packets and Papa Johns special seasoning mix packets left from take out order (thanks, Papa John!), the last few drops in the gallon of milk and most of a package of whole grain rice.
Ingredients:
Whole Grain Instant Rice
(boil with chicken stock, 1 glove garlic pressed and 1 tbsp olive oil)
add 2 packets of Papa Johns seasoning mix.  Follow directions for preparing rice on the back of the rice package, but if you don't have, it's a simple rule for all rice: 1 cup rice to 1 cup water or chicken stock, which gives the rice some nice flavoring, bring to boil for 1 minute, stir then reduce to simmer and cover for 12-15 minutes.  Rice should not be mushy......just sayin')
Add:
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Milk (add amount that equals your consistency liking)

Pour ingredients into safe baking pan, cover with cheese and Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.  Cool and enjoy with chips, crackers, spread on a toasted bagel, or however your creative spirit takes you with it.

Scrumptious Shortcut Cobbler

This recipe was inspired by a connoisseur of creative concoctions.  He brought to me a fabulous fruit fusion  to which the meager mind would appear lifeless, insipid, grotesque even in appearance, but to the creative mind, the imaginative mind, the visionary....if you will....there before me, was a superb synthesis of succulence eagerly awaiting inception.  Thus evolved the Scrumptious Shortcut Cobbler.......

Ingredients
Select one or any crazy combination of fruits......go crazy with the fruits!  Includes some scrumdelishous (honestly, they're just words, they don't control us) mix of many berries (straw, blue, black...), peaches fresh off my friends tree peeled and sliced all soaking in their own sweet juices for few days, a combination that is sure to please the palate.
You will need at least 1 and 1/2 cups (more or less depending on how fruit filled you prefer).
Note: In the freezer I found some Disaronno Italian Liquer which I added to the fruit mixture during the soaking process merely to enhance their essence.

Batter
1 stick of butter
1 self rising flour
(or 1 cup all purpose flour w/1 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt)
1 cup sugar
1/2 evaporated milk
1/2 cup water

My seasoned southern friend supplied this shortcut batter recipe.  It is simply scrumptious.
Quite simply you.......
melt butter in a 2 quart casserole in 350 degree pre-heated oven (not too long....avoid overheating)
combine 1/2 cup evaporated milk with 1/2 cup water and 1 shot of liquer for you and one for the mix (just testing your attention to detail) or to taste (one cup liquid total.....use less water if you use liquer)
while butter is melting, mix dry ingredients together in large mixing bowl, hollow out the center and pour liquid mixture into dry mix gradually stirring to avoid lumpage until all ingredients are mixed well
remove casserole dish from oven carefully, it's hot!
drizzle batter into melted butter but DO NOT stir
drop fruit gently throughout batter but DO NOT stir
repeat after me...... don't stir! seriously, don't stir!
place into pre-heated oven and bake "until it looks good"....I know, these are the directions from a skilled surveyor.... I require minutes also so, bake for approximtely 30 minutes until sides are golden brown or sides are crispy.
Top with creamy vanilla ice cream..........it's simply scrumptious!

Peanut Butter Puddin' Pie

PEANUT BUTTER PUDDIN' PIE 
              sing and dance it out to the tune,  "It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time" 
                                                                    (click above for fun video!)

One particularly painstakenly long work week produced an insatiable sweet craving.  In hindsight I can recall that an enormous amount of caffeine was consumed that week to stabilize the sleep deprivation which could very well trigger a sweet hound attack.  That's what I call a sweet craving so strong one becomes compelled to sniff out any possible sugary substance in direct result of surrender to the sweet attack.  It's a sickness, I am fully aware.  I digress.....

This recipe was founded soley to satisfy the insatiable sweet cravings which flourished following a fantastically fun 'dance it out' stress relief session several Saturdays ago.  I'm finally getting around to posting these past ponderings. Life demands often take control of our time so sometimes we just have to hit the brakes, back the truck up and remember savor the simple substances that stir the soul.  

Crust

1/2 cup peanut butter captain crunch
2 tbsp butter
1 package hot cocoa mix

pour cereal into a baggie, be sure it is sealed well (you've been warned) and roll will rolling pin until you have created fine crumbs, add hot cocoa mix and blend ingredients together with butter until then press into the bottom of a pie plate or whatever bowl you feel a suitable for such delishesness.


Filling


1 package vanilla pudding
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 3/4 cup milk

pour pudding mix into mixing bowl, add milk and blend well until smooth then add the peanut butter and blend again until creamy smooth then pour into crust

Topping
2 tbsp peanut butter
chocolate syrup

mix peanut butter and chocolate syrup until you have reached a drizzly mix then do exactly what it sounds like you should do....drizzle that mixture over the top of the filling.  Let chill in fridge for 30 minutes and then dig in! :)

Simple Savory Summer Sandwiches and Salads

                                                                The possibilities are endless!

Spinach Turkey Provolone Wrap and Savory Spinach Tomato Mozerella Side Salad

What you will need:
Garlic Pesto Wrap
Deli Turkey  (on sale....gotta love it!)
Provolone Cheese slices
Fresh Spinach Leaves
Olive Oil
1 Small Clove of Garlic
Sea Salt
Italian Seasonings

For the salad:
Fresh Spinach Leaves
Fresh Tomatos
Mozerella Stick sliced
Balsalmic & Basil Vinegrette (Ken's Homestyle BOGO @ Publix this week!)

Some assembly required:
Place pesto wrap on flat surface (clean counter top or cutting board), layer cheese slices, turkey then pack the spinach leaves in there and gently fold sides of wrap over tucking in that spinach snuggly. Cut in half.
In small skillet, saute garlic in olive oil over medium heat cook for 30 seconds or until you're feeling it's the right moment and then carefully place assembled wrap halves into pan. Using a spatula, press gently, let cook for 1 min, then flip over and repeat pressing.  Sprinkle with seasonings suitable to your taste and serve with a side of the Balsalmic & Basil Vinegrette dressing for dipping and some fresh fruit.  Juicy red grapes and the balsalmic & basil vinegrette really compliment the flavors in the wrap.  Delish!

Banana Bash

BANANA BASH

Have you ever wondered what to do with those bruised and banished bananas? 

I say, look beyond the blemishes and discover their disguised dividend. 

We all have a few blemishes we'd prefer to keep hidden, covered up or removed, but for all things there is a time and a season.....even for the most minute morsel.

Ingredients Needed:

2 big red delicious apples, peeled and sliced

4 tbsp real butter (no substitutes....trust me)

2 tbsp honey

melt butter in small sauce pan, once melted, add honey and let it reach a small simmer

add sliced apples and cook on low until apples are no longer crispy to a fork's poke

smash with potatoe smasher and combine until smooth

stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp brown sugar

and cinamon at your discretion

I know what you're thinking.....I thought this was about banana's and this seems like a bunch of work.  Why not just use applesauce?!  These are valid observations. If you are pressed for time, as most of us are, then applesauce (with cinamon already in it) would be a fine substitute, but there is no substitute for the scrumptious aroma of blissfully blending flavors brewing.  Deep inhale....ahhhhhh! Tastebud teasing begins!  :)

Ok, now that you've procured the core of your mixture, you may begin to compliment the mix by introducing new fun flavors.  Calling all bananas, cranberries and walnuts....oh my!

Now this is where the poor girls pantry reveals its hidden treasures.  From the pantry I produced 2 browning bananas clinging limply to life, 1 and 1/2 packs of Ocean Spray instant oatmeal with cranberries and some leftover dried cranberries and chopped walnuts from a really great salad mix.  A quick glance in the refrigerator revealed a short supply of milk, which happens frequently with a growing boy around, so some creative spark created a quick component of compromise.....yogurt!  Greek yogurt, at that, which will add an even healthier element to the muffin mix with it's generous amount of protien. 

So, remaining ingredients, are as follows......

1 egg

(borrowed from a generous and patient neighbor who humors my nocturnal nature and peculiar pantry ponderings ....thank you!)

1 cup flour (more or less as needed)

1 tsp baking powder

Commence banana bashing, mix in egg or egg beaters if you prefer and yogurt.  Mix well until combined, but stop before it gets too mushy....that's overkill ....bananas behave better with benevolent blending. :) Next, sprinkle in the flour, oatmeal and baking powder, blend well.  Cranberries and walnuts require mildly managed mingling.  Mix is ready to be scooped into the muffin pan which should already be buttered and properly positioned at the ready.  If not, get on it....time's a wastin!  Preparing the pans and pre-heating the oven are pretty much a given in any baking recipe so no blaming me on this one! ;)

Ok, last but not least, the tantilizing topping!

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup melted butter

remaining walnuts

secret ingredient:  crumbs from the bottom on the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. 

No kidding here.....pour into a small baggie (make sure baggie closure is secure.....just a head's up to assist in fending off a frustrating moment) and roll with rolling pin until properly pressed. Stir into above mix until crumbly and then add to top of muffins. 

Place lovingly in oven and bake for 12-15 minutes

Marvel at the magnificant melding of mouthwatering muffins!  Enjoy! ;)

Post From A Pal

Kathy's poor girls pantry moment... January 10, 2010

Trying to decide what to make for dinner, I scan the fridge to see what I want to get rid of. Ok, there's some ham and some mashed potato left overs. Bright idea.... potato soup! This is what I did......cut up onion and a few more potatoes that I had, chopped in a few carrots, covered them with water and brought to a boil, then simmered adding one chicken bouillion at a time to taste. Chop up ham and put in pot, then add mashed potatoes (helps to thicken and adds flavor). Let cook til tender. Add a can of evaporated milk and salt and pepper to taste. I baked a nice loaf of bread to accompany this masterpiece. Great for our Florida winter arctic blast!

Life, Love, Laughter

January 23, 2010  Random Thoughts.........

LIFE has taught me many valuable lessons about myself and through these lessons I am able to stand firmly in the knowledge of what I can live with and let go of what I cannot.

LOVE comes in many forms. We all seek its sustenance even though it is alluring yet abominable, immeasurably awe-inspiring yet curiously confounding, exhilarating yet exhausting while all the while suprisingly soulfully sustaining.


LAUGHTER...without it my soul would be an empty shell because without laughter, the first two would be unbearablely difficult to endure! :)