To stay away from high fructose corn syrup making salad dressing has become a habit.  Greek, ranch, honey mustard, Italian, whatever, we prefer home made ingredients to the selection on grocery store shelves.

This is one from years ago and lately decided to dig this out...a refreshing change from the norm:

Celery Seed Dressing

2/3 c granulated sugar
1 t. dry mustard
1/2 t onion juice or grated onion
5 T white vinegar
1 c vegetable oil
1/1/2 T lemon juice
1/2 T celery seed

Mix all and store refrigerated in a jar.  Add salt as a personal option.

Try your favorite peach cobbler recipe and add a quart of blueberries for some extra favor, as if peaches ever needed extra anything!

I love making an apple crisp in the fall and adding cranraisins and assorted other dried berries which seem to enhance the favor of the apples. 

Try smoking a turket breast for a unique favor on this holiday of traditional grilling meats.  The key is keeping plenty of water in the water container to keep the moisture in the breast.  Also a little seasoning with
celery and onion in the water is another add-in. 

Enjoy the 4th and be grateful for our men and women who serve our country.  They deserve our support and respect.

With the current heat wave I'm having a difficult time with dinner menus.  Who wants to stand around a grill with temperatures in the high nineties?...alas we're cooking inside to cope with lack of motivation for the usual summer menu.   Tonight is pork tenderloin with fresh peach salsa, fresh creamed peas and sweet potato casserole.

Rubbing garlic on the tenderloin prior to cooking with a healthy coat of peach preserves sounds like an interesting twist.

Food and family are interesting dynamics...good food with traditions especially around the holidays and it does not matter which holiday we all have those traditions we cling to through out our lives.  With the 4th of July coming up I'm thinking smoked pork, macaroni salad, deviled eggs, baked beans and maybe some garlic bread to polish the meal off in style.

Having recently been on a family reunion the dynamics of relationships is always an interesting phenomenon.
People watching is a great way to analysis communication, gestures and body language of those we know and love...

Strawberry cake actually has jello in it?  So reading the recipe I read 1 (3 oz) package of strawberry jello and transposing in my mind (that's another reason I couldn't be an accountant) I saw 3 - 3 oz packages of jello...so I go by jello! 

Hope this tastes as good as it sounds!

Well it was not that great!  In fact I threw about 3/4 of the cake away...some recipes just do not give up the delightful taste we're looking for...!

Not sure where this recipe came from but it is delicious and my sister gave it to me

Chop NAPA cabbage
Chop 3 to 6 green onion (depending on servings)

Toast stove top small package of almonds, sunflower seeds and one package of ramen noodle in 1/2 stick of butter.

Mix one cup of oil, one cup of vinegar and 1 cup of sugar (I heat the vinegar so the sugar dissolves.

Toss together and enjoy!

Greek Salad and yes a local restaurant makes this but I want veggies cut small, no big hunks so I tried making a duplicate and it works beautifully...

1 Tomato
2 " of green pepper
1 cucumber
4 or 5 thin slices of red onion
feta cheese to taste
Kalamata olives (I use about 1/4 cup)

Buy some Cavendar's Greek seasoning...use 1/2 oil and 1/2 vinegar (you favorite brands, add 1 tablespoon of seasoning for 2/3 liquid) and a teaspoon sugar, shake well and pour over chopped vegetables, olives and feta.

If weight is not a concern slop the dressing with your favorite bread!

Yummy for summer dining.

Griddle Cookies - the cinnamon and raisins didn't actually have an amount listed on my copy of the recipe, so these amounts are what I use:


These are absolutely delicious and I've had the receipe for YEARS...a great breakfast and scrambled eggs.
Enjoy!
3 1/3 c sifted flour
1 c sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1 c shortening
1 egg
1/2 c milk
1 c raisins

Mix dry ingredients, cut in shortening, beat egg and milk together and add to dry/shortening mixture, mix in raisins. Roll out to 1/4" thick, 2" round cutter, cook on hot griddle.

cumin...from the net

Cumin was known to the Egyptians five millennia ago; the seeds have been found in the Old Kingdom Pyramids. The Romans and the Greeks used it medicinally ...

I was thrilled to find out about the benefits of cumin...It has been used for centuries and using it in Black Bean Soup is a favorite.  One bag of beans(washed), water and boil till done.  Add several teaspoons of cumin and when serving use a dopple of sour cream and your favorite brand of tostillos. 

 

Another tidbit in doing research something from the web, nuts are good for you especially almonds! 

A family favorite any time of the year is potato soup...and for the adventurous add cheese, broccoli, caudiflower or finely chopped carrots.

5 white potatoes, peeled & chopped
1 medium onion, chopped

Saute onion in 3 tablespoons of butter, once transparent add chopped potatoes and enough water to cover, boiled at least twenty minutes.  Once potatoes are done take an old fashion masher and mash slightly.  Add 1 1/2 cup light cream.  Heat carefully.  Once heated, add 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese.  After adding cheese keep heat low to prevent stringy consistency.  Once cheese melts, enjoy!

Options:  Add other chopped and cooked vegetable for additional favor, fiber and variety.

A friend of ours says my pancakes are in a food group all by themselves...so here goes

1 cup of flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 teasp baking soda
1 teasp baking powder
1/2 teasp salt
3 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup oil
Mix liquids together, add in dry ingredients, shred one apple and add with 1 cup of blueberries.  Cook on hot greased griddle and enjoy...great with sausage or bacon or both!

Mix your own syrup to get away from high fructose syrup and no it is not the same as regular corn syrup.

Mix 1/2 measure of honey and 1/2 measure of regular corn syrup.  If you are lucky enough to have a source for real maple syrup use that instead.

I am shocked at the amount of cyber bullying that goes on...I am not interested in my past cyber protection so opting to go with another protection provider and past on continues to send me messages.  Just because you can put a cookie on my PC does not give you permission to send me daily messages...but it does.

Hearing of cyber bullying before I did not realize the extent of it!

Any way you cut it there needs to be a stop...and start reading the labels on all food!  Especially anything with High Fructose Syrup...guess I will start making my own jelly, ketchup and everything else.  No thanks to the manufacturers that sell cheap and incorporate this toxic syrup...more bullying to make cheap sugar that is not good for people's health.  It is made from corn and is not a healthy product.  Want to stop obesity rates from rising?  Stop high fructose intake.

This has become a summer favorite with fresh tomatoes and quick vegetable dish...it only takes 30 minutes!

3 large or 4 medium tomatoes, drop in boiling water 3 minutes and remove skin, then chop
2 tablespoons of chopped onion
1 can tomato soup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Simmer all thirty minutes...

This is not low in calories but will be a way to consume healthy carbs, lots of fiber and keep you from getting hungry for hours!

Granola

6 cups of oats
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup oat bran
1 cup of wheat bran
1 cup of sesame seeds
1 cup of sunflower seeds
2 cups of nuts (use your favorite walnut, pecan, almonds)

1 cup of oil and 1 cup of honey drizzle over all dry ingredients and mix, mix, mix until all is coated.

Bake on 200 degrees until brown, stir a bit about every 30 minutes, bake 2 hours.

Once cool add dried fruit to the mix.  I love raisins, cranraisins and adding after the baking prevents the fruit
from becoming hard to eat.

Quick Taco Soup

I was in need of a quick meal and threw this together one day for lunch...

1 can of black beans
1 can of red beans
1 can of corn
1 can of fire roasted tomatoes
Cumin to taste...it worked for a lunch and a dinner when I didn't need to eat due to a big lunch!

I love Cumin so start small and add in more

Technology is a myth...for an entire week problems with DSL and yes supposedly the largest carrier is our vendor...and they can't get it right, but can anyone???

Honey Mustard Dressing, this is a favorite and the best on a Baby Blue Salad with strawberries, sweet and spicy pecans, blue cheese sprinkles and romaine lettuce.

1 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup vinegar
1/4 cup mustard, onion and parsley...blend all in a blender, makes 1 quart, refrigerate...yummy stuff!

Summer Favorite:

Corn, Tomato, Onion Veggie Dish

Cut 3 cobs of fresh corn off the cob
Chop 1 tomato
Chop 1/3 c white onion
Saute all stove top in skillet with 1/2 stick of butter until tender.
Options:  Either fry four or five slices of bacon and pass on the butter using drippings instead
or save the bacon option and add 1 teasp sugar, salt and pepper and 1/2 teasp oregano.
Don't use the seasoning with the bacon because one will cancel the favor of the other.
Great dish with corn sticks.

Somehow I managed to get some crud this week, give to hubby and fight to feel normal with several important meetings scheduled...

Hopefully that stuff is GONE!  Still have the cough though. 

The following recipe was shared with me by a friend that will be 90 years old in June this year making the recipe close to 150 years old which is cool (I think).  I cut way back on the syrup because it's a bit of an overkill but who knows maybe with a wood burning stove it was necessary to have that much and no one needs that much sugar!

Apple Dumplings from Ayleene Thompson
This recipe was given to Ayleene by Wayne Thompson’s Grandmother
SYRUP:
2 CUPS SUGAR
2 CUPS WATER
¼ TSP CINNAMON
¼ TSP. NUTGEG
¼ CUP BUTTER

MAKE SYRUP WITH ABOVE INGREDIENTS. PARE & CORE 6 APPLES, CUT INTO QUARTERS.

PASTERY:
2 CUPS FLOUR
1 TSP. SALT
2 TSP. BAKING POWDER
¾ CUP SHORTENING
½ CUP MILK

DIVID DOUGH IN HALF. ROLL OUT EACH AS PIE CRUST, CUTTING INTO 4 SQUARES. PUT 4 PIECES OF APPLE ON EACH SQUARE, SPRINKLE WITH SUGAR, CINNAMON, NUTMEG, DOT WITH BUTTER. FOLD CORNERS TO CENTER, PINCH EDGES TOGETHER, PLACE IN BAKING PAN, POUR IN SYRUP AND BAKE 375 DEGREES UNTIL BROWN. WHILE BAKING BASTE WITH SYRUP. (COMBINE SPICES AND SUGAR IN SMALL CONTAINER FOR SPRINKLING ON APPLE)

OPTIONAL: The reason I'm offering the lemon sauce is because sweet apple dumplings with the tartness of lemon is divine.  My Mother made a similar dish in my childhood and I still remember that wonderful taste.

HOT LEMON SAUCE from Fannie Farmer Cookbook, original copyright 1906

½ C. SUGAR
1 T. CORNSTARCH
1 C. BOILING WATER
3 T. LEMON JUICE
GRATED RIND OF ONE LEMON
PINCH OF SALT
PINCH OF NUTMEG

PLACE ALL IN SMALL SAUCE PAN, BOIL 5 MINS. UNTIL THICKEN. SERVE WARM SAUCE OVER WARM APPLE DUMPLING.

This cookie recipe was on the back of a large cranraisin container in Costco...I would not recommend any modification, it is delicious as is:

Trim-the-Tree Orange Cranberry Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel
Sugar

Nutritional Information:

calories: 99, total fat: 5g, cholesterol: 22mg, sodium: 17mg, carbohydrate: 13g, fiber: 1g, protein: 1g.

Steps:

1. In a small mixing bowl, cover cranberries with boiling water. Let stand for 15 minutes; drain well. Finely chop the cranberries and set aside. 

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add the 3/4 cup sugar and salt. Beat until combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with mixer. Stir in remaining flour. 

3. Stir in the cranberries, rolled oats, and orange peel. Cover, then chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes. 

4. Shape chilled dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in additional sugar to coat. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten the dough balls into 2-inch rounds with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar. 

5. Bake in a 350 degree F oven 12 to 14 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool. Makes about 45 cookies.

6. Note: To store, arrange cookies in a single layer in an airtight or freezer container. Cover with a sheet of waxed paper. Repeat layers, leaving enough air space to close the container easily. Store cookies at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze cookies up to 8 months. 

Occasion: Holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas

Have had this recipe for years and it is delicious with scrambled eggs for breakfast.  Also makes a great snack and stack between sheets of waxed paper and freeze for surprise guests...

Griddle Cookies - the cinnamon and raisins didn't actually have an amount listed on my copy of the recipe, so these amounts are what I use:

3 1/3 c sifted flour
1 c sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1 c shortening
1 egg
1/2 c milk
1 c raisins

Mix dry ingredients, cut in shortening, beat egg and milk together and add to dry/shortening mixture, mix in raisins. Roll out to 1/4" thick, 2" round cutter, cook on hot griddle.

Cathy's scones

cream 1/3 cup butter w/ 1/3 cup sugar




Combine 1 3/4 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda



add flour mixture to butter alternately w/ 2/3 cup butter milk



add 1/3 cup dried cranberries, fresh raspberries, blueberries, etc. and 1/3 cup chopped walnuts, zest of 1 orange. mix til distributed.



divide to 8 or 9 scones, sprinkle tops with sugar



bake 400 degrees for 18 minutes.



they freeze very well.

Homemade Pancakes

Beat 3 eggs, 1/2 cup sour cream and 1 cup of buttermilk

Shred 1 apple

1 cup of flour, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Combine all ingredients and add 1/2 cup of blueberries.

Grease a stove top grill and add batter until a nice pancake forms (we like small ones).  Flip after bubbles appear all over the top.  Serve with butter and syrup.

Bruschetta: One of my favorite things in the spring and summer when fresh vine ripened tomatoes are available is to make bruschetta. I developed this recipe and much to my delight when visiting a local upscale restaurant I choose their bruschetta it was very much like the one I made up: You need to buy a squirt bottle with a tiny opening. Mix balsamic vinegar with a small amount of oil. Try 1/3 cup vinegar and 1 tablespooon oil. Slice Italian bread, butter both sides and grill until toasted. Top each slice with a tomato slice, sprinkle with small amount of chopped onion and green pepper. snip basil over all. sprinkle with vinegar and oil mix. Add either fresh mozzarella or any favorita white cheese. For hubby and I usually 5 slices is adequate and this is a favorite with soup or salad.

Smoothies are a great way to consume a daily dose of fruit and eat healthy... Thaw 2 cups of berries or use 2 cups of fresh berries...we like to mix strawberries, raspberries and those wonderful blue berries for fighting toxins in our bodies. Add some 100 % orange juice making blending possible without the strain on the blender. Option: Add bananas, yogurt, or honey or all. Blend together until smooth and enjoy! I have used all types of fruits with the appeal of berries (always a favorite) but in reality any preferred fruit will work... Tomorrow's subject on rolled sandwiches with a twist.

Green Chatter and Food Ok. Attempting to start a new blog regarding healthy eating and tinkering with the idea of food certification and every food title I could think of was taken. Even the term used in France for food was unavailable. So here we go I'm using my old blog Green Chatter until the creativity kicks in for some food related word or expression that is truly original. Summer with fresh vegetables is a favorite of mine. A local restaurant makes this Greek Salad and I love it so much but the last time I ordered the salad there the chucks of tomato, cucumber, etc were huge! Making my own recipe was must more appealing so here goes: Greek Salad Chop two or three pickling cucumbers Chop one tomato Chop three or four slices of red onion Chop half of a bell pepper, any color will do Add 10 kalamata olives Add 1/4 cup of crumbled feta cheese Cover all with Greek dressing: Buy a container of Greek seasoning In a measuring cup take 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup vinegar. Add 1 tablespoon of seasoning and 1 teaspoon of sugar, mix well before pousing over vegetables.