Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Giveaway Winner!


The winner of the giveaway for Stephen's cookbook is: Happier than a Pig in Mud
Please email me at: mykindofcooking@gmail.com
with your name and address and I will forward them to Stephen so he can mail your cookbook to you.

Visit Stephen's blog, The Obsessive Chef.

Check back on Friday, for an easy  and delicious
Mexican Christmas cookie recipe called, Biscochitos!


Visit my friends blogs!


You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

My friend, Pam, of, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  is taking some time off from blogging.  But she has incredible recipes in her archives! 

Friday, November 25, 2011

Italian Sausage Sandwiches


Italian Sausage Sandwiches

1 pound Italian sausage
2 hoagie buns
1/2 cup mild or hot banana pepper rings
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Form Italian sausage to fit hoagie buns.  In large skillet, fry Italian sausage until cooked through.


Place hoagie buns under the broiler and toast until golden brown.  Remove from oven and place sausage patties on bottom part of the buns.


Arrange peppers over top of sausage patties.  


Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top.  


Broil until cheese melts and is golden brown.  Makes 2 servings


This super simple sandwich is one of my husband's favorites.  The spicy sausage, with the sweet pickled pepper rings, and the melted mozzarella cheese, all on a toasted bun, is a combination my husband thinks can't be beat.  I have tried to talk him into making changes to the sandwich, but he has asked me not to "mess" with his sandwich, so I guess I will leave it just like it is. 

 The winner of the Giveaway for Stephen's cookbook 
will be announced on Tuesaday

Visit my friends blogs!

My friends are taking some time off from blogging, but they have incredible recipes in their archives!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Tuesday's Tips & Tricks: Chopping Tomatoes


Sometimes when my husband, Stan, goes to the store for me he will come back with an ingredient that is close, but not exactly what I asked for.  There are so many different types of canned tomatoes, the guy can't be blamed for getting mixed up about what I need.

If I get canned whole tomatoes by mistake, and I needed chopped or diced tomatoes, I pull out my kitchen shears and cut up the tomatoes while they are still in the can.  It is quick and easy and there is no mess.

Check back on Friday for my 
husband's favorite sandwich recipe,
Italian Sausage Sandwiches

 Be sure to enter the Giveaway for Stephen's cookbook!

Visit my friends blogs!

My friends are taking some time off from blogging, but they have incredible recipes in their archives!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Turkey on Biscuits

Turkey on Biscuits
My version of Stephen's recipe.

1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1/3 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups chopped cooked turkey
3 cups chicken stock
1 cup frozen peas
3 tablespoons cornstarch
refrigerated biscuits   


In large skillet, saute mushrooms and onions in butter over medium high heat until onions are translucent.


Add garlic.  Saute until lightly golden brown.  


Add turkey, chicken stock, and peas.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium low.  


In small bowl, combine cornstarch and 1/3 cup cold water. Mix well.  Cook until thickened. Salt and pepper to taste.


My friend Stephen, aka The Obsessive Chef, has published his cookbook, A Cook's Books for Cooks.  I am one of the lucky bloggers who received a copy of his book to use for a giveaway.  The cookbook is so full of delicious recipes, it made finding just one to make for this post a difficult task.

I finally decided on his, Chick on Biscuits, recipe.  At the urging of, Stephen, I change the recipe to fit my family.  My husband loves biscuits and gravy, and this recipe is a nice change from the traditional biscuits and gravy recipe that I make with the leftover Thanksgiving turkey. 

Below is Stephen's original recipe.


Be sure to enter the Giveaway for Stephen's cookbook!

Chick on Biscuits
By Stephen Crout

This is kind of retro – back to what I was served many a time after getting home
from Sunday school and church.

2 cups of shredded cooked chicken
3 cups chicken broth (it can be from you poaching bird parts)
½ can of garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed (optional – I had them in the fridge)
½ onion roughly chopped
2 cloves of garlic minced
2/3 package of frozen peas and pearl onions partially thawed
3 Tbs butter (divided 2/1)
2 Tbs cornstarch dissolved in water
Chopped flat leaf parsley or cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
Your favorite refrigerator biscuits from the supermarket

Bake the biscuits according to package directions.
Begin by bringing the broth to a simmer and reducing it by perhaps 1/3. The best
way to decide how far to go with the reduction is to taste it. You’ll know when it’s
ready. But don’t add any salt until the reduction is complete.

In a pot big enough to add all the ingredients and still be able to stir it easily melt 2
Tbs of the butter. At this point you will add some of the cornstarch mixture. It will
change the thickness of the liquid very quickly, so add only what you need. You
have to decide for yourself when it’s thick enough.

Add some salt and black pepper (keep tasting along the way) and dissolve the
remaining Tbs of butter in it.

While all this has been going on you can have been partially cooking the peas and
onions in the microwave. Mostly you just want to get it thawed and warmed up a
bit. It needs very little cooking. Add the garbanzos, peas and onions, chicken (and
anything else you’ve got that sounds good) to the gravy mixture and get it all
thoroughly hot.

Give it a final taste test, spoon the mixture over halved biscuits in heated wide
bowls, drizzle with a bit of olive oil, garnish with some chopped parsley or
cilantro and serve.

This tastes so 50's! I think I'm leaning toward being a retro cook. Now if I can only
find a place to buy retros.


Stop back by on Tuesday, for my 
Tuesday's Tips & Tricks post!

Visit my friends blogs!

My friends are taking some time off from blogging, but they have incredible recipes in their archives!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Giveaway!


This is a cookbook which is perhaps unlike any other you have ever read. It almost has a plot!  It reads like fiction.  It's full of mouthiness, according to the author, Stephen Crout of the The Obsessive Chef blog, and he likes to think of it as wit. You may not agree with everything, Stephen, has put in the book, but if you love to read cookbooks, then you will enjoy this book.  Mixed in with the stories, are helpful cooking tips, and delicious creative recipes.

Stephen's, goal with this cookbook is to inspire you to think out of the box, and get creative in the kitchen.  Along with his incredible recipes, are lists of ingredients without the exact amount needed, so you can experiment and create a recipe that is fitting to your taste, not his.

He has been advocating in recent years: don't be a slave to anything in the kitchen. Use what you have and make what you want. It's no big deal!

If you would like to purchase a copy of Stephen's cookbook,
click this link: https://www.createspace.com/3695950

Giveaway Details

It is easy to have a chance to win a copy of Stephen's cookbook.

1. Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect (The box is on the right side of the blog, click the "Follow" button) or "Like" my Facebook page.

2. Leave a comment on this post.  

The winner will be picked randomly and announced on Monday, November 28th.

Stephen told me to take one of his recipes and recreate it, so for Friday's recipe that is just what I did.

Check back on Friday
for my version of one of Stephen's recipes.
Turkey on Biscuits,
it is a great after Thanksgiving leftover recipe!




Visit my friends blogs!

My friends are taking some time off from blogging, but they have incredible recipes in their archives!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Cranberry Turkey Casserole


Cranberry Turkey or Chicken Casserole

4 cups cooked  bow-tie pasta
2 cups cooked diced turkey or chicken
2 (15 ounce) jars Alfredo sauce
1 cup dried cranberries, plus extra for garnish
2/3 cup pine nuts or slivered almonds, plus extra for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a baking dish, combine all ingredients. Salt and pepper to taste.  Mix well.  Bake 30 minutes or until heated through. Garnish with dried cranberries and pine nuts or slivered almonds.


My friend, Deana, entered this recipe in one of my contests at the Iowa State Fair.  When I saw the cranberries, I knew it would be perfect for an after Thanksgiving recipe.  Deana used chicken in her original recipe; I changed it to turkey.


I love Thanksgiving leftovers, but after a couple of meals of the same thing, it is time to change it up.  Cranberry Turkey Casserole, is a delicious way to do that.  The cranberries add a sweet contrast to the savory ingredients in the recipe.

I also swap turkey for chicken in my most popular recipe, Green Chile Chicken Pasta


Another recipe that I like to make with leftover turkey is my Layered Turkey Enchilada recipe.


 Below are a few of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes.













Check back on Tuesday for details
about a new Giveaway!

Visit my friends blogs!

My friends are taking some time off from blogging, but they have incredible recipes in their archives!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Thanksgiving Tips to Make Your Day Easier


I love Thanksgiving!  A whole day centered around being thankful for all the blessings in our lives.  Being surrounded by family and friends, as we all stuff our faces with yummy comfort food. 

I use the tips below to help me spend more time with family and friends, instead of being stuck in the kitchen, missing all of the fun.

Thanksgiving Tips to Make Your Day Easier

1. Shop Early.  Stores already have the items you need for a great Thanksgiving meal on the shelves and they are typically on sale.

2. Start cooking now.  Cook and freeze as many of the desserts and side dishes as you can.  If a dish cannot be frozen, prepare as much as you can a day or two ahead of time.


3. Use disposable pans.  There is no shame in using pans that you can cook in, then toss in the trash for easier clean up.  You can transfer the cooked food into pretty dishes for serving if you prefer.


4. Use your slow cooker.  A lot of dishes can be cooked in the slow cooker.  By using it, you will free up space on the stove top or in the oven.


5. Spread the load.  Ask your guests to bring a dish.  Be specific about what you want them to bring.  If you do not assign a dish for them to bring, you could end up with 5 trays of cut up vegetables.  


6. Set the table the night before.  Get your kids and spouse to help with this one.  Many hands make light work.

7.  Keep the kids occupied.  Cover the table with paper and have crayons on the table for the kids to get creative with.  One year, I forgot to get paper to cover the kids table with, so instead I took birthday wrapping paper and turned it over so the white backing was showing, then I taped it to the table.  It worked great!

8. Have appetizers ready for the early birds.  No matter how often you stress the time for people to be there, you know someone is going to show up early.  Have a few light and easy snacks to hold them over.  Fresh fruit, veggie tray, cheese and crackers, etc.


9.  Clean as you go!  By doing this, you will have more time to spend with your guests.

10.  Have fun and remember what the day is really about!

On Friday, I will be posting a fantastic 
Thanksgiving leftover recipe called,
Cranberry Turkey Casserole.

Visit my friends blogs!

My friends are taking some time off from blogging, but they have incredible recipes in their archives!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!


Friday, November 4, 2011

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

2 pounds ground beef
1 (1.25 ounce) packet taco seasoning
1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 (15 ounce) cans mild chili beans
2 (14.5 ounce) cans Mexican style stewed tomatoes


In a large skillet, brown the ground beef.  Drain the grease.  Add to a 4 quart slow cooker.  


Add the remaining ingredients.  Add 1 cup of water.  Mix well.  


Cover with a lid.  Cook on low 4 to 6 hours.


On Wednesday nights, I experiment, I mean I cook, for the youth group at our church.  Last week one of the kids asked me to make Taco Soup, so that is what I did.  The kids all loved the soup, and said I am going to have a hard time topping the meal next week.


This soup is mild enough for your whole family to enjoy.  The corn gives the soup the flavor of a corn tortilla.  But to make it even more like a taco, I cut corn tortillas into strips.  You can skip this step and just leave the  corn tortilla strips off, or use store bought tortilla chips instead.


I fried the corn tortilla strips in a small amount of oil until they were golden brown.


 I drained the tortilla chips on paper towel.  The strips were light and crisp.


Next, I arranged the tortilla strips on top of my Taco Soup, and sprinkled cheese over the strips, and put a dollop of sour cream on top. 


Stop back by on Tuesday, for my 
Thanksgiving Tips & Tricks post!

Visit my friends blogs!

My friends are taking some time off from blogging, but they have incredible recipes in their archives!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Soup Tips & Tricks


I love soup!  I eat it all year long.  But as the weather turns cooler, soup is on the menu more frequently at our house.  Below are a few tips for soup that my mom taught me, and I thought I would pass them on to you, just in case you are a soup lover too.

Soup Tips & Tricks

1.  With today's pop top style of soup cans, this tip is a little harder to use, but it is still a good tip to know.  When using condensed soup, shake the can, and then open it up from the bottom.  The soup will slide right out and you won't have to use a spoon to remove the soup from the can.

2. If you are out of cream for your soup or don't have enough,  substitute with milk and add a little flour to make it a thicker consistency.


3.  If your soup is too salty, add a couple of slices of apple or raw potato to your soup.  Let simmer for a few minutes, then discard the apple or potato slices. 

4.  If you add too much garlic to your soup, put dry parsley flakes in a teal ball and add it to the soup to soak up the extra garlic.  The garlic will be attracted to the parsley.  Discard the parsley after several minutes of being in the soup. 



5.  Never boil your soup.  Simmering keeps the flavors intact.

6.  If you are making a clear noodle soup, cook your noodles, then drain and rinse the noodles before adding them to your soup.  Starch in the noodles will make it cloudy if you add them to your soup with out draining and rinsing them first. 

7.  Soup is always better if it is made the day before you serve it.

What is your favorite soup?  Do you have any tips you could share?  


Congratulations to the Winner of the Tate's Bake Shop Giveaway,
Ashley of What Does a Songbird Sing!

On Friday, I will be posting my
Slow Cooker Taco Soup recipe.
 

Visit my friends blogs!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!