As summer is getting into full swing, entertainment is flourishing. Backyard cookouts are the order of the day, but how do you make your gathering stand out? BBQ Chicken or maybe corn roasted on the grill would set your party apart. So what do you do? Here are two ideas to help make you shine in front of your guest.
Plan One- Simple enough, have a television themed party. I know what you are thinking, cook and watch television, where is the fun in that? Actually, you make it retro. Use an online movie service to rent a classic television show. You will want to theme the menu for the event around the television show. For example, you could watch Barnaby Jones, the first episode in season one, shows that the great detective loves milk and ribs. So serve up some ribs with milk and homemade cookies for dessert. You could also create a great meal based on Wonder Woman, with Paradise Island Fruit Salad (a nod to Diana Prince’s homeland)…. However you decide to do it, it is an extraordinary opportunity to flashback to the great by gone days of television, image The Facts of Life with Toottie Fruiti desert and Polniaczek Pierogies (for those fans of Jo).
Plan Two- You can have Drive-In Movie night to entertain the masses. This is a great theme idea that is sure to please. First acquire a movie projector. I found mine at a local department store for less than $75. Use the sde of the house, a fence panel, or even a whit sheet hanging from the clothesline. Decide on a movie which is family friendly, remember you are turning the backyard into a movie theatre, don’t have a movie with a lot of swearing, as the neighbors will not approve. Theme the meal to coordinate with a drive in menu, hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, even an assortment of candy bars and other candies for dessert. Don’t forget the popcorn for an appetizer.
Below are some ideas for television shows and movies… Share your ideas and menus with others when you host your flashback party.
Classic Television Ideas (In no particular order)
1. Wonder Woman
2. Barnaby Jones
3. Hawaii Five-O (which returns to television this fall)
4. I Love Lucy
5. My Three Sons
6. Mister Ed
7. Mary Tyler Moore Show
8. The Munsters
9. Gilligan’s Island
10. Charlie’s Angels
Movie Ideas (Friendly for all ages- In no particular order)
1. Watcher in the Woods
2. North Avenue Irregulars
3. The Trouble with Angles
4. The Ghost and Minster Chicken
5. The Great Muppet Caper
6. Desk Set
7. Bell, Book, and Candle
8. Seems Like Old Times
9. Arsenic and Old Lace
10. Harvey
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Weed Eaters
As I sit typing, I realize that today, just 20 minutes ago to be exact is the first day of summer. As the days once again the course of shrinking into oblivion, One may question how to proceed with the yard. We see our neighbors’ yards bright and green, appearing as if a little slice of Augusta National was placed in your area simply to make your yard look bad. You look out the front window of your house and see weeds smiling back at you. Where is the justice in this story? Why have you been stricken? What did you do to deserve this curse?
Weeds in the lawn are one thing; We can generally take care of them by simply adding some commercial granules to the turf. One friend of mine has even reported, “I just cut the grass real low, then nobody can tell weed from Bermuda.” This may be true for a day, maybe even two, but slowly the pesky purple headed catmints begin to spring up on his lawn like lost relatives on an episode of Jerry Springer. Another friend insists on burning weedy spots in the yard. I always drive by his house and wonder if he had a clover problem or if a UFO landed and scorched the grass. It is like his special form of crop circles. The point is everyone has an approach to weeding. If it works for you, great! I even toyed around with a new method of clover control this summer.
Weeds in the lawn are not the ones we need to worry about, it is the stealth weed. Are you familiar with it? I bet it is closer than you think. Imagine a beautiful lane. White picket fences, immaculately manicured lawns and 2.36 children play in each yard. You have the picture. You leave the house at 7 to drop the kids off at day camp, run some errands, even lunch with friends. You pause to admire your freshly power-washed concrete. As you return home, you feel a rift in the force…the lane is not at piece, 4 kids play in each yard, pink flamingos have perched in the neighbors trees, and suddenly you see it, you yard is the culprit. At five o’clock, you discover the terrible truth. At first you wonder, “Did the kids spill green paint on the driveway? “ No, they didn’t. Somehow in the last ten hours, four dandelions, 7 stalks of catmint, and an inestimable of crabgrass has clogged those small cracks and creases in the drive? “NOOOOOO!” you scream, but it is ultimately too late, the stealth weeds have come at you with a vengeance.
There are two easy methods to deal with this problem, I warn you they are not for the faint at heart as death and agony will occur; to the weeds not you. Both solutions involve NaCl, regular good old sodium chloride, Salt! Method One- this is the easier of the two; sprinkle salt in the cracks. This is best used before the first green blades appear. However, if the blades have appeared, you may need something stronger. I don’t know about you, but I personally like to punish my weeds, make them uncomfortable, make them pay for their crimes. So, if you are feeling like a home and garden vigilantly, this is the method for you. First bring a nice pot of water to a boil. Add salt to this rolling pot of angry steam, not a pinch or a dash, add salt; make it your own personally boiling ocean. Next take care not to burn yourself (oven mitts, close toed shoes, and long pants). Walk the boiling pot to the offending area. Release the salt--- blast it upon anything green showing in the cracks. The plants will immediately die and the salt prevents their return.
Harsh? Yes. Effective? Beyond belief. Weed free drive, walk, and patio – priceless.
Weeds in the lawn are one thing; We can generally take care of them by simply adding some commercial granules to the turf. One friend of mine has even reported, “I just cut the grass real low, then nobody can tell weed from Bermuda.” This may be true for a day, maybe even two, but slowly the pesky purple headed catmints begin to spring up on his lawn like lost relatives on an episode of Jerry Springer. Another friend insists on burning weedy spots in the yard. I always drive by his house and wonder if he had a clover problem or if a UFO landed and scorched the grass. It is like his special form of crop circles. The point is everyone has an approach to weeding. If it works for you, great! I even toyed around with a new method of clover control this summer.
Weeds in the lawn are not the ones we need to worry about, it is the stealth weed. Are you familiar with it? I bet it is closer than you think. Imagine a beautiful lane. White picket fences, immaculately manicured lawns and 2.36 children play in each yard. You have the picture. You leave the house at 7 to drop the kids off at day camp, run some errands, even lunch with friends. You pause to admire your freshly power-washed concrete. As you return home, you feel a rift in the force…the lane is not at piece, 4 kids play in each yard, pink flamingos have perched in the neighbors trees, and suddenly you see it, you yard is the culprit. At five o’clock, you discover the terrible truth. At first you wonder, “Did the kids spill green paint on the driveway? “ No, they didn’t. Somehow in the last ten hours, four dandelions, 7 stalks of catmint, and an inestimable of crabgrass has clogged those small cracks and creases in the drive? “NOOOOOO!” you scream, but it is ultimately too late, the stealth weeds have come at you with a vengeance.
There are two easy methods to deal with this problem, I warn you they are not for the faint at heart as death and agony will occur; to the weeds not you. Both solutions involve NaCl, regular good old sodium chloride, Salt! Method One- this is the easier of the two; sprinkle salt in the cracks. This is best used before the first green blades appear. However, if the blades have appeared, you may need something stronger. I don’t know about you, but I personally like to punish my weeds, make them uncomfortable, make them pay for their crimes. So, if you are feeling like a home and garden vigilantly, this is the method for you. First bring a nice pot of water to a boil. Add salt to this rolling pot of angry steam, not a pinch or a dash, add salt; make it your own personally boiling ocean. Next take care not to burn yourself (oven mitts, close toed shoes, and long pants). Walk the boiling pot to the offending area. Release the salt--- blast it upon anything green showing in the cracks. The plants will immediately die and the salt prevents their return.
Harsh? Yes. Effective? Beyond belief. Weed free drive, walk, and patio – priceless.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Santa Fe for a Day
Easy is always a must whether you are cooking in the summer or winter, for one or twenty-one. When it's hot outside, I hate to cook a huge meal and make the kitchen hot. Who actually wants to get hot, even break a sweat, and then try to eat a meal? I am not keen on the idea, and I know you aren't either. So how does one prepare a great meal, with a minimum of effort and still not heat up the kitchen? I will say for some friends scared of cooking, they would simply say, "Well there is that quote about heat and staying out of the kitchen." I like to keep it cool in the kitchen, but who wants to eat the same thing over and over again? Spaghetti is a simple meal. I hate spaghetti. Those of you who know me are laughing at this point as I complain about spaghetti frequently. However, I have a better use of noodles….
Santa Fe Pasta
I package of Angel hair pasta
2 jars Alfredo sauce
8 chicken breast halved (skinless/boneless)
2 tbs. cumin
2 tsp. red pepper
2 tsp. garlic
1 can black beans
Shredded Monterrey jack cheese
Tortilla chips
Sauté chicken until cooked completely and liquid runs clear. While chicken is cooking, boil angel hair pasta for 8 to 10 minutes and drain. Heat Alfredo sauce and combine with cumin, red pepper, and garlic. When chicken in cooked, dice and combine with drained noodles and Alfredo sauce. Let mixture simmer over low heat. Warm black beans.
TO SERVE: Place noodle mixture on dinner plate. Top with black beans and shredded cheese. Garnish with tortilla chip.
- Variation for this recipe include using shrimp instead of chicken.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Mushroom Pate - - - No chickens died in the making of this dish!
It's a warm summer day, a friend calls and invites you and the family over for a cookout tonight, how charming you think and accept the invitation. However, you realize you should probably take something for the meal. You hate to cook; in fact after 17 years of marriage, you still have the pots and pans you received from Aunt Gert as a wedding gift sitting in the box buried in the hallway closet. So what is a simple recipe that you can enjoy? Mushroom Pate!
Sounds Odd, yes, looks even odder, of course, but it is out of this world!
This is a recipe that a friend gave me many years ago. I have added and deleted items; yet, it always turns out incredible. So here's the plan.
Start with mushrooms, you know the ones in the produce section, little white button style. Wash them and lightly pat dry. Then slice them. As you slice, put a skillet on the stove and let it begin to warm with 2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Add mushrooms to the skillet as you slice them and let them sautee. Next, dice the onion, and you guessed it, add to the mushrooms. These should simmer together for 5 minutes. Open a can of black olives. Drain out 1/2 of the brine, add the rest along with the olives to the mushroom and onion mixture. Let the liquid begin to reduce and then put in 1/3 cup white wine. Add a few dashes of basil, parsley, and garlic. Cook until liquid is reduced. I know, difficult so far. Transfer medley to a blender or food processors to puree. This is the hardest part if you use a blender. Once blended you have a gray colored dip. Simply add to a mold and turn out to display elegantly or you can top with freshly shredded Smoked Swiss and place under the broiler until browned. Serve with toast points, crackers, or your favorite crunchy snack!
Sounds Odd, yes, looks even odder, of course, but it is out of this world!
This is a recipe that a friend gave me many years ago. I have added and deleted items; yet, it always turns out incredible. So here's the plan.
Start with mushrooms, you know the ones in the produce section, little white button style. Wash them and lightly pat dry. Then slice them. As you slice, put a skillet on the stove and let it begin to warm with 2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Add mushrooms to the skillet as you slice them and let them sautee. Next, dice the onion, and you guessed it, add to the mushrooms. These should simmer together for 5 minutes. Open a can of black olives. Drain out 1/2 of the brine, add the rest along with the olives to the mushroom and onion mixture. Let the liquid begin to reduce and then put in 1/3 cup white wine. Add a few dashes of basil, parsley, and garlic. Cook until liquid is reduced. I know, difficult so far. Transfer medley to a blender or food processors to puree. This is the hardest part if you use a blender. Once blended you have a gray colored dip. Simply add to a mold and turn out to display elegantly or you can top with freshly shredded Smoked Swiss and place under the broiler until browned. Serve with toast points, crackers, or your favorite crunchy snack!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
School is out for the summer. The heat is unbearable....the kids yell for the pool...you've squeezed every single doctor’s appointment into a small window to work for the kids. When you arrive home, after a great day of “vacation,” you are alarmed to hear the simple statement, “I’m hungry.” You try to ignore it for five maybe ten minutes. Maybe it will be like the casserole you left in the frig from Christmas; if you ignore it then it will go away (or at least relocate to the back of the refrigerator). However, the question soon follows the statement, “what are we gonna eat tonight?” You begin to think, “hmmm, take out, no.” You run for the frig and discover that old Mother Hubbard had more stockpiled than you. You really do not want to run out and get something to cook, but you have salad dressing, some frozen chicken and some crumbs. Suddenly, the clouds part, light radiates upon you, a chorus of voice sing in unison, Ranch chicken.
Ranch Chicken
2 lbs. Boneless/skinless chicken breast strips
1 bottle ranch dressing
Bread crumbs
¼ stick butter
Clean chicken breast strips. Place ranch dressing in a bowl. In a separate bowl, place ½ container of bread crumbs. Dip the chicken in the ranch dressing until well coated. Dredge coated chicken in bread crumbs. Place in buttered baking dish. Make a single layer of chicken in the baking dish. Top chicken with remaining bread crumbs and butter and cover with aluminum foil. Place dish in a 350 degree oven and bake 45 to 50 minutes. Uncover for last 10 minutes.
• Variation for this recipe can use French dressing instead of Ranch Dressing.
Ranch Chicken
2 lbs. Boneless/skinless chicken breast strips
1 bottle ranch dressing
Bread crumbs
¼ stick butter
Clean chicken breast strips. Place ranch dressing in a bowl. In a separate bowl, place ½ container of bread crumbs. Dip the chicken in the ranch dressing until well coated. Dredge coated chicken in bread crumbs. Place in buttered baking dish. Make a single layer of chicken in the baking dish. Top chicken with remaining bread crumbs and butter and cover with aluminum foil. Place dish in a 350 degree oven and bake 45 to 50 minutes. Uncover for last 10 minutes.
• Variation for this recipe can use French dressing instead of Ranch Dressing.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Lemon Pie, Lemon Pie...A Tribute to Nanny
My grandmother, Nanny, was amazing. If she had a cup of mixed beans, two slices of bread, and a slice of ham, she could turn it into something outstanding. I love Lemon Pie, who doesn't? Yet, there is one problem, bad lemon pie is a major downer. I hate to go out to eat, you see lemon pie on the menu, you think, "Great, nice place to eat, I bet it is even homemade!" Your palate starts to quiver...you grow a bit light headed, drunken by the idea of fresh pie. You order. The waiter approaches the table, heaven and all of its splendors are only 3 steps away. Then the plate is placed in front of you; the waiter grins, proud that he has upsold you a piece of pie. You look down.....
Suddenly, you realize that you have one of two items. In some places you have a piece of frozen pie. "WHY!" The voice in your head cries out. Then you become angry, you have paid $5.99 for a slice of semi-iced pie, which you could have bought at the local grocery for $3.99, of course buy one get one free, that is a whole pie, two in fact for less than you bought one slice. The other complication in pie purchases away from home is the homemade jello pie. This is an allusive creature, but once you've stared it in the face you know...it is a killer. Take the idea of lemon jello in a graham cracker crust, exciting huh? Then pull out the food service whipped cream. I have no idea what this stuff is, but I assume it is made out of some type of high fructose corn syrup and a petroleum based product. This tops the pie; yes, an oil and corn based product, which may have been created from the gulf oil disaster is the crowning top of your over priced pie. It even leaves a slimey film in the roof of your mouth.
So why did I start out speaking of my grandmother? Nanny made the best lemon pie.I have embraced this recipe and now, I offer it to you. It is simple. Yes,you can do this with three kids, a dog, four cats, and goldfish hanging from you as you struggle through the kitchen. Nanny's birthday recently passed. I still think of her often, so try this recipe tonight in her memory. Everyone will enjoy.
Nanny’s Lemon Pie
My grandmother used to make this pie when I was little, and it is truly my favorite. She always made a homemade graham cracker crust, but a store brought will work just as well.
1/3 cup Lemon juice
1 can Eagle Brand Condensed milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
4 tablespoons sugar
1 graham cracker pie crust
Stir lemon juice, condensed milk, and vanilla extract with 2 egg yokes; blend well. Place mixture in pie crust. Make meringue from egg white and sugar mixture beating until peaks form. Spread meringue over pie filling. Place pie in a 325 degree oven and bake 15 minutes until golden brown.
Suddenly, you realize that you have one of two items. In some places you have a piece of frozen pie. "WHY!" The voice in your head cries out. Then you become angry, you have paid $5.99 for a slice of semi-iced pie, which you could have bought at the local grocery for $3.99, of course buy one get one free, that is a whole pie, two in fact for less than you bought one slice. The other complication in pie purchases away from home is the homemade jello pie. This is an allusive creature, but once you've stared it in the face you know...it is a killer. Take the idea of lemon jello in a graham cracker crust, exciting huh? Then pull out the food service whipped cream. I have no idea what this stuff is, but I assume it is made out of some type of high fructose corn syrup and a petroleum based product. This tops the pie; yes, an oil and corn based product, which may have been created from the gulf oil disaster is the crowning top of your over priced pie. It even leaves a slimey film in the roof of your mouth.
So why did I start out speaking of my grandmother? Nanny made the best lemon pie.I have embraced this recipe and now, I offer it to you. It is simple. Yes,you can do this with three kids, a dog, four cats, and goldfish hanging from you as you struggle through the kitchen. Nanny's birthday recently passed. I still think of her often, so try this recipe tonight in her memory. Everyone will enjoy.
Nanny’s Lemon Pie
My grandmother used to make this pie when I was little, and it is truly my favorite. She always made a homemade graham cracker crust, but a store brought will work just as well.
1/3 cup Lemon juice
1 can Eagle Brand Condensed milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
4 tablespoons sugar
1 graham cracker pie crust
Stir lemon juice, condensed milk, and vanilla extract with 2 egg yokes; blend well. Place mixture in pie crust. Make meringue from egg white and sugar mixture beating until peaks form. Spread meringue over pie filling. Place pie in a 325 degree oven and bake 15 minutes until golden brown.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Wow it's May?
So, I have been horrible at blogging, I have not updated in ages. I hope to be better beginning this week. It is my goal to have at least three post a week...I guess we will see. Look for a great new recipe on Monday; a spicy cream cheese dip.
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