Friday, April 10, 2015

Eggplant stuffed with Spicy Italian Sausages and 6 cheeses Recipe

 Ingredients
1 med. eggplant ( cut in half/ cored out)
1/2 green bell pepper chopped
1/2 onion chopped
1 lb of Spicy Italian Sausage (loose)
1 block cream cheese
1 package Kraft Italian 5 cheese blend
1 Jar pasta sauce

Directions:
Saute eggplant , onion and bell pepper til soft. 
Add Italian sausage to mix cook till done
add block of cream cheese and 1/4 package of 5 cheese blend
mix together 
Stuff eggplants halves with mixture and top with remaining cheese as desired
pour sauce in pan around eggplant

Bake at 350 degrees 60 mins
can serve with pasta

Serves 4-6

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Kathy's Blood Orange & Yellow Squash Soup

Kathy's Blood Orange and Yellow Squash Soup
This will serve 4
2 yellow crook neck squash chopped
1 wedge red onion chopped
1 6 inch sprig rosemary (stemmed)
2 blood oranges zested/juiced
2 cloves garlic sliced
1 yellow sweet pepper (seeded/chopped)
salt and pepper
1 can chicken broth
**
Add a splash of Chardonnay when blending if you need to thin it a little
I put the first 8 ingredients in the pot. Brought it to a boil and let it simmer for 30 mins or so til things were tender. I used my immersion blender and puréed everything til smooth  

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

GOOSE TALES

I have volunteered many times to be a host family for ducks in need of rescue, I never seemed to get chosen. Monday night I got the message to call. 
A beautiful Toulouse Goose had been abandoned on the college campus. It was very tame and was not being accepted by the Wild ducks that live at the college.

It was late when I picked her up. The campus security officer said he would meet me and take me to her. I brought the largest pet carrier I had. The goose was way to big for it, So I tried wrapping her in a blanket she wanted nothing to do with that. I ended up just spreading a blanket in the back of my 4 Runner and putting her back there.
 She rode really well in the car. I drove slow going home as not to startle her. At a stop light near home a truck pulled up behind me which I speculate had two old drunks from the VFW in it. Their headlights were shining on the tinted back window of my car. I could see the goose bobbing around and looking out the back window. I could also see these two old men pointing and looking. I bet they really questioned what they drank and how much if they were seeing a goose in a car riding down the road..lol
 Once I got home with her I let her down in the yard, my dog Sally scared her and she flew up over the house and disappeared. I ran got a flashlight and went out front to see if I could find her. Sure enough she was waddling down the sidewalk. I picked her up and carried her home. I clipped her wings and put her in the fenced in garden area.
I made her a salad and a bowl of chicken feed and scratch.
 
She seems to be eating pretty good but prefers the dry chicken food to any of the fresh vegetables I have offered her. She is getting used to the dogs although she is still leary. This evening I was inside having dinner and I noticed she kept hanging around the back door , then she started knocking on it with her bill. She was lonely so I went out and held and petted her. She likes attention. I whistled and she began looking for someone, from what I and the security officer have pieced together , we think she was owned by a man. We don't know why she was abandoned. She is healthy, and in great shape and absolutely beautiful bird. I am not certain of her sex but I have named her Gracie/ Gracey if it turns out to be a he.

I am really hoping I can get her used to me and tame her even more. I think she is going to be a fabulous pet. 

Sunday, April 5, 2015

EASY EASTER DINNER

I was working today. My morning started when I picked my client up at 730am for Easter Sunday Mass. I would also be fixing Easter Dinner at work. So I needed to make it quick and simple.
Deviled Easter eggs
I whipped these up this morning
Kale, Brussels sprouts, radicchio, Asiago 
and lemon vinaigrette 
Store bought from Sam's 
I just had to put it together
 Clam chowder
Also bought at Sam's 
I just had to heat it and garnish
 Buttermilk biscuits come frozen 
from Sam's all I had to do was bake them

 Sugar Glazed Butter carrots
I did make these from scratch
 Lobster Mac & Cheese
Purchased from Sam's

Spiced Strawberry Cake
I bought the spiced strawberry pound cake from Froberg Farms. It seemed unusual and it turned out to be very good. 
I made the strawberries for the topping, ready whip and done.

MY KITCHEN STAPLES



When I have guests they are often intrigued by what I have in my vessels on the counter.

I always have sea salt that I can add by hand when I am cooking. I like the texture and also the health benefits. 

My pepper is a melange of three types of pepper. Black cracked pepper, white pepper and Asian red pepper. I learned about this when I was working with a cook on my husbands ship.
Each pepper hits your taste buds in a different spot.

The small dish is sugar coated fennel seeds often seen in Indian restaurants. They are tasty, they freshen the breath and also help with digestion. 

WITH MUCH SADNESS...



It is with much sadness I write this post. Bubba my 20 year old cat passed away in my arms yesterday. He had been at the veterinary hospital for several days. He was diagnosed with Diabetes and had seemed to be on the mend. I had bought all the special food and prepared to learn how to give him insulin shots. He was to come home Saturday morning. Bright and early I got to the vet to pick him up. 

The vet called me in and said that Bubba had taken a turn for the worse. His sugar had shot back up to over 500 and he wasnt responding to insulin anymore also he had begun to go into heart failure. 

He died in my arms a very short time later. I brought him home for burial in the yard he loved.

My blog and my business are both named after him. He was so beautiful and had a gracious personality. He loved everyone.

Rest in Peace my beloved
April 4, 2015 



Friday, April 3, 2015

TEA TREATS

 I found these cute little treat boxes today. I thought they would be perfect to fill and use as favors at the Book Lovers Tea Party I am planning
 Inside of each one I enclosed a Lindt Truffle, a specialty tea bag, and a flowery pretty sticker
Yesterday While coming back from the Farmers Market, I stopped at a nice antique shop in Alvin, Tx. They had alot of lovely things I would have liked to have had but I sufficed myself with several crochet and linen pieces. The Green color here is a shade I have become quite partial too known as Hemlock.

I am gradually collecting all sorts of tea accouterments . I am really looking forward to my tea service arriving so I can get this party started

TURNIP DIJON CASSEROLE WITH PANKO CRUMB TOPPING



INGREDIENTS

  1. 2 cups heavy cream
  2. 4 garlic clove, minced
  3. 1 TB Dijon mustard
  4.  seasalt and freshly ground pepper
  5. 2 pounds  turnips, peeled
  6. 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano cheese
  7. 1/2 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
  1.  Preheat the oven to 375° 
  2. Whisk cream, garlic, mustard and S&P together
  3.  slice the turnips crosswise 1/8 inch thick. Arrange half of the turnip slices in the prepared baking dish, overlapping them slightly. Pour half of the cream mixture over the turnips and sprinkle 1/4 cup of the grated cheese on top. Repeat with the remaining turnip slices and cream. Cover tightly with foil and bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the turnips are tender.
  4.  Remove the casserole from the oven and uncover. Sprinkle the panko crumbs evenly over the top and bake for about 20 minutes, until the cream is bubbling and the top is golden brown. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

SWEET PEPPER AND LIME BABA GHANOUSH



INGREDIENTS

1 Eggplant ( roasted in oven a 400 degrees for 1 hr)

2 limes zest and juice

6 cloves garlic

1/4 c tahini

3 multicolored sweet peppers seeded

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Spicy Killer Tomato spice blend

Directions:

 Scoop out flesh of eggplant put in food processor along with all other ingredients. Pulse til smooth, season with Killer tomato spice or any other like Tony Chacheres that you might have.