Smoothie Craze

We are all trying to stay healthy especially with Summer coming. I have recently lost 60lbs & feel awesome. Like many of you, I have gotten into the whole smoothie/juice craze that has swept the nation. I have always had a passion for my fave Jamba juice which is amazing & very healthy(try it soon if you never have!). The only problem is I don't have a Jamba close by! They did finally came out with frozen smoothie kits you can find in your grocery store. They are a little pricey at $3.69 a bag which gives you 2 drinks & really isn't that bad considering a small juice at the shop costs about $5. Today I am going to share with you my tips for making your own frozen smoothie kits at home. It's really not that hard. All you need is some non-fat yogurt,fruit & veggies, a sheet pan, icecube trays & a few ziploc bags. Whatever you do just use fresh produce! Ok, here we go!

AT HOME SMOOTHIE KITS: Each kit makes 1 8oz drink
Ingredients:
1) 2 cups of your favorite fruits & veggies(my faves are strawberries,peaches & spinach*), rinsed & dried well with paper towel. If possible use a salad spinner for leafy veggies.
2) enough yogurt to fill an ice cube tray
3)fresh lemon juice

Directions:
1) Prepare fruit. Berries can be left whole, stone fruits & banana can be cut in chunks.
2) Mix lemon juice with 6 Tbsp. water in a bowl. Give stone fruit & bananas a quick dip in the water & let dry.
3) Place fruit on a sheet pan & place in freezer until fruit is completely frozen-at least 12hrs. If using spinach or other leafy greens, puree them in a blender with a few tablespoons of water & freeze in ice cube trays.
4) Fill an ice cube tray with yogurt & place plastic wrap on top & place in freezer until frozen.
5) When fruit & yogurt cubes are frozen, place 4oz(mixture of fruit & yogurt cubes) in small ziploc baggies. Label bags!
To make a smoothie,combine 1 4oz bag of your mixture with 8oz juice(I like orange juice) & blend in a blender. You can also use a combination of juice & coconut water if you'd like.

I hope you will all join the juice craze and lets get healthy!

Quick and Easy 2

Hello All!
Sorry for my absence lately...getting ready for a craft show I'm doing for my jewelry business. Since my life has been so hectic lately, I have needed to reach into my quick & easy recipes quite a few times! Everyone is looking for different ways to cook our favorite things most commonly chicken and the good old pork chop. I remembered this sweet & sour pork chop dish that my father used to make years ago that I haven't had in a long time so I decided to make it tonight-all I have to say is I'm so glad my father & I both remembered what went in it! Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!
*P.S.-This can be made on the stovetop or in the oven!*

Sweet & Sour Pork Chops
Makes 4-6 boneless chops 1 in. thick
1 1/4c. Ketchup
3 Tbsp. Soy sauce
1 Tbsp. Cider or red wine vinegar(I sometimes like to add just about a teaspoon more)
1 Tbsp packed brown sugar
1 20oz. can pineapple chunks,juice reserved
1 red pepper cut into chunks

Directions:
1) If making in oven heat to 350 or heat your large skillet to medium high
2) For sauce: In saucepan,add all ingredients except the pepper & pineapple chunks & heat just until hot.  Add pepper & pineapple.
3)Brown pork chops in 2 Tbsp vegetable oil & drain.
4) If making on stovetop, return chops to skillet & add sauce. Cook with vented lid until chops are done. If making in oven place chops in baking dish & pour sauce over. 5)Cover with foil & bake until chops are done about 20-22 minutes depending on the size of chops.
Serve over white rice

YAY! Another post about chocolate...

Well My Friends, it's been a while since I wrote a post about my favorite ingredient-chocolate. I sadly gave up baking for Lent(call me crazy-everyone has!) but I have been craving sweet creation! I decided there was only one way to get around my Lenten sacrifice & still have the satisfaction of eating a yummy chocolate dessert without baking-Chocolate Cream Pie! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe! Its so simple & so sinful :) I hope you will all enjoy it!

Chocolate Cream Pie
Serves 8

Ingredients:
½ cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch, sifted
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
2 cups milk
2 oz. chopped bittersweet chocolate
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 pre made Oreo cookie crust
sweetened whipped cream
chocolate shavings

Instructions
1)In a small pot, stir sugar, cornstarch and cocoa powder together.
2)Whisk in milk and place over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil and starts to thicken.
3)Once hot and thick remove from heat and stir in chopped chocolate and vanilla.
4)Pour into pie plate and cover with plastic wrap. **Be sure to place the plastic wrap directly on the filling**.
**Refrigerate for 2 hours or until completely chilled and plastic wrap comes off clean**.
5) Spread homemade whipped cream over pie & cover with chocoloate shavings

Dinner for One

Sorry for the long absence everyone! Just been so crazy busy. Well I think that even with the busiest schedules there are those rare times where we find ourselves alone for dinner. One of my all time trusty faves for those times is a good old sandwich-but not just any sandwich,a panini. Crispy bread,yummy prosciutto & mozzarella with homemade roasted peppers-how can you go wrong? Its satisfying,easy & the best thing-hardly any cleanup! So fix this yummy sammie & relax-you've earned it :)

Prosciutto,Mozzarella & Roasted Pepper Panini
2 pieces of Ciabatta bread,thinly sliced
3 slices prosciutto
2 slices mozzarella
2 oz. roasted red peppers

Preheat a grill pan or panini press
Build your sandwich making sure everything is in even layers.
Drizzle with olive oil
If using a grill pan,weight down the panini with a heavy pan.
Brown 2-3 minutes per side until cheese is melted.
Enjoy!

Chilly Days,Warm Nights

Well Readers, if you're like me, you're getting sick & tired of all the cold & snow! On days when the weather is cold we need something nice & hot to keep us warm & satisfied. One thing comes to mind-a steaming hot bowl of soup. My favorite soup ever is Potato Leek. Many years ago, I was lucky enough to work with a wonderful chef who gave me the best recipe for this beautiful soup. I have tweaked it just a bit with the addition of one of my favorite ingredients-pancetta! Let's face it-everything's better with bacon but that's another post all together :) This potato leek soup is great served hot but can also be served room temp or even chilled. Also, if you add shredded rotisserie chicken to it its amazing! I hope you all will try & enjoy this recipe as much as I do.

POTATO LEEK SOUP

Ingredients:

4oz butter
1 Spanish onion,diced
1 bunch leeks,white & light green parts split,cleaned & sliced thin
2 quarts chicken stock
1 pint heavy cream
2 lbs. Russet potatoes,diced small
4 oz. pancetta, diced

Directions:
1)In a large pot, sautee pancetta until browned but still soft. Remove & drain on paper towel.
2)melt butter; add leeks & onions. Sautee until wilted.
3)Add chicken stock & bring to boil. Cook 15 minutes.
4) Add potatoes-cook until very tender
5) Season well with salt & pepper.
6) Stir in heavy cream & return pancetta to pot. Serve with chopped chive or fried shallots(optional garnishes)

Hope you all enjoy this recipe...don't forget to Live, Love & Eat!! :)

Tis' The Season!

Hello Dear Readers!
   I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I have been taking a bit of a hiatus lately but will be back in full swing after New Year's. As always, I do loads of holiday baking. I'd like to share with you a recipe that I adore & is always a hit with my family. It is for my famous (and easy) Jam Thumbprint Butter Cookies!
  I am so in love with these yummy things that I don't just wait for the holidays to make them. I hope you all will enjoy them as much as my family does :) I welcome all of your comments so please let me know what you think. If you have anything that you'd like to see a recipe for just let me know that as well. Have a happy & healthy New Year!

Jam Thumbprint Butter Cookies (Yield approx. 55 cookies)
24 tablespoons (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
3/4 cup jam (any type)
DIRECTIONS

STEP 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until smooth. Add egg, and beat until completely combined. With mixer on low, add flour, and mix just until incorporated.
STEP 2
Shape dough into 1-inch balls (about 2 tablespoons each) & roll in sugar. Place on baking sheets, at least 3 inches apart.
STEP 3
Using the back of a 1/4tsp measuring spoon, gently press the center of each ball, making an indentation about 1/2 inch deep. Spoon about 1/4 teaspoon into each indentation. Bake until cookies are golden brown around edges, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. If storing, place in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 2 days.

Holidays :)

Dear Readers,
   The Holiday season is upon us! I absolutely love cooking for holidays especially Thanksgiving! I know most people think cooking for Thanksgiving is daunting & time consuming. Yes, it does take time but if you manage that time wisely you can get all the components of your meal on the table HOT! That seems to be one of the biggest issues. Just think about the time it takes to do each thing you want to make & don't go too crazy! Have your turkey, stuffing and maybe 2 other things. That's really all you need! People tend to make way too much which is why everyone thinks it takes forever to prepare. I make my turkey(which makes its own gravy), my Mom's sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts & broccoli & of course dessert. Honestly, I'm not a fan of sweet potatoes or Brussels sprouts so that's why I make 2 extra things. I usually make a list of everything I'm making & how long it takes to do each thing. My stuffing I prepare the night before & just bake it while the turkey is resting. I do the same thing with the sweet potatoes. Trust me, getting your Thanksgiving meal on the table all at the same time & hot(& with your sanity!) is not a problem with a bit of time management. I lost my Mom in January so this is my first Thanksgiving without her & I am choosing to share her stuffing recipe with you all. It is the best & the only way I eat stuffing! It makes quite a bit so you'll have leftovers :)

Mom's Stuffing

Ingredients:
2lbs. Loose sausage meat without fennel
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup onion, chopped
2 small bags or 1 large bag stuffing bread cubes(I used Arnold's)
Chicken broth, as needed

Directions:
1) In a large skillet, heat a 2 tablespoons of oil & brown the sausage until cooked.
2) Add celery & onion to pan & saute until soft but not brown.
3) Add bread cubes & stir. Add 1-1 1/2 cups chicken stock(more if necessary) until moistened but not mushy-keep in mind this will be baked!
4) Butter a 2 1/2qt casserole dish & place stuffing in being careful not to pack it.
*This can be made to this point the night before*
5) Bake at 350(or whatever temp you have your turkey on-I like to bake mine while my turkey is resting) until brown & crusty :)

I hope you all enjoy it & have a blessed Thanksgiving!