Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower Quick Tip

I've been a little obsessed with cauliflower lately.  It seems I'm trying to add cauliflower to my dinner meals whenever I can!  I've also been watching the cooking channel and the food network channel a lot which has given me different ways of cooking cauliflower.

I saw a healthier eating show add in a whole head of cauliflower to  mashed potatoes.  The show said the cauliflower makes potatoes creamier and less calories because you aren't using as much potatoes and you don't have to add in as much milk.  I have to say the potatoes turned out quite delicious.  The cauliflower taste was slight, I was surprised I didn't taste the cauliflower more.... which I wouldn't have minded because I love the taste of cauliflower!  Also I probably put in half the amount of milk I normally do which is pretty awesome.  Less milk, less calories which I love!  And they were very creamy.   My kids didn't even notice the cauliflower in them.  They all said they were the best mashed potatoes they had ever had.... and they were very good in my opinion.  Especially for a low cal option.

So the next time you make mashed potatoes:
1. cook a whole head of cauliflower until soft
2. Either blend the cauliflower until smooth or mash them as well as you can.
3. Then add them to your cooked potatoes and mash like normal.

Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan

I did this recipe recently and my hubby and I loved it!  I got it from Giada de Laurentiis from the cooking channel.  It's easy and delicious.  This cauliflower turns out so creamy and flavorful.  It is spicy, so if you don't like the spice don't add the red pepper flakes!

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Prep Time:

10 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

35 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower, cut into pieces (about 6 cups)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 clove garlic, whole
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 
  
• Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Blanch the cauliflower for 2 minutes. Transfer the cauliflower to a buttered 8x8 baking dish and let cool, about 5 minutes.

In a small sauce pan, melt the butter. Add the flour and stir until combined. Continue stirring for 2 minutes to cook the flour. Slowly add the milk, stirring continuously until the milk has incorporated and there are no lumps. Add the garlic clove and red pepper flakes and stir the sauce over low heat until the mixture coats the back of a wooden spoon. Add the Parmesan, salt, pepper. Stir to combine. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower to cover. 

Bake until the cauliflower is cooked, about 25 minutes. Serve immediately.

Best Ever Apple Oatmeal Crisp Pie

Yesterday for Valentines Day I wanted to make my hubby one of his favorite desserts.  He love love loves apple pie and apple crisp.  I asked him which one he wanted and after much thought he decided on apple crisp.  As I was prepping I realized I lent my 8x8 pan to a friend ....so I could only use a pie plate.  As I was putting the apples in the this pie plate it just didn't seem right to not have a crust.  I decided to take the apples out and add/make a pie crust.  I am so glad I did!  This pie with the apple oatmeal crisp topping is the BEST apple pie I have ever made/had.  I was completely surprised it was soooo good.  I am not a apple pie person....well I wasn't and now I have to say I am!   I am not however a store bought kind of pie crust person.  Pies just don't taste nearly as good if you don't make them yourself!  So please make this homemade pie crust.  It is fairly easy and its the most delicious pie crust EVER.  It's my southern family's recipe...so you know it's gonna be good!  My pies may not look pretty but they sure taste good I promise. 

This recipe makes one pie.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Pie Filling:  

3-4 Granny Smith apples peeled and thinly sliced

1/2 c sugar

2 tsp flour

1 tsp lemon juice

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

 

Add all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until well coated.  Then set aside.

Pie Crust:

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 heaping 1/4 c butter flavored Crisco

3-5 Tbs ice cold water

Mix together the flour and salt in a medium bowl.  Cut in the Crisco using the a fork or pastry cutter. Until it looks like cornmeal.  Using a fork gently fluff in the water 1 Tbs at a time.  Until it looks like balls. Then with hands form into 1 ball.  Then roll out to the size of your pie plate. Put crust in the pie plate. Using a fork. poke holes throughout the pie crust.  

Oatmeal Crisp Topping:

3/4 c quick oatmeal

1/4 c flour (optional)  I forgot add it and it turned out really good.

1/2 brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

pinch of salt

6 Tbs cold butter

Mix all ingredients together in a food processor  or in a medium bowl using your fingers until well combined. You want it to look crumbly.

Now pour apples in the pie crust.  Then add the Oatmeal crisp topping on top until well covered.  Bake at 350 for about 50 mins. The crust and the crisp should both be golden brown.

KFC Biscuits

I had a craving for biscuits the other week.  My Only problem is I have never been able to make good fluffy flaky biscuits...I mean NEVER.  I went web surfing, trying to find the best recipe.  I found it!  It's the KFC recipe, the one that is on the actual KFC website. The only thing I did different is....I did half butter and have shortening, instead of all shortening.  They turned out sooo good!  They fluffed up just right, and the flavor was perfect!  You might want to cut down on the salt....I however do not because I love me some SALT!  And the next time I make them I'm going to try using buttermilk and see how that turns out.
Now go make yourself some yummy biscuits!

INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cups flour 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon sugar 1 Tablespoon baking powder 2/3 cup milk 1/3 cup vegetable shorteningINSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 425ºF. Sift together flour, salt, sugar and baking powder into mixing bowl. Make a well in the flour mix and add the milk. Add shortening and begin kneading with hands (to cut in) the vegetable shortening and flour in the milk until thoroughly mixed. Add milk, if needed to form, and mix. Turn onto floured board, and knead gently 6 to 8 times. Pat dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut into biscuits. Place on baking sheet and brown in oven 10-13 minutes. Makes about 9 biscuits.

Delicious Gooey Caramel Popcorn

Here is my absolutely favorite caramel popcorn recipe.
It's on of my family's favorites, and I think you will love it too!



Ingredients 
2 bags of microwave popcorn
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup of light Karo syrup
1 1/3 cups of brown sugar
1/2 a can of sweetened condensed milk

Directions 
Cook the popcorn.  Pour popcorn in a bowl, make sure you get the un-popped popcorn kernels separated from the popped popcorn.  I do this by pouring the popcorn in one bowl then by hand putting the popped popcorn into another bowl.  (No one likes to take a bite of popcorn and bite into a hard kernel!)

Melt butter in medium sauce pan.
Add in brown sugar and Karo syrup stir well.
Cook on low heat until bubbling cook for about 1 more minute. I test the caramel by putting a little bit in cold water.  When it forms into a soft ball turn off heat, and add in the sweetened condensed milk. Stir until mixed well.

Poor the caramel over the popcorn and stir until the popcorn is coated.
Now enjoy!

Best Homemade Flour Tortillas

Yesterday we had homemade bean burritos... with homemade beans, rice, and ever so yummy homemade flour tortillas (thank you to my friend for making these tortillas, they really made the meal amazingly good.)! If you haven't ever made your own homemade tortillas now is the time!  A month or so ago I decided to make my own tortillas, I tried several different recipes and all fell short except for this one my friends suggested. (Thank you Robyn and Ana for giving me this recipe!!)  The recipe comes from Rick Bayless's website.  The recipe is pretty simple and easy.  Here is the all so fabulous recipe!

Flour Tortillas

Tortillas de Harina

Makes 12 tortillas

Recipe from the Authentic Mexican Cookbook 

INGREDIENTS

3/4 pound (2 3/4 cups) all-purpose flour, plus a little extra for rolling the tortillas
5 tablespoons lard or vegetable shortening, or a mixture of the two
3/4 teaspoon salt
about 3/4 cup very warm tap water

DIRECTIONS

1.   Make the dough.  Combine the flour and fat in a large mixing bowl, working in the fat with your fingers, until completely incorporated.  Dissolve the salt in the water, pour about 2/3 cup of it over the dry ingredients and immediately work it in with a fork; the dough will be in large clumps rather than a homogeneous mass.  If all the dry ingredients haven't been dampened, add the rest of the liquid (plus a little more, if necessary).  Scoop the dough onto your work surface and knead until smooth.  It should be medium-stiff consistency -- definitely not firm, but not quite as soft as most bread dough either.


2.   Rest the dough.  Divide the dough into 12 portions and roll each into a ball.  Set them on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and let rest at least 30 minutes (to make the dough less springy, easier to roll).


3.   Roll and griddle-bake the tortillas.  Heat an ungreased griddle or heavy skillet over medium to medium-high heat.


On a lightly floured surface, roll out a portion of the dough into an even 7-inch circle:  Flatten a ball of dough, flour it, then roll forward and back across it; rotate a sixth of a turn and roll forward and back again; continue rotating and rolling until you reach a 7-inch circle, lightly flouring the tortilla and work surface from time to time.

Lay the tortilla on the hot griddle (you should hear a faint sizzle and see an almost immediate bubbling across the surface).  After 30 to 45 seconds, when there are browned splotches underneath, flip it over.  Bake 30 to 45 seconds more, until the other side is browned; don't overbake the tortilla or it will become crisp.  Remove and wrap in a cloth napkin placed in a tortilla warmer.  Roll and griddle-bake the remaining tortillas in the same manner and stacking them one on top of the other. 

Homemade Sausage McMuffin with Egg

I mentioned in my last post it was my hubby's birthday...well for every one his birthdays and for father's day I make him his absolute favorite breakfast.... which is homemade Sausage McMuffin with Egg.  I used to stop by McDonald's but then I decided making them at home well....
1st they would taste better
2nd  they be a lot cheaper.

Here is my little recipe!

1 package of Farmer John's sausage patties
1 package of English muffins
American cheese slices....or whatever kind of cheese you want to use
Salt and Pepper to taste
A few Ice cubes
A few Mason Quart Jar Lids or egg rings....I have heard of using tuna cans with the top and bottom taken off.

Pat out the patties a little thinner to match the size of the English muffin, and cook according to package.

Now with the eggs, use a non-stick skillet.  Either melt butter in the skillet or spray pam which ever you prefer.  Your burner should be on medium heat and place the quart jar lids (or whatever you are using) in the skillet I can cook 3 eggs at a time in my skillet.   Then crack 1 egg into each lid and salt and pepper the eggs at this point.  Now place 1 or 2 ice cubes in the skillet and put a lid on top of the skillet.  When the ice cubes have melted and the water is bubbling you can turn off the burner.  It should take 3-5 minutes for the eggs to cook.

Toast the English muffins and butter them.

Take the eggs out of the rings (you may have to use a butter knife or a fork to pry the egg out.)

Now you can make your sausage egg mcmffin!

 Here's how I layer it:
English muffin bottom
half a slice of cheese
sausage
egg
half slice of cheese
English muffin top

Now enjoy!!