Keeping the Castle » Cooking

Cooking with a Little This and That

Karen Weideman — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:04:58 +0000

Many times when I go to a party, potluck or some other function, I end up finding a great new dish that I’d like to make myself. When I complement the person, they say, “Oh, it’s really easy. You just need a little broccoli, some onions, a little this, and a little of that.” It’s so frustrating because you can’t repeat the dish without the recipe.

Then Wednesday I made a sausage and spinach quiche. Wouldn’t you know it, someone asked me what was in it. I think I said something like, “Uhhhhh, some sausage, eggs, spinach, cheese, uhhhh. Hmmm. Let me think.” Honestly, I have no clue the amounts of each thing in the quiche. I just kept adding more eggs, milk, seasonings, until I thought it looked right. Recently, I’ve been experimenting with making my own caramel macchiatos. I have it just about right. They are so good. Now my friends are asking me for the recipe. Once again, I am not sure of the amounts. I realize I am becoming one of those frustrating people that can’t tell you a recipe.

Are you a no recipe kind of cook?

image (c) Karen Weideman

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20 Pumpkin Inspired Recipes

Karen Weideman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:06:49 +0000

Fall is here and many of you are looking to cook and bake with yummy ingredients such as pumpkin, cinnamon, and apples. I’ve searched the internet and found 20 great sounding pumpkin recipes. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal at GoodLife Eats
Pumpkin Waffles at Smitten Kitchen
Black Bean Pumpkin Soup at Smitten Kitchen
Pumpkin Spice Latte from Kettle and Cup
Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Latte from A Year of Slow Cooking
Creamy and Spicy Pumpkin Soup (low carb) at Low Carb Diets
Spicy Pumpkin Bisque at About.com Home Cooking
Baked Stuffed Pumpkin at About.com Home Cooking
Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Cheesecake at Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin Spice Latte Syrup at Think Inside the Icebox
Pumpkin Spice Roll from Kraft Foods
Double Layer Pumpkin Pie from Kraft Foods
Pumpkin Pie from Martha Stewart
Pumpkin Bread from Food Network
Pumpkin Roll Cake from Paula Deen at Food Network
Pumpkin Custard Pie from Emeril Live
Pumpkin Waffles with Maple Walnut Apples from Food Network
Delish Pumpkin Dip from Our Recipe Garden
Pumpkin Bread Pudding from Everyday Food Storage

Which pumpkin recipe do you think you’ll try?

image sxc.hu

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30 Fall Inspired Desserts and Treats

Karen Weideman — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:51:28 +0000

Now that October is here, we can fully embrace fall. When I think of fall desserts, I think of cinnamon, apples, pumpkin, and warm sweet goodness. I’ve been surfing the web for fall inspired desserts that I thought you might enjoy.

Pumpkin treats

Texan Pumpkin French Toast

Pumpkin Latte

Pumpkin Cookies (with cream cheese icing)

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Napoleons

Luscious Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake

Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce

Espresso Cakes with Pumpkin

Pumpkin Spice Cake

Scrumptious Pumpkin Parfait

Apple treats

My Favorite Apple Cake Recipe

Caramel Apple Bars

Caramel Apple Pie

Chocolate Caramel Apples with Sprinkles

Apple Dumpling Dessert

Apple Upside-Down Cake

Apple Bread

Apple Pear Crisp

Blushing Apples

Weight Watchers Low Point Options:

Apple Pie

Warm Pear Cobbler

Pear Upside Down Cake with Pecans

Apple Pear Crisp

Other treats

Honey’s Carrot Cake

Sweet Potato Cupcakes

Pecan Tarts

Carrot Cake with Honey-Orange Frosting

Sunflower Cake

Cinnamon Pistachio Meringue

Which desserts do you think you’d like to try?

image from Linette Gerlach

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30 Creative Cake & Cupcake Ideas

Karen Weideman — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 04:51:52 +0000

I have never purchased a store made cake for my kids’ birthdays. For a few years, I was fortunate to have my mom make the cakes for me. Due to travel reasons, my mom can’t make the cakes any longer so I try to save money by finding something cute that I can do myself. Usually I do quite a bit of searching on the internet, decide on some options I can do myself, and then present those to my kids to choose from. Here are some cool cakes and cupcakes I’ve found.

Animals

Sports

Girls and boys

The outdoors – flowers, bugs, and more

Other stuff

flip flop cake
ice cream cake (not make with ice cream)
loops and confetti
brownie ice cream sandwich
balloon cupcake

Do you make your own cakes?

image (c) Karen Weideman

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Easy Recipes from Quaker Maid

Karen Weideman — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:26:41 +0000

School is back in swing, football season has begun, and many parents are overwhelmed with the responsibilities of work, school, homework, sports, and cooking. Quaker Maid has shared a few recipes with us to make dinner time a little less stressful.

Easy Meatball Dinner

One 15 oz. can whole potatoes, drained, rinsed, cut into chunks
1 cup chopped onions
14.5 oz. beef broth
32 oz. tomato sauce
1 cup water
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
12 oz. frozen mixed vegetables
Approx. 15 oz. meatballs.

In a large saucepan, combine potatoes, onions, beef broth, tomato sauce, water, Italian seasoning, pepper and vegetables. Bring to a boil on stovetop. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 8 minutes. Add meatballs, cover and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes.

Meatball Pitas

1 package of Mama Lucia Italian Style Meatballs
8 small pita breads
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup cubed feta cheese
1⁄2 cup chopped black olives
1⁄2 cup chopped shredded lettuce
1⁄2 cup chopped onion
1⁄4 cup parmesan cheese grated
1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon of oregano

Heat the meatballs on the stove top with red pepper flakes and oregano. Heat the pita breads in the oven on low heat until warm. Once heated, place 2-3 meatballs in each pita bread. Top with feta, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. As cheese begin to melt, top off with lettuce, onion and black olives. Serve “taco style” for a snack or main meal.

I hope that you enjoy these easy recipes!

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Congratulations, Marye Audet!

Karen Weideman — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:43:12 +0000

I just have to say a big shout of CONGRATULATIONS to my friend and fellow blogger Marye Audet. Marye has been enthusiastically blogging away at Kettle and Cup and Baking Delights for quite a while now. I’m always amazed at her creativity and inventive spirit. I don’t know how she does it. Now, she is a published author!

If you’re looking for something yummy to make for your family or just to drool, you should check out her sites. You can find Marye at Kettle and Cup, Baking Delights, Everything Cookies and Brownies, and MaryeAudet.com. Marye’s not just baking up cooking and brownies. I stopped by Baking Delights today and saw one of her newest creations, chicken with portobellos. And best of all, Marye says it’s easy to make.

It’s encouraging to hear stories of how others have made something from blogging. I’m hoping to get there some day . . . soon. Congratulations, Marye! Be sure to stop by and order a copy of her book, Everything Cookies and Brownies.

images (c) Marye Audet

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Unnecessary Kitchen Gadget: Spoon Rest

Karen Weideman — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:46:31 +0000

Occasionally, I have told you about some kitchen gadgets and products that I have found useful in my kitchen. These are items that I feel are essential for my cooking needs. Today, I want to tell you about a kitchen gadget that I feel is unnecessary; it is the spoon rest.

I have seen spoon rests in people’s houses. The spoon rest sits on top of the stove and many times it will match their decor. I just sits there, usually unused. One time I asked a relative about the gadget and asked her why she used one. She said to catch the sauce from the spoon while she’s cooking.

I still don’t get the big deal and here’s my rationale: If you’re going to use a spoon rest, then you’ll have to wash the spoon rest when you’re done. If you’re going to wash the spoon rest, then why not just not use a spoon rest and wipe the stove when you’re done? And even if you use a spoon rest, chances are you’re going to drip some sauce or something on your stove anyway.

To me, a spoon rest is just something to have on your stove top that takes up space, collects dust, and needs to be cleaned. What are your thoughts . . . spoon rest or not?

image sxc.hu

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Easy, Fast, and Nutritious Meals

Karen Weideman — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:52:59 +0000

Real Simple is known for their great ideas to simplify life. I was at their site today and found a handy tool for planning a no-fuss dinner. You can have a healthy and delicious meal on the table in 30 minutes or less. With these options, there is no excuse not to cook.

Go to RealSimple.com/20MinuteMeals, answer three quick questions and you’ll be given a list of recipes from which to choose. Here are the questions and possible answers:

1) What is your main ingredient?

poultry
meat
pasta/vegetarian
seafood

2) What is your preferred cooking method?

stove/oven
no cook
grill

3) How much cooking time do you have?

15 to 20 minutes
25 to 30 minutes

Just to see what would happen, I answered poultry, stove/oven, and 15 to 20 minutes. By answering those three simple questions I was given 11 recipes. How does chicken cutlets with tomato saute’ sound? Or how about chicken and cashews in lettuce cups? The lettuce cups are similar to the Asian lettuce wraps that some Chinese restaurants sell. They are yummy!

Menu planning can help to save a lot on your monthly grocery bill. I hope you’ll stop by Real Simple to pick up some easy recipes.

image from real simple

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Strawberry Cobbler Recipe

Karen Weideman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:14:29 +0000

A few weeks ago, I gave you the recipe for the ridiculously easy blueberry cobbler. This recipe only requires five ingredients – butter, sugar, self-rising flour, milk, and fruit. Harris Teeter had a big sale on strawberries so I decided to make a strawberry cobbler. Since we were having company, I doubled the recipe. Here it is before putting it in the oven to bake.

And after baking . . .

Mmmmmm. Warm delicious goodness. And oh so easy to do.

So far, I’ve tried this recipe with canned peaches, blueberries, and strawberries. It’s simple to switch it around according to your tastes and easy to double the recipe as well.

You will need:

cooking spray
1 stick butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup milk
2 cups fruit (approximate)*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9×13 glass pan with cooking spray. Put 1 stick of butter into pan and bake until butter is melted. Add 1 cup sugar and stir. Add 1 cup self-rising flour and stir. Add 1 cup milk and stir. Add 2 cups fruit (drained) and stir all ingredients together. Bake at 350 degrees until light brown (approximately 35-45 minutes).

Have you ever made this easy cobbler recipe?

images (c) Karen Weideman

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Sharing Prepared Foods

Karen Weideman — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:05:02 +0000

You may be looking at the title of this post and be wondering what in the world is sharing prepared foods. I’ll share a little story of how this worked for me.

Several years ago before I had children, I had a very close friend. We did almost everything together. We were both married without children and we shared similar interest and faith. We went to church together, shopped for clothes and groceries, clipped coupons for one another, watched movies, went out to eat, and hung out together.

My friend and I also did a lot of cooking. Sometimes my husband and I would go over to her house for supper, sometimes they would come over to our house. And if we weren’t at one another’s house, we were sharing foods that we had made. Sometimes I would call her before she left work and let her know that I had made a big pot of chili. She would stop by and get some chili for supper with her husband. Each time I made a cake, I would give part of the cake to her. Other times, she would let me know that she had made a big pot of spaghetti or some other dish and she would share. It worked both ways.

Cooking for four people is about as easy as cooking for two. We found that if we cooked enough for four, we could share with one another. This saved us both a lot of time and allowed us to focus on our housework, spending time with our husbands, or just watching television.

Sharing prepared foods is something that worked for me. Have you ever tried this?

For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, visit We Are THAT Family.

image from sxc.hu

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