October is National Popcorn Poppin’ Month. Around my house, it’s popcorn popping month pretty much all year long. My daughter and I eat a lot of the stuff and our brand of choice is Orville Redenbacher because it makes the fluffiest corn.
My favorite way to eat popcorn is with a combination of popcorn salt (it’s a smaller granule than traditional, so it sticks better) and brewers yeast. I spray the popped corn with cooking spray and that helps the salt and brewers yeast to stick.
Another of my specialities is caramel corn, but I only make it a few times a year. It’s so …read more

I must be in the mood for pizza lately (of course I’m always in the mood for pizza). Yesterday I posted a recipe for Quesadilla Pizza that looks quick, easy, and delicious. Today I have another quick and easy pizza idea for you.
When you’re in the mood for pizza, but don’t have time to make the crust from scratch a pita makes a great alternative individual pizza crust. This recipe from Daisy Cottage Cheese
I have some fresh ripe Roma tomatoes in my garden right now, I bet they’ll be wonderful on these pizza pitas.
I think these mini pizzas would make …read more

I’m watching Rachel Ray’s 30 Minute Meal as I’m working. Watching the Food Network is one of my favorite weekend morning treats. 
Rachel just shared her recipe for a  banana breakfast or dessert. She called it Crunchy Monkeys. It’s simply  a half banana with a stick stuck in it, spread with a peanut butter and honey mixture that is then sprinkled with granola.
It sounds good, but it got me thinking…. granola is a little hard for little ones and their baby teeth. Couldn’t you do the same thing with another type of cereal?  How about Rice Crispies or Honey Nut Cheerios? 
Another idea – …read more

I’ve tried a lot of different recipes for curried carrot soup because my family loves that taste of curry. They also like soup. However, every time I made a recipe for curry carrot soup it either turned out like baby food or was completely bland.

I’ve tweaked a bunch of different recipes to come up with this one. Check it out:

2 T. olive oil
1/3 t. curry powder
5 carrots (small to medium), chopped
2 1/2 celery stalks, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
3 c. chicken broth
juice of half of a lemon
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper

Heat the oil and cook the veggies …read more

Delish has created a new page where you’ll find dozens and dozens of quick, healthy, and inexpensive meals for your family!  You’ll find quick and easy pasta, heart-smart entrees, slow cooker and one-pot specials, and even low calorie comfort foods.  Now that’s really worth checking into!  I found a recipe for tuna noodle casserole from Eating Well which I’m going to use to update our family fave.

Believe it or not, I’m picky about my tator tot casserole dishes. I’ve tasted a few, and they have been awful. But this one, I really like. I got this out of an old church cookbook from about 1970! My family likes this dish a lot. Here’s what you need:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef (you can adjust this to what you have – I’ve used as little as a pound)
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. oatmeal
1 egg, beaten
salt and pepper
Mix together and place in a 13×9 baking dish. Preheat the oven to 350.
Then add:
1 can cream …read more

I found one of those really old church cookbooks the other night, and made one dish that was really good. I happened to change some of the ingredients from the original recipe, and I liked the way it turned out. If you’re looking for a filling meal for your family, this one might be a good recipe to try.
In a two-quart baking dish, place:

4 cups potatoes (sliced very thin)
1 T. minced garlic
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 T. dried parsley
Then, mix the following:
1 pound ground beef
2 cups bread crumbs or ground up soda crackers
1/4 c. onion, diced
3/4 c. evaporated …read more

Today’s the day we announce our winner for the Kitchen Basics book by Patti Green. The lucky Blisstree reader is Donna O! Donna was one of over 100 people that entered this contest, which tells me that you guys love getting cookbooks. I’m with you there.
More than that, however, since this is a cookbook for kids, I asked you what was the thing you first learned to cook as a kid. My first food item was French toast, and it looks like I wasn’t alone. French toast was a popular answer, as were …read more

This week halibut is on sale at our local grocer, so I’m using this recipe from Wild Oats. It calls for only a few ingredients, and most, if not all, should be present in your pantry if you’re an Asian food lover like me.