bacon, books + bite sized treats

Don't you just love how a book can take your imagination to a different place?! Am I the only one who watches a movie or reads a book and gets lost in thought? It's like I lose touch with reality and get transported to a fantasy world of limitless possibility.  How can I hold on to that thought/feeling?! It's a new goal - live in this place of euphoria!

I'm in a cooking book club with this great organization called the Cooking Chicks in Chicago. Every month they pick a food memoir of sorts and then each person brings a dish from the book or a dish inspired by the book. This month's book was Apron Anxiety. I'm telling you, Alyssa Shelasky has an amazing way with words. It seemed fitting to me to create a dish inspired by a simple sandwich her chef used to make that became a bit of a ritual for them. Since tomatoes are in season right now, this is a great appetizer to serve at your next BBQ, party, or to just make for eating. They're awesome and bite sized and before you know it you've scarfed 12 of these bad boys. Because lets be real, what's better than bacon? Bacon with fresh tomatoes and cheese is a good start, mmmmm…

BLT bites

yields about 60 bites

ingredients:

2 pints cherry tomatoes (20 oz - about 60)

8 oz cream cheese, room temperature

12 strips of bacon cooked extra crispy and broken into bits

¼ c. mayonnaise 

1 green onion, finely chopped

garnish plate with spinach or basil leaves (optional)

In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, bacon bits, mayo, and green onion and mix until well combined. Place in ziplock bag or piping bag. Set aside until ready to fill.

Cut the tops off the cherry tomatoes and gently squeeze the seeds out with your finger. To make them sit flat on the plate you can very thinly slice a layer off the bottom of the tomatoes too. No worries if you cut through and make an O shape… the filling will still stay put and no one will notice. Place sliced tomatoes on a paper towel and let sit for a few minutes to absorb the extra moisture. This can be done the day before to make assembly quicker. If doing that, be sure to pull the cream cheese mixture out of the refrigerator a few hours before serving so it softens up. Cut the tip off the bag and fill the tomatoes. 

Tomatoes can be filled a few hours before serving, just place in the refrigerator before serving to keep cold. 

improv style:

seem like too much work to cut and de-seed 60 cherry tomatoes? you can just place this filling on top of tomato slices and serve as an appetizer course at a sit down dinner. similarly, you could serve the cherry tomatoes whole with the cream cheese mixture as a dip for veggies, crackers and bread slices. 

you can add in your favorite mixins. a goat cheese or blue cheese would be delish. you can add pepper, red pepper flakes, or a little hot sauce to liven it up. i like the balance the green onion gives the mixture but if you're not a fan, leave it out. you could add in some basil or rosemary to freshen it up. it's a very simple and easy dish to change up! 

looking to lighten it up? use lowfat or fat free cream cheese and mayo with turkey bacon instead or maybe even some greek yogurt?! 

Recipe: Peach Cheesecake Squares

This easy-to-make recipe is perfect for those end of summer BBQs…. Luscious fresh peaches with their natural sweetness make these cheesecake squares just delicious!TIPSWhile fresh peaches are in season.. this recipe is perfect… but when they’re out of season.. simply substitute canned LITE sliced peaches… just drain them well and chop them up.Use really ripe peaches and all you have to do is peel

tip: how to cook bacon, the easy way

This is life changing people. About a year and a half ago Matt took me to the Guy Fieri road show and I learned a little trick from him that blew my mind! 

Cooking bacon in the oven. Take cold bacon and a cold oven and avoid the pops, splatters, and skin burning effects of stovetop bacon cooking? Yes please! Biggest bonus?! All of your bacon cooks at the same time! No more multiple pans or batch cooking here! Plus, much easier clean up by using tin foil!

It's so easy to do! 

oven bacon

1. line baking sheet(s) with aluminum foil

2. place cold bacon onto sheet* with a little breathing room between each strip. *make sure the sheet has a lip so that the grease doesn't drip on the bottom of the oven. grease fires are never a good thing :)

3. place sheets into cold oven and turn on to 400º F

4. bake for about 20 minutes flipping halfway through

5. it will look like the above picture when ready. pull out and place on paper towel lined plates to drain excess grease

6. crunch, eat, enjoy!

Every oven runs a little different so cooking time may vary. It also depends on the thickness of your bacon. The thicker the bacon, the longer it takes. Listen to your nose, it will smell when the bacon is ready… Also, don't do this in a preheated oven. Don't ask me why, but it doesn't work the same. Made that mistake once and I will never do it again! If you want, you can place the bacon back in the oven on warm or about 200º F for a few minutes to keep it warm while the rest of breakfast gets finished. 

This tip will be your new best friend for tomorrow's post!

5 Great Ground Beef Skillet Meals

Skillet meals are the best when time is short and you need to get supper on the table fast… a quick one skillet meal with an easy clean up…. what could be better on those rushed nights?

Warren and I joke all the time… while growing up he would ask his Mother what was for dinner… “Something out of hamburger” was often the answer… I would laugh because I answered my son the same way. I think

millions of peaches

Being a Seattle girl, I couldn't resist! 

Peaches are all the rage right now. My favorite part about the end of Summer is peaches. I am willing to accept that the days of warm sunshine are coming to an end just because of these sweet and juicy little gems! Every year growing up, my mom would make us something called peach surprise. It was something I always looked forward to. A mark that back to school would be happening soon. I enjoyed my last few days of Summer break with frosty, deliciously sweet and tangy peach surprises. 

My mom makes them with frozen lemonade concentrate but I had a bunch of peaches and lemons so I made it from scratch. Whatever method you prefer works. Just make sure you make these while peaches are still around. If you, like me have a tendency to buy lots of fruit and then have it go bad on you, this is a great way to use up some peaches a little past their prime. No one can see the bruises when you blend them up anyway! 

peach surprise

yields 2 servings

ingredients:

1 peach

¼ c. sugar

juice of 2 lemons

zest of 1 lemon

2 c. ice cubes

¼ c. water (if needed to get it blending well)

In a blender combine first 5 ingredients. Turn that sucker on and blend away! If your blender needs a little help to get things going, add in a little bit of water. Just be sure to gradually add it so it doesn't get too runny! I needed a ¼ c. but you might need more or less depending on the power of your blender!

improv it:

mom's recipe:

fill the blender  ⅔ the way with ice

1 peach

½ can frozen lemonade concentrate 

blend + serve

think of this as a peach and lemonade smoothie. you can make it with fresh lemons, lemonade, or frozen concentrate. like things a bit sweeter? add more sugar. not a huge lemon fan? leave out the zest or substitute with your favorite citrus fruit. a banana would add some fun tropical notes to the drink.

make this an adult cocktail by adding in vodka or rum  OR, make it extra special/fun and pour some prosecco over it for a fun twist on a belini! i bet it would make a fantastic frozen wine cooler type drink too by adding in some pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc. reisling or moscato would work nicely too if you're into sweeter wines. i've never done this boozy but I'm totally making this for the holiday weekend now that I'm talking about it!

Recipe: Bacon Mac n Cheese Bites

These Bacon Mac n Cheese Bites make a terrific party snack.. whether watching a game or an for elegant party with hors’dourves… everyone loves mac n cheese… so it seems.. and what better way to serve it then in these adorable little bites.

Make as little or as much as you want.. this recipe is more about the method once you have your mac and cheese made.

TIPS

It took several tries to get it

Recipe: Grilled Mozzarella Cheese and Basil Pesto

We love grilled cheese and make it fairly often… and we’re always experimenting with all sorts of ingredients… gooey cheese with basil in between thick slices of fresh Tuscan loaf…. can you say yummmm?Grilled Mozzarella Cheese and Pesto on Tuscan Bread was our Sunday night supper along with a steaming bowl of Creamy Tomato Parmesan Soup… a hearty meal for sure… perfect for a rainy night.TIPSUse a

Recipe: Antipasto Party Skewers

I love the idea of skewers for party hors'dourves … each person gets to have the perfect mix of ingredients… these Antipasto Party Skewers combine the fabulous flavors of tomato, Genoa salami, cheese, pepperoni, smoked ham and olives… drizzled with a favorite Italian dressing.. these yummy skewers are perfect for a family snack watching the big game together.TIPSInclude as much or as little of

Recipe: Creamy Tomato Parmesan Soup

This Creamy Tomato Parmesan Soup is packed with flavor… perfect for a soup and sandwich night… and easy to make.. you can’t ask for more.TIPSThis can be made in the slow cooker or on top of the stove… If you want something cooking for supper while you’re busy with other things… simply put the main ingredients in the crock pot and come back to it in about 7 hours… all that’s left is to thicken it.

Recipe: Sweet Cornbread

This easy Sweet Cornbread recipe is light and airy … but not too light and airy…. moist… but not too moist…and it is sweet… but not too sweet… So if you are the Goldilocks of cornbreads.. and you like light and airy, moist and sweet cornbread… this recipe is for you… Oh and did I mention it’s easy?... oh I did… well.. you won’t believe just how easy… read on..Here’s the easy part.. it uses a

Recipe: Hash Brown Casserole

This easy Hash Brown Casserole is a family favorite.. perfect for covered dish suppers.. it’s similar to the hash brown casserole they serve at Cracker Barrel.TIPSI tried sprinkling French’s Fried Onions on top for a crunchy topping.. I really don’t think it needs it but Warren liked it.. so I thought I would mention it as an option to consider.This is not low fat by any means.. you can cut the

Recipe: Sweet and Tangy BBQ Beef and Mac Skillet

This Sweet and Tangy BBQ Beef and Mac Skillet is another really great skillet meal that’s quick and easy to put together… in fact you can even make some of it ahead.

Use my Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce in this recipe for a really great sweet and tangy flavor … along with ground beef, cooked macaroni, chopped green onion, some shredded cheddar cheese and a sprinkling of crumbled bacon.. a great

Recipe: Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce

I love making BBQ sauces… this one is a favorite… quick and easy.. I like to make it up and store it in the fridge.. it’s great to slather.. like that word?? … slather on chicken breasts or pork chops.. I use it in skillet dishes… all kinds of ways.

It also makes a great gift… going to a BBQ or house warming.. bring a jar… tie a cute tag on it.. maybe include a basting brush… a delicious gift…

Recipe: Spinach and Artichoke Dip

This easy Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip is perfect for lazy Saturday nights in front of the TV or even the watching the big game. It mixes together in minutes.. then just pop it in the oven..TIPSI made a smaller version of this (pictured)… simply cut the ingredients in half.Of course I forgot to thaw the spinach ahead of time.. silly… now why would I remember to do that?? Just pop it in a

Recipe: German Farmer’s Breakfast (Bauernfrühstück)

Bauernfrühstück is a hearty German Farmer’s Breakfast… usually made up of bacon or ham, potatoes, onion and eggs. Bauer means farmer and frühstück means breakfast. Popular in Bavaria, the bacon of that area is not quite the same as the bacon we have here in the US. It's called speck and is similar to the Italian version called pancetta. There are numerous versions of this Farmer's Breakfast

Recipe: Peach Butter

What can I say about Peach Butter? First of all for all you novices out there.. and don’t be shy.. you are not alone … this is not actually butter…. how or why fruit butters are called butter is beyond me.. probably because it’s spreadable.. but then again we don’t call jellies and jams butter… so go figure…So just what is it? Basically in a nutshell… it’s fresh fruit peeled, cut up and cooked

cocktail contest!

I entered into a contest. I want to win. But mostly, I want to share this cocktail with you because it's AMAZING. The non-adventurous eater is probably thinking I'm out of my mind with this one. TRUST ME, herbs + berries = magic.  I served the leftovers at my cook book club (sin alcohol) and it was a huge hit. Then I sent the recipe to a friend and he too said it was delish! I'm telling you guys, make this, now!

Also, vote for me! Shameless plug, but mamma needs some $$! You'll note the cocktail recipe on the site is different from here. That was a spirit contest so I plussed up the gin amount for them. I prefer a subtle nod of gin with lots of sparkly goodness (aka, the recipe below). Cheers!

blueberry basil fizz

yields about 1 cup blueberry basil syrup

to make blueberry syrup:

1 ½ c. fresh blueberries (frozen works too)

1 c. water

2 TBSP sugar

1 bunch of basil leaves with stems (about 25 leaves)

In a small sauce pan, combine blueberries, water, sugar and bring to a soft boil. Let cook until blueberries burst. Turn off the heat and add basil leaves + stems, let steep in the blueberry mixture for 10 - 15 minutes. Pull the basil leaves out and pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve, Pressing all of the blueberry goodness through the strainer. Chill until ready to serve.

for the cocktail:

yields 1 cocktail

ingredients:

½ oz gin

1 oz blueberry basil mixture

½ c. crushed ice

top with prosecco (about ½ c.)

garnish: fresh blueberries and torn basil leaves.

Combine gin, blueberry basil mixture and ice, shake or stir. Pour into a glass and top with prosecco. Garnish with torn basil leaves and fresh blueberries. I like to serve it in a stemless champagne flute but a rocks glass looks pretty too.

improv style:

first thing, this is a cocktail, you don't REALLY have to measure. just dump, dump, mix and sip! this is just my guide to the cocktail, choose your own adventure!

this can be made with just gin, berry mixture and sparkling water, likewise with just prosecco + blueberry basil syrup. if you want a refreshing summer drink sin alcohol, just mix about 2 TBSP of the mixture with ½ c. sparkling water. sparkling coconut water or even coconut milk would be delish too.

not a blueberry or basil fan? try blackberry rosemary, raspberry thyme, lavender blueberry - you see where i'm going here. 

good herbs for this: mint, rosemary, thyme, lavender, basil, or rosewater (technically not an herb, but it's in the plant family). 

good fruits: any berry, citrus fruit, stone fruit. 

fun mix in's: flavored sparkling water, gin, vodka, sparkling wine, white wine (fancy wine cooler anyone?!), coconut water, iced tea?! 

basically i'm saying everyone could use a little fruit + herb action in their life. Especially in beverage form.  

Recipe: Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

Hmmm … doesn’t that look just yummy?…. Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole… a beautiful site… Just pick up that fork and dig right in… yes siree… it’s soo good … what’s not to like? Mashed potatoes … cheddar cheese and bacon… a perfect combination.. bless the person who thought up a loaded baked potato.. and then turned it into mashed potatoes… a genius for sure.So how do you make this world wonder

Recipe: Veggie Burgers

Getting my meat and potatoes man to eat a Veggie Burger was no small feat.. I mentioned them a couple of years ago and got a wrinkled up nose… so I moved on. I had bigger fish to fry or should I say “not fry”… trying to eat healthier… non-fat milk… yogurt… more baked than skillet fried meals… and the ultimate achievement… drum roll please…. getting him to actually like lower fat ice cream…

How to Peel Peaches Easily

Don't those peaches look heavenly?... and ohhh the smell.. so sweet... I love peaches... I can think of so many things to make with them... you too? I thought so...Okay.. so you went to that Farmer’s Market… and simply couldn’t resist that sweet peach smell… and you bought a bagful… now what to do with them.. the options are limitless… including just eating them the way they are… always a good

How to Make Vanilla Extract

This is one how-to that is worth doing.. it’s easy… you control the quality of the ingredients and it takes virtually no time at all to put it together. Best of all.. it is far cheaper to make your own… and you can ensure a high quality extract.You do need patience.. though.. since you will need to give it time to age… 3-4 months… 6 months or more is optimum. More on that topic later. You

Recipe: Pasta Salad II

This recipe for Pasta Salad is one of many in my recipe box… it’s quick and easy.. nice and light… great as a side to grilled meats, sandwiches .. perfect for a party. Just as easy to make it for one or make it for 100… TIPSSeriously… it is easy.. you add your ingredients by eye… add as much or as little as you like.I always have pasta left… I never seem to make the right amount.. there’s just

Recipe: Easy Cheesy Chicken and Veggie Casserole

This quick and easy recipe is one of those with Cream of Chicken Soup… I know.. am I embarrassed that I cook with Cream of Chicken Soup?… to put it lightly.. notta chance. It may not be gourmet .. but everyone loves it… and isn’t that what really counts?Now doesn't that look just yummy? It was!TIPSI used one can of Campbell’s Cream of Chicken Soup and one can of Cream of Chicken Mushroom.