Find the Star in an Apple

Did you know there is a star in every apple? There is. This is something really fun to do with the kids.

Just cut an apple in half - not from top to bottom, but from side to side (as shown above). Inside is the star.

Do you do stamping art with food items? This would be one to try. I bet you would get a cool star inside a circle if you stamped this. I'm going to have to try that.

Sliders/Mini Burgers

For a long time the only way I could get my older daughter (CK) to eat a hamburger was at McDonald's. I couldn't even get my younger daughter (O) to try any hamburger - McDonald's or otherwise. Something about the ground meat. Then both girls had Papa's Whimpies last winter in Lake Tahoe. They loved them. I even made them at home.

Over the Easter break the girls had some Sliders. O could not eat them fast enough. I was amazed. CK also loved them. Just make food mini and the kids love it. Too funny.

I started to make them at home. I would just cut a regular burger into quarters. The girls still loved them, but I wanted mini buns. I just couldn't find any....until now.

I pulled a package of Hawaiian Rolls out of the freezer. They were the perfect size. They were sweet, but they worked.

At the store today, I bought some Hawaiian Savory Rolls. Perfect! I can't wait to make them this week for dinner. (This image is from Hawaiian Rolls website)

They are so easy to make and so fast. They only takes a few minutes on each side. We cooked them on the griddle pan right on the stove. It worked out perfect. We toasted the mini buns. Topped with our favorite burger toppings. Tatter Tots or French Fries and a veggie - You're set.

Cupcakes

It's official. I have spoiled my daughters.

My older daughter will turn 7 years old tomorrow. A few days ago I told her I would bring cupcakes to her class. I mentioned I was going to just buy them at Nob Hill. Just make life a little easier.

"You have to make them!" she tells me. What? Yep...she expects homemade cupcakes. Store bought will not be acceptable. I've bought them before for parties. I do usually make mini double chocolate muffins for her class. This year, she wanted homemade cupcakes with frosting. Okay, how can I say no. It's her birthday.

I made Chocolate Sheet Cake, from Joy of Cooking, into cupcakes. I've made this cake before. It's easy and so good. Just as easy to make it into cupcakes. It made 24 regular size cupcakes. I made Whipped Cream Frosting to top them off. The girls added sprinkles. 

Worth Re-Posting

Michael Chiarello's Chicken Bolognese. It's our family favorite - by far! I posted the link to this recipe in 2005, but thought I would re-post it. This time with an image. I've been wanting to add images, but get caught up in making and eating the dinner and forget to take a picture.

Like I said the first time I posted this recipe. It's not a hard dish to make, but it does take time and you need to be at the stove pretty much the entire time. Which can be hard with children who don't let you cook dinner.

My suggestion is to make it on a weekend and get your husband to be your sous chef (to prep everything and your mis en place all set). That takes about 20 to 30 minutes (with no interruptions). Once your husband tastes this pasta dish he'll be happy to be your sous chef anytime you want to make it again. My husband jumps at the chance to get all my mis en place set if I tell him I'm making Chicken Bolognese. (Although he also likes doing it.)

Once your mis en place is set it will take 45 minutes to make the Chicken Bolognese sauce. I've timed it. I've got it down.

All four of us love this pasta dish! The girls even have seconds and thirds. It's so good. It's hard to stop eating it. It's even better the next day!

Tips:

Substitute the ground chicken for ground beef and white wine for red. Now you've got Beef Bolognese. Also good.

I have found packaged ground chicken in the meat department with the other chicken. If your grocery store doesn't have it and you don't have a meat grinder (attachment for Kitchen Aid Mixer), just ask the butcher in your meat department. They should grind some for you.

Bean and Cheese Enchiladas

Here is a great 2 serving meal from my cousin and fellow BMCC member.

Bean and Cheese Enchiladas

INGREDIENTS:

2 large corn tortillas (like Mission Super Size)

1 slice fat-free cheddar cheese, cut in half

2/3 cup enchilada sauce

1/3 cup fat-free refried beans

1/4 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese

1/4 cup chopped onions

1 tbsp. taco sauce

1/2 tsp. taco seasoning mix, dry

Optional toppings: fat-free sour cream, chopped scallions

 

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a pan sprayed with nonstick spray, cook onions over medium heat until they begin to brown (about 2 minutes). In a small dish, combine the onions with the refried beans, taco sauce, and taco seasoning. Mix well. Spray a small baking dish with nonstick spray. Heat tortillas in the microwave until slightly warm. Lay the tortillas on a clean, dry surface, and then spread about 2 tbsp. of the enchilada sauce onto each one. Place one half of the cheese slice on each tortilla. Then, evenly distribute the bean mixture into the center of each tortilla. Wrap the tortillas up tightly, and place them in the baking dish seam side down. Pour the rest of the enchilada sauce over the enchiladas. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes (until the enchiladas are hot). Remove dish from the oven, sprinkle shredded cheese over the enchiladas, and then return it to the oven for about 5 minutes (until the cheese is nice and melty). Plate those babies and, if you like, top with some of the optional ingredients. Enjoy!

MAKES 2 SERVINGS

Serving Size: 1 enchilada (half of recipe) • Calories: 187  • Fat: 2g  • Sodium: 976mg Carbs: 29g  • Fiber: 4g  • Sugars: 5g  • Protein: 12g  • POINTS® value 3*

 

Broccoli Soup

Here is a very great sounding recipe from my cousin and fellow BMCC member. I think it would be good on a cold winter's day.

Okay after watching an episode of kitchen nightmares in which Chef Ramsey is trying to teach someone how to make proper broccoli soup I decided to give it a try...and the whole family loves it.

 

I take two bunches of organic broccoli

3 or 4 stalks of celery (organic always if you can find it)

one onion

 

Chop it all up...wash and boil in enough water to cover until soft.

Drain but make sure to save the liquid.

Puree veggies in a food processor or blender adding back some of the liquid to get a good soup consistency.

Season to taste with salt and garnish with a bit of shredded cheese on top.

We also like oyster crackers with it too....yum!

 

Easy Beef Stroganoff

Another great recipe from one of our members. Enjoy

Easy Beef Stroganoff

1 lb. hamburger

1 medium onion diced

1 clove garlic minced

1- 10-1/2 oz. can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1/2 Cup Sour cream

2 Tblsp. Catsup

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Noodles - Cooked in salted boiling water

 

Saute onions in a little olive oil till they are soft. Add meat and

garlic and cook till meat is done. Combine remaining ingredients

except sourcream and noodles and add to meat.  Heat through. Then mix

in sourcream and heat but do not boil.

 

Serve over noodles. I mix the noodles and the meat mixture all

together in the pot.