Classis Shrimp Cocktail

Hello Everyone,

Here is a wonderful recipe I made for our Valentines dinner. It’s from my wonderful friend and blogger Mary from Apron Strings and Wedding Rings..

Classic Shrimp Cocktail:

24 large shrimp

1 lemon cut into wedges

3 tbsp. Italian parsley

1 small yellow onion, cut into wedges

6 whole black peppercorns

1 tsp. salt

enough water to cover shrimp

Place shrimp in a large sauce-pot. Place all above ingredient’s in pot and cook on medium-high heat just until shrimp is pink, about 4-5 minutes. Make sure when you clean the shrimp to leave the tails on! Drain shrimp and chill until ready to serve.

Cocktail Sauce:

1 cup chili sauce

3 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tbsp. horseradish

2 tbsp. minced yellow onion

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. Tabasco sauce, optional

1 tbsp. minced Italian

Mix all ingredient’s together, taste and adjust seasoning’s, if desired. I served this in a Martini glass and it was delicious! Here is the picture of this plus a few more of our Valentines dinner. One picture doesn’t look the best, but it sure tasted good!

 

I know I haven’t posted much at all this month. I have been really sick. I saw my dr yesterday and I am anemic, and my vitamin d is really low. So, I have to take a lot of vitamin d now.. Low vitamin d causes a lot of pain, and I have been in a lot of pain… It’s been terrible.. I haven’t been able to do much, our Valentines dinner is about the only food I have cooked.. Hopefully in a week or so, I’ll get better!

Until next time..

Amanda

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Turkey Salad

Hello Everyone,

Here’s another one of my mom’s salad recipes. It has really good flavor! 🙂

Turkey Salad:

4 cups cooked, cubed turkey

2 cups pineapple chunks, drained

3 stalks celery, sliced

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp. curry powder

1/2 cup chopped peanuts or cashews

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1 cup mandarin oranges, drained

2 med. banana’s

Combine turkey, pineapple, celery, mayonnaise, curry powder, nuts, coconut and oranges. Chill, then stir in banana’s and serve.

They have picked a name for the cake charity, the new president sent us all an email today. It’s called “Community Cakes”. They have a good start on everything! I really don’t know what I’ll be doing with them, other than baking… So many changes going on with us that I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed and out of sorts… Some of the changes in our lives will be good, others I’m having a hard time with… I’m thankful I have the U of I meetings every month and the Fairs to look forward too this summer..

Well I’m off for now… Need to get a couple thing’s done, before Ray get’s home later.. Shopping, cleaning, cooking ect.. And the list goes on!! 🙂

Amanda 🙂

 

Mexican Salad

Hello everyone,

Here’s another one of my mom’s recipes from the deli, all but the cilantro that’s my addition! 🙂 I love mexican food, cilantro is one of my favorite spices.  I never had it fresh until we moved here. It gives such a crisp fresh flavor to dishes! 

Mexican Salad:

1 head iceberg lettuce, torn

1 large avocado, diced

5 med. tomatoes, diced

1 green pepper, diced

1 red pepper, diced

1 med. yellow onion, diced

1/2 bunch fresh cilantro chopped

4 slices bacon, cooked until crispy, save the drippings for the dressing

2 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/3 cup white vinegar

1 cup sharp shredded cheddar cheese

Line bowl with lettuce. Combine avocado, tomatoes, peppers, onion, cilantro and bacon. Combine chili powder, salt, and vinegar, and pour into bacon drippings. Pour dressing over vegetables, top with cheese and serve immediately.

Had a good day, didn’t hurt my back swimming , yeah!! We had to get Casper bathed and shaved today, we only get him done 2 times a year, that’s all he needs. We bath him in between times when he needs it.. The groomers are such nice people, I took Daisy to them, when she was alive.  They are the only place we have found that works so well with the dogs.. While he was getting groomed, I spent the afternoon at my grandparent’s house. They live close to the groomers, and they get their dog Oreo, (he’s a Shiztu) done there. They all seem to be doing fine today.. Had a good really visit with them…

Last night, I had another cancer class at the Y. It’s was on nutrition. Heard a lot of good information.. Some thing’s I already knew about from taking the U of I classes, some thing’s I agreed with and some thing’s I didn’t.. I’m not sure how many more classes I have there, 2-3 I think.. To be honest I’ll be glad when it’s over.. It’s been nice, but other than having cancer I don’t have anything in common with anyone there..

Well I better go for now everyone..

Until next time..

Amanda 🙂

 

Cucumber Crab Salad

Hello Everyone,

Here’s a recipe that my mom would make a lot. When I was about 7 or 8 years old,  my mom had a small deli, that served sub sandwiches, salads and she had a salad bar too. I don’t remember what else she served, I know either she has or I have the menu somewhere.. Wow  it was such a long time ago… I do remember how busy it always was and my brother and I would play outback after school while she and other ladies she hired would work to serve everyone coming in… She had some unusual sandwiches and salad combinations! They were tasty!! 🙂 This is one I remember well and really liked!

Cucumber Crab Salad:

2 med. cucumber chopped

2 cans crab, drained

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

Lots of  salt and pepper to taste

Mix all together until just mixed together. I made this agian and I think my taste buds have changed, since I have been on the steroids.. I ended up adding 2 cukes and 2 cans of crabmeat and added alot of salt and pepper, so I updated the recipe. ( I use sea salt in all my recipes) I haven’t eaten this in along time, so sorry if anyone tried it and it turned out to0 be a flop.. I guess that will happen sometimes!!

I threw my back out yesterday after swimming. I have no idea what I did, must have turned wrong in the water. I was walking in the locker room like an 90-year-old women!! Hahaha!!! Must have been a site for all the other ladies in there! I saw one of my Drs yesterday also, she said my kidney function was down, she said it could be from the steroids. She also said my cholesterol was high! I asked what the number was and she said 220, so I asked what the bad cholesterol number was and she said it was 109. I did some research and that number is great. My total is just borderline high.. It’s all from the steroids she said, hopefully when they taper me off them, that number will go down. My iron is still low, and so is my white blood count, it’s all from the Sarcoid stuff.. She also said my inflammation number was down, I don’t remember the medical term she used, but that was good news!! It mean’s that hopefully the Sarcoid is going into remission!!! 🙂  Maybe the combo of the medication and exercise is helping!! The Dr did give me some muscle relaxers for my back, I am feeling better today.. Did some cleaning, Ray said don’t do too much!! I feel guilty not being able to clean as much as I used to.. The Cancer class I have been going to at the Y has been helping us all find a new kind of normal. I don’t know what normal is for me yet.. I used to work, be able to clean my house, and cook dinner all the same day. I can’t do that anymore, sometimes I’m lucky to get the laundry and dishes done in one day. I have to space thing’s out or I get so tired I’m down in bed for a couple of days.. Very frustrating for me!!

I know the ladies are working on getting the new cake charity name and website going, I have no idea what it is going to be called yet. I called the lady at the VA today to get the name of the vet I am baking a pie for on Friday, since the website is down I couldn’t get the name of the veteran. I told her it broke our hearts with what happened, she said for me to tell all the bakers that they are praying for us and that they are so grateful for all the cakes, pies, and cookies that the bakers make for them!

Well I better go for now, need to get ready for my class…

Until next time everyone!

Amanda 🙂

 

Oriental Cabbage Salad

Hello Everyone,

Here is on of my grandma Shirley recipes. I love this cabbage salad, it’s my favorite way to eat cabbage.

1 large head cabbage, chopped

1 small onion, finely chopped

3 tbsp. sesame seeds

Dressing:

1/2 white vinegar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 tbsp. granulated sugar

1 tsp. season salt

1 package ramen noodles (throw away the seasoning package or save it for something else) or you can use chow mein noodles

In a large bowl the combine cabbage, onion and sesame seeds. In another bowl whisk all dressing ingredient’s together until smooth. Pour over cabbage mixture and toss to coat all the ingredients together. Just before serving toss in the crunchy noodles. My grandma always used the ramen noodles with this recipe.

I am baking at the Ronald McDonald house in the morning. I am baking a Texas Chocolate sheet cake and mandarin orange bars. They are a couple different recipes I am trying out on them.. I did get the Birthday sheet cake done today for the nursing home party for tomorrow. I made chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and crushed Oreo cookies to decorate around the sides of the cake. Looks yummy!!! I am making a small cake for my nephew’s Birthday party, he will be 10! He is growing up to fast… Ray and I are taking him out Sunday. Just the 3 of us, out to eat and a movie. This seems to work better for us, since I don’t get along with my brother or my mom right now.. Just want to do something special with just our nephew this time…

We walked 7 laps around the track at the Y tonight and was happy I could make it that much. There wasn’t as many people there tonight it was about 8:30pm and it was a lot quieter. We are going to be there on Saturday morning when they open at 7am, hopefully it will be really quite!!

Well I better go for now, getting really sleepy.. YAWN!!

Goodnight all..

Amanda 🙂

 

Orange Jello Salad

Hello Everyone,

Here is my grandma Carole’s famous orange jello salad. We all LOVE this salad and eat it many times throughout the year. This is the only jello I will eat. I don’t like regular jello at all, and I have no idea why.. I think it’s the texture of it… I don’t know where she got the recipe, I just know that its is my favorite salad.

Orange Jello Salad:

1 large container full fat cottage cheese, the 2% taste’s sour to me

1 large container cool whip, I know what I said about cool whip in a another post, but this is the only way I’ll eat cool whip also.. HEHE!!

3 small can’s mandarin oranges, drained

2 (3oz.) packages orange jello

Fold all ingredient’s together, (except 1 can of oranges to decorate the top with). Best served cold. I know my grandmother makes her’s a little different from this but, this is the one I have made several times. I have also made this with fresh raspberries and strawberries (when they are in season) and it is wonderful, using raspberry and strawberry jello of course…LOL!!!

Well we went to the Y tonight and walked 4 laps around the walking track, and I know it’s not very much, but it was all I could do for tonight. The place was packed with people, too much for me… Tomorrow morning I am going to the exercise class for the old and sick people like me! LOL!! I hope it will not be as busy as it was tonight!!! There were a lot of heavy people there and a lot of Hispanics, where I live there is a huge Hispanic population. I told Ray I need to learn Spanish, he did buy a computer program so I could learn it. I really need to start using it!!

My Dr. cut down my steroids to 15 mlgs a day now, she is going to talk to my other specialist and see what to do from here. She doesn’t want to just take me off them and have the sarcoid flair back up like it did last summer. Have to wait and see what they will want to do now…

Well I better go for now, I need to rest so I can be up early for the exercise class..

Goodnight all…

Amanda 🙂

 

Thanksgiving Menu

Hello everyone,

Here’s part of the menu I have been working on. I’m sorry I am late in posting this… I have been having a lot of headaches, so I am really slooowww!!!

Salad with Fried Goat Cheese in Parmesan Cheese Cups:

Ok to this one there isn’t really any recipe, I’ll just write down how I made this..

First you make the parmesan cheese cups; In a small 6-inch non-stick skillet put a small layer of parmesan cheese in bottom of pan. Let cheese get crispy around the edges. (It took me a couple of times the first time I made these to get them to look right). Flip cheese over with a small spatula, flatten it out, then lay cheese over a lightly greased bowl, let dry. The cheese will need a couple of hours to dry out and get crispy. Next put some salad greens in cups, and toss in some capers, and dried sweetened cranberries. To make vinaigrette, put 1 tbsp. stone ground mustard in a bowl add 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 2 tbsp. grapeseed oil, salt and pepper to taste; blend well. For fried goat cheese rounds, use firm round goat cheese. Coat each side with panko breadcrumbs, fry in hot oil on both sides, until crispy; about 1 minute per side. Place on top of each salad. Lightly drizzle each salad with vinaigrette. Serve at once.

Parmesan Cheese Rolls:

1-1/3 cups sour milk (110-130 degrees)

1 stick unsalted butter 4 oz., melted

2 tsp. kosher salt

1 tbsp. active dry yeast

3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

In a mixing bowl (again I just use my Kitchenaide to mix my dough) with paddle attachment lightly beat milk, butter, salt yeast, and cheese together. Add flour and mix with dough hook until you get a sticky soft dough, about 5 minutes. Turn dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let raise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Lightly grease a 9-inch round or square baking pan, and roll dough into balls to fit pan. Let raise again until almost doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. In the last 5 minutes of baking sprinkle tops with more parmesan cheese. These are so tasty with just some butter!!!

Broccoli Gratin:

1 bunch broccoli, 1-1/4 lbs. cut into flowerets and peel and cut up the stalks.

2 cups whole milk

2 tbsp. unsalted butter

2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

1/2 cup shredded Gruyère cheese

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

salt and black pepper to taste

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1/2 panko bread crumbs

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the broccoli until just crisp tender. Lay out onto paper towels to cool and get dry; about 15 minutes. For sauce melt butter in a medium saucepan and flour and cook for 1 minute over medium-low heat, stirring constantly; do let it become brown. Add milk and whisk slowly until sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Add cheese, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix sauce with broccoli, put into a 9-inch square baking dish. Combine panko breadcrumbs and cheese, place on top of broccoli, and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, until the edges are bubbling and topping is brown.

I’ll try to get the other 2 recipes posted tomorrow night. I have 2 dr apts tomorrow and who know’s  what they will say. I don’t have any cakes this week!! YES!! I was going to make the Birthday mission cake this week, but one other baker wanted to make it, so I am off the hook. I get to rest this week!! I have 6 sheet cakes  to get done for next week so not too much resting will be going on!!!

I am looking forward to going to TF for Thanksgiving, I don’t know where we will be eating at or with. It will be nice to get away from here and not have to cook for my family.

Well I better go for now.. I need to sleep..

Until next time everyone!

Amanda 🙂