My husband was coming home late last night and the children and I weren't hungry at supper time.... so we put together something a little special. I hadn't planned on doing anything out of the ordinary but I did happen to have Cornish game hen in the fridge. I had been planning on having it later in the week. Also, my husband has been wanting me to make cheesy potatoes. I like to make a double batch of them when I make them but it takes a while to prepare so we generally don't have them. We had salad in the fridge and every vegetable imaginable so our meal was just asking to be put together.
The game hen took two hours so that gave ample time for the potatoes and I chose carrots to add color to our table. The carrots took only a short time in comparison with the other dishes. The quickest part, besides setting the table, was the salad. I just went with the simplest thing, mixed green salad. We have a buffet server that holds plenty of toppings to spice things up in a more personal way.
When my husband came home, he said that he could smell supper before he even walked in the door. Everything smelled wonderful. The game hen was a hit with the kids and myself and the potatoes are always a treat to everyone. To my surprise, my husbands favorite part of the meal was the carrots.
Here are the recipes:
The game hen took two hours so that gave ample time for the potatoes and I chose carrots to add color to our table. The carrots took only a short time in comparison with the other dishes. The quickest part, besides setting the table, was the salad. I just went with the simplest thing, mixed green salad. We have a buffet server that holds plenty of toppings to spice things up in a more personal way.
When my husband came home, he said that he could smell supper before he even walked in the door. Everything smelled wonderful. The game hen was a hit with the kids and myself and the potatoes are always a treat to everyone. To my surprise, my husbands favorite part of the meal was the carrots.
Here are the recipes:
15/08: Hot Summer Meal Plan
The heat of summer is upon us and there is nothing to do but sit around sipping ice water. When these days come, I am always refreshed by light, fresh, appetizing meals that don't weigh me down. My children especially appreciate these meals because they go away from the table with lots of energy instead of that heavy sleepy feeling that other meals produce.
So, here is my Hot Summer Meal Plan:
So, here is my Hot Summer Meal Plan:
04/08: Old Time Oatmeal Bread
This is a great early spring or late fall dish. Anytime that you have just a few zucchini and plenty of ground meat. No measurements are given and just about everything is optional. Change this recipe to suit your taste. For example, the last time that I made this dish I didn't have cottage cheese or mozzarella, so I used the cheeses that I did have. Also when using lean meats you will want to add water while browning so that it doesn't burn.
24/06: Blueberry Muffins
It is officially blueberry season here in South Central Pa. The berries were ripe and beautiful at the pick-your-own farm down the road. This was our first year to get in on the action at the blueberry patch. The children loved it, the bushes were just the right height for them to see and grab lots of berries.
At first Little Man was more interested in eating what I put in the bucket than picking his own. Thankfully he did finally figure out that the point was to fill the buckets and with a full tummy, he joyfully helped to pick. Curly was happy to help and she made a great effort to fill a pint by herself. Sissy didn't want to leave. She thought that picking blueberries was easy and lots of fun.
Most of the berries we ate fresh but the children wanted to try some blueberry muffins. They woke up this morning just in time to see me scooping the batter into the muffin cups. Then they stayed around the kitchen until they were done. We will have to make more, once we pick more berries, so that we can share some. I will warn you now that they don't last long.
Here is the recipe for:
Sugar Free - Whole Wheat - Blueberry Muffins
2 cups whole wheat flour
3 teapoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/2 cup olive oil or melted butter
1 cup blueberries
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Mix everything, except the berries, together in a large bowl. Fold in the berries. Either grease muffin cups or use paper liners. Fill the cups 2/3 full, about 1 heaping tablespoon each. Bake. Check with a toothpick after 20 minutes. Let cool and serve with milk.
You can also sprinkle raw sugar crystals over the tops just before baking but then they wouldn't be sugar free.
At first Little Man was more interested in eating what I put in the bucket than picking his own. Thankfully he did finally figure out that the point was to fill the buckets and with a full tummy, he joyfully helped to pick. Curly was happy to help and she made a great effort to fill a pint by herself. Sissy didn't want to leave. She thought that picking blueberries was easy and lots of fun.
Most of the berries we ate fresh but the children wanted to try some blueberry muffins. They woke up this morning just in time to see me scooping the batter into the muffin cups. Then they stayed around the kitchen until they were done. We will have to make more, once we pick more berries, so that we can share some. I will warn you now that they don't last long.
Here is the recipe for:
Sugar Free - Whole Wheat - Blueberry Muffins
2 cups whole wheat flour
3 teapoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/2 cup olive oil or melted butter
1 cup blueberries
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Mix everything, except the berries, together in a large bowl. Fold in the berries. Either grease muffin cups or use paper liners. Fill the cups 2/3 full, about 1 heaping tablespoon each. Bake. Check with a toothpick after 20 minutes. Let cool and serve with milk.
You can also sprinkle raw sugar crystals over the tops just before baking but then they wouldn't be sugar free.
06/02: Creamy Potato Soup
Ingredients:
Potatoes
Onions
Butter
Milk
Flour
Salt
Pepper
Water
Toppings:
Chives
Extra onions
Grated cheese
Sour cream
Chop 1 - 2 potatoes for each person. Potatoes should be in nice bite sized pieces. Boil in salted water for 5 minutes or until just soft enough to mash with a fork. Do not overcook. Drain and set aside. Melt a good amount of butter in a pan. Add diced onions and cook until just soft. Mix 2 tablespoons of flour in one cup of milk. Add this to the onion butter. Heat until thickening starts. Stir constantly. Add the cooked potatoes. Add more flour mixed in milk until it covers the potatoes. Set heat to high and stir every 1-2 minutes. When thickening becomes frothy it is done. Salt and pepper to taste. Provide fresh toppings and serve.
To reheat: add more milk and stir constantly, while on heat, until hot enough.
This is a great winter soup. My whole family loves it.
Potatoes
Onions
Butter
Milk
Flour
Salt
Pepper
Water
Toppings:
Chives
Extra onions
Grated cheese
Sour cream
Chop 1 - 2 potatoes for each person. Potatoes should be in nice bite sized pieces. Boil in salted water for 5 minutes or until just soft enough to mash with a fork. Do not overcook. Drain and set aside. Melt a good amount of butter in a pan. Add diced onions and cook until just soft. Mix 2 tablespoons of flour in one cup of milk. Add this to the onion butter. Heat until thickening starts. Stir constantly. Add the cooked potatoes. Add more flour mixed in milk until it covers the potatoes. Set heat to high and stir every 1-2 minutes. When thickening becomes frothy it is done. Salt and pepper to taste. Provide fresh toppings and serve.
To reheat: add more milk and stir constantly, while on heat, until hot enough.
This is a great winter soup. My whole family loves it.