Recipe: Cauliflower Mash

This is a family favorite!  Even my kids will devour this dish until there is nothing left.  Really!  Who knew that cauliflower could taste this good?  And while it is not the healthiest way to enjoy cauliflower it has to be the most enjoyable way.  It is creamy and delightful and a great side to chicken or beef or all by itself.  And not only is is delicious it is so simple to make. 

Enjoy!

Cauliflower Mash

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Ingredients

1 head cauliflower

2 to 3 tbsp butter

1/3 to 1/2 pkg cream cheese, room temperature

parmesan cheese

salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

In a large pot, add about a cup or so of water, just enough to cover the bottom of the pot by a couple of inches.  Separate florets and remove stem and any leaves.  Add cauliflower once the water is boiling and put a lid on the pot.  Steam cauliflower until it is fork tender.  Drain and return to pot.  Start with 2 tablespoons butter and 1/3 package of cream cheese.  Add butter and cream cheese to pot with cauliflower and mash with a fork or masher.  Mash to a consistency to suit your taste.  Add more butter and cream cheese, if needed.  Add salt and pepper.  Place cauliflower in a serving dish and top with parmesan cheese.

Linked To:

  * My Sweet and Savory:  Meatless Mondays

  * Life as Mom: Ultimate Recipe Swap

Recipe: Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

Yum....soup!  Who doesn't love a big bowl of yummy good soup on a cold winter's night?  Especially one that is filled with gnocchi and creamy goodness!

I have seen several different versions of this recipe floating around.  I played around with a couple of them and this is my version of heaven in a bowl.  Serve with warm crusty bread and prepare thine self for the warmth that is about to ensue.  I had just a little bit leftover and put it in my girls lunch the next day and they were happy children and I am THE best mom, at least for the next 2 hours.

Enjoy!

 

Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

4 tbsp butter

1 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, finely diced

1 cup celery, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, finely grated

4 tbsp flour

1 cup heavy cream

3 cups whole milk

1 1/2 cups carrots, finely shredded

3 chicken breasts, cooked and diced

1 tsp chicken base (or use 1-14 oz can chicken broth and omit the water)

2 cups water (I used the water that I cooked the gnocchi in)

1 lb gnocchi

1 bag baby spinach, coarsely chopped

Salt to taste

Grated Parmesan cheese

Cook the gnocchi according to the package directions.  Drain and set aside, reserving the cooking water.  Saute the onion and celery in the butter and olive oil.  When the onion becomes translucent, add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.  Add the flour  to make a roux.  Let the butter and flour mixture cook for about one minute.  Add the cream and milk mixing well.  Add the carrots and chicken.  Once the mixture becomes thick, add the chicken base and reserved cooking water or chicken broth.  Once the mixture thickens again, add the cooked gnocchi, spinach and salt to taste.  Serve with grated Parmesan on top.

Linked To:

  * Designs by Gollum:  Foodie Friday

  * Mommy's Kitchen:  Potluck Sunday

  * Life as Mom:  Ultimate Recipe Swap

  * It's a Blog Party: Fall Fest 2011

Recipe Review: Macaroni and Cheese Cupcakes

I know right?  Macaroni and cheese cupcakes?  Really??  Really!  And they are awesome.  While mac and cheese has been a kid favorite forever, mixing it up a bit and turning it into something new and different is a great idea.  I would have never thought to put mac and cheese in a muffin tin to make these awesome little treats.  (But this does get the mind going on what else you can create...)  While these are not "cupcakes" they are a fun way to eat something that has been around since forever. 

Two out of three of my kids liked them but I bet I can convince that reluctant one to give these another chance.  And I will be trying these out in their lunch boxes very soon.  I will also be making these when we have the entire family here for the holidays and we are looking for ways to feed a bunch of kids lunch.

Enjoy!

Macaroni and Cheese Cupcakes
Recipe from Framed Cooks

8 ozs elbow macaroni (I used a box of mac and cheese)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, plus extra for garnish
2 eggs
1 cups milk
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line or spray very well a 12 cup muffin tin.  Cook the macaroni until done.  Drain and immediately return to pot.  Add cheese and stir briefly until almost melting.  Beat eggs into milk and then pour mixture into macaroni making sure not to cook the eggs.  Mix very well.  Ladle macaroni mixture into tins and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.  Cool slightly before serving.

Must Try Tuesday: December 7, 2010

There are so many good recipes and ideas going around.  I almost can't keep up.  Here are few that I saw that were interesting and worth keeping for the future.

Enjoy!

Snowflake Cupcakes

Glorious Treats

Photo by Glorious Treats

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Clone of a Big Mac and Fries

Coleen's Recipes

Photo by Coleen's Recipes

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Freezer Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Creatively Domestic

Photo by Creatively Domestic

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Butter Toffee Popcorn

My Kitchen Cafe

Photo by My Kitchen Cafe

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Natchitoches Meat Pies

bouffe e bambini

Photo by bouffe e bambini

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Bread Bowls

The Sisters Cafe

Photo by The Sisters Cafe

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Menu Plan: Week of December 6, 2010

I have been really lazy about planning out my weekly meal plan and my family is suffering.  How many times can you eat soup from a can and frozen chicken nuggets?  So, I made a New Year's resolution a little early.  I am going to faithfully plan out our meals every week.

So here we go....

Meal 1
Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
Crusty Bread

Meal 2
Chicken and Rice Casserole
Salad
Breadsticks

Meal 3
Cream Chedder Cheese Soup
Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

Meal 4
Baked Ham Rigatoni
Green Beans
Salad
Rolls

Meal 5
Cheese Enchiladas
Refried Beans
Salad

Meal 6
Pinto Beans
Corn Bread
Fixin's (shredded lettuce, tomato, cheese, etc.)

Meal 7
Mommy's Day off

Recipe: Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Bars aka "Twix Bars"

What?  Christmas can't be around the corner.  There is so much to do in the next couple of weeks.  Lots of baking and these are going on the list for gift baskets.  They are awesome!

They taste like a Twix candy bar but better.  They are sweet but the salt on top helps cut some of the sweetness.  I cut my bars a bit smaller because they are rich.  The recipe looks time consuming and difficult and although it takes some time it was very easy.

Enjoy!

Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Bars

Crust
9 tbsp butter, room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 cups AP flour
1/4 tsp table salt

Chocolate Caramel
10 1/2 oz milk chocolate, chopped (2 cups)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 water
6 tbsp butter
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp table salt
1 tbsp sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Make the crust:  Line a 9" square baking pan with parchment, leaving an overhang on all sides.  Butter parchment, excluding overhang.  Beat butter and brown sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Add flour and salt beating until just combined.  Press dough evenly into pan and bake until lightly browned, about 25 - 30 minutes.  Make the chocolate-caramel:  Place chocolate in a medium bowl.  Heat granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until amber colored, about 10 - 12 minutes.  Wash the sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming.  Remove from heat and add butter, heavy cream and salt.  Return to burner bringing to a boil, stirring until smooth.  Pour over chocolate and let stand for 2 minutes.  Stir to combine and let stand for another 10 minutes until cool.  Pour chocolate mixture over crust.  Refrigerate at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.  Run a knife around the edges; lift parchment to remove whole bar from pan.  Sprinkle with sea salt.  Trim edges and cut into 16 bars. 

Bars can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Linked To:
  * Mommy's Kitchen:  Potluck Sunday
  * A Southern Fairytale:  Mouthwatering Mondays
  * 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven:  Homemaker Monday
  * Balancing Beauty and Bedlan:  Tasty Tuesday
  * From My Tiny Kitchen:  Gold Star Wednesday
  * Simply Sweet Home:  Holly Bloggy Christmas Recipe Party

Week 10 Twelve Weeks of Christmas:

Recipe Review: Elise's Homemade Vanilla Granola

In an effort to feed my family more healthy less processed foods, I decided to give this granola recipe a shot.  I love granola.  I love it with milk in the morning but I especially love it by the hand full...:>)!  This recipe is OMG awesome!!  It smelled so wonderful as it was baking away in the oven.  So good that I couldn't wait for a taste as soon as I pulled it out of the oven.  It was delightful!  I only made one change to the original recipe.  I omitted the wheat germ because I did not have any. 

I now have a full gallon zipper bag of the most delicious granola at my eating whim.  My girls have a healthy snack without the added preservatives and chemicals.  You MUST give this a try if you heart granola. 

Enjoy!

Elise's Homemade Vanilla Granola
(recipe from Favorite Family Recipes)

8 c. oats
2 c. sliced almonds
1 c. wheat germ
1 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp cinnamon
craisins or raisins, to taste (optional)
3/4 c. canola oil
1 c. honey
3 Tbsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine first 8 ingredients (dry ingredients) in a large bowl. In a saucepan combine oil, honey, and vanilla and bring to a boil. Let boil for 1 minute then pour over oat mixture. Mix until all ingredients are moistened. Divide and spread mixture over 2 large cookie sheets and bake at 300-degrees for 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven and leave on pans until the granola hardens.  Break up granola and store in large Ziploc bags or containers.



Linked To:
  * Prairie Story:  Recipe Swap Thursday
  * Gnowfglins:  Tuesday Twister
  * Simply Sweet Home:  Friday Favorites

Must Try Tuesday: November 30, 2010

I don't know about you but we are definitely gearing up for Christmas around here.  The tree is up and beautiful and I have the spirit now.  My girls are so excited this year as my sister and her family are coming for Christmas.  We have not had a Christmas together in 9 years so we are super excited this year. 

There are were some great recipes on the blogs over the past week.  I can't wait to try these.  I did make the cranberry biscuits and they are so good.  I will be making them again during the Christmas season. 

Have a great week!

Soap Mom's Kitchen

Cranberry Biscuits

Photo by Soap Mom's Kitchen

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Delectalicious!

7 Cup Fruit Salad

Photo by Delectalicious!

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Moogie & Pap

Baby Rum Babas

Photo by Moogie & Pap

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The Sister's Cafe

Ham Cheese Ball

Photo by The Sister's Cafe

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The Girl Who Ate Everything

Peanut Butter Popcorn

Photo by The Girl Who Ate Everything

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Family: Woo hoo! We made the honor roll!

I am just so proud of my girls that I am bursting!  All three of my girls have made the honor roll again for this 6 weeks.  Hailey made the A honor roll.  Abby and Zoey made the A/B honor roll.  All three of them were listed in our local paper.

Way to go girls!

12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies: Week #9

Christmas is around the corner....I can't believe it!   I didn't make cookies this week because we cooked so much for Thanksgiving.  And although I didn't bake, there were lots of bakers who did. 

Here are some of their great creations!

Week 9 Twelve Weeks of Christmas: