Month: September 2010

appetizers

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

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This has got to be the BEST appitizer EVER! Our dear friend, Peggy is told by all of her friends that each time we get together for anything, she has got to bring this dish because we are so hooked on them. I could eat a dozen and usually do. We fight over who gets the last few. They are just so good. Here they are, very simple and very good.

Can of whole water chestnuts

Bacon

Take slices of bacon and cut in two. You will need a piece for each water chestnut. Wrap a piece of bacon around each chestnut and place on foil which you have sprayed with Pam and place in a preheated 350 oven for about 30 min. While they are in the oven, mix 1/2 cup chile sauce, 1/2 cup mayonaise and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Take this mixture and pour over the chestnuts and bake an additional 15 minutes. Serve with a toothpick in each one. Trust me, you will never know there is mayo in this sauce. It is just really outstanding and so easy to prepare…..

Breads

Blueberry-Coconut Muffins

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1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

2 teas lemon zest

2 large eggs

5 tables heavy whipping cream

1 cup flour

1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

1/2 cup fresh blueberries

 Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9 muffin cups with Pam or use cupcake liners (On these, it is better to forgo the liners and just use the greased pans)

In a medium bowl, beat butter, sugar and zest at medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well, after each addition. Reduce mixer speed tolow and add cream. Beat in flour until just combined. Stir in coconut; gently fold in blueberries. Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin cups. Bake for 25 min or until edges are golden brown. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

*You can make the above mixture except for adding the blueberries the night before and keep in fridge until ready to bake. Carefully fold in blueberries right before you pour into prepared muffin pans and bake according to above directions. This is taken from a Paula Deen Magazine and they are a delicious breakfast or afternoon tea bread.

Meats

Baked Salmon

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For all you salmon lovers out there, and apparently, there are many of you, this recipe is one which I received from a lady who cut my hair while staying in Carmel. She says that all her friends request it when they come to eat at her house.  Enjoy and know that upon preparing this, you are preparing a dish that is very popular in California!

2 planks of salmon (poundage depending upon how many you are feeding)

1 box (any brand, but she used Uncle Bens) wild rice mix

1 large portobella mushroom (or if you do not like this type, buy a 8 oz package of white sliced mushrooms)

3 large lemons, fresh dill, seasoning salt and pepper

Place 1 of the salmon planks in a skillet. Sprinkle with seasonings and then place 1/2 of the prepared package of wild rice over plank.

Place 1/2 of the mushrooms over rice and then place the other plank over this. Sprinkle the rest of the mushrooms and seasonings over fish. Pour 1 stick of melted butter over fish and then repeat with more lemon and dill. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for about 30 min or until salmon tests done. (this depends on how large or small your amount of fish). *Reserve remaining rice for a soup or side dish the next day.

Daily Thoughts

Back In The Saddle Again!

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We are home, home to familiar sounds (washing machine and coffee pot), home to familiar faces (dry cleaning store, grocery store and precious family and friends), and our very own couch, wing back chair and bathroom. As wonderful as traveling to different places is, coming home to your own bed, couch, kitchen and bathroom, is well, there is just nothing quite like it. In younger years, coming home to those things was just a reminder of all the responsbilites that went with them, like cleaning, laundry, etc. But as the years go by, the familiar things seem to be the things that become so very speical to us. My pillow that I lean on on the couch when watching TV, or the tree that I see everytime I look out my bedroom window, the shower that yells to me to clean on a normal day, takes on a whole new look, when I step in it the first morning back home. Yes, we had a fabulous time and yes, the view of the San Fransisco skyline our our 11th floor room was absolutely gorgeous, but……nothing is as gorgeous as the view of kids, grandkids and friends walking up the front steps to welcome us home. That is the most fabulous view of all!