If you have planned a Big Feast at your home and have out of town/state/country guests coming for the extra long weekend,you might want to consider "pre-planning" all of your meals; Wednesday evening,The big day,Friday Brunch and Dinner,Saturdays'
meals, etc.
I like to eat something totally different on the night before Thanksgiving and on the day after Thanksgiving....except, sometimes I just want more Turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy and stuffing on that Friday evening. I love Turkey and I love all the "fixins" as they say it here in East Tennessee.
I like to eat Mexican or Italian dishes or good old Cheeseburgers before and after the big Feast.
I love Chicken Enchiladas, Pizza, Lasagna,or my favorite soup in the world...it's called "Mama Mandola's Chicken Noodle Soup ". Recipe follows...
****the last time I posted this recipe was on May 25,2010.****
Mama Mandola's Spicy Sicilian Chicken Soup
8 Servings
you can double or triple this recipe as needed.
Ingredients:
5 celery ribs
4 medium carrots, peeled
1 large yellow onion
2 medium potatoes, peeled
1 large green bell pepper
1 (14 ounce) can imported Italian plum tomatoes
1 (5 lb) hen, washed and cut into 8 pieces
1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
6 quarts water Directions:
1 Dice celery, carrots, onion, potatoes and bell pepper into 1/4-inch pieces.
2 Chop tomatoes; reserve all juice.
3 Place vegetables, tomatoes with their juice, chicken pieces, parsley and garlic
in a 10-quart stockpot.
4 Add water. Season with salt and pepper.
5 Slowly bring soup to a boil over low heat.
6 Skim off foam that rises to the surface; may have to skim 2 or 3 times.
7 Partially cover pot and simmer 2 hours.
8 When soup is finished, remove chicken pieces with a slotted spoon. Let cool.
9 Meanwhile, mash vegetables in the bottom of the pot with the back side of a
large cooking spoon or a potato masher.
10 When chicken has cooled enough to handle, remove skin and bones and return meat
to soup.
11 Notes: Soup is best served the day after it is made. Refrigerate and remove fat
that solidifies on the surface of the soup. Serve soup with rice or small,
stubby pasta like "mini bowtie" pasta. For better flavor, cook the rice or pasta
in the soup when reheating. Add freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, if
desired.
Enjoy!!!
love, Tamar
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Kitchen prep for The Big Day...
There is so much to do for a Big Event like Thanksgiving or Christmas, so, doing your kitchen prep 3 days before the Big Feast can save you time and lessen the stress, and make things run more smoothly.
I read an article for last years' big Feast that got me thinking;
1) make a list of your Menu for the big Feast,
2) make a grocery list for all items you'll need
3) make labels for each dish, using index cards and place each one in the designated
dish that you have chosen for that cake, pie, casserole, pan/pans of rolls, etc.
to keep from having to hunt for a dish or platter that is just the right size for
your special recipe(s) on that hectic day,
4) you could even pre-measure the non refrigerated items that each dish calls for
and store them in containers or bags in the dish that they will be baked in.
Save your sanity and your nerves and enjoy the prep leading up to the Big Feast.
This applies to any gatherings that you have at your house,be it Thanksgiving, Christmas,Easter, New Years' Eve, New Years' Day, birthdays,or vacations inwhich you
cook most of your meals in the condo.
I pray that my Tips and suggestions are helpful and a blessing to you.
love, Tamar
I read an article for last years' big Feast that got me thinking;
1) make a list of your Menu for the big Feast,
2) make a grocery list for all items you'll need
3) make labels for each dish, using index cards and place each one in the designated
dish that you have chosen for that cake, pie, casserole, pan/pans of rolls, etc.
to keep from having to hunt for a dish or platter that is just the right size for
your special recipe(s) on that hectic day,
4) you could even pre-measure the non refrigerated items that each dish calls for
and store them in containers or bags in the dish that they will be baked in.
Save your sanity and your nerves and enjoy the prep leading up to the Big Feast.
This applies to any gatherings that you have at your house,be it Thanksgiving, Christmas,Easter, New Years' Eve, New Years' Day, birthdays,or vacations inwhich you
cook most of your meals in the condo.
I pray that my Tips and suggestions are helpful and a blessing to you.
love, Tamar
Be sure to make memories with those that you love...
Sometimes, our lives get to be so busy that we forget to say I love you to our family and friends and relatives.
I live far away from my siblings and nieces and nephews and their spousses and great-neices and great-nephews and some of my friends and my relatives. I love them dearly and I miss them terribly. They are so adorable and so precious.
When the weather gets cooler, take advantage of it and plan a picnic
with your loved ones or friends. Or, invite people over for Dessert and coffee
or Frappechino's .
Don't forget to say I love you; you never know when it'll be your last chance to say it to one of them.
Bake some brownies today; just because.
I guess, what I'm trying to say is, "don't forget to make some precious memories
with your loved ones,because no one knows how much time they have left on earth.
I used to bake cookies with my nieces and nephew that lived nearby, when they were
very young. They still remind me of their fond memories about all the times we shared. We always ate some cookie dough together, which they got so excited about.
Tamar
I live far away from my siblings and nieces and nephews and their spousses and great-neices and great-nephews and some of my friends and my relatives. I love them dearly and I miss them terribly. They are so adorable and so precious.
When the weather gets cooler, take advantage of it and plan a picnic
with your loved ones or friends. Or, invite people over for Dessert and coffee
or Frappechino's .
Don't forget to say I love you; you never know when it'll be your last chance to say it to one of them.
Bake some brownies today; just because.
I guess, what I'm trying to say is, "don't forget to make some precious memories
with your loved ones,because no one knows how much time they have left on earth.
I used to bake cookies with my nieces and nephew that lived nearby, when they were
very young. They still remind me of their fond memories about all the times we shared. We always ate some cookie dough together, which they got so excited about.
Tamar
Planning Ahead for Thanksgiving....
These days,money is so tight that you have to plan ahead for Big events like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
It's smart to think ahead and stock-up for Thanksgiving, whether you are the Host or a guest at someone else's home.
September is a great time to start stocking up for Thanksgiving; canned vegetables,cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup,chicken broth,spices like cinn. and pumpkin pie spice,brown sugar, white sugar, tea bags,ground coffee,Pam cooking spray and Pure Vanilla , and in early Nov. you can purchase sweet potatoes and russet potatoes. Pecans and real butter can be frozen.
Other items you'll need are Heavy duty foil,Saran wrap(I suggest that you never buy the bargain brand of plastic wrap; it doesn't unroll or tear properly and it is very frustrating), and you'll need some regular and large size Ziplok bags, and finally, some disposable foil baking pans are great for casseroles and rolls. Less to wash.
Tip: If using foil pans for the Turkey, be careful;you could drop it on the floor very easily . ha! It happens.
You can whip up a batch or two of Parker House rolls,roll them into balls and freeze them on a cookie sheet til firm,then put in ziplock freeser bags until Thanksgiving morning.Then, thaw and let rise and bake.
ps you can partially bake them, then,finish them off when you are ready to serve the Feast.
More ideas in my next blog.
Be Blessed and remember to give Thanks to The Lord for all your family and friends and for all that you have been blessed with,
Tamar
It's smart to think ahead and stock-up for Thanksgiving, whether you are the Host or a guest at someone else's home.
September is a great time to start stocking up for Thanksgiving; canned vegetables,cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup,chicken broth,spices like cinn. and pumpkin pie spice,brown sugar, white sugar, tea bags,ground coffee,Pam cooking spray and Pure Vanilla , and in early Nov. you can purchase sweet potatoes and russet potatoes. Pecans and real butter can be frozen.
Other items you'll need are Heavy duty foil,Saran wrap(I suggest that you never buy the bargain brand of plastic wrap; it doesn't unroll or tear properly and it is very frustrating), and you'll need some regular and large size Ziplok bags, and finally, some disposable foil baking pans are great for casseroles and rolls. Less to wash.
Tip: If using foil pans for the Turkey, be careful;you could drop it on the floor very easily . ha! It happens.
You can whip up a batch or two of Parker House rolls,roll them into balls and freeze them on a cookie sheet til firm,then put in ziplock freeser bags until Thanksgiving morning.Then, thaw and let rise and bake.
ps you can partially bake them, then,finish them off when you are ready to serve the Feast.
More ideas in my next blog.
Be Blessed and remember to give Thanks to The Lord for all your family and friends and for all that you have been blessed with,
Tamar
Monday, August 23, 2010
I developed a recipe that tastes like Cracker Barrel's Cornbread....
ps These are great for a "treat" once in a while.
I love Cracker Barrel Restaurant and everything about the place.
I think that they make the best cornbread around.
So, I developed a recipe that comes mighty close to tasting just
like theirs.
Here is the recipe:
TAMAR'S ORIGINAL RECIPE: CRACKER BARREL CORNBREAD
1 C. White, plain cornmeal
1 C. yellow, plain cornmeal
1/2 C. all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 T. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
Mix all. Then add:
1 egg
1 1/2 C. buttermilk
3 T. butter, melted
3 T. shortening
1/8 C. oil
Mix well.
Heat 1/8 C. oil in a black cast
iron skillet, til smokin' hot.
Pour mixture into hot oil .
Bake 400 degrees 25-30 minutes til
it cracks.
Enjoy !
I could never find a more delicious recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole than this one...
I love Traditions; well, some traditions. I love
baking and cooking and roasting all kinds of wonderful
foods for Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter.
Thanksgiving is such a wonderful Holiday.
Don't get me wrong, we are always thankful,all day, each
and everyday for all that God does for us, but,there's
something so wonderful about knowing that people all
over this nation and even around the world, are giving
thanks and sharing a feast together with some of the ones
they love,even if it's not with their immediate family.
(I know that there are families that don't get along
with one another and some wouldn't get together at all
if it were not for this holiday (and two other wonderful
holidays),but,I'd like to think that some are taking
advantage of the opportunity to reconcile during this
holiday while they still can.)
One very special Thanksgiving. a friend from church
made this Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Praline
Topping and it was so delicious that I passed up all
the cakes and pies just to have a second serving of it.
As with every Thanksgiving, we ate til we were stuffed
and we thought about and prayed for all the starving
children in India and felt guilty for eating such a
marvelous and enormous amount of food, but everything
was so delicious, but, that dish deserved a standing
ovation.
It is a true Tradition in our home for Thanksgiving
and Christmas, and sometimes Easter. It's the cream cheese
that makes it different and makes it so fabulous.
I will share the recipe with you...
THE BEST SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE EVER
4 large fresh Sweet Potatoes,peeled and cubed
1/4 C. pure lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
water
Boil til tender. Drain.
Mash, using a mixer.
Add:
1 8-oz. bar cream cheese
2 C. sugar
1 bar real butter
1 tsp. lemon juice
4 eggs
pinch o'salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
5 oz. can Pet Evaporated milk
Mix all with and electric mixer. . Spread in a lightly buttered 13 x 9 Pyrex Baking Dish .
Topping:
1/2 C. flour
1 bar real butter
2 C. brown sugar '
2 C. pecans, finely chpd.
Mix all and sprinkle on top of the sweet potato mixture.
Bake 350 degrees for til set. approximately 30-45 mins.
I am sure that you will love this recipe.
Let me know what you think.
I pray that you and your family are blessed this Thanksgiving!
baking and cooking and roasting all kinds of wonderful
foods for Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter.
Thanksgiving is such a wonderful Holiday.
Don't get me wrong, we are always thankful,all day, each
and everyday for all that God does for us, but,there's
something so wonderful about knowing that people all
over this nation and even around the world, are giving
thanks and sharing a feast together with some of the ones
they love,even if it's not with their immediate family.
(I know that there are families that don't get along
with one another and some wouldn't get together at all
if it were not for this holiday (and two other wonderful
holidays),but,I'd like to think that some are taking
advantage of the opportunity to reconcile during this
holiday while they still can.)
One very special Thanksgiving. a friend from church
made this Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Praline
Topping and it was so delicious that I passed up all
the cakes and pies just to have a second serving of it.
As with every Thanksgiving, we ate til we were stuffed
and we thought about and prayed for all the starving
children in India and felt guilty for eating such a
marvelous and enormous amount of food, but everything
was so delicious, but, that dish deserved a standing
ovation.
It is a true Tradition in our home for Thanksgiving
and Christmas, and sometimes Easter. It's the cream cheese
that makes it different and makes it so fabulous.
I will share the recipe with you...
THE BEST SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE EVER
4 large fresh Sweet Potatoes,peeled and cubed
1/4 C. pure lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
water
Boil til tender. Drain.
Mash, using a mixer.
Add:
1 8-oz. bar cream cheese
2 C. sugar
1 bar real butter
1 tsp. lemon juice
4 eggs
pinch o'salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
5 oz. can Pet Evaporated milk
Mix all with and electric mixer. . Spread in a lightly buttered 13 x 9 Pyrex Baking Dish .
Topping:
1/2 C. flour
1 bar real butter
2 C. brown sugar '
2 C. pecans, finely chpd.
Mix all and sprinkle on top of the sweet potato mixture.
Bake 350 degrees for til set. approximately 30-45 mins.
I am sure that you will love this recipe.
Let me know what you think.
I pray that you and your family are blessed this Thanksgiving!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
BEST BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
Best Blueberry Muffins
America's Test Kitchen is a cooking show on PBS television.
They test and perfect each and every recipe that they publish.
Just copy and paste this link and click the eggs and breakfast category on the left side of the screen.
http://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/
America's Test Kitchen is a cooking show on PBS television.
They test and perfect each and every recipe that they publish.
Just copy and paste this link and click the eggs and breakfast category on the left side of the screen.
http://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/
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