Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Everything in Between!

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October 31, 2009

Catyra's Power Breakfast with Oats! O.o

This is a breakfast that will give you energy to burn later. Go oats!

Plus you can dress your oats up by adding your favorite fruits or berries. Mmm, blueberries! This is another great reason (besides pancakes) to keep frozen blueberries on hand. Just toss them in during step one and they will heat while your oats cook.

What you need:
1 cup of Oatmeal
1 to 1-1/3 cups of water (or milk to make it creamier)
1 egg
1-3 teaspoons of cinnamon (to taste)
**optional** blueberries, apples, whatever...to taste! XD

Step 1. Microwave a cup of regular oatmeal with the water, on high for 2.5 minutes.

**Add frozen fruit here.

Step 2. Remove and add the egg in your oat. Stir vigorously to evenly disperse the egg. It should look cloudy.

Step 3. Stir in your cinnamon (no sugar).

Step 4. Microwave for another 2.5 minutes.

Step 5. Remove and add some milk (to make it a creamier, and slightly less sticky concoction) and anything else you want. You can add some fruit or real maple syrup.

Catyra writes, "You now have whole grains, two sources of protein, and nutrients from any toppings you added. Serve with orange juice for added morning kick and day-long energy. Best thing is, all natural and healthy.

Just don't add any sugar or anything containing corn syrup or you've just counteracted the whole purpose of the meal."

Gooey and Delicious! Caramel Apples

Caramel apples are pretty easy to make, but if you're like me then you might want to place some paper bags or something on your counter and floor to catch the drips.



What you need for a Basic Caramel Apple Recipe:
6-8 Apples (I like using green Granny-Smiths, and Washington apples)
Wooden popsicle sticks
1-1/2 cups Brown sugar
1-1/2 tablespoons of Butter
6 tablespoons of Milk
1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
1/2 to 1 cup of peanuts, mini baking chocolates, or whatever other chopped up topping that you would like.

**Tip** To save yourself a little hassle you could buy a bag of caramels and skip the above ingredients. The downside is that you have to unwrapped the little suckers before you melt the caramel. Also, you still will want to add a little liquid--approximately 2 tablespoons worth.

The other nice thing about buying premade caramels is that they often come with popsicle sticks in the bags.

Step 1. Get your apples ready ahead of time.

a. Wash them and remove the waxy coating. You can do this by dipping them very quickly in boiling water then wipe the wax off. Fit vegetable spray works okay, but the boiling dip works better.

b. Chill the apples in the fridge for at least an hour before you want to dip them.

Step 2. Now that you have washed and chilled apples, you are ready to set up your station.

a. Make sure your nuts and other toppings are chopped and place in a mixing bowl.

b. Line a flat pan (cookie sheet) with wax-paper (to place the apples on once they are coated.

Step 3. In a suacepan mix your ingredients.

** If you are using pre-made caramels, add in the unwrapped candies/milk. Melt these on low heat.

Step 4.
Cook on medium heat until approximately 235 degree Fahrenheit. Remove from heat.

Step 5. Dip your apples, turning them in the caramel.

After you dip the apple you are working with in the caramel, quickly dip into your toppings. Then place on the wax sheet.

Step 6. One each of the apples are coated and topped, you must refrigerate them for another hour. Keep them stored in the fridge as well.

Check out Mahalo for more caramel apples recipes and tips. The chocolate caramel recipe on that page sounds sinfully delicious!

October 30, 2009

Easy Tortellini Soup

This soup was inspired by Goodlee's recipe for AB Cappin' Cappaletti Soup. Really, chicken broth soups are very versatile. You can throw practically whatever you'd like into them. For instance, try chicken broth with some mushroom, onions, and tomatoes.



The recipe below calls for tortellinis, but you can substitute that with other pasta if you'd like.

What you need:
1 can of chicken broth (I like the low sodium, so I can salt to taste).
1 good handful of frozen tortellini
Some frozen veggies (Whatever you have on hand...I used some corn and greenbeans.)

Season with salt, pepper, garlic, grated parmesan cheese,and dried mince onions to taste.

Step 1. Pour ingredients (except for veggies) into a saucepan.

Step 2. Cover and bring to a boil. Turn the burner to medium low. Cook for about 7-10 minutes.

Step 3. Add in the veggies, and simmer for another 5 minutes.

That's it. This will make a bowl and a half of soup in a pinch.


Variation: Spice it up with some Jalapeno slices, a can of drained chili ready tomatoes, 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of chili powder, and 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoons of cumin.




Soup Recipes: Chicken Soup made Easy! AB Cappin' Cappaletti Soup, Easy Tortellini Soup, Easy Vegetarian Minestrone Soup, Helfire Boar Stewin' with Berlena, Monti's Crock Pot Ready Tortilla Soup, Mair's Super-Simple Taco Soup, Linsha's Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup.



Crock Pot Recipes and Tips: Grizelle's Pulled-Pork Crock-Pot Recipe, Advantages of Crock Pots, by Grizelle and Zonoma, Helfire Boar Stewin' with Berlena, Monti's Crock Pot Ready Tortilla Soup, Merry Making Peach and Apricot Hot Cider.

Cinnamonny Goodness: Easy Applesauce IRL

Mmm... Nothing says fall like warm apple-filled treats.

Applesauce is easy to make and worth the extra effort that you'd exert instead of opening a premade jar.



Really, this isn't fixing the global economy. It's simply based on the ancient process of boiling fruit in a little sugar-water. So if you're new to the kitchen try this recipe, and impress your mates. The nice thing is that if you boil it on low enough heat you have a few minutes of lee-way for gaming.

What you need:
A bunch of Apples (8-10).
Cinnamon. Use about 1-1/2 tablespoons ground if you like it nice and cinnamonny.
1/2 to 1 cup of Sugar. You can use 1/2 brown and half white; I like to use 1/2 cup of brown sugar, packed.
1 cup of Water
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2-3 squirts of lemon juice (fresh or the stuff sitting in the fridge).

Step 1. Peel, core, and quartered your apples. I like to mix the apples in sauces and pie recipes. Try a mix of 2 Golden Delicious, 2 Granny Smith, 2 Fuji, and 2 Gala.)

Step 2. Place your apple slices in a large pot.

Step 3. Squirt with the lemon juice. This just helps stop the apples from browning, and can bring out the flavor of the apples.

Step 4. Add the water, cinnamon, sugar, and salt. Stir to coat.

Step 5. Bring to boil. Lower the heat and let the mix simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Step 6. Remove from heat. Mash with potato masher or large spoon.

Ready to serve, either hot or chilled.

Eat some now, and freeze some for later! :)

Variations: Try with a little vanilla bean extract (about 1/2 teaspoon cooked in during step 4). Also try swapping out the gala apples with a few pears. Mmmm!

October 03, 2009

Spicy Wolf Kabobs, by Tweaks

Here is a recipe submission from Tweaks. Check out her blog "What's for Dinner?" for more recipes including: Pumpkin Spice Bars, and Chicken Curry Casserole.

Now back to the Spicy Wolf Kabobs...Talk about yummy! If you're having a carnivorous craving, be sure to try these kabobs.



Skipping the meat? Substitute yours with eggplant, tomatoes, and mushrooms.

Tweaks writes, "Last week I made some shish kabobs; they were really fun and easy to make. The prep took a while, but it can be done the night before."

**Note on Marinades** Most grocers carry pre-made marinades that are delicious. Often these are found the ethnically themed aisles, but I have also seen some near the premixed spice-pouches.

My favorite of the marinades atm, is MINS Korea House Bul Go Gi marinade. It is produced by a local restaurant and is sold at the local grocery store (you never know what you'll find!).

You can easily make your own rub for your kabobs, or try a spice-pouch. Mmm...taco kabobs!



Easy, Fun, Fast.


The prep time can be consuming if you're cutting things by hand. Try using the Vidalia Chop Wizard.

TBH, I want to try the "Slap Chop," it looks a little ridiculous--but I am down for smacking things as I cook!



Particularly if there were a guy looking that smug in my kitchen...After all, he does note that "You can slap your troubles away." I think I could muster a slap or two...for the device. <----Yeah right!

P.S. YTMND fans have fun with the linked video. "You're gonna love my nuts!"

What you need to make Tweak's Kabob's:

Skewer sticks, Meat, Peppers, Onion, Pineapple, Marinades.

Step 1. Soak skewers before use.

Step 2. Cut food in square shapes.

Step 3. Stick your foods onto the skewer and grill for about 10 minutes.



P.S. Please don't poke your gf with the sticks. She does not like that much. TY.