Roasted Asparagus

I absolutely love roasted asparagus! So tasty and healthy.  A great side dish to any meal.  I buy a steak seasoning from Aldi called Stonemill Essentials that is amazing.  It has course ground pepper, sea salt, garlic powder, onion flakes, red pepper flakes and other flavors.  It is similar to a McCormick seasoning except you only pay $1 for 3.75 oz as compared to $2.75 for half the size.  I sprinkle it on baked potatoes, steaks, chicken, veggies, homemade croutons...everything :)

Yield: 4 servings


1 pound of asparagus (tough ends cut off)
Drizzle of olive oil
salt and pepper (or steak seasoning)


Toss asparagus with Olive oil and seasonings place on cookie sheet and bake at 400* for 25 minutes.  I like mine a little crunchy and of course the tips are my favorite part.


Enjoy as a side to any meal!

Fruit Smoothie

This is so refreshing after spending the day in the sun!  The last time I made these smoothies, I added a little less milk to make them thicker like a sorbet.  When I come home from the grocery store I wash and cut the strawberries in half, removing the steam. I add the blueberries and strawberries to a freezer bag and store in freezer. I place bananas whole with steams on directly into freezer.  When I am ready to use them I cut the ends off of the banana and cut in half.  Then I stand the banana on a cut side and trim off the peel (like you would when you cut corn off of the cob).  You can add any frozen fruit you prefer (cantaloupe, pineapple, just bananas or berries...) Be sure to drink it fast before it melts in this hot summer heat!

Yield 4 smoothies


1 carton frozen strawberries
1/2 pint frozen blueberries
2 frozen bananas 
2 Tbsp sugar (this is optional but I think the frozen strawberries sometimes taste bitter so I add a little bit of sugar)
1/2 cup to 1 cup milk (more or less depending on how thick or thin you like it and also how many servings you need to get)


Add Frozen Fruit, Sugar, and Milk to blender.  Blend until smooth.


Pour into glasses (or bowls) serve with straw.


Drink (or eat with spoon) and enjoy!

Sweet Dreams,
Cindy

London Broil

Since it is summertime and HOT everywhere in the country, I thought I would post my recipe for grilled London broil (also called Top Round).  There are many things I like about this recipe: it turns a cheap, normally tough piece of meat, into a juicy, mouthwatering meal; since you are grilling it, your house doesn't get hot from turning on the oven; it makes a lot of meat which means leftovers later in the week when you only have to cook once J 

Some of the secrets to cooking this cut of meat are taking the time to marinade at least 2 hours if not overnight and removing the meat from the grill when it is medium or medium rare, since cooking this until well done will not be pleasant to chew and chew and chew…  Also, when you take the meat off the grill, allow it to sit and rest 10 minutes before slicing it so it can re-absorb all of the juices and be super tender. 

This marinade works wonderfully with any other beef steaks, chicken breasts, or shrimp. It is also what I use for marinating veggies and meat for kabobs.  Since this is such an easy and versatile marinade, I am kind of guessing with amounts.  I usually guess on what looks good (such as a couple of shakes of this or that) and go with your preferred tastes.

(London broil and chicken breast, marinated and grilled)

Yield: 6 servings

2-3 pound London Broil (or Top Round)

1/2 bottle of Italian Salad Dressing

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce (sometimes I add this, leave it out, or substitute balsamic vinegar)

Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder

Combine ingredients in gallon size Ziploc bag. Place in refrigerator to marinade at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

Grill over medium high heat for 8-10 minutes per side, depending on preferred doneness.  **Remember that this is a tough cut of meat that is best when prepared a little red to pink inside.

Allow to rest for 10 minutes. Slice into thin strips along the bias or against the grain.  Serve with potato salad, corn on the cob, what ever you enjoy with steaks J

Leftovers are great on salad the next day. Yummy!!!

Sweet Dreams,
Cindy

Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread

I love this bread!  It makes your house smell so good when baking in the oven. The cinnamon sugar swirl looks so pretty.  My bread came out with a crunchy top and moist inside.  I did not use nuts since I didn't have any at home, but they would make this even more divine.  Absolutely perfect to serve at a brunch or shower!

Yield: 1 loaf (15 servings)

1 1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup chopped walnut or pecans (Optional)

2 tsp cinnamon

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

1 cup milk

1/3 cup oil

In a small bowl combine 1/3 cup sugar, cinnamon, and nuts.  Set aside

In mixing bowl, mix remaining 1 cup Sugar, Flour, Baking Powder, Salt, Egg, Milk, Oil.  Stir until combined.  Batter will be a little lumpy.

Pour half of batter into greased loaf pan.  Sprinkle half of cinnamon, sugar, nut mixture on top.  Pour rest of batter in pan.  Top with remaining cinnamon sugar mixture.  Swirl with rubber scrapper or butter knife, not completely mixing all the layers.  

Bake in preheated 350* oven for 65-70 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.

(make sure to check for doneness; my bread cooked for 60 minutes and then needed an additional 5 minutes for the toothpick to come out clean)

Cool on wire rack.  Slice and serve warm or cold, with or without butter. Enjoy!

I found this recipe on Better Homes & Garden's website.  Check them out for similar  recipes.

Sweet Dreams,
Cindy

Lobster Rolls

(freshly steamed at the store and ready to eat)

(my Dad enjoying some lobster when visiting us over the summer)

Since we moved to New England, my husband and I have been eating a lot more lobster than when used to when we lived in the Midwest.  Two years ago on Father's Day weekend, we were able to buy lobsters for $2.99 per pound!!! Can you believe that!  Instead of spending $2.99 on ground beef or turkey, I was able to get fancy lobster and they steam them for you! Which is a huge bonus point because I would have a hard time putting the live lobster into boiling water.  Poor baby lobster...but they taste sooo good. If you are as fortunate as us to get lobster at a very cheap price, stock up.  They freeze great and all you have to do is defrost in the refrigerator and place on the grill to reheat. Yummy!

(right off the grill, poor little antennas got burned off)

Anyways, lobster (or lobsta, as some folks pronounce it here) rolls are very popular around here especially at local restaurants and festivals since it comes in fresh from the ocean.  This recipe is full of lobster flavor and focuses more on lobster than a thick sauce and fillers.  

Yield:  2 servings

1 (1 1/4 - 1 1/2 pound) chick lobster, meat cooked, cooled, and cubed

1/4 cup light mayo

1/2 stalk diced celery

1/4 tsp onion powder

salt and pepper

dill

1/2 tsp lemon juice

lobster sandwich rolls (or hot dog buns)

Combine lobster meat, mayo, celery, and lemon juice in bowl.  Add onion powder, salt, pepper, and dill to taste. 

Serve on top split lobster rolls (or regular hot dog buns) buttered and toasted. Add a little lettuce if you prefer.

Sweet Dreams,
Cindy

Crepes

I love ordering crepes when I go out for breakfast at restaurants!  They are light, sweet, and so perfect served with berries and cream!  This recipe is perfect for a Mother's Day brunch or special day.  Since it is so tasty and delicious, it could be served for any meal of the day!

Yield: 6-8 crepes

1 cup flour

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup water

1/4 tsp salt

2 Tbsp melted butter

Combine wet ingredients in a bowl.  Add in dry ingredients.  Whisk until smooth and runny.

Heat pan over medium high heat.  Grease with a little butter.  Pour 1/4 cup batter onto center of skillet.  Tilt skillet so batter runs to edges and creates a thin crepe.  

Cook 1-2 minutes until lightly browned.  Flip crepe using a spatula and brown other side for 1 minute.  Remove from heat and place on plate in microwave to wait until all crepes are done cooking.

For filling you could use a cream cheese and powdered sugar mixture, you could spread with your favorite jam or nutella, or use whipped cream with berries folded in.  I like mine with berries, powdered sugar, and a little pancake syrup.

Sweet Dreams,
Cindy

Ants Go Marching Apples

This is a healthy, filling snack that my Mom used to make when I was a little girl.  Apples, peanut butter, and raisins; very simple but so good.  Kids will enjoy this snack especially when you sing "The Ants Go Marching Song" when making them.  The raisins are the "ants" and the peanut butter is like "ground" they are marching on.  Just a fun idea for snack time.  You could also use this with celery stalks instead of apples for Ants on a Log and it tastes just as good.

Yield: 1 serving per apple

Apples

Peanut Butter

Raisins

Cut Apple into wedges.  Spread with Peanut Butter.  Place Raisins on top.

Eat and Enjoy this healthy mid afternoon snack.

Sweet Dreams,
Cindy

Cinnamon Rolls

Sweet, gooey, and warm! These cinnamon rolls are so delicious.  Instead of burning a candle to make your house smell nice, try whipping up a batch of these babies.  Neighbors will be ringing your doorbell asking to borrow a cup of sugar when they really just want to taste some of these mouthwatering treats.  

Yield: 12 large rolls

Rolls:

2 1/4 tsp yeast (1 pkg)

1 cup warm milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup melted butter

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

4 cups flour

Filling:

1 cup brown sugar

2 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon

1/3 cup softened butter

1/2 cup Nuts and raisins optional

Icing:

7 Tbsp butter

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup cream cheese softened

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

1. Proof Yeast, Milk, Sugar, Butter for 10 minutes.  Add Salt, Eggs, and Flour.  Knead with dough hook for 5 minutes on level 3.  Or by hand for 10 minutes if you need a good workout
2. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 400*
4. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough on floured surface into large rectangle. Spread with melted Butter and sprinkle with Cinnamon, Brown Sugar, and nuts or raisins if preferred.
5. Roll up from the long sides and pinch ends together.
6. Slice into 1 inch thick rolls and Place in greased 9 x 13 baking dish, let rise 30 minutes. 
7. Bake 16-20 minutes until slightly browned and cooked in the center of the rolls. 
8. While baking combine Butter, Powdered Sugar, Cream Cheese, Vanilla, and Salt for frosting.  Lick batters to taste a piece of Heaven.
9. Allow rolls to cool for 10 minutes.  Breathe in the smell of homemade cinnamon rolls throughout your home.
10. Spread 1/2 the frosting on warm rolls.  Cool to room temperature and spread the remaining half of frosting on rolls (if you didn’t eat it all up yet)

Enjoy these gooey treats!  Better make a double batch so the husband can take some to co-workers who will be very grateful for your “hard” work J

Sweet Dreams,
Cindy

Coleslaw

I found this recipe online years ago and have been using it ever since.  It is easy to make and tastes very much like the coleslaw served at KFC.  

This recipe tastes good right away but even more amazing the next day!  I usually cut the recipe in half and still get plenty of leftovers for the week.  When I made this for our 4^th of July celebration I bought a 4lb head of cabbage and used half of it for this coleslaw, which made more than enough for 4 people.   

Yield: 7 cups of slaw.  I would guess enough to feed 10 people as a side dish. Perfect for a picnic or church pot luck!  

1/2 cup mayonnaise (I use Light Mayo)

1/3 cup sugar

¼ cup milk

2 ½ Tbsp lemon juice

2 Tbsp vinegar

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

8 cups cabbage, shredded (1 head)

1 or 2 shredded carrots

2 Tbsp mined onion

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. 

Cover and let sit in refrigerator at least 30 minutes.  It will taste even more like KFC coleslaw the longer it rests.  You will also notice the sauce will become thinner the longer it rests, which is nice because it tastes a lot lighter than a thick, heavy, mayo rich sauce.

Serve to hungry guests!

Sweet Dreams,
Cindy