This is a recipe that I grew up eating and it’s something that I always turn to in cold winter months when the cupboards are looking bare.

In a large pot, sautee an onion and garlic in some oil. Add to that chopped and peeled potatoes. I do 1-2 lg potatoes per person. Add just enough water to cover potatoes and boil until potatoes are soft.

During the boiling process I add salt, pepper and a couple tsp of chicken bullion. Also green chiles to taste. Once the potatoes are soft, mash slightly with a potato masher and pour in some milk or cream until soup has a pleasing consistency.

At this point throw in some cooked bacon or hamburger or sausage or ham (turkey of course) and whatever veggie sounds good. I really like frozen corn. The last batch I made I mixed in some cooked sweet potatoes which was amazing.

Cook until heated through and enjoy!

It’s that time again for iced coffee. Last year I was loving me some
cold-brewed coffee which is supposed to be lower in acidity. I think it’s just dern yummy. mmmmm….

I’m making candy tonight with some of my friends. I’ve been scouring Martha’s website for recipes. Here are a few intriguing ones:

peppermint meringues with chocolate filling.

chocolate covered peppermint sticks – I’ve made these before and they are SO fun!

I was looking through my recipes to make sure I had all the ingredients written on my grocery list for Enchilada casserole and I found a list of meal ideas I wrote when we first got married. I thought some of it might be useful/funny. (Add your suggestions too!)

Potato soup
jamaica jerk chicken
vegetable pitas
grilled portobello mushrooms
roasted chicken
black bean soup
fajitas
chicken pot pie
manicotti
lasagne
tuna & white sauce (recipe to follow)
pot roast
tuna casserole
enchilada casserole
stir fry
calzones
pizza
french dip
steak with sauteed bell peppers and mushrooms
chicken salad
kebabs
fried burritos
chicken devan
chicken noodle soup
frito pie
pasta salad
taco crockpot dish (need to find that recipe, it was yummy)
chicken spinach tetrazini (ooo, need to find that one too!)
chicken gumbo

Tuna and white sauce is something that my mom made when I was growing up. It’s the ultimate poor meal. It’s super fast, super tasty and if you keep a can of tuna and some frozen peas on hand, you’ll always have something for dinner.

Melt 4 1/2 Tbs of butter in a large skillet. Stir in 8 Tbs of flour and season with salt and pepper.

Gradually whisk in 4 cups of milk. Cook, stirring frequently until thickened. Stir in 1 large can of tuna (or 2 small) drained, and 2 cups of frozen peas. Cook until peas are heated through.

Serve over toast or bread.

Serves at least four.

For Honors cupcakes, I started with unfrosted cupcakes from the bakery of my local grocery store. (Isn’t that the coolest thing ever? I just had to bat my eyelashes at the bakery manager and she agreed to sell me them unfrosted. Because it’s usually the frosting that makes store bought cupcakes taste gross, you’d never know that I didn’t bake them. They were quite tasty!)

Next, I made my standard powdered sugar frosting, but I used organic powdered sugar – that’s why they aren’t white/white. So mix 1 lb powdered sugar, 1 stick of butter softened (organic too) and 1 tps vanilla until the butter is incorporated. Then add enough half and half a tsp at a time to make it a nice spreadable texture.

For the eyes I used hershey’s kisses and chocolate chips. The teeth are white Good and Plentys and the nose holes are mini chocolate chips. It was so easy!

So lately I’ve been making this drink. It’s a tasty, fruity drink that goes down just a little too easily and it’s really caught on with my friends. After a silly case of misunderstanding, the drink was named “the girlfriend.” And lately I’ve been doling out a lot of girlfriends.

Here’s how to make one:

Take a glass, fill it with ice. Pour in a healthy shot of your favorite vodka. Add as many marachino cherries as you like with a tiny bit of the juice, squeeze in 1/4 lime, toss the lime in the glass. Pour over 7-up (or diet 7-up) to your liking, stir and enjoy your girlfriend!

7up or Diet 7up
limes
maraschino cherries
ice

Squeeze desired amount of lime juice into a glass. (I like the juice of at least one lime.) Place half of squeezed lime in glass for color and more flavor. Top with ice. Pour 7up over ice and top with desired amount of cherries. It must be served with a straw!

So it’s that time of year again, the time that turning on a stove is like torture. It was 100 degrees here yesterday, and it’s supposed to be as hot again today. I only want to spend my time at the lake, not cooking. So I thought I’d revive my 100 salads search. So far I’ve got 79 salads collected and I’d like to make it to 100 by the end of summer.

Here are all the details from last summer. And I’m off to whip up a salad.

I love, love, love these wraps, I’d eat them any day over sandwiches. You can leave out the turkey to make Vegetarian. mmmmm…

Adapted from a recipe I found in Martha Stewart Everyday Food.

1 package Sandwich wraps
1 can black beans rinsed and drained
1 avocado, thinly sliced
1 red onion thinly
1 package fresh baby spinach leaves
sour cream
pickled jalapenos, finely chopped
1 thinly sliced large tomato
salt and pepper
1 lb smoked turkey breast, sliced thin

Spread sandwich wraps with sour cream, leaving a 1/2 inch border around the edge. Sprinkle with jalapenos and salt and pepper if desired. Evenly distribute beans, avacado, onion, spinach, tomato and turkey. Roll up tightly, folding the ends in. Cut in half and serve immediately. To make portable wrap tightly in waxed paper before cutting.

Edit: and cheese, I’m allergic to cheese so I forgot, but cheddar or monteray jack would be great.