cooking with tang

ok, so yes the graduation was yesterday.

but let's talk food for a minute.
in particular, the fruit dip
i had at the graduation party.

awesome-ness.
citrus-y, light, yummy, etc.
i could not stop.
i never search out people and ask for recipes,
but i searched this mom out.
i tracked her down,
and begged her for the recipe.

best fruit dip ever
8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened
7-ounce jar of marshmallow cream
1 1/2 teaspoons tang (or to taste)

yes, i said tang!
i couldn't believe it either.
so good, try it sometime!
like now!

graduation post to follow soon.

dinner, a rant

yesterday at 2pm
i started making dinner.

i put together a tilapia dish
with tomatoes, garlic, basil,
rice and beans.

i baked it and had it ready
in individual containers
to be heated up whenever.

problem -
my kids didn't like the tilapia.

so i made them fish sticks,
with yogurt cups,
and carrot sticks.
butterscotch pudding for dessert.

problem -
they didn't like the fish sticks either.

so i made them hot dogs.
as usual.
and i was exhausted.
the kitchen was destroyed.

and i still have to think of something for tonight.
grr.

tortilla soup

mm loves max and erma's -
tortilla soup.

he orders it every time we go there.
which is about once a year.
i get a burger.
are you surprised?
no?
oh.
well, they actually make a tortilla burger.
and it's pretty good.

anyway, i found a copycat recipe.
mm said it wasn't as spicy as the original,
but that he liked it okay and he would eat it again sometime.
aw, he always knows the nicest things to say.

m ate some too.
g dipped chips in it.
k gave it three "ews"
and ate cereal.
whatev.

max and erma-ish tortilla soup
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup flour
(melt butter, add flour, cook for 3 minutes)
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup milk
(add slowly and whisk)
8 oz. velveeta cubed - use spicy if ya'll dare!
(add, melt)
10 oz. rotel
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
(add, heat a bit, and serve)

that's it!
the hardest part was shredding the chicken.
and convincing myself i did not just make
chicken a la king.
don't ask.
it's a chicken a la king phobia.

put some tortilla chips in a bowl
and ladle soup on top,
or ladle soup,
then top with chips,
i'll leave that part up to you.

we ate the whole batch in one sitting.
no leftovers.
amazing for our house.

comfort food

it's what's for dinner.

tanta mel's
chicken pot pie
(tweaked a bit)

1 (15oz) pkg. pie crusts
1/3 cup margarine or butter
1/3 flour
1 envelope lipton recipe secrets, savory herb and garlic
1 1/2 cups broth (chicken or i use veggie)
2/3 cup milk
2-3 cups cubed chicken (cooked)
2 cups frozen mixed veggies
handful or two of frozen potato chunks (if ya got 'em)

preheat oven to 425 degrees. place bottom crust in your pie pan. melt margarine over medium heat. (mel sautes 1/3 cup chopped onion here, i don't, good either way) add flour and lipton packet. (will be very thick) gradually stir in broth and milk, stirring until bubbly and thickened. (think gravy) add chicken, veggies, potatoes, mix well. spoon mixture into crust-lined pan. top with second crust, seal edges and flute. (this makes it purty) cut slits in several places. bake for 30-40 minutes or until crust is golden brown. (i put it on a cookie sheet in case it bubbles over)

the first time i made this,
mm wanted to take a picture.
no lie.

christmas ham

it doesn't feel like christmas until
the baumgartner family
ham is in the oven.

i started a little early this year.
i couldn't wait.

the smell of baked ham
tells me it's christmastime,
and i really needed some
holiday cheer today.

so now i'd like to share with you.
i'm sure the other baumgartners
won't mind too much.

baumgartner brown sugar ham
6 pounds ham (fully-cooked)
2 cans coca-cola*
2 T ground cloves
1 box brown sugar

score surface
fat side up
pour one can of coca-cola in bottom of pan
bake 20 min/pound at 350 degrees, covered
baste as needed

meanwhile, mix together
one can of coca-cola
cloves
brown sugar

when timer dings,
pour mixture over ham
and bake 5 min/pound longer, uncovered
baste as needed

"the original recipe called for pepsi. i think pepsi is more spicey than coke and not as sweet. the end is "...pour half of mixture over ham, bake another 5 min per pound longer, uncovered, use the other half of mixture to BASTE EVERY 5 MIN. dad b."

eat ham! drink booze! be merry!

*i have also tried this recipe with pepsi.
and dr. pepper.
and creme soda.
and ginger ale.
not as good as coca-cola.
you can just trust me, i've already done the research.

shrimp and feta

the kids are having hot dogs and mac 'n cheese.
but the grownups just aren't up for kid food tonight.
not when one of us has been dining in, uh, paris.

this is a fabulous dinner for company.
it is much better with fresh shrimp from ocean isle.
but grocery store shrimp is okay in a pinch.

jay cook's shrimp and feta
1/4 c. olive oil
3/4 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
red pepper flakes (to taste)
1/2 tsp. garlic, crushed
28 oz. tomatoes, canned
1/4 c. white wine
2 lbs. shrimp
2/3 cup feta
8 oz. pasta (linguine is good)

cook shrimp until pink. spread in baking dish and sprinkle with feta cheese. combine first 9 ingredients and simmer 10 minutes. pour over shrimp and feta, cover loosely. bake at 400 degrees for 10-20 minutes. cook pasta and serve with shrimp mixture poured on top.

enjoy!

real men eat quiche

i don't "cook" that much. not because i don't know how. not because i don't like to. it's because - no one eats anything other than kid food around here! mm included. his favorite meal is probably chicken pot pie or hot dogs.

so when my only son asks me to make his favorite, i do.
his favorite is - quiche.
my mother's recipe.
my mother has a degree in home economics.
for real.
she is (in my opinion) better than martha.

so this is what i'm making for dinner tonight. by request.

grandmother's quiche
9 inch pie crust
1/2 cup mayo
2T flour
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 cup diced ham*
1 cup shredded cheddar
1 cup shredded swiss (i sometimes sub mozz)

bake pie crust at 400 degrees for 3 minutes, remove from oven, gently prick with fork. return to oven, bake 5 minutes longer. let cool. combine mayo, flour, eggs, and milk. mix thoroughly. stir in cheeses** and ham. pour into pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

*we usually leave this out. could also use sausage.
**i use the bag o' mixed cheese blends, 2 cups exactly.

this is a great brunch item for guests or parties.
we grew up having quiche on christmas morning.
and again on easter morning.

it also makes super-sweet six-year-old boys happy.
and i'm all for that.

whatareyouhavingfordinner?

winner dinner

our whole family ate this. so i thought i'd share... (update - the second time i made this - it didn't go over quite as well - back to the drawing board...)

tomato tortellini soup*

1 can tomato bisque soup
1 can veggie broth
1/2 of a container of chive cream cheese
9 oz. or more of your favorite tortellini**
snipped fresh chives for garnish - optional

**we like the barilla three cheese - comes in a bag

cook tortellini in one pot
heat the rest in another pot (use a whisk)
transfer drained tortellini into soup mixture
garnish with chives

enjoy!

i did keep some of the tortellini "plain" for two picky eaters, but we still ALL ate the same meal. it was great!

do you have a winner dinner to share?

*original recipe from better homes and gardens, i've tweaked it a bit, but not much.