Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Mediterranean Chicken



I love using my cast iron skillets. The heat is well distributed and you can serve right from them. For this dish I used my Red 12 inch cast iron Skillet




Mediterranean chicken

3 to 4 lbs cutup chicken pieces
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 can chopped tomatoes with celery, peppers and onion.(I used Hunts)
1/4 cups olive Bruschetta(I used Delallo brand)

In a large skillet or iron skillet heat oil on medium high heat slightly and add onion and garlic cook til Onion are translucent.
Add olive bruschetta and continue to cook one minute. Push aside and add chicken pieces, skin down.
Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook for 15 minutes.
Turn chicken pieces, add can tomatoes continue cooking for 15 minutes, covered.
Remove chicken and set aside.....
Turn heat to medium high to reduce sauce, this will take about 3 to 5 minutes....stir occasionally. The liquid should comes to a full boil, stir occasionally to prevent bits from burning on the bottom. In about 3 to 5 minutes the sause should be a good consistency
Return chicken to skillet. heat for about 5 minutes on medium low.
Serve with Balsamic rice

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tuesday Post It- Plans

This is a Tuesday meme sponsored be Supahmommy.
This is her badge, your can get it at Supahmommy




Monday, March 29, 2010

Grinding with Auntie E

Look what Laane sent me... You want to know how to get one? Laane thought about how she use to sit at Granny's table and talk about things. Wouldn't it be great to just talk about anything, like bringing back the old times at grandma table. The smell of Coffee or that Sweet Roll filling the air while siting at the table with Friends. Catching up on your weekly things, just to make the weekend free of the "I should have". Or maybe you just want to recap the weeks activities. Heading into the weekend with a clear mind. Sometimes just telling friends what's planed for the weekend can be fun. Don't we do that with Family. Friends will be looking forward to Monday's News. So, on Friday stop by and join me at my Table for some Grinding time With Auntie E.
So here is the link to Laane on the World. Go to her site and request the meme. Be sure to leave your e-mail address with your link. Laane will send you your personalized meme and on Friday Post your Grinding with... Link it back to Laane on the World.... it's that easy.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Favorite Kitchen Gadgets?

Coffee time..... have coffee in hand. Thinking about a cinnamon bun. How many calories does that have,ugh, I will need to work on a healthier lower calorie one. I great weekend project for me.
saw a video and TV show on Gadgets. So I thought a gadget question was in store.

What are your top five Favorite Kitchen Gadgets?

for me these are used daily:
1. Silicone baking mats
2. Silicone Spatula, the one with the curved spoon like end.
3. A good serrated knife
4. kitchen shears
5. collapsible silicone measuring cups


Visit One 2 Try, Hearts Make Family or Midday Escapades to link up for Friday Follow
This weeks FF sponsor is:


Visit An Island Life for more Aloha Friday

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Turkey Merlot.

This is a good easy and fast recipe under 30 minutes meal. I like using Butterball products, they are already cut and ready to use. Turkey Merlot is a recipe I adapt to be a Healthier choice

Turkey Merlot

4- Butterball turkey cutlets
1/4 cup White whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt & 1/4 tsp pepper
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup Merlot Wine
1/2 cup vegetable stock
4 tablespoon-I can't believe it's not butter stick
6 oz sliced portabello mushrooms

1. Heat oil in large skillet
2. Mix flour , salt and pepper together, press cutlets into flour, both sides.
Cook on Medium high heat for 2 minutes per side. remove and set aside in warm place.
3. add butter and mushrooms, cook on medium heat for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. add Wine and Stock (you can use grape juice in place of wine) bring to a boil. stirring occasionally.
5. return cutlets to the pan continue to cook on medium low heat until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.

Serve with whole grain spaghetti.

copyright 2010 by "Auntie E/M Dubros"

Photo courtesy of Butterball.com
Disclaimer: I received no compensation from any company mentioned in this recipe, it is only the products I use in everyday cooking and the ones I prefer.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Weekend Kitchen Gadget


Opening a bottle of wine can be frustrating. The cork screw can leave cork in the wine bottle or you have lost that strength needed to pull it off. This little gadget is just great. While at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fare we went to the Mount Hope Winery shop. It is right outside the Fare grounds. I saw this gadget and decided to buy it.


Now it works on a cartridge of compressed air. There is a needle like insert on the end, you press that into the cork all the way. Then you press on the cartridge end and it pops the cork out. It is really fast. Do not use it on champagne or sprinkling wine, they are already pressurized and can cause bad results. However as to opening of regular wine bottles it is great.

One cartridge will open about 150 bottles of wine. The cost for the Gadget is about 22.00 it comes with one cartridge. Additional cartridges will cost 10.00 for two.


Photos courtesy of Auntie E and CorkPops.com

Monday, March 15, 2010

Coffee time with Auntie E

Today I am having Black silk by Folgers and an egg and black forest ham between Fresh Artisan bread.
Sunday morning I made the artisan bread, it was so easy.
There was truly no kneading. Think I will decrease the salt since we are not big salt people. I will cut it by half. I have been reading the book " Healthy Breads in five Minutes" and am eager to try some of the recipes. The book states that if one makes the new batch with some of the old dough you can get a very nice sourdough taste. I will be trying that.
I am always looking for good cooking sites and blogs. If you have one please leave your link so I can visit you. I would like to feature some cooking blogs on this blog in my future post. Of course I will ask first, always want the blogger to approve.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Fresh Artisan Bread Daily

Making bread couldn't be any easier. I love making my own bread. With the cost of bread now-a-days, making it is a money saver. "Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day" is a book that has wonderful recipes and all are made with one basic dough that can be made up and stored up to two week in the refrigerator. There is no kneading, which is great for the busy person. Once the dough is made, it only takes a few minutes to form a loaf, then let is rise about 90 minutes and cook for 30-35 minutes. You must let this one cool completely before slicing. I know that is hard, but you must!
I have linked a video for you. It has all the ingredients for the bread as well as the instructions:
I will list the Ingredients here just so you can have them on hand.

5 1/2 cups whole wheat Flour
2 Cups Unbleached All Purpose flour
1 Tablespoon Kosher salt
1 1/2 Tablespoon Granulated Yeast
1/4 cup Vital Wheat Gluten.(this can be found in the flour section of the supermarket)

Watch video "Artisan bread in five Minutes a day"
Photo courtesy of munx.co.uk a bakery store

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Baking Flavorings & Snow White Frosting

I like making my own icing. The other day I went to the store looking for some White chocolate flavoring for the icing. I was making Red Velvet cake with White icing for my daughters birthday.
We have a company based in Baltimore, Maryland that makes flavorings. Had never tried theirs before so thought I would. Was very pleased with it. All the teens loved the icing. They kept asking what kind of icing it was. I know it was the flavoring that they enjoyed so much.
A little more about the flavoring company. Name Silver Cloud Estate, It has been in business since 2006 and they import the beans and flavorings from South India. The product has a 100% refund policy, if you are not satisfied. I am very satisfied and will be trying some more flavoring and extracts soon.

Photo courtesy of Silver Cloud Estate
disclaimer: I have not been compensated at all buy Silver Cloud Estate, this is just my opinion of their product.

"Snow White Frosting"


2/3 cups water
1/4 cup meringue powder
10 to 11 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 1/4 cups Crisco white vegetable shortening.
1/4 teaspoon clear butter flavoring (I use Wilton's)
1 1/2 teaspoon Silver Cloud Estate- White Chocolate Natural Flavor Blend
1/4 cup skim milk.

  • In mixer add water and meringue powder, beat at high til stiff peaks form.
  • Add one cup of sugar, mix at low speed til well mixed, do this 4 times.
  • Divided the shortening into 6 pieces. First add one piece the shortening and mix well, then add sugar one cup at a time. continue alternating shortening and sugar.
  • Add the milk the flavorings and mix well.
This icing will form a crust on it. While working with it, cover with a damp cloth. I put it in a pastry bag with an icing tip. Any extra can be put in the refrigerator and be to use latter, just re beat it in the mixer.
It will make great flowers also.
to make the flowers just reduce the milk to 2 tablespoons. Add your coloring.. Let it set for about 4 hours and then stir. Use your pastry bag and desired tips

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Stick'em up and Let's Party!

This is a Tuesday meme sponsored be Supahmommy.
This is her badge, your can get it at Supahmommy

Post it Notes are the greatest thing created, in my mind. Oh I use them for a lot things. Here's an easy Healthy Trail mix.




Serve

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Sweet 16....

This is a Tuesday meme sponsored be Supahmommy. To visit more players click on the meme button













Monday, March 1, 2010

Coffee Time- Pizza and Parties

I'm Drinking my Flogers 1/2 Caff coffee with Italian Sweet cream. It's Monday, we had a busy weekend. It seemed we ate out every day. A cooking break for me,sometimes I like that. Saturday we went out to a Pizza place and then Bowling. I think I will continue my Wii Bowling, much better at it. It had been a long time since I went to a real bowling alley.
On Sunday we went to Critters birthday party. Guess what we had? Yep Pizza from the same company we ate at on Saturday. The Cake was so good. It was from Tiffany's Bakery. Custard and fruit filling with a very light fluffy cake and frosting. I could of eaten several pieces. No, I only had one.
My daughters 16th birthday party is this coming weekend. I need to make the red flowers for the top of the Red Velvet cupcakes with white frosting. Thinking about doing a video on making them. We will see how that works out.
I need some more coffee....I'll listen while you comment on your weekend.