Coffee time with Auntie E -Cook Yourself Thin?

This past week has been great for me. I have had a break in cooking. My Teenager has been doing must of the cooking. She has found the Book in my library called Cook Yourself Thin. I will say the recipes in that book are great tasting. The calories are great for one trying to lose weight. Not only is that a plus but it is a wonderful tool for a healthier style of eating.
Have you watched the Show " Cook Yourself Thin"? It is on the Food network channel. Hosts by two ladies who come to a house and show the cook how to make her favorite food with less calories. This causes one to Drop the weight. You are still eating the same amount so no hunger later as with most low calorie foods. The other thing I like is no sugar substitute are used. I do not understand it the desserts are still sweet!
Now my daughter is a chocoholic, so we must have it almost every day. Okay she needs it every day. By using the recipes in the book she can have her cake and eat it too.
We are loosing weight as a family. The other day we had Fish and chips. Yes that's right Fries. It was very easy to make. Here is the recipe.

Oven fries

2 medium size potatoes, unpeeled and cut into 1/4 inch sticks.
2 tablespoon of Olive oil
1 teaspoon of Coarse sea salt

• Coat the potatoes stick with the oil and salt
• Spread on a silicone mat or parchment paper lined cooking sheet.
• Heat oven to 450F and move the rack to the middle of oven.
• Bake for about 25 minutes or until browned. You may stir midway, but I found using the silicone mat I did not have to.

So I hope you try these and enjoy.

Weekend Kitchen Gadget-Ice Pop Anyone?

for the summer we purchased a new Gadget. I used it for the first time on the Fourth of July. It was so easy and a very fast way to make Popsicles.

Photo courtesy of Williams-Sonoma

This pop maker works like this:

first freeze it over night.

then put the sticks in...

pour the juice or cream liquid ..
time it for 7 to 10minutes...
use the orange handle and screw it on til the pop is loosen

remove the orange handle and pull out pop

add drip shield...
and enjoy...
this one was made with Orange Juice only,
poured right out of the jar.

I put them into a ziplock bag and freeze them for summer fun later.

We made fudgesicles for the 4th, however they disappeared before I could get photos.
I will be creating all kinds of pops for the summer heat months. Stay tune.. Even if you do not have this gadget... maybe you have this one.
or just some silicone cups... whatever you have you can make Healthy pops at home. Stay tuned for more summer fun pop recipes.

Grilling Kabobs!

On the fourth we grilled out, this year we made Kabobs. Two different kinds.
Steak and Shrimp and Deluxe Asian Turkey.
For both recipe you Marinade the meat.
To serve I allowed folks to build their own on a water soaked Bamboo skewer.

Marinade for the Turkey:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sweet white wine
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1 Tablespoon Lemon juice
1 Tablespoon Lime juice
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
Mix these together well add 1 inch cubed turkey tenderloins. I buy the Butterball packaged tenderloins. you can add up to 4 pounds.
Marinade for about 4 hours. Longer will give it a stronger taste.

Marinade for Steak.
1/4 cup of Canola Oil and Extra Virgin Olive oil. I buy the Pompeian brand, already mixed.
2 tablespoon of Hickory liquid seasoning.
2 cloves roasted garlic minced.
2 tablespoons of minced onion.
Mix together and add 1 inch cubed boneless toploin steak. I used about 2 pounds. Marinade for about 4 hours.

Vegetables to place out for skewing:

Fresh pineapple cut into cubes
Pearl onions
Cherry tomatoes rolled in olive oil
Baby Bella Mushroom caps
Green Peppers, cut into pieces large enough to put on skewers.
Medium Zucchini cut into one inch pieces.

Now for the Shrimp put of the steak kabob.
Be sure to by Fresh shrimp on the day of the cookout. shell shrimp.

Building the kabob...
Soak the bamboo skewers for about 4 hours. Have each person build their own.
After the folks have made their skewers, Bush or spray with Olive oil.
On hot prepared grill ( about 350 F degrees), bush or spray with oil. I like using a Grill spray by Weber called Grill-n-Spray. it is safe to use on a hot grill.
The kabob will take about 15-20 minutes to cook.

Serve with Steamed Jasmine Rice.

Coffee time with Auntie E -A busy Kitchen.

My kitchen has been busy these past weeks. June just went by, with me arm in tha cast I was limited in the kitchen duty. Daughter has been cooking in place of me. Chicken is her main stay. She loves making Chinese food. I have been revamping some of my recipes. Getting ready to post a few. The Brain Power bars have been redone. You might want to check out that recipe for that family get together coming up. July is here and.......
We are getting ready for the Fourth of July Cookout.

Our menu is;

• Steak and Shrimp Kabobs
• Turkey Oriental style Kabobs(will be looking for a better name,will let the family weigh in on that name.).
  
• Mandarin salad with orange dressing.
• Jasmin Rice
• Lemonade
• Suntea with lemons
• Fudgesicles and orange creamsicles
• Fruit with chocolate for dripping.

We got a need gadget for the Popsicle I will be debuting it next week on Kitchen Gadgets.

Have a great Cookout and remember..Anything goes on the Grill!!

What's on your cookout Menu?