Now, you might not know what this is (in the header photo), but there's a recipe for it down below...YUM!!!
Okay, as I told you yesterday, I love, love love the new 'everyday FOOD' magazine by Martha Stewart! I got my new issue a couple of days ago and I can hardly put it down!! There are so many wonderful recipes in it!
And yes!...Please don't be mad Martha...O_0...I have to share! :-) Below are 3 of my favorites from this issue!...They're not the only ones I'm putting on my 'To-Fix-Myself' list either! I'd be here all day...with gnarled and aching typing fingers!..trying to share all of the ones.....just in THIS book....that I like! (And please forgive my non-lit photos. It was REALLY early in the morning. The sun...and my good picture-clicking finger...hadn't come up yet! ^_^) Okay, First up...
Mario Batali's Stuffed Acorn Squash
-- 3 medium acorn squash, quartered lengthwise and seeded
-- coarse salt and ground pepper
-- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
-- 1 1/2 cups chopped scallions (2 bunches; whites and about 2 inches of greens)
-- 4 garlic cloves; thinly sliced
-- 2 large bunches Swiss chard, ribs and stems removed, leaves cut into 1/4-inch ribbons (about 16
cups)
-- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
-- 1 cup coarse, dried breadcrumbs, such as panko
-- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
STEP 1: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Trim bottom of each squash piece so it rests flat. Season squash with salt and pepper and place on a rimmed baking sheet, skin side down. Drizzle with 1/4 cup oil and bake until tender, 45 minutes.
STEP 2: Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium-high until smoking. Add scallions and garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add chard and stir to combine. Cover and cook over medium until vegetables are very soft, about 10 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring, until mixture is nearly dry, 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, until deep red and fragrant, 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
STEP 3: Heat broiler. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Fill squash with chard mixture and top with breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently so it adheres. Broil squash until breadcrumbs are browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
{And just in case you want to know...per piece: 186 cal; 11 g fat (2 g sat fat); 4 g protein; 20 g carb; 3 g fiber...I think it's pretty cool that they tell you this with each recipe in the book!}
I love this recipe because I LOVE acorn squash! I can eat them baked out of the oven with a little butter or sauteed with some onions, or any number of simple ways. Now I have another wonderful way to make them...and it has my beloved CHEESE!!! :-)
The next recipe is the one from the header photo. It's made just for one person...
Chicken With Parmesan Grits And Tomatoes (for one)
-- 1 large boneless, skin-on chicken thigh (5 ounces)
-- coarse salt and ground pepper
-- 2 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
-- 1/2 cupgrape tomatoes
-- 1/4 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
-- 1/4 cup instant grits
-- 1/2 ounce Parmesan, finely grated (2 tablespoons)
-- roughly chopped fresh parsley, for serving
STEP 1: Heat a medium skillet over medium-high. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken to skillet, skin side down, and cook, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 15 minutes (reduce heat if chicken browns too quickly). Transfer to a plate and tent with foil.
STEP 2: In skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium and add tomatoes, onion, and garlic. Cook until tomatoes are softened and onion is tender, 5 minutes.
{Meanwhile, in a small pot, bring 1 cup water to boil. Stir in grits and pinch of salt; cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until water is absorbed, about 7 minutes.}
STEP 3: Stir in Parmesan and 1/2 teaspoon oil; season with salt and pepper. To serve, top grits with chicken and vegetables and sprinkle with parsley.
{per serv: 564 cal; 30 g fat (8 g sat fat); 33 g protein; 38 g carb; 2 g fiber}
I love this one because.....Well, because it has grits! :-) What's not to love?! I eat grits all the time. I love them with....of course...cheese. But I also like my grits with some gravy and onions, lima beans and butter, sauteed with hamburger and potatoes, etc...Why I never thought about chicken is a mystery to me! ^_^ But I won't ever NOT think about it with chicken again!!
And lastly...
Roasted Sweet Potatoes And Bacon
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, combine 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces, 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, and 5 sprigs thyme; season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Roast until sweet potatoes are browned in spots and tender when pierced with a knife and bacon is crisp, about 30 minutes, stirring halfway through. (Serves 4...says them!! LOL)
{per serv: 230 cal; 3 g fat (1 g sat fat); 6 g protein; 46 g carb; 7 g fiber}
Another recipe where I don't know why I didn't think of it! I love sweet potatoes and yams more than I love cheese...I know, SHOCKING!! LOL...and I can't believe I never thought of putting bacon in them before! So quick....so easy to do.....so delicious!!! YUM!!! I can't wait to do this recipe! It may be a weekly one!
I'm not getting paid to say this, but it's well worth your knowing, that if you want to get this book yourself, or some other good recipes, you can go to Martha Stewart's everyday FOOD website yourself..HERE!...And I'm done for today!...Really done! ^_^ Happy Cooking Everybody!!
Cooking
Flipping, Frying,
Flambeing, Filleting,
Burning, Browning,
Paring, Pureeing.
Boiling, Baking,
Mixing, Making,
Simmering, Scaling,
Sifting, Shaking.
Cooking, Crackling,
Cutting, Coring,
Sprinkling, Spattering,
Patting, Pouring,
Broiling, Battering,
Steeping, Steaming,
Timing, Tossing,
Cubing, Creaming,
Slicing, Scrambling,
Turning, Toasting,
Melting, Measuring,
Rinsing, Roasting.
Dipping, Dicing,
Skimming, Sauteing,
Poaching, Peeling,
Mincing, Microwaving.
Gathering, Grilling
Basting, Barbecuing,
Hacking, Heating,
Scoring, Skewering.
Standing, Stirring,
Rough, Tough,
Kitchen, Ditching,
Had Enough!
I've been meaning to talk to you about this for a while. Not 'this' photo, but 'this' book I got in the mail a little while back...
It's a little book....Well, a magazine....a Martha Stewart magazine, called everyday FOOD. Somebody sent it to me. I don't know who, but THANK YOU!! It has 56 recipes of 'ready to eat' food! Well...not exactly ready to eat, because 'YOU' have to make it 'ready to eat'! Ha! Ha!
When I was flipping through it initially, the header photo was what caught my eye. What do you think it is?!...If you're me, the ever-loving food, potato-loving girl that I am, you immediately think: "YUM!!! 'Ready to eat' mashed potatoes with lots of butter!!" :-)
But when you look closer you find out that it's NOT mashed potatoes! It's creamy artichoke dip!!!...Really?....Yep! And therein lies my problem...I've never eaten an artichoke, nor would I know how to prep one for eating!!
That got me to thinking about other foods that I've heard about, but never eaten...nor would I know how to fix or eat...And don't you be laughing either! ^_^ Just because I know how to fix pig ears, but artichokes baffle me! You 'MUST' have something that baffles you in the food world...don't you?!
Before I get started, let me just say: "To each his own". So this is not a critique on whether these foods are 'worthy' of eating. They are just foods that baffle 'ME'! And here is my short list: Artichokes...obviously! But then there's oysters {Why!...I mean, WHY would you eat that....yechk!! They look like something that comes out of your nose when you have a bad cold!! O_0}; Starfruit {I'm not even sure how to cut it!}; brains {I have enough problem 'using' mine!}; beef tongue {something you eat, trying to eat you back, is how I think of this! LOL}; and Octopus or Calamari.
Don't get me wrong....being baffled by them doesn't mean I would 'NEVER' try them!I just haven't, or haven't been compelled to, eat them yet! I mean, I'm a girl that has eaten some strange foods in my day, so I don't take a 'never-gonna-do-that' attitude about most things food-wise...I've eaten rattlesnake, squirrel, red dirt, tripe, Chitlins, and pig tail and ears!...and that's my short list! ^_^
There were some other foods in this everyday FOOD magazine that I'd never heard of before too. Like Spanakopita...
It looks REALLY good, but I knew I was in trouble when I was reading the recipe and it started out by saying: "Crisp phyllo tops a fresh-tasting spinach-and-feta filling..." Uhhh...'Phyllo'? What's that?!...*sigh*...So, I probably wouldn't even be able to fix it because I wouldn't know where to go in the store to pick up the ingredients even!!! O_0
I do know Spinach....and Mac and Cheese! So this....
...I'm good with it! :-]
And say no more when you show me a picture of sauteed collards with Bacon!
Just point me to the kitchen, and get out of my way!!! :-))
I won't bore you with all of the photos, but there are some things in this magazine that I'm looking forward to getting my lips on...like 'Pistachio-Apricot Granola', 'Buttery Shrimp and Radish Pasta', 'Spring Vegetable Pizzas', and a 'Sausage and Swiss Chard Strata'. Okay....so I don't know what a Strata is either! Ha! Ha! But I see the picture, and some things are just worth going outside of your comfort zone to try....NOW!! ^_^
Are you drooling too?! ^_^
Also in this magazine....'Simple Lemon Cake', 'Fudgy Rocky Road Bars', 'Gooey Layered Everything Bars' (with Oats, chocolate, nuts, dried fruit and coconut, people!!!), 'Citrus Bars', 'Lacy Almond-Orange Cookies', and 'Apple Matzo Cake'!!!...I think I'm good with these! :-)
So...are there foods that you've never eaten? Foods that baffle you?! Wanna share?! :-] ... Time for me to do some cooking!....This old poem is very appropriate! :-)
CookingFlipping, Frying,Flambeing, Filleting,Burning, Browning,Paring, Pureeing.Boiling, Baking,Mixing, Making,Simmering, Scaling,Sifting, Shaking.Cooking, Crackling,Cutting, Coring,Sprinkling, Spattering,Patting, Pouring,Broiling, Battering,Steeping, Steaming,Timing, Tossing,Cubing, Creaming,Slicing, Scrambling,Turning, Toasting,Melting, Measuring,Rinsing, Roasting.Dipping, Dicing,Skimming, Sauteing,Poaching, Peeling,Mincing, Microwaving.Gathering, GrillingBasting, Barbecuing,Hacking, Heating,Scoring, Skewering.Standing, Stirring,Rough, Tough,Kitchen, Ditching,Had Enough!
My decision to have a happy day yesterday was a rousing success! It seemed that because I was already in a good mood the world decided: "Awwww! Go ahead and give this one to her!!" :-)
My crocheted flowers seemed to come out particularly pretty...{that's a lilac purple brooch I made yesterday in the header photo. I just have to decide whether to leave it as a brooch, or to put a necklace on it.}
I'll show you the other two flowers in a minute, but first I have to show you what else made my happy day even more of a happy day than it would have been......
FOOD!!!...Starting with the 'everyday FOOD' Martha Stewart magazine I got in the mail! Sad thing is...I don't know where it came from. It had my name on it, but I don't remember subscribing to it! :-/.....WHO CARES! If I never get another issue, I'll STILL be happy...because WOW! It's got some great recipes in it!
I didn't take a lot of photos of the food in the magazine, because it was nighttime and the light was awful in the house. {I still haven't been able to find a decent natural light light bulb!}...I did try one picture,...this one...Spinach Mac and Cheese!
Yum!! Even in bad light it looks good! :-)...I've decided to drive you crazy by telling you what some of the other recipes are though, with no photos to substantiate it!.....*giggle*...How about linguine with asparagus and egg...green eggs and ham omelet...spaghetti and meatball pasta bake...brisket and potato stew...mushroom risotto with spring herbs...buttery shrimp and radish pasta...and spring vegetable pizzas!
Oh Yeah!And there were desserts!!...Okay, I won't name them! I'll stop here!...*giggle* Besides, what good is reading about desserts when you can't see them!!.....Right?...right?!
Well that's why I'm gonna let you look at the food I actually ate yesterday!! ^_^ I was in such a good mood after I ate it too....Calories?!....Love handles?!....SHUT UP!! I don't care what you're talking about!!!! LOL
Hubby and I had a conversation the other day about food happiness. About foods we haven't had in a long time, and if they were even still around. Remember these?!
I couldn't even remember the name of them. But I described them good enough to my attentive, tall, handsome, loving.....*I digress*....husband, and he got them for me! I now know that they are Keebler Fudge Stripes!! :-) Sorta like a short-bread cookie, with chocolate fudge stripes across the front.....And on the back?!
Totally covered in fudge!!!
What?!!...*My waistline was trying to say something to me*..."I didn't eat THAT many! Be quiet!!" LOL
Then, around dinnertime, my hubby came through the door with these!
More happiness!!...He got all of the kisses and hugs before I realized that they weren't from him!! LOL Some friends had sent them to us....along with a meal they made for us!....FOOD!!!!
A scrumptious meal of creamy chicken, carrots, peas, celery, onions, and potatoes, etc...with a cornbread stuffing mixed in (I think)...and dessert too!! I was in LOVE!!!
With them....and with Sponge cake, strawberries saturated in some kind of delicious sauce, with whipped cream!!.....Okay!! So that's not actually sponge cake under my strawberries!! Hubby ate the sponge cake....*nosy!*...I'm not a fan of sponge cake. It reminds me of the packing foam you put inside of packages when you mail them. The ones that absorb all of the shock, so your package doesn't get there broken...My stomach is not worried about being broken! ^_^
I had Louisiana Crumb cake under mine.....*hanging my head*...I DON'T CARE!!....It was good!!...SHUT UP, THIGHS!!! LOL...Go ahead, call it a bad eating day if you want to!! I have my own opinion on that!! ^_^
Anyway!!...Back to my flowers! :-) ... To round out my happy day, I made this happy variegated purple and hot pink crochet flower...
...and this peach and beige one. I call it a 'Cream-sickle' flower.
Do you remember 'Cream-sickles'?!!! :-)
This was one of the other foods that hubby and I wondered if it was still around...We hope so! :-) People nowadays shouldn't have to miss out on all that ice cream happiness!!...And now I'll be reminded of it every time I look at my crochet flower!....until somebody buys it!...I hope! ^_^
Okay, I'm full...of food and happiness, and I have a 'lot of things on my plate' for today...NOT food related! :-) I hope you all have a good day!...A poem...and I'm off!!
Nostalgic
Why do we get nostalgic
for the places of our past?
For the music and the people
who were in our high school class?
Why do we get nostalgic
for the foods we used to eat?
Like your mom's banana pudding,
boiled pig ears and chicken feet?
Why do we get nostalgic
for old bikes we once rode on?
And for buying penny candy
at a time thats long since gone?
Why do we get nostalgic
for long conversations had
when our cousins used to visit
(That was-till we all got mad)?!
Why do we get nostalgic?
Frankly, I'm sure I don't know,
'cause I sat and wrote a poem
like a true nostalgia pro!
