New Rice Sides from Knorr - Buffalo Chicken, Baby Back BBQ
and Steak Fajitas perfect for quick sides to go with your BBQ meats or as a side for pork.
Glassware on the cheap, buy it by the case and pick it up at the store.
Mar 30, 2011
A Little of This A Little of That
Mar 29, 2011
Chocolate Souffle The Easy Way
Mar 28, 2011
Easter Shopping List Q&E
Scalloped Potatoes | |
Recipe | Amount |
Scalloped Potatoes Scalloped Potatoes Scratch | Box of Scalloped Potatoes
|
Macaroni Salad | |
Recipe | Amount |
Macaroni Salad | 1/2 lb dry macaroni pasta
|
Deviled Eggs | |
Recipe | Amount |
Deviled Eggs | 6 eggs |
Cold Asparagus with Dressing | |
Recipe | Amount |
Cold Asparagus with Dressing | 1 1/2 c. asparagus |
Mar 26, 2011
Orange Shebert Cake
Orange Sherbert Cake | |
What You Need | Directions |
1 (18.25 ounce) package Orange Cake Mix 2 (3 ounce) box orange-flavored gelatin 2 eggs 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 cup water 1 (9 ounce) pkg coconut 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream 2 cups sugar 1/4 cup frozen orange juice 1 (12 ounce) thawed container of whipped topping | Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour 9x13” pan. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, gelatin, eggs, oil, and water. Beat well with an electric mixer. While the cake is baking, prepare the remaining package of orange gelatin using half the amount of water. When the cake is done, remove from oven and let cool in the pans for 10 minutes. With a wooden skewer or fork poke holes in the cake Pour gelatin over the layers into the holes. Refrigerate for about 45 minutes to allow gelatin to set. In a medium bowl, combine the coconut (reserving about 1/2 a cup), sour cream, sugar, and orange juice concentrate for the topping. Stir well. Spread the filling over the cake. At this point you can refrigerate it till the next day. When ready to serve spread the whipped topping on top and sprinkle with reserved coconut.
|
Easter Decorations - Q&E
Easter Home Decorations
How to Decorate a Table for Easter Dinner
Southern Living has colorful Easter Decorations
Easter Table Toppers
Table Decorations
Decorating Ideas
Celebrate Easter
Enjoy the weekend and I will see you back here on Monday with a new post.
Mar 25, 2011
Garden Salad with Dressings
have a certain ingredient, leave it out or substitute another ingredient for it. Plan on about two cups per serving.
Dressings
A basic vinaigrette
1 1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup red vinegar
2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Whisk ingredients together or may be prepared in a food processor or blender.
Small amounts of fresh herbs can add a whole new flavor dimension to salads and salad dressings.
Mar 24, 2011
Side Vegetables Q&E
Prep - The bottom portions of larger asparagus spears can be tough. They need to be snapped off. Bend the bottom portion of the stalk until it breaks off. Cook the tender stalk that is left.
Boiling - Place a strip of folded aluminum on the bottom and up the sides of the pan, extending over the edges this is for lifting the asparagus out when cooked. Bring water to a boil; add asparagus spears and cook, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
Options:
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add teaspoon of minced garlic until soft. Pour over asparagus and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Pour melted butter over asparagus.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees,wrap several asparagus with prosciutto and bake the bundles for 15 minutes in the oven, until asparagus is tender.
String Beans with Cherry Tomatoes | |
What You Need | Directions |
1 family size steam in bag string beans 1 teaspoon olive oil 3 cloves garlic, minced 1-1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (optional) salt and pepper | Put oil and garlic into a large frying pan and let cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes begin to break down, about 3 minutes. Add steamed string beans and toss. Add vinegar, salt and pepper and serve. |
Mar 23, 2011
Savory Potatoes Many Ways
or
Both recipes can be made the day before and the scalloped potatoes reheated while the ham rests.
Scalloped Potatoes | |
What You Need | Directions |
3 Tbsp butter 2 lbs (about 4 medium sized) Russet potatoes, peeled, sliced 1/8-inch thick 1 large yellow or white onion, thinly sliced 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley 1 Tbsp chopped fresh chives (optional) 8 ounces grated Swiss or Gruyere cheese) 2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese 2 1/2 cups to 3 cups of half-and-half (half milk, half cream) Salt and pepper | Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a large casserole dish with 1 1/2 Tbsp of butter. Layer the bottom of the casserole dish with 1/3 of the potato slices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Layer on 1/2 of the sliced onions and 1/2 cup of the Swiss cheese. Layer on 1/2 of the parsley and chives. Sprinkle with a little Parmesan. Repeat by layering on 1/3 of the potato slices, sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Layer on the remaining sliced onions, 1/2 cup of the Swiss cheese, parsley and chives. Sprinkle with a little Parmesan. Top the casserole with the remaining potato slices. Add the half and half. Dot the potatoes with the remaining 1 1/2 Tbsp of butter. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for one hour. After an hour, remove from the oven, remove the foil, sprinkle on the remaining Swiss and Parmesan cheese. Return to the oven for an additional 30-40 minutes. When done, the potatoes should be tender, but not mushy, and the liquid should be mostly absorbed. Yield: Serves 8. |
Grandma's Potato Salad | |
What You Need | Directions |
|
Mar 22, 2011
Easter Menu - Q&E
Glazed Ham* Scalloped Potatoes* Fresh Spring Peas Asparagus* String beans with Cherry Tomatoes* Garden Salad* Choice of Dressings Yeast Rolls Carrot Cake |
Glazed Ham* Potato Salad* Macaroni Salad* Baked Beans Cold Asparagus with Dressing* Diced Fresh Fruit Orange Sherbet Cake* |
Ham and Glazes The Q&E Way
| ||||||||||||||||
Brandy Peach Glaze | |
What You Need | Directions |
1/4 cup raisins 1/4 cup brandy (not flavoring) 1/4 cup peach or pineapple preserves 1/4 cup orange juice 1 tablespoon corn starch 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon prepared mustard Makes approximately 1 cup | Combine peach (pineapple) preserves, orange juice, raisins, and brandy in a small sauce pan. Cook over low heat until smooth and well combined. In a separate bowl mix mustard, brown sugar and corn starch. Add mixture to sauce pan and combine. Cook until thickened. Remove from heat. Spread glaze on ham during the last 30 minutes of baking. Reapply during the last 15 minutes, if desired. Put extra gravy in a small gravy boat and serve along side of ham. |
Mar 21, 2011
Easy Easter Dinner The Q&E Way
The menus will feature recipes to make the menu and shopping lists, stay tuned, as the series starts on March 22 to give you plenty of time to shop, decorate and prepare.
Summer Salad Q&E
Mar 20, 2011
New Grilling Equipment
Came across some new items for the grill and wanted to share them with you. Picture from Sur La Table
Mar 19, 2011
Mar 18, 2011
Q&E Tip Martini Glasses
Mar 17, 2011
Q&E Crepes Not Just For Dessert
Crepes are not just for desserts. They make very good quick and easy entrees for lunch, brunch and dinner. They make guests dropping by, easy peasy. Just grab a handful of crepes from the freezer and pair them with chicken, shrimp, ham, or mushroom. Your imagination is the limit. Whip up a batch of crepes when you have time. Freeze them with a piece of wax paper between each crepe. Store in a freezer plastic bag. They will be ready at a moments notice and provide a quick and elegant entrée or have a crepe brunch buffet with both savory and sweet crepes and let guest make their own.
Basic Crepe recipe:
Ingredients:
4 eggs
¼ teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
2 ¼ milk
¼ cup (½ stick) melted butter or margarine
Directions
Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Cool and wrap for freezer. When removing from freezer, wrap them in foil and warm in a 325-degree oven for 10-15 minutes until heated through.
Fillings
There’s nothing better than crepes filled with meats or vegetables and covered with cheese sauce.
Chicken (frozen cooked from freezer, cream of mushroom soup, frozen peas.l Make cream of mushroom soup using half the milk, heat then add chicken and peas. Lay each crepe on the serving plate, put 1/4 cup chicken mixture, fold in half and sprinkle with cheese (optional). Serve. These can also be filled with shrimp, substituted for chicken.
Hard cooked eggs in cream sauce or cream soup.
Grilled veggies in a cheese sauce.
Spinach, Bacon and Mushroom Filling
Mar 16, 2011
Maple Breakfast Casserole
Say good morning to a great breakfast recipe with this
Ingredients
- 2 large Golden Delicious apples, peeled, chopped
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 8 eggs
- 3 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 8 cups French bread cubes (¾-inch pieces)
- 1 pkg. Jimmy Dean® Maple Flavor Pork Sausage Roll, cooked, crumbled, drained
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Toss apples with sugar and cinnamon; set aside.
2. Beat eggs, milk and vanilla in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add bread cubes, sausage, apple mixture and 1-½ cups cheese; stir gently until evenly coated.
3. Spoon into lightly greased 13x9-inch baking dish; top with remaining ½ cup cheese.
4. Bake 40-45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into 12 squares to serve.
Cook’s Tips: Make-Ahead Maple Breakfast Casserole: Assemble casserole as directed. Refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, uncover and bake 50-55 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with warm maple syrup.
Yield:
12 servings (1 square each)Mar 15, 2011
Q&E–Tips for Freezing Desserts
Follow a few rules for successful storing and thawing
Label your desserts with the date they were made, stuff starts to look the same after being in the freezer.
Cool the dessert completely to prevent condensation before wrapping it and freezing it. I put the item in the freezer till it is semi-hard to make wrapping easier. Items like cookies, bar cookies, brownies and cup cake I like to freeze on a cookie sheet until hard. Pack them together in a freezer bag. This way you can remove only the amount you need.
Wrap the dessert in two layers of plastic wrap and put in to a freezer bag. Zip the bag almost closed, leaving about one inch open. Push out as much air as possible, seal and label with content and date.
Unwrap and gently cover the top of the dessert with plastic wrap. Thaw the dessert in the refrigerator or on the counter. Being careful in it has cream filling or whipped topping.
Mar 14, 2011
Q&E–Tip - Spices
Some good ones to keep on hand are herb de provence, paprika, oregano, basil, rosemary, chili powder, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, bay leaves, thyme, nutmeg, red pepper flakes, ginger, cumin, whole nutmeg, dry mustard, curry powder, cinnamon, garlic and onion powder and coriander.
When using fresh herbs an spices, use 3 times the amount of the dried.
Most dry herbs last between one and two years. I throw most of mine away after six months, because they add so much to your recipe you don’t want to chance ruining a dish. Spices should be stored in airtight containers away from sources of light and heat.
Extracts
almond extract
pure vanilla extract
vanilla beans
Mar 11, 2011
Q&E Weekend Links
Setting the table for Easter
Tableware and Serving Pieces
Joy Entertaining
Empty Bowl
Q&E Freezer Desserts Part 2
One of my best strategies for easy hassle-free entertaining is to make a few desserts and freeze them. To serve a great frozen dessert try not to keep them more then a month give or take. Give them a thaw and you are on your way to a perfect ending to your meal.
Remember cakes are better frozen unfrosted. Frost them when you remove them from the freezer.
How about making crepes? These can be made ahead and frozen with wax paper between them.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for sweet crepes)
Whisk together the flour and the eggs in a large bowl. Slowly add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth. Add vanilla if using. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.
Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot.
Chocolate Crepes
Variation: 1/4 cup cocoa powder added to the basic recipe for chocolate crepes.
Fillings:
In bowl of mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sour cream, sugar, strawberries and vanilla. Beat until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Put about 1/3 cup filling in each crepe and fold. Garnish with whipped topping and whole strawberries.
Filling: Soften Ice Cream
Hazelnut Filling:
- 1 jar of Nutella
- 5 bananas, sliced
- 1 tub of whipped topping
Mar 10, 2011
Q&E Tip
You might want to try Kraft’s cooking crème. It is a good thing to have in the refrigerator.
Q&E Pantry Items
These items are great to stock up on and create magic with. I want to share some of my slight of hand tricks. How many items are in your pantry?
Cream Soups | Noodles | |
Chicken & Beef Broth | Rice | |
Canned Meats Tuna Salmon | Canned Tomatoes & Tomato Paste | |
Beans, Baked and White | Canned Vegetables | |
Bread Crumbs, plain | Olives | |
Asst Instant Pudding | Various Pasta | |
Salad Dressing | Croutons | |
Hoisin Sauce | Mushrooms | |
Artichoke Hearts | Pesto | |
Roasted Peppers | Peanut Butter | |
Powder Sugar | Pie Filling | |
Ready Made Cookie Pie Crust | Chocolate Semi-sweet & itter-sweet | |
Sweetened Condensed Milk | Mixes ie: muffin, waffle | |
Chocolate Syrup |
Cooked chicken from the freezer combined with canned cream soup of choice. Boil noodles, drain and serve over noodles.
Cookie Pie Crust filled with instant pudding and topped with whip topping from the freezer.
Cook pasta top with tomato sauce made from the canned tomatoes. Serve with meatballs or sausage from the freezer. Add a loaf of French bread from the freezer.
Antipasto serve black and green olives with artichoke hearts, mushrooms and roasted peppers drizzle lightly with olive oil. Add some provolone or cheddar cheese and serve with bruschetta.
Take frozen chili and defrost, serve over rice.
Powder sugar sprinkle over many desserts make them look elegant.
Mar 9, 2011
Q&E Freezer Desserts
Easy Peasy Frozen Coconut Cake
Ingredients
1 box Duncan Hines butter cake mix
1 (12 oz.) pkg. frozen coconut
1 (16 oz.) sour cream
2 c. Cool Whip
2 c. white granulated sugar
Directions
Mix coconut, sour cream and sugar. Refrigerate for 1 day. Bake cake according to directions, making either 2 thick layers or splitting layers to make 4 thin layers. Fill layers with coconut mixture, reserving 1 cup of coconut mixture for the icing. Mix the cup of coconut mixture with Cool Whip and spread on top and sides of the cake. Keep in the refrigerator for 3 days before serving.
TIP - If you aren’t a baker, keep a commercially baked pie in your freezer. Remember your guests are here to see you!
Mud Puppies
1 small package Oreo cookies
1/2 cup butter
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1 jar fudge topping
1 small container Cool Whip
Crush Oreo cookies and mix with soft butter. Press 3/4 of mixture into 9 x 13 inch pan. Spread softened ice cream over crumb mixture and freeze.
Spread with fudge topping and Cool Whip, then remaining crumb mix. Freeze and serve. This keeps well.
Chocolate Cherry Bombs
Makes 16 (1 1/2-inch) cherry bombs.
1 (10-ounce) jar maraschino cherries with stems
2 cups vanilla ice cream, softened
1 (7.25-ounce) bottle chocolate shell topping
Drain cherries. Remove stems and save them to complete the recipe. Place cherries and 1 cup ice cream in electric blender. Pulse to combine. Combine cherry mixture with remaining 1cup ice cream in a medium bowl; mix with a spoon. Divide between 2 small (8-ounce) bowls. Cover and freeze overnight or until firm.
Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Shake chocolate shell topping 30 seconds; divide between 2 custard cups or small bowls. Remove 1 container of ice cream from freezer. Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop 1 (1?-inch) ball; place on fork. Spoon chocolate shell topping over ball while holding over custard cup. Place on baking sheet; quickly insert 1 reserved cherry stem in top. (To remove ball from fork, push off gently at base with knife). Repeat with remaining ice cream. Work quickly so ice cream does not get too soft. Place cherry bombs in freezer. Repeat procedure with remaining bowl of ice cream. Freeze until ready to serve.
Tip: If blender is unavailable, finely chop cherries and stir into ice cream.
Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of National Cherry Growers Foundation.
Mar 8, 2011
Q&E Appetizers From The Freezer
As you can see I love puff pastry. It has saved me more time then I can remember. The pastry can be sweet or savory. It can be thawed, baked and topped with a variety of items.
Remember when working with the pastry to keep the pastry covered when not working with it or it will dry out. Cut puff pastry into small squares when finished baking Mix cream cheese with herbs and a little milk.
Puff pastry shells can make a do ahead appetizer to keep in the freezer. Bake shells and fill with any of the following: little meatballs in pizza sauce, when reheating top with a little shredded mozzarella, fill with caramelize onions and shredded cheddar cheese or a buffalo chicken mixture.
Freeze individually and place in plastic bag or container when hard. Defrost and reheat in 250° oven for about fifteen minutes or until warm.
Parmesan Star Puffs
Recipe from Cooking Basic
Parmesan Star puffs are a fast and light appetizer for any occasion. If you have a flavored olive oil, I highly suggest
Ingredients
- 1 Sheet of puff pastry
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Olive oil
- Ground pepper
- Flour, to dust your surface with
Cut a sheet of puff pastry with a star-shaped cookie cutter. Arrange the stars on a parchment lined baking sheet; brush with olive oil and sprinkle with grated parmesan
I freeze them on a cookie sheet and when they are frozen transfer to a plastic freezer bag. Reheat in 250° oven for about fifteen minutes or until warm.
Mar 7, 2011
Q&E Freezer Sides and ETC
Here are some Q&E items to keep on hand for unexpected guests or to incorporate in to company dinners. In the coming weeks I will be posting frozen menus for your convenience with recipes. Be sure to watch for the Easter entertaining ideas.
C=cooked | R=raw | |
Asst Potatoes | Pound Cake | |
Asst Veggies | Puff Pastry* | |
Pizza Ready Made | Fruit | |
Peppers, Green* | Ice Cream* | |
Onions | Waffles* | |
Onions, Chopped | Whipped Topping | |
Pasta Sauce | Pie Crust | |
Butter/Margarine | Bread/Rolls | |
Ravioli* | Mini Puff Pastry Shells. | |
Coconut, Flaked | Egg Roll Wrappers | |
Nuts |
*Peppers and onions added to Italian sausage and pasta sauce served on hoagie rolls. Add a relish tray and chips or fries for a quick menu to serve friends over to watch the game.
*Puff pastry can be baked early or even just before serving and topped with ice cream or fruit for a quick dessert.
Sherbet Parfaits
Ingredients:
2 pint s different flavor sherbets, slightly softened
1 cup Whipping cream or topping
cookies (vanilla wafers or shortbread) crumbled
Preparation:
In 8 parfait or tall glasses, layer sherbet alternating flavors sorbet and cookie crumbles. Refreeze until firm. When ready to serve, When ready to serve top with whipped topping on each parfait. Serves 8
*Ravioli can be deep fried for a quick appetizer and served with jazzed up pasta sauce or served the traditional way with pasta sauce.
* Waffles aren’t just for breakfast. serve them hot with fruit or top them with a big scoop of ice cream.
Mar 5, 2011
Q&E Weekend Links
Remember when I said to purchase white china, take a look at these place setting Scroll down the page about half way and see the great things you can do with it.
Mar 4, 2011
Q&E Entrees
C=Cooked | R=Raw | |
Chili | Lasagna | |
Chicken Spaghetti | Meatballs cooked+ | |
Sweet and Sour Chicken* | Beef Cubes for Kabobs | |
Pizza | Shrimp C&R | |
Taco Filling | Cube Steaks | |
Salmon Fillets | Bacon | |
BBQ Chicken+ | Hamburger | |
Ingredients
4 chicken breasts, cut in cubes
1 can pineapple chunks (save juice)
one garlic clove, minced
1/4 Cup soy sauce
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
l teaspoon ginger
1-2 carrots cut in small pieces
1 green pepper cut in pieces
Directions
Add all ingredients together in a ziplock bag. Freeze. In frying pan add chicken and vegetables and allow to cook on low for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Cook frozen rice to go with the meal.
For dessert serve vanilla ice cream with chopped almonds and fortune cookies. Fortune cookies can be stored in the pantry for just such an occasion.
+Flash freeze the meatballs and store in a zip lock bag when frozen.
+ Chicken cooked and shredded can be thawed and mixed with bbq sauce, serve over rice or on a bun.
Hamburger can make quick tostados, taco salad, nachos for unexpected company.
Mar 3, 2011
Q&E Freezer Meat/Fish
I will be adding recipes for pulling items from the freezer and coordinating them into a full dinner.
C=cooked R=raw
Chicken c&r | Hamburger | |
pulled Pork c | Meatballs c | |
Cooked Pork Chops* | Breakfast Sausage | |
Cubed Steak | Bacon | |
Meat loaf c | Italian Sausage | |
Shrimp c&r | Salmon filets | |
*Baked Pork Chops | ||
*Sweet Potato Fries or *Rice | ||
* Vegetable | ||
* Dinner Rolls | ||
* Apple Pie | ||
Frozen from the freezer * |
Ingredients
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon dry sage
8 bone-in pork chops 1 inch thick
2 cups Italian dried breadcrumbs
Salt and ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Directions
To serve, pre heat oven to 350°. On sheet pan lightly spread oil for frozen chops. Cook chops turning over half way through for twenty to twenty five minutes until heated through.
Mar 2, 2011
Q&E Ice Cubes 101
Boil water before freezing to have crystal clear cubes.
Save leftover coffee and tea and freeze in ice cube trays. Put them in your ice coffee or tea and your drink won’t dilute.
Prepare your favorite punch recipe and pour into each section of a muffin tin. Freeze, then add to rest of punch just before serving. Prevents punch from diluting.
Freeze ice cubes with fruit in them for a festive touch. Maraschino cherries, one to each cube, are very appropriate for garnishing. Lemon slices sand mint leaves are good additions.
When fruits are to be frozen in the cubes, fill the tray one-third full with water, then partially freeze. Add the fruit then freeze. This will hold the fruit in position. Then add water until the tray is about three-fourths full and finish freezing.
Garnished cubes should be frozen slowly to prevent expansion and cloudiness.
Freeze spaghetti sauce or gravies in ice cube trays for quick sauces or Spanish rice. Chicken stock can also be frozen for a quick flavor boost to rice and potatoes by replacing some of the water with cubes.
Mar 1, 2011
Q&E Entertaining from the Freezer
What could be better then having unexpected guests drop in and you have a complete meal or hors d'oeuvres, ready in the freezer.
Over the next several days, I will be posting menus, recipes and tips for reaching in your freezer and pulling out food items to delight your guests.
We’ll make a shopping list and get your recipes together so when you have a little free time you can prepare your go to meals and appetizers. This way you will really be experiencing the Quick & Easy way to entertain.What would you like to see more of? Entrees or appetizers?