Recipes

With organic zucchini in the drawer from last week’s produce pick up, I needed to find a yummy recipe! (I have a pretty standard recipe I typically follow with zucchini but getting bored with that one – you know what I mean!)
I came across this recipe in the Miami Herald recently, gave it a shot and really like it!
Zucchini Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
1 large garlic clove, chopped
5 cups chicken stock, homemade or canned
3 tablespoons raw rice
1 pound zucchini, grated
salt and freshly ground pepper
1 egg
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.  Saute the onion & garlic until the onion is soft, about 4 minutes.  Add the stock and rice.  Simmer over low heat, covered, about 10 minutes.  Add zucchini. Season to taste with salt & pepper and simmer until the zucchini is tender, about …

Yummy! I love eggplant.  One of my favorite dishes is eggplant parmesan.  That’s a recipe for another day.  Here is a simple way to make eggplant and keep the calories in check.
Grilled Eggplant – ala George Forman
Ingredients

1 large eggplant
1/2 cup of olive oil
3 large cloves of garlic minced

In a small saucepan, heat olive oil medium-low heat for 3-5 minutes until hot.   Add garlic.  Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Meanwhile, peel and slice eggplant into 1/2 inches slices.  When olive oil is ready, brush both sides of eggplant slice with oil.  Grill on indoor grill for 8 minutes (flipping half way if not using a George Foreman.) Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!

My produce of the week:
· Strawberries· Blueberries· Mangos· Bananas· Spinach· Broccolini – Baby Broccoli· Eggplant· Rainbow Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes· Onions· Garlic· Green Leaf Lettuce· Avocados· Beet Roots· Cucumbers· …

Ok, I couldn’t resist this! Here are some Labor Day cocktail recipes that sound exactly what every Smart Mama needs after such a hot and gruling summer! Each recipe uses HINT Essence Water, a product I have not yet tried, but is right up my alley- with no carbs, calories, sugar or sodium like other mixers, our Smart Mama cocktails will have a delicious taste without adding on extra pounds. You can find HINT at Whole Foods and at http://www.drinkhint.com/ for just $1.79 a bottle. Here are cocktail recipes using HINT.

I know we are all in shock that Thanksgiving is less than a week away! Can you believe it?!?

This week I wanted to share one of the most delicious recipes that I have learned from my husband, his mother’s cookbook to be exact (http://www.lulu.com/content/4754256). It is the most delicious stuffing that I have ever eaten! I will actually be baking it and bringing it this year to my mom’s Thanksgiving dinner. Can’t wait!

Sausage Stuffing
3 lbs sausage1 loaf Italian bread
fresh parsley – chopped, use to taste (not too much)
1 clove garlic – minced
1 16 oz package of mozzarella, cut into small cubes
grated Parmesan – to taste
salt – to taste
pepper – very little
2 eggs, beaten
oil

Heat large pan. Add a little oil. Remove sausage from casing and crumble into pan. Saute sausage until cooked, about 15 minutes. There shouldn’t be any liquid left in the pan.

Cut off the crust from …

Here’s a great side dish for Turkey Day! It’s easy and very yummy! Thanks to my aunt for the recipe.
Corn CasseroleServes 12 – 15
Ingredients2 whole eggs (beaten)1 stick butter (melted)1 can cream corn1 can kernel corn (drained)1 pt. sour cream1 box Jiffy cornbread mix2 tablespoons sugar
Mix together. Pour in glass 9×13. Bake at 325 for 45-60 minutes.Enjoy!

Here’s a yummy autumn recipe for you to try this weekend! It’s easy and YUMMY!

Pumpkin Bread

Dry Ingredients
2 cups sugar
3 1/3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp nutmeg
3 tsp cinnamon
1.2 tsp cloves
1 cup raisins
1 cup nuts (optional)
Wet Ingredients
4 eggs
1 cup oil
2 cups pumpkin (1 small 15 oz can)
2/3 cups water

Mix dry ingredients well.
Mix wet ingredients well.
Mix dry and wet together.

Grease 2 bread pans (5×9) or 3 (4×8)

Bake 1 hour at 325.

Enjoy!

This weekend I’ll be hosting a BBQ Going Away party for a coworker of my husband. With about 20 or so expected to come, and the vast majority being men, I’ve decided to make the food simple, and of course, yummy. Here are 13 items that I’ll be serving. Much of the food will be placed at 2 tables where they’ll be sitting around. I’ll have a 3rd table set as the “bar” and the larger items, like the salads.

Tortilla chips and salsa/queso
Chips and dip
Veggies and dip
Hard pretzels
Nuts
Crackers
French Potato Salad (yummy Barefoot Contessa recipe!)
Pasta salad
Garden salad
Churassco (skirt steak) – cut into bite size pieces and set at tables
Hot and mild sausage – cut into bite size pieces and set at tables
BBQ Chicken
Cookies & brownies

Don’t forget to enter your munchkin for chance to be Munchkin Monday! Simply email me a photo, 1st name, birthday, likes and …

Can you believe that it is already Memorial Day? Where has this year gone??!! Anyone have any great Memorial Day BBQ plans? We’re still underdevelopment for our weekend plans.
I wanted to share a great recipe that is perfect for BBQs or other get-togethers!
Sesame Noodles3 1/2 tbsp – seasame oil3 1/2 tbsp – soy sauce1 1/2 tbsp – white vinegar2 tbsp – sugar1/2 tbsp – hot chili oil4 tbsp – chopped scallions3 packages – Top Ramen Noodles – any flavor (you are not going to use the flavor packet)Mix all ingredients, except noodles. Set sauce aside. Cook noodles and rinse in cold water. Toss noodles in sauce. Mix well. Serve at room temperature. Tastes best when made the day before.
Don’t forget to enter your munchkin for chance to be Munchkin Monday! Simply email me a photo, 1st name, birthday, likes and dislikes. Your munchkin …

I’m starting to realize that this is becoming a bit of a theme…I’ve posted a recipe for 3 Fridays in a row!
This week I wanted to share a super yummy dip that I have shared a parties at home and brought to friend’s homes. It’s easy as can be to make and everyone always LOVES it!
BLT Dip1 cup sour cream1 cup mayo1 jar of Hormel Real Bacon Bits1 container of cherry tomatoes – finely dicedMix all ingredients and allow to chill for at least 3 hours. Stir well and serve with chips or veggies. How easy is that!!!
I’ve done this dip with low fat sour cream and mayo and it still tastes super!
Don’t forget to enter your munchkin for chance to be Munchkin Monday! Simply email me a photo, 1st name, birthday, likes and dislikes. Your munchkin will have some 15 minutes of fame …

Happy Friday!!
As last week’s recipe was such a success – thank you to the many comments and emails – I have decided to share another favorite! This week’s recipe is Cuban Black Beans. I make this dish about once a month. My munchkin is a super slow chewer so I have tried to find other, less chewing needed, sources of protein. Beans have been a hit.
On the side, I am a 1st generation Cuban-American, so this recipe has been shared and put together by the best!
Cuban Black Beans

1 lb of dried black beans
10 cups of cold water
2 green peppers
2/3 cups of olive oil
1 large onion
4 garlic cloves
4 teaspoons of salt
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
1/4 teaspoon of oregano
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of vinegar
2 tablespoons of dry white wine

Rinse beans in tap water. Place rinsed bean in large pot with the 10 cups of cold water. Quarter 1 green …

As you read earlier this week, I received a recipe box for a wedding shower gift. The box was chock full of recipes written by friends and family. Much to my surprise I received 2 identical recipes! Two cousins (sisters of each other) who were not able to attend, sent me with their gifts the recipe for Pollo Tete (Tete Chicken). They had no idea that they had written up the same exact yummy dish that they had learned from their aunt!
With two recommendations for the dish, I made it and LOVED it! It’s perfect for family dinners, dinner parties, storing as leftovers! Here’s the recipe!
Ingredients

8 skinless/boneless chicken breasts
8 slices of Swiss cheese
1 cup of dry stuffing
1 stick (1/4 cup) butter cut into squares
1 can of Campbell’s Chicken Mushroom soup
1 cup of dry white wine
salt & pepper

Directions: Preheat over to 350. Salt & pepper chicken and arrange in glass 9×13 …

I love to cook, and I love to use recipes. I really enjoy the excitement of finding a recipe that has already been proven to be successful, and then attempting to replicate the meal. I have a dozen cookbooks and dozens and dozens of recipe cards. The recipe cards are my favorites! These are recipes that friends and family have taken the time to write out for me to enjoy. I received most of these during my bridal shower a number of years ago. To me, there is something more fun in making my aunt’s yummy corn pudding or my cousin’s delicious chicken dish, to Martha Stewart’s springtime dessert collection!
Anyhow, this week’s tackle is putting some order to my recipe box. It has been a mess – cards all over the place, in no particular order. I have needed to put some sequence …