Something's Fishy!

This is the easiest and least messiest was to cook fish. It can be frozen or fresh. We usually buy fresh fish when we can get it. We like salmon or tilapia.Then, we freeze it in a serving size for two people. When we want it, it's there. You do not need to thaw it out. However, if you do, just adjust your cooking time.  

Spray a glass baking dish with Pam.

Place frozen fish in the dish-Salmon is my favorite.

Cover with: Cavendar's Greek Seasoning, 


















fresh onion rings, butter, lemon slices.

Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes depending on amount and size of fish and if it is frozen or fresh.

Remove from oven.

YUMMMMM!

Serve over rice with something green
We like petite green peas,
green beans or broccoli.

Pu Erh Tea

My new 'Favorite' thing: Pu Erh Tea

After reading The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See I was curious about tea. It was a selection for our book club and our leader brought us a sample. I liked it so much that I ordered some from Amazon. Then, my daughter got me a supply for Christmas.

Highly Recommend It!

Time for a 'cuppa'!

One of My Favorite Things

Grits with lots of butter and extra crispy toast! Yummmmm!

Had to order from Amazon. Can't find
the 'Old Fashioned' grocery story.

Corn on the Cob Easy Peasy!

I used to cook corn on the cob in boiling water for 10 minutes and take it out and butter. That involved shucking the corn and dealing with the silks. What a mess.

The key phrase is "I used to". Then, our friend, Tom, gave us the 'Tip of the Year' (to date). Microwave it! Yea! No more silks to deal with and it's ready to eat in about 5 minutes-4 minutes in the microwave and 1 minute to put on the plate.

Chuck was in charge and did a great job so I took a video to walk you through the process. Here you go! Good Luck and happy eating.


 

My Favorite $5 Wine

I discovered 'Tisdale' wines about five years ago. I am always on the hunt for good wines at 'low' prices. I like their Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay the best. They do have some other whites and reds, but have not found them to my taste.

FANTASTIC CHINA in LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

Seasonal flowers
welcome you
before you open
the door!

Fantastic China is 'FANTASTIC'. I had friends say they feel like they are in New York City. It is a small intimate restaurant in 'The Heights, a fashionable area in Little Rock. 

When we lived in Little Rock, that was one of our favorite go to restaurants when we didn't want to cook at home. It was about five minutes from our house. We now live about an hour from there and get to go only when we come to 'town'. We went to 'town' yesterday and were about 5 minutes from there. So we went! Same place, same good food, same good service. 

Modern decor
Lights over bar
No bar seating
Booths and Tables

My favorite is Moo Goo Gai Pan which I get every time. Chuck wants to try something new every time. This time he chose the Chinatown Special. We had enough to take home for another meal. 

Mints on the way out.

If you haven't been there, highly recommend 
you go!

COLORADO GRILL in Hot Springs, Arkansas

I have been on the look for the perfect 'Taco Salad'.  I found my favorite to this point. It's the one at the Colorado Grill in Hot Springs. 

I found it several years ago and had it again just the other day. 

We took my sister and brother* there for her #84. It was as delicious as I remember it. The birthday girl had the same thing and she agreed. Yummmmm!











*There is an 'in-law' behind their name, but we drop that in our family.

BOB EVANS Recommended

Bob Evans makes the best mashed potatoes. I do not think I will ever mash a potato again. You find them in the dairy case close to the meat section.

...and Bob Evans makes really good Breakfast Burritos. We keep them in the freezer as a 'go-to' when we are tired of the 'same-old, same-old'. We serve them with spicy tomato juice or salsa. You find them in the 'breakfast' freezer section. 

Then, we found a Bob Evans Restaurant in Branson, Missouri. Great food and good service. We wish we had one closer to us.

Try them all! You will like them!

It was Gravy!

After 50+ years cooking I decided it was time to learn how to make gravy from scratch. Thanks to my 'go to' class room on You Tube I found the following video. After following simple directions we had gravy today with our rice and pork tenderloin.

Recipe:
1/3 cup butter (I used 'fake' butter, but next time I'm going to use the real thing. I think it will have more flavor.)

1/3 cup flour

dash of salt and pepper. 

4 cups water, juices from meats, chicken broth, beef stock, 
or milk (good for white sausage gravy and biscuits)

Since the amount of flour and butter are equal amounts,I can  increase the butter and flour in the equally and increase the liquid in the same proportion.




It was perfect.

 I did add a little Kitchen Bouquet to give it a little brown color.

Great to have in your spice cabinet.

Tiny Tidy for Today-Going Crackers!

Don't throw away those stale crackers.  Just pop them in a 200 degree oven for 10 or 12 minutes. Voila-you now have fresh crispy crackers!

  

Tiny Tidbit for Today

I'm stuck on Tuna!
Add chopped celery to your Tuna Salad for a nutty taste and a crunchy texture!  No need to add egg...it doesn't add taste or texture
...save an egg! 

Tiny Tidbit for Today

Add Pepper to your tuna fish and it will mask the 'fishy' taste!*

*Also, a lot of mayo makes it even better!

Tiny Tidbit for Today!

More about honey:


I have read that honey doesn't spoil. Do your research.  Here is a link that talks about that fact: Search io9

Reheat thick or crystallized honey in hot water not in a microwave. A microwave could burn it. It doesn't take long.  Practice being patient:)


If my honey is fresh, but still too thick to pour, I just run in under the hot water tap* for a few minutes.  It doesn't take long!

*tap...is that a Southern word for spigot or is spigot Southern for tap?

Our New Favorite Topper

We started with honey on our biscuits and toast.  

Then, the 'aha'!  Why not add a little or maybe a lot of cinnamon to the bear. You cannot beat it!  It is delicious!  Our biscuits* now taste like cinnamon rolls!

The down side?  You could eat it so often that you wear your taste buds out with the taste of it? Not!!!!

*Heads Up!  Pillsbury Southern Style Frozen Biscuits taste like homemade.

Tiny Tidbit for Today

1 Cup Crisco + 2 TBS Water 
equals
1 Cup Butter or Margarine

(Probably doesn't taste as delicious?
   ...just saying:)

BAKED GRAPEFRUIT-Voted Best for 2013

I voted 'Baked Grapefruit' as my favorite new recipe for 2013.  I have had the recipe for years, but didn't try it until Christmas.  We had friends over for our traditional Waffles, Sausage, and Bacon Brunch.  I usually serve fresh grapefruit, but decided 'what the heck'...try something new. It sounded so easy so how could I lose?  Well, what if it was a flop??? It wasn't...it was a hit and became the Best of New Dish I tried in 2013!

Try it and see what you think---

Baked Grapefruit

1 Grapefruit cut in half

Ingredients per half:

1 tsp. butter

1 TBS brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 Maraschino cherry

Section each half
and loosen from rind...

I trim the bottom
so it will sit steady in the bowl...

 

Dot each half with
butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Place in a baking dish.
I line mine with foil.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven
for 5 minutes, then broil until bubbly.
(I have used my standard oven and my toaster oven.
I prefer the standard oven. They heat better!)

Place in bowls and top with a cherry!

One the best inventions...
love my grapefruit spoons!

No, I didn't save you any!

This recipe came from

Mr. Breakfast.com.

Thanks, Mr. Breakfast.

Italian House & Grill HSV A Keeper

Yea!  We have found a new 'keeper'!  We have been wanting to try this restaurant. Every time we thought about going it was never the right time or occasion.  Last night the stars were aligned and we ate with two friends from the Village.  The atmosphere and the food were wonderful.  We arrived without reservations, but were easily accommodated.  Although the restaurant is small, we didn't seemed cramped. We didn't feel as if we were eavesdropping in the tables next to us or them listening to our conversation.

Be sure and call for reservations!

We had coupons for Meatballs and Spaghetti and a salad so the two guys used them.  They were really a good deal...Plenty of meatballs in a nice red sauce, Italian bread with olive oil for dipping, and a nice fresh house salad with a house vinaigrette dressing. The gals ordered Angel Hair Pasta Primavera in a indescribably delicious white sauce with diced veggies. I couldn't eat all of mine...two meals for one.  I am adding chicken tonight for my next meal. In fact, there may be enough to share with Chuck...maybe:)

Bleu Monkey Grill, Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA

Lunch out with friends at the Bleu Monkey Grill was a treat.  We got to catch up and give the 'Bleu Monkey' at try.  It was on our 'eat out in 

Hot Springs' list.  

We really enjoyed the company, but the jury's still out on the Bleu Monkey Grill.  It was highly touted so maybe we set our expectations too high.  Then again, maybe we didn't order well.  Our friends have lunch there quite often.  They ordered the Club Sandwich and the Maui Salad, two of their favorites.  The Maui Salad was ordered without nuts or Sesame Seeds because of a health issue.  It came loaded with nuts. They got the Sesame seeds right.Chuck ordered the California Fish Tacos from the Lunch Menu and I ordered the Grilled Portabella on a Bun.  On a scale from '1 to 10' we rated each of them a '5'! Chuck was surprised to find his tacos in a soft flour taco. He likes them in a crispy corn taco. 

Reminded me of
Pringles

I had the choice of french fries, onion rings, or baked potato chips as a side.  Thinking they were all homemade... 'silly me'...I was really surprised when I got Baked Lay's.  To their credit the waitress and hostess were very accommodating.  They replaced my Lay's with onion rings. I asked and was told they were frozen, but very good.  They weren't.  The onion slid out of batter. Hand beer-battered onion rings are my favorite.  You would think I would learn about frozen onion rings?

The Welcome Mat is  out!

It wasn't a complete bust. We will go back again and give them a second chance.
The next time I am going to try an Angel Hair Pasta dish maybe with Chicken if I can substitute it for the Shrimp! 

ZipList.Com

I have found the greatest website where I can clip and save recipes I find on-line: Zip List! Click here to view!

Here is a recipe that I found and was able to add it to my Recipe Box on Zip List with a Clipper on my Tool Bar. 

Cheesy Enchilada Casserole

Peaches and Apricots

Two of my favorite jams:
Peach and Apricot. What is even better...mixing the two!  

I buy Polaner's All Fruit with Fiber, 
one of each flavor.  

I keep Kerr Mason Caps
in my pantry. It is amazing
how many jars they fit!

Then, I mix them in a Mason jar.  Really delicious on Pillsbury Southern Style frozen biscuits.  
Add Jimmy Dean Original Patty Sausage for a great breakfast treat.