Memorial Day

 For the times...

 photo credit

when families grew Victory Gardens,

 Photo Credit

 and rationed,

  Photo Credit: African-American and white soldiers during World War II, March 1, 1945

 

WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots)
Photo Credit: National Archives. U.S. Airforce photo - public domain

and ALL Americans went to war, even the women...




















Thank you for your service to the people of the United States of America.

Hot Spinach Dip

As is usually the case, I return from the store all set to begin a recipe I'd had in mind only to find out I've forgotten some ingredient or another.  Today I bought the fixings for spinach dip and realized I'd forgotten the Knorr Vegetable Dip Mix that was called for in the recipe.  Shoot. Well, I got to thinking about Spinach Artichoke Dip.  Knowing that I didn't have any artichokes, I decided to just use the water chestnuts I'd bought for the first recipe I had in mind.  I looked through several recipes for the hot dip and decided I liked Saint Paula Deen's (patron saint of southern cooking) best.  I had to finagle the ingredients just a tad, keeping in true Kitchen Witch fashion.  

Here's what I got:

Ingredients

• 1 (10-ounce) package 2- (9oz.) pkgs. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and wrung out
• 2 (13 3/4-ounce) cans artichoke hearts 1 can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2  1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1 cup grated pepper jack Mozzarella cheese
• Salt & Black Pepper to taste
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
• a splash of each, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and Hot sauce

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a casserole dish with nonstick spray.

Heat the spinach in a microwave oven on high for 5 minutes and squeeze dry. Drain the water chestnuts and coarsely chop.
Combine all the ingredients and a handful of mozzarella cheese in a large bowl. Stir well. Scrape into the prepared casserole dish and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Bake for 30 minutes. Transfer to a chafing dish and keep warm over a low flame. Serve with bagel chips or whatever cracker you like.

This would be a great one to serve for a Memorial Day gathering or any kind of get together, really.  Have a safe and yummy holiday weekend!

Let the good times roll,

The Kitchen Witch

p.s. Sharing @ 

Skillet Creamed Corn

In the back of the novel, "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe", author Fannie Flag shares some of Sipsey's recipes.  Creamed corn is among those and so we decided to give it a try the other night.  This was so good; though, I didn't have 6 ears (I only had 4) and they were yellow.  The end result was worth fighting over who was getting seconds and who was not.  Definitely a fight worth fighting.  You'll know what I mean when you give this recipe a try.

Creamed corn

6 ears sweet white corn

2 tbsp. butter

1/2 -1 cup milk and water ( I used 1/2 cup of ea. milk and water)

Salt and pepper

Cut corn off the cob, then scrape the cob down with the back of a knife to get what’s left.  Cook w/butter over low heat and slowly add milk and water and salt and pepper ‘til you like it.  Stir for 10 minutes ‘til just right.

This recipe is so simple it has you wondering, "Is that it?"  And, yep, it is so don't go meddling with perfection.

Sharing @ Designs By Gollum this week.  Be sure to give them a visit!   

Considering it my Lucky Day

The other day, I bid on a signed and numbered print of a New Orleans artist, Ann deLorge, that I'd found online at a Goodwill in WI.

I only bid $12 so consider myself lucky to have won the bid.  This will be a birthday present for my mom who does her fair share of painting, but holds all things Louisianan close to her heart.



I hope she likes her newest picture ; )  In the near future, I'll be going to my mom's for a visit and will take several photos of her paintings to display on my blog.  Using pastels to oils, my mom creates many wonderful things, but she's not technologically savvy so hasn't begun to share her works with the world wide web...mostly she goes to surrounding area art shows and sales and has sold pieces that way, but I'm excited to expand her market.  We shall see how that goes ; )

Try a Triple Berry Pie

Today, I tried a berry pie since berries have been priced so affordably in the grocery store.  I found this recipe on the web.

Ingredients

1 cup fresh strawberries, halved
1/2 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups raspberries
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, stir together sugar and cornstarch. Add strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries; gently toss until berries are coated. When using frozen fruit allow fruit mixture to stand for 15 to 30 minutes, or until fruit is partially thawed.

Line a 9 inch pie plate with half of the pastry. Stir berry mixture, and transfer to the crust lined pie plate. Top with second crust, and seal and crimp the edge. To prevent over browning, cover the edge of the pie with foil.

Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 25 minutes when using fresh fruit, 50 minutes for frozen fruit. Remove foil. Bake for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden. Cool on a wire rack.

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

May you have a Happy Friday and wonderful weekend.

-XOXO-

The Kitchen Witch

Beef Stroganoff

Where do you go for a good Beef Stroganoff recipe?  Why, beefstroganoff.net of course!

Seriously.  All Beef Stroganoff.  All of the time.  So how does one choose from the bevy of beef stroganoff recipes, you ask?  Well, I chose the "Best Beef Stroganoff" recipe, and never tried another because it was so good, but feel free to try out whichever you please.  And let me know how it turns out for you.

I'm sharing at Savory Sunday!    

Tomato Preserves

Sorry for such a squirelly picture...never claimed to be an expert photographer ; ) And, it tastes better'n it looks!

INGREDIENTS:2 1/2 pounds tomatoes (3 cups), I used my home growns
1/4 cup lemon juice, fresh squeezed
2 pounds sugar
1 box Sure Jell
6 jelly glasses (I only got about 4 jars worth)

PREPARATION:

Peel (I skipped peeling the tomatoes,too...don't think it hurt a thing) and cut the tomatoes into small pieces. Simmer for 10 minutes.

To 3 cups cooked tomatoes, add lemon juice and Sure Jell. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Add sugar and again bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, skim (I skipped this part), place preserves in jars and set in simmering water bath.  When canning, place contents in sterilized jars, seal and process in hot water bath for 15 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of cdkitchen.com.  Visit their website here.

***Notes on the recipe:

  I filled the water 'til it reached 3/4 of the way up the jars and I had the little 8-ouncers.  Also my mother-in-law taught me to put a folded tea towel in the bottom of the boiling pot for padding so that the jars won't break...not sure if there's any truth in it, but I take her word just the same...no broken jars, yet.  I set my timer and let the jars set.  When I removed the jars, I placed them on the counter on top of a dry kitchen towel.  After a few minutes I began to hear the little pop from each jar as they created their seal.

Oh, and make sure the jelly completely cools before you get into it so that it's had the chance to firm up.  This recipe sure was good!  I've bought plenty of Tomato Jelly in the past since it's my favorite and I think this turned out just as good if not better.  Yes, I'd venture to say better.

P.S.  Sharing on Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum

Latest Spring Trend

Sitting down this morning with my morning cup and glanced at the top 10 trending searches when this caught my eye:  Mexican Pointy Toe Boots.

Photo by Edith Valle and article by Angela Carone

Seriously?  I've gotta catch these in action.  When I was a little girl, we used to call pointy-toed boots, "Cockroach Killers" as in they could smash a roach that scurried into any corner in an attempt to escape what with the boots being so pointy that they'd fit right into a corner.  These boots take that meaning to a whole new extreme.

Love it.

Makin' Groceries Monday

Okay, I have a confession- I typically don't do my shopping on Monday, but I follow a blog that does "Menu Plan Mondays"...cute idea, huh?  Well, the trouble is that it's a glutin free menu plan and well, I'm still not sure what glutin is, but I think I like it where it's been all along so..

Here's a little made up menu for the week (I thought of these dinners while I wandered aimlessly around the grocery-cursing myself for forgetting my list)

Monday- Red Beans & Rice served with cornbread if I have the energy to make the bread.
Tuesday- Beef Stroganoff
Wednesday- Salmon Croquettes with tomato salad, marinated cucumbers, and black beans (maybe)
Thursday- Stuffed Bell Peppers, recipe courtesy of Marguerite at Cajun Delights
Friday-Some sort of meat served with Pasta salad, and squash casserole

That's about all I thought of so we will call the weekend wild card days : )

If you're ever interested in getting some ideas, I've reorganized the blog to categorize the recipes I've shared.

And with that, I've gotta go-Bebe's shoved the bathroom door open and strung toilet paper down the hall and into the living room.  I'm just thanking God she wasn't in the toilet.

Happy Monday, Y'all

The Kitchen Witch

A Blogger Award

My kind friend, Marguerite, has done it again...passed on a blogger award the other day to moi and some other great bloggers.  I'm so honored.  Yesterday, she posted some tragic news about the flooding happening in her home state of Louisiana...very sad.  Please visit her page and keep her and all beloved Cajuns in your prayers.

To pass on her kind-heartedness, I've passed this blogger award on to some other great bloggers:

To Miss Yvonne @ Yo Mamma's Blog for always making me laugh

Right back at Ms. Marguerite @ Cajun Delights because hello she bestowed her awesome award onto me & makes killer Cajun food.

To Garden of Daisies because she shares some lovely recipes

Mrs. BC @ Mrs' BC's House of Chaos who helps me along on this crazy blogger train with her sweetness : )

Hugs,

The Kitchen Witch

Huevos Rancheros

Making Eggs and potatoes (Huevos con Papas) is a good way to start the day, but...

serving up Huevos Rancheros is a great way!

~Huevos Rancheros a la Kitchen Witch~

2 medium tomatoes, diced

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1/4 cup onion, cut into thin strips

1 tbsp. bacon grease

Salt & Black Pepper to taste

Paprika to taste

Cajun seasoning to taste

a dash of pepper sauce

a handful of fresh parsley, cut up and added in at the end

In a saucepan, combine veg and bacon grease and saute over med. high heat.  As the tomato breaks down, begin to mash it up to make a sort of salsa.  Add your seasonings (be sure to taste and remember you can always add more salt, but you can't take it away so go easy to start).  Finally, when the onions seam tender, throw in your parsley.  Serve over eggs, any style; makes about two servings.

Mmm Mmmm, bueno.

Sharing @

http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2009/02/introducing-foodie-friday.html

Mixed Berry Cobbler

How about a Berry Cobbler?  This recipe was easy and good.  If you're looking for a fast cobbler fix, this recipe is for you.  Recipe courtesy of Kraft:  (by the way, I used strawberries since they cost a lot less than Raspberries, also I sprinkled in some ground Ginger into the berry mixture, AND I swirled about a 1/4 cup strawberry jam into the biscuit mix-an idea I got from another cobbler recipe.)

Ingredients

4 cups mixed fresh berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries)        

3/4 cup plus 3 Tbsp. sugar, divided

3 Tbsp. Minit Tapioca

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

3/4 cup water

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1-1/2 cups all-purpose baking mix

1/3 cup milk

make it

HEAT oven to 375°F.

PLACE berries in 9-inch square baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Mix 3/4 cup sugar, tapioca and cinnamon in large saucepan; stir in water and lemon juice. Bring to boil on medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Pour over berries in baking dish; set aside.

STIR baking mix, remaining sugar and milk until mixture forms soft dough. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls over fruit mixture.

BAKE 28 to 30 min. or until topping is golden brown. Cool slightly.

When Life Gives You Lemons

Yesterday, I went shopping and bought 5 lemons.  When I came home to unload the groceries, I noticed a whole bagful of lemons marked ".99 quick sale" on our counter.  Our sweet neighbor had brought them over and the situation immediately reminded me of my friend over at Garden of Daisies.  She found herself in a lemon-overflow situation just weeks ago so...

I hopped on her page and did what she did, made fabulous Triple Lemon Tea Cakes!  Please visit her page for her wonderful recipe.  It does not disappoint!.......... And she has such a fun blog!

By the way, I'm sharing on Foodie Friday @ Designs By Gollum.

Whatnot Wednesday?

Orange Fire King Loaf Pan for $2.50...score.

Picked up a few more items when I went to antique row yesterday.  What better way to mellow out before a math final, eh?

Sweet little sugar canister, $6.95

I couldn't find a thing about this canister online.  The lid says Ermetico and the bottom says Carlton Glass.  I don't think it's old, but I like it just the same. ::added note-just saw that there's a signature and date, 1987, on the bottom right corner of the image::

Chocolate Cake

Last night the craving for a warm, homemade chocolate cake struck me and I knew I couldn't get through the rest of the night without it so away I went in the kitchen and let me tell you...it hits the spot!  This is that homey kind of sheet cake that Grandmas always seem to have on hand.

Ingredients
1 stick unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups cake flour
1 cup buttermilk
2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. white vinegar

Cream butter and sugar; add eggs.  Alternately, add flour and buttermilk; chocolate and vanilla.  Mix until blended, then add soda dissolved in vinegar.  Pour into two layer pans or one sheet pan.  Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.  Cool somewhat before icing.

Icing
1/2 stick butter
4 tbsp. buttermilk
2 cups confectioner's sugar
1/2 cocoa
pinch of salt

Combine butter and buttermilk in a saucepan, bring to a boil.  Add to sugar, cocoa, and salt that you've sifted together.  Beat, spread on cooled cake.  The recipes came from this cook book...

I couldn't find a publishing date, but can tell from the images that it's old.  Ms. Helen Jaffe of Birmingham, Alabama provided the cake recipe and Mrs. Ronny Stephens of Athens, GA supplied the icing recipe.  I hope you have a chance to kick back and indulge in this sweet retreat for it's the little things that make life grand, bonne amie~

Zuppa Italiana

Tonight, on the menu is soup made with just about everything in my fridge : )

To start you will need

32 oz. chicken stock
1 medium sweet onion
2 medium carrots, washed, peeled, and grated
3 stalks of celery, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 Russet potato, small dice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup or so of Cauliflower, bite size chop
1 bunch Asparagus, bite size chop
1 Rotisserie Chicken, picked meat into bite size pieces
2 cans petite dice tomatoes
2 cans Garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans water
A handful ea. Italian parsley and basil, rough chopped
Salt & Black Pepper to taste
A lug of Sherry Cooking Wine & a splash of Sherry Vinegar
Rajun Cajun Seasoning  to taste
Paprika, onion, & garlic powder to taste

I sauteed the onion, celery, bell pepper, & garlic in a little olive oil and butter mix.  While that was cooking down, I poured the stock in the soup pot and started pulling meat off the chicken and tossing it in the pot.  I added the cans of beans and tomatoes into the pot and filled one of the cans with water 2 x's.  Next, I added the diced potato, cauliflower, asparagus, and grated carrots.  Finally, I added the sauteed veg and seasonings.  I let this simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the potatoes, asparagus, and cauliflower felt cooked through.

This soup really hit the spot.  I hope you give it a try and let me know how it turned out.

It was a great way to use up vegetables that I'd procrastinated using before and were near their expiration....nice to use them all up at once : )

Summer Reading

Hey all!  Summer time is upon us and I'm so looking forward to the opportunity to read during my break from school.  I haven't had a chance to pickup anything other than textbooks for months so on my first day off, I went to the library and checked out Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.  I think I'm going to like it : )

Usually, I rip through books quickly; though,  I don't know how that will go now that baby is hot-steppin' all over the place.  If I do get through this book within a few days, I'll be needing more suggestions for great books to read, many more suggestions! ; )

If you've got 'em, share 'em.

Here are a few of my favorite reads:

1.) The Help by Kathryn Stockett
2.) Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen...this books is everywhere now that the movie has released
3.) Mermaids in the Basement by Michael Lee West...Mad Girls in Love and Crazy Ladies have characters intertwined between all three novels, if you can't get enough of them.  I had to read all the books!
4.) Steamboat Gothic by Frances Keyes
5.) Sookie Stackhouse Series if you need a fix before the next True Blood season comes out June 26 @ 9pm.

~Happy Mother's Day~

Coming up Roses

OR tomatoes, if you're walking through my garden!

Our Easter Lily finally bloomed, too!  Better late than never : )

and these happy little Zinnias (supposed to be the Lilliput variety) are stretching their sweet little selves toward the sky.

Birthday Cake

Baby thoroughly enjoying her banana cake.  I tried this recipe from my idol, Paula, thinking that since Bebe loves bananas so much, she'd enjoy it.  It was good, but I thought it was more like banana bread less the nuts.  I think we will look for a different kind of cake for the party.

~Happy Birthday Bebe~

What a blessing this year has been!

Warning: Semi-political rant coming to a head

Call me crazy, but I'm not feeling all warm and fuzzy about the state of our Country these days.  Yesterday Osama Bin Laden was declared dead, the week before tornadoes ripped through the middle of the US, and the week before that a Kindergarten student in Houston took a gun to school.  Gas prices over Easter weekend were as high as $3.88 and continue to climb, and tomorrow my baby turns one.  It's all overwhelming.  As Rodney Crowell put it in a song, "It's too much to keep up with, It'll jangle your head; the whole situation's running way in the red."

... And it's true.  It is all too much to keep up with.  What with people like Donald Trump hinting around about running for president?  When did being an American come to this?

Birthday Bunting

Here's a little DIY project that I'm working on for Bebe's birthday.  I cut felt triangles, and circles, printed out "Happy Birthday" in wordart on colored paper and hot glued it all together, I used extra-wide double fold biased tape to string the flags on.  I'm not much of a seamstress so I hot glued it all together.  Somehow the "y" for "Happy" went missing after I cut it out so I have to add that before I call it complete, but I don't think it's too shabby.  Whadaya think?

Gardening Woes

Well, many plants in our back yard have "Leaf Miners"...never had 'em before and don't know how to get rid of them.  I sprayed an insecticidal soap on them this evening and I've been picking off the leaves where the pesky critters "made their mark."  If you know how to rid your garden of them, please let me know.  If you've never seem them, they leave squiggly lines where they've burrowed on your leaves.  Bummer ; (