Happy Birthday Pops

Today is my father in law Jim's birthday. We all celebrated last Sunday since I am out of town today. Jim loves great food just like I do and he is always willing to try new things. He is always so complimentary of my cooking even when I make something up for dinner! I wouldn't experiment with most people coming over but I know Jim will be a good sport if its bad! :) Jim is an excellent cook, he is a single guy and I was shocked the first time Matt invited me for dinner at his dad's place at all the food! The man can barbecue a turkey, which is something I would never attempt! (This is where Matt get's his impressive grilling skills)
I came across this brunch recipe and thought this was something he would like to try out. Jim, I hope you have a really great birthday, we will have to try this recipe one day at one of our family get togethers at your place.
8 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 soft rolls, halved lengthwise
8 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
8 ounces Swiss cheese, thinly sliced

In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, salt, and pepper.

Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Pour in the eggs and scramble until cooked through.

Divide the eggs among the bottom halves of the rolls. Add the prosciutto and cheese and sandwich with the tops of the rolls.

Melt the remaining butter in a grill pan or large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add half the sandwiches to the skillet. Cook, pressing frequently with the back of a spatula or placing another pan on top of the sandwiches to weigh them down, until the cheese has melted and the bread is golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches.

Tortilla Pie

Real Simple has a list of easy Mexican recipes on line this week, these would be great simple recipes to divide into single servings.
I like this tortilla pie recipe because it is vegetarian, I was reading on MSN health that if you can eat vegetarian even one day per week the health benefits are amazing and it can also help to trim up your waist line. With a great recipe like this you won't even feel like you are sacrificing!

2 tablespoons olive oil
6 white corn tortillas
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach — thawed, drained, and excess moisture squeezed out
6 ounces good-quality Feta cheese, crumbled
1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes (½-inch chunks) or one 14 ½-ounce can
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 fresh basil leaves, torn

Preheat oven to 375° F. Spray an 8-inch pie pan with cooking spray. Pour 1 tablespoon of the olive oil into a small bowl and lightly brush each tortilla on both sides. Place the tortillas around the pan to form an overlapping circular crust. Bake 5 minutes, until lightly golden. Spoon the spinach evenly over the tortillas, then put half the Feta on top. Sprinkle with the chopped tomatoes and top with the remaining Feta. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and season with the salt and pepper. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is golden. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with the basil.

Reader Question, part 2, wine

As promised here is part 2 of our reader's question this time concerning wine.

I am a new visitor to the site. I was wondering if you have done a post on wines that you enjoy that aren't too expensive...possibly from trader joe's?? or where do you get your wine from?? thanks, love the site for a beginner like myself!! :)also, do you happen to know of easy recipes for single people that are not too complicated or make a huge amount??

While I would love to claim to be a wine sommelier, I am not! I do love wine and I think you can get a great bottle under $10. I typically drink red, although I do like a Pinot Grigio. I am not a fan of Merlot, it is a little grapey for me, but I love Prosecco which is the Italian version of champagne. So if you think you're okay with recommendations from someone like that, read on! (We do often have friends over for wine and I don't ever get any complaints)

Most stores that sell wine are having the wines selected by a wine sommelier, sometimes if you ask they are even on site and will help you. Nothing thrills me more than when Franco, the sommelier at our local Safeway wants to help me out, although then Matt wonders where I am since my quick trip to the store takes 2 hours. I like getting wine at Safeway because they have great sales every week.

Louis Jadot Beaujolais Wine is one of my favorite reds, typically priced at $12 a bottle I can often pick it up for $7. A few other reds I love, Beringer Founders Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Concannon Gate Label Syrah and Bolla's Chianti. Bolla and Bella Sera both make wonderful everyday wines in all their varieties and are always under $7 not even on sale.

Like I said before I don't drink a lot of white, it makes me a little itchy, but I do like Cavit's Pinot Grigio. (On the white wine I am defering to Megan, another blog author who loves her chardonay!)

Now what I do love is champagne! It makes me feel like Coco Chanel, lolling about with some bubbly, my favorite is Veuve Cliquot, but at $45 a bottle, we only have it on very special occasions, like when we got engaged! For bubbly for one try Martini and Rossi Asti these adorable single serving sparkling wines that come in the cutest blue bottle.

Our reader specifically asked about wine from Trader Joe's, I occasionally buy wine there but not often enough to make a good recommendation, but I found someone who does. Jason, of Jason's Wine Blog, drinks wine from Trader Joe's and reviews it. Click here to check out his top ten.

Reader, I hope this helps you in your wine search, if not email me and we can figure it out! Remember if you open a bottle that isn't great you can always save it for cooking.

Reader Question-Meals for One

Nothing thrills me more than someone asking my opinion, I guess I am a know it all! A reader recently left this comment asking my opinion, first I am going to address the cooking for one question. The wine question I am going to have to dump out my big bowl of corks to see what we drink most often :)

I am a new visitor to the site. I was wondering if you have done a post on wines that you enjoy that aren't too expensive...possibly from trader joe's?? or where do you get your wine from?? thanks, love the site for a beginner like myself!! :)also, do you happen to know of easy recipes for single people that are not too complicated or make a huge amount??

Reader, to answer your question of easy recipes that don't make a huge amount. I never want to deprive myself of any recipe by saying it is too much for just me. When I lived alone, if I made too much I froze a portion which was great on nights I worked late, to have something yummy in my freezer. If I was conscience of what I was doing I would simply divide the recipe. Now the only math that my brain computes is diving a recipe and percentages off on sales. That said, if you still don't want the work of dividing, buy one of Crate and Barrel's recipe dividers.

I love left-overs, so when there was lots left, I looked forward to bringing it for my lunch. Bringing lunch from home can save you a lot of money. Even if you eat a $6 meal at lunch 3 days a week you will spend over $80 a month. I would save that cash by bringing lunch and buy myself a crockpot!

If you would like a cook book that deals in cooking for one, Shoppings My Cardio recommends Little Black Apron. This book deals in healthy quick recipes for one. More on this tomorrow!

As far as simple recipes, try these to begin with and let me know how you do! Good luck, remember if you try something and its lousy get take out!

Honey Mustard Chicken

Chicken Soup with Cilantro Chile-Cream

Shrimp, Feta and Zucchini

BBQ Chicken

Greek Pizza

Happy Birthday Aunt Karen

Today is my Aunt Karen's Birthday, her family threw her a Mexican Fiesta to celebrate. A Mexican Fiesta is a perfect party for Aunt Karen, she loves life and loves to have fun! Kristin emailed me asking for an excellent Guacamole recipe. I am allergic to avocados, so I have never come up with my own, but I use this one from the Food Network and everyone loves it. Happy Birthday Aunt Karen! Love you lots! xoxo

3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled

1 lime, juiced

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 medium onion, diced

2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

1 clove garlic, minced
In a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve.

Happy Birthday Kristin

Today is my cousin Kristin's birthday. Kristin is the main reason I started writing this blog, she married her high school sweetheart and wanted recipes she could make after work. Kristin is turning out to be a great cook and throws great parties. It all makes this older cousin very proud! Happy Birthday Kristin! xoxo

Since Kristin and I share a love of Chick-fil-A, I thought a chicken nugget recipe was perfect for her birthday!

1 large egg

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces

1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs

1/4 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon Cavender's

1/2 cup peanut oil (The Chick-fil-A secret!)

Ranch, honey mustard or barbecue sauce for dipping

Whisk the egg and buttermilk in a medium bowl. Soak chicken pieces in egg mixture while you gather remaining ingredients. Meanwhile, in another shallow bowl combine panko with paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and Cavender's, to taste. Set a rack on a cookie sheet lined with paper towels.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Lift chicken from buttermilk, letting excess liquid drain back into the bowl, then dip into panko and turn to coat on all sides. Carefully place chicken in oil and cook until they are golden and crispy and cooked through, about for 5 minutes per side.

Bananas Foster Pancakes

Resist the urge to start yelling BAM! Emeril has a recipe to turn your basic pancakes into Bananas Foster Pancakes. My brother in law Steve, should help with this, he makes Bananas Foster, we'll see if my mom let's him make flambe at her house next time we all visit. While technically pancakes are breakfast, I think this is best served as desert!

(This is Matt attempting not to get lit on fire)

Buttermilk pancakes
4 ripe bananas, peeled
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup paced light brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup banana liqueur
1/2 cup dark rum
1 pint vanilla ice cream
Confectioners sugar, garnish
Ground cinnamon, garnish

Keep the pancakes warm on a baking sheet in the oven at 220° F. Cut the bananas in half across and then lengthwise. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Add the bananas and cook on both sides until the bananas start to soften and brown, about 3 minutes. Add the banana liqueur and stir to blend into the sauce. Carefully add the rum and shake the pan back and forth to warm the rum and flame the pan. (Or, off the heat, carefully ignite the pan with a match and return to the heat.) Shake the pan back and forth, basting the bananas, until the flame dies. Remove the pan from the heat. Remove the pancakes from the oven and divide among 4 large plates. Top each serving with 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream. Gently lift the bananas from the pan and place 4 pieces on each stack of pancakes. Spoon the sauce over the bananas and ice cream and garnish with confectioners sugar and cinnamon. Serve immediately.