Hot Dog Mac N Cheese
Yep, a husband’s favorite
This Week’s Planned Posts
How about this? Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog Mac N Cheese! Yikes!
Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs is one of Austin’s favorites and I’ve added the Mac N Cheese. Sounds over the top. I’m going to do a few things to keep this recipe healthier.
-First, lean bacon is going to be precooked slightly to render part of the fat.
-The hot dogs are going to be picked selectively to avoid excess fat and salt, and filler meat products.
-Lite on the cheese and milk.
-Spinach can be added but not this time.
-Whole wheat macaroni can be used but produces a little firmer Mac N Cheese.
Baking Perfect Pumpkin Pie With Libby And Mom
I am definitely one who believes from scratch cooking more often than not is better. Most often healthier, tastier and cheaper. There are exceptions, I agree!
One Thanksgiving, yes just once, I decided to make pumpkin puree for my pumpkin pies. Easy enough but a little time consuming, and definitely time consuming when I couldn’t tell the difference between the Libby’s and my own. This was in the day when my tastebuds were extremely sensitive. Not everyone who cooks their own puree agrees. But for spicy pumpkin pie canned pureed pumpkin works. What a simple pie! Mom tweaked the Libby’s recipe slightly and this is what we bake each Thanksgiving. Thank you Libby and Mom. Oh, I didn’t mention the crust! Yes, scratch is a must for us.
This is a start. Let me see how the week goes. Stromboli will need to wait another week.
Apple Dumplings Recipe Just In Time For Fall
An old fashioned dessert worth reviving. The crust is unlike pie crust and creates the perfect wrap to surround a large baking apple. The dumpling rests in a sweet cinnamon syrup. This dessert is not only apple delicious but has a lovely presentation. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a little extra.
Apple Recipes
My Apple Dumplings-Sunday
Here are a few apple recipes to tide you over until My Apple Dumplings Post.
Top L-R: Spinach Apple Banana Smoothie, Mother’s Day Muffins, Apple Empanadas
Bottom L-R: Pork Chops Recipe, Apple Dessert, Apple Pie
Did you know there are over 7000 apple cultivars? Just within the last weeks I was looking through the apples at my grocer’s. And up popped a new one … to me anyway. Do you get confused about which to use for what? I kinda stick with my favorites. But it’s interesting and recommended to mix cooking apples to get a little different taste and texture.
The crabapple is the only apple variety native to North America. It’s not used in cooking often because of its extremely sour taste. Apples are usually categorized by use; cider, cooking, eating. Below I’ve listed what I often find available and their recommended use. Yep, in my youth I baked an apple pie with Red Delicious. It took forever for the apples to ‘cook.’
Braeburn-sweet, tart; eating and tarts (can turn brown inside from long storage)
Empire-sweet, crunchy, juicy, tangy; eating (cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious)
Fuji-one of the sweetest, crisp; eating (brought to market in the 60’s-developed in a research station in Japan)
Gala-sweet, juicy, crisp, grainy; eating and sauces (one of the most popular apples)
Golden Delicious-very sweet; eating (found in West Virginia-not closely related to Red Delicious)
Granny Smith-crisp, juicy, very tart; cooking and eating (originated in Australia)
Gravenstein-crisp, sweet, tart; cider, cooking and eating (been around for 100’s of years)
Jonathan-tart; cooking and eating (Origin-Woodstock)
McIntosh-slightly tart and crisp; cooking and eating (very popular in eastern Canada and the Northeast US)
Red Delicious-sweet, very mild to little taste; eating (easy to recognize by the mounds circling the bottom)
Rome-crisp, juicy, mild; cooking (flavor develops in baking)
Winesap-sweet, tangy; cider and eating (Stayman apple)
Side of Rice
Rice on the side goes with just about any meat, fish or chicken. Actually, I appreciate it all alone! It’s one of my comfort foods. Try this with white rice when you need it quickly … say 15-20 minutes. Or the brown rice option for a little longer cooking time.
You’ll enjoy this for a change to the baked potato-fully loaded.
Pumpkin Log Or Torte
Every recipe I create for my blog has a story. My file is overflowing with handwritten, typed or photocopied delicious recipes. Anything less wasn’t saved. Many are decades old not unlike this one.
For years I worked with patients with cancer and during the holidays we were flooded with wonderful cakes, cookies and candies. Pumpkin roll was one of the treats. It was so light yet rich … and who doesn’t like pumpkin! The recipe was shared too. As the years passed I stayed loyal to our traditional pumpkin pie during holidays and never made this recipe ‘though I visited it frequently.
Today I pulled out the recipe and did an internet search to make sure it was original. And then what did I do? I changed it just a bit … not because it needs it but to give it a new look.
Easy Blender Potatoes Casserole
Add this to a brunch or dinner. Mix and forget! This was recently served with oven barbecued ribs for a celebratory dinner. We had a great time!