How To Make Lasagna… Step-by-step!

On May 19, 2015July 18, 2017 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe5 Comments

Lasagna. One of my favorites! I can remember my mom making this when I was a kid. It was my all time favorite! Everyone thinks Lasagna is so time consuming, BUT, it doesn’t have to be! It makes quite a bit, and leftovers, ahhh, yum! You can click on the link below to print the recipe, and then jump down and check out the quick recap so you can see for yourself, it’s not hard!

I tried to post this back in the winter, however… it came out of the oven, it rested and WE ATE IT! NO. PHOTO. Sigh… therefore the time lapse ;)

Click HERE to print just the recipe as shown below (no photos and all my blah, blah, blah)

A quick run through with photos…

You can buy no boil lasagna noodles or the regular kind that you boil… I tried the no boil but they were weird (to me), so I stick with the regular kind. Boil the lasagna noodles and let them drain…

I buy the kind you cook... — **I buy the kind you cook…**

Add cooked Ground Beef or Italian Sausage/Onion to the two jars of marinara sauce (I use tomato basil flavor)… (and I use chicken Italian Sausage). You can also use homemade sauce, which I have done, but it’s hard to tell the difference, so… make it easy on yourself!

Mix up the Cottage Cheese (not as rich as Ricotta, I like Cottage Cheese much better, but you can use the other, really it’s whatever you like!), Egg and Parmesan…

Begin layering, start by putting a small amount of sauce (so noodles don’t stick) to bottom of lasagna pan, spread it around, then top with Lasagna Noodles, Cottage Cheese mixture, Mozzarella Cheese, then (as shown below) start layer two, Lasagna, Cottage Cheese, etc.

Begin layer two... — **Begin layer two…**

You’ll end up with this! Owie! The fabulous smell of this baking is enough to drive you crazy. Bake it, then be sure to let it rest 10-15 minutes – good luck with that part, it’s not easy!

ENJOY!

blog51915

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Recipe! Superfast Crispy Chicken Thighs – a Cooking Light Recipe!

On May 5, 2015May 1, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe2 Comments

Superfast Crispy Chicken Thighs. I am now a chicken thigh convert! I never thought I liked dark meat, until… try this, I bet you will change your ways! Just look at these chicken thighs… crispy, but moist and tender. One little bone, and that’s it! Great with fresh corn on the cob!

Just LOOK at that crispy skin! All with 1 tablespoon of oil! The trick is cooking skin side down in a cast iron skillet for a certain time and then moving that pan into the oven to finish. Incredible.

My only concern (what could we have done wrong?) is that despite the exceptional (and I do mean OUT OF THIS WORLD, BEST FRIED CHICKEN YOU EVER PUT IN YOUR MOUTH) taste of this chicken, the oven was a disaster. I don’t mean a little disaster, I mean while the pan was in the oven, black smoke started coming out of the oven. All windows open, fans going at high speed, oven cleaned, and it took a few days to get over it. The oven has almost fully recovered, so it may be time to try again. One thing we forgot to do is trim the extra fat from the skin. I would say this is key. We also had 4 thighs (not 6) and a 9″ (not 10″) pan, yet I used 1 tablespoon of oil. Next time I will try half that and see what happens. I really want to make this again!

Suggestions?

Print Recipe (takes you directly to this recipe on the MyRecipes.com website for Cooking Light recipes)…

SUPERFAST CRISPY CHICKEN THIGHS

Start by preheating your oven to 500°. While the oven is heating up, place the chicken thighs skin side UP on a cutting board (ideally, one you can put in the dishwasher), trim extra fat. Cover chicken with plastic wrap, and pound it to about 3/4″ thickness. This will help it cook quickly. You can use either a meat mallet or a heavy pan, I used the cast iron skillet, but was very careful to not hit the countertop. Pat the thighs dry with a paper towel and salt and pepper.

Heat a 12″ cast iron skillet over medium heat, and add the 1 tablespoon of canola oil. Swirl to coat the pan, then add the chicken SKIN SIDE DOWN. Cook 8 minutes without disturbing it (or until you see edges get a nice golden brown). We cooked it outside on the burner of the grill. We didn’t trim the excess fat (oops!) and it spit like you wouldn’t believe. If you cook it part way outside and then bring it in to put in the oven, be VERY careful. I put a piece of foil over the top, because it was really splattering. Then transfer the pan just like it is to the hot oven. Bake at 500° for 7 minutes, then turn the chicken over, and bake an additional 4 minutes (or until the chicken is done).

What you will end up with is THE crispiest fried chicken ever!

My oven was a mess, but hey, it needed to be cleaned anyway!

I highly recommend this recipe!

I think one of the tricks is not touching it while it’s cooking on top of the stove, or this case, the burner on the grill… Which I highly suggest!

Recipe via MyRecipes.com (Cooking Light, and other magazine’s recipes are on this site).

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Recipe: How to make a great wrap!

On April 28, 2015April 27, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HEALTH, Recipe4 Comments

I am hooked on wraps right now. I’ve made so many different version, each as wonderful as the next. None of my wraps have included meat, but you certainly could!

Start by buying good tortilla’s. Read the ingredients. Many of the grocery store brands have horrible ingredients, (if you’re trying to be healthy) like one of the top three (listed by quantity) ingredients being Interesterified Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil and/or Palm Oil. What? Yep, if you can’t say it DON’T EAT IT!

I found some wraps at EarthFare the healthy grocery store near us Maria & Ricardo’s tortillas... they’re amazing. I’ve tried the flour tortilla and the spinach, both are fabulous. NO INTERESTEREFIED anything in these tortilla’s… organic, non GMO, etc.

Step 1: I set out a tortilla on a piece of wax paper. Let it sit and come to room temperature while you prepare the ingredients.

Step 2: Spread your “base” (a bit off center, you want it to be more to one side), and add a little to the side of the tortilla to help hold it after you roll it.

Two options that I’ve tried are hummus and avocado (or guacamole)! Both are fabulous, they’re different, but oh so good!

Step 3: Add a slice of cheese (I have been using Havarti, sliced thin, and set out for a few minutes to be more pliable so it will bend when the wrap is rolled).

Step 4: Add some veggies. I like some crunch so I’ve used radishes and cucumber. But whatever you like would work perfectly here. I’ve also added sliced avocado, tomatoes, etc.

Step 5: Add greens. I’ve used arugula, bean sprouts and kale micro greens. All are fabulous! You could also use lettuce. Whatever you like!

Step 6: Optional: you can add some leftover chicken, turkey or whatever else you’ve got.

W O R D O F C A U T I O N . . .

Do not pack too much onto this tortilla or you won’t be able to roll it. Sounds like I might have done that, huh? Oh yeah. Fred made a wrap the other day, and it was hilarious. He stuck a knife through it to hold it together because there was so much in it, ha ha… wish I would have taken a photo of that!

To roll the tortilla, fold up a little at the bottom, (in photo above, fold up to cucumber slice at bottom. Then fold the left side over the pile of wonderful ingredients, try to roll it kind of tight so it doesn’t fall apart. Roll until the “glue” (hummus) has been rolled over. Now just tuck in the top portion of the wrap. Sometimes it’s easier to eat if you roll the wrap lightly in wax paper and put in fridge for a minute.

There is no wrong way to roll a wrap, I’ve Google’d it and read many different versions, use whatever is easiest for you. Some just roll it up, and tuck in the sides.

Owie! You’re going to love this!

What do you put in your wrap? Let me know! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Time for a little break and an iced coffee… hold the ice please!

On April 21, 2015April 16, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, RecipeLeave a comment

I love iced coffee once the weather starts to get warmer. Have you noticed that most places where you buy it charge you MORE for iced coffee. Here’s how to make it at home. It couldn’t be easier…

I make a pot of coffee in the morning. I make mine rather strong anyway, so if you make yours weak, and you use ice, try making a pot with a little more coffee added to it, then it won’t get watered down so easily. If you like yours sweetened, add the sugar while the coffee is still warm, stir until it dissolves. I take the lid off the pot and let it cool completely. Then pour it into a glass container, and store it in the fridge.

Mine keeps for several days, not that it typically sits around that long! Go pour yourself a glass, add cream (if you like) – Oowie, nothing better!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Something quick to make for dinner – I love this!

On March 31, 2015March 20, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HEALTH1 Comment

Blurry photo… we were hungry, ha ha…

What happens when you plan on having something for dinner, but it doesn’t work out for whatever reason?

You throw a chicken breast on the grill (rub the chicken with olive oil first). Cook some brown rice (YAY Trader Joe’s Organic Brown Rice in the freezer section – takes 3 MINUTES in the microwave)! Drain and heat some black beans, cut up tomato and onion (or we used Pico de gallo, so nice and fresh!), a few shreds of Pepper Jack cheese, some steamed spinach, a healthy dose of lime and a tortilla chip or two (or three) for a little crunch, and the grand finale… sliced avocado – which totally makes this heavenly… and BAM! Dinner. Is. Ready! Let me tell you… this is so good, you’ll want it the next day! We had it the day before with shrimp instead of chicken. That was great too!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Queen Street Grocery – Breakfast all day and an impressive menu…

On March 24, 2015March 2, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HOME1 Comment

Queen Street Grocery in Charleston, SC. This photo looks like a painting to me. Great reflections and all kinds of things going on. You’ll be happy to know it was voted “Best Corner Store” – and from what I heard they serve some pretty tasty food… check out their menu!

Options… lots of different options and breakfast all day, woohoo!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

The most delicious cake ever – made with ingredients you probably have on hand RIGHT NOW!

On March 17, 2015March 17, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe4 Comments

Let me start by saying, this is a hell of a photo, isn’t it? You may have gathered from my other posts, I’m so excited once I finish a recipe that we sit down and eat… bite one… then it hits me… P H O T O ! ! I wish I would have thought of taking a photo of the cake prior to cutting, but this is it… see how dark this cake is? Very moist and light. Not too chocolatey and not too sweet. I opted for some whipped cream instead of confectioner’s sugar or frosting. It was PERFECT! Just scroll down and look at the list of ingredients… you probably have all of them don’t you? Well then, why are you sitting there?!

I saw this recipe in an email from FOOD52.com. When I saw that it was a one layer chocolate cake, with no frosting, I was intrigued. You can make it and sprinkle powdered sugar, make frosting, or top with whipped cream.

Best of all you don’t need a mixer, you simply need two bowls and a 9″ cake pan.

Get. Out!

No butter or eggs…

Get. Outta. Here!

OK, I had to try it. I was skeptical, because… well, I never made a cake without essential ingredients. Turns out they aren’t essential at all! This cake was light, fluffy, and not too sweet. It came together quickly. Dry ingredients in one bowl, wet ingredients in the other. Mix then get the air bubbles out by tapping several times and BAM! Best cake ever!

Is there anything better than the smell of a chocolate cake wafting through your house? N. O. There truly is not.

I would also like to take this opportunity to mention that now is your chance to preorder the new cookbook by Food52 called Genius Recipes. It looks like a beautiful book, and it will be jam-packed with fabulous recipes!

Note: I used Hershey’s Cocoa – Special Dark. I’m not sure if that’s why it’s so dark, but it’s fabulous!

Click HERE to print the recipe by itself without all my blah, blah, blah…

Catch you back here tomorrow, after your cake ;)

Shrimp Fried Rice – Quick and Tasty

On March 10, 2015February 23, 2023 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe2 Comments

Don’t you just love when you have a recipe that can be a favorite week in/week out? This is one of those recipes! Out of this world good comes to mind! This recipe was in Roper Hospital’s HOUSE CALLS magazine back in the Fall of 2013. I made it the other day and let me tell you… IT’S A KEEPER! All their recipes are fabulous, and this is one more! It comes together quickly, so be sure to have everything measured and ready!

I used Trader Joe’s frozen organic brown rice, which is fabulous, just defrost it! You want the rice cold for this recipe. I used the frozen peas and carrots from Whole Foods, they were fabulous! The carrots were shredded, which I like better than cubed.

Note, I personally don’t care for Sesame Oil, so I used olive oil, I also didn’t use Fish Sauce or a lime wedge… but that’s me ;) – I also don’t eat soy, so I skipped the soy sauce and replaced it with coconut aminos (Trader Joe’s) – my husband then uses soy and I don’t… this is delish!

Click HERE to print the recipe!

SHRIMP FRIED RICE

Via House Calls Magazine – Roper Saint Francis Hospital, Charleston, SC – Fall 2013

Serves 4

1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil

3 cups cooked, cold Brown Rice (defrost if frozen)*

12 oz. Shrimp, shelled

1 Tablespoon Low-Sodium Soy Sauce

1 Tablespoon Canola Oil

2 Teaspoons Fish Sauce (optional)

2 Green Onions, sliced thinly

2 eggs, beaten

¾ cup frozen Peas and Carrot mix, defrosted

Fresh Lime Wedge

*Chef’s Note: Rice should be cold when you sauté it. Try a frozen cooked brown rice, defrosted, such as Trader Joe’s brand, with this, there is no need to cook it according to package directions in advance. (This worked perfectly!!)

HEAT the sesame oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add the shrimp (original recipe called for raw baby shrimp, I used regular large shrimp and they were wonderful). Add the shrimp and cook for three minutes, turning once, until just opaque in center. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

REDUCE heat to medium and add the canola oil. Once oil is hot add the defrosted pea/carrot mix and green onions. Fry stirring frequently, for one to two minutes. Transfer to the same plate with the shrimp. Increase the heat to medium-high. Once pan is hot again, spread the rice in an even layer on the surface of the pan.

DRIZZLE with soy sauce (and fish sauce if using, I didn’t). Let the rice fry, untouched for 30 to 60 seconds before stirring to allow browning. Toss the rice and cook until crisp and browned, about 2 minutes. Push rice to one side of skillet; add eggs to the other side and quickly stir to scramble the eggs, then work into the rice mixture, about two minutes.

FOLD in cooked veggies and shrimp. Continue stirring until all ingredients are heated through (won’t take long). Serve immediately with a lime wedge for squeezing (we didn’t do this either).

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Salmon Recipe – Perfect for those of you who don’t think you like salmon!

On February 24, 2015February 12, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HEALTH, Recipe2 Comments

This is a Bobby Flay recipe (from Bobby Flay’s Boy Gets Grill) – I first read about this recipe when I Googled “Salmon Recipes for Non Salmon Lovers”. A blog called FoodCrave featured this recipe – and I really liked the info they gave. They cooked it longer than the original recipe called for, which I liked (5 minutes on each side) AND they used a cast iron skillet! Perfect, since I don’t have a grill pan.

The original recipe was posted on Epicurious, this is where you can print the recipe without all my blah, blah blah…

Fred cooked it 5 minutes on each side like I mentioned, then we put the topping on, and stuck it under the broiler for less than a minute – wow! And I didn’t think I liked salmon :) He got the pan nice and hot, and had coated the salmon with olive oil and WOW what a nice crispy top that made!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

How to make Spaghetti Sauce!

On February 17, 2015February 9, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe2 Comments

**Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Italian Sausage**

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce. Is there anything better? I make a pot of spaghetti sauce and we have it for dinner one night and then I freeze it in containers that will hold the amount we use for one night. It makes dinner so quick and easy. I have even taken it straight from freezer to stove and cooking it on low, and breaking it up, it defrosts quickly.

I usually use chicken Italian sausage (sweet or hot), but have also used grass-fed beef – tasty either way! Easy prep (cut up onion/garlic) – sauté veggies and sausage or hamburger and then add tomatoes and cook on low. Couldn’t be easier!

Click HERE to print the recipe below!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Radek’s Radicchio Salad – To. Die. For.

On February 11, 2015February 11, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe4 Comments

Radek's Radicchio Salad, Brown rice with spinach and tomatoes and Salmon! — Radek’s Radicchio Salad, Brown rice with spinach and tomatoes and Salmon!

I have to tell you about this salad that a friend made a few weeks ago. It was amazing. Well, to be honest EVERYTHING was amazing, but this was so unexpected and delicious that I think I’m addicted to this salad… yep… addicted to SALAD!

Let it soak - that's the secret! — Let it soak – that’s the secret!

Radicchio, by nature, is bitter – BUT there is a way to tame the beast and Radek did it! Soaking it in cold water takes away the bitterness… then when you toss it in a nice balsamic vinaigrette and toss in some parmesan… BAM! You have yourself one delicious salad! You’ve got to try it!

Radek's Radicchio Salad — **Radek’s Radicchio Salad**

Click HERE to print just the recipe…

A special thank you to Radek (& Melissa!) Dudek for sharing this wonderful recipe!

Update: I’ve made this salad four times in the last week… Correction to the above “3 Tablespoons Vinegar to 9 Tablespoons Olive Oil” – since I made a smaller quantity I used less. Eyeball it and use 1 part vinegar to 3 parts olive oil and a drizzle of honey. You really don’t need much to coat the salad.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

How to make Turkey Burgers…

On February 3, 2015January 24, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, RecipeLeave a comment

I would say its been close to a year now that we stopped grilling hamburgers and started grilling turkey burgers. We can buy them already made up in the warmer months at Whole Foods and EarthFare (healthy grocery stores), but in the off months we just make them ourselves and eat them twice in a week (not sure how freezing them would be)? That alongside the fresh vinegar coleslaw, wow! It tickles your senses, and is an utterly fabulous meal!

I’m a little freaky about big hamburger buns. Growing up, my mom always used only a portion of the bun. Now I do the same thing, which results in a scary looking burger. REMEDY? Ahhh yeah! SLIDER BUNS! I buy wheat slider buns and keep them in the freezer. When it’s time to grill I pull them out and stick them in the microwave for about 15 seconds and they’re nicely steamed. I top my turkey burger like I do my hamburger, pickles and mustard. That’s it. I love the crunch of the pickles :)

If you’re making your own turkey burgers, take 1 pound of ground turkey (white or mix), and some crumbled feta (however much you like) and a handful or two of torn baby spinach. Make into patties and grill until done! You will not believe how good they are! The feta makes them super special!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Health Starts Here and it couldn’t be more beautiful!

On January 27, 2015January 27, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HEALTHLeave a comment

Health Starts Here is a program at Whole Foods Market…. and it couldn’t be more delicious! Look at how beautiful this is!

You may remember a while back I mentioned that Fred and I are currently on a customer advisory panel for Whole Foods Market. We have learned so much. It lasts for six months (once a month), this is the fourth month and the subject was healthy eating… and an introduction to their Health Starts Here program. They prepare food that is so very scrumptious, then give you time to eat and chat, then there is a talk. Sarah Jane at our local Whole Foods (Mount Pleasant, SC) was so interesting to listen to, and full of great tips and suggestions for healthy eating.

They also gave us a great booklet THE HEALTHY EATING HANDBOOK – it’s FULL of great information, recipes, guides (ideas for smoothies, breakfast bowls, dinner bowls (which we are hooked on right now!), salads, etc. – Click on the link to download!

Also note the BULK BASICS booklet… full of great info on all the different types of beans, whether you soak or don’t soak, the ratio of beans to water, how long to cook, etc. More than beans… so pick one up if you’re in the store!

The Health Starts Here program that Whole Foods Market has started helps take the guesswork out of eating healthy!

I had a white bean dip and an avocado dip with veggies, a scrumptious wrap, lentil chili, a wonderful salad with avocado vinaigrette, and raw apple crisp that was out of this world! I was so full. How often do I eat this many veggies at one sitting? Hmmmm, never! But this showed me that it was possible, and we’ve been adding so many more fruits/veggies ever since this meeting!

Healthy eating is much easier when you get an idea of some of the foods that you should choose… If you have a Whole Foods Market in your area, you’ll see some foods are labeled in the salad/hot bars, prepared food secretion and the self serve prepared meals with a Health Starts Here logo – if you see that you’ll know it’s good for you, and that it was prepared without any extracted oils/processed fats, they only use the healthier sources of fat… nuts, seeds and avocado… YUM!

All foods that have the Health Starts Here log follow their Four Pillars of Healthy Eating:

– They’re made using the purest whole foods, not the processed foods that many of us are used to!

– The ingredients used are plant based – which means there is fiber (that help keeps you full), protein and phytonutrients!

– They only contain healthy fats such as nuts, seeds and avocados!

– They’re high on the list of nutrient dense (containing the most nutrients) list… they have a great way to measure the super nutritious foods… At Whole Foods Market, in the produce section, the fruits and veggies have an ANDI (Aggregate Nutrient Density Index) score. So say you want to make a brown rice bowl and add some greens, you want the most nutrient dense greens, so you check the ANDI list and see the Kale is higher on the list then Arugula, so you choose that green.

With that being said. If you’re eating veggies, you’re doing good… this just packs a more powerful punch!

So I would like to shout out a big THANK YOU to Whole Foods for making healthy eating much easier!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

New England Spider Cake – you’ve got to try this!

On January 13, 2015January 10, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe2 Comments

Art Food Home | barbara stroud — New England Spider Cake

I received an email from Food52 the other day. Have you heard of it? Wonderful recipes, GORGEOUS photos (the one above is mine, sigh…) and once I saw this recipe for New England Spider cake I was intrigued. Interesting name. Cornmeal?! Doesn’t sound too sweet… and by pouring heavy cream on top of the batter you create the most wonderful custard-like layer to the cake. To. Die. For. (Well, not literally).

You start by combining milk and vinegar in a bowl and set it aside for 5-10 minutes until it gets lumpy. Then you mix the dry ingredients: cornmeal, sugar, flour, salt, baking soda… Heat butter in a cast iron skillet – I swirled and got butter on the sides of the pan as well (cast iron skillet is key!), then pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and combine and pour into the skillet!

Now comes the magic… you pour HEAVY WHIPPING CREAM in the center of the batter and place it in the oven…

Mine wasn’t quite as “spidery” as some I’ve seen. This cake cut like a dream. All it took was a tiny drizzle of real maple syrup. WOW!!! But it’s best eaten warm! So that first night is the best. Invite some friends over and make this quick and easy cake!

Here’s the recipe! Thank you Food 52.com and Jonathan Reynolds at the New York Times (Jonathan’s link below) (the link to the recipe on Food 52 where you can easily print) – if you just need to look at your screen, well, here you go…

NEW ENGLAND SPIDER CAKE

I N G R E D I E N T S

2 cups milk

4 teaspoons white vinegar

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cups yellow cornmeal

3/4 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup heavy cream

Maple syrup, for serving…

I N S T R U C T I O N S

Preheat oven to 350F. Combine milk and vinegar in a bowl and set aside to sour (wait 5 to 10 minutes, you’ll see the milk get lumpy).

In another bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking soda and salt.

Whisk eggs into the soured milk. Stir into dry ingredients and set batter aside.

Melt butter in a 10 or 12 inch cast iron skillet. Pour in the batter. Pour cream into center, then slide the skillet into the oven and bake until golden brown on top, about 45 minutes.

Slice into wedges and serve warm, with maple syrup if you’d like.

Recipe comes from Jonathan Reynolds at the New York Times

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Downtown Charleston… classy decor at Goat. Sheep. Cow!

On January 4, 2015December 28, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HOME, PhotographLeave a comment

There is this cool specialty cheese shop (and more!) called Goat. Sheep. Cow. in Charleston, and I pass it on my way in to work. When I walked by the other day the light was just right. Such pretty classy decor! Check out their website!

Hey, they’re great for more than just holidays, stop in and check out all they’ve got! If you’re lucky enough to get one of their sandwiches during the day (limited quality), you will be so happy! Exquisite!

Catch you back here tomorrow!