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Archive for December, 2009

Vegtable Cream Cheese

by TT Jr. on May 14th, 2012 | Recipes, Spreads & Sauces
I love bagels.  I just love them, specifically toasted.  And with cream cheese.  They are so delicious when they are still hot and the cream cheese starts to melt on them.  My favorite flavor is salt bagels, and they are delicious with plain cream cheese, but sometimes that gets a little boring.  So, I decided to make a vegetable cream cheese to see how it tasted with my mom's yummy salt bagels.  It tasted like heaven on a hot bagel.  The sweet crunchy carrots with the tangy, slightly spicy chives against the salty, hot, soft, crunchy bagel is incredible.

A
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Peachy Cocktail Sauce

by TT on April 26th, 2012 | Recipes, Spreads & Sauces
In an attempt to broaden my 14 year old's seafood palate, I decided to cook tuna last week.  Unfortunately, the fish counter that I visited had none available, so I went with her current favorite fish, salmon, and jumbo shrimp.  Shrimp is a type of seafood that she doesn't like, but the rest of us do.  I figured if I got her to try it again, it may start to be a seafood item that she likes.  She adores coconut, so I thought some coconut shrimp might do the trick.

Apparently, the lure of a coconut coating isn't enough
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Green Bean Fries

by TT on April 23rd, 2012 | Appetizers, Side Dishes
I will start with a disclaimer.  Do not make this recipe as a way of replacing french fries for people who love them.  Although they are salty and have a similar shape, no fan of the french fry will think of these as an equivalent substitute.  That being said, these green bean fries will be enjoyed when presented as a secondary salty snack or side dish.

Personally, I am not a fan of most french fries.  They tend to be heavy in grease or oil and are unappetizing to me.  So, for me, switching to green beans is an easy
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Pineapple Mango Salsa

by TT Jr. on April 18th, 2012 | Appetizers, Recipes, Spreads & Sauces
Hey there! I am sure you guys are usually used to seeing TT's name in the author spot, but my mom has been very busy lately so we decided to split up the articles. . .and I should probably now introduce myself. I am TT Jr.  If you are one of her avid readers, you would know me as her fourteen year old daughter.  You may already know this, but I am a competitive gymnast and a vegetarian.

Last weekend my family and I were having munchies for dinner, and I offered to help cook.  I decided to make pineapple
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Balsamic Strawberries

by TT on April 11th, 2012 | Appetizers, Desserts, Spreads & Sauces
The other night was a cooking-free Tapas Monday.  On this occasion, the lack of cooking wasn't dictated by a busy schedule; rather, it was created due to a shopping trip my husband and I made over the weekend.  Spending some time at an Italian pasta and cheese shop, we found many delicious items and chose a few to bring home.  With the purchase of country pâté and a goat's milk brie, our Monday menu was almost fully planned.

I was thinking about what could be added to the menu to provide a little lightness and more flavor when my husband
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Leek & Goat Cheese Mini-Tarts

by TT on March 29th, 2012 | Appetizers
Although the sources of inspiration for my cooking may vary, I think the inspiration for this dish was unique.  Over the weekend I made lobster newburg for my husband's birthday.  As this was a dish I'd never made, I reviewed many recipes, seeking what seemed like the perfect combination of ingredients.  In the end I debated between two recipes, finally choosing one that utilized a roux.

After our dinner on Sunday evening, our 15 year old asked why we had leeks in the refrigerator.  I then realized that while shopping I had purchased all of the ingredients for the recipe
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Day 8- Tortilla Sundaes

by TT on December 31st, 2009 | Desserts, Recipes
We spent New Year's Eve the way we prefer- at home.  We decided to make a menu of Mexican foods, as my husband had received a quesadilla maker in a work gift exchange.  So, we began our evening with some fresh fruit, espinaca, guacamole, and chips and planned on making our main dish later.

Our evening progressed, and a few hours and many games of cards later, I considered whether to make quesadillas.  However, I was still full from our munchies earlier.  Of course, my appetite isn't always a good barometer for others, so I asked others, and the consensus was
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Day 7- Sugar Cookies

by TT on December 30th, 2009 | Desserts, Recipes
What would Christmas be without a batch of sugar cookies?  For me they are an important part of the holiday season.  I made numerous batches with my mom when I was a child and now make batches with my children.  I oversee a crew of four cookie makers, but luckily, everyone usually chooses to be harmonious during these times.  However, I have learned to divide when needed, such as having the boys cut out there half of the cookie dough and then have the girls cut out theirs.

While they take a little more work to make than chocolate chip cookies
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Day 6- Spinach Squares

by TT on December 29th, 2009 | Appetizers, Recipes
Today's recipe is savory instead of sweet.  However, when these spinach squares are served, they disappear as quickly as a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

I received this recipe from my mom, who was given it by her dear friend Jean.  Jean was quite the hostess who made wonderful dishes, and this recipe is no different.

The beautiful thing about this recipe is that it only requires one bowl for mixing and then bakes in a 13x9 pan.  The hardest part about making this snack is waiting for the squares to cool enough to be cut for serving.

I made a
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Day 5- White Chocolate-Irish Cream Fudge

by TT on December 28th, 2009 | Desserts, Recipes
With the holiday season in full swing, it is the perfect time to make extra goodies. . .and give them to friends, teachers, etc.  Of course, I always leave some extras for the kids to enjoy but prefer to give my share to others.

I have made fudge as a gift several times and have found that it can be tricky.  Between watching the temperature and glossiness of the mixture for the exact moment at which it needs to be transferred from pot to pan, I have had a failed batch or two.  Timing is of essence.  A little too long
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Day 4- Chocolate Covered Pretzels

by TT on December 27th, 2009 | Desserts, Recipes
A trend has begun.  This is another simple, yet tasty, recipe.  Day 4's recipe has 50% more ingredients than Day 3.  However, if you remember Day 3's recipe, it only had 2 ingredients, so this one is fairly easy on the shopping list.

Although this recipe only has 3 ingredients, it pleases my children every time I make these pretzels.  The combination of salty pretzels and chocolate is addictive, and they often clamor for more.

While I made all of this batch with semi-sweet chocolate, white or milk chocolate can be used also.  To make more festive snacks, the white chocolate pretzels
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