Sweet Memories
As a child on a visit to my great grandparent’s house, I was introduced to the magical combination of coffee and chocolate. We had dropped in on Grandma and Grandpa, not an unusual occurrence for them since they were parents to ten and grandparents to many more. I was about five years old and remember feeling special when I saw the bean and noodle owl collage that I had given them hanging in the kitchen. And I remember how Grandma whipped up a moist chocolate cake with incredible frosting WITHOUT MEASURING! But most amazing was that while combining the butter, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder, she just poured in a couple tablespoons of freshly brewed coffee. I was just a kid and I was going to get to have coffee! To this day I don’t think you can beat mocha frosting…or mocha anything!
During these visits the kids would wander around the yard or sit on the floor at the feet of the older generations while they talked about the “good ol’ days.” My great grandparents had some sayings that still hold true. My great grandpa was a farmer driven from Nebraska because of the Dust Bowl. He was always looking for help in the field. The boys had a tendency to goof off so he used to say, “If you have a boy, you have a boy. If you have two boys, you have half a boy. If you have three boys, you don’t have any help at all.” Apparently the energy of our visits overwhelmed Grandpa sometimes. We never knew until much later that when Grandpa got tired of the rambunctiousness of the kids, he would dial down the hearing aid that he carried in his front pocket and just watch the fray.
There are many reasons we spend less and less time in multi-generational family groups today, but don’t let this stop the memories. Try mailing a round robin letter, start a blog, or try to convince the older generation to use a webcam to stay in touch. Try hosting a virtual tea party. This can be tricky if you are across several time zones but it can be done. Buy a special mug for each participant. When you ship it to the special person, include some tea cakes or tea time recipes. Then arrange a time to drink tea “together.” My sister did this for me, my girls, my mom, and grandma…despite being separated by three time zones, four generations connect over a cup of tea! Sometimes we talk on the phone, other times not. But we still feel connected, once more sharing or creating memories.
Mocha Frosting
5 tablespoons baking cocoa
6 tablespoons butter
¼ cup hot coffee
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoons vanilla
2-4 cups powdered sugar
Using mixer, combine ingredients in order adding as much powdered sugar as needed to reach desired consistency. Really dresses up an ordinary cake mix cake!
Petit Fours
1 pound cake, bakery or frozen and thawed
16 oz Ready to Serve frosting, vanilla or lemon flavored
Cut pound cake into 1 inch squares. Heat frosting in microwavable bowl for 1 minute or until pourable. Dip each cube into frosting, allowing excess to drain. Place on wire rack until frosting sets up. Decorate if desired and serve.
Apple Pear Scones
5 cup flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup butter
1 cup apples, peel on, chopped into tiny chunks
1 cup pears, peel on, chopped into tiny chunks
1 1/3c buttermilk
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar. Cut in butter. Stir in fruit then buttermilk. Shape into two 9″ rounds. Cut into 8 wedges. Sprinkle with sugar. Place on sheet. Bake at 350 degrees, 22-28 minutes until golden brown.
Julie Languille - busy wife and mom, owner
Dinners In A Flash - Easy Dinner Recipes and Online Dinner Planner
Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (2)Goat Cheese Strata with Tomato and Basil
This is a delicious quick dinner or excellent for a brunch. On the table in about 20 minutes and is inexpensive too!
Goat Cheese Strata with Tomato and Basil
2 Tb butter
1 onion, chopped
1 C Basil, shredded
1 Tomato, chopped or half of a 14 oz can of diced tomatoes
6 eggs, beaten
1 Tb Milk
Salt and pepper to taste
3 slices of bread cubed
3 oz goat cheese, crumbled
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat and saute the onion until softened. Remove the pan from the stove and add the basil, tomato, eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Top with bread cubes and crumbled goat cheese. Bake 20 minutes. If desired, broil for another minute or two to further brown the top.
Julie Languille - busy wife and mom, owner
Dinners In A Flash - Easy Dinner Recipes and Online Dinner Planner
Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (8)Seared Chicken with Rosemary Fig Sauce
This recipe is delicious. It cooks in about 15 minutes, has few ingredients, but is packed with flavor. It is a great dish to serve to company. I served it on the deck last night to rave reviews and was then rewarded with a lovely sunset.
Seared Chicken with Rosemary Fig Sauce
4 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts - 6 oz ea
1/2 tsp each salt, pepper and garlic powder
Butter flavored cooking spray
2/3 C Fig all fruit spread
1 Tb Rosemary - fresh, minced
1/4 C port or other sweet wine
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Combine the 3 spices and season chicken on both sides and coat the chicken with cooking spray. Brown chicken on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. In a small bowl whisk together remaining ingredients and pour into the pan with the chicken. Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 6 minutes. Uncover and cook for another minute to allow the sauce to thicken slightly. Plate the chicken and serve with the sauce drizzled over.
Julie Languille - busy wife and mom, owner
Dinners In A Flash - Easy Dinner Recipes and Online Dinner Planner
Filed under Uncategorized, easy recipes | Comment (0)Butternut Squash Risotto
This microwave version of risotto is lightning fast and every bit as good and the long slow stirred version.
Butternut Squash Risotto
1 1/4 C Arborio rice
2 Tsp Olive oil
2 1/2 C Chicken stock
1 C water
1 package Frozen Butternut squash puree (12 oz)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
6 Tb Parmesan cheese
Mix rice and olive oil in a 1 1/2 quart microwavable dish. Microwave 3 minutes on high. Stir in broth and water and microwave 9 minutes. Stir well. Microwave for 6 more minutes. Remove and let stand to let the liquid be absorbed. Meanwhile, heat the squash in the microwave until heated through, about 2 minutes. Add squash and cheese to rice, then salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy!
Julie Languille - busy wife and mom, owner
Dinners In A Flash - Easy Dinner Recipes and Online Dinner Planner
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (1)Turkey Cobb Sandwiches
Are you looking for a quick yet delicious lunch? A fast and easy dinner? This recipe puts the classic Cobb salad ingredients in a sandwich. Pack them up and take them to the beach or the park to eat them. Delicious!
Turkey Cobb Sandwiches
8 Slices Bread, toasted
2 Tb Mayonnaise
4 Leaves of lettuce
1 Tomato, sliced
1/2 lb Deli sliced Turkey
1 Avocado, peeled and sliced
4 slices of Bacon, cooked
2 eggs, hardboiled and sliced
Spread mayonnaise on the toast and top with lettuce, tomato, turkey, bacon and eggs.
Julie Languille - busy wife and mom, owner
Dinners In A Flash - Easy Dinner Recipes and Online Dinner Planner
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)