Here we go again!

It has been way, way, way too long since I have added a recipe or even some thoughtful insight to my blog.  Why you ask....I actually lost this blog!

Guess what.....I got it back.  Took forever, but I found it!

So here is my solemn oath, I will live to Blog again!

Recipes galore, thoughts of the day and useful photographs will come back!

I promise.  If I could find a pin to prick my finger and post that in blood I would, but I can't find a picture online that isn't disgusting!

So you just have my little 'ole word!

Well...this sounds like a wonderful idea!

It is one of those lazy Sunday afternoons.  I don't even want to turn on the television as I don't want to disturb the quiet.  I came home from church, put on my snuggliest relaxing clothes and decided to read. Before I grabbed my book I thought I would take a lap around Pinterest as I am really getting in the mood this year to decorate the house from the top to the bottom for Christmas.  Right as I was ready to shut my computer I saw this recipe:

Now how can any recipe that has Snickers in the ingredients be a bad idea?  Really? 

Apples are one of the best things about fall and Apples and Snickers are a great idea!  

Here is the recipe:

INGREDIENTS

 Print This Recipe

• 6 regular size Snickers Candy Bar
• 6 apples I used Red Delicious... Granny Smith would also be great
• 1 (5 oz.) package Vanilla Instant Pudding dry, do not prepare
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 (12 oz.) tub cool whip
• 1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Whisk vanilla pudding packet, 1/2 cup milk and cool whip together until well combined.
2. Chop up apples and Snickers.
3. Stir chopped apples and Snickers into pudding mixture.
4. Place in a large bowl and drizzle with caramel ice cream topping.
5. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Enjoy!

Here is a link to the webpage that I found this on:
http://www.chef-in-training.com/2012/09/snickers-caramel-apple-salad/

There are other recipes that look yummy too.  Stop by Cascio's Fruit Market for your apples and enjoy this yummy recipe!

Hurricane Sandy ....really....

(Taken Monday night about 9:30 p.m.)

As I type this it is Wednesday evening of what has been a long week....yeah, we are only half way there.  Hurricane Sandy blew into town on Monday with a vengeance, but admit it, when you think of a hurricane you don't think of SNOW!  

That is exactly what we got and it just keeps coming.

As you can see, some like it better then others.

I was out and about in Somerset County today and took some snow pictures for those of you who don't live in Somerset any longer, here is a taste of what you are missing.

After a very cold and wet trek through the hills of Somerset County we came home to a Cascio's dinner of Mahi Mahi, fresh squash and Delicious Rice.  I will share the simple rice recipe here. Enjoy!

DELICIOUS RICE DISH

1 cup  White Rice (you can substitue brown if you prefer, but this is better with white)
1/2 tsp of minced garlic
Fresh parsley minced very fine

salt & pepper to taste
Olive Oil
2 cups of Chicken Broth

Cover bottom of a pan with olive oil. Add 1 cup of rice and fry until just beginning to brown in olive oil. Add Chicken Broth and seasoning. Bring rice to boil and turn down to simmer and cover. I cooked this for 20 minutes and it was perfect. This is a wonderful side dish to almost any dinner.

Enjoy!!

Perfect Crab Cakes....enjoy!

Perfect Crab Cakes

I have been using this crab cake recipe since it ran in the USA Weekend Magazine in 2005. It is always perfect and the crab cakes couldn't be easier.  We stock lump crab meat in the store that I NEVER have to pick through.  It is literally perfect.  When I see the cost of crab cakes in a restaurant I always shudder, because I know I can make perfect crab cakes at  home.  

ENJOY!

Perfect Crab Cakes

1 egg beaten

2 TBS. Mayonnaise

2 TBS. Minced green onion tops

1/4 tsp. (I like a bit more) Old Bay Seasoning

1 lb. Lump Crabmeat drained (get this at Cascio's Fruit Market)

4 tsp. milk

10 Saltine Crackers finely crushed

6 TBS. Olive Oil for frying

Fresh Lemon Wedges for serving

Mix egg, mayo, green onion tops, and Old Bay in a small bowl until mayo is completely mixed in, then set aside.

Lightly break up crabmeat in a medium bowl.  Add milk, toss gently to coat.  Add crushed saltines, toss gently to combine.  Add egg mixture gently toss, once again to combine.

Using a 1/3 - cup measuring cup, scoop up a portion of crab, forming the mixture into a very compact cake.  Repeat to make 8 cakes (can be covered with plastic and refrigerated up to 8 hours ahead).

About 10 minutes before serving heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Carefully add crab cakes, saute, turning once until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side.  Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.  Serve immediately with lemon wedges. 

This recipe is a never fail and delicious!  

Ahhh....Autumn in Somerset County

This past Saturday morning I as up out of bed before even a sliver of light was peeking through.  I had a date with some of my friends from the photography club to be standing in Kooser when the sun came up.  

It was one of those perfect photography blessed mornings.  A good bit of fog and the trees here in Somerset County are just about to hit their peek.

By the time the time the fog had all burned away in Kooser we decided that even though we were wet, muddy and cold  (with extremely wet feet!) we would hit the Bakersville/Edie road and see what the fall colors looked like as we followed that age old Somerset County wisdom of "All roads lead to Edie." 

But first we back tracked just a bit and grab this shot of the gazebo at the Glades Pike Winery.

We stopped along the road and captured this pretty pond with the fog still hanging right over the water.  

These next few shots were taken at beautiful Laurel Vista Farms.

And then as we left we happened to see these guys just hanging out watching us.

All in all, it was a perfect Saturday morning.  Which ended with all of us hunkered together in a local restaurant eating a hot breakfast and warming up with a cup of coffee.  If you have not taken a trip to Somerset County lately, don't delay.  The trees are beautiful and the weather has been very nice.  Oh and plan on a quick trip to Cascio's!  We would love to see you!

A bit behind....but I got a great excuse!

I realized as of today I have been totally neglecting my blog.  I have a good excuse, really I do.  

You see this was probably the busiest most wonderful summer I can remember for a very long time.  Because our oldest son Spencer married the love of his life.

Here is where I will share a picture taken of Spencer when he was about six years old.

That is Spencer on the tricycle with his brother Stuart in the wagon and our dog Scarlett.  I know the quality of this picture is not great but I feel this picture captures the essence of how our lives were around this time.  Typical boy stuff.  Spencer would drive his brother and Scarlett around and around and that dog never jumped out of that wagon.  I can still see it as if I were looking out my kitchen window.

Then he brought home this girl....and she stayed and stayed and stayed.  Soph-seniors, proms, youth group and off to college at Grove City....she stayed.  She stayed through thick and thin.  She supported him and loved him and....well she was "the one."  

Engaged last August

(They allowed me the honor of taking their engagement shots!)

They began immediately planning the wedding!

The date was set for August 4th, 2012.  The guest list was huge!  We all sweated that a bit (okay more than a bit, but that is what you get when you combine two big families who have lived in one town their entire lives.) The party part was shaping up to be a ton of fun and the ceremony was lovely and meaningful with God at the center of their lives and in their commitment.  

A little lighter moment!

  

So happy!

Don't those smiles say it all?

God Bless You

 Jennifer and Spencer Brougher

See why I didn't have time to write a blog?  I promise to do better....honestly I will.

(photo credit for wedding shots to Jenn's friend Alex Moore. Amazing Photographer)

Extra note:  Spencer is the Youth Director at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church and Jenn is a biology teacher. (okay they both almost are)....they have a to finish a few details at Grove City and then they are home, home home and ready to start their jobs.

A Southern Staple...Sweet Freedom; Living Allergen Free

Grits, a southern staple.  Severed at breakfast, lunch and dinner, three-quarters of the grits sold in the United States are from a belt of coastal states stretching from Louisiana to the Carolinas, known as the "Grits Belt.". Here in the northeast, reactions to this interesting side dish are mixed.  If you're not familiar, grits is coarsely ground corn that is usually cooked with milk and butter. 

I've always been a fan of this somewhat bland side dish, so recently began experimenting with ways to make tasty dairy free versions.   Grits made with just water miss the mark by a mile.  If you're going to try grits, it's worth it to add the extra calories  by using dairy free "milks" and "creams".  Almond Breeze makes an almond milk, coconut milk blend that I like to use in recipes that call for whole milk.  For recipes calling for heavy creme, my go to is Mimic Creme.  It is a blend of almond and cashew creme that's both gluten and dairy free.  I use the soy free version of Earth Balance for a butter substitute in all recipes.  It has a great flavor and replaces butter one for one. 

Although I love plain grits my preference is for a slightly spicier version.  My all time favorite grit dish is Shrimp and Grits!  I love both the traditional southern recipe and a "cream cheese" version that adds a unique flavor.  The southern version adds onion and bacon along with the ubiquitous hot sauce. 

If you've tried grits and decided they weren't for you, give them one more shot and try one or both of these recipes for Shrimp and Grits.  I promise you won't be sorry!

Cream Cheese Shrimp & Grits!

Serves 6

2 cups Mimic Creme

2 cups Almond Breeze almond/coconut blend

1 cup stone-ground grits (I use Bob's Red Mill)

1/3 cup cashew cream cheese

kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

In a medium saucepan, bring cream and milk to a simmer over moderately low heat.  Whisk in grits and cook, stirring often, for 25 minutes.  Stir in cheese and season with salt and pepper.

Toss shrimp in olive oil and hot sauce to taste (can be omitted) and bake shrimp in 450 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes.

Traditional Shrimp and Grits

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter replacement

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion, finely diced

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 cups milk replacement

3 cups water

1 cup grits

1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese replacement finely grated

8 ounces turkey bacon, chopped

20 medium to large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 cup scallion, chopped

Salt and pepper

Procedures

Add the butter replacement and olive oil to a saucepan set over medium heat. When the butter has melted, add the onion and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Turn the heat to high and pour in the milk replacement and water. Bring to a boil and slowly whisk in the grits. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes. When done, dump in the cheese replacement and stir until it is melted. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Add the bacon to a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Cook until golden browned and crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels. Pour out all but 3 tablespoons of the oil.

Set the skillet back over medium-high heat and when nearly smoking, add the shrimp. Cook until pink, about 1 1/2 minutes per side.

Scoop some of the cheese grits into a bowl and top with the shrimp, chopped bacon, and scallions. Season to taste with salt and pepper