BBQ Marinated Pork Chop w/ Cut Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, and Wheat Bread

Dinner Tonight: BBQ Marinated Pork Chop w/ Cut Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, and Wheat Bread

Another very cold day outside again. It's in the low 20's but feels a lot colder with the wind chill, buts of sunshine to brighten it up a bit. I can't believe another year has gone by! I just want to thank each and everyone of you for all your views and comments throughout the year! So for dinner tonight i prepared a BBQ Marinated Pork Chop w/ Cut Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, and Wheat Bread.








I had the Pork Chop in the freezer so I let it thaw overnight in the fridge. About noon I added some JB's Fat Boy Haug Waush BBQ Sauce to a Hefty Zip Bag and added the Chop and let it marinate the rest of the day. When ready to prepare it I took it out of the bag, shaking off the excess. I then seasoned it with McCormick Grinder Sea Salt and Black Peppercorn. i heated up a Cast Iron Skillet, sprayed with a little Pam Cooking Spray and added Canola Oil. When the Skillet and Oil was heated up I added my Chop to it. I fried it about 4 minutes or so per side, till the internal temperature reached 155 degrees. Nice size Chop and it came out moist with a fantastic flavor, love the JB's Fat Boy Sauce!








For one side dish I heated up a can of Del Monte Cut Green Beans, my favorite canned Green Bean. Then I also heated up some Idahoan Mashed Potatoes. They come in a microwavable container; just add water and microwave for 1 1/2 minutes. They come out perfect every time! I also had a slice of Klosterman Wheat Bread. For dessert later a Jello Double Chocolate Pudding topped with Cool Whip Free.



Thank you again for a lot of fun throughout the year, have a fun and safe New Years Eve!

7 Lucky New Year’s Eve Foods

7 Lucky New Year’s Eve Foods from Reader's Digest, the link to all 7 is at te bottom of the post.




7 Lucky New Year’s Eve Foods

Many of the foods people around the world traditionally eat for luck to ring in the New Year are also good for you. Here are 7 lucky new year's foods (yes, we believe 7 is a lucky number) worth including at your gathering for a year of prosperity and good health!




Greens
Supposedly greens are eaten on New Year's Eve because they resemble money. They are also teeming with vitamins and minerals so eat up! ....







Beans
Beans, like greens, resemble money. More specifically, they symbolize coins. Whether you choose black beans, lentils or black-eyes peas, try some healthy fiber-filled beans to soak up that champagne.




* Click the link below to get all the foods and recipe ideas. *



http://www.rd.com/slideshows/7-lucky-new-years-foods/

Seafood of the Week - Dried fish

A fish flake, such as this one in Norway, is a rack used for drying cod

Fresh fish rapidly deteriorates unless some way can be found to preserve it. Drying is a method of food preservation that works by removing water from the food, which inhibits the growth of microorganisms. Open air drying using sun and wind has been practiced since ancient times to preserve food. Water is usually removed by evaporation (air drying, sun drying, smoking or wind drying) but, in the case of freeze-drying, food is first frozen and then the water is removed by sublimation. Bacteria, yeasts and molds need the water in the food to grow, and drying effectively prevents them from surviving in the food.
Fish are preserved through such traditional methods as drying, smoking and salting. The oldest traditional way of preserving fish was to let the wind and sun dry it. Drying food is the world's oldest known preservation method, and dried fish has a storage life of several years. The method is cheap and effective in suitable climates; the work can be done by the fisherman and family, and the resulting product is easily transported to market.








Stockfish
Stockfish is unsalted fish, especially cod, dried by cold air and wind on wooden racks on the foreshore. The drying racks are known as fish flakes. Cod is the most common fish used in stockfish production, though other whitefish, such as pollock, haddock, ling and tusk, are also used.
Clipfish
Over the centuries, several variants of dried fish have evolved. Stockfish, dried as fresh fish and not salted, is often confused with clipfish, where the fish is salted before drying. After 2–3 weeks in salt the fish has saltmatured, and is transformed from wet salted fish to Clipfish through a drying process. The salted fish was earlier dried on rocks (clips) on the foreshore. The production method of Clipfish (or Bacalhau in Portuguese) was developed by the Portuguese who first mined salt near the brackish water of Aveiro, and brought it to Newfoundland where cod was available in massive quantities. (q.v.). Salting was not economically feasible until the 17th century, when cheap salt from southern Europe became available to the maritime nations of northern Europe.
Stockfish is cured in a process called fermentation where cold adapted bacteria matures the fish, similar to the maturing process of cheese. Clipfish is processed in a chemically curing process called saltmaturing, similar to the maturing processes of other saltmatured products like the Parma ham.

Flattened fish drying in the sun

The water activity, aw, in a fish is defined as the ratio of the water vapour pressure in the flesh of the fish to the vapour pressure of pure water at the same temperature and pressure. It ranges between 0 and 1, and is a parameter that measures how available the water is in the flesh of the fish. Available water is necessary for the microbial and enzymatic reactions involved in spoilage. There are a number of techniques that have been or are used to tie up the available water or remove it by reducing the aw. Traditionally, techniques such as drying, salting and smoking have been used, and have been used for thousands of years. These techniques can be very simple, for example, by using solar drying. In more recent times, freeze-drying, water binding humectants, and fully automated equipment with temperature and humidity control have been added. Often a combination of these techniques is used.








Salt cod has been produced for at least 500 years, since the time of the European discoveries of the New World. Before refrigeration, there was a need to preserve the codfish; drying and salting are ancient techniques to preserve nutrients and the process makes the codfish tastier.
The Portuguese tried to use this method of drying and salting on several varieties of fish from their waters, but the ideal fish came from much further north. With the "discovery" of Newfoundland in 1497, long after the Basque whalers arrived in Channel-Port aux Basques, they started fishing its cod-rich Grand Banks. Thus, bacalhau became a staple of the Portuguese cuisine, nicknamed Fiel amigo (faithful friend). From the 18th century, the town of Kristiansund in Norway became an important place of purchasing bacalhau or klippfisk (literally "cliff fish", since the fish was dried on stone cliffs by the sea to begin with.) Since the method was introduced by the Dutchman Jappe Ippes in abt 1690, the town had produced klippfisk and when the Spanish merchants arrived, it became a big industry. The bacalhau or bacalao dish is sometimes said to originate from Kristiansund, where it was introduced by the Spanish and Portuguese fish buyers and became very popular. Bacalao was common everyday food in north west Norway to this day, as it was cheap to make. In later years it is more eaten at special occasions.
This dish was also popular in Portugal and other Roman Catholic countries, because of the many days (Fridays, Lent, and other festivals) on which the Church forbade the eating of meat. Bacalhau dishes were eaten instead.

Kitchen Hint of the Day!

It may be a pain, but the best way to save on groceries is to shop at more than one market. You'll soon find that one store will have cheaper produce, one will have cheaper meat, and so forth. Explore grocery stores you've never shopped at - perhaps one that is closer to your workplace or gym rather than by your home - and you may find even lower prices. We've even found cheaper products at stores that are the same chain, just a different location. Write down the prices of your most frequently purchased items, or bring a receipt from an average grocery trip with you. That way you can be sure to remember where the prices are the most reasonable.

Smoked Cajun Turkey, Rosemary Ham, and Swiss Grilled Sandwich w/ Baked Fries

Dinner Tonight: Smoked Cajun Turkey, Rosemary Ham, and Swiss Grilled Sandwich w/ Baked Fries

Our nice weather left real quickly, snow flurries and a wind chill in the 20's.  Went to the grocery early and then spent most of the afternoon cleaning my Hoveround Chair and then catching up on laundry. For dinner tonight, Smoked Cajun Turkey, Rosemary Ham, and Swiss Grilled Sandwich w/ Baked Fries.







I picked up a Jennie - O Premium Portions Hickory Smoked Cajun Style Turkey Breast, try saying that five times real fast! I love these, great sliced, for sandwiches, and just the right size for 1 or 2 people (1.39 lbs). Plus it's only it's only 50 calories and 1 carb per serving! It comes already seasoned and precooked. Just serve cold or heated up. I heated up a few slices in the oven for the sandwich. So I had the Turkey and I also had a couple of slices of Kroger Private Selection Oven Roasted Rosemary Ham. Topped it with Sargento Ultra Thin Swiss Cheese and Hidden Valley Spicy Chipotle Spread. Served it on a couple of slices of Klosterman Wheat Bread and then grilled in a medium size skillet with a 1/2 Tbs of Blue Bonnet Light Stick Butter.







Then for a side I baked some  Ore Ida Simply Cracked Black Pepper and Sea Salt Country Style Fries, served with a side of Hunt's Ketchup. For dessert later a Del Monte No Sugar Added Peach Chunk Cup.







Jennie - O Premium Portions Hickory Smoked Cajun Style Turkey Breast

Ready to cut and serve, hot or cold.
Find this product in the refrigerated section of your grocery store.


Product Features:
* 99% fat free
* Gluten Free
* Great for salads, sandwiches and more
* Fully Cooked


Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 2 oz (56g)
Servings Per Container: varies
 
Calories 50
     Calories from Fat 5
Amount Per Serving and/or % Daily Value*
Total Fat .5 g (1%)
     Saturated Fat 0 g (0%)
     Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 25 mg (8%)
Sodium 610 mg (25%)
Total Carbohydrate 1 g (0%)
     Dietary Fiber 0 g (0%)
     Sugars 1 g
Protein 12 g


http://www.jennieo.com/products/95-Oven-Roasted-Premium-Portion-Turkey-Breast

One of America's Favorites - Submarine Sandwich

A submarine sandwich.

A submarine sandwich, also known as a sub, hoagie, hero, grinder, or one of many regional naming variations, is a sandwich that consists of a long roll of Italian or French bread, split width wise either into two pieces or opened in a "V" on one side, and filled with a variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces. The sandwich has no standardized name, and many U.S. regions have their own names for it; one study found 13 different names for the sandwich in the United States. The usage of the several terms varies regionally but not in any pattern, as they have been used variously by the people and enterprises who make and sell them. The terms submarine and sub are widespread and not assignable to any certain region, though many of the localized terms are clustered in the northeast United States, where most Italian Americans live.







The sandwich originated in several different Italian American communities in the Northeastern United States from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. Portland, Maine claims to be the birthplace of the "Italian sandwich" and it is considered Maine's signature sandwich. The popularity of this Italian-American cuisine has grown from its origins in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts to most parts of the United States, Canada, and with the advent of chain restaurants, is now available in many parts of the world. In Europe, it would simply be known as a baguette, or a ciabatta, named after traditional breads long baked in France and Italy.

Sub Sandwich

The use of the term "submarine" or "sub" (after the resemblance of the roll to the shape of a submarine) is widespread. One theory is that it originated in a restaurant in Scollay Square in Boston, Massachusetts at the beginning of World War I. The sandwich was created to entice the large numbers of navy servicemen stationed at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The bread was a smaller, specially baked baguette that resembled the hull of the submarines it was named after.
Another theory suggests the submarine was brought to the U.S. by Dominic Conti (1874–1954), an Italian immigrant who came to New York in the early 1900s. He is said to have named it after seeing the recovered 1901 submarine called Fenian Ram in the Paterson Museum of New Jersey in 1918. His granddaughter has stated the following: "My grandfather came to this country circa 1895 from Montella, Italy. Around 1910, he started his grocery store, called Dominic Conti's Grocery Store, on Mill Street in Paterson, New Jersey where he was selling the traditional Italian sandwiches. His sandwiches were made from a recipe he brought with him from Italy which consisted of a long crust roll, filled with cold cuts, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, onions, oil, vinegar, Italian herbs and spices, salt, and pepper. The sandwich started with a layer of cheese and ended with a layer of cheese (this was so the bread wouldn't get soggy).







The term hoagie originated in the Philadelphia area. The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin reported, in 1953, that Italians working at the World War I–era shipyard in Philadelphia, known as Hog Island where emergency shipping was produced for the war effort, introduced the sandwich, by putting various meats, cheeses, and lettuce between two slices of bread. This became known as the "Hog Island" sandwich; shortened to "Hoggies", then the "hoagie".
The Philadelphia Almanac and Citizen's Manual offers a different explanation, that the sandwich was created by early-twentieth-century street vendors called "hokey-pokey men", who sold antipasto salad, meats and cookies. When Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta H.M.S. Pinafore opened in Philadelphia in 1879, bakeries produced a long loaf called the pinafore. Entrepreneurial "hokey-pokey men" sliced the loaf in half, stuffed it with antipasto salad, and sold the world's first "hoagie".
Another explanation is that the word "hoagie" arose in the late 19th to early 20th century, among the Italian community in South Philadelphia, when "on the hoke" was a slang used to describe a destitute person. Deli owners would give away scraps of cheeses and meats in an Italian bread-roll known as a "hokie", but the Italian immigrants pronounced it "hoagie".
Other less likely explanations involve "Hogan" (a nickname for Irish workers at the Hog Island shipyard), a reference to the pork or "hog" meat used in hoagies, "honky sandwich" (using a racial slur for white people seen eating them) or "hooky sandwich" (derived from "hookie" for truant kids seen eating them). Shortly after World War II, there were numerous varieties of the term in use throughout Philadelphia. By the 1940s, the spellings "hoagie" and, to a lesser extent, "hoagy" had come to dominate less used variations like "hoogie" and "hoggie". By 1955, restaurants throughout the area were using the term "hoagie", with many selling hoagies and subs or hoagies and pizza. Listings in Pittsburgh show hoagies arriving in 1961 and becoming widespread in that city by 1966.
Former Philadelphia mayor (and later Pennsylvania governor) Ed Rendell declared the hoagie the "Official Sandwich of Philadelphia". However, there are claims that the hoagie was actually a product of nearby Chester, Pennsylvania. DiCostanza's in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania claims that the mother of DiConstanza's owner originated the hoagie in 1925 in Chester. DiCostanza relates the story that a customer came into the family deli and through an exchange matching the customer's requests and the deli's offerings, the hoagie was created.
A local Philadelphia variation on the hoagie is the zep made in Norristown, Pennsylvania. It is a variation on the traditional hoagie, with no lettuce and only one meat. It is made on a round roll, with provolone cheese covering meat, chunks of raw onion, and slabs of tomato. It is dressed with oregano, salt, pepper, olive oil, and hot pepper relish.







The New York term hero is first attested in 1937. The name is sometimes credited to the New York Herald Tribune food writer Clementine Paddleford in the 1930s, but there is no good evidence for this. It is also sometimes claimed that it is related to the gyro, but this is unlikely as the gyro was unknown in the United States until the 1960s, according to some sources.
"Hero" (plural usually heros remains the prevailing New York City term for most sandwiches on an oblong roll with a generally Italian flavor, in addition to the original described above. Pizzeria menus often include eggplant parmigiana, chicken parmigiana, and meatball heros, each served with sauce.

Roast beef grinder

Grinder, a common term in New England, its origin has several possibilities. One theory has the name coming from Italian-American slang for a dock worker, among whom the sandwich was popular Others say it was called a grinder because it took a lot of chewing to eat the hard crust of the bread used.
In western Massachusetts a grinder is specifically a toasted sub, for example, the sub is toasted in a pizza oven. In Pennsylvania and Delaware, the term grinder simply refers to a submarine sandwich that has been heated in any fashion.







From its origins with the Italian American labor force in the Northeastern United States, the sub began to show up on menus of local pizzerias. As time went on and popularity grew, small restaurants, called Hoagie shops and Sub shops, that specialized in the sandwich began to open.
After World War II, Italian food grew in popularity in the US and started to become assimilated. This brought the use of other meats to the sandwich including turkey, roast beef, American and Swiss cheese, as well as spreads such as mayonnaise and mustard.
Pizzerias may have been among the first Italian-American eateries, but even at the turn of the [20th] century distinctions were clear-cut as to what constituted a true ristorante. To be merely a pizza-maker was to be at the bottom of the culinary and social scale; so many pizzeria owners began offering other dishes, including the hero sandwich (also, depending on the region of the United States, called a 'wedge,' a 'hoagie,' a 'sub,' or a 'grinder') made on a Italian loaf of bread with lots of salami, cheese, and peppers.
—John Mariani, America Eats Out, p. 66
By the late 20th century, due to the rise of large franchisee chain restaurants and fast food, the sandwich became available worldwide. Many outlets offer non-traditional ingredient combinations.
In the United States, many chain restaurants have arisen that specialize in subs including Capriotti's, Submarina, Jersey Mike's Subs, Charley's Grilled Subs, Blimpie, Jimmy John's, Lenny's Sub Shop, Milio's, Port of Subs, Eegee's, Firehouse Subs, Penn Station, Planet Sub, Potbelly, Tubby's, Schlotzsky's, Which Wich and D'Angelo Sandwich Shops. Major international chains include Quiznos, Mr. Sub and the largest restaurant chain in the world, Subway. The sandwich is also usually available at supermarkets and convenience stores.

Best Diet Recipes for Snacks

Some healthy hints to help with those snack attacks! From the Eating Well web site, the link is at the bottom of the page.





Curb your next snack attack with our best diet snack recipes.

When you’re watching your diet, snacking healthfully can keep your hunger at bay. Try one of our best diet recipes for snacks, including popcorn recipes, fruit bar recipes and easy snack recipes, to pack for the office or serve as a healthier after-school snack. Try our Lemon-Parm Popcorn for a low-calorie snack recipe to fill you up throughout the day or Chocolate-Cherry Snack Bars for a diet snack recipe to satisfy your sweet tooth....




Lemon-Parm Popcorn
Perk up your popcorn with a bit of lemon pepper and Parmesan cheese....





Chocolate-Cherry Snack Bars
These cereal bars are chewy, crunchy and delicious with good-for-you seeds, nuts, fruit and little explosions of chocolate. We like the flavor of dried cherries or cranberries, but any coarsely chopped dried fruit will work.....






* Click the link below to get them all! *


http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipe_slideshows/best_diet_recipes_for_snacks?sssdmh=dm17.712371&utm_source=EWDNL&esrc=nwewd122313

Kitchen Hint of the Day!

When you've been buying the same brand for as long as you can remember, it's hard to make the switch to generics. However, you'll be surprised when you find many generic and store-brand products taste exactly the same (or better) for less than half the cost.



* Always buy generic baking ingredients such as flour, oil, and sugar. These generics are indistinguishable from their more-expensive counterparts. Frozen and canned vegetables are also usually exactly the same.




* As for products such as cereals, cookies, and crackers basic is better - most have had good luck with plain granola, potato chips, and wheat crackers.




* No matter what the product, it never hurts to try. If you end up having to throw away one can of soup, you've wasted a dollar or two, but if you like it, you can save a lot over the course of a year.




* Save the boxes from name-brand products your kids are attached to, then empty the generic products into them. Your picky eaters won't know the difference if they can't see it on the outside.

Buffalo T-Bone Steak w/ Baked Potato and Roasted Asparagus

Dinner Tonight: Buffalo T-Bone Steak w/ Baked Potato and Roasted Asparagus

Lot of rain today and only a high in the mid 3o's. Had some Turkey Goetta for breakfast this morning. First time I've had it in a while, I really like Goetta! Fries up to nice golden brown with good crunch to it. Had Goetta, one Egg, and Toast. Doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon, my 6 month check-up at my Oncologist. For dinner tonight a Buffalo T-Bone Steak w/ Baked Potato and Roasted Asparagus.







It was the first time I've had a Buffalo T-Bone Steak. I have 2 of them, 1 left in the freezer, they came in the Wild Idea Buffalo Holiday Package I had purchased. The Buffalo Ribeye was incredible and I think the T-Bone was even better! I seasoned it with McCormick Grinder Sea Salt and Black Peppercorn. I then pan fried it Canola Oil about 9 minutes, 5 minutes on one side and 4 1/2 on the other. Had to cook it a bit longer than normal, a thick Steak. It came a perfect medium rare and just bursting with incredible flavor! As any Wild Idea Buffalo cut, just a perfect piece of meat!







For one side I had a Baked Potato that I topped with McCormick Grinder Sea Salt and Black Peppercorn, a dab of Daisy Reduced Fat Sour Cream, and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. Then I had some fresh Roasted Asparagus. To prepare the Asparagus I just needed Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cloves Garlic, minced, Sea Salt, Freshly grated Black Pepper, Lemon Juice, and Shredded Parmesan Cheese. The complete recipe and instructions are at the end of the post. Another fine dinner tonight. For dessert later a Healthy Choice Chocolate Swirl Frozen Yogurt.

Wild Idea Buffalo 16 oz. T-Bone Steak
Can’t make up your mind? Try the best of both: cut from the mid section of the New York and Tenderloin, conveniently cut into one juicy steak. Cut to 16 oz.



http://wildideabuffalo.com/








Roasted Asparagus

INGREDIENTS
1 lb asparagus spears (thick spears are best for roasting)
1-2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
Sea Salt
Freshly grated Black Pepper
Lemon Juice
Shredded Parmesan Cheese





METHOD
1 Preheat oven to 400°F. Rinse clean the asparagus. Break the tough ends off of the asparagus and discard.
2 Lay the asparagus spears out in a single layer in a baking dish or a foil-covered roasting pan. Drizzle olive oil over the spears, roll the asparagus back and forth until they are all covered with a thin layer of olive oil. (Alternatively you can put the asparagus and oil in a plastic bag, and rub the bag so that the oil gets evenly distributed.) Sprinkle with minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Rub over the asparagus so that they are evenly distributed.
3 Place pan in oven and cook for approximately 8-10 minutes, depending on how thick your asparagus spears are, until lightly browned and tender when pierced with a fork. Drizzle with a little fresh lemon juice and shredded Parm Cheese before serving.
Yield: Serves 4.

All About the Food Network

Back in 1993, many years before I lost my leg to Melanoma Cancer, a friend of mine back then came over and we were going to grill out that night. While eating she flipped the TV on to a channel I had never seen or heard of, TV Food Network. She was telling me about a chef who when adding spices to his dish would yell "Bam!". From that day on I became a fan of  Emeril Lagasse and the TV Food Network. It's been fun watching through the years how the channel has evolved. Anyway here's a little history on the Food Network.





Food Network

Former logo, used from 1997 to 2003

Food Network (legally known as Television Food Network) is an American basic cable and satellite television channel that is operated as a joint venture between Scripps Networks Interactive (which owns 70% of the network) and the Tribune (FN) Cable Ventures Inc. (which controls the remaining 30%). The channel airs both specials and regular episodic programs about food and cooking.
In addition to its headquarters in New York City, Food Network has offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Jersey City, Cincinnati, and Knoxville, Tennessee.
As of August 2013, approximately 99,283,000 American households (86.94% of households with television) receive the Food Network.







Food Network was founded on April 19, 1993 as TV Food Network and was launched on November 23 of that year; its legal name remains Television Food Network, G.P. Within a few years, the network had shortened its on-air brand name, removing the "TV" from its name. It was developed by Reese Schonfeld (one of the founders of CNN), under the direction of Providence Journal president Trygve Myrhen. Its original partners included the Journal itself, Adelphia, Scripps-Howard, Continental Cablevision, Cablevision, and most importantly, the Tribune Company, which provided the network's technical output. The network was initially launched as a preview in September 1993 with two initial shows featuring David Rosengarten, Donna Hanover, and Robin Leach.

Schonfeld, who was also a partner in the company, was appointed as managing director of TV Food Network and maintained a spot on its management board along with two Providence Journal employees. The original lineup for the network included Emeril Lagasse (Essence of Emeril), Debbi Fields, Donna Hanover, David Rosengarten, Curtis Aikens, Dr. Louis Arrone, Jacques Pépin and Robin Leach. The following year, the network acquired the rights to the Julia Child library from WGBH.
In 1995, Schonfeld resigned as managing director of the network, but remained on its board until 1998, when he sold his interest in the company to Scripps. Greg Willis and Cathy Rasenberger were the two of the original members of the start-up team who led the affiliate sales and marketing of the company from 1995 to 1998, when the network experienced massive growth. In fact, in 1997, it was the second fastest growing cable network. Greg Willis served as senior vice president of worldwide distribution until he left to join Liberty Media in 1998.


Food Network logo used from 2003 to 2013. In 2013, a new version of this logo was introduced with a different font. This logo is still used by Food Network's channels outside of the United States.
The A. H. Belo Corporation acquired Food Network when it purchased The Providence Journal Company in 1996. Myrhen left the Journal Company the following year. Belo sold the network to the E. W. Scripps Company in 1997, in a trade deal that resulted in Belo acquiring the television-radio station combination of KENS-AM/TV in San Antonio, Texas. In March 2009, the Food Network launched a repurposed Food.com as a bookmarking site that allows users aggregate and search for recipes from different sources online.
Food Network HD is a 1080i high definition simulcast feed of Food Network that launched on March 31, 2008.
Food Network was first launched outside of North America in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2009, and in Asia on July 5, 2010 (on StarHub TV channel 433 and in HD on channel 468). Since the UK launch on November 9, 2009 on Sky, the channel has been added to the Freesat, Freeview and Virgin Media platforms.







Food Network programming is divided into a daytime block known as "Food Network in the Kitchen" and a primetime lineup branded as "Food Network Nighttime". Generally, "In the Kitchen" is dedicated to instructional cooking programs while "Nighttime" features food-related entertainment programs, such as cooking competitions, food-related travel shows, and reality shows. Promos identify "Food Network Nighttime" programming but not "In the Kitchen" daytime programming. Many of the channel's personalities routinely pull double-duty (or more) – hosting both daytime and nighttime programming – and the channel regularly offers specials which typically either follow its personalities on working vacations, or bring together a number of personalities for a themed cooking event. Food Network airs infomercials on Sundays from 4:00 to 9:30 a.m. ET, Monday through Thursdays from 5:00 to 9:30 a.m. ET, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 4:00 to 7:00 a.m. ET.
Mario Batali and Bobby Flay joined the network in 1995. In 1996 Joe Langhan, an executive producer at the Food Network, created Emeril Live!, which became the channel's signature series. Although Batali has moved on to other endeavours, Flay still appears regularly on many programs, including Iron Chef America, the channel's well-received remake of the original Japanese series. Iron Chef America's host, Alton Brown, gained a cult following for his Good Eats, which mixed science, cooking and off-beat humor.
In 2002, Food Network made an appeal to the home cook by adding Paula's Home Cooking, hosted by Paula Deen. Home Cooking focused mostly on Southern cuisine and comfort food. The show took overly complicated recipes and classic dishes and broke them down for the home cook. The show did increasingly well and Deen revamped the show in a series called Paula's Best Dishes. In this series, friends and family members would join her in the kitchen and put a twist on classics and introduce new recipes. In June of 2013, Food Network announced that they were prematurely cancelling Deen's contract due to publicity about her racial remarks revealed in a lawsuit brought on by a former worker.
Currently, the channel's biggest cross-over star is Rachael Ray, who has parlayed her cable following (primarily through the series 30 Minute Meals and $40 a Day) into a syndicated talk show and merchandise lines of cookware and kitchen ingredients.

Food Network logo used from 2003 to 2013. In 2013, a new version of this logo was introduced with a different font.

In 2002, Food Network made an appeal to the home cook by adding Paula's Home Cooking, hosted by Paula Deen. Home Cooking focused mostly on Southern cuisine and comfort food. The show took overly complicated recipes and classic dishes and broke them down for the home cook. The show did increasingly well and Deen revamped the show in a series called Paula's Best Dishes. In this series, friends and family members would join her in the kitchen and put a twist on classics and introduce new recipes. In June of 2013, Food Network announced that they were prematurely cancelling Deen's contract due to publicity about her racial remarks revealed in a lawsuit brought on by a former worker.[citation needed]
Currently, the channel's biggest cross-over star is Rachael Ray, who has parlayed her cable following (primarily through the series 30 Minute Meals and $40 a Day) into a syndicated talk show and merchandise lines of cookware and kitchen ingredients.
Beginning in 2005, an annual reality contest, The Next Food Network Star, has brought viewers to New York City to compete for their own show on the channel. Previous winners include Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh (Party Line with The Hearty Boys), Guy Fieri (Guy's Big Bite, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Guy Off the Hook, Ultimate Recipe Showdown, Guy's Big Night, Guy's Family Feast), Amy Finley (The Gourmet Next Door), Aaron McCargo, Jr. (Big Daddy's House), Melissa d'Arabian (Ten Dollar Dinners) and Aarti Sequeira (Aarti Party). For the 2010 season, production of The Next Food Network Star was relocated to Los Angeles.


In December 2007, The New York Times business section published an article on the end of Emeril Lagasse's show Emeril Live and quoted Brooke Johnson, the president as saying that Lagasse "remains a valued member of the Food Network family". Derek Baine, senior analyst at the media research firm SNL Kagan, is reported to have commented, "It's not surprising that people move on... They pay almost nothing for the people as they are building their careers... That's been their strategy all along". The article also commented on the declining popularity of the Food Network whose daily ratings were reported had fallen "to an average of 544,000 people from 580,000 a year [earlier]". It noted, "More significant, its signature weekend block of instructional programs, known collectively as 'In the Kitchen,' has lost 15 percent of its audience in the last year, to 830,000 viewers on average. This had left the network owing refunds, known as 'make goods,' to advertisers." Erica Gruen, president and CEO of the Food Network from 1995–1998 who created Emeril Live during her tenure, was reported to have blamed the decline on increased competition, "There's all sorts of instructional cooking video on the Web". But it reported that, "Bob Tuschman, Food Network's senior vice president for programming and production, said the weekend ratings drop was 'nothing we haven't anticipated'. He said the network's ratings in that time period grew by double digits in each of the last four years, growth that could not be sustained." It also wrote, "About a year ago, the Food Network began aggressively trying to change that with new deals that were 'way more onerous' from the stars' point of view, said a person who has been affected by the changing strategy, by insisting on a stake in book deals and licensing ventures, and control over outside activities.
In accordance with an agreement between Scripps and Chellomedia, Food Network programs started to air internationally in the fourth quarter of 2009 in the United Kingdom and then in other markets in early 2010.
On January 1, 2010, HGTV and Food Network were removed from cable provider Cablevision, which operates systems serving areas surrounding New York City. Scripps removed HGTV and Food Network from Cablevision following the expiration of the company's carriage contract on December 31, 2009; Cablevision and Scripps had been in negotiations for several months to agree on a new contract, but no progress had been made. The discontinuance of Food Network from Cablevision led the channel to make arrangements with Tribune-owned CW affiliates WPIX in New York City and WTXX in Hartford, Connecticut to broadcast a special episode of Iron Chef America with First Lady Michelle Obama on January 10, 2010, after that episode enjoyed high ratings on its January 3 cable premiere. On January 21, 2010, Cablevision and Scripps reached an agreement that resulted in Food Network and HGTV being restored on Cablevision's systems that day.
A similar carriage dispute with AT&T U-verse resulted in Food Network, Cooking Channel, HGTV, DIY Network and Great American Country being dropped by the provider on November 5, 2010; the dispute was resolved two days later, on November 7, 2010, after the two parties reached a new carriage agreement.







Red Fly Studio developed a video game for the Wii console in partnership with Food Network called Cook or Be Cooked. The game, which was published by Namco Bandai Games and was released on November 3, 2009, simulates real cooking experiences. Players can also try out the recipes featured on the game. There is also a video game based on Iron Chef America entitled Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine.







Some countries have their own Food Network. For example Food Network Canada and Food Network Asia.



In 2011, Scripps requested to add its Cooking Channel, formerly Fine Living Network, to the partnership and Tribune agreed. With the Cooking Channel consider to be worth $350 million, Tribune would need to add an additional capital.

Best Diet Recipes of 2013

From the Eating Well web site, Check out their Best Diet Recipes of 2013. The link to all is at the bottom of the post.




Best Diet Recipes of 2013

As 2013 comes to a close we want to make sure you have the best of the best recipes to help you lose weight in 2014. Thousands of people have clicked, cooked and rated these recipes, earning them a spot on this exclusive list of our top 50 low-calorie recipes of 2013.




If your New Year’s resolution is to slim down, our best diet recipes of 2013 can help you stick to your weight-loss goals! We’ve collected our very best diet recipes for all of the seasons. From quick breakfasts to hearty dinners, these top diet recipes are so flavorful and filling you won’t even realize they’re low-calorie. Try our Chicken Taco Bowls for a diet Mexican dish or Coconut-Carrot Morning Glory Muffins for a make-ahead breakfast or snack.





Buffalo Chicken Salad
All the flavor of Buffalo chicken wings is packed into this irresistible, healthy salad. But unlike chicken wings, you can eat a big serving of this healthy Buffalo chicken salad recipe for just 291 calories.....







Veggistrone
This vegetable-packed minestrone soup recipe is inspired by a popular Weight Watchers vegetable soup recipe. It makes a big pot of soup, so keep some in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and freeze the rest of the vegetable minestrone soup in single-serve portions. That way you always have an easy, delicious vegetable soup to start your meal or to eat for lunch. Think of this vegetable minestrone recipe as a starting point for other healthy soup variations, too: toss in leftover chopped cooked chicken or whole-wheat pasta or brown rice to make it more satisfying......







* Click the link below to get all the Best Diet Recipes of 2013 *



http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipe_slideshows/best_diet_recipes_of_2013?sssdmh=dm17.712371&utm_source=EWDNL&esrc=nwewd122313

Kitchen Hint of the Day!

While perusing the cereal aisle, you'll quickly realize that hot cereals are cheaper than cold ones. Though they may not be as popular with your family, try saving money by making hot cereal at least once a week. It's often more nutritious, so it's worth it to make the switch

Cajun Chicken Breast w/ Smoked Turkey Sausage Red Beans and Rice

Dinner Tonight: Cajun Chicken Breast w/ Smoked Turkey Sausage Red Beans and Rice

Another beautiful day out to be Dec. 28th, 50 degrees and sunny! Got the Hoveround Chair out and went around the street for a bit, good to get outdoors. My Mom is back at full strength and was able to get out herself for a while. For dinner tonight I prepared a Cajun Chicken Breast w/ Smoked Turkey Sausage Red Beans and Rice.







I used Perdue Perfect Portions Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts. I seasoned them with Sea Salt and Zatarain's Creole Seasoning, also sprinkled a light coat of flour on them. I pan fried them in Canola Oil about a total of 10 minutes, turning them twice. The Creole Seasoning gave the Chicken a great flavor, spicy but not overpowering hot.








While the Chicken was frying I cut up 1 Butterball Smoked Turkey Sausage and lightly fried it in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I didn't fully get the Sausage done, I let them finish in the Zatarain's Reduced Sodium Red Beans and Rice. To prepare the Red Beans and Rice I just used a 2 quart saucepan combined 3 1/4 cups water, 1 tablespoon of Blue Bonnet Light Stick Butter and Zatarain's Red Beans and Rice. Stirred thoroughly and brought back to a boil. Kept stirring, reduced the heat, and added the Smoked Turkey Sausage covered and simmer over low heat for about 25 minutes. stirred occasionally to prevent sticking. Removed from the heat, let it stand for 5 minutes. stir and served. I made a bed of it on my plate and topped it with a sprinkle of fresh grated Parmesan Cheese and the Cajun Chicken Breast. Made one fine hearty dish! For dessert later a Healthy Choice Chocolate Swirl Frozen Yogurt.










PERDUE® PERFECT PORTIONS® Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1.5 lbs.)
Fresh boneless, skinless individually wrapped chicken breast filets. Packed 5 filets per 1.50 lb. resealable zipper package. You can cook what you need; store what you don't! Cooks in 10 minutes. Refrigerated.




http://www.perdue.com/products/details.asp?id=451&title=PERDUE%AE%20PERFECT%20PORTIONS%AE%20Boneless,%20Skinless%20Chicken%20Breasts%20(1.5%20lbs.)

Zatarain's Reduced Sodium Red Beans and Rice
25% Less Sodium than our Original Red Beans & Rice

Tips: Try adding a half pound of sliced smoked sausage or diced ham to make a delicious dinner entrée.

A New Orleans tradition since 1889. Serves 4. This easy-to-prepare dinner mix has just the right blend of ingredients for a great tasting, authentic New Orleans style meal. Zatarain's has been the leader in authentic New Orleans style food since 1889. So when you want great flavor, jazz it up with Zatarain's!

Ingredients
Enriched parboiled long grain rice (niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), whole (precooked) dehydrated red beans, enriched wheat flour (niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), salt, dehydrated vegetables (onion, bell pepper), modified corn starch, garlic, yeast extract, spices, soy sauce (100% soybean), cayenne pepper, dextrose, natural smoke, caramel color, partially hydrogenated soybean

Directions
Stovetop: 1. in a 2 quart saucepan combine 3 1/4 cups water, 1 tablespoon butter or margarine (optional) and zatarain's red beans and rice. stir thoroughly and bring to boil. 2. stir, reduce heat, cover and simmer over low heat for 25 minutes. stir occasionally to prevent sticking. 3. remove from heat, let stand 5 minutes. stir and serve. red beans and rice will be saucy. for a less saucy product reduce water by 1/4 cup. Microwave: 1. in a 1 1/2



Amount Per Serving % Daily Value
Calories: 230
Calories from Fat: 5
Total Fat: 0.5g 1%
Saturated Fat: 0g 0%
Cholesterol: 0mg 0%
Sodium: 720mg 30%
Total Carb: 46g 15%
Dietary Fiber: 6g 24%
Sugar: less than 1g
Protein: 9g
Vitamin A: 4%
Vitamin C: 20%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 15%


http://www.zatarains.com/Products/Reduced-Sodium/Reduced-Sodium-Red-Beans-Rice.aspx

10 Good Luck Foods

More success, happiness and good health in 2014? We'll toast to that! Start the new year out right with these good luck recipes. All from the Food.Com web site.


10 Good Luck Foods

Success: Hoppin' John

Simple but delicious, Hoppin' John (made with black-eyed peas) represents success because each pea represents a coin, and a whole serving equals prosperity....




Happiness: Glitter Grapes

Try the Spanish and Portuguese tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve — sweet ones supposedly lead to 12 happy months....




Progress: Roast Pork Loin

Eating pork on New Year's Day symbolizes progress in several countries, as the pig is known for pushing forward.




* Click the link below to get all 10 recipes to start of 2014 the right way! *


http://www.food.com/slideshow/new-years-good-luck-food-287

Five Great New Year’s Eve Hors D’Oeuvres

Some more great ideas from the PBS web site, love this site!



Five Great New Year’s Eve Hors D’Oeuvres

By Galby Dalkin of What’s Gaby Cooking?

I love having friends over for New Year’s Eve! Here are five great appetizer ideas that will make for a great party, but also ensure that you’re not stuck in the kitchen the whole time cooking!



Chipotle Guacamole

If you know me, you know I am OBSESSED with guacamole. I don’t think it’s possible for me to entertain without some form of avocado and NYE calls for guacamole with salty chips, right?! I think so. You can either make this right before your guests come over, or you can make it a few hours before. If you make it earlier, make sure to use a decent amount of acid, in the form of lime juice and once you’re done mashing up the guacamole, lay a piece of plastic wrap over the top so no air touches the avocado. This way you’ll ensure having a bright green dip when it’s time to serve.....



*Get all the recipes by clicking the link below*



http://www.pbs.org/food/features/new-years-eve-hors-doeuvres/?utm_source=foodnewsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_term=main2&utm_content=pbsfood_newyears&utm_campaign=pbsfood_newyears

Kitchen Hint of the Day!

Meat is expensive enough, but a big part of the cost is the price you're paying the butcher to cut it up for you. Buy the largest cuts of meat you can, then cut it up, wrap it in foil, and put in a plastic bag in your freezer. Here are some more tips for butchering meat.





* Many stores will butcher big cuts of meat for you for free, so ask before doing it yourself!




* Use the sharpest knife you have, and never use a serrated knife, which will shred the meat.




* For illustrated instructions on how to cut any piece of meat, type the word "butchering" along with the type of meat into a search engine online. There are many tutorials (some including video) online.

Blackened Grouper w/ Mushroom and Parmesan Risotto, Boiled Mini Carrots,...

Dinner Tonight: Blackened Grouper w/ Mushroom and Parmesan Risotto, Boiled Mini Carrots, and Wheat Bread

It's been a chilly but a sunny and beautiful day out today! Started the day off by making an Egg, Canadian Bacon, and English Muffin Breakfast Sandwich with the Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker I had purchased about a month ago. Love this thing, it makes a perfect sandwich every time! Since it was above freezing I took my car and Mom's over to a local car wash and had them both cleaned, and both needed it! Went to the grocery and home for the day. For dinner tonight I prepared a Blackened Grouper Fillet w/ Mushroom and Parmesan Risotto, Boiled Mini Carrots, and Wheat Bread.







Last night before I went to bed I laid one of the Gulf Coast Grouper Fillets in the fridge overnight to thaw. A friend of mine who goes down to the gulf Side of Florida quite often always brings me back some of his fresh caught Grouper. These are always some of the finest tasting Grouper I've ever had! i started by rinsing the fillet off in cold water and patting dry and cut it into smaller pieces. I melted a tablespoon of butter, Blue Bonnet Light Stick Butter. I then brushed both sides of the fillets with the Butter and then rubbed the fillets with Zatarain's Blackened Seasoning. Then I got out my favorite skillet, The Cast Iron Skillet. Is there any better pan? You can't stain it, you fry in it, bake in it, and all temperatures. Just make sure you clean it and keep it seasoned, it will last a life time and then some! Anyway added Canola Oil to the skillet and heated it on medium high. When the pan was fully heated I added my Grouper. Cooked it about 3 1/2 minutes per side, and it was ready for the table! This fish is just soooo good, hard to describe! Moist and bursting with flavor. I hope my friend catches a lot of grouper while he's down there after the first of the year, and keeps me in mind!







For one side dish I made some Mushroom and Parmesan Risotto. I used Lundberg Creamy Parmesan Risotto. Quick, easy, and delicious Risotto dish. Ready in about 25 – 30 minutes. I added some fresh sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms to it as it was cooking. Then when it was ready I sprinkled some fresh grated Parmesan Cheese on it. Then I also boiled some Mini Carrots and had a slice of Klosterman Wheat Bread. For dessert later a Del Monte No Sugar Added Peach Chunks Cup.








Lundberg Creamy Parmesan Risotto

Enjoy the delectable flavor of rich, aged Parmesan cheese in this elegant Italian-style risotto. We created this delicious gourmet side dish by blending quality ingredients like Parmesan cheese, onion, garlic, and spices with our creamy Arborio rice. You’ll love how the individual kernels plump, creating a rich, creamy sauce while the rice grains remain separate and al dente. Preparing this tasty risotto takes about 20 minutes and requires minimal stirring. It’s an easy, convenient way to add gourmet flair to any meal.

Cooking Instructions

In a heavy 2 qt. saucepan, sauté rice in ½ Tbsp. olive oil over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add 2½ cups water and contents of seasoning pouch. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cook uncovered for 20 minutes stirring occasionally until rice is tender. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese is desired. Serve piping hot.
Ingredients

Eco-Farmed Arborio Rice, Parmesan and Cheddar Cheese Blend (Parmesan Cheese, Cheddar Cheese {Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes}), Salt, Whey, Buttermilk Powder, Dried Cane Syrup, Natural Flavors (Cheese, Dairy), Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Sodium Phosphate, Maltodextrin, Dried Parsley, Yeast Extract, Butter (Cream, Salt), Rice Flour, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Expeller-Pressed Safflower or Sunflower Oil, Pepper, Lactic Acid, Nonfat Milk, Enzyme-Modified Cheddar Cheese, Turmeric. Contains Milk.


http://www.lundberg.com/products/risottos/Creamy_Parmesan_Risotto.aspx

Triple Threat: Quick, Low-Calorie, Cheap Meals

Quick, Low-Calorie, Cheap Meals all from the Delish web site!




Triple Threat: Quick, Low-Calorie, Cheap Meals
When it's time to eat, all your family cares about is great taste, but you have numbers on your mind: cost,

time, and calories. Thankfully, these delicious meals have the kind of numbers you'll love — each dish is under $3 per serving, ready in 30 minutes or less, and under 365 calories. What could be better than that?







Turkey and Balsamic Onion Quesadillas

All you need to make these easy tortilla sandwiches are five ingredients, many of which you probably already have in your kitchen. Make them a meal by serving with simple sautéed vegetables or a tossed green salad....







Greek Lemon Rice Soup

Smooth silken tofu replaces the eggs in this version of the classic Greek soup. Add an extra drizzle of olive oil on top of each portion to give it an extra-luxurious taste....







* Click the link below to get all the recipes *


http://www.delish.com/recipes/cooking-recipes/quick-low-calorie-cheap-meals?src=nl&mag=del#slide-1

Kitchen Hint of the Day!

Did you know that the best time to shop for meat is in the morning? That is usually when the butcher marks down meat that is close to its sell-by-date. If you won't cook it tonight, freeze it for later

Mushroom and Sharp Cheddar Turkey Burger w/ Baked Fries

Dinner Tonight: Mushroom and Sharp Cheddar Turkey Burger w/ Baked Fries

Well the Holiday's are over and time to get things back to normal. We didn't have a lot of decorations so we'll keep what we have up till this weekend. It's been a cold but sunny day out today. Ran a couple of errands for Mom and that's been about it for today. I warmed up the leftovers from the Christmas Feast for Mom and Dad for dinner. Myself, I really didn't want leftovers so I prepared a Mushroom and Sharp Cheddar Turkey Burger w/ Baked Fries.








I used Jennie – O Turkey Burger Patties (Lean). Only 180 calories and 9 g fat and already made into patties. Pan fried them in a 1/2 Tbs of Canola Oil and seasoned it with Sea Salt and Ground Black Pepper. I served it on an Aunt Millie’s Reduced Calorie Whole Grain Bun and topped with some sauteed sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms and a slice of Sargento Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar. I also baked some Ore Ida Simply Cracked Black Pepper and Sea Salt Country Style Fries. Served these with a side Daisy Reduced Fat Sour Cream. For dessert later a Jello Sugar Free Double Chocolate Pudding topped with Cool Whip Free.









Jennie o Lean Turkey Burgers

Jennie – O Lean Turkey Burger Patties

An all-natural burger choice.
Product Features:
* Gluten Free
* All Natural
* The Biggest Loser® product



Cooking Instructions:
STOVETOP METHOD:
Spray skillet with nonstick cooking spray or add 1-2 teaspoons of oil.
Preheat skillet over medium-high heat.
Place burgers patties in hot skillet.
Cook approximately 15 to 17 minutes, turning occasionally (2-3 times).
Always cook to well-done, 165°F. as measured by a meat thermometer.



Nutritional Information
Serving Size 112 g Total Carbohydrates 0 g
Calories 180 Dietary Fiber 0 g
Calories From Fat 80 Sugars 0 g
Total Fat 9.0 g Protein 21 g
Saturated Fat 2.5 g Vitamin A 2%
Trans Fat .0 g Vitamin C 0%
Cholesterol 80 mg Iron 6%
Sodium 100 mg Calcium 2%





- See more at: http://www.jennieo.com/products/70-Lean-Turkey-Burger-Patties#sthash.BexBV2hD.dpuf






Ore Ida Simply Cracked Black Pepper and Sea Salt Country Style Fries



You can take the potatoes out of the country.
But you can’t take the country out of our delicious Cracked Black Pepper and Sea Salt Country Style French Fries. Simple ingredients like potatoes, olive oil and sea salt – simply prepared. That’s Ore-Ida style.
Ore-Ida Simply Cracked Black Pepper and Sea Salt Country Style French Fries:
* French fried potatoes seasoned with cracked black pepper, olive oil and sea salt
* All natural
* Made with Grade A potatoes
* 0 grams trans fat per serving
* Gluten free
* Kosher
SERVING SIZE: 84g
CALS 130
FAT 4 1/2g
SODIUM 290mg
CARBS 22g





http://www.oreida.com/en/Products/S/Simply-Olive-Oil-and-Sea-Salt-Country-Style-Fries#.UhecmRvOk20

Wild Idea Buffalo Recipe of the Week - Carpetbag Steaks

I had never heard of this one but what a great combo, Buffalo Steak and Oysters! This recipe, from Jill O'Brien, is from 2011 and is this weeks Wild Idea Buffalo Recipe of the Week - Carpetbag Steaks.




December 9, 2011
Carpetbag Steaks
By: Jill O'Brien



Carpetbag Steaks (serves 4)

* Tenderloin or New York steaks work well for this dish.

Ingredients:

For Steaks:

4 Buffalo Steaks, rinsed and patted dry
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 fresh oysters, shucked and coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon
2 tablespoons shallots, minced
½ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
½ cup parmesan, grated
½ cup dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped


For Cajun Cream Sauce

1 tablespoon butter
2 teaspoons Cajun seasonings + to taste
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ cup cream


Cajun Seasoning:

4 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon each: cayenne, black pepper, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and thyme
Mix together and set aside. Keep remaining in sealed container.


Directions:

* Prep steaks as above. Make a slit in center of the steak creating a pocket. Rub steaks with olive oil, salt and pepper. Allow to rest at room temperature for 2 hours.
* Place oysters and lemon juice in bowl and let set for ½ hour.
* Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in sauté pan over medium high heat.
* Add shallots, drained prepped oysters and hot sauce. Sauté for 4 minutes.
* Add parmesan cheese and fold in to incorporate, allowing to slightly melt.
* Remove from heat, add bread crumbs and parsley. Stir to incorporate and season with salt and pepper to taste.
* Stuff pocket of steaks with warm oyster stuffing.
* In heavy skillet over medium high heat, melt 1 tablespoon unsalted butter. Sear each side of steaks 2 minutes for 5 oz. or 3 minutes for 8 to 10 oz. steaks.
* Remove and cover with foil.
* In same pan add 1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon Cajun seasonings. Stir to incorporate.
* Quickly whisk in cream and bring to full heat.
* Serve steaks atop dirty rice and drizzle all with Cajun cream sauce.


http://wildideabuffalo.com/2011/carpetbag-steaks-2/

http://buy.wildideabuffalo.com/

Kitchen Hint of the Day!

Grocery stores make a lot of money on meat, so it's not surprising that they display the priciest cuts in the case! Get dramatic savings by asking the butcher to slice different cuts for you from the same primal or section) of the cow or pig. These cuts can be as little as one - fifth of the cost of the expensive, pre-packaged cuts, and they'll be just as tender and tasty. Here's what to ask for.



* If you're looking for rib eye steak, request chuck eye. You may need to ask the butcher to cut a 4 - inch roast off the front of the boneless chuck, then to peel out the chuck eye and cut it into steaks.



* Instead of pork tenderloin, buy an entire loin roast and ask the butcher to cut it up for you.



* When cross rib roasts are on sale (which is usually quite often), ask the butcher to carve a flatiron roast for you from the cross rib, and ask him to cut it into boneless ribs.



* Instead of buying ground beef, ask the butcher to grind up bottom round roast for you.



* If you like Italian sausages, try asking ground pork shoulder butt. It's also a great substitute for ground beef.

Prime Rib w/ Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, and Baked Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Tonight's Christmas Dinner: Prime Rib w/ Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, and Baked Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Let me start by saying "Merry Christmas" to everyone! In the past we always had a huge family gathering for Christmas Dinner but the today as the last couple of Christmas Dinner it's just been Mom and Dad and myself. It's been a quiet relaxing Christmas. Another cold one out but not as bad as yesterday, no wind today made the difference. For dinner it was a feast! I prepared a Prime Rib w/ Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, and Baked Cheddar Bay Biscuits.







I had purchased a Seasoned Half Beef Rib eye for Prime Rib Roast at a local GFS Market in nearby Fairfield a while back and had it in the freezer. Laid it out in the fridge yesterday to thaw so it was ready for the oven today. Nice size one, 7.750 lbs. of nothing but Prime Rib! So easy to prepare, just preheated the oven at 250 degrees. Then placed the roast in a medium size roasting pan with a rack in it. Sprayed the rack with Pam Spray and added a 1/4" of water to the pan. Then placed the Roast on the rack and basted it in its own juices that were in the bag. Placed it in the oven for about 2 1/2 hours, til a thermometer read 120 degrees, perfect medium rare! As it was roasting I would baste it from time to time with the juice. We buy our Prime Rib from GFS every year and the quality is always spot on. Tender, moist, and just bursting with flavor! This one was so tender you could cut it with your fork. Plus always the good thing, lots of leftovers for some incredible Prime Rib Sandwiches!







Prime Rib as far as I'm concerned is a meal in it's self but Mom and Dad love the side dishes. So for one side I heated up our favorite Mashed Potatoes, Bob Evan's Mashed Potatoes. These are so good and saves so much time than having to peel, cook and mash potatoes! Then I also heated a jar of the Canned Green Beans we had Canned earlier this year. Nothing like fresh Green Beans in the Winter! As if that's not enough my dad wanted some Corn on the Cob so I boiled some Mini Ears of Green Giant Mini Ears of Sweet Corn. I used the juice of the Prime Rib when it was done for some Gravy and I baked some Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits. First time I had baked this one. Just mixed the Packet of Biscuit with water and grated Cheddar Cheese. Mixed it into a dough and made it into balls on to a baking sheet. Baked at 425 degrees for 16 minutes. When ready I basted them with a Garlic Butter Sauce while they were still hot. Tasted just like what you get at the Red Lobster! For dessert later a Skinny Cow Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream Bar.







GFS Seasoned Half Beef Rib eye for Prime Rib Roast

• A classic holiday choice for parties, banquets, and special events
•  Slowly oven-roasted for juicy,full flavor
• Carefully selected USDA Choice and Select beef options

Low Cal Mince Pie

Thanks to Bobbi and Kat for passing this healthier version of Mince Pie.


Low Cal Mince Pie


Ingredients:

Pam Baking Spray
8oz plain Flour
a pinch of Sea Salt
 4oz butter or margarine, cut into small cubes. (Blue Bonnet Light Stick Butter)
16, level, tbsp Mincemeat eady-made mincemeat
1, level, tsp Powdered Sugar, to dust



Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly spray some bun or muffin tins with Pam Baking Spray.
Make the pastry. Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the fat and gently rub it in with your fingertips. Add sufficient cold water to mix to a ball that leaves the sides of the bowl clean. Rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Roll out the pastry thinly on a lightly floured surface. Cut out 32 rounds with a 3 inch fluted cutter. Use to line the prepared tins.
Divide the mincemeat between the pastry cases. Roll out the remaining pastry trimmings and make some little stars with a star cutter or any other design cutter you would have. Use to decorate the tops of the tarts.
Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, until the pastry is crisp and lightly colored. Cool on a wire rack and dust lightly with the powdered sugar.

A Christmas Favorite - Gingerbread

Gingerbread is a sweet food-product flavored with ginger and typically using honey or molasses (treacle)

Gingerbread

rather than just sugar. Gingerbread foods vary, ranging from a soft, moist loaf cake to something close to a ginger biscuit. The different types likely share a common origin.







Gingerbread was brought to Europe in 992 by the Armenian monk Gregory of Nicopolis (Gregory Makar) (Grégoire de Nicopolis). He left Nicopolis Pompeii, to live in Bondaroy (France), near the town of Pithiviers. He stayed there 7 years, and taught the Gingerbread cooking to French priests and Christians. He died in 999.
During the 13th century, it was brought to Sweden by German immigrants. In 15th century Germany, a gingerbread guild controlled production. Early references from the Vadstena Abbey show how the Swedish nuns were baking gingerbread to ease indigestion in 1444. It was the custom to bake white biscuits and paint them as window decorations.
The first documented trade of gingerbread biscuits dates to the 17th century[citation needed], where they were sold in monasteries, pharmacies and town square farmers' markets. In Medieval England gingerbread was thought to have medicinal properties. One hundred years later the town of Market Drayton in Shropshire, UK became known for its gingerbread, as is proudly displayed on their town's welcome sign. The first recorded mention of gingerbread being baked in the town dates back to 1793; however, it was probably made earlier, as ginger was stocked in high street businesses from the 1640s. Gingerbread became widely available in the 18th century.

Gingerbread men

* In England, gingerbread may refer to a cake, or a type of cookie / biscuit made with ginger. In the biscuit form, it commonly takes the form of a gingerbread man. Gingerbread men were first attributed to Queen Elizabeth I, who allegedly served the figurines to foreign dignitaries. Today, however, they are generally served around Christmas.
Parkin is a form soft gingerbread cake made with oatmeal and treacle which is popular in the northern England.
* In the United States, this form of gingerbread is sometimes called "gingerbread cake" or "ginger cake" to distinguish it from the harder forms. French pain d'épices is somewhat similar, though generally slightly drier, and involves honey rather than treacle. Original French gingerbread did not contain ginger.
* In Germany gingerbread is made in two forms: a soft form called Lebkuchen and a harder form, particularly associated with carnivals and street markets such as the Christmas markets that occur in many German towns. The hard gingerbread is made in decorative shapes, which are then further decorated with sweets and icing. The tradition of cutting gingerbread into shapes takes many other forms, and exists in many countries, a well-known example being the gingerbread man. Traditionally, these were dunked in port wine.
* In the Nordic countries, the most popular form of ginger confection is the pepperkaker (Norwegian), pepparkakor (Swedish), brunkager (Danish), piparkökur (Icelandic), piparkakut (Finnish) and in the baltic countries piparkūkas (Latvian) or piparkoogid (Estonian). They are thin, very brittle cookies / biscuits that are particularly associated with the extended Christmas period. In Norway and Sweden, pepperkaker/pepparkakor are also used as window decorations, the pepperkaker/pepparkakor are then a little thicker than usual and decorated with glaze and candy. Many families bake pepperkaker/pepparkakor/brunkager as a tradition with their kids. In English, pepperkaker/pepparkakor/brunkager would be referred to as ginger biscuits rather than gingerbread.
* In Switzerland, a gingerbread confection known as "biber" is typically a three-quarter inch thick rectangular gingerbread cake with a marzipan filling. Biber are famously from the cantons of Appenzell or St. Gallen and respective biber are artfully adorned with images of the Appenzell bear or the St. Gallen cathedral by engraving or icing.
* In the Netherlands and Belgium, a soft and crumbly gingerbread called Peperkoek, Kruidkoek or Ontbijtkoek is popularly served at breakfast time or during the day, thickly sliced and often with butter on top.
* Gingerbreads are known in Russia. The most famous gingerbreads there are baked in the ancient cities Tula (Tula gingerbread, Тульский пряник), Vyazma, and Gorodets.
* In Poland, gingerbreads are known as pierniki (singular, piernik). The most famous are called Toruń gingerbread (piernik toruński), a traditional Polish gingerbread that has been produced since the Middle Ages in the city of Toruń. It was a favorite delicacy of Chopin's when he visited his godfather, Fryderyk Florian Skarbek, in Toruń during one of his school vacations.
* In Romania, gingerbread is called turtă dulce and is usually coated with sugar glazing.
* In Brazil, a type of cake similar to gingerbread is known as pão de mel ("honey bread"), it can be as big as a coffee cake, or bite-sized, and it's usually coated with chocolate.
* There is also a very popular local variety of gingerbread in Bulgaria. It's called меденка ("made of honey"). Traditionally the cookie is as big as the palm of the hand, round and flat, covered in a thin layer of chocolate. Other common ingredients include honey, cinnamon, ginger and dried clove.
It is also made in Karakol.