What's cooking at the Yum-a-Rama? Thanksgiving

Do you remember Romper Room? A children's TV show in the late 50's?  Well at the beginning of each show the host would pretend to look out of the TV and call names of children that she knew were watching. "I see Susie, and Bobbie and Jane and Delia......" Very effective....there wasn't a single kid who didn't believe that she could see us right thru the TV. Well right now I SEE Sally and Bonnie and Jan and Cliff and....I see your heads spinning round and round soon to fly off your necks. It's Thanksgiving and every living relative you have is riding down I-95, about to arrive at your house and eat themselves silly. By now I think the turkey, etc. has been organized and you will be making the same things you make every year that everyone loves and looks forward to. But I thought you might need just one more thing. As Uncle Wiggle and cousin Bobby Lynn start to twitch and cuss because they are starving, waiting for that 100 lb turkey to get done- here is a treat that when served with a cocktail will calm even the surliest family members. And yes, I can HEAR  you too, and the cocktail does have a lot to do with it. Make these anyway.

THANKSGIVING CHEESE BISCUITS

2 sticks of butter - (1 cup) 
1 cup shredded extra sharp cheese
1 cup pecans
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 cups all purpose flour
a couple dashes of hot pepper flakes or hot sauce

Place flour, butter,cheese and spices in food processor and blend till dough is in small bits and pieces. Add pecans and cranberries. Dump dough on to a large piece of waxed paper and knead into a log shape. You can refrigerate, or slice now and bake at 350 for 7 or 8 minutes. You could double this recipe and forget the turkey.....everyone will want to gobble them up!

What's Cooking at tha Yum-A-Rama? 11.16.11

We just had Veteran's Day, and Thanksgiving is around the corner and both those things say it's time to make pie! What's more American than pie? And because I know your days are jam packed with all sorts of fun, and not hours in the kitchen, this is easy pie. Quick pie. And best of all- delicious pie!

-START- with a Pillsbury pie crust. The kind that comes rolled up in the red box, in the section with the canned refrigerator biscuits. If you could make crust this good, you should. But this crust is delicious and it is ready just by opening the box!
- PAT- into glass pie pan. Pinch around the top edge of pie dish so the crust has something to hold on to and it won't slide down while cooking. Bake in a 350 oven for 8 minutes. It will probably bubble up, so when you remove from oven, place your hand palm down and gently flatten the puff. Most cookbooks will tell you to prick pie crust with a fork before baking and this will prevent the crust from rising up like the Hindenburg. This will also have your filling seeping thru to the bottom of the pie plate and you will have one heck of a time getting that pie slice out of the pan. Just thought you'd want to know.
-FILLING -
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate morsels
2 eggs
11/2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. Cognac or Brandy
Pinch of salt
Place all ingredients in blender, except for milk. Place milk in glass container and heat in microwave till very hot, but not boiling. Pour into blender and quickly place lid on and hit the power. Blend till chocolate is melted. Pour into pie shell and place in 350 oven. Bake for 15 minutes and turn off the oven. Do not open the door....I know you want to. Go do the marketing, pick up the dry cleaning, and do the carpool. 2-3 hours later you can open up the oven and yahoo! You have made a perfect chocolate pie. It will be especially perfect with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. Yum. And you know what to do with all that money you have saved on the energy bill......Buy that extra big turkey, because EVERYBODY is gonna want to come to your house!

Come Clean

When was the last time you bought a box of Borax? Uh hu. I thought so. Well Honey, put your driving shoes on and head down to the market. Not the fancy one or the 7-11. The regular food market where you bought your first Twinkie and a Tab. This may require a little hunting, but somewhere between the one million "Oxi" items and the Tide is that lovely box of "Twenty Mule Team Borax". Worth 3 times the price. A real deal. Grab it and run and smile all the way home because you are about to have the cleanest clothes on your street! Stay tuned for more fabulous things you can do with your very own box of Borax. See, dreams do come true.

What's cooking at the Yum-a-Rama? 11.6.11

Love that 12 year old Balsamic Vinegar? Yes indeed. Can't believe how much it costs? Would never come up with that many greenbacks for a green salad on a school night? Go right down to the Safeway or your neighborhood Pig and buy the $3.00 bottle of Balsamic Vinegar. Pour it into a pot on the stove and heat at a low simmer for 20-30 minutes. Multi-task and bake a cake or something while this ticks away on your Amana Range. It is best to keep your eye on the vinegar pot. You don't want it to boil, or let too much liquid evaporate. When it has cooked about half way down, remove from heat and let it cool. Wa-Laa! You have a delicious, thick balsamic that tastes and pours like the old stuff. Take that extra cash you saved yourself and invest in something you really need darling.....like a cashmere sweater. Yum.

How does her garden grow?

We have had our first frost and so you know what that means sweetie....time to clean out those beds and plant something that likes the cold. Don't complain......this is the easiest part of gardening. Pull out what ever looks tired and dead. If it is either of these it will come out of the ground with the yank of your pinky. To guarantee success of your next crop, toss around the soil that is there, add a bag or two of fresh potting soil, and at least one bag of compost. Any kind of compost is good. Mushroom compost or chicken poop are hard to beat. Mix in some fertilizer that is something organic and you have created a plot any vegetable would be proud of. I realize winter gardening in the south is easier than in some other parts of the country, but put in a few spinach plants and they will grow just about ANY WHERE. They don't mind the snow or frost if only frozen for a few days. Wait till the thaw and when the leaves are warm and dry, pick away. The freezing and thawing process sweetens the leaves and you won't believe that you could grow something this delicious. Now go look in the mirror and smile at yourself....you grew your own dinner!

What's cooking at the Yum-a-Rama?

The temperature is dropping and that means get out the slow cooker- that's "crockpot" to those of you who were teenagers in the 70's. It's right up there on the top shelf between the fondu pot and that lovely oil incrusted wok. It's fall and you have a million things to do so let's get movein'. You might need to go shoe shopping with the hours of time I am gonna save you.

CROCKPOT BEAST
Beef-anything but ground-cut into large chunks
(about as much as you can hold in two hands)
Mini carrots-as much as you can hold in two hands
Mini potatoes - brown or red. Guess how many? Two hands full.
1 medium onion -chopped
Large can of diced tomatoes
2 beef bouillon cubes-dissolved in 2 cups hot water
1 large jar spaghetti sauce- get the good stuff- splurge and pay over $3.00
I Guinness beer
And a teaspoon each of salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Start from the top and put it all in your slow cooker on high. If you are gone for more than 8 hours, might want to try medium.

Now you have multiple choice -
1)Spoon into a bowl. Serve with crusty bread.
2)Organize in a shallow bowl- meat on one side, line up the carrots together, and the potatoes together.
3)And then of course if company is coming, spoon into separate bowls and top with refrigerator biscuits or a square of puffed pastry and bake at 375 for about 15 minutes.
Ooh la la! You are a kitchen wizard! Don't forget to thank your crockpot.

PamLand