EKat's Kitchen

A big announcement from EKat's Kitchen.

2012-07-10T20:17:00.000-08:00

You may have seen that I've been not-so-gently hinting that a big announcement is coming.

After coming back to blogging from an unintended sabbatical just a few weeks ago, I started reviewing what I was writing about, what I wanted to write about, and the path down which I wanted to take this project. The conclusion I came to was that I love EKat's Kitchen and all of the wonderful friends I've made in this community I've built, but that EKat's Kitchen no longer fits the brand I want it to. I found two, no make that three, options in front of me.

Option 1: Keep going with EKat's Kitchen and rework the focus... some changes with a perhaps more subtle shift
Option 2: Keep the EKat's branding and expand to an EKat's World blog with more encompassing information. This would allow me to continue building on what I already have, but allow me to immediately change focus.
Option 3: Make a big, huge, enormous switch to a brand-spanking-new blog, with a new focus, a new theme and, well, new everything.

I agonized... ok, I didn't agonize, but I did do several informal polls of friends and family. Then one night, before I'd actually made any decisions, in a random wine-fueled stroke of brilliance, I purchased a new domain name, then a hosting package, then a wordpress theme... and, quite frankly, I was unstoppable.

Back up a step. Did you read that? A random wine-fueled stroke of brilliance. Once I had taken that leap the rest of the decision-making process was very easy. As I was trying to figure out just exactly what I wanted to do in terms of hosting, design and more, I sent many frantic emails out, (during the course of which, I'm afraid I may have pestered my friend Alea from Premeditated Leftovers more than I should have), Alea told me to go ahead and write a post titled Random Wine-Fueled Strokes of Brilliance. I want to assure you that this post is in fact coming... just a little bit more slowly than anticipated... one glass of wine at a time. I can't seem to come up with enough brilliance for an entire post worth of Brilliance.. at least not that still sounds brilliant the following day. Stay tuned.

Back to the story at hand. You may be able to see where this is going. I did, in fact, choose option 3. The past few weeks, I've been hard at work learning a new platform (WordPress self-hosted), developing the look and feel of the new blog, and in a challenging process, spending a few hours tearing my hair out migrating all of the content from EKat's Kitchen over to the new blog. I also have built new Google+ and Facebook pages and developed all of the fabulous subscription options available!

It is with this news, that I proudly announce...

... the launch...

... of...

... Salmon at Seven.

I'm proud to be announcing a $25 Amazon.com giveaway to celebrate my launch. Visit me over at www.SalmonAtSeven.com, pick up my button, and be sure to join my new Facebook and Google + pages. Good news, if you already follow me at Twitter, my twitter handle will be changing from @ekatskitchen to @salmonatseven, so existing Tweeps should still be following me!

I can't wait to continue the friendships we've all begun!

A big announcement is coming

2012-07-04T21:55:00.000-08:00

Yes! You read that right! A big announcement is coming to EKat's Kitchen. Bear with me as we go radio/Internet silent for a few days and get everything ready!

Are you at the edge of your seat?
I am!!

How to Eat an Artichoke

2012-06-25T23:09:00.003-08:00

Artichokes.

One of my all-time favorite treats. I've tried them baked, stuffed, marinated... you name it. Still, my all time favorite way to eat them is so simple it's almost too easy.

I love steamed artichokes. I could eat them 2-3 times a week, happily.

And... they're good for you! Who'd've thunk? Low calorie, no fat, high in fiber. Win win win!

I've been finding them at Costco for really reasonable prices, four in a bag. Life is good.

So how do you steam an artichoke?
Step one, fill up a pan of water.
Step two, put the steamer pan in the top.
Step three, trim the stems off of the chokes.
Step four, place in steamer pan, cover with lid, and turn over high heat for an hour.
Step five, test one leaf to make sure it's tender enough.
Step six, enjoy.

You don't actually eat the whole leaf; instead, you scrape the "meat" from the leaf with your teeth and then discard what's left.

I love dippers.
My two favorite are melted butter with lemon juice and curried olive oil based mayo.
So easy! So simple.

So good.

Sharing this with the Hearth & Soul Hop @ Premeditated Leftovers

I'm Back!

2012-06-24T12:04:00.000-08:00

This post has been a long time coming.
I last posted in January and lots of plans to post great recipes.

I then fell off the blogging wagon.

I told myself it was because I didn't have someone else to cook for anymore, but really, that's not much of an excuse, more of a reason just not to post as frequently. I was going to start looking into recipes for one or two person meals and post about them as well.

Honestly, I got out of the habit and haven't gotten back into it.

But I miss my happy little bloggy world.

So I'm going to be back. I'm also going to start diversifying, though I'm not sure what direction I may be going. Watch and learn with me! Friday Potluck won't be back as it was, but there may be a new party coming.

Enjoy the ride!!!

Hart to Heart Guest Post

2012-02-06T07:52:00.000-09:00

It's a lovely Monday morning, and I have lots to share with you in the coming weeks: my new quest to organize, lots of great recipes, and more! In the meantime, head on over to my friend Leigh Anne's blog - Hart to Heart, to see the guest post she was so kind to ask me to pull together for her.

Friday Potluck & Adobo Lime Tacos

2012-02-02T21:29:00.001-09:00

There are some benefits to just having me and the fur babies in the house. If it's a mess, it's our mess. The grocery bill is MUCH lower than when K is home.

The bad things are that I have to shovel, keep his truck running (more of a challenge mentally and literally when it's 20 below than you might think), and WORST OF ALL, I am responsible for consuming ALL leftovers. I'm good at eating the same thing two nights in a row, and maybe a lunch.

Beyond that, I can't do it... but I always seem to convince myself that it's doable and by the time I realize it isn't, I have a collection of science experiments (and really cool colors) in tupperware in my fridge.

Whoops.

That's my attempt at saying I'm not really bringing much to Friday Potluck. I made adobo lime chicken tacos this week, and just finished night #3 of them. They were amazing all three nights, especially since they are SO easy. With my pumped up work out schedule, I find that I want to go to bed much earlier, but still need to make sure I get enough protein ... and calories in general.

Adobo Lime Chicken Tacos

1 lb chicken, cubed into small 1/2" pieces
1 tbsp adobo lime rub
tortillas (I use the cook-your-own variety from Costco)
tomatoes, diced
cheddar cheese, shredded
lettuce, shredded
taco sauce to taste.

Heat a pan and toss the chicken in, sprinkling liberally with the rub. Cook until done, in the meantime prepping the other ingredients. Assemble tacos. Eat!

Store the ingredients in small bowls so that you can easily repeat. I don't have pictures, but I can tell you they are delicious!

HAPPY FRIDAY POTLUCKING

Just a few quick and easy rules for joining the party (please read them before posting)
1. Link directly to your recipe (not your main blog).
2. Only one recipe per blog each week.
3. Be sure, in the linked blog post, to link back here to Friday Potluck @ EKat's Kitchen.
4. Have fun, do some visiting and enjoy!

If you want to get updates on my posts, and any promotions I'm running, especially with Google Friend Connect going the way of the dodo bird, please follow me either via email or using my RSS feed.

1. Cherry Coffee Cake with crumb topping

2. Mini Greek Salad Pita Pockets

3. Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes

4. Chicken Pot Stickers @ Run DMT w/linky

5. Cranberry Chai Cupcakes

6. Smoky Tomato Soup with Maple Bacon

7. Quinoa Chili Skillet

8. Superbowl Eats

9. Bleu Cheese Dressing

10. Homemade Pizza Rolls

11. Cabbage and Sausage Stew

12. Chicken in a Mustard and Tarragon Sauce

13. 2-Ingredient Baked Pinwheel Appetizer

14. Muffuletta Pinwheels

15. Parmesan & Herb Zucchini Sticks

16. Broccoli Chedder Skins-Low Fat!

17. Breakfast Casserole

18. Apple Cake

19. cucumber dill shrimp dip

20. Nine Pepper Soup

21. Rotisserie Chicken Five Ways

22. Superbowl Cupcakes!

23. Monterey Chicken

24. Pudding Cookies

25. Pepperoni Sausage Pizza Bread

26. Carrot/Raisin/Walnut Salad

27. Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies

28. Everything Soup

29. Printable Valentines

30. Hawaiian Ham & Swiss Slider

31. Frozen Tart Cherrytini

32. Homemade 3 Musketeer Bars

33. Mac & Cheese Big Game Day Style

34. Recipes with black beans

35. Strawberry Basil Mojito

36. Classic Tomato Soup

37. Easy Pear Balsamic Salad

38. Chicken Noodle Soup with Pesto Twist

39. Homemade Alfredo Sauce

40. Ichi Bon Fried Rice

41. A Southern Style POt of Pinto Beans

42. Moroccan Tagine Soup

43. Apple Cake with Caramel Sour Cream Glaze

This linky list is now closed.

Thai Yellow Curry & Friday Potluck

2012-01-27T07:58:00.000-09:00

Happy Friday!

I was so relaxed that I forgot it was Thursday! How does that even happen?? I had every intent of posting last night after I made this delicious yellow curry. Guess I was too relaxed from my fabulous massage yesterday. These things happen.

Guess what! I didn't post until This Very Minute.

So today, a little late, I bring you Thai Yellow Curry & Friday Potluck.

You may or may not know that I have a love affair with Thai food. Particularly green curry. I've never had much success though with replicating the dishes. I wish I could tell you where I picked up a delightful little can of yellow curry paste. It's a mystery to me, and I plan to take photographic evidence with me to our specialty grocery store in the hopes that I bought it there rather than at Whole Foods when we lived in the Lower 48.

As I work on eating clean, Thai food is particularly wonderful to me -- no dairy, no processed foods (except for the curry paste if you buy it and don't make your own), and lots of whole real food ingredients. Ever since last fall when Full Circle Farms gave me several weeks of their produce boxes to try, I've been hooked on their small Seed size box, and look forward to it's delivery to my door step every Wednesday evening. Whole real foods that are organic and GMO-free have become increasingly important to me. Full Circle has brought me a plethora of potatoes. (I plan to make a spinach frittata with them tomorrow). With potato supplies burgeoning out of my pantry, it was time to make a curry that made use of some of them, and I just happened to find this yellow curry in my cupboard as well. A match made in heaven... after scouring the internet for some fabulous ideas. In the end, my yellow curry was a roaring success!

Thai Yellow Curry

1 small can (3 tbsp) yellow curry paste (I have no idea how to make)
1 tbsp peanut oil
1 can coconut cream
1 lb of chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
2 cups coconut milk (I used Silk brand)
2 potatoes, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
1 large onion, halved and quartered

Heat peanut oil in a large pan and add curry paste to it. Cook until the paste starts to toast and smell delightful. Add in the coconut cream and cook for a few minutes, until the colors start to separate. Then toss in the chicken and the coconut milk... and simmer for about 15 minutes before adding the potatoes and simmering for another 15 minutes or until soft. Finally add in the onion and cook until softened.

Serve over brown rice.

Enjoy!! With that, I bring you Friday Potluck!

1. Mardi Gras Punch

2. Caramel Coconut Chocolate Cookie Pie

3. Pepperoni-Stuffed Chicken Breasts

4. Raising a Foodie Baby

5. Teriyaki Steak Sandwiches

6. Dark Chocolate Truffles

7. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

8. Crock Pot Cabbage Soup GF Vegan

9. Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

10. Peanut Butter Bark

11. Chinese Dumplings~ Gluten-Free

12. Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

13. Fresh Raspberry Cupcakes & Buttercream

14. Run DMT

15. Ranch Steakhouse Salad

16. Spiced Chipotle Nuts

17. Easy Enchilada Sauce

18. Baked Ziti with Mushrooms

19. Coconut Chicken Tenders w/ Apricot Sauce

20. Double Chocolate Muffins

21. Herb Crusted Ribs with Orange Sauce

22. Chicken & Pumpkin Enchilada Soup

23. Banana Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce

24. Chocolate Chip Pretzel Cookies

25. pear custard bars

26. Eggless Nutella Cookies

27. Easy Slow-Cooker A. 1 Swiss Steak

28. Parmesan & Herb Zucchini Sticks

29. Curried Carrot Soup

30. coffee cake

31. coffee cake

32. Roasted Garlic Grilled Cheese

This linky list is now closed.

Friday Potluck Jan 20

2012-01-19T19:30:00.003-09:00

Happy Friday Potlucking to you!

I write you from the frigid north. You know you live in a cold place, when...

...15 degrees sounds like a great dream
...you hope it warms up enough to snow
...you wouldn't even mind another foot or so of snow because it's at least warm enough to go do stuff.

Ok, maybe I'm over dramatizing just a bit, but I would be ok with it warming up just a bit.

Can't wait to see what you bring this week!

1. Crab Apple Liqueur

2. Individual Chicken Pot Pies

3. Pineapple Bread Pudding

4. Nutella Swirl Banana Bread

5. Lemon Sour Cream Pie

6. Lemon Chicken Pasta

7. Video: Homemade Yogurt (SCD/GAPS)

8. Orange Chicken

9. Brownie Bottom Cheesecake

10. Chicken Salsa Soup @ Run DMT w/linky

11. Kahlua Brownie

12. Pecan Tart

13. Apple Tart

14. Sweet Potato & Apple Pork w/Balsamic Gla

15. Dilly Bread

16. Apple Cinnamon Bread

17. Banana Pancakes

18. Hickory-BBQ Wings

19. Chocolate Stuffed Cookies

20. Mint-Filled Brownie Cupcakes

21. Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

22. Chicken Teriyaki with Stir-Fry Vegetable

23. Homemade Ketchup

24. Wonderful Leftovers Casserole

25. Beef in Beer Stew

26. Breakfast Bruschetta

27. Cheesy Ham, Potato, and Broccoli Cassero

28. Glazed Lemon Squares

29. Black Bean Vegan Burger

30. Sausage & Kale Italian Zuppa

31. Fried Catfish

32. Superbowl Party recipes GF and Healthy

33. Chocolate Chip Cookies

34. Lemon-Pepper Tilapia with Tomato Salsa

35. Nutella Brownies

36. Banana Muffins

37. Pretty Canapes

38. Garlic Soup

39. Duck Breasts with Cherry Sauce

40. Spicy Gluten Free Texas Trash

41. Thin & Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies

42. Red Velvet Cupcake

43. Cinnamon Swirl Bread

44. Easy Chicken Egg Rolls

45. Grilled Caesar Salad

This linky list is now closed.

Crab Apple Liqueur

2012-01-18T20:45:00.003-09:00

Several years ago, a good friend gave me a bottle of her father's crab apple liqueur for Christmas. I loved it!

When we moved into the new house, there were two trees that, in the spring flowered and smelled amazing... one was a May Day tree and the other, you guessed -- a crab apple tree. I spent all fall researching exactly what to do with the little crab apples. I had to do something! They were so beautiful!

One lovely fall day, I cajoled K into pulling out the ladder and helping me position it so I could start picking the apples. It's a darned good thing that it's not my day job!

I had a huge bucket full, and, sadly, only was able to use half (that's including the applesauce that tanked!) The crab apple liqueur has only just surfaced. With so much going on this winter, I didn't get it bottled in time for Christmas, so I'll be doing some little deliveries with late Christmas gifts.

I scoured the internet for a good recipe, and found one on a great blog called: A Bushel of What? that focuses on locally grown recipes. Love her blog!

Crab Apple Liqueur

modified from A Bushel of What

1.75 L vodka (I used Kirkland brand from Costco)
8-12 cups crabapples, rinsed and quartered (so that they fit into the mouth of the bottles)
7 cups sugar

Put crab apples into two 750 mL bottles and cover sugar and vodka. Cap and shake up. Then place in a dark space for at least 2-4 weeks, turning the bottles regularly to avoid sugar settling in one spot. When you're ready to place into small bottles for gifts, pour the liqueur into them through a strainer to catch the apple pieces.

Enjoy!

Sharing this with

Thai Lemongrass Chicken Curry & Friday Potluck

2012-01-12T18:38:00.000-09:00

What a wild ride it's been!

There has been so much going on in my life the last few weeks, months, you name it! I'm not sure where the time has gone. Suddenly, it's 2012!
2012?!?!?! How did this happen?

Actually, I've got a pretty good idea where the time has gone.

my back deck

This is a year of near record snowfall in Anchorage. Before the latest round of storms, I think we stood at almost 82" of snow. Today, we got at least another 8, and it's still falling.

I'm getting really good at shoveling. I'm blessed with neighbors that help shovel the driveway, and I have been keeping up with the back deck... It's getting hard to shovel UP though!!!
Nothing like a snowy day to make you appreciate a lovely soup.

THAI LEMONGRASS CHICKEN CURRY

1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1-2 tbsp Thai green curry powder
2 cups chicken broth
1 can light coconut milk
4 green onions, diced
3 stalks lemongrass, tough outer leaves removed and pale stalk diced

Heat empty pan on medium heat until hot to touch. Toss chicken into the pan, and cover with curry powder. Saute until cooked all the way through. Toss in some chicken broth (I make mine using water and Better than Bouillon) to deglaze the pan. Allow to simmer for a few minutes and then add in the coconut milk, green onions and lemongrass. Cover and simmer for another 20 minutes to allow the flavors to marry.

Serve over brown rice and enjoy the yummy-ness.

And now onto the first Friday Potluck of 2012! Enjoy!

1. Italian Northern Bean Soup with Parmesan

2. Ranch Rolls

3. Moroccan soup with chickpeas + quinoa

4. Green Chile Stew

5. Beef Stew Casserole

6. Ranch Rolls

7. Bacon Jam Crostini

8. Beetroot Rolls

9. Peanut Butter Fudgy Muffins

10. Cheesy Asparagus Potato Soup

11. Peanut Butter Cup Blondies

12. Black Russian Pound Cake with Warm Kahlu

13. Double Decker Chocolate Cream Pie

14. Chicken and Dumplings

15. Catfish Divan

16. Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

17. Candied Kumquats

18. Reeskies

19. Matzo Ball Soup

20. Pumpkin Oatmeal

21. 3 Simple, Healthy Habits for a New Year

22. Honey-Wheat Pizza Dough

23. North Woods Bean Soup

24. Peanut Butter-Chocolate Twist Cupcakes

25. Chicken and Smoked Sausage Jambalaya

26. Leftover London Broil Sandwiches

27. Chai Tea Mix

28. Curry in a Hurry

29. Tinkerball Cake/ Self Sagacity

30. Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins

31. Teriyaki Chicken over white rice noodles

32. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

33. BLT Pasta Salad

34. Seared Scallops w/Creamy Pesto & Lemon P

35. Cocoa Pink Cuplets

This linky list is now closed.

Happy New Year

2012-01-06T09:30:00.000-09:00

The last several weeks have been so incredibly busy that I actually forgot about Friday Potluck! How is this possible!!! I finally cooked an actual meal for the first time in what seems like ages last night - Smoky Roasted Ratatouille with a side of salmon and brown rice. Delicious! EKat's Kitchen will be back with lots of new recipes and foods in 2012 - hard to believe that yes, it is 2012 already. Where does time go? And Friday Potluck will be back next week! Hope you all had an incredible holiday and are off to the start of a very Happy New Year! xoxo Erin

Friday Potluck #62

2011-12-16T00:38:00.000-09:00

Friday Potluck!

A Friday Potluck-ing we shall go, A Friday Potluck-ing we shall go.
Hi Ho the Friday-O, A Friday Potluck-ing we shall go.
(sung to the tune of Farmer in the Dell)

I think I may be punchy. I'm operating on 1/4 brain and very little sleep. Bear with me!

I hope that you all are enjoying the season! Next week, I can't wait to share with you my favorite fondue - Brie. YUMMY.

I know I always say this, but can't wait to see what you bring!! :)

Just a few quick and easy rules for joining the party (please read them before posting)
1. Link directly to your recipe (not your main blog).
2. Only one recipe per blog each week.
3. Be sure, in the linked blog post, to link back here to Friday Potluck @ EKat's Kitchen.
4. Have fun, do some visiting and enjoy! If you want to get updates on my posts, and any promotions I'm running, please follow using one of the options in the right hand side bar.

1. Eggnog Jelly Shots

2. Simple Homemade Chili

3. Rustic Potato Pie

4. Crab Dip in a Bread Bowl

5. Bisquick Triple Chip Cookies

6. Mexican Wedding Cookies

7. Secret Ingredient Beef Stew

8. Frostbitten Red Velvet Brownie Bites

9. Coconut Date and Cherry Xmas Squares

10. Mamas Pumpkin Pie

11. Cranberry Turkey Tamales

12. Gingerbread Trees w/ Lemon Icing

13. Cheesy Tuna Pasta Casserole

14. Double Chocolate Cookies

15. Breakfast Monte Cristos

16. Lulus Musings

17. Turkey Eggs and Egg Salad

18. Chocolate Duet Cheesecake

19. Cauliflower, Cashew, raisin stir fry

20. Chicken Lumpia Recipe

21. Slow Cooker Potato Kale Soup

22. Cranberry Banana Smoothie

23. White Chocolate Haystack Christmas Wreat

24. Cookies, Brownies, Squares

25. Peppermint Cuppy Cakes

26. De-Constructed Pumpkin Pie

27. Pumpkin Pie

28. Healthy Chocolate Cake

29. Gingerbread Truffles

30. Santas Hat Mix

31. Red Velvet Brownies

32. Chicken Piccata

33. White Chocolate Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

34. Peppery Cauliflower Bites

35. Maple Cream Gingersnaps

36. Chocolate Yule Log

37. Stuffed Pumpkin w Apple & Bread Pudding

38. Stuffed Pumpkin w Apple & Bread Pudding

39. Old Smoothie Candy Recipe

40. Christmas - Red or Green?

This linky list is now closed.

Friday Potluck #61

2011-12-09T08:16:00.001-09:00

I confess. I was having too much fun on Pinterest last night to get this post up. And for that you have my deepest and most sincere apologies.

Do you Pinterest?

If not, it's a wonderful group of ideas. I find it far more intriguing than just about anything else online these days. And I "get" it. I've never really "gotten" Twitter. I have a twitter, but automatically posting my blog posts is about as far as my tweeting goes. I find meaning in all the fun crafty ideas, beautiful photos, great food.... you name it!

My other fantastic discovery this week is Yogurt Lounge! I learned that this is a different company than YogurtLand, but suffice it to say, I'm very likely in love with both. If you haven't been, do you remember how TCBY was super awesome because they had flavored yogurts with toppings?

The new thing in Yogurt is DIY. Great business concept -- let the customers do your work for you so you can minimize staffing costs... but seriously. SO AWESOME! There are about 12-16 different yogurt flavors and you serve yourself, combining any flavors you want, adding your own toppings and then you pay by weight at the end. Last night we went out for a treat and I had peppermint stick and mint chocolate with just a dollop of coconut yogurt on top. YUM!

"To find joy in another’s joy, that is the secret of happiness." ~George Bernanos~

Wishing you all a wonderful December weekend!

Just a few quick and easy rules for joining the party (please read them before posting)
1. Link directly to your recipe (not your main blog).
2. Only one recipe per blog each week.
3. Be sure, in the linked blog post, to link back here to Friday Potluck @ EKat's Kitchen.
4. Have fun, do some visiting and enjoy! If you want to get updates on my posts, and any promotions I'm running, please follow using one of the options in the right hand side bar.

1. Pecan-Bourbon-Butterscotch Bread Pudding

2. Brown Sugar Muffins

3. Mud Puddles

4. Meatless Mieng Xao@ Self Sagacity

5. Colorful Christmas Balls

6. Christmas Cookies- Lots!!

7. Creamy Chicken Italiano

8. Candy Cane Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups

9. Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

10. Mint Chocolate Christmas Tree Brownies

11. One Pot Kale and Quinoa Pilaf

12. Drunken Chicken

13. Cranberry Orange Bread

14. Twice Grilled BBQ Burritos

15. Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle

16. Gluten-Free Banana Lemon Loaf

17. Creamy Mushroom Risotto GF

18. Gluten Free Cheesy Dill Bread

19. Jam doughnut muffins

20. Oreo Cookies

21. Sugar Cookies

22. Tiger Rolls

23. White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

24. Losing Creek - Cheeseburger Macaroni, GF

25. Honey Infused Cornbread

26. Lemon Brownies

27. Pasta-less (paleo) spaghetti

This linky list is now closed.

Friday Potluck #60

2011-12-01T21:03:00.001-09:00

Hi de ho Potluckers!!!

Hope you all had a lovely holiday weekend and got to spend lots of quality time with your loved ones. I'm working on some quality time with my hubby, so will keep this post short and sweet.

My positive thought for the day:

"Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life. "

~Wayne Dyer

Just a few quick and easy rules for joining the party (please read them before posting)
1. Link directly to your recipe (not your main blog).
2. Only one recipe per blog each week.
3. Be sure, in the linked blog post, to link back here to Friday Potluck @ EKat's Kitchen.
4. Have fun, do some visiting and enjoy! If you want to get updates on my posts, and any promotions I'm running, please follow via Google Friend Connect (in the bar to the right).

1. Chicken Satay with Cucumber Relish

2. Pumpkin Corn Muffins

3. Run DMTs Pumpkin Biscotti

4. Making Vanilla Extract

5. Very Versatile Slice and Bake Cookies

6. Deep Dish Cookie Pie

7. pecan maple cookies

8. Double Decker Party Reuben

9. Zaatar and olives Challah

10. Lemon Apple Cake

11. Asian Quinoa

12. Tomatoes, Shrimp & Feta

13. Company Ham Casserole

14. Lasagna Soup

15. Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pancakes

16. Minestrone Soup

17. Hot Turkey Salad

18. Cranberry Beef

19. Apple Cinnamon Upside Down Cake

20. Easy Pizza Dough!

21. Roast in Wine Sauce

22. Spicy BBQ Cabbage Rolls

23. Holiday Cookies: Russian Tea Cake Recipe

24. Swiss Steak

25. Creamy Tomato Soup

26. Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

27. Pumpkin French Toast Casserole

28. Tomato Coconut Soup

29. Chocolate Chunk Scones

30. Sweet and Easy Pumpkin Whip

31. Chocolate Drizzled Peanut Butter Cookies

32. Lasagna Rolls with Slow Cooker Sauce

33. Best Cranberry Salad Ever

34. chocolate coconut neopolitans

35. Cranberry & Pumpkin Scones

36. Cheeseburger Soup

37. Beef Tips over Brown Rice

38. Mini Pecan Pies

39. Leftover Turkey and Tomato Soup

40. Christmas Tree Bread

41. Cornflake Wreath Cookies

42. Not Your Mamas Rum Balls

43. Losing Creek Farm - Piggy Spanish Rice

This linky list is now closed.

Crock Pot Stuffing Feature @ The Saturday Evening Pot

2011-11-27T12:17:00.001-09:00

Good morning!
Or, I guess since it's afternoon where I am, good afternoon and good evening Happy bloggers.

Remember a few weeks ago, when I told you that the fabulous Chef and Lucky Wife from the Saturday Evening Pot were hosting a 100 Day Countdown to Christmas? They featured my Turkey Brine Recipe for the Perfect Turkey earlier this month and have had several fantastic posts since then.

Today, they're featuring my crock pot stuffing recipe; great for any time of the year. I hope you'll take a look at their highlights from the first month of posts here. The second month of recipes was fantastic as well! Hope you'll head on over and check out the latest from my pals over at The Saturday Evening Pot.

Friday Potluck & Gratitude...

2011-11-23T18:06:00.001-09:00

A very happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
For those of you not in the U.S., I'm wishing you a day filled with joy and gratitude.

You may have noticed I've been a little bit absent the last couple of weeks. You may not have noticed; I was a prolific scheduler for the times when I was out of town. Suffice it to say though, that there's a lot going on in my personal life, some good, some that I'm less excited about, but I haven't had the time to devote to cooking, let alone writing about it.

With some less than exciting things coming up in my life between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I've been focusing on being positive and thankful for what I do have in my life. I've been spending time looking for quotes to help bolster a positive attitude, and in the spirit of tomorrow's holiday would like to share some with you.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie

If you have the opportunity to check out some of Melody Beattie's writings, I encourage you to do so. I love what she has to say and her attitude about just about everything. I really love this quote on gratitude because it talks about gratitude as a way of being rather than an obligation. I could sit and read it over and over and find some new application to my life every time.

"I can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. It's all how you look at it." ~ J. Kenfield Morley

This is incredibly telling in my life right now; I share with new Army wives about to experience their first deployment that perception is everything. There are ways to find a positive in almost every situation, including the prospect of facing time away from loved ones. For example, my house will stay clean for the next year: I won't find random dirty socks everywhere, empty glasses on all tables, Army stuff everywhere, or have every flat surface covered in stuff. Of course, the price is that I don't see or talk to K every day, which would be preferable, but I have to look for the roses in the thorn bush to keep my sanity.

I have an amazing, loving husband, and though he's about to head halfway around the world, I'm very fortunate to have him in my life, and in fact, sitting across the living room from me looking handsome as ever. I'm thankful for my incredible family and friends, near and far, who make up my support and hugs network. I'm thankful for Lucy the wonder-dog, who is always so excited to see me, even if I've only gone out to the car to get another load of groceries. I'm also thankful for a roof over my head, a fantastic job, and the opportunity to live in one of the most amazing places in the world - Alaska!

What are you thankful for?

This week, it feels strange to not be cooking. My parents instructed me to bring nothing, but myself, my husband, my dog and coffee creamer to Thanksgiving this weekend. Of course, I can't come empty-handed, but it's still odd. I will be back soon with more recipes, including some great veggie recipes. Full Circle Farm has given me the opportunity to try out their new delivery options for a few weeks, I just got my first "Sprout" box delivered to my house tonight and am currently munching on a D'anjou pear; I can't wait to share the bounty with you.

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend filled with love, gratitude and family.
Looking forward to the recipes you link up.

Just a few quick and easy rules for joining the party (please read them before posting)
1. Link directly to your recipe (not your main blog).
2. Only one recipe per blog each week.
3. Be sure, in the linked blog post, to link back here to Friday Potluck @ EKat's Kitchen.
4. Have fun, do some visiting and enjoy! If you want to get updates on my posts, and any promotions I'm running, please follow via Google Friend Connect (in the bar to the right).

1. Favorite Pumpkin Pie

2. Spiced Martini

3. Crock Pot Stuffing

4. Maryland Oyster Stew Recipe

5. Sweet Potato Parathas

6. Beef Bourguignon

7. Pear and Walnut Tart

8. Apple Pie

9. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

10. Orzo Risotto w/ Roasted Vegetables

11. Chocolate Vanilla Swirl Cheesecake

12. Spice cookies

13. Peanut Butter Granola

14. Aloha Burger

15. Run DMT - Pumpkin Ale Cupcakes

16. Coconut Sweet Potato pie

17. HEALTHY SPECIAL DIET FRIENDLY RECIPES!!

18. Poor Mans Bread, Kale, & Blk Pepp Soup

19. Peppers Ricotta & Sausage Casserole

20. Caramelized Onion Dip

21. Sweet Potato and Pineapple Casserole

22. The Menu (with links)

23. Chocolate Chip Scones & a Giveaway !

24. Losing Creek Farm - Breakfast! ;)

25. Sugar Cookie Cupcakes

26. Cranberry Casserole

27. Stuffed Peppers & Pumpkin Chile Sauce

28. Two Thanksgiving desserts for kids!

29. Apple Cider Vodka Cocktail

30. Chocoholic Yum Cake

31. Blue Velvet Cupcakes w/Cream Cheese Fros

32. Hoddeok (Korean Pancake)

33. Turkey Leftover Shots. .

34. BLT Pasta Salad

35. Apple Pie Wontons

36. Rosemarie Chocolate Pie

37. Olive-Cherry Bruschetta

38. Chocolate&Cranberry cookies

39. Pecan Chocolate Bourbon Pie

40. Chicken Dumpling Casserole

This linky list is now closed.

Five Reasons You Should Make Crock Pot Stuffing This Year

2011-11-18T03:30:00.000-09:00

One year ago next week, I had a guest post on Wonderland Kitchen, which is now Brighton Park - aka Katie's Place.

I shared one of my favorite holiday recipes - Crock Pot Stuffing.

It's now time to revive that GLORIOUS recipe just in time for what is possibly my favorite holiday!

Five Reasons that Crock Pot Stuffing is the BEST way to cook stuffing for Thanksgiving.!
5. No need to deal with the nasty germs that baking your stuffing in a bird engenders.
4. It's easy to please vegetarian guests (swap the chicken stock for vegetable stock).
3. Small kitchen? Single oven? Small oven? Not a problem. Plug and play in a different room.
2. Spend time focusing on your turkey, your guests, or your table settings rather than slaving over a stove.
1. It's easy to make ahead and bring with you to a meal at someone else's home!

Additionally, there's one more reason that goes almost unspoken when discussing Thanksgiving... LEFTOVERS!

Recipe below:

Crock Pot Stuffing
12 cups lightly toasted bread, cubed (I used stale bread)
1 onion, chopped
3 large stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 apple, peeled and diced
1/4 cup butter
1 tablespoons ground thyme
2 teaspoons ground oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 1/2 cups chicken stock (if making a vegetarian-friendly dish, substitute vegetable stock)

Place bread crumbs in a 6 quart crock pot. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter, and saute the onion, celery and apple until soft. Stir in the spices and then toss over the bread cubes. Stir together well. Pour chicken stock over the mixture and coat evenly. Cook on high for one hour then reduce to low and cook another two to three hours, stirring each hour.

Friday Potluck 11/18/11

2011-11-17T18:38:00.001-09:00

A good friend sent me a note tonight, asking when Friday Potluck usually opens. I did a mental forehead smack when I realized I completely forgot to post Friday Potluck last week. As in, it didn't occur to me one teensy weensy bit for even a second.

Between traveling for work and some personal stuff going on (nothing bad!), I completely and totally forgot about it. Sorry for any headaches!!

To add insult to injury, the Linky Tools site is down, so I'm unable to post a linky party as per normal. I am, however, giving InLinkz a try. So check it out below, and link up to join the party!

Can't believe that Thanksgiving is next week. Because of the holiday, next week's Potluck will open on Wednesday afternoon.

Just a few quick and easy rules for joining the party (please read them before posting)

1. Link directly to your recipe (not your main blog).

2. Only one recipe per blog each week.

3. Be sure, in the linked blog post, to link back here to Friday Potluck @ EKat's Kitchen using the button above or text.

4. Have fun, do some visiting and enjoy!

If you want to get updates on my posts, and any promotions I'm running, please follow via Google Friend Connect (in the bar to the right).

1. Favorite Pumpkin Pie

2. Spiced Martini

3. Crock Pot Stuffing

4. Maryland Oyster Stew Recipe

5. Sweet Potato Parathas

6. Beef Bourguignon

7. Pear and Walnut Tart

8. Apple Pie

9. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

10. Orzo Risotto w/ Roasted Vegetables

11. Chocolate Vanilla Swirl Cheesecake

12. Spice cookies

13. Peanut Butter Granola

14. Aloha Burger

15. Run DMT - Pumpkin Ale Cupcakes

16. Coconut Sweet Potato pie

17. HEALTHY SPECIAL DIET FRIENDLY RECIPES!!

18. Poor Mans Bread, Kale, & Blk Pepp Soup

19. Peppers Ricotta & Sausage Casserole

20. Caramelized Onion Dip

21. Sweet Potato and Pineapple Casserole

22. The Menu (with links)

23. Chocolate Chip Scones & a Giveaway !

24. Losing Creek Farm - Breakfast! ;)

25. Sugar Cookie Cupcakes

26. Cranberry Casserole

27. Stuffed Peppers & Pumpkin Chile Sauce

28. Two Thanksgiving desserts for kids!

29. Apple Cider Vodka Cocktail

30. Chocoholic Yum Cake

31. Blue Velvet Cupcakes w/Cream Cheese Fros

32. Hoddeok (Korean Pancake)

33. Turkey Leftover Shots. .

34. BLT Pasta Salad

35. Apple Pie Wontons

36. Rosemarie Chocolate Pie

37. Olive-Cherry Bruschetta

38. Chocolate&Cranberry cookies

39. Pecan Chocolate Bourbon Pie

40. Chicken Dumpling Casserole

This linky list is now closed.

French Onion Soup

2011-11-07T19:51:00.000-09:00

French Onion Soup is one of my MOST FAVORITEST soups of all time.
Most favoritest. I love making up words.

I just want to share some photos of my dad's French Onion Soup recipe. His is one of the best I've ever had.

Yum Yum Yum.

After making the soup, dish it up.

With the croutons, just out of the oven.

YUM!

Eat up!

Friday Potluck #58

2011-11-03T21:28:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!

As in Holy Bananas!!! How the heck is it November already?
You all brought some fantastic recipes last week, and I can't wait to see what you bring this week.

Just a few quick and easy rules for joining the party (please read them before posting)

1. Link directly to your recipe (not your main blog).

2. Only one recipe per blog each week.

3. Be sure, in the linked blog post, to link back here to Friday Potluck @ EKat's Kitchen using the button above or text.

4. Have fun, do some visiting and enjoy!

If you want to get updates on my posts, and any promotions I'm running, please follow via Google Friend Connect (in the bar to the right).

1. Chipotle Turkey Chili w/ Apples&Cheddar

2. Halie

3. Rolo Cookies - 4 ingredients!

4. Favorite Meatless Recipes

5. Grain-Free Fried Chicken

6. Garlic-Parmesan White Bean Mash

7. Wonton Soup

8. Pork Chili Mac

9. Cranberry Liqueur

10. Pumpkin Pie Spice Scones

11. Pumpkin Patch Muffins

12. Chicken, Bean, and Rice Casserole: GF!

13. Tex Mex Black Beans

14. Mujadara: Lentil dish

15. Sauerkraut Patties

16. Cinnamon Sugar Breakfast Pizza

17. Dhemz

18. TASTE TEST WINNING MILD CURRY POWDER

19. Mini Veggie Frittatas

20. Harvest Peach and Blueberry Cloufutis

21. Cranberry Oat Bar

22. Lime and Garlic Chicken Crock Pot Soup

23. Brocolic Carrot Zucchini Cheddar Soup

24. Apple Butter

25. The Dos and Donts of Choc Covered Cara

26. Double Chocolate Flapjacks

27. Chocolate Scotcheroos

28. Carrot Potato Gratin

29. Pasta and Vegetable Comfort Food

30. Red Eyes and Fries

31. Run DMT

32. He-Man Chili

33. Kim Chi w/ Daikon

34. Tuscan Chicken Stew

35. Tator Tot Casserole

36. Mocha Fudgies

37. Minestrone Soup w/ Meatballs

38. Pumpkin Penne Pasta

39. Chocolate Pumpkin Cake Pies

40. Buckwheat pasta w/ grilled zucchini. gf

41. Winter Busting White Chili

42. Toffee Crunch Cookies

43. Light Scalloped Potatoes

44. Pumpkin Crunch Cake

45. Candy Bar Cookies

46. Apple Tart

47. Cheesesteak Pizza

48. Bubble Up Enchiladas

49. Citrusy Fresh Orange Cake

50. The BEST Gnocchi Dish Ever!

51. POVITICA - a traditional sweet-bread

52. Sweet Pumpkin Challah (Jewish Bread)

This linky list is now closed.

The Secret(s) to A Perfect Turkey

2011-11-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

My bloggy friend The Lucky Wife over at the Saturday Evening Pot is doing a 100 Day Countdown to Christmas, and I'm pleased to be sharing the secrets of a perfect turkey over at her place today in a guest post. So head on over to her place to learn how to make the best turkey... EVER!

I wish you all a happy, safe, and successful Thanksgiving... in advance! I'm going to be sharing lots of recipes and posts with her this season, so I hope you'll check out each and every one!

Turkey Brine Recipe for the Perfect Turkey

2011-11-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

Welcome to November!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner... are you ready?

Last year, I brined my first turkey. Actually, last year, I cooked my first turkey; bringing was part of the process. And it was ahhhh-mazing. This recipe came to us from a chef friend originally, which we then modified (heavily) based on ingredients we had. YUM!!!

I want to share with you our recipe for turkey brine, in the hopes that I might inspire someone to make the perfect turkey this year, as you prepare your grocery lists.

Erin's Turkey Brine Recipe

1 gallon ice water
32 oz vegetable broth, cooled to room temperature
16 oz (2 cups) soy sauce
2 tablespoons worchestershire sauce
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
4 tablespoons italian herbs
1/2 cup sea salt
1 tablespoon peppercorns
1 tablespoon minced garlic
ice

Mix all ingredients together but the ice. Taste, and adjust seasonings as you feel necessary. Add ice and turkey, then let turkey refrigerate in brine overnight (12-24 hours). We use a sanitized five gallon bucket.

Remove the turkey and rinse both the cavity and exterior well to remove any extra salt.

Cook in oven according to the FDA's recommendations for your bird's size.

Friday Potluck

2011-10-27T23:09:00.002-08:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

How is it already Friday again? Time is just flying!

Wishing you all a fantastic and creative... and delicious...Halloween!!!!
Can't wait to see all of the weird and wacky recipes you bring this week!

Just a few quick and easy rules for joining the party (please read them before posting)

1. Link directly to your recipe (not your main blog).

2. Only one recipe per blog each week.

3. Be sure, in the linked blog post, to link back here to Friday Potluck @ EKat's Kitchen using the button above or text.

4. Have fun, do some visiting and enjoy!

If you want to get updates on my posts, and any promotions I'm running, please follow via Google Friend Connect (in the bar to the right).

1. Frozen CheeseCake with Honey & Praline

2. Chicken Wings with Chili Garlic Sauce

3. Picadillo Pockets

4. YUMMY SOFT PUMPKIN COOKIES w allergy opt

5. Video: GF DF Banana Waffles

6. Povitica (Jalapeno Cheddar & Cranberry)

7. Tuna Melts

8. Herb and Cheese Stuffed Burgers

9. Raisin Spice Cookies

10. Pork Roast with Potatoes and Carrots

11. Whats For Dinner Next Week

12. Homemade Chicken Eggrolls

13. Cinnamon Bundt Cake

14. Honey Cake

15. Italian Sausage with Bow Tie Pasta

16. potato and leek soup (vegan)

17. White Choc Pumpkin Cheesecake

18. Black Bean Cake

19. Peanut Butter & Oatmeal Tarts

20. Pumpkin Nutella Cupcakes

21. Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Bread

22. DO you fondue?

23. Steamed Pork Buns (vegan)

24. Indian Spiced Fish

25. Clean out the Freezer Veggie Soup

26. Turkey Pot Pie with Gluten Free Crust

27. Run DMTs Freaky Treats & GIVEAWAY!

28. Warm Blue Cheese Bacon Dip

29. Thai-spiced Deviled Eggs

30. Baked Butternut Squash

31. Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup GF

32. Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

33. Dhemz

34. Maple Bacon Grits Puff

35. Buffalo Chicken Pizza

36. Hog Wild Chili

37. Halloween Buddies

38. Nutty Caramel Ice Cream Cake

39. Sweet Potato Rolls

40. Halloween Monster Cookies

41. Candy Corn Cupcakes

42. Easy Pork Chili

43. Strawberry Muffins

44. Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

45. SEVERED FINGERS

46. Navajo Tacos

47. Crock Pot Apple Sauce

48. Brie En Croute

49. Oreo Spiders

50. Smoky Texas Style French Onion Soup

51. Banana Bread

52. Cheesy Garlic Bread Pull Apart

53. Cherry Baked Apples

54. Pumpkin Spice Meringues

55. Won Ton Noodle Soup

56. Cake Batter Rice Crispy Treats

This linky list is now closed.

Mango Strawberry SPARKee (icee)

2011-10-26T18:41:00.000-08:00

What's the best energy drink of all time? SPARK! I used to be a coffee fiend... and to be fair, I still love coffee and the flavor, but I don't need it to function any more! That said, this girl still loves a good old pumpkin spice latte! MMMM YUM!

Spark is awesome because I don't crash around 3 or 4 in the afternoon and it comes in super awesome flavors. Super awesome... like what? Super awesome like Mango Strawberry and Pink Lemonade. I've used it in smoothies and sprinkled on frozen grapes. YUM. Who would have thought that frozen grapes could be such an amazing treat? Not this girl.

I've been playing around with a variety of drinks, and I've come up with one that's so simple, yet so delicious -- a healthy version of an Icee or Slurpee... a SPARKee! Now all I need is a blender that can actually crush ice. If I put anything with a tougher consistency than a tomato in my blender, it whines and cries and half-heartedly shuffles the ice cubes around. I may go shopping soon!

Mango Strawberry SPARKee!
1 scoop/packet of Mango Strawberry SPARK
4 oz water
1 1/2 cups ice cubes
Optional: 1/2 cup fresh/frozen strawberries.

Whisk together Spark and water until well blended. Add with ice and fruit into blender and process until you achieve the consistency you're looking for.

Pour into glass and slurp away.

Note: I am an independent distributor for AdvoCare, but share this recipe because it's simply supa dupa awesome. This wasn't intended to be a product review, just a recipe... and it's oh! so good. :)

Guest Post: Apple Sausage Pilaf with Pecans from The Saturday Evening Pot

2011-10-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

Anne, better known as "The Lucky Wife" from the Saturday Evening Pot, and I first got to know each other earlier this year, when she and her husband were first getting started with their blog. I'm glad to count her as one of my bloggy bffs, and love sharing recipes and emails with her. Please take a look at this tasty treat and enjoy!

Hello, Everyone! I'm excited to be here today to share a recipe, Apple Sausage Pilaf with Pecans, which I think you will love from talking with Erin about what you've most enjoyed so far from her kitchen. But first, let me introduce myself... I'm Anne, better known as The Lucky Wife over at The Saturday Evening Pot, another food blog. My husband, John, or The Chef, and I co-author the blog to share recipes we've enjoyed.

When John decided in 2001 to change careers and go to culinary school, we made a deal that has benefited me ever since (hence, The Lucky Wife!): He would do the cooking in our home since I was going to pay our bills while he was in school. When we started our blog in January, I gave him his title, The Chef, for the blog. We have enjoyed sharing our passion for food through blogging.

It was not long after we started the blog that I came across EKat's Kitchen. I enjoyed seeing what Erin was cooking and linked up at some of her Friday Potluck parties, eventually emailing her about something and developing a friendship from there. Erin's kindness during our conversations online would be of no surprise to you. She's very approachable, friendly and gracious as a person. Isn't it amazing the things you learn about people through online communication, even though you've never met IRL?

We are currently hosting a 100-Day Christmas Countdown event, for which Erin offered some guest posts and features. I am so looking forward to sharing those soon and cannot believe it is already less than 70 days until Christmas! I told Erin I'd love to share a recipe with you all in return. So when The Chef recently developed an amazing pilaf recipe, I knew this would be the one to share with you:

Apple Sausage Pilaf with Pecans

Ingredients:

Approximately 1-1/2 cups uncooked white rice/wild rice blend
4 cups chicken broth
1 packet spiced apple cider mix
4 gluten free chicken and apple sausage links
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil

Cooking Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in large, non-stick skillet.
Slice 4 sausage links into coins. Add to hot oil and saute on both sides until brown.
Add chopped pecans and toss thoroughly.
Add uncooked rice. Stir contents in order to completely coat rice with oil and drippings from pan. Remove rice and sausage mixture from pan and place in 9x13 casserole dish.
In a large bowl, mix cider packet into four cups of chicken broth and gently pour over rice mixture in baking dish. (NOTE: Broth should cover rice completely by at least 1/8 of an inch.)
Cover baking dish with tin foil and bake for 1 hour or until all liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked.

The Chef bought the sausage links to eat alone but got to wondering how they would taste in a rice pilaf. He'd never really had much experience with rice pilaf, which has a unique cooking technique with similarities to risotto, in that you can adapt it according to your current cravings or personal preferences. (Side note... The Chef loves risotto. His Italian Cheese, Mushroom and Walnut Risotto is to die for. I know I'm biased... but it really is.)

After "playing in the kitchen," as we like to call it when he sets out to create something new, this was the result, and actually, the first pilaf he'd ever made. It would be good served with pork roast, turkey at Thanksgiving or by itself with your favorite vegetable, such as carrots, green bean casserole, or squash. The Chef was pleasantly surprised at how well it turned out. I thought it was delicious, and it is unlike any pilaf I've ever had. Both of our children loved it as well. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

We've enjoyed sharing with you today and would love for you to stop by our blog to check out our 100-Day Countdown to Christmas series and our recipes. A few you might enjoy, especially with the cooler weather on the way, are:

Apple Cider Soup

Chicken and Sweet Potato Soup

Southwestern Smoked Pork Stew

And of course, dessert!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake (Inspired by the one served at Cracker Barrel)

If you have school-aged children, you may also be interested in the lunchbox ideas we recently shared that have been popular on our blog. We hope you have a wonderful week with lots of great eating!