My favorite Cookbooks!

As you all know, I love to collect cookbooks! I have featured a few of my favorite selections and researched the cheapest price I could find on them!

My favorite Cookbooks!

I love my kitchen aid mixer. If don't have the mixer, you must save up. Amazon has it at a much better price than I paid for mine locally!


If I were to rank each attachment on usefulness, I would probably rate them in the following order: 1. RVSA - Slicer/Shredder 2. FGA - Food Grinder 3. FVSP - Fruit/Vegetable Strainer Buying this bundle means you get everything that comes with the attachments if you were to buy them separately. I will review each one... First is the (RVSA) Roto Slicer w/ Shredder. With this attachment, despite it's bulk of the attachment itself, you also get a metal shaft (for attaching your cones), 2 shredding cones and 2 slicing cones. The two different cones for slicing/shredding are basically used for how finely (or coarsely/thick) you want your food to be shredded or chopped. If you're working on a feast, the removal of the cones while the attachment is installed is a snap. All you do is twist the cone in the opposite direct that it turns (make sure the power is off of course) and it just comes off. I've not only sliced things like zucchinni, carrots, and cucumbers of varying thickness to test, but I've also shredded things various block cheeses. This thing is simply amazing! Based on other reviews, it has been mentioned that these cones are not stainless steel, rather but chromed steel. If the chrome ever comes off, then you will expose the steel. If you didn't know, regular steel WILL rust. So rather than taking a chance with my cones, I have been very careful and have throughly dried them after each wash. Proper care will go a long way. Other reviews say to use pliers to remove your cones (if they are hard to remove). DO NOT DO THIS. Despite making it easier, any metal on metal will scratch. Scratching your cones means you will remove the chrome. Removing the chrome means eventual rust and ruining your cones. Take proper care of your cones!! My second favorite is the (FGA) Food Grinder. With this attachment, you get the plastic stomper (for pushing the meat down into the grinder), a coarse grinding plate (for thicker grounded foods), a fine grinding plate (for thinner grounded foods). With a food grinder, you can grind meats, cheeses, breads (for breadcrumbs), and firm vegetables/fruits. I've always wanted to grind my own meats, as with grocery store ground beef, you never really know what type of cuts were used. So rather than waiting for ground beef to go on sale, I can just pick any cut that goes on sale and instantly turn it into ground meat. So I'm instantly saving money. Plus by grinding your own meat, you can choose the quality/cut and even add things directly to it like garlic gloves or seasonings and it will grind with the meat. I've already made several burger patties, which I then freeze for later use. Some good tips on how to grind well is to freeze your meat (if not already) for about 30 minutes to harden it a bit. The softer the meat, the more "mushy" the consistency will be. If the meat is slightly firm from freezing, it will grind much better. Also if you're grinding fatty meat, it's good practice to grind it twice just so you can make sure the fat is well ground and distributed throughout your batch. One caveat to the food grinder is that you need to try and avoid meats that have really big chunks of fat. I tried it on several occasions and they just don't grind that well. The fat gets tangled in the plate and then it backs up the actual grinding process itself. Last but not least is the (FVSP) Fruit Vegetable Strainer. DO NOT confuse this with the (FVSFGA) - Fruit & Vegetable Strainer & Grinder (MSRP $119.99, Amazon Price $99.99) KitchenAid FVSFGA Fruit/Vegetable Strainer and Food Grinder for Stand Mixers. They are essentially the same BUT the FVSP are the pieces that you attach to the FGA to strain your fruits & vegetables. If you do not have the FGA, then you cannot use the FVSP. You will need to buy the FVSFGA which is a combo pack of the grinder & strainer in one box. I think the KitchenAid model numbers have a terrible numbering/lettering scheme and this makes it so much more confusing... Personally I've only used this attachment once as a test to make applesauce. Apples were 79 cents a pound at my local grocer, so I thought why not test it out. Making the applesauce was a cinch. I was actually surprised at how quickly this thing ran through the 4 apples that I bought. Quarter the apples, slightly cook them, dump them into the strainer and the juice comes out one end and the remains come out in the back. It is somewhat messy, but it does the job. I heard you can make your own tomato sauce, which I haven't done yet... but I love Italian food and that will be my next project. Again... I think this attachment pack is an EXCELLENT value. It gives you everything you need to grind/chop/shred/strain, which gives you that much more of a dimension of use for your KitchenAid mixer. Highly recommended.

Pineapple Cheese Casserole

Pineapple Cheese Casserole

About 5 or 6 years ago, we were invited to an event in the Lake Norman area.  They served this casserole as one of the sides and I fell in love with it.  I can't believe I had never had this before. It is easy and goes very well served with ham. This would also be a great dish to take to a potluck. Enjoy!

Pineapple Cheese Casserole

• 2 large cans pineapple chunks, drained
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 sleeve of crushed Ritz crackers
• 1/2 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour and sugar in a large bowl. 

Drain pineapple and stir into the dry ingredients.

Add cheese and stir in well. 

Place the mixture into a greased casserole dish. 

I crush my crackers in the wrapper. It is so easy when you do it that way.

Sprinkle the crackers evenly over the top of the casserole. Melt butter in the microwave and drizzle over the crackers. Bake for 30 minutes and it is ready! This is such an easy side dish and so yummy! 

Pineapple Cheese Casserole

Moving Blog! Please bookmark!

Thank you for visiting my blog. For some reason for the past week or so, I have had problems and glitches on this blog. I have several blogs and have decided to move the food blog over to the original one that I started long ago.

Please bookmark this new link: 
http://atasteofsouth.blogspot.com/       

Moving Blog! Please bookmark!

Trader Joe's Vitamins

Vitamins & Minerals I wanted to share another great deal from Trader Joe's. I have purchased several differnet suppliments from them before. I feel confident that they have pure ingredients.  I recently have had trouble with the larger vitamins. I saw the chewable mulit with minerals, on a recent shopping trip. I decided to try them.  I only paid $6.99 for 90 tablets. I compared the minerals with the list that Dr. Oz had given out before. I really like them and have taken them for about a month. I will use theses from now on.



I decided to share the list of vitamins and minerals that they provide, so that you may also compare them to what you are taking. I love shopping at Trader Joe's. I trust them and the quality of the foods that they offer. Everything is healthy and good for you. If you like freezer foods, you should check out their selections. I love the french onion soup, the orange chicken. My list is so long that I could talk all day about the things I love to buy from them.  I have featured some of them and a shopping list before on a previous blog posting.

I have to run,  I am excited because my youngest daughter and Melissa are headed over to visit me! Maybe they will want to help me make another batch of granola. I am about to run out.  Have a wonderful evening!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Trader Joe's Vitamins

Blog template problems

Please overlook the spaces between postings on this blog as I try to restore. I am experiencing issues today with the template. - Posted using BlogPress

Blog template problems

Ava spent the MLK holiday with Gamma!

Today Ava was out of school and came to visit me! We were able to finish that puzzle that we worked on the last vsit.  Ava wanted Mac and cheese for lunch. We watched a cute movie about puppies on netflix and then we made cake pops!



















We used a recipe out of one of my favorite cookbooks. I purchased this cookbook at a gift shop about 9 years ago while on vacation. This cookbook, Southern Treasures,  has recipes from the Taster's luncheon and Valdosta Recipe books, provided by the Valdosta Junior League.  I have enjoyed every recipe that I have tried out of this book.



The recipe that we decided to use was a rich buttery cake layer that I have been wanting to try. The recipe was titled Coconut cake ~ Old recipe. The coconut was not in the layer but in the icing. This was a very tasty recipe with lots of flavor.
I used King Author unbleached cake flour. The combination of butter and having that extra teaspoon of vanilla really made a rich cake layer that was full of flavor.

Rich Buttery Vanilla cake layer:
2 1/2 cups cake flour, sift before measuring
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup milk
1/2 cup egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla

Sift the first 4 ingredients together in a large bowl. Add butter and 3/4 cup of milk. Beat 2 minutes, scrape sides of bowl. Add egg yolks, 1/4 milk, and vanilla. Beat 1 minute or until mixed. Pour into 2 buttered and floured 9 inch cake pans. I used the batter for 12 cake pops and made cupcakes with the rest of the batter.
Bake 20 minutes in a pre-heated 350 degree oven. Allow to cool and frost.



I enjoy kitchen gadgets. I must say that I was disappointed with this gadget. It gets very hot and was a little messy to use.














I measure and let Ava put everything in the bowl as we follow the recipe. All three of my children love to cook and the girls love to bake. I think Ava will also carry on the same family tradition. It was passed down from my grandmother. My Mother starting teaching me at the age of seven.




I am so thankful to have been able to spend the day with my little granddaughter, Ava Grace. We ate a few too many cakepops with sprinkles but we had a very good day!

Ava spent the MLK holiday with Gamma!

Banana muffins

Banana Muffins

I purchased one of the nifty cupcake appliances awhile back when they were on sale.

I have enjoyed this mainly to bake cornbread muffins and breakfast muffins.

I decided to use this today for my banana muffin recipe. The muffins are ready in less than 5 minutes.

The recipe is a basic banana muffin recipe. 

Banana Muffins

1 1/2 cup flour

1 T. baking soda

1 T. baking powder

1/2 T. salt

3 large bananas

3/4 c sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup butter (I used coconut oil)



Topping

1/3 c brown sugar

1 T. flour

1/8 T. cinnamon

1 T. butter

Cream the butter and sugar well. Add the egg and then begin adding banana

pieces. Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a mixing bowl and begin adding in a little at a time until mixed well. Don't over beat.
Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 20 -25 minutes.

The topping is easy. Just put everything in a bowl and mix with melted butter and sprinkle on top of batter.

































The recipe would have turned out better if I had of waited to put the topping on top. I didn't think about that and just put the topping on when I first poured in the batter. Since I used the cupcake maker,  I should have waited to put the topping on at the end of the cooking time so that the sugar would not burn..

Yummy!

Banana muffins

Free Cooking Classes!



I love Williams & Sonoma and  I am so thankful that I have two stores located within 10 miles of my home.  I had a blog posting last year about the founder. I didn't realize that they offer free cooking classes each month. This would be a fun activity to do in the winter!  If you would like to see the blog post click here:

Interesting story about Chuck Williams, founder of Williams and Sonoma

To check out the classes that your local store is offering just click this link:
W & S
Each month brings a new lineup of cooking classes at your local Williams-Sonoma store. Learn about cuisines from around the world – and close to home – from talented chefs and culinary experts.

• Each 1½ - to 2-hour class includes a cooking demonstration, generous samples of featured dishes and printed recipes to take home.
• Class fees vary by store location.
• Participants receive a 10% discount on store purchases the day of the class.
• Available at select stores; class dates and times vary by store location.
• Space is limited and reservations are required. Call a participating store to register.

Free Cooking Classes!

Chocolate Covered Granola

Today I was on downstairs having a lunch break and saw a commercial for new chocolate covered granola bars. It looked so good that it had my mouth watering for chocolate. This inspired me to make some at home out of the homemade granola I featured on my blog earlier. I prefer preparing my own meals and snacks if at all possible, so that I can control what goes into my body. (*Update: I checked out the label on the new bars at the grocery store on Saturday and they have high fructose in them! I won't buy those.) The granola recipe that I featured on my blog before was honestly the best I have ever made. I have to say that this little idea was a success! It was like eating a good piece of fudge!  This was very healthy as it has loads of antioxidants. I used Trader Joe's dark european chocolate  & coconut oil and just poured the melted chocolate over my granola. I can't tell you how yummy this was. It was quick and easy! Give it a try. Enjoy! 

Quick & Easy Homemade Chocolate Granola bars



-

I used  2 sections of the Trader Joe's Chocolate and added 2 tablespoons of Coconut oil.

I heated the chocolate in the microwave for 2 minutes in 30 second intervals, as I was checking it each time making sure not to over heat.

I added about 2 tablespoons of  sugar. I used brown sugar, but it would have been best to have used Powdered sugar.

I sprayed the mold with non-stick cooking spray. I looked around to find something that I could use so that I could pop out the chocolate easily. I decided to use a lid from my mixing bowl. It worked great! I sprinkled a thin layer of homemade granola across the entire lid.

I then poured the melted chocolate evenly over the top of the granola.

I put this in the freezer because I couldn't wait to taste.  It was set in 20 minutes.

Yummy!






It worked! It popped right out!

The chocolate covered granola was better than homemade chocolate fudge. I love fudge but this is a great healthy alternative. It has lots of healthy ingredients. I have read that 2 ounces of chocolate daily is a great way to get a serving of healthy antioxidants in your body. Antioxidants are not only healthy, they fight disease, and burn fat!
Give this a try. You won't be disappointed. The granola was rich with oats,coconut, flax seeds, walnuts, and cranberries. This granola was really good with a coating of rich chocolate over it. Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think!

Yummy! I like this best frozen! I will make this again soon!

Thank you for stopping by. 

Chocolate Covered Granola

How to take care of your cast iron skillet

I use my cast iron skillets often. When I married I was blessed with two iron skillets at my wedding shower. I had no idea how to clean them or how to re-season them. I learned very quckly that you can't wash them with soapy water. I also learned that I must always dry thouroghly and regrease before storing.
The more you use it, the better it gets!









I keep a nice brush at the sink with a long handle. I usually find a good one from the dollar tree. When it starts looking old and worn, I just go pick up a new one. I scrub all food and grease with brush and hot water.




I dry the pan  and spray with cooking spray. I have found that this is all that is needed to keep them clean and ready to use again.




Now the pan looks good as new and it is ready for my next cooking session. I store the cleaned iron skillet in the drawer under my stove. I find these pans are great for pan frying foods! I use my iron skillet to fry up the best country fried steak and gravy, fried chicken, and my favorite fried fish. I use coconut oil to fry and olive oil to sauté.




If you don't have a nice iron skillet, you can find them at most discount stores. I got a new Paula Deen Iron skillet this past summer that is a nice medium size pan. I have enjoyed it and found it at Ollie's disount store. Ollie's is one of my favorite discount stores ever.  I discovered this store years ago while working in the Virgnia area. We now have them all over North Carolina.

Thank you for dropping in for a visit! Have a great day!

How to take care of your cast iron skillet

Potatoe Leek Soup

Hello World!
Today was such a beautiful day! The weather was beautiful. It felt like spring at around 66 degrees and very sunny! I had the windows open enjoying fresh air while getting things done around the house. My little Ava came by to spend the afternoon and we had a fabulous time! She is the light of my life. She brings so much joy and peace into my life. I became a better person once she came along. I think it has a lot to do with age as well. I am so thankful for her and that she is healthy and cute! She took a pic of me making Potatoe Leek soup for dinner.

I made roasted leeks the other day and wanted to use them to make a quick pot of soup tonight. Served it up in no time flat with a couple pieces of crusty artisan bread from Trader Joe's!

I wanted to share a tip on one of my favorite appliances. The kitchen gadget that I am using today is called an immersion stick blender. I purchased this about 15 years ago and I love it. It is powerful. You can mix drinks in a cup without it splattering about. You can make peanut butter in the can of peanuts with this thing. That is about as fresh as you can get. You can do all kinds of things with it, but I find I use it most in making soups or to purée. I have learned that to be successful you must set yourself up with the proper tools! It helps make any project much easier.
 Happy Friday!
                 

Potatoe Leek Soup