Delicious Nutella Recipes

Nutella is a hazelnut with a hint of cocoa spread that was made popular in Europe but has since made its way to the U.S. Now it seems as if people can’t get enough of Nutella and many have come up with all kinds of recipes using the spread. Below are a few that I plan to try really soon!

Nutella Wontons

These sound so yummy! Just place a dollup of nutella on a wonton wrapper along with a strawberry slice and fry it up. You can also add some powdered sugar for extra sweetness.

Nutella Croissants

Using Pilsbury crescent rolls and a little nutella you can make another tasty nutella treat! All you have to do is bake the nutella right in the center of the crescent roll and voila!

Nutella Crepes

Nutella Smores

We’ve all had that chocolatey graham cracker and marshmallow goodness called smores before. Next time you decide to indulge in this tasty treat, switch it up a bit and replace that Hersey’s chocolate bar with a bit of nutella and enjoy!

Nutella Stuffed French Toast

The next time you decide to have french toast for breakfast consider stuffing it with a little nutella to make it really unforgettable.

Tips for The Modern Kitchen

We have all been in need at one time or another for some good tips to help the age old problems like dripping ice cream cones or the smell fish leaves behind after cooking. The following are some great tips to help you navigate:

1.  Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone  to prevent ice cream drips.

2.  Use a meat baster to “squeeze” your pancake batter onto the hot griddle for perfect shaped pancakes.

3.  To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

4.  To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.

5.  When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead to prevent white mess on the outside of a chocolate cake (for example).

6.  Don’t throw out all that leftover wine:  Freeze it into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

7.  To remove stuck on burnt food food from your pots and pans, add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover the bottom of the pan.  Bring it to a boil on the stove and it will be much easier to clean.

8.  If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it’s still cooking, drop in a peeled-potato.  It absorbs the excess salt.

9.  Place a slice of an apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.

10. Got a lemon that is hard to squeeze?  Zap it in the microwave for 10 seconds and roll on the counter to get the juices flowing before cutting.

11.  Just fried fish?  Place a bowl of vinegar on your stove-top after you’re done cleaning.  It will absorb the fish smell in the air.

12.  Need to get the grime out of your microwave?  Place a bowl of hot water and microwave it for 5 minutes.  The steamy water loosens up all the gunk and makes it easy to wipe out.

TMF Readers, do you have some great Modern Kitchen tips you would like to add?  Feel free to comment and pass along your helpful hints!

Blessings,
Di

Thanksgiving Day Emergencies!

Call 911….or at least Mom or Grandma!  I know that every person responsible for the grand Thanksgiving Day meal has had their share of last-minute emergencies.  My own have been a variety to say the least.  I know Kela has had hers as well.  Last year, she took on the daunting task of going not so traditional and doing Lamb as her main course.  The lamb turned out great, but she was worried it wouldn’t be done in time.  My worst experience came when I cooked my first Thanksgiving meal.  I left the bag with the giblets, heart, etc. in the turkey and baked it right along with Mr. Tom Turkey….I had no idea there was  a bag in the turkey, why would I?  It was my first time cooking.

Many friends of mine have made the god awful mistake of not thawing the Turkey out in time, burning the Turkey and even running out of Turkey!  So, readers, let us in on your secrets.  What was your craziest 911 Thanksgiving emergency?  We’d love to hear them and might even have a few tips and tricks for you as well.

So, for all you cooks out there, I can’t wait to hear your funny stories.

Happy Gobbling!

Diane

What’s the Link in Your Chain?

You’re probably asking  yourself….the link in your chain?  What does she mean?  Well, as the end of the year gets closer and good memories of times past seem abundant, I began to think about the link in my chain.  What ties me so personally to these certain memories and why I cherish them so much.  For starters, I am a big believer in “making memories” as I call it.  I think it all began being raised by a single parent and not having much money to do extra-curricular activities and stuff a lot of the other children I grew up around got to do (i.e., go to Disney World, fun amusement parks, yearly vacations, etc.).  However, our lives were filled with picnics on the Potomac River (which was a block from our home), beautiful car rides once every weekend where we would find a different route to take each time, and of course, imagination!  We would head to the free national museums in Washington, DC which was only a short drive from our home.  We didn’t have much, but we had a lot of love.  My grandparents came to visit us at holidays and every Summer.  That is where the link in my chain starts.  I would watch both of my sets of grandparents cook.  Therefore, I fell in love with cooking.  My grandfather made the best breakfasts and my grandmothers, well, I needn’t say anything more.  She would throw down in the kitchen!  So, every weekend, I get out my link, my grandmother’s cookbook, and I look at her handwritten notes next to recipes that she liked or didn’t like, and try to prepare them just as she did.  My great-grandmother even made some notes in that same cookbook!  What a treasure it is to me.  As, I go through my time with that cookbook, I get re-filled with lots of loving memories.  I am reading a beautiful book called Miriam’s Kitchen  by Elizabeth Ehrlich.  This true and absolutely beautiful story did for me just what I am asking you to tell us….have you found the link in your chain?  If so, we would love to hear it!

So TMF readers, what makes you the most happy?  What gives  you complete satisfaction in your life?  We love hearing your stories and learning from our readers just as much as we loving sharing ours with you.

Peace & Blessings,
Di

An Interview with Chef Tony

Antonio Accepting Award

On Saturday, April 24th, 2010, Antonio Thomas entered his first cooking competition at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy and won 2nd Place, landing him a Chef’s hat and coat, a professional kitchen knife, a $125 gift certificate for cookbooks, and a $2,000 scholarship towards his culinary education.

When asked why he decided to become a chef, Antonio responded, “I know what it’s like to be hungry. When I become a chef and open my restaurant I can use part on my earnings to feed the homeless and make sure families don’t go hungry. I’ve always helped my mom by making lunch and helping with dinner. It was amazing how she would make something out of nothing and make it taste good.”

 I had the privilege of chatting with an amazing young man a couple of weeks ago. In the interview below, Tony shares his insight regarding his love for cooking as well as growing up in a single parent home (at one point) and a stepfamily.   The lessons we learn from kids who are in the trenches, living the modern family lifestyle everyday, is absolutely incredible. I learned so much from this young man as his wisdom far exceeds his age.  I also picked up some cooking tips from the young chef.

 Diane: What are the most important items one should always have in their home pantry?

 Tony: Salt, sugar, flour, wine, and oil,  

Diane:  I love to incorporate spice in my cooking.  What 5 spices should I never go without in my kitchen and which one do you think is often the most misunderstood?

Tony:     Salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, and onion powder. Most meals begin with these basic ingredients.

Diane: Coming from being raised by a single-mom, what began your interest in the culinary field?  Was it from watching and admiring her in the kitchen? 

Tony: No matter what we had in the kitchen she always made something out of nothing.  I would look in the fridge and the cabinets and see nothing to eat.  Then she would come home and whip up a meal out of whatever we had and It always tasted great!

  Diane: Cooking is one of my personal passions as well.   I get a huge release and relaxation from creating in the kitchen.  I try to recreate the stories of my life through my food (i.e., dishes my grandmother made by going through her old marked-up cookbooks, etc.).  Sounds corney, huh?  Tell me what inspires your cooking.

Tony: My inspiration for cooking comes from creating dishes and watching others enjoy my food.

Diane: I grew up in a single-parent household as well.  I remember that my mother used to call me in from playing a few nights out of the week and try to get me to watch her cook because she felt it was important for a young girl to learn this skill.  Did your mother do the same with you?

 Tony: Yeah, I always stay up with her on holidays and watch her cook.  She would have all four burners going.  She’d be cleaning the greens and making my favorite ‘stuffing balls’ and I would watch her cook and clean up as she went along.  Then she would place this fabulous feast on the table and I would remember that all this food was once groceries that I had just put up.

Kela: What is your definition of family?

 Tony: No matter what we went through my mother always showed me that she loved me.  It made the tough times not so tough and I love her for that.  So my definition would be – LOVE

Kela:  Will you share any words of encouragement for other children who are being raised by a single mother or are in a stepfamily situation?

Tony: Do your part to make it work.  Being the oldest I have had a few step dads.  Some were great, some were pretty cool, and some just didn’t work out.  I learned that it take the parents and the children to make the step family thing work.  If everyone does their part to make the house a loving home it will work.  There will be misunderstandings and everyone won’t always agree, but if everyone at least tries to understand where others are coming from, everything will be just fine just fine just fine whew!) in my Mary J Blige voice

  Kela: What’s next for you – after culinary school?

Tony: I plan to open my own restaurant.  A high end restaurant that will serve fine dining and all the left over food will be served to homeless families at my mom’s shelter. Because it will keep me grounded so that I will never forget where I came from.

Make The Decision To Be Happy

What makes you happy?  For me, I could come up with a hundred different reasons with some being emotional, physical and of course some just being pure natural reasons.  However, one that stands out above the rest is my love of cooking.  Nothing brings me more joy than to throw a big dutch oven on the stove top, throw together ingredients that I have been thinking would match together well and seeing what I can come up with to please my husband, three boys and grandson.  And, once in a while, I like to surprise a girlfriend unexpectedly and  bring a great dish over for her and her family to enjoy as well.  Cooking makes my heart smile.

Now, I am sure you expected me to say my husband, my children, my job, etc. etc.  Of course, my family plays  one of the most important roles in my happiness, but I have learned a great lesson over the years and that is by making room for my pleasurable feelings, hobbies and passions, I allow very valuable experiences in my life.   I came across my love for cooking through a tragic time in my life when I had suddenly and unexpectedly became widowed.  My husband used to do all of the cooking for my boys and I.  I couldn’t boil water properly and almost burnt the apartment down a few times.  During those times of despair I found that cooking was therapeutic for me and lo and behold, after watching several cooking shows and reading lots of cookbooks, I found one of my true passions.  Cooking gave me that release, a reason to think about something other than that pain I was experiencing and it was soothing.  That same year, 9 months after starting, I hosted my first Thanksgiving Dinner and I cooked every single item on the menu.  It was a huge hit.  Some folks love to shop, watch old movies or spend time with a good book.  It makes me happy to cook.  Now, as I stated above, this isn’t the only thing that makes me personally happy.  But as individuals, we have to take time to find little things, just for ourselves, that make us happy and that give us time to focus on being happy.  I cannot stress it enough.  These experiences will carry us through our lives and it teaches our children to do the same.

Being happy is a decision…just that simple.   Making the decision to be happy is all it takes.  Celebrity life coach, and one of my favorite people to listen to for inspiration, Anthony Robbins, says it best..“if you don’t have a plan for pleasure, you will have pain.” In other words, if you do not incorporate the things that make you happy into your life, you will have an end result of pain.   What makes you happy and your inner peace is one big spinning circle.  Finding that inner-peace whether that is through spending time alone with yourself, shopping for a great new pair of shoes, cooking, reading or just watching a movie is a true part of making the decision to be happy.  As Mr. Robbins so eloquently states, “Life was never meant to be a struggle.”  So, if we choose to be happy, we have unlocked the mystery to finding inner-peace.

Here are a few tips to help you along in your journey:

• Just as you allow yourself to feel sad and depressed, you can allow yourself to be joyful, grateful and happy.
• Take control of your emotions and guide them in the direction toward happiness.
• Choose happiness.  Don’t give your choice away to others or frivolous situations.  Do not OWN other people’s issues.
• Love yourself first.
• Smile.  Smiling is contagious and there is always a reason to do so.  Do it everyday.
• Indulge yourself in what you enjoy.
• Listen to music that you love.
• Dance like no one is watching!
• Take time for yourself.  Pay attention to your breathing, your posture, etc.  It makes a huge difference in how you feel.
• LAUGH A LOT, LAUGH LOUDLY AND LAUGH OFTEN.  Laughter is good for the soul.

Right now, a beautiful song comes to mind…..”Don’t Worry..BE HAPPY!”

Peace & Blessings,
Di

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

This recipe is so comforting and yummy!  I tried it out on my son, Lamont, because he is my resident foodie and will try anything I make.  I originally found this recipe in one of my favorite magazines, Simple and Delicious.  I hope you enjoy this as much as we have!

Ingredients:
1 package (12 oz) of fettuccine
8 bacon strips, cut into 1-in pieces
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
2 cups sliced mushrooms (optional – I don’t use them)
6 green onions, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1-1/2 cup half and half cream
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon paprika
½ tsp. coarsely ground pepper

Cook fettuccine according to package directions.  In a large skillet, cook bacon until crisp.  Drain on paper towels reserving ½ Tbsp. drippings.  Sauté chicken in drippings until it’s no longer pink.  Add the mushrooms, green onions and garlic; sauté until all are tender.  Stir in cream, cheese, paprika and pepper.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes.  Stir in the reserved bacon.  Drain fettuccine; place in a serving bowl.  Add chicken mixture; toss to coat.  Garnish with additional cheese if preferred.

Peace & Blessings,
Di

Alternatives to the traditional holiday dinner

Leg of Lamb

Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner menus, for many families, have the same old thing on them. Families usually fill themselves up on turkey, dressing, green beans, sweet potatoes, sweet potato pie, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes until they bust. It’s always been kind of crazy to me that these two holidays are only a month apart from each other, yet the menus are identical. As such, I am growing sick and tired of the same old thing. If I eat another piece of turkey, I’m going to start gobbling! Therefore, I decided that it’s okay to break away from the traditional and try something different on Christmas. I won’t be struck with some holiday curse for doing so, will I?

When I asked others if they were having the traditional meal this year, to my surprise, many were not. A few said that they planned to have a seafood feast for Christmas dinner this year. Others were having steak and prime rib roasts for dinner. Those who live in warmer climates during this time of year decided to cookout this year. All of these are fabulous alternatives to the traditional holiday dinner, and a few just might find themselves on  my holiday menus in the years to come. Tomorrow, however, I decided to prepare a baked leg of lamb, shrimp scampi served over rotini, corn on the cob, baked potatoes and chocolate cake…yummy! It will be a nice break from the norm and my family was totally excited about my plan for something new. It turns out that they were sick of turkey and dressing a long time ago as well.

What are your plans for Christmas dinner this year?

Happy Holidays!

Easy Thanksgiving Recipes

Turtle Pumpkin Pie

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought I would share with you readers a few recipes that I make for my family during the holidays.  For those of you who don’t know me personally, I am a foodie.  I love to cook for my family, my friends and my colleagues.  I will be putting out more recipes as the weeks come near to the Holidays; a few are my own original creations and a few I have been given by friends over the years.  I hope you enjoy!

Turtle Pumpkin Pie

¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. carmel ice cream topping, divided
1 graham cracker pie crust
½ cup plus 2 Tbsp. chopped pecans, divided
2 packages (3.4 oz. each) jello flavored instant pudding
1 cup of cold milk
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip, thawed and divided

Pour ¾ cup carmel topping into crust; sprinkle with ½ cup nuts.
Beat pudding mixes, milk, pumpkin and spices with whisk until blended.  Stir in 1½ cups Cool Whip and spoon into crust.
Refrigerate 1 hour and then top with remaining Cool Whip, carmel and nuts just before serving.

The day after Thanksgiving, I usually make a yummy Hashbrown Casserole for the next night’s dinner with the leftover turkey or ham, it’s really simple.

Leftover Turkey or Ham Hashbrown Casserole

Leftover ham or turkey cut or torn into pieces
1 package of frozen country hashbrowns
2 small 10 oz. cans of Cream of Chicken or Cream of Mushroom (your
preference) soup.
2 8 oz. packages of Monterey Jack/Colby Cheese
1 small bag of mixed frozen vegetables

Directions

Combine hashbrowns, soup, vegetables and 2 cups of cheese together and place in a lightly sprayed 10×13 inch glass baking dish.  Cover with tin foil and bake for 45-50 minutes.  Uncover and cover with remaining cheese.  Place back in oven to melt cheese.  Let stand 10 minutes and serve.

Peace & Blessings,
Di

Tastefully Simple: Modern cooking for the modern family

Today’s modern family is usually comprised of him, her, his kids, her kids, their kids, the dog, a few fish and a hamster. Not to mention that mom and dad both work, the kids have after school activities and overall, schedules are hectic and hard to manage with so little time. Often times, families don’t have enough time to cook, let alone eat together at the dinner table. Families need quick simple recipes that are still yummy to the tummy. Solution – Tastefully Simple! With Tastefully Simple recipes and products, you get the food you love and the time you deserve.

Tastefully Simple is a company that offers a wide selection of convenient, easy-to-prepare foods designed to help people spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the rest of their lives. They offer inexpensive products and spices that can be easily added to things you already have on hand or can easily get from the store.

I love Tastefully Simple products because even a non-cook like me can make anything tasty, and the best part is that it’s easy for me to do! Below is a recipe to one of my favorite Tastefully Simple meals. For more information on Tastefully Simple and/or to purchase some of their delicious products please visit www.tastefullysimple.com/web/thart1.

1. Perfect Parmesan Biscuits (you can purchase the mix directly from the website above)
2. Ham and Swiss Mac
3. Garlic Garlic Green Beans
4. Rice Krispie Caramel Bars

The biscuits, oven baked mac and cheese, garlic garlic, and caramel sauce are all Tastefully Simple products!

Ham & Swiss Mac

Ingredients
Oven-Baked Mac & Cheese Mix
2 cups milk
6 oz. (about 1 1/2 cups) shredded or cubed Swiss cheese, divided
8 oz. (1/2 lb.) cubed fully cooked ham

Directions
Combine Cheese Sauce Mix with milk in a large saucepan; whisk to blend. Bring sauce mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer 4-5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add about 1 cup of cheese and all of ham; stir until cheese melts. Add prepared pasta to sauce; stir to blend. Pour pasta mixture into a greased 8 x 8 baking pan; top with remaining cheese and Crumb Topping. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and browned. Makes 6-7 servings.

Garlic Garlic Green Beans

Ingredients
2 Tbsp. Garlic Garlic^TM
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 lbs. fresh green beans
2 tsp. sea salt
14.5 oz. can chicken broth
Pepper to taste

Directions
Saute Garlic Garlic^TM in olive oil until slightly brown; add green beans saute lightly. Add sea salt and broth; cover and steam approximately 5-10 minutes until slightly tender. Pepper to taste. Makes about 4 servings.

Rice Krispie Caramel BarsIngredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
12 cups miniature marshmallows
12 cups Rice Krispies®
1 jar Creamy Caramel Sauce

Directions
Melt butter over low heat; add marshmallows. Stir until completely melted. Remove from heat; add cereal. Stir to coat evenly. Spread half of cereal mixture in greased 9 x 13 pan. Pack mixture in pan firmly. Warm Creamy Caramel Sauce; spread over top of cereal mixture. Top with remaining cereal mixture. Cool. Makes 12-15 servings.

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