Virgin Bloody Mary

Virgin Bloody Mary

★★★★★

Craving a Bloody Mary but doing a dry challenge? Make this Virgin Bloody Mary, also known as the Virgin Mary, and you won’t miss the vodka!

BEVERAGE

INGREDIENTS

2 cups prepared tomato juice, preferably low sodium

1/4 cup dill pickle juice OR olive brine

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

1 teaspoon hot sauce, such as Franks

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon celery seeds

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

4 small celery heart stalks with leaves, for serving

4 lemon wedges, for garnish

12 large olives, optional for serving

DESCRIPTION

Craving a Bloody Mary but doing a dry challenge? Make this Virgin Bloody Mary, also known as the Virgin Mary, and you won’t miss the vodka!

DIRECTIONS

Combine tomato juice, pickle juice, lemon juice, horseradish, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, celery seeds, and cayenne in a large pitcher.

To serve, pour about 2/3 cup into 4 ice-filled glasses. Garnish each with a celery stalk, olives and a lemon wedge.

Can be made 4 days ahead; keep chilled.

NUTRITION

Serving: 2/3 cup, Calories: 33kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 0.5g, Sodium: 295mg, Fiber: 1.5g, Sugar: 4.5g Blue Smart Points: 1 Green Smart Points: 1 Purple Smart Points: 1

Even dinner’s starting to look a LOT like Christmas 🎄

Pepper Steak Stir Fry


Pepper Steak Stir-Fry

★★★★★

Asian, Stir Fry

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. beef round (I just use one steak, no matter the size)

1 clove fresh garlic, minced

¼ cup soy sauce

 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced

¼ cup peanut oil

2 green onions, sliced thin

2 celery stalks sliced in 1″ squares

1 green pepper, sliced in 1″ squares

1 red bell pepper, sliced in 1″ squares (optional but sure gives nice color)

1 tablespoon corn starch

1 cup water

DIRECTIONS

Cut beef across the grain into thin strips.Combine soy sauce, garlic and ginger in bowl, add beef. Toss and set aside while preparing veggies.

Heat oil in wok (or large non-stick skillet). Add beef and stir fry til browned. Turn heat up and add vegetables and stir fry til tender-crisp (about 10 minutes).

Mix the cornstarch with the water; stir and add to pan. Cook and stir until thickened. Serve over hot rice.

Mongolian Beef 🥡🥢

“Forget the fast food–this take on Mongolian Beef delivers all the flavor without the insane sodium and fat levels. This vibrant, Asian-inspired dish brings just the right amount of spice to the plate.” – Cooking Light

Mongolian Beef

Mongolian Beef

Asian, Main Dish,

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon cornstarch

2 teaspoons dry sherry

2 teaspoons hoisin sauce

1 teaspoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon chile paste with garlic (such as sambal oelek)

¼ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons peanut oil

1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger

1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic

1 pound sirloin steak, thinly sliced across the grain

16 medium green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces

DIRECTIONS

Combine first 8 ingredients, stirring until smooth.

Heat peanut oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced ginger, minced garlic, and beef; sauté for 2 minutes or until beef is browned. Add green onion pieces; sauté 30 seconds. Add soy sauce mixture; cook 1 minute or until thickened, stirring constantly.

NUTRITION

237 calories; fat 10.5g; saturated fat 3.5g; mono fat 4.3g; poly fat 1.1g; protein 26g; carbohydrates 9.1g; fiber 1.7g; cholesterol 60mg; iron 2.7mg; sodium 517mg; calcium 67mg.

Grilled Shrimp 🍤 using a Sur la Table Cast Iron Shrimp Pan

I’ve been wanting to try this new cast iron pan that was designed to grill (and serve) shrimp ever since I bought it. Friday’s delivery of Alaska Spot Prawns from Sitka Salmon Shares sealed the deal.

Cast Iron Shrimp Pan

But first, the pan needs to be seasoned. I followed these instructions:

“I scrubbed my pan thoroughly with plain water, dried; then used paper towels to cover the entire pan with a light coating of vegetable oil. If the oil pools, wipe up the excess. Bake for 60 min. in 350-degree oven: Turn the pan upside-down on the oven rack, over a drip pan or big sheet of aluminum foil. After 1 hour, turn off oven and let pan cool.”

Decided on this recipe for the marinade:

Grilled Shrimp Skewers

GRILLED, Seafood

INGREDIENTS

1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined (you can either leave tails on or remove them)

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

lemon wedges for serving

DIRECTIONS

Place the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and garlic in a resealable plastic bag. Seal and shake to combine.

Add the shrimp to the bag and seal. Toss to coat evenly with the marinade.

Marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours. You don’t want to marinate for longer than that, as the acid in the lemon juice will start to cook the shrimp.

Thread the shrimp onto skewers. Heat a grill or grill pan over medium high heat.

Place the skewers on the grill. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until shrimp are pink and opaque.

Broiler directions: Preheat the broiler. Place the shrimp skewers on a sheet pan coated with cooking spray. Broil for 2-3 minutes on each side or until shrimp are pink and opaque.

Sprinkle with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

NUTRITION

Calories 206kcal
Calories: 206kcal | Protein: 23g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 285mg | Sodium: 1317mg | Potassium: 90mg | Vitamin C: 7.6mg | Calcium: 172mg | Iron: 2.7mg

Pics to come prior to dinner being served 🍽

Grilled shrimp 🍤

It may be a Pandemic but we’ve never eaten better …🦀

Last night’s entree 🦀

We’re pretty landlocked when we’re up north, so finding a reliable source of great seafood is truly exciting. It’s even better when you’re purchasing directly from an Alaskan fisherman.

Not only is their fish fresh, it bears the name of the vessel that caught it. Even their packaging is sustainable. I can’t recommend them highly enough.

Sitka Salmon Shares

https://sitkasalmonshares.com/products/9-month-premium-sitka-seafood-share?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2af-BRDzARIsAIVQUOd_SNiC7F4CscTrpFjogbMY4DAolafyrFrJHYBfFjHgPVycH2SWNk4aAuDDEALw_wcB

Pan Roasted Sesame Salmon

Pan-Roasted Sesame Salmon

Main Dish, Seafood

INGREDIENTS

4 scallions, whites and greens separated

1 clove garlic, grated

1 tablespoon hoisin sauce

1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 tablespoon sesame seeds, plus more for garnish, toasted

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon mirin

1 ¼ pounds skin-on salmon fillet, cut into 4 portions

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Finely chop scallion whites and place in a small bowl (chop and reserve greens for garnish). Add garlic, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, honey and mirin and stir to combine.

Pat salmon dry and sprinkle with salt. Heat canola (or grapeseed) oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the salmon, skin-side up, and cook until the underside is browned and releases easily from the pan, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the salmon and spoon the sauce over the top.

Transfer the pan to the oven and bake until the salmon flakes easily with a fork, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle the salmon with scallion greens and more sesame seeds, if desired.

NUTRITION

265 calories; fat 13g; cholesterol 66mg; sodium 561mg; carbohydrates 6g; dietary fiber 1g; protein 29g; sugars 3g; exchange other carbs; niacin equivalents 10mg; saturated fat 2g; vitamin a iu 354IU; vitamin b6mg.

Carrot 🥕Cupcakes 🧁

I just made this recipe for carrot 🥕cupcakes. It only makes 6 and there’s just 3 left. THAT’s how much I cannot resist cream cheese frosting🙃

INGREDIENTS

Carrot Cupcakes
★★★★★
Makes 6 servings
Source: Two’s Company – a cookbook for couples

Carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting 🧁

½ cup flour
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon baking soda
dash salt
⅓ cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten
1½ teaspoons vanilla
¾ cup carrots — grated

DIRECTIONS

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and stir to combine well. Stir together oil, egg, and vanilla, and pour into flour mixture. Add carrots and stir well.

Grease 6 muffin cups and pour batter in to come 2/3 the way up the cups. If batter almost fills cup, make a 7th cupcake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, then carefully work a knife around the edges of the cupcakes, to gently remove each one to cool thoroughly.

Prepare frosting. When cupcakes have cooled, spread each top generously with frosting. Either serve immediately or refrigerate. If refrigerating for more than a few hours, chill first to firm up frosting and then loosely cover cupcakes with plastic wrap.

Makes 6 generously frosted or 7 adequately frosted cupcakes.

FROSTING:

3 ounces cream cheese
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

Cream together cheese, butter, and vanilla until light.

Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar.

with Sprinkles 🧁

No Peel Applesauce 🍎🍏🍎 in your Pressure Cooker👌🏻

No Peel Instant Pot Applesauce

Fresh Fruit, INSTAPOT/Pressure Cooking

INGREDIENTS

6–8 medium to large apples, or more. (Honestly, it really doesn’t matter, just keep the number of apples under the fill line.)

1 tsp ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

Wash the apples

Cut up the apple — any size you want – toss the cores and seeds

Place the sliced/diced apples into the Instant Pot with 1 cup of water

Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon

Close the lid and set the valve to “sealing”

Pressure Cook or Manual for 4 minutes.

Do a QUICK RELEASE

Drain excess liquid — AND KEEP THE LIQUID. (I love the cinnamon flavored apple juice and use it in a smoothie or on my oatmeal or yogurt.)

Transfer the apples to a food processor, blender, or use an emulsion blender and blend until it’s the texture you like.

Enjoy!

Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

★★★★★

Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Crock Pot/Slow Cooker, Mexican

INGREDIENTS

4 medium, (about 6 oz each) sweet potatoes, skin on

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon garlic power

1 cup enchilada sauce, I recommend my homemade (recipe below)

chopped scallions, for serving

1/4 cup light sour cream or Greek yogurt

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon chopped scallions and/or cilantro, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

Wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Wrap the potatoes individually in foil.

Season the chicken with salt and garlic powder and place on one end of the slow cooker, cover with 1/4 cup enchilada sauce.

Place the potatoes on the other end, stacking 2 on top of 2.

Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or until potatoes are tender.

When done, remove the potatoes and chicken.

Transfer chicken to a small bowl and roughly shred with 2 forks and add the remaining enchilada sauce.

Split open the sweet potatoes, then top with 2/3 cup of the enchilada chicken.

Drizzle each half with 1 tablespoon cheese and place under the broiler 2 to 3 minutes, or until melted.

Garnish each potato with 1 tablespoon sour cream and scallions or cilantro.

NUTRITION

Serving: 1potato, Calories: 413kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 34g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 4.4g, Cholesterol: 101.5mg, Sodium: 809.5mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 9g Blue Smart Points: 8 Green Smart Points: 10 Purple Smart Points: 3

The Best Homemade Enchilada Sauce

★★★★★

Mexican, Sauce

INGREDIENTS

1/2 tsp olive oil

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 -1/2 cups reduced sodium chicken or vegetable broth

3 cups canned tomato sauce

2 tablespoons chipotle chilis in adobo sauce, chopped (to taste)

1 tsp Mexican hot chili powder, or more to taste

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

fresh black pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

Heat a saucepan over medium heat, add the oil and garlic; sauté until golden, about 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, tomato sauce, chipotle chiles, hot chili powder, cumin and salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered for 7-10 minutes. Set aside until ready to use. Makes 4 cups.

NUTRITION

Serving: 1/4 cup, Calories: 21kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 0.5g, Sodium: 355mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g Blue Smart Points: 0 Green Smart Points: 0 Purple Smart Points: 0 Points +: 1

Marcella Hazan’s Famously Quick & Easy Tomato 🍅 Sauce

Bon appetite

★★★★★

Italian, Main Dish, Pasta, Sauce

INGREDIENTS

1, 28-ounce canned tomatoes, puréed or hand crushed

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 medium yellow onion, peeled, halved

Kosher salt

1 pound dried pasta of your choice, but for extra saucy goodness 8oz. fills the bill

Parmesan cheese, for serving

DIRECTIONS

Simply toss the tomatoes, butter and onion in a saucepan over medium low heat. Season with salt and bring to a steady simmer. Allow the sauce to simmer for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally, making sure to scrape the sides of the pot. Adjust the seasoning and remove the onion (although I’m told it’s pretty delicious in its own right.)

Boil the pasta according to the package instructions, drain and toss the pasta into the hot sauce. Keep tossing until every strand is well coated. Serve among two warm bowls and scatter with Parmesan cheese.

Hearty Ham and Navy Bean Soup

Honey Baked Ham and Navy Bean Soup

My parents loved this recipe. It’s the perfect supper served with a side of homemade cornbread.

I’d visit a Honey Baked Ham store just to purchase a few ham bones for our freezer.

Freezes beautifully and recipe is easily doubled (or in my case tripled) by doubling or tripling ALL ingredients, save for the ham bone.

Hearty Ham & Bean Soup

★★★★★

Soups & Stews

INGREDIENTS

1/2 pound navy beans

Ham bone and any leftover ham

1 medium onion, chopped and sauteed

3/4 cup shredded raw potatoes

3/4 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup celery leaves

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup fresh green onion tops

1 cup chopped tomato (fresh or canned)

DIRECTIONS

Wash beans well, then cover with 6 cups warm water. Let stand overnight. Next day pour beans and water in which they were soaked into a large saucepan.

Combine all ingredients except tomatoes and green onion tops. These two ingredients may be omitted, but they add much color to the dish. Add them the last 10 minutes to retain color. Cook soup in a covered saucepan slowly about 3 hours or until beans are very soft. When done, taste and season further if necessary. If soup appears too thick toward end, add a little water or stock. If it appears too thin, cook uncovered a few minutes. Add tomatoes and onions last 10 minutes, and cook slowly uncovered.

Can easily double the amount of soup made by duplicating all ingredients EXCEPT for the ham bone 🙂