Rantings of a Creole Princess

Zesty Red Cabbage Slaw

From: PBS Food

Why do you sauté onions ?

A friend asked me why do you always have to saute onions and garlic before you cook with them?  My answer was simple.  Well...have you ever tried the same recipe WITHOUT sauteing them?  Or...have you ever eaten a bit of raw onion verses eating a bit of sauted onion?

Onions are sharp and onioney before you saute them.  When you saute them...it caramelizes them and "softens" the taste making them sweeter.  Added to your dishes it's a MUCH different taste than if you'd added them without sauteing them.  Pretty simple to me and much more of a preference kind of thing.  Some folks like onioney mo' better-er.

In savory dishes...I don't.

On hotdogs...I do.

Simple.

 

Arcadia Mobile Market - Things that make me HAPPY!!!!!!!!!

I had a meeting in DC last week at the Dean Wood Community Center & Library.  While in wait mode, I took a walk around the facility.  To say I was impressed with it is the least I could say because the place truly blew me away.  

I kept asking questions because I couldn't believe it was free to the public with minimal fees for use of services like the fitness center and the pool.  There was a full blown senior center with a VERY active senior population, meeting rooms, quiet rooms, computer room, etc.

And it was all free.  

I walked outside and walked around a bit stopping in my tracks when I saw this:

How to Make Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings

A friend just posted this:  Video:How to Make Crockpot BBQ Chicken Wings

Personally I would think that this would make the chicken uber messy.  Have you ever tried this?  

What do YOU make in the crockpot that you'd recommend?  The only things I've ever made in a crockpot that I truly enjoyed were turkey wings and a turkey chili but I know some folks who RAVE over their crockpot dishes.  

Share please!

Annie's Shiitake Sesame Vinaigrette Gluten-Free!

Going gluten-free meant I had to give up my favorite salad dressing and it almost killed me because I love it so!  

Well...I decided to make my own.

GO ME!

What salad dressings do YOU make?

Frozen Yogurt with Fresh Fruit at HOME!!!!!

I love getting frozen yogurt with fresh berries at Pinkberry, Yogiberry, etc. but I don't like leaving my home when I'm in for the night cuz I'm like 80 in my head.

Easy Chicken Piccata - Gluten Free

A friend told me that she's pays attention to what I eat when we're together and eating.  She said it was an eye opener that there are so many healthy choices that taste good and that she's been shaking up her weekly menu at home in her weight loss journey.  

She made me wonder about some of the other conversations I've had with friends about how we all have regular rotation menus during busy work weeks and I thought...hmmmmm...maybe that's it.  Maybe people kinda get stuck with making what they make weekly and never change up.

During the week I go for quick dishes but still healthy and flavorful.  You know...fast food at home.  Everything in moderation.

So I'm going to make a quick video (shooting for under two minutes) of some of the foods we eat all week.

Do you find that YOU stick with the same menu during the week?  Or do you mix it up too?  

This is Chicken Piccata.  It takes a full 20 minutes to make and it's delicious.  

Any dishes you'd like to see made into a quick video? 

How to Make Spicy Guacamole!

I make guacamole every chance I get because we love it so!  It's quick, easy and healthy!  All pluses!  

Do YOU make guacamole at home?  Do you make it the same or is your recipe different?

Simple Pot Roast

Yesterday I decided to cook a pot roast I had in the freezer since The Robinator was kicking azz and taking names with the exterior Spring cleaning chores on our list.

We were both doing a lot of work so I didn't want to go back and forth dealing with anything so I decided to do a simple pot roast.

1.  Pre-heat oven to 275 degrees.

2.  Put 5 cloves of garlic throughout the roast. (Cut a slit and stick it in.)

3.  Sprinkle roast with salt and pepper all over.

4.  Sprinkle roast with flour (I used gluten free) all over.

5.  Quarter one large yellow onion.

6.  Make thick cuts of carrots using 6 carrots.

7.  Put three tablespoons of butter and three tablespoons of olive oil in a Dutch oven and melt butter.

8.  Brown roast on both sides (about 4-5 minutes each) and remove to a plate.

9.  Brown onion and carrots.

10.  Replace roast.

11.  Add 3 cups of beef broth.

12.  Add 1 cup of Merlot.

13.  Add 4 cloves of garlic.

14.  Season with Creole seasoning and cayenne pepper.

15.  Cover and put in oven for 4 hours.  (My roast was almost 5 pounds.)

16.  The last hour...adjust seasoning and put in cut up potatoes.

I served with garlic mashed potatoes and kale.

Errybody was happy!

 

What's new on YOUR Easter Menu?

Simple Scalloped Potatoes

How to make Homemade Toffee!

It's Midol Week for me and, as always, I was craving chocolate big time last night.

But we didn't have any chocolate.

I have an aversion against leaving my home at night so I sat here trying to figure out what to do.

Then I realized I had all the ingredients I needed in order to make toffee.

So...at 9:30 last night...I decided to make toffee.

HURSH!

Step 1:  Pour a bag of slivered almonds on a baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees.  

Listen up...if you've never roasted almonds you're missing out on the best.smell.ever!  Gosh they smell pretty goodly!  Like...I was inhaling them big time!  (Note...they taste good too which is why I was missing a solid handful by the time they made it into the blender.  LOL!)

Step 2:  Put the almonds in the blender or food processor and chop finely. 

Step 3:  Spread half on a baking sheet.

Step 4:  Add one stick of unsalted butter (sliced into pieces),  1-1/4 cup of packed light brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon of light Karo corn syrup to a pot and stir bringing to boil.  Once it boils, put the top on it for 1 minute (gotta evaporate all the sugar on the sides of the pot).  Then let it cook for about 3 more minutes.  (I don't have a candy thermometer so I just kept cooking it until it looked right.)  

Phone rings.  It's Shelly.

Shelly:  Whatchu doing?

Me:  Making toffee.

Shelly:  DA HELL??????????  Who the hell makes TOFFEE??????????????????

Me:  I wanted chocolate.  I had all the ingredients for toffee.  Midol Week.  

Shelly:  Oh.  I understand.

Me:  I gotta go...it's boiling and I gotta pay attention.

Step 5:  Add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of vanilla and mix quickly.  Remove from heat.

Step 6:  Pour hot mixture over almonds and spread as evenly as possible.

Step 7:  Pour chocolate chips over super hot mixture.  They will start to melt and you can spread the chocolate over the mixture evenly.

Step 8:  Spread remaining almond crumbs on the top.

Step 9:  Place in fridge until chocolate hardens.

Step 10:  Fall asleep before chocolate hardens so you go to bed cuz ain't nobody got time for that at 10:30pm.

Step 11:  Wake up the next morning and notice that SOMEONE has already tried a piece of the toffee by breaking off a big hunk.

Step 12:  Break it up and put it in a container.

Step 13:  Plan to enjoy some during the day cuz really...it's too early to have toffee.

Have you ever made toffee?  What's the last candy and/or dessert you've made from scratch?

AWESOME Snack!

Drizzled with this:

Equals this:

QUESTION:  When you buy yogurt do you buy whole, 2% or 0%?

Warm Kale Salad

I could probably eat kale every.single.day.  I keep it in my fridge and it's always on my weekly grocery list.  My favorite to eat it is as a warm kale salad.

I boil a pot of water and then turn off the heat.  Next I dump the kale in and make sure all the kale is wet, pouring it immediately into a colander.  Then I put it back in the pot and toss with a diced tomato, two cloves of garlic, pressed, fresh cracked pepper, coarse sea salt and a splash of red wine vinegar.

I could seriously eat this for every meal I love it so.

Yesterday we had a really big, late lunch around 3:30 or so.  By dinner time, we weren't really that hungry so I made us a warm kale salad and we had the leftover gluten free jalapeno cornbread muffins from our lunch/dinner (linner).  LOL!  It was PERFECTION!

What's YOUR take on kale?  Are you a fan?

Raw, Fresh, Uncured Ham!

I wanted to try something different for Christmas this year so I decided to do a raw, fresh, uncured ham.  It seemed to be pretty daunting but honestly...it was the easiest thing in the world to do and sooooooooooo delicious!

I ordered a 10 - 12 pound ham with the bone-in shank up on an angle.  (NOTE...mine was a little over 12 pounds.)

GO ME!

Christmas Menu!!!!!

I'm trying to decide what we're going to have for Christmas dinner this year.  We all know Robby can't have Christmas without a ham but I wanted to do something new and different too. 

What are YOU having?

How to make easy giblet gravy!

I got 4 messages the day before Thanksgiving asking how to whip up some quick gravy and I answered.  

I filmed how to make easy gravy on Turkey Day so folks could refer to the video for next year.  I'll put this here in the event yall need it too.  Oh...and remember...there are LOTS of different ways to do this.  This is just a quick and easy version that's pretty tasty in my opinion.

There are lots of different ways to make giblet gravy, of course. This is the quickest, easier way to me. Remember to serve in a lovely gravy boat with a gravy ladle!

Drippings from turkey
1 stalk celery diced
1/2 white onion diced
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup of water

1. Add diced onions and celery to roasting pan (don't clean after removing turkey and drippings) and saute until translucent (about 5 minutes).
2. Add drippings.
3. Whisk cornstarch into water and add to pan.
4. Bring to boil.
5. Allow to thicken while constantly stirring and remove from heat.


www.MonicaMingo.com

Fat/oil separator:  OXO Good Grips 4-Cup Fat Separator

Immersion Blender:  Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender

M

Monica Mingo's Creole Jumbo Gumbo - UPDATED!

 

 

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**NOTE!  PUT THE GREEN ONIONS IN THE POT AT THE END WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE HEAT AND LET SIT FOR 30 MINUTES!!!!!**  THE DOWNLOAD LINK HAS BEEN UPDATED AS OF 12:18 PM, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2011. 

Aiight people!  Yall have been asking for a more intense gumbo recipe than the lightweight one I created for yall before:  Super Simple Super Bowl Gumbo

The last time I made gumbo...I changed my family recipe up enough so I could make it work into something I was comfortable with sharing for those of you who want to try your hand at something a bit more intense.

(Mainly because I couldn't find some key ingredients that I needed for my family recipe.)

Here it is.  Use it wisely.  Don't make me cut yall. 

 Download Monica_Mingo's_Creole_Jumbo_Gumbo

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

What are YOU cooking for Thanksgiving?

Need any inspiration or questions answered from the Tribe?  

HAVE AT IT!  LET'S GO!  

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta 

 

Split Pea and Lentil Soup! - GLUTEN FREE!

I made this soup this evening after the game and we LOVE IT!

1 cup brown rice

1 cup dried lentils

1 cup dried split peas

1 cup pasta (I use gluten free pasta.)

20 cups chicken broth (or vegetable)

1 smoked turkey wing (or other smoked meat)

2 cloves of garlic minced

Black pepper, red pepper flakes

Put everything in the pot, bring to boil.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  TASTE.  Add salt according to taste. (You should never add salt before this when using smoked meat because you don't know how much salt has been used in the smoked meat.)  Simmer for 20 more minutes stirring occasionally.  Dice the meat off the bone and put everything back in the pot.  

The beauty of this recipe is that it is really easy to make smaller or larger pots of it.  This made a big pot so, if you'd like to make it for one or two people with a bit left over, just do simple arithmetic and you're good.  

The math is simple, 1 part (same amount) of 4 dried goods then multiply the total amount of dried goods by 5 to get how much broth you'll need.

So...if you only use 1/4 cup of each ingredient that equals 1 cup of dried goods so you'll need 5 cups of broth.

See?  EASY!

You can make it vegetarian by using vegetable broth and not using the smoked turkey and it doesn't have to be gluten free if you don't need it to be.

 

 

 

 

Rustic Shrimp Stew!

A friend on Facebook posted this recipe last night and it sounded SO delicious that I decided we're going to have it for dinner today!  

Rustic Shrimp Stew

I'm probably going to put some kale in it because I have some leftover kale and I love kale.  LOL!

The last time you had shrimp cooked at home...how'd YOU prepare it?

Does this recipe look like something you'd try?

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds - The Child-free Couple and the Holidays

The hardest thing about not having babies is probably the holidays.  Not just the major ones...but the small ones too.  At least...I know it is for me.  

For us.

See...I was raised in a home where we did all the cool holiday stuff.  ALL OF IT!  From stringing popcorn garlands to baking Santa's cookies to making eggnog, popping firecrackers, Easter Egg hunts, Halloween decorating, chocolates for Valentine's Day etc.  My family had a BLAST!

Our way.  Just us.

And so was The Robinator.

So yeah...that's the hardest part.

For me.

For us.

Sure the pain is eased a bit getting to share some of these things with the kids we love but not really you know?  Never really.  It's always right under the surface.  Always there able to steal the joy right out of the most perfect of days.  

I've been in the middle of wrapping a gift, looking at my perfect, perfect tree and it's hit me like a truck so bad that all I could do was stretch out on the floor right where I was and give in to it letting the pain wash over me and flow violently through my body only to be picked up from where I lay by my loving husband and carried to bed.  Spooning me until it was over.  

No words necessary cuz his pain is mine and that pain has us so connected that the only joy we can find from it is given by the other.

War wounds.

Today, I decided to roast pumpkin seeds the same as my mommy showed me how decades ago.  I figured the Godson would love to carve the pumpkin provided he have definitive instructions to make sure it wasn't something offensive.  LOL!  I put the pumpkin in the sink and washed it off well.  

Next up was to trim the stem to a height where I could put a bowl over top and trace a perfect circle to cut out the top.

Then...I cut out the top.

Remove the seeds.

Clean out pulp.

Melt two teaspoons of butter and toss seeds with the butter, Creole seasoning, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.

Spead on a cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes and VOILA!  Roasted pumpkin seeds just like my mommy made for her babies.  For me.

I served ours on the deck with a gluten free beer for my guy and a glass of organic wine for me.

Our Godson will carve the pumpkin tomorrow.  His diabolical mind needs to grasp the concept of NON-OFFENSIVE in a way which will probably be BORDERLINE offensive if I know him.  LOL!  I will walk away shaking my head and his Unca Robby will DIE laughing.  

Ya just gotta love this life I live.  

Warts and all.

 

Quick Garlic, Mushroom and Kale Soup!

Saute' half an onion and 4 cloves of garlic. Season with salt and red pepper flakes. Add 8 cups of chicken (or veggie) broth. Next add about 10 fingerling potatoes quartered, shitake and bella mushrooms. Bring to boil and simmer until potatoes are done. Then add three handfuls of kale. Quick and DEELICIOUS!

Linguine with Shrimp Scampi

I made this recipe for dinner tonight and I have to say...it was DEEEEEEEEEEEEEELICIOUS!  

Linguine with Shrimp Scampi

The only change I made was to use dried parsley instead of fresh because that's what I had.  Oh...and I used gluten-free pasta, of course.  I wish I would have thought to take a picture of the meal so you can see how gorgeous it looks plated...but I didn't...so you get this pic instead.  Sorry dudes.  But that should speak VOLUMES as to how good it was!  GO ME!

Best Fries EVER!!!!!!!!!

Shave potato, cut into wedges.  Place into container or bag and coat with olive oil and sprinkle with Herbs de Provence, a bit of sea salt and some red pepper flakes.

Then bake on cookie sheet (wipe cookie sheet with olive oil on a paper towel first) at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.

DEEEEEEEELLLLIIIICCCCIIIIOOOOUUUUSSSSSSSSS!

What's YOUR secret to...

AWESOME BURGERS?????

Do you make burgers at home?  How?  What do you put on them?  What makes your home burgers AWESOME?

Spaghettini with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Chile Crumbs

I am going to make this and most likely be the happiest woman on the planet as I'm devouring it.

Spaghettini with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Chile Crumbs

I see a few changes I'm going to make almost immediately though, and will come back and share what I changed if the results were optimal.

Do you do that too?  Do you change recipes up based on your specific tastes or do you follow it through completely the first time and then change it up the second time you make it?

Chickpea and Tomato Salad with Fresh Basil

I made this salad Sunday with a few changes from her recipe, Chickpea and Tomato Salad with Fresh Basil.  The first change was the apple cider vinegar.  I recently lost all the contents of my fridge (THANKS PEPCO!!!!!) and haven't replaced everything yet.  So...I used white wine vinegar.  The second change was instead of using honey, I used agave.  The third change was that I used heirloom tomatoes.

Oh...I also didn't add the pinch of salt

It was DELICIOUS!

AND NUTRITIOUS!

Yall know I used all organic ingredients and I felt good eating it knowing it was a good source of protein with added bonuses of zinc and folate (folic acid).

You should try it on for size!

 

Jerk Shrimp Pasta

The other day I whipped up something for VeggieBee to eat since she only eats fish and shrimp using these ingredients:

Jerk Seasoning

Shrimp

Olive oil

Bruschetta

fresh spinach

olive oil

I put some jerk seasoning on the shrimp and baked in the oven at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.  I got the spinach pasta ready then I drained the seasoning off the shrimp, mixed it with the pasta and the bruschetta with a bit of olive oil.  The final thing I did was toss in a large handful of fresh spinach and folded it in until it was just a tad bit wilted but still good and green.

Yall...it was sooooooo delicious.  I made it for VeggieBee but everybody else had a scoop or two and raved about it.

Yall should try it.

 

Smothered Pork Chops

  

 

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6 - 8 centercut pork chops

8 cups of chicken broth

1 onion

1 bell pepper

flour

cayenne pepper

garlic powder

black pepper

seasoned salt

olive oil

green onions

 

 

In a large skillet, heat oil (enough to cover bottom).  In large bag or container, place pork chops in and season with spices.  Shake to coat well.  Then put some flour in and shake really well to coat both sides.

Place chops (3 - 4 at a time) in skillet.  Brown on one side until you see blood seeping through top.  Turn over and brown other side.  Remove and place in a dish.  Do the rest of the pork chops until done.  All pork chops should be in dish.  Saute onion and bell pepper, using a wooden spatula making sure it doesn't stick to the bottom.  "Scrape crust."  Do this until onion is translucent. 

In a nice sized skillet or pot, place chops in and pour sauted onion mix in.  Add broth and bring to boil.  Simmer on low/medium for about 2 hours or until meat falls off bone.  Stir often to make sure nothing is sticking.  If you've coated the chops well with flour....the gravy will be perfect. 

Slice green onions and drop handful in pot.  Simmer for 5 minutes.  Serve over rice.  We like brown rice.

Kale Chips

My absolute fave kinda chips!

Toss some kale with a tablespoon of olive oil and sea salt. Place on top of parchment paper on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes or until the edges are brown. 

Will totally satisfy the craving for something crunchy and salty. I promise!

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Recipes for Oysters

Yall have any super awesome recipes for oysters?????

This one looks like it's going to taste deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicous!  Drago’s Style Charbroiled Oysters Recipe

JCS Boston Jerk Seasoning

I HATE my friends!  They are always introducing me to some ish I can't go out and buy and have to order and wait before it comes in.  Butta makes the best jerk chicken wings in this entire world and she can't make them for me today because she's out of the sauce.  I EHAT  (yes...I said EHAT) her because I had to order 4 bottles and now I gotta wait until they come in before I can get my wings.

J C S Boston Jerk Seasoning by JCS

AND!  On top of that...they have to marinade overnight.

o_0

I swear Imma get me some new friends soon as I'm able.

Yall ever make jerk wings?  Have you ever tried this seasoning?  OHMGEE!  IT'S SOOOOOOOOOOO BOSS!

My FAVORITE Small Kitchen Appliance!

Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler

I've had several version of this countertop grill over the years and this one is, by far, the smartest.  I love that you can take the grill plates off and wash them and you can flip them over to be used as a griddle.  The thingy that catches the oil which runs off the meat is under it and is a neat and clean way to capture the grease. 

It's so easy to make quick and healthy meals with this whiz and it makes me happy.  GO ME!

Do YOU have a countertop grill?  Which one?

What would YOU do?

You're having a dinner party.

One of your guests has Celiac disease.

What do you serve?

Southern Comfort Cake

***NOTE:  I have modified this recipe slightly since the last time I posted it.

18-1/2 oz. yellow cake mix
3-1/4 oz. package instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup Southern Comfort
4 eggs
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup oil
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (I prefer walnuts.)

Glaze:
4 T. Butter
1/8 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup Southern Comfort

Combine cake ingredients in a large bowl and beat at a medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into a greased and floured 10-inch tube or 12-cup bundt pan. Bake at 325ºF for 1 hour. Cool on rack. Invert on serving plate; prick top repeatedly with toothpick and brush with glaze coating well.

IF YOU WANT TO....after cake has cooled, reheat any left over glaze and brush over cake. Sift 1 t. of powdered sugar over cake just before serving (OPTIONAL).

To make glaze, melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in Southern Comfort.

I send these to Robby's office in Plain Cake Boxes which I buy from Michael's (Remember...never, ever, EVER go to Michael's without visiting their website first for a coupon.  They usually have one of those FABULOUS 40% off coupons!).  I also buy the 10 inch cake rounds to put the cake on before putting it in the box.  I think I get 10 in a pack for like $4.  I also print recipe cards with the recipe printed on them for him to put next to the cake in the event anyone wants to make it at home.  It's usually a MAJOR hit! 

Thanksgiving Planning Worksheet

 

I always like to have the majority of my Thanksgiving shopping done early and I consider myself pretty organized in how I get it done.

I made a sample spreadsheet for yall to use.  Mine is set up so that the only thing that prints is the "grocery shopping list."  The other stuff gets filled in while I plan around my dinner time and dishes.

It should be pretty basic so you can add your own items, etc. to it.

Hope it helps!  Download SAMPLE - Thanksgiving Planning

Thanksgiving Sides

What are YOUR favorite Thanksgiving sides?

 

2011 Thanksgiving Menu!

We prolly need to eat straight veggie until Turkey Day cuz seriously...it's about to go DOWN-T!

Turkey

Gumbo

Creole Cornbread Dressing

Stuffed Peppers

Green Bean Casserole

Dirty Rice

Kale

Roasted asparagus, portobella mushrooms and red onions

Crawfish Macaroni and Cheese

Cranberry Sauce

Southern Comfort Cake

Sweet Potato Pie

If yall are going to try and make ANY of these for the first time...ya better ask your questions now cuz ain't nobody gonna have time to answer questions closer up.

Oh...and yall all know my standard answer as to what to substitute for shrimp is GUMMY WORMS.

Cuz really?  That ish cray...

Oh...and yall know if you ain't got anywhere to be or where you WANT to be for Turkey Day...yall are welcome at our table.  Just let me know so I may plan accordingly.  Our table is always filled with some amazingly fun people and we have a BLAST!  LOL!

Yall getting ready?  What's going to be on YOUR menu this year??????

Smoked Turkey Wings

I pulled two out of the freezer and I'm going to do something with them for dinner but I don't know what.  What would YOU do with two smoked turkey wings?

Making it stretch...

We're having a guest for dinner tonight and I forgot so I'd only pulled out one pound of ground turkey and only had one jar of this fancy portobella mushroom and roma tomato pasta sauce that I enjoy.

And I needed to have enough for Robby and I for lunch tomorrow.

I swished some water around in the jar the pasta sauce came in and added it to the pot.  Then I started doctoring it up using, mainly, tomato paste in the tube.

And it worked out perfectly fine.

Then...I remembered that I learned how to do that from my mommy.  Just simply by watching her make do with what she had to feed her family when my father was showing his azz.

And I got sad.

And I started missing the hell outta her.

And being so very grateful and thankful that she taught me all that she taught me even when she wasn't "teaching."

I'm missing my mommy so much that her memory hurts.  Sometimes...it just hits me.  Sometimes I can't do anything but give in to the pain.

*sigh*

How did YOU learn how to "make it stretch?"  Did you? 

AWESOME!

Creative Cooking...Easy Baked Egg Rolls

Gumbo Crabs!

DC Metro is cool because you can get crabs pretty much throughout the year.  HOWEVER...crabs are the kinda thing you only think about eating when you can sit outside and eat them, apparently, so it's difficult to find them when it's cold out.

And it's already cold.

UGH.

One thing I'm not that crazy about is not being able to find Blue Crabs frozen throughout the year as you can in Louisiana.  It's just not possible in my "hood."  Because of this, I've learned to stay prepared.

The place near me where you can get crabs steamed is closing up shop on November 1, so I had to get some with the quickness before I forgot and missed out.  I figure I'll do two more big pots of gumbo before it's no longer "gumbo season" in my head, so I bought a dozen steamed crabs tonight.

I've since cleaned them and broken them in half and they are sitting on a cookie sheet drying.  Then...I'm going to double bag freeze them, half a dozen per bag. 

Oh...and I always ask for extra claws.

This way...I always have crabs for gumbo even if they aren't frozen and raw.  I just learned to put them in last so they don't overcook. 

If you're in the DC Metro area...check to make sure you can still get crabs in your area come the holidays.  If not...you'd better get to getting!  Hell...I've learned how to make this East Coast living WORK! 

GO.ME!

Dinner Tonight!

Basil, Shrimp & Zucchini Pasta

What are YOU having for dinner tonight?

Roasted Fall Vegetables with Lentils

 

 

OH.

M.

GEE!

This looks sooooooooooo good!  Roasted Fall Vegetables with Lentils

Homemade Croutons

Do you ever make your own croutons?

"The secret to crispy croutons is tearing the bread - the nooks and crannies absorb more olive oil than evenly sliced pieces!"

Tear up bread, drizzle with olive oil and season. 

Put in oven on 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until browned.

CROUTONS!  And MUCH healthier than the pre-made ones you buy because I'm certain you will use better quality ingredients!  GO YOU!!!!!!!!!

Robinator Roux Maker

It is finally gumbo weather folks so we are doing it up big time at 13700! Whatchall eating for dinner today?

SIP: When you're cooking a big meal...do you eat your normal meals too? Or do you find yourself waiting for the big meal like Monnie's crazy azz?

Remember...I developed a super simple gumbo recipe that anyone can follow even if you're not a big cook!  Vid-yo below!

Honey Do List!

*PUT IN OVEN ON TOP OF COOKIE SHEET FOR 1 HOUR!!  LOVE, MONNIE*

I'll be gone all day tomorrow and we usually have really big Sunday dinners, as yall know.

Tonight...I took the time to prep a pan of Spinach Lasagna for The Robinator to put in the oven tomorrow.  He should probably put it in the oven at 5:30pm for 6:30pm dinner right?

I bet he puts it in around 11:30am for 12:30pm lunch.

Whatchall wanna bet?

Does YOUR S/O follow directions well when it comes to food you've already prepped to cook? 

Shrimp Rolls and Corn on the Cob!

I read this article this evening and decided I needed some of this in my life. "8 & $20 Recipe: Shrimp Rolls, Corn on the Cob and a Zingy Greek White"

So I make a list and head out to get the ingredients necessary to make.

The Rover wouldn't start.

Let me repeat that.

The Rover wouldn't start.

*sigh*

It was after 5:00pm so it was too late to do anything and The Robinator is out of town and his truck?

At the airport.

*sigh*

I was annoyed.

I called a neighbor.

Me:  Mandy...I need to go to the store.

Mandy:  Okay...give me 10 minutes.

She took me to the store and I got what I needed and then we hit the wine store and I was disappointed to find they didn't have the Greek white the article suggested I pair with it.

I was annoyed but found something else.

Then I came home and cooked it.

I, of course, added far more cayenne pepper than they suggested and, instead of salt, I used Tony Chacherie.  They were out of brioche buns so I used whole grain hamburger buns.

Yall...this was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!  I enjoyed every bite of it!  You should try it soon! 

Oh...I didn't let the shrimp cool TOO much.  Why?  Because I started eating them and they were soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!  LOL!

Yall gotta try this!

Mmmmmmmmm...

This looks good huh?  Grilled Fish Sandwich