Something Yummy This Way Comes

I recently saw a group of 8th graders doing an amazing performance of Macbeth. I'd forgotten that the line "Something wicked this way comes," derives from the Scottish play.

Anyway, it popped into my mind as I was writing this blog and switching yummy for wicked certainly fits.

Warning - there is nothing healthy about this post, despite me being known as the healthy writer. Sometimes you just need comfort food.

Are any of you fans of the Stouffer's pizzas?

I used to love the 5 cheese white pizza. I haven't had it in a while, and I wasn't consciously trying to imitate it, but my daughter and I both agreed the result of my experiment tasted remarkably similar (in all the good ways).

The background: it was late, I was hungry. I needed something fast and filling.

I had a loaf of Italian bread. I had cheese.
I opened the cabinet and grabbed my freeze-dried garlic and set it to soften in some olive oil. I spread that mix on the halved loaf of sesame bread.

I sprinkled some cheese over that, mixed in some oregano, basil, and more garlic, then covered with more cheese and baked.

Oh, did it ever smell delicious!

It tasted even better!!!


I did remember to take photos!

Quick Dinner for a Hot Summer Night

Last week something (I don't even remember what) went wrong and I was suddenly stuck for a quick meal using whatever I had on hand.

Uh oh.

Then I had an idea!!!!!

I remembered how we were all wowed by Mary Connealy's quick lasagna using cottage cheese. Hmmm. I had some of that. Maybe I could improvise!

Tomatoes?   Check

Basil?    Check

Spaghetti?    Check

Garlic?   Of course. I always have my favorite freeze-dried garlic on hand.

Cottage Cheese?  Check

This was perfect because A) it was hot and B) I didn't really feel like cooking and this was quick and tasty.

All I had to do was cook the spaghetti, then briefly stir-fry the tomatoes, garlic and basil.
I drained the spaghetti, tossed it into the wok with the tomato basil mix, stirred in the cottage cheese to warm, and serve.

I also happened to have a fabulous multi-grain baguette to go with it. I could have added a salad, but I didn't. ;)


There you have it - carbs, veggies, and protein in about ten minutes.



So what are your go-to meals in a hurry?  Isn't it nice to have Yankee Belle friends like Mary Connealy to fall back on in an emergency?

Spinach Calzones that Aren't Really Calzones but Taste Great

Fast seems to be the order of the day this week.

I'm not sure my recipes would meet the 5 minute rule, but this one really doesn't take much longer and it tastes really good.

A few weeks back, Virginia posted a recipe for pizza dough for calzones. I wanted  to make it but my oven is still broken. (MUST remember to call repairman.  Ooops!)

I've been craving a spinach roll/calzone, so I decided to improvise.
Note: I could have just picked one up at the local pizza place, but this way I knew exactly what was going in - no extra fat and salt.

I absolutely love this freeze-dried garlic!

Step 1: gently steam fresh spinach with garlic. I also added in arugula.

Step 2: mix in some ricotta and stir til hot.

Step 3: add mozzarella (or your favorite Italian cheese blend)

Step 4: stuff it into a pita or sandwich pocket (or if you want the cheese all nice and crispy, do like I did and break it open, then spoon the spinach mix on top and stick under the broiler for a bit.

It looks a little runny here, but it all crisped up nicely!

Only thing left to do now is enjoy!

And while you're munching, you can read why it's all so good for you.

Spinach a/k/a(Popeye knew what he was doing!)

5 Things you Need to Know about Arugula - it's not just like any other green!

11 Proven Health Benefits of Garlic

And then there's the cheese. I'll go with the description Livestrong uses: It is quite fattening and high in calories; however, it has much nutritional value from the vitamins and minerals it contains.

It's also really good!


Okay - let's just say we get calcium from the cheese and not look too closely.

Copycat Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Recipe

Hi everybody! The Fresh Pioneer is back and I have a tasty little recipe for summer! I found this recipe on this silly girl's life and it's delicious... but I adjusted it a little bit. So, check out the original and then you can decide whether you want to go with mine or hers. (Don't worry. I won't get my feelings hurt!)

 1 lb chicken tenderloins
1/2 cup Italian dressing
1 tsp lime juice
3 tsp honey (originally 1 1/2 tsp)
2 tsp minced garlic (none in the original)
a splash of soy sauce

Ok, so I mixed it all together and gave it a taste. I know it's just a marinade but I thought it needed just a bit more honey. Then I thought.... it needs garlic. Maybe it would have been more awesome without, but I LOVE garlic.

 Ok, put in the chicken and let it marinade for an hour or two.

 Then, plop it all in a skillet and let it cook on high until almost all the sauce is gone and the chicken is cooked through. At this point I added 1 1/2 tsp of soy sauce and it started to smell really, really good.

 And now I make a confession. I've never been to Cracker Barrel.  We don't have them around here. So, really, this recipe should be called "Copycat Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Recipe By Someone Who Has Never Eaten There". Since I'd already fiddled with it, I decided to go all the way and start adding more things... like broccoli!

 While I was waiting for the broccoli to finish steaming, I was treated to a lively show by the construction crew. Pretty sure one of them is a pirate, but we won't tell the policeman pushing the red wheelbarrow with a giant pancake inside.

 And this little guy told me a long, long story about his racer man. I asked about the ninja mask and was corrected: that is his "bug wrap". You know, to keep out the bugs while he's zooming along. He also wants one for his birthday which is THIS WEEKEND. Can you believe it? My baby is FOUR. I don't think I'm ready for this. We've always been the house in the neighborhood that had a baby. Sort of a community service we provided friends and family. "Need baby snuggles? Come on over! Fresh baby always available!"  Oh well, I guess if they teen snark, preteen discipline issues and little boy lego stories, we're the place to go.

 Ok, so the chicken is out and placed on a bed of fluffy white rice. (Stop zooming in. So it's not exactly fluffy... More like sticky. Or clumpy. I still haven't mastered rice.)
                                      
Verdict? DELICIOUS! Hubby needed a bit of convincing since it wasn't burn-your-face-off hot. But he added a few red peppers and was perfectly happy.

I love summer. I get out all my little bottles and fill them with roses and lavender. 

                                          A close up of this vintage ink jar. Isn't it pretty?

 By the time you all are reading this, we'll be headed down to grab a spot at the local drive in. Not sure if anyone else has one of these, but I've got some great childhood (okay, and teen and adult) memories of our drive in. And now my kids love it, too. It costs our whole family about $20 to get in and besides the super fun atmosphere, there are tasty snacks like homemade pizza for the intermission. YUM.

 I pulled this picture from their facebook page. This is the way you watch a movie at the drive in. But we'll just bring the Tahoe and our lawn chairs. And some blankets and some candy. :)

 A nice shot of the sunset...

 One of their workers. It's a family business so the workers are from age 7 all the way to... well, we won't say.  :)

At the fiftieth anniversary, the had free admission for classic cars. That was a sight! Lots of Mustangs and 50's Fords.

Blue Sky Studio

We're going to see Rio2 and since I'm not really a movie person, I'm bringing my paper AA's of Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread! It will be a working movie date, because that's how this mom of six rolls during the summer!

 Until next time, my friends!

Chicken and Mushrooms in a Cast Iron Dutch Oven and Blogger Hates Me

Hello, everybody!! I have a tasty dinner to share, but first I have to say that Blogger has decided to hate me. So, I hope this has pics when you see it. Well, actually, I hope you get to see it. (Why? Why? WHY??? But we'll never know why Blogger does the things she does.)

Anyway, onward!!

 My cast iron Dutch oven, inspired by Missy and Julie talking about cast iron! Isn't she pretty???

 One raw chicken. Not so pretty. Seared in a hot skillet with salt and olive oil, until browned. Butter stuffed under the skin, near the breasts.

 Four pounds of crimini mushrooms. I'm not a shroom fan at all. But these have a nice flavor. Not as earthy.

 Garlic. 'Nuff said.

Washed, unchopped mushrooms piled on the raw chicken.  Add in one whole head of garlic, peeled. (Yeah, baby, I'm crazy like that.) I'm forcing the lid on.

 One hour (or more, check it to be sure) in an oven at 350F, covered.

 Sliced, roasted garlic chicken with whole crimini mushrooms, and a side salad of baby spinach, dried cranberries, feta cheese and toasted walnuts.

But hubby needs some gravy. So... whisking a little flour into the drippings from the chicken. Mushroom gravy. It looks gross. Tastes amazing.

 Oh, I found this at a junk shop. Hmmmm. Looks promising! My daughters love leather purses from old storage items so I thought, even if I can't mend the strap, it might be a cute box.

 OOOOOO!!! Now, who do we have here?

 This is where his little tape would go. He's a mini movie maker. And pushing a button, everything is still moving and whirring along.

Edna demands to inspect the newcomer. He introduces himself and seems like he wins her over in about 2.5 seconds. His name is Leviathan. Sort of odd. Wasn't that the whale that swallowed Jonah? But he's mighty in charm. Definitely an extrovert.

 OK, I hope everyone has survived the Thanksgiving week and I'll see you all here next time.... if Blogger decides she loves me at the last minute. Apparently, Google Chrome is the only man she'll talk to these days.