TheKitchenCookie

  I love sky watching. One of these days I will remember to take my camera everywhere to capture more of this kind. The sky this morning was amazing! But you will just have to take my word for it because I had no camera with me so I have no proof of this. :)   This is tonight's loveliness.                                                                                                One of my hunters was successful last weekend and they butchered the deer last evening. We always keep the tenderloin and get...

Brussel Sprouts have always intrigued me and I usually just steamed them and added butter, salt and pepper. They were okay that way but I was never quite satisfied. Yesterday I tried them roasted with White Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil. Much better. Much better! I enjoy the White Balsamic more than the dark because it has a lighter flavor but it was still a bit more tart than I wanted it but I didn't want to ruin it with sugar so I gave it a sprinkle of Stevia and it was just right. Did you know that all Stevia is not created equal? I didn't until my MIL told me so I checked it out. Wow, the real stuff is kind of pricey but it will last long. It takes very little to be effective! 1 lb. Brussel Sprouts, trimmed and quartered (stem and outer leaves and any bruised ones removed) 2 Shallots, sliced thin and separated into rings 2 Tablespoons White Balsamic Vinegar 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil Stevia 1 Tablespoon Homemade Bacon Bits Fresh Ground Sea Salt and Pepper...

    For an easy but flavorful vegetable side dish, these carrots hit the spot. They are also a handy dish for a   potluck . They can be parboiled and cooled in ice water to stop the cooking process the day before the potluck then placed into a crockpot (with the seasonings) on low for several hours the day of. Perfect too for a Sunday morning if you plan to host guests for lunch and want to avoid that last minute rush. Hope you enjoy them!   2½ lbs. fresh baby carrots 1 stick butter ½ cup brown sugar 2 envelopes Ranch Dressing mix or 3-4 Tablespoons Sour Cream and Onion Powder, (can be purchased at bulk food stores)   Cook carrots in a small amount of water until they are crisp-tender. Drain and set aside. Melt butter and combine with brown sugar and dressing mix. Add the carrots and cook and stir over medium heat for approximately 5 minutes or until glazed.   Have a lovely day! ♥Blessings!♥  

  Amazing flavor!     Like most of the rest of you I have leftover Roast Turkey Breast from Thanksgiving Dinner in the fridge waiting to be eaten. But simply reheating it seems... well... boring. I also have some Kale, Mushrooms, and Heavy Cream in there waiting for a purpose. So I thought I would combine the flavors of  Zuppa Toscana ( Soup from Tuscany ☺) with the Roasted Mushroom Soup  I posted a year ago and change the ingredients to use up some of what I have on hand here while omitting others. It turned out super delicious and I promise you no one will think about the fact that you are serving left over turkey!      2 Tablespoons Garlic Oil ¾ cup chopped Sweet Onions 2 cups Button Mushrooms, sliced 1 Tablespoon Fresh Thyme Stems 2-4 Tablespoons White Cooking Wine, for de-glazing 1Quart Tuscany Chicken Broth, or regular broth 3 Tablespoons Heavy Cream 2 cups Roasted Turkey Breast Chunks 1½-2 cups Fresh Kale...

  So I thought I should fend of the chill in the air with a bit of decadence while I do puzzles and Christmas decorations. The Christmas music plays and the house is quiet. Serena is playing with her rather large horse imagining that she owns a stable full of horses. Sounds idyllic doesn't it?   Well, just for good measure I will also tell you that the living room is an obstacle course of boxes, tulle, and other decorations. I can't find the ornaments that I really want and I really should go shopping for some winter things for Serena but, you know, the crowds... well anyway I will do that eventually. For now I will finish a cup of this and do a bit of laundry and look again... in all the same places... for the elusive ornaments. S keeps asking what time it is because she has in her mind that she needs saddle soap and the local tack store opens at 10:00, or so I would imagine. She has this vision of cleaning up the barn where her real pony lives. I wouldn't dream...

I told you yesterday that I woke up with this cheesecake on my mind. Well, I tasted it today and while it's nothing over the top awesome or anything like that. It IS good and the topping is lovely! I liked that it was not a solid cheesecake. It has a more fluffy texture. Snickers and Caramel being some of my favorite flavors I thought I should treat myself to some extra sugar today. 43 years ago today the journey began for me. While I don't think I have all of life figured out, I have learned a few things along the way. Basically those things sum up to this - I am not the Center of The Universe, and I can't change anything by worrying. Clinging to hurts from the past is a waste of energy. Forgiving someone makes me free and puts me in position to live the life God chose for me. And I pray to God. A lot! And even though I say I have learned these things, there are days that I have to learn them all over again. The men left for hunting this morning after br...

  Have you recovered from the Turkey Hangover? I'm happy to say that I think we are back on track. The weather has been beautiful and the fresh air feels wonderful!   Serena and the boys that were here today were digging out the Christmas decorations, so this weekend when the men go hunting she and I will get those up and do some other celebrating. The boys thought I/we should go to the mountains with them, (I think they felt bad that they would miss my birthday tomorrow but I declined.) While I would enjoy some parts about being at the cabin with them, the long days with not much to do would make me crabby. And birthday girls should do as they please, right? ☺      I woke up this morning with cheesecake on my mind. So I thought I would make myself a birthday cake for tomorrow and give the recipe in my head a shot. Tasting happens tomorrow. Stop in and I'll share a few bites with coffee! ☺ I can't guarantee anything because I haven't tasted it yet...

  I had some buttermilk and some pumpkin puree in my fridge that had to be used and I wanted to use them in the same recipe. I also wanted the recipe to use all of it so I wouldn't be left with some to put back in the fridge. I found what sounded about right on Yum Sugar . Buttermilk Spice Cake, but with one problem. It didn't include the pumpkin. So with a bit of adapting and substituting the oil and a few eggs with my 1 cup of pumpkin puree that I had I made these cupcakes. They are disappearing quickly!   I still had about a 1/3 cup of buttermilk left over and I was determined to use at least most of it in the icing so I experimented a little bit and managed to use most of what I had left. I didn't think it was sweet enough but I was not willing to put more sugar in there. So I began to add Tahitian Vanilla extract until it tasted right to me. Yum!! Did you know that vanilla extract from Vanilla Beans grown in different places tastes di...

  Sending food along to hunting camp is something I try to do so they have decent home cooked meals when they come in from the woods and are cold, hungry and just ready to kick back. This year the boys are on a meatball sandwich craze so I sent these along for one meal last weekend.   The meatballs are moist and tender and full of flavor.     Ingredients: 3 lbs. 85% ground beef 3 eggs 1/3 cup milk 1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese 1½ cups Italian Panko Crumbs 1½ Tablespoons dry onion flakes 1½ Tablespoons Garlic and Herb Seasoning 4 garlic cloves, fresh pressed Salt and Pepper   In a large bowl combine the eggs and milk with a wire whisk. Add the garlic, onions, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings; stir. Then add the Panko Crumbs and stir again. Let set till the crumbs are soggy then add the ground beef and mix with your hands. (with gloves)   Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. With a size 50 cookie ...

This cake always comes through in a pinch. It's quick, moist and chocolaty, and pairs perfectly with some ice cream for an easy, sweet tooth satisfying dessert. I had some leftover icings in the fridge from some other goodies I had made and this cake provided the perfect opportunity to use them up. Peanut Butter and Chocolate. Why not?   1 cup butter 1 cup water ¼ cup cocoa powder 2 cups all purpose flour 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup sour cream   Combine the first three ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and set aside. Combine the dry ingredients with a wire whisk. Add to the cocoa mixture and stir. Then add the sour cream and stir until smooth. Bake in a non stick sprayed 10 x 15 inch pan for 20-25 minutes or until cake is done to your preference. I iced mine with Peanut Butter Butter Cream and Chocolate Fudge Buttercream . These are not the traditional icings that go w...

  I made these a while ago and decided once again that they may only be baked when there are extra people around to eat them or I am planning to take them somewhere to share. They are rich and sweet and gooey... and really, really good! And they have a way of getting inside my mouth! How DO they do that without my permission?!   Ingredients: 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup quick oats 1 cup flour ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter,  softened 14 oz. caramels, unwrapped ☺ 1/3 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla, optional   Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 8 x 11.5 x 2 inch glass baking dish with non stick spray.   In a mixer, combine the first 4 ingredients. Mix with the whip attachment until you have pea sized crumbs. Press approximately 2 cups (reserve the rest) of these into the bottom and up the sides of the pan and bake for 10 minutes. Meanwhile combine the unwrapped caramels, milk, and vanilla in a microwave safe bowl. Melt and sti...

Sometimes when life threatens to swallow me whole I look around me and realize anew that Someone much bigger than me and LOTS more capable than me has it all under control. Huge relief, that!    It doesn't mean that suddenly everything is what I would call perfect.     It means my perspective has returned and I can breathe again.     Trust doesn't necessarily always have a plan, that's why it's called trust. ☺     ...and PRAYER...it really does make a difference!                                                                             ...

Some time ago one of my sisters sent me a box of Starbucks Mocha Singles.      I don't drink a lot of coffee, especially not instant, but I was pretty sure if she likes them I would too! ☺ I discovered that they are perfect for this recipe that I'm about to share with you. I hope you enjoy it too!   3 cups milk ¼ cup Hershey's Chocolate Syrup 1 Starbucks Mocha Single   ½ cup heavy cream ½ cup marshmallow cream 1-2 drops peppermint extract crushed candy cane pieces   In a small saucepan combine the first three ingredients. Heat over medium heat until it is very steamy but not boiling. Stir it occasionally.   Meanwhile whip the heavy cream until it is firm. Add the marshmallow cream and whip or stir to combine. Stir in the peppermint extract and the candy cane pieces. Place a dollop on top of each cup of latte.     Serves 2.   It is a gorgeous Autumn day outside so I think Serena and I wil...

  Who needs croutons...  when there's something even better?     Crunchy, slightly sweet, and perfect for my favorite salad.   These crunchy and sweet almonds are such a yummy addition to the Feta Craisin Salad that I've been enjoying lately. It takes a little bit of patience to get them just right but they are worth it.   2-3 cups sliced Almonds ½ cup white sugar   Place a large saute pan over low heat and stir/toss until it begins to melt. Add the almonds and continue to stir till the sugar is mostly melted or the almonds begin to brown. I don't really like them too brown so when they begin to get too dark I pour them onto a large piece of non stick sprayed parchment paper and spread them out to cool and dry. Break apart and store in a glass jar with a tight lid.     Ramen Noodles are another favorite of mine for salad toppings.   3 packages Ramen Noodles, crushed 4-6 Table...