Culinary Clique.com » Freeze It

Pumpkin

Vickie — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 03:59:55 +0000

I recently discovered that I could make a pumpkin pie as good as Mrs. Smith and not have to feel so guilty with each bite or pie I ate. What I also discovered is the I can make it from fresh from real pumpkin. This means I don’t have to start with canned pumpkin that has additives. It is so simple and makes the pumpkin taste great. It may be all in my head that it taste better but I know for a fact that it doesn’t end up around my belly.

First I started by shopping at my favorite farmers market for a pie pumpkin. Yes, it has to be a pie pumpkin.

Then I break off the stem (if it has one), cut it in half horizontally and clean out the insides by scraping it clean with a spoon.

Then place the pumpkin open side down on a jelly roll sheet (or a cookie sheet with sides). Bake the pumpkin for 1 hour at 350.

Remove from the oven and let cool.

Once the pumpkin is cool enough to handle, scrape out the inside flesh part with a spoon. It will be soft so it will come right out.

Use a permanent marker to write on 2 quart size freezer bags to label pumpkin. Place the bag over a large tumbler and flap the top edge of the bag over the lip of the cup. Spoon pumpkin from one of the halves in the bag. Repeat with the other bag and half of pumpkin.

Remove bag from tumbler, remove air and seal bag.

The fresh pumpkin is ready to freeze and one day become the best pumpkin pie ever.

Hidden Treasures ‘Pick Your Own’

Vickie — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:56:19 +0000

I titled this first of several posts “hidden treasures” because they are every where, you just have to seek them out. I discovered this hidden treasure close to where I live. It is a “pick your own” blueberry farm. You may think that “pick your own” doesn’t sound like a treasure but I really enjoy the experience of it. Mary Mac Berry Farm doesn’t spray their bushes so you can eat while you pick. Part of the treasure is the blueberries cost $1.50 per pound, yes per pound.

Once you bring home your berries and get your fill of fresh blueberries, just put them in a freezer bag, without washing, and freeze. Then you can grab what you need when you need them. I immediately made blueberry turnovers and blueberry pancake syrup. This leads me to sharing some of these recipes with you. Fortunately, it doesn’t just stop there. Enjoying fresh blueberries is healthy and can be added in simple everyday foods such as cereal or in a yogert parfait. Another refereshng summer treat is making a berry banana smoothie. However, my family’s favorite is French toast with fresh blueberries swimming in warm maple syrup.

Peanut Butter Pie

Vickie — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 03:48:13 +0000

Spring is here so break out the Peanut Butter Pie. What can be better than a cool piece of rich and yet delicately sweet peanut butter pie resting in a chocolate cookie crust. It is soothing on a warm spring day. It gets your taste buds going and yet satisfies them at the same time.
Don’t pass on this Southern Delight just because you think it is full of calories. My Peanut Butter Pie Recipe is loaded with flavor and light on the sugar and calories. I used Jiff reduced fat peanut butter, reduced fat Philadelphia Cream Cheese and Sugar Free Kraft Cool Whip. You can even take it a step further and make your own crust with sugar free Oreo Cookies.
My darling husband prefers not to know these healthful details. He just wants to eat it and think every bite is not good for him. You won’t be compromising taste, only Lbs. Let me know what you think!!

Good Habits are Easy to Grow

Vickie — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 03:17:09 +0000

It is a good habit to cook and experiment with fresh herbs. When I am trying a recipe and it calls for a fresh herb, I love having it within reach. I have come to find that I usually like recipes with many of the same fresh herbs so I like to have my own home grown herb garden. Herbs are actually easy and fun to grow. You can buy herbs ready for transplanting in the spring like the rest of the vegetables. You can even buy kits and grow them inside during the winter. I was given a herb garden for Christmas so started it before spring to get a head start. Don’t wait for your grocery shopping day to make a recipe. Have what you need right in your very own garden.

Some recipes call for dried herbs for a reason which is usually so the herb or seasoning doesn’t steal all the flavor, but complement. More times than not, when something calls for a fresh herb, it is because that is what will make it magnifico! I like to make my own marinara to have at any given time and it always taste better after the seasoning has married. Try this Homemade Marinara Recipe with fresh parsely. Let me know what you think and good luck on the good habit of growing your very own herb garden.

Amazing Meatloaf

Vickie — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 03:23:21 +0000

Meatloaf is usually just meatloaf. Most of the time I would always hear friends and family say their meatloaf was too tough, dry and chewy. My reply would always be, “You’re cooking it to long.” I think common mistakes when it comes to meatloaf are cooking it to long, letting it dry out by not covering it while it cooks and then just squirting ketchup on top. YUCK!

Try my Amazing Meatloaf Recipe

It is made in the crock pot or slow cooker so it is juicy, tender and clean up is so much easier. And yes, meatloaf sandwiches the next day are the bomb. Let me know what you think.

I even have more meatloaf recipes to share, such as Taco Meatloaf, Bacon and Cheddar, New Orleans and more. Oh and I mentioned sides so be on the look out for those recipes – Coming Soon to a Blog Post near you!

Enjoy

Vickie