Author Archives: creativecook

Keep Fresh Garnish on Your Serving Plates

When using kale, lettuce, cut fruit or cut vegetables, wash or rinse them, and while still damp, spray them with a spray vegetable oil, like Pam, etc. before placing them on your serving tray/plate.  The oil will not only make them more vibrant in color (greens adn purples are brighter, especially with kale), they will also stay fresh for the entire day or serving time.  The oil will help give them a shiny, fresh look and will seal in the moisture to keep them from wilting.  If any one would take them off the tray to eat, it is not harmful or distasteful.

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

Chicken Little Stuffed Eggs

CHICKEN LITTLE STUFFED EGGS

Prep Time: 30 minutes (Ready in 1 hour 15 minutes) if using raw eggs ? less time if using already boiled eggs.

4 Servings    8 Servings
4 8 Eggs (boiled or if raw, follow directions below to boil)
2-3 drops 5 drops Blue, red or green food color, if desired
1 Tbl. 2 Tbl. Mayonnaise
1 1/2 tsp. 1 Tbl. Hot dog relish
Optional:
Chopped pimientos
Raisins
Ripple cutter

Place eggs in single layer in medium saucepan.  Add enough water to cover eggs by 1 inch.  Bring to a boil.  Immediately remove from heat; cover and let stand 15 minutes.  Drain; rinse with cold water. Place eggs in bowl of ice water; let stand 10 minutes.  Peel eggs.

In measuring cup combine 1/2 cup water and food color.  Dip peeled eggs 1 at a time into mixture for several seconds until of desired color.  Pat dry with paper towel.

Cut thin slice from wide bottom of each egg so it will stand straight.  With small sharp knife, cut off top of each egg about 1/3 of the way down, either straight across or with small slanted cuts to make a sawtooth edge (or use a ripple cutter).  Carefully remove top portion; set aside.  With small slender spoon or knife, remove most of yolk from each egg.

Add mayonnaise and relish to yolks; mash and mix thoroughly with fork.  With small spoon, refill large section of egg with yolk mixture, heaping filling.  Place reserved top portion on egg.

Place 2 tiny pimiento pieces or bits of raisin on yolk mixture to resemble eyes.

Refrigerate 30 minutes or until chilled.
There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

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Almost Free – Natural Room Scent

When using your vaccumn, put a few (3-4) whole cloves on your floor to suck up into your vaccumn bag.  Everytime you use the vaccumn after that, your room will be nicely scented with the clean smell of cloves until you change your bag, then repeat adding fresh cloves.  The cost of 3-4 cloves is far cheaper than commercial room/vaccumn scent products and they are already in your kitchen, waiting for you to use.  They are also natural and have no chemicals that would otherwise be added to the air in your home.  Since whole cloves are something that you don't typically use very frequently, this will help keep your stock current by using them this way.

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

Stir Fry for One or Two

STIR-FRY FOR ONE

Two Servings One Serving
1/2 lb. 1/4 lb. Boneless chicken, beef or pork
2 tsp. 1 tsp. Cornstarch
2 Tbl. . 1 Tbl. Sherry or white wine
2 stalks 1 stalk Broccoli or celery
OR
1 1/2 Sweet pepper
4 Tbl. 2 Tbl. Vegetable oil
2 clove 1 clove Garlic minced
2 tsp. 1 tsp. Minced fresh gingerroot

Seasoning sauce:
2 Tbl. 1 Tbl. Water
2 Tbl. 1 Tbl. Sherry or white wine
1 tsp. 1/2 tsp. Cornstarch
1 tsp. 1/2 tsp. Low-sodium soy sauce

Rice to serve stir fry over.  (See below for cooking instructions.)

Cut meat into very thin strips about 2 inches long.  In bowl, mix cornstarch and sherry; stir in meat and let stand for 10 minutes or up to 2 hours.  Cut vegetables into thin strips or florets.  In small bowl, combine seasoning sauce ingredients and mix well.  (Drain sauce before adding meat to hot pan.  Discard sauce.)

In wok or nonstick skillet, heat oil over high heat.  Add garlic, ginger, and meat; stir-fry for 1 minute.  Add broccoli or other vegetable and stir-fry 2 minutes or until crisp tender; add water if necessary to prevent scorching.  Stir in seasoning sauce and stir-fry for another minute.

Yield: 1 serving   2 servings

PERFECT COOKED RICE

2 Servings:
1 cup Long grain rice
2 cups Water
1 tsp. Salt
1 Tbl. Oil or butter

Bring all to boil.  Cover and simmer until moisture is gone ? 10 to 15 minutes (14 minutes is typically recommended).  Fluff with a fork.  A spoon may break up the kernels too much.

Do not rinse enriched rice, as you will wash off the nutrients that have been added.  If it is not ?enriched? rice, you can wash it.  Some wild rice is recommended to be washed before using.  (Remember, wild rice is a grass and not true rice.)

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

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Easy Baked Salmon

EASY BAKED SALMON

Enjoy the essence of salmon with this quick and easy recipe. Although this recipe appears to be high in fat, salmon is considered a good source of beneficial omega fatty acids.
Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs Fresh salmon fillet or steaks
1 tbsp Butter
1/2 tsp Dill

Preparation
Preheat oven to 500. Put fish on foil-lined baking sheet. Dot with butter and sprinkle with dill.

Bake 10 minutes for each inch of thickness. Salmon should be opaque but not dry.
Cook's Notes
Serve salmon with lemon wedges. Rice, your favorite green vegetable, and warm French bread with butter make this a family meal good enough for company.

Nutrient Information
Total Fat 12.6 g
Saturated Fat 2.3 g
Calories 310
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.6 g
Carbohydrates 0 g
Protein 45 g
Sodium 197 mg
Fiber 0 g

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

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Glazed Ham Over Rice

GLAZED HAM OVER RICE

1 Ham slice or slices of ham (quantity depends on servings desired)
1 cup Orange juice
1/4 cup Brown sugar
2 Tbl. Butter (melted in skillet)
1 cup Uncooked or dry instant rice

Brown ham slightly in melted butter. 

Mix orange juice and brown sugar.  Pour over ham and simmer.  If it is not covered while simmering, it will cook down to a syrup.  If covered while it is simmered it will make a sauce to serve with the ham over the rice.

Cook rice or make instant rice per package directions.

Cut ham into serving pieces (about 2″ square).  Serve with sauce over cooked rice.

Suggested Accompaniments:  Crispy lettuce salad with orange segments and slivered almonds and crispy French baguettes.

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

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Save egg shells for your planting

Start now to save your empty egg shells to add to your starter plants for the spring or in the garden when you make holes to plant flowers or other plants.  The egg shells will give drainage in any pots and will provide nutrition to your plants in pots or the garden.  The shells can be collected in a container, bag, jar or anything that is open so that they dry and don't mold or become “sour”.  When you are ready to use them for planting, first soak them in a container with water.  After a day or 2 the water will become “milky” colored and is ready to be used to water your plants and offer free fertilizer, calcium, protein, and nutrition for the plants.  Now take the shells to your planting area and use them once more as noted at the beginning of this paragraph.  Happy gardening!!

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

Cracking Eggs Correctly

When cracking a raw egg to add to/use in cooking, always do the initial “tap” on a flat surface.  It you do it on the edge of your bowl, kettle, cup, etc. it will produce fine/small pieces that easily drop into the egg or batter when you pull the 2 halves apart and dispense the egg out of the shell.  Cracking it on a smooth surface will create a smoother crack/split of the shell.

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

Crunchy Apple Salad

CRUNCHY APPLE SALAD

1 cup Diced apples, unpeeled (for holiday serving use red and green skinned)
1 cup Diced bananas
1 Tbl. Lemon juice
1/2 cup Pineapple tidbits, drained
1/2 cup Raisins
1/2 cup Coarsely chopped pecans
1/3 cup Mayonnaise

Place apples, bananas, and lemon juice in a bowl and toss.  Add pineapple, raisins and pecans.

Toss lightly.  Add mayonnaise.  Toss just until mayonnaise is mixed thoroughly. 

Spoon into individual lettuce cups or into a salad dish.

Yield: 6 servings
There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

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Chicken Salad with Grapes for One

CHICKEN SALAD WITH GRAPES

1 Tbl. Lemon juice
4 cups Finely chopped cooked chicken
1 1/2 cups Celery, finely chopped
3/4 cup Salad dressing
1/4 tsp. Pepper (white won't show)
2 cups Diced apples (Granny Smith or a Red Delicious depending if you like tart or sweet)
1 cup Green grapes, halved
1/2 tsp. Salt
plastic wrap

Frosting:
1 pkg. Cream cheese (8 oz), softened
1/4 cup Salad dressing

Sprinkle lemon juice over apples.  Add remaining ingredients, mix lightly. 

Line 1 1/2 quart bowl with plastic wrap. Press mixture into bowl.  Chill several hours.

Unmold onto serving platter.

Frost (recipe follows) and garnish as desired.

FROSTING:
Combine softened cream cheese and salad dressing, mixing well until blended.

Frost chicken salad using metal spatula.

HINT: To unmold salad from bowl more easily, line bowl with plastic wrap before filling.

Yield: 1 serving

There are many, many entries on this web site. Be sure to scroll back through to the beginning for all the recipes and tips.

I am available to teach cooking classes or food related subjects in your home or give presentations or classes for your organizations or groups. Contact me at the following e-mail address:
creativecook@sbcglobal.net

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