Category Archives: Uncategorized

Meat Loaf Bourguignon…Perfect For El Nino Weather!

Meat Loaf Bourguignon
A perfect supper for one of those El Nino nights!

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Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 large yellow onions
1-2 shallots
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup minced fresh parsley
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons nutmeg
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 cup dry red wine
2 cups crushed salted crackers
½ cup finely minced walnuts
2 eggs, slightly beaten
½ pound Cheddar cheese, cut in slices
Parsley sprigs
* Use the Cuisinart to chop onions, garlic, parsley, and walnuts.

IMG_0765-001Now let’s get to cookin’

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl combine onions, garlic, parsley, and mix well. Add all the dry spices, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard. Slowly pour in the red wine and crushed crackers. Add the ground beef, pork and eggs. Lastly, add the minced walnuts. Knead the mixture well to mix thoroughly.

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Try not to overwork the meat, your meatloaf will turn out tough.

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Divide the mixture in half and form each half into a compact loaf. Place the cheese on top of both loaves. Gently pinch the loaves together, leaving room for air to pass through. This allows the cheese in the middle to melt.

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When I tried this recipe for the first time, my cheese didn’t melt all the way. Of course it was still delicious! Remember to pinch together loosely.

Place in a glass Pyrex dish or a small roasting pan. Place on middle rack of the oven and bake for 1 hour. Set your timer for 30 minutes and check the meatloaf. Turn the oven to 350 degrees if you feel like the top is browning too quickly.  Ovens are super tricky and vary in heat, so use your best judgement.

Remove for the oven and let sit for about five minutes. Using a sharp knife, slice the loaf and arrange slices on a warm platter. Garnish with parsley sprigs.  Two sides that I love to serve with this dish are, roasted herb carrots and red potatoes. This recipe can easily be doubled if you have a larger family or simply want leftovers.

So get the family together on a Sunday afternoon, for some good ole’ fashioned togetherness and yummy food!
With Love and Peace in my heart,
G-

Carrot Canning With Caroline

Join the fun with Isabella and I, and learn how to can spicy carrots.  Canning is such a wonderful way to preserve your favorite vegetables.

You can view our entire “How to can” video at the link below:

We hope to inspire families and children to try canning. It’s a great learning activity that everyone can enjoy! 

Thanks for the views!

Happy New Year!

Isabella and I are so excited for next year’s blogging adventure. We would like to thank everyone in the blogging community for welcoming and inspiring us. Looking forward to all the new bloggers and their stories.

Happy New Year to all! With Love and Peace in our Hearts!
Isabella and Gina 🎉

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Mini Muffin Quiches…Bacon, Spinach and Ham!

 

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I had such a blast cooking this recipe with my sister.  We served these delicious small bites for our Christmas morning brunch. 

A perfect party appetizer or classroom snack.  This is a great kitchen activity for the children and helps with eye and hand coordination. 

Ingredients

2 eggs, brown organic taste best here

½ cup whole milk

1 cup grated cheese; Cheddar, Colby Jack or any cheese you wish

2 boxes refrigerated pie crust dough, Pillsbury, or homemade tart shells (frozen is ok)

1 cup diced: ham, bacon, spinach, onion, mushrooms or any fresh garden vegetable

salt and pepper to taste

dried garden herbs: rosemary or French thyme

The dried garden herbs add a nice elegant flavor. A wonderful appetizer to serve if entertaining a crowd.

Recipe tip:  if possible, try not to use the processed shredded cheese.  It doesn’t bake as well and lacks the flavor.   Offer choice and get creative when choosing the quiche toppings.

IMG_9340Now let’s get to cookin’!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, making sure the oven rack is centered.

In a large bowl, combine the eggs with the milk.  Beat together until fluffy.  Slowly add the shredded cheese.  Add the cooked vegetables and mix well.  Season with dried garden herbs, salt and pepper.

On a piece of parchment paper, roll the dough out into a flat circle.  Using a cup face down, press firmly to create circle cutouts.  Gently press the cutouts into the muffin pan.  Evenly spoon the quiche mixture into the mini pie shells.  Bake for 20 minutes, until lightly browned and puffed in the middle.

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Happy cooking friends and enjoy the party!

Yours truly with Love and Peace in my Heart,

G-xx

Snowball Cookies…A Christmas Eve Tradition

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In my family we call these treats Mexican Wedding Cookies.

Ingredient

1 cup salted butter, softened

½ cup confectioner’s powdered sugar

Pinch of salt

1 cup toasted pecans, finely chopped

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

For cookie sprinkle

½ cup confectioner’s powdered sugar

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Now let’s get to bakin’ these delicious cookies!

Preheat the oven at 350 degrees.  Using butter or Pam spray, coat the baking sheet.

In a large bowl, add the softened butter and powdered sugar, cream them together until smooth.  Add the pinch of salt and vanilla extract and mix well.

Slowly add the flour until the dough comes together.  Fold in the pecans pieces and mix well.  Let the cookie dough chill for about ½-1 hour in fridge.  It is very important not to skip this step.  It is much easier to form the cookies when the dough has been refrigerated.  The temperature of your hand will make the butter in the dough soften.  Trust me on this one, I have learned this the hard way!

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Roll the dough into small balls and place onto the baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees until the cookies are golden brown about 12-15 minutes.  When done, remove the cookies from oven and let cool on a baking rack.  Once the cookies are cool, roll them in the sifted powdered sugar.  It’s important that you allow the cookies to cool so that the powdered sugar sticks well.  Roll well in the sugar making sure that each cookie is completely covered.

You can easily double this recipe if entertaining for a holiday party.  This is a great cookie dough to make the day before your baking party.

Along with baking and decorating sugar cookies for Santa, these Christmas Snow balls are for the little elves…Mama and Papa!

Enjoy friends and Happy Baking!

Yours truly with Love and Peace in my Heart,

G-xx