Easter Dinner Served Made-in-the-USA Style

Braised Short Ribs in the Slow Cooker

Lodge Dutch Oven with Dual Handles

I began a challenge of doing 30 days of new recipes.  In the process of collecting recipes, I came across this recipe from Teresa at Simply Heavenly Food.  If you are entertaining for Easter, this. is. the. meal. to make.  Hands down.

I know the title says Slow Cooker.  Try as I might, I have not been able to find any slow cookers made in the USA, so I had to improvise.  I bought this Dutch oven made by Lodge and used it as a slow cooker.  Now, if you have never owned a cast iron Dutch oven {or anything made of cast iron}, please read the instructions because there is a particular way to care for them.  I had bought a cast iron grill pan and did not read the instructions and it rusted to the point where I threw it out.  Now, I know better and that I could have contacted Lodge to help with that.   

As for the recipe: Teresa's pictures and instructions are fantastic and I followed them up until she starts the 8-hour slow cooking process. At this point, I covered the Dutch oven and let it {barely} simmer for about an hour.  Just before that hour was over, I preheated my oven to 250° and then transferred the ribs to the oven, where they cooked for an additional 2 hours.

The aroma that comes from making this recipe leaves your home smelling absolutely spectacular.  Words escape me as to how to describe how amazing this recipe smells from start to finish.  It becomes even more enjoyable when you have guests that you can delegate to and make it a party within a party.

Happy Easter Y’all!  

{I was channeling Mrs. Paula Deen.  Did it work?}

Karina

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Disclaimer: This is a product that I purchased with my own money.  There may be affiliate links in this post. Thank you for your purchase. You are supporting the blog, our family and all families who make these products in the USA. Please see my Disclosure Policy here..

 

New Year's Eve Thoughts

 
Whether your evening will consist of coffee or cocktails, New Year's Eve signifies the beginning of a new opportunity.  Some look to add something to their lives {ie: better financial habits, better blogging techniques}.  Others set goals of losing habits that otherwise deter from having good health {ie: lose weight, quit smoking}.  On this eve of a new year and a new you, I decided to share some recipes for mocktails for you to enjoy.  {It's a re-post from last year.}  Pondering over a comforting beverage with loved ones always lends an eye-opening perspective.

Citrus Punch Mocktail (This is a Weight Watchers recipe.)

 Ingredients: 1/2 cup lemon seltzer
                     1/2 cup grapefruit juice
                     splash of cranberry juice (gives red holiday flair)
                     lime or mint, for garnish
                    * Note: To make it a cocktail, use sparkling wine instead of the seltzer.

1. In a tall glass with ice, combine the lemon seltzer (or sparkling wine), grapefruit juice, and cranberry juice.
2. Garnish.

 Strawberry Mocktail

Ingredients: 1 bottle sparkling water
                    2 cups pureed and strained strawberries
                  * Note: To make it a cocktail, use sparkling wine instead of the sparkling water.

1. In a pitcher, pour the 2 cups of strawberries.
2. Pour in the bottle of sparkling water and stir gently.

Melting Cherries

Ingredients: 1 cup grenadine
                    1 liter citrus soda or seltzer
                    18 maraschino cherries

1. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
2. Add the grenadine and stir to combine the two.
3. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze.
4. Fill glasses with grenadine ice cubes and pour the soda over the ice cubes.
5. Garnish with cherries.

*Note: This is great for kids.  The ice cubes melt and the drink turns red.  They love it.  It's good for Valentine's Day and 4th of July too.


Cheers - May you have health, wealth, love and the time to enjoy it all.  Be safe and I will talk to you all next year.

Karina

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Disclaimer: There may be affiliate links in this post.  You will NOT pay extra to buy through the link.  If you purchase anything through an affiliate link, you give back a percentage to our family.  Thank you for your purchase.  You are supporting the blog and our family.  Please see my Disclosure Policy.

 

The Flu Craves Pancakes

Fun Food Friday

During my bout with the flu, I craved pancakes so I am sharing a recipe that I made with Lyla.  Actually, I think she did half of the work and, thank goodness, since I was not feeling well.  These turned out to be VERY kid-friendly pancakes, as you will see in the last photo.

Sweet Potato Pancakes

1-1/4 cups flour (I used whole wheat.  You can use whatever you have on hand.)
1 tbsp sugar (I use dark brown.)
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1 cup milk (I used soy milk.)
1 cup pureed sweet potatoes (These are from NC.)
 *(Note: You can leave out the sweet potatoes to make regular pancakes.)

                                     *This made more than a cup so I used the leftovers to make Bina some baby food.

 What To Do
1.  Heat pan over medium heat.  If you don't have a nonstick pan, brush some butter or oil or use nonstick spray on the pan so the pancakes don't stick.
2.  Pour batter by spoonfuls (or whatever size you want them to be) into the pan.
3.  Cook until edges look dry.  (These didn't bubble like pancakes usually do.)
4.  Flip and repeat.

This is what the pancakes looked like when they were done.

This is what Lyla's plate looked like when she was done.  Completely kid-friendly.

Enjoy!  Let me know if these were as kid-friendly (or big-kid friendly) for you as they were for us.

Karina

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Husband Ditches Wife For.......Pan?

Fun Food Friday

It is very true.  Men do take their cooking utensils very seriously.  No sooner had I walked in the door with this pan, my husband snatched it and went right to work on making dinner.  This Nordic Ware Saute Pan is Made in the USA.  The good thing about this pan is that it is very versatile. We have made just about everything in it and it washes right off. Love it!

I have to confess.  The picture to the left is staged.  I had to wash the pan after my husband was done cooking and put the cover back on it just to show you our newest purchase.  I didn't get to take a picture of his creation, but I am sharing one my creations here.  I hope you enjoy. 

 

 
Sausages, Peas and Onions

• 2 lbs. sausage
• 2 onions, sliced
• 1 lb. peas (or 2 green peppers, chopped)
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 2 tbsp. water
What To Do:
1. Bake whole sausages for about 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. 
2. On medium heat, add oil, water and onions.  (If you are using green peppers instead of peas, add them now too.)  Cook the onions until they are translucent.
3. Cut the sausages diagonally and add to the pan.  Mix together.
4. Add the peas at the last minute so they still have some crunch.  Mix together.  Cook for about 5 minutes. 
5. Serve over brown rice.
Note: If you are entertaining, make some mashed potatoes.  Line a cupcake tin with the cupcake papers.  Scoop the mashed potatoes in the cupcake papers.  Dice the sausages, onions and green peppers.  Cook as instructed above and then embed them on top of the potatoes.  This makes it easier to eat and mingle.  It's also good for portion control.
Instead of mashed potatoes, you could also mash plantains in the cupcake holder.  Remove them (still in the shape of the cup).  Fry them.  Put them back in the cupcake tin and top with the sausage mix.
Happy Eating!
Karina
I created 93,717 jobs with this purchase.

Sip in Style

Fun Food Friday

Welcome back to Fun Food Friday.   As we enter the month of December, so too do we enter the month of parties and entertaining.  To honor the wonderful times we are about to share with loved ones and friends, I am sharing three recipes for beverages to serve.  I found Libbey citation champagne flutes that are Made in the USA.  Enjoy your beverages in one.

Citrus Punch Mocktail (This is a Weight Watchers recipe.)


 Ingredients: 1/2 cup lemon seltzer
                     1/2 cup grapefruit juice
                     splash of cranberry juice (gives red holiday flair)
                     lime or mint, for garnish
                    * Note: To make it a cocktail, use sparkling wine instead of the seltzer.

1. In a tall glass with ice, combine the lemon seltzer (or sparkling wine), grapefruit juice, and cranberry juice.
2. Garnish.

Strawberry Mocktail


Ingredients: 1 bottle sparkling water
                    2 cups pureed and strained strawberries
                  * Note: To make it a cocktail, use sparkling wine instead of the sparkling water.

1. In a pitcher, pour the 2 cups of strawberries.
2. Pour in the bottle of sparkling water and stir gently.

Melting Cherries


Ingredients: 1 cup grenadine
                    1 liter citrus soda or seltzer
                    18 maraschino cherries

1. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
2. Add the grenadine and stir to combine the two.
3. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze.
4. Fill glasses with grenadine ice cubes and pour the soda over the ice cubes.
5. Garnish with cherries.

*Note: This is great for kids.  The ice cubes melt and the drink turns red.  They love it.  It's good for Valentine's Day and 4th of July too.


Cheers - May you have health, wealth and love and the time to enjoy it all.

Karina

The purchase of the champagne flute can create 37,274 jobs.