Month: December 2016

Posole

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This Mexican soup has always been a tradition in my family, especially around the holidays. I’m making it for Christmas Day here in Kentucky, for my family. I have great memories of my mother making this soup year after year. Since she recently passed, this year… her delicious and warm family favorite has even more precious meaning. My mom was such a great cook, never measuring, just always knowing. Even later in life, I marveled at her skills. I guess I learnt from the best. To you Momma, may my version here make you proud. I sure do love you and miss you. I look forward to seeing you again in paradise. Here’s the hominy I like to use, I add in a little of the juice too. It makes the soup nice and thick.  The yummy toppings  ✔️, they help send this soup over the delicious top. Grandson’s excited. And here we go, oh my yum. Merry Christmas friends, may the reason for the season always shine bright in your hearts.   g. 

Kentucky Blues

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My daughter, her husband and their children recently moved here to Kentucky. This afternoon my husband and I will head back to California after a wonderful month long stay with them, in this gorgeous state. We will miss our family here so much, but with much hope and plenty of prayer we will keep focused on the good and pray that their experiences here will enrich their lives even more so. They’ve been fortunate enough to live very near the sea in California and they’ve all enjoyed it to the fullest, now to be blessed with a house in the beautiful state of Kentucky, well, all I can do is be joyful for them, with bits of sadness mixed in as well, of course. There’s been plenty of amazingly touching moments, enough to last this Nanna good positive thoughts and wonderful memories until the next visit… On a chilly day while tucked warmly inside, to witness my young granddaughter run over to her backyard window area full of excitement to marvel at the sight of …

Tostada Bar Delight

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Isn’t it great that sometimes thee most simple ingredients can create the most delectable delights?. Tostadas = maximum yumminess. Tostada shells (homemade or not) Pinto Beans Ground Turkey Lettuce Tomatoes Chopped Onion Sliced jalapeños Grated Cheese Lemon wedges Homemade (or not) salsa Your favorite hot sauce Process… pile up 😉 eat enjoy. Merry almost Christmas and to all a good night.       g. 

Animal Style Grilled Cheese 

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Don’t have an In n Out in your town? Want that delicious flavor that comes with the sauce? Try this recipe, you will not be disappointed. The key is in the sauce. 🙂 I pretty much followed this recipe I found on Pinterest, I am on a constant 😉 search for yummy grilled cheese sandwich recipes, this one is a real winner! http://houseofyumm.com/grilled-cheese-animal-style/ The only thing I did different was to swap out the sugar for a pinch of stevia. The sauce was sweet enough without being too sweet. * What would make these grilled cheese sandwiches even better, in my humble foodie opinion, would be to add in pickle slices and fresh sliced tomatoes, oh happy foodie cheers to… next time! 🙂 *When I have a craving for In n Out and there is no such thing in sight, I will definitely make these. *Make the sauce ahead of time and maybe even the ‘grilled onions’, as recreating this recipe all at once is a bit of a process. *I would at least double …

A Great Lentil Soup with Ham Hock 

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This is such a tasty soup. Being here in Kentucky with temps in the teens this December, it will be the prefect warm up for the family just before we head out to the Kentucky Mega Cavern to see the Christmas lights. Thank goodness it’s a vehicle tour. Lol Ingredients… 3 cups lentils 12 cups chicken broth 2 smoked hamhocks 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped carrots 1 cup chopped celery 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes with the juice 1 large glove garlic (or 2 small), minced 1/4 tsp thyme 1 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper Process Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a large stock pot, then add in the smoked hamhocks Simmer the hamhocks on low for 1 hour (this adds another flavor layer to your broth) Remove the hammocks from the broth and when cool chop the meat from the hammock into small dice pieces, being carful cutting around the bone. Heat the olive oil to medium high in a medium sauté pan Add …

Four Days In LuAhville 

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Adventuring in Louisville for 4 days this month, truly enjoying the city. We are staying at the beautiful Galt House. Finding great walkable places to explore, hope you enjoy the tour. We Californias are sure learning how to keep warm here in December… About to venture out into the cold. Triple dressed here, lol. Our 1st day in the city I believe it was in the mid 20’s, we did not let that stop us, off we trotted throughly bundled up to sight-see anyway. Walking down Main St. we came across this quaint little park space. I shared a bench with this handsome Southern gent. We came across the Slugger museum. We visited the Frazier Museum, what a wonderful permenate collection and great special exhibits as well. I especially liked the Pearl Harbor exhibit, the collection is quite powerful and very moving. I was so moved by this exhibit, it is really a must see. Moving on… The Clark exhibit was fab and very informative. The way it’s set up I believe it is something …

Short Cut Bread

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Love this stuff.  5 loaves for under $4, great buy.  I haven’t come across it in a while, but did so recently here in Kentucky.  I followed the directions for quick prep and we had delish freshly baked bread in no time flat.  I brushed a little melted butter over it when it came out of the oven and sprinkled it with garlic powder, oh so yummy.  I may have let it rise a little too much…  but it was delicious just the same.  Slice it up and spread some butter on your slices and… walla!  In closing, I highly recommend this bread, I do.                                                                 g. 

In Kentucky 

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Arrived a few days ago, loving it already!  Almost home, well for them anyway.  On our 2nd day we took a little hike, wow such beauty in this state.  A bit of December in Kentucky.  Trying out my Ducks. 😉 Nice and warm, comfy too. An added bonus, great traction. I’m impressed.  With our grandkids.  Well my daughter and family are well on their way to getting settled in, we love the area they’ve chosen to live in and could not be happier for them.  I’m looking forward to exploring more as we continue our stay in the great and beautiful state of Kentucky.  Till next time,    g. 

Shepards Pie, Oh My

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Meet my Shepards Pie :), it’s a bit of a re-do as I took steps to make the original recipe a bit healthier.  I used ground turkey instead of beef and I made the top layer (mashed potatoes) using lots of Greek yogurt, some butter and some milk.  Ingredients… 2 lb cooked and seasoned ground turkey (season with 1 tsp each garlic powder and salt, add 1/4 tsp dry thyme as well and 1/4 tsp pepper)  1 cup frozen peas and carrots 1/4 tsp dry thyme 1 cup tomato sauce 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 cups beef gravy  1 large quantity mashed potatoes (I cooked about 4/5 pound of potatos for my recipe, I used Greek yogurt, butter and milk to create a bit healthy version of a great pot of mashed potatoes)  grated parmesan cheese for topping   Process… in progress, need to recharge my phone folks.  Happy day all.            g. 

When Grief Goes Towards The Good… 

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As some of you might recall from a few of my earlier blogs, my youngest daughter and her husband lost their infant son recently. My 7 year old grandson lost his little brother.  My grandson Dylan James lived just 6 miraculous  weeks. He spent his whole short life in the NICU ward at Kaiser Permenate Hospital in Hollywood California.  Through it all my daughter and son in law endured the agonizing roller coaster like journey of Dylan’s short but impactful life.  It was during this period that my daughter began to understood just what a trying time having a child in a NICU ward (anywhere, under all circumstances) can be.  Bless her heart for turning her sadness into some goodness.  She put out a social media call for Christmas NICU care basket donations for families going through what she and her husband recently experienced.  Before she knew it she had an office room full of loving heartfelt donations from family, friends and her church community.  The items contained in these finished beautiful love-filled baskets will …