Start your day of with a kick!

Apple sausage and homemade hash.

Family Day 2011

I can remember just like it was yesterday.  Mikey was playing college in Crete, NB on Saturdays....Branden was playing at Red Mountain High School on Fridays and Bryant was playing at Fremont Jr High on Wednesday.  I worked at an insurance company Monday thru Friday....did hair part-time....catered part-time and had to make it to every game.  What was dinner time?  Life for all of us is so hectic and we and our children are over scheduled and never on the same schedule.  September 26, 2011 is National Family Day and studies show that family meals are a very important part of raising healthily, responsible kids.  I would like to challenge all of you to try and have at least 2 sit-down-with-family meals every month.  As we grow closer to September let's try to make it 3 sit-sown-family-meals a month.  Not only does this give us time with our young ones it also opens the lines of communications which are very important. 
My two older sons are done with college, the oldest has a family of his own and the baby is a senior in College and my husband is working overseas to insure the financial stability of his family.  If I could turn back the clock I would have made sure that we shared a meal together at least once a week.  When Bryant is finished with college and hopefully back in Arizona, WE WILL have a family dinner at least once a month!!!  Keep me informed on how this is working out for you and yours.  Remember no TV, no cell phones and no silence.

Ham with pineapple and cranberry salsa

Next time you bake your Virgina Ham, add pineapple and cranberry salsa. Let me know if you would like the recipe.

Your next kitchen purchase

During this time where we are all trying to save money you can't afford not to add this to your kitchen.  Food really does last longer and I have started saving all my leftovers and freezing them for a later date.  I also use it on Sundays when I cook food for a few days, freeze them and pull them out on a day that I am running short on time.  Once you try it, you'll be hooked.

Bodacious Blueberry

Did you know that a good muffins have a moist interior and a coarse, rounded top. Make sure the  texture is  somewhat crumbly. Beating the batter too much produces a mixture that's too compact and the muffin will be to dense. It's best to mix the batter just to combine and moisten the ingredients. For the best results, use fresh blueberries and add them at the end of the mixing process.

Apple Sausage and Homemade Hash

My sister-in-law usually cooks some STRANGE food but here is one of her recipes I had to share.

Breakfast Vegetable Hash

Serves 4

The trick to perfecting this hash is frying the potatoes and sautéing the vegetables separately and then combining them.  Accompany this dish with your favorite breakfast sausage or bacon and fresh fruits and you’ve created the perfect start for the day.

            4 large Idaho potatoes, peeled and diced

            1 green bell pepper, chopped

            1 red bell pepper, chopped

            1 medium onion, chopped

            3 cloves garlic, minced

            2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped        

            2 tablespoons vegetable oil

            3 tablespoons butter

            Salt and pepper to taste

Heat and melt 1½ tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet.  Add potatoes, salt and pepper to taste and sauté until evenly browned and cooked through.

In a separate large skillet, heat and melt the remaining 1½ tablespoons of butter.  Add the red and green bell peppers, onion and garlic.  Salt and pepper to taste and sauté on medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the edges of the peppers are browned.

Add the vegetables to the potatoes and heat through.  Add parsley, toss together and serve.

Personalize you invatations or place cards

Make your own statement.  I have come across a great graphic designer who will not disappoint.  Give him a try for your family reunion, dinner party, wedding, birthday party and more.  You can contact him at wcsmith17@yahoo.com.