Recipes

[ChiliPepper]

Hi Valentines!!! Hope you are having a great day!

Well, I am finally back in from working on the car. OMG, it is cold out there. I couldn't get it started so I had to ask a dear friend for help. Trust me, only a DEAR friend would come out in this. 

We tried everything - charging, jumping, starting fluid, warming the underside of the vehicle. Nothing worked.

Finally decided the sub-zero cold killed the battery for good. So, almost $ 200.00 later it still wouldn't start. We figured maybe the fuel line was frozen so Chili was laying on the ground with a hair dryer trying to thaw out the fuel line. At first I was concerned how stupid I looked laying in the driveway but after one gets so cold, one does not care anymore LOL!

We FINALLY got it started (YAY!!!!!!). Hopefully, it starts again. DF suggests I go out ever hour or so & start it so I guess I'll set my alarm to get up throughout the night. So, if you are up at 1, 2, 3 am etc, I'll be here LOL!!! 

Anyway, I squeezed in heart shaped grilled cheese for DD for lunch but I didn't get to ANY of the goodies I wanted to make (sob!!!!). Oh well, she understands.

[ChiliPepper]

OK, that post was from a couple of hours ago. The internet went out mid-post.

Well, I finally got a chance to make our Valentines Day dinner - modified as it was. I made garlic shrimp & broccoli scampi over pasta. It was pretty good but I would have eaten bark at that point.

Then I had to hook up the new modem. I am not the least bit tech savvy so these things are a struggle for me. It doesn't help when the instructions are not for the model that came in the box. They are describing lights & ports that are not on this one. Sigh, I wish I had been born smart instead of cute!!!!!

Anyways, I figured it out. Age & common sense (& cuteness!) wins again!!!!!!

[mustang66lady]

Oh Chili,

I'm so sorry you have had so much car problems today! 

I remember those days from being single-don't know what I would have done without my brother to help!

You know what, that DD of yours is your Valentine EVERYDAY!  You could pick a night this week or even

have those goodies next weekend!  You don't need a

special day to tell someone you love them!  And I think

it could end up being a good lesson to her also-this day

puts a lot of stress on people-I decided a long time ago

what I wanted for Valentines day was nothing!  And I

admit it was hard for DH to believe-he entered with

caution our first Valentines together, but really, we

both enjoy the stress free day so much more.  You can

surprise her by showing her that you can tell someone you

love them any day and not be told when to tell someone when some industry says you have to do it.

Love isn't bound by a day.

I hope you do get some rest tonight and that the car starts  every time you start it.   Blessings be yours, my friend. 

[ChiliPepper]

Hi mustang! 

Thanks, it was a busy day. You are right, I can still make the soup & goodies this week. She really loves cheesecake so I want to make little mini ones & decorate them with conversation hearts, red M & Ms etc. I can still do that this week.

I tried to show her calmness & just dealing with trouble. Outside I looked calm, cool & collected but inside, not so much LOL! Respect & I were talking about that earlier this week.

She got a kick out of the heart shaped grilled cheese LOL!

Well, gotta go try to fire up that car. Negative 6 degrees right now. I hope all the animals are holed up somewhere warm.

[Writer with Flair]

Chili,

     Wow!  What a day you had.  I am so glad you finally got that car started.  It is unbelievable the cold you, and some of the other Kitchenettes, are having to deal with.  I pray it soon passes and that spring gets a move on.  Stay warm, my friends!

     Your Valentine's Day repast sounded yummy. You are such a sweet mom! Your daughter is indeed fortunate to have you as her mother.

Respect,

     I had to smile when you talked about making so much food. It reminded me of some of the “rules” my mother had when I was growing up.  The first, which I have mentioned before, was “Never ever touch the pressure cooker; it might blow up” and the other was “Always be sure to make more than enough food.” 

     Probably the most unthinkable thing for my mother, as a hostess, would be to run out of food.  Needless to say, it never happened--at least, not that I can remember.  We always had leftovers and plenty of them.  She would say that it was better to make too much food than to have too little. 

Mustang,

     That was so nice that you printed your post in pink and red for Chili since she was not able to get her tablet to work.  You are always so thoughtful and full of genuine concern and encouragement.  What would we ever do without you, dear Mustang?

     How cool was it that someone else was wanting to use your first recipe you posted here for the Pot Sticker Soup? You really have touched so many people's lives with these posts.  Bless you!

VaBelle,

     Thanks for the information about Amazon.   How great that you get those gift cards from your company!  Enjoy!

HoneyBit and Novamc,

Hope you are all well and staying warm, dear friends.

mtc,

     Loved that Valentine's Day photo.  That was such a dear picture.

     By the way, who are the Beekman Boys and why in the world do they have babygoats running around on a home shopping (Evine) network?  I am having a hard time putting this all together in my mind.  Apparently, I live quite a sheltered life, since I only watch QVC and HSN. What exactly are they selling over there at Evine, anyway?  As Chili would say, “You got some 'splainin' to do, Miss mtc.”

     Thanks so much for telling me about The Spice Sage. It looks like they have everything but the kitchen sink there.  That company is a wonderful resource.  I like that they carry larger sizes of spices for things that you use a lot.  I surely appreciate you thinking of little ole, low-sodium me, mtc.

     While I was perusing their site, I happened to notice that they carry both Sumac and Zataar, which were mentioned in some posts here last week.  They had a recipe for an Eggplant Hummus Sandwich Recipe using the Zataar seasoning.  It looked interesting.. 

Eggplant Hummus Sandwich Recipe

These breadless sandwiches combine some of the Middle East’s favorite flavors, using eggplant, zaatar seasoning and hummus. Enjoy on top of salads or with pita bread and hot sauce!

• Yield: 2; Level of Difficulty: Easy

• Cook Time: 5 Minutes; Prep Time: 35 Minutes

Ingredients

• 1 medium eggplant, cut into ½ inch rounds

• Coarse salt, for sweating (NOTE FROM WRITER: For sweating the eggplant, not the cook!)

• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

• ½ cup zaatar

• 1 ½ cups hummus

Directions

Place eggplant slices on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.

Liberally salt one side of the slices and allow to sit for twenty minutes. (Supposedly, salt helps “sweat” out the bitter flavor in eggplant. If I make this, I won't do the salt thing since I am trying to watch my sodium intake.)

Wipe each salted side off with a paper towel to remove salt.

Preheat broiler.

Place eggplant slices on broiler tray and baste the side that is up with olive oil.

Sprinkle about two teaspoons of zaatar on each eggplant round.

Broil for about three minutes or until rounds have lightly browned.

Flip eggplant rounds over, baste, and season with zatar again.

Place back under broiler for about another two minutes or until eggplant slices have lightly browned.

Remove from broiler and allow to cool for two minutes.

Stack 3-4 eggplant rounds per sandwich, spreading a layer of hummus between each round.

[ChiliPepper]

Mornin' Kitchenettes! Happy Maw-velous Monday!!!!

I'm a little tired but MY CAR STARTED!!!!

So, it is a great day so far my Friends!

BTW, it is negative 10 degrees this morning! And I decided living in Alaska is no longer on my bucket list.

[mustang66lady]

Good Morning Kitchenettes and Everyone!

We are still cold, very cold here in St. Louis but our weather people are saying by Friday, it will be 70!    Because of the warmer air moving in, we have fog like nobody's business right now!   Anyone flying to St. Lou or has a hold over here, will probably be delayed.

Chili,

I'm so glad your car started up!  YEAH!!!  It sounds like your DD found delight in the midst of the turmoil in that you still found time to make her a heart shaped grilled cheese-she knows she is always on your mind and in your heart for sure!   Sounds like she is going to have a Valentines WEEK instead of just a day-isn't that wonderful?! 

Just a note, DH lived in Alaska for a few years when he worked for G.E.  He lived near Anchorage and said for the most part, it isn't any different than living where you or we are.  I just have problems with the fact a bear or moose could wander into my yard......!

Hello Writer!

You are so very sweet my friend!  When I grow up, I want to be more like you!   mtc will have to tell us about the Beekman Brothers-I flipped over to Evine to see the goats and yes, they were there but didn't have time to watch for long.  Looked like they were selling soap and lotion that came with a caddy when I tuned in. 

mtc,

I am praying you have a good day today and that today will be the day you get relief from the stress of your tax situation.    Stay warm and we are here when ever you need to vent.

Respect, Vabelle, Honeybit, Novamc,

Waving hi to you all and praying for a warm, safe day for you all and a great beginning of the week to you all!

[RespectLife]

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@VaBelle35 wrote:

@RespectLife  So glad the food was a hit.  I guess it's better to have too much food than not enough.  Feeding an army isn't cheap so I'm glad everyone was happy and appreciative of your efforts.

---

@VaBelle35

I agree, I would have been mortified if we ran out of food by time the last tables were called.  That actually happened to me at a bridal shower at the church.  By time we were called, there were literally carrot sticks and a cheese cube to fight over!  LOL

Some day I hope to be a little closer though! 

[RespectLife]

OH MY DEAR Chili, Chili, @ChiliPepper

Good grazing cats what a time of it you had.  I just can't even imagine having to be under a car in those temps.  My tookus is cold just thinking about it!

You are one strong, CALM, resilient lady my friend!  You battled the enemy and you won!  Good for you!  I am sure DD saw what an example of strength you are!  I AM IN AWE OF YOU!!

We are going to get hit with a blast of more snow tonight...but then by the weekend, we will be in the 40's again.

Let's hope this artic chill is our only one of the season!

[RespectLife]

Okay my Search Savvy Kitchenette Friends...

I can't find the Coffee Smoothie recipe for the Vitamix.

It had bananas, coffee, dates, oats etc.

I am pretty sure I have everything Jan mentioned, but I can't find the recipe!

Help??!!

TIA