Amazing Kitchen Helper Giveaway

I love cooking.  It is something that makes me feel like I am sharing my love with family and friends.  But it is hard to keep track of the recipes as I make them up.  I have tried writing them down.  But my handwriting is not the best.  Also have put them in my computer to save them. But when it is time to remake a dish I have to print it out.  Usually I am out of printer ink or the printer is out of whack.  So I am writing it down so I can take it to the kitchen.

This is all fixed for me now.  I have the Key Ingredient Reader.  This is great for keeping up with my creations and being able to recall them when I wish too.  My creations are kept online with my account on Key Ingredient.  I then plug my reader into the USB port and sync them together.  They work together to put my recipes and the ones I favorite onto the reader.  Next I can move my reader to the kitchen where it is easy to use to create delicious meals.  I have already moved three of the recipes that I put on this blog to the reader.  So simple.

Now let me tell you how your community can benefit too!

Community Cookbook Contest

Welcome to the Key Ingredient Community Cookbook Contest Event Signup Page!

Key Ingredient at
 Gourmet Housewares Vegas
(Photo credit: dhgoodman)

Host an Event for your community and get free gifts, free prizes, and a chance to win $2,000 for your community!

In the spirit of community, we are trying to bring people together to enjoy food, community, and great recipes.  A Host must find a location for their event, create a theme, and get the word out!  We’ll provide:

• A Host Checklist and Guide, with Instructions on how to compete in the Community Cookbook Contest.
• A Free Key Ingredient Recipe Reader for the Host to Demo at your Event and then Keep for themselves: ($149 value)
• An additional Free Key Ingredient Recipe Reader for you to Raffle or Give-away at your Event! ($149 value)
• Handout Material including instructions on how your community can compete for the $2,000 prize.
• A poster that explains the Community Cookbook Contest and includes your Community Tag.
• 20 Free Gifts for your first 20 Guests that arrive (or as Party prizes, its up to you).

Here are a few theme ideas for you:

• Community Potluck Party – have everyone bring a dish and a recipe… then explain to the group how to put the recipe online at KeyIngredient.com and become qualified to win $2000 for your community.
• Community Recipe Party – skip the cooking step above, and just have everyone bring their favorite recipe… (not as tasty, but still fun).
• Regularly Scheduled Side-event – perhaps you already have an event planned?  If so, great, make the Community Cookbook Contest a part of it, by setting aside 10-minutes to tell everyone how to submit their recipes at KeyIngredient.com with the event tag,
• Have any questions? Please contact Emilie Thuesen at Emilie@keyingredient.com (512-462-4996 ext. 407) or Ashley Scotti at Ascotti@jbcumberland.com.

Simply sign up to host a Community Cookbook Contest for your community below! they’ll arrange to send you your package, and give you a unique Community Tag to tag your recipes on KeyIngredient.com.

Now if this is not enough of a cool deal or if you are not able to do a community project, how about winning your very own Key Ingredient Reader right here on Crazed Mind?  Yes not only did Key Ingredient send me a reader to review they are also providing one for you to win.  Pretty amazing.  Just enter below on the Rafflecopter.  Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saucing It Up

We had guest over for dinner tonight.  It is a local man that always makes me smile.  But living in the middle of hunting area somewhat makes it hard for him to have dinner out.  He is chosen a vegetarian meal plan.  Being a single fellow he does not do much cooking for himself.  So when we can, we invite him for a home cooked meal.

Tonight we started off with my ever famous Vanilla Pumpkin Soup.  I just switched the broth to vegetable instead of chicken.  Added in some fresh baked yeast rolls and a green salad for side dishes.  Dessert was a homemade mincemeat cake.  Pretty good and a lil on the spicy side.  

But for our main course we had Meat-less Meatloaf.  First I cooked up a pot of pinto beans today.  Drained them and then smashed them up.  Added in chopped up onions and bell peppers.  I used the last of my bag of Beanfields Nacho Bean & Rice chips for the filler.  And then mixed in Fischer & Wieser Sweet & Savory Onion Glaze.

 Oh that gave this dish the most wonderful flavor.  I loved the sweet onions but the touch of jalapenos did just the trick.  A Texas winner if I ever saw one.  I then just mixed this all up by hand and placed it in a bunt pan to cook.

 Voila' dinner was served.  I need to get the beans a lil more mashed up and I wish I had used a bit more of that amazing sauce.  But I am going to do this all over again Thursday night for the in-laws.  I am going to try the

Smokehouse Bacon & Chipotle Grilling Sauce for that one!  

Now I want to tell you about these sauces I am using.  I have plans for many more of them.  Dear Hubby and I enjoyed a weekend roaming the streets of Fredricksburg, Texas.  And sampling the yummies that come from this German heritage town.  That is where Fischer & Wieser hales from.  Established in 1969, and owned and operated by members of the Fischer and Wieser families, the company lives by its motto “produce a quality product, and loyal customers will embrace it”.  I have several sauces that I have slated for different dinners.  

Harvest Apple Cider Glaze (a must have for pork tenderloin)

Sweet & Savory Onion Glaze (I would love to try this on grilled corn on the corn)

Smokehouse Bacon & Chipotle Grilling Sauce  (everyone loves Bacon!)

Charred Pineapple Bourbon Sauce (make up a new wings sauce here)

Papaya Lime Serrano Sauce (fish, yes, this one for the fish)

and of course the The Original Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce®

This is one of my picks for my Gift Guide this year.  I think that these would be great to give to the foodie in the family.  You can order online and have them shipped to you or directly to your special someone.  Fischer & Wieser also has a couple of recipes you might want to try out!

Chicken Dippers using Fischer & Wieser’s The Original Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce®

These chicken dippers are quick-to-fix finger foods that can be enjoyed as a main dish with a side salad or vegetables or as an appetizer for all to enjoy.

Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes

1 egg
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat and tendon, cut into 1" nuggets
*1-1/2 cups peanut oil (or see baking instructions below, if you prefer to bake)
½ to ¾ cups The Original Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce®

Mix egg, soy sauce and cornstarch. Add chicken nuggets. Heat oil until hot enough to quickly brown a small drop of marinade (350-375°F). Stir-fry or deep-fry until crust is golden brown and chicken is done - about 4-6 minutes.

Dip in (remove “any of”) Fischer & Wieser The Original Roasted Raspberry ChipotleSauce® or any of our dipping sauces.

*If you wish to bake these, omit peanut oil. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray, or use parchment paper.

Place battered nuggets on sheet and bake in 350°F oven 7-8 minutes per side until nuggets are golden brown and juice runs clear when nugget is pierced with fork. Serves 4-6.

Fischer & Wieser Whole Lemon & Fig Marmalade is a versatile ingredient that packs a big punch with the zesty tang of lemon and the beautiful sweetness of figs. This flavor combination is so light and delicate that it’s perfect for chicken.

Chicken Breasts with Whole Lemon & Fig Marmalade

Figs have been rated as one of the world’s healthiest foods, and have been found to aid weight loss, lower blood pressure, and promote healthy bone density.٭ With only 2 main ingredients, this recipe couldn’t be easier, healthier or more delicious!  

Prep Time:  5-10 minutes
Cook Time:  35 minutes

Serves 4

1-1/4 cup Fischer & Wieser Whole Lemon & Fig Marmalade
non-stick cooking spray
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange chicken breasts in baking dish; spoon Fischer & Wieser Whole Lemon & Fig Marmalade over breasts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Bake for 35 minutes, basting frequently with more Fischer & Wieser Whole Lemon & Fig Marmalade.  Remove chicken from baking dish and place on warm platter. Pour cooking juices over chicken as sauce. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon slices if desired. Serve with a tossed salad and a side of rice, and you’ve got dinner!           

Thanks ever so much to Fischer & Wieser for sending me these wonderful sauces to try out.  I love having foods made right here in Texas.  And more so when I can go and visit to see just what goodies they have on hand.  Also amazingly affordable prices!  That is perfect for me and my pocket book when it comes to gifts this season.

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Dark Chocolate Banana Cheesecake

I was jonesing for a cheesecake the other day.  So I started looking at what I had.  Here is what I came up with.

First I did not have the crust fixins.  So I took a pie crust rolled out and sprinkled it with sugar and cinnamon.  Rolled it back up and sliced it into pieces.

Then placing them in a oiled cake pan, I smushed them down flat.

This made my cinnamon roll pie crust bottom.

Next I mixed up what I had for fillings.  Came up with a pretty good one.  Here it is.

2 packages of Cream Cheese

1 tub of Philadelphia Dark Chocolate Indulgence

3 ripe bananas

3 eggs

1 cup sugar 

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Mixed the tar out of it and poured it over my cinnamon roll pie crust.  Popped it in the oven at 350 and cooked til it was done.  Time?  About an hour.  Never have been good at these things.  Just watch for it to be pulled away from the sides and the top looks firm.  I tested it by placing a knife in to see if it came out clean.

The end piece was sliced, place on a fancy paper plate and drizzled with chocolate sauce.  Whew!  This sure did the trick for me.

As you can see I did not get it all mixed up really well, so make sure you do.  I did have some chunks of cream cheese that was not smushed up enough.

Meal Time Goodness

What a busy week I am having.  Getting with it in the clean up department around here.  Moved Granny M's plants in from the front porch.  That is a massive chore in itself.  But have to move things around to have shelves to put them on in front of the big front windows for optimum sunshine.  Well to get the shelves I have to move them from other rooms, find something to put in their place to hold what they were holding.  Also have to move what was in front of the windows to clear the space for the plants.  It becomes a massive whole house rearranging chore. But.....whew....I have it done finally.

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Of course that is impossible to do without  doing some other cleaning, sweeping, dusting and such.  We know how it all goes.  I am glad to say that in the last 48 hours I have managed to make my knee swell up twice the size it was.  As well as make myself happier for the ease and access to different rooms I have created.  Oh it is like a good housekeeping type of week.  Oh let's add in tonight's fried feast we are going to have.  Yeah it is fried green tomatoes time.  Add in chicken fried bacon and gravy with a side of home fries and onions.  Bring on the beer and I am ready to go.

Now this is not the normal around here but sometimes you just have to have a good ol mess of a meal.  Otherwise it is great to dig around in a good cookbook and find some new ideas for meal time.  I know that can be as good reading as any romance or detective novel for me.  I have a new favorite to dive into also.  The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen Cookbook is the bomb!  I know that I have always trusted the recipes from Good Housekeeping.  They do test and retest thousands of recipes every year.  And it is nice to know that a recipe is going to work the first time you use it as long as you are following what it says to do.

I also love that they have kept up with the times.  This is not grandma's cookbook, ladies.  No this is smartphone ready.  You can see videos on how to execute that dish with just a quick scan.  Pretty cool, huh?  Add in expert cooking tips and advice, the nutritional analysis that is oh so important for our diets these days and those easy weeknight meals so we can get dinner on the table before bath time sets in.  Whew, it is a busy day being mom these days.  And with the holidays coming up I am really tuning into the entertaining guide and freezer guidelines.  All of this with a lay-flat binding makes it easy to use, easy to find what I need and easy to do meals at my fingertips.  With days like I have had this week I will take all the help I can get.  Loving this one so much that I have planned on giving the Other Mother her own copy for Christmas.  Perfect for the foodie on your list too!

Want to have even more fun?  Well pop over and enter for a chance to go to NYC and play in the test kitchens of Good Housekeeping for yourself!  Yeah, wouldn't we all love to do just that?  I think it would be a perfect way to enjoy a vacation.  Of course I just love food so dang if this is not just spot on.

Fat Fried in Fat Covered in Fat?

This is a scary recipe to me! But you know people will eat anything that is cooked at a State Fair. So how many of y'all are heading out to get yours?


Fried Butter

Butter center:

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup powdered sugar

3 tablespoons cream cheese

3 tablespoons berry jam (flavor of choice)

Cream butter, sugar, cream cheese and jam together with an electric mixer until smooth. Using a melon baller, form 1-inch balls of butter mixture and arrange them on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Freeze until solid, at least two hours.

Batter:

1 cup flour

3 tablespoons powdered sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 cup chilled club soda (plus up to 1/4 cup additional if batter is too thick)

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. Fold chilled club soda into dry mixture. Do not overmix; batter will be slightly lumpy and thick.

Heat 3 1/2 cups peanut oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, to 350 F.

Working with frozen butter balls, skewer frozen balls one at a time and dip in batter. Place battered butter ball in hot oil and remove skewer, using a second skewer to dislodge. Fry for 30 to 45 seconds and turn with slotted spoon. Allow battered butter to fry for an additional 30 to 45 seconds or until lightly browned.

Remove fried butter balls from oil with slotted spoon and cool on a rack for at least 1 minute. (I know it will be hard to wait.) Skewer and eat, State-Fair style. Careful, contents of fried butter will remain hot.

Variations:

Garlic Fried Butter: Omit sugar and jam from butter center; add 1 tablespoon garlic powder. Omit sugar from batter.

Plain Fried Butter: Omit jam from butter center.

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Creamy Chive Chicken Breasts

Here's a sauce so delicious, it's missing only one thing: a little crunchy bread to dip in it. Make It a Meal: Serve with steamed asparagus or cauliflower, wild rice or a fresh salad.

Prep Time:	35 minutes
Ready in:	35 minutes
Yield:	4 servings
Ease of Prep:	Easy

Recipe Ingredients
	4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound), trimmed of fat
	1 teaspoon kosher salt , divided
	1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
	3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil , divided
	2 large shallots , finely chopped
	1/2 cup water
	1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
	1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream
	1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
	1/2 cup chopped chives (about 1 bunch)

Recipe Directions

1. Place chicken between sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet or heavy skillet until flattened to an even thickness, about 1/2 inch. Season both sides of the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place 1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs in a shallow glass baking dish and dredge the chicken in it. Discard the excess seasoned bread crumbs.
2. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate, cover and keep warm.
3. Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon oil in the pan over medium-high heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring constantly and scraping up any browned bits, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon flour; stir to coat. Add water, broth and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt; bring to a boil, stirring often.
4. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until heated through and no longer pink in the center, about 6 minutes. Stir in sour cream and mustard until smooth; turn the chicken to coat with the sauce. Stir in chives and serve immediately.

Advantages: low calorie, low carb, low sat fat, heart healthy, healthy weight.

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Doesn't Get Much Better

Whew! Our Saturday evening was wonderful.
With friends, family and neighbors who could ask for better people around them

Image via Wikipedia

Today after DH was through with work he fired up the grill and started cooking all the meat. Steaks, chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages and. . .I think there is an and there?
Nessa had organized all while I was manning the store at Mary's.
She had made pasta salad, tea and helped get all the fixings thawed and ready.
My mom did up her fantastic bean dip that seems to be her staple.
And then the people started rolling in.

College Girl came home for the weekend with her dorm roommate. Following was a couple of the guys from college too! One of our good friends in town popped on in to join in the meal and merriment. CG's Poppa, Other Mom and lil Sissy arrived for a feast. And of course we had to have Nessa's cheerful foursome to keep things going. (She is a lifesaver.) Top it off my dad was here all day. That is uncommon as can be!

Threw in a all the fixings for the hamburgers and hot dogs, chicken garden salad, pea salad, chips, fresh fruit of watermelon, grapes and plums. It was a three table feast for all.
I sure wish y'all could have joined us for all the food, great conversations and relaxing times. I know that it was a great day for me!

Showered with Gifts

My birthday was amazing. My best friend Jennifer (we have been friends for 36 yrs) sent me a Dell computer. WOW!

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My friend Mary, who has the B & B/antique store gave me a sting of pearls. Yeah! Amazed. I always wanted to be June Cleaver as the perfect housewife and mother.


My in-laws are passing down a 100+ yr old piece of original craftsman furniture that belonged to DH's great grandfather in California. Beautiful and I will treasure it so much. I feel honored that they are giving me a piece of family history. I know I am part of their family

Image by bro0ke via Flickr

now.

Dear Hubby took me, College Girl and her best friend Thomas out to lunch at my fav eatery in Stephenville. (Simply Deli off the square)

My mom and friend Nessa did me a great dinner of sandwiches and snack foods that I enjoy and

Image by Photos o' Randomness via Flickr

then we played games. I so want the recipe for the Cucumber Lemonade that Nessa made me! And Nessa's kids showered me with stuffed animals for gifts. Nessa and Dan bought me a fishing license and Dan took me and my pink fishing pole out fishing for a bit Friday night too!

See---a wonderful birthday all around. To tell you the truth I do not know what gift I love more as each was given to me from the heart and was just want I wanted too!

Then I had so many of my bloggy friends wish me a Happy Birthday here. On Facebook I had even more well wishes! I feel so loved and honored to have so many good people in my life. I know this is how one measures richness. In the friends and great people in their lives. THANK YOU!

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Daily Life Workout

Image by egg on stilts via Flickr

Today has been a busy one for me.
Up and doing first thing in the morning.
Took time to go have coffee and breakfast.
Yumm, oatmeal, bacon and toast.....my fav breakfast.
Then off to Curves for my daily workout.
3 times around the circut and I am sweating all over the place.
Afterwards I grabbed a cup of ice.
That is my snack when I want something cool and crunchy.
No calories, no fat...lol...just cool.
From there off to Mary's B & B and Antique Store to work.
Had to clean all of the B & B, top to bottom.
Whew, that was another lil workout.
Now have a lil time to get to work online.
Then it will be time to go home, mow the back yard (did the front late last night).
Afterwards I need to see what I need to gather for a trip to San Saba with Nessa.
Tell you more about that soon!

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Duh Recipe

Granny M is going through some of the old recipes she has collected over the years. In doing this (to make up a home made cookbook) she has come across some humdingers. Well here is this mornings.

Fruit Flavored Fruit

Image by wizan via Flickr

Ok, she asked me...."just what would fruit be flavored with other that fruit flavor???"

So I had to see this lil jewel of the obvious.

Fruit Flavored Fruit

4 cups fresh fruit*** (try fresh fruit). Hummm I would have had a hard time figuring that one.
4 squares of Heavy Duty Reynolds Wrap (this is the sponsor)
Juice on 1 orange (1/2 cup) I wonder if 1 orange always equals 1/2 a cup???
Juice of 1 lime Well we are still on the fruit so guess it is going to be fruit flavored
1 cup brown sugar always like a lil extra sweet
1/4 tsp Tabasco Pepper Sauce (other sponsor) Now this is not on the fruit flavoring list I have!
1/8 tsp salt Hummm, for flavor
2 tblsp dark rum (0ptional) Not in my book this is a must have!
2 tblsp butter So the fruit slides down so much better?

Pare, section or slice and seed fruit. This of course helps you eat fruit in my house. Divide onto foil squares. Hummm, combine or keep flavors separate? In a saucepan combine remaining ingredients and simmer for 3 minutes. Now we have a hot fruit flavored sauce. Spoon sauce over fruit servings and seal packets. Still don't know if fruit was to be mixed up??? Cook in preheated 350 oven for 15 min or until tender. Guess you would have to open packets often to see when tender starts? 4 servings. Well that makes sense since 4 packets.

Now I can't try this gem of a recipe so you will have to tell me how fruit taste any more like fruit when you add hot sauce. I am allergic to aluminum foil so I can not cook with it.

Dang sure missed out on the dessert here----NOT!

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