Truffle oil

I have been dying to try a truffle. We watch the cooking show where they shave a little of the truffles on pasta or eggs and they carry on so much that I have been wanting to try some. Now I do not know of any restaurant that servers a dish with real truffles and I sure wish they grew in my back yard as the things are so expensive we saw one listed for over $500. for 8 oz. Now I could pay off some bills with that kind of money. I settled for the oil. Boy this was great on scrambled eggs. It does have a very earthy smell and taste like a mushroom. It is also a little addicting. It makes you want more.

Sunday Cats, Callie and Minie Me

Here is a picture of Whiskers mom and brother Minnie Me. We hope they made it where ever they ended up. At least the boys were fixed and may have had a chance.

Jalapeno Sweet Potato Soup

This was not as spicy or hot as we thought it would be. It did have a real good flavor. recipe rom food.com
3 slices bacon finley chopped
1 med onion chopped
2 Tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic sliced
4 lbs sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
8 cups chicken broth (we used one and the rest we used chicken bullion)
1/4 cup pickled jalapeno peppers coarsely chopped
2 Tablespoons jalapeno juice
1 teaspoon cumin (we added a pinch more)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1 1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Saute bacon and onion in butter in large stock pot till clear, add garlic and cook 2 more minutes.
Add sweet potatoes,chicken broth pickled jalapenos jalapeno juice and cumin, cover and cook until potatoes are tender. (about 30 minutes)
When tender add soda, milk and cilantro coarsely mash with a potato masher, stir well and taste to see if you need to add more salt and or pepper.
Simmer for 15 minutes stirring frequently.

Sunday Cats Whiskers and Marbles

Here is a picture of Whiskers (white whiskers) and his brother Marbles taken when he was outside. Marbles was wife's favorite. We had Whiskers, Marbles, and Minnie Me all brothers neutered. Unfortunately about a week after that Marbles came up missing the next week Minnie Me was gone then the third week Momma Callie was missing. Wife thinks they were trapped and what happened to them after that kept her up nights for weeks. We took Whiskers and brought him in the house so he would not suffer the same fate as his brothers. We think Moonface is most likely the papa cat.

Toll House Chocolate Chips Cookies

I am not going to post this recipe because all you have to do is follow the directions on the chocolate chips bag. What could be better than a warm cookie with a cold glass of milk.

Pear salad with balsamic reduction

We like a pear salad with mayo or yogurt with cheese but this time we took the pear juice and put in a sauce pan and but balsamic vinegar with it and simmered and it to reduce to a syrup then used it over the pears to give it a little kick.

Lemon Cream Chicken

This was a very tasty chicken dish so give it a try and pretty easy. Another nice date night like meal that looks like you know what you are doing in the kitchen and pretty easy.
Thanks to Taste of Home
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon all purpose divided.
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
6 boneless skinless chicken breast
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy whipping cream divided
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms sliced
In a large plastic bag combine 1/2 cup flour, salt, and pepper add chicken a few pieces at a time.
Seal and shake to coat.
In a large skillet cook chicken in butter for about 8-9 minutes on each side or until meat thermometer reads 170. remove chicken and cover and keep warm.
Add broth to pan drippings. Bring to a boil over med heat, stir to loosen browned bits. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes or till broth is reduced to 1/3 cup. Stir in 3/4 cup of cream, lemon juice and mushrooms. Cook over med-low heat for about 5 minutes.
Combine remaining flour and cream until smooth in bowl. Stir into skillet bring to a boil. and cook stirring for about 2 minutes or until thickened. return chicken to skillet and heat through.
This did not say to serve over pasta but we thought it would be good and it was.

Grillades

We caught John Folse cooking this recipe and thought we would give it a try. Round steak is used and we don't use this cut of meat very often but it turned out really tasty. This feeds six but we cut the recipe in half for us.
2 medium size round steak
1 cup flour
1/4 cup bacon drippings or shortening
1 cup onion diced
1 cup celery diced
1/2 cup bell pepper finely diced
1 cup tomatoes (we used a can if diced)
1 cup green onions finely diced
3 cups beef stock (we used beef bouillon all we had)
1/4 cup garlic diced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste
(we added a little red pepper flakes)
Cut steaks into 3 inch square cubes and season to taste with salt and pepper. Dust with flour and set aside.
In (we use a cast iron dutch oven) heavy bottom dutch oven heat oil over med high heat saute round steaks until brown on all sides.
Add onions,celery,bell pepper,tomatoes,green onions and garlic. Saute until vegetables are wilted about 3 to 5 minutes.
Add beef stock and bring to a low boil and reduce heat to a simmer.
Cover and allow to cook slowly for about 45 minutes, stir occasionally to keep seasoning from scorching. Once tender add mushrooms and parsley.
Adjust seasoning if necessary cook about 10 more minutes.
Meanwhile while this is cooking cook grits according to directions.
When ready serve over the grits.
This is supposed to be a breakfast or brunch meal but we ate it at night.

Sunday Cats, Stinker

Before this weekend we were having really warm weather and the boys were really enjoying the front porch. The little birdies in the azaleas around the porch just drive Stinker crazy. Here he is all tuckered out from running from one end to the other.

Holly Cessna 1989-2012

On Friday January 6 my niece Holly died peacefully in her sleep.
She was a cancer survivor of five years.
There are holes in my heart were family and friends used to be,
Holly’s is a little bigger.
Will be back to cooking soon.

Tamale Casserole

I found this under Group Recipes as I was looking for a Tamale casserole. Now I love Tamales but I do not need dozens of them so I was hoping for a casserole that might do the trick. Well I guess we will just have to get them from the new restaurant we have been eating at. The Mesquite grill at the metro center in Jackson.
We have had several things from their menu now and must say they do have some good tamales.
Back to this recipe. We had a pablano pepper left over from the soup we made so we thought we would use it in this dish.

1 lb ground beef(we have deer meat and used that)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 small bell pepper chopped
1 cup celery chopped
1 can whole tomatoes (we used a can of diced)
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
2 cans corn (drained)
1 can chopped green chilies
2 eggs slightley beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 to 3 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 pablano pepper seeded and chopped (this is optional)
1/4 lb shredded sharp cheddar cheese

In a large skillet saute the ground beef. Add bell pepper,celery and onion and cook until beef is coked and onions onion is clear.

Add tomatoes with liquid, cornmeal and corn blend well then add eggs, salt,pepper, chili pepper and cumin and paplano pepper and ground beef mixture mix and pour into 2quart deep casserole with lid or or use foil

Cover and bake for 45 minutes or till casserole is set
Remove and sprinkle with cheese bake till cheese is melted.
Garnish with olives, avocado and sour cream

Pablano Shrimp Corn Chowder/Soup

This is a terrible picture for such a good soup. It says its a chowder but for me a chowder is thicker than this. Who knows maybe I got it wrong.

It also was not nearly as hot as I thought it would be. Wife has ruined me, I can take more heat than I used to. It does have a lot of ingredients but does not take a long time to cook most time is spent in the prep work.

1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined cut in half or more if very large. wife likes bite size so she gets a little with each spoonful.
1 Tablespoon butter
3-4 slices bacon
1 small yellow onion chopped
6 cloves of garlic minced
3 stalks of celery diced
1 pablano chili seeded and diced. (can use two if small we used one large may go for two next time.)
1 Tablespoon jalapeno chili minced (use gloves!!!)
2 ears of corn cut off cob (we used some we had put up in the freezer)
2 medium white potatoes in 1/2 inch cubes (can use can) we had russet
2 cans sweet cream style corn
2 cans chicken broth
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup half and half
1 Tablespoon corn starch mixed with 1 Tablespoon cold water
Salt and pepper to taste
Cayenne and chili powder to taste
1/3 cup cilantro
cilantro and cheese to garnish (cheddar pepper jack or what ever you like)

Cook potatoes in water till tender drain and cool
Melt butter in large pot and cook bacon till browns slightly. Add celery,onion,garlic,jalapenos and poblano and saute till slightly softened about 5- 8 minutes.
Now add corn, cream corn,chicken broth,spices,salt and pepper,half and half and milk bring to a boil.
Reduce to a simmer and add potatoes,cornstarch and cilantro
simmer for 20 minutes
Add shrimp and cook till pink about 5 minutes
serve with cheese and extra cilantro.

Sunday Cats and Happy New year

Moon is enjoying the deer leg bone with a little meat still on it.

Butter

Along with the banana bead I got this butter at the farmers market. It is the best butter we almost died when we had it on a biscuit and it was pretty darn good on the banana bread.
It is made by some Amish people and is well worth getting.

Banana Bread

I know we posted this before I think with out a picture. Our pecans just make it so much better.
1/2 cup butter room temp.
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed banana about 3
1/2 cup pecans (we added just a few more)
/2 cup sour cream
cream butter,sugar,eggs and vanilla
add dry ingredients then bananas,nuts and sour cream
Mix well then pour in 1 large greased loaf pan
bake in preheated oven 350 for 1 hour.
let cool then take out of pan.