Foodie Friends Friday ~ Linky Party 8/10/12

This week has just flown by. I had company at the beginning of the week and then the last couple of days I spent working in the kitchen at our church camp. We served between 60 -70 people for each meal. It is so much fun, cooking, cleaning and the fellowship with the others that are working there... each time I go I meet new friends and come home with great memories and usually a burn or two.. but no injuries this time. YEAH! I do plan on writing a post on my experiences there.. So stay tuned.
But on to great and better things.. Our Linky Party @ Foodie Friends Friday and once again we have a prize for the Top 3 Voted!  This week Tami from Around the Table with Tami, has been gracious enough to donate 3 e-cookbooks for this party.  I received mine today and it looks Awesome and I can't wait until I can make something from it.  Thank you Tami for doing this and if you haven't been to her blog, go and check her out and let her know I sent you.

Foodie Friends Friday

Last week had a great turn out and I want to congratulate the winners:

Top 3 Voted:

Hun... What's for dinner?

Spatula's On Parade

Cooking From A SAHM

Most Clicked:

Mainelybakes

My Biscuits Are Burning

Dawn's Divine Delights

I hope you all return with great recipes again this week....  Now for the host's favorite... I have to apologize the I didn't get my own made this week but I do have the ingredients so will try to do it and post it this weekend... Drum Roll please...

Dawn's Divine Delights ~~~With her Dove Fudge.. I love dove candies and I love fudge so these seem to go hand in hand.  I even went out and bought the dove candies so that I could make these.

Dove Fudge-- They looks so yummy
picture courtesy of Dawn's Divine Delight.

Dawn,  please grab Host Favorite Button to put on your blog.  Your recipes always looks so yummy!

Now for this weeks fun... I know all of you will be submitting some great recipes again this week and can't wait until I can start to go through them.  And, Remember to come back and vote for your favorite recipes on Sunday ~ you get 3 votes. 

Host for this week are:

Tracy at Busy Vegetarian Mom http://www.busyvegetarianmom.com

Robyn's View http://www.robynsviewathome.blogspot.com

Angie at A lil Country Sugar  http://alilcountrysugar.blogspot.com/  

Sarah at Everything in the Kitchen Sink http://everythingkitchensink.blogspot.com

Michelle at From Calculus to Cupcakes  http://www.fromcalculustocupcakes.blogspot.com

Marlys at This and That  http://marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com/

Lois at  Walking on Sunshine http://wifeofthecolonel.blogspot.com/

Lindsey at Family Food Finds  http://www.familyfoodfinds.com

Cindy at Cindys Recipes and Writings  http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com

Keira at Luscious Delights www.lusciousdelights.blogspot.com.au

R Dawn at http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com

Amber at http://www.mamasblissfulbites.com

Ericka at http://www.chefpickykid.com

Wayne at http://www.passionepercucina.blogspot.co.uk/p/welcome.html

 

Bison Burger

This week is going to a busy one for me... I get off work in a couple of hours... It is slow right now, so able to be on the computer.  But once I sleep for a couple hours, I need to get up and get ready as we are getting company.  I love having company as it is a good excuse to cook and after our linky party this weekend I have about 120 recipes that I can pick from to make... It is so much fun taking a recipe and making it my own.
 Then for the rest of the week I will be going to our church camp to work in the kitchen.  I love going there and working in the kitchen... Baking and cooking and visiting. I love the visiting and meeting new people and sharing stories. I can't wait to go again.  I will be there for three days, so this may be my only blog this week.

I made these burgers a couple of days ago and loved them.  My husband thought they tasted and smelt to much like smokes as I did have a rip-roaring flame going on as I was BBQing  them.  But I thought they were delicious.  I have only made buffalo or bison burgers a couple of times because the meat is very expensive.  I pay $9.99 for 1 lb but as there is only 2 of us.. I can make 4 1/4 lb burgers and that is good for 2 meals for us, so I guess it really isn't that bad ~ $2.50 per burger ~~ so maybe I will make them more often :).

Bison Burger ~ didn't want to eat it with a bun
so just had my tomato and spinach on top!

Ingredients:

1 lb ground bison meat

1 tsp sage

1 tsp paprika

1 tbsp dijon mustard

2 tbsp minced onions

1 tbsp minced garlic

1/3 cups oats

1/3 cup mozzarella cheese

1 egg

salt and pepper to taste.

2 tbsp oil

Combine all ingredients except oil.  Divide mixture into 4 and make patties.  Prior to putting on grill, brush oil on either side of burgers.  Put on hot grill and cook for 5 -6 minutes each side.

on the grill.. I did place tin foil on the grill as I had a rip roaring flame
and didn't want them to burn

close up picture of the burger without a bun.

the next day I decided to have a bun and added tillamook cheese

Delicious!

If you haven't had bison meat it should be something that you think about... It is a healthier alternative to beef  as it contains fewer calories and fat.  I also think it has much more flavour over beef.  So the next time you think burgers.... Think bison.

                                    Til next time <3 <3 <3 Marlys

Links:

  

Thursday's Treasure, Manic Mondays #24, Party Thyme

California Club Pizza

I love reading recipes and have found that facebook is a wonderful way of finding great recipes.  I feel a recipe is to be only used as a guideline to help you make a masterpiece of your own.  There are very few recipes that I make that are word for word what the recipe says.... I like to make them my own.  Saying that I also think it is important to give thanks to the people that post their recipes... and that if you make it different it is alright to repost it, as long as credit is given where credit is due.  So here is my credits... the original recipe can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/pampered-chef-consultant-carols-corner/california-club-pizza/407504209282075 . if you want to make it just like the original recipe. it looked great that way too and it won't hurt my feelings and if you want to use my suggestions great.... or make it into your own creations.  Cooking, baking and food preparation is an art and like art, no two dishes can be the same!

                                                       California Club Pizza   

Ingredients:

cornmeal

1 tsp oil

1 pkg (13.8 oz) refrigerated pizza crust

2 cups diced or shredded cooked chicken

2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese blend (I used a little less)

2 plum tomatoes

1/4 medium red onion (chopped)

1 medium avocado ( I used 1 and 1/2)

1 lemon

1 tbsp fresh basil chopped

greek seasoning

romano cheese (shredded)

6 slices bacon, thinly sliced, cooked and drained (in original recipe - was going to use but forgot)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Lightly brush oil onto large pizza stone or large bar pan.  Sprinkle small amount of cornmeal on pan.  Roll out pizza dough - gently stretching and pressing dough to fit your pan.  Sprinkle small amount of cornmeal onto pizza dough.   Top crust with chicken and shredded cheese.  Place in oven and bake for about 15-18 minutes until crust is golden brown.  Remove from oven and place on cooling rack.

baked with chicken and cheese

Meanwhile, slice tomatoes lengthwise, remove seeds and dice (I sliced mine thinly).  Slice or chop onions. Slice avocado in half, remove pit and dice.  Place tomatoes, onions and avocado and chopped fresh basil in bowl. Juice 1 lemon to equal 2 tbsp juice and stir gently into veggies.

Place veggie mixture on pizza. Sprinkle greek seasoning to taste and add shredded Romano Cheese.  Place back in oven until cheese is melted, approximately 3 minutes.  

veggies, greek season and romano cheese added

ready to go bake in the oven

       And ENJOY!

Enjoy

Hand over a plate, here is your piece.

*Notes..... I did have a slice the next day.... the aroma of the basil and the veggies was wonderful.  My co-workers wished that I had brought them a piece.  Sorry, it was all for me and I didn't share.  Although the crust was a little soggy as I heated it up in the microwave, it tasted wonderfully.  As I was eating it, I thought mushrooms... I should have added mushroom.  Next time. 

* Note I had posted this on facebook awhile back but decided to post these recipes here too.

                                 Til next time  <3 <3 <3  Marlys

Links:
Foodie Friends Friday, Tasty Thursdays, katherine martinelli, pizza hop

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #6

Six weeks ago, I joined this group and we are going strong.  The recipes are awesome and I spend the whole weekend getting nothing done but going through all the recipes... Yes, I go and read each and every recipe that is linked, although I only post a comment on usually only one recipe per blogger.  This week, I again made one recipe that I found from last weeks recipe... I made cookies fromChocolate, Chocolate and More.  These cookies were ones that I grew up eating and brought back lots of memories for me of my mother and her good cooking ~~ miss her and her cooking.  Here is the link to my baking....Mom's Good Cookies.

Mom's good cookies and she would
have loved the flowers too. 

But back to last weeks party... There were so many good recipes and I had a hard time voting for my favorites as I would have picked them all but we could only pick three and this is how the picking went.
Congratulations to all!

#1 Eggs in Chili Clouds from Kitchen Tested

#2 Gluten Free Caramel Apple Cake from Hun What's for Dinner

#3 Chicken Casserole from Cooking From a Stay at Home Mom

#1 Sticky Caramel Toffee Cheesecake from That Skinny Chic Can Bake

#2 Snickers Popcorn from Walking on Sunshine

#3 Eggs in Chili Clouds from Kitchen Tested

Congratulations to all! ~ these recipes all look delicious.

This week on our Linky Party we have something very special, Tracy from Busy Vegetarian Mom was able to get us a giveaway from Gyspy Girl Granola.  So if you are one of the Top 3 Voters you will get a bag of Granola, isn't that super.  It looks amazingly good and if I don't win it... I will have to buy some for myself to eat.  This giveaway will only be available for US and Canadian residents. 

Awards available only to US and Canadian Residents

Members:

Tracy at Busy Vegetarian Mom http://www.busyvegetarianmom.com

Robyn's View http://www.robynsviewathome.blogspot.com

Angie at A lil Country Sugar  http://alilcountrysugar.blogspot.com/  

Sarah at Everything in the Kitchen Sink http://everythingkitchensink.blogspot.com

Michelle at From Calculus to Cupcakes  http://www.fromcalculustocupcakes.blogspot.com

Marlys at This and That  http://marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com/

Lois at  Walking on Sunshine http://wifeofthecolonel.blogspot.com/

Lindsey at Family Food Finds  http://www.familyfoodfinds.com

Cindy at Cindys Recipes and Writings  http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com

Keira at Luscious Delights www.lusciousdelights.blogspot.com.au

Tami at Food Forays http://www.foodforays.com

R Dawn at http://www.spatulasonparade.com

Amber at http://www.mamasblissfulbites.com

Ericka at http://www.chefpickykid.com

Remember one link to my blog will link your recipe to all of these great blogs.  

Mom's Good Cookies

Last week on Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party, I came across a cookie recipe that my mom always made.. She just called them good cookies and that they were.  When she made them, she would use the basic recipe and then add different ingredients to them..  So when I saw this recipe for Kitchen Sink Cookies, from Chocolate, Chocolate and More  and I knew right away which recipe I would make.  The smell throughout the house as I was making them was amazing and with the first bite.... memories of my childhood, coming home from school and these cookies waiting for us on the rack.  But, also some sadness as my mom passed away over 25 years ago... but then again good memories of her wonderful cooking.  So I thank you Joan for taking me down memory lane.  Please go over to her blog, Chocolate, Chocolate and More, she has some wonderful recipes that I am sure you will enjoy.
So, as for most of the recipes that I make.... I use them only as a guide.... So, here is what I did.

Mom's Good Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened ~~ I used Imperial margarine as that is what we had growing up.

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup vegetable oil ~~ I used coconut oil 

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup pecan pieces

1 cup butterscotch chips

1 cup rice krispies 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla, beat again.  Add oil and beat again.  In separate bowl mix flour, baking soda and salt, add slowly to egg and sugar mixture. Add in oats, coconut, pecan and butterscotch chips and mix well.  Lastly add rice krispies and mix just to combine. 

Using a cookie scoop, place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet and slightly flatten the top... I used the bottom of the cookie scoop for this.  Bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 12 minutes.  Let sit on cookie sheet for approx 10 minutes before removing as these are fragile cookies.  (I did bake mine for about 15 minutes and the last couple of cookie sheets for about 18 minutes as my husband likes crunchy cookies.)

* optional - you could also add chocolate or white chips, raisins, other types of nuts,  dried fruits, toffee bits, small candy bits.

ready to go into the oven

Good memories

Enjoy!

These are wonderful, delicious, melt in your mouth cookies... I hope that you enjoy them as much as I did.

                     Til next time <3 <3 <3  Marlys

Links:

Sights of a Togo Beach

I love the beach

 sound of  waves crashing on the beach

the birds chirping

the sound of tranquility.

Palm Trees

Selling drinks and food

Children Playing

Everyday Life

                                              

my feet in the Gulf of Guinea - Bight of Benin

the sight of mother and child playing

Sights Of A Togo Beaches!

Peaceful and Simple!

Beauty!

til next time <3 <3 <3  Marlys 

Corn, corn, corn

I love corn... it is probably one of my favorite vegetables.... especially during the summer when I can eat corn on the cob... I always had boiled my corn until I met my husband... now I grill it and it is amazing.  Even corn that is old taste good grilled.  To grill corn I remove all husks and place the corn on the grill, turning frequently until it becomes a golden colour. Just before removing, baste corn with a salt water bath.  I usually put 1 tbsp salt to about 1/4 cup water.  Grill corn for about a minute or two longer after the salt water bath.... MMMMM.. my mouth is watering all ready.

Corn grilling on the BBQ

A couple of weeks as I was going through my wall on facebook and  I came across a recipe for Grilled Corn Salad that looked amazing.  I knew that the next time I made corn I would have to make a couple extra cobs just for this salad.  On Sunday I made corn and also made extra so was able to make this salad.

This salad is originally made by Hun... What's for Dinner? and Cindy has some wonderful recipes on her blog, so jump right over and take a look see, I am sure you will come back to thank me for sending you over there.... Right?  To find her original recipe for Grilled Corn Salad go Here, but if you know me at all... I can't leave a recipe like it is written... I do have to change it a bit.  So here is my version of this wonderful recipe.

                                                        Grilled Corn Salad.

Ingredients:

4 grilled corn on the cob ( I used slightly more)

1 can chick peas

1/2 can black beans

2 roma tomatoes - remove seeds and dice

onions - I used about 1/4 cup but you could put whatever amount you would like

1/8 cup dried cilantro - I didn't have any fresh.

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder

juice of one lime - I also added 1 tbsp of lime juice as I didn't get very much juice from my lime

zest from 1/2 of the lime

salt and pepper to taste

Add the first 5 ingredients to a bowl.  In a small bowl or jar add the rest of ingredients and mix until thoroughly mixed and add to the veggies. Toss until dressing is well mixed in with veggies.  Place in refrigerator for an hour or longer before serving.

I ate mine alone as Meatless Monday, but could also be a great side dish to anything that you are grilling. This is a very filling and flavorful meal. Thanks Cindy of Hun... What's for Dinner? for a great summer recipe.

Enjoy!

                        Til next time <3<3<3   Marlys

Links : Keep it Real Thursdays