New Year, New Ideas...

Hello,

Happy New Year!! I hope everyone's New Years celebration was all that you wanted it to be and more.  I kept my celebration to a minimum, stayed up  until the count down and then went to bed.

With a "New Year" comes "New Ideas" in the kitchen.  I know everyone is thinking about their New Years Resolutions, which we make every year.  Like most it is to get healthy and drop a few pounds.  Some will keep them, many will start, and most will say "Screw it!!"  This year I like many others, will try and get healthy and drop a few pounds.  I am starting in my kitchen! 

"Roasted Cauliflower w/Garlic and Parmesan"

I personally love to eat my vegetables, but eating them the same way every time can get "BORING".  I love roasted vegetables.  You  can pretty much roast anything.  To try and get a variety of vegetables into my diet I wanted to try cauliflower.  By the way I don't like cauliflower.  I love broccoli, but cauliflower to me just has a different taste I can't get pass.  So in thinking of the idea "You can roast anything" I decided to see if I could make cauliflower taste delicious.

I made "Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic and Parmesan Cheese".  It was "DELICIOUS"!!!
Cut your cauliflower into florets not to large.  In a bowl  mix a little garlic, salt, pepper, a little Parmesan Cheese and olive oil.  Mix everything together with the cauliflower, put it onto a cooking pan and roast 400F degrees until the stems are soft to your liking.  There should be some color on your cauliflower.  If you already like cauliflower you will love this dish and if you don't you will now love cauliflower.  Enjoy!!!

Mo

Another Holiday Is Coming....

Hello,

Another holiday is right around the corner.  It's either a "YIPPEE!!" or a "OH NO!!".  I am sort of in the middle with an "ALREADY!!".  This time of the year is different for many people.  Some are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, and some nothing at all.  For years I didn't celebrate anything at all because of childhood religion.  Today with 3 little ones of my own we celebrate Christmas, because of an ex-husband.

"Cheese with Fresh Fruit"

Many people have parties and celebrate with family and friends before the actual "BIG" day.  So if you are going to a party and plan on bringing something  what do you bring?  You can bring a platter of cookies, fruitcake, etc.  How about making your own trays of appetizers?

Creating appetizer trays are great if you are the one doing the hosting as well.  These things are easy to prepare and does not require you to go to a business and buy it for a ridiculous price.  Did I just cut down on my work load at my job, by telling people do not come to me?  I doubt it because no matter what, there will always be those people who can afford it who would rather have someone else do the work for them.  I am just fortunate enough to be able to do it for myself.  Its a good thing because I can not afford to pay someone else to do it.  

Not Just For Veggie Trays...

Hello,
Okay everyone just because it is a vegetable it doesn't mean that it has to go onto a vegetable tray to dip into ranch dressing.  I am talking about that lovely vegetable "Broccoli"!! Mind you the only way my son or actually both of my sons will eat the trees is to have ranch dressing, but that is besides the point.  There are other ways to eat "Broccoli".  You can make a broccoli almondine, which is only broccoli and toasted sliced almonds.  A broccoli Parmesan, which is broccoli, diced red onion and grated Parmesan cheese.  The ideas are endless.

Well I needed a broccoli dish recently at work and as usual I am my most creative when I am in a bind needing something quick and in a hurry!  Could have made the "Broccoli Almondine or Broccoli Parmesan", but unfortunately I just did both the day before so it was out of the question.  What to do, what to do????   So I opened the refrigerator took a look around and BINGO!!!  

"My Greek Broccoli Salad"

I found the following already ready for me: sliced kalamata olives, sliced red onion, sliced sun-dried tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese.  To this I tossed in olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.   I personally thought it looked nice and I was surprised how nice it tasted.  The customers must of liked it too, because it sold quickly.  This is a do again for sure.   So the next time you have some blanched broccoli or "lil trees", as my kids call them, look in your refrigerator and skip the ranch dressing and and be creative.  You may be surprised, I was!!!

INGREDIENTS:
BROCCOLI
FETA
KALAMATA OLIVES
RED ONION
SUN-DRIED TOMATOES
OLIVE OIL
GARLIC
SALT AND PEPPER



Mo