Two Happy Bellies

Homemade Coffee Creamer

I have been loving Coffee Mate's Italian Sweet Cream for quite some time, and then I took a look at the ingredients. Gulp. Time to get creative. I started spelunking around on the internet and found several variations of the same recipe for homemade (liquid) creamers; here is mine (using ingredients I always have in the house): 1 can sweetened condensed skim milk, 1 1/2 C. skim milk, and roughly 2 T. flavoring. Put in container, shake well before using each time, lasts about 2 weeks in the refrigerator . . . if it lasts that long. This time I've made vanilla. While it isn't Italian Sweet Cream, at least I can pronounce all of the ingredients in my creamer and that is a good thing.

Fresh Strawberries

I have finally gone berry picking as desired. Friends told us about Valley Home Farm down in Wartrace, TN. We immediately planned some Saturday fun. I will admit, I have no need to make a habit of this. However, there are definite rewards. Not only did we enjoy local popsicles made only from (their) strawberries, (their) honey, sparkling water, and pectin . . . we also have local strawberries to make strawberry vanilla lemonade. What a treat! And we will be going back come blueberry season in a few weeks. I can't wait!

Found via Pinterest, this recipe for Strawberry Vanilla Lemonade is very tasty.

However, it is a bit more work than I'm willing to do on a regular basis (although once we found our hand juicer, at least the lemon part became much easier!). Instead, we want to play around with the strawberry simple syrup and see how it works in club soda, or as a popsicle, even as a basis for pancake syrup. And the next time we go berry picking and get those blueberries? Well there is a blueberry port jam recipe from BH&G calling my name.

Cucumber Water

I have never been a huge fan of a slice of lemon in my ice water* in a restaurant. For one thing, I like to drink water. For another, I'd rather order lemonade if I'm having lemon in my drink. However, last summer I started drinking a lot of the above. Thinly slice one lemon and half of a cucumber and put into a pitcher. Add one gallon of water and chill overnight. Refreshingly light, this water is one I will drink whenever I need something just a little more interesting.

*I will however drink hot water with lemon in it. This is looked on oddly by many of my friends, however I find it very soothing when my throat is itchy with allergies.

the Great American Root Beer Taste Test

We really like root beer in this family so my brother picked up a sampler pack over at World Market and organized a taste test.

As you can see, we have Bulldog, Red Arrow, Dad's, Frostie, and Americano. Each of us took a turn sampling them in a blind taste test and scored them from 1 to 100. Our overall ranking turned out to be:

• Bulldog won best of four out of five times (and was second choice the only time it did not win).
• Red Arrow was the second most favorited.
• Frostie was third choice.
• Dad's (which is always my go-to speciality root beer) took fourth.
• Americano was last.

Luckily we didn't dislike any of the options so they have all been happily drunk. And now we are all on the lookout for more Bulldog root beer.

Cookie Exchange 2011 Warm Spiced Cran-Pom Toddies

While these can be made with rum, we chose to make them non-alcoholic due to the time of day and party attendees . . . the recipe came from Cooking Light December 2011.

• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 (64 oz.) bottle cranberry-pomegranate juice drink
• 1 (1 inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and thin sliced     
• 2 C. apple juice (or 1 ¾ C. gold rum)
• 3 T. fresh lime juice
• Sugar cane sticks or cinnamon sticks

Combine 2 cinnamon sticks, juice drink, ginger slices, and apple juice in a large stockpot and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat 30 minutes. Strain to remove cinnamon sticks and ginger slices. If not using apple juice, stir in rum at this point. Stir in lime juice; serve warm. Garnish with sugar cane sticks or additional cinnamon sticks if desired.

Pal's in Gate City, VA - What is this place?

 
    Tracy and I hit the road this past weekend for a little camping, hiking and geocaching adventuring.  In the days to follow we will tell of our tales but I want to start off by telling about an interesting restaurant we came across in Virginia.  We had seen a few billboards advertising this place called Pal's but since we were new to the area and did not know where the closest one was we just dismissed it.  Then we crested a hill and saw one in the distance.  It was close to lunch time and we thought "Hey, let's check this place out".  It looked like it had burger, fries, hot dogs, soda and such.  What's not to like about all that?  As we got closer we could see that there was a line of vehicles on both sides of the road wanting to turn into the parking lot.  Being that it was close to lunch time, the long line of vehicles and we were in need of a rest room break as well we thought that Pal's would not be the best place to investigate.  Judging by the lay out of the building and that it was drive-thru only gave us the impression that they may not have a public restroom.  We opted for the Hardee's that was right next door to serve our needs instead.  All total for the amount of time we were inside of Hardee's could have been no more than 20 minutes tops!  When we came back outside to our vehicle to leave the line of vehicles wanting Pal's were all gone except for the two just pulling in.

    Well whatever Pal's is and how good the food is we do not know but we could certainly see that it is a popular place and has quick service.  Next time we head to east Tennessee on a road trip we will have to hunt another one of these down, try it and give a full report.

 

Cookie Exchange 2010 Buffet

As you may recall from last year, we throw a cookie exchange each year. This is the first of a series of posts in which we will share the recipes that were served on the appetizer/drinks table this year. Unfortunately, they aren't very good photos because we forgot to take pictures until the party was well under way. Let me state though - there was some great food at this party!

First up is the "Spirited Cider". There is no picture of this as it was served in a closed carafe. It can be made with or without schnapps, we opted for the alcohol free version as we were starting at 11 AM. Of course, that didn't prevent us from serving mimosas but that is a different story.

• 6 cinnamon sticks, broken
• 2 T. whole cloves
• 2 T. whole allspice berries
• 2 apples, cored and cut into rings
• 2 oranges, sliced
• 96 oz. unsweet apple juice or cider
• 1 can peach nectar or peach schnapps

Place cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice in the center of a square of cheesecloth and tie corners together to make a bag. Combine rest of ingredients (unless using peach schnapps) in a dutch oven or slow cooker. Simmer over low heat at least 2 hours to allow flavors to blend. Remove spice bag and fruit. If using peach schnapps, add 1 jigger per 8 oz serving of cider.

Fruit Tea Punch

This would be one of the items that did not have a photo taken, sorry! Truth be told, it might not be that exciting of a recipe to share. However I am not a cold tea drinker so the fact that I have found a fruit tea I like makes me want to share it with the world - which means you get to see it!

• 4 T. instant tea (without sugar) - I use decaf
• 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 C. sugar
• 2 small cans pineapple juice OR 1/2 C. lemon juice
• 1 C. orange juice

Mix all ingredients and fill with hot water to make 1 gallon.

That's it. Easy. And tasty . . . I promise tomorrow's post will have pictures!

Iron Chef Apple 1

Another Octoberfest has come and gone with a fun and successful Iron Chef competition. Categories were different this year in that we had the:

• Under 12
• Kid friendly beverages
• Adult beverages
• Dessert
• Entrees
• Soup, Salad, or in a Bowl

We had personal entries in three of the six, plus entered an item we brought in a fourth category. We know a guy who knows a guy who makes a cinnamon apple drink. We brought two quarts of that up for the adult beverage category and will be taking over the blue ribbon he won. We also entered in the kid friendly beverage category our apricot apple cider sipper and took second place with it. However considering there were only two entries . . . well, we didn't win. It is a very tasty hot cider though and I highly recommend you try it if you are looking for a new cider recipe:

1 gallon apple cider

1 (11.5 oz.) can apricot nectar

2 C. sugar

2 C. orange juice

3/4 C. lemon juice

4 cinnamon sticks

2 t. ground allspice

1 t. ground cloves

1/2 t. ground nutmeg

Combine cider, nectar, sugar, and juices in a saucepan and mix well. Stir in the cloves, allspice, nutmeg and add four cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks. Serve hot.

Our nieces Kate and Molly received a blue ribbon with their entry of apple smoothies and here they are proudly serving it.

Espresso -- His Story

I think my earliest memory of coffee is from when I was a little kid.  I remember being at some office where my dad worked and having those little white sugar cubes and coffee.  Either the coffee or the sugar cubes were the important part that is in my memory.  Mom always had coffee with cream and sugar so there is no real telling where and when I started liking coffee.  Some time along the way I also got exposed to chocolate covered coffee beans.

I think most of the reason I love coffee is not because of the taste but in how it can be made, i.e. the different kinds of coffee pots and brewers.  I remember that my grandmother had one of those electric percolators, black and stainless steel, sitting on the kitchen counter and the distinct sound it made.  Then in my teens I learned about French press and Turkish coffee makers.  Just the names were alluring.

I picked up a simple ibrik for making Turkish coffee.  Cafe Najjar brand coffee ground with cardamom was great for those dorm days when I just needed to brew a cup or two.  The basic French press is also great and I have gone through a few of those over the years.  My favorite pot for brewing is an old Corningware stove top percolator.  It brews  6 cups and just enough for two people.   I also have an old Flameware Pyrex glass percolator that looks like something out of a mad scientist's laboratory.  I have never been a fan of the Mr. Coffee drip style of coffee makers just due to the fact that most of my own brewing experience has been on the small scale.  Paper filter drip works great and the business world would stop turning without them but they are just not my first choice.

Now we have a new coffee pot to play with.  The Moka pot is a engineering marvel.  Dear Reader has already read Tracy's tale of the Moka pot.  I can only add that some of my mornings have been very tasty with this contraption.  My percolator and French press have been pushed to the back of the cabinet.

Heavy debate rages between which brewing method is the best but all coffee should start with grinding whole beans yourself.  The sound of the grinder is more awakening to the morning senses than the smell of brewing coffee.  Okay, so maybe it is a horrible grinding noise first thing in the morning but hey, the coffee will be ready in 15 minutes.  Mmmm...coffee.