Chester is in a Brine Bath and Arlo is in Massachuesets

Chester, the turkey, is comfortably tucked away into a brine bath. This is Chester in his bath house best:

He's looking a little peaked, but he's going tanning tomorrow and he will look much better after that!
If you have the hankering to brine your turkey friend try this one:

Cider Brine:
1 gallon of cider
1 cup of Kosher Salt
3 oranges cut in half
Fresh tarragon- I used the whole box
Whole Cloves---->a palm full
(You could add a bottle of good bourbon to this and it would only improve it)

2-3 bags of ice and an ice chest
oh yeah and the turkey, thawed, rinsed and patted dry. Giblets and Neck removed please! ( I'm using a 12lb., if  you have a bigger one increase the recipe.)

Bring the first five ingredients to a hard boil. Turn the burner down and let simmer for 10 minutes. Afterwards let the brine cool down to where you are able to handle it.  Once cool put your brine and 1 bag of ice in the chest. The ice will mostly melt and bring the brine temperature down further. Feel the brine with your finger and make sure it is cool enough for the bird, if it's not add more ice. Once it is very cool (because you don't want to semi cook your bird in the brine), let your friend dip into his lovely bath. Keep him there for at least 24hrs and up to 48. Turn once or twice to make sure that your friend gets soaked on both sides well! Keep adding ice to keep the little guy nice and cold!

Take the birdie out and rinse him off. Pat dry with some paper towels. Now he's ready to go tanning.
I like to create a frozen herb butter log , and stick the frozen cut medallions under the skin. I will then rub my friend down with more butter and salt and pepper. Cook according to the specifications about poundage and what not until birdie is golden brown!
Chester will be beautiful and delicious. This recipe literally makes the meat fall off the bones! It's my husbands favorite!

Happy Thanksgiving! Watch Alice's Restaurant. It's the only Thanksgiving movie that I know of! Trailer is Well look at Arlo!
 arlo

Love love love,
Meg

It's been awhile, but I have a great reason.....

Let me show you my reason for not cooking too much lately...

This is our little McCracken!

Can I just tell you that I am elated! Completely and utterly in love with this little person!

Rooms and sherpas

Today the Pioneer Woman  asked what your favorite room is in your house!
I imagine that your thinking....your kitchen of course, and you would be right I do like my kitchen, but favorite uhhh maybe.

These two rooms probably are my favorite! My kitchen is one of them so there you go, and I love my dining room! My kitchen is a pretty pink that contrasts perfectly to my dinning room which is a gentle green. I need to take pictures of them done so you can see. Sorry I don't have that!

You know, I love that my kitchen is small. It's cozy! Everytime I cook in it, I feel as if I'm filling my house with this beautiful abundance of love and aroma!
Side note: My husband just snorted and sent me a video that I will share later because it's hilarious!
I love love my dinning room! It's a sweet and gentle green that isn't overwhelming! I love that when we sit down for a meal we eat good food, have great conversations, and there is an overwhelming since of generosity and blessing!

LOL!!! The Original Martians

come over for dinner sometime!
I would like to have a sherpa to carry my backpack with gets heavier all the time.

It's time to start again

I know I've said it before, but this time I mean it. Fall is soon, like next week, and today is perfect! A cool 57* and cloudy! This is my favorite time of year!

Because I love you, and because I care, you should know why I've been so remiss lately.
1. 100* and hotter weather.
2. We moved into a house which is finally in working order
3. We are going to have a baby and food hasn't been my highest priority.

Now let me tell you about last night! Two highlights from the evening meal. The first was great company! We are blessed with some amazing friends in our life. The second was wonderful wonderful food!

The Menu:
Bangers and Mash (Sausages and Mashed potatoes)
Cabbage
peas
Rolls
Fruit Salad (It was beautiful and perfect) Thanks Jen
Apple pie
Fresh whipped Cream

Bangers and Mash: Preheat oven to 450*

For the potatoes (which is the most time consuming part of the meal) I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe: Find it HERE
Probably really close to the best mashed potatoes I've ever had. Once those where cooked I loaded them up in the biggest cast iron skillet I had (it's huge and I rubbed it down with butter first) dotted it with butter and put my sausages on the top of the potatoes.
Push down a bit so they snug in the comfort of the mash!
Throw it in the oven for 20 minutes. If the sausages haven't split it's not done. Try another 10 minutes and check! I think you know what I'm going to say, but I'm saying it anyways, once the sausages have split it's ready!

Peas- boiled until done salt and pepper.
Cabbage- crock pot for 6 hours butter and salt and pepper

Apple Pie- preheat oven to 450* or don't turn it off from earlier.
 2 LBS Apples
1 recipe for 2 crust pie or store bought
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/8 cup of flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp of nutmeg and allspice
3/4 tsp of clove
1tsp salt
1-3 Tbl. + 1 tsp lemon juice
1 egg wash
2 tbls. Sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Cut 2 pounds of apples in slices. Sprinkle with tsp. lemon juice so they don't brown.
Mix the Brown sugar, Flour, Salt, and spices (not including the bottom 2 tsp of cinnamon) together. Throw in with the apples and mix well. Add the Lemon juice (the amount depends on how juicey and tangy you would like the pie to be). Cover the apples and put them in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Roll out the crust and get it ready for the apples. you want about in inch extra over the pie plate on the bottom crust. Put your apples in. I don't do any fancy arrangements or anything, I just put them in. Top with the second crust that is not an inch over the pie plate, but fits it perfectly. I then crimp the two crust together and roll down. It looks really pretty.
Cut slits or do a hole in the middle, whatever you choose. Brush with the egg wash, and sprinkle with the combined cinnamon and sugar (mmmmmm.....cinnamon-sugar, it makes everything better)!
Next wrap the edge of the pie in aluminum foil. This will insure that your pie cooks but the edges don't burn!
Bake for 30 minutes! Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes!
Let cool for 20 minutes on the stove before serving.
Serve warm with fresh whipped cream!

NEWS!!! I has it!

Soooo.....soon and very soon, I will have my own kitchen. Not as in I will have a resteraunt, unless you want to come and pay me to cook for you, but as in We Will OWN a HOUSE!!

Ryan and I both agree that this is somewhat (by that I mean a whole lot) ahead of schedule. As a matter of a fact, I'm not sure we thought that day would come at all.

So now this video applies.


Ok so not really, but I think it's awesome and you should watch it! I love RCPM! But no. really! it does.

Hey now, look at me, I will be posting a lot more very soon, and you will get to meet my new puppy, LadyBird. Yes I know, Ryan named her. I call her puppy pants.

Well that's it, except to say I can't wait to cook for you!

Love,
Meg

Breakfast and morning

So because I like sleep (ALOT) I wake up late most days. Stupid Snooze Button! This was super easy  and fast, and could be done half awake and no coffee. 

Whole Wheat Blueberry-Oatmeal Muffins
Get a box of whole wheat pancake mix. Use the directions for 12-16 cakes.
Half a cup of brown sugar
Add 1 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup of Oatmeal
and some walnuts....it's up to you. You also maitain the discretionary right not to use them if you choose.

hahaha, that was a silly sentence.
Mix it all together. Now you can spray a pan lined with muffin cups.
After that put your batter in the cups (you knew that though).
Now bake them at 360* for 13 - 15 minutes. You might consider checking them at 12 minutes. Seriously...go now check them.

During this time take a morning Nap....or cut some cantelope....or drink some coffee, and then more, and then more, and then more.

I drink a lot of coffee.

ding ding...they are ready.

Ryan said these are Work, But I say they are delicious and healthy!

Who IS the best cook in my family?

I guess that's a funny question for me. We are all great in our own ways.
My sister is AWESOME at making delisious soups that include legumes!
My mom is straight up the queen of comfort food!
I guess I'm the creative cat that can make something from nothing (not like God or anything). My dad tells me that I should go on a reality cooking show to show em what I got. Those things make me nervous to watch though. I sit there and think "those peeps aren't having any fun at all!" I had to stop watching them. The only thing that I watch now is Paula Deen (God bless her) and Bitchin' Kitchen (awesome surrealism).
Ok there you go...did that answer the question?
Love meg

coming soon...

Song to Recipe!

Songs I love
Recipes I've never made
= Maybe Awesome...just saying! <3 Meg

April Fools and a Wedding

The wedding is no Joke!
I'm so excited for my friends!

I'm so blessed to get to be here this weekend. We thought by now we would be in England. I'm ready for that, but this is like a big Fat Family Reunion! I made breakfast for the boys this morning, and in honor of the brides love of lemon I'm going to share my pancake sauce!

Blueberry-lemon-butter pancake goodness:
1 tbls of butter melted
1/3 cup of Powdered Sugar
1 good glug of lemon juice (or that of one lemon)
2 tbls of frozen blueberrys (microwaved for 30-60 seconds)

Combine over low heat in a small pot. This is a nice way to start the day! I love it!

Hey I also love you!

Reflections

Last night my nephew Gideon was here. He and his family come over for dinner on Monday nights. I've had to learn how to make things a little bit kid friendly. Last night we had chicken tortilla soup. It was a bit spicy...so next time I will make it less spicy.
I love watching him try new things! He copies what the adults do, but of course he knows that the good ol' stand bys of  ketchup and mustard are always just a please away. Last night he followed our lead by using the cheese and sour cream in his soup and insisted on extra tortilla strips!

At the end of the night we ended up on the couch watching Anthony Bourdain eat at a fish fry in the Ozarks of Missouri while eating an orange together. He'd look at me and say "Here this slice is for you. Why did he eat that?" I would answer, because that is good food. Then it got to the point of squirrel pot pie...."What are they doing?" ......Uhhh, being self sufficient?
Oh well, I don't think he will remember the squirrels, but he will remember that we hung out together, and later laughed at Bill Cosby and shared another orange!

He will try new things and I'm so proud of him for that.....it helps when there is dessert to be had of course!

I can't help but share this!!!

First one of the blogs I read is called CHEAP HEALTHY GOOD. It's really informative and it's awesome and you should read it.

Now they do a top ten Links of the week, and at the bottom of this weeks was a link. A link to amazingness. PAULA DEEN RIDING THINGS.

It's awesome and Paula is great because she laughed about it!

This was one of my favorite pics!

FOAM

So lately foam as part of a dish has been said to be high fashion.

"And the foam has the aroma of lavendar and is lightly frothed out of the mouth of a dog."

That is what I hear. Also that is what I see...gross!

Sorry I haven't been writing lately. We've had a big fat busy couple of months. Although, honestly I feel like it's been years since I wrote last.

I will try to be better about writing. Is it okay if it's sometimes a rant against foam?

This is Unappetizing!

Never again....

I made lunch for some friends yesterday. This is not unusual.
I used a new recipe that I was fairly excited about. It was an Italian Bread Soup.

It sounded so good. It had Cabbage, Kale, Bacon, Bread, Cheese, and Sardines in it. It smelled delicious cooking.

Imagine how mad I was to discover that with every bite I hated it more and more. I was surrounded by people who seemed to enjoy it. For me there was something in the texture that grossed me out, and then something else, but I can't quite put my finger on what it was.

Something about this dish made me want to punch it in the face though. Not a good feeling.
Luckily there was a delicious fruit dessert that followed and later later brownies!
1/2 pint blueberries
1 pint blackberries
1 banana
3 clementines, segmented
1/2 cup of slivered almonds
1 can coconut milk
1 box of instant vanilla pudding

Mix together and put into pretty bowls or cups!

Needless to say, I will never ever make bread soup ever again.

Fruit Pizza

I made Aunt Stacey's Fruit Pizza...well kind of.

The crust was a Ginger Snap crust and the fruit dip had lemon zest and juice to cut some of the sweetness. It was good!

Ginger Snap Crust:
1lb bag of ginger snaps
2 sticks of butter, melted

Crush the snaps in the fashion you feel most necessary for the day. Some days I'm already at peace and use the food processor...other days it is necessary to use a rolling pin and force. Mix the crushed snaps and the butter together, and press into your pan. Bake @ 350* for 8-10 minutes. 

Fruit Dip:
2 8oz blocks of cream cheese, softened
2 jars of marshmallow fluff (if you heat this for 15 sec. in the microwave it comes out easily)
juice and zest of 1 lemon

Mix on high until blended and fluffy!

Let the crust cool. Spread your fruit dip all over the crust and then put the fruit on! Make it look pretty!

So Good!

Exciting Day!

Today my nephew Moriyah Sheel Lund was born! In honor of him I will post the cake I made for his baby shower!

1 box banana cake
4 mushed banana
1 Bag chocolate chips

Follow the directions and substitute the bananas for the water. Stir in the chocolate chips!  Bake and let cool completely!

 Peanut Butter Frosting
2 cups peanut butter: Side note: -> I make my own in  a food processor, 2 cups peanuts blitzed with enough oil till smooth. Add a pinch or 2 of salt and a tbls of honey if you want.
2 cups confectioners sugar
10 tbls butter, at room temp ( I use salted, but unsalted is best)
3 tsp of Vanilla
1/2 tsp of salt (sounds like a lot, but it cuts some of the sweetness)
2/3 cup of heavy cream

Mix first five ingreadients together until very creamy. You will need to scrape the bowl as you go! Add the cream and beat on the highest speed until it looks like clouds of peanut butter!


Mori is 7.1 lbs and 20 and 1/4 inches!

When food nightmares hit.....dundundun

So last night I had the same dream 3 times...

It's 6:30, and I've just gotten back from shopping. NONE of the food is cooked except the minimal amount of prep that happened last night. Friends and family start to arrive. I PANIC. Nothing is done. My shrimp stuffed biscuits aren't stuffed, and I can hear Ryan in the background saying, "Just order some fried chicken!" He says it over and over and over again.

I woke up this morning and told Ryan about the dream. He assured me that I was crazy...He hates fast food fried chicken. Well unless it's Popeyes. He even stayed home to help me out today. He is wonderful!

I am crazy>>>>>>

LOOK AT THOSE LOOKS I'M GETTING!

So it's 10:30 AM and I'm about to get everything else needed for tonight.
Repeat after me:
No breakdowns, no breakdowns, no breakdowns, NO BREAKDOWNS!!

There are exceptions for hardcore! XhardcoreX

Appitizer dinner

My dear friend and his new wife are coming into town. I haven't met her yet...I'm nervous. Should I be? I'm not sure.

In honor of my friend, and in order to make a good first impression I'm creating dinner. I say creating because I will be using new recipes. My recipes..., or well as far as I know they are original. Of course there will be some not original.
Quinoa tarts
Soy and orange marinated Wasabi incrusted fishies
Shrimp stuffed biscuits (not original)
Pistachio, Feta, and Cranberry salad (not original)
Stuffed dates...the newness is in the stuffing!
Mango tea (obviously not original, but delicious)

Ok, so this is the menu minus dessert because I just haven't decided on that part nor have I received inspiration....my I will stare at an apple until I have it. Can an apple be a muse and offer inspiration?

There will be pictures and recipes later.

For right now let it be said that I am being silly and watching the end of Sister Act II (haha Nostalgia), and just the end, while enjoying chocolate raisins with a glass of ice water. "I am a HEADLINER"