Clean washed salads?

   So typically we all lead busy lives and well if you are the one to run home after work to start supper, sometimes we like to take shortcuts. A recent puny shortcut I would take was to stock up on prewashed packaged salads. This would eliminate a side for m,e leaving me the other side and entree to worry about. I always noticed the contents were pre washed or tripled washed so I'd leave it to the end and just place on our dinner plates directly. Well some shortcuts might get us sick as I just discovered. Please follow the following link and I guess understand that sometimes we are better of going the longer way. Health bills are more costly than skipping a washing process.

http://shine.yahoo.com/green/clean-bagged-salads-175300974.html

Always something new and forward

                       I have noticed that sometimes we stick to tradition and whatever is fast and simple in our very busy lifestyles. I dare you to do at least one different thing this thanksgiving. A lot of my subscribers always say they do not know how to cook. I have a very embarrassing weakness. I am not good at following recipes by the letter and pretty much do not know how to cook from a box. I enjoy my brother's hamburger helper because he is a pro at it ( I think its cause he has 3 amazing kids and sometimes hamburger helper is a helper when you have to work and run around doing errands as well) and as much as I can make a white truffle home made mac and cheese, I crave my girlfriend's Kraft Mac and cheese. I have baked wonderful boxed cakes that look glorious until they're pulled out of the oven and literally dis inflate before my eyes. Do not make excuses. Try things and always remember practice makes perfect. This is where this wonderful site comes in. Foodista.com. I am signed to their daily emails and enjoy viewing all their tips and amazing recommendations. Please follow this link and enjoy today's feature chef and two of his elite wonderful dishes for our upcoming holiday. My step-mom makes a wonderful mexican meatloaf for thanksgiving that outshines the turkey. Try something new! This chef has a recipe for a chorizo stuffing.....yummy! Imagine that! Thanks guys!

 http://www.foodista.com/blog/2011/11/08/2-thanksgiving-recipes-from-chef-aar%C3%B3n-s%C3%A1nchez

Home made Cranberry sauce

  


                      Okay so here's the deal......Most of my family, tends to buy the cranberry sauce from a can. I know that it's the last thing they do before the whole meal is done, but I think maybe we should try things ourselves now. This year we should try either fresh cranberries if we can find any in our local markets or we can try frozen cranberries, but canned cranberry jelly is out! Believe me, even family that weren't fans will enjoy this.


Ingredients

* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup water
* 4 cups (1 12-oz package) fresh or frozen cranberries
* Optional Pecans, orange peel, raisins, currants, blueberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice.

Method

1 Wash and pick over cranberries. In a saucepan bring to a boil water and sugar, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cranberries, return to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes or until cranberries burst.

2 At this point you can add all number of optional ingredients. I typically mix in a half a cup of roughly chopped pecans with or without a few strips of orange peel. You can add a cup of raisins or currants. You can add up to a pint of fresh or frozen blueberries for added sweetness. Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice can be added too.

3 Remove from heat. Cool completely at room temperature and then chill in refrigerator. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

Cranberry sauce base makes 2 1/4 cups.

Thanksgiving right around the corner......

                  

               Well a lot has changed these last two months...... as much as I think our projects should always flow and move on, sometimes life and family are more important. I am blessed to say everything seems to be falling back to place for me. I no longer work for Macy's, I now have a very laid back job and a wonderful aspect of it is that my current boss loves to bake, which means more culinary ideas to chat about. I am slowly going to get back into my blog and keep everyone updated about the wonderful two months coming up. I may not post a recipe for a turkey per se but about the wonderful dishes that surround our main entree that we sometimes dismiss because of the turkey hassle itself. Any questions feel free to comment after the recipes and I will answer accordingly. Thank you so much for your patience and support. <3