Grilled Pork for the Whole Family

Growing up I always liked to watch the Chefs in the kitchen preparing meals. I loved to watch two shows in particular, Martin Yan and The Frugal Gourmet -- Jeff Smith. I bought nearly all of the Frugal Gourmet cookbooks.

Cover via Amazon

The recipe I am sharing with you today comes from The Frugal Gourmet Whole Family Cookbook which came out in 1992.

Here is the recipe from page 183 of the cookbook. I should note that I do not have a grill, so in making this recipe I broiled the pork instead of grilling it.

I mixed all the ingredients in a small bowl and then trimmed the pork and put the pork in a glass pan so that I could marinate the meat.

You pour the ingredients you mixed in a bowl of the pork -- ground cumin, lemon, dry white wine, garlic cloves, salt and pepper.

Then you put the pork in the refrigerator for an hour -- don't forget to turn the pork every once in a while to pick up all that wonderful flavor.

This is the time you would preheat the grill of course, then I preheated the broiler in the oven.

Put it on the grill or broil like I did and baste frequently on both sides while it is cooking.

Here is the finished product - nice and juicy. If you are able to grill it - it will have those lovely grill lines that everyone likes to see.

It tastes really yummy!

Cassandra

M&Ms Coconut and Jewelry Scrapbooking

Recently while on the M&Ms website I found out about a new M&M flavor - Coconut. I did not even notice until I purchased a single serving package that one package contains 210 calories.

Here are the M&Ms out of the bag.

The M&Ms taste like the Almond Joy candy bar because you also taste chocolate. The one difference between the M&Ms and the candy bar is that the M&Ms taste like itty bitty Almond Joys where you taste a little bit more chocolate and a lot less coconut then the candy bar.

I also took a trip recently to the scrap booking store in my area -- The Scrapebook Clubhouse in Westbrook, CT.

 II don't do scrap booking as much as you know that I make jewelry. There are some scrap book items made by Ranger which you can add to your jewelry which can make your jewelry that much more creative.

I can not wait to use them. I am trying to become more creative with my jewelry ideas, while still having a classic vintage look.

I also went to a charity event at my high school and I test road a Ford Fusion hybrid. I have never driven a car that is electrical.

Until next time; remember,  try new things and visit new places.

Cassandra

If You Love Brownies...and Ice Cream

One of my favorite desserts has always been ice cream. I use to have a hat when I was growing up that said, "I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream." The things that are bought for us when we are children.

If I had a choice between Brownies and Cookies, it is brownies all the way. I like their thick chewy goodness.

So what could be better than Ben & Jerry's Brownie Batter Ice Cream...

Opening the cover just made the ice cream that more inviting..

 

This ice cream literally tastes like brownies. It is worth buying again. It is an ice cream that is definitely worth screaming about in excitement. 

Cassandra

Turkish Zucchini Fritters and Ellen Foster

I finished the book Ellen Foster by  Kaye Gibbons. It was really a touching story about a girl who lost her parents and her family didn't really care about her. So she tries to find a new family where she will be loved. It was an easy read, only 125 pages. I wanted to read the book after I had seen the movie on Lifetime television.

I am now reading the book Silas Marner by George Elliot. This is a classic which I should really enjoy.

I find many interesting recipes on a site called Recipezaar. I always like to try new recipes and I came across a very interesting zucchini recipe --  the exact name is Kabak Mücveri (Turkish Zucchini Fritters).  Here is the link to the original recipe.

KABAK MÜCVERI (Turkish Zucchini Fritters) RECIPE #127269
Fritters are very popular in the Middle East. They are eaten hot or at room temperature as a vegetable side dish or a meze. It couldn’t be simpler to make, but you can dress it up with optional garnishes of black olives, tomatoes, or hard-boiled egg. The perfect use for small, sweet new zucchini. Serve alone or with a creamy garlic-lemon yogurt sauce for a perfect complement to any spicy or grilled foods that call for a cooling accompaniment.

1 lb zucchini      
½ cup kasseri cheese, grated or feta cheese, crumbled
½ cup chopped green onions (spring)    
4 eggs, slightly beaten 
1 small yellow onion, grated    
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup fresh dill, chopped    
fresh ground pepper
4 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped    
olive oil, for frying 
6 servings Change size or US/metric
35 minutes 15 mins prep    
Grate the zucchini and place in a colander; sprinkle with salt and let drain for 30 minutes; squeeze out moisture and pat with paper towels.
Place the zucchini in a bowl and add the green and yellow onions, dill, parsley, cheese, flour and salt and pepper to taste; mix well.
In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, pour in oil to a depth of ¼ inch; when the oil is hot, drop the batter by heaping tablespoonfuls into the pan (or form into small patties), allow space in between fritters; fry for 2 minutes on the fist side, then turn to brown on the second side for about 3 minutes; using a slotted spatula transfer to paper towels or newspaper to drain; repeat with remaining batter.

To start the first thing you need is zucchini.

You grate it and drain it and dampen it with a paper towel.

Here is the product all mixed together.

Then you fry them. You either drop them from a spoon or make patties. I dropped them from a spoon.Here is my finished product.

These are really tasty warm. What I liked was that you can eat them at room temperature. According to the recipe you can serve these with a yogurt sauce, but I thought they tasted great the way they were. I think they would be great for picnics and school lunches.

Get out, it's going to be a beautiful day,


Cassandra

Talenti Gelato -- Caribbean Coconut

I am a big Ben & Jerry's and Hagan Daaz ice cream fan. Recently I picked up something different -- Talenti Gelato.They have a website www.talentigelato.com.

I looked at the back and was amazed at how healthy it is. Something new to try. Here is the back.

It is Vegetarian, Green, all-natural, gluten free, Hormone free, HFCS free, all natural and kosher. There are 4 servings per container at 190 calories with 70 calories from fat.

 I am use to eating those other ice creams which have a lot of flavor. The flavor for this gelato is Caribbean Coconut.

On the Talenti site they describe this gelato as "Tender, moist shredded coconut imported from the Philippines adds an exotic and inspiring natural element  to traditional flavors. "

The gelato was very good but the coconut flavor was not as distinct as I would have liked it to be. Despite that I think I would be willing to try another flavor.

Cassandra

Jamie Oliver's TED Award Speech

Recently on Linkedin Jamie Oliver's award speech was posted. I found the information he provided very educational. I found it more interesting when he went into people's home and I saw what they ate on a regular basis. I thought I would share this information with you.

Cassandra

Seminar at Quinnipiac University with Elizabeth Stark on Free Culture

On March 25, 2010, I attended a seminar at Quinnipiac University on "Free Culture: The Future of Creativity, Collaboration, and Knowledge"
I would like to share the seminar with you because I found it quite informative as it deals with copyright on the web.

I hope you enjoy,

Cassandra

Some Enchanted Evening at the Ivoryton Playhouse

Last night I went to the Ivoryton Playhouse and saw Some Enchanted Evening The Songs of Rogers and Hammerstein. Performing in the show is Allan Snyder, Kyle Metzger, Patryce Williams, Jenna Sisson, and Jennifer Lauren Brown. The set design was created by Dan Nischan, lighting design by Doug Harry and costumes by Pam Puente. The show was directed and choreographer by Leslie Unger.

They performed a song or two from such shows as The King and I, Cinderella, South Pacific, Carousel, Oklahoma, Allegro and Flower Drum Song.

This image came from The Ivoryton Playhouse website.

All the performers had wonderful voices, and the choreography was fun and playful. The set design was used to help to express the emotion to the song they were performing. If you enjoy the songs of Rogers and Hammerstein don't miss this musical. It opened on April 14th and ends May 2nd. Here is the press release.

Come, sit down, and enjoy.

Cassandra

Pancakes and Mud Pie Ice Cream

April 15th is around the corner. If you haven't done your taxes, you should or file for an extension. The IRS can help you if need be with necessary forms, and also has free file assistance available from such places as TurboTax.I know no one likes to talk or think about taxes, but they have to be done.

So let us switch to a new topic like pancakes. Every Sunday growing up my Mother make us pancakes, and here is what she used. In my family we have a secret ingredient that makes the pancakes light and fluffy. Other restaurants cannot compare.

After you mix the ingredients for Aunt Jemima Original you have to let the mix rise.

The batter is beautiful. Then it is time to prepare them.

Here is the finished product. Something yummy for the tummy.

I tried a new Ben & Jerry's favor -- Mud Pie - Chocolate & Coffee Liqueur Ice Creams Swirled Together with a Chocolate Cookie Swirl.

H

Here is what it looks like when you take off the cover...

You can taste the Irish cream coffee liqueur and chocolate. I love the way Ben & Jerry's mix their flavors. If it is not the right combination it just won't do and I won't finish that pint of ice cream.

Last night I published an article called A Letter to Congress. I am so disappointed in our elected congressional officials, I wanted to express my opinion about them not getting things done among other things.

The people have a voice and they should speak - LOUDLY.

Until next time,

Cassandra

French Toast and Sausages

This morning I decided to make French toast and sausages. I thought I would share my recipe with you.

I keep my bread and breakfast sausages in the freezer, so I pulled them out to thaw some.

 I like the Pepperidge Farm Swirl Bread Cinnamon and Johnsonville Breakfast Sausage, and some unsalted butter.

 Then I pulled out two eggs and vanilla extract. Vanilla gives a wonderful flavor to French toast.

After the eggs are mixed add a teaspoon or two of vanilla.

Mix it up. Add some cinnamon.

Mix it again. The turn on the oven.

Put the pan on the stove to warm it up. Then place in the sausages.

Turn and brown the sausages some and then add some butter.

Start taking them out of the pan as they finish.

Then start preparing the French toast.

Don't forget to drain off some of the egg liquid before you place it in the pan.

Turn them over as they brown.

As you take the French toast out of the pan sprinkle on some McCormick Cinnamon Sugar and place on a pat of butter. Don't forget to pull out the syrup.

Here are my yummy French toast and Sausage.

Enjoy your own French toast and sausage for breakfast one morning.


Cassandra