Monday, March 18, 2024

The introduction of a new site

 Hello, Darling

Tonight, I have worked very hard to bring to you my newest website. It is called "Evelyn’s Twigs, Thyme and Stranger Things Gardens". 


It is a place to post all journal entries on indoor and outdoor gardening. For more details click the title link above.


Until next time,

 

     Chow, Darlings

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Making Seniors and Arthritic Suffers Life Easier

 Hello, Darlings

Recently I discovered easiest way to clean my microwave oven. If you do not already know, here is a simple trick.  Place a full glass of water inside of your microwave. Let the microwave run for about 4 to 5 minutes so that the steam will generated inside the microwave. The steam will soften the stains making clean up quicker and easier.

Okay, this product is great for those of us with arthritic hands, bad knees and backs. It is a cordless power spin scrubber with an adjustable telescopic extension arm for cleaning bathroom tiles, shower, edges of floors, corners, stoves, countertops, sinks, windows, and more.

For years, I have had attached jumbo paper clips attached to one of my wired spice rack to hold up my recipes for quick reference while I prepare our meals. In addition, for a lightweight recipe book you can use a pants hanger with a swivel hook.

 

You can hang a plastic lined clothe planter to store large cooking utensils over your food prepping area for easy use. I have one attached between two spice racks and another attached to a wired storage shelf across the the room.

 

Now this one is an amazing new discovery. Let’s face it, at one time or another we all may have had an accidental fire on our stove. Well, while trolling the web, I came across a neat invention called a fire blanket (No there was no fire; I was truly trolling the web. It can be as satisfying as windows shopping). Anyway, I bought a couple of these fire blanket as a prevention measure just in case a fire occurs. To use them all you need to do is when a fire occurs place the fire blanket over the entire stove top to smother the fire.  Better and quicker than using flour.

Okay, this last product is another good one for those of us with arthritic hands. It works with pressurized air that pushes the clog down the drain or toilet bowl with a push of a button. Face it, it is less expensive than calling a plumber.

All of the upon tips and products were chosen for their ability to help seniors living alone and/or people with arthritic hands, painful knees and backs. They can be found anywhere; however, most people regardless of age or physical health would find them and other like them helpful.  I hope you do too.

 Until next time,

      Chow, Darlings

Saturday, February 10, 2024

My "Game Day Antipasto Dip" Correction

Yo, yo, yo, Darlings!

It’s Super Ball time. Not that I’m such a great fan, but my husband Stanley loves the game. So today, I made him my fabulous Game Day Antipasto Dip, pictured below. While making the dip I notice I mentioned adding potato topping to the bowl of ingredients to the mix but forgot to add the type and amount to the list of ingredients in my previously posted recipe.

I have now corrected the error, but I won’t bore you with the entire recipe again, but to boost up the flavor of the dip try adding 1 tablespoon of dry potato topping; I generally add fresh success for baked potatoes, or you can also add some dried pizza seasoning instead. The choice is yours.

Have fun watching the game.

Until, next time,

       Chow, Darlings!

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Evelyn’s Game Day Antipasto Dip

Happy New Year, Darlings!


Today being the first year and a day football and basketball games everywhere I updated my antipasto dip recipe. It was more of what was on hand than a concrete idea to improve the dip; however, I believe I did just that.

 

Therefore, I am presenting to you my new and improved antipasto dip, which my husband Stan enjoys as he watches the games during this first day of the year 2024. Although this dip is traditionally prepared during the Christmas holiday, it is also a great treat during games that are played any time of the year, so as the title of this post states, I have renamed it “Evelyn’s Game Day Antipasto Dip”.

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Evelyn’s Game Day Antipasto Dip

Ingredients

2 pkgs. Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened

3/4 cup chopped pepperoni or hard summer sausage

1/2 cup Kraft Italian Five Cheese Blend

1/4 cup chopped black olives

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil

1 Tbsp. baked potato topping

4 -6 sprigs fresh oregano chopped

4 -6 sprigs fresh thyme chopped

4 -6 sprigs fresh mint chopped

3 tablespoons sweet onions, finely chopped

6 Tbsp. chopped roasted red peppers, divided

One teaspoon dried potato topping

 

 

Platter Mix

  • Fresh fruit and vegetables of your choice like

  • Whole strawberries

  • Apples, slices or wedges

  • Snack crackers

  • Red or orange bell pepper, wedges

  • Celery, sticks

  • Broccoli, separated flowers

  • Cauliflower separated flowers

  • Carrots, sticks or slices

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, add potato topping, fresh thyme, oregano and basil, pepperoni, Italian five cheeses, sweet onions, olives, and half of the roasted red peppers and stir until blended, then set aside.

  2. In a larger bowl break down the cream cheese with a pastry cutter or potato masher; then add the herbs, pepperoni, cheese and vegetable mixture

  3. Blend all the ingredients in the bowl until thoroughly mixed for about three minutes

  4. After three minutes, scrape the cheese spread out of the bowl on to a serving platter and shape into a football by hand.

  5. Cover football and let chill at least one hour, then remove from refrigerator and top with mint and remaining roasted red peppers

  6. On the platter, surround football with fresh fruits, vegetable and crackers.

  7. Serve to the guys watching the games.

  8. Later, cover leftovers and refrigerate the unused portions for tomorrow’s game.

---

Enjoy!

Download the PDF here.

Until next time,

    Chow Darlings

Again, Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Christmas at home in 2023

I added Fire Station to my little village this year. My husband, Stan asked me if I were six years old. I have to admit I feel very child-like during Christmas time. 

Because we Catholics celebrate six weeks of Christmas, this display will be up for a while. 

A message to our love ones: 

To our children and their children, and all of our extended families far and near, we wish you blessed Christmas Season, as well as a Happy Year New! ---- Evelyn and Stan 2023


 


Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Evelyn’s Air Fryer Chicken Wings, An Update

 Hello, Darlings

Back in 2018 I post an article on air fryer chicken wings, entitled, Making a healthy choice: from deep fried to air fried. In it I wrote about how air frying chicken wings proved to be much more healthier than deep fried wings.

It is a great article however; today I want to add this recipe update as I did not think to do so back in 2018.

Evelyn’s Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Ingredients

8-12 Frozen Chicken Wings

1 Jar Texas Pete's Buffalo Wing Sauce

1 Jar Marie's Chucky Blue Dip/Dressing

Honey

Black Pepper

Goya Sazonador Total Seasoning

 

Directions:

 

1.      Fill deep fryer with fresh canola oil.

2.      Preheat Big Boss air fryer to 375 degrees.

3.      Defrost and wash chicken wings.  Pat dry. (You can also air fry these wings frozen as well.)

4.      Stray wings with cooking oil, and then added some honey,  Goya Sazonador Total Seasoning and  black pepper to a mixing. Blend and add wing mix to cover well.

5.      Place wings in mesh basket strayed with cooking oil on the lower  rack.

6.       Air fry for 30 minutes ; turn once

 

Serve wings with side dishes of Texas Pete Buffalo Wing Sauce and Marie's Chucky Blue Dip/Dressing.

Can't stand the heat; try this recipe with Texas Pete's Extra Mild Buffalo Wing Sauce.

Enjoy!

 Big Boss is Back!

An Original Recipe from Evelyn's Kitchen

Download the PDF.

Thursday, November 2, 2023

My Second Harvest Stew

 Hello, Darlings

This morning I a made variation of "My Harvest Stew", which I posted in 2015. With today's recipe I changed a few ingredients, and I believe that the changed made for a richer and taster stew, and unlike my first stew I where took more time in adding the ingredients, I cheated with this stew and just dumped everything in the pot all at once and then cook it.

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My Second Harvest Stew

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 - 2 lb stew meat cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 -1/2 quart of water
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt  
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon summer savory
  • fennel, a pinch
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • One carton of beef stock
  • 12 -16  baby carrots
  • 1 can of mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 bag  unpeeled golden baby potatoes
  • 1 can of stewed tomatoes (if on hand, add one bag of frozen tomatoes as well)
  • 1 -1/2 green bell pepper, cut into bit size chunks
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 2 cup frozen broccoli
  • 2 half inch cut-up parsnips
  • 1 butternut squash, cut into bit size chunks
  • 1 1/3 fresh frozen green beans
  • 3 medium stalks celery, cut into 2/4-inch pieces
  • 1 sweet onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 red onion, coarsely chopped
  • Do not add corn or flour. The broccoli and butternut squash with break down to make rich thick broth.

Directions

  1. In 8-quart stockpot, add beef stew meat, bay leaves, water and beef stock.
  2. Then add in all the other vegetables and seasonings
  3.  Cover; cook until potatoes and carrots are tender, 45 minutes to an hour
  4.  Remove bay leaf. 
 
 Serve and Enjoy.
 

Until next time,

         Chow, Darlings