cinnamon glazed popcorn

When I saw this recipe I knew it was for me.  Sweet, salty & savory.  Crunchy & fresh but a tad bit sticky.  Simple to make and quick to be devoured.

cinnamon glazed popcorn (simplykierste.com)
2 bags popped popcorn
1/4 cup butter
3 tablespoons water
3/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Place popcorn in a very large mixing bowl.  Make sure you remove the un-popped kernels first.  Melt butter in a small saucepan.  Add water, sugar and salt.  Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and cinnamon.  Drizzle about half the cinnamon mixture over the popcorn.  Stir gently to coat.  Add remaining cinnamon mixture and stir until all the pieces are coated.

ceviche tacos

Hall of Fame!  There are actually two kinds of fish tacos featured here.  The one on the left is what we call a "sauteed fish taco" and the one on the right is a ceviche taco.  When my husband asked me to thaw some fish for ceviche tacos I was afraid.  Ceviche is typically made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices.  Sounds amazing, right?  Well, I made it once and it was terrible.  It was my mistake for thinking it was the ceviche and not me- these are AMAZING!  My husband recently returned from a surf trip to Monterrey, California and lived on tacos while he was gone which I am sure provided the inspiration for these.  Since I was afraid of the ceviche at first, he sauteed some tacos for me so I got to try both.  I'll give you both recipes.  I am no longer afraid of ceviche!

my husband's ceviche tacos (pass the peas, please)
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup lime juice
Tapatio sauce
tuna steaks diced into bite-sized pieces
corn tortillas, diced tomatoes, mozzarella, shredded lettuce Renfro's green salsa, cilantro

He cut the tuna into bite-sized pieces then marinated it in the citrus juices with the tapatio for about 4-5 hours.  That "cooks" the fish.  He put the corn tortillas on the stove directly over the flame to make them nice and hot and toasty then filled them with ceviche, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, mozzarella, green salsa and cilantro.  They were pretty heavenly!

my husband's sauteed tuna tacos (pass the peas, please)
diced tuna steak
few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar
a little olive oil
Pappy's garlic and herb seasoning

He mixed it all up and sauteed it.  He put the fish into corn tortillas that he had placed over the flame on our stove to warm. They were topped with diced tomatoes, mozzarella, shredded lettuce, green salsa and cilantro.

pork and rice meatball soup

I say Hall of Fame, my husband said almost Hall of Fame.  It's so good all four kids ate it and enjoyed it.  Make it- you'll be glad you did.

pork and rice meatball soup (Real Simple Magazine, January 2015)
1/2 cup cooked white rice (I used brown jasmine rice)
2 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3 scallions, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound ground pork
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
6 cups chicken broth
1 bunch spinach, about 4 cups
fresh cilantro, grated Cheddar and sour cream for serving

Combine the rice, eggs, oregano, a third each of the scallions and garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of the cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a bowl.  Add the pork and gently mix with your hands until just combined.  Form the mixture into meatballs (I formed about 24).  Broil on the prepared baking sheet, until cooked through.  Recipe called for 8-10 minutes but to get them nice and brown on top I cooked mine much longer.
Heat broiler.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add the remaining scallions, garlic, and cumin and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until the scallions are tender, 1 to 2 minutes.  Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to thicken, 4 to 6 minutes.
Add the broth and bring to a boil.  Stir in the spinach and meatballs.
Serve topped with the cilantro, Cheddar, and a dollop of sour cream.

quick and easy thai coconut chicken soup

Delicious.

quick and easy thai coconut chicken soup (my friend Liz found the recipe at Our Best Bites)
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoon minced jalapeno pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh minced ginger
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 (14 ounce) can light coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cooked whole grain basmati rice (Our Best Bites uses Ramen Noodles without the seasoning packet)
3/4 cup mushrooms (they're so delicious, you must put them in)
1 ½ tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 cup diced or shredded cooked chicken
toppings:  additional chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, and lime wedges

Heat medium sized pot to medium-high heat on stove top.  Add olive oil, jalapeno, and ginger (if using fresh.)  Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until jalapeno and ginger are softened and fragrant.  If using ground ginger, add now and stir.  Add chicken broth, coconut milk, and salt and increase heat to bring mixture to a boil.  Reduce to simmer and add noodles (note you will discard seasoning packet that comes with noodles.)  Simmer 3-5 minutes, until noodles are softened.  If using mushrooms, add them in the final 2-3 minutes of cooking the noodles.  Add chicken and simmer for about 30 seconds to heat through.  Remove pot from heat and stir in lime juice, chicken, and cilantro.  Ladle into serving bowls and garnish with additional chopped cilantro, green onions, and lime wedges if desired.  Serve immediately.  Serves 4-6.

peach blueberry crumble (gluten free)

This is a FANTASTIC recipe!  Everyone enjoyed it- and I love when I can turn fruit into a dessert for my family.

peach blueberry crumble, gluten free (adapted from Texanerin Baking)
1/2 cup oat flour (see below how to make your own)
6 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup rolled oats or quick oats
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

filling
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons oat flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 (32 ounce) cans peaches, drained or if fresh peaches are in season use them!
1 cup frozen blueberries or if you have fresh use them! 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, mix together the oat flour and sugar.  Cut the butter into the mixture using a pastry blender or fork.  Add the oats, cinnamon and salt and stir until combined.  Set aside.
To make the filling, mix together the sugar, oat flour and cinnamon in a medium bowl.  Add the peaches and blueberries and stir just until combined.  Pour into your 9x13 pan.  Place crumbles on top.  Bake for 35 minutes until the topping is golden brown, crisp and the filling is bubbling.
Remove from the oven and wait 10 minutes before serving.
If not eaten on the first day, cover and store at room temperature for 1 day.  You can also refrigerate up to 4 days.

oat flour
To make oat flour, grind oats in a food processor or vita mix until flour like.  For this recipe I blended a cup of oats and had about 1/4 cup left over.

birdseed wreath

You can imagine how excited I was when my kids went to my friend Shonda's house to play on Christmas Eve and got to make one of these darling birdseed wreaths and bring it home with them.  I LOVE it!  It's supposed to be hung outside but not where it is too wet which is tricky in the Pacific Northwest so this will be its home until the rain settles down...around the 4th of July. :)  I look forward to finding the perfect tree, and there are plenty to choose from!

birdseed wreath  (Infarrantly Creative)
4 cups of wild bird seed
1/2 cup warm water
1 envelope Knox gelatin
3/4 cup flour
bundt pan (Shonda used a disposable tin cake pan and put a plastic cup in the center for the hole)
nonstick spray
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
ribbon

Spray bundt pan with nonstick spray (or make your own like Shonda did).
Mix knox gelatin with 1/2 cup warm water and whisk until mixed.  Whisk in the flour and corn syrup.
Add the bird seed and stir coating the seed well with a wooden spoon.  Then pour it into your greased bundt pan.  Press it tightly with the back of a wooden spoon into the bundt pan.  Use wet hands to press it more if need be.  Let it dry overnight.  Once completely hardened it will come right out of the pan.  Tie a bow and hang in an area that won't be exposed to the rain.

molasses crinkles

I went to make this recipe for my dad who is visiting from out-of- town and I couldn't believe that this recipe wasn't already on my blog!  I've been making this recipe for years from the "favorites" cookbook I've been compiling since college. I wasn't sure where this recipe originally came from at first but I compared it to the Betty Crocker recipe and it's the same!  I have the recipe doubled in my cookbook because why make a single batch when you can double the recipe and share?!  Here's the recipe, doubled.

molasses crinkles (Betty Crocker)
1 1/2 cups shortening
2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup mild-flavor molasses or full-flavor molasses
2 eggs
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon slat
granulated sugar for rolling

Mix shortening, brown sugar, molasses and egg thoroughly in large bowl.  Stir in remaining ingredients except granulated sugar.  Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours (I didn't.).
Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease cookie sheet.  Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls.  Roll in granulated sugar.  Place balls 3 inches apart on cookie sheet.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or just until set but not hard.  Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.