January 30, 2010
Happy Third Blogaversary To Me! Let's Celebrate With Blueberry Cake!
Three years ago today I started Dianne's Dishes! It's been a fun ride and I've really enjoyed the past three years. I don't usually post recipes on the weekends, but given the occasion I just couldn't resist! We were supposed to have dinner guests this evening, but we got snowed out and had to reschedule. I had already made dessert, so I thought I'd share that with you today to celebrate the big day! So sit back, relax and have a piece of cake...It's on me! ;oP
What You'll Need:
1 stick of butter, melted and cooled
1 - 11 ounce container of blue berries
1/3 cup of water
3 cups of unbleached all purpose flour
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 heaping tablespoons baking powder
1 cup of buttermilk
2 eggs
Melt butter and set aside to cool.
Wash blueberries and place in a medium sized pot:
I actually used some blueberries I had frozen. I like frozen blueberries as a treat and often buy containers, wash them, let them dry and then freeze them to pull out for a sweet, yet healthy snack. They worked perfectly for this! Fresh or home frozen blueberries either will work.
Add sugar to blueberries:
And then water:
Stir to coat the blueberries:
Cook blueberries over medium heat. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes stirring often. Your blueberries will form a syrup and the berries themselves will turn soft:
Remove the blueberry sauce from heat and let sit and cool to room temperature.
Preheat oven to 375 F.
In a large glass bowl mix together flour, salt and baking powder and stir to incorporate:
Add melted butter, blueberry sauce, buttermilk and eggs to flour mixture:
Stir to mix:
Pour batter into a 13 X 9 inch dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray:
Bake for 25-30 minutes until cake is slightly golden and done through:
Let cool to room temperature and then frost. (See below)
What You'll Need for the Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 - 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
1 stick of butter, softened
3 cups of powdered sugar
Cream together cream cheese and butter. Slowly add sugar and mix until smooth. Spread the frosting on the cooled blueberry cake.
Notes: If I had had a lemon I probably would have added lemon juice/zest to the cake and/or the frosting.
Posted by Dianne at 5:07 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
January 28, 2010
Spicy Brussels Sprouts
As I've mentioned before I'm a recent convert to Brussels sprouts. When you think of this vegetable most often you think of dull, tasteless and boring, but they really don't have to be! This version is a spicy twist that makes a fabulous side dish, or even a really good meatless main course paired with a salad. They are easy, tender, spicy, healthy and delicious. What's not to like?
What You'll Need:
Extra virgin olive oil
1 pound of Brussels sprouts
4-6 cloves of garlic minced
Coarse sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Crushed red pepper flakes
Cut the stem end off of the Brussels sprouts and cut them into slices. Place in a large glass bowl:
Mince garlic and add to the Brussels sprouts:
Next add coarse sea salt (I like the Celtic variety), freshly ground black pepper and crushed red pepper flakes:
How much you add is according to taste. I like things spicy so I add a lot of both varieties of pepper. If you're not a spicy person use less.
Add a drizzle of olive oil and toss to coat:
Preheat pan over medium to high heat. You want your pan screeching hot! Add a thin layer of olive oil and cook, stirring often until Brussels sprouts are tender and slightly browned in places:
Serve immediately.
Notes: No notes for this one.
Posted by Dianne at 11:17 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 27, 2010
Blog Away Hunger - Help Haiti!
I just wanted to let you all know that I'm donating my ad revenue for the months of January and February to Blog Away Hunger - Help Haiti. How can you help? Visit and visit often! Tell your friends to visit too. The bigger the revenue the more help it will be. I plan to round up the amount to a nice even number. For instance if it's $160, I'll round it up to $200 to donate. So help me out and be sure and visit often this month and next too! Don't worry I'll remind you as well. I'll also tell you what the amount ends up total at the end of each month.
Take the link above and check out the other blogs participating as well. They can use the extra hits as well!
Posted by Dianne at 9:52 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
January 26, 2010
Ground Chicken Tacos
I love Mexican food! Seriously I think I could eat Mexican every day and be perfectly content with that fate. Jamison on the other hand isn't a fan. On Sunday I made him take me to have Mexican after church and he grinned and bared it like a champ. I don't usually drag him for Mexican, but sometimes you just want what you want! I couldn't help but tease him that my next husband was going to have to love Mexican food. Bless his heart for putting up with me! ;oP
When I make Mexican inspired dishes at home I like to lighten them up a bit. This version of tacos takes ground chicken and makes a really satisfying alternative to your basic taco. Top them the way you like and voila!...You've got a really great weeknight Mexican dinner that really his the spot!
What You'll Need:
Extra virgin olive oil
1 small red onion, chopped
1 small bell pepper, chopped
1 pound of ground chicken
A pinch of sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 tablespoon of chili powder
1 teaspoon of cumin
1/4-1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon of ground chipolte chile powder
1 cup of water
Saute onions and pepper in a little extra virgin olive oil until slightly tender. Add ground chicken, a pinch of sea salt and some freshly ground black pepper and cook until chicken is done through:
Add remaining ingredients and stir to mix:
Bring to a quick boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until water is absorbed and mixture thickens slightly:
Serve in hard of soft taco shells with cheese, tomatoes, avocado, etc.
Notes: This makes a great topping for nachos too! Also this process works with any ground meat.
Posted by Dianne at 12:39 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
January 25, 2010
Homemade Donuts
When my parents were here over the holidays we happened to be over in Columbia, MD and my sole thought was "I'm going to get some Kripsy Kreme donuts!" When we arrived however it was only to find that the Krispy Kreme store there had closed. Talk about bummer! And of course once you have something on the brain you can't get rid of that thought for the most part, so I've had donuts on the brain ever since.
I've always been curious about making my own donuts, but again it was one of those things that seemed daunting to me. I decided to do a little research and discovered that yes, they can be a bit time consuming, but they aren't that hard to make and believe me the work is worth the end result! It's not something you will be making every day for obvious reasons, but so worth the effort when you want a little treat!
Another thing that you will see in this recipe that you won't see often on Dianne's Dishes is the use of vegetable shortening. I want to try making them with butter in the future, but the overwhelming majority of donut recipes I came across used shortening, or lard, and really I wasn't going there! ;oP So on my first round I decided that shortening was the way to go.
These donuts turned out just perfect! They were airy and satisfying and the glaze was just fabulous and so simple! Even dipped in chocolate and topped with sprinkles you have the perfect all around donut. You can't go wrong with that!
So it's time to make the donuts! (Yes I went there!) ;oP
What You'll Need for the Donuts:
1/4 cup of warm water
3 teaspoons of yeast
1/4 cup of organic cane sugar
1/4 cup of half and half
1 egg
1/4 cup of shortening (Note: Look for a trans-fat free version)
1 teaspoon of sea salt
2 to 2 1/2 cups of unbleached all purpose flour, divided
Oil for frying
In a large glass bowl mix water, yeast and sugar and let sit for a few minutes until it starts bubbling:
Next add half and half, egg, shortening, sea salt and 1 cup of your flour:
Mix with a mixer until well mixed and fluffy:
Slowly add flour until dough forms:
You may need all of the remaining flour, or just some. When the dough starts forming and isn't sticky you know you're good.
Shape dough into a ball and place in a bowl that has been buttered:
Let dough rise for an hour and then punch down and roll the dough to a 1/2 inch thickness:
Now it's time to cut your donuts! They have handy dandy cutters, but I don't actually have one so I used a glass and the top of a water bottle.
First cut your big circle:
Next cut your hole:
You can leave the donuts hole to rise or incorporate them back into the dough to cut more donuts. The choice is yours.
Place the dough on a baking sheet that has been lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper:
Let rise for an hour or until they are slightly risen:
When the donuts are almost risen prepare your glaze and/or chocolate for dipping. (See below)
What You'll Need for the Glaze:
1 cup of powdered sugar
4-6 tablespoons of cold water
In a large bowl mix sugar with enough sugar to make a slightly thick glaze. You want it to drip, but not quickly. You want a consistency close to honey, but not quite as slow.
Set aside until donuts are fried.
What You'll Need for the Chocolate Gaze:
1 cup of chocolate chips
1 tablespoon of butter
1/4 cup of half and half
Place ingredients in a glass bowl and microwave on 20 second intervals until melted and smooth. Stir well between each interval.
Set aside until donuts are fried.
Frying the Donuts:
Preheat oil to 375 F. You want a clear oil...Vegetable, safflower, light live oil, peanut oil. etc.
Once the oil is heat drop donuts down into the oil one at a time. Fry on each side until browned (1-2 minutes per side) and then place on a baking pan that has been lined with paper towels to drain:
Repeat process until you are done with your donuts and then it's time to glaze!
Place fried donut face down into the glaze:
Next flip the other side into the glaze:
Place on a baking sheet that has been lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper:
At this point you're ready to eat if you want to! Or you can go on and add a little chocolate, because well, you can't go wrong with a little chocolate!
Take your glazed donut and place it face down in the chocolate glaze:
Unlike the glaze you are only going to do one side in chocolate. Return the donut to the baking sheet:
Again at this point you're ready to eat, or you can add a few sprinkles!
So dig in!
And pretty soon you'll be down to your last delectable bite!
Verdict? I wish Jamison could have had one of these! Alexis and I love them!
Makes 4-6 donuts depending on the size you cut.
Notes: I think it would be fun to play around with a citrus glaze instead of using water with the powdered sugar. Also you can use any type of chocolate chip that you want. I used milk chocolate this go around because it was all I had on hand.
Posted by Dianne at 12:23 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
January 21, 2010
Chicken Chili
I love chili! It's one of those ultimate comfort foods that in reality isn't that bad for you! It's chock full of an entire meal all in one dish. You've got protein and vegetables in a really satisfying, yet healthy mix when made properly.
For a while now I've wanted to make a chicken chili and yesterday seemed like the day. When I first envisioned the dish I was going to go with shredded or chunked chicken, but I had some ground chicken I needed to use before it expired so my path changed slightly. A change in path is sometimes bad, but in this case it worked quite well!
This dish had all the satisfying qualities of your standard bowl of chili, yet was a bit lighter and not quite as heavy overall. Served with a slice of corn bread, or topped with a little cheese and sour cream, and you've got the perfect bowl of deliciousness!
Up next I'm going to make a "white" chili! I'll tell you about that one when it comes to be. Now let's dig in!
What You'll Need:
Extra virgin olive oil
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
4-6 cloves of garlic, minced
A pinch of sea salt
Finely ground black pepper
1/2 - 16 ounce package of frozen corn
2 cups of red beans (Note: I used beans I cooked myself, but you could use a couple of cans of read beans if you wanted.)
1 heaping tablespoon of chili powder
1 heaping tablespoon of paprika
1/4-1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (Note: Use more is you like it hot, less if you don't. You can leave this out all together if you prefer. I'm a hot person myself.)
1 quart of diced tomatoes (Note: I used ones I canned this past summer, but you can use a large can from the store if you prefer.)
1-2 cups of water
Saute pepper, onion and garlic in a little extra virgin olive oil with a pinch of sea salt and some finely ground pepper until peppers are tender and onions are slightly caramelized:
Next add ground chicken and cook until browned:
Next add corn and beans and stir to mix:
Add chili powder, paprika and cayenne and stir until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Next add tomatoes and then 1-2 cups of water depending on how thick you like your chili. Bring to a quick boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer covered for at least and hour.
(Note: Chili is one of those things that only gets better. The longer you cook it the better the flavor and the leftovers are phenomenal! I usually let it simmer all afternoon.)
Note: You could really make this with any ground or shredded meat, or if you wanted a vegetarian option you could add textured vegetable or soy protein, or even just double up on the beans for a completely vegan option.
Posted by Dianne at 9:43 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
January 20, 2010
Hello
Hey everyone.
I just realized that my last entry just fell off the front page. I'm hoping to be back tomorrow with recipes. I've had a migraine that just would not go away and then I had to repair the disaster that was my house after a few days of not cleaning. Even with Jamison doing laundry and cleaning up the kitchen (I LOVE when he does that!) there was still a lot to do.
Hope you all are having a good week so far and don't forget to check back tomorrow!
Posted by Dianne at 3:40 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
January 13, 2010
Now What Do I Do With These?
Today has been a busy one and I haven't had time to write up an entry, but I thought I'd share with you my new heart baking dishes!
Aren't they cute? I found them at the grocery store of all places and I couldn't resist!
Now do I want to make a heart shaped cake? Brownies? A big heart shaped marshmallow? A heart shaped loaf of bread? The possibilities are endless and that is exactly how I like things to be!
I'll hopefully be back tomorrow with a recipe. Fingers crossed!
Posted by Dianne at 3:24 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
January 12, 2010
Lemon Sugar Cookies
First up, before we start talking about cookies I wanted to let you know that the fabulous Melissa, who has guest blogged for me before, has started her own blog and I'm so excited for her! So be sure and stop by and say hello!
Now let's talk some cookies!
This year for Christmas I put together gift baskets for the adults in the family. Basically I baked a lot of stuff, threw in some candy, gave them each a gift card to a favorite restaurant and topped it with a bow. (Well not literally a bow, but you know what I mean.) We really don't need anything, so why not give them something they can enjoy and not have to keep up with! I baked pecan pie bars, gingerbread cookies, Hello Dollies and lemon sugar cookies. I then added in some coffee, candy and the gift card and it made a nice little bundle.
When I was living in Knoxville back in the day I always loved the lemon cookies from Ham and Goodys. Sadly it has been years since I've had one, and in fact the last time I was in Tennessee I stopped in only to find out that they were sold out that day! I remember them being lemony and just perfect and for years I've thought I'd try to make something similar. It took me a while, but at Christmas I finally got around to just that!
In all honesty I have no idea if these cookies are even similar to the ones I remember so fondly from Ham and Goodys. It's literally been over a decade since I've had one of those cookies (How is that possible?), but I can tell you that they are some really fabulous lemon cookies! I'll definitely be making them again.
What You'll Need:
2 sticks of butter, softened
2 eggs
1 cup of organic cane sugar
1 teaspoon of sea salt
The juice of one lemon
The zest of one lemon
3 cups of unbleached all purpose flour
Cream together butter, eggs, sugar and sea salt until creamy. Add lemon juice and zest and mix until incorporated. Slowly add flour and mix until dough forms.
Shape dough into a ball and place in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Place dough on a floured surface:
Cut dough into quarters:
Roll each quarter out flat:
Cut into desired shapes and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until slightly golden.
Cool and store in an airtight container.
Oh and I have it on good authority that Santa LOVES these cookies! ;oP
Notes: The Ham and Goodys cookies are glazed. I had intended to glaze these with a lemon topping as well and then sprinkle them with a little silvery sanding sugar, but I ran out of time. Next time I think I'll combine a cup of powdered sugar and enough lemon juice to make a nice icing and see how that turns out. Also you could do this with limes or key limes in place of the lemon for a lime cookie.
Posted by Dianne at 10:57 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
January 11, 2010
Whole Grain Bread
I love to make bread and for a while now I've been thinking about coming up with a bread recipe for Alexis and I so that I could stop buying bread at the store and dealing with all those plastic bags and things that bread is inevitably packed in. I already make Jamison's gluten free bread each week, so why not make one Lex and I can enjoy too?
I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions. I don't see the point. They are easily made and easily broken, but I see nothing wrong with making a few goals. Goals are much easier to focus on and aren't as daunting to me. So last week I set out with the goal to come up with a really good whole grain bread that both Alexis and I could enjoy and this is what resulted. It took two tries, but on the second it really came together!
So goodbye store bought bread! This version is delicious and easy. You can't get better than that!
What You'll Need:
1 cup of warm water
1 tablespoon of yeast
1 cup of oats, processed until smooth
1/3 cup of flax seed meal
1/3 cup of vital wheat gluten (Note: You really need to add wheat gluten if you're making a whole grain bread. It really makes a BIG difference!)
1 2/3 cups of white whole wheat flour
1 2/3 cups of whole wheat flour
2/3 cup of corn flour (Note: Corn flour is NOT corn starch.)
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1/3 cup of olive oil
1/3 cup of honey
1 cup of orange juice (Note: You can use freshly squeezed or out of the carton.)
Mix yeast and water together and let sit for 5 minutes or so or until foamy:
While yeast is proofing place oats in a food processor and process until relatively flour like in consistency:
Next mix processed oats, flax seed meal, gluten, flours and sea salt in a large glass bowl until completely incorporated. Add water/yeast, olive oil, honey and orange juice and stir until dough forms.
Now here's where I do things a little differently...You ready?
Instead of putting the dough on a floured surface and kneading, I just sprinkle the dough with white whole wheat flour and knead it right in the bowl! Works perfectly and saves you the steps of having to clean the counter after you're finished.
Knead for 1-2 minutes until dough is elastic. (Note: That means when you poke it it bounces back.) Place dough in a bread pan that has been brushed with olive oil or sprayed with non-stick spray:
Place in a warm place (I like to put it in the oven with the light on) and let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until you can see a noticeable rise:
Remember that with whole grain breads the rise is very subtle. It's not going to double in size or anything of that nature while in the rising period, but you will be able to see a slight enlargement.
Once the dough is risen turn oven on to 400 F with the loaf in the oven. Close the door and when the oven is preheated THEN start counting time. (In other words you're going to preheat your oven WITH the loaf inside. The loaf will continue to rise a bit more as the oven preheats.)
When the oven is preheated you will bake from 35-45 minutes until loaf sounds hollow and is browned all over:
You might have to cover the loaf with foil in the last 10 minutes or so if it gets really brown. Let cool at least 10 minutes before cutting. Store in an airtight container once completely cooled.
Notes: No notes on this one.
Posted by Dianne at 10:29 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
January 7, 2010
Baked Green Beans
Green beans can be tricky, but they are one of my favorite side dishes, though I rarely eat them. This is an easy side dish that can be thrown together in a no time and tastes fabulous. By using green beans and adding a little onion and seasoning you have a very healthy, very delicious side dish that really hits the spot.
What You'll Need:
Raw green beans (Note: You could use frozen if you wanted, but should cut the cooking time down to 25-30 minutes.)
1 small red onion, chopped
Extra virgin olive oil
Coarse sea salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
Preheat oven to 425 F.
Brush the bottom and sides of an 8 X 8 inch dish with olive oil. Add green beans. (Note: I used a 12 ounce package I picked up in the salad isle, but there isn't an exact amount you need to do this.) Top beans with chopped onion, a drizzle of olive oil, some coarse sea salt and some freshly cracker black pepper.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until beans are tender and onions are slightly caramelized.
Notes: You could add in a few cloves of minces garlic too if you wanted. Any kind of onion will work as well.
Posted by Dianne at 2:16 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 6, 2010
Holiday Cookies
When I was growing up these cookies were often made around the holiday season. My dad loves them. In all honesty I don't care for them, but I usually make them for him as part of his Christmas gift and this year was no different. We always called them holiday cookies, but they sort of remind me of what fruit cake might be in cookie form. Not my cup of tea, but I thought I'd share them with you none the less. Enjoy!
What You'll Need:
2 sticks of butter, softened
1 cup of natural brown sugar
1 cup of organic cane sugar
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 teaspoon of baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup of buttermilk
3 1/2 cups of unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups of chopped nuts (Note: I like walnuts, but pecans work well too.)
1 cup of red candied cherries, cut in half
1 cup of green candied cherries, cut in half
1 cup of candied fruit, chopped
1 cup of dried dates, chopped
In a large bowl cream together butter, sugars, salt, soda and eggs until smooth. Add buttermilk and stir to mix. Add flour and mix until just incorporated. Stir in fruit and mix until fruit is throughout the dough. Chill dough for at least 4 hours, overnight is better.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Scoop chilled dough out by rounded tablespoon on to a baking pan that has been lined with a silicone baking sheet or parchment paper:
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cookies are golden brown:
Cool and store in an airtight container.
Makes 5-6 dozen cookies.
Notes: The original recipe called for only candied cherries and dates, but I like to mix it up a bit.
Posted by Dianne at 12:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 5, 2010
Easy Sour Dough Bread
Making your own bread is really easy, not to mention a lot of fun! Sour dough is sometimes conceived as difficult, but it really isn't. You make a "starter" and let it do it's thing. The longer you let it sit the more "sour" it becomes. You can even make a loaf the day you begin the "starter" as I did with this loaf. Or you can store it in the fridge for a couple of weeks at a time. As long as you feed it (i.e. add flour from time to time) it can go on indefinitely in the fridge.
This version is a quick start. You whip up the "starter" in the morning and by the afternoon you're making dough. Or if you don't want to make it that day you can as I mentioned above store it in the fridge in a glass jar and feed it right before making the bread. The directions below are for making the day the "starter" begins, but trust me it's a good loaf of bread either way!
What You'll Need for the "Starter":
1 cup of warm water
1 tablespoon of organic cane sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons of yeast
1/2 cup of unbleached all purpose flour
In a large glass jar mix together water, sugar, yeast and flour and stir to mix. (Note: Use wooden utensils and avoid letting metal or plastic touch the "starter") Let sit for at least 1 hour to overnight to proof.
As you can see above my "starter" got a little happy and crawled right out of the jar. That doesn't usually happen, but sometimes yeast just has a mind of its own.
What You'll Need to Make the Bread:
1 "starter", proofed
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 cup of warm water
2-3 cups of unbleached all purpose flour
In a large bowl add starter, salt and water. Stir to mix. Slowly add flour until dough ball forms. (Note: You made need some, all or possibly even just a bit more flour. It all depends on humidity and such. You want dough you can handle without sticking to your hands.)
Once dough is formed turn it out onto a floured surface and knead for 1-2 minutes until dough is elastic. Shape into a ball, place on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking sheet or parchment paper and score the top of the loaf:
Let rise for 30 minutes to an hour or until the loaf has risen:
Set oven to 400 F.
Add risen dough to the oven as it preheats instead of waiting for the oven to preheat. Bake for 30 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped and is golden brown.
Notes: I haven't tried this yet with whole grain flours, but I plan to do that the next time around.
Posted by Dianne at 1:34 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
January 4, 2010
2009 Recipe Round Up
Before we jump in to 2010 I always like to round up the year before with a little recipe round up and share my favorite recipes from each month. This year I couldn't come up with just one for each month because there were so many I loved! So you're getting three for the price of one!
Overall 2009 was MUCH better than 2008 around our house. What was it with 2008 that was just so horrible for so many people? That is not a year I want to relive! Here's hoping that 2010 is even better than even 2009!
Now let's get started with that round up!
January:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Bars:
So this obviously isn't something you would want to make every day because seriously...Calories! But oh my these are good! If you're looking for something a little bad and oh so good, then look no further...You've found it!
Blueberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies:
I love blueberries and white chocolate. We had cookie Sunday at church and I wanted to make something just a little bit different and this is what I came up with. These are familiar and comforting, yet not your standard cookie. They are just perfect to share!
Do It Yourself Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate:
What is better than a big cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day? If you want hot chocolate with a twist then this is the cocoa for you! Why venture out in the cold to Starbucks when you can make it at home yourself?
February:
I love soups and stews. They are a nice, hearty, yet mostly healthy way to enjoy a meal, especially when it's cold outside. This stew was something I had been thinking about for a while and it came together very nicely.
When you think of Maryland you often think of crabs. And more often than not crab cakes are what pop in to view. This version is just as good as the deep fried variety with a healthier twist. Who says you can't make something better for you and keep the taste?
Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese:
This one was a hit even with Jamison, who obviously it was designed for. People automatically assume that gluten free is dull, but trust me on this one...This is anything but!
March:
Who doesn't like a good, ooey, gooey, cinnamon bun? I certainly do! Another sometimes treat, but oh so good when that sometimes rolls around.
Swedish Meatballs With A Twist:
So what's the twist you ask? I made them with ground chicken instead of beef and let me tell you I think I liked them better that way!
What's Saint Patrick's Day without a little brown bread? Trust me...This one is good! Serve with a little Irish butter and you're set!
April:
I'm a huge fan of Mexican food and one of my favorite things to do is whip up some loaded nachos. They are easy, quick and delicious. Perfect!
A childhood favorite. My one change though is no cinnamon. I think it tastes better without that addition.
I don't make yeast rolls that often now that Jamison can't have gluten but once in a while when we have company I do like to whip up a batch. This version is just perfect. It's too bad Jamison can't enjoy them too.
May:
Homemade granola is extremely easy to make. I love it because you can control exactly what goes in to the mix and as far as I'm concerned it's always nice to know what you're eating! This version utilizes dried blueberries to make a very satisfying mix. What's better than that?
There is a common misconception that something that is good for you has to taste bad, but that is definitely not the case! This dish is a hearty, yet healthy meal that is just perfect all by itself or paired with a tossed salad. Yum!
When we started getting weekly bundles from our CSA last season I had some really fabulous, fresh, organic produce to work with! I love asparagus, it's one of my all time favorite vegetables and there is nothing like a fresh, ripe strawberry. This salad is a simple, healthy dish that makes a fabulous side dish.
June:
This was my first attempt at frozen yogurt and I must say I was very pleased with the result. My sister was too, since I shared it with her and all! ;oP
Stir Fry is a very versatile, healthy alternative for dinner. Throw in the vegetables and/or meat that you like and pair with some brown rice and you've got the perfect meal!
Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies:
These are a fabulous little gluten free cookie that come together quite easily. Trust me...You'll never miss the gluten!
July:
Blueberries are one of my favorite fruits. Actually they probably are just straight up my favorite fruit and over the past few years I've developed an affinity for blueberry jam. This jam takes fresh blueberries and allows you to make a fabulous jam without even cooking the fruit. How simple is that?
Two For One: Gazpacho Salad or Gazpacho Soup:
Soup:
Salad:
This was my first attempt at gazpacho and I have to say I'm hooked! It's the perfect summer treat in soup or salad form! It's also the perfect way to use up abundant vegetables in the summer. The soup also freezes well.
This is a slightly sinful, yet really delicious salad. It's another way to use those summer vegetables when the harvest is bountiful.
August:
Another instance of playing around with my summer vegetables. These would be perfect as an appetizer or used in place of hush puppies. They are fabulous!
Margaritas are one of my favorite drinks, and blueberries are as I've mentioned before a favorite too, so I decided to combine them. Loved this creation! I'll definitely be making them again.
Pan Seared Salmon With Tomato Avocado Relish:
Growing up I was not a fan of salmon. The only instance of it I had tasted was canned salmon and I have to say I just wasn't a fan. A few years ago I tried a salmon fillet and fell in love immediately! This version pairs salmon with a relish that just blends together perfectly.
September:
Pumpkin Mousse With Honeyed Sugar Pecans:
Pumpkin is another all time favorite. I decided this fall it would be fun to take some roasted pumpkin and make mousse and loved the result! This is relatively simple, yet very impressive and delicious. That's my idea of a fabulous dish!
Eggplant "Fries" with Creamy Onion Dip:
Eggplant is also a recent addition to my diet. A few years ago I bought one just because I couldn't ever remember ever actually eating one other than possibly an eggplant Parmesan in the far distant past. This summer we got several eggplant in our CSA bundles and I wanted to try something new. This is the resulting dish and I will definitely be making them again come summer.
If you've been around Dianne's Dishes for a while you know I'm a huge fan of kids in the kitchen. It teaches them valuable life skills that they will use as they grow. It also encourages creativity. This cake came about one day when Alexis told me she wanted to make a cake and told me what we should put in the cake itself. I figured out the amounts and the cake was born! It's really good too.
October:
What's October without a little cider? I love it when the local farms start putting out their yearly batches! This is my take on Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice and it's delicious!
Fondue is a blast to play around with and cheese fondue is one of my all time favorites! It's easy to make and fun and delicious to eat.
Another thing I love about Fall are all the local apples! This is a very simple, yet delicious twist on the classic baked apple. What's not to like?
November:
This is a fast, easy, comforting pasta dish that you can throw together in no time. It's just perfect for a busy day!
This is another one I've had dancing around in my head for a while. I really liked how they turned out! A definite make again sort of thing. I mean pumpkin...What's not to like??
I always assumed that Broccoli Cheese Soup would be hard to make and thus didn't attempt the feat. In fact though it's really easy. This is a delicious, hearty soup that is just perfect for that cold winter day!
December:
Another pumpkin creation for Thanksgiving because I seriously just can't get enough pumpkin! This was really fabulous!
This was my first time making a pecan pie. Yet another thing I assumed was complicated when in fact it wasn't. Another very sometimes food, but very good none the less!
And last but not least possibly my favorite creation of the year....
A good gingerbread recipe, some candy and a little imagination ends up with a fabulous result! Throw in Eric, Sookie and Bill and you've got a little gingerbread vampire bar of your very own! ;oP
And so that sums up 2009. Bring on 2010! Happy New Year everyone! May it be a blessed year for you all. I'll be back tomorrow with a new recipe. Until then...
Posted by Dianne at 11:38 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
