Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

Freezer Containers {Ask the Readers}

Lynn — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:27:34 +0000

I am looking for some new freezer/fridge containers. The kind that can go from the fridge/freezer to the microwave/oven. I am looker for the smaller one or two serving size type ones that work great for leftovers.

I have some large pyrex ones that have lids and I love them, but since they are large I use them for more dinner type freezer meals. So, I am looking for something a little smaller more lunchbox size that would work well for my husband’s lunches or that I could use for my breakfast bowls.

Most of my smaller ones are ones that I have had for years and over time they have either gotten broken, lost the lids, or are plastic and have just not held up well.

Years ago I bought some Tupperware ones that I loved, but they no longer have them.

So, before I invest in anything new, I thought I would ask all of you.

Do you have a favorite container to use for freezer cooking and lunchbox type meals? What brands and types have you had that have held up well?

Free Quick and Easy Ground Recipes ebook for subscribers only please click here to download ebook.

Spicy Buttermilk Grilled Chicken with Bush’s Black Bean Fiesta Grillin’ Beans

Lynn — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:02:29 +0000

Memorial Day is less than two weeks away and for many this marks the beginning of summer. And in my house summer means grilling and lots of it.

When it comes to summertime grilling and holiday cooking, like Memorial Day, I like to keep it quick and easy. And the recipe I have for you today is very quick and easy, and is perfect for serving just a few, or for a big Memorial Day cookout.

What I love about this recipe is that it only contains a few ingredients and it can be made with chicken breasts or chicken tenders.

And the perfect side dish for this quick and easy Spicy Buttermilk Grilled Chicken is Bush’s Black Bean Fiesta Grillin’ Beans.

If you are cooking for a crowd this Memorial Day and need a quick and easy side dish, just open a few cans of Bush’s Grillin Beans and place them in a crcok pot. Let them heat on low for about 2 hours and you will have an easy side dish that your guests will love.

Will you be Grillin’ Bold this Memorial Day? Bush’s has the beans for it. Come join the cookout with Cookin’ Canuck and Hoosier Homemade sponsored by Bush’s Grillin’ Beans. If you have a grillin’ recipe to share please head over to Cookin’ Canuck or Hoosier Homemade and link up. You can find all the details there.

And they have a great giveaway going on also sponsored by Bush’s Grillin’ Beans, so if you have a grillin’ recipe to share be sure to link up over at Cookin’ Canuck or Hoosier Homemade

Spicy Buttermilk Grilled Chicken with Black Bean Fiesta Grillin’ Beans

Serves: 6

Prep time: 5 minutes (plus marinading time)

Cook Time: 10-12 minutes

1/2 cup Louisiana style hot sauce
2 cups buttermilk
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken tenders

Place hot sauce, buttermilk, and chicken in a large zip top type storage bag.
Mix together and marinate for 8-12 hours or overnight.
When ready to serve remove meat from marinade and discard marinade and place meat on a hot grill.
Grill over medium high heat for 5-6 minutes per side or until done. (Chicken tenders will take a little less time and thicker chicken breasts may take a little longer.)
Serve with Bush’s Grillin’ Beans and enjoy!

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Disclaimer: I am compensated for my time in working with Bush’s Beans, but my thoughts and opinions are my own.

Free Quick and Easy Ground Recipes ebook for subscribers only please click here to download ebook.

Martha’s American Food and Mother’s Day

Lynn — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:21:59 +0000

I had plans of sharing another recipe for my Cooking From My Collection series, but I think a new post for Cooking Through My Collection will have to wait until next Monday.

We had a very busy weekend and I am really behind on everything from housework to my inbox.

Plus, all three kids have appointments at the optometrist today and I have a few errands to run which will probably get me even more behind. (Just keeping it real here. )

So, I decided to change things up a little and show you what I got for Mother’s Day.

My kids got me Martha Stewart’s new cookbook Martha’s American Food: A Celebration of Our Nation’s Most Treasured Dishes, from Coast to Coast. Yes, my family knows me well.

I love cookbooks and I love Martha Stewart’s Recipes and I am very excited to add this book to my collection.

And like all Martha Stewart Cookbooks the photographs in this one are amazing. Don’t you want a piece of that cake right now? I know I do. It looks so good and I will so be trying to come up with a gluten free version of it.

And wouldn’t that make a delicious breakfast? Seriously the pictures in this book make you want to make everything right now.

This book is full of classic American recipes from across the country. This is real everyday food that people across American eat.

It is an excellent look into the vast difference in culture and food as you cross the country. I spent quite a bit of time last night looking through this and I cannot wait to start cooking out of this cookbook.

So, now I would love to hear what fun things you got for Mother’s Day. Or share what you gave your mother for Mother’s Day.

Free Quick and Easy Ground Recipes ebook for subscribers only please click here to download ebook.

Menu Plan {May 13th-19th}

Lynn — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:50:12 +0000

Summer has officially begun in our house. Yes, I know the calendar disagrees with that, but we homeschool and on Friday we finished up our school for the year.

I know a lot of homeschoolers do more year around type school, but for me I need a break, mainly to catch up on all those things that I get behind on over the school year. Our school year usually starts the beginning of August and ends mid May, so I am looking forward to some time off of school.

The last few ~~weeks~~ months have been really busy, so I decided that I needed a bit of a cooking break this week. But as many of you know we deal with food allergies and issues and when you deal with food issues a break from cooking is not exactly possible. So, I decided to just keep the plan very simple this week.

During the summer breakfast is much more relaxed and easy going in our house and does not always go as planned, but we try.

Here is the plan for the week.

Breakfast

eggs and coffee cake

homemade granola

yogurt and muffins

cereal

pancakes or waffles

Dinner

out to eat or breakfast for dinner

rice cooker macaroni and cheese and hot dogs

cheese enchiladas

pasta and bread or rolls

hamburgers and french fries

pizza

bacon cheeseburger salad

For more menu planning ideas see Menu Planning Mondays.

Free Quick and Easy Ground Recipes ebook for subscribers only please click here to download ebook.

Recipes From My Mom

Lynn — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:02:21 +0000

Mother’s Day is just a few days away. A few years ago I shared what being a mom meant to me, today though I want to focus on my mom.

You see it is because of my mom that I love cooking and food.

Growing up my mom cooked almost everything from scratch. We enjoyed homemade yogurt, homemade bread, homemade cookies, and a home cooked dinner every night. My mom spent a good portion of her days in the kitchen.

And on top of all that she spent many hours each summer and fall canning and preserving food for us to eat throughout the year. In fact, she canned several hundred quarts of food each year, for many years.

My mom is not really a recipe follower though. She makes do with what she has and turns it into whatever she can. She can make a roast stretch into more meals than anyone I know. And when things are tight she can take three cans of various foods, that you would never think go together, and turn it into a meal.

She also taught me how to give and that food is one of the easiest ways you can give and share with others.

Over the years I saw her work very hard in the kitchen canning and putting away food for us to use throughout the year, but the impression that really sticks in my mind is not the canning itself, it is the food she gave away. There were several years that for every 10 or so jars of food my mom canned for us, she gave one away.

As a child I would sit back and wonder why she was giving away what we all worked so hard to put up, but as an adult I see the reality of what she did and it has left a lasting impression on me. THANK YOU MOM!

So, today in honor of Mother’s Day Sunday I want to share a few of my favorite recipes from my mom. All three are desserts, because both my mom and I have a sweet tooth, and cannot resist a good dessert. But all three are desserts that use everyday ingredients that you probably have on hand in your kitchen.

Plus, they are quick and easy to make. Ever wonder why I love quick and easy cooking so much, well I think maybe it comes from my mom.

Lemon Bars ( I adapted these to be gluten free also.)

Coconut Bars ( I also have a gluten free version of these.)

And probably my all time favorite dessert from my childhood Mom’s Quick and Easy Cheesecake

What is your favorite recipe or kitchen lesson that you learned from your mom? I would love to hear what your mom’s taught you when it comes to food and working in the kitchen.

Free Quick and Easy Ground Recipes ebook for subscribers only please click here to download ebook.

Free Ground Beef Recipes ebook

Lynn — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:01:44 +0000

Over the last few months I have been sharing my favorite ground beef recipes every Thursday.

Ground beef is one of the most versatile meats that you can use and it is also one of the least expensive meats you can buy. And I have had so much fun sharing these ground beef recipes each week.

Because my ground beef series has been so popular, I decided to put all the recipes that I have shared over the last few months into an ebook and offer it free to all subscribers of my site.

Yes, these recipes are all on my site, but I put them all together in one place so that anytime you need some inspiration for quick and easy recipes that use ground beef, you will have all the recipes you need in one ebook and did I mention it is free! (And if you don’t use a lot of ground beef, but love ground turkey, it will work well in these recipes also.)

For more details about the ebook, and how to receive your copy, please see my page about my Ground Beef Recipes ebook.

I hope you enjoy the free Ground Beef Recipes ebook!

Free Quick and Easy Ground Recipes ebook for subscribers only please click here to download ebook.

Freezer Smoothie Containers

Lynn — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:16:31 +0000

Whenever I mention the fact that I often make a large batch of smoothies ahead and freeze them in containers to use for quick breakfasts, or lunches on the go, I get asked about the containers that I use to freeze them in.

Freezer smoothies are one of my favorite things to keep in the freezer. I love my homemade smoothie mix and also keep that on hand, but pre-made smoothies in the freezer are perfect for on the go type meals.

The containers I use are by ball and I can find them all year long at the Wal-mart near me, but I know from many of the emails and comments that I have received, that some of you have had trouble finding these containers.

So, I wanted to let you know that right now is the perfect time to look for them again because many stores are starting to put out the summertime canning type items.

I usually find them on the same aisle as all of the canning and jam making supplies and most stores have a canning section this time of year, so if you have been looking for these small containers and could not find them, now is the time to check again.

And if you are looking for some smoothie ideas here are a few of our favorites.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Pineapple Orange Smoothie

Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Free Quick and Easy Ground Recipes ebook for subscribers only please click here to download ebook.

Pancakes with Fruit Topping

Lynn — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:48:02 +0000

COOL WHIP whipped topping is one of the easiest ways to make a dessert or any meal special.

When I was asked to share a way that COOL WHIP whipped topping can turn an everyday food into a treat, I knew that I had to share one of my kid’s favorite breakfast treats.

It is so easy to let your kids feel like they are eating dessert for breakfast simply by serving pancakes or waffles with fruit topping and a little COOL WHIP whipped topping on top.

It is such a simple way to turn an everyday breakfast into a special one.

And really this can be dessert also. What kid or family would not love chocolate waffles with strawberries and COOL WHIP whipped topping for dessert?! YUM!

Here is what I do.

Pancakes with Fruit Topping

Pancakes or waffles, I use homemade, but use whatever you like
1 can fruit topping or use homemade fruit topping
COOL WHIP whipped topping

Set everything out and let your kids create their own fun breakfast or dessert.

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Note: This is a sponsored post, but my thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is just one of the many ways I get creative with COOL WHIP, making every dessert more delicious. Share what your kids love about COOL WHIP and you’ll be entered to win $500 cash!

Visit the COOL WHIP Facebook page to see more recipes and to share your own COOL WHIP creations!

Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content. Official Sweepstakes Rules.

Free Quick and Easy Ground Recipes ebook for subscribers only please click here to download ebook.

Slow Cooker Pork Loin {Cooking Through My Collection}

Lynn — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:13:31 +0000

This week for Cooking Through My Collection I have a slow cooked pork loin recipe from the cookbook Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood. This is a cookbook I bought several years ago when it first came out, but I have not done much cooking from it and I am not sure why because it is a great cookbook.

These recipes are Trisha and her family’s take on everyday southern type food. These are recipes that contain everyday ingredients that you have on hand in your kitchen.

This cookbook contains some great recipes and if I was not gluten free I would so be trying her recipe for Apple Dumplings and for Monkey Bread. And I think I am going to have to try to adapt her lime cake and see if I can make it work gluten free.

For today’s recipe though I have one from the beef and pork section of her cookbook. It is a slow cooker pork loin roast and it was so easy.

I served this with my Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes and we really enjoyed it. The sauce for the meat paired really well with the potatoes.

Now I know for this cooking through my collection series I am supposed to be following the recipe, but for this one I did make one change. The recipe calls for you to add cornstarch to the hot liquid, well as much as I love this cookbook and Trisha, I disagree with her on this one.

Cornstarch should never be added to a hot liquid or it is much more likely to clump up and it will be very difficult to get a smooth sauce. I always add cornstarch to cool liquid and then mix into the hot liquid. So, for this recipe I followed my instinct instead of the recipe and mixed the cornstarch with a few tablespoons of water before adding to the hot liquid.

Do any of you have Trisha’s Cookbooks? I would love to hear your thoughts on them?

Slow Cooked Pork Loin Roast

2 1/2 – 3 pound pork roast
1/2 teaspoon garlic
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon oil
2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 teaspoons soy sauce ( I used gluten free soy sauce)
3 tablespoons cornstarch
salt and pepper to taste

In a bowl combine the garlic powder, ginger, thyme, and pepper. Rub all over the pork roast.
In a large pan heat oil and brown meat on all sides.
Place browned meat into your crock pot.
In a bowl combine chicken broth, lemon juice, and soy sauce and pour over meat.
Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until tender.
When the roast is done transfer it to a serving platter and remove 2 cups of juice from the slow cooker. Skim off any fat.
In a pan combine cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water and whisk well. Slowly add hot juices and cook over medium high heat, whisking constantly until the sauce is desired thickness. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
Serve sauce over meat and enjoy!

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Free Quick and Easy Ground Recipes ebook for subscribers only please click here to download ebook.

Menu Plan {May 6th-12th}

Lynn — Sun, 06 May 2012 18:59:56 +0000

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo so last week I found some great deals on Mexican type food and ingredients. I found limes on sale 5/$1, avocados for 29 cents, salsa on sale, and a few other things.

So, this week is Mexican meal week at our house. We won’t have Mexican type food every night, but I did plan several meals around the items I found on sale.

The limes will probably get used in some fun desserts and I am sure some of the avocados will get used to make my easy guacamole.

Did you find any good deals last week on Mexican type foods?

Here is the dinner plan for the week.

Dinner

leftovers/snack type foods ( My goal is to start making our Sunday evening meal as easy as possible with either a very simple meal or breakfast for dinner.)

Chili Relleno Casserole ( Pictured above)

Chili Bean Casserole (New Recipe I am trying)

Grilled Sausages and Oven Potatoes

Mexican Pizza

Deer Steak (I am not sure what I will serve with this.)

Homemade Pizza

For more menu planning ideas see Menu Planning Mondays.