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Potato and Pea Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette

May 15, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

What You Need:

1 lb. tiny red potatoes, unpeeled and halved
1/2 C red onion, coarsely chopped
1 C of frozen petite peas
2 T of tarragon vinegar
2 t Dijon mustard
1/3 C extra virgin olive oil
2 T fresh tarragon, chopped
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper

How to Make It:

Fill a saucepan 2/3 full of water.
Place the potatoes in the pan being sure they are submerged.
Place the pan over high heat and bring the water to a boil.
Allow the potatoes to boil 12 minutes or until fork tender.
Drain the potatoes well and return them to the saucepan.
Stir the onions into the potatoes.
Put the peas into a small saucepan and just cover with water.
Place the pan over high heat and bring the water to a boil.
Cook the peas for 3 minutes or until they turn a bright green.
Drain the peas well then run under cool water.
Pour the vinegar into a small mixing bowl.
Whisk the mustard into the vinegar until well combined.
Pour the oil into the bowl and whisk again to incorporate.
Sprinkle in the tarragon, salt and pepper and whisk until blended in well.
Pour the dressing over the potatoes and onions.
Fold in the peas stirring gently until completely combined.

Makes 4 servings

It may be hard to find tarragon vinegar in your local grocery store. If it is not available white wine vinegar can be used in its place. 1/4 t of dried tarragon may be substituted for the fresh tarragon.

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Spinach Salad with Chicken and Berries

May 14, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

What You Need:

1 t + 1 T of olive oil, divided
3/4 t ground cumin, divided
1/2 t salt, divided
1/4 t pepper, divided
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 T of honey
2 T of lemon juice
2 t lemon peel, grated
1 (5 oz.) pkg. baby spinach leaves
2 pints strawberries, halved
1/3 C red onion, sliced thin

How to Make It:

Pour 1 T of the olive oil into a skillet set over medium heat.
Put 1/4 t of cumin, 1/4 t salt and 1/8 t of the pepper into a mixing bowl and blend together well.
Sprinkle the mixture over both sides of the chicken breasts.
Place the breasts in the heat oil and brown for 5 minutes.
Turn the chicken over and continue cooking 4 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Transfer the chicken to a platter and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
Place the honey into a small bowl.
Add the lemon juice and lemon peel and blend together well.
Stir in the remaining cumin, salt and pepper.
Blend in the remaining olive oil until well combined.
Place the spinach into a large salad bowl.
Add the strawberries and onion slices tossing to combine.
Slice the chicken into strips and arrange over the salad.
Pour the dressing over the entire salad and toss until completely coated.

Makes 4 servings

Its well worth the time it takes to prepare this salad. Mom will be impressed when she takes the first bit. Add some toasted pecan pieces to the salad before adding the chicken and dressing to give this salad an extra crunch.

Filed Under: Chicken, Dinner Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Mothers Day, Recipes, Soups and Salads, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Skip the Cooking On Mother’s Day

May 14, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

restuarnttableDoes Mom like to eat? One thing about that is she is usually the one doing the cooking. Wouldn’t you like to give Mom a break for a change? You could always cook for her but then again who wants to spend Mother’s Day in the kitchen. Why not treat her to dinner on Mother’s Day this year?

The first thing that you will want to do is to find out Mom’s favorite restaurant. Make sure that her favorite place is going to be open on Mother’s Day as some restaurants may not be open. Make sure to have a reservation, Mother’s Day is a busy time for restaurants. You might be amazed to find that everyone has the same idea for this holiday. By planning in advance and making a reservation early this will ensure that you have the perfect spot to dine.

There are a few restaurants that have a first come first serve policy. This means that they won’t take reservations. If this is the case, try taking Mom out for brunch. Many people think of dinner as an ideal time to get Mom out and away from the kitchen. Often time’s brunch is a better choice because it is less likely to be crowded. By going for brunch from the hours of 2 to 4, this will avoid the larger crowds and will ensure you that a table is open and available for you.

What if Mom doesn’t have a favorite restaurant? This will take some thought on your part to figure out the type of restaurant she would enjoy. Maybe Mom likes buffet style. Perhaps she would enjoy being wined and dined somewhere a little fancier. Is Mexican or French food right up her alley? Could seafood or a great steak fancy her taste buds? Keep all of this in mind before deciding on the perfect restaurant to take Mom. She will know just how much you appreciate her by pleasing her with her favorites.

Could home be your Mom’s favorite place to eat? If this is the answer then prepare yourself to make a meal fit for a queen. Hire a caterer or even cook the meal yourself it totally up to you. You can always find a great restaurant that has delivery or pick-up and order the meal. However you choose to go Mom won’t care as long as she is with the ones she loves.

No matter what ways you choose make this day a special day for Mom to remember. This will make memories that will last a lifetime. After all isn’t that what it is all about? Spending quality time with Mom and showing her how much you love and appreciate her.

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Alfredo Chicken Wild Rice Casserole

May 13, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

What You Need:

1 (10 oz.) jar Alfredo pasta sauce
1/2 C milk
2 1/2 C wild rice, cooked
2 C chicken, cooked and cubed
1 C of frozen peas
1/3 C bottled roasted red sweet peppers, chopped
1/4 C slivered almonds, toasted
1/2 t dried basil
1 C soft bread crumb
1 T of butter, melted

How to Make It:

Place the oven setting on 350 degrees and allow the oven to preheat.
Pour the Alfredo sauce into a mixing bowl.
Add the milk and whisk until well blended.
Fold in the rice, chicken and peas until completely covered in the sauce.
Stir in the red sweet peppers and almond slivers.
Sprinkle in the dried basil and stir until blended together well.
Place the mixture into an ungreased casserole dish.
Cover the dish with foil and bake the casserole for 30 minutes.
Place the bread crumbs into a bowl.
Drizzle the melted butter over the crumbs then toss to coat.
Spread the bread crumbs over the entire casserole.
Place the casserole back into the oven, uncovered and bake 20 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.

Makes 4 servings

Preparation time: approximately 25 minutes
Baking time: approximately 50 minutes
Total time: approximately 1 hour 15 minutes

1 C of uncooked rice, prepared as directed on the package, can be used in place of the already cooked rice. Substitute white rice if you prefer. Almond slivers can be toasted in the 350 degree oven for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until browned.

Filed Under: Chicken, Dinner Ideas, Mothers Day, Recipes, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Maple Sauce Carrots

May 12, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

What You Need:

1 1/2 T of butter
1/2 C chicken broth
3 T of maple syrup
2 t lemon juice
1 lb. baby cut carrots
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper

How to Make It:

Place a skillet over medium heat.
Add the butter and allow the butter to completely melt.
Pour the chicken broth into the skillet.
Stir in the maple syrup and lemon juice until well combined.
Stir the carrots into the mixture being sure to coat them well.
Leaving the lid slightly ajar braise the carrots for 7 minutes or until tender.
Most of the liquid will be absorbed into the carrots as they cook.
Add the salt and pepper and toss to coat just before serving.

Makes 4 servings

If you are fixing Mom pork add these carrots for the perfect side dish. 1/4 C of chopped pecans can be added to these carrots for a special treat.

Filed Under: Mothers Day, Recipes, Side Dishes, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: , , , ,

Mother’s Day Meal Plans

May 12, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

fruitandflowersAccording to tradition we have turkey at Thanksgiving, ham at Christmas or both at Easter. What we do not have is a specific food that says “Mother’s Day”. Not having a specific food for Mother’s Day can either be a curse or a blessing, depending upon your outlook.

Your job will be simple if you already know what your Moms favorite food or meal is. First, make a menu of those items, create your grocery list, shop for the items and find the recipes, the last step is to cook the meal. Here are a few ideas for a Mother’s Day meal if you don’t have a clue what to prepare.

Breakfast Ideas

Does breakfast in bed sound like a good idea? Maybe to you, Mom may just be laying in bed worrying about the mess you are making. Why not just get the kids ready and this will allow Mom to shower and dress in peace. Then you can treat everyone to breakfast at her favorite diner or restaurant. If you are preparing breakfast for Mom make her favorite dishes and by all means don’t forget to clear the table, wash the dishes and put them away.

Brunch/Lunch Ideas

Why not let Mom sleep in a little on Mother’s Day? This will mean that you will have to tend to any little ones that might be around. Then serve her brunch or lunch. You can be preparing the meal while Mom is waking up and getting ready to start the day. This will be a surprise when she walks into the kitchen and finds a delicious meal waiting for her. Let’s not forget to take the responsibility of cleaning up. Make plans for Mom to do a relaxing activity while she is waiting for you to finish with the clean-up. A happy Mother is well rested and has food in her belly.

Dinner Ideas

Remember that Mother’s Day is on Sunday, a full day. This may mean that you have to wait until evening to shower your Mom with her edible treats. Are you not able to prepare the meal yourself? With a little advanced preparation it is still possible. You can still surprise Mom by ordering a meal from your local grocery store, restaurant or other food delivery service. Make sure that you don’t forget to include the paper goods with this. This will ensure that you have a “home cooked meal” without the dirty dishes that come along with preparing dinner.

A way to your Mom’s heart is through food. Food is one way to express love and appreciation to Mom this Mother’s Day. Any effort that you put forth to making this day special for Mom will be truly appreciated by her.

Menu Planning Resource Pack

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Parmesan Asparagus Fettuccine

May 11, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

photoframemom
What You Need:

4 oz. fettuccine noodles, uncooked
1 T of butter
1/2 lb. fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into pieces
1/4 C onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 oz. cream cheese, cubed
1/4 C milk
1/4 C Parmesan cheese, shredded
1 1/2 t lemon juice
1 t lemon peel, grated
1/8 t pepper

How to Make It:

Fix the fettuccine noodles according to the package, drain well and set aside.
Melt the butter in a skillet placed over medium heat.
Add the asparagus, onion and garlic to the melted butter and stir to coat.
Cook for 5 minutes being sure the asparagus is fork tender.
Stir in the cream cheese and the milk until blended well.
Add the Parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
Stir in the lemon juice and lemon peel.
Sprinkle the pepper into the sauce blending well.
Cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted the sauce is smooth.
Pour the sauce over the noodles and stir until all the noodles are coated well.

Makes 2 servings

Preparation time: approximately 15 minutes
Cooking time: approximately 10 minutes not including cooking the noodles
Total time: approximately 25 minutes

Trying to finding fresh asparagus can sometimes be a difficult task. If you are having trouble finding fresh asparagus use cut up broccoli florets instead.

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Skillet Fries in a Flash

May 10, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

skilletfries
What You Need:

2 T of olive oil
2 C refrigerated sliced potatoes
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper

How to Make It:

Place a 10 inch skillet over medium heat.
Add the oil and allow the oil to heat until hot but not smoking.
Place the potatoes into the hot oil and stir to coat.
Add the salt and pepper, turning the potatoes to completely cover both sides.
Cook the potatoes for 6 minutes.
Turn and continue cooking 6 minutes or until the potatoes are completely browned and crispy.

Makes 4 servings

Preparation time: approximately 5 minutes
Cooking time: approximately 12 minutes
Total time: approximately 17 minutes

These potatoes are so easy to do even a child can help fix them. They go great with bacon and eggs for breakfast or as a side dish with lunch or dinner. One half cup of chopped onions and a half cup of chopped peppers can also be added for a special treat.

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Crab and Red Pepper Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

May 9, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

momlocket
What You Need:

2 (5 oz) Portobello mushrooms
2 T of olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (6 oz.) can crabmeat, drained and flaked
5 t mayonnaise
1 sweet red pepper, halved and roasted
2 provolone cheese slices

How to Make It:

Remove the stems from the mushrooms, discard then rinse the mushrooms well.
Dry the mushrooms with paper towel.
Set the oven to the broil setting and allow the broiler to heat.
Generously spray a baking sheet with a non stick cooking spray.
Place the oil and garlic into a small mixing bowl and whisk until well combined.
Brush the mixture over each of the mushrooms.
Place the mushrooms on the baking sheet and broil 6 inches from the heat for 5 minutes or until the mushrooms begin to tender.
Place the crabmeat and mayonnaise into a small mixing bowl and blend together well.
Place the red pepper halves into each of the mushrooms.
Place the crab meat mixture evenly into the mushrooms.
Arrange a slice of cheese over each mushroom.
Broil for 1 minutes or until the cheese is starting to melt but not browning.

Makes 2 servings

Preparation time: approximately 20 minutes
Broiling time: approximately 6 minutes
Total time: approximately 26 minutes

If crab is not one of Mom’s favorite foods fill the mushroom with shredded pork or beef instead. To roast your pepper halves grease a cookie sheet with a little olive oil. Place the peppers on the cookie sheet. Roast them in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes or until tender.

Filed Under: Dinner Ideas, Mothers Day, Recipes, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: , , , , ,

Mother’s Day Fun for Kids

May 9, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment

outdoormom

Serve Mom Breakfast in Bed

It’s usually always Mom that is up at the crack of dawn preparing breakfast for everyone. This would be a great gift for Mom, breakfast in bed. This will allow Mom to sleep in and then surprise her with breakfast in bed.

Keep this breakfast simple. Serve her that favorite muffin or toast, or even a small dish of fresh fruit. Don’t forget to add the steaming cup of hot coffee or tea. Make it even more special with a flower or a card with a special poem straight from your heart.

Give Her the Day to Herself

Of course, Mom loves us very much. Mom’s are always at our side and ready to help out anytime we need something, right? Mom will be so excited when you present her with a coupon for a full day to do whatever it is she wants to do.

This will only require a pretty piece of paper. Then you can create your own special gift certificate allowing her to have one day of total piece and quite. This can be decorated using markers, crayons or stickers.

Present your Mother on Mother’s Day with the gift certificate filled with love. Buy Mom a book that you know she wants to read? This would be great for her day off. Add a cup or a mug with her favorite beverage. This will allow Mom to enjoy her favorite drink while she reads. To help the day remain quite ask the grown up helping you to make sure you are kept busy as well as supervised so that Mom doesn’t have a thing to worry about the whole day long.

Spend Quality Family Time Together

Do you think Mom would rather spend time as a family instead of alone? Plan something fun that Mom will enjoy doing. After all, Mom spends a lot of time making sure that you are entertained. Mom’s often put their own interests aside because they know that you would enjoy doing something else. Repay the kindness to Mom by planning a day of family fun activities that you might not ordinarily do.

Perhaps Mom likes art, take her to the local museum and even have lunch there. If there is a concert Mom would like to see then buy family tickets for all to enjoy. The possibilities for things to do on Mother’s Day are endless. With a little imagination and a little grown up help this Mother’s Day will be one that your Mom will always hold dear to her heart.

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