Give Meals a Halloween Twist

pumpkinseeds

pumpkinseedsHalloween is a fun and exciting time for everyone. Kids anticipate dressing up, treats and being scared. It is as much fun for many parents as it is for the kids. Enjoying Halloween all day long can be one way of keeping those ghosts and goblins excited up to the last minute. Here are few ideas that you can incorporate into your Halloween meals, snacks, treats and parties to keep the excitement fresh all day.

Start them out on their Halloween adventure with a spooky morning breakfast. Toast can be transformed into ghosts by toasting the bread then using a gingerbread cookie cutter to cut the bread into ghosts. Smoother the bread with whipped cream cheese or plain yogurt and add raisins for the eyes.

Pumpkin oranges are another great breakfast idea. Use a toothpick or small sharp knife and carve a jack o lantern face into the outside of the orange. Be careful not to go to deep that you pierce the orange meat.

Lunch can also be transformed both at home and in the lunchbox. Goblin tongues can be the perfect tough. Use mini bagels and lightly spread them with mayonnaise. Cut slices of bologna into the shape of tongue and place on the bagel so they hang slightly over the edge of the bagel.

How about a worm sandwich? Slice hotdogs into several thin slices. Place them in the microwave and heat on high for a minute or so or until the hot dogs begin to curl slightly. Place them on a bun with ketchup to make them slimy.

You can also make ghost sandwiches. Add the filing to white bread then use a gingerbread cookie cutter to cut out the sandwich ghost. Remove the crust for the perfect ghost.

Don’t forget dinner? Transform devilled eggs into scary eyeballs by adding red food coloring to your egg yolks. Place a slice of black olive in the center for the pupil and you have some great blood shot eyes.

Having Italian for your Halloween dinner? Why not add Salty Bones to the meal. Use refrigerated breadstick dough and roll each triangle into a long skinny bone shape. Sprinkle with salt and bake as directed on the package.

Let’s not forget those snacks. Spider snacks can be a fun snack. Spread one round cracker with a dollop of peanut butter. Press stick pretzels into the peanut butter for the legs. Add raisins or small candy pieces for the eyes.

Graveyard snacks are also exciting. Use a cup of popped popcorn. Stir in the mini pretzels, marshmallows, chocolate chips and raisins to finish off the treat.

There are numerous ideas out there that will help in transforming any meal into a Halloween adventure. Cook up something spooky and don’t forget the BOO!

Tomatoes Fruit or Vegetable

slicedtomato

slicedtomatoTomatoes are typically classified as a vegetable but because of the seeds, is really a fruit. The reasoning behind classifying them as a vegetable is to avoid confusion with other countries that have import duties. Tomatoes can be eaten in many different ways, both hot and cold.

Tomatoes have only been eaten in this country for about two centuries. People once thought that they were poisonous, but once they learned differently, not only were they raised for their color but also to eat.

They are grown on both coasts of the United States all year round. Go to any grocery store, roadside stand, farmer’s market and even in any garden and you will find many kinds of tomatoes.

In the southern states, tomatoes are used on a sandwich or even as the sandwich. Have you ever had a tomato sandwich? All you need is bread, some mayonnaise and a tomato and presto, lunch!

Ever had a salad without tomatoes? Some people dice them, some slice them, and some quarter them for their salads. There are even cherry tomatoes that work well on salads. Grape tomatoes and even Roma tomatoes are great for any salad that you are making.
Another great use for the tomato is salsa. Tomatoes are a staple of a lot of Mexican dishes and without them the taste would be bland. Add some green peppers, jalapenos and you have a great chip dip.

Italian dishes use a lot of tomatoes also. You can cook the tomatoes down and make a great tomato base for spaghetti sauce, marinara sauce and sauce for lasagna. But first, you must remove the skin. To do so, you blanch the tomato and the skin peels right off. If you don’t want to use the tomato right away, just peel the tomato and place it in a freezer bag for later use. Then remove them when you are ready and prepare them the way you want.

To keep your tomatoes from going bad, do not store them in the refrigerator. Put them in a paper bag or on the counter and they will ripen naturally. If you put them in the refrigerator, they won’t ripen and the taste won’t be as good.

In the olden days, people used to can tomatoes for later use. This practice has gone out of style, what with the 2 person working family. But if you have time, you can jar tomatoes for tomato juice, spaghetti sauce and even fresh canned tomatoes. Think about how that will taste in January!

Tomatoes also fight the aging process. Growing or buying those fresh tomatoes are not only a healthy choice but a good tasting one as well.

Mother’s Day Meal Plans

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

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Onion and Bacon Rib Roast

1redrose
What You Need:

1 (4 to 5 lb.) bone in rib roast
1 garlic clove, minced
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 onion, sliced
8 strips of bacon

How to Make It:

Allow the oven to heat to 325 degrees.
Place the roast on a rack placed in a shallow baking dish fat side up.
Rub the garlic over the entire roast.
Sprinkle the entire roast with the salt and pepper.
Lay the sliced onions over the top of the roast.
Place the strips of bacon evenly over the onions.
Bake, uncovered until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat reads 160 to 170 degrees, about 3 hours.
Place the cooked roast on a meat platter and allow standing 15 minutes before carving.

Makes 10 servings

Preparation time: approximately 15 minutes
Cooking time: approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes
Total time: approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes

This elegant but very simple meal will knock Mom off her feet. Add a salad and baked potato and she’ll know just how much you care. It’s so simple to prepare and while it’s roasting you can pamper Mom in other ways.

Sweet and Spicy Rice Dinner

pinkrose
What You Need:

1 T olive oil
1 (20 oz.) can pineapple chunks in their own juice
12 oz. ham, cooked and coarsely chopped
1 C sweet red pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
1/2 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.8 oz) pkg. long grain rice, cooked

How to Make It:

Place the oil in a skillet placed over medium heat and allow the oil to become hot.
Reserve the juice from the pineapple.
Stir the pineapple into the skillet and cook 3 minutes or until browned on all sides, stirring frequently.
Transfer the pineapple to a bowl and cover loosely with foil to keep warm
Place the ham into the skillet.
Stir in the red pepper and jalapeno pepper until well combined.
Cook the mixture for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add the beans and rice and stir until well combined.
Cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently or until the mixture is completely heated through.
Transfer to a serving bowl and stir in the pineapple and the pineapple juice.

Makes 4 servings

Just a scrumptious dessert to this main dish and you will have a special meal ready for Mom to enjoy on her day.

Easter Ham and Dumplings

What You Need:

3 lbs. ham, cooked
1 t salt
4 C dried tart apples
3 T of brown sugar
1 onion, chopped fine
2 C of flour
4 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 large egg, beaten
3 T unsalted butter, melted
1/2 C milk

How to Make It:

Place the ham into a large kettle.
Sprinkle the ham with the salt.
Add enough water to cover the ham completely.
Place the kettle over high heat.
Allow the water to come to a full rolling boil.
Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours.
Put the apples into mixing bowl and cover them with water.
Soak the apples for 2 hours.
Add the apples and water to the kettle with the ham.
Add the brown sugar and onions to the kettle and stir to combine.
Adjust the heat to high and bring the mixture to a rolling boil again.
Adjust the heat back to low, cover the kettle and cook 1 1/2 hours.
Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper together into a bowl.
Break the egg into the middle of the dry mixture.
Add the butter and stir slightly to combine.
Slowly add only enough milk to moisten the dry ingredient stirring constantly while pouring.
The dumpling dough should be very stiff.
Adjust the heat under the kettle to medium and remove the lid.
Bring the mixture back to a steady boil.
Drop the dough by a teaspoon into the boiling water.
When all the dumplings are in the kettle recover.
Boil 15 minutes or until the dumplings are cooked through.

Serves: 8