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Friday, January 1, 2021

A New Year's Weekend Game -- Are You Game?


Happy New Year, friends! 

I thought about posting my NY's resolutions today, but then I thought, "do you really want to read about how I want to exercise more, eat less sugar, read more books, and do more good in the community?" No? I thought not, too.

Instead, how about a game to play over this weekend -- ABC's in Favorite Online Recipes

So, here are the rules:

  • starting with the letter A (and going on from there)
  • we each add a link to a favorite recipe
  • with 10-20 words why we like this recipe
  • the recipe has to either feature the name of an ingredient that begins with the next letter of the alphabet, or have a word in the title of the recipe that begins with the next letter of the alphabet
  • so, for example, I'll begin with the letter A
A -- This healthier version of apple salad, from the Seasoned Mom.

Nice for salad or dessert, the dressing is lighter than typical apple-based salads, uses common winter ingredients. I sub regular raisins for the golden.


Shall we see how far we get in the alphabet? And, yes, you can add more than 1 comment/recipe. We might not get any further than C or D, otherwise. 😏 By the end of the weekend/game, we should all have a bunch of new recipes to try.

B? Anyone?

(p.s. there's no comment moderation for this weekend, so your addition will show up right away.)

52 comments:

  1. Ooh! I'm in! This sounds so fun, Lili! You're right, I get bored with the typical "eat healthy, move more" content that you read so much of at this time of the year. So if I'm reading your directions right, you've given an "A" recipe and I get to do a "B", correct?

    https://www.averiecooks.com/chocolate-banana-crinkle-muffins/ OK, I suppose technically this is a "C" but I'm going with the B for Banana. These are one of my favorite muffins--the banana/chocolate flavors meld perfectly, it uses up overripe bananas, the tiny chocolate chips in the batter melt into the muffins, and the sugar top is crunchy and looks pretty on top of the dark muffins. I've used it for brunches and it looks like something you would get from an upscale bakery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, those sound good, Kris! I love using mini-chocolate chips in cakes and muffins.

      C is for chicken -- Crockpot Santa Fe Chicken: https://www.skinnytaste.com/crock-pot-santa-fe-chicken-425-pts/

      It's lean, full of protein, and uses common ingredients (except the fresh cilantro, that's something I either buy for this or grow in my garden). The 900+ comments have lots of good tips. I used dried beans, cooked, instead of canned, plain canned tomatoes and a mix of chicken breasts and thighs.

      D?


      Delete
    2. D is for Dirt Cake https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/7255/dirt-cake-i/
      This is an easy recipe that you can serve in many different ways. You can use a flower pot with flowers (sugar or artificial), gummy worms, etc. Not only is it tasty, but a fun way to display a dessert. Individual servings of this are good for parties.

      Delete
    3. I love this idea for a fun dessert, Live and Learn!

      Delete
  2. How fun! I will do E and F.

    E is for Egg Cups. Easy, delicious, and you can use up random bits of leftovers in the fridge. They freeze well too.

    https://lifemadesweeter.com/baked-egg-cups/

    F is for Fritters. This is my favorite new recipe of 2020. I made them when zucchini was in season and they are truly delicious. I put in twice as much zucchini as the recipe says, and they turned out great. Haven't tried the yogurt sauce, but I'm sure that's good too.

    https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/zucchini-lentil-fritters-with-lemony-yogurt

    - Tina

    (Lili - I used to be able to "Comment as Anonymous", but now it won't let me and my comment just disappears. I had to set up a Google account. I tried to post this comment several times ....so if it shows up somewhere repeatedly, please delete it! Thanks).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tina,
      I'm so sorry for the troubles with commenting. I checked the settings on my end and re-ticked the "all, including anonymous" setting. Thank you for taking the time and trouble to set up a Google account. And thanks for adding 2 new recipes. I'll check those links!

      Delete
    2. Tina, those fritters sound absolutely delicious! I've never made egg cups. I'll have to give those a try. Thanks!

      Delete
  3. G is for Granola. We all have a favorite recipe but here is a good one, https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/simple-nut-free-cinnamon-raisin-granola-recipe/
    H is for Ham. My most complimented recipe is this easy one from a very old Betty Crocker cookbook. A fully cooked ham glazed with 1c brown sugar, 1T cider vinegar, 1/2 t mustard powder, 1/4 t clove powder. 20 minutes before the ham is finished cooking remove from oven and cut a diamond pattern on surface. You can insert a whole clove in each diamond if desired then coat the ham in the glaze and continue baking until done.

    -Kathryn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds good, Kathryn. We must have been commenting at the same time. :)

      Delete
    2. Hi Kathryn,
      Now that the holidays are behind us, I'll have time for making granola again. I'll give Mavis's recipe a try. Thank you! And thank you for the ham glaze recipe. That sounds tasty!

      Delete
  4. This is so fun! I've looked at all the recipes and I think I'd like each one of them. Lili, I think I have a very similar chicken recipe and we love it. Tina (hi Tina!), I make baked eggs for my daughter and me when my hubby and son aren't around (they don't love them so much) but I never thought up the varieties that were in your recipe.

    G is for Greek Chicken Wraps. https://www.budgetbytes.com/greek-chicken-wraps/
    I tend to cook the chicken in the oven rather than on the stovetop because I dislike the spattering, but that's just a weird quirk of mine. I've also made the naan bread recipe from the budgetbytes site to go with them (and it's super yum!) but to make it easier, you can always purchase the bread. Definitely a hit with my entire family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kris,
      those Greek wraps look a little like gyros, which is one of my favorite fast foods. I'll give those a try. Thanks for the tip on cooking the chicken in the oven.

      Delete
  5. I think "I" is next so I'll go with Instant Pot Idaho baked potatoes from here:
    https://amindfullmom.com/instant-pot-baked-potatoes/

    I love instant pot cooking and added a 3 quart one to my home after having a 6 qt. one for many years!

    Alice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alice,
      you've mentioned your instant pot a couple of times. I may have to get one soon. Thanks for the recipe!

      Delete
  6. J is for Jambalaya. And this is one of my favorite ways to make it -- sheet pan cooking style. Easy clean-up.
    https://www.cookinglight.com/recipes/sheet-pan-jambalaya

    I don't follow the recipe exactly, but make a substitute for Creole seasoning, using this recipe -- https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/38214/creole-seasoning-blend/

    Also, in the jambalaya, I use frozen pepper strips (instead of fresh) and home-cooked rice (instead of packaged, pre-cooked rice). I sometimes substitute leftover cooked chicken, diced, for the shrimp. And I use whatever fresh tomatoes are least expensive (Roma's usually).

    Mardi Gras is Feb. 16 this year. Just sayin' . . .

    ReplyDelete
  7. K is for water Kefir. This is sort of a cousin to kombucha, a healthy fermented drink you can make at home. I follow the basic technique each time, then flavor the different batches. I have been making this since 2011. We drink it every day.

    https://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/water-kefir/how-to-make-water-kefir/

    - Tina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is interesting, Tina. I've seen Kefir drinks in the store, but never tried them. Is water kefir similar?

      Delete
    2. You probably saw milk kefir drinks in the grocery store, if they were in the yogurt section. The process to make milk kefir is similar, it just uses a different starter culture.
      - Tina

      Delete
  8. "L" I am playing along and adding Lavender Pound Cake.
    This is a link to the recipe https://newhappeningsatthetable.blogspot.com/2014/09/lavender-pound-cake.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have to make this, Anne! I love lavender infused baked goods and I do have food-grade lavender buds. Thank you for the link!

      Delete
  9. M is for copycat Olive Garden Minestrone soup
    https://copykat.com/olive-garden-minestrone-soup/

    This soup is delicious fresh and even better as leftovers, plus it's vegetarian, if you're trying to eat lighter in January.

    ReplyDelete
  10. N is for no bake cookies - I don't care for them AT ALL, the thought of oatmeal makes me shudder....lol. But my family likes them and they are so simple to make.

    https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/9832/no-bake-cookies-i/

    Happy New Years Everyone! I hope 2021 brings everyone much needed joy and simplicity!

    Shelby

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Shelby,
      no-bake cookies were one of the first things we made when I was in Home-Ec in middle school. I absolutely loved them. They're somewhat healthy, with the oats and peanut butter, so my mom didn't mind if I made them at home often. And they're so easy to make. Thanks for the link!

      Delete
  11. "O" is for oatmeal. Steel cut oats in my slow cooker overnight but cooked inside a dish within the crock itself. That way it doesn't stick to the pan.

    Creamy oatmeal by blending a bunch of oats then adding them to regular unblended oats. Microwave this mixture for very creamy morning oatmeal.

    Overnight oats https://wholefully.com/8-classic-overnight-oats-recipes-you-should-try/ are really good in the summer but in winter I prefer hot oatmeal.

    Alice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alice,
      I love steel cut oats in the crockpot. I've never thought to make them in a dish inside the pot. What kind of dish do you use on and do you add water around the dish, or is it just dry between the dish and the crockpot?

      Delete
    2. it is a pot inside the crock and there is water halfway up the inside dish that has the steel cut oats. I cover mine with foil. This method prevents the mess of cleaning up the baked onto the crockpot and is very difficult to remove.

      https://wholefully.com/8-classic-overnight-oats-recipes-you-should-try/

      Alice

      Delete
    3. Thank you, Alice. This is very helpful. You're right, cooked on steel cut oats are so hard to get off of the crockpot.

      Delete
  12. P is for Plomeek Soup.
    https://foodreplicator.tumblr.com/post/31475290319/plomeek-soup

    If you're a Star Trek fan, maybe you know about Plomeek, a Vulcan dish. My daughter Grace makes this for us. It's quite good and very different from any other soup that I've had.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Q is for Quiche

    https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/impossibly-easy-ham-and-swiss-pie/4035b84a-6161-48ef-9808-1a1fa1e752e3

    They call this "pie" on the Betty Crocker site but we are beyond the letter P so Q for quiche it is! It's easy, inexpensive, and a flexible way to use up whatever meats/veggies you have sitting around.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kris,
      That looks really good. I love how much easier impossible pies are to make than quiche -- no pie crust to roll out. Thanks for the link!

      Delete
  14. R is for Red Beans and Rice! In New Orleans most everyone eats red beans and rice on Monday. The reason being that you can put them on to cook and just let them go without having to watch them too closely because Monday was the day most people washed their clothes! Of course, this was before there were modern washers and dryers and it took all day to wash the family’s clothes! A classic New Orleans recipe for this dish is from the Camellia brand of beans which is the favorite of most New Orleanians! https://www.camelliabrand.com/recipes/camellias-famous-new-orleans-style-red-beans/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That look delish Holley - I wonder if I can use can instead of dry beans?

      Shelby

      Delete
    2. Hi Holley,
      I've heard of red beans and rice, but I've never made this dish. It looks tasty! And thanks for the info on how these came to be so popular on Mondays in NO -- very interesting.
      Thank you for the link!

      Delete
    3. Shelby, I have a recipe for RB&R using canned beans. I can't find a comparable one online, however. Mine uses kielbasa and also has thyme and a bay leaf for flavoring, if that helps you at all. It takes about 45 minutes to pull together.

      Delete
  15. S is for Scones, Cranberry Orange Scones, that is! I rarely have orange zest or orange juice, so eliminated those items, but used a few drops of orange essential oil. What I really liked is that these utilize fresh (or frozen, which I do when I find a great deal on fresh)cranberries, rather than the sweetened, dried ones. https://bakerbynature.com/bakery-style-cranberry-orange-scones/?fbclid=IwAR3FFZpHYZ-z2b3iE8PoVZ4LTay3udYl4fcKMuRJ_1Wgv_3ZuRcfRpOzydk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cat,
      those scones look wonderful! I like that they use fresh or frozen cranberries. I think they have so much more flavor.
      Thanks for the link!

      Delete
  16. T is for tortilla soup. https://www.averiecooks.com/easy-30-minute-homemade-chicken-tortilla-soup/ I love love love soup and this one has great flavor with minimal effort. Our favorite part is the baked tortilla strips that you sprinkle on top of the soup.

    I'm so excited about the many recipes you are collecting, Lili. Maybe this should become a periodic feature? It's not only showing me new recipes, but also new sites to look for other recipes (I think I have an addiction to recipes ....).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kris,
      with avocados in season and low-priced right now, this soup looks like it will be on my menu soon! Yum! Thanks for the link.

      I've enjoyed finding new recipes/sites and hearing what others think is delicious, too. It's a great way to expand my culinary horizons.

      Delete
  17. U is for upside down cake (pineapple!). My family's favorite and my most requested cake for a pot luck. When I want to get real "fancy" I use a bundt pan, most of the time it's just in a 9X13 pan.

    https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/272616/pineapple-upside-down-bundt-cake/

    Shelby

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Shelby,
      that cake looks beautiful! The recipe looks very do-able, too. I bet you're a very popular guest/contributor to potlucks! Thank you for the link, Shelby!

      Delete
  18. V is for vegetables with cheese sauce.
    Cheese sauce (and sometimes bacon bits) is how I got my picky young children to eat all kinds of garden vegetables. As other garden-keepers may know, you can't choose what's going to grow well in your area. In my PNW garden, kale is always in abundance. To get my family to even try the kale in the early years, I made a cheese sauce much like the one in this recipe:

    https://www.thespruceeats.com/quick-cheese-sauce-for-vegetables-3057596
    It's a white sauce with cheese melted into it.

    More recently, on New Year's Day, we had Brussel sprouts, over which I poured a cheese sauce. I've used cheese sauce on broccoli, cauliflower, mixed vegetables, spinach, Swiss chard, and many other veggies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The things we do to get our kids to eat veggies! This sounds good and I bet vegetables get gobbled up.

      Delete
  19. W is for Walnut Stuffed Dates. I had these at a party once, and they were delicious.

    https://thethingswellmake.com/cheese-walnut-stuffed-dates/

    - Tina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tina,
      those look delicious. Pecans could be substituted for walnuts, for people like me with a walnut allergy. They also look very chic and would be a lovely addition for a gathering. I'll keep this one in mind! Thank you!

      Delete
  20. X is for Xantham Gum (the only thing I could think of for X). Very useful when you are making gluten free baked goods.

    https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-xanthan-gum-p2-1000974

    (Not a recipe, but I figured it was close enough!)

    - Tina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tina,
      I thought X was going to be too hard for any of us. Good job coming up with something for that letter! And thanks for providing a link to its use and what it is.

      Delete
  21. Y is for Yorkshire pudding, a quick to make bread that is made from flour, eggs, milk, salt, and oil or meat fat. I posted about making it, here:

    http://www.creativesavv.com/2012/05/yorkshire-pudding-frugal-quick-bread-to.html

    Yorkshire pudding and popovers use very similar batters. I prefer Yorkshire pudding because it's easier to remove from the baking pan and I don't have to grease individual muffin cups. But I do think popovers are lighter in texture and look prettier.

    ReplyDelete
  22. So many interesting recipes to explore here. It's going to take a while to peruse them all. Thanks for hosting this, Lili, and thanks to everyone for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  23. No one wants "Z" so I'll take it!

    ZUCCHINI in any form. Sauteed in a pan, spiralized, and chocolate zucchini cake. Google this one for yourself since I don't have time at the moment.

    Alice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alice, thank you for using zucchini for Z.
      I looked up one zucchini bread recipe that I'll share.

      https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/easy-cake-mix-zucchini-bread/0a1e9379-8eec-4c67-8e0b-4020fd84f860

      This is based on a cake mix and is super easy. One thing they don't say is you need to drain/press in paper towels the shredded zucchini before adding it to the batter. Otherwise, this is a great, easy recipe for Zucchini bread.

      Delete
  24. I can barely believe we made it through the entire alphabet! I'll put all of the recipes and links into a post w/photos if I can, later today. Thank you everyone, for participating. This was fun!

    ReplyDelete

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