Archive | July, 2012

Grilled Garlic Bread

Easy Grilling Recipes

Grilled Garlic Bread

Grilled Garlic Bread

Ingredients

  • bakery french bread- 1 loaf, sliced in half length-wise
  • butter- 4 tablespoons
  • olive oil- 4 tablespoons
  • minced garlic- 1 tablespoon

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in microwave-safe dish or measuring cup in microwave, approximately 23 seconds.
  2. Mix in olive oil and garlic.
  3. Brush mixture onto bread.
  4. Grill oil-side down until brown, approximately 1-2 minutes.
https://tonispilsbury.com/grilled-bread/

 

grilled garlic bread

brush melted butter, olive oil and garlic on

Summer Grill Recipes

 

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Breakfast at Tiffanys Party

A Breakfast at Tiffanys Birthday Party

My oldest daughter may be too old for the typical themed birthday party with cake and ice cream, but she’s never too old for me to make her day special.

It seems like just yesterday when I planned fun and elaborate birthday parties for Rayana, like her 13th birthday when I sent out invitations with just a tater tot glued to the front (sprayed with clear paint) for her Napoleon Dynamite swim party.  A dozen girls swam, snacked on “gosh-darn quesadillas” and tater tots, and delighted at the ice-cream sundae bar.  Then when the sun began to set, they sat on towels in the grass to watch an outdoor showing of the movie while being served buckets filled with popcorn, licorice and glow-in-the-dark bracelets.  Sigh, I miss those days.

Even though Rayana and her friends now “go out” for her birthday, I always hold a special gathering where everyone can stop by and share in a “casual” celebration with food, cake and punch before heading out for whatever college kids do nowadays.  This year I decided on a “Breakfast at Tiffanys” inspired party.

Breakfast At Tiffanys Party

Breakfast At Tiffanys Party Cupcakes

 

The Tiffany’s necklace is actually Rayana’s.  She received it as a gift from my husband the day the twins were born.  The inscription reads, “You Will Always Be the #1 Girl”, and it still brings a tear to my eye.  It’s been seven years ago since she got that necklace, and a while since she’s worn it.  So, for decoration, I retrieved it from her jewelry drawer and had it shined to put on display, and to remind her that she will always be number one.

There’s no need to go buying expensive party decor.  I used a mannequin from my closet and wrapped it with ribbon, then put a crown on top.  I used beautiful frames that I already had to insert custom-made signs that I printed myself.  And of course- it wouldn’t be a party without my favorite chandelier cupcake stand…. I love that thing (thank you, HomeGoods!)  Come to think of it, the mannequin, frames and cake stand are all from HomeGoods as well.

breakfast at Tiffanys party

Breakfast at Tiffany’s Party

This Tiffany-colored punch is my recipe that is super simple to make.  For more on the recipe visit here:

Breakfast At Tiffanys Party Punch

Breakfast at Tiffanys Party Punch Recipe

 

Our snack- a Mashed Potato Martini Bar where guests got a martini glass with a scoop of mashed potatoes, then selected their toppings of cheese, bacon, green onions, chicken and/or olives.  I have no doubt Holly Golightly would approve.

Breakfast at Tiffanys Cupcake

Mashed Potato Martini Bar

Chocolate-covered strawberries add elegance to any occasion, but gave my party table a beautiful contrast in color.

Breakfastat Tiffanys Party

Chocolate-covered strawberries bring a nice touch of contrast to the pale Tiffany-blue colors

 

And here it is, my shining-star photo of the day- The Breakfast at Tiffanys Cupcake.  Beautiful.  The diamond ring?- $2.99 at the party store.

Breakfast at Tiffanys Cupcake

Breakfast at Tiffanys Cupcake

 

Happy Birthday to my “number one girl”… I’m already thinking ahead to next year!

 

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Greek Yogurt Recipes from The Organized Cook

Healthy Family Dinner Recipes

With a high protein value and creamy-rich taste, Greek yogurt is the perfect snack food to have handy when hunger strikes.  And did you know that you can easily substitute Greek yogurt into many recipes for a healthy alternative to mayonnaise or sour cream?

Here are three of my favorite recipes using Greek Yogurt:

 

Greek Pita Pockets with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce

Greek Pita Pocket recipe

Greek Pita & Greek Yogurt Cucumber Sauce

Ingredients:

Greek Pita Pocket recipe

Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

  1. ground low-fat beef, 1-1 1/2 lbs
  2. whole-grain pita bread pockets
  3. Plain Greek Yogurt- 16 oz.
  4. cucumber- 1, peeled
  5. garlic salt with parsley- 1 tbspn.
  6. cumin- 1 tspn.
  7. dried basil- 1 tspn
  8. lemon pepper- 1 tspn
  9. onion powder- 1 tspn

 Directions:

  1. Brown beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until cooked thoroughly; season with garlic salt and cumin.  Drain any excess fat.
  2. Chop cucumber
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine yogurt, chopped cucumber, basil, lemon pepper and onion powder; mix well
  4. Serve beef in pita pocket bread and top with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauc

 

This recipe is best served with Mediterranean Potatoes from The Organized Cook.

Mediterranean Potatoes by The Organized Cook

Mediterranean Potatoes by The Organized Cook

 

Baja Fish Tacos

Baja Fish Tacos recipe from The Organized Cook

Baja Fish Tacos recipe from The Organized Cook

Baja Fish Tacos with Baja Sauce and Cabbage Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

  1. white fish, like Tilapia, 2-3 lbs

    Baja Fish Tacos Recipe by The Organized Cook

    Baja Fish Tacos Recipe by The Organized Cook

  2. flour- 1 cup
  3. chili powder (like Chipotle), paprika and salt- 1 tspn each, or 1 packet of taco seasoning
  4. canola oil
  5. Plain Greek Yogurt- 16 oz.
  6. chipotle sauce- 1/4 cup
  7. limes- 4, sliced in half
  8. cole slaw cabbage mix- 1 pre-cut ready-to-eat bag
  9. cilantro- 1 bundle, chopped
  10. crushed red pepper (optional)
  11. corn tortillas, smals

Directions:

Fish

  1. Pat fish dry
  2. combine flour and seasoning in shallow dish
  3. heat oil in large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat
  4. coat fish, one at a time, in flour mixture before frying in skillet until golden brown on both sides, approximately 4 minutes each side

Baja Sauce

  1. For sauce, combine yogurt, chipotle sauce and juice from one lime; mix well

Cabbage Salad

  1. Combine cabbage, cilantro and crushed red pepper in salad bowl
  2. Squeeze juice from remaining limes over cabbage; toss

Serve fish in corn tortillas topped with Cabbage Salad and Baja Sauce

 

Swedish Meatballs

Swedish Meatballs recipe from The Organized Cook

Swedish Meatballs recipe from The Organized Cook

Swedish Meatballs with Spinach Pasta and Yogurt Swedish Sauce

Ingredients:

Meatballs

  1. ground beef, 1-2 lbs
  2. onion, white- 1, peeled and minced
  3. seasoned bread crumbs- 1 cup
  4. eggs- 2
  5. salt- 1 tspn
  6. nutmeg- 1 tspn
  7. olive or canola oil

Pasta

  1. spinach pasta- 1 lb

Swedish Sauce

  1. Plain Greek Yogurt- 16 oz.
  2. cream of mushroom soup- 1 can
  3. milk- 1/2 cup
  4. paprika- 1 tbspn
  5. grape tomatoes- 1 pint, sliced in halves

Directions:

  1. In large mixing bowl combine beef, onion, breadcrumbs, eggs, salt and nutmeg; mix well
  2. Heat oil in large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat
  3. Hand roll beef mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls and place in skillet to cook, turning each one gently with a spoon until all brown all over and cooked thoroughly, approximately 15-20 minutes
  4. Boil pasta in salted water until tender
  5. Drain pasta reserving some (about 1/4 cup) of cooking water in the pan; return pasta to warm pan and water, and toss
  6. For sauce, warm soup and milk in saucepan over medium-high heat until hot
  7. Add yogurt and paprika; mix well

 

 

Each of these recipes is part of The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan System.   Sign up for our newsletter and get your free Weekly Meal Plan here:

The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan System

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What’s For Dinner This Week- Eat. Live. and Be Well.

Family Dinner Meal Planning

This week is The Organized Cook’s first-ever Weekly Meal Plan from a guest chef.  I wrote about my day with rockstar chef, Adam Kaswinder, aka Chef Kas in “A Day with Chef Kas” where we cooked up some “awesomeness” in the kitchen.

Chef Kas recipes are super healthy with fresh summer ingredients, and- with a dash of “Organized Cook” to the menu to make it simple and easy for us busy moms- we appropriately titled this Weekly Meal Plan from The Organized Cook “Eat. Live. and Be Well”.

So if you’re a subscriber to The Organized Cook, a little awesomeness is what’s on your dinner menu this week.

Salmon Recipe

Day 1: Seared Soy Ginger Salmon with Vegetable Soba Noodles

 

Chicken Cutlets Recipe

Day 2: Chicken Cutlets with Whole Wheat Pasta and Tuscan Vegetables

 

Sesame Chicken Recipe

Day 3: Sesame Chicken with Noodle Salad

 

Turkey Recipe

Day 4: Mexican Black Bean Ground Turkey, Corn, Tomatoes and Pasta

 

Tuscan Chicken Recipe

Day 5: Rustic Chicken and Roast Vegetable Brown Rice Pilaf

To read more about my day with Chef Kas:

Chef Kas

A Day with Rockstar Chef Kas

 

Busy Moms Rejoice- Chef Kas Is In The (Organized) House

Chef Kas provides local custom cuisine consultation, cooking classes and meal preparation in the Las Vegas area. But busy moms and families can rejoice, because Chef Kas is teaming up with The Organized Cook for some custom meal plans as part of The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan System.

In the meantime, to get your own taste of “awesomeness” from Chef Kas, visit his website at CustomCuisineLV.com:

Chef Kas and Toni Spilsbury

visit customcuisinelasvegas.com for more #EatYourLife

 

 

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