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Summer No-Cook Appetizers

By on August 20, 2011 in Survival Guide for Busy Moms

My favorite summer appetizers for parties, weekend guests or just hanging with the girls are Caprese Salad and Prosciutto with Melon & Fig.

First of all, who wants to slave over a stove during the summer months for a snack, especially here in the desert.  And, especially when the most fabulous summer appetizers require no sauteing, marinating or baking.  What’s best of all, these tasty treats can be made in advance to serve when the time is right.

So, when I received a phone call from mother-in-law asking for wine and recipe ideas for her guests, I quickly chose Caprese Salad and Prosciutto with Melon and Fig.

Here’s a short story about why I chose these favorites.

My husband and I are not mormon, but he grew up in the faith and his mother is still active in the mormon church.  Although I’m not involved in the church, she and I still still have so much in common personally including gardening and cooking.

What sparked the phone call from her this particular day was the news that some old friends of her husband from New York (whom she had never met) were set to arrive this weekend for a visit.  In an effort to make their visit comfortable and pleasant, she asked her new Italian friends if they had any food requests for their visit.  “Red wine and watermelon” was the response.

So, before she set out to purchase a bottle of wine (for the first time in her life), she thought it would be a good idea to get some suggestions.  After I offered some simple and versatile Zin suggestions, it was on to the food.

Caprese Salad.  Easy.  Delicious.  Beautiful.  And what better way to take advantage of her summer garden basil.  By assembling it in a gorgeous arrangement the night before, she need only pull it out when her guests arrive and drizzle a little olive oil and vinegar over it.

Caprese Salad

Caprese Salad

Next?  Prosciutto with Melon and Fig because you can’t get more old-school Italian than that.  And the fact that it too makes an aesthetically pleasing presentation doesn’t hurt either.

Email the recipes you ask?  I’ll do even better than that!  Here it is, photos and all because, well… that’s how I role now.

Prosciutto with Fig and Melon

Prosciutto with Fig and Melon

 

For recipes: Caprese Salad & Prosciutto with Melon and Fig

 

 

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Serve Up Simple- 4th of July Simply Delicious Menu

By on June 27, 2011 in Survival Guide for Busy Moms, The Organized Party Planner

Serve up simple.  Simple and delicious, that is.

If you’re entertaining for Independence Day, I have a recipe to make your life a lot easier.  Skip the traditional hamburgers and hot dogs and try this menu:

4th of July Menu from The Organized Cook

 

By marinating the steak a day or two in advance and making the salads which take just minutes to prepare, you’re time will be free to enjoy 4th of July festivities.

What’s great about this menu is that it covers all the basics- steaks, potatoes, pasta.  So, when guests ask, “what can I bring?” tell them to bring easy items like fruit or drinks.

4th of July Menu Flank Steak from The Organized Cook

If you’re not entertaining, it’s the perfect combination for just you and the family- I know- because this is what we had for dinner this past Saturday night and it was delicious….tasted like summer.

Toni’s 4th of July Menu

Ingredients

  1. Flank Steak 3-4 lbs, cut into 2-inch strips against the grain
  2. Dijon Mustard -1/2 bottle
  3. Soy Sauce- a few shakes

    4th of July Menu Red White Blue Potato Salad from The Organized Cook

    Dice potatoes into quarters

  4. Red Wine Vinegar- about 1/3 cup
  5. Fresh or Dried Oregano & Basil

 

  1. Petite Red, White & Blue (purple, actually- but close enough) Potatoes (I found the perfect ones at Trader Joe’s), cleaned and quartered
  2. Blue Cheese Crumbles- 1 small container
  3. Sour Cream- 1 cup

 

  1. Cavatappi Pasta- 1 lb
  2. Zucchini & Squash- 1 each, diced into half-chunks
  3. Grape Tomatoes- 1 pint

    4th of July Menu Cavatappi Salad from The Organized Cook

    Dice zucchini and squash into halves

Where I got my potato salad inspiration- basically, I think making traditional potato salad is a ton of work.  You have to peel, cook and dice potatoes and eggs, dice potatoes, etc.  So, unless my mom is here to make it (she makes a great potato salad), then I want to find an easier alternative.

I was shopping in Trader Joe’s and spotted these miniature potatoes and thought how perfect they would be in a salad.  I wanted to make it lighter, without mayonnaise, so I decided to try sour cream.  With some blue cheese to add to my “red, white and blue” theme, this potato salad came out better than I’d hoped.

4th of July party menu from Toni Spilsbury The Organized Cook

 

Directions

Steak

  1. A day or two in advance, combine mustard, soy sauce and vinegar in a bowl or casserole pan with about a half cup of olive or canola oil; mix well
  2. Season steak with salt, pepper, basil and oregano
  3. Dip steak into marinade and coat evenly
  4. Place steak in zip-top baggie and pour remaining marinade in; seal tightly and place in the refrigerator on a plate or platter to marinate overnight

 

Potato Salad (can be made a day in advance)4th of July Menu Red White Blue Potato Salad from The Organized Cook

  1. Place oven on Broil
  2. Place potato chunks onto baking sheet
  3. Drizzle olive oil over the top and sprinkle with some salt; use your hand to toss
  4. Broil until potatoes are brown, approximately 35 minutes
  5. Transfer to mixing bowl
  6. Add blue cheese and sour cream; toss

 

Pasta Salad (can be made a day or two in advance)

  1. Put zucchini and squash slices next to potatoes to Broil until brown, approximately 20 minutes
  2. Boil pasta in salted water until tender; drain and rinse under cool water
  3. Add vegetables to pasta
  4. Drizzle with olive oil; toss4th of July Menu Cavatappi Salad from The Organized Cook

When it’s time to eat, just grill steak- or hand it off to the hubby to grill like I do.

 

 

4th of July Menu Flank Steak from Toni Spilsbury The Organized Cook

Happy 4th of July!

 

If you’re looking for a summer beverage for 4th of July party, try my Summer Sangria!

Summer Sangria from Toni Spilsbury The Organized Cook

And, for the absolute most adorable place setting, check out this Patriotic Place Setting design by Social Couture.

 

 

 

 

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Kids In The Kitchen- Father’s Day Breakfast II: Toni’s Berry Perfect Coffee Cake

By on June 18, 2011 in Recipes, Survival Guide for Busy Moms

There’s nothing more special for kids on Father’s Day than making breakfast for Dad.  Here is a super easy recipe for kids to help make, and is perfect for weekend company.  Toni’s Berry-Perfect Coffee Cake.

Father's Day Breakfast Kids In Kitchen from The Organized Cook

Toni's Berry-Perfect Coffee Cake from The Organized Cook

 

To watch the video on how to make this breakfast treat:

Father's Day Breakfast Kids from The Organized Cook Berry Coffee Cake

Watch the video on Organized Cook's YouTube Channel

Toni’s Berry-Perfect Coffee Cake

Ingredients

  1. Butter
  2. Cinnamon & Sugar- combined in a bowl
  3. Refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits- 2
  4. Frozen Berries
  5. Lemons or Lemon Juice- squeezed into a bowl

    Father's Day Breakfast II Berry Coffee Cake from The Organized Cook

    Happy Father's day

 

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Butter a bundt-cake pan
  3. Pour frozen berries in pan, about 2-3 inches deep
  4. Slice biscuits in half
  5. Dip each half slice into lemon juice
  6. Roll each slice in sugar and place in pan
  7. Once pan in full of slices, press down to firm
  8. Bake until cooked thoroughly, approximately 45-50 minutes

 

For another easy breakfast that kids can make on their own (with a little help getting pan in and out of oven safely), check out my recipe for Sunrise Breakfast Bowls.  What I love about this recipe is that it requires no spoons, mixing bowls or stove-top preparation…just one muffin pan!

Sunrise Breakfast Bowls from The Organized Cook

Sunrise Breakfast Bowls from The Organized Cook

For an adorable Father’s Day Breakfast Tray design, check out my friends at A Holiday Haven:

 

Father's Day Breakfast Tray by A Holiday Haven

Father's Day Breakfast Tray by A Holiday Haven

And, for this fabulous free printable Father’s Day cards with matching wrapping paper:

 

Free Father's Day Printable Card with Matching Wrapping Paper from A Holiday Haven

Free Father's Day Printable Card with Matching Wrapping Paper from A Holiday Haven

Happy Father’s Day!

Toni

 

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Father’s Day Breakfast Recipe Made Easy

By on June 13, 2011 in Recipes, Survival Guide for Busy Moms

I know I’ve created an easy Father’s Day recipe when I can get away with using only one pan.  In fact, in exactly 8 minutes on YouTube, I demonstrate how to make my Open-Face Steak & Egg Sandwich with Pan Gravy using only 5 ingredients and 1 pan.  The gravy recipe came straight from my grandmother.

Father's Day Breakfast Easy Recipe from The Organized Cook

Father's Day Breakfast Easy Recipe from The Organized Cook


Father's Day Breakfast Recipe from The Organized Cook

click to watch video

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open-Face Steak & Egg Sandwich with Pan Gravy

Ingredients

Father's Day Breakfast Recipe from The Organized Cook Steak & Egg Sandwich

Thin-Sliced Steak

  1. Steak, sliced thin
  2. French bread, 1-inch slices
  3. Eggs
  4. Flour
  5. Milk
Father's Day Breakfast Recipe from The Organized Cook Steak & Egg Sandwich

Father's Day Breakfast Ingredients

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directions

  1. Season steak with salt & pepper
  2. Place bread slices on plate
  3. Heat a few tablespoons oil in medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat
  4. Cook steak, flipping once, until brown on both sides then transfer to bread slices
  5. Fry eggs until medium then transfer atop bread and steak
  6. Add a couple more tablespoons oil or butter to pan
  7. Add flour and saute until flour browns (will look like peanut butter)
  8. Very slowly pour milk into flour while whisking
  9. Stir until desired consistency- add more milk if too thick or more flour if too thin- (you want the gravy in the pan to be slightly thinner than how you want it on the plate)
  10. Serve gravy spooned over the top of sandwich
Father's Day Breakfast Recipe from The Organized Cook

French bread slices topped with steak and egg

Father's Day Breakfast Recipe from The Organized Cook

Gravy spooned over top of sandwich

 

If you’re looking for adorable Father’s Day cards to print yourself, check out free Printable Father’s Day cards from HGTV: (click on image)

Father's day free printable cards

 

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