Karen’s Opinion

I have read Sara’s blog, Red Pine Mountain for awhile now. If you want to read an uplifting account of caring for animals and building a life in the beautiful mountains of Vermont, her blog is for you. You might even win something by entering her giveaways. I won a fantastic cookbook, The Settlement Cookbook 1903. I started to say, new cookbook, but it is, as described on the back cover, a cooking and homemaking primer for newly arrived immigrants. It has old fashioned recipes that use the most basic recipes. This will probably become one of my favorite cookbooks! Of course, my regular readers know that it is my husband that does the cooking in our house so it might become his favorite cookbook. We shall see! Thanks Sara!

I have been wanting to make these…

Mint Julep
Large Thin Julep Glass-Dissolve one teaspoon fine sugar in water, one dash Maraschino, one glass whiskey or brandy, as preferred four or five sprigs mint held to side of glass, leaves up. Fill up with fine ice and do not bruise the mint. Trim with fruits. If prefered mint can be bruised, but above is the regular Southern julep.

Here are the questions for this week’s Four Foods on Friday…
1. Do you prefer soft serve ice cream or hard ice cream?
I love hard ice cream except if it is a DQ Blizzard. Then it has to be soft.

2. What is the strangest sandwich you’ve ever made? Meatball

3. What’s your favorite type (not flavor) of potato chip? Ruffles

4. What size spoon do you usually eat soup with at home?I use a big soup spoon.

You can join us for Four Foods on Friday by clicking on the icon. We have a great time learning about different foods and recipes.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Mission Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.

One of the things I enjoy most when my kids visit is that they love to cook. We had homemade pizza last night! I am going to be so sad when the kids have to go back to their homes.

I have found a wonderful website, Mission Menus, that is spurring me to get cooking. I have been searching for recipes that are low in cholesterol because of my recent diagnosis. Mission Flour Tortillas contain 0 grams Trans fat per serving and are cholesterol free! The website offers recipes for quick & easy, budget-friendly meals for $10! Don’t these flautas look yummy?

Mission Menus is inviting you to submit your own budget friendly recipes during their Mission Menus Challenge. You have until August 9th to enter your recipe for a chance to compete in a cook-off in Los Angeles and win a $10,000 dream kitchen makeover! They are giving away weekly prizes as well.

The types of recipes submitted must:
• Include Mission Flour Tortillas
• Be original
• Feed a family of five for $10 or less

Sounds easy enough to me, how about you?

I also think it is pretty sweet that Mission Foods supports Share Our Strength, the leading national organization committed to ending childhood hunger in America. You can find out how you can help by visiting the Mission Menus Challenge website.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Club House. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have never been able to make gravy. It is pitiful, I know, but I admit to my lack of skill when it comes to making a sauce that does not taste like water or cling to my tongue like a wet sticky paste. I have resorted to buying jar gravy. I am so embarrassed to put it on the check out counter at the grocery. I can just hear the thoughts of the cashier as she thinks I am such a failure.

There may be hope for me! I recently discovered a website for Club House Gravy products that offers help for people like me! They even have a gravy tips video that has inspired me to give it a try. I am so excited to make Christmas dinner and offer REAL gravy this year! It looks so easy to use Club House Gravy Mix and meat drippings and have a delicious and creamy gravy. I am thrilled just thinking of the money I will save not having to buy those expensive jars of gravy.

The Club House website offers tips on how to cook steak, learn about flavours, recipes, spice pairing, aging and more. It also has a great organizational tool where you can organize your recipes. Every Tuesday a new recipe is offered so you can get out of your cooking rut!

Check out their newsletter sign-up and contest entry to win a Club House gravy gift pack! This website will change the way you cook and give you the kicker to make great gravy!

Have you ever received a recipe jar? It is a jar filled with ingredients to make yummy things like cookies and cookie bars. There are jars that have the ingredients for soups and other wonderful items. You simply follow the directions attached to the jar and wallah! you have a yummy treat and didn’t have to search your cupboards for the ingredients. You can find instructions for making these jars at places like Gifts in a Jar. Make a few as gifts and watch the recipients smile. They might even decide to share the final product! Yummy!

Here is a jar recipe for butterscotch cookies:
Butterscotch Cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup crispy rice cereal
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup white sugar

To Make the Layered Jar Gift:
Layer ingredients in a one quart mason jar, in the order given. Screw the jar on the lid, and cover with a circle of fabric or a paper doily, held down with a rubber band. Cover the rubber band with yarn or ribbon and tie a bow.