Oct 9, 2015 |
Pumpkin Soup
October is a beautiful month, isn’t it? Full of crisp air, sweaters out of storage, leaves changing colors and crunching under your feet. The start of the holiday season before the holiday rush. I think October is my favorite month.
On Facebook, I asked “What are some of your favorite fall/harvest moments?” Each reply was unique to the individual commenter, but there was one running theme: pumpkin. It seems pumpkin everything is what gets people most excited about October.
The Pumpkin Grinch
Each year I share this photo. It was taken by a friend about ten years ago. We were at the local pumpkin patch when I spotted this pumpkin. It looks so much like the Grinch to me. I asked suggested begged my friend to photograph it for posterity. A much better way of keeping it than, say, buying the pumpkin only to toss it out in three weeks or less, don’t you think?
As I was going through the blog last weekend, working to make it a better experience for both you as a reader and myself as the writer [read Under the Hood], I realized I’d not posted many articles on food for quite some time. No recipes, no foodie photos. No reasons to salivate or say “I want to try that!” And I’m supposed to be a foodie person.
It’s also been too long since I’ve posted a Five Things Friday as well. No connecting of the dots between A, B, C . . . you get the picture.
What’s This Girl to do? Why, combine it all together, y’all! So welcome back, October. Welcome back, Food. Welcome back, Five Things Friday.
Let’s get this post started.
- Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Creme Frappuccino. Oh, come on. You know you saw that one coming. I may as well get it over with right away. The first week of September ushers us into that wonderful realm of cinnamon, spice, nutmeg, and that must-be-in-everything-from-now-until-Valentine’s-Day ingredient, pumpkin.
Autumn Bliss
Now . . . who’s not a fan of Starbuck’s? I can’t even talk to you if you’ve raised your hand.
- Soups. Now is the time of year when the slow cooker and Dutch oven live outside the cabinets. They’ll take up residency on the stove top and counter, and stay there until January. Homes everywhere will be filled with wonderful aromas, not-so-quick but definitely easy concoctions of broth, creams, and one-pot meals.
Homemade chicken soup . . . Good for the body and the soul.
I love boiling a whole chicken with added herbs and seasonings to make freezable broth and stock. The only part I throw away are the bones and skin.
- Adult beverages. Please. I’m an adult. I find no shame in admitting I’m a fan of adult beverages. This time of year, I’m all about the pumpkin beer. Am I right? That crisp, dry flavor deserves to be imbibed with something special. Like a pumpkin muffin. Or a bowl of chili. Or a breath of autumn air. And let’s not forget my new holiday classic: The Chocolate Martini.
Chocolate Martini made with Scharffen Berger Chocolate.
Remember when I won that Scharffen Berger gift basket a few years ago? And that beautiful coffee table book came with it? In those magical pages I discovered this magical recipe. My holidays are oh-so-much happier now.
- Casey’s Cupcakes. Even though It’s been over a year since I’ve visited my beloved Riverside and my most favorite place, The Mission Inn, I still long for Casey’s most delicious treats. If you’re in Southern California between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, I highly recommend you visit The Festival of Lights and indulge in a little holiday treat from Casey’s.
Glamorous Gingerbread at Casey’s Cupcakes
At any time of year, it’s an experience you’ll savor. (See what I did there?)
- And of course, last but not least, good for any day of the year, could there be anything better for This Southern Girl At Heart than a huge gulp of sweet tea?
Sweet Tea at Blue Ridge
It refreshes my body, it renews my soul. It reminds me of Blue Ridge and my trip to North Carolina. The writers’ conference. The connections. The beauty. We all need a little more sweetness in our lives, yah? Go on. Take a sip. You’ll be glad you did.
BONUS: To celebrate this unofficial beginning of the holidays, and the return of Five Things Friday with this Foodie Post, today only The Unemployment Cookbook Kindle edition is available for free download. Just click through the photo below to get yours.
The Unemployment Cookbook, Kindle edition
Happy start to the holidays. Happy eating.
Now it’s your turn. Leave a comment and tell me: What are some of your favorite foods this time of year?
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . #FiveThingsFriday. What are your favorite foods this time of year? #pumpkineverything @realmojo68
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . #FiveThingsFriday The #Foodie Post. #October is a beautiful month, isn’t it? @realmojo68
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . #Starbucks #Pumpkinbeer #cupcakes A few of my favorite things. #FiveThingsFriday @realmojo68
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
Do you have a copy of The Unemployment Cookbook? Would you consider leaving a review on Amazon and Goodreads? That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Jun 3, 2013 |
It’s been a few months since I’ve written a Meal Plan post. Based on the success of my recent monthly WinCo trips, I’ve had enough foods in the freezer and pantry to not have to buy too much. So I’ve been winging it; making what I can find. Occasionally, I’ve put together some meals like this hearty chicken and pasta dinner.
Chicken & Pasta
I always keep frozen salmon filets in the freezer. Last month, I bought a 5 lb. bag of chicken breasts (admittedly not from WinCo). Sure, it cost nearly $17, but with 20 breasts, that’s less than $1/piece.
So my Plan for June is to eat more chicken. I don’t have an entire month of menus planned out. But I have my Aroma Rice Cooker. And I have a plan.
Again with the savings I find at WinCo, I’ll supplement what I already have and make some wonderful meals. My goal is to make some scrumptious dishes without having to cook too much in the summer heat. Some of the meals I’ll make more than once because they’re easy and delicious.
Not only do I want to save money, I want to eat better. My eczema has been rapidly improving as I now have prescription-strength ointment and have been eating less fast foods which, I’ve discovered, can significantly induce a flare up. So, for the health of my body and my wallet, June will be a Home-Cooked Meal Month.
Here’s my tentative meal plan (each meal is followed by how many days we can eat from one preparation by how many times I’ll make it for a total amount of dinner days):
- Chicken and Pasta (as pictured above), 2 x 2 = 4
- Steamed Chicken and Rice, 1 x 4 = 4
- Slow Cooker Chicken & Kraut, 3 x 2 = 6
- Steamed Salmon and Rice, 1 x 4 = 4
- Spaghetti with sauce and garlic toast, 2 x 2 = 4
- Baked Frittata (usually a weekend meal for brunch as well), 2 x 2 = 4
That leaves four days with no menu plan. We like to keep a few “open” days on the calendar. We’ll eat at least twice at my Mom’s house, or order a pizza on Pay Day, or just not feel like eating. I know, pizza. But it’s not regular fast food. And if I only eat it once a month, I should be okay…
With this great plan, I already have the main components. My grocery list is just the sauerkraut, cream of chicken soups, and frittata ingredients. I’ll include a cheap dessert like Jell-O and Cool Whip, pudding, or a few of Dot’s favorite cookies. We always keep ice cream in the freezer; especially in the summer.
It’s my goal to spend less than $100 this month, including the cat food, litter, and household needs. At a regular grocery store this would be nearly impossible. But, as I so often like to say, “WinCo Wins!”
*Cheater Meal: We did treat ourselves to Red Robin yesterday since I won a gift card from work.
Ava-Cobb-O Salad at Red Robin
Note, I ate the A-va-Cobb-O and Chicken salad.
So, as I also like to say, “Happy Eating!”
What’s on your plate?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
WinCo Wins
WinCo Wins: Lunch for a Dollar!
My Bento Box: Part I
How To Eat For Free And Have Fun Doing It (Or, How Printing Coupons Gave Me a Really Great Weekend!)
My February Meal Plan
Apr 11, 2013 |
If you’ve been on my Facebook page or follow me on Instagram (TheRealMojo68) in the past few days, you may have seen this adorable photo.
Dot’s grandparents received a shipment of mail-order chicks last week. I know. Mail order?! But apparently it’s quite humane. They ship overnight with air filter and cooling packs to keep the chicks comfortable. Good to know.
They ordered them quite a few weeks ago, which allowed time for Grandpa to build this amazing chicken coop.
Grandpa has a workshop out of his garage. I don’t mean a little table with a tiny saw for cute fun projects. I mean, this man works for a living and his garage is his workshop. There are planks and bins of nails and power cords and tools and tables and saws and rulers and instruments… any- and every-thing a woodworker needs. As you can guess, he’s very good at what he does.
So when Dot went over for the afternoon a few days ago, I followed. I wanted to see the chicks. I didn’t expect to fall in love with them. Or even better, have one in particular fall in love with me.
I named this one Ethel. While Dot held and played with several chicks, one and two at a time, Ethel was content to immediately fall asleep in my hand. Can you believe I spent half an hour holding a chick and looking at the others? That’s it. That was the entertainment of the evening. Watching chicks. And you know what? It was fun and I’d do it again!
Grandma Sue and I talked about the care and raising of the chicks. These are Rhode Island Reds and they’ll lay brown eggs. They’re supposed to all be female, but at this very young age it’s sometimes hard to tell. So they may end up with a Rooster or two. If that happens, he’ll go elsewhere. They want eggs, not more chicks.
Then Grandpa Harry took me out to the chicken coop he built. I tried to take a photo of Ethel in a bin, but she refused to leave my hand. Meanwhile, Dot’s chick pooped on her. I didn’t take a photo of that. You’re welcome.
For now, the chicks live in a large box in the family room. There’s a heat lamp that is constantly on, a feed tray and watering trough. The chicks eat, drink and sleep in this box. In about a week, they’ll be moved outside to the fenced-in garden area.
Grandma and Grandpa have fenced in six small fruit trees and the chicks will adjust to outdoor life under the mesh security. When they’re older [read: bigger] and more able to avoid birds of prey, they’ll be moved to the chicken coop. They’ll have full reign over that area until being locked up at night for their own protection.
Chickens are great for pest control. They’re also a great natural garbage disposal and will eat all your table scraps. Their droppings are natural fertilizer. And there’s nothing like farm-fresh eggs cooked to perfection on a lazy Saturday morning. Am I right?
Yeah. I’m really looking forward to living vicariously through Harry’s House of Hens.
Happy Eating, y’all!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jul 25, 2012 |
I don’t care if Chick-fil-A supports Biblical marriage. I don’t care if Henson Productions supports homosexuality. I don’t care.
I do care that people are being legalistic instead of loving, and people are being bullies. I do care that social media is jumping all over it as if we’re sending Earth’s orbit straight into the Sun.
I don’t care if someone is gay any more than I care what color their eyes are. If they aren’t willfully hurting someone, or if they aren’t blindly acting out of ignorance, I don’t care. Why? Because they don’t care who I do (or don’t) sleep with. I do care if someone is being abused or taken advantage of. I do care that too many people find a reason to say someone else hates them instead of taking the High Road and just letting everyone get along peacefully.
Call it sin, lifestyle choice, or what-you-will. Nobody’s perfect.
Nobody.
And I’m okay with that. I don’t want people judging my entire existence based on one aspect of my life. I’ve been served enough mercy and grace to share! Haven’t you?
Why does one person’s belief have to alienate another’s? If someone wins the Big Lotto some people are happy, some say he’s a gambler. If someone drinks too much some say he’s an addict, some say he’s a party dude. There are two sides to every story. And I don’t believe that just because someone is gay, they’re going to hell any more than I would believe that just because a person says he/she is a Christian that means they’re going to Heaven.
I’m a Christian, and I know my views are controversial. The liberals will say I’m too conservative, and the Conservatives will say I’m too liberal. But here’s my take on the whole social situation.
IT DOESN’T MATTER.
It’s not my place to judge anyone. It is my place to love them, no matter who they are or what they do. Christ didn’t set Himself up in the Courts. He ate and talked and stayed with prostitutes and [gasp!] tax collectors.
My Church teaches us to love the sinner but hate the sin. And we are all sinners. Period. There is but one way to Heaven: Salvation through Jesus Christ.
And it’s not up to me to decide for anyone else what that salvation looks like or acts like or what it is. I know what my salvation is. And I know how I’m supposed to act.
Matthew 22:37-40 [NIV] states
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
So Dan Cathy, the president of Chick-fil-A, says his company supports Biblical marriage. Why is that “hate-mongering”? He didn’t say, “We refuse to serve gays.” He didn’t say, “Let them starve.” He said, “Hey, this is what we believe.”
So why are supporters of the Gay/Lesbian community not considered hate-mongers for bashing Chick-fil-A? Why couldn’t they just agree to disagree, instead of starting a social free-for-all?
How is it okay for one group of people to loudly voice their opinions and beliefs nearly everywhere they can, but when others do the same, it’s “wrong”?
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
It should be as simple as that. Some people think homosexuality is okay. Others don’t. I’m not going to condemn anyone for their beliefs, unless they’re abhorrently evil. Some people think even one sip of wine is one sip too many. That wearing any kind of jewelry is excessive. That owning two cars in a five person family is greed.
It still tastes like Chicken.
Chick-fil-A made a statement. It doesn’t change the restaurant recipe. They didn’t suddenly add pepper instead of bread crumbs. It’s not a political statement. It wasn’t a challenge or an ultimatum. Cathy simply voiced his belief. Now, Chick-fil-A is a Christian company. Why does it suddenly surprise anyone that their beliefs are dictated by the Bible? I’d be more surprised if the head of Chick-fil-A was a Wiccan.
I’m sad at the condition of the world. I’m sad not because there are Gays and Lesbians. But because there are
Bullies!
In all communities.
And I’m sad because people just don’t listen to each other any more. They’re too busy trying to be recognized. Trying to be right. Trying to point out how the other side is intolerant. But in doing so, aren’t they just as intolerant?
My name is Molly Jo. I am a Christian. I am also a Sinner. And I love you.
Because you are a Person. Period.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
This post is linked up with Frankly, My Dear…’s “What’s the Word?” Wednesday
and Pour Your Heart Out With Things I Can’t Say
Jul 22, 2012 |
I’ve heard people say things like “I don’t know how I ever got along without one for so long.” Or, “It’s so easy, so simple, so effortless.” And, “Delicious. Hearty. Healthy.”
Most of the time I chalk it up to hype. Someone, somewhere is exaggerating.
And then I bought my Aroma Houseware’s 6-Cup Rice Cooker.
It’s small. Convenient. And on a day like today when the outside temperature reached over 100 degrees, I didn’t have to turn my oven or stove on to feed my family a healthy, hearty, warm meal.
The rice comes out moist and full every time. I’ve steamed vegetables, chicken, and fish as well. The steam basket is small, allowing for just two servings of either meat or vegetables. But for those times when Dot’s out with her friends, I’m able to make a serving of each for myself.
I love that this versatile cooker lets me cook rice and steam at the same time. Or I can opt to do just one task. I also like that I can make as little as 2 cups of rice or as much as 6 cups. What’s better than fresh rice under a steamed salmon or lemon peppered vegetables? Having more for later!
The cooker/steamer averages a 20 minute wait time. It depends on what you’re preparing. The Cooker has an inner spring that, once the cooking is done, gently pushes the inner pot off the heating coils. It can keep your food warm for up to 12 hours without scorching!
It’s incredibly easy to use, clean, and store. I don’t know how I ever got along without one for so long.
And I want you to have one, too. So much so that I contacted Aroma Housewares and they agreed to sponsor this giveaway. This is a big deal. A really big deal! Because who doesn’t love giveaways? Even if you have a rice cooker, you can always use another one for those smaller servings. Or maybe you know someone getting ready to go away to college or move out on their own. It’s also a big deal, because [super shout out to Chris at Aroma Housewares], this is my very first sponsored giveaway. I couldn’t be happier that it’s for a product I really believe in.
Aroma even let me use their Green Chili Chicken & Rice recipe (it comes both on the product box and in their instruction manual).
Aroma's Green Chili Chicken & Rice
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup rice
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons dried minced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 can (10 oz.) chicken breast
- 1 can (4 oz.) diced green chilies with liquid
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into inner cooking pot.
- Stir until evenly distributed.
- Place the inner cooking pot into the rice cooker.
- Place the lid securely onto the rice cooker.
- Press the COOK switch.
- Allow rice to cook until the rice cooker switches to "Warm".
- Stir and serve immediately.
3.1
https://franklymydearmojo.com/2012/07/22/recipe-giveaway-green-chili-chicken-rice/ (c) 2012 Frankly, My Dear... New Inklings Press
Can’t you just smell the steamy aroma of chilies, chicken and rice? My house smelled so delicious, and the flavor did not disappoint!
We served it up with a corn tortilla and a glass of my berry-infused water. What a refreshing meal!
[The opinions in this review are my own, and not affected by any sponsor, entity or other person. For more information, please see our Disclosure Policy.]
And now we’ve come to the really fun part: The Giveaway!
1. MANDATORY ENTRY: Leave a comment on this post: What do you like to serve with rice? This entry is mandatory. If you don’t answer this question, all other entries are void.
2. ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: You can earn up to four additional entries (for five entries total) by doing each of the following then leaving a comment here telling me you’ve done so. If you already do any of these things, that counts as an entry only if you post it in the comments. (Additional entries will be verified):
a. Follow me on Facebook and share this giveaway.
b. Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway.
c. Follow me on Pinterest and pin this giveaway.
d. Share this giveaway on your own blog and leave the link in the comments below.
BONUS ENTRIES ONLY COUNT IF YOU LEAVE A COMMENT AND I VERIFY.
Here’s the fine print:
- This giveaway is solely through Molly Jo and the blog Frankly, My Dear…. It is sponsored by Aroma Housewares. There are no other corporate sponsors. This giveaway is in no way endorsed by any other person, business or entity.
- Relatives, employees or persons affiliated with Aroma Housewares, New Inklings Press, or Frankly, My Dear… are ineligible.
- Only legal citizens of the United States aged 18 years and older are eligible to win.
- This giveaway begins at 5:30 a.m. PST on Sunday, July 22, 2012 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, July 31, 2012.
- Winner will be selected from all eligible comments on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 through Random.org.
- Winner will be notified by email and will have 120 hours (five full days) from the time email is sent to respond. Should winner not respond in a timely manner, prize will subsequently be re-awarded to another Reader. Not more than three (3) subsequent winners will be picked. After that, prize will be forfeited and no winner will be chosen.
- One prize pack [$20.00 value] consisting of Aroma Housewares 6-Cup Rice Cooker [Product No. ARC-743] will be given. No substitutions or transfers allowed.
- Aroma Housewares, Molly Jo and Frankly, My Dear… are not responsible for any lost or misdirected shipments, or damages that may occur during shipping.
- You may comment as much as you like, but any comment that does not meet the requirements will not be considered for this Giveaway.
- By leaving your comment on this post, you agree to be bound by the rules of this giveaway in their entirety.
As I always like to say, Happy Eating!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
