Cream Cheese Cranberry Stuffed Celery

Cream Cheese Cranberry Stuffed Celery
Cream Cheese Cranberry Stuffed Celery

Cream Cheese Cranberry Stuffed Celery is a healthy and easy appetizer to make. It's great as an after-school snack or something to do with all that leftover celery. A little sweet, a little savory, it's a perfect appetizer for the holiday season.

Read more

Chinese Stove Top Barbecued Cornish Hen

Chinese Stove Top Barbecued Cornish Hen
Chinese Stove Top Barbecued Cornish Hen

With just the two of us, a regular chicken is just too big, so I started buying Cornish Hens. They come two to the pack, at 1 1/2 pounds each. A one-half bird is enough to feed one person. Cornish hens taste just like regular chickens and are not baby chickens. For more information, please see the Wikipedia article on Cornish Game Hen.

I love barbecued chicken, but barbecues have been outlawed in our city, so I am stuck with less conventional ways of barbecuing. Last year, I bought a cast iron grill/griddle just for the purpose of barbecuing steaks and making pancakes. It also does a fine job with chicken, and I use the top of my wok to cover foods so they can completely cook. Of course, I have to have my windows wide open, and I shut off the bedroom where the fire alarms are to prevent them from going off. My grill/griddle is easy to clean, just put it in water while it is still warm, but not hot.

I used Hoisin sauce because my son had expressed a desire for Chinese food the day before, but you could use whatever barbecue sauce is your favorite. I served it with Same Day Fried Rice and we had ourselves an Asian feast!

Chinese Stove Top Barbecued Cornish Hen YouTube Video

Read more

Same-Day Fried Rice

Can you use freshly cooked rice on the same day to make fried rice? No, you can't. But, if you use this same-day fried rice method, you can cure your craving any day. You will be surprised at how easy this is.

Read more

Easy Puff Pastry Apple Pie


How to Make Easy Puff Pastry Apple Pie

It rained today, and it's a bit chilly, the night before Halloween. Social media is talking about killer clowns coming out in my city, so I'm double-locking the doors, just to be on the safe side. It's a perfect night for apple pie.

Someone gave me a can of apple pie filling and a package of frozen puff pastry. When I received the gift, I put both away, thinking I would use them for other things. But, today, I realized I could put them together and make a wonderful pie. There is no need for a pie pan, just a sheet pan, and some parchment paper to keep the pastry from sticking. Of course, you could use other fillings, cherry or blueberry would be great.

Read more

Pork Loin Roast with Tangy Lemon Sauce

Pork Loin Roast with Tangy Lemon Sauce

Pork Loin Roast with Tangy Lemon Sauce

Labor Day is such an important day to remember those who fought for good working conditions and a living wage. It's also a fine excuse to make some good food. Whilst looking through Paula Deen's Southern Cooking Bible, I came across a recipe for pork roast which gave me the idea to make this pork loin roast with tangy lemon sauce.

Pork loin roast is one of my favorite meats. I like mine on the rare side, just pink on the inside. I usually give the end slices to Spane because he likes his a little more cooked. There is no excuse for serving a dried out, gray colored roast of pork. Armed with a good instant thermometer, you can serve perfect pork at 140 degrees. Just make sure to let the roast rest for about 10 minutes before carving it. I use an electric knife because it makes the nicest slices.

If you want to make this on the grill, more power to you! Pork roast is great on the grill, but you have to use the Indirect method. This means you put a pile of hot coals on one side of the grill, and a pan of liquid under the meat, which gives the meat a nice, steamy place to slowly cook. If you want, you can use beer, wine or fruit juice for the liquid.

Read more