The Good Plate Latest Recipes - Page 59 of 74 - The Good Plate

Back to School Teacher Gifts

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Spane starts back to school on August 12, 2013. I wanted to make a some nice Back to School Teacher Gifts, one for our new Principal and one for Spane's fifth grade teacher. We don't know yet who Spane's teacher is going to be, so I did not want to make anything that was gender specific. I also didn't have a lot of money to spend, so I headed out to my nearest craft store and purchased two silver toned boxes, some school themed stickers, blue and gold ribbon to reflect the school's colors, yellow wine gift bags, and some horses from the toy department because the school mascot is a mustang.

How To Make a Scrunchy Ribbon Bow using the Bowdabra

Making bows for any occasion is easy when you have the right tool. I think most of us remember having to hold the ribbon while our mother tied it, often tying our finger as well! This ribbon bow craft is easy, in about 10 minutes, and no small child necessary - unless you just want to have your loved one near you.

Pork Chops Paprikash

When I was a little girl, my mother had the entire collection of The Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cooking, and there was a recipe in for Hungarian Porkchops, which I have been making for many years. Today, I decided to change the recipe a bit and came up with Pork Chops Paprikash.

In Glendale, California, which has a large Armenian population, we have Red Pepper Sauce. It's basically paprika peppers, and I use it quite often, in sauces, eggs, and other dishes. There are many brands and you can probably find it in ethnic European stores. I highly recommend it.

Paprikash dishes call for sour cream. I have probably talked about this before, and I will say it again. When you buy sour cream, please only get the kind that has cultured cream. The other stuff has gelatin and other ingredients as fillers, and they just are not real sour cream. The Alta Dena brand has a wonderful saying on the top of the tub, "Those cravings you feel are totally natural". I love that because it's true - there is nothing in that sour cream except cultured cream, the way sour cream should be.

Mise en Place - Sour Cream, Red Pepper Sauce and Beef Base

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Tri-Color Lemon Basil Tomato Bread

I used to make bread every week when I was Chef Farion's roommate, simply because he liked to have bread with his meal. I'm not that much of a bread person, seeing that at the time of this writing, I had to make a new category for bread. Well, today that is going to change.

My wonderful neighbor gave me some Lemon Basil this morning, I looked at it and said to myself, "Yes, you are going to put this in bread!" Then I thought that tomato goes so well with basil, and I have tube of tomato paste in the refrigerator. I am going to make three doughs, one with basil, one with tomato paste, and one with roasted garlic. Then I am going to braid them together, sprinkle sesame seeds on top, and throw it in the oven. I think it will be good. We will see!

I like making bread for a few reasons:

I know what's going into it.
Kneading is a good way to relieve stress. Take out your aggression on the dough!
The wonderful smell of bread baking is second to none.
Finished bread gives you the feeling of a job well done.

Spane examining "Caesar" the tomato paste dough ball
Bread is a great science project for kids. Kids can learn about yeast, and how the yeast is alive and how it makes the bread. If you are lucky, like I was, your child may volunteer to do some of the kneading for you. Spane was so happy to do it that he even named the tomato dough, "Caesar".

Apple Pancake

These apple-stuffed pancakes are a heavenly treat that will satisfy your cravings and impress your family and guests.

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Every year, Glendale, California closes off its main street, the Brand Boulevard of Cars. Beautifully kept antique cars park up and down the street, some with their hoods up, so everyone can enjoy them. Spane and I have been going to Cruise Night since before he was born - I say that because I even went when I was pregnant with him. As usual I like to cook something special for Cruise Night dinner, mainly because even though there are hamburgers and hot dogs available, I would rather have my own fresh food, and save money for a treat for Spane.

I love beets, I mean I really, really love beets. So does Spane. We like them plain, pickled, cold, hot, red beets, orange beets, any beets! Beets are very good for you, and studies have shown it can prevent liver, heart and muscle diseases. This is not the same thing as a Sugar Beet, which although is in the same family, almost all sugar beets are genetically modified, and used to make sugar.

Pantry Organizing

I love finding ways to tame the beast that is my kitchen. This hanging shoe organizer really rocks!

Mussels with Asparagus

Spane comes in and says "What are we having for dinner?" I said "Mussels" Spane looked at me questioningly, and started biting his arm, "That doesn't taste good, Mom!" I laughed at his antics and explained I was talking about the mollusk, not parts of our bodies.

Apple-Stuffed Wontons with Spicy Ice Cream

What's on Your Plate

Apple-Stuffed Wontons are apples cooked with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Fold the mixture into wonton wrappers and fry or air fry until crisp. Serve warm over vanilla ice cream dusted with cinnamon, coffee, and cayenne pepper.

Hot Dogs Covered with Mashed Potatoes and Cheese

Hot Dogs covered with mashed potatoes and cheese is such a comforting food. It's also easy and quick to get on the table. A favorite for kids 2 to 92, it's great with a salad and a good pilsner.

Back to School Teacher Gifts in this Post

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Recipes in this Post

Mussels with Asparagus

What's on Your Plate

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