The Quotable Crackpot: Katherine (for Stefany)

Aaron wrote a wonderful poem for me for Mother's Day. I still can't read it without tearing up.

The Quotable Crackpot: Katherine (for Stefany): "Those toes, but stubs of pinkish tone, poke out of the blanket’s grasp, and though wanting for a warmer home, are too beautiful to wrap. ..."

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Turkey Hummus Spirals

I'm posting our first hummus recipe.  I should get points for that.

1/2 lb deli turkey, thinly sliced
1 container flavored hummus (I like the roasted red pepper)
Bag of baby spinach
Tortillas

Spread hummus on the bottom two thirds of a tortilla.  Spread one piece of turkey and then a layer of spinach.  Roll up, and cover in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate 30 minutes or until ready to serve.  Slice to make little spirals.

Now, most of you probably have the same reaction that Matt had: "Hummus is nasty!"  Buts its not.  Its really good for you, and the flavored kinds are quite palatable.  Brody ate one of these- spinach and all- and didn't hate it.  If you think of the hummus as more of a mayo type spread, its not a big deal.  I told Matt that he had to eat them if we wanted Brody to try it and he actually ended up enjoying them.  1/2 lb of turkey does about 4- 10 inch tortillas. 

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DarLee's Birthday Bars

These came from a Relief Society activity our stake did. They are homemade granola bars.

2 cups old fashioned oats
3/4 cups crisp rice cereal
1/2 cup flax seed
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup dried cranberries or cherries
1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
1 cup unsalted roasted almonds

Mix together in a large bowl.

In a sauce pan, bring to a boil:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4-1/2 teas salt
2 Tbl butter
3/4 (+) raw honey

Boil 3 mins for soft bars or 6 for crunchy.

Remove from heat and add 1 tsp vanilla. Quickly stir into dry ingredients.

Shape into a rectangle on a piece of wax paper. (Use wax paper or buttered hands to do this.) Let sit for 5-10 mins. Cut with a sharp knife. Store in an air tight container. These can also be frozen.

Variations:
different fruits and nuts (or, omitting them all together)
cheerios instead of rice cereal
add 1/2 cup peanut butter when you add vanilla
mix cocoa in
use other flavorings
walnuts, dried apples, and sprinkle bars with cinnamon

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Popcorn Cake

20 cups popped popcorn
1 bag marshmellows
1/2 stick of butter
1 bag M&Ms

Mix popcorn and M&M's in a large bowl. Melt marshmellows and butter like you would for rice krispies. Mix it together. Put it into a sprayed angel food cake pan. Let sit. Flip the pan over and take it off.

The longer you let it sit, the more solid (and easier) it will be to cut. That means that if you want to snitch little pieces, it's best to do that while it's all still warm. It's easier to hide the holes then.

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Mothers' Day Salad

Chicken, Grilled and cubed (season with lime juice, chili powder, and salt)

Canned whole kernel corn
cherry tomatoes
sliced radishes
cubed avocados
mixed greens

Toss with spicy dressing - combine italian dressing with cumin, ground red pepper or chili posder, and black pepper.

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Rootbeer Cookies

Update: I made these this weekend, and they were a hit with my book club and at mom and dad's house. I'm hanging on to this one! Ingredients (Cookies) •1 c. butter •2 c. brown sugar •2 eggs •1 c. buttermilk •3/4 tsp rootbeer concentrate (Make sure if you're using a bottle of concentrate that has already been in your cupboard for awhile that it isn't old. I've known people who have used old concentrate and they end up pouring almost the entire bottle in before they get even a hint of rootbeer flavor. That and the color doesn't turn out nearly right.) •4 c. flour •1 tsp baking soda •1 tsp salt Ingredients (Frosting) •3 1/2 c. powdered sugar •3/4 c. butter •3 Tbsp water •1 1/4 tsp rootbeer concentrate Directions 1.Combine all ingredients for the cookies in a large bowl or in a KitchenAid. 2.Drop the dough onto a greased cookie sheet (about a tablespoon size of dough balls) and bake for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees. 3.While the cookies are baking, place the dough in the refrigerator. (It is good to keep your cookie dough in the refrigerator between batches to keep the dough firm.) Combine all the ingredeints for the frosting in a medium bowl and mix together well, whether it be with your KitchenAid or an electric hand mixer. 4.Frost the cookies after they have been given time to cool. Enjoy!

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Mediterranean Chicken and Artichokes

From the cookbook we got from Mubba for Christmas, but slightly altered :

Make a rub from
4 parts Dried Thyme
4 parts Grated Lemon Peel
1 part Salt
1 part Pepper

Apply to some chicken Breasts, then brown them in olive oil and set aside.

Saute the following in the same pan:
2 Large Onions, Chopped
4-6 Garlic Cloves, Smashed

Once the onions have softened up, add in a couple of cans of artichoke hearts, quartered, and some sliced olives  (black and green), and a can of chicken broth.  Add the chicken breasts back in and simmer until, well, done.

Quite a flavorful dish. And very healthy. Go easy on the thyme and lemon though... I may have overdone it a bit.

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