Salty & Soft with a Side of Mustard!

I don't know about you, but I cannot neglect the aroma of soft pretzels wafting through the mall. It is the most appetizing smell, and yet the most overpriced appetizer. So, what is the solution to such a delectable and unquenchable desire? Make it yourself! And so I did with the help of food network's online recipes. YUMMO!


Randall Scale
Grocery.............. $3.00 for yeast (other ingredients common)
Skill Rating........ a sinch, kiddos can do it!
Serving Size...... 1-2 per person for 6
Prepare Time... 2 hours, (resting time for dough involved)

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cup warm water
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 packet of yeast
• 4.5 cup flour
• 2 onces butter
• 1o addit. cups water
• 5 Tablespoon baking soda (2/3 cup)
• Course Salt (for topping) *optional*
  

Prepare:
1. Combine 1.5 cups warm water, sugar, salt and yeast.
2. Add room temperature butter and flour (a cup at a time)
3. You may need to add a little more water to this mixture.
4. Allow to sit for 40 minutes.
5. Combine 10 cups of water and baking soda in a large, stove-top safe pot.
6. Boil combination.
7. Drop pretzels into boiling water one at a time for 1 min 5 sec on each side.
8. DO NOT ALLOW PRETZELS TO SIT FOR MORE OR LESS TIME! They will toughen up or be too doughy if you are not accurate!
9. Once all pretzels have been dipped, place on oven-safe and greased cookie sheet.
10. SALT SALT SALT the pretzels; course salt works best but granulated will do.
11. Bake on 450 for 12-14 minutes.

Fruity Fruit To Boot

So this past week Pete has been on a MAJOR fruit kick. It has helped with Publix's amazing produce selection and the the many b.o.g.o offers. Thus far, we have decided these fruits are among the best drizzled with lemon juice to keep them as fresh as the day you cut them. Although you are free to pick and chose your favorites, this "salad" has become somewhat of a summer staple around our house. Enjoy nature's sweetest candy by adding a sprig of mint, or even a dash of sugar.


Randall Scale
Grocery.............. really however much you want to spend
Skill Rating........ a sinch, just know how to use a knife
Serving Size...... 2-3 days worth of fruit for 1 person
Prepare Time... 5-10 minutes

Ingredients:
(our favorites anyways)

• blueberries
• strawberries
• pineapple
• nectarines
• watermelon
• peaches
• apples
• melon
• grapes
• bananas
• kiwi
• lemon juice
• fresh mint
  

Prepare:
1. Slice all fruit to bite size.
2. Pile into separate heaps.
3. Layer into container of choice. (we use regular ole' Tupperware)
4. Add chopped mint & sugar if wanted.
5. Squeeze lemon juice over all fruit. This keeps the fruit from turning brown.
6. Toss & Enjoy.

Emily's Healthy Coffee Cake

My dear sister-in-law, Emily, is a fantastic baker. She is quite knowlegable when it comes to homey-goods and delectable treats. She loves sweets, but enjoys eating with a nutritional mindset i.e. healthy coffee cake with struesel topping. Therefore, she turned a wonderfully fattening dessert into something, still fantastic, but with much less of a guilt trip. It is so tasty one would never know the difference! Who doesn't love fresh baked goods?
Enjoy!



Randall Scale
Grocery............... $20 (or free, most have these ingredients)
Skill Rating......... Easy-Medium, must know baking terms
Serving Size....... 10-12 healthy (pun) servings
Prepare Time.... 45 minutes


Ingredients

• 3 T. brown sugar
• Flour (sub. whole wheat)
• 1 T. Cinnamon
• 1 T. Margarine
• 1/4 Cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1 egg white slightly beaten
• 3/4 Cup White Sugar
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2-1 Cup skim milk (can sub. soy milk, amount varies depending on flour type)
• 3 T. Canola Oil

Prepare:
1. Stir together brown sugar, 1 T. flour and cinnamon.
2. Cut in margarine until crumbly.
3. Stir in nuts and set aside.
4. In new bowl, stir together 1.5 Cup flour, sugar, baking powder & salt.
5. In another bowl, stir together the milk, egg, sugar, and oil.
6. Add to the flour mixture, stirring just until combined.
7. Pour batter into well-greased 9x9 glass pan.
8. Sprinkle struesel topping over batter.

Bake:
1. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.
2. Slice and serve warm.

A Classic Revisited

Ah, a sweet teriaki chicken kabob. Who doesn't love such a classic in Florida's hottest summers. Served hot, and great cold the next day. What could be easier or more sweet and savory at the same time?! Nothing fixes a grown mans yearning for meat or a women's petite waistline like this recipe! To boot, it only involves three ingredients, easy easy peasy!

Randall Scale
Grocery............. $15-$20 (depending on chicken prices)
Skill Rating....... Easy-Medium, hot flame involved
Serving Size...... 8 Hungry Men
Prepare Time... 8-24 Hours (marinating time)

Ingredients:

• 8-9 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 Bottle Ken's Steak House Teriaki Marinade
• Garlic (fresh or jarred, I used jarred)
• Skewers!

Prepare:
1. Place wooden skewers on platter of water so they won't burn on grille.
2. Clean chicken and cut into bite size pieces.
3. Place into marinating tub or rubbermaid container w/ tight sealing lid.
4. Dumb entire contents of Ken's Marinade on top of chicken.
5. Add spoon fulls of garlic, this is a marinade, do not be shy!
6. Mix well & do not salt, lots of sodium in teriaki sauce.
7. Allow to sit for 3-8 hours, flip upside down, allow to rest again. The longer it marinates the better, but 3-4 total hours will do.
8. Put chicken onto skewers.
Grille:
9. Ask husband/man/some who is skilled to grille to perfection.
*Optional*

• Add sliced belle peppers, red onion, and any other veggies in between chicken for color and added layers of flavor!

Kick in the Romaine

Often times, I find myself at a loss for salad ingredients. Last fall Pete was on a huge salad kick, and would eat a whole head of romaine for lunch, with lots of variations in toppings. Needless to say, all this salad making, and I mean a lot of salad making, landed me the ultimate salad dressing recipe that has taken off into many different directions.

Randall Scale
Grocery.............. under $7 (depending on ingredient choices)
Skill Rating........ Easy As Pie
Serving Size...... Enough for a whole head, plus extra
Prepare Time... 5 minutes or less

Ingredients:
(budget providing you already have most of this)

• Your choice of 2 Favorite Store Bought Savory Dressings
• (I use Caesar and Italian)
• One Fresh Lemon
• Olive Oil
• 2 Garlic Cloves
• Salt & Pepper
• Cracked Sea Salt
• (but regular salt is fine if you don't have)

Prepare:
1. Pour equal parts of both salad dressings, and olive oil into container. I use a jam jar and fill it half way for this.
2. Emulsify.
3. Juice 1/2 of lemon into mixture and continue to emulsify.
4. Add fresh garlic (must use garlic press to combine flavors!)
5. Salt and Pepper to taste.
6. Crack Sea Salt onto Romaine (preferred) or Iceberg Lettuce.
7. Use other half of lemon and juice over lettuce.
8. Pour dressing over lettuce & toss well, or allow guests to dress their own salad.
*Optional Salad Toppers*
-belle peppers cut into julienne strips, grape tomatoes, bacon, lunch meat, provolone, slivered hard-boiled egg, chives, home-made croutons (see next blog), carrots, pine nuts, broccoli, etc...

It Only Happens Once A Week

If this doesn't put it from the lips to the hips, I don't know what does, but who can resist a crunchy, garlicky, warm piece of french bread seasoned to perfection? I can't no matter the cost. Here's my secret to embellishing any pasta memoir. Enjoy and experiment!

Randall Scale
Grocery............. $1.89-$2.19 (Publix Prices)
Skill Rating....... Easy Peasy
Serving Size...... 6-8 (1-2 pieces per person)
Prepare Time... 5-10 Minutes

Ingredients:

• your choice in crusty baguette or deli style loaf
• Butter, Butter, Butter - room temperature
• Salt & Pepper
• 4 Cloves Fresh Garlic, oh yes. (or more, I always use a ton)
• DRY ITALIAN SPICES (oregano, parsely, garlic, etc....)
  

Prepare:
1. Slice bread in half, long ways.
2. Slather butter generously on both halves.
3. Generously sprinkle any Italian spices in your pantry.
4. Press Garlic (after using garlic press) onto bread; spread all over with fingers
5. S & P

Bake:
6. Set Oven to BROIL & allow coils to become RED HOT!
7. Place bread on baking sheet, make as flat as possible, no hot dog bun forms!
8. Cook time is less than 5 minutes. Do not set timer and return! WATCH WATCH WATCH or your bread will burn!
9. Slice and enjoy!

Inovative Use for the Ole' Ice Tray

Unfortunately, I cannot take credit for these fantastic ideas for the ye ole' ice cube tray. Upon sitting in Barnes & Noble after an evening out with Pete, I picked up my favorite & very expensive magazine titled 'Real Simple.' Needless to say, I really wanted to buy the issue, but decided to make mental notes instead of shelling out the $12.95. The two ideas that struck me most novel had to do with ice cube trays.

Idea #1

-Use it as a jewelry organizer in your dresser drawer!

• How smart is that? Lots of people have fancy jewelry chests, and in turn never wear any of it. But with your favorite gems at your fingertips, who wouldn't love this idea?

Idea #2

-Fill the ice tray with..... drumroll..... ALOE VERA!

• Everyone hates sunburns, but loves the look of sun-kissed skin. Solution: put on sunblock silly! but for those oops! spots, slather on some ice cold aloe cubes to sooth those tender spots!