Mashed Potato's With Herbs And Sweet Potato's

Sweet Potato's are the much healthier potato to eat. Not everyone likes Sweet Potato's. My Family is actually starting to enjoy them more and more.

Here is a great recipe to help jump start your Family to start eating healthier.

Mashed Potato's with Herbs and Sweet Potato's are just as easy to do as plain mashed potato's.

Ingredients:

• Yukon Gold Potato's (one per person)
• Sweet Potato's (one per person)
• Two Tablespoons Fresh Chives (chopped)
• Two Tablespoons Fresh Flat Leaf Italian Parsley (chopped)
• Salt
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• Three table spoons Butter
• Milk

Wash all the potato's.

Peel the Sweet Potato's (and the white ones if you prefer, I leave the skins on).

Cut all the potatoes into 1 - 1/2 in square pieces.

Place potatoes into large sauce pan and just cover with water. Bring to boil reduce to simmer until just fork tender. Don't over cook or they will turn to mush.

Drain in colander.

Place butter into hot sauce pan and melt. Add 1/2 Cup Milk and heat, season with salt, Pepper, Chives and Parsley.

Add Potato's back into sauce pan and toss together, just enough to mix well and heat (you can add more milk a little at a time if needed)

Serve.

This recipe is also great for left overs, just reheat in the microwave!

Let me know what your family thinks ;)

Enjoy!

Grilled Vegetables For Better Flavored Dishes!

The next time you make Pasta Sauce or and dishes that calls for vegetables try grilling your vegetables first.

Grilling the vegetables instead of sauteing them gives them a more smokey grilled flavor. I did this the last time I made Spaghetti sauce and we all loved it.

I just oiled my grill pan, sliced the veggies, seasoned with salt and pepper and grilled until they got nice grill marks. Then, I chopped them up and finished my sauce as I normally would.

Try it you will like it!

Enjoy!

Tip Of The Day: Cooking Pasta

A quick "Tip Of The Day" while cooking pasta is to simply cook the pasta only three quarters of the way done.

Add the partially cooked pasta to your sauce and finish cooking. The pasta absorbs the flavors of the sauce and makes it taste so much better!

Enjoy!

Betty Crocker Decorating Frosting in a can?

My Daughter's eighth Birthday was this month. She has celebrated her Birthday the entire month so we have had several kinds of cupcakes and cakes.

She wanted me to make "homemade" cupcakes for the neighborhood children. Very specific, confetti cake and frosting with sugar sprinkles.

During the shopping trip to the supermarket I found something I have never used before. Cupcake Icing in a can. Betty Crocker has yet again come up with something new.

It's decorating frosting with different tips in a can you just turn up side down and squirt! It actually works. It comes in several different colors and does not need to be refrigerated.

The price point is $3.99 (which I thought was VERY expensive!) You can get the cheaper version, put it in a plastic bag, snip the corner off and you have an instant pastry bag for about a $1.50.

The directions state that one can will decorate 24 cupcakes.... NOT! It only did 18 of what you see here. They did turn out cute, but I use a lot more frosting on my cupcakes. If your in a hurry this is a great new find.

Italian Simmered Tomatoes and Zucchini

Simmered Tomatoes and Zucchini is a wonderful side dish that can be made anytime and be served with almost anything. It's great all year round. Just add some fresh herbs, garlic and olive oil and your done ;)

Ingredients:

• Three Large Tomatoes sliced 3/4 inch thick
• Three Zucchini sliced 3/4 inch thick
• Three Fresh Garlic Cloves sliced
• Three Tablespoons Fresh Flat Leave Parsley chopped
• Two Tablespoon Fresh Oregano chopped
• 1/2 small Red Onion sliced
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive Oil

Coat deep fry pan with Olive Oil and heat. Add Garlic and Onions saute until you can start to smell the garlic.

Layer in the Squash, Tomatoes and herbs. Season with Salt and Pepper.

Drizzle some more Olive Oil over the top.

Cover and let simmer, turning occasionally gently until tomatoes are cooked and zucchini is tender. The aroma is amazing!

Serve as a side dish with chicken, beef or fish.

Serves two Adults and two Children. Double recipe for more guests ;)

Enjoy!

Tip Of The Day: Pre made Pie Fillings

Pre made Pie Fillings are a staple in every one's pantry.

Keep one or two on hand for that last minute get together or a quick dessert.

You can make a quick Blue Berry Tart:

• Frozen Pastry Sheets
• Blue Berry Pie Filling
• 1 Egg whipped

Remove Pastry Sheet from freezer and defrost. Place crust a cookie sheet or tart pan. Spoon pie filling onto center and spread outward in a large circle leaving a couple inches around the edge.

Fold in edges to make a crust and to prevent the filling from spilling over. Brush edges with egg and bake per instructions on pastry box. Done :)

You can also purchase a store bought cheese cake and spoon pie filling over the slices for a quick and "fancy" topping. Just add a dollop of whip cream and serve ;)

Labor Day Corn On The Cob With Dill Butter

Mix it up a bit the next time you cook Corn On The Cob. Top it with quick and easy Dill butter.

If your grilling the corn or boiling it works for both.

Grilling Corn:

• Peel back husks remove the corn hair (leave husks attached)
• Soak in five gallon bucket for 1/2 hour.
• Brush Dill Butter on Corn close up the husks and tie the end shut with string.
• Grill Corn until tender, turning every five minutes and cook on all four sides.

Dill Butter:

• One stick butter
• Two to Three Tablespoons finally chopped Fresh Dill.
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• Dash of Fresh Ground Pepper if desired.

Combine Butter, Dill, Salt and Pepper mix well.

My New Mario Batali Basting Brush

I got a new "toy" for my Birthday this year. The Mario Batali Basting Brush.

It's great!

My old basting brushes have hit the dust. They were just basic with wood handles with bristles that were half half gone. The wood handles were burn't, the bristles were either burn't and melted and the connector was rusted. They have been through the works. The last time I was grilling and I noticed some bristles that were left on my chicken I said "I need something new".

I had mentioned this to my Mother In Law and she handed me a gift bag the next time she came over filled with some goodies inside ;) Out came Mario's nesting set of small bowls to use for just anything and this basting brush.

It's made of silicon and can withstand 500 degree heat with out melting. It feels and looks like it would shrivel with the slightest touch of heat but it wont.

You can baste anything with it or even prepare your pans with oil or butter. When you are done just pop it in the dish washer :)

I give this a big thumbs up!