Free Food Information and Coupons From Savings.com and Food Network

I am always one for sharing. Here are a couple things that I can share with you food lovers today. I do like to have a ton of food info on had at all times. It makes my life so much easier when cooking a meal or preparing for a party.

The Food Network site is a wonderful place to gather food info on recipes, helpful hints, cookware and so on.

Here we have some Olive Garden coupons for all you food lovers that like to dine out. In today economy we all love to save a little "dough" where we can right? So click the link if you are interested in Olive Garden coupons.

Here are more free online coupons. You can get a coupon for practically anything you need form anyplace with these free online coupons.

Happy shopping. I will bring more helpful and usual information when I get it. Have a great day!

Enjoy ;)

Giveaway Starts Soon For Lucky Leaf Pie Filling Gift Box!

Keep your eyes and ears open in the next few days we will be starting a giveaway for a fantastic gift box from Lucky Leaf. I will be making some of their fabulous recipes to share with you and give you a chance to win those products!

Tell your friends and stay tuned ;)

Karen B.

How To Cook A Pumpkin or Squash For The Holidays

Cooking a pumpkin is a piece of cake and the bonus is you don't need to toss those porch pumpkins out anymore! This recipe can be used for any edible pumpkin or squash.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Cut pumpkin in have and discard the seeds. Spray a cooking sheet with non stick oil and place pumpkin or squash halves cut side down skin up.

Bake for about 30 to 45 minutes or until fork tender.

Scoop out cooked pumpkin from the skin. It is ready for any of your Holiday recipes! You can put in a zip lock freezer bag and freeze until ready to use.

If you would like to cook it with spices just turn cut side up and sprinkle with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, butter and brown sugar for a wonder easy dessert. Cover with foil and bake until fork tender.

Enjoy!

Holiday Pumpkin Crunch

We received this yummy recipe from friends and then lost it! So I did research, found a Hawaiian recipe and then found the old one I had lost. After trying to duplicate it I made several versions. The mistake which is this one is the one we absolutely love.

So here is my version of Pumpkin Crunch.

Ingredients:

• 1 Large Can Pumpkin with spices added
• 1 Can Evaporated Milk
• 1 Cup Sugar (for healthier version use 1/2 C Sugar)
• 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 3 Eggs beaten
• 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla

Topping:

• 1 Box Spice Cake Mix
• 2 Sticks of Butter melted (Paula Dean would be happy ;)
• 1 Cup or more of chopped Pecans

Additional Topping Optional:

• 1 - 8 oz package of Cream Cheese (or low fat)
• 1 Cup Cool Whip

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare a 13 x 9 metal pan (preferred over glass if you have one) by spraying with non-stick cooking oil.

In large mixing bowl combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and beaten eggs. Mix well using a whisk. Pour into prepared pan.

Topping:

Sprinkle one box of Spice Cake Mix on top of uncooked pumpkin mixture. Drizzle with melted butter. Then sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Bake at 350 for one hour until set and nuts nicely browned.

Optional Topping:

Combine Cream Cheese and Cool whip, mix well, spread over top of cooked Pumpkin Crunch (we prefer just plain old whip cream on top).

Serve warm for best results. If you liked the Karen B's Homemade Carmel Apple Bread Pudding recipe your gonna LOVE this one!

Enjoy!

Vintage Silver and China Serving Pieces "In" for the Holidays

With the Holiday's already here by what the TV and stores are saying....

Here are some great helpful ideas to dress up your Holiday tables and buffets.

Vintage Silver and China serving pieces can make a great show. From the Napa Style site here we have some old serving pieces used to dress up any buffet or table.

I have several hand me down silver trays, pitchers, china and crystal that I love to use. The old Butler trays that held the coffee carafe, creamer and sugar can be used as a hourdouve' tray.

Take old crystal martini glasses and fill with seasonal nuts. Tall crystal water goblets can be filled with tall thin crispy bread sticks... All you need is some doilies and or leaf shaped paper cutouts to place a cheese wedge on. Even evergreen sprigs can spruce up any event. Most supermarkets have a floral department now with the make it yourself section. Grab some greenery and lay around the trays or centerpiece for that extra touch.

Happy Party!

Cast Iron Cookware For Your Kitchen

The Holidays are here believe it or not. Family gatherings and parties are right around the corner. If you entertain and or love to cook having the best cookware is a must. Even if it is one item make sure it's a good one!

Every kitchen should have at least one cast cookware enamel iron roaster, baker or large deep fry pan. I prefer the French Oven or a Dutch Oven. It's a one stop shop piece of enameled cast iron cookware. You can make stew, soups, fry, sear, saute' and then pop right in the oven with out changing pans. Making Holiday meals so much easier.

The only thing that you need to know ahead of time that any cast cookware enamel iron pieces are extremely heavy compared to stainless cookware. A French Oven with a large roast will surprise you when you go to pick it up to pop it in the oven. You will need to use those are muscles!

A good piece of cast cookware enamel iron has wonderful heat retention and can be used on the stove top and oven. Making slow cooking and recipes easier with much better results than that old crock pot. Do your research before purchasing there is several Chef's out their now with their own lines, Emeril, Martha, Rachael Ray just to name a few so not to confuse you with the originals like Le Creuset or Lodge.

Tip Of The Day: Cooking Hamburgers Indoors

Want that just cooked outdoor on the grill taste but are cooking hamburgers indoors?

Try this simple tip:

Sprinkle a little bit of Mesquite Rub onto your uncooked burgers and spray with a little non-stick cooking oil. Don't use too much you just want to make "taste" like it was cooked on the grill.

You will get a robust and smoky flavor. You can also use it on steaks, ribs, chicken and turkeys.

Enjoy ;)

Roasted Pumpkin and Squash Seeds

This easy Roasted Pumpkin and Squash Seeds recipe takes no time at all and you end up with a yummy crunchy snack for anytime not just Halloween.

All you need are the seeds, cookie sheet or sheet pan, and spatula.

Ingredients:

Seeds

Olive Oil

2 Garlic Cloves (cleaned and smashed)

Salt

Lawry's Seasoning Salt

Preheat oven to 325.

Wash and pat dry seeds.

In a small fry pan heat 4 to 5 tablespoons Olive Oil to med low heat, add garlic and stir over low heat for a few minutes to season the oil with the garlic flavor. Turn off heat and let sit for ten minutes or so. Taste the oil to make sure you have a garlic flavor. Heating to a high temp will only burn the garlic and leave a bitter taste.

Pour Garlic Olive Oil onto a baking sheet, add Seeds and toss well to coat. Sprinkle with a little Salt. Not too much.

Place in preheated oven and roast stirring every ten minutes or so. This should take 45 minutes to an hour. Half way through while seeds are still a still a little moist season with Lawry's Seasoning Salt. Stir to coat well and return to oven.

Roast until nicely browned and crunchy.

Enjoy ;)

Monster Cupcake Cake

This Easy Monster Cake is a big hit for Parties!!

Arrange your cupcakes into desired shape. Using a grass decorating tip pipe on your frosting starting at the head and work your way to the feet. Making it look like a single layer cake. Add you accents and your done! Easy and fun for the kids ;)

Wine History The "Wine Bible"

We have been drinking wine for thousands of years now. It has been apart of many cultures around the world in many different ways.

In Medieval Europe drinking wine with a meal helped make the very bland food taste better. Wine has come along way since then. It is now grown and sold for profit.

The British have this great little site called the Wine Bible and I am bringing it to you. If you need to learn about wine, the many many different wine grape varieties this is a very helpful site.

You can also learn about all the wine producing countries around the world as well.

The history of wine is so interesting. Being as wine has been around for so long it is fascinating to see how it has evolved over the years. You once could only drink it if you were of a certain class in society, now everyone does.

Check out the Wine Bible and save it as one of your cooking favorites for interesting reading and reference.

Happy Fall!

Hot New Finds: Starbuck's Ceramic Travel Mug

I have found the greatest item ever! Starbuck's has a ceramic travel mug! No not stainless or plastic but ceramic! I am so thrilled I just can't stand it ;)

I have never liked the taste of coffee in stainless or plastic cups, I have to have it in a ceramic cup or it just does not taste the same.

So I usually put my morning coffee in a regular old coffee cup and off I go. Maneuvering through bumps and traffic trying to hold the cup up so it doesn't spill coffee all over me or my car.

But not anymore. The other day I forgot my coffee and had some errands to run after dropping the kids off to school. I popped into Starbuck's to get just a regular Joe and waiting in line there gleaming on the shelf was their ceramic travel mug with a snap on leak proof lid! Like I said I was so excited.

It keeps the coffee very hot and I did burn my tongue so I have to be careful. It is double walled so the hot liquids stay hot but it's cool to the touch which is an added bonus. So very proud of my new mug!! I have been getting funny looks because of the mug, people aren't sure if Starbucks changed their carry out cups or what ;)

Happy Fall!

Wine Pick Of The Day! Kirkland 2006 Napa Valley Meritage

Needless to say.... very disappointing :( This is sad being as I loved the other Kirkland wine, I was so excited to get it.

It's 69% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc. It smelled like "grapes" a little on the flat side coming from the "Master Cask Series". Maybe too much Black Cherry and not enough oak???

Price Point: $9 - $11.00

I prefer Kendall J Meritage.

:/

Karen B's Homemade Carmel Apple Bread Pudding

Karen B's Homemade Carmel Apple Bread Pudding is a special dessert

and loved by many. It will bring a smile to your family as well as warm their tummy's.

It's quiet simple all you need are the ingredients and you will be surprised at what they are!

Ingredients:

• One Dozen Cinnamon Cake Doughnuts
• 1 1/2 Cups Granulated Sugar
• 5 Large Eggs
• 2 Cups Milk
• 2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 - 1/2 Cup Chopped Dried Cinnamon Apples ( I use Mariani Fuji Apples w/Cinnamon) If you cannot find dried apples use two fresh apples chopped and dredge in Cinnamon and Sugar.
• Cinnamon & Sugar (mixed together)
• Two Carmel Apple Wraps
• 1/4 Cup Chopped Pnuts (optional) (you can find chopped Pnuts at the store)

Preheat the oven to 350.

Prep a 9 x 13" glass dish with cooking spray.

Take your cake doughnuts and break into pieces show here, place into pan.

Chop your apples into 1/2 inch size pieces, sprinkle over doughnuts.

Take two Carmel Apple Wraps and remove paper.

Cut with kitchen scissors into small pieces, it is easier to use scissors than a knife. Sprinkle Carmel pieces and Pnuts over doughnuts and apples. Gently mix in with hands to distribute evenly.

In a bowl add the eggs and whisk. Add the milk, sugar and vanilla mix until sugar is dissolved. Pour the eggs and milk mixture over the doughnut mixture. Press down the doughnut mixture with a spatula to make sure all the doughnuts get covered with the eggs and milk.

Let sit for five minutes.

Sprinkle Cinnamon and Sugar over the entire top of the bread pudding.

Bake at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes until set.

Serve warm with a dollop of whip cream or just by itself!

It is delightful!

Happy Cooking ;)

How To Carve A Watermelon Basket

You can make this adorable watermelon basket with just a few supplies and a creative mind.

Supplies:

• One large nice shaped watermelon
• Carving knife
• Pumpkin Carving knife or serrated knife as shown
• Large serving spoon and or Ice Cream Scoop or Melon Ball er which ever you have
• Large Mixing bowl for the watermelon pieces

Wash your Watermelon with soap and warm water.

Find the bottom and slice off a thin strip length wise to make a the bottom flat to prevent rolling or movement while carving. Be careful not to cut too deep just the bottom skin will work just fine.

With a dry erase marker draw your design on to the clean dry melon. Here we are making a whale for my Daughters Birthday Party.

Cut with the serrated pumpkin knife/cutter along the lines using a in and out motion or sawing motion as you go.

Use the carving or meat knife to stab and pull out sections of the melon as shown here:

Be careful not to break off delicate pieces.

Here we cut out the mouth section.

For the eyes I used a pairing knife (.99 cents) and bent the tip over to make a round tip to carve out the skin and scrape until you can see the white flesh of the melon.

Then we cleaned out the melon with a large spoon or scoop, reserving the melon to be cut up to fill the basket later.

Next dry out your melon with paper towels.

Cut up all the fruit you will be adding and keep in separate bowls.

Hint: do not mix the different types of fruit together in one bowl. Layer them in the basket. This keeps the fruit intact and looking beautiful no smashed from mixing.

Keep the melon in the refrigerator until you are ready to fill and serve.

Layer all the different fruit into the bowl. Decorate the platter with greenery, flowers and additional fruit if desired.

Enjoy!