Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 31st, 2010

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Ingredients 3 cooked chicken breasts, chopped-I buy an already cooked chicken from the grocery store!! 1 or stalks celery, chopped- about 3/4 cup 2 green onions, chopped 1/2 cup seedless grapes, halved 3/4 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup of toasted almonds 3/4 cup salad dressing, such as Miracle Whip- or here is a trick, just add 1 tsp of icing sugar to regular mayonnaise.  That is exactly what Miracle Whip is. 1 Tbs...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 30th, 2010

Chocolate Cake

OMG. OMG.OMG.  This is probably the best and only home made chocolate cake that I really and truly love.  It was passed on to me by a friend who makes it for just about any special occasion that happens at her house.  What I love about this cake is that it is simple but tastes like you could be eating it at any fine restaurant.  Last night I went to bed craving chocolate cake, and I really am not normally a...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 29th, 2010

Almost Flourless Chocolate Cake

OMG. OMG.OMG.  This is probably the best and only home made chocolate cake that I really and truly love.  It was passed on to me by a friend who makes it for just about any special occasion that happens at her house.  What I love about this cake is that it is simple but tastes like you could be eating it at any fine restaurant.  Last night I went to bed craving chocolate cake, and I really am not normally a...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 23rd, 2010

Lemon Tarts

Lemon Tarts Tart Crust (print recipe)-yields 24 mini tarts, 12 regular sized tarts (muffin tin), or one pie. 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons sugar Kosher salt 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced 2 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening (recommended: Crisco) 1/4 cup ice water Combine the flour, 3 tablespoons of the sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl and place in the freezer for 30...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 21st, 2010

Classic Beef Stew

Beef Stew (print) 1 (3-pound) boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes salt and pepper 3 TBS vegetable oil 2 onions, minced 1 TBS tomato paste 2 garlic cloves, minced 3 TBS all-purpose flour 1 cup dry red wine 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 TBS minced fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried 2 bay leaves 1 1/2 lbs red potatoes (5 medium), scrubbed and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks 4 carrots,...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 15th, 2010

Acme Cafe opening soon…

Driving up to Peggy and Alan’s house is like going back in time.  A long narrow street lined with perfectly symmetrical trees.  Cute square houses that date back to wartime years.  Their house is simple but rich with nostalgia, maybe it’s the beautiful vegetable garden that replaces much of their lawn in the back, or the vintage looking kitchen with black check floors and lemon colored cupboards.  I have...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 15th, 2010

Lemon Meringue Pie

Lemon Meringue Pie   Ingredients:   1 ½            Cups            Sugar 6            Tbsp            Cornstarch ¼            Tsp            Salt ½            Cup            Cold water ½            Cup            Fresh squeezed lemon juice (3  lg. lemons) 4           ...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 12th, 2010

Sticky Lemon Chicken

This is a recipe that is so good and so easy.  My kids love it.  Serve it with some mashed potatoes…and enjoy! Ingredients: (print recipe) 1 large chicken jointed into 8-10 pieces or chicken thighs or pieces or… Sea salt and black pepper 3-4 tbsp olive oil 2 cloves of garlic, halved horizontally Few thyme sprigs Splash of sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar 2 tbsp dark soy sauce 3 tbsp honey 1 lemon,...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 7th, 2010

“Moistest” Apple Cake Ever

The are no words to describe the taste of this warm apple cake fresh out of the oven.  The whole house smells like apples, cinnamon, perfect for a cold night like tonight. This is the moistest (not a real word) most delicious apple cake ever. . . . . . . I have used mine for 15 years. Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups sugar (DIVIDED 1 1/2 and 1/4 cups) 1/2 cup unsalted butter, soft 1 tsp vanilla 6 oz block cream cheese (low...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 6th, 2010

Pan Fried Tofu with Vermicelli Noodles

Ingredients 1 package of extra-firm tofu 1 medium-sized head of Napa cabbage 2 packages of vermicelli-they usually come in bundles, use 2 or 3 of them cooking oil sesame oil Soy sauce salt and pepper Red Chili flakes (optional), Hoisin sauce (optional). Put vermicelli in a bowl of cold water to soak. Cut tofu into small, flat blocks, about 1/2 inch thick and lightly pan-fry with sesame oil. Set aside.  To pan...