Author: cathysmaha

I am a country girl, born and raised on a farm in Central Iowa. I am the youngest of three children by 9 and 14 years….I was the OOPS! Being younger had its advantages in that I was an Aunt at age 7 and grew up with my niece and nephews. My Father died from a farm injury when I was 12, which forever changed my life and strengthened my bond with my Mother. I tagged along with my Mother to visit older people in our community and learned about their lives in the early 1900s, enjoying the many wonderful traditional foods and family stories. I graduated from a class of 25, which gave me the advantage of being involved in sports and clubs that would not have been possible in a large High School. At that time, Home Ec was still an elective and I loved the cooking lessons (not so hot on the sewing classes). While at the University of Northern Iowa, I began to collect and read cookbooks. Perhaps it was the absence of Mom’s home cooking that drew me to dream about cooking (and eating) wonderful food. After college I moved to St. Joseph, MO and then to Scottsdale, AZ and began to experiment with traditional recipes and discovering those of my own. It was such an adventure to discover new dishes and restaurants in historic St. Joseph, Kansas City, then Scottsdale, Phoenix, San Diego…and the list goes on. In the early ‘80s, I moved to Denver, got married, started my telecommunications sales career and discovered the fabulous restaurants in Denver and Aspen. My career took me to cities never before experienced and the seafood in San Francisco, Cajun fare in New Orleans, Tex-Mex in Dallas, Italian in New Jersey, etc. are experiences I will cherish. In 1986 our first daughter, Megan, was born and then Sarah in 1988. Instead of indulging in dinners out, we were cooking more at home and seeking ways to have good meals with limited time. Dinners went from adult gourmet to more kid friendly meals. Megan’s tastes were more basic while Sarah adopted a gourmet palate at an early age. At age 6 her favorite meal was steamed artichokes and crab legs with drawn butter…still her favorite. Megan’s tastes expanded rapidly when she went to college and started cooking for her roommates and now loves to whip up gourmet dishes. I am blessed to have many gal pals that also share my passion for good food. I love to try new restaurants and look forward to the ‘pot luck’ feasts at our book club meetings and other gatherings. It isn’t just the good food that brings us to together, but the great love and admiration we all have for each other. We are addicted foodies…but we try to remember our 12-step foodie program is needed. God grant me the serenity to only eat the food that I LOVE, the courage to walk away from junk food, and the wisdom to recognize the difference. Oh YEAH!
Family Favorites · Vegetarian

Vegetable Pizza…cold and scrumptious!

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Vegetable Pizza served cold and is a great appetizer and a family favorite.  This recipe made its way to my wooden recipe box many moons ago and has been a favorite of our family for many years.

The recipe is simple and easy to make.  Two tubes of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, sour cream, garlic powder, dill, fresh veggies and cheese and you’re prepared.  It’s refreshing in the summer and a side dish to serve with a hearty soup.

Make an hour or two before serving and chill in the refrigerator.

VEGETABLE PIZZA

2 cans Pillsbury crescent rolls
2 cups sour cream
2 teaspoons dill weed
1 teaspoon garlic powder
chopped broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, onion, green pepper (or your choice)
shredded cheddar cheese

  • Spread crescent rolls flat and bake in 9×13″ pan until slightly brown.  Cool.
  • Mix together sour cream, dill weed and garlic powder. Spread on cooled crust.
  • Top with chopped fresh vegetables.
  • Sprinkle top with shredded cheese.  Cut into small squares for serving.

Can half the recipe and bake on round pizza pan.

Losers!

Grape Jalapeno Jelly…Maybe, Maybe Not!

cathysmaha6 Comments

Grape Jalapeno Jelly may not be the best idea!  Each year I have a small harvest of concord grapes, if the birds and squirrels decide they want to share.

In the past, I have made grape biscuits (to be shared another year), but this year I wanted to try something different.  I like grape jelly and I like jalapeno jelly…why not try a combo?  Sounded like a good idea.

I searched the web and did not find ONE SINGLE recipe.  I adapted a blackberry jalapeno jelly but decided to cut back on the jalapeno so it wasn’t too hot.  Big mistake!  While the grape jelly is beautiful and tastes good, the slight jalapeno aftertaste is perplexing to my taste buds.

Grape Jalapeno Jelly

Not all of my great kitchen experiments are winners.  This is one of the losers.  I will not share the recipe but I’ll share photos. I’m hoping to salvage this disaster by using the jelly in a meatball sauce or perhaps mixing with a hot pepper jelly and serving over brie or cream cheese. I’ll keep you posted, but be aware…if a recipe isn’t posted anywhere on the internet, there may be a reason for it.

Lesson learned!

Family Favorites · My Roots

Zucchini Bread…a fall tradition

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Zucchini seems to multiple like rabbits. One day nothing on the vine, the next day a mega-zucchini is staring you in the face. My zucchini, however, produced zilch, nada, nothing. Luckily my buddy, Jan, and daughter, Megan, were anxious to part with their extra zucchini (Megan stooped to begging). Every year I try new recipes, but I always make my tried and true Zucchini Bread, so moist. I love nuts, but make it without since the family isn’t as ‘nutty’ as I am.  Enjoy!

ZUCCHINI BREAD

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups grated, peeled raw zucchini
3 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup nuts (optional)

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Mix ingredients in order given.
  • Pour into two greased bread pans. Bake for 1 hour, or until done.
  • Cool 10-15 minutes. Remove from pans.

Yield: 2 loaves

Fresh Applesauce…the tradition continues
Family Favorites · My Roots · Vegan · Vegetarian

Fresh Applesauce…the tradition continues

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Fall is in the air and the apples are fantastic.  What a perfect time to make fresh applesauce just like Mom used to make.  I’m honored that this tradition continues as older daughter, Megan, made this year as well.

A trip to the Farmer’s Market for fresh apples and a little time and you’re ready to go.

I’m fortunate enough to still have the vintage colander sieve with wooden pestle my Mother used for many years, making quick work of making ultra-smooth applesauce. I have even cooked the apples with the skin on (and sometimes with the seeds) knowing that the colander/sieve will strain out the skin and seeds.

FRESH APPLESAUCE

8 apples (Granny Smith’s work well–but use what you have)
1 cup cold water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
sugar to taste (or none if you prefer)

  • Wash the apples under cold water. Peel and core each apple and cut into smaller pieces. Put apples, water, and sugar in saucepan.

  • Cook over medium heat. When the water begins to boil, turn down heat to medium low to simmer and add cinnamon. Cover with lid and lower heat again to keep from sticking. Stir often while cooking about 40 minutes. Add more water if needed.
  • Use a vintage sieve and pestle, potato masher (or food processor) to mash apples into smooth, thick sauce.

Serve warm or chill in refrigerator. Freezes well.

Family Favorites · New Traditions · Vegetarian

Fresh Peach Crisp…breakfast of this champion!

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Peach season has come to an end but there is time (and peaches) for one more fresh Peach Crisp.  Pal, Maribeth gave me a ‘colorado classique’ cookbook a while back and we both have enjoyed the terrific recipes.  She made the peach cobbler from the cookbook for my birthday last month and it was delicious.  Today I made it and had the same wonderful results.  Since it has peaches and oatmeal…it is also the breakfast of this champion!

Fresh Peach Crisp

4 pounds ripe peaches, peeled and sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup oats
1 cup unsalted butter

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Place peach slices in a greased 13x9x2″ baking pan. Sprinkle with salt.
  • Mix the flour, cinnamon, sugar and oats together. Add softened butter and mix until crumbly. Sprinkle over peaches and pat down.
  • Bake 50-60 minutes.
  • Serve plain or with rich vanilla ice cream.

Recipe from ‘colorado classique a collection of fresh recipes from the rockies’.

New Favorite · New Traditions · Skinny · Vegan · Vegetarian

Slow Roast Tomatoes…a new discovery!

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Where have I been with slow roasting my own tomatoes?   After discovering two over-ripe black krim tomatoes in my garden, I wanted to make use of these as well as a few roma, green zebra and sungold tomatoes.  I found several recipes online but decided to try a combination of recipes.

There is one big problem with this recipe…they are absolutely, overwhelmingly, delicious.  While my plan was to roast them for future use…I devoured several as soon as their cooled to the touch.  Can’t wait to roast more!

SLOW ROASTED TOMATOES

  • Preheat oveN to 225 degrees.
  • Place a sheet of greased wax paper (or parchment paper) on cookie sheet.
  • Slice large tomatoes into thin slices.  Halve roma tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, lengthwise.  Place tomatoes on the baking sheet.
  • Place 2-3 unpeeled garlic cloves on the sheet with the tomatoes.
  • Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt (I used sea salt) and pepper.
  • Bake for about 3 hours.  When done, the tomatoes will be shriveled and dry.  I found the romas took longer and left them in the oven almost an hour longer.

You can use immediately or store in the frig with additional olive oil.

New Favorite · New Traditions · Vegetarian

Avocado and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

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Avocado + Goat Cheese + basil + olive oil + tomato = taste bud explosion!

AVOCADO AND GOAT CHEESE BRUSCHETTA

Baguette
1 avocado
Juice of 1/2 a lime
1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil
basil leaves
1/4 cup goat cheese
2 teaspoons olive oil
Salt flakes and freshly ground pepper

  • Slice the baguette and toast the bread.
  • Slice and pit the avocado.  Scoop out the flesh with a spoon, place in a bowl.
  • Mash the avocado and mix in the lime juice and chopped basil.
  • Add the goat cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix together,
  • Spread the mixture onto the toast.
  • Add a basil leaf to each piece of toast and top with a half of a sun gold tomato (or cherry tomato).
New Traditions

Caprese Salad

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Caprese Salad is nothing new but when made with Black Krim tomatoes from my friend, Jan, it takes on a whole new level of yumminess. On another day, I’ll try Caprese Salad with the Green Zebra tomatoes she grows!

CAPRESE SALAD

sliced fresh tomatoes
sliced buffalo mozzarella
fresh basil leaves
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
salt & pepper

  • Wash and slice the tomato(s) about 1/2 inch thick, place on a platter or plate.
  • Slice the buffalo mozzarella about 1/4 inch thick and place on top of tomato.
  • Top with a fresh basil leaf.
  • Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar; salt and pepper to taste.
New Favorite · Skinny · Vegan · Vegetarian

Summer’s Harvest Salad

cathysmaha2 Comments

Every two months a group of great friends meet for a themed potluck before our book club gathering.  This month, an hour before our meeting, I had nothing.  It had been a busy day and I was fresh out of ideas and time.  After writing about food it seemed tacky to run to the grocery store and buy something…God forbid!

I stood in my kitchen and contemplated my next move when suddenly I saw a bowl of sun gold tomatoes from my garden and an avocado.  Hmmmm.  I quickly looked up a few recipes using those ingredients and then decided, ‘what the heck’, I’ll just through a bunch of vegetables in a bowl and toss with Greek Dressing (or vinaigrette) and call it good.

What resulted was a yummy refreshing summer’s harvest salad.  It’s a keeper!

SUMMER’S HARVEST SALAD

Sun Gold (or cherry tomatoes) halved
Fresh Sweet corn, cooked and cut from the cob
Chopped Avocado
Chopped green or sweet white onion
Chopped fresh basil
Salt & Pepper
Balsamic vinaigrette (or Greek Dressing)

New Favorite · Skinny · Vegan · Vegetarian

Summer Veggie Stir Fry

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Recently I went to the Highland Ranch Town Center Farmer’s Market,  http://www.denverfarmersmarket.com/locations.htm, a dangerous place to be when you are hungry. My daughter, Megan, and son-in-law, Christian, and I strolled through the market sampling and buying more than we really needed.  However, the wonderful dishes that came from the veggies and fruit were summer delicious! There is nothing in the world like fresh vegetables and fruits.

We bought a squash new to us, a round, globe squash. I asked the vendor how she cooks the squash and one of her suggestions was a Vegetable Stir Fry. I also decided to throw in a chopped Japanese Eggplant.   I tried, I liked, I shared.  Enjoy!

SUMMER VEGGIE STIR FRY

Chopped yellow squash, globe squash, zucchini, eggplant (optional), peppers (bell, Anaheim or whatever you like), onion, garlic, fresh sweet corn, fresh tomatoes, herbs of your choice (I used a blend of thyme, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, and basil), salt & pepper.

Sauté the onions, peppers and garlic in about 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil.  When softened, add the chopped squash, eggplant, peppers and seasoning. When the squash is beginning to soften, add cut cooked fresh sweet corn and 1-2 chopped fresh tomatoes. Continue to cook/stir until all vegetables are cooked to your liking.

I made a large batch and had leftovers for 2 days. It seemed to get better every day, just like a wonderful batch of soup.