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!
Nicaragua

Nicaragua … Tropical Food, Foliage and Fun!

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My first full day in Nicaragua and I was almost bright-eyed and bushy-tailed…but could I use a cup of coffee! Not only was I going to have coffee but I was having organic coffee raised and roasted at Finca Esperanza Verde (FEV), made with certified mountain spring water. You haven’t had coffee like this at your local coffee shop! My coffee adventure was only beginning.

Path to Tucan Lodge
Tucan Lodge

As I walked down the path from our lodge, which I shared with five other wonderful women, I marveled at the views and the foliage, pinching myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

The covered, open-air, dining room at FEV overlooks a beautiful tropical forest allowing the diners to take in the view yet enjoy the fresh air.  Our tables were set, as they were the night before, with our name on a clothes pin attached to the napkin. The staff moved our napkin and clothes pin at each meal, giving us a chance to get to sit with everyone in the group. Genius!

We were served fresh, local fruit from the farm including watermelon, pineapple, papaya in addition to fresh local maracuya (passion fruit) juice.

Passion Fruit
Fresh Fruit, Coffee and Juice at FEV

Next we were served Gallo Pinto, fresh tortillas made by the staff over a wood stove, and scrambled eggs topped with crumbled cuajada cheese and pico de gallo. The farm-fresh eggs are from the FEV chickens! (Reminded me of home and the fresh eggs on our Iowa farm.)

Breakfast at FEV Day One

What a wonderful experience to eat local, eat fresh in the splendor of the tropics.

GALLO PINTO

3 cups of cooked rice
2 cups of cooked black beans
1 onion, finely chopped
1 chopped red pepper, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1-2 tablespoons oil
¼ cup chopped cilantro
4 tablespoons Salsa Lizano  (or Worcestershire Sauce)
salt and pepper to taste

  • Fry onion, red pepper, and garlic in the vegetable oil, about 3 minutes.
  •  Pour in the beans and sauce, black pepper and seasoning. Let it cook for a few minutes, but keep it moist.
  • Pour in the cooked rice and mix with the beans.  Sprinkle with crumbled cuajada cheese.  Optional:  sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro.

After breakfast, we were scheduled for a nature hike to begin to explore the gorgeous plants and flowers of the tropical forest and our first introduction to how coffee is grown.  Our guide took care to highlight local birds and foliage.

Coming from the high desert of Colorado, I was amazed at the plant life.  How can so many plants live on one tree?  This is the trunk of the Ceiba tree, which was a mystical tree in pre-Columbian cultures.  This photo captures the mystical experience of the tropical forest hike.

FEV Blue Trail photo

After a wonderful morning out, it was time to return to the lodge and lunch…what wonderful treat would be awaiting us?

New Favorite · Skinny · Vegan · Vegetarian

Mexican Pizza…Friday night Vegetarian delight

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Pal Maribeth first introduced me to this wonderful pizza. I love the combination of flavors and how easy (and relatively healthy) it is! The recipe can be modified to be vegan or gluten-free.

I baked the pizza on my pizza stone and found the baking time doubled. Bake until the bottom of the crust is light brown before removing from the oven to add the toppings and bake again.

Slice of Mexican Pizza

MEXICAN PIZZA

1 can spicy fat-free, vegetarian refried beans
1 cup salsa
18 inch pizza crust
2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
4 medium thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup ranch salad dressing
1 cup crushed tortilla chips (add more as desired)
1 cup shredded pepper jack or Monterey Jack cheese (or more if desired)

  • Heat oven to 450 degrees. Mix beans and 1/2 cup salsa in a medium bowl. Place crust on cookie sheet, then spread the bean mixture over crust. Bake until crisp, about 10 minutes.
Pizza Crust with refried beans and salsa ready for the oven
  • Remove from oven, top with lettuce and green onions. Dollop with remaining salsa. Drizzle ranch dressing over. Top with chips and cheese. Bake approximately 2 minutes longer until cheese melts.
Pizza ready for the oven for two additional minutes
  • Cool slightly. I added fresh chopped avocado to the top with bowls of sour cream and salsa to add as the guests desire.  Slice and serve.
Mexican Pizza ready to serve
Nicaragua

Nicaragua…one crazy, divine adventure!

cathysmaha6 Comments

It all started with an email from my sister-in-law, Betty, asking me if I wanted to go to Nicaragua.  With a flip ‘sure, when and how much’, she replied with pricing and the news that I would need to be on a red-eye flight THAT NIGHT in order to meet the eco tour group in Managua.  Are you kidding me?  I’m ‘Ms. Gotta Have a Plan’ and yet I’m considering this?  The more I talked to Betty and then to my daughters, it WAS going to happen.

Since the tour was a hands-on experience at Finca Esperanza Verde (FEV) for 4 days and another 3 days in San Ramon with a local family, the attire was very casual so a current passport, T-shirts, jeans, hiking boots, socks, rain gear, and bare personal essentials in a borrowed carry-on from my new son-in-law and I was ready to roll.  A quick call to my trusty PA and the Doxycycline was called into the pharmacy.   I was on a flight that evening at 11:55 p.m., arriving in Miami at 5:30 a.m. with a connecting flight at 10:29 a.m. and final arrival in Managua at 11:55 a.m.  WHEW!  I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

The flights were uneventful, the layover long but the views flying into Nicaragua were stunning!  My seat mate thought me crazy for taking pictures from the plane, but wouldn’t you take a picture of this,  Lake Managua with volcanoes Momotombo and Momotombito.

Flying into NIcaragua
Flying into Nicaragua

Keep in mind, the only people I would know on this tour were my sister-in-law Betty, and her husband George. Their flight arrived 2 hours after mine.  I was to look for a sign at the door for Finca Esperanza Verde, which I did not see.  Am I CRAZY?  I’m in a strange country, trying to meet strangers to go a destination I know little about. Somehow, there was no fear (mind you, there was also NO sleep) but rather a sense of great adventure.

After wandering around the exit for about 30 minutes, walking up to strangers asking if they were part of a group going to FEV, I learned there were a lot of groups coming to volunteer, to vacation and to get the heck away from me!  Finally, I saw a group of women that were congregating at a bus stop and kindly asked if they were with a group going to FEV.  I was so relieved when I found my group and delighted by their immediate acceptance of this one, bedraggled traveler.

It was time for lunch so we followed our fearless FEV guides, Gustavo and Everisto, inside to the food court.  Now this was not your normal airport food court.  We were set to try the local cuisine.  I so wish I could tell you what I ate that day, but that brain cell floated away before the last bite was swallowed.  It was wonderful…trust me on that.

After the final ecotour travelers arrived we were on our way toward San Ramon, in our mini bus, approximately 99 miles (160 Km) from the Managua airport.  As I recall, the bus trip took about 4 hours and was a wonderful introduction to the landscape, the people, the culture.

About halfway through the bus trip, we stopped for a quick break and were delighted to see a local food stand.  I snapped a few photos of the wonderful, local produce:

Fresh Peppers on roadside stand in Nicaragua
Roadside stand in Nicaragua

Fresh Carrots in Nicaragua

When we were within about a half mile from FEV, the sun was setting and we were to transfer from the mini bus to a smaller vehicle.  It was a beautiful night and many of us decided to stretch our legs and walk to the lodge.  The sky was beautiful and the tropical forest serene!

We arrived at FEV in time for dinner in the open-air dining area.  It was dark when we arrived, but the wood stove was burning, the beer was cold, and the food was scrumptious.  We were greeted by the gracious staff and our hosts (and FEV co-founders), Lonna and Richard Hardraker.  I wish I could tell you what I ate that evening, but I cannot.  The best I can do is share a picture of Toña, my first Nicaraguan beer.  Quite tasty and refreshing!

Cold bottle of Toña Nicaraguan beer

With a full tummy and an almost non-functional brain, I hiked the short distance to Tucan Lodge to rest my weary Colorado head down for a peaceful slumber in the tropical forest at Finca Esperanza Verde, not knowing what adventures were awaiting me in the morning.

For more information on Finca Esperanza Verde, check out their website:

http://www.fincaesperanzaverde.org/

Update: 1/2021 new website is fincaesperanzaverde.com

NOTE:  I will be posting about my Nicaraguan adventures on Tuesdays for the next several weeks.  Join me as I relive this crazy, wonderful trip.  Did you say there was a flight to Nicaragua leaving tonight????

Family Favorites · My Roots

Scotcheroos…Easter tradition

cathysmaha1 Comment

I will eat a Scotcheroos any time of year, but for some reason I associate these addictive treats with Easter.  A pan of Scotcheroos regularly graced our family Easter dinner celebration along with the traditional baked hams, potatoes, etc.

Luscious layers of Scotcheroos

They are an absolute favorite of mine and I’ve been known to eat them for breakfast, if left to my own devices.  After all, they do have cereal and peanut butter in them!  I find them so addictive, that I cannot make them often.

This year, Scotcheroos will again grace our Easter celebration, sprinkled with Easter colored sugars.  Let’s hope the guests will eat several so I won’t have to! Scotcheroos…it’s tradition.

SCOTCHEROOS

1 small package chocolate chips
1 small package butterscotch chips
1 cup light Karo syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter (crunchy is great)
6 cups Rice Krispies®

  • Melt chips in microwave.
  • In separate pan mix Karo and sugar. Stir in pan until slightly boiling. Remove from heat. Add peanut butter and beat until smooth.
  • Pour syrup over Rice Krispies in large bowl.
Pouring syrup over cereal
  • Put Rice Krispies mixture in buttered 9×13″ pan. Cover with melted chips. Let cool and set until firm. Cut into squares to serve.
Pan of Scotcheroos…Easter tradition!

Adapted from the original Rice Krispies recipe:

http://www.ricekrispies.com/en_US/recipes/chocolate-scotcheroos.html#/en_US/recipes/chocolate-scotcheroos

New Favorite · Nicaragua

Nicaraguan Perrerreque (Corn Cake)

cathysmaha7 Comments

During my trip to Nicaragua, I had the opportunity to stay with a host family in San Ramon. My roommate, Sally, and I had the great pleasure of staying with Neyda and her family. We enjoyed many wonderful meals at Neyda’s home. One evening our ecotour group were treated to an evening of native Nicaraguan food and music. It was wonderful and highlighted by a light shower and a gorgeous rainbow.

Rainbow over San Ramon Nicaragua

The food served that evening included an unusual, sweet yet savory corn cake, baked in an outdoor wood-fired oven. The cake was baking when we arrived and like hungry baby birds, we all flocked to see what was in the oven. Our hostesses were kind enough to share the cake while it was still warm.  Heavenly! The three photos below were taken the night of our dinner in San Ramon.

Our Nicaraguan hostess serving corn cake
Nicaraguan Corn Cake

Once returning home, the hunt was on for corn cake.  My sister-in-law, Betty, discovered a similar recipe and shared it with our ecotour group.  I baked the corn cake to share with my gal pals.  By chance, I also brought a bowl of fresh pineapple and found it to be a wonderful side dish to serve with the bread.  This recipe is slightly sweeter than the cake in Nicaragua, but delicious.  A winner!  However, I will continue my search to match the exact experience of our memorable Nicaraguan dinner.

NOTE: During our special evening in San Ramon we were also served the traditional Nicaraguan Nacatamal, a steamed corn cake filled with meat and vegetables, steamed in banana leaves. They, too, were fabulous and will be covered in a separate post at a later date.  Stay tuned!

Cathy’s Nicaraguan Corn Cake

PERERREQUE (CORN CAKE)

1 pound fine white corn meal  (I used regular white corn meal and ground again with the food processor)
1 pound crumbly cheese, grated finely (try Monterey Jack or Wensleydale)
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons margarine
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 ½ cups milk

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix the corn meal with the cheese and sugar. Cut/crumble in the margarine.   Mix the baking soda into a little of the milk and pour into the dry ingredients.   Add the remaining milk until the mixture is well blended.
Corn Cake: Adding milk to cheese and dry ingredients
  • Place the cake mixture into a greased baking pan. The mixture should be about 1 inch thick.
Corn Cake batter ready for the oven
  • Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the cake is golden brown. After this time, remove it from the oven, allow to cool and then cut into small pieces or squares before serving. I found the bread to be at it’s best when served warm, about an hour after baking.
Baked Corn Cake

Adapted from The New Internationalist Food Book

New Favorite · Skinny · Vegan

Mexican Quinoa Casserole…Vegan/Vegetarian OR not!

cathysmaha2 Comments

I love quinoa! There, I’ve said it. I love quinoa salad and always looking for new ways to cook with this protein-rich, healthy grain. This Mexican Quinoa Casserole is now an honored member of my recipe collection. I made the recipe without the ground beef and taco seasoning, enjoying every wonderful bite! If you are vegan, make it without the ground beef and substitute a vegan cheese. If you’re a meat lover, go for the whole enchilada…um, I mean casserole!

Colorful ingredients for Mexican Quinoa Casserole

MEXICAN QUINOA CASSEROLE

Mexican Quinoa Casserole served with sour cream

1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 14.5 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup canned corn
1/4 cup green chiles
1/4 cup salsa
1/3 cup broth (vegetable or chicken)
1 cup toasted quinoa
1 pound lean ground beef (optional)
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix (optional)
3/4 cup water (optional)
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
sour cream
chopped fresh cilantro
wedge of fresh limes

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Mix together the tomatoes, black beans, corn, chiles, salsa, broth, and quinoa. Pour into a greased 2 quart baking dish and cover with baking lid or foil.
  • Bake for 30 minutes. Remove and stir and bake another 30 minutes.
  • While the quinoa is baking, brown the ground beef. Add taco seasoning and water. Simmer until water has evaporated. Stir in beef mixture with quinoa mixture. Top with grated cheese and brown under the broiler.
  • Serve with sides of sour cream, fresh cilantro and lime wedges.

Adapted from food.com by Captain’s Lady

My Roots

Wacky Chocolate Cake…childhood memories

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It was a special treat when my Mother made chocolate cake WITH hot chocolate sauce, topped with a scoop (or two) or vanilla ice cream.  I can vividly remember my Mother making the cake, putting it in the back porch to cool then making the sauce at the last-minute before serving.  Don’t be stingy with the sauce.  I love it when the cake soaks up the sauce and the cold ice cream compliments the yummy, chocolate-drenched cake.

Wacky Chocolate Cake with Hot Chocolate Sauce

Wacky Chocolate Cake was popular during the depression since the recipe did not call for eggs, milk or butter all of which were scarce during the Great Depression.  This cake, without the hot chocolate sauce, is a great vegan chocolate cake or good for those with sensitivity to dairy products.  Just make sure the cocoa is dairy free!

This weekend I made this for my daughters and their guys.  I am certain I have not made this recipe for over 20 years but a flood of childhood memories came rushing back.   I talked to my sister about the recipe and she recalls our Mother referring to the recipe from our Grandmother Mary Smaha. She also recalls that our Mother would say that you need to add enough cocoa powder to the dry mixture, to where it looks like cinnamon.  After discussing this memory, we decided it would be fun to try adding a little cinnamon to the hot chocolate sauce next time.  I’m not waiting another 20 years to try this version!

Have a little chocolate cake with hot chocolate sauce today to celebrate your inner child and your fond memories!

WACKY CHOCOLATE CAKE

Wacky Chocolate Cake

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
6 tablespoons cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups water

  • Mix flour, sugar, cocoa, soda and salt. Add oil, vinegar, vanilla and water. Do not use a mixer and do not sift flour. Pour in greased 9×13″ pan.
  • Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

HOT CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Hot Chocolate Sauce

1 cup sugar
1 rounded tablespoon cocoa
pinch salt
1 tablespoon white Karo
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 to 2/3 cup milk

  • Mix all ingredients together (except vanilla) and bring to a rolling boil. Boil 1-2 minutes. Remove and add vanilla and let set for a few minutes.
  • Serve warm over individual pieces of chocolate cake. This recipe is enough for an 8×8″ cake pan. Double the recipe for a 9×13″ cake.
Nicaragua

Plantains…not your ordinary banana

cathysmaha1 Comment

During a recent trip to Nicaragua, plantains (plátano in Spanish) were served as a side dish at many meals.  I recall having them in Puerto Rico a few years ago but these were especially sweet.  When I returned home, I bought two plantains at the local grocery store and let them turn almost black, the key to having a sweeter plantain. The plantain looks very much like a banana but is larger and harder to peel.

Fried Plantains

IMG_4743

FRIED PLAINTAINS

2 ripe plantains
Oil for frying (olive or canola oil)

  • Slice off the ends of the plantains, using a sharp knife.  Slit the skin from tip to tip.  Peel the skin off in one piece.
  • Cut the plantain in half crosswise, the in 4 slices across each segment

IMG_4745

  • Heat about 1/2-inch of oil in a skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the plantains, a few pieces at a time, and sauté until lightly browned. Turn and sauté the second side.  To caramelize the plantains cooked for up to 20 minutes on medium to medium-low heat.

Fried Plantains

  • Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat with the rest of the plantains. Sprinkle with a little salt. Serve hot.

This website is a great link to more information about cooking Plantains:

http://latinfood.about.com/od/latincaribbeancuisine101/a/about_plantains.htm

Family Favorites · New Favorite · New Traditions

Green Chile Pie…any day, any time

cathysmaha3 Comments

My brother and his wife told me about this dish 20+ years ago and I collected the recipe but never made it…until…this summer.  I had the great fortune of attending a yoga retreat in Copper Mountain Colorado this summer with wonderful gal pals.  Our friend, Sue, made this dish for dinner one evening served with a salad and fruit and VOILA…it was a hit.

This dish is so easy and so tasty….my mouth is watering.  My grown daughters and significant others are also in love with this dish that can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Only three ingredients.  Can you believe it?  You won’t be disappointed!

IMG_4856
GREEN CHILE PIE

7 ounce can of green chiles
3/4 pound shredded, Monterey Jack Cheese
4 eggs

  • Grease a pie plate.  Spread chiles in bottom of pie plate.  Shred cheese and spread over the chiles.  Beat 4 eggs and pour evenly over the cheese.
Green Chile Pie ready for the oven
  • Bake at 275 degrees for 1 hour.  Cut into wedges or squares and serve with any of the following:  salsa, sour cream, fresh cilantro, guacamole.
New Favorite · Skinny

Cocoa Roasted Almonds…nuttin’ to it!

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Everyone in my life knows I’m a little nuts about nuts.  Last week I purchased a box of cocoa roasted almonds at my local King Soopers and loved them!  The bit of sweetness along with the nut crunch and cocoa blast was divine.

Cocoa Roasted Almonds

I searched the web and discovered a low-cal recipe: www.ehow.com/how_5850786_make-cocoa-roasted-almond-recipe.html

They were easy to make and store well.  I had dry ingredients left over, so I tried the recipe with English Walnuts.  They were equally wonderful!  Cocoa roasted almonds and walnuts are my new, favorite afternoon snack!

COCOA ROASTED ALMONDS

1 pound raw, shelled almonds
cooking spray
8 Stevia sweetener packets (next time, I’ll try it with powdered sugar)
1/4 teaspoon popcorn salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cocoa powder

  • Pour the almonds in a large bowl.  Spray the almonds lightly. Toss the almonds and spray again, to assure that the almonds are lightly coated.
  • In a small bowl, combine the Stevia, salt, cornstarch and cocoa powder. Pour the dry ingredients over the almonds and toss to thoroughly coat the almonds.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Bake at 250 degrees for 25 minutes, stirring every 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and place the almonds (or walnuts) on paper towels. Cool.

Each almond has about 7 calories.

Nuttin’ to it!

Recipe adapted from ehow.com Cocoa Roasted Almonds