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!
New Favorite · Salads

Apple Bacon Brussel Sprouts Salad

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Typically, I roast brussel sprouts but this salad was intriguing. I sliced the brussel sprouts very thinly with my food processor and the flavor and texture were perfect. The sweetness of the apples, the crunchiness of the almonds, and of course the saltiness of the bacon, make this a declicious salad. I served it alongside pulled pork sandwiches. The leftover were still good for 1-2 days after making it. A new favorite salad!

Apple Bacon Brussel Sprouts Salad

INGREDIENTS:
  • 4 slices bacon
  • 8oz brussels sprouts, ends trimmed
  • 1/4 cup Fisher Naturals whole almonds, roughly chopped
  • 1 Tablespoons shallot
  • 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar (could use red wine vinegar)
  • 1 Tablespoon honey
  • 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 red apple, chopped (I like Pink Lady apples)
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Crisp bacon in a large skillet over medium heat then remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Reserve 3 Tablespoons bacon grease in skillet (add extra virgin olive oil if there’s not enough.) Chop or crumble bacon when cool enough to handle.
  2. Meanwhile, use the grating blade attachment on a food processor, mandolin, or very sharp knife to slice brussels sprouts very thin. Add to a large bowl with almonds and bacon then set aside.
  3. To the bacon grease, still over medium heat, add shallots then saute until tender, 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat then whisk in vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper (be careful, vinegar may spatter a bit.) Return skillet to heat then whisk until dressing is combined, 30 seconds. Pour over brussels sprouts mixture then toss well to coat. Taste and add salt and pepper if necessary. Add chopped apple then toss again to mix, and then serve. Serves 2-3 as an entree, 5-6 as a side.

Recipe from IowaGirlEats

Soups and Stews

Sweet Potato Chowder

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Sweet Potato Chowder is delicious and easy to prepare. I used bacon instead of pancetta and frozen kale vs. fresh. I liked the carrots with the sweet potatoes, but you could easily use all sweet potato. I was hesitant to use sage and nutmeg but they made such a delicious broth. This chowder is another easy soup for colder nights.

Sweet Potato Chowder

INGREDIENTS:
  • 4 ounces pancetta, diced (I used bacon)
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 sweet onion, diced
  • 3 garlic clove, minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground sage
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
  • ½ cup chopped carrots
  • 3 cups chopped sweet potato, about 1 inch in size
  • 5 cups reduced-sodium chicken stock
  • ⅓ cup cream, half and half or coconut cream/milk
  • 2 cups chopped tuscan kale (I used frozen kale from my garden)
  • 3 tablespoons roasted salted pepitas, for topping
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Heat a large pot over medium-low heat and add the pancetta. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat is rendered and the pancetta is crisp, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the pancetta with a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel lined plate to remove any excess grease.
  2. Keep the pot on medium low heat and add the butter. Stir in the onion, garlic, salt, pepper and sage. Stir in the fresh nutmeg. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the carrots and sweet potato, tossing everything to combine.
  3. Pour in the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce it to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Cover and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes cubes soften. Stir in the cream/halfhalf/etc. Taste the soup and season with additional salt or pepper if needed, but remember we will add the salty pancetta back on top too!
  4. A few minutes before serving, stir in the kale. I like to serve it almost immediately, but you can simmer the soup for another 10 minutes or so to soften it.
  5. Serve with the pancetta and pepitas for topping.

Recipe from HowSweetEats

Pastas

Creamy Butternut Squash Orzo with Sausage

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Creamy Butternut Squash Orzo with Sausage is the perfect comfort meal for a cold, wintery day. It packs so much flavor with the creamy goodness of the Orzo. Often, I tire of leftovers, but not this Orzo dish. Just writing about it makes me want to run to the kitchen and make it again.

Creamy Butternut Squash Orzo with Sausage

INGREDIENTS:
  • 12 oz Italian sausage casings removed (I used 3 sausage links)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup butternut squash puree
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 10 oz orzo uncooked
  • 2 tablespoons fresh sage chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
  • salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Remove the sausage from casings, and slice the sausage. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium heat in a large, high-sided skillet.
  2. Add sliced sausage and cook on medium heat for about 4 minutes on one side, without turning, to get the sausage slices browned. Flip over to the other side and cook for 2 more minutes.
  3. Make creamy butternut squash sauce: To the same skillet with sausage, add heavy cream, chicken stock, butternut squash puree, 1 T. sage, and minced garlic.
  4. Bring the sauce to a boil on medium heat, reduce to low-medium heat, stir everything well. Cook for about 5 or more minutes. Make sure the garlic is cooked to your liking, and the sauce thickens. Cook longer if you would like a thicker sauce. Remove from heat.
  5. While the sauce cooks for 5 or more minutes, cook the orzo as described below.
  6. Cook orzo: Bring a pot of water to boil. Cook orzo according to package instructions. In my case, I cooked orzo al dente for 7 minutes in a pot of boiling water. Remove from heat. Drain but do not rinse.
  7. Assembly: Add cooked orzo to the skillet with creamy butternut squash and sausage. Stir in half of the fresh sage and half of the fresh thyme.
  8. Cook over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
  9. Season with salt and freshly ground coarse black pepper.
  10. Tip: use your best judgment about the salt. If the sausage is salty enough, you might not need to add any extra salt.
  11. When serving, top with the remaining half of the fresh sage and the remaining half of the fresh thyme.

Recipe from Julia’s Album

Vegetables

Basil Salt

cathysmahaLeave a comment

If you have a plethora of basil in your garden and aren’t sure what to do with it, try Basil Salt. I shared this recipe with my daughter, Megan, who had SO much basil. She made the salt and it is delicious!

Basil Salt

INGREDIENTS:
  • 2 cups basil
  • 1 cup sea salt
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Wash and dry the basil leaves.
  2. Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. Blend the dry basil leaves and salt until well blended.
  4. Spread the salt mixture on parchment paper in a baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.
  5. Once cool, break it up and blend the mixture again.
  6. Store in an air-tight container. Keeps well for a year.

Recipe from biancafrombrooklyn

Salads

Golden Beet, Feta, Lemon & Pistachio Salad

cathysmahaLeave a comment

What flavorful salad with golden beats, feta, lemon, and pistachios. The vinaigrette is so fresh and would be delightful on many salads. I used the honey roasted beets from an earlier post, but feel free to buy a package at the grocery store in the refrigerated produce section.

Golden Beet, Feta, Lemon & Pistachio Salad

INGREDIENTS:
  • 4-5 roasted golden beets
  • 2 cups arugula
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 2 tablespoon pistachios – chopped
  • For the lemon vinaigrette:
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic, minced (of 1 tsp.)
  • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Add sliced beets to a serving dish, top with arugula, lemon zest, feta and pistachios.
  2. To make the vinaigrette, add all of the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk together.
  3. Top salad with vinaigrette and enjoy.

Recipe slightly altered from loveandlemons.com

Desserts

Peach Crumble

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Twas the end of peach season and I had a few peaches left. I wanted a healthier version of Peach Cobbler and this fit the bill. It was very good but I substituted cinnamon for the nutmeg…a personal choice. A nice dessert to end summer and welcome Autumn!

Peach Crumble

INGREDIENTS:
  • 5 peaches
  • 1/4 c. light brown sugar
  • 2 tsp. lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp. fresh-ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 c. granola
  • 3 tbsp. flour
  • 1 tsp. lemon zest
  • 4 tbsp. butter
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Toss the peaches, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, lemon juice, and nutmeg together in a small bowl. Transfer the peaches to an 8-inch tart dish and set aside.
  3. Mix the granola, flour, remaining brown sugar, and lemon zest together in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add the butter and pulse just to combine.
  4. Sprinkle the granola topping over the peaches and bake until the peach mixture is bubbling and the granola crumble is golden brown and crispy — 30 to 40 minutes. (I cookied mine another 5 minutes). Cool slightly before serving.

Recipe from Country Living

Soups and Stews

Carrot Ginger Soup

cathysmahaLeave a comment

My daughter, Megan, made several smooth soups for me after abdominal surgery. Initially, I ate the soup in it’s mild form and frozen some of the leftovers. Now that I’m fully recovered, I decided to spice it up a bit and added sour cream and chili crunch. Yum! Spice it up however you desire!

Carrot Ginger Soup

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 pound carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup, optional
  • coconut milk for garnish, optional
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, salt and pepper and cook until softened, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add the smashed garlic cloves (they’ll get blended later) and carrots to the pot and cook 8 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
  2. Stir in the ginger, apple cider vinegar, and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
  3. Let cool slightly and transfer to a blender. Blend until smooth. If your soup is too thick, add a little water. If you would like your soup a little sweeter, add the maple syrup.
  4. Serve with a drizzle of coconut milk, if desired.

Recipe from LoveandLemons

Vegetables

Roasted Golden Beets with Honey

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Golden beets have become a staple in my garden. Besides roasting them, the top/greens are also delicious. They are so sweet and roasting them with honey and lemon juice adds a new twist. Leftovers can be used in salad or on their own.

Roasted Golden Beets with Honey

INGREDIENTS:
  • 3 cups roasted golden beets
  • avocado or canola oil for roasting
  • 1/2 tsp fresh thyme
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • drizzle with honey
  • salt and pepper
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Clean the beets and remove the tops and stems. Place the raw, cleaned beats in a large square of aluminum foil. Sprinkle with salt. Close the foil to seal the beets.
  3. Roast for 35-40 minutes or until beets are tender. Remove from oven and cool.
  4. When cool, the skins of the beets should come off easily.
  5. Slice the beets and place in a bowl. Add thyme, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Drizzle with honey. Stir to combine.
  6. Place beets on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast for another 10-15 minutes to carmelize.

This recipe was created by Cathy after looking at numerous recipes and methods.

Breads · Breakfast · Cakes

Peach Streusal Muffins

cathysmaha1 Comment

Every year I purchase a box of Palisade (Colorado) peaches from one of the local high schools. They are always big, beautiful and delicious. Peach Streusal Muffins sounded delicious and they were. I opted to skip the icing and the family didn’t mind at all.

Peach Streusal Muffins

INGREDIENTS:
  • CRUMB TOPPING
  • 1/3 cup (67g) packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon (15g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2/3 cup (84g) all-purpose flour
  • MUFFINS
  • 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (120g) plain yogurt or sour cream, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 and 3/4 cups (219g) all-purpose flour 
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons (30ml) milk, at room temperature
  • 1 and 3/4 cups (about 320g) peeled, chopped peaches (about 3 peaches)*
  • VANILLA ICING (OPTIONAL)
  • 1 cup (120g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons (45ml) heavy cream (or milk for a thinner consistency)
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Spray a 12-count muffin pan with nonstick spray or line with cupcake liners. Set aside. 
  2. Make the crumb topping: Mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter together in a small bowl until combined. Add the flour and use a fork to gently mix until crumbs form. Don’t over-mix into a paste. Just mix until it is crumbly. Set aside.
  3. Make the muffins: Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and both sugars together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs, yogurt or sour cream, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute, then turn up to high speed until the mixture is combined and mostly creamy. (It’s ok if it appears somewhat curdled.) Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer running on low speed, add the dry ingredients and milk into the wet ingredients and beat until no flour pockets remain. Fold in the chopped peaches.
  5. Spoon the batter evenly into each cup or liner, filling each all the way to the top. Spoon crumb topping on each, gently pressing it down so it sticks.
  6. Bake for 5 minutes at 425°F; then, without opening the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Bake for an additional 16–19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The total time these muffins take in the oven is about 21–24 minutes. Allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes in the muffin pan, then transfer to a wire rack to continue cooling. When warm, the muffins are quite fragile because of the wet peaches. Let them cool for at least 15 minutes before unwrapping and eating.
  7. Make the icing: Whisk all of the icing ingredients together and drizzle over warm or cooled muffins.
  8. Iced or plain muffins stay fresh covered at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Recipe from Sallysbakingaddiction

Pastas · Salads

Peach Prosciutto Hot Honey Orzo Salad

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Do you have dishes that you dream about and can’t wait to have again? Peach Prosciutto Hot Honey Orzo Salad is one of mine. This dish is so easy to make and a wonderful cool salad for those hot summer days.

Peach Prosciutto Hot Honey Orzo Salad

INGREDIENTS:
  • Hot Honey Vinaigrette 
    1/2 cup olive oil
    2-3 tbsp hot honey*
    1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
    1 & 1/2 tsp dijon
    1 clove garlic, minced
    salt to taste
  • Orzo Salad
    4 oz prosciutto or pancetta, chopped
    4  cups cooked orzo
    2 large yellow peaches, chopped
    8 oz mozzarella pearls
    1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
DIRECTIONS:
  1. First make the honey honey vinaigrette by combining all of the ingredients in a jar or container. Mix well and taste. Add more hot honey or salt if desired. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
  2. Add the chopped prosciutto to a skillet over medium heat. Cook until crispy then set aside.
  3. Assemble your orzo salad by combining orzo, chopped peaches, crispy prosciutto, mozzarella pearls and chopped basil in a large bowl.
  4. Drizzle on the hot honey vinaigrette. Toss and enjoy!

Recipe from DashofMandi