Author: Gail

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter C

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Take a Seat at the Table: Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup! The crockpot is essential, in my opinion. Never mind the fact that a slow-cooker turns the entire house into a well-seasoned bistro. It’s the hands-free unattended cooking with astounding results that makes it a winner in my book. Throw everything together, let it simmer, and enjoy the meal to come. Leftovers are delicious and clean-up is a snap!
CREAMY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
Ingredients: 

4-6 chicken fillet tenders

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/8 teaspoon lemon pepper 

1/8 teaspoon thyme

1/8 teaspoon rosemary 

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon celery seed

60-ounces chicken broth

23-ounce can of cream of chicken soup

3 stalks celery, cut-up

1/2 pound mini carrots, whole

1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced

1/4 cup onion, chopped

3 bay leaves

2 cups home style noodles

1/2 cup butter
Instructions: 

Sauté chicken tenders in a large skillet with olive oil, lemon pepper, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, and celery seed. Remove from heat. Pour the cream of chicken soup into the crockpot. Slowly add the chicken broth, stirring until the two are well. blended. Transfer the sautéed chicken tenders from the skillet. Add celery, carrots, mushrooms, and onions. Stir gently. Add bay leaves. Heat on high setting for four hours. Remove lid and shred the chicken for a chunky consistency. Return to soup. Add noodles and butter. Reduce heat to low and simmer two hours longer. Remove bay leaves before serving. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter B

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Take a Seat at the Table: Belgian Waffles! Call me crazy, or call me lazy, but truth be told sometimes you need to take a shortcut in preparing a meal. Just because you’re short on time doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste. Here’s a perfect example: Belgian Waffles made from starter pancake mix in a box. Add a few extras like pure vanilla and fresh fruit to turn an ordinary waffle into a spectacular one. Make a batch for breakfast, brunch, or dinner. Let the cheers begin!
BELGIAN WAFFLES
Ingredients:

2 cups Log Cabin All Natural Pancake Mix

4 tablespoons oil

2 eggs

1 1/3 cups milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract 
Instructions:

Preheat waffle iron. Combine pancake mix, oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla in a blender. Blend 30 seconds until lumps are removed. Let batter rest for a few minutes. Grease waffle iron if necessary. Pour batter by scant cupfuls onto center of hot waffle iron. Bake 3-5 minutes or until steaming slows and waffle is golden brown. Carefully remove. Serving suggestions: Fresh fruit, melted butter, dark amber maple syrup, pecans, whipped cream, and a side of bacon. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter A

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Take a Seat at the Table: Artichoke Pesto Spread! No matter if you eat artichokes for their nutritional value (high in antioxidants) or if you just need a serving of veggies that taste incredible on toast, this recipe is an excellent tool to pull out in a pinch. The main ingredients are usually in the pantry or refrigerator, so everything is ready to serve in minutes. 
ARTICHOKE PESTO SPREAD
Ingredients:

1 14-ounce can marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1-2 tablespoons garlic basil pesto

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

3/4 cup mayonnaise

2 green onions, sliced

Rosemary Olive Oil Crackers
Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine artichoke hearts, pesto, Parmesan cheese, and mayonnaise in a mixing bowl. Blend well. Fold in sliced green onions. Transfer to an ovenproof dish that has been sprayed with a nonstick oil. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned. Serve warm with crusty artisan bread and seasoned crackers. 

A Seat at the Table

Pull up a chair. Nothing goes better with food than a little conversation. Enjoy the company you’re in no matter what the circumstance may be. If there’s one thing I learned while traveling, it’s that people are yearning for an open mind and listening ear. A few minutes in your day, can make all the difference in someone else’s world. Join me now for “Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: A Seat at the Table.” This remarkable journey of the palate is special because it gives me a few moments with you. Thanks very much to all of my guests and followers on http://snapshotsincursive.com for the uplifting support, award nominations, and moving words of encouragement. What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? It’s as simple as reciting your A-B-Cs. One of my passions is being at home in my own country kitchen. I love to cook, and my husband loves that I do it often. Now more than ever, since I am retired, I relish the thought of creating something delicious from scratch. I adore time-honored traditions using tried-and-true recipes. Yet, I often never think twice about tweaking old favorites or modifying others to suit the inner craving of the moment. Most of the recipes serve 2-4 people, but can be altered in any direction. The leftovers are golden morsels to be eaten again later or shared with others. And I love to share. To me, seeing a smile in gratitude is thanks enough. The recipes you will find here in the next several weeks can be prepared very easily. Feel free to contact me with questions. Now take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “EATING MY WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET: A SEAT AT THE TABLE!”

The Mystical Island of Kauai 

“You have a spiritual connection to the island”, I was told by a native. “I can feel it. I see it in your eyes. It’s what keeps you coming back.” Those words pierced my soul. Perhaps it was the grand untouchable beauty in every direction that captivated me. Or the fact that Nature reappeared with an enduring vengeance for life from what was once nothing more than molten lava. The tropical vegetation is practically surreal in its perfection. Maybe it’s the harmony between the tangible benefits of sunshine and the intangible belief in allegorical legends. For all one knows, it may be the sudden and unexpected appearance of a vibrant rainbow. Or the freedom of spirit, the passion for life, the gratitude for blessings, and the nourishment of body. Kauai is tranquility; it is passion; it is exotic; it is hopeful. But most of all, Kauai is like taking a walk with Our Heavenly Father in the Garden of Eden. 

Dining Outside the Home: JJ’s Broiler in Lihue, Kauai 

Dining Outside the Home: JJ’s Broiler in Lihue, Kauai. Not your typical sports bar and restaurant. Maybe it’s the oceanfront dining by candlelight that makes it unique. Or it could be the incredible French Onion Soup served as if it came directly from a Paris café. Most guys would say it’s the generous cut of Prime Rib, garlic-rubbed, served nightly with your favorite beverage in front of several high-definition TV screens. The bottom line is this: The food is great, the location is a bonus, and the sports are thrown in for good measure. Everyone Wins!

It’s Not as Easy as it Looks

People on vacation take to the water like a school of fish. The trouble is, they’re still learning. Instructors make surfing sound so easy, forgetting it becomes second nature to them. A young couple stood at the water’s edge, ankle deep in sand, both bending over struggling independently with their own contoured surfboard. As we rambled by cutting through the waves and kicking sand up on our heels, Gerald nudged my elbow and said, “Look. Did you see that? She’s fallen out of her top.” I turned back to see, and there she was exerting all kinds of frustrated energy trying to get that surfboard to cooperate against the waves. Her bikini top had slid down under one breast which left it dangling like a piece of ripe fruit begging to be picked. Her partner seemed oblivious to her failed attempts of coercing the massive board into the water, let alone her bare breast flashing around for all the beachcombers to admire, since he was involved in his own tug-of-war with the tide. Suddenly she looked down, screamed obscenities, and raced ashore to restore things to their proper order. The last we saw of her, she was standing under a palm tree making amends as her partner stood at the seashore harnessing two surfboards between him. Four words of wisdom flashed through my mind for women who plan to take up surfing: one-piece bathing suit. 

Dining Outside the Home: Eating House 1849 in Poipu, Kauai 

Dining Outside the Home: Eating House 1849 in Poipu, Kauai. Paying homage to one of the first restaurants on the island in the mid 19th century was easy. Hawaii’s abundant blend of local flavor came from neighboring farmers, fishermen, and ranchers. And it’s still true today. If you build it, they will come. Word of mouth sent us on a quest for the Hapa Burger. Never heard of it? Me either. It’s a combination of grilled lean beef, wild boar, and Portuguese sausage. The robust burger is built with a mountain of condiments that require two skewers to contain it for that first juicy bite. You may appreciate a swig of Moscow Mule served in a frosted copper mug to wash things down. The seasoned edamame snackers provided a salty crunch before dinner arrived. A respectable nod goes to Peter Fernandez, one of the original culinary chefs from 1849. His inspirational quote is painted on the wall. It says, “Esposa feliz, vida feliz”, which means “Happy wife, happy life.” Truer words were never spoken. 

Dining Outside the Home: The Dolphin Restaurant, Fish Market and Sushi Lounge in Poipu, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: The Dolphin Restaurant, Fish Market and Sushi Lounge in Poipu, Kauai. We accidentally found a pleasant diversion on Kauai’s South Shore one afternoon while waiting for another restaurant to open their doors for dinner. The sunny lanai at The Dolphin Restaurant offered outdoor seating for a magnificent sunset and nostalgic ambience where people mingled in relaxed conversation. Fragrant tropical flowers soften the nautical theme splashed throughout. We wet our whistles on a tasty Ginger Rita infused with Grand Marnier. The shrimp appetizer, from local waters, was served with a homemade cocktail sauce to spice things up a bit. This place definitely deserves a double-take.