Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter W

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Home Cooking: Wholesome Waffle BBLT! You’ve never tried a waffle sandwich before? Me, either. Since I had some Belgian waffles in the freezer from the last time we pulled out the waffle iron, I thought today would be a great day to transform a classic BLT sandwich into something wonderful. The waffle dough keeps the sandwich soft and chewy, rounding off and eliminating the sharp edges of toast. The extra B, you ask? It’s for the subtle hint of bleu cheese; Bacon-Bleu-Lettuce-Tomato!
WHOLESOME WAFFLE BBLT
Ingredients:

1 Belgian waffle, quartered

6 slices black pepper bacon, cooked crisp

Romaine lettuce leaves

Sliced tomatoes

1 tablespoon Bleu cheese, crumbled

1 tablespoon Greek yogurt

3 tablespoons mayonnaise
Instructions:

Warm waffle wedges on low heat in a skillet brushed with a little butter. Do not let burn. Remove from heat. In a small bowl mix mayonnaise, yogurt, and Bleu cheese crumbles. To assemble sandwich, spread the mayonnaise blend on one waffle. Next, layer tomato, lettuce, and bacon. Top with another waffle. Secure the stack with a toothpick. 

Keep Calm and Carry On! 🍓 “Post a Quote” Challenge!

We’ve all heard the saying, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” (Benjamin Franklin said that.) Now here is a challenge that provides a pleasant diversion from regular posting. It has no thought-provoking questions to answer and no need to dig any deeper than the tip of your tongue. Whether your blog is nutrition, travel, fashion, food, art, poetry, photography, fiction, or non….everyone has quotes that impact them, in my opinion. Perhaps you will take a moment to share those quotes with others by accepting this challenge. It’s really very simple, actually.
I have Gabriel to thank for this well-deserved break. His blog, A Little Me, Apparently at http://gabriel360live.wordpress.com  is so surreal. He can transform your imagination from superhero to computer geek to food junky to author. The guy never fails to entertain. And just when you think you caught a glimpse of his soul peeking through, he’ll be as fickle as a cat and take you into a dream world on a thrilling adventure. Don’t take my word for it, go check out The Dark Room yourself. If you dare.
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

The Rules of this Challenge are:
– Post 1 quote a day for 3 days (can be your own or from other sources).
– Nominate 3 bloggers to participate per post.
– Thank the person who nominated you.
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
My Nominations are:

http://intlxpatr.wordpress.com
http://thestardustelephant.wordpress.com
http://malctg.wordpress.com
Keep Calm, Carry On, and Post a Quote! 🍓
Gail    http://snapshotsincursive.com

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter V

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Home Cooking: Vanilla Frosting-Dipped Fruit and Cookies! Sometimes providing a last minute dessert is easier than you think. The trick is making others believe you spent hours creating such a masterpiece. Choose your favorite fruit, cookies, and frosting. (Now some may really need to cut corners and buy the ready-made frosting as well. I’ll pretend that doesn’t happen so I can share my easy buttercream frosting recipe with you today.)
VANILLA FROSTING-DIPPED FRUIT & COOKIES
Ingredients:

1 pound strawberries, whole with stems

1 package Strawberry Macaroons

2 ounces white nonpareils

12 bamboo skewers
Frosting Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

3 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1-2 tablespoons milk, warmed
Instructions:

Cream butter and sugar on low speed with hand mixer. Gradually add extracts. Blend until smooth. Add enough milk to keep it creamy, but not runny. Spoon a portion into a small microwave-safe dish and warm frosting 10 seconds in the microwave. While the frosting is warm, dip a piece of fruit or a cookie into the bowl. Using a swirling motion, rotate each piece to cover. Immediate dip into the nonpareils to coat. Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Repeat until all desired pieces are covered. Refrigerate for half an hour or until firm. 

Keep Calm and Carry On! “Post a Quote” Challenge!

We’ve all heard the saying, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” (Benjamin Franklin said that.) Now here is a challenge that provides a pleasant diversion from regular posting. It has no thought-provoking questions to answer and no need to dig any deeper than the tip of your tongue. Whether your blog is nutrition, travel, fashion, food, art, poetry, photography, fiction, or non….everyone has quotes that impact them, in my opinion. Perhaps you will take a moment to share those quotes with others by accepting this challenge. It’s really very simple, actually.
I have Gabriel to thank for this well-deserved break. His blog, A Little Me, Apparently at http://gabriel360live.wordpress.com  is so surreal. He can transform your imagination from superhero to computer geek to food junky to author. The guy never fails to entertain. And just when you think you caught a glimpse of his soul peeking through, he’ll be as fickle as a cat and take you into a dream world on a thrilling adventure. Don’t take my word for it, go check out The Dark Room yourself. If you dare.
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

The Rules of this Challenge are:
– Post 1 quote a day for 3 days (can be your own or from other sources).
– Nominate 3 bloggers to participate per post.
– Thank the person who nominated you.
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
My Nominations are:

http://foystory.wordpress.com
http://ice-cream-magazine.com
http://inkontheheart.wordpress.com
Keep Calm, Carry On, and Post a Quote! 🍓
Gail   http://snapshotsincursive.com

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter U

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Home Cooking: Unique Greek Salad Dressing! For those who are addicted to that dab of tzatziki sauce you get on a gyro, now you have a way to make a variation of it yourself. Simply made, it’s a refreshing low-fat alternative to the creamy classics. Top off your sandwich or salad for lunch and then try it on baked potatoes later on. Win, Win!
UNIQUE GREEK SALAD DRESSING
Ingredients:

1 cup Greek yogurt

1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped

2 green onions, snipped

1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeds removed, and grated

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon fresh dill weed

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Cracked pepper to taste
Instructions:

Peel cucumber. Cut in half lengthwise and remove seeds. Grate and toss with 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt. Put in strainer over a bowl to drain excess water. It takes about one hour. Then squeeze more water out of cucumber and pat dry. Put yogurt, onions, and chives into a medium bowl and set aside. In another bowl add cucumber and whisk in vinegar, olive oil, garlic, dill, sea salt, and pepper. Mix well until blended. Fold into the yogurt until combined. Chill one hour to enhance flavors. 

Keep Calm and Live Well! 🍓 “Post a Quote” Challenge! 🍓

Live Well. Happiness will follow. Now here is a challenge that provides a pleasant diversion from regular posting. It has no thought-provoking questions to answer and no need to dig any deeper than the tip of your tongue. Whether your blog is nutrition, travel, fashion, food, art, poetry, photography, fiction, or non….everyone has quotes that impact them, in my opinion. Perhaps you will take a moment to share those quotes with others by accepting this challenge. It’s really very simple, actually.
I have Melinda to thank for this well-deserved break. Her blog,  http://purpleslobinrecovery.wordpress.com is so interesting.  Whether she is organizing, studying, or practicing self-help measures, she seems to look at the glass as “half full”. Take two minutes to ask Melinda about her Very First Place, Home Sweet Home!

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
The Rules of this Challenge are:
– Post 1 quote a day for 3 days (can be your own or from other sources).
– Nominate 3 bloggers to participate per post.
– Thank the person who nominated you.
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
My Nominations are:

http://semisweettooth.com
http://pintsizefiction.com
http://midihideaways.wordpress.com
Keep Calm, Live Well, and Post a Quote! 🍓
Gail    http://snapshotsincursive.com

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter T

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Home Cooking: Tiki Tacos! There was a time I could eat a dozen tacos at one sitting. Seriously. I was 20 years old, worked two full time jobs and road my bicycle everywhere! Nowadays, I show a little more restraint and stop after two tacos. But it’s still one of my favorite meals. Sometimes I use corn tortilla shells and other times I use flour. The shell determines which spices to use. Today it’s flour tortillas. 
TIKI TACOS
Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon cumin powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

8 flour tortillas

1/4 cup butter, melted

Lettuce, torn

Tomato, chopped

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1/4 cup jalapeño peppers, sliced

1/2 cup prepared salsa
Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a medium skillet, brown ground beef. Drain. Stir in garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Set aside. Brush one side of tortillas with butter. Spoon about 1/4 cup of meat mixture onto center of unbuttered sides. Fold in half; place on a baking sheet. Repeat until all tortillas are filled and meat is distributed evenly between them. Bake in the oven about 15 minutes or until tortilla shells are crisp. Remove from oven and serve with lettuce, tomato, and cheese. Spoon salsa over too and garnish with jalapeño pepper slices. 

Keep Calm and Live Well! 🍓 “Post a Quote” Challenge!

Live Well. Happiness will follow. Now here is a challenge that provides a pleasant diversion from regular posting. It has no thought-provoking questions to answer and no need to dig any deeper than the tip of your tongue. Whether your blog is nutrition, travel, fashion, food, art, poetry, photography, fiction, or non….everyone has quotes that impact them, in my opinion. Perhaps you will take a moment to share those quotes with others by accepting this challenge. It’s really very simple, actually.
I have Melinda to thank for this well-deserved break. Her blog,  http://purpleslobinrecovery.wordpress.com  is so interesting. Whether she is organizing, studying, or practicing self-help measures, she seems to look at the glass as “half full”. Take two minutes to ask Melinda about her Very First Place, Home Sweet Home!

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
The Rules of this Challenge are:
– Post 1 quote a day for 3 days (can be your own or from other sources).
– Nominate 3 bloggers to participate per post.
– Thank the person who nominated you.
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
My Nominations are:

http://moorezart.wordpress.com
http://nilzeitung.wordpress.com
http://oscarrelentos.wordpress.com
Keep Calm, Live Well, and Post a Quote! 🍓

Gail    http://snapshotsincursive.com

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter S

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Home Cooking: Sombrero Bread Bowl! OMG, this is the best kept secret! Go to your nearby Bakery and choose a savory artisan bread, small loaf. I chose Rosemary Olive Oil. From there, the biggest challenge is waiting for your mouth-watering seasoned creation to come out of the oven! Repeat after me, “All good things come to those who wait!” You can thank me later. 
SOMBRERO BREAD BOWL
Ingredients:

4 ounces Neufchâtel cheese

1/2 cup ranch salad dressing

1 cup extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

2 green onions

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 14.5-ounce round loaf of artisan loaf
Instructions:

Preheat oven to 300°. In medium bowl, blend Neufchâtel cheese, ranch dressing, cheddar cheese, red pepper flakes, and bacon until well mixed. Stir in onion snips. Cut off top of bread bowl. Hollow out insides. These may be used for dipping later. Fill center cavity with creamy mixture. Replace top. Wrap entire loaf in foil. Bake for 90 minutes. Peel back foil to expose bread bowl. Bake 30 minutes longer. Serve warm with bread cubes, multi-colored tortilla chips, and green onions. Enjoy!