Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Tribute

Posted by The Cooks Next Door in Uncategorized

Perhaps you have wondered at our absence of posts this week. In truth, we have been grieving as one of our greatest inspirations slipped away. Our grandma passed away last night. It’s been a long week for us. Her health declined quickly and within one week she was gone. Nothing could prepare us for the depth of sadness – we have dreaded this day. She lived a full life – mother of 5, grandmother of 21, and great-grandmother of 36 (so far). We weep for ourselves – we will miss her. We rejoice for her – she awoke in her eternal home.

Our grandma was an amazing cook. We have fond memories of meals in her home, of wonderful cookies, and of milk poured from a pitcher. Some of our most memorable meals included vegetable beef soup, angel food cake, and molasses cookies. She taught us through her example, inspired with her letters and words, and loved us completely.

Next week, we plan to post some of her recipes as a tribute. In the mean time, we are taking this time to grieve, to remember, and to celebrate her life.

We love her. We admire her. We miss her.

We hope to be as strong and beautiful and loving as she was. She lived life with grace and love.

We appreciate your understanding, thoughts, and prayers.

 

Alaina & Stephanie

Happy Memorial Day

Posted by Alaina in Uncategorized

We wish you a happy and safe Memorial Day!

We are grateful for the men and women who bravely and sacrifically protect and defend our country.

We are headed to a family picnic – slow cooker bbq chicken sandwiches, chips & salsa, and lemon white chocolate cookies are our contributions. Looking forward to a day full of good food and even better company!

Market Fresh: Strawberries

Posted by Alaina in Uncategorized and tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

I’m so excited that it’s strawberry season and grill season! I combined the two into a Balsamic Grilled Chicken Strawberry Salad. This was so delicious and so summery and the colors are stunning! This will definitely make a frequent appearance on our summer menu!

CREAMY BALSAMIC GRILLED CHICKEN STRAWBERRY SALAD
Print This Recipe

1/3 c. olive oil
1/3 c. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. herbs de provence
1 tsp. salt
1 Tb. heavy cream
1 lb. boneless chicken breasts or chicken tenders

Combine first five ingredients. Place chicken in a bag or container and pour marinade overall. Marinate for at least 1 hour. Grill until chicken is fully cooked – juices will run clear.

Salad:
1/2 lb. baby spinach
1/2 lb. strawberries, cleaned and sliced
1/4 c. feta cheese (blue or gorgonzola would also be great!)
1/4 c. pecans, chopped

Arrange on a platter or in a salad bowl. Top with grilled chicken. Drizzle dressing over all.

Dressing:
3 Tb. olive oil
3 Tb. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. heavy cream

Combine all ingredients and shake or whisk well to combine.

Superbowl Snack: Peanut Butter and Jelly Popcorn

Posted by Heather in Uncategorized and tagged with , , , , , ,

To be honest, I wasn’t initially excited about the idea of “peanut butter and jelly popcorn” when this recipe first crossed my inbox. But, the novelty of the idea caught me and since I love food experimentation, I couldn’t help but try this recipe. That’s when I discovered that this popcorn is addictive. Yes, it is. It was nearly as good as caramel corn, but with far less sugar and only a few minutes of time invested. It’s my new favorite.

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY POPCORN
(adapted from the Cook It Quick Newsletter)
Print this recipe

1 large bowl of popped popcorn (probably 2 bags of microwave popcorn)
3 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter
3 Tbsp. grape jelly (or jelly/jam of your choice — I used strawberry jam)
2 Tbsp. butter

Melt peanut butter, jelly, and butter together in microwave or over low heat.

Pour over popcorn and toss evenly to coat.

Serves 4-6.

Snow Day Must: Marshmallows

Posted by Heather in Uncategorized and tagged with , , ,

We thought this post from Heather was perfect to include today after the hot cocoa yesterday! Homemade marshmallow & cocoa is a wonderful winter treat!

Homemade marshmallows are a new discovery for me and now I can’t sing their praises often enough! Their soft, squidgy texture keeps the store-bought type from even entering the competition. Next time you have a snow day, you must give these a try!

The marshmallows do take at least 2 hours to “firm up”, so be sure to allow yourself enough time for that before you begin.

HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS
(adapted from Martha Stewart)
Print this recipe

Nonstick cooking spray

3 (1/4-ounce) packages unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • Confectioners’ sugar, sifted, for coating

    •  

  • Lightly spray a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line pan with plastic wrap, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides; set aside.

    • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water; let stand for 10 minutes. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water. Place saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; boil rapidly for 1 minute. Remove from heat, and, with the mixer on high, slowly pour the boiling syrup down the side of the mixer bowl into gelatin mixture. Add salt and continue mixing for 12 minutes.

     

    Add vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Spray a rubber spatula or your hands with cooking spray. Spread gelatin mixture evenly into pan using prepared spatula or your hands. Spray a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray and place, spray side down, on top of marshmallows. Let stand for 2 hours.

     

    Carefully remove marshmallows from pan. Remove all plastic wrap and discard. Cut marshmallows into 2-inch squares using a sprayed sharp knife. Place confectioners’ sugar in a large bowl. Working in batches, add marshmallows to bowl and toss to coat. Marshmallows can be stored in an airtight container up to 3 days.

    Makes about 16.

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING

    Posted by Alaina in Uncategorized

    I hoped to get a post up this week but alas, life has taken over. :) And we wanted to include all of our Thanksgiving recipes last week so you would have plenty of time to plan your menus!

    Yesterday I made Blueberry Pomegranate Jello, Cranberry Sauce, Pear Frangipane Tart, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Crumb Pie, and a rather disasterous Caramel-Cranberry Almond Tart. Today I will be making Baked Brie, Turkey, Sourdough, Apple, Sausage Stuffing, Green Beans w/Cranberry Vinaigrette & Walnuts, Mashed Red-skin Potatoes, Corn Pudding, and Fresh Whipped Cream. The rolls and sweet potatoes will be brought my mother-in-law. All in all, a good mix of new and tried-&-true recipes.

    From Stephanie, Heather,&  Me (and our families) – We wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving! May all of your recipes turn out and may you celebrate many blessings over wonderful food. We are thankful for you!

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

    Market Fresh: Fall Salad

    Posted by Alaina in Fall Recipes, Market Fresh, Uncategorized and tagged with , , , , , , , ,

    The delicious toppings for salad during the fall season make some of the best salads. Recently I tried a new dressing on a bed of mixed greens, sliced apples, chopped walnuts, craisins, and goat cheese. It was wonderful! And really, the whole salad was brought together with the creamy, tangy, richness of the goat cheese (don’t skip it!). Everyone enjoyed the combination of flavors and the large salad bowl was empty at the end of the meal.

    HONEY DIJON VINAIGRETTE (I doubled this for a great big salad)
    Print This Recipe

    1 Tb. red wine vinegar
    1 1/2 tsp. honey
    1 tsp. dijon mustard
    1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper
    1/4 tsp. salt
    1 minced garlic clove
    2 Tb. extra virgin olive oil

    Combine all ingredients except the olive oil. Gradually whisk in  the oil.

    Change is in the Air

    Posted by Alaina in Uncategorized

    Dear Friends & Fellow Cooks,

    We have been so delighted to be blogging here together for the past year. It has been fun as friends, as foodies, and as neighbors. We have enjoyed planning it and we have enjoyed wonderful meals and fellowship together. So it is with sadness that we announce some blog changes. Heather will be stepping down due to some very recent health concerns, issues, and diagnosis for their baby and herself. I fully support Heather in this difficult decision as she seeks to care for her family and for her health.

    She may occasionally decide to drop by and share a recipe or photo and I have assured her that it will be welcomed at any time.

    While I would love to keep the blog going at the same pace it has been, it simply isn’t possible with my other responsibilities. I will continue to post photos and recipes and book & magazine reviews but likely not 4 times per week. I have also approached someone else about joining as a regular contributor – I will announce more on that if it works out.

    Here are some changes that will be effective immediately:
    -         Foodie Fridays will be indefinitely retired.
    -         There will not be a regular posting schedule.
    -         Recipes with a photo (or a book review) from readers will considered for contributing blog posts. (More details on this to come.)

    Your prayers for Heather and her family are welcomed. I’m so grateful for the way she has inspired me with her many recipes, photos, book reviews, and articles this year. She is a great friend, a wonderful cook, and a dedicated wife, mother, educator, and pastor’s wife.

    I’m keeping her bio and info listed in the tabs – much of this blog was her idea and she will always be a part of it.

    We did not anticipate this necessary change and we appreciate your support and understanding as we transition. 
     
    Sincerely,
    Alaina & Heather, The Cooks Next Door

    P.S. We can be contacted at thecooksnextdoor@gmail.com.

    Foodie Fridays & Weekend Fare

    Posted by Alaina in Uncategorized

    First, the random winner of our big giveaway this week is SARAH! Congratulations!
    She said:
    -I loved this salmon recipe: http://thecooksnextdoor.com/2010/09/09/off-the-shelf-september-magazines/
    -I subscribe on google reader
    -I am part of the Facebook group

    Today, I’m sharing another international recipe that we enjoyed! It was quick and easy and I didn’t make nearly enough – we scraped the bottom of the pan. :)

    Belizean Beans & Rice
    Print This Recipe

    1 can kidney beans
    2 cups water
    2 tablespoons onions, finely chopped
    1 garlic cloves, minced 
     salt and pepper
    1 pinch thyme
    1 cups white rice
    1 cup coconut milk
    1 teaspoon olive oil (to saute onion and garlic)

    Saute onion and garlic in olive oil. Add kidney beans, water, rice, salt, pepper, thyme, and coconut milk. Cover and cook over a low flame until rice is done. Make sure to stir it occasionally.

    ________________________________________________

    FOODIE FRIDAYS

    Welcome to another edition of Foodie Fridays! There is so much we can learn and share from one another! We hope you will find this feature encouraging and inspiring.

    Here are just a few guidelines for participating in Foodie Fridays:
    1) Leave a link to your post with Mr. Linky (you can also click on Mr. Linky to check out who has linked up!).
    2) Your entry can include a recipe, a kitchen success, an ingredient, a tradition, a book/magazine/restaurant review, a favorite (or not) tool or gadget, food photos, recipe website, a food memory, a cooking or eating experience or anything food related.
    3) Please link back here in your participating post.

    Hope you have fun, meet new people, learn a few things, feel encouraged, and find inspiration as you cook, bake, and entertain!

    Foodie Fridays

    Posted by The Cooks Next Door in Uncategorized

    Hey everyone! Just a reminder that we will have Foodie Fridays tomorrow. We would love to have people join in – we are going to give it a try for a couple more weeks!

    If you do not have a blog but would like to participate, I think you could write a facebook note and make it visible to everyone instead of “just friends.” You could also leave a comment on the Foodie Fridays post.

    Remember that it can be anything food or eating related – it does not have to be a recipe!