Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Salmon Cakes - Lightened Up!






 I've been reposting some of my prior recipes so I can improve the photo's, and in this case I am reducing the fat while I am at it! 
See my previous ugly photo and fattening recipe!   
This is a rendition of Ina Gartens Salmon Cake recipe.  Like a lot of her recipes she is heavy on the butta.     I tweaked it a bit to make it healthy and really, no difference in flavor at all...none, zip, nada.    I saved a butt-load (pun intended) of fat!  My arteries are thanking me today!  I also left off the Tarragon Vinigerette  in my previous posting,but you can sure add it if you would like! 

How I did it:     I sauteed the veggies in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and omitted the butter. Reduced the mayo by 1/4 cup and decreased the eggs from 2 to 1. I also increased the Dijon to make the patties hold together. I sauted in olive oil instead of the suggested butter and olive oil combo and they came out brown and crispy just like they should!
 
 

Friday, February 8, 2013

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup



I love secret ingredients!  Something that makes a recipe really different and stand out.  The secret to this soup is... a bottle of beer!  Beer instead of broth, now that's my kind of recipe! (especially if you throw this together in the morning and take a little taster before dumping it in the pot..who doesn't like a little beer breath in the morning?).

You can't really 'taste' the beer but it does add a certain depth of flavor.  If you don't drink alcohol, you can substitute chicken broth...but try the beer, the chances of any alcohol being left after 5 hours in a slow cooker are pretty slim.

You can also substitute kidney beans for chili beans, regular canned diced tomatoes instead of those with green chilies, I  think you could go with just about anything you got in your cupboard on this and not mess it up too bad!
 
 
 

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Lemon Crinkle Cookies - Made with Cake Mix!




I have this pretty amazing kid.  Ya, I know, spoken like a Mom, but I do, I do, I really, really do!

She is 23, (where did the time go) and she has always had a very natural instict when it comes to cooking and food.  She was 5 when she fell in love with Pesto.... so much for PBJ's!

Like her Father, she loves to dine out and try new food.  Like her Mom, she cooks when she is bored or inspired, either emotion usually turns out something pretty yummy.  She is very good at cooking with what's on hand and that's where this came from.  We must have had a box of Lemon Cake mix in the cupboard...lucky us!

She found this recipe on browneyedbaker.com.    You can substitute any flavor of cake mix and create a multitude of crinkle cookies.  Spice cookies, chocolate cookies, confetti cookies, any cake mix will work!  (just omit the lemon zest and lemon juice and substitute with a spice and/or extract that matches the cake mix that you are using).