Saturday, December 31, 2016

Countdown to 2017- Most Popular/ Reader Favorite

 The Countdown to 2017 continues.  This is the second to last one.

 Again, it's hosted by Sarah of Fantastical Sharing.    If you've been following along with us you know we've covered Appetizers, Breakfasts,  Main Dishes, Desserts and Crockpot dishes.

This is actually the most eye opening part of the countdown for me.   I know some recipes are 'eh', some really good, and then there's 'the one', the post that seems to take on a persona of its own.
Which was this one.
Irish Apple Cake

Irish Apple Cake
I made this to take to a St. Paddy's Day event, and as is my wont, I did some research to find an authentic recipe to take along.  And the fact that this was also an older recipe, as in "OLD" was a big plus.
BONUS!!!!  It tasted great.  In fact, I'm lucky I even got a chance to sample it.  I, ummm, took advantage of the fact that I brought it, and since life is short anyways, dessert should sometimes come first.
I cut the first slice and sampled it.
And life was good.
However there were a few other recipes that deserve an honorable mention, that didn't get highlighted in previous posts. 
From the beginning...
Apple Stuffed Pork Tenderloin 
Pork and Bok Choy Stir Fry  (cause I love, love, love Bok Choy and had to include this in here)
Savory Oat Pancakes  (These were surprisingly good, and I've made them a couple of times since)


Coming up tomorrow, we have the Wild Card pick.  Which means I have to pick one post, one single, solitary recipe that I think was spectacular or repeatable or I just plain liked, a lot. Or I can tell you what I want to make or have plans for or? 
It is a Wild Card after all.



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Friday, December 30, 2016

Countdown to 2017 - Best Crockpot

When I looked at the lineup for the Countdown to 2017, I thought I didn't have a new Crock-pot recipe. 
I have a Crock-pot, actually several, and use my main one a lot.  But that's for the tried and true recipes I make a lot.
Then it hit me.  I'd made this Over the top Chocolicous Chocolate Cake in the Crock-pot and taken it to a potluck and it disappeared, fast. (there weren't even that many people there that particular day)  I didn't even get a great picture of it, but that's OK, cause it was enjoyed.
It was moist and gooey and oh so very good.  
Thanks to Sarah of Fantastical Sharing for hosting this Countdown to 2017. 

Tomorrow I will be sharing the most popular recipe, Jan.1 is my wild card, and on January I'm asking people to share the one recipe they made last month that blew them away with how good it is.  I'm calling it First Monday Favorites and it will be a feature every month on the First Monday.  



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Thursday, December 29, 2016

Countdown to 2017 - Best Dessert

 Time for the dessert portion of the Countdown to 2017.
I don't make a lot of cakes and sweets.  

However, I've been craving an Eatmore Bar for a long time.
Actually I crave them all the time.

I can't buy them down here, I have to wait for someone to bring me some from Canada or go up there and buy my own. Which means either spending way too much for a candy bar or having to wait and wait and wait for someone to go up there, buy me some and then bring them back.

I decided to try making some.  And these were pretty good.   But I think I will need to experiment more.
Homemade Eatmore Bars
 Next time though, I'm bringing them to a potluck, they were a little too moreish in the fridge.

Stay tuned, tomorrow is Best Crockpot and I actually have a recipe for that and it involves Chocolate. 

This Countdown to 2017 is hosted by Sarah of Fantastical Sharing

 I want to say Thank you to Sarah, not only did she wrangle all us bloggers in the Secret Recipe Club, she's also hosting this. 
An InLinkz Link-up
 

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Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Countdown to 2017 - Best Main Dish

I had a hard time with this.   I love my Danish food, and Asian food.
I was torn between two continents. 
But this is a Countdown to 2017 hosted by Sarah of Fantastical Sharing, so I did my version of a countdown. 
I hate to make these kinds of decisions.
I had to do this.
For my Danish side
I made some Brændende kærlighed or Burning Love  this year.

some Breaded Pork Patties called  Karbonader
 
But I'd also learned how to make some Sambal Kacang Peanut Sauce which went so well with

Bok Choy Stir Fry with Yakisoba Noodles

Like I said, I hate making decisions like this.
So I went with both. 
 

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Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Countdown to 2017- Best Breakfast

Next up on our Countdown to 2017 are Best Breakfast of 2016.
Last year I had one lame kinda, breakfast but this year I have a couple, cause I couldn't pick just one. 

I learned how to make a Dutch Baby Pancake, which reminds me, I think I need to go whip up some batter today for one.  They were a little on the addictive side. 
Dutch Baby Pancake

I found out how to use Bananas up, and they weren't in a Banana Bread either.  These Banana Coconut Pecan Pancakes were so good.
I actually sat and waited for a banana to get a little too ripe, so I could make them. giggle.
Don't judge, just do it. 

Banana Coconut Pecan Pancakes
 

BTW, this event is hosted by Sarah of Fantastical Sharing and is a Countdown to 2017.


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Monday, December 26, 2016

Countdowns to 2017- Best Appetizers and Snacks

Everyone's doing it.  Well, maybe not everyone, but a lot of us are doing a round up of our favorite recipes for the year.


This is the Countdown to 2017...

For the next few days, I'll be featuring my best, appetizers, breakfasts, desserts, crockpot, and drum roll please, the most popular reader favorite from the past year.   This year's Countdown is  hosted by Fantastical Sharing, which is a blog by Sarah Ellis, our former leader for the Secret Recipe Club
And then...










January 2nd, the First Monday, I've invited a bunch of bloggers from the former Secret Recipe Club to tell you about their favorite recipe for the past month.  This will be a monthly feature for the first Monday of the month, every month.

Stay tuned, or stay online or keep checking me out...
 
First though.  HAPPY BOXING DAY- Had to get that out of the way before I could share some, just some, of the awesome Appetizers and Snacks I made this year.

And I'm so glad I'm not limited to just one.  Cause I made a few that I want to share.
Here we are with the first entry, from guess where? One of my Secret Recipe Club assignments.
February
I made this Dill Pickle Dip
Dill Pickle Dip
and...
March
some Tomato Tulips

Tomato Tulips

  In April I made some Whole Shrimp for Fish Friday Foodies  Camarone Entero Mojo (whole Mojo Shrimp) 
Mojo Shrimp

In May I made some Mojo Spice Wings
Mojo Spice Wings

June was Shrimp Tempura


and for July's offering I got first prize for my Carrabelle Crab Cakes in a local contest.  (I'm still so chuffed over that). 
Carrabelle Crab Cakes

Then came August. And I got an Honorable Mention in a contest for these, Yakisoba Noodle Spring Roll with Shrimp
Yakisoba Noodle Spring Rolls

August was a good month for Appetizers.    I also made these Shrimp Burger Bites which were so good. (Did I mention I'm part of a group who posts fish related dishes on the third Friday of the Month.  It's called Fish Friday Foodies) This was one of the recipes I came up with this year.
Shrimp Burger Bites
 September came along and I shared this recipe for Stuffed Shrimp Pops. It was also a #FishFridayFoodies
Stuffed Shrimp Pops
We've still got October, November and December to go.
October I made this Curried Carrot Hummus.  It was part of a #ImprovCookingChallenge  I've made it a couple of times since then.  When you make something good, you should repeat it.
Curried Carrot Hummus
November was a Chunky Shrimp and Smoked Salmon Spread.  I made it as part of #FishFridayFoodies challenge.

Chunky Shrimp and Smoked Salmon Spread
 And finally...
December where I made these Cranberry Orange Chutney Wings.  Dare I say it?  They were finger licking good. 
There I said it. 
Cranberry Orange Chutney Wings

I also made my own Gyoza Wrappers this year.

Gyoza Wrappers
 along with some Salsa Taquera Roja which I learned how to make thanks to the Secret Recipe Club. I'm going to miss that club.
Salsa Taquera Rosa

There's lots more to look at. 
And Happy Boxing Day to all my friends who also celebrate this day.   I'm going to have some Smørrebrød, a glass or two of Aquavit and a beer. 


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Friday, December 23, 2016

Merry Christmas

Just wanted to send Season's Greetings, Happy Holidays, Joy, Luck, Love to all my readers.  However you celebrate this time of year, I wish you all the best.
Glædelig jul til alle
Merry Christmas 
Happy Hanukka
Feliz navidad y próspero año nuevo
Happy Kwanzaa
Merry Winter Solstice 
And cause this is a food blog, I had to leave you with a few holiday pictures of food.
I had to...
But first
 The Jule Nisse playing...  On top of some Brunekager
Brunekager
and you gotta have Snowmen
Snowmen and Deviled Eggs
and some Marzipan Fruit
Marzipan Fruit
You did know I was Danish, didn't you?
Fransk Vafler (French Waffles)

Heading down to the kitchen to make some more magic.  I'll be back the day after Christmas, which we call Boxing Day in our house.  (sometimes you have to let the Canadian out).
I'll be doing a Countdown to 2017 roundup of Recipes.

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Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Cranberry Orange Chutney WIngs

I love playing with wings.   I used some of the Gingered Cranberry Compote I'd made earlier and combined it with some orange marmalade, and slathered it on some wings.
Cranberry Orange Chutney Wings

That's what I love about wings. 

There are so many ways you can dress them up or down.  They can go anywhere and take on any persona.

You could say they're the 'little black dress' of the food world.

Think about it.

Like the LBD, you can dress them up or down, they can slide into a bar, a tailgate party or even a fancy dress affair.




yield: 2 cupsprint recipe

Cranberry Orange Chutney Wings

prep time: 15 MINScook time: 1 hour and 30 MINStotal time: 1 hours and 45 mins
This sauce can go almost anywhere. Dress up some chicken wings, daub some on a pork roast or toast.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup Gingered Cranberry Compote
  • 1 cup Orange Marmalade
  • 3 lbs. Chicken wings, flats and drums

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Mix the sauce and marmalade together and simmer for about 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring to combine and keep from burning. Arrange the Chicken Wings in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet with a parchment lining. Bake the wings until done, turning them over half way. Brush the wings with the sauce, bake for an additional 15 minutes at 375 degrees, turn over, add sauce to the other side,
    bake another 15 minutes at 375 or until the sauce caramalizes a little. Serve with plenty of napkins.
Created using The Recipes Generator


These wings were made using Cape Cod Select Premium Cranberries



Here's where to find them in your area:  Cape Cod Select Store Locator
and a few more links, just in case...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capecodselect/#
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CapeCodSelect
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capecodselect/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/capecodselect/

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Sunday, December 18, 2016

Tapas and Grinch Christmas Party

I've got lots of glasses to wash this morning. We held our annual Grinch Christmas Party last night.  
Whew!!!!  Lots of people, presents and food.     I'd talk about the presents, but hey, you're here to see what people brought to eat.  
As usual I made a few things.  Some Deviled Eggs, Prosciutto Wrapped Cantaloupe along with just plain cantaloupe and I also made some Cranberry Orange Chutney Wings. (they'll be in a separate post)
And here are the wings...

As I said, there was a lot of great food.
Some lovely smoked Salmon
A Tabouli Salad (and I didn't get to taste it)
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Potato Salad
Squash Casserole
 A Biscuit Tree
A lovely mixed greens Salad
A cold cut tray
Fresh veggies and dip
Ravioli and Marinara Sauce (these disappeared before I could taste any)
Roasted Vegetables
Mixed Vegetables
Assorted Chicken Livers, Hearts and Gizzards
Eggplant Dip
Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos
And then there were the Desserts...
Cupcakes
Poppy Seed Loaf
Cookies and Fudge
Orange Loaf
Assorted Bark
Cranberry Bread
Peppermint Cupcakes and a Red Velvet Cake
And I know I probably missed a couple of dishes, I usually do, but my excuse is a good one. 
It's my party and I can socialize if I want to.
So there...
Although it was a little crowded yesterday so I didn't mingle as much as I could have.
The Tree (It wasn't edible though)
and this is my view this morning, sigh.
and this...
Actually, not too much cleanup to do.   Just gotta wash the glasses and put them away.  And then I'm ready to put my feet up for the rest of the day...

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