More Reviews

Lemon Dill Salmon - *****
That Dishy knows here salmon.  YUM!

Cube Steak Parmigiana - **** 
A solid 4-star recipe in our world.  I used my favorite sauce instead of what was listed.   

Baked Lemon Chicken - ***** 
This is one of KK's all time favorite recipes.  You know it has to be good to get made more than twice in our world!  I usually double the sauce (we love sauce) and use thighs and/or legs instead of breasts.  It makes me drool just to think about it!

Mexican Chili Pie - *** 1/2 
I'm giving it a 3 1/2 star rating because SS LOVED it.  She is the pickiest of all of us - and she had two giant servings.  I personally thought it was a little bland and dry - and thought the cheddar in the cornbread was a waste, since I really couldn't even tell it was there!

Carrot Casserole - *** 1/2 
I really wanted to love it more.  There is still some in the fridge, never a good sign in my world.

Pantry-Shelf Salmon Chowder - **** 1/2 
This was very good for starting with canned soups.  I didn't realize that it only made 4-1 cup servings (uh... we are hungrier than that for dinner!) so I doubled everything except the salmon ('cuz I only had one can).  It was still had lots of nice salmon chunks.  Both the Chickies slurped it right down without compliant!

Orange Rice Pilaf - *** 1/2 
It had a nice orange undertone.  I still like Herbed Rice better, it won't get made again.


Orange Herb Roasted Chicken - ****
KK said she could really taste the orange in the chicken - I don't notice an over-powering flavor.  I think we enjoy lemon for our citrus more than orange on chicken.


Spicy White Chili - ****
Uh... I didn't find this spicy at all!  And... stirring in the cheese did not give me a cheesy experience at all.  Next time I will just add it on the top of my bowl.  Who I am I kidding... a solid 4-star still isn't enough to make me give up my search!


Roasted Salmon with Balsamic Glaze - *****+
Okay... this sauce/glazed rocked my world.  So simple (I used Splenda) and so very good.  It got on my asparagus (YUMMMMMMMM) and even got on my cottage cheese, which was amazing too!  If I wasn't trying to instill good manners in the Chickies I would have so licked my plate!

Review Round-up

Let's talk about all the things I've been making!  Some you've seen coming from my meal plans - others are just random things I made 'cuz the mood struck me.


Green Beans with Cherry Tomatoes ***** 
I can't believe I forgot to tell you about this in my Holiday Eats review.  I made these for the Christmas Eve dinner the mini-chicks and I had.  It was so good - I was sad when they were all gone the next day.  I used fresh green beans and grape tomatoes cut in half.  I can't wait until summer when somebody (hint, hint - to my friends with gardens) gives me some green beans.


Perfect Southern Greens ***** 
These were very good - I think the pre-blanch did help with the bitterness and I ate the leftovers for lunch for a few days.  Good stuff.


Pork, Apple, and Ginger Stir-fry *** 
This was okay - pretty unmemorable.  I won't make it again with my little Costco pork roasts.  The chickies weren't huge fans.


Mahogany Beef Stew with Hoisin Sauce **** 1/2 
I mentioned in my post with pics that it turned out pretty sweet.  However, I ate the leftovers for a lunch for the next two or three days - and the sweetness really mellowed over time.  I think I'd make this again and freeze it, to be pulled out and thawed and then eaten.  


Green Chile Pork Roast ***** 
Now this is what I'm talkin' 'bout as a good use of my pork roasts!  We all enjoyed this very much.  I definitely think I'll make it again.... simple & tasty.


PW's Asian Noodle Salad ***** 
This is some good salad eatin', let me tell you!  It makes a TON, requires chopping, chopping, chopping, and uh, and a little more chopping.  I added the noodles to the salad fixings - but didn't add the dressing until I was ready to eat it.  I brought it a couple of days for lunch and had people following me to my desk asking, "what's that?" and  saying "that looks good".  


PW's Basic Macaroni & Cheese ***** 
It's the answer, people.  It is the answer.  Pure and simple... it's the egg.


Greek Chicken Casserole ***** 
This was sooooooooooo good.  I used my Costco Kalamata olives and a tad more feta cheese.  KK said, "it tastes wayyyyyyyy better than I thought it would."  LOL SS even ate it without complaint.  


Tomato Barley Soup **** 
KK started complaining that she didn't want "chunks" in her tomato soup - so I buzzed it with the hand blender before adding the barley.  I liked to way more than the chickies did.  SS complained loudly!

Company Cauliflower **
A big disappointment.  The cheese separated from the sour cream it was just a big gloppy mess.  :(  


Chole (Chickpea Stew) ***** 
mmmmmmmmmm....... it was so good.  Miss Picky Pants (aka as SS) did not like it because nothing I said wouldn't convince her that they weren't hominy, which she hates.  I tried and tried to tell her they weren't, but she wasn't having any of it.  Who made that girl so freakin' stubborn??!?!? (I actually blame my mother - LOL).  KK said it could have a 3 in her world - but it my world it is solid 5!


Best Ever Cinnamon Rolls *** 
Best ever?  Not for me.  It might be my inexperience in working successfully with yeast doughs - but they were dry and really lacking cinnamon in my opinion.  The dough was so sticky - I'm sure I over-worked it and made it dry, if I were to make them again (umm... which I won't - I'll try something different.  I'm dying to try these from Coleen - but didn't have the ingredients when the mood struck) I would more than double the cinnamon & butter.


Creamy Chicken Lasagna ***** 
I'm rating this a 5 because if I'd have used the recommended amount of sauce it would have been perfect.  I used too much and it was a bit soupy-ish, but the taste was very good.  Both the chickies loved it.


Heavenly Potatoes & Ham *** 1/2
It should have been better than it was - it was pretty dry (I'm not a fan of dry) and very lacking in flavor.  I'll just stick to a regular cheesy potatoes in the future.

Christmas Eats - The Reviews

I already reviewed most of the goodies I made during the Christmas season, but I did try other recipes through the holiday dinner season that I want to tell ya about.


Holiday Sweet Potatoes - ***** +++
I like sweet potatoes, I like 'em mixed up in a mashed casserole - I've made Tyler Florence's Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Bananas & Honey, which is a very nice recipe for a "sweet" version.  The crusty top of pecans is very good & it's fun to roast bananas, not something I do everyday.  But................... this savory version of a sweet potato casserole IS THE BEST USE of sweet potatoes.  It comes from my cooking friend, Cookin' Mama who said she got the recipe years ago from a neighbor. My other cooking friend, Jam -says they should be called "Sweet Potatoes Alfredo" and I agree with that.... maybe it is because I rarely cook with full fat heavy cream - but I can't wax lyrical enough about how good these were!


Holiday Sweet Potatoes

4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
3 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. flour
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 c. heavy cream
1/4 c. dried bread crumbs
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese

In a saucepan melt butter. Add flour & garlic and stir until color deepens a bit. Add cream and simmer until mixture thickens slightly.

Layer sweet potatoes in a buttered casserole dish.

Pour sauce over and bake @ 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with bread crumbs and cheese and bake for 10-15 more minutes.

For Christmas dinner I was invited to Mrs. S's  in-laws...... got that??  By BFF's husbands parents - which I thought was about the sweetest thing in the whole entire world for them to invite me.  The chickies had ran off with their dad (and rightly so - they spent Christmas eve & morning with me), so I was "unattended".  LOL So, I took a veggie tray and these two dips:

Vegetable Dip ****
Of the two, I liked this one best.  It was creamy and fresh tasting and perfect to dip a veggie into.  And I had some of the heavy cream left over from the sweet potatoes that needed to be used up!

Italian Vegetable Dip *** 1/2
This one was too chunky for veggies - it might be better with chips or a nice sourdough to dip into.

I hope your holiday table was filled with as much love, laughter, and joy as mine was!

What I've Been Cooking

Here are some the recipes and reviews from things I've made been making - lots of holiday goodies included!


Eggnog Pancakes ***** 
I do not like pancakes.  I make pancakes about once a year - maybe!  I've made these little gems using some Hood Gingerbread Eggnog.  They were amazing... I ate two!  Then, I even bought another carton of eggnog to make them again - the snow day we had last week was perfect day to make 'em again for my chickies.  I even had two again!!  I did add some regular milk along with the full amount of eggnog to get the batter thinner.  I can't praise these guys enough!!

Slow Cooker Pineapple Pork ***
I wasn't impressed at all.  The pork was okay - the "stuff" in the crockpot wasn't good at all. It does not make me happy to waste all the stuff as just a cooking liquid.  I won't make it again, when there are better recipes for use of my pork roasts.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Roast ****
This was pretty good - I made it exactly as written, thickening the gravy with butter and flour (I'm usually a cornstarch slurry kinda girl).  The gravy was very sweet - KK wasn't a huge fan (SS doesn't eat any gravy except over biscuits!) but it might get made again.


Fudge ***** 
This is the easiest fudge ever.  It lends it self well to flavors - using peanut butter chips & 1/2 cup peanut butter, a blend of semi-sweet and milk chocolate, different nuts.  I've even added coconut and almonds (for a mounds treat) and peanuts and marshmallows (for a rocky road treat).  It is only limited to your imagination!


Microwave Peanut Brittle ***** 
This has been my go to peanut brittle recipe for a couple of years.  It is soooooooo easy.  The trick is knowing what wattage your microwave is - after that just make sure you are using the power recommended in the recipe.  After a couple of tries you'll know what it should look like for the texture you like.  It doesn't make a huge amount - which can be nice if you don't want to eat peanut brittle until Easter!  LOL  I don't recommend doubling the recipe though - just make two batches if you want more.  It is so easy & quick you can do two batches in less than 45 minutes.


Saltine Candy Treats ***** 
I've made similar candies in the past, but this is the recipe I used recently.  It turned out very good.  It is another easy candy that can be made without a candy thermometer (mine cracked yesterday!).


Divinity ***** 
This is not an easy candy.  It can be fickle and easily persuaded to be a good texture or a bad texture by the weather.  The batch I made was quite good - not gooey, not too dry.  It does require a candy thermometer and a lot of patience.  And a good hand mixer! (or better yet a kitchenaid, which I do not own!  I know, be sad for me!!).


Boston Market Copycat Meatloaf **** 
This was a different meatloaf.  The binder, rather than bread, breadcrumbs, or even oatmeal, is flour.  KK wasn't a huge fan - but I liked it well enough.  It still isn't the definitive answer for the meatloaf to end the search for the perfect meatloaf - but I would make it again.


Herbed Rice Pilaf ***** 
We had this with meatloaf and KK loved it (SS didn't partake of the meatloaf/pilaf meal - she was having tummy troubles).  I did add about 2 tsp. of Better than Bouillon instead of any salt - I like the chicken-y flavor it added.  I will definitely be making this again!

Catching Up on Reviews

Our Thanksgiving was wonderful. We spent a lovely day over at The Smith's. I didn't get a meal plan up this week, but rest assured I'll be back next week!

Here are a few reviews of things I've made lately:

Savory Meatloaf - *** 1/2
This was on okay meatloaf - nothing special. It held together nicely, but I thought the flavor was really lacking. My search will continue!

Chicken Thighs alla Puttanesca - *****
So simple, so yummy! These were so good, I served with couscous. I can't wait to make it again!

Spaghetti Carbonara - ****
I'd never made carbonara before and it was pretty good. I took the advice of the AR reviewer who suggested mixing the eggs with the parmesan and then mixing with the spaghetti off the heat. I think next time I'll mix it on the heat, it was a bit loose.

Cheesiest Macaroni and Cheese - *** 1/2
The description of this mac and cheese said it was like Stouffer's. It was not. It was wayyyyyyyyy to dry. Stouffer's has a nice crust and is not dry. My search continues.

Simply Great Chicken - *****
Fantastic chicken! Simple, easy, tasty! All great attributes in my book. Make this chicken.

Beef Paprika - **
The chickies did not like this. I wasn't very fond of it either. I'm not quite sure what I didn't like, but it wasn't great. :(

Spaghetti with Artichoke Hearts and Tomatoes - *** 1/2
This was pretty tasty even though I substantially cut back on the butter and oil. Both the chickies declared it "okay - but it needs shrimp".

More Reviews

Simple Creamy Lemon Chicken Sauce ****
KK liked this - said it would do when I didn't want to go to all the trouble of making her very favorite lemony chicken. :) What a thoughtful daughter, LOL.

Bryan's Spicy Red Lentil Soup ***
I was a little disappointed in this considering my glee in finding red lentils. Neither of the chickies liked it at all. :( I still have some lentils left and am going to use them on something better!

Skillet Lasagna **** Pretty basic, hard to go wrong! It made a lot so we enjoyed the leftover for lunch.


Chicken and Dumplings III *****
So good! I doubled the recipe (it is only 4 to begin with). I made my own chicken broth and this was terrific. We pretty much scarfed down the whole pot, with just enough for my lunch the next day. The dumplings were better the first day, they seemed to toughen up in the fridge.

German Style Pork and Saurkraut ****
I used a little more kraut, I couldn't find anything less than a 24 oz. jar! I used one big turnip and a small pork roast. I served it over mashed potatoes. It was a very "white" looking meal, but very tasty. KK said she'd eat it again, and SS ate everything but the turnips. Surprisingly that was the thing she said was sour, not the kraut! Crazy kid. LOL

Review Time

Cheeseburger Soup ****
This was a pretty tasty soup. I didn't crockpot it because a 2-hour crockpot recipe doesn't really do me a lot of good when I work all day. It seemed a bit thin, so I threw in a couple handfuls of mini penne. KK loved it.

Beef Tips w/Zip! *****
I make a similar recipe using red wine for the liquid that I love and this is a close second! I was going to use the leftovers to make a beef pot pie, but they disappeared!

Virus Killing Soup *****
This was a terrific chicken soup. I ran out of red pepper so I used a couple healthy shakes of a creole seasoning. It was enough to feed us twice with leftovers each time. I made it Sunday and then Monday skimmed the fat off the top, added some egg noodles when it was simmering and SS had 3 bowls! A winner by all accounts.

New Reviews

Another few reviews:

Mexican Lasagna from AR *** 1/2

It might not be fair to only give it 3 1/2 stars, because I forgot to layer the beans, and just put it on top - but it was very soupy and the flavor just wasn't there. The chickies liked the one with tortillas a million times better.

Real Louisiana Red Beans & Rice - *****
I made this recipe instead of the one I posted on the recommendation of my cooking friend, Lobs. It was quite tasty and very healthy! It definitely needs to be served over rice though. The leftovers without did not float my boat near as much.

New Reviews

Just a quick run-down of the new recipes I've tried lately:

Cuban Pork Roast *****
Nice and juicy after about 4 hours on high in my crockpot. I sliced it up & put it back in to soak up the juices. I might cut back on the oregano next time, 2 tablespoons is A LOT of oregano!

Layered Crockpot Casserole ****
Had a decidedly "stew" feeling going on. The cinnamon was there, but not overpowering. I think I smelled it more than tasted it. The chickies were not huge fans, asking "is there any meat in here?". Something they don't ask when I've tried other vegetarian fare on them. I liked it better for lunch the next day.


Salmon Cheddar Casserole **** 1/2
Very good for a crockpot casserole, which sometimes turn into a big pile of unrecognizable mush. It even got a nice crispy layer on top! KK liked it and said it could be a do over, SS not a fan and would be happy never to see it again. LOL I liked it and it might go again.

Keith Young's Chicken Cacciatore *****
My hands down favorite cacciatore ever! So forgiving and delicious. I fry in LOTS less oil, use whatever tomatoes are hanging out in my pantry, and only use green peppers (I can't afford red peppers! LOL). I am a non-traditionalist and server over mashed potatoes, but it is awesome on pasta too.

The Reviews

I thought I'd try something new..... I thought every so often I'd give you reviews of the new recipes I've tried with any changes I've made, maybe if I'm being good some WW points, please remember your mileage may vary. (Don't tell on me - it is suppose to make them very unhappy if you post points online!)

Kittencal's Marinara *****
This my current favorite spaghetti sauce. I know she says to use roma tomatoes, but I just used crushed. I usually double the batch and have enough for 2 dinners and lunches for my small family. The way I make it is 1 wwp for 1/2 cup.

Greek Shrimp ***1/2
This wasn't as great as I hoped. My tomatoes never cooked down, so I added a can of diced tomatoes with basil and garlic. It was too minty for our tastes, but since I didn't add the full amount of feta it might have cut that a bit.

Chicken Tikki Masala ****
This was very good - I substituted some things I had in the pantry. First off, my plain yogurt had mold. :( So, I used buttermilk, only 1/2 tsp. of cayenne, and marinated all day. They smelled delicious grilling up! For the sauce, I used a mexican tomato sauce instead of the jalapeno and fat free half-half. Next time I'll double the sauce and use 1 can of spicy sauce and 1 can of regular. The mini-chicks liked it, but it was a little too spicy.

Shrimp Scampi with Artichokes ****
This was pretty yummy. I added some Brummel and Brown light spread and about 1/4 of parmesan cheese and only 1 lb. of shrimp. I mixed the whole thing up with about 1 lb. of mini bow-ties and it only came to 5 wwp per cup! Nice and light.