Curried Chicken Salad

I made this today, and it garnered RAVE reviews (including MINE!!).
(serves 6)

Kosher salt and white* pepper to taste
1&1/2 cups light* mayo.
1/3 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup Major Grey's Chutney
3 T. curry powder
1/&12 lbs. rotisserie* chicken, shredded into bite size pieces
1 cup med. diced celery (2 large stalks)
1/4 cup chopped scallions, white and green parts (2 scallions)
1/4 cup golden* raisins
1 whole cup whole roasted, salted cashews
Shredded iceberg lettuce*

For the dressing: Combine the mayo., wine, chutney, curry powder, S&P in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth. In a large bowl, combine the chicken with enough dressing to moisten well. Add the celery, scallions, and raisins, and mix well. Refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend. Add the cashews and serve at room temp. on a bed of shredded lettuce.

"The more you are motived by love, the more fearless and free your actions will be."

Have FUN today, and help out a friend that needs you!!

Love,

MM

Pescado A La Veracruzana (Veracruz-Style Fish)

This one from our southern neighbor sounds delish, delightful, and will make a very pretty presentation for your family or guests.
(serves 4)

1 T. EVOO
1 sweet* onion, diced
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 t. dried oregano
2 t. dried marjoram
1 (28 oz.) can fire-roasted* petite* diced tomatoes
1/4 cup pitted and chopped green olives
3 T. golden raisins
1 T. capers, rinsed
2 T. freshly squeezed* lime juice
4 (6 oz.) cod fillets
Kosher* salt and freshly ground* pepper, to taste
2 T. chopped cilantro
Corn tortillas, warmed, for serving

Heat oil in a large saucepan over med. heat. Add onions and cook until soft, about 5 mins. Stir in garlic, oregano, and marjoram; cook for 2 mins. Add tomatoes and their juices, olives, raisins, capers, and lime juice. reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 mins. Season fish fillets with S&P. Add to simmering sauce, cover and cook until fish flakes when pulled apart with a fork, 10-12 mins. Serve garnished with chopped cilantro and warm corn tortillas on the side.

"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different" ~ Coco Chanel

Have FUN today!!!

Love,

MM

Cheesy Spinach Bake

This dish WILL be devoured!
(serves 6-8)

2 10 oz. boxes of frozen spinach, thawed, water squeezed out*, and chopped
1/2 (10.75 oz.) can low sodium* cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sharp cheddar, grated
3/4 cup gruyere or Swiss, grated
1 egg, lightly beaten*
2 t. Dijon mustard
Dash of nutmeg*
1/2 t. garlic powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, mix together, mushroom soup, egg, and Dijon until combined, then season with garlic powder, nutmeg, S&P. Pour spinach mixture into a large baking dish and top with cheeses. Place in oven and bake for 35-40 mins. or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Note: cover with foil is cheese is melting too quickly.

Make every minute count And, don't forget to have FUN today!!

Love,

MM

Grilled Feta with Onions and Peppers

What an easy and elegant offering served with slices of warm French bread!
(makes 8 servings)

Cooking spray
14" long sheet of heavy-duty foil
1/2 sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 8 oz. package of block feta cheese, sliced in half horizontally
1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 either yellow* or orange* bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 t. dried oregano
1/4 t. garlic pepper
1 loaf French bread, cut into 1/2" slices

Preheat grill or grill pan*. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. Place onion slices in center of foil; top with feta and pepper spices. Sprinkle with oregano and garlic pepper. Seal foil using drugstore wrap technique (place food in the center of an oblong piece of heavy-duty foil, leaving at least a 2" border around the food. Bring two long sides together above the food; fold down in a series of locked folds, allowing for heat circulation and expansion. Fold short ends up and over again. Press folds firmly to seal the foil packet.) Place foil packet on grill upside down and grill, covered, over high heat for 15 mins. Turn packet over; grill covered 15 more mins. Open packet carefully and serve immediately with slices of French bread and a smile!!

"What do you want to thank Him for today?"

Love,

MM

Beer-Braised Sausage with Caramelized Onions

A "WOW"-worthy braised Oktoberfest offering!
(serves 6)

Cooking spray
1&1/2 lbs. sweet* onions, sliced
1 t. Sugar in the Raw*
5 sprigs fresh thyme
1 (19 oz.) pkg. turkey or pork* kielbasa smoked sausage
1 bottle of lager beer
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
Kosher* salt
Freshly* ground pepper

Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Combine first 5 ingredients in skillet. Cover with beer and chicken broth. Cover skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to med.-low. Let simmer 20 mins. Remove sausage; set aside and keep warm*. Increase heat to high. Simmer beer and onion mixture 20 mins. or until sauce is syrupy and onions are golden, stirring often. Season with S&P. Transfer to a serving platter. Heat grill or grill pan to med.-high. Grill sausages 3 mins., turning occasionally. Serve sausages with reduced onion mixture (and buns, if desired).

"Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in." ~ Bill Bradley

Have FUN today watchin' football and/or the beautiful fall leaves!!!

Love,

MM

Hot Ham and Cheese Dip

Only 3 ingredients - so it's easy peasey to whip up for your football watchin' fans!
(no serving size given)

1 small block of cream cheese with chives*, softened
1/2 lb. uncured* Black Forest Ham*, cubed
1/2-3/4 cup shredded sharp* cheddar

Mix ingredients in a med. bowl. Place in a baking dish and bake at 350 til bubbly. Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.

"Nothing is quite as beautiful as someone who has survived losing everything and still has a tender heart."

Happy Friday, Dear readers. Don't forget to have some FUN today, and be very grateful for all that you have.

Love!!

MM

Cranberry Cream Cheese French Toast Bake

Sounds Divinely Yumola to Me!! Note: This is a 2 day process.
(serves 12)

12 cups cubed French bread (12 oz.)
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, cubed
1 can (14 oz.) whole-berry cranberry sauce
12 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups whole* milk
1/3 cup real* maple syrup
2 t. ground cinnamon
Dash freshly grated* nutmeg
Additional maple syrup, optional

Arrange half of the bread in a single layer in a greased 13x9" greased baking dish; top with cream cheese and spoonfuls of cranberry sauce. Arrange remaining bread over top. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg until blended. Pour over casserole. Refrigerate, covered, overnight. The next day, preheat oven to 350. Remove dish from fridge while oven heats. Bake, uncovered, 50-60 mins. or until golden and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 mins. before serving. If desired, serve with additional warmed* maple syrup.

"When facing a tough decision, two of the most important questions to ask ourselves are: Am I being true to myself? And, Am I following my heart? If it doesn't feel right in your gut, don't do it!"

Have FUN today and enjoy the BEAUTY that surrounds you!!

Love,

MM