Coffee Break with Liz and Kate » Entries tagged with "Family"
Marigolds for Granny – Liz’s rave
I’d been “testing” marigolds for a month or so, looking for that scent that reminded me of my grandmother. By testing, I mean rubbing on the flower with my fingers, much like you would to smell mint or basil or whatever. Because marigolds have a distinctive smell that I remember from my childhood. And marigolds are one of the many things that remind me of my late grandmother, Ibbie (Stewart) McAllister. Granny was the quintessential grandmother, in my opinion. She’d let me camp out in the pop-up tent, even though she knew I had no intention of staying out there all night. She’d let me use Clorox and clean her bathroom all day long if I wanted to. She’d pop us popcorn, toss in a stick of butter and call it buttered … Read entire article »
Filed under: Headline, Liz's Rants
Remembering our heroes
For many of us, today will herald the beginning of summer – lazy days, warm nights, camp fires and swimming pools. In the midst of family picnics and get-togethers, the true meaning of Memorial Day often gets pushed aside. Other families don’t have that luxury. Today, they’ll gather at a graveside to honor and remember a loved one – a father or grandfather, brother or son, husband or wife, mother or daughter. I’d like to honor three such families today: the Hunts and Lieurances (families of Joey Hunt and Vic Lieurance, both KIA on 22 AUG 2005) and the Tuckers (family of Wes Tucker, KIA 13 OCT 2005). For all of you readers who may have lost someone dear, our thoughts are with you as well, today, as we remember the ultimate price … Read entire article »
Filed under: Headline, Liz's Rants
The Ultimate Challenge (Minute to Win It) Party Games –
Kate’s Escapades
My son is now the ripe old age of 11. When it came time to plan his birthday party, we realized he’s at that age where little kid parties just won’t cut it any more. We figured there would be about 25 kids (boys and girls) to keep occupied for 2 hours. After a not so quick perusal of the internet for kid party ideas, I decided to plan an Ultimate Challenge party by modifying some popular Minute to Win It challenges. After randomly splitting the kids into 4 teams, the Ultimate Challenge Party began. I planned for 9 games, but only got to 7 of them. (We probably could have used another half hour to have enough time to play the games, open the presents and eat the cake.) The kiddies … Read entire article »
Filed under: Headline, Kate's Escapades, Let's Celebrate
More April Fools’ Day Food Pranks – Kate’s Escapades
In my humble opinion, April Fools’ Day is a highly under-appreciated and overlooked holiday. Years ago, during the beginning of my marriage and mommy-hood, I had many an April 1st prank pulled on me by my husband and kiddies. After several years of taking it all in stride, I decided it was time to strike back at the clever culprits. That’s when I started ‘messing’ with their food. Not anything mean, like making the food … Read entire article »
Filed under: Headline, Kate's Escapades, Let's Celebrate, Let's Eat
Liz’s rant: Musical houses
Remember some time back when the best neighbors in the whole wide world put their house on the market? Well, I innocently enough assumed that once the For Sale sign came down and they started talks of building outward and upward that I was out of the woods. Neighbors forever, if you will. But a funny thing happened several weeks ago. Hannah and I were minding our own business when Summer came over to announce that they’d purchased a house. What?!?! I thought you weren’t leaving me!! I thought we had a deal, here!! Then she made me an offer I simply couldn’t refuse. With that said, we made plans. I’d move to their house, and they’d move to their new house, which is thankfully in walking distance but still not quite … Read entire article »
Filed under: Headline, Liz's Rants
(Almost) Winger’s Sticky Fingers – Kate’s Recipe of the Week
Winger’s Sticky Fingers are my all time favorite ‘goin’-out-to-eat’ food. No joke, I could eat sticky fingers every week, heck, probably two times a week, if I’m completely honest with you. Since eating out at Winger’s every week could get a little pricey, I’ve come up with a solution that can tide me over in between visits. (Almost) Winger’s Sticky Fingers Ingredients: 1 bag frozen pre-cooked and breaded chicken strips (The crunchy or Southern style strips work best,) 6 Tbsp. Frank’s Original Hot Sauce (No substitutes. It must be Frank’s brand if you want it to truly taste like Winger’s Amazing Sauce. Frank’s Hot Sauce can be bought at Wal-Mart.) 1 1/2 c. brown sugar Ranch Dressing (Buttermilk Hidden Valley mix works the best) Directions: 1. Bake chicken strips according to package directions. 2. While chicken is cooking, mix up … Read entire article »
Kate’s Escapades – ‘You get what you get, and you don’t make a fit’
As you regular readers know, Mondays and Wednesdays are Liz’s rant days, and here it is Wednesday and there is nary a rant in sight. That’s because Miz Liz in up to her eyeballs in boxes, packing up all of her worldly possessions in anticipation of a big move into a new house this weekend. A house with air conditioning (HOORAY!) which I might add, would have been really nice to have when I was visiting her last summer and the heat and humidity were sucking the life out of me? Just sayin’. Anyway, I’ve got your back, Liz. Take as long as you need, as long as that ‘as long as you need’ doesn’t spill into next week, in which case I would say, “Get your butt back to Coffee … Read entire article »
Filed under: Headline, Kate's Escapades
Just between Liz and Kate – Ice, Ice Baby
Kate, I’m falling apart. My counter top ice maker is not making those cute little ice pellets. You know how we count on these ice-makers. They are perhaps the best technological advance in the history of the world!!! And I’m in four-alarm panic! No ice for the Diet Coke! No ice for the summer margaritas. No ice for the shrimp cocktails… NO ICE!! We’re at Defcon 4.5, here, Kate. Calm down, Liz, you’re getting a little overly dramatic here. I’m sure that by the time you’re ready for summer margaritas, your ice maker will once again be churning out those precious pellets of deliciousness. Shrimp cocktails? You eat shrimp cocktails? Even after “The Incident”? You know, that time when I went on vacation with your family when we were kids … Read entire article »
Filed under: Headline, Kate's Escapades, Liz's Rants
Super Easy Recipes for Super Bowl Sunday –
Kate’s Escapades
Let’s just be honest here, for many, the Super Bowl is as much about the food and commercials, as it is about the game itself. I already shared a few of my favorite Super Bowl commercials here. Now for the good stuff, munchies for the “Big Game”. This year I’ll be serving Chicken Nachos Grande, Cowboy Salsa with chips and Churro Cupcakes. Chicken Nachos Grande Ingredients: 1 Rotisserie Chicken, deboned and shredded 1 package frozen steamable rice (white or brown) 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces) 1 cup frozen corn 1 cup shredded cheese 1 can green enchilada sauce (16 ounces) tortilla chips or flour tortillas 1 sm can sliced black olives sour cream Directions: Preheat oven to 450. Mix all ingredients (except tortilla chips) in large bowl. Spread evenly into 9 x 13 baking pan, sprayed with cooking spray. Top with olives. Bake for 20 … Read entire article »
Kate’s Recipe of the Week – Easy Cheesy Potatoes
Today’s recipe is one of my family’s all time favorites – Easy Cheesy Potatoes, more commonly known as Funeral Potatoes around these parts (these parts being Utah, of course). I suppose the name stems from the fact that it is a requirement that this potato dish be served after every funeral in Utah. Not baked potatoes, not mashed potatoes, not even potato salad or potato chips will do for the after funeral meal. I think it’s one of those strange Utah laws kind of like the one where it is illegal to fish while on horseback, or the one where daylight must be visible between dancing couples. Anyway…the great thing about these cheesy potatoes is that they are yummy beyond words, super inexpensive and simple to make, and can easily be … Read entire article »
Kate’s Recipe of the Week – Corn Bread Sloppy Joes
Here’s a fun and easy twist on the old standby Sloppy Joe recipe that’s sure to be a hit with the kiddies and adults, alike. I’m betting it will also be a hit with the head chef in the house, because, like all of my recipes, these Corn Bread Sloppy Joes are super quick and easy to prepare. Corn Bread Sloppy Joes Ingredients: (The ingredients in the photo are doubled because I feed a small army at my house.) 1 package corn bread mix (81/2 oz.) 1 egg 1/3 cup milk 2 lbs ground beef 1/2 up chopped onion 1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce 1 cup corn 1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilies 2 packets Sloppy Joe seasoning mix 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Directions: Prepare and bake corn bread according to package directions, using the egg and milk. In a large skillet, brown … Read entire article »
Liz’s recipe:Easy Bacon Cheesy Frittata
I know, I know. It’s something of a miraculous nature when I post a recipe, but this one is so easy, I couldn’t resist. This is another perfect dish for breakfast or brunch. And if you’re anything like Kate and I, chances are, you have breakfast for dinner once every week or so – and it’s perfect for that too! Now, on to the recipe! Bacon Cheesy Frittata: Ingredients: 6-8 eggs 1 pound cooked bacon, crumbled 1 c. milk 1 t. salt 1/2 t. pepper 2 T butter 1-2 cups shredded cheese Directions: Melt butter in baking dish Beat together eggs, milk, salt and pepper Pour egg mixture into baking dish Sprinkle bacon and cheese over eggs Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until center is set. This recipe is very versatile, too. You could substitute (or add) sausage, cubed ham or other meats in place … Read entire article »
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Kate’s Escapades – If you can’t say something nice…
February 22nd, 2011 | 2 Comments
Cooking everyday (or even just a few days a week) can become a bit of a dreaded chore. Let’s face it, we are busy people these days and sometimes getting a meal on the table seems to be a nearly impossible task. I know this. You know this. Liz really, REALLY knows this. I was originally just sharing my recipes with Liz, but quickly realized there are a lot of people out there struggling with the same “I want to feed my family a good home cooked dinner or dessert, but I really don’t have the time to do it” dilemma. That’s why I started running my Recipe of the Week, featuring fast, easy, and yet still yummy, food ideas. So on this past Sunday a reader left this lovely comment … Read entire article »
Filed under: Headline, Kate's Escapades