Onion Babies

Onions are inexpensive and readily available. Most often we add them to a recipe which for added flavour, but these little onions stand on their own. It's all about the little pickling onion which is a dry small brown or white onion, which is easy to find. The next time you are looking for that perfect little addition to barbecued steak or chicken, or to add to a hot appetizer tray try these! Thyme and bread crumbs are baked crisp on top of these mild tasting onion babies. I think you're going to like these!

Ingredients:

• 12 pickling onions, trimmed and peeled
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
• 2 tbsp thyme leaves, (not thyme powder)
• several grinds of salt and cracked pepper
• 3 tbsp butter, melted
• olive oil,

Method:

1. Heat oven to 375º. Peel and trim on end of onions.
2. Place onions in a small sauce pan with a an inch of boiling water. Allow onions to cook for 3-4 minutes, until they just start to open.
3. Carefully using a slotted spoon take the onions out of water and place on a baking dish. Stand them as best you can so the end that looks most like a 'blossom' is standing up.
4. Combine bread crumbs with the melted butter, thyme leaves, salt and pepper.
5. Using a small spoon top the tender onions with the crumb mixture, carefully pressing it into the layers of the onions.
6. Drizzle each onion with a little bit of olive oil and bake for 15 minutes, or until the bread crumbs are golden brown. Serve these little onion babies hot!

Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Adding  oatmeal and walnuts into muffins  adds additional nutritional value and keeps us satisfied longer.  If I am serving muffins for a coffee break...

I sometimes pipe some soft butter on top and set out some knives. 

• 2 large  ripe bananas
• 3/4 cup low fat unflavored yogurt
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup quick oats
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup finely chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Mash the banana in a large bowl and then add the remaining wet ingredients and whisk until well combined.
3. Add the oatmeal and allow it to sit while you combine your dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
4. Add in 3/4 cup of the walnuts (reserve some to sprinkle on top)
5. Using a large spatula, fold the wet and dry ingredients together just until the dry ingredients no longer visible.
6. Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray and divide the batter evenly between them.
7. Sprinkle with the remaining walnuts and bake about 30 minutes or until toothpick tests clean and they are nicely browned.
8. Allow to cool a few minutes and then let them finish cooling on a cooking rack.



Scalloped Potatoes

Like most recipes, I've adapted or don't cook it exactly the same every time, but the original recipe comes from the Old Mennonite Treasury.

Ingredients:

• 6 - 7 large russet potatoes
• 1 onion
• 1 can cream of mushroom
• 1 cup milk
• salt and pepper
• paprika

Method:

1. Peel and thinly slice potatoes and onion
2. Mix soup and milk, blending well
3. Arrange half of the potatoes in a buttered dish. Shake some salt and pepper all over.Top with onion and pour 2/3 of the soup mix evenly over top.
4. Arrange the rest of the potatoes, a little salt and pepper and the rest of the soup. Sprinkle with paprika.
5. Cover dish and bake at 375 F for 60 - 90 minutes. If you like the top a bit crispy, remove cover for final 15-30  minutes. Although the potatoes may be done in 1 hour, I like to put them in a bit ahead of time, just in case. There is nothing like waiting for potatoes to get done, and they taste better when they are cooked longer. You can always just cover and let them sit for 15 minutes before serving.

Spicy Ranch Chicken

This is a very simple crock pot chicken recipe that only takes 3 ingredients.

1 Whole Chicken with majority of skin removed
2 cups prepared Ranch Dressing
1 – 10 oz. can of Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies

Spray crock pot with Pam. Pour 1 cup of the Ranch dressing in bottom of crock pot. Place whole chicken, breast side down, on the dressing. Pour the other cup of dressing on top of the chicken. Top with the can of diced tomatoes and chilies.

Cook on high for 1 hour and lower heat to low and cook for 4-5 more hours.

Remove the chicken and cut into pieces discarding any gristle and loose bones. Whisk the sauce remaining in the crock pot. Place chicken back into sauce. I served this with prepared rice and it was tasty without any need for more seasoning. You can serve some good hearty bread and a green vegetable with it to make a balanced meal.



Notes: If Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies aren’t available where you live any canned chopped tomatoes with chilies will work. Rotel has an extra spicy kick to it that we enjoy. If you’d like the sauce to be more gravy like you could add your favorite thickener to the sauce.

Cheese Straws

I have had these tasty little treats elsewhere...but recently made them up at home.  They are quick to make and make a great addition to a buffet table...alongside other appetizers. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup butter, grated
• 1/2 cup ice-cold water

 
Method:

1. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper (or grease).
2. Combine flour, baking powder, cayenne pepper, salt,  grated cheese and butter.
3. Mix until well combined.
4. Add water, a little at a time to form a stiff dough.
5. On floured surface, roll out dough to about 1/4" thickness. (Work with half the pastry at a time.)
6. Cut sticks into about 6" lengths, using a pizza cutter or sharp knife.
7. Arrange pieces on the baking sheet.
8. Bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes, or until the straws are crisp and golden in colour.
9. Yield: about 5 dozen straws.

Enjoy!

Bread For the Journey

 

We just finished celebrating Mother's Day!
I went alone last Sunday to church reflecting and pondering...
When I was just a tiny gal, I remembered people wearing flowers.
A white flower meant that your mother had past away
A red flower meant that your mother was living...
I looked around in church, gathering glimpses of their  faces,
and wondering what color flowers would represent the lives of these women.

Little did I know about life's journeys at that age.
My heart wrenched and started aching as I sat in church and thought of
so many families that have experienced painful relationships.
A life of separation...
the hurt...
the pain...

What if you are not in a position to be a mother?

Some are struggling with infertility.

Some have difficult relationships.

Some mother's are grieving the loss of a child, or a loved one.

Many women don't have the ideal family situation.

Mother's Day can bring along guilt, especially when compared to other women.

So many women struggling with pain, guilt and feelings of inadequacy.

How do we experience a fresh start and begin to have HOPE again?

Even if we don't get what we are hoping for in this lifetime,
have you made the decision to still trust, obey, honor and worship God
even if nothing changes?
Even if there is no "happily ever after"?

But I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. 

For salvation comes from him alone.

Yes, he alone is my rock, my rescuer, defense and fortress:

Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?

My protection and success come from God alone.

He is my refuge, a Rock, where no enemy can reach me.

Psalm 62: 5-7. Living Bible

 We may never know how God will redeem a situation for us.
We may never know all the ways in which God can give value
out of a traumatic circumstance or experience,
but we do know that by sharing our stories we can
strengthen, inspire  and encourage each other,
and we do know that we are no longer held captive by hurtful treatment,
but are released to follow an unchanging God, our Rock. 

"Our broken lives are not lost or useless.
God's love is still working.  He comes in and takes the calamity
and uses it victoriously working out his wonderful plan of love."
Eric Liddell

Forever Onion Greens

My daughter recently commented to me, "Mom, have you heard of forever onion greens yet?"
My curiosity aroused I answered her in the negative and waited for her explanation.

This is obviously for those of us who are not blessed with our own vegetable gardens or a trick saved for cold winter months, but I learned that a bunch of onion greens can keep on giving long after they would  if we keep  doing what we usually do  -- put them in the crisper drawer of our refrigerator until they are either used them up or thrown  out.

Instead, you will find that your onion greens if placed in a glass of water (with a little added sugar)  will just keep on growing !
Somewhat sceptical I pulled out a bunch of onion greens that had been in my fridge for probably a week and stuck them in water and placed the glass near a window but not direct sun.
To my amazement stocks started to grow, and grow quickly !  I could literally see them grow !

Keep picking them  off as you need them -- change the water if it gets cloudy and add a little fresh sugar!

I had to think of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with two loaves and five fishes --  and then the miraculous 12 baskets of left overs!
I'm not sure you will get 12 baskets of left overs from one purchased bunch of onion greens ... but... I suppose it depends on how green your thumb is !  smile