Non-Commercial Micro Popcorn

This is sooo funny. Our friends Ben and Molly tried it one time when we were at their house-- but just kernels in a bowl with a paper towel over the top-- it worked, but not very "clean." Popcorn doesn't seem to be intimidated by a paper towel for some strange reason.

So when I saw THIS linked on Tammy's Kitchen Tip Tuesdays for making micro popcorn in brown paper bags, I knew I had to check it out. I will update you when I try it! Pretty exciting, considering Costco sells popcorn in a big bag that would be MUCH cheaper than buying the little bags.

Yeah! :-)

Easy Corn Chowder

This is a Pampered Chef recipe that I have adapted for our family-- My hubby loves it! He says to put a double batch on the menu every week!

Easy Corn Chowder

2 med unpeeled red potatos
1 cup cubed cooked ham
1/2 cup diced red pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 t butter/marg
2 T all purpose flour
1 can chicken broth
1 can fat free evaporated milk
1 can creamed corn
2 T sliced chives
salt and pepper to taste
crumbled bacon topping

Cut Potatos into 1/2 inch cubes, set aside with ham, celery and peppers.

Heat butter in medium saucepan over med heat. Add peppers and celery; cook 3-4 minutes while stirring, until crisp tender. Stir in flour, heat until bubbly. Gradually add broth, evaporated milk and corn, whisking until blended.

Add potatos; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cook uncovered 10 min or until potatos are tender. Stir in ham, heat through. Remove from heat, add chives, season w/ salt & pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with bacon.

My adaptations: I don't use the chives. I did the first time, but buying them from the store is too expensive. I may pick up some dried also... I am trying to adapt it for the crockpot- but the first time it burned it, although it tasted fine, and the second time it was too runny. So, a work in progress :-) I also just cooked it with the bacon because we didn't have any ham, and that was pretty good, but we definitely like the ham flavor better.

If anyone has any suggestions for adapting to crockpot cooking, I would love to hear them!

Kitchen Tip Tuesdays- What to do with those extra tomatoes?

I love those little grape tomatoes, especially the big cheap container at Costco! But, sometimes (not often!) we don't get through them fast enough before they start to get a little funk to their taste.

Last time, I decided whip out my food dehydrator and dry them. So I did! And now I have a little container of my own homemade "sundried tomatoes," only they aren't sundried. shhhh! Don't tell! They taste the same, I promise!

I sliced them in quarters, laid them out on their skins, and dried them. I store them dry in my pantry. I have not had any complaints so far, but I am curious... Should I be storing them in olive oil or something? If I do, should they be in the fridge? They are pretty crispy now, but I put them in foods that allow for some rehydration before consumption.

Thanks for any advice on my advice!

Kitchen Tip Tuesdays: Beer Bread Recipe

This is one of my favorites-- and it is REALLY easy to make!!! We have this restaurant that makes the most awesome beer bread... I was talking about it one day at work and this guy says, "Hey, I have a really good recipe in my Bachelor's Cookbook." He proceeded to share it with me, and I will forever and ever be oh-so-grateful.

Here you go: Yummy Yummy Beer Bread

3 cups self rising flour
3 T sugar
1 12oz beer
approximately 1 cube butter

Mix flour with sugar, add beer and stir. Butter loaf pan, then melt butter. Place dough in pan; pour melted butter all over the top. Bake at 375* for 1 hour.

This bread is fabulous with soups or salads. It is very heavy and makes a good addition to a comfort food meal. I even stocked up on beer when I found it on clearance last summer at Safeway. The sad part was that I was totally embarassed when I ran into someone from Bible Study on my way out, with the entire bottom of my cart loaded down with beer!

Kitchen Tip Tuesdays: If you're in the market...

Ok, so my post is not the most frugal, but it is definitely one of my best investments in my kitchen. It has everything to do with ease in the kitchen. These are my pans.

I bought them about 4-5 years ago, and have loved them ever since.
Just in case you can't read this, they are Ameriware Professional cookware. I will start off with - no, they are not cheap. But they are not any more than any other "high quality" cookware set either. However, they are better than anything I have ever used. They are non-stick to the core! To clean, you take a wet paper towel (or wash rag) and wipe them out. I am not even kidding! NO SCRUBBING! This is the description from Costco.com (where I bought mine)

Ameriware® Professional Cookware is commercial grade and American made. It features the Pro Series plus Ti-2® nonstick system. This three-layer system is internally reinforced with ceramic and titanium. This is the most durable nonstick system available and comes with a 25 year warranty. Approved for use with metal utensils, Ameriware® Professional Cookware is nonstick inside and out and is NSF approved. Commercial grade tri-riveted, nickel-plated steel handles are oven proof to 500F/260C.


Did you catch that? The warranty is for 25 years. Yes, that is Twenty Five Years.

I have purchased these for wedding gifts and been thanked many times over! My sister-in-law says she uses it every day, and when she has to use different pan, she sits at the sink washing it, wondering aloud "Why won't you come clean already?"

Anyway, I wanted to share these with everyone- not so you would go out and buy some, but so that next time you are in the market, you will know which way to jump so you are never in the market again. Oh, and by the way, as far as I have seen, Costco is the way to go to purchase these. They have their own fantastic return policy, plus their prices were at least 25% cheaper than the "home show guy." The main set is $400; I think it had 12 pieces.