Main Dish Monday - no, wait - it's Thursday

We like to post a Main Dish Monday recipe on Sundays so that you have time to go out and get the ingredients needed in order to actually make that dish on a Monday.

The BEST Velvety Cheesy Quiche

Here's the Recipe

Last post was December 10th.  That evening I took my husband to the hospital and well, it's a long story but we just finished up iv antibiotics yesterday.  We have more CT scans, blood work, oncologist appointments, and all the etc. that is a part of cancer.  Next week we will know which chemo treatment he'll begin - again.

One of the prevalent feelings is the lack of control.  This is not the direction we want to go and we can't seem to find a way to get a detour through the dark valley.  But there is One Who promises that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, there's no need to fear any evil because He is with us.  So, even if I can't control all the terrible things I see happening to my husband, I know that God is with us.  He says He hears our prayers and He bottles all our tears.  Couldn't make it without Him.

But He's also blessed us with the best family and friends.  They are always there to help, to hug, to text words of love and encouragement.  What a huge blessing - they help carry this heavy burden.  Couldn't make it without them.

Video of my pirate husband on his boat in May

I adore him a little too much for my own good. 

The man is a former military officer - he does not allow tears.  So, that has to happen alone.  He said, "Baby, where is your faith? I will walk through this; even if no one else has, then I will be the first."  And then he played this horrible song for me....cracked me up:  Don't Cry for Louie

In Case You Didn't Know by Brett Young

It is a simple matter to make a meal and sit at the table with your family but it is one of the vital elements for a happy, loving life.  If you have the opportunity to choose between drive-thru eaten in the SUV and homemade potato soup around the table - choose that which allows you to look your loved ones in the eyes and gives you time to let them know what a treasure they are to you.  Life is short; way too short. 

And to the doctor who said twice today, "The prognosis isn't good."  What the hell does she know?  We didn't ask her opinion nor for her prognosis.  We just keep moving forward as always.

  

Main Dish Monday! Chicken and Dumplings

Today's Main Dish Monday recipe comes from our dear friend, Kristen.  We've been best friends with Kristen for many, many years now, and one of the things she is most famous for is her cooking!  The girl can make the tastiest meals and the prettiest cakes you've ever seen!  She even hunts for her own meat!  What can't she do?!  Anyway, when I was marrying Christopher, I had a bridal shower and all of the ladies brought me their favorite recipes so that I could keep my man happy once married.  Kristen gave me the recipe for her simple and delicious chicken and dumplings.  She knows what a picky eater he is, so she kept this one basic!  I added a few extra spices while I was making it this time, but trust me, it's good as is!!

I can remember the first time I ever spent time in the kitchen with Kristen.  We were in high school and decided we wanted to cook a meal for our boyfriends.  Up until this point, I specialized in grilled cheese and tomato soup, spaghetti, and occasionally pancakes and scrambled eggs.  Kristen, however, cooked fancy and delicious meals!  She put me in charge of dessert, so I set out to follow her recipe for peanut butter pie.  I got it all done and put it in the fridge so it could cool.  That was about the time that Kristen discovered that I forgot to add in the powdered sugar!  HAHAHA!  Don't worry, it was still tasty!  When it was time to sit down and eat, Kristen asked me to grab the wine opener so we could enjoy a glass of nonalcoholic wine (we were teenagers!).  I happily obliged and brought her what I thought was the corkscrew.  My parents never drank wine, so I don't think we even owned one!  She died laughing when I handed her a GARLIC PRESS to open our "wine!"  We still crack up at that story and Michelle and I love to tell it at our cooking classes!  I've come a long way in the kitchen since those days, and am happy to report that I know the difference between a corkscrew and a garlic press, and I haven't forgotten the sugar in my peanut butter pie since that day!  The three of us often say that we are so very grateful for our friendship and we thank the Lord for stories like those!  We've been friends for about 13 years and even though we live in different states now, we still talk via text message every single day!  It is a wonderful and special thing to have friends that teach you new things, make memories with you, and pray for you on a daily basis. 

Alright - Back to the dumplins'!!

I started off by boiling the chicken breasts, but you could definitely bake them if you prefer. 

                            

Once boiled, go ahead and chop them up and set aside.

Next, mix the flour and Crisco with your hands until it gets crumbly.  Add water until is a dough consistency.  Roll out and cut into strips to form the dumplings.

  

                                    

Warm up your cream of chicken soup in a pan and then add your dumplings.  Stir this up, then add your chicken chunks.  Add salt and pepper to taste. 

This is where you can add whatever spices you'd like.  I added some parsley and garlic powder (who doesn't love garlic?!), and threw in some cooked carrots as well.

Attachments area

Main Dish Monday! Holiday Diet Damage Control

It’s Main Dish Monday! 

This week’s Monday night family dinner recipe comes from Michelle.  These are three easy salads you can make to lighten up the calories after Thanksgiving!   The next month will be full of tempting sweets - remember to only have one and pull yourself away from more to keep from gaining the December Ten!  Enjoy your time around the table with your family!

Link to recipe: Chicken Club Salad

Link to video:  Easy Main Dish Salads

Shopping List:

Baby spring mix

Apple cider vinegar

Extra virgin olive oil

Mayonnaise

Sour cream

Garbanzo beans

Grilled chicken

Cilantro

Salsa

Various cheeses

Various vegetables

Various toppings

Main Dish Monday! Velvety Cheesy Quiche

It’s Main Dish Monday! 

This week’s Monday night family dinner recipe comes from both Marah and Michelle.  This is our family recipe for velvety cheese quiche and it sure is delicious!    With this as a main dish, we like to serve a light salad to complete the meal – enjoy your time around the table with your family!

Link to recipe:  Velvety Cheesy Quiche Recipe

Link to video:  Velvety Cheesy Quiche Tutorial

Shopping List:

Butter - salted

Flour

Eggs

Quart of whole milk

Pint of heavy whipping cream

Smoked Gouda cheese -  1lb

White cheddar cheese – ½ lb

Salt, pepper, dry mustard, smoked chipotle pepper

Main Dish Monday! Cream of Potato Soup

It’s Main Dish Monday!  

This week’s Monday night family dinner recipe comes from Michelle.  This is her recipe for Cream of Potato Soup that she has been making for the last thirty years.  (Still no heart attack although this is heart attack worthy!) 

The weather has turned chilly and tiny bits of snowflakes were seen yesterday when I was walking to Marah's house.  While she is in Daytona with her two favorite fellas on the planet, I am dog-sitting my grandpup, Lucy Girl.  The leaves are falling even before they've turned much color and the wind carries that first bite that says it won't be long until winter arrives.  I love it!  Fur coat weather is on the way, Baby! 

I didn't have any potatoes and Marah didn't have any I could "borrow" so I made homemade butternut squash soup....so delicious.  I will have to post that recipe.  It's made with rosemary and just a little bit of nutmeg...MMM! 

However, this soup is perfect for fall weather!  As a main dish, you may want to serve this with some French baguette, tangy cheese, and  a light salad to complete your meal – enjoy your time around the table with your family!

Link to recipe:  Cream of Potato Soup Recipe
Link to video:  The Classy Pearl - What We're All About

Shopping List:
Butter - salted
Flour
Quart of whole milk
Pint of heavy whipping cream
Smoked Gouda cheese -  1lb
White cheddar cheese – ½ lb
Salt, pepper, dry mustard, smoked chipotle pepper

Upcoming Cooking Classes!

We are so excited about our upcoming November cooking classes!  Thanksgiving is one of our favorite family holidays and we go all out on the meal preparation.  

We will offer one class in early November (the date is still not quite fixed) which will be completely focused on Thanksgiving dinner recipes.  For the last 20 years I have used Martha Stewart's Thanksgiving Day Planner.  I generally stick to the same recipes but sometimes I do mix it up.  I love to set the table the night before Thanksgiving - the tablecloth and dinner napkins are starched and ironed...yeah, I'm THAT person!  Marah and I are happy to share our favorite recipes and help you choose a menu that will be sure to impress your loved ones!  My personal challenge each year is making sure the slurry for the homemade gravy smooths out and the lumps disappear - sometimes I get there and other times we have lumpy, yet tasty, turkey gravy!  Marah has THE best pumpkin cheesecake recipe and we'll beg her to include that!

P.S.  It is time to order your fresh, free-range, gourmet turkey!  We have ordered ours from Bowman & Landes for thirty years.....you just can't settle for less once you buy the best!

Memories....last year we all played a hilarious charade-like game!  We love our family!!!  

The other class we are going to offer is a one for the kids!  Our last kids' cooking class was a ton of fun cooking the entire meal outdoors.  This class will focus on a sugar cookie that is sturdy enough for cut-outs and perfect for adding icing! 

 

We're still working on the details but we'll get the information posted as soon as we can!  

Meanwhile....

These three headed to Florida for Ivan's 7th birthday!

Main Dish Monday! Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese

t’s Main Dish Monday!

This week’s Monday night family dinner recipe comes from both Marah and Michelle - the smokin’ hot, cheesy mess of Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese!    .  One of us usually makes this recipe for special events when we are going whole-hog-wild anyway!  This dish can be your main event or a hearty side dish.  There is enough cheese in this to satisfy some protein seekers but perhaps a huge salad with grilled chicken breast would help to complete your meal– enjoy your time around the table with your family!

Link to recipe:  Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese

Link to video: Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese Tutorial


Shopping List:
16 oz pasta - wagon wheel, farfalle, orzo, penne, elbow - any will work
butter
whole milk
heavy whipping cream
flour
Smoked Gouda cheese
aged cheddar cheese
dry mustard
Panko crumbs
smoked chipotle pepper
onion powder