i have to say...

the recipe box swap--your favorite recipe

Welcome to the Recipe Box Swap!  It's "Your Favorite Recipe" day.

Feel free to post your favorite recipe on your blog and then enter the link below.  It's a great way to get some wonderful food ideas and to meet some lovely people.

"Your Favorite Recipe" days are always my favorite!  There is always such a great mix of recipes to choose from, so be sure to go through the links below.

My recipe is a new one that I found in Everyday Food Magazine.  I made some small changes to suit my taste and here it is:

Greek Salad

Ingredients: 1/2 cup chopped red onion, 2 TB fresh lemon juice, 2 TB olive oil, salt and pepper, 1 cucumber peeled and cut into chunks, 1 cup tomatoes chopped, 1/2 cup chopped mozzerella, 1 can chickpeas (rinsed and drained), 1/2 cup olives chopped (I like to use these olives--absolutely wonderful!)

In a bowl combine the onion, lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper.  Let it sit for a few minutes so the flavors can blend.  Add cucumber, tomatoes, cheese, and olives.  Stir and add more salt and pepper if needed.  Serves 4.

This salad is great served with pita chips! 

Enjoy!

just a reminder...

...about the Recipe Box Swap.

It's on Tuesday.

"Your Favorite Recipe" is the theme.  Drinks?  Main Dishes?  Desserts?  Anything goes this time!

Everyone is invited to post their favorite recipe on their own blog and then link up here to exchange the yumminess.

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Hope to see you on Tuesday!

recipe box swap reminder

I wanted to remind you all that this coming Tuesday is the Recipe Box Swap and the theme is "Anything Goes".  Just post your favorite recipe this month!

See you soon!  :)

the recipe box swap--soups and stews

It's time for the Recipe Box Swap! This month's theme is Soups and Stews.

All you need to do is post a recipe on your blog, and then add your link URL and name to the links list at the bottom of this post. If you don't have a picture posted on your blog, don't worry.  You will have a choice of others to choose from (from your own blog). 

Please remember to link your blog post, as opposed to your blog (just click on the title of your post and the URL will be in the address bar at the top of the page.  Copy and paste that in the link list).

My recipe for this month is Chili Verde, also known as Green Chili Stew.  Here in Colorado this is a very popular dish and everyone has their very own version.  Mine is simple and quick (as long as you don't count the simmering time) and it is oh-so-good!  Don't let the "chili" in the title scare you.  These chilies are more flavor than heat.  If someone still doesn't like the chili-ness, just add some sour cream to their bowl.  That always tones down hot foods.

CHILI VERDE: 2-1/2 pounds boneless pork chops, 2 cups chopped onion, 8 cloves garlic, one 16-oz can diced tomatoes, 4 large green chilies roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped (you could also use 2 small cans of Ortega chopped green chilies), 4 chicken boulillon cubes.

In a small amount of oil,brown the pork chops.  Add the onions and garlic and saute for 3 minutes.  Your house will smell great at this point!  Add the tomatoes, chilies, bouillon cubes and water to just barely cover everything.

Now you get to do the easy part: bring the pot to a low simmer (tiny bubbles at the most, no boiling) and leave it for about 2 hours while you do whatever you want.

All you need to do at this point is to take out the pork chops and shred them.  Put them back in the pot and salt and pepper to taste.  Serve with warm corn tortillas.

You can easily double or triple this recipe to freeze.  It only gets better with time.

Your family will love this one!

I look forward to checking out your recipes!

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i have those nifty code boxes now!

A serious "thank you" goes out to Jennifer who was kind enough to send me the code for these cool boxes.  She said she couldn't let me go on with the html splattered in my posts anymore.  :)

There is one code box for the post graphic (large photo) and one for the sidebar graphic (small photo).

Thanks so much, Jennifer!

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/" _mce_href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap.jpg" _mce_src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap.jpg" border="0" alt="swap blogpost"></a></center>

 

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just a reminder...

...about the Recipe Box Swap.

It's on Tuesday.

Soups and Stews in the theme.

Everyone is invited to post their favorite recipe on their own blog and then link up here to exchange the yumminess.

Here are the codes for the graphics ( I wish I knew how to post one of those nifty little code boxes!):

The code for the post graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap.jpg" border="0" alt="swap blogpost"></a>

The code for a sidebar graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap-1.jpg" border="0" alt="swap sidebar"></a>

I hope to see you here!

 

the recipe box swap

Welcome to May's Recipe Box Swap!   This month's theme is no-theme at all, meaning you get to post any recipe that suits your fancy!

If you would like to join in, simply post your favorite recipe on your own blog and then add the  post URL to the auto-link at the bottom of this post.  That makes it easy for people to find you and your yummy recipe!

My family loves pancakes and I love berry syrup.  When I found blackberries on sale this week for $1.00 per container I decided to see if I could make syrup.  It worked and it tasted great!  My only regret is that when I went back to buy tons more of the berries, the sale was over.   I was a bit crushed!  Next time I will buy extra so that I can freeze them for syrup-making.
Super Yummy Pancakes
(The pancake recipe was inspired by one found on this website.)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/2 C. buttermilk
4 T. butter, melted
1 t. vanilla
2 C. flour
2 t. sugar
1 T. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt

Preheat griddle. Melt butter and set aside to cool. In a small bowl, mix eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla.

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients. Add melted butter and mix just until blended. Do not over mix.

Using a large spoon or ladle, pour batter onto buttered griddle.  Flip once, when pancake begins to brown. Serve warm with syrup.

Serves: 4 to 6.

Berry Sauce/Syrup
Two 10-oz containers of fresh berries (I used blackberries)
Sugar to taste

Place berries in a saucepan and sprinkle with sugar (start with 1/4 to 1/2 cup).  Let sit for about 20 minutes until you see that the berries are starting to get juicy.  Turn heat on to medium-high until the berries start to boil.  Adjust the heat so that the berries continue to boil and let them cook for about 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens (stir frequently).  Mash berries with a masher or a fork.  Serve warm over pancakes or ice cream. 

Your family will love this in the morning! 

Happy cooking!

the recipe box swap---on thursday

It is that time again!  The Recipe Box Swap is this Thursday, May 7th.  This time the theme is, well, no theme at all!  This means that you get to post anything you want to post.  If you are craving it, post it!

On Thursday I will be posting a favorite recipe here on my blog and I invite you to do the same on your blog. I will provide an auto-link at the bottom of my post so that you can leave your post URL and others can visit and see what you have cookin'.

The code for the graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap.jpg" border="0" alt="swap blogpost"></a>

The code for a sidebar graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap-1.jpg" border="0" alt="swap sidebar"></a>

Everyone is invited!

I hope to see you on Thurday!

the recipe box swap

Welcome to April's Recipe Box Swap!  Today it is all about PASTA!

If you would like to join in, simply post your favorite pasta recipe on your own blog and then add the  post URL to the auto-link at the bottom of this post.  That makes it easy for people to find you and your yummy recipe!

We eat lots of pasta here in our house.  It is inexpensive, easy to prepare and kids love it. 

A number of years ago I stopped by a friend's house and she was busy cooking dinner. Since it smelled and looked so good I copied her recipe and made it that night.   It is now one of our favorites and the best part is that it is simple to make.

Sausage and Peppers
***The original recipe only calls for the peppers, but I like to add the mushrooms and onions

One 16 oz. package thin spaghetti (I use whole wheat)
12 oz. Italian Sausage (I use turkey sausage)
3 medium peppers--two red, one green
1/2 onion, sliced
8 oz. package mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup beef broth
salt and pepper to taste
a sprinkling of oregano
a small amount of oil
parmesan cheese

Cook the spaghetti according to package directions.  Add a couple of tablespoons to a large skillet and cook the sausages until almost done (10-15 minutes) over medium-high heat.  Add the veggies.  Cook until the veggies start to soften just a little bit.  Add the broth, salt, pepper and oregano and cook for 5 minutes.  Serve the veggies and sausage over the pasta and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Happy eating!

the recipe box swap---on thursday

This Thursday, April 2nd, is the Recipe Swap and my crafty friend, Anna, has been nice enough to pick the theme:  Pasta!  Whether you call them noodles, macaroni or pasta, I know we all make a lot of this stuff and it is just plain good.

If you would like to join in on Thursday, pick your best pasta recipe and post it on your own blog.  Then add your post URL to the auto-link that will be at the bottom of my post.  That way people can visit and see what you have cookin' over at your place.

The recipes shared here each week have are wonderful and you are sure to find something that you love.

The code for the graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap.jpg" border="0" alt="swap blogpost"></a>

The code for a sidebar graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap-1.jpg" border="0" alt="swap sidebar"></a>

I hope to see you on Thursday!