Opening Day Caramel Corn

 It’s the Tigers home opener this week.

This is great while watching the game or anytime.

Enjoy!

5 - 6 qt. pre popped popcorn

2 c. brown sugar packed

1/2 c. white corn syrup 

1 c. (2 sticks) butter

1 tsp. each: salt, baking soda, vanilla extract 

Preheat oven to 250’ F.

Pop popcorn and place popped popcorn in a roasting pan, set aside.

Heat pot over medium heat. 

Add brown sugar, butter and corn syrup to pan. 

Bring pan to a boil for 5 min., make sure to stir.

Remove from heat: add salt, vanilla and baking soda.

Pour mixture over the popcorn and stir to coat well.

Place roaring pan in oven.

Bake for 40 min or until done, stir a few times.

When finished cooking, remove popcorn carefully from oven and place on counter to cool. 

Serves 10.

Cherry Blossom Fluff

Spring can mean many things to many people.

One sign of spring is the blossoming of the national cherry trees in DC.

This is a great recipe whether you’re celebrating spring, the cherry trees in bloom, Easter, Passover or anytime.

I used non dairy prepared whipped cream but you can use what whipped cream you like.

1 carton (1c.) prepared whipped cream

1 can cherry pie filling

3/4 c. shredded coconut 

Open can of cherry pie filling.

In a clean bowl combine ingredients, mix well.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in fridge until ready to serve.

Serves 6.

Prayers For Mississippi

 Prayers, thoughts, peace for everybody dealing with the aftermath of the tornados in Mississippi and Alabama.

The tornados devastated many and left residents with homes damaged, lives lost and towns devastated.

On the left side of the website are links to charities that are helping families.

Whatever you can do to help will be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you for helping.

Mad About Buffalo Sauce

This is perfect for watching March Madness, the World Baseball Classic, game day or anytime.

You can adjust the amount of hot sauce used.

1/2 c. (1 stick unsalted butter)

1/8 - 1/3 c. hot sauce

1 clove garlic, crushed, chopped 

1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper

1/8 tsp. vinegar

Pinch red pepper flakes 

Peel, crush and chop garlic.

Heat a saucepan to medium, lower heat to medium low or low.

Combine ingredients in pan and stir sauce with a whisk for 3 - 5 min. or until butter has melted.

Remove pan from heat, let cool for a bit for pouring into a bowl.

Serves 4 - 6.

Red Carpet Ready Shrimp Cocktail

 This is perfect for your Oscar party. or anytime.

I used raw deveined shrimp but you can also use precooked shrimp too.

1 lb. shrimp 
1 lemon: juice and zest
1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 - 2 T. olive oil
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic crushed, chopped 

3/4 c. prepared cocktail sauce

Peel, crush and chop garlic.

Zest lemon, cut lemon in half, set aside.

Combine ingredients in a bowl. 

Squeeze lemon juice over shrimp.

Toss to coat shrimp. Marinate for 15- 30 minutes in refrigerator.

Heat grill pan to medium high heat. 

Lower heat to medium, add shrimp. 

Grill shrimp on one side for 3 - 4 min or until shrimp turns pink. 

Turn shrimp over on other side for 3 - 4 min more or until it turns pink. 

If using precooked shrimp, grill shrimp on each side for 2 - 3 min. or until heated.

Thread shrimp on toothpicks.

Serve with cocktail sauce.

Serves 4

Easy Chicken Sandwich

 This is perfect for lunch or anytime.

4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

3/4 c. flour

1 - 2 eggs

1/8- 1/4 tsp each: salt, pepper

2 - 3 T. olive oil 

4 sandwiches buns

1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper,  granulated garlic 

Pinch of paprika

1 tomato sliced

4 lettuce leaves

1/2 c. mayo

Rinse, slice tomato, set aside. 

Rinse, pat dry lettuce, set aside.

Preheat skillet to medium high heat, lower heat and add some of the oil.

Place buns face down and toast for a couple of minutes , set aside.

In a shallow dish combine: eggs, salt, pepper, garlic, paprika. 

Mix with fork.

Pour flour in a separate dish.

Place chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound with a meat pounder until chicken is thin.

Dredge both sides of chicken in egg.

 Dredge both sides of chicken lightly in flour. Repeat process with remaining chicken. 

Heat skillet to medium high heat, Lower heat to medium, add rest of oil. 

Add chicken to pan and cook on 1 side for 5 - 7 min. 

Flip over and cook chicken on other side for 5 - 7 min or until done.

Remove chicken from skillet and place on serving plate to let rest.

Arrange chicken, lettuce, tomato on bottom half of bun.

Spread mayo on other half of bun and top sandwich.

Serves 4

Flameless Fosters

This is a quick dessert to jazz up your Mardi Gras dinner. 

I used frozen bananas but you can use fresh bananas too.

3 bananas halved

2 - 3 T. butter

1 oz. dark rum

1/4 -  1 tsp. cinnamon (adjust amount desired)

1/2 - 1 T. brown sugar

Peel and cut bananas in half if needed.

Preheat skillet to medium low heat, add butter, cinnamon and sugar.

Lower heat to low, add bananas and very carefully add rum.

Cook for 3 - 5 min or until bananas are heated.

Serves 4