Monday, September 26, 2011

Fried Green Tomatoes not just a movie...

So I was sitting here trying to think about what to write, when it came to me. Fried Green Tomatoes. Not only was this an excellent movie, but it is a VERY yummy snack or side dish. I have come to find sense I moved tot he southern areas of the stats that I LOVE Cajun and southern food. Fried green Tomatoes being one of my favorites along side Shrimp Creole. The thought of it is making me want to take a trip to the Gumbo Pot  in New Orleans.  So this made me think I should share this wonderful recipe with the rest of you to try out.

 Fried Green Tomatoes
3 medium firm Green tomatoes
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup white cornmeal
1cup butter milk
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste

Slice the green tomatoes in thick slices and set to the side. Add 1 cup oil to skillet and get hot.  Whisk 1 egg and butter milk together. Set the Flour and corn meal in two separate dishes add salt and pepper to the cornmeal.. Dunk the tomato in to the egg and butter milk mixture then into the flout then back into the butter milk mixture , then in to the corn meal. Place in skillet and cook till golden brown bout 2 to 3 minutes a side.

It is amazing to me something so simple can taste so amazing and delicious. The combination of the light crunch cornmeal crust with the tangy green tomato is the perfect flavor combination , I have a hard time just eating one of these. These are definitely a family favorites around here :) I hope you all enjoy these as much as me and my family do have an amazing day!!


Brooke Rochelle

Friday, September 23, 2011

What's your Kitchen Bible?

So I as, I was making my coffee this morning I was thinking to myself every cook has one or two cook book that are like there Kitchen Bible.  That cook book you always find yourself searching for when you need just one more recipe. I have to admit up until a few ,month ago mine was the Joy of Cooking. The Joy of cooking has always been near and dear to me, because it was the one cook book I remember from my child hood in my Grandma, Moms and Aunt houses. When my mother passed away three years ago, I asked my Step Dad for her copy of The Joy of Cooking , which was from 1980 and held allot of sentimental value to me. So if you had to ask me what My Kitchen bible was it is The Joy of Cooking, because lets be honest here cooking should bring a sense of joy and happiness to you and the people you get to share it with..

This was my Mom's Cook book .


Another cook book that has become like a staple in my kitchen is 1001 Delicious  Diabetic recipes. This book has so many awesome recipes in it. I have not gotten the chance to try them all , but I am looking forward to testing them out here and there. I have to say the recipes I have tried I have loved. They have an amazing banana Bread Recipe that I may have to share with you all at some point. When i was first diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes I thought it was the end of my food life until my husband found this book for me, and I met my nutritionist. It's nice to know there is still good  healthy food out there that is not boring and pre-packaged. Honestly I think in away having to change how I eat has brought about a whole new love and adventure in food for me and I love that.


This Book Rocks!

Now I do stumble upon and come up with several of my own recipes, and I find recipe boxes just aren't my thing. For awhile I was just using a three ring binder till one day last October while My family and I where visiting New Orleans, We stumbled upon a cute little cooking store in the French Quarter where I found the neat recipe holder and it was everything I was looking for. It was a three ring binder, with a measurement chart break down on the inside cover several dividers and pockets for cards and recipe sheets. let me tell you if don't have one you need to find one, they are an amazing way to save family recipes and one  you find allot the way. These three book are where I go when I need inspiration for something to cook.





Love This book and it is something I can pass on to my son.






The last place I find myself looking when I can't find what I need in these three books, is the Internet. I have found so many awesome recipes out there. there are some really awesome websites out there and you can find just about anything  and  all the information you need to go along with it. I will list a few of the sites I use below for you so that  you can check them out yourself.
Cooks.com
Allrecipes.com
Epicurious

I guess this is all for now. I will see you all Monday, as I have a busy weekend ahead of me and a chili I need to get making. have a wonderful and amazing weekend !



Brooke Rochelle

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Why have a Carrot when you can have Carrot Cake :)

So I recently found a recipe for carrot cake and decided to alter it sum and ended up coming out with a kick butt carrot cake muffin :) so I figured me being in the sharing mood I would share. The thing that surprised me about this is that it is low fat and low sugar and my Husband (who can eat anything and still look amazing ) Loves them.  So here is Brooke Carrot Cake Muffin recipe Enjoy !!!



1 cup Egg beaters Egg substitute (you can use store brand Substitute they tend to be cheaper)
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
1 cup Splenda Brown sugar
2 cups All purpous  flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
1/4 tsp. all spice
1 tsp  vanilla
3 cups grated carrots ( I prefer to use baby carrots, but any will work)

Beat eggs, mix with oil, then sugar. Combine dry ingredients then mix all together. Add grated carrots .

Bake in light cup cake pan  ( you can use cupcake papers, but I tend to just use cooking spray in them) Fill them about to 3/4 the way full and bake at 350°F for about 25-30 minutes (depends on pan used) or until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out nearly clean.




I hope you enjoy this recipes as much as my family has!! Have a great day .


Brooke Rochelle

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Welcome to My New blog :)

       My son Justin started pre K at the end of August, so I have found myself with a lot of free time on my hands. I can only clean my house so many times in one week, lol. So I decided to try this Blogging thing and see how it worked out for me. I tend to be a scattered brained blogger hopping from one random topic to another which I am sure people will either find annoying or entertaining, I am hoping they find it more entertaining.

      I guess I will use this blog to tell you all a little about myself. I am married to a Staff Sargent in the Army, we have been married  10 years this coming December. I have been lucky to have him with me the last few years. We are currently stationed in Fort Hood Texas, it is our third time here and also the place that we met and married. For the most part I love being an Army wife, I am proud of the job that my husband does serving our country. We have a 4 year old son named Justin , he just started pre k in August, and he loves School. This was I think more of an adjustment for me then him., because as much as he drove me crazy most days while he was home with me , I did love having him home.

     As far as for me, I love to cook, play video games, write, draw, paint, do photography, read , and just have fun. Food is a big part of my life, I attended the culinary Arts program at Columbia Basin Job Corps when I was 18, and I loved it, but I had always loved cooking ever sense I was young at my Grandma side. I attend School for a year before I graduated and started cooking in a few small restaurants and Guest Ranch, and a few bakeries I moved around allot from 18 to 23 . When I met my husband and as they say the rest is History. Now even though I never perused a culinary Career I still love to cook.  There is so much amazing food out there, and so much stuff you can do with it. i am always looking for new recipes to try on my family, especially sense I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I have found a healthier and new and yummy way of cooking. I have to admit when I first found out I thought I was never going to get to eat anything I loved every again, As I am a bread lover especially sour dough, but I was wrong ! There are so many good things out there that are healthy and good for you and taste amazing you just have to know where to look.  I recently found a delicious Carrot Cake recipe that I will share with you later on, and I am always on the look for new foods!


       I am looking forward to my adventures and sharing them with all of you . Here is a picture I took of my son this last weekend I love how it turned out , he was wearing his daddy hat and he looked so much like him.  Well time for another cup of coffee and some web surfing, you all have an amazing day!!

Justin Michael

Sincerely,
Brooke Rochelle