Operation Desert Fox Cookies

When my husband and I were first married he served in the Air Force.  And he was deployed around the world A LOT.  As in 65% of the year A LOT.  So I stayed up all night, watched CNN to try and see what was going on in his world and baked goodies for him all day.  I am proud to say I am a Care Package Expert.  Little Devil and I mailed Daddy a package every other day.  In between we mailed him a letter or post card.  The idea was he would get some kind of mail every day.  It didn't always work out that way.  Sometimes he would get two weeks worth of mail at once.  Sometime he would never get it at all.   But the packages that he did get, he truly treasured.  We sent him all sorts of things.  From baked goodies to love letters.  I named these cookies Operation Southern Watch/Operation Desert Fox Cookies after the mission he was serving on.  Talk about a cookie that travels well!  They're almost like a banana bread cookie, and the addition of coconut and raisins keeps them super moist all the way around the world.  Perfect for your soldier, camper, or college student.  My best friend's little brother is currently serving in Afghanistan.  When her 10-year old daughter and I decided to make Uncle Matthew some cookies, I had just the recipe.  They should withstand the APO/FPO mail system and be moist and tasty when Uncle Matthew receives them. 

Operation Desert Fox Cookies

The Line-Up
(Don't be scared, it's mostly fillings like
nuts and raisins)

Cream together shortening and brown sugar.

Add egg.

Add dry ingredients that have been
sifted together.

Add mashed bananas.

Stir in coconut.

Add oats.

Don't forget raisins and chocolate chips.

Last but not least, the pecans.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a
lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake until light golden brown,
about 12 minutes.

Pack in an air-tight bag
and cushion with bubble wrap.

God Bless Our Troops
for
keeping us safe.

The Devilish Dish~Why I'm taking a Hiatus...

I'm going to be away from blogging for a bit, and I wanted to fill all of you in so no one thinks I've fallen off the face of the earth.  (Although we currently have tornadoes and earthquakes going on at the same time here in Oklahoma so it's entirely possible.) 

You may or may not have heard me talk about the auto accident I was in almost two years ago.  I was less than 2 miles from my house.  An obviously distracted 20 year old girl failed to yield and turned out in front of me.  I was driving a large SUV and she was in a small car.  To give you an idea of the magnitude of the crash, ALL of the airbags in my vehicle deployed and I was the only occupant of the vehicle.  When I kind of "came to" and realized what had happend through all of the smoke, and powder from airbags, a kind lady who happened to be a nurse was at my window, along with two very kind college-aged boys.  My first reaction was to get out of my car and check on the other driver, but my right knee wouldn't move. 

(WARNING:  If you're easily grossed out, it's time to stop reading.) 

In fact it wouldn't bend at all because the knee cap was sticking out of my pants.  The skin wasn't broken, it was just this very weird, very not-supposed to be there bump.  Of course I was crying from pain, but mostly I was crying because I wanted my husband.  The young men were kind enough to move my seat back to get me away from the dashboard and steering wheel, and the nurse tended to my cuts and abrasions and tried to calm me down.  Then the boys looked allover my vehicle and gathered up the contents of my purse that had scattered everywhere.  Finally, they found my cell phone.  The nurse took charge, grabbed my phone, calmly explained the situation to my husband and in about 12 seconds flat he was at my window. 


Now I've told you before my hubby is a guy's guy.  He's always been an athlete, and had his fair share of sports-related injuries.  He's a very calm, level-headed person.  I've known him since 9th grade.  And when I looked at him he was 94 shades of white and had the collar of his sweatshirt pulled up around his face like he was watching a scary movie.  It was quite an experience being extricated from my car.  The most vivid memory I have of the entire event is looking around as they removed me to a stretcher and seeing smoke and glass everywhere in the headlights.  And the girl that hit me, standing in the street, wrapped in a leopard-print fleece blanket with her mother's arm around her screaming at the top of her lungs, "MY CAR, LOOK AT MY CAR!!!"  She didn't have a scratch on her, and according to the police officer on the scene, she was at fault.  The only other thing I remember before being loaded into the ambulance was my husband's voice yelling, "MY WIFE, LOOK AT MY WIFE!!!"  (He's a man of few words, but they are pretty funny words.)

Autumn Apple & Sausage Quiche

My husband said, "Real men don't eat quiche."  Of course this was while he was warming up the leftovers.  Did I mention he rarely eats leftovers?  I'm not sure what that says about his manhood, but it does say that he really enjoyed it.  Enough to eat it for dinner and lunch again the next day.  It's the perfect balance of savory sausage and sweet-tart apple.  With the holidays around the corner this would be ideal for Thanksgiving or Christmas brunches.  Or just make it for dinner like I did.  Even the "real men" in your family will enjoy it!

Perfect for holiday brunches...

The ingredients

Combine eggs with half and half.
Add mustard and celery seed.
Season with salt and pepper.

Combine shredded cheese with flour,
coating well.  Add to egg mixture.

Stir in chopped parsley.

Place browned sausage in bottom of
pie crust.

Top with onion and apple.

Pour egg and cheese mixture over.

Bake approximately 40 minutes.

Cool 10 minutes before
slicing and serving.

Hasta La Pasta: Meatless & Mexican

I know a lot of people participate in "Meatless Mondays."  Meatless Monday is an international campaign that encourages people not to eat meat on Monday (or at least one day of the week) to improve their health and the health of the planet.  It's not a bad idea at all.  Unless you are married to my husband, who is obviously the old lady from the Wendy's commercials re-incarnated because his favorite phrase is, "Where's the Beef?"  I don't always consciously choose to participate in Meatless Monday or eat vegetarian, but there are a lot of vegetarian dishes that I enjoy.  Trying to convince Mr. Devilish Dish is another story.  However, I think I pulled it off with this dish.  It's like a hearty pasta salad, CRAMMED full of vegetables.  But seasoned quite well with Mexican spices.  It's great served hot or cold.  And Mr. Anti-Meatless Monday Where's The Beef liked it.  And ate seconds.  And did not complain about the missing meat. 

A must have for Meatless Monday!

The Line-Up

Cook onion and garlic until tender.

Add zucchini

Add tomatoes

Add jalapeno and poblano peppers

Add corn

Add seasonings and cook about 15 minutes.

Remove from heat. Stir in white wine
vinegar, season with salt and pepper and
add cooked pasta.

You'll never miss the meat.

Deviled Egg Casserole

I love deviled eggs.  And not just because I'm the Devilish Dish.  They are just so good.  And it seems like we never get enough of them.  I don't know why.  We ALWAYS have eggs in the fridge.  I just never think to make them.  I guess that's why when Easter rolls around, we eat them like they are going out of style.  There are so many variations of deviled eggs.  The things you can stuff them with and top them with are endless.  But who ever heard of a WARM deviled egg?  That is something my brother would only joke of.  Until now.  Deviled Eggs.  Ham.  Cheese.  Potato Chips.  That's the Devilish Dish version of the 4 Food Groups right there.  It's a wonderful recipe.  Very rich and yummy.  I think it would be perfect for a ladies luncheon, shower or brunch, served with a salad and bread.  Or on a plate by itself.  With no side dish.  Which is how I served it to my husband.  He didn't seem to mind!

Deviled Egg Casserole. 
So unusual and So good!

The Deviled Egg Casserole Party

Combine soup and milk.

Add 1/4 diced celery and set aside.

Slice eggs and remove yolks. 
Mash thoroughly. 

Add mayonnaise and mustard to yolks.

Stir in remaining 1/4 cup diced celery. 
Season with salt and pepper.

Refill egg whites.

Put the filled halves back together. 
Like a delicious
deviled egg sandwich.

Wrap each egg with ham slice. 
Place folded side
down in a greased baking dish.

Cover with soup mixture.

Sprinkle cheese and potato chip
crumbs over soup.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

This recipe is featured at the Midweek Fiesta
at:
Food Corner
Please pay them a visit!

Day of The Dead Cakes

I've already told all of you I love Halloween.  I don't know why I have such macabre interest but I always have.  Macabre may not be the correct word, but I definitely lean a little toward the dark side.  Dia De Los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead, is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other cultures around the world.  Family and friends gather to remember those who have died.  It's a little like Memorial Day here in the United States, but less somber and more festive.  The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd.  Families honor the deceased by building an altar decorated with sugar skulls, flowers, and favorite foods and beverages of the departed.  They also visit the graves with these items as gifts.  Celebrations can take on a happy atmosphere as families recollect humorous stories about their loved ones.  Foods associated with the holiday are Calaveras (or skulls) often made from sugar and chocolate.  These food gifts are for both the living and the dead.  Though my culture is not Hispanic, I have always had an interest in this holiday. I own quite a collection of decor and books related to the subject.  When I found this great skull pan, I immediately imagined cakes decorated as sugar skulls.  Whether you choose to celebrate this holiday is up to you.  You've definitely learned a little bit of history on another culture.  The cake recipe is a great one, it's dense and releases from shaped pans easily.  You don't have to make them in the shape of skulls, but I hope you do.  Feliz Dia De Los Muertos.  (Happy Day of the Dead!)

Feliz Dia De Los Muertos!

The Line-Up...
A very simple cake to make.

Cream together butter and sugar.

Meanwhile sift together:
flour, baking powder and salt.

Add part of the flour mixture
to the butter mixture.

Alternate, first adding some flour, then some
milk, always beginning and ending
with flour mixture.

Add almond extract.

Whip egg whites until foamy and fluffy,
but not stiff.  You want them not quite
at soft peak form.

Carefully fold into cake batter.

Place batter in prepared pans.

Bake until cake tester inserted
near center comes out clean.

Cool completely and decorate as desired.

Honor the memory of your dear
departed friends and family.
Happy Day of the Dead!