I Love Popcorn! Microwave Popcorn Popper

I've been trying to find snacks that I love that are healthier for me.   At the first of the year, I bought this Nordic Ware Quick Pop Single Serve Popper.  I love it!!

•  Nordic Ware Quick Pop Single Serve Popper, Assorted Color

I make popcorn 3 or 4 times a week now.  It uses 1/4 cup of popcorn with no oil and takes about 3 minutes to pop.  It did take a few times to learn how long to cook it in my microwave so that most of the kernels cooked but did not overcook.  I use Orville Redenbacher white corn.  It is delicious.  You can find this popcorn in most grocery stores.  You can use any loose kernel popcorn in the popper.
                                             

Healthy Eating for the New Year

A new year is a perfect time to make a few changes.   I want to find foods that I love that are healthy and easy.
My first change -

I love fruits and vegetables so this just means I have to make a conscious effort to have them in the house and ready to eat.

I have a box of Red River Grapefruit, so I just added a banana, strawberries, and a kiwi to the grapefruit.  It was delicious with breakfast.

Boneless Pork Loin Roast

I cooked a pork roast for dinner last night.  This recipe came from my mother.  She was a wonderful cook and she loved when others enjoyed what she had made.  Everyone was welcome at her table.

Boneless Pork Loin Roast

1 boneless pork loin roast
salt
pepper
1 - 2 tablespoons of oil

Salt and pepper the roast all over.
Put enough oil in the pan to lightly cover the bottom.
Heat pan on high and put roast in it.
Brown roast on all sides.
 ( I used a roast that was a little under 5 lbs.  I had to cut it in half so it would fit in my pan.)
Add 1-2 cups of water to the pan. (I add the water until it is about 1/2  way up the roast.)
When the water comes to a boil,  turn the stove down to medium and put a lid on the pan.
Simmer the roast for about 2 hours until it is fork .tender.
When the roast is tender, remove the lid and let the water boil until the liquid is reduced.
Flip the roast over so that both sides get coated in this reduced liquid. It will make it a beautiful caramel color.
Remove from pan,slice, and put on platter.
(It will slice better if you let it cool a little.)

Ginger Sauce

Boiled shrimp for dinner!  

This weekend my friend made a run to the coast to pick up shrimp fresh from the boat.  They were delicious.

We always make ginger sauce when we have shrimp.  We've been using this recipe for over 20 years.

Ginger Sauce

1 jumbo sweet onion, peeled
2 ounces fresh ginger, peeled
1 lemon with the ends cut off
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 cup soy sauce

Blend onion, ginger, and lemon in a blender.
Add sugar to water and heat until the sugar is dissolved.  Pour into blender and mix until it is liquefied.
Add soy sauce to blender and mix.
( With my blender, I have to add the sugar water at the same time as the ginger, onion, and lemon)

Pour into jars and refrigerate. This makes 2 pint jars.

Reading with Aunt B - Carnal Curiosity

Stone Barrington is back in "Carnal Curiosity" by Stuart Woods.   From the book jacket - "When Manhattan’s elite are beset by a series of clever crimes—and Stone is a material witness—he and his former partner Dino Bacchetti find themselves drawn into the world of high-end security and fraud, where insider knowledge and access are limited to a privileged few, and the wealthy are made vulnerable by the very systems meant to keep them safe."
This is an easy and entertaining book.


                                                   Carnal Curiosity (Stone Barrington)

Reading with Aunt B - NYPD RED 2

I am half way through reading "NYPD Red 2" by James Patterson and Marshall Karp. From the book jacket - When NYPD Red arrives at a crime scene, everyone takes notice. Known as the protectors of the rich, famous, and connected, NYPD Red is the elite task force called in only for New York City's most high-profile crimes.
I am loving this book. It has an interesting story and characters.


                                                                      NYPD Red 2

Reading with Aunt B - The Survivors Club

"The Survivors Club" by Lisa Gardner is the tale of three women who survived brutal attacks by serial rapist Eddie Cuomo and form a support group, The Survivors Club.  When Eddie is murdered right before his court appearance, they become the prime suspects. Lots of twists and turns follow.


                                                    The Survivors Club: A Thriller

Reading with Aunt B - Damned If You do

"Damned If You Do" by Michael Brandman is a novel about Paradise Police Chief Jesse Stone. This story continues the series of books created by Robert B. Parker.  It was an easy read and I liked it.

                                               

                               Robert B. Parker's Damned if You Do (A Jesse Stone Novel)

Reading with Aunt B - Dust

"Dust" by Patricia Cornwall is another Kay Scarpetta novel.  The chief medical examiner of Massachusetts, her husband FBI profiler Benton Wesley, her computer genius niece Lucy, and Detective Pete Marino are again entwined in a serial killer case to solve.

                                                            http://amzn.to/Px5Hot

Reading with Aunt B - Cut To The Bone

I just finished  "Cut To The Bone" by Jefferson Bass. From the book jacket - "Jefferson Bass’s Cut to the Bone, the long-awaited prequel to his New York Times bestselling mystery series, turns the clock back to reveal the Body Farm's creation—and Dr. Bill Brockton's deadly duel with a serial killer."
This is the first book I've read in this series.  I can't wait to read the others.

                                                             http://amzn.to/1lRmai8

Reading with Aunt B - What Are You Hungry For?

"What Are You Hungry For?   The Chopra Solution to Permanent Weight Loss, Well- Being, and Lightness of Soul" by Deepak Chopra promotes a mind - body approach as the key to lifelong well-being.  The book jacket description - Deepak Chopra creates a vision of weight loss based on a deeper awareness of why people overeat - because they are trying to find satisfaction and wind up using food as a substitute for real fulfillment.
I am enjoying reading this book.  It is easy to read but gives you lots to think about.

                                                             http://amzn.to/1ecRXVo

Reading with Aunt B - Cell

I'm reading "Cell" by Robin Cook.  I'm a big fan of  his books. In this medical thriller, there is a phone app called iDoc that is poised to take the place of your primary care doctor.  It's always available, never on vacation, and tailors the care to you.  What could be wrong with that?  Lots of things. I can't wait to finish reading this book.

                                                            http://amzn.to/1gY7jCX

Reading with Aunt B - The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Union

I'm reading "The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion" by Fannie Flagg. The book jacket description - "The one and only Fannie Flagg is at her hilarious and superb best in this new comic mystery novel about two women who are forced to reimagine who they are." I'm loving it. If you liked "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café". you'll like this.

                                                           http://amzn.to/1dEE566

Reading with Aunt B - "10 Secrets for Sucess and Inner Peace"

"10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace" by motivational speaker Wayne Dyer is a simple guide to living happily.  It is very inspirational.

10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace (Puffy Books)

Reading with Aunt B - Deadline

I just read "Deadline " by Sandra Brown. It is a fast read.  The book contains lots of suspense, romance, and a surprise twist at the end.



Deadline

Reading with Aunt B - Justice for Sara

Today I am reading "Justice for Sara" by Erica Spindler.  It is a chilling  suspense novel about a woman who goes home ten years after her sister's murder to find the true killer.  It is a fast read that keeps you guessing who the bad guy is.
                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                     Justice for Sara

Storytime with Aunt B - " The Gingerbread Man"

This Big Little Golden Book is a great version of the classic tale " The Gingerbread Man." The illustrations by Richard Scarry are wonderful. The children loved the illustrations and kept pointing out things in the pictures.

                                             The Gingerbread Man (Big Little Golden Book)

Baker's German Sweet Chocolate Pie

This ad appeared in a 1994 Woman's Day magazine. I have never tried it, but anything with cream cheese has to be good. It looks delicious and easy.

 

 

Here is the recipe enlarged so it can be read more easily.

 

 

M&M"S Ultimate Chocolate Cookies

This is a recipe in the 2013 Woman's Day.  It is an easy recipe.  The kids love helping me mix in the M&M's.  We don't use the nuts.  The kids love the cookies.

Jimmy Dean Sausage Balls

This ad was in the December, 2001 issue of Country Living.  I am sure this is good, but this is not the recipe my mother used. Her recipe is below the ad.

 

 

Mama's Sausage Balls

 

2 cups of Bisquick

1 lb. of  sausage uncooked

2 cups of grated sharp cheddar cheese

Mix and form into 1 inch balls.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes until brown.