Recipes from Interview with Sonny Mac June 15, 2011

Today I had the pleasure of visiting with Sonny Mac from KJAMS 105.3 for a quick phone interview about this blog and my recipes. I shared a few recipes there and as promised am posting them here. I hope that you'll enjoy them and try them for yourself. I kept these quick and easy. If you try them please let me know how they turned out for you. Happy Cooking!

Romantic dinner:
Grilled Steak
Ingredients
2 steaks (cut of your choice)
Grill seasoning
Directions
Apply grill seasoning and grill the steaks to desired doneness.

Broccoli Rice and Cheese/redone
Ingredients
1 box Rice-a-Roni
Chicken broth
Romano Cheese
Frozen broccoli
Directions
Prepare a box of Rice-a-Roni according to the box instructions using chicken broth in place of the water. When the Rice-a-Roni is done, add grated Romano cheese (at least 1/2 to 3/4 cup; more if you like it really cheesy) and stir in 1/2 to 3/4 cup of chopped broccoli.

or you can serve a baked potato

Steamed Veggies

Kids Meal:
Baked Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
1 small package boneless skinless chicken breasts or 1 package of chicken tenders
salt
pepper
paprika
flavor seasonings to taste
Directions
Season chicken with salt, pepper, paprika (or the seasoning of your choice) Bake at 350 degrees until chicken is done.

Broccoli Rice and Cheese/redone
see recipe above

Steam Veggies


Dessert:
Strawberry Shortcake
Slice a pint of strawberries, sprinkle with about a half cup of sugar and let sit for 20-30 minutes. When strawberries are juicy spoon over shortcake and top with whipped cream.

Chocolate Sheet Cake
Ingredients:
Cake:
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup margarine (2 sticks)
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon soda
2 eggs (well beaten)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Icing:
1/2 margarine (1 stick)
6 tablespoons milk
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 pkg (box) powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions
Sift sugar and flour into a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Put 2 sticks of margarine, 4 tbsp cocoa powder and 1 cup water in sauce pan. Bring mixture to a rapid boil and pour over flour and sugar. BEAT WELL.

Add 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 tsp soda (dissolved in milk) 2 eggs well beaten, 1 tsp vanilla. Mix well after adding.

Pour into a greased and floured 11X16 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20 mins or until cake is firm. This is a very thin batter. DO NOT ADD EXTRA FLOUR.

Icing
Start making icing 5 minutes before you take cake from oven.

Melt and bring to a boil: 1 stick of margarine, 6 tbsp milk, 4 tbsp cocoa. Remove from heat and add: 1 box sifted powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 cup chopped pecans.

Beat well and spread over the cake while it is hot. Leave the care kin the pan to ice. Spread icing quickly, but gently so you don't tear the cake.

Live well, eat well, enjoy...

Cyn aka Fine Mama

Steaks with Cross-hatch marks

For years I would see pictures of steaks with beautiful and appetizing grill marks on them. Never crossed my mind how they got there. I just knew that my steaks didn't have them. After watching The Food Network repeatedly, the secret was revealed. (Thanks to Bobby Flay!) You simply turn the steak, or whatever piece of meat your grilling, so it marks in both directions. It works on an outdoor grill or on an indoor grill pan. And there you have the secret of the cross-hatch revealed! Yes, it's really that simple. Does it change the taste of the steak, chicken, pork. etc? Absolutely not. But it looks gorgeous on the plate. Now, my steaks taste delicious and look fabulous!

Live well, eat well, enjoy...

Cyn aka Fine Mama

I miss cooking!

So, I had surgery June 1 that keeps me off my feet and out of my kitchen. Major bummer! I'm feeling good enough now to post here, though. So I'll post some of the recipes and dishes that I cooked just before surgery and anything else interesting I can find. Look for updates here soon. Fine Mama's not in the kitchen, but she can still talk about food and good recipes!

Live well, eat well, enjoy...

Cyn aka Fine Mama