The holiday weekend BBQ

So, today I grilled. It was a fantabulous meal! Made a buffalo chicken dip with Frank's Red Hot Sauce, a Spinach Salad with Lemon & Pepper Dressing (recipe from McCormick), baked beans, a Warm Bacon Potato Salad courtesy of Food Network, and then I grilled ribs, chicken breasts, hamburgers, shrimp, catfish, brats, and hot links. Oh, and I had fresh strawberries and watermelon, too. My dining room table was overflowing with good food and everyone here ate and enjoyed. I've posted pics of this meal. If you'd like to know how I cooked something that doesn't have a recipe hyperlink, just leave a comment. I'm happy to share.








Live well, eat well, enjoy...

Cyn aka Fine Mama

Rib-eye Steak with baked potato and salad

So, my favorite meal is simple. A good steak with a baked potato and a salad. The steak can be a rib-eye or T-bone, even a NY strip. The rest is so easy anyone could do it. That was my inspiration today.

So I went to Food Pyramid (on the advice of my hairdresser) and found an incredibly good deal on Rib-eye steaks. Bought the microwave-able baked potatoes. (Yes, I use short cuts, when I can) and the makings of a wonderful salad and started cooking.

Here's what I did.

First, I prepared all of my salad veggies. Spring mix, red and orange bell peppers, mushrooms, cucumber, carrot and green onion. I also had some beautiful multi-colored cherry tomatoes from a local farmer's market (Pearl Farmer's market rocks!) to add to this wonderful salad.

My grill was unavailable, as Tulsa/Broken Arrow was rainy all day today. I wanted a tasty crust on my rib-eyes, so I heated a heavy skillet and then added some canola oil (a tablespoon or two) and let it heat in the already hot pan. I seasoned my steaks (McCormick's Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning is incredible)and seared them in the pan. When they were good and crusted on both sides I placed them in the oven until they were the desired done-ness. The "eaters in my house like everything from "Medium Rare" to "Medium Well", so all steaks come out at a different time.

While the steaks were in the oven I baked the potatoes according to the instructions and baked some rolls just to complete the meal. (Used a shortcut there too, lol)

I made a quick lemon based vinaigrette, dressed the salad with the vinaigrette and dinner was ready. :)

Live well, eat well, enjoy...

Cyn aka Fine Mama

The Holiday Weekend is here!

It's the 4th of July weekend. A time when we all celebrate the nation's birthday. Fireworks, fun and food, of course! Summer holidays are my inspiration to grill. Okay, I really don't need "inspiration." I just love to grill.

Look for grilling pics and recipes this weekend. Did I mention I LOVE to grill? Oh yeah I think I did.

Happy 4th of July friends!

Live well, eat well, enjoy...

Cyn aka Fine Mama

P.S. The slide show on the side is pics of past culinary creations. Check them out!

new dinner creation today...

This is from Sunday June 27.

Can't tell you the name, since it's been made up as i go... :-D Okay I found a name for it: Italian grilled chicken and orzo with peppers:


Here's what I did:

I marinated boneless skinless chicken breasts in Italian Dressing for 15-30 minutes. Then I grilled them on my stove top in a grill pan. Meanwhile (back at the ranch) I cooked orzo according to the package. I diced some yellow, red and green bell pepper, some mushrooms and a shallot and sautéed them in extra virgin olive oil. When the orzo was ready, I stirred in the pepper mixture and some shredded Parmesan and Romano cheeses.

It was delicioso! (and quick too!)

Live well, eat well, enjoy...

Cyn aka Fine Mama

The beginning

I love to cook. I love food and food loves me. It's a pretty good relationship.

I have been regularly posting pics of my culinary excursions on Facebook. A friend suggested I put them in a blog. The name for the blog came from another friend who commented on one of my FB posts. I hope you enjoy the recipes, the pics, and my thoughts on food.

Live well, eat well, enjoy...

Cyn aka Fine Mama