Dinner from the Deli Counter

 

Ham BBQ sandwiches have long been a family favorite, but I seldom make them.  I’m not sure why.  They are a direct link to my own childhood, when my mother would occasionally take my brother and me out to lunch at Isaly’s, an East Coast family restaurant/delicatessen chain that served Chipped Ham Sandwiches.  At the end of the meal she would buy a pound of paper-thin slices of ham to take home.

How to Make Chocolate Granola Bars in 10 Minutes

 

Whenever I think of granola bars, I think of school lunches.  But with my new recipe for Chocolate Granola Bars, snack time can be much tastier.  The secret ingredient is unsweetened cocoa powder.

Food Shopping at 7 am

Visiting the supermarket at the crack of dawn is an effective way to do a necessary chore without seeing many people.  This morning I spotted just four shoppers in my local grocery store at 7 am.  I was quick with my purchases and out of there in 10 minutes.

Effective, yes.  Inspired, no.  Back when life was simpler, I would stroll the aisles, thinking about what I might want to make for dinner.  I would notice new products, check out sales and be reminded that I was running out of yogurt.

Now the planning must be done either the night before or in the store’s parking lot before I put on my mask. Do I want to serve Roasted Chicken, Shrimp Stir-Fry (see above), Tilapia?  Do I need eggs?  Milk?  What should I get for the rest of the week? 

There is an unexpected bonus about shopping early in the morning.  A wide variety of meats, vegetable and fruit may be on sale.  I recently picked up 3 yellow bell peppers for $1 and a large boneless chicken breast, very thinly sliced and marinated in hot sauce, also for $1.  The sell-by date was the next day.  No problem for me.  We ate the chicken for dinner and held over the Shrimp Stir-Fry, which calls for those on-sale bell peppers, for tomorrow.

          For easy-to-make recipes, order "Help! My Apartment Has a Kitchen!"

Question for Mom

Why are some kiwi green and others gold?  -- Margaret H. 

Despite the difference in color, these kiwi are cousins and are quite similar in taste.  SunGold™ Kiwifruit, which are grown in New Zealand, are golden and slightly sweeter than the more available green kiwi.  Both are used as snacks or are cut up in salads.  Green kiwi have fuzzy brown skins, while the golden version is smooth and slightly lighter in color.  Instead of peeling them, cut a kiwi in half and scoop out the fruit with a spoon.

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An Alternative Way to Cook Rice!

Rice always seemed the easiest side dish to make, but sometimes things can go wrong when cooking it. So I was not surprised when my friend Ilene asked me how I cook rice.

Question for Mom

I’m new to cooking and would like to know if I can substitute sour cream when a recipe calls for heavy whipping cream? –Ella H.

I almost always have sour cream in the fridge, but seldom do I have heavy whipping cream.  So if I want to make a recipe that calls for whipping cream and I don’t feel like going to the store to get some, I will use sour cream.  But I’ve learned to be cautious. 

If I add sour cream to a soup or a sauce and then bring the mixture to a boil, the sour cream will separate—not an attractive sight--so don’t do that.  And don’t substitute sour cream if you are making a creamy dessert.  Otherwise, go for it.  Experimenting is a good way to learn to cook.

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