Martha A. Cheves's Blog, page 102

Picture and Comment from Mary Deal

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Mary Deal bought my Cookbook Stir, Laugh, Repeat and decided to make my Carrot Muffins.  When I saw and read her comment, I knew I had to share.





Carrot Muffins from Martha Cheves's cookbook, "Stir, Laugh, Repeat." These muffins are so moist and light I had to eat them with a fork.

The True Reason.....

Its Christmas Eve and I wanted to remind everyone that the true reason for Christmas has nothing to do with that fat man with the white hair wearing a red suit.  The real reason for Christmas is due to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Yesterday a co-worker told me a story.  She asked a couple of neighbor kids what Santa was going to bring them for Christmas.  Their answer was that Christmas was Jesus' birthday and there was no Santa.  So true!  There are so many kids that know Christmas as a time for Santa to visit and bring the gifts of their dreams and have no idea what the day truly stands for. They have no idea of what Jesus can give to them.  How can a Christian nation/world be carried on from generation to generation without teaching our children the true meaning of Christmas?

MERRY "CHRIST"MAS EVERYONE!!!!
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A Review for Stir, Laugh, Repeat

I have to share this wonderful review for my cookbook Stir, Laugh, Repeat with everyone.  I love it!



"Stir, Laugh, Repeat" by Martha A. Cheves is not only a great cookbook, it is a fun read. The first day I received the book, I perused it to find a recipe to sample. In reading, I found these recipes, some for all meals and snacks, easy and quick. A recipe that takes only one paragraph to tell how to throw all the ingredients together for a scrumptious dish is my kind of book. Then Martha gives a little history for each recipe about how that food was used in her own cooking at home. But that's not all. Following every recipe is a Tip for the cook. One of my favorites was:
"When my three kids were young, we would have a Mystery TV Dinner Night. Each night when I cooked dinner, before it went on the table, I would take a plastic sectioned plate and put a full serving of everything on the plate, wrap it in plastic wrap and then tightly wrap it in foil and put it into the freezer. On Mystery Night, everyone would go to the freezer and take out a dish. You couldn't peek. Each plate would be microwaved and that was your meal for the night. You may have country fried steak, spaghetti, fish, even chili. It was fun watching the kids open their meals. They were never disappointed because I would make sure it was filled with food they liked."
Martha Cheves knows how to feed her family and have fun too, and now shares her recipes with us. Oh yes, the recipe I chose to make first was the Strawberry Nut Crunch. I made it with Macadamia nuts. It was so delightful, I will make it again, and enough of it for about 50 people at a big celebratory potluck. I'll also be taking this delightful book to share with others.
Cheers!
Mary
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Mary Deal
Author, Painter, Photographer2009 Eric Hoffer Book Award Winner2009 Pushcart Prize NomineeWriting site: http://www.WriteAnyGenre.comArt Gallery: http://www.MaryDealFineArt.com

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

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1 cup peanut butter, crunchy
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 egg
24 chocolate Kisses with caramel or almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  With an electric mixer blend peanut butter, brown sugar and egg until smooth.  Shape into 1 1/2" balls.  Place 2" apart on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.  Press one chocolate kiss into each cookie.  Bake 10 minutes.  Makes 24

So, good and so easy.  I made some using almonds and some using caramel filled kisses.  Both were delicious. 

Stir, Laugh, Repeat - Featured

I want to invite everyone to slip over to W. S. Gager on Writing's 12 Days of Christmas - Great Reads and Great Authors.  My cookbook Stir, Laugh, Repeat has been honored by being the feature for Day 8! 

Coconut Marshmallow Cookies

[image error] This is so simple to make.  It's nothing but a package of sugar cookie mix, 1/2 cup coconut and 3/4 cup mini-marshmallows.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix cookie mix according to package.  Add coconut and marshmallows.  Roll into 1" balls placing them 2" apart on a cookie sheet.  Bake 8 minutes.  Makes about 24 cookies.  You can decorate, as showing, with colored sugar or with chocolate sprinkles.  The recipe is kid friendly so let them use their imagination with decorating.

These cookies are soft with a chewy texture due to the marshmallows.  They may not look very pretty but they sure are delicious.   And of course, you can always change the flavor by changing the cookie flavor.  Chocolate, oatmeal, peanut butter, etc.

Christmas Goodie Bags

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Every year I make up goodie bags for my "Food Testers."  This year's bag contained - starting at the top and going clockwise:

Coconut Marshmallow Cookies
Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Trail Mix Muffins
Coconut Macroons
Citrus Pecan Bars

I also included an assortment of "Bark Candy."

Over the next few days I'll post recipes for each item.

Breakfast Muffins

[image error] I seem to always be in a hurry in the mornings and don't have time for breakfast.  My Breakfast Muffins are so easy to make and perfect to take along for a to-go-breakfast.

4 eggs
6 sausage patties, cooked
1 cup shredded cheese
salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix together eggs, cheese, salt & pepper.  Place muffin papers in 6 muffin tins.  Place 1 piece of sausage in each cup.  Divide egg mixture between 6 muffins.  Bake 20-25 minutes or until eggs are set and done.

Changes - You can use bacon, link sausage cut into pieces or add sauted onions and green peppers. 

Marsha's Chess Pie

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My dear friend from the past Marsha, tells me she reads me every day.  Well, she sent me a recipe to try.  She says this was her Mother's recipe for Chess Pie but she uses it to make pecan pie.  Well, here it is and I must say it's wonderful!

1 1/2 cups brown sugar (3/4 cup Splenda for diabetics)
2 Tbsp. melted butter
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. cream (Marsha uses sour cream, I used evaporated milk)
vanilla (I used 1 tsp.)
1/2 to 3/4 cups chopped pecans
unbaked pie shell

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt butter in microwave, add all ingredients, mix thoroughly (Marsha uses a spoon or whisk)  Pour into pie shell.  Bake 30-40 minutes.  Marsha tops her pie with cool whip or ice cream.

This pie makes one of the quickest, easiest Pecan Pies I've ever made.  The texture is a little different and the top does form a slight crust but this will be my one and only way of making Pecan Pies from now on.  I also want to give this a try with chunky coconut or maybe add a few chocolate chips.  The possibilities are only as far as your taste buds and imagination.

Creamy Pasta with Italian Sausage

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This is a delicious dish that will feed a crowd of at least 8.  I chose Rotini due to it's shape which allows the sauce to stick to its crevices but you can use any pasta you want with this, even spaghetti.  Spice it up some by adding a cup of Parmesan, half inside the dish and the other half sprinkled on top.  Change the pasta sauce flavors.  Add sauted onions and bell peppers.  Think with your taste buds on this one. 

I served this dish with my "Crescent Knots."  They are made by spreading a thin layer of garlic butter over crescent rolls before rolling and baking.

For the full recipe go to Martha's Recipe Cabinet