Skinny Spinach Gratin Recipe

Is there anyone who doesn't know about Gina's Skinny Recipes? I'm a little late to the party, but I've been trying out recipes from this site for the last few months and I can honestly say everything I've tried has been wonderful.  As extra incentive to try out Gina's fare...I might mention that there's 30 pounds less of me since I started cooking Gina's way.

With Thanksgiving approaching, I thought I'd share a particular favorite of ours. If you need a side dish or yummy hot dip to take to holiday dinners, this one's a winner!

~Makeover Spinach Gratin~

(recipe here) 

Only 111 calories in a generous, gooey, cheesy 1/2 cup serving. Makes a great hot dip with crackers or toasted bread too. Enjoy!

Until next time...

Rhonda

Tuesday Display Chain~ Life is Yummy ~

Each Tuesday Misi, of Gable House Musings, chooses a theme and invites bloggers to play along with her "Tuesday Display Chain". This week the theme is "Yummy", to be interpreted by  each participating blogger as they see fit. 

I confess, I have a bit of a sweet tooth...so of course when Misi said "yummy", my mind went right to dessert...

 ~Even my pies are a little "kattywhompus"~

As grandpa Ralph always said, "I only like two kinds of pie.

Hot...and cold."

But for a really yummy treat...you can't beat my favorite scone recipe. People beg me to make these...now they can beg you too.

 From the 1989 February issue of Country Living Magazine, 
I give you...

Chocolate Chip Scones

2 cups unsifted self rising, all-purpose flour (see note)

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1/2 cup milk

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Grease baking sheet. In large bowl, combine flour and sugar. With pastry blender or two knives, cut in shortening until it resembles coarse crumbs.

2. In small bowl, combine milk, egg, and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients, along with chocolate chips and mix with fork until mixture clings together and forms a soft dough.

3. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead gently 5 or 6 times. With lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough into a 7 inch round. Cut into 4 wedges.

4. Place scones, 1 inch apart, on greased baking sheet. Pierce tops with tines of fork.

5. Bake scones 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Note: Or add 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt to 2 cups regular all-purpose flour.

Kattywhompus Tips: Knead gently, no more than needed to hold the dough together. Over handling will give you tough scones. Instead of rolling out the dough I pat it into a flat round with my hands and cut it into eight scones. Also, these burn easily. I watch them carefully and bake until lightly browned...golden brown on top means the bottoms are too dark for me. See the photo for "lightly browned".

And then there is my very favorite sweet thang. Mancake. ;)

~Yummy~

See the other Tuesday Display Chain participants at: http://1890gablehousemusings.blogspot.com/

Until next time...

Tuesday Display Chain~ Homemade Granola by Kattywhompus

Each Tuesday Misi, of Gable House Musings, chooses a theme and invites bloggers to play along with her "Tuesday Display Chain" by featuring items from their collections. Since many of us are browsing through magazines and looking online for holiday ideas such as gifts, decorating ideas & recipes, Let us give a little of ourselves here through blogland. This week's theme is "To Share".

I'd like to share my recipe for homemade granola...a huge hit at out house. My husband & sons think this is a real treat for breakfast served with fruit and yogurt. It also makes a great healthy snack. I make up a big batch at Christmas for gift giving. It looks great in a cello bag tied with a piece of homespun and a handmade tag. I've made it for fund raisers and bazaars and it is always the first thing that sells out. I hope it will become a favorite at your house too.

Homemade Granola by Kattywhompus

In a large bowl mix all dry ingredients except raisins until well blended.

2 1/2 Cups Old Fashion Oats

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1/4 Cup Sunflower Meats

1/2 Cup Sliced Almonds

1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans

1/4 Cup Wheat Germ

1/2 Cup Flaked Coconut

1 Tsp. Cinnamon

* 1/2 Cup Golden Raisins & 1/2 Cup Dark Raisins

Of course the above ingredients can be adjusted to your taste...try a variety of nuts and dried fruit for lots of different flavors!

Melt butter and honey together and then add vanilla. Pour over dry granola mixture and toss until well coated.

1/3 Cup Butter

1/3 Cup Honey

1 tsp. vanilla

Spread granola in a thin layer on two lightly greased cookie sheets (pans with sides work best).

 

Forgive my "well seasoned" baking pan...the best kind. :)

 Bake at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes. Stir frequently while baking. Pay special attention to granola around the edges of the pan. When granola turns a golden brown, remove from oven & spread on wax paper or foil to cool. Stir in raisins, and store in an airtight container. Enjoy! 

See the other Tuesday Display Chain participants at: http://1890gablehousemusings.blogspot.com/

Until next time...

Peek-A-Boo~Tuesday Display Chain

Each Tuesday, Misi of Gable House Musings, chooses a theme and invites bloggers to play along with her 'Tuesday Display Chain' by featuring items from their collections. This week Robyn of PrimLish chose a theme in keeping with the Halloween Spirit. The theme this week is Peek-A-Boo.

Primitive lovers everywhere understand the need to hide away all those pesky modern conveniences that take away from the rustic ambiance of our homes. I admit, when we lived in the farmhouse, I camouflaged everything from the toaster to the cat inside of crocks and under wooden crates. These days my small appliances are tucked away in the "appliance shed" built specifically for that purpose. Now I'm more about finding attractive storage and hiding clutter.

The buttery measures 8' x 13.5' and basically covers the entire back wall of our kitchen. It provides great storage and also creates a fun space to display a multitude of goodies. On one side, decor items that are currently out of rotation are stored in the lower cabinet behind the curtain...and on the other; I keep lights and props for taking photos.

And in the middle section...

We keep the dog food out of sight, but still easily accessible. You can't fool Murray.

And speaking of Prim Dog Murray...

He hides his toys in an old firkin.

And situated conveniently next to the front door...

This little five drawer cabinet houses dog leashes, harnesses etc. (Sensing a trend yet?)

Paper clutter is one of my pet peeves. I detest "piles". Mr. Kattywhompus solved my problem with this Craiglist purchase last year at Mother's Day. My "vintage" Habersham Plantation secretary has drawers and cubbies aplenty. Now ya see it...

Now ya don't.

In the living room I hide books, magazines and rug hooking supplies in the dry sink next to the sofa.

 

Things I use are close at hand, but no piles!

 The little drawer is perfect for stowing hand sewing supplies.

This boxy stagecoach trunk is the perfect place to store my bulky rug hooking frame, along with bags of cut wool "worms".

Trust me...it's in there-under the linen background.

And last, but not least...nope, not a breadbox.

I no longer have to search for light bulbs, specialty nails or fasteners. I keep them at my fingertips...ready to hang a picture or change a bulb.

I hope you've enjoyed today's Display Chain. Hop on over to Robyn's blog  to see the other fabulous contributors! 

Until next time...