Rice Pudding

I made some rice pudding for the first time, and it turned out okay. I was a bit heavy handed with the Cinnamon, so it's a little one the spicy side. I have to call it Cinnamon rice pudding.
I just hope that I didn't dry it out!
Next time I make it I will make it better!

Spam Musubi (Recipe Coming Soon)

I LOVE Spam Musubi!
I remember the first time I had it was at a birthday party sleep over, and I just could not stop eating it, it was so good!
 I've made Musubi for my Dad to take into work and share, and people either want to try it, or they are turned off by one of two things. The Spam, or the Nori, (a.k.a. Seaweed). But more often then not, if they try it they come to realized the yummy amazingness of Spam Musubi.

Now I've been doing a lot of research before I post my recipe, because I wanted to see if anyone else makes it like I do. The verdict......... No one makes it like I make it. All the recipes I looked at tell you to dry fry the spam, some tell you to put a mixture of Soy Sauce and Sugar over the spam the last few minutes if frying, others tell you to fry the spam and then soak it in sauce.  Now the way I do it, is I cook my spam IN  the sauce! Yes that's right, I said IN THE SAUCE!  By cooking the spam in the sauce I find that the spam is able to soak up the sauce and then as the sauce reduces the spam becomes crispy and oh so delicious!

I will try to get the recipe and the picture's up as soon as I can, but I have to make another batch of Musubi, because I forgot to take pictures of some of the steps. Plus I only got ONE Musubi out of the last batch!

Have a Yummy Day,
Cera

Mint Simple Syrup

Mint Simple Syrup
1 Bunch of Fresh Mint
2 Cups of Sugar
2 Cups of Water



Place sugar and mint leaves and steams into a blender or food processor. Blend together until sugar is green and mint in blended in. Put mint sugar into a sauce pan and add the water. Heat on high heat until it comes to a boil, reduce heat and boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Once syrup had cooled strain out the mint leaves and steams. The finished syrup should be green, and have a good minty flavor.



This syrup can be added to drinks, fruit, and desserts

Mint Simple Syrup with Fresh Mint

Pork Chops

Yesterday I tried this recipe that I found on the food network website and it was for Lemonade Pork Chops.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/baked-lemonade-pork-chops-recipe/index.html

This is a little weird, but with some ceratizing it could be pretty good.
If you are an adventurous person then I would say go a head and try this recipe. The idea of the recipe is a good one. It's pretty much a barbeque pork chop that is baked.
 One of the things that I didn't like about the outcome of this recipe was that it turned out too watery, the sauce was not thick like it was meant to be. Also the spices did not go well together, it was almost like an Italian,Texas Chili barbeque-ish sauce with a slight lemon flavor. It was not my cup of sauce.

I think that I might try something like this some time in the future, but using Orange Juice and my own combo of spices. When / If, I try this I'll let ya know how it turns out.

Have a Yummy Day!
Cera 

Turkey

For Christmas my Dad and I made a brine for a Turkey that we ate at a Family Christmas at my Grandmothers house. The Turkey was so GOOD! Here's what was in the brine;
10 lbs. Ice
1 gal. Hot Water
2 qt. Cold Water
3 lbs. Brown Sugar
1 lb. Pickling Salt
Hickory Liquid Smoke
Fresh Rosemary
Fresh Thyme
Fresh Parsley
Fresh Garlic
Black Pepper
(Note: The amount of spices added depends are what flavor you want to achieve)

Waffles

This morning I made waffles for Breakfast. I used Alton Brown's recipe for Oat Waffles.
They were really tasty. The only thing I added was a teaspoon of Vanilla extract. I also heated up some syrup with butter, YUM!

Here's the link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/oat-waffle-recipe/index.html

The waffle has a chewy, crunchy texture that is a lot like a whole wheat bread. It does taste like Oats, but I like that taste, I would expect nothing less from an OAT Waffle! In my waffle iron I had to give it five extra minutes to make it nice and crispy.

Hope y'all enjoy this.

Granola Bar's

Ingredients:
4 1/2 Cups Old-Fashioned Oats
1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1 Cup Butter
1/2 Cup Honey
1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Chocolate Chips


Directions:
Preheat Oven to 325 degrees.


In a sauce pan melt butter and honey, once melted remove from heat and let cool.
Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl combine oats, flour, brown sugar, and baking soda, mix until combined.Once butter and honey mixture has cooled mix it into the oat mixture, until well combined. In a small bowl or cup beat the egg with the vanilla, mix into the oat mixture. 
      
Before adding your chocolate chips, test your oat mixture to make sure you chocolate will not melt. (Now if you want chocolate Granola Bar's don't worry about having the butter and honey cool before mixing it into the oat mixture and then adding your chocolate chips.)


Once you have mixed in you chocolate chips and any other yummy mix-ins, you want to put your mixture in a greased 13x9 inch pan. Spread mixture out evenly. 
          
Bake for 18 minutes in 325 degree oven. Remove and press down with the back of a spoon until granola is flat, then bake for 5 more minutes. Remove and tap the pan on the counter to release the air. Let cool for 10 minutes, then cut bar's to desired size, let cool completely and then consume! Share if you feel so inclined.


These are YUMMY! I am going to keep making them. I've tried other recipes and this is the best one by far, I found it on one of my favorite recipe sights; http://allrecipes.com . It is a great sight to find recipes that can help you make up your own. The recipe that I have posted in not the same as the one I found, because I have made it my own. I encourage all of you to do the same!


Enjoy!