Cranberry Upside Down Cake

This recipe is delicious! It was a strong competitor last night in the midst of about 8 pies. Rather than posting the entire recipe here, let me direct you to the page on Smitten Kitchen. I'll just leave you with a picture to get your mouth watering. Yum! (And I don't even like cooked fruit usually.)



**Note - You will see in the recipe that it makes a few suggestions for add-ins, etc. I used honey instead of molasses (mostly because I thought others might enjoy the lighter flavor better). I also added a couple dashes of cinnamon and about a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the cake batter before baking. She also makes a note of how her cake cooked really quickly (like 30 minutes instead of 45). Well, mine took about 50 minutes and was overflowing the pan. I think you could use a large cake pan. Finally, no parchment was necessary. The cake will come right out of the pan. Enjoy!

Christmas Salad

(Also delicious for Thanksgiving or any other day!)

1 head red leaf lettuce
1 head green leaf lettuce
baby spinach
2 grapefruits
2 oranges
1 large avocado
seeds from 1 pomegranate
(could also add pears, canned pineapple, apples, mandarin oranges, etc.)

Toss all together or arrange on individual plates
(You can do all the fruit or we like it with just pears and pomegranates)

Dressing:
1 c. sugar
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 c. apple cider vinegar (or white)
2 c. vegetable oil (I probably use a little less than this)
1 Tablespoon celery seeds

Combine in food processor, refrigerate until ready to use. Mix into salad if you don't plan to have leftovers, otherwise serve on the side so your salad will keep into the next day.

Fantastic -and fast- Fish Taco's

So this was a last minute situation that turned out magnificently!!! I'm a big fan of cheating when I cook so dressing up Bisquick and Ranch is a time saver that I love.

Fish and Batter:
3 Pollock (or any firm fish) Fillet: thawed and cubed
2 Tbs. Olive Oil
Mix together in shallow dish:
1/2 c. Bisquick
1 1/2 tsp. Lemon pepper
1/2 tsp. Chili Powder
1/4 tsp. Salt

Toppings:
Diced Radishes
Shredded Red Cabbage
Shredded Lettuce
Diced Tomato
Lime Wedges
Small Flour or Corn Tortillas

Avocado Dressing:
1 Avocado Diced
2 Tbs Fresh Cilantro chopped
1/3 c. Ranch Dressing

Instructions: Make the dressing first to let the flavors blend. While fish thaws, prepare toppings. Cut up fish and cover in seasoned Bisquick. Fry in heated oil for 3-5 minutes until browned. Serve it up hot and don't forget to squeeze lime on top...Delicious!

I have Conquered Tofu!

So I'll have you know that I've had a long and at times painful relationship with tofu. We should be a match made in heaven, it's got everything I love in a food product. Tofu is nutritious and versatile and CHEAP! The trouble has been that in the past it's not been a great substitute for Chicken or Ground beef because of the texture and taste. WELL, I THINK I'VE GOT SOME GOOD TIPS I'VE FINALLY FIGURED OUT!

Tofu Tip #1: Don't cut the block of tofu! It will never feel like meat in your mouth if it's in perfect cubes. This has been my mistake from the beginning. Instead, either break it apart with your hands which makes it crumble or put it into a food processor and chop it up into bits. I'm a food processor fan.

Tofu Tip #2: Fry it with Onions. I've experienced fried tofu from others that tastes great, but I've never been able to achieve it. Throwing it in with minced onions insures it tastes like something!

Tofu Tip #3: Don't fry it too long! Tofu turns into hard plastic when it's left on the stove frying. Also the oil can't be too hot. This is all trial and error.

Tofu Tip #4: I like to use it in recipies that already have lots of flavor, specifically mexican dishes. Works great as a filler in Taco Soup, replace the chicken in Enchiladas, and last night we devoured it with taco salad. :) Hurray! You could also easily do the same with a teriaki sauce or curry and coconut milk.

Here's the Taco Salad Recipe:

I block of Tofu: Crumble or food processor
1/2 onion: chopped or food processor
1 Tbs Olive Oil
1 package Taco seasoning
1/3 cup Salsa

Saute the onion and tofu together in the oil. When onions are cooked add the taco seasoning and let it combine for a couple minutes. Turn the stove off and mix in the salsa. Use it for the chicken or beef substitute in enchiladas, burritos, or salad.