Cheese Puffs

I decided to “really” cook for myself, this morning.  Breakfast is a funny meal.  I rarely bother to make anything more complicated than eggs, yet this is my favorite meal.  Maybe, that is why, we have breakfast for dinner, so often.

Cooking for myself does not mean complicated or time-consuming.  This was neither but it does take the resolve to stay in the kitchen and mix and bake.  It means shredding cheese or chopping it small.  It means, having your smoke alarm beeping and scaring your neighbors and it means cleaning cookie sheets and bowls.

Despite this, these are a treat and I am glad, I have some extras.

Cheese Puffs  (adapted from Taste of Home – Comfort Cookbook)

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 cup all-purpose flour or Gluten-free
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup shredded Gouda
• 1/4 cup spicy mozzarella
• 1 tablespoon honey mustard
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• In a large saucepan, bring the water, butter, salt and cayenne to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms.
• Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny.
• Stir in cheese and mustard.
• Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  (I forgot Parmesan.)
• Bake at 425° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or cold. Yield: 4 dozen.

This is linked to See Ya In the Gumbo  Hearth and Soul      Cast Party Wednesdays

How to “Get Smart”

Nowadays, with a click, you can find out almost anything.  The simplest dictionary meaning to a way to make a specific spice to how to fix your car or to learn about the customs of India or if you should spank your child……..it is all here on the Internet.

If you listen to any of the political talk shows and have wondered how they know so much, I am guessing, besides their own knowledge, they have the Internet, in  front of them, as they broadcast.

I found a wonderful site today with lots of tips to make life easier.  I am going to share a few with you but I suggest, if you like solutions, you visit the DIY Home Sweet Home Project.

How many of these, did you already know?

 

You can flip a toaster on its side and grill cheese in it. - Source

If you place a wooden spoon over a pot of boiling water, it won’t boil over. Source

Stuffing a dryer sheet in you back pocket will repel mosquitoes. - Source

You can run a paper bag through your printer. - Source

If you break your blender jar you can replace it with a mason jar. - Source

Cereal canisters make the perfect trashcan for your car. - Source

 

1. Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.. I didn’t know that!
2. Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
3. Reheat Pizza Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.
4. To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn’t hurt the plant and the squirrels won’t come near it.
5. Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don’t dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out!
6. Re-opening envelopes: If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roasted Cauliflower

I was stumped for a side dish for dinner. I had made a yummy salmon and wanted something light to go with it. I went through the list of potato, quinoa, rice and hit upon the best, a vegetable.

It is never easy for me to select a vegetable. They are so versatile and go with most dishes. Once again, I went through a mental list, broccoli (good choice), carrots (Yes!) corn (no!) cauliflower (and here I stopped.) I wanted to make the simplest recipe and this is one of those quick and easy recipes, made in about 20 minutes from start to finish.

With the seasoning, it went from bland to tasty. If you like more heat, feel free to add cayenne or anything else hot.

Roasted Cauliflower

Ingredients

1 large bag frozen Cauliflower, defrosted and cut into florets
1 tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
3/4 teaspoon(s) Mediterranean seasoning
dash of cayenne pepper
salt to taste

Directions
Heat oven to 425 degrees F. 
In a medium bowl, combine cauliflower the oil and Mediterranean seasoning,  salt and pepper.

Place on a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Cauliflower will brown in spots.

If you would like, sprinkle bread crumbs or ground nuts on top of cauliflower after spraying it with olive oil.

This is linked to Savory Sundays       , My Meatless Mondays ;Mouthwatering Mondays ; Homemaker Mondays;Meatless  ; Melt in Your Mouth Mondays ; Made By You Mondays ; Happy Homemaker Mondays ;  Mangia Mondays;  Jam Hands