I've really been neglecting my journal! Again, I blame it on the winter blahs; there's just not much going on. And I readily admit to my Facebook addiction.

Here is this week's Four Foods on Friday:

1. Olive oil. What kind do you prefer to use?

I'm not really a connoisseur of olive oil. I usually buy it at Trader Joe's (they call their olive oil Trade Gianni's). It might be EEVO, but I'm really not sure.

2. Meatballs. Do you make them from scratch, buy premade cooked or buy premade frozen?

I've made homemade before. It's a lot of work. I realized that the frozen ones are just as good and so much easier. I usually buy Market Day frozen meatballs.

3. Do you use napkins at home? Paper or cloth?

Paper! Maybe cloth is better for the environment, but you really have to weigh out. Is it more harmful to the environment to throw away paper napkins, or to have to constantly do loads of napkins to make sure you have enough for every meal every day?

4. Share a recipe for a white sauce.

I don't have one! I made an Alfredo sauce once years ago, but Chris wasn't really crazy about it. And it's so fattening, I just don't bother anymore.

It's been a while since I participated in FFOF, so I'd like to get back on track. Here are this week's questions:

#1. Coffee. Do you use ground, bean or pods?

Ground. My favorite restaurant sells great bags of ground coffee.

#2. Coffee filters. Do you use paper, gold or other?

Just regular paper ones.

#3. Tea. Do you prefer tea bags, loose tea or something else?

I pretty much just drink iced tea, not hot. I use Luzianne decaf tea bags and brew it in my Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Pot. I drink the tea with lemon only. The girls and I go through a lot in the summer.

#4. Share a recipe for something you like to eat with coffee or tea.

The chocolate cake in this entry would be perfect with coffee.

One thing I absolutely love is cold-brewed coffee that I use to make iced coffee in the summer. It's really easy - Add one cup of ground coffee to 8 cups of water and mix well. (I do this in a giant measuring cup.) Cover with plastic wrap and leave on your counter for 24-48 hours. Store in refrigerator. I pour it over a tall glass of ice, then add a couple tablespoons fat-free half and half, a packet of Equal and sometimes a little chocolate or caramel syrup.

And since today was gorgeous and warm and the weekend is supposed to be nice, I think it's getting time to get some coffee into the fridge.

Getting this week's list in just under the wire.


#1. What’s the oddest thing you’ve ever made with bread?

When I was a kid, I used to make ketchup sandwiches. On Wonder Bread, of course.

#2. What’s the oddest thing you’ve ever done with mac and cheese or pasta?

When I was pregnant with Becca, I was anxious to go into labor once I got around my due date (like every other pregnant woman). I read a trick where you added worcestershire sauce to a bowl of mac and cheese, and it would start your labor. It didn't.

#3. Is there a food you eat other than it is intended?

I like dipping pizza in ranch dressing.

#4. What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever seen?

Anything with suckered tentacles poking out of it:



My next post will be how I made like Marty McFly and went back in time!

Woo hoo, it's Friday! And the girls have a five-day weekend. SWEET. School was closed yesterday for some non-existent snow. At first it started out as a two-hour delay, which was understandable. Our county is big, and the Northern areas (close to the Pennsylvania border) have worse weather. There was some snow making the roads slick up that way, so they called the delay. Very shortly after that, they CLOSED the schools! When Chris woke me up to tell me, the sun was shining! Completely unnecessary and ridiculous. I think the school system is afraid we might have too much summer vacation if we don't use those snow days. Whatever.

Here is this week's Four Foods on Friday. All about Chinese food, which isn't my favorite. I like it, but I don't LOVE it like Chris does. He needs it like he needs to breathe! And spicy enough to burn his nasal passages.

#1. Do you prefer to eat Chinese food in the restaurant or to have it delivered?

Delivery around here? Ha! We're lucky to get Domino's out this way.

#2. Do you prefer wonton or egg drop soup?

Egg drop. Yummy stuff.

#3. What flavor fried rice is your favorite?

Shrimp.

#4. Describe your favorite item on the Chinese food menu.

Pineapple chicken - white meat chicken with pineapple, green pepper, a sweet and sour sauce and some red pepper flakes for just a little heat.

Hopefully it'll be warming up soon - it was only about 15 degrees today! Thankfully it was sunny as well. I guess that will teach me to piss and moan when it's 35 degrees!

It's been a couple weeks since I participated in FFOF. I'm going to do this quickly because I'm exhausted and need to get to sleep soon.

#1. Waffles. Do you usually eat frozen or homemade?

I buy frozen, but I really should make them since I do own a wafflemaker. I've never even taken it out of the box! It intimidates me for some reason.

#2. Eggs. Do you buy brown, white, or it doesn’t matter?

Usually white; I buy large white eggs in the 1-1/2 dozen carton. If brown eggs were on sale, I'd pick them up. I don't think it really matters.

#3. Oatmeal. Do you usually make instant or cooked?

Instant. My container of Quaker oats is used for making cookies!

#4. Bacon. Share instructions or a recipe that you use bacon in.

Oh, we are bacon lovers here. I get a pound or so from the butcher up the street, and it's delicious. Plus, it's loads cheaper and I get to support a local business. Usually we just have it with French toast or other breakfast foods, or I use it on sandwiches in the girls' lunches. However, I'm planning on making a quiche tomorrow that uses bacon. Here is the recipe:

Spinach Bacon Quiche

I plan to follow the advice of those who have rated the recipe to get the best results. I'll post pictures later in the weekend.

Before I post my answers for this week's FFOF, I'd like to thank Sue at Stay at Home Mom and Lucy at Lulu's Petals for the virtual gifts they gave me the past couple weeks. I'm sorry I haven't posted them until now!

Here is the one from Sue:



It came with a poem:

And lovely are the blossoms
That are tended with great care,
By those who work unselfishly
To make the place more fair.
And, like the garden blossoms,
Friendship’s flower grows more sweet
When watched and tended carefully
By those we know and meet.
And, if the seed of friendship
Is planted deep and true
And watched with understanding,
Friendship’s flower will bloom for you.


And here is the one from Lucy:



Thank you both! I hope you don't mind if I don't tag other bloggers right now.

OK, now for FFOF:

#1. What’s your favorite crunchy food?

Popcorn! Recently, microwave popcorn has just been tasting so stale and blah that I bought a popper a few days ago. It does go in the microwave, but the popcorn is FANTASTIC. We are all getting addicted.

#2. How often do you try new recipes?

Usually a few times a month.

#3. Name a food that you almost always have in the house.

Baking staples. I can put together a batch of cookies pretty much anytime.

#4. What kind of food do you leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve?

It used to be cookies and eggnog, plus a couple of baby carrots for Rudolph (which the dogs always got). But this is our first year without Santa, so nothing will be put out. Cookies and eggnog, however, will still be consumed.

And speaking of cookies, many will be baked this weekend. And Becca has requested fudge, so that will be made as well. Pictures and recipes to follow!

I'm exhausted, so I'm just going to do this quickly and go to bed. I'll have a better entry sometime over the weekend. Probably not tomorrow night - Chris and I are actually going out! A great local band, Sticktime, is playing at Champions and we're going to go see them. One of the members is in my neighborhood, and another is a friend of mine who is a staff member at Becca's school. Should be a fun night.

Here are this week's questions:

#1. Does your family usually eat meals in the kitchen or somewhere else?

Usually at the kitchen table, but once in a while (like pizza night or make-your-own) we'll just sit in the living room and watch TV together.

#2. Who usually does the dishes in your house?

I do, but I think it's getting time to show the girls...

#3. What’s your favorite small appliance or tool in the kitchen?

My Kitchenaid stand mixer, definitely!

#4. This one’s for my son. Share a recipe for chili.

I've posted this one before:

Trader Joe's Turkey Chili

Ingredients:

1 package (about a pound) of ground turkey
2 cans Trader Joe's Marinated Bean Salad
2 jars Trade Joe's Three-Pepper Salsa
Various spices

Directions:

Brown the ground turkey; rinse and drain. Add the bean salad (undrained) and the salsa. Then add whatever spices you like. I use chili powder, cumin, salt and then I add some sliced green onion. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 20 minutes. Serve with cornbread.

This is a recipe Chris's mom gave me. It's originally made on the stove, but I adapted it for the crockpot:

Crockpot chili

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef, browned and drained
24 ounces of V-8 (I use the spicy flavor)
1 envelope of onion soup mix
1 can of beans, drained and rinsed (you can use whatever are your favorite; I use pinto)
3-4 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Couple drops of hot sauce
1 can of diced tomatoes (I use spicy; use whatever you like)

Directions:

Mix everything except the can of tomatoes together in crockpot. Cook on low for about 3-4 hours. Stir in tomatoes (undrained) and cook for about 10-15 minutes longer. Serve with cornbread.

Another Thanksgiving over. Whew! We have two dinners, the noon meal at my in-laws and the dinnertime meal at my mom's. The food was delicious as always, and I had my much-anticipated Day-After-Turkey-Sandwich today (turkey, stuffing and cranberries on whole wheat potato bread). I'm glad weigh-in isn't until NEXT Friday. There was a little bit of family disharmony going on, so I'm actually glad the day is over.

The day-after-Thanksgiving is a lazy day for us. The girls stay in their jammies all day, and I usually sleep in later than usual, then plant myself in my recliner for the day. Chris games up in his office. It's just a nice, relaxing day before the insanity of Christmas revs up.

Last week I didn't get to the FFOF because I was so tired from Book Fair, so now I'm getting back on track.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!


#1. What’s your favorite carbonated beverage?

Diet Coke - I'm completely addicted!


#2. What’s your favorite spicy food?

Chili, either homemade or Quizno's. Not extremely spicy, but a good kick.


#3. How do you handle hot dishes? Oven mitt, pot holder, towel?

Not very well, apparently.


#4. Ice cream. How do you like yours?

Coffee, with some chocolate syrup on top.

Man, I am so tired. Next week is Scholastic Book Fair week at the elementary school, and my friend Kim and I spent yesterday and today getting it set up, previewing the books for students, holding a staff preview and lots of odds and ends stuff. I was at the school from 8:45 this morning until 6:00 tonight. It's like going to work, but I don't get paid! But it's fun, even if it's tiring and a lot of work, and the kids at the school get so excited.

The Fall book fair is my big thing during the school year, and once it's done, it's only a few days until Thanksgiving. Which is a long-winded way of getting to the Four Foods on Friday for this week, since it's all about the turkey holiday.

#1. Stuffing. Boxed or from scratch?

From scratch, definitely. My mother-in-law makes a stuffing with fresh sausage that is TO DIE FOR.

#2. If you were served the perfect Thanksgiving dinner what would it be?

I have it served every year! Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, peas, mashed potatoes, rolls - I even like the rutabega! I guess the only thing I would add would be my friend Kelli's amazing sweet potato casserole.

#3. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving leftover?

The day-after sandwich: turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce on Martin's whole wheat potato bread. I only have it after Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I really look forward to it.

#4. Share a recipe using turkey.

Turkey Black Bean Wraps


Ingredients:

1-1/2 cup thick and chunky salsa
3 cups shredded turkey Breast, thawed if frozen
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 teaspoon lime juice
¼ to ½ teaspoons ground cumin
8 flour tortillas (8 to 10 inches in diameter), warmed
1-1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese


Directions:

Mix salsa, turkey, beans, lime juice and cumin in saucepan. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes or until heated through.

Spread turkey mixture on tortillas. Top with cheese, roll up.

Yay, it's Friday! Tomorrow I'll be doing some Christmas shopping (I know, right?) and Sunday will be my sweats and ponytail day as well as make my grocery list day.

Here is this week's FFOF:


#1. Name a food you like that uses a red sauce or anything red in it.

I like sauteeing shrimp in olive oil and garlic and throwing them in spaghetti sauce on penne pasta.

#2. Name a food you like with whipped cream in it or on it.

I don't like whipped cream.

#3. Name a food you like with blueberry in it.

Pancakes, pie, muffins, crumb bars...

#4. Share a recipe for pasta or dessert or a beverage.

I made this a couple weeks ago:

Deep Dark Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

* 2 cups sugar
* 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
* 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 eggs
* 1 cup milk
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 cup boiling water
* ONE-BOWL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING(recipe follows)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round pans or one 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of electric mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes for round pans, 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. (Cake may be left in rectangular pan, if desired.) Frost with ONE-BOWL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING. 8 to 10 servings.


ONE-BOWL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2-2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S Dutch Processed Cocoa
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat butter in medium bowl. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency (additional milk may be needed). Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

Wanted to get this in before it's too late. But there will be Halloween pictures sometime over the weekend! It was a fun day, although a little bittersweet because it was Becca's last school Halloween party (they don't have them in the middle and high schools). And it was probably Lauren's last time trick-or-treating.

This week's questions:

#1. What kind of pretzels are your favorite?

Rold Gold mini pretzels (perfectly salty!).

#2. What’s your favorite way to eat pancakes?

Lots of butter and syrup. I don't go to IHOP very often because they're ridiculously expensive for what you get, but they have a butter pecan syrup on the table that's TO DIE FOR.

#3. Do you make garlic bread from scratch or buy frozen?

Both. I really like the soft garlic breadsticks made by New York. Sometimes I will make my own using rolls that are just a little past their prime (like sub rolls). I just spread them with butter and sprinkle garlic powder generously, then bake them until golden and crispy. This is also great for sandwiches.

#4. Share a recipe that calls for mozzarella cheese.

I'm going to cheat and link to my post on Spaghetti Salad.

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

Man, I'm tired. Tonight Lauren's 8th grade band class got to perform with the high school marching band at the high school football game tonight. It was COLD. Miserably cold. And we were there from 6:30 to almost 10. Brrrrrrrrr. But Lauren had a blast, and she can't wait to join the marching band next year.

Before I go crash, here is this week's Four Foods on Friday.


#1. Name something you use cream cheese in/on.

Cheesecake! And bagels or quick bread.

#2. Do you use yogurt in any recipes?

Sometimes in a quick bread recipe. I like mixing vanilla yogurt with raisins and chopped apples and some cinnamon. Also, fresh orange slices dipped in vanilla yogurt tastes like a Creamsicle!

#3. Macaroni salad. What do you like/put in yours?

I don't make macaroni salad, but you can see my pasta salad recipe here.

#4. Share a recipe that you use sour cream in.

I don't really use sour cream that often. I mostly mix it with ranch dressing powder for a dip to serve with veggies.

I'm practically falling asleep at my computer, so it's time for bed!

This week's Four Foods on Friday is on a subject I really like - cupcakes! I do love cupcakes, and would love to visit a cupcake bakery, which seems to be all the rage now. Here are the questions:

#1. I passed Costco and saw gas at $2.84 and have had Costco on the brain since. Share a cupcake, muffin or cookie recipe.

Here's a confession - usually when I make cupcakes, it's for kids. I've made them for my kids' birthday parties, classrooms and Girl Scouts. So most of the time, I use a mix for them, because kids can't tell the difference and don't really care. My favorite mix is Duncan Hines French Vanilla. I add about a quarter teaspoon of almond extract into the batter. I do usually make a from-scratch buttercream - the recipe is on the box of Domino's Confectioner's sugar.

#2. Cupcakes, muffins and cookies require something to drink. What do you drink with them?

I'll usually have a Diet Coke with a cupcake. You know, to cancel out the calories. It's coffee, juice or milk with a muffin.

#3. Which do you prefer, mini muffins and cupcakes or full sized ones?

I prefer regular-sized ones. It's too easy and tempting to eat a bunch of minis. They're like donut holes, too easy to just pop in your mouth.

#4. What type of muffin or cupcake pan do you use? Silicone, disposable, etc.

I just use a regular metal pan, but I always pop in foil or paper liners. Foil for muffins, festive paper ones for cupcakes.

Here's a cupcake I made sometime last year. It's a beachy cupcake, and the sprinkles are in the shape of fish.

Getting in under the wire again. Busy day; busy week. I'll be posting some pictures and recipes sometime this weekend, but I just wanted to do this before I head to bed.


#1. Pasta. How do you tell when it’s done? Do you cook on medium or high?

Chris likes firm pasta, so I always cook it the least amount of time called for on the box. Chris will taste it to see if it's perfect.

#2. Deep frying. What kind of oil do you use?

I never deep fry! I very occasionally eat fried foods when dining out (like fries or fried shrimp), but I always use either olive oil or cooking spray when I cook.

#3. Grilling. Do you grill on foil or directly on the grill?

We just cook directly on the grill. Potatoes and corn are wrapped in foil and cooked indirectly. There are a few roasts that I'll cook in a disposable foil pan.

#4. Share a recipe that involves cooking something two different ways.Example, for lasagna you might fry the meat and bake the whole dish.

No recipe really - if I cook a roast (beef or pork) in the crockpot, I'll sear it in a pan on the stove first, then transfer it to the crockpot. Sometimes I'll add a little water or cooking wine to deglaze the pan and pour it over the meat.

Friday already! It's been a busy week - a school holiday, Becca's dentist appointment, volunteering, 5th grade Halloween party (excuse me, Fall Festival) planning, Weight Watchers (down 3.6 today - 1.6 of that was what I gained last week), Book Fair planning...

TGIF!

Here are this week's questions:

#1. Turnips. Love em or leave em?

I haven't had turnips, but I have had rutabaga, which I have grown to love. The first time I went to Thanksgiving dinner at Chris's house, I found out they were a family tradition that mostly his mom enjoyed. So of course, I took some. I didn't like them that first time, but after eating them every Thanksgiving for the past 17 years, I really enjoy them and look forward to them.

#2. What’s your favorite roasted dish?

Thanksgiving turkey!

#3. Salsa. What kind do you like?

I usually buy Pace, Old El Paso or Paul Newman. Chris is always on the quest for a mind-blowing salsa, but no joy yet. I like a salsa that has lots of tomatoes and peppers, and has a bit of kick. I also like black bean salsa and corn salsa.

#4. Share directions on how to make your favorite quick meal, meaning start to finish in about 30 minutes or less.

I have many favorite quick and easy meals; here is one Chris really loves (and so do I). Actually, I think I need to make it soon - it's been quite a while!

Garlic Shrimp with Wilted Spinach

2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 cup sliced green onions
2 tablespoons cooking sherry (optional, but I use it)
1 envelope Lipton Herb with Garlic soup mix
1 cup water
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained (I use the Italian kind)
1 10-ounce bag of fresh spinach
Hot cooked rice

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat and cook green onions, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes or until slightly soft. Add sherry and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently. Stir in soup mix blended with water. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer 2 minutes or until sauce is thickened. Stir in shrimp, tomatoes and spinach (you'll need to add spinach a bit at a time). Simmer, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are done and all the spinach is cooked and wilted. Serve over rice.

Going to get this in real quick, then I think I need to get to bed, even though it's early for me. Sandy's had vomiting bouts in the middle of the night the past three nights, and when it happens, I just can't get back to sleep. Plus, it's taken me over an hour to fall asleep as well, so I'm running on about 8 or 9 hours of sleep total since Tuesday night.

#1. Melon. What’s your favorite kind?

Watermelon! Especially when we get it from a local farm stand and it's icy cold out of the refrigerator. I think I could eat a whole one myself, but I force myself to share. Even the dogs go crazy for it, especially Sandy.

#2. Orange citrus. What’s your favorite - oranges, nectarines, navel oranges, tangerines, etc.

Blood oranges. Gruesome name, absolutely delicious fruit. A blush of red on the skin, and the fruit inside is ruby, sometimes almost purple. The taste is reminiscent of raspberry. Unfortunately, we can't get them until after Christmas. Until then, I really like Mineolas.

#3. Oreos. What kind is your favorite? (Don’t eat Oreos? What about olives?)

Trader Joe's version of Oreos is the best. At Christmastime, they make a peppermint version that puts the Girl Scout Thin Mints to shame. But my heart would belong to anybody that would make an Oreo-type cookie with a coffee cream center.

#4. Pot pie. Share a recipe. (No pot pie recipe? What about a casserole or some other hot meal you bake?)

I always use Bisquick's Impossibly Easy Chicken Pot Pie recipe. I use fat-free cream of chicken soup and skim milk to make it a little less fattening.

Good night!

It's Fair Day in Frederick County, and there is no school. The Great Frederick Fair is a huge event; even local government has the day off. They did away with Fair Day one year and there was so much whining and protesting that they brought it back the very next year. Fair Day is when kids are let in free and the rides are reduced by one ticket. It's a BIG DEAL. Fair Day or not; I'm just glad there's no school!

Here's this week's Four Foods on Friday:


#1. Share a recipe for something Italian.

I don't think this is really Italian, although it does use spaghetti. I don't really make any Italian dishes.

Spaghetti Salad

8 ounces uncooked spaghetti, broken into thirds
6 green onions, cut into 1/4 inch pieces (about 3/4 cup)
4 Italian plum tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise, then sliced
4 ounces of mozzarella cheese, cubed (1 cup) (Sometimes I use four cheesesticks and just slice them up)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar (original recipe called for Balsamic vinegar; I don't care for it)
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cook spaghetti to desired doneness according to package directions. Drain; rinse with cold water to cool. In medium bowl, combined cooked spaghetti, green onions, tomatoes and cheese. In small bowl, combine remaining ingredients; add to spaghetti mixture and toss to coat. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until serving time.

#2. Jam, jelly, preserves, marmalade, fruit butter or butter. What’s on your toast or bread?

I usually make toast with I Can't Believe it's Not Butter and cinnamon sugar. Once in a while I'll use grape jelly instead of the cinnamon sugar.

#3. What’s your favorite Kellogg’s product? (Since they’re multinational I’m hoping everyone can answer this one. If you don’t have Kellogg’s products, what’s your favorite cold breakfast cereal?)

I really like the new Smart Start Strong Heart Strawberry Oat Bites cereal.

#4. Do you like liver? What about liverwurst?

I always tell my kids that they can't say they don't like something if they haven't tried it. So I can't honestly answer that question. However, I can say that those things will never pass my lips.

Hmmm - this week's FFOF is all about foods I don't usually make!


#1. Egg salad or deviled eggs. How do you prepare?

I do make egg salad, but very plain. Just the eggs, Miracle Whip (shut up) and sea salt. My favorite week-after-Easter lunch!

#2. French fries. Do you make homemade or frozen?

I haven't served French fries since the kids grew out of their chicken nuggets and fries for almost every meal phase. But they were always frozen, usually Ore-Ida (I still love Ore-Ida tater tots).

#3. Gravy. What do you use - homemade, jar, can or from a package?

There are some things better left to professionals - gravy is one of them. I always use the stuff from a jar. I make almost the entire Christmas dinner from scratch; I cut myself a break on the gravy.

#4. Share a recipe for a hot (temperature, not spice) dish.

This is one of my new favorite quick and easy recipes. You have to have a Trader Joe's nearby, though! They were sampling this one day last winter when I was shopping. I wasn't sure about the ground turkey at first, but it's actually quite tasty.

Trader Joe's Turkey Chili

Ingredients:

1 package (about a pound) of ground turkey
2 cans Trader Joe's Marinated Bean Salad
2 jars Trade Joe's Three-Pepper Salsa
Various spices

Directions:

Brown the ground turkey; rinse and drain. Add the bean salad (undrained) and the salsa. Then add whatever spices you like. I use chili powder, cumin, salt and then I add some sliced green onion. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 20 minutes. Serve with cornbread.

This week's questions seem to be a bit of an interesting hodgepodge.


#1. Artichokes. Love em or leave em?

Honestly, I have never tried them. However, I have some food texture issues, and to me, artichokes just LOOK like they'd send shivers down my back if they even touched my tongue.

#2. What’s your favorite kind of bean?

Black beans! I especially love to mix them up with corn, salsa and cumin and use them as a taco/fajitas topping, or just wrap the mixture up in a tortilla on its own.

#3. Share a recipe for any kind of cake.

This is so easy, and tastes fantastic. Perfect for a fall day. I've made this for the staff at Becca's elementary school, and got rave reviews.

Pumpkin Orange Poppy Seed Cake


Cake:

1 package yellow cake mix
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
3 large eggs
2/3 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons poppy seeds


Glaze:

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons orange juice


Instructions:


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a Bundt pan. Combine cake mix, pumpkin, eggs and orange juice in mixing bowl. Beat on low speed until moistened, then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until skewer or cake tester comes out clean. Cool in pan for about 10 minutes, then remove from pan and place on plate to cool. Drizzle with glaze when completely cool.

For glaze, mix the powdered sugar and orange juice in small bowl until smooth and of drizzling consistency.



#4. What’s your favorite dairy product?

I love frozen yogurt. I enjoy the kind you can get in the grocery store freezer, but my favorite is the kind that's like soft serve. I used to get it at TCBY, but our only store closed up a few years ago, and I don't know of anyplace else in the area that sells it.

This week's Four Foods on Friday is about potatoes - one of my favorite foods!

#1. Potato Chips. What kind of chips are your favorite?

If I'm splurging, I really love Kettle chips. My favorite are the Grandma Utz Handcooked Chips (regular flavor). But if I'm trying to be good, I eat Baked Lay's.

#2. What’s your favorite thing to dip chips in?

Ranch dip - the kind you make with an envelope of ranch dressing mix and a container of sour cream.

#3. What’s your favorite way to eat a baked potato?

Grilled or baked until very soft, then smashed down with a lot of butter and salt. I eat the whole thing, skin included.

#4. How do you make mashed potatoes?

Probably how most people do - boil until soft, mash, then whip them with butter, warm milk and salt.