Auntie Babette's Recipes

As children we played together.  You were my first and best friends, and our lives were simple. Holidays were the best, when we gathered together to share laughs, food, and often a little mayhem. Many seasons have molded our lives in different directions and yet the bond remains.  We are family, we are blood, and our roots remain as one.

This is one of my favorites for "meatless Monday" dinner.  Take advantage of the garden fresh tomatoes and basil with this light and easy sandwich.

Having the right food at hand is key to the success of this program.  This is a list of my favorite "go-to" meals/snacks.

Here are a few suggestions for low carb dieting.

Fajitas make a fun, easy meal.  Great for a crowd or a couple. Throw all the ingredients in the crock-pot before work and it's ready when you get home.  I love having dinner ready when I get home, no fuss, just relax for a while, warm the tortillas and you're ready. Freezer friendly:   Portion left overs as desired in freezer bags.  Now you have an easy meal for next week.  Remove from the freezer, throw it in a skillet and heat.

"I'M EATING COOKED BIRD SEED."  That's what I was thinking this morning.  I've studied up on this quinoa stuff and upon learning the nutritional benefits, I really wanted to find a place in my regular diet for such a powerful super food. MY FIRST ATTEMPT at a quinoa recipe was a real flop.  I followed the directions on the package.  I rinsed it good, and cooked it just as the directions stated. The aroma reminded me of scalloped corn.  I like corn, so I had high hopes.  I made it as a breakfast type cereal with berries, a little brown sugar, and a sprinkle of almond milk. THE FIRST FEW BITES, I'm thinking to myself, "good texture, a little chewy like an oatmeal or rice type feel, very good for me... scalloped corn."  I kept eating.  The berries helped, and I was hungry. The scalloped corn taste started to make me wonder if I really needed to add any extra nutrition to my diet. SCALLOPED CORN is okay, but it's not good with brown

Top o’ the morning to ya, on this fortuitous Friday. As you head out into a sea of green today, celebrate St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Honor the Irish culture.  Everyone has a little Irish in them on St. Patrick's day.  May those who love us, love us. For those who don’t love us, May God turn their hearts. And if God can’t turn their hearts, May he turn their ankles so we’ll know them by their limping!   An old Irish proverb May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. An old Irish proverb

It's snowing.  That means it's time for chili.  Break out the crock pot and spice it up.

I steered away from spinach in my shakes for a long time, go ahead, call me a chicken.  In an effort to add more nutrition to my diet, I bravely added "the green stuff".  I am hooked!  You can't taste it. Really.  Although it will turn some shakes a really nasty looking brown, you still can't taste it.  It's a perfect way to start the day.

Every morning over coffee I tell myself, "Okay self, you need to get your weight under control. Your pants are too tight.  How hard is it? Just change your mindset.  You know how to do this. You know how much better you feel when your pants are comfortable." This is my pep talk.   So I go to the kitchen to prepare my healthy protein shake to start out my healthy day, and fix my healthy lunch for work.  Good talk. Good start.  Then "the day" happens.Someone has brought donuts to work.  There are too many good cooks that like to share their treats. There is ice cream in the freezer in the break room.  If I have to run an errand at lunch time, I don't have time to eat my healthy lunch so ... you guessed it, drive-thru lunch. Is anyone else having this problem?

I hope you enjoy this information as much as I have.  Here is the link I've been using, if you'd like to check it out for yourself. April the Giraffe

Have a great weekend!

Caution:  It is very easy for the tuna salad chef to go overboard with taste testing during preparation. Keeping the above caution in mind, this recipe should make enough for two meals... that is, one meal as you're making it, with enough left over for one more serving. Calories consumed during meal prep don't count, right?  Sounds good, I'm sticking with that.

Yah, you guessed it.  Today is my moms birthday.  One of her favorite meals is breakfast for dinner, which is what inspired this post.  Of coarse dad is the head chef in the family, and can he ever whip up some mean fried potatoes and eggs. Lots of ketchup, toast and jelly on the side... guess what  I'M having for dinner. Have a great day everyone, Auntie Babette

This is one of those recipes that has been in my family for as long as I can remember.  I would expect everyone has certain foods that they remember growing up with; the smell of which can remind a person of memories long past. In my family, spaghetti was a staple.  Both of my grandmothers and my father had their own special ingredients and spices, that made each dish their own.  And yes, I may have adjusted my recipe over the years to my own taste.  Still, the memory of the dish, of loved ones gathered around the table, and the wonderful way it makes the kitchen smell, brings a smile to my face every time I make it.

This is how I felt yesterday.  On my way to work, my truck broke down.  There is a feeling that rushes over you; I'm sure everyone has felt it at one time or another. Your mind kind of goes into what seems like a vacuum. Time seems to stop and you start automatically assessing:  "Am I okay?  What do I do?  How bad is this? " I'm a very positive person so the first thing my brain starts telling me is, "You can deal with this. Your cell phone is charged and you have someone to call for help. Thank God it's daylight!" What good can come from a day like this?  For me, the good was knowing I have friends to call that will gladly drop everything when I need them.  I have an understanding boss that was not mad, but actually very supportive.  Her response was a lighthearted, "We'll survive, just don't get kidnapped." That eased my mind and made me chuckle. I believe it's all in your mind set when things like this happen.  It could

You say Broccoli Cheese, I say Cheesy Broccoli.  I love cheese.  You can use regular milk but I like the unsweetened almond milk, (lower calorie & higher protein).  No, it doesn't make the soup taste funny. The secret weapon to making this soup within the range of the calorie conscious is the chicken broth.  The broth does not over power the taste.  It's the delicious creamy taste of cheese that rules the soup. 

Winner Chicken Dinner This is one of my favorite go-to meals.  Fast, easy, healthy food, and 5 ingredients or less.  I love to cook.  And trying new recipes can be a real adventure.  In my case, sometimes the  adventure is a place I may never want to travel again.   I have created some "doosies".   Thankfully there is a keen sense of humor  running through my veins, of which I sometimes need in the kitchen. Winner Chicken Dinner is one of those recipes I trust to turn out delicious every single time.  Any dish involving barbecue sauce - what's not to love? Enjoy, Auntie Babette