BIZZY BAKES

Usually when I am looking for a recipe, I check out Epicurious, Allrecipes, Food Network, Eating Well of any of those generalized and wonderful sites.  In reality, it is a lot more fun to check blogs that are new to me.  Not only do I get a new recipe, I get a new blog to view and possibly a new online friend. This time, I came across, Gimme some Oven  , written by an upbeat blogger Ali who wants to make cooking easy, healthy and delicious.  She not only enjoys cooking, she enjoys people and puts the two together.  She sounds delightful and I think you might like to meet her. Potato Soup Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter 1 cup diced  yellow onion 1/4 cup gluten-free flour 2 cups vegetable stock 2 cups milk, warmed 1 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled  and diced 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1/2 cup sour cream salt and pepper to taste 2 handfuls of baby spinach, sliced 1 shredded carrot Method: Place butter in a large soup pot .   Ad...

POTATO------I love potatoes.   To me, potato is the ultimate comfort food.  Bake it, boil it, fry it, grill it, all are wonderful.  I had to make this recipe and of course, I love the dish.  Oh yes, I love goat cheese too. Potato, Zucchini, Goat Cheese and Cheddar Gratin Ingredients: 1 medium zucchini, sliced thin 4 medium potatoes, sliced thin 1 red onion, sliced thin 1 tablespoon olive oil 4 ounces plain goat cheese 2/3 cup white cheddar cheese 1/2 cup Italian Dressing Method: Preheat oven to 400°F. Pour olive oil in a casserole dish and spread to cover bottom. Layer potato, zucchini, red onion, goat cheese. Pour half of the dressing over this. Repeat layer. I had enough for a third layer of potatoes so put on another layer and cover that with Cheddar. Bake for 30 minutes.  Cover and bake for another 15-20 minutes. Eat and enjoy. Linked to:  Fresh Foods Wednesd...

Stuffed Potatoes, both white and sweet potatoes are a treat for us.  I have made them for years but usually, I cop out and simply mash down a little on the potato while in the skin and the plop a vegetable and some cheese on top.  I microwave it and voila, there is a good stuffed potato. I decided to put more effort into these and see if it made a difference.  I scooped out most of the potato from the skin and mashed it with sour cream and some chopped broccoli and scallions plus a little red pepper and it became creamier and the whole potato when stuffed was different.  The creamier potatoes made it much  better and I am betting that this is the way, I will make these, from now on. Broccoli Stuffed Creamy Potatoes Ingredients: 5 medium potatoes 1/2 cup sour cream 2 cups of chopped broccoli 3 scallions, sliced 1 cup Cheddar cheese salt and pepper to taste Method: Wash potato skins well so they can be eaten too. In a 400 degree 0ven, bake pot...

Paula Deen is known for her Buttah and fattening and unhealthy recipes. Despite this, she is one good cook and her recipes are worth following with a few changes.  I have learned to almost automatically cut down on the fats in her recipes and they still are full flavored. I know that her health has changed her eating habits but I still have many of her old recipes. Mashed Potato Casserole Ingredients: 2 cups mashed potatoes  sour cream (cut to 1/4 cup low fat) 1 small onion, sliced thin 1 small bell pepper, sliced thin (one tablespoon margarine) grated Cheddar (1 cup) Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread one half mashed potatoes evenly on bottom of casserole dish. Layer sour cream evenly over top of potatoes Saute onion and bell pepper in margarine and place over sour cream. Add the other half of mashed potatoes. Top with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Eat and enjoy. I'm linking this post to Cook Like A Star event,...

A typical food conversation.......... The conversation went like this. I am not kidding. Me: You must be hungry, not having your luncht today. Hubby: I am starving. Me: I know. What would you like? Name it and I will make it. H: I don't care. Anything will do. I am starving. Me: No, I want you to tell me and I will make it. H: Anything. I am starving. Me: Tell me. H: OK, pancakes. I am starving. Me: Great. You got them. He went on his way and I went to the kitchen to make pancakes but I did not want pancakes. Sweet was not for me, tonight, only savory. How could I not make the pancakes? Continued conversation: Me: Do you really want pancakes? H: I don't care. I am starving. Me: How do potatoes sounds? H: Fine, I don't really like pancakes. me: Huh? OK, potatoes it is. I did make the potatoes, nice and creamy and loaded with cheddar cheese. I did this in the microwave to cut the time. After all, the poor man was starving or have you missed that point? Cr...