This Week in my Kitchen...

Hello everyone.. 

How are you all? 

Hope you are recovering from all of the festivities.. 

We were pretty quiet here after Christmas Day and everyone went back home.. 

It was a blessed day though full of joy .... 

Now we are all back to normal.. 

Or almost.. 

I still have my Christmas decor up and hope to get it all down this week.. 

We have an extra closet in our room which is my Christmas closet. 

Down through the years I have collected way too many decorations.. So the plan is that there will be a big decluttering! 

Then hopefully the closet will hold it all.. smile.. 

For the post tonight I thought I would do something I haven't done for awhile..

 This past week in my kitchen.. 

1.  Chinese Salad.. 

A delicious salad made with greens, celery, green pepper, bean sprouts, green onions, rice and cashews.. 

The dressing is made from oil, soya sauce and garlic.. 

2.. The herb cilantro that I used in salads and salsas.. 

3.. Mediterranean 7 spice.. 

This goes in lots of Middle Eastern (one of my faves) dishes.. 

Here is the recipe.. 

1 Tablespoon of each of these spices.. 

Black Pepper, Allspice, Cinnamon, Cumin, Coriander, Cloves and Ginger.. 

Whisk together and keep in a container.. 

I used a 250 gram size mason jars for this..  

4.. Mediterranean Rice.. 

This was such a nice rice and fluffs up perfectly.. 

Did you know that you only use a fork to stir your cooked rice? 

Anyway.. 

Here is a recipe for that, too.. 

I cut this in half and there was plenty for Terry and I.. 

The leftovers went into a tomato soup the next day.. 

Rice Recipe.. 

1/2 pound of ground beef 

2 cups long grain rice

4 cups water

1 tsp. 7 spice

salt to taste

1 T. olive oil 

Saute the beef for for 5 minutes and then add the rest of the ingredients . 

Cover and cook on low heat for 40 minutes.. 

Let stand for 10 minutes.  

This was served with just a salad with Middle Eastern Dressing.. 

1/2 cup of olive oil 

1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice

2 T. minced garlic

1 T. sumac or parsley

1 T. mint

Shake in a jar .. 

Store in fridge if you use fresh garlic.. 

Which I am sure you do.. smile.. 

On Sunday after church we had number 5.. 

Stir Fry over Rice.. 

I make this out of my head from whatever veggie and meat is in the fridge.. 

Sliced pork steak, onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms, broccoli, garlic, ginger and soya.. 

6.  Steak and onions.. 

Mashed and Veggies.. 

Terry's type of food.. smile.. 

7.. Pasta and Meatballs .. 

My type of food.. smile.. 

8.. Tea and a maple bacon cookie.. 

I have given most of my baking away.. 

We just don't need it but just one last cookie, right?  

grin.. 

I loved these cookies and they were so easy as they were a mix with a can of maple bacon icing.. 

Oh my.. 

We bought the mixes when we were across the border in Maine.. 

I thought our grandsons would like them .. 

That is my story and I am sticking to it.. grin.. 

Well, luvies this is all for tonight.. 

I will share some of my January inspiration next time.. 

Now to answer your questions from last post..

Gayle.. 

I will need to ask the name of the Devotions book from my friend, as I had borrowed her post.. I will get back to you soon.. 

And about the cauliflower recipe..

 Karen.. 

Is this the lady who wanted the hot pickle recipe?  

I did a sweep in my inbox and lost your email so please comment again if this is the recipe you meant.. 

And Henny Penny.. 

Here is the link for the clothespin bag..

http://theblessedhearth.blogspot.ca/2012/04/making-clothes-pin-bag-and-little-study.html

God bless you dear girls.. xo