Ma Whats For Dinner?» Holidays

Superbowl Countdown – Keegan’s Killer Kielbasa

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:02 +0000

Um….

If I haven’t already mentioned it….

THE PATS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!!!

And here’s a News Flash….

I have 3 boys.

Ok, well 4 if you count the hubs…

And let’s be honest, you have to count the hubs don’t ya?

So game days are big around here.

We’re a sports family.

Hockey.

Football.

Baseball.

Basketball.

Even soccer, or football as my mom calls it. Go Manchester United.

Anyway, we love the Superbowl.

Especially when the Pats are getting ready to beat down the Giants.

And Keegan has asked that I post his absolute favorite again…

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

We’re ready for some of Keegan’s favorite, and the hubs, Kielbasa

Serves: 8 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes

2 links polska kielbasa smoked sausage, sliced

1 cup maple syrup

1 T soy sauce

1/4 cup brown mustard

1 t liquid smoke (optional)

In a large skillet over medium high heat, warm sausage until the sides just begin to crisp, about 5 minutes. Pour in your syrup and soy sauce and stir well. Add in mustard and liquid smoke and mix well. Bring to a boil then knock back the heat and let simmer until sauce is thick and rich and bubbly.

Pour onto serving platter and serve with toothpicks.

Score!

Happy Birthday Keegan

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:41:59 +0000

7 years ago today…

My life changed.

They put that little bundle into my arms

And life would never be the same.

You light up our lives.

And you’ll light up the world.

To my sweet

smart

funny

rock star

I love you to the moon and back.

Have a wonderful birthday!

My big 7 year old boy!

Happy Holidays to All!

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:04:56 +0000

Happy Holidays to all…

And to all a good night.

All of us here at Ma What’s For Dinner

Wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season.

We’ll be taking a break til the New Year…

But don’t fret…

We’ll be back in action soon!

Enjoy this time with your family!

Hanukkah Latkes

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:39 +0000

Happy Hanukkah everyone!

Our favorite thing about Hanukkah?

What else?

Potato Latkes!

Best things ever…

Latkes

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes

What you need:

3 ½ cups shredded potatoes (for fast latkes use the store bought kind)

½ sweet onion, grated

3 eggs, beaten

¼ cup matzo meal (you could substitute all purpose flour too)

S&P

½ cup peanut oil for frying

What to do:

Using a cheese cloth squeeze all the moisture out of your potatoes.

Once you’ve gotten them as dry as you can, place them into a large bowl with the onion, eggs, matzo meal, and season with S&P. Stir together well to combine.

Preheat a large skillet and your peanut oil over medium high heat. Form the mixture into small silver dollar pancake size latkes. Working in batches place the latkes down into the oil.

Cook until golden brown, then flip to brown the other side. Drain on paper towels, serve hot with applesauce and sour cream.

Now gather round the table, light some candles, play some dreidel and enjoy. Happy Hanukkah!!!

Cookies for Breakfast in a Jar

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:00:38 +0000

Cookies for Breakfast in a jar Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes

2/3 c brown sugar, packed
1 t baking soda
¾ t baking powder
1 c all purpose flour
¾ c whole wheat flour
3 c multi grain cereal
½ cup dried blueberries
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup raisins

Layer all ingredients in a mason jar. Close jar tightly and cover with fabric and ribbon. Affix with the following instructions.

1 jar cookies for breakfast gift mix
½ c butter room temperature
2 eggs beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of an electric mixer beat together butter and eggs until smooth. Add ingredients in jar. Mix until well combined.
With your hands form batter into large golf ball sized balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Press down on each ball with a spoon to flatten it slightly. Place cookies in the oven and bake for 12 – 15 minutes. Let stand 1 minute then transfer to cooling rack. Enjoy these warm with a glass of milk or leave out for Santa. Happy Holidays!

Tasty Tidbits – Holiday Tips

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:00:56 +0000

Just a few suggestions for this crazy time of year. It can be super overwhelming. Send us your suggestions. We’d love to hear what you do to keep sane over the holidays.

First off you’ll want to prepare for your holiday party. Good tips to keep things running smoothly are to get as much ready as you can before the big day. Nobody wants to be slaving away in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun gathering round the tree…

Here’s a few tips for the days leading up to the holidays…

1) Plan your menu at least a week in advance so you can make your grocery list and check it twice.
2) Who wants to hit the store this busy time of year? Send the hubs and the kids to the market to gather your supplies – be sure to include a very very detailed list….If I don’t mine comes home with everything under the sun.
3) Try some dishes that you can assemble in advance then toss in the oven just before dinner.
4) Set the table and the bar the night before, just one more thing off your list.

Handy ideas to have up your sleeves when the guests arrive to keep everything running smoothly…

1) How about an ice breaking game to get everyone in the holiday spirit. Sometimes when young cousins, or even grown adults don’t see each other a lot it can be a bit overwhelming come party time.
2) Have some crafts and coloring on hand to keep the kids entertained while you’re getting dinner ready and the adults are enjoying cocktails
3) Have plenty of kid friendly appetizers on hand, pigs in a blanket, cheese and crackers, fruit and crudite with dip.
4) Finally for a holiday party I always have a few extra gifts on hand…candles, trains, toy cars, a doll, picture frames, so nobody gets overlooked.

Homemade Holiday Caramel

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:00:57 +0000

I love caramel. It’s got to be one of the best candy inventions of all time.

Whenever someone sends me a chocolate box, guess which ones are gone first?

We decided to make our own at home and wrap them up as little goodie and hostess bags to give away this holiday season.

You can too…

The boys are also bringing them as gifts to school…though they’ll be bringing them without nuts, we’re all nut free facilities around here.

Homemade Holiday Caramels

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Cool Time: 2 hours

What you need:

Candy Thermometer

Parchment Paper

Cooking spray

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup evaporated milk

2 cups heavy cream

1 ½ sticks unsalted butter

½ t salt

1 T vanilla extract

optional

Fancy Sea Salt (i.e. Fleur de Sel)

Chopped toasted pecans

Chopped peanuts

Gift Bags

Wax Paper

Ribbon or Raffia

What to do:

Line a 13×9 baking dish with parchment paper.

Lightly coat with cooking spray.

In a medium pot combine sugars, corn syrup, evaporated milk, whipping cream, butter, and salt. Mix well. Heat over medium heat.

Using your candy thermometer watch the heat and when it reaches 250 degrees remove from the pot. Stir in your vanilla then pour into baking dish.

Cool in the fridge. Once cooled cut into small pieces and wrap in wax paper.

Place in gift bags and tie with ribbon and raffia. Optional….top your caramels with sea salt, or chopped nuts.

Letters to Santa

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:00:10 +0000

It’s that time of year!!!!

Are you bombarded this time of year with that wonderful question…

“What do the kids want for Christmas?”

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate everyone who wants to buy them stuff, but honestly…

I can’t keep it all straight!

Oh and those commercials….

The never ending loop of holiday commercials!

All I hear…

“Ma, can I have that?”

“Ma, can you put that on my list???”

“Ma, come quick, you’ve got to see this!”

First off, I don’t have to come quick. We have DVR.

Secondly, I don’t want to see another commercial for Tron, or Star Wars, or Lego, or Spongebob Operation!

So, I’ve come up with a solution…

Letters to Santa – Or to Hanukkah Harry…

Prep Time: 5 minutes Craft Time: 25 minutes

What you need:

Poster board

Markers

Kid scissors (or regular scissors depending on the age of your kids)

Glue Sticks

Catalogs Galore (Toys, Electronics, Clothes – all the stuff that comes to your house all the time this season.)

What to do:

Set the kids up at the table with their catalogs and scissors.

Let them cut out all the things they’d like to ask Santa for (toys, iPods, socks, whatever)

Once they’ve cut it out have them glue it onto their poster board.

They can color their poster board too and decorate it to match their personality so Santa will be sure to know it’s theirs, and you’ll know what to tell the in-laws when they ask what the kiddos want this year.

I made one too…

I’m telling Santa that I’ve been a very very good girl and I’d really like that smoker please!

Holiday Gift Week Holiday Bark

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:00:37 +0000

Do you have as many gifts to give this year as I do?

The kids have friends, teachers, and coaches galore…

Not to mention all the neighbors, mailmen, trainers, etc.

How many coffee gift cards can I possibly give out?

Well here’s the answer…

This one comes together in a snap and it’s super delicious to boot!

Holiday Bark

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 5 minutes

Cool Time: 1-2 hours

What you need:

2 11 ounce bags white chocolate chips

1 T walnut oil

¾ cup dried cranberries

1 cup shelled pistachios

gift boxes or bags

ribbon or raffia

What to do:

In a large microwave safe bowl combine chocolate and walnut oil. Heat on high at 30 second intervals stirring in between until just melted.

Remove from microwave and stir quickly to finish melting. Pour in cranberries and pistachios and stir to combine.

Pour out onto a greased sheet pan into a thin layer.

Refrigerate until cool. Break up into jagged pieces.

Place into gift boxes tied with ribbon and raffia. Perfect festive holiday gift for anyone on your list!

Holiday Gift Week – Hot Cocoa in a Jar

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:00:54 +0000

You asked for it…

You got it!

Baby It’s Cold Outside…

Nothing better this time of year than a big ol’ cup of hot cocoa.

Why not wrap up some love for your friends, teachers, coaches and neighbors this year

It’s ok…go ahead and steal this great idea for a holiday gift.

Hot Cocoa in a Jar
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes

What you need:

2 cups Instant Nonfat Dried Milk
¾ cup sugar
½ cup Unsweetened Cocoa
1/2 cup non dairy creamer
1 t salt
1 cup mini marshmallows

Options:
add a layer of nutmeg and cinnamon
add a layer of crushed candy canes
make a flavored hot chocolate by adding a layer of flavored powdered non dairy creamer – Amaretto, French Vanilla, Irish Coffee, etc.

What to do:

Layer all ingredients into a jar with Marshmallows on top. Or you could combine all the ingredients into a bowl then place into the jar and top with marshmallows.

We did it both ways. Close jar tightly and cover with fabric and ribbon. Affix with the following instructions.

Hot Cocoa Mix – remove marshmallows, set aside. Shake jar well. Take out 2-3 to tablespoons and place in a mug. Mix with 8 ounces hot water, or coffee. Top with marshmallows. Enjoy. Happy Holidays!