Ma Whats For Dinner?» Holidays

Happy Birthday to the wild man

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:58:50 +0000

Big day around here!Birthday boy is 6 years old today.

Can’t believe it!

How did we get from here.

To here?

And what a ride it’s been!

So to the funniest…

sweetest…

most unique individual I’ve ever come across

I hope you have the most amazing birthday yet.

Love you baby boy!

Happy birthday, Brady!!!

St. Patty’s Day – Corned Beef and Cabbage

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:00:08 +0000

It’s St. Patty’s Day!

What’s better than Corned Beef and Cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day?

When it’s waiting for you after the parades…

This Crock Pot version is easy and delicious!

Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage

Serves: 6 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 8 hours

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 3-4 pound corned beef brisket (with seasoning packet)

1 lb potato cut into bite sized pieces

1 bag baby carrots

2 onions quartered

1 bulb fennel, sliced

2 garlic cloves

1 can beef broth

3 T apple cider vinegar

2 T brown sugar

2 T soy sauce

2 garlic cloves minced

S&P

1 head cabbage cut into 6 wedges

WHAT TO DO:

Toss potatoes, carrots, onions, fennel and 2 whole garlic cloves into the bottom of a slow cooker.

In a large measuring cup combine beef broth, spice packet from the corned beef brisket, cider vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, S&P and stir to combine.

Place the brisket, fat side up) on top of vegetables in slow cooker. Lay wedges of cabbage around brisket. Pour beef broth mixture over corned beef and cabbage.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Remove corned beef from slow cooker and slice thin on an angle.

Serve on a platter along with veggies and potatoes.

St. Pattys Day – Irish Soda Bread

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:00:54 +0000

Irish Soda Bread

Did you know that Irish Soda Bread is apparently not even Irish?

It’s true…

But soda bread is historic!

Historic in the fact that you didn’t need yeast or an oven to make it.

That meant that everyone could now have this delicious delight and bake it right over their own fire!

Try it!

It’s simple and comes together fast and great for the kids to get involved with.

WHAT YOU NEED:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/3 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 cups buttermilk

1/4 cup butter, melted

WHAT TO DO:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda. Blend egg and buttermilk together, and add all at once to the flour mixture. Mix just until moistened. Stir in butter. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the bread comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

St. Patty’s Day – Potatoes Fitzpatrick

Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:00:23 +0000

Being Fitzpatricks and all…

You know I had to come up with a good potato dish to celebrate the big day…

This one is it!

It’s got everything you need for the perfect St. Patty’s day meal.

If for some strange reason you have leftovers…

Reheat them in a pan the next morning with some corned beef and some eggs…

Sure to make you feel better…

If you had a wee bit too much Guinness!

WHAT YOU NEED:

2 T butter, divided

1 T olive oil

1 onion, sliced

S&P

1/2 head of cabbage, sliced

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 T apple cider vinegar

WHAT TO DO:

In a large skillet heat olive oil and butter over medium high heat.

Add in onions, season with S&P and allow to cook until soft, about 5-6 minutes.

Toss in your cabbage and garlic and cook until cabbage wilts down, another 6-7 minutes. Remove from pan.

Toss in another tablespoon of butter and lay in your potatoes in an even layer along the bottom of pan, don’t touch them, let them crisp up a bit.

Once they’ve browned add the cabbage and onion back in and stir to combine.

Let the mixture brown a bit more then deglaze with cider vinegar and season with S&P to taste.

Delish!!!

This ain’t your nana’s cabbage!

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.