Fast Fixes and Far Side Friday

Let's switch things up for Fridays!  We'll feature dishes that are Fast Fixes and Far Sides that are fun.

With Fast Fixes, we'll minimize ingredients and maximize flavor.  Reduce prep time and increase 'you' time.  If they are planned ahead, they can be thrown together last minute.

Whether you are coasting into the weekend, or working through it, we can always use a fast fix for a meal. 

Far Sides!  Love 'em or hate 'em, what more needs to be said? 

Friday's Far Side

"If we pull this off, we'll eat like kings."

Gary Larson, The Far Side

The way spiders always seem to be dangling from the ceiling of my kid's rooms, I would swear the spiders get a kick out invading the rooms of those who scream the loudest!  This Far Side sums up the out-to-get-you-conspiracy they appear to plot as they weave their webs.   

When there isn't time to prepare a meal, we can end up catching anything that comes our way, like a spider's web, and quickly sacrifice the quality of food we consume.  

Sometimes we can't plan for the crazy days of life, but with a few easy options, we can live above the craziness.  Drive past the drive through and dive into good food with Friday's Fast Fixes. 

Friday's Fast Fix

In his book "SuperFoods Rx," Dr. Stephen Pratt discusses the benefits of whole foods.  By replacing processed foods with natural whole foods, more nutrients are available, which result in high quality nutrition.  Nutrient dense, low calorie foods place less stress on the digestive system while providing the body with a far superior fuel. 

Redefining Spinach

For today's Fast Fix, we'll focus our recipe on one of those super foods: spinach!  Not the slimy canned version served in the elementary school cafeteria while I was growing up, but a crisp and fresh, the-way-it-should-be spinach.

Low Fat Spinach Salad

Pantry List
Fresh Spinach
Strawberries
Whole or sliced almonds
Balsamic Vinegar

The Easy Part - A "No Brainer," but it is a Fast Fix!
Place fresh spinach in bowl and top with strawberries and almonds.
Top with strawberries and almonds.
Drizzle balsamic vinegar in place of salad dressing for a no fat topping.

Substitutions
Any berry or fruit is excellent in this salad.
Use nuts of any variety

Tips and Tricks

• Taste test different flavors of balsamic vinegar at The Olive Branch.  The flavors are amazing, and make an incredible fat free dressing!
• Nuts can be heart healthy
• Indulge and add a sprinkle of Parmigiano-Reggiano

Memorial Day

My mom and dad walking into the sunset

As we hosted family for a Memorial Day gathering,  for the first time in long time, I genuinely noticed the absence of my dad.  While everyone was in the back yard taking a shot at the new corn hole game, my thoughts turned to him.  "He would have liked this," I thought to myself.  Watching the increasing competition among siblings, grandchildren begging to modify rules to their benefit, tightly held beverages becoming airborne as lawn chairs collapse..., yes, he really would have liked this.

I am fortunate.  He was always there, always stable.  Though no saint, he was strongly rooted in family and his community.  He demonstrated integrity, generosity and an impeccable work ethic.

Although he wore a tough and weathered farmer's exterior, good food would break through and reach his soft spot.  If food were a love language, that would have been his.  Food was a direct route to his heart. A favorite dish of his was always included on the menu when the family gathered.

For Memorial Day, I thought I would remember him through his favorite family recipe. One that originated with his grandmother, but has been slightly modified by removing sugar and egg yolks to cut back calories and cholesterol. 

Yes, he really would have liked this!

Grandma Cummins' Apple Salad

Pantry list:
4-5 Jonathan apples (to make 2 generous cups, small dice)
2 generous cups seedless red grapes 
2 cups marshmallows
2 cups whipping cream
1 can pineapple tidbits, juice reserved
1 T cornstarch
1/2 + 1/3 cups Splenda
Pinch of salt

Cooking required:
Drain pineapple and place juice in small sauce pan.
To the pineapple juice, add 1 T cornstarch, 1/3 cup Splenda and a pinch of salt.  Whisk together and bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly.  Transfer to bowl, cover and cool completely in refrigerator.

Knife Skills:
Leaving the peel on, core and dice the apples.
Slice the grapes in half lengthwise.
Apply bandages as needed.

Mix it up:
In a large bowl (5 quart or larger), combine the diced apples, grapes, pineapple and marshmallows.
Add 1/2 cup Splenda to the cream.  Whip until stiff peaks have formed.
Carefully fold in the thickened and cooled pineapple juice. 
Fold the pineapple and whipped cream mixture into the fruit and marshmallows.  Do not stir!

Tips and tricks:

• Splenda is used in place of sugar to reduce calories.
• Sugar can be used in place of Splenda, but sugar draws juice out of the fruit, which is not desired for this recipe.  Splenda does not have that effect on fruit.
• Sam's club has whipping cream for about 1/2 the price of grocery stores.

Why 'Darn Good Jello?'

That day the jello was the same as any ordinary day, but the joy I observed in them as they slurped it down was outrageous. "That's the best jello ever," said my kids.  "You should open a restaurant."

Food is a celebration.  Life-events are centered around it.  Memories are created and relived through it.  Why not make it the best? 

Although no restaurant is on my horizon, I have tediously perfected recipes that could fill a menu.  I believe in simple, yet great food that is easy to prepare and bound to satisfy. Savory or sweet, baked or sautéed, cooking can be your friend!

“Darn Good Jello” is a place where food and life collide; the “Far Side” meets the kitchen.  Humor abounds and recipes are shared.  Our meals prepared to perfection or culinary-experiments-gone-wrong all find a home among the posts as we celebrate success or double over in laughter.

Through this blog, we can post stories to get a taste for each other's lives.  We can try recipes to experience the same culinary sensations.  We can laugh, learn and cook!

I could write about my Crock Pot Flambé, The infamous Green Bean Bomb, or The Pot ‘Un’-luck, but I’ll save those for another post! 

From the memory of that otherwise ordinary day, "Darn Good Jello" was born.