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Tired of making the same old things?
Need something new in your recipe files?
River’s got your back…
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Rodent.
It’s what’s for dinner.
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I make gumbo now and then, but never with nutria.
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And here I thought everything tasted like chicken.
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Nutria bacon rolls.
Can green iguana quesadillas be far behind?
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If you’re on Facebook you’ve seen them. Good looking, easy recipes people are always raving about.
They’re virtually irresistible, at least to me.
I save them, gather the ingredients and wait for the culinary magic to happen.
Problem is, it rarely does. Because while these recipes always look wonderful? They never are.
Yesterday I wasted time with this one:
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Apple fritters!
What could go wrong?
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Turns out, everything.
They didn’t look or taste like fritters…. the color was off, the taste was sub par, the texture unappealing.
They were so bad it was almost funny.
Time after time I tell myself not to bother with Facebook recipes. I know I’ll be disappointed. But then I see a new one… and I can’t help myself.
Hope springs eternal.
🥴
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I’m not a big baker but I do make fruit bread now and then. Banana bread, apple bread… I’ve even made blueberry bread. But up until now I’d never made strawberry bread.
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And while I can’t say it’s my favorite…
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It wasn’t half bad either.
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I used the vanilla extract but next time I think I’d try almond for a touch more flavor.
I also had to add a bit of water to the glaze, it was too pasty their way.
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😊
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I often complain about things in the kitchen. The toaster that doesn’t toast evenly, the dirty spoons my husband leaves on the counter and more often than not … the fact that we pay more for food each day but seem to get less.
I understand prices rise, and though I never like it… I expect it. What I don’t expect is to start cooking, reach for the 16 ounce can (box or bag of whatever) only to find it’s shrunken to 14. Two ounces short of what I need forcing me to downsize my recipe or worse yet, buy another full can (box or bag of whatever) and waste most of it.
Grrr.
The insanity needs to stop… because today I discovered it’s gone one step too far.
My husband likes the old fashioned Shake and Bake barbecue chicken so every once in a while I throw him a bone and make it.
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There I was with my foil wrapped pan, my chicken leg quarters and and a box of seasoning packets. I was primed and ready to shake.
Problem was… there was no shaker bag in the box. You know the ones – they were flimsy, never closed properly and weren’t big enough for whatever you needed to shake?
Nada.
Zip.
Nothing.
Even though the side of the box clearly states you should use it.
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This is egregious marketing.
If you no longer include the shaking apparatus? You should no longer be able to call yourself Shake and Bake.
That’s just false advertising.
😡
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Here’s hoping your Thanksgiving is filled with all your favorite things.
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For me it’s all about the stuffing. Or dressing if you prefer. The right one makes the meal, the wrong one kills it.
I’m also making a double batch of Harvest Sangria. That goes a long way to improving people’s mood.
And I’m not sure why this even needs to be said, but apparently it does.
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Someone.. sometime… had to do this.
The mind boggles.
🤣
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Because when I drool, I have to share.
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I haven’t tried this yet, but it sounds yummy and easy.
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Be still my heart….
I need to find these.
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This recipe I did try. It was labeled as a creamy shrimp scampi but in reality was more of a shrimp Alfredo. Seriously rich, but tasty.
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No, I’m not proposing…
Although after all these years my husband might be more than willing to share the pleasure of my company.
No, I’m simply sharing a recipe called Marry Me Chicken.
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This sounded yummy so I gave it a spin.
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Mine didn’t look anywhere near as brown so maybe I didn’t sear the meat long enough… but let me tell you it was damn tasty all the same.
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I did add a bit of flour to the sauce at the end since it was too thin for my taste, but this is a keeper.
Instructions are a little vague, but don’t be afraid to be heavy handed with the seasoning and tomatoes. .
👍
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As a rule I’m not a breakfast person. A glass of tea and a berry banana protein smoothie works for me most days. But after an early morning appointment the other day my othet half was craving eggs Benedict so we searched for a restaurant.
When a little family run place in the middle of nowhere called the Countryside Diner presents itself, you can’t say no.
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I have to say I was surprised at the burgundy and gold whore house color scheme. It totally clashed with their logo.
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But I’d read good reviews so we plunged into the breakfast menu – where all the combos came with beans. You know you’re in Maine when.
Not being a baked bean lover, especially at 9:00 am I chose two small sides… biscuit and sausage gravy with home fries.
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The husband’s Benny was rich and tasty but correct me if I’m wrong, breakfast shouldn’t be grey… right? My meal tasted as good as it looked, which is to say horrible.
When we lived down south I acquired a mild biscuits and gravy addiction. When made properly? It’s the nectar of the gods. Sadly up here in bean country they can’t make it to save their lives… but hope springs eternal and I order it when I see it, usually to my disappointment.
And before you say why don’t you make your own at home… the husband hates it. Ever tried to make biscuits and gravy for one? Not possible.
The search continues.
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We’re not cake people as a rule but I stumbled on something so ridiculous at the store the other day… it positively screamed to be baked.
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And in a high falsetto at that.
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Bite me Dolly.
The batter is the best part.
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And because I love me some nanners, I made a banana cream pie filling.
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Topped off with buttercream frosting?
It’s a cake to go ape for.
😉
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To pea or not to pea. That is today’s question.
Personally, I do not pea… but the husband is a huge fan so when hams are on sale for Christmas and I’m left with a bone, there’s only one thing he wants.
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Split pea soup. Which happens to be the easiest soup to make… so it’s hard to refuse even though I can’t stand the smell or taste.
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5 hours later ? A pot full of slop with the consistency of sludge as far as I’m concerned.
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But the husband is in leftover pea heaven, and hey… I have to throw him a bone now and then.
😉
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River's world..... 