Blitzen Baked Bananas

Photos by alleksana from Pexels

Whether you are dreaming of a white Christmas, or just wondering how little you can decorate while still looking festive, planning your Christmas menu this year is probably different. Maybe you never usually cook or maybe you are downsizing considerably. Change can be hard. But, it is also a perfect time to work in some new and fresh ideas among the standard traditions.

Yes, everyone loves Christmas cookies, pies, and other sweet treats, but consider working in baked bananas. A little bit of healthy goodness, and they can be plated and served like a hot banana split giving you the comfort of an ooey gooey dessert without going too far.

Here's my recipe for Blitzen Baked Bananas:

What you’ll need:

• One banana per person
• Cinnamon
• Honey

Line a baking pan with foil while oven heats to 400 degrees. Split bananas lengthwise and arrange in pan. Sprinkle cinnamon and drizzle honey over the fruit to taste and bake about 12 minutes depending on ripeness and softness desired.

Topping Station Ideas:

• Ice Cream
• Whipped Cream
• Maraschino cherries
• Caramel Sauce
• Chocolate Sauce
• Butterscotch Sauce
• Nuts
• Sprinkles

Toppings can be arranged in an assembly line style with individual spoons and bowls so guests can make their own creations.

Do what is best for you when planning your Christmas dinner list of items. Whether you are mixing a traditional Christmas dinner with restaurant or grocery store Christmas to go components, or redefining what makes a special Christmas menu, know that you are doing a wonderful job putting together a holiday filled with magical and loving memories that happen to include some really great food!

For more Christmas menu ideas - visit my blog on Zulily by clicking here and please feel free to share this blog or the post at Zulily.

I wish you joy this holiday season and hope you are indeed Fed Well.

Repurposed Party Food (AKA Leftovers)

Source: Photo by fu zhichao from Pexels

The world is a little bit different right now due to Covid-19 restrictions and recommendations. Celebrations are smaller, more intimate, and yet, we still serve an amazing amount of food at our family gatherings.

We recently had a little buffet style luncheon and even with scaled back amounts of food, we still had an enormous amount of leftover party food.

Now what?

I portioned out some take home containers for a few family members and still had plenty to reheat for two night's worth of dinner. Just as I worried we would end up throwing the rest away because we are tired of it, some inspiration struck.

Roasted veggies were turned into omelets. They can also be repurposed into tasty fajitas, quiche, and stir fry dishes.

The seasoned potatoes were also great with breakfast.

The burgundy beef just needs a layer of mashed potatoes and some oven time to transform into a make-shift Shepherd's Pie we can have one last time.

A common mistake with left over party food is exactly what we were doing - reheat and re-eat. The trick is to turn it into something new and fresh you want to eat again.

I'm thinking of mashing up the meatball leftovers and turning them into a meatloaf of sorts...what would you do?

We had no problem enjoying the leftover sweet treats with a cup of tea.

By the way, the celebration was in honor of the arrival of a new family member - scheduled to debut next year. She will be greeted with love and is already in our hearts. She will be cherished and Fed Well by us for all of our days.

Cook, Clean, and Care for your Cast Iron Pots and Pans

Why do cast iron pans seem so mysterious? Let's take the mystery out of caring for cast iron because that seems to be where they differ so vastly from other pots and pans.  

Stainless steel and aluminum cookware are similar in that you use them, rinse, wash with soap, rinse, dry and put them away.

Cast iron, like the Tinman in the Wizard of Oz, becomes useless when rusty. Rust most commonly occurs due to contact with moisture and that is where the need for more attention begins for cast iron pans. 

A few quick tips:

• Clean out food bits with a non-metal tool (think silicone, rubber, wood, bamboo) or soft cloth.
• You can wash cast iron but the trick is to make sure it is dry, really dry, before storing and re-season if necessary.
• The mysterious "seasoning" you hear of is simply applying a thin coat of oil to the pan, then inverting it in the oven at very high heat to provide a seal between the food you cook and the surface of the pan.
• Store cast iron between layers of paper towel or cloth to avoid moisture.
• Never place food in a cold pan, allow the surface of the pan to heat before cooking.
• Do not let liquids sit for an extended period of time in cast iron. Remember: liquids = rust.

For more information about cooking, cleaning, and caring, for your cast iron cookware, check out my post here on the Zulily blog.

Take out your cast iron pan today and use it without fear. The browning, crisping, and versatility of cooking with cast iron are all valuable benefits of this cookware. Warning: expanding your kitchen skills will likely lead to feelings of being Fed Well.

Last minute & make ahead Thanksgiving appetizer ideas

Not ready for Thanksgiving and watching the clock tick down? Don't panic! You can probably still make a really beautiful appetizer with minimal fuss! 

A charcuterie board is a great option for both last minute and make ahead - plus you can customize the ingredients to suit the dietary needs or restrictions of you and your guests!

Charcuterie is typically meat and cheese but if you need it to be vegetarian friendly, it can be, and if you need it to be dairy free, you can do that as well!

Optional items for a successful charcuterie board:

• Thinly sliced cured meats like salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, cappicolla
• Hard cheese - cheddar, provolone, or Gouda
• Soft cheese - brie, mozzarella, or bleu
• Fruits - grapes, figs, berries, sliced melon, cherries
• Olives
• Pickles
• Roast red peppers
• Marinated mushrooms and artichokes
• Nuts
• Crackers
• Spreads can be hearty mustard, fig spread, mashed avocado, or hummus

Tips for arranging:

• For wet ingredients or small items like pickles or olives, consider using a small bowl on the platter or board.
• Mix up colors and textures.
• Use two different types of crackers or considering mixing in small rounds of toasted bread.
• FILL the board or serving platter rather than leave empty space - the fuller it looks, the more appealing to guests.
• Provide small serving forks, toothpicks, or skewers to ensure guests avoid using their fingers especially during this pandemic holiday season.

Another bonus of preparing a charcuterie board is you can have more ingredients precut or rolled in the refrigerator to refill the board as needed.

Take time this holiday season to enjoy your family or friends, especially since the number of guests at the table is likely reduced this year due to Covid concerns.

Thanksgiving is my personal favorite holiday and I will certainly be enjoying a charcuterie board with my loved ones. We will share the things we are thankful for in this challenging year and appreciate being Fed Well.

For more Thanksgiving (or Christmas) make-ahead appetizer ideas, please visit my post on the Zulily blog - click here and feel free to share both posts!

Happy Thanksgiving from Fed Well!

A little something extra for Mrs. Claus

Plan on adding a little something extra this year for someone very special...

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Halloween is over and the calendar page is turned to November. Moms are making those critical lists, the ones sort of like Santa’s, the ones with all the names of all the children (alongside the rest of the family as well as teachers and friends) maybe with a few notes about what they would like for Christmas.

Staying focused on Thanksgiving and experiencing one holiday at a time simply won’t work for a super mom doing it all. She tries to stay one step ahead, moving through tasks without complaint - organizing, shopping, wrapping and stashing gifts all while planning holiday meals, working, and making sure the house and everyone in it is well cared for with love.

Scrolling through menu options, she decides which traditional dishes are must haves, if any can be updated, and revising one or two to meet allergy or other dietary needs of some family members.

Christmas ideas keep popping up and she tries to press snooze.

Fine, she sighs. Give in to it. Start drafting the Christmas menu now. Thumb through cookie recipes and imagine which ones will be put out for Santa with a glass of milk and a carrot or two for the reindeer. Maybe this year the magic oats mixed with environmentally safe glitter could be set on the porch for Rudolph and the gang.

What about Dear Mrs. Claus?

What would she like for Christmas? A little something extra should be set out on the table for her on Christmas Eve. Can you see her? Wrapped up in a robe, or more likely, a favorite and worn oversized sweatshirt or t-shirt, nestled in the corner of the couch, with her feet tucked under her, phone in hand.

It’s time to say thank you to Mrs. Claus. Take a moment to acknowledge all of her selfless acts of kindness, crossing off those seemingly endless items on the to-do list of not only Christmas but of every day.

What would be a little something extra she might enjoy?

Chocolate. Ah, a mug of velvety smooth hot chocolate…the possibilities.

Let’s begin with your favorite holiday mug! 

One way to make Dear Mrs. Claus a sweet and comforting reward this year (not just for Christmas Eve) – could be made from scratch with a chocolate bomb complete with tiny marshmallows inside. Recipes for these homemade treats can be found all over the Internet but basically, they are constructed by using a half-circle mold (preferably silicone) that is coated with chocolate, allowed to cool, then filled with cocoa powder, perhaps mini-marshmallows, and then sealed together with a thin layer of brushed on melted chocolate. Once the bombs are joined to form one “bomb” then can be chilled until ready to use. To use: drop one filled bomb in a mug then pour over 2 cups of warmed (not scalded) milk. Top with more marshmallows, whipped cream, or wherever whimsy and creativity take you. Remember, this is a special gift to Mrs. Claus after all.

Or dress up a cup of good quality instant hot chocolate prepared with milk (add a splash or two of half and half to really make it decadent) then stir using one of those cute little chocolate spoons drizzled with caramel then sprinkled with sea salt. They can be found on a variety of retail shelves this year from department stores to grocers or you can make yourself by simply dipping a spoon in caramel (disposable wooden spoons or your own flatware) and adding a pinch of sea salt over the top. Oh, now we are on to something. Other spoon ideas may include dark or white chocolate garnished with a bit of crushed candy cane or chopped up pieces of your favorite candy bar – the possibilities are endless.

Even better, hot chocolate with a tiny splash of maybe hazelnut flavored liquor (like Frangelico) with a small scoop of ice cream or rich, creamy, whipped cream.

Hot chocolate too hot for you? Maybe a chocolate martini? Turn a martini glass upside down in a thin layer of chocolate (or a hazlenut spread like Nutella) then dip into crushed candy cane or nuts. For the cocktail – choose either 4 oz. chocolate liquor with 2 oz. vodka or vanilla vodka and a splash of half and half, or 2 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream with ¼ oz. chocolate liquor and ¼ oz. vodka.

Looking for a mocktail version with a little kick? Treat your glass like the martini options above or squeeze a little chocolate syrup inside the glass before adding a ¼ tsp. of cinnamon to your favorite chocolate milk recipe and enjoy straight up or over ice. Garnish with shaved chocolate or chocolate sprinkles.

Notice how a lot of the garnishes and rims are similar ingredients and likely good staples to have on hand during the holiday season to bring treats like hot chocolate and chocolate cocktails and mocktails to the next level. I can tell you are thinking about including the littles in this so here is a sample shopping/ingredient list:

Hot Chocolate - packaged, high-end, chocolate bomb, your choice

Marshmallows, mini-marshmallows, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, candy/caramel/marshamallow spoons (available at many retailers or can be made at home)

Crushed candy canes, favorite chocolate candies broken into small pieces, caramel, ice cream, sprinkles, maraschino cherries, hazlenut spread, crushed nuts, cinnamon, and coconut flakes would all look and taste great on the rim of glass or as garnishes and toppings.

Remember, you are preparing this little something extra for someone very special, someone who may not normally think to treat themselves during the holiday season, someone who may not receive the accolades or applause but makes sure the holidays are the stuff of magical memories.

For more about Mrs. Claus and making her an official and integral part of Christmas, visit  An Open Letter to Moms Everywhere and discover who she really is...you already know her very well.

Dear Mrs. Claus – thank you for all you do, every day, all year long. Please enjoy this treat prepared with love and gratitude. Take your time and savory each sip. You may be doing all of the work behind the scenes, but you very much deserve a little something special for yourself. So, start a new tradition this year and don’t think of it as adding another task, you deserve to be celebrated well, Fed Well, and recognized for all of that you do! This year, plan to prepare a little something extra for Mrs. Claus and ensure she is Fed Well.

Cider and Caramel Cocktail

 

Inside this sugar rimmed cocktail glass are two simple ingredients - 3 parts of my favorite local cider and 1 part caramel vodka. The glass was swiped with the apple slice then turned upside down in regular old granulated sugar.

Here are some of the best ways to use this very easy cocktail and make it your own:

Switch up the rim:

• Turn glass upside down and dip in caramel
• After running an apple slice across the rim, dip in salt
• Dip in caramel then salt
• Play with apple types for garnish
• Combine sugar with cinnamon and/or a sprinkle of nutmeg 

Expand the recipe for a crowd:

Remember, whenever a recipe is written in "parts," it means a part can equal whatever unit of measurement you need. So, this cocktail can be scaled up by cups to 3 cups cider to 1 cup caramel vodka. Combine in a large pitcher with ice and perhaps add slices of apples to the mix.

Bring the ingredients along:

This cocktail pairs beautifully with pumpkin carving, apple or pumpkin picking, Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, autumn birthdays, any outdoor gathering from September - November, and whenever you want to enjoy the flavors of fall.

Alcohol options:

Switch out the caramel vodka to your favorite bourbon or whiskey.

Hot, Warm, or Iced:

Experiment with the cocktail's best serving temperature as you alternate alcohols.

On the table with:

Since this drink is inherently sweet with the tang of apple, try serving with pork dishes, grilled or smoked meats and poultry, or roasted vegetarian dishes. Could be wonderful with a simmering pot of butternut squash soup. Or with a traditional apple cider donut (warm of course with a scoop of vanilla ice cream).

Cheers to being Fed Well!

Breakfast Bruschetta - All About that Toast

Back in the day, my mom taught me all I thought I needed to know about toast. It went like this:

1. Untwist bread tie

2. Remove two slices and place in toaster

3. Press lever on electric toaster until golden brown

4. When bread pops up, try to grab quickly with fingertips and get hot bread onto plate for buttering

5. Try to spread butter thinly without ripping bread

6. Enjoy

This method served me well for years!

However, last year, I whipped up a blend of olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder (if I have garlic in the house, I use minced garlic in place of powder) then dipped the bread into the mixture and grilled. I felt like I discovered toast heaven. But, improvements could be made. 

Please note, I used grocery store bought Italian bread for this first effort. NOT white bread.

The Mr. thought this method made the outer flesh of the bread crunchy but with a soggy center from dipping it in oil.

The next effort still included the olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic mixed in a bowl, but then I lightly dabbed it on each side of the bread with a pastry or basting brush. The slices were grilled until golden brown and the crispy, crunch was toast nirvana. The salt and pepper, simple as it sounds, added a ton of flavor to the toast and the elimination of butter meant my son could enjoy the bread as he has a dairy intolerance.  Win/Win so far!

Further experimentation meant using bakery bread then topping this deliciousness with my version of bruschetta (which also changes depending on the ingredients I have available in the house) but for the photographed version I have:

Chopped tomatoes

Salt

Pepper

Basil

On a rainy day in the Hudson Valley area of New York, I opted to use the broiler for the toasting rather than the grill.  Two minutes for the first side, flip the bread, time for one minute and then yes, you have to babysit the bread and check every 20 seconds otherwise in the blink of an eye it is garbage.

I enjoyed some for breakfast today! It made me feel Fed Well and a little bit like a rebel to have something non-traditional to start my day (although yes, you can argue the toast is perfectly breakfast-y).  Take care.