Category: Special Occasions

Dyeing Easter Eggs in the Slow Cooker

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date April 7, 2017

Dyeing hard boiled Easter eggs is a lot of fun, but it can get a little messy. If you have a lot of little helpers around, dealing with boiling water on the stove is not always the greatest idea. Why not get your slow cooker out of the cabinet and dye your Easter eggs in it this year?

Before you get started, do yourself a favor and grab a package of crockpot liners. They are fairly inexpensive (you can get four liners for under $2 on Amazon) and will prevent the dye from discoloring your crock. Even though we’re dealing with food safe ingredients here, it won’t harm you to skip this step, but if you do, don’t be surprised if your slow cooker insert ends up being some funky shade of whatever.

Dyeing Easter Eggs with Kool-Aid

A fun and easy way to start coloring Easter eggs is with packets of Kool-Aid. Grab a few bright colors and think about how you want to go about dyeing your eggs.

Start with the lightest color and then mix to your heart’s desire. For example, you could go from yellow to orange, to red and finally to purple. If you have more than one slow cooker, or spread your dying out over two or three days, you’ll have even more coloring options available.

Directions

Start by lining your slow cooker and adding just enough water to cover your hard boiled eggs — but don’t put your eggs in just yet. Turn your slow cooker on high and allow the water to heat up for about 2 hours.
Add enough Kool-Aid packets to get a nice, deep color, and then carefully dip your eggs into the slow cooker.

Note: There’s no need to add vinegar since the drink mix has citric acid in it. Dye the eggs as you would with commercial Easter egg dyes.

Natural Dyes in The Slow Cooker

Another fun option is to use things like onion skin and red cabbage to dye your eggs. You’ll end up with some lovely natural shades.

Cook up the dye stock in your slow cooker, then carefully ladle it into cups or glass jars and dip your eggs in for dyeing. You’ll still want to add a liner before you start cooking to prevent discoloration of your crock.

In each case, fill your slow cooker about half full with water. Add plenty of the plant material suggested below and allow it to cook on high for 3 to 4 hours until your dye liquid is fairly dark.

Here are some ideas for making the dyes:

Several big handfuls of dry onion skins (I save them ahead of time)
1 small head of red cabbage, sliced
6 beets, quartered
1 to 2 cups of coffee grounds
8 to 10 tea bags – more for deeper colors.

Allow the dye to cook, then carefully ladle some of the liquid in jars and allow your hard boiled eggs to sit in the mixture for several minutes. The longer they sit, the darker the color. You’ll end up with pretty soft shades of yellow, purple, red, brown, and green. All will have earthy, subtle tones.

Planning an Easter Meal at Home?

Make it a relaxing, easy event with the tips, suggestions and recipes included in Easy Easter at Home, Carma’s Cookery’s latest report. Take a sneak peak at the Table of Contents, then grab a copy of your own!

Introduction
Planning Ahead: Easter Activities & Decorations
Hosting Easter Without the Stress
Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch or Dinner?
Share The Joy – You Don’t Have To Do Everything Yourself
It’s Not Just About the Easter Bunny – A Short History of Easter
Getting Creative with Leftovers
Closing Words
Recipes
Crafting Ideas

Tags dying eggs, Easter eggs

Cooking Techniques Special Occasions

Enjoy a Relaxing Easter Breakfast Using Your Slow Cooker

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date April 3, 2017

Easter falls on Sunday, April 16 this year. And you may already be planning for your Easter festivities — at least I hope you are! Have you planned what to eat for Easter breakfast?

Easter mornings are a special time. Maybe you head out with your family for a sunrise service at your local church. Or maybe you wake up to the pitter-patter of little feet ready to go Easter egg hunting. In either case, the last thing you want to do is spend an hour in the kitchen cooking up a big breakfast.

Instead, you want to relax and enjoy a yummy meal with your loved ones for breakfast. But you don’t necessarily want to go out to a restaurant in order to do that. There’s an easy way to do this. Put your slow cooker to work.

Keep Easter Breakfast Simple with Baked Slow Cooker Oatmeal

Oatmeal is always a breakfast favorite. It’s quick and easy enough to make in the slow cooker for weekend breakfasts throughout the year, but you can also make it special for Easter (or any other important day) with special add-ins and toppings like chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruits, whipped cream and the like.

Start with the basic recipe. Be sure to use rolled oats in this recipe, for the finished oatmeal will turn out much better than if you use quick cooking oats.

Ingredients
2 cups dry oats
2 cups milk
2 cups water
sugar, honey or the sweetener of your choice to taste

Directions

Mix oats, milk, and water in the slow cooker.
Add your sweetener and mix well.
Cook on low overnight (for about 8 hours).

Top with your favorite flavors and serve. Topping suggestions include blueberries, apple sauce, cinnamon, walnuts or pecans. Yogurt is also good. For a special Easter treat, you could set out small bowls with various fresh and dried fruit, nuts, chocolate chips and anything else that sounds tasty in oatmeal, and let everyone make their own unique blend.

Get Ready for a Busy Day with a Hearty Breakfast Casserole

If you know you’ll have an early Easter dinner with the whole family, it may make sense to skip lunch and opt for a big hearty breakfast or brunch instead. Here’s an easy way to have your big breakfast cooking while you sleep.

Ingredients
1 lb bacon
1 small onion
1 dozen eggs
salt and pepper to taste
32 oz. of shredded hash browns
2 cups shredded cheese

Directions

The night before, fry the bacon. Allow it to cool a bit and chop it up. Set aside.
Dice the onion. Set aside.
Whisk eggs in a large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and layer 1/3 of the hash browns in the bottom of the crock. Top with 1/3 of the bacon and 1/2 cup of cheese. Repeat these layers two more times (omitting the cheese on the last layer). Pour the egg mixture over everything and top with the last cup of cheese.
Cook on low for 10 to 12 hours and enjoy when you are ready for breakfast or lunch.

Both of these ideas also work well if you’re serving brunch to your Easter guests.

Planning an Easter Meal at Home?

Introduction
Planning Ahead: Easter Activities & Decorations
Hosting Easter Without the Stress
Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch or Dinner?
Share The Joy – You Don’t Have To Do Everything Yourself
It’s Not Just About the Easter Bunny – A Short History of Easter
Getting Creative with Leftovers
Closing Words
Recipes
Crafting Ideas

Tags breakfast, breakfast casserole, Easter, oatmeal, slow cooker

Special Occasions

Easter Ham in a Slow Cooker

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date April 1, 2017

By Becproud (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Are you looking for an easy way to prepare ham for the holidays? If you’ve got a slow cooker, then you’ve got the easiest way to make it of all! Simply prep the meat, pop into the slow cooker, and turn the slow cooker on. Here is a simple Easter ham recipe. I’ve included a couple of variations, too.

Image by Becproud (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Ingredients

5-7 lbs ham (to fit into your slow cooker)
1/2 cup of your favorite mustard
1 cup brown sugar
salt & pepper to taste
1 onion, quartered

Directions

Cover ham in mustard and then rub with brown sugar, salt and pepper. Put inside your slow cooker. Add onions around the edges.
Cook on low for 6 hours.

Variations

Instead of brown sugar, try some molasses or honey.
Want a little kick? Toss in a few whole cloves.
Add a few whole garlic cloves, in addition to the onion.

Planning an Easter Meal at Home?

Introduction
Planning Ahead: Easter Activities & Decorations
Hosting Easter Without the Stress
Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch or Dinner?
Share The Joy – You Don’t Have To Do Everything Yourself
It’s Not Just About the Easter Bunny – A Short History of Easter
Getting Creative with Leftovers
Closing Words
Recipes
Crafting Ideas

Tags ham, slow cooker

Flavor Blending Special Occasions

Pie Around the Internet

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date March 30, 2017

There is a lot to be said about pie … literally. In researching guest authors and information about pies for Pie-Palooza 2017, I found some really interesting entries. What I present to you today, is a list of five of the more interesting reads about pie.

Pie: It’s gloppy, it’s soggy, it’s un-American.
By Nathan Heller on Slate.com
Heller writes about how unpleasant eating pie can be and shares some thoughts on the history of pie. A very entertaining read!

A Brief History of Pie
By Laura Mayer at Time.com
Definitely brief, but interesting, as well. It also debunks a couple of popular ideas about pies in history.

The Pie Family and All the Cousins: Pies, Tarts, and Everything in Between (or on top of) Pie Crust
By Renee Shelton on PastrySampler.com
A glossary of pies and related desserts.

Memories of Milk Pie
By Diane Stoneback on Morning Call
I’ve never heard of milk pie, but after reading this I certainly would like to try some!

Smells like nostalgia: Why do scents bring back memories?
By Meghan Holohan on NBCNews.com
Go to any candle shop and there will be several pie-related scents available. This article sheds light on why scents trigger memories.

Create Your Own Unique Pie!

Does pie making daunt you? Are you wary of deviating from any pie-recipe you find, for fear that you’ll ruin the flavor of the resulting pie?

It doesn’t have to be that way!

Pie-Palooza 2017 is brought to you by Your Perfect Pie, a cookbook that breaks down pies into easily made component parts so you can unleash your pie-making creativity. Available on Amazon in both print and Kindle formats. Grab your copy today and start creating your perfect pie!

Miss previous posts? Find links to them here.

Tags Pie-Palooza 2017, pies

Cookbook Reviews Special Occasions

Cookbook Review: Afternoon Tea at Home

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 8, 2017

When I was three years old, my family moved to Nairobi, Kenya. Because it was a former British colony, the culture had a lot of British influence, including the practice of afternoon tea at 4pm. I grew up with this habit, and to this day still favor a nice cup of tea — although not restricted to the afternoon!

This is why I was attracted to Will Torrent’s book Afternoon Tea at Home, the goal of which is to “bring the elegance of afternoon tea to your table at home.”

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book for review, however I am under no obligation to write about it positively or otherwise.

Summary of Afternoon Tea at Home

This beautifully photographed book provides “deliciously indulgent recipes for sandwiches, savouries, scones, cakes and other fancies.” The recipes are upscale and will help you make a favorable impression on your guests.

What Worked for Me

This is a perfect coffee table book. It is beautiful to look through and I look forward to giving many of the recipes a try. The content is organized by seasons, and my occasion. If you want to have a classic afternoon tea, this book has you covered. If you want to have a more special or seasonal affair, this book’s got you covered, as well. In the back of the book are 14 suggested menus for occasions ranging from birthday part to Gentleman’s tea to Thanksgiving treats. Whatever the occasion, you’ll find something in Afternoon Tea at Home that will suit your needs.

What Didn’t Work for Me

Because this is more of a coffee table book, it isn’t all that practical for the kitchen. It’s ungainly size (8.5 x 10 inches) and pages that don’t always lie flat, will make it a challenge to actually use. But I’m sure if you’re motivated enough, you’ll overcome that, too.

Recommendation

This book is perfect for lovers of the traditional afternoon tea. If you’re an Anglophile, you’ll enjoy perusing the pages for classic and elegant recipes. If you are an arm-chair cookbook collector, this book will make a beautiful addition to your collection. And, if you’re a motivated cook, you’ll probably find a way to try out the recipes within — without making a mess of the book in the process.

Rating for Afternoon Tea at Home

Specs:

Format: Hardback, 176 pages
Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small (February 11, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 184975702X
ISBN-13: 978-1849757027

Pick up your copy on Amazon.com here.

Tags afternoon tea, high tea, Will Torrent

Special Occasions

Tips for Greener Tailgating

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date January 4, 2017

Photo provided by The Hungry Fan

By Daina Falk

Hanging out until the end of a tailgate, you can’t help but notice how much goes to waste. It’s 2016 and being green has gone from trendy to just what you gotta do. So here are some simple tips to keep in mind for your next tailgate so we can all have fun, eat awesome food but also do our part to help promote a cleaner planet:

1. Use a natural-gas or propane grill. Natural gas and propane grills are both more environmentally-friendly than their charcoal counterparts. Gas-powered grills produce about half the amount of carbon emissions as charcoal. (When producing 35,000 Btu’s per hour–a standard industry baseline–gas produces 5.6 pounds of carbon dioxide per house, compared to charcoal’s 11 pounds). Plus, most of the charcoal available on the market for grilling is pretty gross–it’s a combination of things like lighter fluid, cornstarch and sawdust and can result in 105 times more carbon monoxide when burned than propane.

2. Carpool to the tailgate/game. We already know carpooling to work–or just in general–is better for the environment. Game day is no different.

3. Bring a designated container for recyclables. At this point, people have become accustomed to recycling and tend to seek out a recycling bin. Be sure you’ve got one for them or everything will just get thrown in the trash, which would be unfortunate. Some waste management companies will even allow you to rent a recycling bin for larger groups, such as this company in Central Iowa who rents them for free.

4. Take home what you don’t finish. Leftovers can be delicious–especially tailgating leftovers. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve eaten my fill at the tailgate, gone into the game and cheered my head off–thereby working up an appetite–and returned home hungry again. Don’t throw away the food that doesn’t get eaten at your tailgate. Throw it into some Tupperware and take it home–heck, even use it to just save something to chow down on the way home!

5. Use environmentally-friendly plates, utensils and containers. The best way to go is to use reusable containers for food and beverages. But seeing as how most of us don’t bring our plates, glasses or forks from home, there are lots of other great Earth-friendly options. For starts, there are always paper products. Paper decomposes much faster in our landfills than plastic or Styrofoam do. You really should avoid Styrofoam at all costs–it takes hundreds of years to infinity to decompose. There are other great options besides paper as well. You can also buy containers, plates and utensils made from renewable plant fibers and even sugar cane. These kinds of products are actually biodegradable compostable (meaning that they basically dissolve back into the Earth, leaving no toxicity), are quite sturdy, less absorbent than paper, and are safe for hot and cold foods.

Here are some of my picks for great biodegradable tailgating gear:

1. 3-compartment plates: I don’t always love it when my different foods touch (i.e. ranch dip making its way onto my burger). Sure, they all end up in the same place, but I like to enjoy each individual flavor…individually. I like these plates because they allow me to do just that–and they’re $.50 apiece, which is a pretty sweet deal.

2. Biodegradable bowls: a 20-pack for $2.00. Sounds like a deal to me. And they compost back into the Earth in about 90 days? Yes please.

3. Earth-friendly forks that look just like plastic forks: I’ve tried the wooden forks because they’re environmentally friendly and I so wanted to like them. Alas, those wooden ones are like so dry that they stick to your tongue and your lips and it’s just not great. I know. A small part of me wonders about splinters… I like these forks so much more because they look and feel like plastic forks but they’re 100% biodegradable and they’re actually microwavable. This link gets you a whole pack of 500 forks for less than $.25 each. Not bad.

4. 16 oz. compostable cups: A big cup for big beers, mixed drinks, etc. I wouldn’t ever suggest anything smaller…who can play beer pong in a 7 ouncer? Come on. We know better. I dig these. They look like regular plastic cups but they aren’t–they’re actually made from a bi-product of corn. Pretty cool.

Healthy Fangating™ Fare

When you think of game day eats, the word “healthy” doesn’t quickly come to mind. This I know and wholeheartedly acknowledge. But when I got started in this business, it was after I had lost 60 lbs., was committed to keeping it off, but was not willing to give up my once-a-week cheat day that for me is spent tailgating or homegating, or collectively as I call it, Fangating. So I came up with new, healthier spins on game day favorites that included more nutrient-dense foods, smart substitutions, and overall healthier preparations. The three recipes that follow feature lots of yummy, nutritious veggies; Greek yogurt in lieu of sour cream; sweet potatoes in place of other kinds of potatoes (which lack the same nutrients that sweet potatoes possess); nuts and leaner proteins; and are baked instead of fried. Whether you’re spectating at (or before) a sporting event or refueling after participating yourself, these are tasty, more sensible riffs on the dishes you might have otherwise avoided. Enjoy!

About the Author

“Fangating™” expert and celebrity cook Daina Falk, founder of the Hungry Fan®, is author of The Hungry Fan’s® Game Day Cookbook, which includes 165 Fangating™ recipes—including 40 that she collected from Olympians and professional athletes like LeBron James, Boomer Esiason, Michael Jordan and Andre Agassi! Daina merges sports, food and entertaining (including tailgating and homegating) to celebrate and curate game day revelry like none other. Reach her online at www.HungryFan.com.

Tags Daina Falk, football, sports, superbowl, tailgating

Special Occasions

The Prep-Work: Make Your Dinner Party The Best One Yet

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date August 11, 2016

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Having a dinner party? Worried you’re going to make it all wrong and no-one’s going to want to come back? Relax. A great dinner party is achieved through great planning. Don’t jump to impress with recipes you just started practicing the night before. Take your time, read the tips below and see what ideas strike you as just the kind of fun (or sensible) choices you need.

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Prep Tip #1: Don’t put your guests in the hospital

You know what’s not fun? Going to hospital. You might be in danger of doing that to a guest if you don’t find out about their food requirements and/or allergies before you start cooking. A lot of people look for a tactful way to ask for health information. The simple answer is to keep it a private conversation. Phone on the pretext of asking them whether they have any preferences for their meal. Better to be safe than sorry.

I have friends who are lactose intolerant and others who are vegetarians. Keeping their culinary needs in mind helps me create a menu that they can enjoy just as much as anyone else at the party.

Prep Tip #2: Put thought into the drinks you offer

Regardless of what courses you choose, the drink you serve can highlight or ruin a meal. Pairing drinks with food isn’t about being snobby. It’s about the very real effect that a drink has on our taste buds. It flavors the food we serve alongside it. Bitterness in drinks like beer cut through the heaviness of other foods. White wine has a cleansing effect for flavorful food like fish. Red wine doesn’t have much acidity, making it a good choice for fatty chicken and other meats.

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Prep Tip #3: Only the best in BBQ

If you’re offering a barbecue, don’t offer just the same old slabs of meat as everyone else. Be more considered in your choices. Too many people ignore the fact they can cook seafood on the grill as well. Sweet corn, salad fixings and kebabs are lighter foods that are also great at contrasting heavier meat.

Prep Tip #4: Hit it at its freshest

If you’re using whole food ingredients, then get them at their absolute best. Most foods are seasonal and getting them in season results in fresher tastes. Most recipes you’ll find need all the flavor fresh ingredients can offer. So use a seasonal calendar to see the ingredients that will blow your guests’ socks off.

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Prep Tip #5: Easy desserts

We’re not necessarily talking about desserts that are easy to make (though that’s not always bad). Instead, it can be nice to have a change of scene after dinner. Why not make a dessert that they don’t have to sit at the table to eat? For example, you can click here to see cake pops that can be eaten just about anywhere. Just give them a napkin beforehand.

Prep Tip #6: Add a bit of color to the night

If you want things to be fun, then you want to delight all of their senses. This includes sight. Try to add a bit more color to your dish in the form of garnishes. If you don’t want to experiment with the food too much, look at what drinks you’re serving instead. A super bright cocktail with dessert can be just the right kind of dazzling finish.

Tags food prep, party prep