A Haven for Vee

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Red Food

On Valentine's Day, I described how I would honor the day with red food. That was it. No flowers, a little candy, a few cards, and a kiss here and there. Nothing more special than that.

Since I had already lined up Monday's post, I didn't respond to Aunt Amelia's suggestion to provide a menu, until now. Soooo, as one who aims to please and as one who needed a Tuesday post...



How's that for product placement? Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger tea is fast becoming a favorite around here. Since I am sipping on that very cup of tea writing this post, I can assure you that it is delicious.

And the sweet Valentine? Made by none-other than the very talented Miss Sandy of Quill Cottage!

The cookies? Oh, they're my "go-to" cookie anymore. You may have your chocolate chip, I'm taking Boggles. Boggles is a cookie recipe taken from a Hannah Swensen mystery written by Joanne Fluke called Fudge Cupcake Murder. Nan was reading it last fall and recognized an excellent recipe when she saw it. Well, as I say, it's incredibly delicious with just the right texture for me — crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside. (The recipe will be at the end of this post.)

Nan has lots of ideas about good recipes. Not long ago, she told John and me that we eat "funny." She wondered about all the chicken. She didn't have chicken only once or twice a year before she landed here. Ha! She carried on about some recipe for tomato scallop from her childhood that she loved and fervently wished to have again.

Serendipity struck when I mentioned this to my mother and she gave me my grandmother's own recipe. I've been saving it for Valentine's Day. It was also amazingly good and Nan was very pleased. There's none left so that's a good indication of how wonderful it was.

Boggles

A *Hannah Swensen* recipe

Ingredients:

* 2 cups melted butter
* 2 cups brown sugar
* 2 cups white sugar
* 1 tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1 tsp salt
* 4 eggs (beaten)
* 2 tsp vanilla
* ½ tsp cinnamon
* ¼ tsp nutmeg
* 4 cups flour
* 3 cups Craisins or dried cranberries
* 3 cups rolled oats

Directions:

* Preheat oven to 350°
* Melt butter
* Add sugars and allow to cool a bit
* Add salt, vanilla, and spices
* Add eggs
* dd flour and mix with electric mixer
* After the above ingredients are well incorporated
* Stir in cranberries and oats and mix all together
(Dough will be stiff)
* Drop onto parchment lined cookie sheet with a cookie scoop and bake for 12–15 minutes.
* Allow to cool on pan for two minutes
* Remove to cookie racks for further cooking.

This makes a nice large batch of cookies and good luck keeping them on hand!
Printable Recipe


Snappy Tomatoes

A Nana Recipe

Ingredients:

* 2 cups canned tomatoes
* ½ cup cracker crumbs
* 2 TBS chopped onion
* 1 tsp salt
* 4 TBS melted butter
* ½ cup finely grated cheese of choice...I used cheddar
* dash of paprika
* dash of pepper
* 1 well-beaten egg

Directions:

* Reserve some of the cracker crumbs for the topping
* Mix all together
* Place in a 6×9 inch pan
* Top with reserved cracker crumbs
* Bake in 350° oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

Printable Recipe

Now, as I took a lot of pictures for this post and didn't use them, I'm tossing in a mosaic. I can't waste them!



Enjoy a great Tuesday!

22 comments:

  1. oh I havent tried the Raspberry Tea yet, Ive been drinking the Madarian Orange, and its good too! I hope you have a great Tuesday!

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  2. I had to laugh about the chicken comment. Our joke around here is "How do you want your chicken tonight?".
    So much chicken....

    That red tea is pretty!

    I'm glad you grabbed some kisses on Valentine's Day.

    Becky K.

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  3. Yum, new recipes! The cookies look great and both recipes will be added to my list that I am keeping for when my kitchen is finished. (We eat a lot of chicken, too) Raspberry tea sounds so good (and warm). I love Plantation mint on a cold morning.

    Thank you for the living room advice. I moved the love seat a bit closer for a more intimate space, and will now look for the perfect table to go behind it. =)

    Cheers, Jennifer

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  4. I haven't tried Raspberry Tea either but I have added it to my shopping list. Your cookie recipe is similiar to one I use except mine called for white chocolate chips and I added nuts. How nice that you did that for your nan ♥ It sounds like all of you had a wonderful day. I love how you have put all of your pictures together. Everything looks very beautiful!

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  5. Aunt Amelia thanks you for providing your Red menu!!! Coooooooooooooooool!

    Now, since Aunt Amelia gave you an idea for a Tues. post -- It's YOUR turn now. Please give Aunt Amelia an idea for a Tues. post!!! ,-0 Aunt Amelia's "well" has gone dry, again.

    :-)

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  6. Hmmm, I have bookmarked the recipes to revisit at a later date, they both sound so good. I have a friend who would love the book, I'll have to hunt one up for her. She loves a good read with recipes and has a collection of several such books.

    You happen to be sipping on my current fav tea, so good! And, thank you for the sweet mention I am glad you are still enjoying your Valentine.

    I hope you have a lovely day!

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  7. Sounds like me looking for a post. I love the idea of the Red Food. I love tomatoes prepared like that. I have my mom's recipe. I love the way you put that mosaic together. Hope everyone is doing well there.
    QMM

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  8. I enjoyed your post! What a pretty setting of red edibles (and drinkables). :o)

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  9. yum! will be making those cookies ASAP!

    many blessings,
    lea

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  10. Such a beautiful photograph - the tea is lovely and my niece would love the raspberry. Is that Johnson Bros. china? So charming. Miss Sandy's creativity always amazes me - how fun to have a hand-made Valentine. The texture of these cookies sounds perfect and the Tomato recipe is very unique. I wish I had photographed my mom and grandma with some of their favorite dishes. I have the memories in my mind but sadly, no photos. Wishing you "sunbeams" today!!!

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  11. That tomato recipe is very similar to one my mom made all the time. I think she called it scalloped tomatoes. She would make it in the summer when she had lots and lots of fresh tomatoes in the garden (and it's so thrifty).

    Definitely going to try that cookie recipe when I feel better!

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  12. Our local grocery makes some cookies similar to those, Vee, but they also add some white chunk chocolate along with the cranberries. They are SO good!

    Your Nan is funny. AND, what a neat thing that you can now make her favorite tomato dish! Sounds good, anything with tomatoes, onions, and topped with cheese is alright with me!

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  13. I'm sitting here with my cup of coffee...nibbling on an Outrageous Oatmeal Cookie (posted here http://mennonitegirlscancook.blogspot.com/2009/12/outrageous-oatmeal-cookies.html)...and thinking we are eating the same cookies!

    I can picture your Nan saying you eat funny. When my dad shows up here at mealtime, the menu usually changes...since he thinks we eat funny. He needs WHITE bread...no salads 'thank-you'...meat would be nice (preferably beef)...and coffee must have CREAM (not milk). Is your Nan learning to love chicken in her old age?

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  14. As I said in a recent post, I'm amazed at people who are able to come up with a new post every day. However, people who come up with daily posts complete with recipes, mosaics and new backgrounds ... well, all I can say is how do you do it all? Very impressive, to say the least.

    Beautiful red food and the tea looks heavenly.

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  15. Very pretty photo! I like that Raspberry Zinger tea, too, Vee. I think I like all Celestial Seasonings tea!

    After visiting Dr. Oz's TV show I have been trying to be good and not eat sweets so I can lose the belly fat he is always warning against...goodness knows I have a nice supply of that!

    So I will save this delicious sounding cookie recipe for after Lent when I am closer to my target weight...wishing and hoping!

    The tomato recipe sounds good and since it is mainly vegetable based it's something I can eat on this diet! :-)

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  16. Thank you Hon, for the link to the Gluten Free recipes on the Monnonite Girls blog.

    Wow!

    I was reading the list of their recipes, and "Uncle A." got all excited! He said; "I'll get more desserts than I ever got, before this gluten free business!" >,-)

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  17. I had a Pink 50th Birthday Party...threw it for myself...all of the food was pink! Love the red foods!

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  18. I'm not really a tea drinker, but I'll pass this on to my Mum - she does love a a cup in the afternoon.

    But I will definitely have to try the tomato dish. Sounds wonderful, I love tomato anything!

    Have a wonderful week!
    Leann

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  19. I love your collage at the end and these great recipes! Red Zinger is one of my favorite herb teas! ♥

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  20. That must have been a wonderful surprise for your Nan to get her favorite soup!

    I still plan on making that other recipe your shared that you made with the rhubarb jam. It's on my short list of things to try!

    Yes, there are quite a few tutorials on how to make tassels. They don't really seem to be hard as long as you already have all the trim etc. But Heather really was 1/2 the price than most people so I'm very pleased with my rooster tassel!

    Manuela

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  21. I loved Nan's chicken comment! We have chicken quite a bit--usually boneless breast (oh so healthy) but recently Mike insisted we have some GOOD chicken--you know, the kind that still has the bone and skin!
    The tea looks tasty and the cookies? I'll have to try those next time I am baking. Have a happy day! ~Kathy

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  22. Hi Vee,
    Thanks for the recipes. Raspberry tea is a favorite in my house with three women living here.


    Karen

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