Love in the Kitchen - making fast, healthy, homegrown meals you'll enjoy

Monday, March 31, 2014

A Chance to Win $650! Tax Day Giveaway!


Enter for your chance to win $650 from a great group of bloggers in the Tax Day Cash Giveaway...but hurry just like your taxes it all ends at midnight on April 15th, 2014!!

Amazing cohost are:


Linda @ Crafts a la Mode  
Mandy Jean  @  Mandy Jean chic 
Evelyn @ My Turn for us 
Stephanie @ Wife Mommy Me
Anna  @ Cuddlebug Cuties
Angel  @ Sew Crafty Angel 
Katherine @ Katherines Corner 
Tiffany @ Style Honestly 
Michelle @ Ya Gotta Have a Hobby
Karen @ Giveaway Hunt 
Natasha @ Serenity You 
Inspired Kathy @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer 
April @ 100lb Countdown
Myrna @ UndecidedMamas

Giant shout out to other participants 
(because without everyone we would have never reached $650)


Jackie@  Jade and Oak 
Joy @ Yesterfood 




Must be 18 years or older to participate in this giveaway. Must have a verified PayPal account for monies to be transferred to the winner. The winning entry will be verified. Once the winner is notified they have 72 hours to reply back or a second winner will be selected and the first one will have no claim to the prize.  This giveaway is open worldwide but prize money is valued on the US dollar and any taxes is at the sole responsibility of the winner and not of anyone who contributed to this giveaway.   
If you have any questions please contact Mice In The Kitchen BEFORE entering the giveaway.

Good luck!!
zentMRS - Love in the Kitchen
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Tuesday's Table for April 8, 2014

We had a wonderful party last week. Thanks to all of you who stopped by to add your links to last week's party, and a "Welcome New Friends" to all of our new followers.








This week's feature is Once Upon a Time in a Bed of WIldflowers' Turkish Rice Pudding! I am a sucker for rice pudding - AND we are going to be visiting Turkey on our cruise (we leave Friday!)  This is just the perfect feature for this week.  Delicious and getting me excited for my vacation!   You need to head over and see her site.





Please grab a button  - and thanks so much for sharing!

And now it's time to fill Tuesday's Table.  Are you planning for your Easter celebration and have some great recipes to share? I can always use some great inspiration, and y'all always come through with it!

For this week's party, only a few guidelines:
  • Please share as many links as you like, but only if you haven't shared them here before
  • Add a link back to Tuesday's Table (or grab a button above!) so others can join in the fun
  • Follow me via Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, RSS or Bloglovin (see my sidebar!)
No other requirements, but visit the other links here, and I'd love for you to sign up for my email reminder here!

And now, for this week's link party!



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Tuesday's Table for April 1, 2014

We had a wonderful party last week. Thanks to all of you who stopped by to add your links to last week's party, and a "Welcome New Friends" to all of our new followers.








This week's feature is The Freshman Cook's Linzer BUttercream Cookies!  These are just darling and would be the perfect addition to my Easter table.  I can guarantee that my co-workers will be seeing these in the coming weeks!   You need to head over and see her site.





Please grab a button  - and thanks so much for sharing!

And now it's time to fill Tuesday's Table.  Are you planning for your Easter celebration and have some great recipes to share? I can always use some great inspiration, and y'all always come through with it!

For this week's party, only a few guidelines:
  • Please share as many links as you like, but only if you haven't shared them here before
  • Add a link back to Tuesday's Table (or grab a button above!) so others can join in the fun
  • Follow me via Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, RSS or Bloglovin (see my sidebar!)
No other requirements, but visit the other links here, and I'd love for you to sign up for my email reminder here!

And now, for this week's link party!




zentMRS - Love in the Kitchen
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Monday, March 24, 2014

Tuesday's Table for March 25, 2014

We had a wonderful party last week. Thanks to all of you who stopped by to add your links to last week's party, and a "Welcome New Friends" to all of our new followers.








This week's feature is My Family Mealtime's Beer Cheese Soup!  This recipe, made with New Belgium Beer, looks and sounds amazing.   You need to head over and see her site.





Please grab a button  - and thanks so much for sharing!

And now it's time to fill Tuesday's Table.  Are you planning for your Easter celebration and have some great recipes to share? I can always use some great inspiration, and y'all always come through with it!

For this week's party, only a few guidelines:
  • Please share as many links as you like, but only if you haven't shared them here before
  • Add a link back to Tuesday's Table (or grab a button above!) so others can join in the fun
  • Follow me via Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, RSS or Bloglovin (see my sidebar!)
No other requirements, but visit the other links here, and I'd love for you to sign up for my email reminder here!

And now, for this week's link party!




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Wednesday, March 19, 2014

For My Friends - A Spring Break Giveaway!!

Spring is Finally Here!

We are SO Excited about it, that we are giving away some CASH!!

SpringGiveawayAd

One (1) lucky winner will win this $200 PayPal Cash Giveaway! You can use your winnings towards a day at the beach or the spa...maybe some retail therapy; whatever you like...Just be sure to Enter to Win! Plus, You Deserve a Break!

Meet the Lovely people who made this giveaway possible...

CO-HOSTS

SpringRow1

Natasha @ Lovely You | Mionna @ Just Mi | LaTisha @ Young Finances | Susan @ Love In The Kitchen | Natasha @ Epic Mommy Adventures

SpringRow2Linda @ Crafts A La Mode | Sherry @ The Life of the Party | Nicole @ Pharr Away | Lily @ Fun Fierce Fabulous Beauty After 50 | Christie @ A Kitchen HoorSpringRow3Myrna @ Undecided Mamas | Angel @ Sew Crafty Angel | Dee @ Ms Dee Kay

CONTRIBUTORS

SpringContributors

Jamie @ Handling With Grace | Sam @ Honey Go Lightly | Liz @ The Fitness Blonde

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Lovely You Blog, Co-Hosts, Contributors and Sponsors are not eligible to enter this giveaway. The Spring Break Cash Giveaway begins March 20th at 12:00 AM EST and ends April 3rd 2014 at 12:00AM EST. The giveaway is open to Residents Worldwide with a verified PayPal account except where prohibited by law. One (1) winner will be selected by Random.org and will be notified by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. No purchase necessary for entering this giveaway. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Bloglovin are in no way associated with this giveaway. By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to me, cohosts and sponsors in order to verify your entries and name a winner. As the winner, you are responsible for any tax reporting and associated fees via PayPal in obtaining the winnings. It is the Sole responsibility of the winner and not Lovely You Blog, Co-hosts, Contributors or Sponsors.

ENTER TO WIN...a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Monday, March 17, 2014

Tuesday's Table for March 18, 2014

We had a wonderful party last week. Thanks to all of you who stopped by to add your links to last week's party, and a "Welcome New Friends" to all of our new followers.








This week's feature is Gigi Eats Celebrities' Frosted Mini Shepherd's Pie!  I love shepherd's pie, and these mini concoctions look divine.   You need to head over and see her site.





Please grab a button  - and thanks so much for sharing!

And now it's time to fill Tuesday's Table.  Are you planning for your Easter celebration and have some great recipes to share? I can always use some great inspiration, and y'all always come through with it!

For this week's party, only a few guidelines:
  • Please share as many links as you like, but only if you haven't shared them here before
  • Add a link back to Tuesday's Table (or grab a button above!) so others can join in the fun
  • Follow me via Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, RSS or Bloglovin (see my sidebar!)
No other requirements, but visit the other links here, and I'd love for you to sign up for my email reminder here!

And now, for this week's link party!




zentMRS - Love in the Kitchen
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Saturday, March 15, 2014

Cajun Jambalaya


New Orleans is famous for a lot of different meals – chief among them is the traditional rice dish known as Jambalaya.  There are a wide variety of ways to make jambalaya, with chicken and sausage, or shrimp, or ham, or even duck or alligator. Some involve tomatoes and tomato sauce, some use chicken or beef stock instead.



Jambalaya originated in the Caribbean Islands. The Spanish culture mixed with the native foods created what is known as Jambalaya. Jambalaya is traditionally made in three parts, with meat and vegetables, and is completed by adding stock and rice. It is also a close cousin to the saffron colored paella found in Spanish cuisine.









Cajun Jambalaya

by Susan Zentmyer
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Ingredients (serves 8)
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 3 cups cubed cooked chicken
  • 1 pound Cajun-flavored or smoked sausage, sliced
  • 1 (8-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 tablespoon ground cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
  • 5 cups cooked rice
Instructions
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and bell peppers; sautรฉ until tender.
Add chicken, sausage, and next 4 ingredients. Cook, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes.
Stir in rice, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes over low heat.
Powered by Recipage









Jambalaya works especially well at family gatherings, since it’s very easy to alter the recipe in order to accommodate large numbers of hungry guests.  Make this at home, and I promise, you’ll love it! Throw in different variations of seafood, sausage, spices or hot sauce to make it truly your own.








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Friday, March 14, 2014

Mini Cherry Hand Pies


You won't need a fork for these Mini Cherry Hand Pies.  And you won't get any complaints that the servings weren't the same size.

You will, however, get a most delicious cherry hand pie - not too sweet and with the flakiest butter pastry imaginable!




Mini Cherry Hand Pies

by Susan Zentmyer
Cook Time: 15 - 20 minutes
Ingredients (about 18 hand pies)
    For the dough
    • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup (2 sticks) very cold butter, cut into pieces
    • 4 to 6 tablespoons ice cold water
    For the filling
    • 2 cups sweet bing cherries, pitted
    • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
    • pinches of salt
    For the pies
    • 1 egg, beaten with a bit of water
    • coarse sugar for sprinkling
    Instructions
    Add the flour, sugar and salt to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse until it forms a sandy crumb.
    Starting with 4 tablespoons, sprinkle the water over the flour-butter mixture and pulse until it forms a ball, about 45 seconds to 1 minute. Add another tablespoon or two of water if necessary.
    Dump onto an unfloured counter and form into a flat disc. Wrap in plastic or waxed paper and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
    Preheat oven to 400ยบF.
    Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
    For the filling, combine the cherries, sugar and all purpose flour, or tapioca flour if using, and salt. Stir to mix well and set aside.
    On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/8 to 1/16-inch thick.
    Cut out 4-inch circles. (You can re-roll the scraps so that you can use all of the dough)
    Place cut circles on the parchment-covered baking sheets.
    Spoon 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of filling into the center of each circle. Fold over, making sure the filling is not spilling out the edges, and crimp the edges with a fork.
    Pierce tops with a fork to create steam vents. Brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar, if using.
    Bake for 15 minutes, until golden. Let sit on sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
    Powered by Recipage





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    Monday, March 10, 2014

    Tuesday's Table for March 11, 2014

    We had a wonderful party last week. Thanks to all of you who stopped by to add your links to last week's party, and a "Welcome New Friends" to all of our new followers.








    This week's feature is Our Mini Family's St. Patty's Day Waffle Cake with Mint and Chocolate Chip Ice Cream  Just the thing to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!  And you'll be surprised to see how easy it is to make.   You need to head over and see her site.





    Please grab a button  - and thanks so much for sharing!

    And now it's time to fill Tuesday's Table.  Do you have a great St. Patrick's Day receipe?  Something for a Lenten Friday? I can always use some great inspiration, and y'all always come through with it!

    For this week's party, only a few guidelines:
    • Please share as many links as you like, but only if you haven't shared them here before
    • Add a link back to Tuesday's Table (or grab a button above!) so others can join in the fun
    • Follow me via Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, RSS or Bloglovin (see my sidebar!)
    No other requirements, but visit the other links here, and I'd love for you to sign up for my email reminder here!

    And now, for this week's link party!




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    Monday, March 03, 2014

    Tuesday's Table for March 3, 2014

    We had a wonderful party last week. Thanks to all of you who stopped by to add your links to last week's party, and a "Welcome New Friends" to all of our new followers.








    This week's feature is Ma Niche's Butter and Rum Crepes  Today is Pancake Day - these look like a perfectly yummy and definitely elegant way to celebrate!   You need to head over and see her site.





    Please grab a button  - and thanks so much for sharing!

    And now it's time to fill Tuesday's Table.  Do you have a great St. Patrick's Day receipe?  Something for a Lenten Friday? I can always use some great inspiration, and y'all always come through with it!

    For this week's party, only a few guidelines:
    • Please share as many links as you like, but only if you haven't shared them here before
    • Add a link back to Tuesday's Table (or grab a button above!) so others can join in the fun
    • Follow me via Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, RSS or Bloglovin (see my sidebar!)
    No other requirements, but visit the other links here, and I'd love for you to sign up for my email reminder here!

    And now, for this week's link party!



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    Friday, February 28, 2014

    An Oscar Party!


    I always look forward to the Oscars.  When I was a kid, I am pretty sure that it is because we usually gave up television for Lent, but we made an exception to watch the Oscars.  :-)

    These days I enjoy theming my Oscars dinner.  One year it was around the major movie houses, but most often our theme is based on the best picture nominees.

    Here are some ideas of menu items based on this year's nominees:


    American Flag Cheesecake Bars
    American Hustle is loosely based on the '70s and '80s FBI sting operation ABSCAM where agents worked with a conman to target corrupt politicians. Director David O'Russell's madcap crime film is nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including all the top categories: Picture, Director, Actor (Christian Bale), Actress (Amy Adams), Supporting Actor (Bradley Cooper), Supporting Actress (Jennifer Lawrence) and Original Screenplay.
    ***** 

    Pirate Chest with Fish and Potatoes - I like this one because the ship was a container ship, and this recipe has a container for the fish & potatoes!
    Captain Phillips is based on the true story of Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks), whose cargo ship was invaded by Somali pirates, leading to his being taken hostage. The seafaring thriller is nominated for six Academy Awards including Picture and Supporting Actor for Barkhad Abdi who plays the lead pirate.
    ***** 

    Texas Style BBQ Baked Beans
    Dallas Buyers Club looks back to the early days of AIDS, when a diagnosis of the disease was akin to a death sentence before the development and approval of the life-saving drugs available today. In the film, rodeo cowboy Ron Woodruff (Matthew McConaughey) is diagnosed with AIDS and given a few weeks to live. Unsatisfied with this prognosis and the poisonous drugs available at the hospital, Woodruff begins a quest for better AIDS treatments, starting a buyers club to supply himself and his members with unapproved yet more effective pharmaceuticals. The film is nominated for six Academy Awards, including Picture, Actor (McConaughey), Supporting Actor (Jared Leto) and Original Screenplay.
    ***** 

    Starry Sky Chips and Dip
    In Gravity, astronaut Ryan Stone finds herself alone and adrift in space after a shocking accident destroys her space shuttle and kills the rest of her crew. Director Alfonso Cuarรณn's gripping visuals propelled the film to 10 Academy Award nominations, including Picture, Actress (Sandra Bullock), Director and many technical awards.
    ***** 

    In the film Her, recently separated Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) acquires a new smartphone with a hyper-intelligent operating system that he names Samantha (Scarlett Johansson) and forms a romantic attachment to. The movie is nominated for five Academy Awards, including Picture, Original Screenplay and, for its beautiful vision of a futuristic Los Angeles, Production Design.

    ***** 

    In Nebraska, Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) is convinced he's won a million dollars when he receives a magazine publisher's sweepstakes notice. Although his son David (Will Forte) recognizes the notice as a scam, David nonetheless agrees to drive his father from their home in Montana to Lincoln, Nebraska so he can claim his "prize." The quirky comedy-drama is nominated for six Academy Awards including Picture, Actor (Dern), Supporting Actress (June Squibb), Director (Alexander Payne) and Cinematography, for its beautiful black and white photography by Phedon Papamichael.

    ***** 

    Mushy Peas - a quintessential British comfort food
    In Philomena, a mother (Judi Dench), with the help of a British journalist, searches for her son who was adopted in the early '50s from an Irish convent where she had the baby following an unplanned teenage pregnancy. The film is nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Actress (Dench).

    ***** 
    The movie 12 Years a Slave begins in 1841 when Solomon Northup, a free man from Saratoga Springs, New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Taken from his life and family, he spends 12 years working on several Louisiana plantations, subjected to increasingly cruel conditions. The deeply affecting film is nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Supporting Actor (Michael Fassbender), Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong'o) and Director (Steve McQueen).

    ***** 

    Director Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street unabashedly immerses itself in the vulgar, corrupt and greedy world of late 1980s Wall Street, based on the true-life story of Jordan Belfort. The film is nominated for Academy Awards for Picture, Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill), Director and Adapted Screenplay.
    ***** 



    Looks like it should be an interesting show this year.  Will you watch?  Any predictions?





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    Tuesday, February 25, 2014

    Celebrate Citrus!


    When I was a kid growing up in Minnesota, we spent a week or two every winter visiting my grandparents in Southern California.  I loved escaping the Minnesota winter to a beautiful Southern California "winter" - and my grandparents lived near a tangelo orchard.  Tangelos are a tangerine/grapefruit hybrid, and are incredibly sweet and juicy.  Especially straight from the tree.  They tasted like liquid sunshine to me.

    I know this winter has been a tough one for a lot of folks, so I thought I would pull together some of my favorite citrus recipes to spread a little sunshine!





    Do you have a favorite lemon or orange recipe?


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    Monday, February 24, 2014

    Tuesday's Table for February 25, 2014

    We had a wonderful party last week. Thanks to all of you who stopped by to add your links to last week's party, and a "Welcome New Friends" to all of our new followers.








    This week's feature is Whole Food Mom on a Budget's Cinnamon Roll in a Mug.  One of my favorite breakfast treats is cinnamon rolls, but I rarely make them.  This deliciously simple recipe could definitely change that!  You need to head over and see her site.





    Please grab a button  - and thanks so much for sharing!

    And now it's time to fill Tuesday's Table.  I'm hoping that this week we can fill the table with tasty treats for Valentine's Day.  I can always use some great inspiration, and y'all always come through with it!

    For this week's party, only a few guidelines:
    • Please share as many links as you like, but only if you haven't shared them here before
    • Add a link back to Tuesday's Table (or grab a button above!) so others can join in the fun
    • Follow me via Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, RSS or Bloglovin (see my sidebar!)
    No other requirements, but visit the other links here, and I'd love for you to sign up for my email reminder here!

    And now, for this week's link party!



    zentMRS - Love in the Kitchen
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