Three Sunday Suppers For the Price of One!Pin It

THREE SUNDAY  SUPPERS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!

This is a great way to save money and time in the kitchen especially on a Sunday when you really want to enjoy your family and friends instead of constantly being in the kitchen preparing Supper. I call it stretching my meals. Set a side a day when you can do this.  You can make three meals for a family of 4 to 5 from a 5 to 5-1/2 pound chuck roast. That’s right, 6 juicy cheeseburgers, 12 moist light meatballs in a delicious tomato sauce and a tender bursting with flavor meat loaf all from a single roast.  Ask your butcher to grind the chuck roast for hamburger. Divide up the meat, put the hamburger in the fridge for dinner that evening. I highly recommend you prepare and eat the hamburger the same day. Cooking it the same day that it has been ground makes a HUGE difference in the flavor of the beef.

Prepare the meatloaf and meat balls with sauce and freeze. When Sundays roll around you already have two meals ready to go! The meatballs with sauce and meatloaf will last in the freezer for up to 2 months!

For the Cheeseburgers you will need I-1/2 pounds of beef. For the Meatballs 2 pounds, for the Meatloaf  1-1/2 to 2 pounds

 

Keep Reading >

Gadgets, Make Life In The Kitchen Easier!Pin It

I’m a gadget junkie and I found these at Sur La Table the other day! I love finding anything that helps me in the kitchen! Look at this fantastic orange juice and lemon squeezer. I squeezed two oranges today for breakfast without having to take my big honking juicer out! It tasted so sweet. Now when a recipe calls for a little orange juice it’s easier.

Orange juice squeezer, Fresh Force  http://bit.ly/IZvfl8

Sur La Table Yellow Citrus Juicer http://bit.ly/JTKUoH

 

I love, love, love, this lemon juicer, it’s efficient and practical and it measures the amount of juice so there is no second guessing.

Strawberry season is right around the corner and this little gadget will come in handy. I had one last year and lost it, I was so happy to find one again at Sur La Table.   It gets right into the berry and removes the stem cleanly with out harming the berry! It saves so much time not to mention my thumb!

Stem Gem http://bit.ly/KyYgXs

I’m always looking for gadgets to help me in the kitchen! If you find anything that helps you please share it with me on my face book page or Twitter, I would appreciate it! Let’s share ideas together to make our time in the kitchen even more fun!

Thanks!

 

Twitter @cristinacooks https://twitter.com/#!/CRISTINACOOKS

Face book http://on.fb.me/mal0C4

 

Oprah.com http://myown.oprah.com/search/index.html?q=critina%20ferrare

FOODILY/cristinaferrare http://www.foodily.com/u/cristinaferrarecooks

Opensky/cristinaferrare http://www.foodily.com/u/cristinaferrarecooks

Beautiful Finds For Outdoor DiningPin It

BEAUTIFUL OUT DOOR DINING!

I love the warm weather and being able to entertain outdoors. To me it’s the best time of the year to sit with family and friends have a wonderful meal, great drinks and terrific conversations. Whether I am having a simple get together with friends, a bridal or baby shower, (our family is exploding with new babies this year!) :)   a birthday party or a more formal dinner party I apply the same formula of cooking and presentation to all these events. Keep them simple yet elegant with the message that you care about your guests and you are welcoming them into your home with affection and caring. None of this is difficult to accomplish. Starting with the table setting appropriate for the event, paper goods and plastic designer glasses are perfectly acceptable. Check out this site I found “Party at Lewis” where you can choose from hundreds of colors and designs! I went crazy, my new place for paper goods!  http://bit.ly/J6cYWW

Use flowers right out of the garden, from your local florist or super market. Take a look at this beautiful site where you can look at all kinds of ways to arrange flowers! It’s so easy to do and fun!  http://bit.ly/JCIE3P 

 

Whether it’s appetizers, the entree, or desert keep it simple so that you can enjoy your guests. Here our some ideas that I have on my web site that I know you will enjoy. Check out some of the other recipes too and set the table out doors and enjoy! Keep Reading >

Chicken Tostada SaladPin It

CHICKEN TOSTADA SALAD

6 servings

I make this salad often because you can use leftover chicken, grilled beef, shrimp or turkey. It’s low calorie, light and packed full of protein with plenty of fresh ingredients and healthy greens. I bake the low-fat whole wheat tortillas in the oven instead of frying them in olive oil until they are crispy and crunchy!  Everything that is good for you is in this salad. Keep Reading >

Flourless Chocolate CakePin It

I’m not much of a dessert eater, I rather have another plate of pasta for dessert but when I do I always go for chocolate! I don’t need much to satisfy my sweet tooth so this rich, dense, not too sweet chocolaty cake is perfect. I love the fact that it’s flourless as well which means my daughter Alexandra who has Celiac disease can enjoy this too!  This cake is easy to prepare and looks really impressive with its’ shining coat of rich velvety chocolate poured over the entire cake. WARNING! This cake is rich so a small slice should satisfy your sweet tooth! The cake will last in the refrigerator for up to a week.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

Keep Reading >