The Hungry Wife

There is few things I enjoy more than baking.  Making this Pumpkin Date Nut Bread recipe isn’t any different.  Some people dislike baking because you have to be very careful to measure and use the correct amounts, truth be told, that is one of my favorite parts of baking.  That, and baked goods are just super delicious.  This Pumpkin Date Nut Bread is awesome!

If you like any type of spice bread, zucchini or banana bread, then you must try this Pumpkin Date Nut Bread.  The bread is totally moist, and has just the right amount of sweetness and spices to not be overpowering.  Next time you find yourself wanting to bake, keep this Pumpkin Date Nut Bread in mind.  Also, if you find that you have no ground cloves (like it did), you can substitute with ground allspice from the pantry.

Pumpkin Date Nut Bread, continued…

I found this recipe for Italian Chicken in a cookbook my husband bought me at his work. It is a collection of recipes from various people he works with, and I must say, these Information Systems people know how to cook. I’m going to share with you a recipe for Italian Chicken that is extremely easy to prepare (it only has 4 ingredients), and tastes pretty darn good.

It was about almost 7pm and I hadn’t started dinner or really even thought about what we could eat yet.  The household was getting hungry. I needed to come up with something quick, and this is exactly what I was looking for. When you want something to eat that doesn’t require a lot of effort, this Italian Chicken is it. The recipe calls for feta cheese, but honestly, I think you could use whatever you have available. Of course, mozzarella would be the most “Italian”, but the feta does bring a really nice taste to the chicken. An extra flavor to kick it up a bit.

Italian Chicken, continued…

Being new to the south, I was inexperienced with the cooking methods of collard greens. There is something special about the way they are made here, and if you do it wrong, you will end up with a bitter tasting vegetable (as I found out on my first attempt to cook collard greens). Collard greens are a staple food vegetable of Southern cuisine and soul food. They are often prepared with other similar green leaf vegetables, such as kale, turnip greens, spinach, and mustard greens in “mixed greens.”

Typical seasonings when cooking collard greens can consist of smoked and salted meats (ham hocks, pork neckbones, fatback or other fatty meat), diced onions, vinegar, salt, black, white, or crushed red pepper. Traditionally, collard greens are eaten on New Year’s Day, along with black-eyed peas or field peas and cornbread, to ensure wealth in the coming year, as the leaves resemble folding money.

Collard greens are simple to cook, and are extremely delicious.  When I first made collard greens, I tried to make them using no meat.  I do not suggest this.  Cooking collard greens with a ham bone or ham hock should be mandatory, it really adds a wonderfully, subtle flavor that you just can’t get without the meat.  I think it is best to keep your collard greens uncomplicated, not adding too many seasonings to them.  This recipe is very simple and brings out the best of collard greens.  I do think some onions would add a delicious flavor to these.  Next time I think I’ll add some in and see how that works out.
Collard Greens, continued…

A packet of fresh fish and vegetables steamed in savory or spicy flavors is like a gift.  This Gingered Fish in a Packet is a wonderful dish.  Each individually wrapped “present” releases a burst of aromatic steam when opened.  The flavors mingle sweet with spicy, hot with salty, briny with piquant.  Nothing escapes until the final moment of opening the foil.  Inside, the fish is tender and succulent, the vegetables are perfectly cooked, and the sauce has bathed every ingredient.

When cooking fish in a packet, potatoes take too long and asparagus and snow peas lose their bright color.  Carrots, onions, zucchini, yellow squash, and bell peppers are better choices.  Once you prepare all of the ingredients, each packet can be assembled and folded easily and quickly.  In general, I don’t recommend that you prepare the packets ahead of time because some ingredients may react with the aluminum foil.  Serve immediately to avoid overcooking.
Gingered Fish in a Packet, continued…

We love this Savory Chicken Squares recipe and think you will as well.  I love finding different ways to cook up chicken, and there are many.

At first glance this Savory Chicken Squares recipe might seem a little strange and even intimidating if you don’t normally wrap you food up in toasty dough.  Let me put your fears to rest, this is a simple dish that has a traditional comfort food taste.  It cooks up quick if you have the chicken pre-cooked.

You can also add a little variety to this recipe by maybe adding some Swiss cheese to chicken mixture, using turkey or ham, or some additional veggies like celery or carrots.  I’ve have also seen similar recipes that use phyllo dough, so have some fun with it.

If your a busy person/family that does not normally have a lot of time to mess with making dinners, it is a good idea to keep some cooked chicken breasts in your freezer in order to whip up quick meals.  I simply boil chicken breasts in a pot of water and then cube them, and place them well protected in the freezer.  They will keep for a little bit, and this way when you don’t have the time bake or grill your chicken, you can take the cooked chicken out and use it in a recipe like this.

Savory Chicken Squares, continued…

This Folly Beach Garlic Shrimp is designed to be made for a crowd who enjoys seafood, and its great as an appetizer or as the main dish.  You could even make some angel hair pasta or linguine and toss the Folly Beach Garlic Shrimp with it for a nice pasta dish.  Personally, I feel you don’t even really need to measure the ingredients.  I just add as much or as little as I want of each ingredient, so don’t be afraid to play around until you find that perfect combination for your palette.  Also, I do not use very many bread crumbs, instead, just more of a dusting as compared to what is in the actual recipe.

Folly beach is located on the historic Folly Island in Charleston SC.  This low-country location is famous for its shrimp and its surfing.

Folly Beach Garlic Shrimp, continued…

Sounds strange right?  When I first saw this Pink Salad recipe in a cookbook put together by the Information Systems team my husband works on, I was a little put off to say the least.  However, I read the ingredients and directions, it sounded simple enough and extremely fast so why not give the pink salad a try.

I’m not afraid to say it, I like congealed salad, and you know what, so do a lot of people.  Pink Salad is very similar to grandmas congealed salad, and believe it or not, even easier to make.  It is excellent served as a side dish on hot summer days, also great as a light dessert.  Personally, I think its even good at breakfast.  Go ahead and give it try, enjoy.

Pink Salad, continued…

For those not familiar with Chinese Pepper Steak, let me give you a quick run down. Chinese Pepper Steak is basically a stir fried Chinese-American dish which consists of sliced steak, green bell peppers, and onions. The best part about this dish is the delicious tasting sauce, a mixture of soy sauce, beef broth, water, corn starch and in my recipe, margarine. I have been cooking this for awhile now and everyone just loves it. Don’t be hesitant, try it for yourself.

Chinese Pepper Steak, continued…

Many cuisine-related sources carry forward a folklore which describes hummus as one of the oldest known prepared foods with a long history in the Middle East. Its historical origins are not known for sure, but what I know, is that I love hummus. I love hummus in all forms, and want to share my love of hummus with you. Traditional hummus is made from cooked, mashed chickpeas, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic.

Not only does hummus taste terrific, but its good for you too.  Hummus is high in iron and vitamin C, and also has significant amounts of folate and vitamin B6. The chickpeas make it a good source of protein and dietary fiber; the tahini consists mostly of sesame seeds, which are an excellent source of the amino acid methionine, complementing the proteins in the chickpeas. Depending on the recipe, hummus carries varying amounts of monounsaturated fat. Hummus is useful in vegetarian and vegan diets and like other combinations of grains and pulses, when eaten with bread it serves as a complete protein.

The recipe that follows is a little different from the traditional hummus recipes, but is equally as delicious.  If you can find tahini, it is preferred over using the sesame seed oil, but incase you have a hard time finding tahini, there is a substitute.  Also, make sure you buy light olive oil.  I made this using extra virgin olive oil, and it was potent.  Still tasted good, but the olive oil was a little too strong.  Next time I will definitely use a lighter version.  There are many variations of hummus, and I plan to share with you as many as I possibly can.  For now, if you are looking for a quick, nice tasting hummus to make for a party or when company comes over, look no further.

Hummus, continued…

Kimchi Recipe:  Kimchi are traditional Korean pickled dishes with various seasonings.  You won’t be disappointed with this Kimchi recipe, it is our favorite, even in comparison to those made at Korean restaurants!  There are many different variations of kimchi that are dependent on region and often season by what is available.  This is a basic kimchi recipe, that is not made the traditional way, but one that is easily made and tastes every bit as delicious.  I do not use fish paste in my recipe (just not that big of a fan), however, if you prefer to have that in your kimchi it can be easily added in.

Kimchi Recipe, continued…

Just by adding fruit, nuts, and/or chocolate chips, humble muffins can be transformed into a mutisensory treat, like this Mango Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin.  This is actually a pretty basic muffin recipe that leaves plenty of room for creative inspiration; there is endless possibilities to these muffins.  I’ve listed some additional delicious variations in case mangos and bananas are not your favorite combination.

The streusel topping adds a special touch.  It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks, so if you anticipate baking Mango Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins regularly, make extra topping and you’ll save time later.

For a vegan variation, omit the egg and use soy margarine and soy milk in place of the butter and milk.

Mango Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, continued…

Pizza has become a quintessential American comfort food, and this Zucchini & Fresh Tomatoes with Fontina Pizza fits right in.  Ever since Italian immigrants started making pizzas in their neighborhoods, it’s been a hit.  Now you can find it topped with all sorts of vegetables, cheeses, seafood, meats, and even eggs and fruits.  There are pita pizzas, French bread pizzas, English muffin pizzas, taco pizzas, and Hawaiian pizzas.

Pizza goes great with soup and salad.  It’s often eaten for breakfast and is probably one of the healthiest fast foods you can buy.  Unless of course your like me, and prefer your pie with extra-cheese.  I love eating this pizza, mainly because I don’t feel bad after eating that extra piece.  This nice thing about this pizza is that if you buy pre-made dough, you can make it in a hurry.  Want it a little more organic, then try your hand at making your own dough.
Zucchini & Fresh Tomatoes with Fontina Pizza, continued…

Spicy Stir-Fried Savoy Cabbage is a quick side dish, that can be made just before sitting down to eat.  Cook thinly sliced savoy cabbage with the typical Chinese flavors of ginger, soy sauce, and chili paste.  For Variety , try this recipe with Chinese cabbage, common green cabbage, kale, or bok choy and sample their distinctive flavors.  I tend to like things a little on the spicy side, so I add in some extra chili paste.

Spicy Stir-Fried Savoy Cabbage, continued…

Good morning! Breakfast this morning was delicious, and is worthy enough to compete with the best. These Blueberry-Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are a good example of the boundless possibilities of pancakes. Serve them topped with your favorite syrup, additional fruit, or fresh whipped cream. These pancakes could even be offered for dessert – try them a la mode.

Because they contain ricotta cheese, use a good-quality nonstick pan or well-seasoned griddle or skillet with even heat distribution, so the delicate batter doesn’t stick or burn.
Blueberry-Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, continued…

I am very happy to say that dinner tonight was a complete success.  Grilled Herb Mustard Chicken Quarters are amazing, and will turn even the most skeptical eater, into a grilled chicken lover.  I have made this chicken several times before, and it is always a crowd pleaser.  It is a nice alternative to all those BBQ chicken recipes out there.

When grilling chicken, sometimes chicken breast can get a little dry.  By using chicken quarters, leaving on the skin, the meat will stay super juicy and delicious.  To cut down on the fat, you can use skinless quarters or chicken breasts, cooking at a lower temperature to keep everything nice and moist.  The Herb Mustard marinade is also wonderful on pork chops.  Next time you fire up that grill, give this a try.

Herb Mustard Chicken Quarters, continued…

A side dish so simple and delicious everyone will love it.  A new way to eat asparagus.

Fresh Asparagus with Orange Sauce, continued…

This  Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake is super delicious, and I was thrilled that it turned out so well.  If your a cheesecake lover, make sure to give this one a try.  I was a little nervous because I made a couple mistakes during the cooking process.  First of all, I forgot to melt the chocolate chips until I had poured half of them into the mixing bowl with the eggs and sugar.  I proceeded to melt the remaining chocolate and added it to the rest of ingredients.  Then, the cream cheese probably could have been softened a little more than it was.  I have only made a couple cheesecakes before in my life, so when the filling came out a bit soupy I was really nervous, because I thought the last time I made a cheesecake it was thicker.  I almost scrapped the entire project, but luckily I pushed through.  It is really yummy, and I suggest using espresso to really give it a nice coffee flavor.
Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake, continued…

These Garlic Grilled Lamb Chops are a great lamb recipe.  If you are new to cooking or eating lamb, this is a good starter recipe, it tastes great and is easy to make.  There are many health benefits to eating lamb.  First off, you can often find local lamb products at your community farmers market.  I find meat from local farms, tastes so much better then the stuff you get in large grocery stores.  Animals are treated more humanly on smaller, organic farms, and not feed all the hormones and antibiotics like they too often are on large meat ranches.

Garlic Grilled Lamb Chops, continued…

So, tonights dinner did not live up to expectations.  Its not that it was awful, we had a perfectly enjoyable dinner, it just wasn’t delicious and special enough to be posted on the blog.  Luckily, The Hungry Wife has a surplus of recipes that do deserve to be posted.  This Spaghetti Squash with Chunky Tomato and Beef Sauce recipe is one that tastes great and is good for you.  The antioxidant lycopene is the disease-fighting agent in this tomato-rich dish.  Cooking the tomatoes helps release the lycopene so the benefit to your body is maximized.

I love cooking up spaghetti squash, and eating it with some delicious spaghetti sauce.  This recipe can easily be made vegetarian by simply omitting the ground beef.

Spaghetti Squash with Chunky Tomato and Beef Sauce, continued…

One of my neighbors growing up makes this dessert dish all time, and I was really happy when I found the recipe in one of my cookbooks.  It is very light, making it perfect for a hot summer dessert when cakes can be a bit heavy.  It reminds me of strawberry shortcake, and is great to bring to summer picnics and barbecues.

Strawberry Delight, continued…