Meals by Misty

Thanksgiving Menu

2011-10-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

Meals by Misty has so much to be thankful for. My sweet baby boy, Finn, made this past year the greatest, most fulfilling year of my life. I am looking forward to the holiday season more than ever!

I decided to feature a Thanksgiving menu again this year. I've included all my favorites as well as my customer favorites. Listed are the sides and desserts I will be offering.

Meals by Misty

Thanksgiving Menu

Summer Squash Cornbread Dressing

Summer SquashCasserole with Cheddar Crunch Topping

Traditional Cornbread Stuffing with Sausage and Sage

Green Bean Casserole with Panko and Herb Crunch

Cream Corn Bake

Sweet Potato Casserole

Harvest Vegetable Gratin

5 Cheese Macaroni

Red Velvet OR Pumpkin Spice balls, both with cream cheeseicing and dipped in Chocolate

YES, I realize most of these dishes are "beige" in color. Beige just so happens to be my favorite color and beige is a great fall color. Reminds me of the vegetable plate I use to get at the local meat and 3 place. I'd skip the meat and get all healthy vegetables. You know, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, fried okra and cream corn. I added pepper to give it a little color. I love being healthy.

On that note, here is a great recipe I found on the Dish and Dine blog. Its only a little beige...
Yummy Root Veggie Gratin

I'm Bringing Pumpkin Back

2011-10-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

I will be the first to admit that I love a boxed cake mix. They are easy, cheap and just as good, if not BETTER, than mixing your own homemade mix. When I heard about mixing a spice cake mix...

With a can of ZERO WEIGHT WATCHER POINT, HEALTHY AS IT GETS pumpkin...

You get a darn good muffin. All for around 2.5 points.

Weight Watchers

2011-10-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

Anyone else on weight watchers? Are you feeling as hungry and I am? Are you so tired of fruit that you could scream?

Just checking. Happy Tuesday.

4 ladies, 1 man, 2 dogs and a baby. Oh, and the best shrimp salad I've ever had.

2011-10-10T04:29:00.000-07:00

Last month we drove ~~down~~ over to my mom's house in Missssssisssssippi to surprise her with a 60th birthday party. She doesn't "do" birthday's well, but I do. So, I felt it necessary to invite my favorite friends and family over for a shrimp boil. I'll post more on that later, but wanted to share the absolute best shrimp salad I've ever had with you.

We had a ton of skrimp left over from the Thursday night hoopla-shindig, so we put our heads together, went to allrecipes.com and found a keeper. CLICK ME FOR THE RECIPE

The recipe called for green onions, but we decided to be bold and try a leek, which none of us had ever cooked before and after cleaning its dirty self up, I was shocked at how easy this little crunchy goodness is to toss in a dish and take it from 4 star, to 5. I love a good leek! Who knew!

Next came my favorite herb in all of the land...this bunch probably came from some far away land where they use child labor and enough pesticides to poison the world, but I wasn't home and had to make do with the Walmarts produce.

We chopped up some surprisingly good tomatoes...too bad tomato days are over for a while.

Notice how long and lovely my Aunt Jilly's nails are. Looks like a Rachael Ray Furi commercial.

We started dumping it all together, with a red, yellow and green bell pepper. Added a diced jalapeno and a little cayenne peppa. (I just cringed as I typed that...made me think of the Neely's...ugh.)

Opened up some perfectly ripe avocados, diced and dumped them.

And then tossed it all with the juice from 2 limes. Added some salt and pepper and it was INSANE IN THE MEMBRANE good! I realize this isn't a fall recipe, but I guess I'm just not ready to let go of warm weather. Yes I am, nevermind.

By the way, I feel it necessary to show our tower o phones...

RIP Steve Jobs.

And in honor of Fall, here is the pork tenderloin I grilled to go along with our tasty Avocado, Lime, Cilantro, Leek, Pepper, fantastic o rama salad.

And, our newest addition of the family...Zelda. She belongs to my sous chef, and most fun Ole Miss chick I know...SJ.

Sous Chef Sarah:

Finn's First Birthday Party

2011-09-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet baby Finn! He has changed my world and made me a better person! I love him with my whole heart and have never been happier!

Here are a few pics from his birthday party. Our theme was vintage trucks and our colors were turquoise and red.

Time for cake! I had a hard time deciding between making Finn's cake myself, or having a fancy cake made at a bakery. When my mother in law told me she had made Joey (my husband) a carrot cake on his first birthday, my mind was made up! Carrot cake it was.

Tonka tailgate :)

These adorable cookies were made by my sweet friend Shannon, aka The Cookie Mama. You MUST check out her blog. Just click here!

So hard to believe a year has passed since my little man made his debut into the world. It has definitely been the best year of my life!

Greek Yogurt, Strawberry Parfait with Nutella Granola Crunch

2011-07-21T07:57:00.000-07:00

I have a serious sweet tooth. The funny thing is, when I go to the grocery store, I refuse to buy anything unhealthy. This leads me to feeling neglected after dinner...that's when my sweet tooth kicks me in the face.

Last night after dinner, I racked my brain trying to come up with something to satisfy. So, that lead to this nifty, tasty creation. All I did was add 3 small scoops of fat free, vanilla Greek yogurt, 4 strawberrys, and then, for the best part...I smeared Nutella on a healthy granola bar. VOILA! We used the granola bar as the spoon and it worked! I felt satisfied and not guilty.

I think I might try this with peaches tonight and I might add slivered almonds. I'm nuts like that.

Blackened Red Fish Fresh from the Gulf

2011-07-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

Ok friends, you have one of two options here. I vote for option number two, but you do what feels right.

To make your own blackening mix:

Blackening Mix
1 1/2 teasp. cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teasp. paprika powder
3 teasp. salt
1 teasp. onion powder
1 teasp. garlic powder
1/2 teasp. white pepper
1/2 teasp. black pepper
1/2 teasp. oregano
1/2 teasp. thyme
1/4 lb butter (1 stick)

Now, if you would prefer the easier approach. Buy this:

I paid a whole dollar for it at Publix.

Now, what to do:

Melt your butter on med-high heat in a non stick skillet. When the butter turns dark, place the fillets in and cook 2 minutes per side. Don't over crowd your fillets and be sure not to let the butter burn. You want it dark, but not black. WARNING: you might want to remove the battery from your smoke alarm so it doesn't freak out your baby.

This fish was really really really really really really good. I think a lot of that comes with the freshness of it. My husband grew up in Mobile and he won't eat fish unless it is fresh, never frozen. Picky man! Lucky woman!

Roasted Garlic and Tomato Pesto...a Meals by Misty oldie, but goodie!

2011-07-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

We are having some friends over tonight and this morning when I was reading blogs, sipping my tiny cup of coffee and sitting on the patio, I realized my basil was out o'control. So, pesto tonight. I'm thinking grilled chicken with Roasted Garlic and Tomato Pesto pasta.

CLICK ME FOR RECIPE

If interested in the chicken marinade, CLICK ME

Finger licking good chicken

2011-07-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

I am always looking for quick and easy chicken marinades. I grew up eating grilled food that had been marinated for 4830483094248209348 hours in Dale's Steak Sauce. This is a sodium packed marinade that is based out of Alabama. If you were to open my fridge, you would find a rather large bottle of Dale's, but I try to only use a cap full every once and a while to strengthen a marinade. Its potent stuff.

I skipped the Dale's last night and went with a sticky, gooey, spicy marinade instead.

Sweet & Sticky Chicken ~~Drumsticks~~ Breasts

from Giada's Kitchen by Giada de Laurentiis

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup soy sauce

5 fresh rosemary sprigs

5 garlic cloves, halved

10 to 12 chicken drumsticks

2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds ( I skipped this step)

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

Combine the vinegar, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, rosemary sprigs and garlic cloves in a large, resealable plastic bag. Shake and squeeze the contents of the bag to dissolve the honey and the brown sugar. Add the chicken to the bag and seal, squeezing out as much air from them as possible. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 450 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. ( Instead I grilled the chicken, but next time I will bake it. I felt like a lot of the marinade flavor was lost due to the grill taste)

Remove the chicken drumsticks from the bag, reserving the marinade, and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the skin is caramelized and very dark in spots, 30 to 35 minutes.

Meanwhile place the marinade in a small saucepan. Bring the marinade to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook over low heat until thick, about 15 minutes.

Use a pastry brush to brush some of the cooked marinade on the cooked chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with the sesame seeds and chopped parsley before serving.

* I added 1/3 a cup of orange juice and a splash or two or three of Louisiana hot sauce.

And I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Trying to watch my weight along with the other 73.5 billion people in the U.S.

My Salad Appreciates a Little Asian Love

2011-07-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

I know store bought salad dressings have a ton of sodium, but sometimes its just worth it. If you haven't tried this yet, you need to. I can't make salad dressing this good. I won't even try.

We have salad a lot. Its an easy way to get a lot of veggies in for the day. I usually buy the organic spring mix and herb greens, add diced heirloom tomatoes, red onion, carrots, bell pepper and cucumbers. It only takes a tablespoon or so to dress your salad perfectly. Enjoy!

HOLD UP WAIT A MINUTE: I forgot to mention how good this dressing is as a marinade. I've marinated chicken and shrimp in it and I've even put it on fresh green beans. This is good stuff people!

Priceless Heirloom

2011-07-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

I definitely believe that the uglier the tomato, the better it tastes! We went to the farmer's market at Pepper Place this past weekend and I bought some yummy Heirloom tomatoes. Its funny, I hated tomatoes until I got into cooking and tried my first summer tomato. The difference in a grocery store tomato and a farmers market tomato is HUGE.

I catch myself fantasizing about what my next tomato sandwich will taste like. Just this morning I had a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich for breakfast. Now I want a candy bar :(

A for Apples

2011-06-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

Working on Finn's favorite meal today. Sweet potatoes, carrots, apples and cinnamon. Its amazing how much food he can eat! He's growing up...quickly! I need time to slow down!

I think I can I think I can...

2011-06-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

Finn and I were reading The Little Engine that Could and it got me thinking. Surely I can juggle being a wife, a mom, a teacher and foodie all at the same time. It is summer. Finn is 10 months old now. Its time to get cooking! Its not that I don't cook, the problem is I don't keep my camera in the kitchen anymore. I keep it in my diaper bag. I do have a birthday coming up, a new KITCHEN only camera is sounding pretty good!

On the menu tonight:

Sticky and Spicy Chicken on the grill and ~~Caprese Salad~~...stay tuned!

Pepper Steak Stuffed Peppers

2011-02-04T09:26:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things to cook for my family and one of my best sellers, is my Perfectly Peppered Steak. It's spicy, super flavorful and one of the best comfort foods there is. The yummy recipe can be found here.

This is one of those dishes that I can make with my eyes closed and arms tied behind my back.

Yes. I. Can.

I was feeling a little wild the other night and decided to make the pepper steak without adding peppers. Instead, I made it just like normal, but instead of dicing the peppers and adding to the pot, I stuffed the mixture inside orange and yellow peppers.

After stuffing the peppers, I grated Havarti cheese on top and put them in a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes.

I served them up with a side salad and they were delish!!

PS...In order to thicken the pepper steak, I cooked the rice inside the same pot as the meat and tomato mixture. This thickened it up just right which made spooning it into the peppers a breeze!

My boys :)

2011-01-19T18:42:00.000-08:00

I'm such a lucky girl!

Chicken Tortilla Sewp

2011-01-17T07:10:00.000-08:00

I have been craving healthy food lately. Could be because I still have 13 pounds of baby weight to lose, could be due to the OBSESSION I have with cookies. Regardless, this is a healthy, yummy and easy recipe that I tweaked from Pioneer Woman's recipe.

First, chop up a red bell pepper, green pepper and onion.

Saute in a tablespoon of olive oil until softened and add 2-3 garlic cloves, minced of course.

Next, shred a rotisserie chicken and add in the pot.

Now for the heat..aka..flavor. My husband and I like really flavorful food. When I finish a dish, especially a southwestern dish, I've usually given the hot sauce bottle a few shakes, the cayenne pepper a few pinches and a lot of salt and pepper. I know I've gone overboard when my bestie Kelly starts to get sweat bubbles on her forehead. Wuss.

Ok, so for this soup...I used 2 tablespoons cumin, 1 tablespoon chili pepper, a few pinches of red pepper flakes and 1 tablespoon garlic powder. I didn't measure my salt and pepper, but I used about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a few shakes of Lowry's. As for the pepper, I turned my pepper mill a good 10 times. "Some like it HOT".

Add one large can of diced tomatoes and a small can of rotel. Simmer for a bit and then add 2 cans of drained black beans and a can of shoe peg corn.

**Pioneer Goddess, I mean Woman, suggested mixing a tablespoon of corn mill with a tablespoon of warm water to add to the pot. I tried this and I liked it. Sorry I forgot the picture. It added a little thickness and corn flavor to the pot.

Finn dropped his pacifier at this point and I'm glad he did. I had to regroup, clean off his paci and check out the recipe. I almost forgot to add a small can of tomato paste. Phew. that was a close one. The tomato paste is a must.

Add in a box of chicken stock and let it simmer away. Change a dirty diaper, play "ride this horsey" and wipe the drool off your baby. THEN, cut up a lime, some cilantro, onion and get the cheddar ready. Sewp time!

I also added some sour cream and avocado, along with some Chalula. We are trying to watch our weight here in the Westover casa, so I went with baked tortilla chips rather than Frito Scoops. It worked.

Cheesecake Brownies make the world go round.

2011-01-13T06:37:00.000-08:00

I'm not much of a baker, however, after having my baby in September, I have grown a new love for all things sweet. Cheesecake has always been my favorite splurge. And who doesn't love chocolate? I've never made a homemade cheesecake, thats what the Cheesecake Factory is for, but if its as easy as this recipe, I think I can, I think I can.

I found this recipe one day while searching around on some of my favorite blogs. You can find the recipe here: Cheesecake Brownie Recipe

First you make the brownie mix. Any recipe that calls for chopping chocolate gets my vote. When you slide your knife through it and here that chocolate crunch, I like it. When I was a kid I use to prop up my parents video recorder and would tape myself cooking in the kitchen. I remember chopping up Hershey bars for smores. I was never shy talking into the camera :) I would even put all my ingredients in little bowls. Cleanup was a B.

So pretty!

You melt the chocolate and add sugar. (and some other ingredients)

The cheesecake mixture was super duper easy! Its just cream cheese, egg, sugar and vanilla. I didn't have Castor sugar, so I just used regular. I'm curious if it would have made a difference.

Now for the best part, the swirling of the two! I love when I get to feel like a chef and an artist all in one day :)

So purdy!

My in-laws came over the next day and I sent them home with these cheesecake brownie yummies. They called the next day to say they were the best brownies they had ever had. Now, I'll admit, I'm all about a brownie in a box mix, but these were very easy and after gaining the praises of my in-laws, I will make these again. I even printed the recipe. Go me.

Gobble Gobble!

2010-11-25T06:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

I have so much to be thankful for this year. A wonderful husband, a new baby boy, friends and family!

Life is good :)

We are off to my sister in laws today. Luckily she only lives 30 minutes from me. I am bringing my homemade turkey gravy, broccoli and walnut salad, homemade cranberry sauce and rolls.

Walnut and Broccoli Salad

For the dressing:

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
4 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

For the crunch:

2 tablespoons butter

1/2-1 cup walnuts

1 package oriental Ramen noodles (I must mention these things only cost 22 cents)

In a medium size skillet, melt half the butter and toast the Ramen noodles. Once they turn a darker brown (don't burn them) add the seasoning packet. Once golden in color, rest them on a paper towel. Add the rest of the butter and toast the walnuts for a few minutes or until dark gold in color.

Introducing Finn Stephens Westover

2010-09-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

Baby Finn is finally here!

After 10 months, Finn was born on 9-02-10, like the show 90210, weighing in at 7 pounds 14 ounces, and 20 1/2 inches long. We are having so much fun getting to know each other.

Instead of taking pictures of food, I've got a new model...

I'm in love for the 2nd time in my life and it feels fantastic!

Quite possibly the best pesto on the planet

2010-07-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

I like pesto. You know, the usual green slimy pesto. It might not be pretty, but it tastes good. This pesto blows that pesto out of the water! It is fantastic. I was a little nervous that it would be good, not great, but I was wrong. I was actually licking it off the spoon like it was cake batter.

I got the idea from Sunny Anderson's recipe found here. I'm not a huge fan of hers, but pesto is actually hard to mess up and I NEVER follow a recipe to a T, so I tweaked this roasted garlic pesto recipe and made it my own. I take 100% credit for it. Its dang good.

I'm sure you noticed right away that the color is red, not green. That is due to these bad boys:

I hit up the Wednesday night neighborhood farmers market yesterday and picked up a ton of bright red, cherry tomatoes. I coated them in olive oil, salt and pepper, and baked them in the oven at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

Along side the tomatoes, I peeled a head of garlic and covered the cloves in olive oil, covered with foil and baked for 45 minutes at 375 degrees.

Once you take both the garlic and tomatoes out of the oven, don't toss the oil. You will be using the tomato oil in the pesto, and saving the garlic oil for later. Garlic infused olive oil is better than skinny jeans. Well, almost.

Pour the tomatoes, oil and all in a blender, along with the garlic.

Add a large handful of fresh basil, 1/3 cup (or more if you like the crunch) of pine nuts, a big handful of parsley, and a handful or two of Parmesan cheese AND Romano cheese.

Add a little salt, not much do to the salt already in the tomatoes and cheese, and a good bit of pepper. Pulse for a few seconds and voila:

I promise this is the best pesto I have ever had. I have big plans for this sauce, well, I have big plans of making a ton of it and freezing it. My husband and I ate this batch right up on a homemade pizza last night. MUST MAKE MORE.

After dinner and if she lived closer, I'd have to have a yummy cookie from my friend Shannon, aka The Cookie Mama. Her cookies are the cutest I've ever seen! Check her blog out here! We went to high school together in Mississippi and have recently found each others blogs.

Key Lime Pops with Milk Chocolate Coating

2010-06-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

I know that cake balls are "so yesterday" but I recently made a different cake pop for a friend who was getting married in Apalachicola, which is where my husband proposed to me. I wanted to make a more summer version of this favorite treat and with it being summer, how perfect is key lime!

Speaking of perfect, I adore cake mixes. There is no shame in letting Betty do all the work for you:

Cake Recipe:

Ingredients

1 (18.25 ounce) package lemon cake mix
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 (3 ounce) package lime Jello mix
3/4 cup key lime juice
2-4 drops of green food coloring
1 container of store bought cream cheese icing

Directions:

1. Combine cake mix, Jello, oil, eggs and key lime juice. Drop in your green food coloring until you reach the green you like. Pour into a cake pan and bake according to instructions on box. Allow to cool.

2. After cake has completely cooled, crumble into a large mixing bowl and add in 1 container of cream cheese icing.

3. Put the cake/icing mixture in the fridge for about an hour and then you are ready to roll into balls and place on a wax paper lined cooking sheet.

4. Once the cake pops have cooled, they are ready to be dipped in the chocolate of your choice. I used milk chocolate.

Now eat them. All of them.

Not one thing about food...just some other fun!

2010-05-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

I only have 10 days until summer break and the days could not be going by any slower. I'm really looking forward to this summer because this is the first summer that I'M NOT WORKING! Teaching has its ups and downs, with summer break being my favorite up! I plan on continuing to get the nursery ready for Baby Finn. We are having a blast turning our old office into a simple, rustic-contemporary home for our new addition. We are 6 months pregnant and I can truly say, I LOVE being pregnant. I have loved every minute of it. Now I know that being pregnant in Alabama in the summer sounds like H-E-double hockey sticks, but I am more than happy to take the challenge!

We found our crib at Pottery Barn.

As for the baby bedding, my sister in law told me about a website that I have fallen in love with. If you haven't shopped at Layla Grayce, you should. I love it. They have all kinds of goodies for the home and for baby.

We are using an antique cabinet with a gray-blue marble top for the changing table. This has been in my family for years. Its my favorite piece I own!

Thats all for now! I'm off to the kitchen to come up with a new recipe for Key Lime Pie Pops. Stay tuned for more...

Flank Steak and Melted Havarti Sandwiches

2010-05-11T19:46:00.000-07:00

Before I even begin with this recipe, it is important to notice the ooey, gooey Havarti cheese melting off the sides of the bun. I'm going to pause for a moment of silence.

Ok, I'm ready now.

I have blogged about my love for flank steak before, so I won't go into great detail, but if you are looking for a good cut of meat that isn't expensive, flank steak is your friend. A couple things to remember: even though flank steak is somewhat lean, it is a tougher cut of meat that really tenderizes if you make a good marinade. If only you had a REALLY good marinade:

A REALLY Good Marinade:
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup orange juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
2 teaspoons salt

What to do:
Score the surface of the steak with 1/4 inch deep knife cuts, about an inch apart, across the grain of the meat. Combine the marinade ingredients. Place steak and marinade ingredients in a large freezer bag. Coat the steak well with the marinade. Seal the bag and place in a bowl. Chill and marinate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

Take the steak out of the marinade bag and sprinkle generously on all sides with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. The salt and pepper will help form a savory crust on the steak. Place steak on the hot grill. If you are using a gas grill, cover the grill. Grill for 4-6 minutes on each side. Half way through grilling on each side, turn the steak 90° so that you get more grill marks.

i usually order my steaks medium, but I never grill flank steaks past medium rare. It melts in your mouth if cooked a little on the pink side. It is also important to that you make very thin slices, against the grain, and at a slight diagonal so that the slices are wide.

Its fantastic as is, but put it between a homemade roll with melted Havarti and red onion.

I served it with a baked sweet potato and a spring salad with buttermilk ranch.

It was tasty.

Chobani Greek Yogurt

2010-03-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

In the past, I would not call myself a yogurt person, unless its TCBY or Yogurt Mountain, however, I ran into my neighbors in Publix the other day and they had a card full of Chobani yogurt.

I couldn't help but notice how they had a TON of this stuff in the buggy, so I asked about it and they said I should give it a try. I've always been able to choke down the other fat free yogurt that costs about $5.00 for 10, only because yogurt is so good for you.

I went to the dairy section and right away noticed that at $5.00 for 3 small yogurts, it is much more expensive than the other brands. I decided to try one, just to see how I like it and WOW! It was fantastic. Its creamy, but not as runny as other yogurts. Its a little grainy, but not in a bad way. I tried the 2% pineapple, and will definitely be trying the fat free versions of this tasty treat!

Here is the nutritional info for the pineapple:

Its great for gluten free diets and is full of protein and calcium. So, its pricey, its not organic, but I love it. I plan on heading to Publix and will be loading my cart up this afternoon on this cold, spring break day!

Spicy Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Chicken Tacos

2010-03-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

I've really been trying to eat my veggies, however being pregnant, all I want to eat is mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and Chick Filet. Due to my carbohydrate crave-fest, as well as the home renovations we've got going on, the husband and I have done something we are ashamed of, we've been eating out! Well, now that I'm in my second trimester, I've regained loads of energy and am not near as tired as I was over the last 3 1/2 months. So, here is to me cooking again! I raise my glass of apple juice to my blog friends and toast to yet another tasty Mexican meal my Meals by Misty!

For the chicken:
I boiled 3 chicken breasts in about 6 cups of salted water. Next, I shredded the chicken, drained all but 3 cups of the broth, put the chicken back in the pot and added: 3 tbl cumin, 2 tsp black pepper, 3 chopped chipotle in adobo sauce, 2 garlic cloves, minced, a few dashes of Chalula hot sauce and squeezed half a lime in as well. I mixed in about a cup of black beans and a can of fire roasted tomatoes. Put the lid on and move on to the sour cream. The longer the chicken simmers in the pot (med temperature) the better it will taste.

For the sour cream:
1 cup sour cream, 1/2 fresh lime juice, a few dashes of cayenne pepper, and 1 tsp of cumin. Mix together and chill.

For the sweet potatoes:
Preheat oven to 420 degrees. Dice 2 sweet potatoes into 1-2 inch cubes. Place them on a foil lined cookie sheet and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. If you love cumin as much as I do, add about a teaspoon onto your potatoes. I love how the smokey cumin cuts the sweetness of the potatoes. I sliced up a Spanish onion and layered it in with my potatoes. Pop them in your oven until tender, about 30-40 minutes.

Next up, the fun part! Making the tacos! Start with a small flour tortilla.

Add the sour cream mixture and the sweet potato mixture.

Layer the chicken, extra black beans, cilantro and red onion.

Now, DIG IN!

Cheers :)

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!

2010-02-14T08:50:00.000-08:00

(Sorry this is a little long, but I think its well worth the read)

When I discovered the Blog-World, I was addicted from the start. Couldn't wait to try out a new recipe! I even bought a fancy camera to take pictures...just pictures of food. I don't think I've had one picture of me taken on that new camera. I've had a blast! I read articles on how to take pictures of food. I ate, drank and slept food!

Soon the holidays approached and it was then that I realized that all of my time spent in the kitchen was catching up with me...my pants were tight! Baby was getting back! I also noticed I was getting tired. Really, really tired. I have been struggling to find the energy to even think about my next meal, let alone all the meals I cook for others.

I began to worry that like all the sports I attempted to play in high school, the newness had worn off of my new blogging adventure. This didn't make sense to me because I have fallen in love with all my new friends I've made via blogging.

So, what could it be? Why am I so tired, why does the site of food and the idea of cooking make me a little puny feeling? Most importantly, why have I been letting my wonderful blog friends down? My blog posts have been less frequent. My recipes have been lacking.

Ok, I figured it all out! Can you??

CLUE ONE:

CLUE TWO:

And because of my love for food and other foodies like me, CLUE THREE:

Can you guess my secret?

Happy Valentine's Day to you and your loved ones!

Thats Amore!

2010-02-09T16:01:00.000-08:00

My husband and I always spend Valentine's Day at home, mainly because I don't think the restaurants do it up JUST RIGHT like I do :) I hate waiting for 2 hours for a dinner thats going to cost $200. I prefer to cook at home, have some wine and play boardgames.

Obviously a lot of other couples feel the same way and I couldn't be happier that so many wonderful people in the Birmingham area have chosen to allow me to cook for them. I wanted to share with my special Valentine's menu with you and wish you all a very

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Valentines Special

Entrees
Ricotta, Parmesan and Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast
Pancetta Italian Meatloaf with Au Jus
Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
Jambalaya Pasta with Penne, Chicken, Shrimp and Andouille
Three Cheese Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna

Vegetables
Garlic Smashed Potatoes
Hashbrown Casserole
Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic, Peppers and Pecans
Tossed Salad with Tomatoes, Peppers, Onions, Cucumbers and Vinaigrette

Breads
Garlic Cheese Beer Bread

Mexican Cornbread

Garlic Loaf Bread

Desserts

Outrageous Fudge Brownies

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Chocolate Truffles

Red Velvet Cake Pops

Happy Heart Day to you!

Yumo-Panko

2010-01-25T16:28:00.000-08:00

I've been promising some healthier alternatives to some of our most desired foods and what better way to start than one of the most guilty pleasures of all, FRIED CHICKEN. We all know everything fried tastes so good going down, but the guilt that comes with it, might leave you less than satisfied.

On the menu for tonight: Panko Crusted Chicken Breasts with Whole Wheat Penne tossed with a Fire Roasted Tomato and Cream Cheese Sauce, Served with a Side Salad.

Ingredients:

For the chicken:

2 chicken breasts, butterflied and pounded thin

1 cup Panko bread crumbs (can be found with the regular bread crumbs)

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon garlic powder

a dash or two of cayenne pepper

salt and pepper

extra virgin olive oil

For the pasta:

1 box whole wheat penne pasta

1 can fire roasted tomatoes

1 teaspoon oregano

1 tablespoon fresh parsley

1 tablespoon Weight Watchers cream cheese (or any low fat cream cheese)

salt and pepper

This recipe is really easy. I almost feel guilty blogging about it but it was so tasty! After pounding out my chicken breasts, I dredged them in the olive oil and seasoned them with salt and pepper. Next, on a separate plate, I tossed the panko with the other herbs and spices and coated the chicken breasts heavily with the bread-crumb mixture.

I sauteed the chicken in a nonstick pan for about 4-5 minutes on each side. It was easy to know when they were ready. The bread crumbs turn golden brown, letting you know its time to turn. The smell is already fantastic!

Once the chicken was finished browning, I rested them on a paper towel while I prepared the pasta. I cooked the pasta according to the back of the box and heated the fire roasted tomatoes with the herbs and spices. I added about a tablespoon on weight watchers cream cheese in, which really thickened the sauce and gave it a smooth, rich flavor.

I tossed the pasta with the sauce and since I am a heat lover, I added a few shakes of my favorite hot sauce.

I serve the chicken on top of the pasta alongside a spring mix salad with fresh organic veggies and a lemon vinaigrette.

It was good!

Get a little closer, don't be shy!

2010-01-16T07:41:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am still alive! I am so mad at myself for being so busy and not blogging in over 3 weeks! Last blog I told you all about my typical New Years resolution...losing weight. Well, I have several new recipes to share with you and plan to do so very soon. Until then, enjoy meeting my dog Hank's new BFF, Busta.

Busta is a this adorable plush wine glass insert that I fell in love with at a store in northern Georgia called Corks and Crumbs. I bought this little fella because he looks like my little fella!

Hank really fell in love with him from the get-go.

Reminds me of the song, Every breath you take, every move you make, every single day, every time I pray, I'll be watching you.

Will you accept this rose?

Absolutely, love at first sniff.

I'm Bringing Skinny Back

2009-12-28T07:09:00.000-08:00

I left the laptop home and turned off during my holiday travels and have plugged it back in today with a new goal in sight. Meals by Misty did some SERIOUS cooking over the last 2 months and the buttocks is proof that it all tasted quite nice! I'm pulling out the markers and poster board and am setting some goals. I guess you could say I'm getting an early start on ONE of my New Year's Resolutions: losing 10 pounds!

I'm saying goodbye to the following:

Ok, maybe not goodbye to the wine, but I'm saving this indulgence for the weekend! Oh, one more thing thats gotta go: my love for bacon.

BYE BYE BACON, HELLO GYM.

Souped up Taco Soup.

2009-12-18T06:35:00.000-08:00

I catered a couples baby shower last week and they wanted Taco Soup...so that is exactly what they got. But it was a "SOUPED" up version of the original "Santa fe" soup we all have come to know and love.

First, brown a pound or two, depending on how much soup you want to make, or how meaty you want it, with a chopped up red onion.

Add a large can of diced tomatoes, undrained.

Drain 1 can of kidney beans, 2 cans of whole kernel corn, and 2 cans of black beans and mix it all together.

Now for the fun part. Welcome to flavor town. I like to add the following:

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbl dried oregano

1 tbl chili powder

2 teas salt

1 tbl black pepper

Hot Sauce (you decide how much, don't be scared)

1 ranch dressing packet

Ok, now this is another added extra I decided to whip out of my pocket. I had some sour cream and a brand new box of the smooth, creamy melt with a distinctive taste that has been a classic since 1928:

This was odd for me because I NEVER use velveeeeeta. I thought what they hay, and went with it. I diced up 2 pounds of this creamy delight and melted it in the pot, along with 1 cup of sour cream.

I'm glad I did because it was FAN-Flippin-TASTIC!

**On a side note: I am a huge sucker for different hot sauces and I wanted to fill you in on a new one I found at the farmers market a few months ago. Its called Gator Sauce and its great.

I added about 3/4 a bottle, which sounds like a lot, but it wasn't. This hot sauce isn't as hot as some of the standard hot sauces. Order here: not there, HERE!
One last shot:

Its official. John Besh is my boyfriend.

2009-12-17T05:14:00.000-08:00

See! He told me I was good looking! That means he wants to be my boyfriend! (Some of you, including my husband, might believe this says Good Cooking. I assure you it doesn't. You're just jealous.)

He is such a cutie patootie. He showed up at the signing right on time and we only had to wait about 20 minutes to meet him.

I actually was a little star struck, which is very unusual for me. I had all these topics I wanted to ask him but FROZE when it was my turn! To be honest, I don't have a clue what I said. I just smiled. My smile hurt my face. Oh, and it made my cheeks look like a chipmunk. All these Christmas parties I've been catering are getting to me. Getting to my cheeks, both sets!

I'm off on a mini vacay today to the mountains. Stay tuned for some amazing pictures. I might even take some food shots!! That would be a first!

This Jambalaya is good...I Garontee!

2009-12-05T15:41:00.000-08:00

Mardi Gras isn't so far away...

In honor of a few of my ragin Cajun friends and the snow that fell on Alabama last night, I decided to whip up a big pot of Chicken Jambalaya. For all you football fans out there, I have to say, it sure is nice watching Alabama beat Florida (I do love Tebow, but not as much as Julio) all while enjoying some yummy Cajun food!

2 tablespoons canola oil
1 1/2 cups sausage, cut into slices

2 bay leaves
2 1/2 cups chicken (I use boneless chicken breasts, but you could save time with a store bought rotissere chicken)
1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano
1-2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper

A shake or two of red pepper flakes
4 garlic cloves, minced

1 red pepper, finely chopped
1 green pepper, finely chopped
1 yellow pepper, finely chopped
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cups celery, finely chopped

1 large can of diced tomatoes
1 carton of chicken broth
1 1/2 cups cooked rice
Hot Sauce

Cajun Seasoning

Heat your oil in a large Dutch oven on medium heat and add your sausage. I try and keep it somewhat healthy so I use turkey sausage. The best one I've found is Smithfield's. I can't tell a difference.

After the sausage turns dark in color and begins to crisp, take the sausage out of the Dutch oven and let it hang out on a paper towel. Return the pot to medium high heat and brown your chicken, along with the herbs and salt and pepper. (If you are a fan of Cajun seasoning, go to town here! I like things hot and spicy, so I add a few shakes of my favorite Cajun spice) When your chicken is brown and well seasoned, remove it from the pot and let it rest while we move on to the colorful part of the dish.

Add the vegetables to the pot and let them hang out until they are a nice golden brown color. Add the tomatoes and bay leaves.

Add your chicken and sausage back to the pot and cover it up.

I think the longer it simmers, the better it tastes. Try and let it simmer a good hour, if not longer. Surely you have some errands to run. Oh, I know, go to the gym and get a good workout in. Haha, right??

This is when I like to add my secret weapon.

My in-laws live in Mobile and were sweet enough to get me hooked on this stuff. I think it was all a big plot to get me to make the 4 hour trip to see them more often, but hey, it worked! This is the best hot sauce I've ever tasted and I am a hot sauce connoisseur. Its from my favorite restaurant, Wintzell's. They have the best oysters! You really should check out this sauce: buy it here.

Add in the rice and watch how the pot thickens! (not the plot, the pot)

Toast up a few pieces of garlic bread and SHAZAM!

Bon Appetit.

Hi Misty, I'd like to order 1, 000 of these for tomorrow.

2009-12-03T16:49:00.000-08:00

I am struggling as I try and come up with the adjectives appropriate for these little delights. They are good. No, they are perfect. Easy to make, inexpensive, fun, darn good, fattening as all get out! Meals by Misty has filled more orders in the last month than I thought was possible. I have met so many new clients lately and I'm going to let my math teacher self estimate that over 75% have asked for either Red Velvet Cake Balls or these OreoJoe's. (I just named them that..its sorta catchy don't you agree??)

First, gather up some oreo cookies. The recipe I found from Bakerella here, says to use an entire bag. I used about 3/4's the bag and they turned out HEAVENLY.

Pop them in your food processor and pulse until the cookies turn into a fine powder. Actually, the cookies turn into what appears to be dirt. Tasty dirt that is.

Pour the dirt into a large bowl and plop in a package of room temperature cream cheese.

Use your hands and mix the oreo's with the cream cheese. Once combined, roll out quarter sized balls and place on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.

Ok, this next step is CRUCIAL. Once you have rolled out these booootyfull balls, you MUST pop them into the fridge for a couple hours, if not longer. The longer the better. You chill these so that they will stay true to size and shape even after rolling them in chocolate.

I had a tough time finding the right chocolate for drowning these Oreo balls in. I tried Bakers, it was too thick. I tried Quickcandy, HAHA! I hate that stuff. Its as thick as Mississippi mud (not the cake, the actual mud.) I finally found chocolate bark at a Kroger grocery store in my mom's hometown in Mississippi. We do not have Kroger here so when I go home to visit, I load up. I'm pretty sure my stocking will be hung by the chimney with care, with packages of bark flying all through the air.

Be sure you "Got Milk" for dunking.

Date Night and the Best Salad I've Ever Had

2009-11-24T07:05:00.000-08:00

The husband and I had a relaxing night at home last night and sat around the fire pit discussing all of our future Holiday traveling plans. Dinner was very easy, steaks on the grill and crunchy walnut salad with homemade Asian Vinaigrette. The dinner and the company were perfection!

This salad dressing, along with the toasted walnuts and Ramen noodles, rocks! My mom makes a dressing like this for our Holiday get-togethers and I tend to forget about it over the year. I won't forget about this baby again!

For the dressing:

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
4 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

For the crunch:

2 tablespoons butter

1/2-1 cup walnuts

1 package oriental Ramen noodles (I must mention these things only cost 22 cents)

For the salad:

Romaine lettuce

Fresh broccoli

Red bell pepper

Red onion

Cherry tomatoes

Strawberry slices

Add the lettuce and the veggies, then the walnuts and Ramen noodles. Last but not least, give the dressing a big shake and then pour it on. Give it a good toss and dig in!

Goodness Gracious Great Balls of ...

2009-11-19T19:45:00.000-08:00

RED VELVET CAKE

Its hard to say whether or not I'm happy about my new obsession. I stumbled on a recipe at Bakerella's site for red velvet cake balls. I'm not a big sweet eater, nor do I consider myself a good baker...heck, I don't like to measure and rumor has it, measuring is key in baking. However, when I saw how dang cute these cake poppers were, it was love at first ball.

The whole process isn't a hard one, but its definitely time consuming. Last night I made 90 of them and it took me about half a day. Ok, let me stop for just a second. I feel it is important to lay it all out on the line. I used a boxed cake mix. There I said it. I'm not sure if baking etiquette allows that, but I don't regret it. I figure baking a cake from a box is a lot like drinking wine from a box. You might do it, you probably enjoy it, you don't however, talk about it.

Ok, back to the balls. I made the cake just like the box said. Then, I let it completely cool which took about an hour. Then, I crumbled the cake up into a large bowl.

Then comes the icing. Yes, it was store bought. So what :) I forked a tub of cream cheese icing into the bowl and mashed it up, treating it like meat for a meatloaf. I even got my hands messy. Afterward, I plastic wrapped the top, and popped it in the fridge for another hour or two. After it chilled, I used my hands and rolled quarter size balls. 1 cake made 45 balls. DOH...I forgot to take a picture of the rolled up balls!

I melted chocolate bark, which is quite hard to find, and using a spoon, I rolled the cake balls into the chocolate.

Tada!

Thank you Joey for being my hand model.

Perfectly Peppered Steak and a Perfect Night

2009-11-12T21:07:00.000-08:00

I was so incredibly excited to meet Patrick, a new customer of mine. He placed an order on Tuesday for Pepper Steak, White Rice, Garlic Brew Bread and Chocolate Oreo Truffles. This order was UBER special because Patrick was going to propose to his girlfriend the next night, over his homemade meal by yours truly!

When I started Meals by Misty, I knew one of my dishes that would rock everyone's world was my pepper steak. I've mentioned before my love for spicy food and it's pretty obvious how fond of meat I am, so this entree is perfect for me. Oh, I find it important to mention that this is a one pot wonder. Only one dirty dish! Wooohoo!!

I have tried using several different cuts of beef, but have found that my favorite is top sirloin. I season the steak with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder and then brown it in about a tablespoon of oil. While the meat is browning, cut up your veggies. (If you are a wine drinker, now is a good time to get your pour on)

Remove the meat from the Dutch oven and toss in the red onion, green bell pepper and red bell pepper. Add garlic (3 gloves) and 2-3 cups of beef broth. Now, to make pepper steak taste the way I like it, I go a little crazy at this point. I add a splash of Dale's steak sauce, a splash of Worcestershire sauce, a big splash of soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger, and a can of tomatoes.

Put the lid on a let it simmer away on med-low heat. To thicken the mixture, combine 2ish tablespoons of cornstarch and 2-3 tablespoons of the broth in a seperate dish. When the lumps dissolve, drop the thickening agent into the pot and give it a good stir. The color will deepen and the sauce really thickens up. Add your meat in the pot and if you like it hot, add a few drips of hot sauce.

A few clients have requested noodles to go with their pepper steak, but I'm a rice kinda girl. I like it best over fluffy rice with plenty of garlic brew bread for dipping.

I received an email from Patrick today saying last night was perfect so I'm assuming she said yes!

Gahlic Brew Bread...if You Bake it, the Bag will Come!

2009-11-06T12:40:00.000-08:00

There is something about bread that puts a smile on most peoples face. As a rule, I try and stay away from bread. However, there is an exception to every rule. I, being the non baker that I am, have been perfecting my Gahlic Brew Bread recipe and now have invented (yes, I invented this) the greatest tasting bread of all time.

Ok, here it goes...

Gahlic Brew Bread

3 cups All Purpose Flour, SIFT SIFT SIFT SIFT ( don't forget to sift it)

3 teaspoons Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Salt

1/4 cup Sugar

1 Bud Light

1 stick, Melted Butter

1 tablespoon Garlic Powder

Optional: 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese, grated, a pinch or 2 Cayenne Pepper

Now what?

Sift the flour and add all of the dry ingredients. Open the fridge and grab one of your husband's Bud Lights. Slowly pour it in...save a sip for your husband and then ask him for a new purse. Works like a charm.

The dough will go from bubbly to sticky.

I usually use my Calphalon bread pan, but when I'm baking multiple loaves (think multiple purses) I use aluminum disposable containers.

Be sure you put your pan/pans on a baking sheet. Once you add the next two ingredients, yes I saved the best for last, things can get messy.

Add the melted butter and the garlic powder to the dough and its ready to get a suntan in the oven (375 degrees)

One hour later...

Now, go shopping for that bag you've been eyeing.

This one got my vote...

Have a great weekend!

Where's the beef? RIGHT HERE!!

2009-11-02T14:59:00.000-08:00

I have been a busy bee this last week. I've cooked for a lot of people, but they are all wanting the same thing...CHILI. I have made 6 gigantic pots of chili for my clients this week so I haven't had much to post about. My chili is good, but I didn't figure my blog friends would want to see anymore chili pics. So, last night, after a fun filled Halloween weekend, Wes came over for his Meals by Misty fix and I made flank steak sandwiches on garlic toast with Gouda, tomatoes, arugula, avocado and red onion. I served these up with Sweet Corn and Balsamic and Garlic Asparagus.

I did cook the asparagus a little longer than I like, but the flavor was perfect. I sauteed them with butter, balsamic vinegar, black pepper and sea salt. I added a splash of lime juice right before I served them and the lime and salt really brought out the flavor of the asparagus.

Meaty Misty decided to grill a flank steak, which is a cut of beef that I don't use enough. It has insane flavor, is inexpensive and if marinated right and grilled medium rare, its super tasty.

I put a little bbq sauce on mine and we all spread on a good amount of avocado on the toast. It was an easy meal, which after my crazy Halloween weekend, was perfect!

Sliders, Salad, Taters and Dice, Oh My!

2009-10-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

Lately it seems I've been a HUGE carnivore. I've mentioned in previous posts that we like meat. Here is yet another meaty Meals by Misty meal. This weeks dinner party was a very fun one. Wes, one of our BESTEST friends, helped me in the kitchen which made the night even more fun.

We used 1 lb ground sirloin, 1 lb ground beef and 1/2 lb sausage. Next, we added 4 tbl black pepper, 2 tbl sea salt, 4 crushed garlic cloves, 3 tbl Worcestershire sauce and 2 tsp sage. Mixed it all together and rolled it into balls...

Now, I would USUALLY grill these, but due to rain, we pan fried them. I would have preferred them to be a little less "done" but they tasted great! I served them family style on water rolls with melted pepper jack and cheddar cheese, dill pickle, red onion, green leaf lettuce, mustard. mayo and spicy barbecue sauce.

Wes helped me make my own version of a Pioneer Woman recipe. We boiled red potatoes until they were almost done and then mashed them into potato rounds.

We sprinkled on some garlic, salt, black pepper and rosemary, popped them under the broiler for about 7 minutes, and TADA...

Before my guests arrived, I had made up a new recipe for a cold cucumber, red onion, cherry tomato salad. I chopped everything up and added salt, pepper, fresh basil, rosemary, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It was fantastic!

Kelly helped out in the kitchen after dinner and iced us some Roll Tide cupcakes!

We ended the night with wine and the classic shake, score and shout dice game, YAHTZEE!!

I yam what I yam!

2009-10-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

Popeye the sailor man would definitely be proud of my Spinach and Cream Cheese Roasted Chicken dish I made this week. I kept it Gluten free and low in fat. That isn't always an easy task. I am going to apologize in advance for showing a picture of a raw chicken boob. I can't stand dealing with chicken. I love cooking it, but HATE cleaning it!

I sauteed whole spinach leaves in olive oil, garlic and salt and pepper. The chicken marinated in A LOT of minced garlic, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar (overnight). I stuffed the bird with the spinach mixture and roasted it in the oven for about 45 minutes, 375 degrees.

I served it with Sauteed Green Beans and Pecans and Baked Sweet Taters.

The Barnes (one of my weekly clients) raved about the meal. So, all in all it was a good day.

TOOT TOOT

Got Gumbo?

2009-10-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

A lot of my friends and coworkers ask me how I have the energy to teach 125 kids each day, plan menus for myself and my clients, do my daily Publix (grocery) shopping, cook healthy, homemade meals, deliver them, clean up, grade homework, just in time to go to bed and do it all over again. My response is "I like to chop." I relieve my daily stresses by chopping veggies. Yesterday, for example, I had to break up a fight in the stairwell. Both 10 year olds were taller and bigger than me. Whats a girl to do? Make gumbo.

I hosted a small dinner party later that night for one of my closest friends, Jennifer. It was her 34th Birthday. I know Gumbo is one of those things that is perfect on a cold night, but Alabama just isn't anywhere near cold! We are hot, humid and wet! Besides, the birthday girl likes gumbo and chocolate and what she wants, she gets!
Who needs a spa day when you can chop onions, peppers, celery and tomatoes! Its so much fun and so colorful.

This chicken was tasty, but so boring in color! Once I added the veggies, it tasted and looked perfectly gumbo'ed. (I just invented that word)
All gumbo needs something to dunk into it. Garlic Bread and pretty much any soup are just better together!

ChOcOlAtE TiMe

Chomp Chomp...

GOT MILK?

Happy Birthday Jennifer!

Hot Plate!!

2009-10-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

I can usually be found at my favorite chips and salsa establishment on Friday nights but must admit, I get a huge thrill in making taco night here at the Westover household, a weekly tradition. Sure, cheese dip with the chips and even a little extra cheese dip poured all over the quesadilla is a great thing, but believe it or not, taco time can be healthy! VeRy HeAlThY!

For starters: Crunchy Lime and Cilantro Slaw. Mix the juice of 1 lime with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and whisk together. Pop it in the fridge while you mix the veggies. I buy the shredded cabbage because its, well, easy.

Chop up some cilantro (i like cilantro A LOT), half a red onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper and as much jalapeño as you can handle. Add it to the slaw and pour on the dressing. Give it a taste and make sure its just perfect. Do this now because your taste buds might get a little confused after your first margarita.

We are taco people. Not so much burrito people, or enchilada people. Tacos make us smile. Its too hard to decide between chicken or steak, so have them both. You only live once!

I don't like using "taco" packets. I like to season the chicken and sirloin with salt, pepper and a hefty hefty hefty amount of cumin. Once the chicken is cooked throughout, use 2 forks and shred it. Be sure to keep the sirloin rare and slice it against the grain. Add 2 or 3 Chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce and a dash or two, a splash or a few of Cholula hot sauce.

Layer either a hard taco shell or a whole wheat flour tortilla with the Crunchy Cilantro and Lime Slaw, the chicken and/or steak, and all the fixins...

Jalapenos, shredded cheddar cheese, green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, lime, avocado, red onion and cilantro. Oh, and don't forget the black beans!

Say Cheese!

2009-10-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

I went to the Alabama/Ole Miss game this weekend and when we got back in town, I had a present at my door. My new camera! I was too tired from the trip to cook, so Hank, my cockapoo, was my model! I can't wait to see how my new toy takes food shots! What can I cook up now?? Tune it tomorrow night to find out!

Brrrrr....its Chili out!

2009-10-07T17:23:00.000-07:00

When football season arrives, so does Misty's chili season. There is something amazing about how football, chili and cool weather go hand in hand. I consider my chili to be the greatest chili in the world. It is! Really! My husband told me so!

I enter a Super Bowl chili contest each year and the first year I decided to go all out and simmer a roast in the crock pot all night. I shredded it and added it to the chili pot. Needless to say, Meals by Misty took first place!

I also add black beans and a ton of cumin. I receive so many orders for my chili! I really think I could make this dish blindfolded and drunk. :)

10/24/09: ATTENTION: I made 2 batches of my chili yesterday and decided to write things down. Now, I don't measure. I never have. I did the best I could at including measurements on the recipe. Don't throw me under a bus if you have to add more seasoning.
Enjoy:

Meals by Misty’s Meaty Chili

2 lbs ground beef ( I use ground sirloin)

1 medium size roast

1/3 cup Dales steak sauce

2 tbl butter

1 large onion (red)

1 bell pepper (red)

1 bell pepper (green)

2 tbl extra virgin olive oil

2 cans diced tomatoes (15 oz)

1 can rotel

1 carton beef stock

2 tbl ground cumin

1 tbl dried oregano

1 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tbl chili powder

2 cans black beans

1 can chili beans

Hot Sauce ( I use Cholula and I use a lot)

2 tsp salt

3 tsp fresh ground black pepper

This and that’s to add to the top…

Sour cream

Shredded cheddar cheese

Red onion

Fritos

Hot sauce

Directions:

Season a roast (heavily) with extra virgin olive oil, black pepper and salt. As Paula says, “Rub your Meat.“ Heat a skillet to medium-high heat and coat the skillet with olive oil and 2 tbl butter. Sear the roast on all sides until a crust forms on the skin of the roast. Pour 1/3 cup of Dales in a crock pot and cook the roast until it falls apart! I usually put my crock pot on low and leave it cooking all day (6-8 hours). Once the roast it cooked completely, shred the roast with a knife and a fork and save the liquid in the crock pot.

Using a chili pot, cook the sirloin until browned. Add 1 large diced onion, the red and green peppers, the cumin, oregano, cayenne, chili pepper, salt and pepper. The longer this simmers, the better it tastes. I like to let the meat, vegetables and herbs simmer until they lose their color and become thick. Add the shredded roast meat, Rotel, tomatoes, and the beef stock. I like my chili thin, rather than thick. Depending on your tastes, you can add as much stock as you like.

I like to let this stay on the stove for an hour or two. The longer, the better. Drain the beans and add them to the pot. Give a taste and this is when I add extra spice, if needed. I usually add a little more cumin and hot sauce because we like it hot hot hot!!

Ladle it up in a bowl ( I served it in little frito bags for a tailgate last year) and add whateva toppings you like. I go for the sour cream, jalapenos, red onion, hot sauce and fritos. Not that this chili needs all that, I'm just that kind of girl.

u2 u2 u2 u2 u2, you too??

2009-10-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

Tonight I'm in the kitchen preparing some chili for a luncheon this week. Its hard to focus, because I'm going to see.....
U2 tomorrow night! WOOHOO!! I hope everyone has a fantastic week!

Beef, its whats for dinner. (filet mignon wrapped in bacon)

2009-10-04T17:41:00.000-07:00

We have been getting so much rain here in Alabama that I have had to resort to cooking more meals inside than what I'm used to. I made Filet Mignon for Joey and I even wrapped it up for him like a present. I wrapped in a bacon bow. It was lovely.

I like to season pretty much any beef I cook with the basics: olive oil, salt and pepper. Letting the beef come to room temperature is important too. It keeps your steak from shocking, and getting tough.

When cooking inside, get your cast iron or stainless pan piping hot, and pop a little or a lot of butter in.

Lay your bacon wrapped filet in the pan and start singing that MC Hammer song..You Can't Touch This. Dance around your kitchen, have a sip of wine, boil some water for your whole wheat pasta, but whatever you do, DON'T TOUCH THIS! Give it a full two or three minutes before you flip it over. This guarantees that you will have a perfect, crunchy sear on the top. Then, flip it over, do the MC Hammer around your kitchen a couple times, and wait another two or three minutes. Wrap your hunk of beef in some foil, wrap that bad boy up tightly!

Add some salt and your pasta to the boiling water. Toss some onions, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, squash, zucchini and whatever other veggies float your boat, all in the same pan you used to cook your steaks. All the yummy, crunchy steak bits are hanging out on that pan, begging to be used!

Add a tablespoon of minced garlic, about a half a cup of heavy cream or milk, and stir until it boils. Drain your pasta and add it to the pan.

Toss it all around really good, top it with some fine Parmesan cheese, add a little crushed red pepper, salt and pepper, and its done!

I added a salad, and dinner was served! Bon Appetit!

I want bacon! (Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin)

2009-09-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

I've wrapped just about everything in bacon one time or another. Bacon is good. Plain and simple, GOOD! I, just like every other woman on Earth, try to keep my fat and calories down, but there is no turning down this fantastic strip of pig. One of my best sellers is my Spiced Pork Loin wrapped in Bacon. Its pork wrapped in pork. How sweet it is!

I brine the pork overnight and then marinate it with olive oil, garlic, thyme, rosemary, ginger and salt and pepper. After marinating for a minimum of 4 hours (overnight is best), I wrap the loin in bacon and sear it in a blazing hot skillet with butter.

After searing, I put the skillet in the oven until the pork loin reaches 140 degrees. Its important to let it rest for about 10 minutes before you slice it. Note the above picture is missing the bacon. Where the heck did it go?

There it is! It might not be the same bacon that I started out with, but that is beside the point. I sliced the pork and served it on a fresh loaf of toasted sour dough bread. I spread some avocado on the bread and added grilled tomatoes, crisp bacon, romaine, grilled onions and Havarti cheese.

It was good to the last crunch!

These are a few of my favorite things...

2009-09-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday morning to you. Its raining and nasty here in Birmingham so I am spending some time with two of my favorite morning indulgences...

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

La La Bamba Salsa

2009-09-24T03:56:00.000-07:00

Not only is homemade salsa better tasting than store bought, but its healthy and fun to make. You can add whatever you'd like to this recipe, like grilled corn, black beans or fruit. I stuck with the basics last night for the Barnes weekly meal. I kept it Gluten-Free for Elijah.

I diced 2 big Alabama tomatoes, 1 large red onion, 2 tomatillos, squeezed 2 limes, roughly chopped a head of cilantro, added 2 teaspoons of salt and threw in 2 diced jalapenos from the garden. I sprinkled about a teaspoon of cumin and a dash of cayenne pepper, and thats it folks!

This will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks! Try in with corn chips, or top grilled chicken or fish with it. It gets better and better day after day.

Enjoy

Laissez les bons temps rouler...Red Beans and Rice

2009-09-23T14:45:00.000-07:00

I was born with a pretty wild palate. Spicy foods aren't really spicy, unless my mouth goes numb and my eyes and skin burn. For most people, that sounds like death, but I love it. I think everything is better with hot sauce...including my recipe for Red Beans and Rice.

This dish was so easy, so tasty and believe it or not, SO HEALTHY! I used turkey smoked sausage (When I say Hillshire you say farm), kidney beans, black beans and a ton of veggies from the farmers market. I added some chicken stock, hot sauce (oh yeah), thyme, oregano, paprika, cayenne, bay, garlic and salt and pepper. Served it over rice and french bread. It is a perfect meal for a Cajun food lover!

Try this recipe out. I didn't add measurements because this is one of those meals that doesn't require measuring. Channel your inner dumping ability. Add the spices you like, leave out what you don't. Have some fun with it. If you aren't the spice lover like me, just have a cold beer or two to wash it down with.

Enjoy

When I bake, you bake, we bake...Take 2 (Gaaaahlic Loaf Bread)

2009-09-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

I think I love baking. I never thought that phrase would come out of my mouth, but I do! I'm not a big bread or dessert eater, but my friends are really lucking out, thanks to my new hobby. I have a lot to learn when it comes to cakes and pies, however, I've got this garlic loaf down to a perfection!

My entire house smells like a bakery when I pop this in the oven. Garlic and Butter...nuff said!

Keep it Hot, Hot, Hot

2009-09-20T17:39:00.000-07:00

We went shopping today and I found a buffet warmer that I fell in love with! Several of my orders come from businesses who are ordering large amounts of food for luncheons and dinners. I've run into several occasions where there isn't an oven or stove, so my new toy is going to come in handy! You can only fill up so many crock pots!

When I bake, you bake, we bake...Take 1 (Apple Crisp)

2009-09-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

I am jealous of the Barefoot Contessa and all those other perfect chefs (cooks) out there that bake these gorgeous desserts and pastries. I think I am intimidated by the whole measuring concept. I, the dump truck, love being able to spice any soup, casserole or veggie by just tasting it. You can't do that with baking. You have to measure, BORING...I know. Having said that, I have decided to step up and get my bake on. Here goes my first ever Apple Crisp.
I started with apples. Lots of apples...

I do not own an apple slicer. I also don't own a mink coat, whats your point?
I will be buying an apple slicer asap. I wonder if there is a such thing as an electric apple slicer and peeler??? I added flour, sugar, cinnamon, a little butter ( I mean A LOT of butter) and brown sugar. I was serving this at a luncheon for 15-20, so I used a crock pot instead of a casserole dish.
The crust on top seemed a little gooey while baking, so I added some brown sugar and cranked the heat to 375.
I am pleased to say it turned out fantastic! The luncheon was a huge hit and several people really complimented the dessert. I am now a baker!

Pasta Pasta (Gluten Free Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna)

2009-09-19T05:57:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite clients is the Barnes family. They have 4 boys and the youngest has Celiac disease, which is an allergy to wheat. I have really enjoyed researching gluten free recipes and its been fun coming up with my own dishes that are wheat free. I cook dinner for this family once a week and the boys always request my lasagna. Its easy to keep it healthy for the whole family by using rice noodles rather than the standard pasta.

I really need to start writing down my recipes. Its hard remembering what all I put into each creation, especially when its midnight and I'm having some vino. This recipe however, is an easy one for me. Its a bunch of dumping. My mom calls me a dump truck. I'm known for dumping a little this and a little that into my Italian dishes, and in my purses. The sauce isn't complete without spinach, mushrooms and a glass of wine (any good red wine...I just dump my glass in and crank up the heat.) This veggie pic almost looks like a face. Interesting.

A few of the boys do not share my love for ricotta, so I heated some cream cheese and used it as my glue at the bottom of the dish.
I made Joey and I a mini pasta dish and at his request, full of gluten. Instead of lasagna, we used Penne pasta.
I added a salad...
and Voila!!!! The first is with gluten, the second without.

Photo Cover

2009-09-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of my bridal magazine cover! Hank is like his mom, loves some camera time! Thank you Genya (Vue Photography) for capturing my wedding with your amazing photo skills!

Spicy Sausage Meatloaf with Carrots, Peppers and Onions

2009-09-09T19:30:00.000-07:00

I came up with this recipe one night after Joey asked me to make him meatloaf and mashed potatoes. I have never liked meatloaf, basically because a loaf of meat doesn't sound that fabulous to me, especially after seeing it made with oats and raw egg. So, I played around with sausage and instead of mushing up oats with my fingers, I used bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese to bind it together. Now Joey gets meatloaf. His own loaf of meat!

Go MEAT!

2009-09-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

It rained all weekend so I spent Sunday in the kitchen rather than outside on my patio. I had to cook my ribs low and slow in the oven, along with cream cheese stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon and sugar beans. Cooking ribs inside proved to be VERY tasty!

5 Layer Dip

2009-09-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

I know there is supposed to be 7 layers, but it was Labor Day and since I was laboring, I decided to leave off 2 of the layers. You can't go wrong with this dip as long as you make the salsa yourself and don't even think about using store bought guacamole!

Homemade Mac and Cheese

2009-09-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

I really love making sweet southern comfort food! Being raised in Mississippi and then moving all the way to Alabama, I guess "Sunday" food is one of my specialties. I don't think there is anything wrong with mac and cheese from a box, and to be honest, the powdery, neon orange cheese doesn't scare me one bit. HOWEVER, I make the best, homemade mac and cheese that I've ever eaten. Order some and see for yourself!

Gift Certificates Available

2009-08-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

Let me make a homemade meal for that new mom to enjoy. If you know someone who might be under the weather, I will glady cook them some comfort food and deliver it to their door. Want to do something extra nice for a neighbor or your childs teacher, let me take care of it! Going on vacation? I'd love to pack a cooler full of goodies for you. Just send me an email and I'll do all the work.

mealsbymisty@gmail.com

Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos with Cream Cheese

2009-08-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

I have wrapped bacon around a lot of things in my life, but for some reason, the heat from jalapenos go so well with crunchy, smokey bacon. This is one of the ways I enjoy making them, but this recipe is like a blank bacon canvas. You can add herbs, veggies or whatever else you'd like in order to make them your own.

You will need:

Bacon

Cream Cheese

Fresh Jalapenos

Toothpicks

Balsamic Vinagar

Soak your toothpicks in water while you prep your jalapenos and cream cheese. This will prevent them from burning on your grill. I like to put my cream cheese and bacon in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes before slicing them. This makes the knife much easier and cleaner to slice. Slice your cream cheese is cubes and slice your bacon in half. Pull the seeds and the white rib out of the pepper, this will make your peppers much more mild. Slice your peppers in fourths. Add a cube of cream cheese in each pepper and wrap them in half pieces of the bacon. Secure with a toothpick. Marninate the bacon wrapped jalapenos in balsamic vinagar for about 30 minutes. Grill until the bacon is cooked throughout. Enjoy :)

2009-08-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

GLUTEN FREE FOODS
For those of you who are on a gluten free diet, I've done a lot of research and have several fantastic recipes that will suit your diet needs. Let me know if you would like me send you a gluten free menu to take a looksy at! If you would like to speak to some of my gluten free clients, they will surely give a high recommendation.

Some of my favorite gluten free meals to prepare: Pepper Steak over Rice, 4 Cheese Lasagna, Chicken Enchiladas and Black Beans.

Fontina and Basil Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Grilled Vegetables and Brown Rice

2009-08-29T04:00:00.000-07:00

Um, Yum.

2009-08-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

Oreo Crunch Truffles with White Chocolate Drizzle
I made these Little Bites of Heaven for a customer and she called them dangerous! They are SO rich and go perfect with a glass of wine, I mean MILK.

Dip Baby Dip!

2009-08-28T13:54:00.000-07:00

Football. Football. Football. Football. Football. Here is a favorite dip to munch on next weekend. Did I mention Football? Be sure to have a bag of fritos for the fellas.

Hot Fontina and Artichoke Dip

2 can(s) (14-ounce) artichoke hearts, drained
8 ounce(s) Fontina cheese, cubed
4 ounce(s) Neufchâtel cream cheese
1/3 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup(s) chopped parsley
2 tablespoon(s) capers
2 clove(s) garlic, crushed through a press
1/2 teaspoon(s) (or to taste) hot red-pepper sauce
　
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Pulse artichokes and remaining ingredients (except Vegetable Dippers) in a food processor until artichokes are finely chopped.
Scrape mixture into a 2-cup crock or gratin dish and spread into an even layer. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until dip is lightly browned on top and starting to bubble around edges. Serve hot with Vegetable Dippers.
　

Fall Baptism Brunch for the Carters.

2009-08-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

I was so happy when my friend Kelli Lane told me about a friend of hers who was having a Baptism Brunch for her baby boy, Mac. This was one of my first large parties. I planned for this brunch for weeks. I bought all new serving pieces. Tested different quiche ideas. The brunch was for 35 people. Not only did I make a fabulous meal, I also decorated the table, set up the food and left the rest to the Carters. The menu was Southern Hashbrown Casserole, Spinach and Bacon Quiche, Swiss and Sausage Quiche, Garlic Cheese Grits, Crunchy Sausage Balls, Assorted Fruit with Poppy Seed Dressing, and French Toast Casserole. The rumor was that the French Toast Casserole was most everyones favorite!

It looked way too good to eat...BUT WE DID!

2009-08-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

Joey and I finally pulled out our china and had my mom and Mime over for dinner. Dinner was great, but this Fruit and Granloa Trifle was outrageous! Kelly came over to help me with it and before we were finished, we had drank a few glasses of wine and ended up making a trifle that weighed about 10 pounds.

McLeod Software Luncheon

2009-08-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

One of my new customers is McLeod Software. I had a blast making Chicken Tetrazzini, Spring Mix Salad with tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, homemade ranch and vinaigrette. Cooking for 15 is my favorite way to cook! I love having a full oven and all 4 eyes burning on the stove. I'm hoping to make them my FAMOUS Perfectly Peppered Steak and Rice for their next training session.

An Order for Morgan Keegan

2009-08-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

Brian McGee, a broker at Morgan Keegan, has become one of my favorite customers. He has purchased several meals from MbM (Meals by Misty) over the last year for his clients and recently he purchased a few casseroles for one particular client who was under the weather. I made him Poppy Seed Chicken, Broccoli and Cheese Casserole and Dilly Bread. Happy Birthday Brian! I hope your client enjoyed his meal and is feeling all better!

Bill Vaughns Order

2009-08-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

Bill and I have been friends on Facebook for a while and we have so many mutual friends, however, MbM (Meals by Misty) gave us an excuse to finally meet! He is a very funny, nice man and I'm dying to know how he liked his food!

BV's order was 5 Cheese Macaroni and Cheese, Smoked Chicken and Dressing, Corn and Cheddar Casserole, Lasagna with Spinach, Mushrooms and Garlic, Garlic Loaf Bread and Toasted French Bread. I just got really hungry typing that!