“FROSTY PAWS” KEEPING YOUR BEST FRIEND COOL THIS SUMMER

This is a recipe that I found in a magazine last year. I tried it because I was tired of my dogs

begging for my “chocolate chocolate chip” ice cream every night as we watched TV. As most of you know, chocolate is one of those foods that could make your dog very sick and possibly could kill them, so don't ever feed your dog chocolate.

I made these the first time in a small amount, (big mistake) and they were gone before I could drag the honey back out of the cupboard.

I have now learned how to make a large flavorful batch and keep them happy and healthy on all those  hot summer days.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR “FROSTY PAWS”

32 ounce container of vanilla yogurt

2 tablespoons of honey

2 tablespoons of plain peanut butter ( not crunchy)

1 mashed banana or 1 large jar of baby food (strained fruit)

(you can also substitute the banana with fresh blueberries, mashed peaches, or sugar free applesauce)

Using a blender add all ingredients and blend till smooth and creamy.

Pour into clean dry ice cube trays and freeze overnight.  (usually makes 3 full trays )

When fully frozen, pop out cubes and store in freezer in large air tight container.

I hope you try them, they are easy to make, easy to store and your canine buddy will come running  when you yell  “WHO WANTS FROSTY PAWS?”

Raspberry Lemonade in Muffin Form

One of my earliest taste memories was picking sweet raspberries off my neighbor’s raspberry bush in New Britain, Connecticut.  For hours, while my friend Elise and I plotted out Barbie’s shenanigans that would rival that of Alexis Carrington on Dynasty, we would take the occasional break to covertly swipe a few berries and eat them quickly to hide the evidence of our childhood thievery.  We rationalized that they grew through the fence and, therefore, the berries were open for consumption.  Looking back, I am sure our neighbor did not feel the same. 

While brainstorming yet another way to work with the great berry season that is upon us, why not change from the typical blueberry muffin to one that combines the flavors of sweet and tart raspberries and lemon.  If Meyer lemons are available near you, their zest and juice provide a nice change from a standard lemon, infusing the muffin with a wonderfully sweet citrus flavor.

Raspberry Lemonade Muffins

Ingredients:

·         2 cups all-purpose flour

·         1/2 cup sugar

·         1 tablespoon baking powder

·         1/2 teaspoon salt

·         1 egg

·         3/4 cup milk

·         1/3 cup applesauce (in lieu of 1/3  cup vegetable oil)

·         3/4 cup of fresh raspberries

·         Zest of 1 Meyer lemon + juice of the lemon (about 2 tablespoons)

Directions:

1.    Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2.    Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a large glass bowl.  Add the sugar and mix well. 

3.    In a separate bowl, combine the milk and egg.  Add the applesauce and mix well. 

4.    Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring well.  Add the zest of the lemon and the lemon juice.  Carefully fold in the raspberries.

5.    Grease the muffin tins or line with paper cups. 

6.    Fill each muffin cup three quarters full. 

7.    Bake for 20 to 22 minutes until baked through. 

8.    Let cool on a rack and enjoy.

Yield:  1 dozen muffins.

UNLEASE YOUR INNER GRILL GODDESS

by Aly Cleary – Contributing Writer

Grilling and grills have often been portrayed for boys only.  While the woman runs the kitchen, the man is often tasked with the title of grill master.   There is an art to grilling and we are here to dish the dirt on grilling and give you a few tips that will turn you into a grilling rock star in no time.

You don’t need a fancy grill that costs more than a great Jimmy Choo bag to make you a grilling wiz.  Instead, these tips work for mostly every grill. 

• First, know thy grill.  Does it run hot?  Does it have cold spots?  Make that grill work to YOUR advantage.  Have something that burns or overcooks easy, like shrimp or fish – cook that on the cooler spot.   Have a great steak that you like rare but want a nice peppery crush – put that in the warmer spots.
• Oil is your friend.  Make sure to put some canola oil on a paper towel and wipe the grill grates.  That will make sure that your food doesn’t stick to the grill and make a hot mess that you will dread cleaning later.
• Grilling tools are a must.  The tongs are vital as they are an extension of your arm and can save you from injury and those high rising flames.  Invest in some good tools because, like other kitchen mainstays, great tools will last you a lifetime. 
• Go light with the barbeque sauce.   Ever wonder why the barbeque chicken burns like crazy when you put it on the grill and you think it’s done only to cut into it to find that it’s pinker than a pair of Elle Wood’s shoes?  The sugar in the barbeque sauce will lead to charring so the best tip I ever learned was to wait to baste the chicken with the sauce until the last 10 or 15 minutes.  Let that chicken cook and then coat the chicken lightly with the sauce.  It not only saves the chicken from a blackened mess but cuts down a bit on the calories. 
• The grill is not only for steak, chicken and shrimp.  You can make some amazing veggie dishes on the grill.  One of my favorite dishes that I often make is a grilled corn salad.  You char the corn as well as a red pepper and red onion, mix that with some lime, really good olive oil and a bit of cumin and your guests will be begging you for the recipe.

Remember, the grill is just an extension of your kitchen.  There’s no reason for you not to enjoy grilling dinner.  Make yourself a nice cocktail, enjoy the fresh air and have fun!

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Sunshine Agave Grilled Chicken

Ingredients

·         4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

·         1 small lemon

·         1 small lime

·         1 small navel orange

·         3 small sprigs of fresh thyme

·         3 tbsp. Olive Oil

·         3 tbsp. Agave Nectar

·         1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt

·         1/4 tsp. fresh cracked black pepper

Directions

1.       Butterfly the chicken breasts and place in a plastic bag in a shallow glass bowl.  If there are any tenderloins, also slice those independently and add to the marinade.

2.       Zest and juice the lemon, lime and orange, careful not to get the white pith in the marinade.

3.       Add 2 tbsp. of olive oil, salt and pepper and make sure the chicken is coated.  Set the bowl to the side.

4.       Let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes.  Any longer and you run the risk of changing the texture of the chicken from all of the citrus.

5.       Preheat a grill pan to sizzling.  When it is at temperature, lightly coat with cooking spray.

6.       Remove the chicken from the marinade and lightly brush on the agave nectar.

7.       Place the chicken on the grill pan and grill for 4-5 minutes a side, until cooked through.

8.       Serve immediately.

Aly M. Cleary is the author of Cooking in Stilettos (www.cookinginstilettos.org) a cooking and entertaining website for today’s urban fashionista.  Western Mass holds a special place in Aly’s heart as it was in Agawam where her love of stilettos began while raiding her mother’s stylish closet.  The cooking bug bit a bit later in life as she learned that cooking is not as hard as she originally thought.  Having recently moved back up north from the land of Disney, Aly is thrilled to join Western Massachusetts Women Magazine as a culinary contributor.

8 Simple Tips for Frugal Grocery Spending

By Erica Forish, Senior Writer

Within the economic recession, budgets are tight for nearly everyone, but with a little time, planning, smart decision-making and organization, the amount of money you spend on your grocery bill can seriously deplete, and here’s how.

1. Fill the Pantry

Write a list of essential household items and have that list on hand as you shop. It may include basics such as toilet paper, pasta, flour, soups and any other common items that will, over time, always get used. Even if you already have plenty of a given product in stock at home, it never hurts to bulk up on certain items when the sale’s price is right.

2. Organize Meals

Before you do your grocery shopping for the week, take the time to plan a menu of your daily meals. Based on that menu, generate a shopping list of your specific weekly needs in order to decrease the likelihood of buying splurge items. Don’t be afraid to freeze leftovers and use them for meals the following week.

3. Study Sales Fliers

By researching the sales within the weekly fliers of all supermarkets within your area, you can find and compare the best prices for the items on your lists of both essentials and weekly needs. For example, Friendly’s ice cream may be on sale for $4.99 at Stop’n’Shop the same week that the Big Y is promoting it as buy one, get one free. Although seeking out the best sales may eliminate the convenience of one-stop shopping, the extra time spent making multiple stops can truly benefit the amount of money left in your wallet. 

4. Cut Coupons

Cutting coupons may seem like just another chore, but when every dollar counts, it’s well worth the effort. Coupons can be found easily on the official websites of name brand products as well as in both newspapers and supermarket fliers.

5. Eliminate Pre-made Foods

Although it’s convenient to pick up a fully-cooked rotisserie chicken on the way home from a long day’s work, you are not only paying more to have a food service clerk do the job of preparing your meal, but you are also stuck paying taxes on such items. Similarly, limiting the number of times you eat out at a restaurant each month can save a significant amount of money.

6. Buy in Bulk

Purchasing food in bulk at stores such as Costco will reduce your overall monthly food bill, for the larger the quantity of your purchase, the cheaper the cost you pay per unit. The only precaution with bulk purchases is to make sure that you have enough storage space for your entire purchase.

7. Purchase Seasonal Produce

The key to purchasing produce all depends on the season. In New England, you’ll be confronted with outrageous prices on berries and citrus fruits in the winter months simply because they are out of season. Make your produce choices based on the vegetables and fruits currently available in your area. If certain must-have items are not in season, consider canned or frozen fruits and vegetables as an affordable alternative.

8. Try Different Products

Even though its convenient to grab some paper towels or a disposable sanitizing wipe, taking the extra few minutes to use a spray bottle disinfectant and sponge will not only produce the same results but will also save you money. After all, a sponge can be used multiple times; disposable products can not. Similarly, don’t be afraid to try store brand products instead of name brands such as Kellogg’s or Coca-Cola. Since the ingredients are comparable with most of these items, the only real difference is the cost.