Well it seems Santa and his merry elves have been very busy over at Magical Holiday Home.  Check out the new look!

Ready For Fall

Hope everyone in the USA enjoyed their Labor Day Weekend.  I know I sure did.

This weekend was so lovely.  The weather was awesome...actually felt like fall had arrived.  For the entire weekend, I could keep the AC off and just open all the windows and allow the cool breeze to flow through my little palace.  It was actually cold one morning when I woke up.  It felt great!  Unfortunately the heat is coming back today. Grrrr

Since the weather was nice I just had to take a drive. I was looking for color changes of the leaves, but didn't see any.  It's okay, though. I know they're coming.

I love to drive the back roads through several counties.  Just me with the windows down. Cruising the winding roads while contemporary jazz plays softly in the background. Sometimes I get as far as Hanover, PA where my brother lives.  The scenery is really beautiful in autumn. Something about driving over bridges and seeing nothing but water and trees, is very soothing to me.  Not to mention seeing horses, cows and even buffalo grazing on the grasses or the huge rolls of hay laying all over the fields.  Oh, and corn stalks as far as the eyes can see.  I mean they are everywhere lol.  Sometimes a few horses will graze close to the road.  So naturally I pull over, grab my phone and take a few pictures.  In my travels if I see a stand selling fresh produce, I'll stop and buy some strawberries, or corn on the cob, or tomatoes from the farmers.  I like to support our local farmers.  

On occasion I will call my BFF if I'm driving in her neck of the woods and we'll meet up to have lunch at Richardson's Farms. The food there is always fresh and so delicious. On a chilly fall day, I like to indulge in one of their potpies. Mmm-mmm so good and warms the body too.  They have an area right inside their greenhouse where we sit and chat and admire the view of hills and trees with all their pretty fall colors.  Afterwards, we walk around the greenhouse, checking out the pretty plants and flowers and decorative displays.

Sometimes I spend an entire day out driving.  I absolutely love it!  My dad used to take us on Sunday drives when I was a kid and I guess it stayed with me.  Ooh and driving back home as the sun is starting to set is truly a thing of beauty.  At the end of the day, I feel so good.  Nature is truly amazing. 

Ah, yes.  Autumn, I can't wait for you to finally get here.

Pineapple Jerk Chicken Recipe

I am so excited that fall is only a few weeks away.  The summer has been extremely hot and I am so done with hamburgers, hotdogs, pasta salads and all those other summer foods.  I'm ready for some warm, homemade comfort food like meatloaf, chili and chicken & biscuit casseroles.   I have been waiting for a nice day when I could go into the kitchen to cook and I finally got my wish this week and decided to try a new recipe. It's not a dish I would categorize as "comfort food" but it was better than eating a burger or hotdog.  Let's call it an "in-between seasonal dish." Plus it was easy to make and tasted really good too.

Grilled Pineapple Jerk Chicken Thighs (http:/erecipecards.blogspot.com)

Ingredients:
1/4 cup jerk chicken spice mix
1 cup pineapple chunks w/juice
8 chicken thighs
salt and pepper

Because I live in an apartment (grills are not allowed), I baked mine's in the oven.  Also in the recipe they used chicken thighs with the skin on, but I used boneless/skinless thighs.

For the jerk spice I used my favorite:

It comes in mild or hot and you can find it in any grocery store.

First I placed the chicken thighs in a 9x13 baking dish. I seasoned the chicken with a little salt and pepper, then added the jerk seasoning/pineapple mixture.  I let the thighs cook for about 25 minutes, covered, at 350 degrees making sure the meat didn't dry out.  Then I uncovered the dish and broiled the chicken for 2-3 minutes so that it would get a nice browning on top.  They didn't brown as much as I wanted however.  Probably because they were skinless.  And that's it really. I wish I had taken a picture of the chicken when it first came out of the oven. Must remember that for my next dish.

To compliment the chicken I made coconut rice, green beans, plantains and macaroni and cheese. Cabbage is a favorite side with Caribbean dishes like jerk or curry chicken but I have not mastered making that yet. I'm always told it's simple. One day I'll give it a try.  The macaroni and cheese was a last added side. I had made a big pan to take to our office cookout and decided to make a small pan for home.

I found this recipe on Pinterest but you can get the full recipe here.  Give it a try!

Freezer Meals

Hey there, it's me. Back with an update on what I've been up to since my last post.

For several weeks I have been whisking away in the kitchen, preparing meals and stuffing them in the freezer, and I have to say I am so proud of how much I've accomplished.  With fall just around the corner, and all the holidays coming up (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas) I will be quite busy and won't have the time to plan out meals, much less cook.  Having everything prepped ahead saves me time, I get a warm, comfort meal and the big plus, I save money by not stopping at fast food restaurants.

As you can see my freezer is filled to capacity.

When I started, everything was nice and neat.  But as I added more it became a bit unorganized. Messy, I got everything in there. lol

So you're probably wondering what on earth all I have in there? Well let me tell you.

• Cajun Lasagna
• Chili
• Pineapple Jerk Chicken
• Fixings for Chicken Cheesesteak
• Fixings for Chicken Gyros
• Hamburgers
• Fixings for hotdog sauce
• Fixings for a Taco Ring
• Shrimp egg rolls
• Meatloaf
• Salmon cakes
• Crab Cakes
• Meatballs
• A 3 pound chicken

There's also 2lb bags of flounder and salmon fillets for recipes I am going to try.  Then I have a few bags of frozen vegetables such as corn, green beans, broccoli, and mixed vegetables.  A 5lb bag of wing parts. Three pounds of bacon for a couple of breakfast as well a dinner recipes. Several packs of beef hot dogs. A couple of sirloin steaks. Plus a bag of french fries and onion rings for when I make an onion ring cheeseburger (A recipe I found on Pinterest). I may make a pot of soup, once I clear out the freezer a little.  I'm not really a soup person but I did find a recipe I would like to try.  Oh and I would like to make chicken & dumplings. 

I just love trying new recipes.  Since I've been planning and cooking meals at home over the last few years, it has really opened my pallet to a lot of things I thought I didn't like .  For instance asparagus.  I even have my boyfriend eating it. I find myself making asparagus a quite lot.

Well that's all for now.  Can't wait to tell you about the pineapple jerk chicken I plan on having for dinner some time this week.  Til then, bye-bye!

It's Been A While

Oh my goodness!  I cannot believe it has been nearly two years since my last post. Well I'm back and hope to be adding posts on here on a regular basis again.

You guys, I am so ready for Fall to get here...Definitely over summer.  This morning I awoke at 5:30 to 80 degree temperatures.  80 degrees at 5:30 in the morning PEOPLE!! Unbelievable!  The weather people say it may get up to 105.  Yikes!  I can barely breath with the humidity so heavy.  And as far as my hair goes, forget about it!  I've just been wearing ponytails.  So looking forward to cooler days where I can pull out my cardigans and sweaters.  Smell firewood pouring out the chimneys of my neighbors houses. Seeing the leaves turning those beautiful reds, yellows and oranges. Baking an apple pie, eating comfort food and snuggling under a fleece throw with my fuzzy socks on, watching movies. Aaaah, the good life!

Speaking of comfort food...

Starting next month I am going to start posting some of my favorite recipes.  Dishes I like to make during the fall and winter months.  I've collected a lot of great recipes over the years.  From baking pies and cakes to making a chicken and biscuit casserole.  Mmmm, my stomach is growling just thinking about it.  I also will be providing links so that you can try them yourself.

Can't wait to share them with you!

From my home to yours,  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Don't eat too much turkey. Gobble-Gobble.  

Something Smells Good

I'm sitting here at my dining table smelling something oh, so nice.  I think my neighbor is preparing some of her dishes for Thanksgiving.  The smells of sage, celery and onions are dancing around my nose.  Mmmm,yummy.  Oops, my tummy's growling lol.

In 9 days it will be Thanksgiving Day here in the USA.  I have my menu planned and groceries purchased.  This year I'm thinking of adding a new dish to the menu:  Crab Meat Pie.  An old high school classmate shared the recipe on facebook and I can't wait to make it.  I thought I'd make a small one tomorrow just to see if I like it. (It's crab meat-my favorite. Of course I'm going to like it!)

CRAB MEAT PIE

7-1/2 oz crab meat

1 c. finely chopped celery
2 tbsp. grated onion
2 tbsp. chopped green pepper
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. mayonnaise
1/2 c. bread crumbs
1/2 c. shredded Cheddar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. lemon juice
Unbaked pie shell

Combine crab meat, celery, salt, onion, green pepper, mayonnaise, lemon juice, eggs and all but 2 tablespoons bread crumbs. Mix lightly. Turn into unbaked pie shell, sprinkle with reserved crumbs and Cheddar cheese. Bake 25 minutes in a 350 oven, or until firm and brown. Should be golden brown and fluff.

Here's where she got the recipe.  She posted picture of hers (she made two) and they look so delicious.