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PERFECT Baked Potatoes in Your Oven

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Baked Potatoes with Sea Salt

Baked Potatoes with Sea Salt

I’ve always loved a great baked potato. In fact, when at a favorite steak house, I’ve been known to get every bit as excited about the baked potato as I am the steak.

Oddly enough, though, I’ve recently become an EVEN bigger potato fanatic. I have no explanations as to WHY but since I began eating Gluten Free, my cravings for baked potatoes are almost non-stop.  My daughter Emily (who also recently had to begin eating Gluten Free) has similar cravings – only her potato of choice is sweet potatoes.

Although I can’t explain the increased cravings, I can certainly take care of them. It just so happens I like my own baked potatoes as well as – and often better than – potatoes gotten at restaurants.

Although it’s different from most people, I don’t wrap my potatoes in foil before putting them in the oven. To me, doing so kind of  just “steams” the potato rather than “baking” it.  I like for the skin to have a slight crispiness to it when I cut into it. If it doesn’t’ have that slight little crunch sound when the knife cuts into the potato, I don’t get quite as excited.

Step By Step To Perfect Baked Potatoes

  1. Wash your potatoes well. I have a little scrub brush (Amazon link) that looks like a pig (I mean, who doesn’t??) that I like to use on my potatoes.
  2. After they’ve been washed well, oil them down with butter, vegetable oil, or olive oil.  It’s like you have a little spa for potatoes and you’re the masseuse.
  3. I roll my greased up potatoes in a little flaky sea salt (Amazon link). Trust me, this little extra step makes a world of difference. It doesn’t make them too salty… I promise.
  4. Pierce your potatoes about 4 or 5 times to allow steam to escape. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.  An exploding potato is a hideous thing.
  5. Bake your potatoes directly on a rack in a 400 degree preheated oven for 45 – 50 minutes.  Place a cookie sheet on a lower rack to catch any drippings. The timing depends upon the size (density) of your potatoes.

How To Test For Done-ness:

There are several ways to check to make sure your baked potato is cooked thoroughly. Below are the most commonly used (with my own personal method listed first).

  • Use an oven mitt to give the potato a slight little squeeze. If there’s a bit of “give,” the potato is done. If there’s no “give,” return it to the oven.
  • You can also check for a potato’s done-ness by taking its temperature. The internal temperature should be 210 degrees F.
  • Some people check their baked potatoes by piercing them with a fork. If the fork doesn’t meet any resistance, they know it’s showtime.

 And showtime is a beautiful thing.


Wedge Salad, Starring Roasted Tomatoes

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Wedge Salad with Roasted Tomatoes, Bacon, Chia Seeds, Sauteed Onions, and Ranch Dressing

Last night I made what instantly became a Salad Legend in our kitchen: A wedge salad with bacon, chia seeds, ranch dressing, and the main attraction, roasted grape tomatoes.

I seldom give either sautéed onions OR bacon second billing to anything, yet here BOTH of them are… playing second fiddle to the humble, miniature grape tomato.

Wedge Salads: Iceberg Lettuce’s Call in Life

Iceberg Lettuce for Wedge Salad

Wedge Salads, Fixing to Happen

For a great wedge salad, you have to start with a fresh, crisp, clean, beautiful head of iceberg lettuce. Cut it into fourths and salt it a little under, over, around, and through. Iceberg lettuce has a shy flavor, you have to coax it out with a little salt.

Place your wedges on a plate and pour either Ranch Dressing or Blue Cheese Dressing on top – be generous.

Now, add your favorite toppings. You can choose from..

  • crumbled, cooked bacon (or bacon bits if you’re in a hurry or don’t want to mess up a skillet)
  • chopped tomatoes (grape or cherry tomatoes – roasted or not – are ideal for wedge salads)
  • green onions
  • crumbled Blue Cheese or Feta
  • sautéed onions
  • roasted vegetables
  • roasted corn (YUM!)
  • Chia seeds
  • sunflower seeds
  • etc…

A wedge salad can be as quick and easy or as elaborate as you want it to be.

The wedge salad pictured at the top (and at the bottom of the post) involved a little more time to make than the average wedge salad, but when it comes to sautéed onions and roasted tomatoes, I have all the time in the world.

How to Roast Grape Tomatoes

Grape Tomatoes for Roasting

Grape Tomatoes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Slice the grape (or cherry) tomatoes and place them in a bowl. Drizzle them with olive oil, then season them with Kosher Salt.  Depending upon your preference AND depending upon what you’ll be eating at this particular meal, you could also drizzle a little Balsamic Vinegar on top of the tomatoes.

There are endless herb possibilities, too, but for this wedge salad, I just wanted to taste the roasted tomatoes… nothing but them in all their glory.

Large tomatoes or Roma tomatoes generally take upward of 30 minutes to roast, but the little guys don’t take quite as long.  Grape (or cherry) tomatoes usually begin to caramelize in about 20 minutes.  You’ll want to take them out and give them a quick little flip about halfway through the cooking time.

Don’t let the dark color rattle you. As cooks, when something turns dark, it usually means a trip to the garbage can, followed by another trip to the store – but when roasting vegetables, you want the darkness… that’s where the flavor is.

A word about roasting – I don’t want to venture too far off the beaten path here, but roasting vegetables is a woefully underrated and underused way of enjoying sides. Most vegetables can be roasted using the same approach I described above – most simply need more time under the heat.  Roasting vegetables brings out the flavor like few things ever could. Experiment with oils, seasonings, and even vinegars to mix things up.

Pan roasting on the stove-top (simply putting food into a hot skillet briefly) is a great way to bring out the deep, intense flavors of spices and herbs. Just keep an eye on them, they’ll burn fast.

Dressings for Wedge Salads

I favor using Blue Cheese Dressing or Ranch. I almost always make my own dressing but also love using Hidden Valley Ranch packets to whip up a great Ranch dressing. When it comes to dressing, I do prefer to make my own and, during the warmer months, I often have at least one made up at all times. During the colder months, when we aren’t having salads quite as often, I’ll turn to bottled dressing.

Topping Things Off

To finish off the presentation beautifully, and tastefully, add crumbled cheese (blue, mozzarella, or feta), bacon, snipped parsley or chives, sunflower seeds, salt, pepper, and/or chia seeds. Just find the combo that makes you smile.

Wedge Salad with Roasted Tomatoes, bacon, and Chia Seeds.

Wedge Salad

**** If you have to eat gluten free, always check everything you put on your plate and into your mouth. Never “assume” salad dressings, bacon bits, and all salad toppings are gluten free. Make  sure the label says “gluten free.”

Also See: Ideas for Salads and Gluten Free Salad Toppings


Black and White Farmhouse Salt and Pepper Shakers

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I was browsing salt and pepper shakers on Amazon earlier and, as I often do on Amazon, I found a lot more to love than just one. This Black and White Farmhouse Salt and Pepper Shaker Set (Amazon link) is one of my favorites.

These great looking shakers are made of high quality, thick glass. The lid is made of corrosion resistance stainless steel meaning they’re built, not just to looks handsome, they’re built to last.

I love that there are lots of holes in the lids. I hate shakers that pretty much give my arm a workout because there are so few holes. I’m not Popeye… heck when it comes to arm strength I’m not even Olive Oil, but that’s a whole other story.

I also love the color scheme. Black and white goes with absolutely every color and design scheme – even my colorful, whimsical kitchen with all it’s purple and red.

As if they don’t have enough going on for them, they even feature extra wide openings at the top, making filling your salt and pepper shakers easier and more convenient.

See Farmhouse Salt and Pepper Shaker Set (Amazon link) for a closer look.

These give all new meaning to the word charming.

The Time Has Come: Time to Buy an Ice Cream Maker this Summer!

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I was on Amazon a few minutes ago, comparing ice cream machines and came across this absolute BEAST of an ice cream machine. The name Ninja caught my eye because I love absolutely everything they make.

In full disclosure, I’m not sure this will be the one I buy or not because for whatever reasons (nostalgic ones, I’m sure), I kind of have my heart set on one of the wooden ones you use outdoors. However, this beauty is making me reconsider.

  • With the Ninja CREAMi, you can transform everyday ingredients into ice cream, gelato, smoothie bowls, milkshakes, and more.
  • Easily enjoy a wide array of frozen treats like decadent gelato, lite ice cream, dairy-free, gluten-free and much more. The Ninja CREAMi makes delicious treats that fit your lifestyle.
  • The CREAMi is compact in size allowing for seamless storage and fitting easily on your countertop.
  • Easy-to-use functionality allows for the whole family to enjoy making frozen treats together.
  • Customize your flavor and texture by mixing in your favorite chocolate, nuts, candy, fruit, and more to personalize any CREAMi treat.
  • Seven one-touch programs allow for the perfect combination of speed, pressure, and time to completely shave through your frozen pint. Choose between Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Milkshake, Smoothie Bowl, Lite Ice Cream​, and Mix-in.
  • Unlike traditional ice cream makers, Ninja’s innovative Creamerizer System finely shaves and churns ice particles into creamy frozen treats in minutes.
  • Select the Re-spin function if, after processing, you want your processed treat softer and creamier.
  • Dishwasher Safe: Containers, lids, and paddle are top-rack dishwasher safe.

WHAT’S INCLUDED: Motor Base with Dual-Drive Motors, Creamerizer Paddle, (2) 16 oz. CREAMi Pints with storage lids, Outer bowl and lid to house pint while processing, Recipe inspiration guide with 30 recipes.

I love that this beauty makes milkshakes and smoothie bowls (two of my personal obsessions), as well as ice cream. It makes so many more treats than I ever thought of asking of an ice cream maker. So… yeah… I’m torn between this beauty and the more traditional ice cream maker (Amazon link) that’s sitting in my Amazon cart!

Read a lot more about the Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker (Amazon link) and see videos and photos by clicking the link. You’ll see why I’m having a tough time deciding!

The Coleslaw Diva’s Favorite Creamy Buttermilk Coleslaw

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Best Coleslaw

Coleslaw Diva’s Favorite Creamy Buttermilk Coleslaw

I love coleslaw, but my love comes with a caveat… I am extremely coleslaw picky! When it comes to restaurants, very few have coleslaw I like, let alone love. KFC has excellent coleslaw and, if we’re being honest, probably the reason I’m so coleslaw picky – I hold every coleslaw up to it. I also loved Chick-Fil-A’s coleslaw but they did a darn fool thing and took it off the menu.

Ironically, I also love Raising Cane’s coleslaw – a coleslaw most fans of the restaurant dislike.

And I’m the Coleslaw Diva!

This particular simple, quick, easy, and delicious recipe is the one I use most often when making coleslaw in my kitchen. I normally make it and a vinegar slaw at the same time – my husband prefers a vinegar slaw, so I make one up all for him… plus it keeps him out of this one, leaving it all for me.

This recipe stars with a 16 oz bag of coleslaw mix which makes is even easier. Practically makes itself, y’all.

Ingredients

1 16 oz bag of coleslaw mix (I use the Kroger brand)

While it isn’t necessary, I always chop my coleslaw mix up a little bit in the food processor. I honestly think that the reason for this is it harkens back to all the KFC coleslaw I enjoyed in my childhood. Comfort slaw, if you will.

THE DRESSING:
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup buttermilk (trust me!)
2-3 TBS lemon juice
1-1/2 TBS white vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
pepper to taste

Combine the dressing ingredients, then pour over your slaw. I often add a little red or green bell pepper if I have it on hand.

Refrigerate (covered) for a couple of hours and taste before serving to see if you, personally, want any more salt or pepper.

Easy Coleslaw with Buttermilk

Creamy Buttermilk Coleslaw

I love the colorful, summerlicious ceramic bowls below – perfect for ice cream, salads, cereal, and (you guessed it!) coleslaw….


Colorful Bowls for Summer! (Amazon link)

Caulipower: Quite Possibly THE Best Gluten-Free Pasta

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CauliPower Linguine Pasta with Meat Sauce

Caulipower Linguine with Meat Sauce

Years ago, when I had to give up gluten and wheat (health reasons), the first f0ur things I thought of were…

  • doughnuts
  • pasta
  • fried catfish
  • pizza

These are four of my favorite things in life and have been since my life began. I was afraid there’d be no hope to enjoy these great loves ever again and, frankly, with doughnuts, my prediction held true. There ARE gluten-free doughnuts, of course, but they are not the ones I remember from bakeries.

Until fairly recently, the pizza and pasta prediction also held fast, but lately, great strides have been made and (as a pasta and pizza fanatic) I couldn’t be more thankful.

However… when it comes to gluten-free pasta, it has always been a case of, “this one is pretty good” or “this one’s acceptable” instead of anything close to, ‘Holy cats, this gluten-free pasta is outstanding and tastes like the pasta I remember!”

Then I found Caulipower’s new gluten-free pastas – let’s just say it’s a GAME CHANGER.

(Review Continued Below….)

CauliPower Pasta

Caulipower Linguine

Caulipower is a brand I’ve been familiar with for a while because I buy their gluten-free pizza crusts (Amazon link) and gluten-free pizzas (they’re outstanding and I actually now prefer cauliflower crust to regular gluten-free crust). When my youngest daughter told me they had come out with gluten-free pasta, I’m not even exaggerating… I went to the store immediately. They’re in the frozen section and, while I first wondered about them being packaged frozen, I now LOVE the fact. This allows them to cook in just three minutes!

THREE MINUTES! Simply boil the water, add the frozen pasta, stir, and get ready to plate the deliciousness. The first one I tried was the Caulipower linguine because I’ve had difficulty finding linguine in a gluten-free pasta AND I love it.

For anyone who loves “meal prep hacks,” pasta night doesn’t get any better. Simply make up your pasta sauce (I always add ground beef, garlic, onions, green pepper, and mushrooms) and put it into a container in the refrigerator. When it’s time to make supper, warm up your sauce and cook your three minute pasta!

CauliPower Linguine Pasta

CauliPower Linguine Pasta

I love that the portion is perfect for two people (with a little left over even) and the fact that it cooks so quickly makes it IDEAL for busy weeknights. The best thing, however, is the fact that it is delicious! I added a little salt to the water like I do with all pasta, then added it to a meat sauce I had made beforehand.

While you could, of course, simply top the pasta with sauce, I thought adding it TO the meat sauce would make sure there was no cauliflower taste to detect. Mind you, I am obsessed with cauliflower, so it would make me giddy if there was a cauliflower taste but my husband is not a cauliflower fan, so I wanted to make sure that IF there was any flavor there, the sauce would mask it.

I tasted the pasta before adding it to the sauce and, even then, it was simply outstanding – no cauliflower taste and, best of all, it had the true consistency of “normal” pasta. Most gluten-free pasta you find in the stores is tough and not remotely “pasta-like” when it comes to the mouth feel. This one is so perfect it nearly brought a tear to my pasta-missing eye.

But it gets better.

If you’re familiar with gluten-free pasta, you know that leftovers are hideous. Gluten-free pasta, after being refrigerated and warmed-up gets even tougher. Not Caulipower pasta! When I warmed it up the next day, it tasted just like I had just made it fresh.

Now that’s what I’m talking about.

(Review Wrapped Up Below…)

CauliPower Linguine Pasta with Meat Sauce

CauliPower Linguine Pasta with Meat Sauce

Before allowing you to get on with your life, I just wanted to point out two things to let you know just how excited I am about Caulipower pasta and how thrilled I am to have found it:

  1. This is NOT a paid post, NOT sponsored, and NOT in any way associated with the Caulipower brand. I was NOT sent coupons or products to review. This is simply a case of a pasta lover who has to eat gluten-free finally finding the pasta that makes her excited to eat pasta again!
  2. Many times, after I have a food or use a product, I will schedule a time in the future (maybe a week later) to blog about it on the food blog. This particular pasta I tried just last night for supper and just warmed it up for lunch. I was SO anxious to share the good news that I dropped everything to sit down and tell you all about it.

If you have to eat gluten-free, are cutting back on carbs… OR simply want a more convenient and delicious pasta, I hope you’ll try Caulipower pasta as soon as possible. It’s a perfect 10 out of 10 and, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go have a little more.

Caulipower Pasta

Caulipower Pasta


Table Runners: Inexpensive Way to Add More Color to Your Kitchen or Dining Room

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My youngest daughter, Stephany, and I went to Kohl’s earlier… shopping for various pretties. The main thing I was looking for was a new runner for the dining room table. I didn’t see anything I really liked, so I came home and jumped on Amazon (a place I ALWAYS see things I love). Sure enough, one search for table runners (Amazon link) produced so many choices I’m still trying to decide.

I love table runners because they allow you to still see your beautiful wooden table. It’s like you’re adorning it rather than hiding it.

The Akuntana Table Runner (Amazon link) pictured here is one of the ones I’m considering. We have a lot of purples, blues, and deep reds in our kitchen and dining room, so the deep red and dark blue have caught my eye. I love that it’s High-quality Waterproof and Stain Resistant – with one husband and three grandbabies (all 4 and under!), I can’t possibly tell you how much I love this.

Other Features:

  • made of 100% high quality polyester with a cotton-like feel
  • machine washable
  • low iron if needed
  • spill-proof, wrinkle-free, no shrinking, no color run
  • rectangular size 14 x 90 inches long 

Take a closer look at the gorgeous, vibrant colors the Akuntana Table Runner (Amazon link) comes in on Amazon.

Gorgeous Knife Set with Wooden Block from The Pioneer Woman

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I’ve probably mentioned it a hundred or two times on the food blog, but I love and collect everything Rachael Ray and have for too many years to count. A few years ago, I began collecting another favorite Food Network star, Ree Drummond, and now my Pioneer Woman collection rivals my Rachael Ray collection.

Cookbooks, magazines, dishes, pans, napkins, mopines, cutlery, spatulas, garbage bowls, EVOO bottles… you name it, if the name Rachael Ray or Pioneer Woman is on it, our kitchen has it (sometimes multiple times).

What can I say, I spend a GREAT deal of time in the kitchen and want to be surrounded by bright, colorful, whimsical, and beautiful things that make me smile. Plus, to be the best cook possible, it helps to surround yourself with the best tools possible and these are some of the best you’ll find anywhere.

I also love that many of their kitchen and cooking items come in my favorite colors: Purple, red, and turquoise.

I like to keep life as fun and as colorful as possible!

This gorgeous turquoise Rustic Pioneer Woman Cutlery Set (Amazon link) is on my radar. Most of the Pioneer Woman items I have are turquoise, so I’m absolutely thrilled these come in this wonderful color.

The Pioneer Woman Cowboy Rustic Forged 14-Piece Cutlery Knife Block Set includes a GREAT variety of knives including a chef knife, bread knife, Nakiri knife, utility knife, paring knife and steak knives.

The blades are stainless steel and have ergonomically designed handles.  LOVE that!  I also love that the set comes with a beautiful wood block for easy storage.

See Rustic Pioneer Woman Cutlery Set (Amazon link) for a closer look!


LOVE These Checkered Kitchen (or Laundry Room or Bathroom) Rugs

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I’ve been needing (okay, maybe wanting is closer to reality) new kitchen rugs, but can’t seem to find any I love. We like to switch up the colors and “theme” with the seasons and, truth be told, our summer-y rugs really need to go back into the linen closet for a while!

I do just about all of my shopping on Amazon (by almost I mean I still shop in grocery stores) these days, so naturally that’s where I was browsing earlier. When I came across these absolutely wonderful Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Rugs (Amazon link) and now my mind is absolutely set on them.

Things I love about these rugs:

  • They go with any kitchen theme. Our themes are rustic and whimsical and these rugs go perfectly with each.
  • Go with all colors! The black and white checks go with our primary colors red and purple.
  • Go with all appliance colors. Our large kitchen appliances happen to be black, so these will match perfectly. They’d also go perfectly with white or gray.
  • Durable-High Quality. These rugs are made of a new modified superfine polyester fiber. They’re non fade, which I adore. 
  • Non-Slip Backing. The anti-slip rubber on the back is a concave-convex dispensing design to ensure that the carpet is anti-slip, helps it to stay in place on the floor, meaning you don’t have to worry about the rug slipping with pets, kids, or husbands stumbling around at 5:30 am looking for coffee!
  • Easy Care. All you have to do is sweep with a broom or vacuum regularly. They can even be put it into a washing machine when necessary.
  • Just in time for Holidays! While I’ve been focusing mainly on gift ideas, we all need to also focus on getting our kitchens

See Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Rugs (Amazon link) for more information. As for me, I’m now figuring out just how many I need. Seriously, y’all I am so in love with these.

Thanks for reading! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Old Amsterdam Classic and Goat Gouda Cheeses… These are Extraordinary!

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Old Amsterdam Classic and Goat Gouda Cheeses

Old Amsterdam Gouda Cheeses are Extraordinary

This card-carrying cheese fanatic has a couple of cheeses she needs to tell you about today – and they’re both from one of the absolute LEADERS in cheese: Old Amsterdam.

Whenever someone asks me, “What’s your favorite cheese?,” I always say, “Whichever one happens to be within reach at the time.” Then I give them my top favorites… when I get to around 8 or 9, I tell them I have a bit of an addiction – which they probably figured out around number 6.

One cheese that always makes the list (very high, actually) is Gouda cheese. I love it in potatoes, grits, mashed cauliflower, and (of course) on cheese trays. It also pairs beautifully with smoked turkey and ham for sandwiches.

When I was asked if I’d like to sample two of Old Amsterdam’s gouda cheeses, I jumped at the chance and started, mentally, gathering recipes.

(Continued below….)

Old Amsterdam Goat Gouda Cheese

Old Amsterdam Goat Gouda Cheese

I tried the Goat Gouda Cheese first because I have never had goat gouda cheese before and was wildly curious. Holy cats (or maybe I should say holy goats in this case) it was phenomenal. So creamy tasting and mild. Milder than traditional gouda and yet, distinctively from the gouda family. This one is ideal for sandwiches, wraps, and potato dishes. I have to admit, though, I had trouble keeping myself from eating it right from the package. It’s outstanding.

The Goat Gouda Cheese would be the IDEAL cheese to include on a cheese tray alongside grapes and almonds – it would lend itself beautifully for a party appetizer and would be excellent served with crackers. I seriously cannot say enough good things about this particular cheese – it simply blew me and my husband both completely away.

(Continued below….)

Old Amsterdam Classic Gouda Cheese

Old Amsterdam Classic Gouda Cheese

I fell so completely under the goat gouda’s spell that I actually put off tasting the classic gouda for a few days because I wanted to meet him on his own terms… not in his brother’s shadow! I really needn’t have bothered because the classic gouda is every bit as good. A bit milder than smoked gouda, this one is also ideal for cheese trays and appetizers.

I kept myself from nibbling on the classic gouda long enough to shred some in my grits and a little more (at another meal) on top of mashed potatoes. It gives so much flavor and creaminess – I’m simply in love with it.

I will be buying and using these cheeses more in the coming days (and weeks, months, and years) and I will return to this post to provide you with more photos and recipes. I was simply very anxious to tell you about these extraordinary cheeses so you can order them now in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Trust me, ya’ll, you’ll want several of each.

See Old Amsterdam for more information! You can also find Old Amsterdam Cheeses on Amazon (Amazon link).

Thanks so much for reading! ~ Joi (“Joy”)