Caramel Syrup: The Most!

What happens when you're at home, you're making waffles or French toast, then you go to the pantry and find there's not a drop of syrup in the house? You improvise and make you're own!

That's how this syrup was born. I looked up a few different kinds of syrup and combined varying amounts of some ingredients then added a couple of ingredients of my own, too.

I don't know if I'll ever buy syrup again! This syrup is the most delicious syrup I have ever eaten!

Continuing the Valentine-themed jazz songs, I came across a forgotten standard--at least, I'd forgotten about it until recently.

Of course, it's sung by Frank Sinatra and talks about the spousal relationship, with some contextual reference to mornings--which is why this delectable syrup reminded me of this song.

So check out "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" today and savor some marvelous syrup on your waffles tomorrow morning.

CARAMEL SYRUP FOR WAFFLES

1/3 cup corn syrup

1/3 cup brown sugar, packed

½ cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Dash salt

1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.
2. Stir constantly over medium heat. Allow to boil for one minute.
3. Remove from burner.
4. Allow to cool slightly if you want the syrup to be thicker. Once it is refrigerated in a sealable, microwaveable container, it will become very thick.
5. To use at a future time, microwave the syrup on half power for 30 seconds. Stir and microwave again on half power for 30 seconds if not warm enough initially.

Christmas Dreaming

I'm prepping for my second law final tomorrow. But I can't forget to do a little bit of remembering of performing and dreaming of Christmas. So check out "Christmas Dreaming" sung by Frank Sinatra.

Writing, Writing, Writing, and a Little More Writing

So today's blog is short and sweet. I've been writing a memo all day and I don't think I've got any more writing left in me!

So check out "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" sung by Frank Sinatra.

Updating and Finding Someone to Light Up My Life

This is an updated version of my previous enchilada recipe. It's tasty and refreshing. How could anyone not like enchiladas?

Since this recipe is an "up"-dated version, check out "Someone to Light Up My Life" performed by Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim. It's a light Latin jazz song that you're sure to love!

Granted, from the title of this post you probably thought I've been "dating" and had actually found someone to light up my life. I'm sure that will happen someday, but today is not that day!

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS UPDATED

2 pounds chicken breasts, partially frozen

½ cup salsa

1 medium onion

1 red pepper

1 can white beans

1 ½ cups cheddar or pepper cheese, grated

1 teaspoon ground cumin

¼ teaspoon dried red hot pepper flakes

¼ teaspoon ground, black pepper

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

½ cup sour cream

½ cup milk

1 can green chile enchilada sauce

10-12 Tortillaland® tortillas, uncooked

1. Remove chicken breasts from the freezer when partially frozen.  Dice the meat into bite-size pieces. 
2. Put salsa in a sealable gallon plastic bag.  Place the chicken in the bag.  Seal and gently spread the salsa over the chicken.  Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
3. Remove from refrigerator.  Drain off salsa and moisture. 
4. In a large frying pan, cook the chicken over medium to high heat, stirring continuous to allow all the chicken pieces to cook evenly. 
5. Dice the onion and red pepper.  Put diced onion and red pepper in the frying pan, mixing into the chicken.  Stir gently for two minutes.
6. Drain white beans and rinse with water.  Add to frying pan mixture.  Stir gently to mix in.
7. In a large bowl combine cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, sour cream, milk, and green chile enchilada sauce, mashing the cream cheese with a fork to make the mixture somewhat smooth. 
8. Pour cream cheese mixture in frying pan over cooked chicken mixture.
9. Stir to combine.  Simmer for five minutes.  Remove from heat.
10. In a different frying pan over medium heat, cook the tortillas on both sides leaving them supple enough to roll.
11. Put one-quarter to one-third of a cup of mixture on each cooked tortilla.  Roll up tightly.  Spray 9”x13” baking pan with Pam.  Place rolled up enchiladas next to each other in a baking pan.  Cover with foil. 
12. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove foil.  Bake for 5 minutes longer.  Remove from over.  Serve with salsa and shredded lettuce.

Basic Cornmeal Biscuits

If you love cornmeal, you'll love these hearty biscuits!  That flavor is livened up with just a little touch of honey.

I love to bake all year long, but there's nothing quite as comforting as freshly baked goods on an autumn day.  So here's "Autumn Leaves" sung by Frank Sinatra.

BASIC CORNMEAL BISCUIT

1 cup all-purpose flour

½ cup + 2 tablespoons cornmeal

2 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon honey

5 tablespoons butter

¼ cup sour cream

2 tablespoons milk

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees,
2. Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, combine honey, sour cream and milk.
4. Cut the cold butter into chunks and quickly press them into the flour mixture making a roughly blended mixture.
5. Add honey mixture and stir with a fork.
6. Pat into a square 1 inch thick and cut with a knife into 9 biscuits.
7. Place on parchment-lined baking tray.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown and done.
9. Remove and cool briefly then serve with butter or honey.

Sleep and The Wee Small Hours of the Morning

My dog, Deno, is pictured above sleeping.  He loves sleeping.  There are days I wish I could sleep like a dog!

I never realized how precious sleep was until I started law school.  Sleep is a valuable commodity!  Thankfully, I have figured out better ways to study and the amount of time I'm awake during the early hours of the morning is greatly reduced.

I immediately thought of "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" sung by Frank Sinatra.  Except instead of missing a significant other during those hours, I'm missing sleep—literally!

Corn Tortillas: I Love You

I love flour tortillas, but like to change up my meals now and then with a great corn tortilla.  So tasty!  Try one with my recipe for taco meat.  You will love it!

So here's to loving all kinds of things: "I Love You" sung by Frank Sinatra.

Coconut Ginger Bar Cookies: Bewitched

So I've never eaten a "blondie" before, so this is the closest I've come to it.  And they are quite tasty with flavors that pop out in an almost "bewitching" way!  And that brings me to today's song "Bewitched" sung by Frank Sinatra.

COCONUT GINGER BAR COOKIES

½ cup butter, softened

½ teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder

¼ teaspoon kosher salt 
⅔ cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1¼ cups flour

½ cup crystallized ginger, chopped

¼ cup coconut

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and spray with vegetable spray.
2. In a small mixing bowl, beat butter, baking powder, salt, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth.
3. Stir in flour just until blended.
4. Stir in crystallized ginger and coconut.
5. Press onto the parchment paper lined pan.
6. Bake for 14-18 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.  The top should be golden brown.