reinvented classic

 One of the best things in life is to sit down to a family dinner. Is it the conversation? The companionship? The shared memories? Or the foods that take us right back to our childhood?

My dad loves our family, our family gatherings, our memories and my mom's wonderful cooking. But since his stroke, he has really restricted his diet by cutting out the fat...and thus the flavor.

Well, I have made it my mission to reinvent some of our family's holiday dishes with low fat options. I started with holiday dishes because those are the meals we try to still gather together for (pre-pandemic that is).

With a little experimenting, I have created a candied yam casserole recipe that is all but fat free.

ingredients:

2 cans candied yams drained

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup skim milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

toppings:

marshmallows

low fat cinnamon grahams

fat free butter spray

* preheat oven to 350 degrees

coat bottom and sides of an oven-proof baking dish with cooking spray

Drain and fork mash 1 can of the candied yams.

Add all of the remaining ingredients except for the  toppings (marshmallows and graham crackers).

Mix well.

Fold in the second can of drained candied yams.

Pour the mixture into your greased oven dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

The casserole should be fairly well set.

Crumble low fat cinnamon grahams.

Add the quantity you wish depending on preference.

I place the grahams in a plastic baggie and crumble into crumbs with a marble rolling pin.

Cover the top of the casserole with marshmallows, graham cracker crumbs and spray the top with butter spray.

Place the casserole into the oven and broil

until the toppings are golden brown.

Watch closely as not to burn.

I don't think anyone will miss the fat!

This is a wonderful side companion with my low fat pork tenderloin. 

For the recipe...

CLICK HERE

Here are a few suggestions to modify the recipe:

add spices to the mixture that you enjoy such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger or cloves

add praline pecans to the topping.

I am still on my quest to modify some of our family favorite dishes. Do you have a favorite low fat dish? I am very open to suggestions!

Enjoy!

the little things

 As I was looking through my bedroom pictures from the previous post, I realized it's the little details that are the things that speak to my heart. 

Junking and collecting have always been things that make me so happy. Although I have not been out and about since February of 2020, I find it fun to look through some of my little treasures and reminisce about the

"good ole days".

My various collections don't have any rhyme nor reason. Things just speak to my heart. The cohesion comes from a monochromatic color scheme since the mix of items are all so eclectic.

Some things are still out from my Christmas decorations. I love them so much that they might just stay out until next Christmas!

When looking at my bedroom, it really is the "little things" that make my heart sing. It's not just the visual beauty that speaks to my heart but it is in the memories that they evoke. Before moving to Florida, my momma was by my side throughout all of my junking adventures. So as I look at these little cuties, I revisit wonderful fun times with my mum!

What are some of your favorite things to collect?

I hope you have someone special that shares your adventures with you!

Happy junkin!

 

a shining light

 Since my last post, I have been thinking a lot about family and some of my favorite times together.

My mom and I could pick up seashells every day and never tire.

My dad is a selfless soul that could take or leave shelling, but he is at his happiest just at the sight of his family doing something that brings them joy.

So my mom and I would collect as many treasures as we could find and my dad would haul them all to the house.

Once the shells were all cleaned, I thought it would be nice to do something with them that my dad could enjoy and help me with. Before I moved to Florida, my dad and I would spend most weekends in his garage creating, fixing, painting or refinishing things for my shop.

So a daddy-daughter seashell project was on my radar.

The vintage shell lamp...

I always have a "to-do" stash of projects in my garage or in storage. I thought a lamp might be a great project for us to tackle.

I had an old rusty outdoor post light with a fabulous aged brass sea green patina.

First, my dad removed the original wiring and replaced it with wiring suitable for an indoor lamp. Equipped with a plug and toggle switch. 

The original fixture would have been atop a solid post, so as it stood now, it was top heavy. So I rummaged through my vintage wood stash and found a weathered wooded block and a grey-blue board. Both have a driftwood look perfect for this project.

I replaced the candlelight arms with new sleeves and placed seashells inside the glass hurricane shade. 

I must say the finished product is spectacular!

The best part is that I was able to combine both my mom and dad in a project that will always make me think of them.

she sells seashells

 August has always reminded me of summer vacations. It was the month my family would take a beach get-away before school started.

Now that I live at the beach, it seems funny that August still makes me think of walking the beach and picking up seashells.

This year has been such a challenge for so many different reasons. Mainly, I miss that my mom and dad have not been able to come for visits due to Covid.

So this August is different. But I can think of my wonderful family every time I pass a seashell in my house or garden.

During this pandemic, if you are separated from family, I hope you have reminders of fun adventures around your home.

As much as I miss picking up seashells with my mom, I'm just happy that my entire family has stayed safe and healthy.

Everyday is a blessing.

feeling patriotic

 Our world has changed so much.

This virus has altered the way many people live their everyday lives.

I'm such a private person, possibly a hermit, that in a lot of ways my life is very much the same.

The one big difference this year is being with friends and family

on the 4th of July.

Since that's not happening for most of us,why not focus on making your personal space a bit more festive?

Decorating with touches of red, white and blue.

Here's a little inspiration...

I hope you can find ways to lift your spirits and fill your heart with joy even if things are a little different right now.

memorial day

As with everything else,

Memorial Day weekend

will be very different.

 

No big family gatherings,

no big parades,

no beach picnics.

 

But the saddest part is that we will have to quietly honor the veterans both past and present for their service to our country.

 

They deserve all

the banners flying,

applause,

cheers and thanks

that they so truly deserve.

 

So this memorial day weekend,

take a moment to send a note of gratitude to a soldier or a soldier's family member.

  

 

I hope you have a wonderful

 

Memorial Day weekend

 

with those you love.

 

And here's to the kick off of a

happy and healthy

summer season for all!

 

mom's perogis

The month of May is all about my mom.

Her birthday

Mother's Day

Nurses' Day

My parent's anniversary

 

This post is in honor of my mom and dad...

 

Mom's perogis

and dad's favorite food

 

Ukrainian Pierogis

 

Ingredients:

 

4 small potatoes

4 cups flour

1tsp salt

3 egg

2 T vegetable oil

¼ cup water

Colby cheese

Directions:

1.       Boil 4 small potatoes and mashed (dry) 

 

 

2.       Add 4 cups of flour

3.       Mix with hands until crumbly

4.       Add one teaspoon of salt

5.       In a separate bowl mix three eggs, two tablespoons of oil and one quarter cup of water

6.       Add to the flour mixture

7.       Continue to add small amounts of water until dough is mixed and pliable

8.       Refrigerate one half to one hour

9.       Roll out dough on floured surface

 

10.   Cut dough into 3” circles on a flat surface

11.   Add 1 spoonful of mashed potatoes and 1 small cube of Colby cheese to ½ of the circle

 

 

12.   Fold dough over filling to create a half circle and tightly crimp the edges with floured fingers.

 

13.   To store pierogis, lay flat on a tray and freeze then package in an airtight container and freeze.

 



 

14.   To cook: Drop pierogis into boiling water. Once they float, drain and fry in butter until golden brown.

 

15.   Add salt and pepper to taste and serve warm with an accompaniment of sour cream.

I miss being with my mom and dad.

 

We have so much fun together.

 

 

Hopefully we will all be back together again.

Laughing and being silly

and enjoying life as a family.

 

Miss you every day...

 

Do you have a food that immediately make you think of family?

 

It's wonderful to have these special memories.