Announcements October 10th, 2015-Winner!!! Contest #6 Soups

Soup Contest Announcement

We are extremely excited to announce the winner of our Soup Contest.

Stacey McCarthy won us over with her Italian Wedding Soup.

Not only did your soup sound amazing Stacey; but it looked perfect! 

Thank you so much for entering and giving us another great recipe to enter into our food journal.

Thank you again everyone who participated. Our food journal is really starting to grow. Not only that, but with all the participation our page has seen I feel like we are all really getting to know each other. It's a nice thing to see people come together and share a common hobby/passion.

Check out Stacey's full recipe as well as our on going food journal! Direct link:

http://southingtonfoodjournal.blogspot.com/

Meet The Chef: Stacey McCarthy!!!

My husband and I moved to Southington 23 years ago, one month before our oldest daughter was born. When we were looking for a house, my husband suggested Southington and since the only thing I knew about Southington was Lake Compounce and Queen Street, my response was, "Southington? What's in Southington?" Now I know what's in Southington... A great community of awesome people that come together to do amazing things.   I've always loved food and started cooking dinner every night with my dad when my mom started working when I was 10. The Wedding Soup was my variation of a soup that my grandmother made when I was little.

For the past five years, I have been working as a photographer that specializes in high school seniors and weddings.  In addition to portraits and weddings, I have a food feature in the Southington, Bristol, and Plainville Observer that combines my love of food with my love of photography.  My husband and three children have been a huge support and are frequent photography assistants.

FOR OUR NEXT CONTEST!!!!!!!

What does everyone want to do?! Comment at the bottom of this post in the area provided or comment on the actual post on our Foodie page. We will compile all the options and have a vote tomorrow. Please get your suggestions in by tomorrow 15:30.

In Honor Of National Cheese Month:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/topics/cheese.html
Here are some recipes to satisfy your cheese needs!

AlllsoToday is National Angel Food Cake Day!
In honor of this delicious day here are 25 mouth watering angel food cake recipes.
http://www.brit.co/angel-food-cake/?utm_campaign=pinbutton_hover



*Just a reminder-We are always looking for feedback positive or negative. Please feel free to drop admin Sterph a PM with your thoughts.*

Thank you so much everyone! Have a tasty, sweet, safe, awesome, weekend.

-Sterph

Announcements November 10th 2015

Afternoon everyone!

Hope everyone's week is off to a good start :) 

Just a few announcements today nothing big...

Our Pumpkin Contest will be ending 11/15/15 @ 15:30 -- there are currently no entries. If you are interested in participating please PM your recipe to an admin of the group before the end date.

For more info CLICK HERE

Or check out the pinned post at the top of our Foodie page. 

The interview conducted by the Record Journal was re-scheduled for today.
I am re creating Amy Cooper's recipe for Baked Mac and Cheese (Of course all credit goes to Amy!) The interview will be pretty much specific to the blog we have going and the idea behind it.  I want to personally thank everyone for their on going support. The page has really taken on a great amount of new members in the past couple weeks and we most definitely owe thanks to all our current members for that! I will make sure to update you all if the story will end up going in the paper. Lets keep our fingers crossed because this would be EXCELLENT exposure for our page. 

In other news.......

It of course is STILL World Vegan Month. Lets continue to support all our friends by posting our favorite vegan recipes.

Here are a few fun recipes I found:

One Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Lentil Pasta

      No Churn Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Today is also National Sundae Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are some fun recipes to celebrate. 

   7 Insanely Delicious Ice Cream Sundaes

Make sure to share your favorite sundae recipes on our page!!'

For more info on Sundae Day Click Here

Thank you so much for reading everyone! Looking forward to seeing everyone's pumpkin recipes.

Have a super sweet day <3

-Sterph

Announcements November 4th 2015

November 4th, 2015 Announcements **
First of all we would like to announce the winner of our Crockpot Contest!

SHANA POPYK! Shana won the contest with her recipe for SLOW-COOKER
MOZZARELLA STUFFED TURKEY MEATBALLS with SPAGHETTI SQUASH!

Thank you so much everyone that participated, this was another awesome contest.
Thanks Shana for letting us add your fantastic recipe to our food journal! Take a look at our food journal to see Shana's recipe!


Check out our food journal so far. Click here!

****************************************
Meet The Chef: Shana Popyk

When I'm not working that 9-5 grind you can usually find me whipping something up in the kitchen. I've been interested in cooking for a while now, back when there was actual cooking shows on The Food Network I would watch it for hours and make my own version of dishes. One issue I have is I can never just follow a recipe I have to make it my own. Therefore I'm not a baker. Too many rules! All about making healthier versions of dishes and making life easier with cleanup in one pot dishes. I have no problem working all day and cooking all night, it is definately relaxing for me!
Direct link to Shana's recipe: http://southingtonfoodjournal.blogspot.com/2015/11/slow-cooker-mozzarella-stuffed-turkey.html

****************************************
Regarding our next contest:

Considering we have some time before Thanksgiving we thought it would be fun to do one last pumpkin contest.

This contest will be specifically pumpkin but ANY type of recipe you would like. Anything/Everything pumpkin is A OKAY!

Soooo get your pumpkins off the porch Halloween is officially over. It's time to make some pumpkin goodies!

Please take a quick look at our guidelines regarding contest entries. There are only a few rules but they are important. These guidelines are only to provide fairness to all participants.



Click here to review our guidelines



Contest DEADLINE  November 15th 2015 @ 15:30
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    In Other NEWS!!! This month is World Vegan Month. Let's show our enthusiasm/support by posting our favorite vegan recipes.


Vegan Pot Pie-1 Hour Cook Time


Spicy Vegan Bean Chili
*****************************************
Today is NATIONAL EAT HEALTHY DAY!
Please celebrate appropriately by posting your favorite healthy recipes!!!!!
For more info --> Click Here


Thank you so much for reading everyone. Hope everyone had a great start to the week. Hump day is upon us, that means Friday is right around the corner! Hang in there everyone and have a great rest of the week.




-Sterph

 

Announcements October 31st HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Halloween everyone! Hope everyone had a fantastic week. Is everyone ready for some fun tonight? No matter what your plans may be I wish everyone a safe, fun, amazing night and a fantastic weekend.

A FEW THINGS:

Our crockpot contest has officially come to an end. Winner will be announced very shortly.

Last Minute Recipe Contest: 
I know its last minute but we would love to have a last minute Halloween recipe contest to celebrate this spooky day.

If you are interested in participating please PM your recipe to admin Sterph before 24:00 tonight.
Contest is anything Halloween-Pumpkin-Candy-ALL/ONLY THINGS HALLOWEEN WILL BE CONSIDERED VALID ENTRIES.

Please refresh on our entries guidelines:Click HERE

Winner will be added to our online food journal. To see our journal so far click the link below.

http://southingtonfoodjournal.blogspot.com/

Need some inspiration?? Here are a few festive Halloween recipes:

                    

Mummy Wrapped Baked Hot Dog Recipe

             Jalapeno Mummies

    Gummy Worm Punch

Let's also get started on brainstorming our next contest category-Please comment at the bottom of this page with your ideas. If for any reason you aren't able to comment on this page feel free to leave a comment on the original post pinned to the top of our Foodie Facebook page.

Thank you for reading everyone! Any questions or comments feel free to leave them. Hope you all have an amazing weekend and a fun, festive Halloween!!!

-Sterph

Crock Pot Recipe Entries

Entry #1

Crockpot Short Ribs! 

A Fall New England Favorite

Ingredients:

½  cup unbleached, all-purpose flour

½  teaspoon kosher salt

¼  teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2–2½  pounds short ribs

1  tablespoon vegetable oil

½  pound onions, peeled and cut into ½-inch dice

½  pound carrots, peeled and halved lengthwise

½  pound new red potatoes, skin on, cut into 1- to 1½-inch cubes

¼  pound turnips, peeled and cut into ½-inch dice

¼  cup prepared horseradish

½  cup beef stock

Instructions:

Combine flour, salt and pepper. Coat short ribs with this mixture.  Heat oil in a Cuisinart® 12-inch skillet over medium high heat. Brown ribs and transfer them to a plate to cool a bit. Pour off fat, add onions and cook 1 minute; stir and scrape up all brown bits. Combine with carrots, potatoes and turnips. Coat short ribs with horseradish. Place in the ceramic pot of the Cuisinart® SlowCooker. Cover with onions, carrots, potatoes and turnips. Pour in stock. Cover and press the on/off button to turn the unit on. Set time to 10 hours and press Low; slow cooker will automatically switch to Warm when cooking time has elapsed. Strain pan juices or use a fat mop to remove fat.

Combine flour, salt and pepper. Coat short ribs with this mixture.  Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Brown ribs and transfer them to a plate to cool a bit. Pour off fat, add onions and cook 1 minute; stir and scrape up all brown bits. Combine with carrots, potatoes and turnips. Coat short ribs with horseradish. Place in the ceramic pot of the SlowCooker. Cover with onions, carrots, potatoes and turnips. Pour in stock. Cover and set time to 10 hours on low.  Strain pan juices or use a fat mop to remove fat.

Entry #2

SLOW-COOKER MOZZARELLA STUFFED TURKEY MEATBALLS with SPAGHETTI SQUASH

MEATBALL RECIPE:

Ingredients:

1 pound ground turkey

1 pound hot Italian sausage

1/2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 cup bread crumbs

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

2 eggs

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 cup chopped parsley

Instructions: 

In a large bowl combine ingredients.

Cut low moisture mozzarella cheese into 3/4 inch cubes cubes.

Roll golf ball sized balls with the meat mixture. (I also used an ice cream scooper to make sure they are the same size) Squish mozzarella cube into the center and pull the edges of the meat ball around it until it’s a new ball again.

Arrange meatballs in slow cooker and cover in tomato sauce. 

Cook on high for 2 to 2.5 hours.

NEXT....

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cut 2 spaghetti squash 1/2 inch on both ends then discard.

Then cut crosswise about 1 inch thick rings.

Then remove seeds and trim from inner ring.

Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper, smoked paprika on both sides.

Roast until tender about 30 minutes.

Take out and cool enough to handle and run fork along skin, to remove skin.

Toss with your gooey cheesy meatballs and top with parmesan cheese. 

Entry #3

steel-cut crock pot oatmeal recipe

Ingredients: 

1 cup steel cut oats

2 cups water

3 cups milk (we use almond milk)

Apples or dried fruit

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Combine all in crock pot cook on low overnight (7 hours)

We top ours off with brown sugar or fruit.

Entry #4

“Moroccan” Stew

Ingredients:

2lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces

2 large sweet potatoes cut into 1 inch cubes

2 large onions, chopped

1 cup golden raisins

1 cup green olives

2 cans chickpeas, drained

4 cups chicken broth

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon ground turmeric

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Cooked couscous

Chopped, flat leaf parsley for garnish

Instructions:

Add sweet potatoes, onion, green olives, chickpeas, chicken broth, and tomato paste into crockpot

Combine chicken with flour and spices and add to crockpot

Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or high for 4 hours

Assembly

Put couscous in the bottom of a bowl, add stew on top, and garnish with flat leaf parsley