It’s a new year, which means here at Simplicity Gourmet, it’s Bridal season! YEAH! We love the excitement and energy that brides bring to the table - it’s so contagious! With the coming of the brides and grooms, comes lots of new cookware out there, so, I thought that this week, I should pull the reigns in a bit and focus on getting back to basics for our young couples.

So, first things first, wash your cookware! I know this may seem simple enough, but our cookware arrives at your home with a shiny, new mirror finish and this finish is achieved with manufacturing oils being buffed into the surface. So, when you wash your new cookware, you will need to use something acidic to cut off those oils and prevent them from burning onto the surface when you start to heat things up.

We recommend soaking your new cookware in hot, soapy water with 3-4 cups of white vinegar for about 15 minutes. Then, follow up with washing the bottom and insides really, really well with a stainless steel cleanser. We have a helpful section on the DVD that arrives with your set that will walk you through this process step by step.

I know the very first thing that you and your sweetie will want to try is the chicken and veggies that were just soooo yummy at your demonstration. So, leave it Katie’s Kitchen to satisfy those taste buds! Most all of our hosts use Darn Good Seasoning on the chicken and veggies they served you, so, if you want the same exact flavor, give me a call and I’ll hook you up with some Darn Good of your very own - I use it on almost everything at home - it’s the best: Katie ~ 866-897-7676

Greaseless Boneless, Skinless Chicken

• Heat the skillet on medium heat (NOTE: For gas stoves, this is about a 3 - just when the flame touches the bottom of the pan, but no more than that). When you can sprinkle a drop of water on the surface and it rolls around like quick silver, it’s ready to go (this should take about 1-2 minutes).

• Place the chicken in the pan, season (we use Darn Good), and cover, whistle open (line the flat side of the knob up with the notch in the metal on the lid - when you flip the lid over, you should see the whistle hole).

• When the whistle sounds, uncover and flip the chicken. Season that side and recover. Turn the knob to “C” for closed, making sure the “C” is lined up with the notch in the metal of the lid. Turn your burner to low and allow to cook for 12-15 minutes longer.

NOTE: For Frozen meat, do NOT preheat the pan before it whistles. Place the meat in a cold pan with 2 TBSP of water to start. Season and follow the directions above from this point.

Waterless Veggies

• Place your frozen or fresh veggies in a cold pan with 2 TBSP of water or chicken broth. Cover, whistle open (reference above), and cook on medium heat.

• When the whistle sounds, turn the knob to “C” for closed (do NOT remove the lid), and turn the burner OFF. Allow to stand covered until you are ready to serve dinner.

NOTE: Turn the veggies on when the chicken whistles, this will time everything so that it’s done at the same time.

It’s that simple - juicy, healthy chicken and flavorful, fresh veggies in 20 minutes - hassle free and no pot watching…doesn’t get much better than that! In the days that follow, my fellow Simplicity Gourmet bloggers will be sharing their “Back to Basics” tips and tricks, so, be sure to check back over the next week.

What’s the first thing you tried, are going to try, or would like to try in your new cookware? I’d LOVE to know!

Happy Cooking!

~ Miss K

I know, I know, I KNOW! It is that dreadful time of year when we all try, with some truly committing, to those “New Year Resolutions”.  No matter what your resolution is, just make sure that it is attainable.  We are so busy as it is and to add another something to our plate could be more stress than good.  So, this year, remember to keep it simple and find happiness in attaining and reaching your goal.

I will share my New Year Resolution with you ladies, knowing I now have accountability.  My New Year Resolution is to make healthier choices.  Now, that could be from making my life more physically active or just making healthier food choices.  The benefits will be more energy and, of course, I would love to shed just a little of that bad word…Fat. Hehe!  Regardless if I make one healthy choice a day, I am making a step in the right direction.

I hope that each of you  accomplish your New Year’s Resolution and know that I am cheering you on.  I would love to hear what your New Year Resolution is!

You know I wouldn’t leave ya with out giving you a little something!  Below is my favorite, simple and healthy Chicken Pasta Salad to help with those stressful nights of wondering what will I fix for dinner.

Chicken Pasta Salad

What you will need:

1 Box of Spiral Noodles (Garden Blend)

1 Large Can of Chicken or 3 Cooked Chicken Breasts (cut into pieces)

1 1/2 cups Frozen Peas

1 Tbsp. Of Butter or Margarine

Salt & Pepper

How To Make:

Cook pasta as directed on the box.  Drain the pasta.  Add butter or margarine to pasta and mix together. Meanwhile, add the peas to a 1.5 qt saucepan and cook on medium until it whistles; close the whistle and turn the burner off. When the pasta is done, add the cooked peas and chicken.  Add the peas and chicken to the pasta mixture and  mix together.  Add salt and pepper to taste. ta-Dah! Dinner in 15 minutes - how much easier can it get, ladies? It is so simple but light, quick, easy and so yummy !

Enjoy!

I love cheese (oh, sigh)! I’m under the fantastic illusion that cheese really does please! So, this New Year’s Eve, while you’re partying in the New Year with all your favorite people, treat your guests to the perfect cheese ball - I promise, they’ll love it! Happy New Year!

~ Miss K

UTENSILS: 10″ Saute pan, Medium Mixing Bowl

INGREDIENTS:

2, 8 oz pkg Cream Cheese (softened)

1 Cup Finely Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 pkg Ranch Dressing Mix (careful - Dressing NOT Dip - the Dip Mix is too salty)

3 Cups Shaved Almonds, toasted

Assorted Crackers

INSTRUCTIONS

In the 10″ Saute pan, sauté the almond slivers on Medium heat until aromatic. Set aside. Blend the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, ranch dressing and 1 cup of toasted almonds (I use my hands - it’s much more festive!).

Now, you have two options here to make the balls. You can form your mixture into one big ball and roll it in the remaining almonds. But for fun, and ease of eating, I make many, many bite size balls and roll them individually in almonds - 1 ball per cracker and it makes the buffet line so much easier to maneuver with one hand to gather your loot and the other to hold your plate.

I love to entertain and decorate for any occasion or holiday! Well, really, I don’t need a reason to decorate…I just love to do it. It is my therapy…my stress relief! Tablescapes are a great way to add a whole new look and style to any table; they beautify and enhance the room they are set in. They can be simple and homey or sophisticated and elegant. Your design style and personal preferences will determine the look and feel of your tablescape creation.

The inspiration to create a tablescape can come from a variety of spots: magazines, napkins or tablecloths, stores, pictures, a favorite memory, floral design stores, home décor stores or even as simple as a favorite candle holder or place mat. Look around your home for items of inspiration that you want to give center stage to. Try to incorporate some items you already have on hand. I am a big repurposer. I take accent elements from around the house and repurpose them to another shelve, counter, room or tablescape.

A tablescape is a collection of items put together on a table to create a cohesive design statement beyond the tradition centerpiece. Tablescapes may or may not include dishes. Often these are used in place of a center piece on a buffet table. You may create your center design for a buffet and after the event, just leave it up for a special meal where you would use your dishes.

Before you can begin your design, you have a few key design elements to consider; these design elements will greatly influence your end results: color, size of items, height of items, shape, texture and quantity of items on hand. Including a wide range of design elements will ensure a uniquely gorgeous tablescape that you can stand back and admire!

The #1 consideration, and the place to begin, is color. Decide what color or color combinations you would like to use and begin to look for those colors in items you already have around your house. Think about your color scheme, there are many to choose from. For example, you could choose to go monochromatic, meaning one color. With this tablescape, it is important to include a variety of varying textures and shapes. Be sure to include an accent color for the pop factor and visual appeal with the monochromatic color scheme. You can go to www.worqx.com/color/color_wheel.htm and learn more about color combinations if you are not comfortable matching colors.

Another one of my favorite things to do during the holidays is create theme Christmas trees. You follow the same design considerations as for tablescapes. With theme trees, another design element that adds a lot of flair and interest is feathers and ribbons. Start by deciding if you want a green tree, flocked tree, or the new tinsel trees. Again you need to consider a variety of texture elements. Add your lights and you are off to designing a theme tree. Enjoy and have fun this holiday season!!

Thank You Simplicity Gourmet! My fiance and I bought some of the best cookware ever designed. Before our investment, Jamie used to be the only one that cooked in the house. We also were forced to eat fast food at least twice a week because of our hectic schedules. Now that we have our new Pots and Pans, I’m the one that does most of the cooking. I love how easy it is. A little water, chicken, veggies, wait for the whistle, and Voila! A meal that used to cost me $15.00 a plate now costs $6.85 for two. These pots are saving me time, money, and they look great after 8 months worth of cooking. My mom told me that “Pots and Pans don’t matter, it’s the cook that makes the meal.” I say, look OUT Mom, there’s a new cook in town. After watching me cook for my family, my mom noticed how great everything tasted and how quickly it cooked. It’s incredible! Overnight, I go from the guy that used to burn hotdogs to a gourmet chef. Cooking is fun because it really is so simple. My secret is to cook some of our favorite meals early in the week, then store them in our “vacuum seal” storage containers. Now, I only cook Mondays and Thursdays. The rest of the week, we just pick any of our already home cooked meal out of the fridge. Is sooo easy. Your cookbook has become my daily reader and is absolutely delicious. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for making our life that much easier.
-Tim

Merry Christmas, Ladies!  My next post will not be until after Christmas, so, I thought I would leave you with a sweet treat idea and a sweet message before signing off until after Christmas.

I read this profound article this week called, “Finding Joy in the Journey.”  I was so touched by the simplicity of its words, that I’ve come to realize that, sometimes, “Simple and Sweet,” are some of the best advice you can give someone.

For instance, take the time to say a simple phrase to a stranger like, “Merry Christmas,” or “Have a Nice Day,” and see what joy that brings to their face.  You may never know how much that truly meant to someone or how it even affected their day.  On the other hand, take “Sweet.” Do a sweet, random act of kindness for someone, like, help the elderly load their groceries in the rain or hold a door open for a mom and her kids.  Trust me ladies, I could kiss ya if you hold the door open for me as I wrestle my two into the store and that’s the honest truth! lol

I really feel that we would be better people if we would do Simple and Sweet things throughout our day and through that, I know that all of us can truly find Joy in our Journey’s which is this life we are so blessed to be a part of.

Below is my Husband’s Favorite Christmas Treat and, ladies, it is both SIMPLE and SWEET! Enjoy!

Golden Graham Drops

Ingredients:

1 Bag of Chocolate Chips, 1 Bag of Butterscotch Chips, 1 Bag of Peanut Butter Chips, 1 Box of Golden Graham Cereal

Directions:

Put the box of Golden Grahams in a large bowl. Melt all the chips together in the microwave. Stir the chips together until smooth. Then, pour the chocolate mix on top of the Golden Grahams and stir it all together. “Caution” this can be a little messy but it is soooo fun! After it is all mix together, line cookie sheets with wax paper and drop a spoonful of the mixture on to the pan and then put into the fridge to harden. Ta-dah! Yummy, Simple and Sweet treats for you to enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

Peanut Blossom Cookies

I have been making these delightful treats for years!! They are an extremely easy crowd pleaser. When I need a quick treat to take to a party and I want my treat to have pizzazz these guys are on my top 5 list to choose from. I love Sandra lee from Semi Homemade on the Food Network. Her style I like to roll, little time to do anything but yet I want it to look and taste fabulous.

Use any packaged peanut butter cookie mix and make according to instructions. Roll the dough into small balls and then coat (roll) in granulated sugar. Place on cookie sheet and bake according to package instructions.

While the cookies are in the oven unwrap your chocolate kisses.

As soon as the cookies come out of the oven place a kiss on top of cookie and slightly press down.

Let them cool and enjoy!!

Day 4:

The facing is going on the cabinets the island has the lazy Susans in. We are beginning to see our kitchen take form. Oh and we just picked up the new convection oven….!

Day 3:

We have a countertop, back splash decision….OMG it is going to be gorgeous!!!! Really can you believe it? We all agreed on the back splash right away! We really do have great taste! Next thing you know we will all become kitchen consultants….not.

I love, love, love all forms of Chex Mix…plus it’s super easy and quick to make! It’s a holiday staple to have a heaping bowl of it out for your family and guests to much on at all times. I hope you enjoy both versions I have here for you - I’m giving you my sweet & sinful version and my salty & savory Darn Good version!

Simplicity Gourmet’s “White Trash” Chex Mix

UTENSILS: 2 qt w/ 2 qt Double Boiler, 1 Large Mixing Bowl, 1 Trash Bag

INGREDIENTS:

CHEX MIX:1 Regular Box Honey Graham Cereal, ½ Box Rice Chex, ½ Box Corn Chex, 4 Cups Cherrios, ½ Bag of Pretzel Stix or Mini Pretzels, 1 ½ Cups of Christmas M & M’s, 2 Cups of Peanuts, 2 Cups of Pecans, 1 cup Golden Raisins (optional)

SAUCE:1 ½ sticks butter, 14 oz milk chocolate chips (1 & ¾ cup), 14 oz white chocolate chips (1 & ¾ cup), 14 oz peanut butter (1 & ¾ cup), 2 tsp. vanilla, 1 Large Bag of Confectioner’s Sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:
Place 2″ of water in the 2 qt and pop the double boiler insert into the pan. Add the butter, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and vanilla to the double boiler. Cover, whistle open and cook on medium heat. When the whistle sounds (will take longer than normal in the double boiler), uncover, and stir. Reduce the temperature to Medium Low and recover, whistle closed. Cook for 5-7 minutes and stir again. Keep uncovered and stir until all ingredients are melted together. Remove the double boiler from the 2 qt and set aside to cool for 7-10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in the large mixing bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients until well blended. When the sauce has cooled, stir, and pour over the top of the chex mix and mix well. Add the ingredients to the trash bag and pour in the bag of confectioner’s sugar. Shake the bag up until all the contents are well seasoned with confectioner’s sugar.

Serve and enjoy!

Simplicity Gourmet’s Darn Good Chex Mix

UTENSILS: Large Mixing Bowl, Large Cookie Sheet

INGREDIENTS: 1 Small Box Rice Chex, 1 Small Box Corn Chex, 1 Small Box Wheat Chex, 1 Bag of Pretzel Rods or Mini Pretzels, 1 Box of Regular Cheez Its, ½ Box of Cheddar Jack Cheez Its, ½ Box of White Cheddar Cheez Its, 2 Cups Sesame Stixs, 4 Cups of Mixed Nuts, ½ cup of Olive Oil, ¼ cup Worcestershire Sauce, 6-8 tsp Darn Good Seasoning (Available exclusively through Simplicity Gourmet - on sale for 2 for $5 plus tax and shipping - call me at 866-897-7676 to order!)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Mix all ingredients until well blended. Bake in batches at 350, stirring occasionally, until toasted through (about 15-20 minutes). Store in a jumbo air tight container to keep it fresh.