Sweet Potato with Maple-Pecan Butter

The health benefits of sweet potatoes are amazing. I've been trying to incorporate more into my diet. Of course, the way I prepare them, I tend to negate all healthful strides. If you use this butter in moderation, however, you should be fine. If not, diet tomorrow.

Some recipes say to roll the butter into a log and wrap in plastic wrap. That's too hard. I smoosh mine into a little custard dish that has a lid for afterward.

Sweet Potato with Maple-Pecan Butter

2 medium sweet potatoes

7 tbsp. butter

1 shallot, chopped

1/4 cup pecans, chopped

2 squeezes maple syrup

1 small handful thyme

Saute the shallots in butter or olive oil and set aside.
In a pretty bowl, combine 6 tbsp. butter, cooled shallots, pecans, syrup, and thyme.
Blend with a fork until it all looks even.

Make it a meal: Serve with grilled pork and a side salad.

Wine: Chardonnay

Trout with Mushroom Sauce

A man my husband works with knows we like fish and gave us a 4 lb. trout. After my husband cleaned and skinned the fish,this is what I did with it. I was unable to clean and skin the fish; I had just gotten a manicure.

Trout with Mushroom Sauce

2 lbs. of trout filets

1/2 onion, chopped

1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup white wine

a couple knobs of butter

a small handful of rosemary

a small handful of parsley

a sprinkle of paprika

Cut the filets into serving size portions.
Saute the onion and mushrooms in butter or olive oil.
In a bowl, combine the wine, milk, rosemary, and soup.
Add the trout filets to the onion and mushroom mix.
Pour the soup mixture over the filets.
Simmer for 15 minutes until the fish flakes with fork.
Serve on individual plates and sprinkle with parsley and paprika.
That makes it look so nice.

Make it a meal: Serve with rice and steamed broccoli.

Wine: Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc

Crock Pot Herb Chicken

Cold weather is the perfect time for a warm comfort-food casserole. I reduce this recipe by half for just the two of us. My man appreciates a hearty meal after he’s done shoveling up a foot of snow. I appreciate my man.

Crock Pot Herb Chicken

1 can cream of celery

1/2 cup dry white wine or sherry (have a sip for yourself)

a dash parsley

a dash thyme

Dash pepper

4 chicken breasts

1 ½-2 cups seasoned stuffing crumbs

4 knobs butter

Combine the soup, wine, parsley, thyme, and pepper.
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the stuffing crumbs over the bottom of the cooker and add two knobs butter.
Top that with half of the chicken, then half of the remaining stuffing crumbs.
Drizzle with half of the remaining butter and spoon half of the soup mixture over that.
Repeat with remaining chicken, stuffing crumbs, butter, and soup mixture. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 7 hours, or until chicken is cooked through.
Sprinkle a bit of parsley on top when serving. It looks pretty.

Options: Substitute chicken broth for wine, use cream of anything else instead of cream of celery.

Make it a meal: Serve with French bread and spinach and roasted potatoes or brown rice.

Wine: Sauvignon Blanc, or whatever you put in the recipe.

Marinated Artichoke Salad

I came across a version of this recipe as part of a liver-cleansing fat flush diet. I didn't like anything else on the diet, but this one is tasty. If you don't have flaxseed oil, just heat up some flaxseed in olive oil instead. Flaxseed is easy enough to find in grocery stores. I add a bit to sauces and muffins and cereal as part of my healthy eating program. And then I have a margarita. (Photo by -Marlith-)

Marinated Artichoke Salad

2 cans artichoke hearts, drained

1 garlic clove, minced

3 tbsp flaxseed oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 1/2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

greens (Romaine or mesclun are great)

Mash four of the artichoke hearts with the garlic.
Stir in the oil, lemon, venegar, and cayenne.
Quarter the rest of the artichokes and mix well with the rest.
Refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
Arrange on a bed of pretty greens.

Make it a meal: Serve with a hamburger.

Wine: Well, this is part of a fat flush, so perhaps you should skip the wine (and the hamburger) and drink some water with lemon instead. But if you must, make it champagne.

Chardonnay’s Favorite Quotes on Food & Dieting

Chardonnay’s Favorite Quotes on Food & Dieting

I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond. ~Mae West

I'll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure. ~Mae West

I've been in more laps than a napkin. ~Mae West

If I asked for a cup of coffee, someone would search for the double meaning. ~Mae West

Too much of a good thing can be wonderful. ~Mae West (At least I think she was talking about food!)

Go to the "all you can eat" and "all you can regret it later" buffet. ~Maxine

When one hosts a dinner party, it is essential that all the place mats match or, at the very least, that they all come from the same restaurant. ~Maxine

Nothing in the world is quite so entertaining as pouring old milk into new containers before having guests over. ~Maxine

Entertaining in your backyard? The key to a nice-looking lawn is a good mower. I recommend one who's muscular and shirtless. ~Maxine

I'd eat more fruits and vegetables if they tasted more like microwaved burritos. ~Maxine

Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart. ~ Erma Bombeck

The 2nd day of a diet is always easier than the 1st. By the 2nd day you're off it. ~ Jackie Gleason

Never eat more than you can lift. ~ Miss Piggy

Statistics show that of those who contract the habit of eating, very few survive.
~ Wallace Irwin

Cutting Boards by Richard Cowell

These boards are gorgeous. I received one as a gift, and I am now giving one as a gift. Richard Cowell of Manchester, NH is the carpenter/artist that creates them. Check out more of his work at http://cowellcarpentry.com/. Prices range from $150 to $20 for replacement slide-outs.

Turkey Sandwich with Pesto Mayo & Craisins

Here’s a new twist on an old favorite. I have always loved turkey sandwiches with stuffing and cranberry sauce. It occurred to me Craisins or dried cranberries could deliver some of that same sweetness and flavor without opening up an entire can. The first time I tried this, I was conservative with the Craisins. Don’t be. Go nuts!

Turkey Sandwich with Pesto Mayo & Craisins

1 whole wheat bagel or other hearty bread

1 spoonful store-bought pesto

1 spoonful mayonnaise

1 small handful Craisins or dried cranberries

a couple slices Deli turkey

a few slices cheese (Havarti is nice and so is brie.)

lettuce

Toast the bagel.
Mix the pesto and mayo together; spread on both sides of the bagel.
Put the Craisins on the bottom bagel slice.
Add the turkey and top with cheese and lettuce.

Make it a meal: Serve with chips!

Wine: This depends on the cheese you choose. Havarti and brie go nicely with Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.