Popcorn!

Take a bowl of plain white popcorn, no flavors, no butter...what do you have?  A nice snack.

Now, take that bowl of popcorn and add some Parmesan (my favorite go to popcorn seasoning) or add some Chipotle seasoning for a little zing or pull out all the stops and be adventuresome and try this:

Spicy Creole Popcorn

4 Tab unsalted butter

2 large garlic cloves, crushed

2 Tab sweet paprika

1 teas. dried basil

1 teas. dried oregano

1 teas. salt

1/2 teas. onion powder

1/4 teas. freshly ground pepper

1/8 teas. cayenne pepper

16 cups popped popcorn (from about 3/4 cup of unpopped corn kernels)

Heat butter and garlic in small saucepan over medium low heat until butter is melted.  Continue cooking until the garlic sizzles, about one minute.  With a slotted spoon, lift out and discard the garlic.  In a small bowl, combine paprika, basil, oregano, salt, onion powder and black and cayenne peppers.

Place the popcorn in a very large bowl. While tossing, drizzle with butter mixture and toss until well coated.  Sprinkle with spice mixture and toss again.  Serve immediately or at room temperature.

Now that's a spicy meatball!

:-)

The popcorn recipe came from Rick Rodgers Birthday Celebrations.

*THE* cookbook is finished.....

Everything was sent via overnight mail to the publisher Friday morning.  This was a tremendous labor of love that has me wistfully wishing that there was another month or so to go.  I'm not sure that any  of you could stand me nagging and haranguing you all for another 30 days, so I guess, this is best.  While this collection of favorites from friends and family has really been written by *you*, I feel like I am pushing the baby bird out of the nest.  <sniff, sniff>  I am feeling very emotional about this so I will just give a quick shout out to everyone who contributed:

Several friends who chose to remain anonymous, as well as Amber Cavallo-Eschrich, Amy Jane Stewart, Anita  DellaVentura, Anna Hofmann Powell, Annette Spina, Audrey Ann Hassan, Barbara Greenspan, PhD, Becky Turner, Bethanne McNulty, Bill Berardi, Bill Iovene, Christine Barbarotta, Christine Cosenza, Christine Marnel Baldino, Clare Maisano Bever, Connie & Jim Lauber, Connie Carrillo, Cori Burelle Nast, Dawn Sanford, Deborah Friedman, Deborah Murray, Dee Dinan, Denise Cole Stevens, Denise Davis, Elaine Reid, Eva Day, Gerie Spina Flanders, Grace McCreight, Harriette Nussbaum, Heather Parke Swanson, Henry W. Hulteen, DC, Jackie Hoinsky, Janet Butchko, Jennifer Rosenberry, Jerry Baldino, Judy Stengel, Kathy Cole, Kathy Orsene, Kathy Testa, Kelly Barbarotta, Kristy Rosenberry, Linda Clark, Lisa Iovene Howes, Londie Cosenza, Loretta Susi, Lucia Bartiromo Kirwood, Lucy Puglia, Lynda Russo Johnston, Lynn Burkholder, Margarita Rodriguez-Lansberg, Marie Sgueglia, Martha DelVecchio, Martha Frankel, Mary Ingarra, Maureen Patten Massa, Michael Nussbaum, Micki Balaban, Noella Peacos, Peggy Carey Van Stone, Rev. Kathryn Greene-McCreight, PhD, Robby Hoinsky, Robert Bowen, Robin Roberts Gay, Roni Rosenberry, Rosanna Ferraro Gonsiewski, Roy Rosenberry, Ruth FitzGerald, Sara Dixon, Susan Christiansen, Susan Cosenza, Susan Hogan, Theresa Fowler, Toni Ponce Kelly, Tony Cosenza, Vivian Moore-Brown, Winston Hallberg, Zoe Cosenza.

All revenue from the sales of this cookbook, Annie's Sweet Tooth (and other savory delights!)  will be donated to the MDS Foundation in honor of Ann Cosenza Hallberg, my special angel and sister.  A special thank you to my parents, Londie & Tony Cosenza, who are generously underwriting the cost of publishing this cookbook.  #300 copies will be printed, so please let me know how may you would like.  $10 per copy; if  I have to mail, please include an additional $3 for shipping.  Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Thank you all so very much.  G-D bless each one of you!

xoxo
Nancy

                                              Ann Cosenza Hallberg

MDS Cookbook....This is REALLY the last call.....

I know...I know....I'm a bona fide nag....Some of you have already sent me recipes.....this is the first some of you have heard of this....some of you were going to see if someone else had some recipes....and, some of you have promised but not sent them yet....

 

Here's the scoop....I am publishing a cookbook, favorites of family & friends, and all proceeds will be going to the MDS Foundation,  http://www.mds-foundation.org/  I lost my sister Ann in November 2009 to complications from this terrible disease.  Donated funds will be used for patient advocacy and/or research. 

 

I am reaching out one last time to see if you have it in your hearts to donate one or more recipes to this cause.  Please send to me by Thursday, February 24, 2011. This is earlier than previously requested.  We already have over 200 recipes...this is going to be a great book dedicated to the memory of a wonderful sister. Please feel free to forward this to someone you know who might want to participate. As always, the more, the merrier!!  And, in addition to your names as contributors, I will publish your web sites should you so desire.

 

Annie's Sweet Tooth (and other savory delights)!

 

Nancy Nussbaum

George Bernard Shaw

"Life is not a brief candle. It is a splendid torch that I want to make burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

For the Love of Turtles....

I recall seeing the red and gold boxes of Turtle Candy in the grocery store...never paid much attention though.  Whether I was zoning the image of the chocolate-pecan-caramel tidbits out of my mind so as not to be tempted or perhaps, fancying myself a chocolate snob, I never purchased the candies.

Along came an episode of Everybody Hates Chris  where the Mom takes to hiding boxes of her Turtles from everyone  and while watching her face as she bites into the candy, well, kind of got me curious.

I still didn't buy the candy, but saw that Chex Mix was offering a "Turtle" Flavor.  And I did buy that.  Well, it was delicious.  So delicious that I ate my first bag all by myself in one sitting.  I suddenly understood what Chris' mother's deal was in hiding her candies from the family.  I understood the look on her face.  I bought a second bag and repeated my really selfish Turtle behavior. 

Mustering up all the will power I could, I decided I would not buy Turtle Chex mix ever again. 

Then earlier in the week, in reviewing my emails, there was a February newsletter from Gooseberry Patch.  It's a wonderful little chatty email, with articles, quaint artwork, sometime crafty projects and usually a couple of recipes.  One of the recipes, which I will share below, is for Tiny Turtle Cupcakes.  Sounds delicious, looks very easy, so when I went to the grocery store this week, I bought the few ingredients necessary to make a batch of these babies!  The recipe is from 101 Cupcake, Cookie & Brownie Recipes.  The cookbook is available for sale through http://www.gooseberrypatch.com/ and you can sign up for the newsletter there, too!

Tiny Turtle Cupcakes

21 1/2 oz package brownie mix

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

16 oz container dark chocolate fudge frosting

1/2 cup pecans, toasted & coarsely chopped

Prepare brownie mix according to package directions.  stir in the chopped pecans.  Fill paper lined mini muffin cups 2/3 full.  Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes or until a toothpick tests clean.  Cool cupcakes in tins on wire racks for 5 minutes.  Remove from tins; finish cooling completely.  Frost cupcakes; top with toasted pecans.  Spoon caramel sauce evenly over cupcakes.  store in refrigerator.  Makes about 4 1/2 dozen.

Caramel Sauce

12 caramels, unwrapped

1 to 2 Tab whipping cream

Combine caramels and one tablespoon cream in small saucepan; cook and stir over low heat until smooth.  Add remaining cream as needed for the desired consistency.

(Oh, and, I did buy a bag of Turtle Chex too....)

Enjoy!!!

Cookbook Status

I posted on Facebook this afternoon:

STILL calling all cooks & bakers; 'still collecting recipes for a cookbook to be published in the Spring. All profits from the cookbook sales to be donated to the MDS Foundation for research & patient advocacy. Please email your recipes to me c/o FB. Please don’t be shy; share your favorite recipes and make an angel smile…..(that angel being my sister, Ann) Thank you & G-d Bless. We're at #156 and counting....

Actually, I have a number of recipes waiting to be typed.....about #35...which brings us up to #191!!!!

The above FB post will be the last one soliciting recipes...There are more recipes promised to me and we will be over the #200 number in time for my self imposed deadline of March 1st!

I would say, we all deserve a nice pat on the back!  I send hugs out to each every one of you who have helped me with this project!



Sweet Tooth Sister  :-)