How to Quickly Dress Up A Muffin!

When I was helping to raise 8 stepchildren and their related siblings, my cupcake pans came to the rescue. When I was stuck, I would go to my cupcake pans baking everything from meatloaf to muffins. One morning, when one of the kids told me they needed something sweet for a school function, all I had was a blueberry muffin mix. After getting the mix in the pans, I tossed brown sugar on top. I had seen similar streusel toppings but there was no internet "in those days" and I only had 15 minutes to get these baked and out the door. Once baked, the sugar gave the muffins a little brown finish and automatic icing.

Whew!

Sweet Nutty Treat

Sometimes you want something sweet to end your meal  and these nutty treats are easy, and fun, to make.

Using mini-vanilla wafers, add a dab of melted chocolate to the bottom. Attach a Hershey kiss.

Once dry, use a toothpick to dab a tiny stem on the top.

Takes 5 minutes from start to finish and adds charm to any dish as a sweet, desert garnish.

Acorns, any one?

Charlotte

How to Refresh Asparagus

Fresh asparagus is delicious as long as the spears don't get tough.

To make sure I am serving the freshest part of the spears, I pop off the bottom of the stem with my hands. By applying gentle pressure, the less fresh part will easily break off.

Wash in cold water; pat dry with a clean dish towel. Then prepare in your favorite recipe. With the hard ends broken off, the asparagus will taste fresh-picked.

Charlotte

How to Refresh Asparagus

Fresh asparagus is delicious as long as the spears don't get tough. Keep asparagus fresh by breaking off the ends. Don't use a knife or kitchen scissors. Hold the spear in one hand and gently bend the non-spear end until it breaks. The break will happen naturally and leave asparagus spears as tender as when they were picked.

Winter Squash, Peppers and Onions

This is an easy side dish to use up winter squash and green peppers.

Start by cutting onions - as few or as many as you like - I use two medium ones - and sauté until brown around the edges in a couple of squirts of extra virgin olive oil. When translucent, add cut-up winter squash and green peppers, washed and patted dry with clean dish towels:

1/2 cup of either water, chicken broth or wine, and cover.

Cook on low for about 20 minutes. Add 1 tsp garlic powder or regular salt.

You can serve either hot or cold.

I prefer this dish cold but it's also wonderful warm right out of the pan.

Makes about 4 servings.

You can serve this with almost any protein or main dish.

Charlotte

Yummy Violets!

Looking for something pretty to spice up your dishes, or a quick dash of vitamins? It could be right out your door!

Wild violets add lovely color to any dish and are high in Vitamin C. They would also make any dish special as a gift from your kitchen.

To pick wild violets for garnish, make sure you're picking wild violets,

or any flowers, from an area that hasn't been treated with chemicals. Pull

gently on the flower stem to remove from the plant without taking out

roots. Wash. Pat dry.

I like to pile several wild violet stems together, keeping flowers on the

same side. My nephew prefers to literally toss his wild violets all over

his plate, giving his dish that extra artsy touch!

Charlotte

How to Harvest Lettuce

If you're lucky enough to grow your own lettuce in easy to access pots, harvest by gently pinching the plants at the base. Don't use knives or scissors, they will leave a slight metal taste. Water leftover roots carefully with diluted plant food. By leaving roots, you will ensure a second and possibly third crop of homegrown lettuce!