This hot and hearty meal  is easy to cook one day and serve another. Recipe may be cut into serving slices  and popped in microwave for 40-60 seconds as needed. Bacon lovers will enjoy Busy Mom’s Beckon The Bacon Frittata recipe. Grill Man feels cheated if meat is missing from the meal.

If you have a couple of picky eaters, cut the onions and peppers very small. Or be really sneaky and purée them  in your blender. The nutrition and flavor will be there but not as visible .

In this dish cutting the cheese  in lieu of grating will allow the cheese to stand out and be noticed. Grated cheese has a tendency to hide in a baked dish. Who doesn’t love a cheesy bite? I didn’t specify the cheese in this dish. Use your favorite cheese whether its cheddar cheese, havarti, monterrey jack or cheddar with scallions.

How to create a frittata?

Use this basic recipe and design your own frittata dish.  Throw in your leftovers and make a few changes. Swap out peppers and onions for another veggie. Replace the bacon with leftover sausage or boudin. Be adventurous! Busy Mom’s Beckon The Bacon Frittata recipe is waiting to join your busy week.

Company’s coming? Quiches and frittatas freeze well. Make ahead and use as needed when you have a house full of company. Your guests will be none the wiser unless you let them in on your secret.

Here are a couple of oldies but goodies.

Salmon Sockeye It To Me Quiche

Spicy Sausage Cheese Egg Pies

Manchego Frittata Mimi Style

Quiche- Albacore Tuna Spiced Up? Wow!

Alexa shout out to Superwoman by  Alicia Keys. Even when I’m a mess….

Even when I’m a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I’m a Superwoman!

The post Busy Mom’s Beckon The Bacon Frittata Recipe appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

Believe me when I say that I tried many times before  I called for backup and ordered a pizza. Creole Red Beans and Rice, Beef Stew with lots of vegetables, Persimmon Walnut Sticky Bread, Salmon Quiche, Pumpkin Bread and then some. Nothing brought a smile to his face.

Somewhere around week two, I started getting a complex . Grill Man requested Popeye’s red beans and rice. By this point  I really just wanted him to eat. Happy to buy the desired Popeye’s. His taste buds turned his nose up to this as well. Ha, I have to say I was relieved.

Use Turkey Carcass to support Waste Not Want Not

Despite the challenge, I kept cooking for my patient. Using turkey carcass creating white turkey chili was an answer to a prayer.  Finally, I managed to break thru the huge barrier  of the flipping flu wall and found something he would enjoy eating.

Chicken or turkey soup is good for what ails you or your patient. Although it’s not a miracle pill it will help your patient feel better. There is nothing better than a hot bowl of homemade soup on a cold wintry day. White Turkey Chili could also be made from a  rotisserie chicken. Follow the same method but swap chicken for turkey.

Using turkey carcass creating White Turkey Chili is part  of my Waste Not Want Not category. Using a turkey carcass offers great economy and a base for a healthy soup.  Homemade stocks are delicious, offer so much more flavor and health than store-bought stocks.  Yes they are more work but so worth the extra dose of love, flavor and benefits.

Shout out to Alexa for Harry Connick Jr, Recipe for Love. Great song Harry!

The post Using Turkey Carcass creating White Turkey Chili appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

Manchego Frittata  Mimi Style recipe is a salute to one of my favorite countries, Spain. Far too long ago, I was able to travel to Madrid and Barcelona Spain. I fell in love with Spain and everything that it had to offer. Bold colors, flamingo dancing, spicy food and passionate people who welcome you to their country.

Whether it is art, architecture, tapas, wine, water sports or shopping, Spain has a lot to offer a traveler. Food markets overseas make me long for the offerings of specialty meats, cheeses, exotic fruits and delicacies to excite your palate.  Manchego cheese is one of my favorites from Spain. Back home, we are blessed that Manchego cheese is accessible to add to a cheese platter or blend into a dish  such as Manchego Frittata Mimi Style.

Foods to try while in Spain

Travel to eat or eat to travel in Spain. I love the tapas concept when dining. It allows the diner to try a variety of items in smaller portions. Tapas in Spain will allow you to cover a broad range of offerings. Tapas are perfect to venture out and try new items outside of your typical comfort zone.  Order a bottle of wine, hot bread and try a few tapas. Here is a few items that you may see on the menu:

antipasta items
seafood cooked in many ways
meatballs served with a sauce
marinated vegetables served cold or grilled
fried vegetables at times stuffed with cheese
chorizo slowly cooked in red wine
Spanish Omelet
turnovers filled with variety of meat and vegetables
Iberico ham (cured ham from acorn fed pigs)

Paella should certainly be on your list to try while visiting Spain. You will surely find paella available to you with a ton of different ingredient options. Make sure that you try this Spanish specialty before you leave to go home, it is so worth it.

To siesta or not to siesta?

Remember to plan your day around the Spanish siesta to make the most of your day.  Shops typically close from 2pm-5pm. Restaurants and bars close from 4pm-8pm. Some locations stay closed until 9pm, check the hours of any place that you may want to visit. Dining late in Spain is part of the travelers experience.

Check with each destination prior to planing your trip to maximize your day. Remember all museum hours may not be affected by siesta closing. Plan a lunch and then siesta yourself back to the hotel to relax or read a book. While traveling in Spain a siesta is a good idea to recharge your batteries. Trust me it will make staying out late as the Spaniards possible. It will also prepare you for the routine of planning siesta’s at home.

Before leaving home, I get very excited about any trip. Discovering a new place, learning about the people and culture feed my inquisitive side. Traveling opens the door for us to try new activities, experiment with new foods, enjoy the local wines that are harvested and only sold locally.

Remember to not over plan your trip but allow time for you to discover your new travel spot organically. Make trying to lose your self in the locale and be open to change. Change is good for you and even has health benefits that will benefit you when you return home.

Near the end of a vacation, the yearning for home sets in. There is no place like home. Upon returning home after the dust settles and the laundry complete, I start reminiscing about my travel.  Photos provide visual refreshment of our trip.

Savor your trip to Spain and cook Manchego Frittata Mimi Style

My mind always wanders to the fabulous foods that I savored and possibilities for creating something similar.  Occasionally, I will plan a dinner party with friends to share and celebrate the travel experience. Manchego Frittata Mimi Style recipe is a perfect example of a new recipe.

Shout out to Alexa for Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” or Justin Bieber’s remix. Does that put you in the mood?

The post Manchego Frittata Mimi Style appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

Ideally, timing for 20 house guests would ordinarily be spread out over a long time. The timing of life and other events created changes in plans which drove the dates. Having said that, Grill-Man and I had a lovely time hosting all of our friends and family. Celebratory from beginning to end and loved it all.

Week 1 We are all here. Really, all of us!

My first week consisted of  parents, siblings, spouses and children. This was the first time that all of us were together for over a decade. Wow! Home and hearth filled from top to bottom, every bed had a head or two. It was lovely to have everyone together to meet Super-baby. My siblings and I agree that Super-baby will have anyone wrapped around his little fingers.

In addition to admiring Super-baby, the Arts & Crafts Fair was in full force and made a great diversion for an afternoon.  Where else may you shop for art, exercise and pursue a street of food truck items all in one place? I believe that the man cave had more than one  battle of pool. Sharing meals, wine and cocktails over family stories and billiard games was a hit with our group.

Week 2 Started taking vitamins daily due to weary soul

This theme wove throughout the fabric of my second week of guests. Cousins and Uncle hailed  from three parts of Louisiana.  My Uncle and Grill-Man managed a game of golf, of course. We shopped while the boys chased the little white ball around. I am sure that we had more fun!

Later the men-folk hung out in the man cave, played albums, battled with billiards and solved the problems of the world. Well, maybe just their world’s. Occasionally, we would see them when it was time to refill their water bottles or needed a snack.  OK, it wasn’t water. My brother was able to join us for lunch and card games. In addition to games, we played music and tried to see who best “who could stump Alexa”.  Quality time with my brother and Louisiana crew,sadly short but sweet visit.

Week 3 It’s time for Weary Souls Chicken Soup

Our third week consisted of friends from Houston. UK and Little Italy’s son married a Southern Mobile-Belle. Their visit breezed in before and after the wedding. It was high-time’s for all filled with Bridal Luncheons, Wedding, Reception and After Wedding Party at the Battle House Penthouse. It was a grand event filled with love and cocktails. Including their visit after the wedding-ness was complete, it was a relaxed visit catching up with our close friends.

In addition, we also hosted another couple  from Houston, Ringer and Shore-Girl. We have grown fond of these two while visiting UK and Little Italy. Ringer and Shore-Girl only stayed overnight but we  managed to pack it all in. We shared a lovely meal complete with wine on the porch near the fire pit. Aaaahhhhhhh!

Ringer and Grill Man managed an early morning game of golf on Saturday before the wedding. After coffee and breakfast on the porch, I introduced Shore-Girl to shopping in our lovely city by the bay. Somehow after shopping, we managed to crunch in a visit with my favorite artist, Weezie Bancroft Brabner in her studio. A visit with Weezie in her studio is always entertaining. Book an appointment, you won’t regret it.

After lunch with the boys and our celebratory cocktail, we were in need of a nap before the wedding. No rest for the weary. Bath, cocktails and heels were the order of things. My Babe managed to join us for the wedding. She slid in just in time to attend all the festivities and share in the wedding of her childhood friend.

We all arrived in style for the joining of two families on a perfectly beautiful day. From coffee on the porch, to wedding, to reception, to dancing and celebrating with friends until the wee hours. Jammed packed with everything that we love.

On Sunday, Grill-Man hid away quietly, secretly napping. My girl and I laid around on our favorite couch and watched movies. At some point, she convinced me that a trip to Mr Gene’s Beans for ice cream was on our list. Really, it wasn’t on my list. My list consisted of me laying quietly on the couch. I was perfectly happy there.

Ironically, as I stood in line with my young adult child I smiled that we were here again as we had been many times before when she was little. We ordered ice cream and walked to the benches on the Bluff overlooking Mobile Bay and sat for a spell. On the way back from the bluff we reflected on the weekend and our highlights. We  squeezed in a stop and shop at our favorite book store, Page and Palette. It was a good day.

Grill-Man, Babe and I were weary but we would not have missed anything for the world. In addition, it had been a very busy three weeks but in the best way. My girl managed to visit twice from New Orleans during this time and share in the festivities along with us. I was a happy girl. I just needed Weary Souls Chicken Soup.

In summary, I was happy until I realized I had to return to work. The real world started again on Monday filled with work,  laundry and everything else that I had allowed to pile up. A hot bowl of chicken soup was what sounded good to me.

Y’all come back, now!

Alexa, Shout out to J Geils Band for Come Back.

Sadly Jay Geils died this week, he was a favorite of mine and will be missed by many.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post Weary Souls Chicken Soup Recipe appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

While my “go-to” recipe box is jammed packed with my favorites it includes a star-studded list of recipes that my friends and family have shared with me. A treasure trove of delicious food that will make you and yours smile. For your recipe collection, add Southern Zipper Peas.

Zipper Peas  will compliment any protein. Serving it as a bowl for lunch with a plate of sliced tomatoes, avocado, onions and cornbread is also an option. Since I love flavor combinations, I add chow-chow or Tomato Pear Relish to my peas.

Although an antique wooden box is antiquated when you compare the advantages that a computer offers. What a box lacks in speed and efficiency it more than delivers in the form of memories and personal touch. I smile as I sift through the handwritten recipes from Grandmothers and Mothers. My family and friends are a group of fabulous cooks.

Because they generously share their recipes it benefits many. Share my zipper peas with someone soon. Cook this dish for dinner or  put in freezer to be used later and shared with your loved ones.

Also in my “newest wooden box”, I found a ton of Southern favorites. I discovered the box in my favorite city, New Orleans. You may read all about my adventure in the Garden District,  along with my recipe for “Southern Comfort and Oh That Chocolate Pie“. This pie is dangerously delicious if you love chocolate.

Without a doubt, your “little wooden recipe box” or whizz-bang-techno-recipe iPad or computer device  should have Southern Zipper Peas. Healthy,  easy to make, and inexpensive are a few reasons to try this dish. You may find zipper Peas for sale locally fresh or in your grocer’s freezer.

Alexa, Shout out to Black Eyed Peas for “I Gotta Feeling”. Tonight’s gonna be a good night!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post Southern Zipper Peas Recipe appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

Porch time is a fan favorite at our house and almost mandatory for guests. The porch allows for slow and easy conversation while enjoying the birds and squirrel chatter. Perhaps, a lovely place to while away the morning with a cup of coffee. Add in a pitter-patter of rain on the tin roof and it is music to my ears.

Last weekend was Round 2 of my March company.  My Uncle and two of my cousins from Louisiana were visiting with their families, Funny Girl and Lil Rouge. A quick and easy breakfast was certainly on my list. Cooking Spicy Sausage Cheese Egg Pie in the kitchen with them was a joy. Having extra hands in my kitchen is not common but I love and cherish it when I do.

Lil Rouge and Funny Girl made quick work of the Spicy Sausage Cheese Egg Pie recipe that I created for making  two Egg Pies. If you only need one, you may freeze the second pie after you bake. Pie in the freezer is great to have on hand for breakfast, lunch or deliver to a friend in need.

Over the course of our weekend, we had a grand time telling tales of our childhood days and teenage mishaps. Reminiscing about our loved ones that had moved on was bittersweet yet softened by the retelling of our family stories.  Sharing delight in the telling of our tales is a common thread in our group.

No weekend around my family can occur without the occasional game or cards whether it is Shanghai, Canasta or Poop-head. For the record, I was not the Poop-head!

Card playing allows for plenty of conversations, tale-telling and cocktails, of course. My brother was able to join us for lunch, tale-telling and such. Funny Girl whipped up a  delicious white coconut cocktail that I loved. She also whipped up something she called Kidney infection. Oddly, Funny Girl and I didn’t drink that one but Lil Rouge managed it somehow.

Between hands of cards, we discussed our ancestors and looked at old photos.  Sargent Granny would have smiled had she been sitting with us. Sharing time together is sometimes hard to organize with family and friends but so worth the effort. Living in different cities and states adds to difficulty of organizing  schedules, just do it. Your Granny will smile, I know mine is.

Alexa Shout out to Leon Bridges.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post Spicy Sausage Cheese Egg Pies appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

Waste Not Want Not Series:
potatoes, corn, carrots, garlic and  mushrooms

“Waste not want not” is a hats off tribute to my Irish Grandmother Theda Faye who was the Queen of Thrifty. In our childhood home, my Dad was not a fan of eating leftovers which certainly went against the grain of Theda’s Faye’s entire philosophy.

I recall hearing my Mother state that my Dad “refused to eat leftovers”. This would always horrify my Grandmother and would elicit comments  about how she would handle my Dad. Granny had her work cut out for her.

I am pretty sure that my Mom never took Granny’s suggestions.  Granny was a strong woman and not shy about sharing her opinion. Although, I am speculating entirely based on the premise that my parents are still married after all of these years.

As an adult, I realized that “leftovers” were only food ingredients that required repackaging in the kitchen and presented in a different recipe. This is easy to do whether you use the ingredients the next day or throw in a storage bag, and freeze for later. Always label your freezer ingredients for easy identification and date. I have learned this the hard way playing the freezer game of “what is that?”

The crawfish and shrimp boil over the weekend yielded an excess of shrimp, corn, potatoes, carrots, garlic and mushrooms. I peeled the leftover shrimp and threw in my freezer. This would be used later for Shrimp Dip. This shrimp recipe is my favorite childhood food memory and is hauntingly delicious. Warning: It is addictive.

The remaining ingredients from the shrimp boil would make a great addition to my shrimp chowder. I also wanted a one pot dish for dinner so that I could move to the “couch for a spell”. One pot was all the energy that I could muster. The fun-filled weekend had “worn me out”. Using the leftovers was great and a soup was what I needed, then my couch.

Of course, the recipe made from fresh ingredients in lieu of shrimp boil leftovers will be great too. If using fresh vegetables, add the  seafood stock to separate pot and boil until tender. Then prepare white roux and combine ingredients. Adjust the seasonings, since the boil process adds seasoning to vegetables.

Shout Out to Alexa for U2 for a bit of Bono.

Save

Save

The post Waste Not Want Not Series Shrimp Chowder appeared first on Dining With Mimi.

Fall events are happening everywhere. Many events are taking advantage of the nice weather outdoors. For an indoor outing, Fairhope has the Film Festival. It is about to start ramping up. Fairhope Film Festival starts November 10 and ends November 13.

From a huge collection of movies that include comedy, documentary, narrative, drama, thriller and  more will be at your disposal. Tossed in you will also find Panel Discussions and a cocktail event or two. Panel discussions have been my favorite every year. I love learning about behind the scenes of writing, creating, filming, shopping locations etc.

Support the arts. Check it out at www.fairhopefilmfestival.org. Great local event that is family friendly for teenagers and adults.  Check subject matter before making a movie choice decision and taking your child. Buying a ticket is a great way to support arts and Fairhope Community.

During Fall when the weather is turning cooler, soup is the answer. A quick review of the items on hand, called for a Corn and Crawfish Chowder.  Soup that you will want to cook again.

Shout out to Alexa for Ray LaMontagne. I love his music and great to cook with. And in a libation and voila, I’m smiling.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The post Spicy Corn and Crawfish Chowder appeared first on Dining With Mimi.