Category: creative cooking

Reviews

It has been a long time since I’ve written. (I had some health with family and myself, so I have stepped away from blogging.)

I had a chance to try a few new products and I thought I would give my feedback.

Coca-Cola Spiced

First of all I prefer Pepsi over Coca-Cola (as with Coke you can polish and clean, never heard that with Pepsi.).  Pepsi is just more mild.

Anyway I bought a 20 ounce bottle (which was like only thirty cent less than a two-litter.)

I kept seeing the commercials for the product. I’m a huge fan of raspberry as Coco-Cola Spiced has Raspberry and other flavors. I took a sip and reminded me of cough syrup. It was too sweet to the point where it was almost soured.

I messaged the Coca-Cola site to complain as I didn’t get even a third of the bottle down. It took me three emails just to get a refund.

I cannot give this product a good rating.

Note: I still like Cherry flavors of Pepsi, Coca-Cola and 7up.

Just not my cup of soda …

KitKat: Chocolate Frosted Donut

It really does taste like a donut. It can be too sweet it you have all four pieces. I shared mine with family which keeps the sweetness down.

It really does taste like a donut. A- for my rating.

Reese Caramel Big Cup

It was a bit sweet and rich. It reminded me of peanut butter with honey. I think it would work better with a darker chocolate.  Rating A

I shared it as I think it would be too much on my own.

I would be just as happy with a regular Reese.

Popcorners: Kettle corn

It reminded me of a mixture of tortilla chip and rice cake. It tasted like sweet kettle popcorn. It was addicting. Rating A- (It would have been A+, but a bit too high to buy everyday. It was almost three dollars for a small bag.)

Popcorners: White cheddar

It reminded me of a mixture of tortilla chip and rice cake. It tasted like cheesy popcorn. It was addicting. Rating A– (It would have been A+, but a bit too high to buy everyday. It was almost five dollars for a bag.)

Corn Bread Taco Bake

Budgets have been tight with the pandemic clearing and extra money vanishing. So our food budget has gotten tight. . . We have gotten creative.




Corn bread Taco Bake



I cook this in crock pot or slow cooker, but you can cook this in an oven.


Start making corn bread. . . let go for about an hour,
Then layer salsa (I use mild, but if you can handle the heat, you can get hotter.)


cook pound of beef on the stove (add taco seasoning or make up your own with paprika, black pepper, red chilli flakes, chilli powder, etc season to your liking)


I also make a rice mix (spanish, beef or other flavored)
Layer the rice and beef over the corn bread, then add cheese.


Within several hours, dinner is ready.


You can add corn, black olives, onions, peppers, tomatoes. I also put sour cream on my own bowl.

Food Suggestions


I always have crackers at home,especially when my stomach is upset. You can put anything on crackers from cheese, to orange marmalade to peanut butter.





Instead of a grilled cheese with bread, I have made quesadillas with flour tortillas with dipping in tomato soup.





I also added salsa, sour cream, and black olives in my tomato soup.





You can make your own fancy ramen. . . chicken tenders, veggies, even hard boiled eggs.




Use left over chili and put it on your mac N cheese. I’ve even seen people put chili on spaghetti.




I’ve also made bakes with pasta and rices. It makes food go further.




Easy mousse. . . puddling packs folded into cool whip.



Want to spurge your kids or your inner-kid on a Sunday morning have a French toast or pancake bar, where you have fruits, chocolate chips, hot fudge, caramel, fruit syrups, and whipped cream even have sausage and bacon. . . they can layer their own plate.

Soup Base

I have a decent priced grocery store call Aldi’s.

When I shop, I have a list, and I usually try my best to stay on the list. There are few times I may veer off the list for extra dessert or chips or something. . .

Aldi had these soup bases, in which all you do is add meat and veggies if you wished to. . . plus so many cups of water and then let it boil. . .

The first time I got creamy potato, and I redid my budget just to get the base and try it. It turn out thick and really tasty. I got the chicken soup based next, and it had carrots. It was really good, good flavor and low salt.

The creamy potato and chicken were awesome. I used pre-made biscuit dough for dumpling when I made chicken and dumpling.

Cooking does not have to complicate when you find shortcuts like the soup bases.

I’ve even made a simple beef and veggie soup and put it over mashed potatoes or rice.  

Happy food

I’ve have made some really good meals this past week.

Sunday Chicken Marsala (drunken chicken)..it was over baked potatoes and they were good. Cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and sauted breaded chicken in olive oil. Then cooked down in Marsala wine.

Ricotta cheese stuffed burger with sauted green peppers.

Homemade beef stew

I miss not having an oven as baking really makes me happy, but that is another blog.

Creamy corn, chicken bake

First of all, some of my family does not like the word casserole . . . So I made a bake.

Secondly, I’ve been off mentally and physically. However anyone can make this.

Shredded chicken mixed with cream of chicken soup, then cream corn and you make a jiffy corn bread mix and put it on top. Bake until corn bread is done. (It can also be made in a crock pot.)

You can add fresh corn, peppers, tomato, …

I crunched BBQ chips on top or you can use fried onions.

Home cooking

I’m in a complicated cooking situation.

I have no stove or oven.

I cook with electric nonstick skillet, toaster, waffle iron, crockpot (slow cooker) and microwave.

I have got cooking pasta and rice in the microwave pretty close. (Notes: they are very hot, because you have to make water boil.)

I noticed I do better when I cook. (I do not like cleaning up. Sigh.) Compared to going out so much.

I just feel with Uber Eats or Door Dash, the things are overpriced and the serving sizes have gotten smaller.

Probably the last few times orders got mixed up or the there was just something making me want more. It didn’t fix the craving or feel the void. (I need to stop ordering when I’m upset.)

Like I said there is nothing like a home cooked meal.