May Recipe Group

Hi everyone, it's Miriam.  I'd like to host the next recipe group, but since we have preschool Thursdays at 12:30, I think we'd feel too rushed for time.  I was wondering if instead, we could meet Tuesday May 7th at 11:30.  Would that work for you?  And please, spread the word if there's anyone you think would like to come.

I've been thinking about my theme for quite some time now.  I call it, The Secret Ingredient.

I know a lot of us frequent the recipe blog, Mel's Kitchen Cafe.  She introduced me to one of my now-favorite "secret ingredients".  It's simply a sprinkle of cheese on your waffle batter before you close the lid to cook.  It sounded so weird at first, but I was intrigued, so I tried it.  I actually love cheese on my waffles now-- it adds a certain crunch and salty balance to the sweet syrup.  (Thanks again, Mel!)

I feel like "secret ingredients" fall under two categories.  There are those that are, say, less healthy, but that make a regular recipe just so good.  For instance, recently when I made brownies from scratch, I added melted butter instead of vegetable oil.  Dang.  I know, I know, I'm not supposed to be adding more fat and whatever, but to me, melted butter was my new-found secret ingredient.  I suppose delicious things like butter and cream cheese and real whipped cream often deliver like that. 

But then there's the other camp of secret ingredients-- the healthy ones, which, I suppose, are more worth searching for.  You all know what I mean.  And there's plenty to poke fun at here, so I think I should share with you one of my favorite productions, considering the theme.  Have you seen the Kid History films yet?  Enjoy.

No, I'm not talking about that mom's green smoothies (wait-- Karalee, green smoothies that actually taste good!  Bring that!), or mysteriously chunky pancakes, or whatever the heck was growing in her pantry...  I mean yummy, practical things that actually do taste good.

A few weeks ago I took my very favorite butternut squash soup and put macaroni noodles in it.  It looked like a lusciously creamy batch of homemade macaroni and cheese, so of course my kids were going to love it.  Johnny actually got feisty about who was taking too much, so there wouldn't be enough leftover for him...  That was funny.  So to me, that was a "secret ingredient" success worth trying again. 

Anyway, you get the point.  And please feel free to bring a recipe from either of the two camps-- healthy or not so much-- I'm totally up for both.  :)