Happy New Year 2011

It's a little late to be posting a recipe for your party tonight, but you can still pull it off. It's Jalapeno Popper Dip and when you eat it, steam will come out your nose and your face will turn red and you will snort like a bull. I love it when that happens. If setting your tongue on fire is not your idea of a good time, then use more green chilies and less of fiery peppers. This morning I've been working on my New Year's card, as opposed to a Christmas card which I can never manage to send. (Do you want a New Year's card? Send me your address at prudencepenny@aol.com) I've been looking at all of our best memories of 2010. But then I realized that I failed to include any pictures from this last week. This week was kind of an important one. So I'm putting my pictures here instead. And since they aren't going on a card, I can include the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let's start with the ugly. This is when I dropped my cell phone in the pumpkin pie because I was on the phone with my sister Leslie while baking. I should never ever bake when I talk to Leslie. Haven't I said this before?This is our rag-tag Star Wars-y Nativity. We have a Jedi costume, two Princess Leia costumes, a belly dancing costume, and a real authentic galibea (spelling?) on West from my trip to Egypt. This is West with his new electric drumset. I think he must have seen a movie with some cool kids and their boomboxes. Well, he can try.

Sailor has been wanting an American Girl doll for years, but between you and me, I've always thought they were too pricey. Then Santa stepped in. The charges cut out cookies all by their lonesomes while I finished up some pressing work. Can't remember why it was so pressing now. I should have been cutting cookies with this two. A little boy breakfast party. I love having parties that aren't birthday parties. The expectations are low. I can live up to that.
The same party, next day with the itty-bitty neighborhood females. Same menu. Same low expectations.

We almost went biblical and built an ark to escape the rains. But then a beautiful rainbow appeared in the backyard. Then it started raining again. But that doesn't make a good end to the story, does it? Let's end with the dip instead.Here's that dip I was telling you about. The idea is to capture everything you love about jalapeno poppers in a scoopable form. I tried a couple of versions and we liked this hybrid version best. You can top it with breadcrumbs to mimic the coating on a popper, but it seemed like overkill to me if you are going to serve it with tortilla chips. It's better with just another layer of melted cheese. I'm going to make another batch right now. Guests arrive in 4 and 1/2 hours. Happy Spicy New Year!

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Estimated Cost $5.00

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

1/2 cup mayo

1/2 sour cream

4-8 jalapenos, minced

1 tablespoon lime juice, plus 1 teaspoon lime zest

1 cup shredded jack, plus more for the top

1 (7 ounce) can diced green chilies

crushed red peppers, optional

Grease a pie or quiche dish. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients. Taste and adjust heat by adding crushed red peppers. Season to taste with salt. Sprinkle with extra cheese and bake for 20 minutes.

Barefoot Thursdays: Feta Herb Spread

Wiggle your toes and get out your whisks. It's time for Barefoot Thursdays... This week, our assignment was Ina Garten's Smoked Salmon Spread. While I'm sure it's delicious if you are a fan of dried salmon, I veered in a fish-free direction and converted my spread into a crudite (raw vegetable) dip. What is about the process of dipping that is so pleasurable and indulgent? I think dip must be magical. I offer as evidence the long list of food that you can convince children to eat with a little dip. Well, actually, for adults too. Raw broccoli just isn't that spectacular alone and naked. (I'm talking about the broccoli-not me! Shame on you!)
This dip will make your broccoli spectacular, fully dressed, and companionable. It's light, lemony, not too bad for you and totally addictive; oh so much better than any lousy packet of dried french onion dip mix you find at the store. Although, I've been known to eat that, too. With mediocre grocery store brand chips. I told you dip was magical.
Lemon Herb Spread
Estimated Cost: $3.50
Notes: I served this dip with a platter of colorful vegetables, but it would also work well with long pretzels, french bread, or crackers.
4 ounces 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1/2 cup light sour cream or plain yogurt
3 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs, such as mint, basil, cilantro, or dill
3 tablespoons chopped green onions
1 teaspoon horseradish, drained
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 ounces crumbled feta cheese
Mix cream cheese and sour cream until well combined. Add remaining ingredients. Chill until serving time. Sprinkle with additional green onions, herbs and pepper before serving.
Coming Tomorrow:
Grilled Honey and Lime Chicken

Barefoot Thursdays: Parmesan Chicken Tenders with Sweet and Spicy Ketchup

It's Barefoot Thursday, so get ready for a recipe from the Queen of Deliciousness, the Grande Dame of Good Living, the Barefoot Contessa, the inimitable Ina Garten.....
Good-bye New Orleans and hello humble home. At 1 AM I finally walked through my own door. My Quiet Man husband had the presence of mind to pick up every toy and vacuum and dust. I think I'm really truly deeply madly in love. A man looks his best when he's holding a squirt bottle of formula 409. Just my opinion.
So at 1 AM, I briefly considered getting my post ready, but instead made a beeline for my clean fluffy pillow. (Quiet Man washed the sheets too.) Seven hours later, I'm up and ready to share Parmesan Chicken Tenders with Sweet and Spicy Ketchup. Estimated Cost: $5.00

You've got to have a good breaded chicken recipe in your cooking arsenal. It's fast, easy, cheap and everyone of every age on planet earth will love them. Except your vegetarian friends, but you just make them a piece of breaded zucchini instead. Ina made an elegant salad with lemon vinaigrette on which she served her chicken. But its your world, so serve it the way you like. You could smother it with red sauce and cheese for classic chicken Parmesan, or you could serve it plain with a fun dipping sauce, like I did. It's kid friendly that way, and since I had about 856 kids at my house last week, the choice was easy.
Here's the skinny on breaded chicken. Although it doesn't photograph well, please save yourself some clean up work by using paper plates for prep. First, dip your chicken (I'm using tenders but any boneless cut will do) in a flour mixture. This will give the bread coating something to adhere to later. Next, dip your floured chicken in a beaten egg and water mixture. Finally, coat your chicken in a mixture of bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. I like to let my chicken dry out on a rack for about ten minutes, just to help that coating stay put during the light frying process. Not necessary when in a rush, but helpful otherwise.Heat a couple of tablespoons of oil in a fry pan-just enough to coat the bottom generously. Make sure your oil is good and hot before you toss in your chicken. Resist the temptation to move your chicken around; just leave it alone and let it get good and brown on one side. Flip and repeat.
Here's a Food Network link to the complete recipe for Ina's Parmesan Chicken.
For my Sweet and Spicy Ketchup, simply combine 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and a generous pinch of cayenne or a couple glugs of Tabasco. Coming Tomorrow:Soy and Lime Grilled Tri-tip
It's so good to be home....

Food and Furthermore VII

We're getting to be a hefty group of penny pinchers. Last week we had about 3,000 readers. Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell your dog walkers, hair dressers, and aroma therapists. Scroll down for the Family Reunion Report and this yummy dip recipe.....Greetings from New Orleans! I had every intention of continuing with daily posts. I cooked through our family reunion, I posted through out Salt Lake City vacation, and I planned to forge ahead through my current business trip. Alas, the hotel offered wireless Internet at a whopping $15 a day. To be worthy of the appelation "Prudence Pennywise," I felt I should decline, and I missed you deeply and terribly. But now, with the conference beginning, I've got free wireless at the conference center. I'm back, and I'm cheaper than ever, dear readers....
Furthermore....last week was the gimungous, hugantic family reunion for my side of the family. 40 plus cousins, 10 siblings and spouses, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews all converged in my town for a whopping good time. Let me give you a couple of snippets of our activities. We saw the Sound of Music at an outdoor theatre....
We had daily family breakfasts and devotionals. My sisters have a flair for food presentation. I could learn alot.

My clever sister Laurie posted the day's activities on her handy bulletin board.
We had a Western Party, complete with a square dance caller. Yee Haw! It's funner than you think, this square dancing stuff. I could have do si doed all night. And then promenaded some more.

Big Stuff likes watching better than dancing, but we let him be since he pays for all the parties. Thanks, Dad!

We rented out a burger joint and had a 50's party. Think hula hoops, burgers, fries, shakes, and
dancing! I won't mention the sleepless night making that pink poodle skirt. But my little girl is smiling and happy and so am I. Yawn.
Now for the food....We can't have a family party without our slightly odd but very famous "R" family dip. It might sound strange, but don't be put off. It's easy, fast, and totally addictive-so be warned. You can use veggies, or baked chips but the best dipper is a Ruffles potato chip, hands down. Put some out for your 4th of July BBQ.

R Family Cottage Cheese Dip

Estimated Cost: $4.00

16 ounces small curd cottage cheese, preferrably Knudson

1/2 cup mayonnaise (double this amount if you are making it for my dad)

3/4 cup chopped green onions, plus more for garnish

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Combine all ingredients. Garnish with extra green onions and black pepper. Serve with Ruffles. Eat at every family party.

Coming Tomorrow:

Tuesdays with Dorie

Cherry, Raspberry and Blueberry Cobbler