April/May Recipe Exchange

It's time for the April/May Recipe Exchange! This round's theme is Family Recipes. Do you have something absolutely fabulous that is in your family that you want to share with others? How about Grandma's Famous Apple Pie or your Dad's Killer BBQ Ribs? For this round you can choose any category - main dishes, appetizers, desserts, etc.

What to do:
1) Pick a family recipe that you enjoy (and can share, of course).
2) Submit the recipe to Amy: amabbate at gmail dot com. Submission deadline is Monday, April 21st.
3) Make the recipe!
4) Post the recipe, review, and pictures (if you can) to your blog or in a post. The deadline to make your recipe is Sunday, May 11th.
5) E-mail Amy with a link to the blog entry or post so we can keep track of the entries.

Rules:
1) Include your nestie name, any food allergies, any dietary restrictions, and dislikes.
2) Please make the title/subject of the e-mail the name of the recipe. For example, Subject: Mom's Lasagna.
3) If you use a recipe from someone else, be sure to cite your source.
4) If a previously submitted recipe was not made, you can re-submit the same recipe.
5) A list will be kept of who has and has not made their recipe.

This rounds coordinator is joeysgirl2008 (Amy). Please e-mail her account or page her on WC if you have questions.

Hope everyone enjoys this exchange! :)

Mar/Apr Recipe Exchange Roundup

Thanks to all of you who participated. I think that this was a learning experience for all of us. There were certainly lots of recipes for dishes I've never tried. I am sorry to the 4 girls whose recipes did not/have not yet been made. I have emailed those who haven't yet participated. Hope you all enjoyed!

If you are interested in hosting the next recipe exchange, please email me at nbbride06@gmail.com.


Baked Garlic Cheese Grits
Made by MrsSisler, Submitted by kanchan

Cheesy Baked Tortellini
Made by Jamaicamama, Submitted by LaKi

Chicken Corn Chowder
Made by AggieAshley07, Submitted by I&R_4_23_06

Chicken Fajitas
Made by joh123, Submitted by FayeD

Enchilada Soup
Made by kanchan, Submitted by mrsdanigirl8

Granny's Quick Fruit Cobbler
Made by I&R_4_23_06, Submitted by Jen_n_Dave

Grits Stuffed Greens
Made by blu-eyedwife, Submitted by joh123

Ham (or Chicken) Wild Rice Soup
Made by krkapple, Submitted by Adamswife

Irish Stew
Made by princessannie12, Submitted by ruthnrob

Jambalaya Pasta
Made by widdel22, Submitted by joeysgirl2008

New York Crumb Cake
Made by nbbride06, Submitted by luluk1102

Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Made by mrsdanigirl8, Submitted by kreeper611

Pepperoni Rolls
Made by ruthnrob, Submitted by MrsSisler

Real Chalupas
Made by kreeper611, Submitted by krkapple

Roasted Tilapia with Tomatoes and Olives
Made by septemberdc, Submitted by Widdel22

Romaine and Gorgonzola Salad with Roasted Garlic Dressing
Made by luluk1102, Submitted by nbbride06

Rum Buns
Made by joeysgirl2008, Submitted by septemberdc

Shrimp and Avocado Cornets
Made by hornedfroggy, Submitted by blu-eyedwife

Southern Peach Cobbler
Made by Adamswife, Submitted by princessannie12

Tator Tot Casserole
Made by Caramellagirl, Submitted by carrie*robby*oct20

Texas Caviar
Made by FayeD, Submitted by hornedfroggy

Tortas Ahogadas
Made by Jen_n_Dave, Submitted by AggieAshley07

Mar/Apr Recipe Exchange

It's time for the Mar/Apr WC Recipe Exchange! This round's theme is Regional Cuisine. Please choose a recipe that you think complements the region, state, etc. in which you live. You may choose any category - breakfast, appetizer, main course, dessert, etc. Please do not worry about what others may classify as your region, but go by your own definition.

The process:
1) Pick a regional recipe that you enjoy.
2) Submit the recipe to nbbride06@gmail.com. The submission deadline is Monday, March 10. Please include:
- Your nestie name
- Any food allergies, dietary restrictions, or dislikes
- The region your recipe is from
3) I will distribute recipes by Friday, March 14.
4) Make the recipe!
5) Post the recipe, review, and pictures (if possible) on your blog and/or in a post. The deadline to make and post your recipe is Monday, March 31.
6) E-mail nbbride06@gmail.com with:
- A link to your blog entry (if you have one)
- A link to your post here
7) I will then post a recipe round-up in April.

Rules:
1) Please make the title or your e-mail to me the name of your recipe (Ex: Blueberry Waffles)
2) If you use a recipe from someone else, a cookbook, magazine, or online, be sure to cite your source.
3) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't sign up if you don't intend to make your recipe. I will be as accommodating as possible with all requests, but it is not fair to those who spend time doing this to not have their recipe made. Please email me at nbbride06@gmail.com if you have any questions, or post them here.

Also, if you would like to volunteer to host the May/June exchange, please let me know.

Jan/Feb Recipe Exchange Roundup

Thank you to all the gals who participated! Below is a list of the recipes and links to the blog or nest post.

If your submission is missing, please e-mail your link to wc.recipeexchange at yahoo.com. I'll update this post with your information. So far there are 3 recipes missing out of the 24 submitted.

Minestrone Soup
http://mybakingheart.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/my-first-wc-recipe-exchange-its-minestrone-by-the-way/

Apple, Leek, and Butternut Squash Gratin
http://itsmelissaskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/02/apple-leek-and-butternut-squash-gratin.html

Chicken Fingers with Ranch Dip and Seasoned Fries
http://erinslifeinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2008/02/chicken-fingers-with-ranch-dip-and.html

Chicken Stroganoff
http://sandkr.blogspot.com/2008/02/chicken-stroganoff.html

Golden Winter Soup
http://onetinypinkkitchen.blogspot.com/2008/02/whats-cooking-recipe-exchange.html

Garden Vegetable Crustless Quiche
http://katorade.blogspot.com/2008/02/healthy-eating.html

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
http://culinaryinfatuation.blogspot.com/2008/02/wc-recipe-exchange-chicken-wild-rice.html

Lighter Sesame Chicken
http://josephswife.blogspot.com/2008/02/whats-cooking-janfeb-recipe-exchange.html

Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers
FayeD made this, but does not have a blog. This link is to the original recipe.
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/chicken_finger.html

Three Bean and Vegetable Chili
http://reservationsnotrequired.blogspot.com/2008/02/wc-recipe-exchange-three-bean-and.html

Blueberry and Lemon Tarts
http://emas-edible-experiments.blogspot.com/2008/02/wc-recipe-exchange.html

Penne w/ Sundried Tomatoes and Chicken
http://boards.thenest.com/boards/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=43224850&MsdVisit=1

Applesauce and Oatmeal Muffins
http://kandicescookingcreations.blogspot.com/2008/02/wc-recipe-exchange-applesauce-oatmeal.html

Heart Healthy Fettuccine Alfredo
http://noodlenightsandmuffinmornings.blogspot.com/2008/02/lifes-too-short-to-make-fettuccini.html

Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken
http://carascravings.blogspot.com/2008/02/mediterranean-stuffed-chicken.html

Mini Meatloaf Muffins
http://my-food-obsession.blogspot.com/2008/02/wc-recipe-exchange-mini-meatloaf.html

Pineapple Upside Down Cake
http://theshannonskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/02/recipe-exchange-feb-08.html

Chicken Saltimbocca
http://joyofcooking.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/wc-recipe-exchange-2/

Grilled Shrimp with Citrus Dipping Sauce
http://brooke-cookiejar.blogspot.com/2008/02/recipe-exchange-grilled-shrimp-with.html


Baked Potato Soup
MoFree made this but does not have a blog. Below is a link to the original recipe.
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1654706

Almond Lace Cookies
KayteandRob posted on the nest about this but I don't have a link. Below is a link to the original recipe.
http://www.applesforhealth.com/HealthyDesserts/almlacecoo3.html

Q & A with Doril

When did you start cooking?

"Start" is a relative term. The closest I got to cooking before I went away to college was a box of Dunan Hines cookie mix with some friends. Once I was living on my own, I still wouldn't call what I cooked "real cooking." Steamed veggies, rice and a chicken breast do not a gourmet meal make. I think I really started cooking when I moved in with my then boyfriend-turned fiance-turned husband. I couldn't stand how unhealthy he ate and I was determined to try to turn that around. My next mile marker on the cooking journey was when I joined Weight Watchers last year. I realized that I could still eat all the delicious, homemade meals I wanted...I just had to fiddle with some of the ingredients and watch the portions size. Thats when things really took off and i haven't looked back!

Who inspires you?

If you go to the first post in my blog, I talk about my mom. Her and my dad raised my brother and I right in learning early on that square meals (protein, veggie, starch) and salads and fruit are good to eat, not just good for you. There is a rarely a time when my mom cooks something that isn't outstanding and she never uses ingredients like sugar or salt.

If you could have lessons from one chef, who would it be?

As unhealthy as her meals are, I'd love to spend a day with Ina Garten in her kitchen. We would pick herbs and veggies from her garden, melt butter by the pound, go visit out local fishmonger, and sip wine at the end of the day by the ocean....it would be a great day.

Favorite thing to cook/bake? Etc.

Anything Italian. Lasagna, anything parmagiana, pizza, chicken.

What's one fear you have in the kitchen?

I don't really have any fears right now, just disinterests like homemade cake. I'd su much rather buy a box mix and call it a day. My big fear used to be yeast. I tackled it recently and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be but my recipes weren't exactly 100% successful either. I'm not running back to try them again.

Feature Blog of The Week

Doril at Foodie Fasionista

Cara choose Dorils blog because she has great recipes, and I admire her dedication towards a healthy lifestyle. I also really like her layout and pictures, I can really see the effort she is putting into what she shares with us.

Check out all Dorils great recipes

Jan/Feb Recipe Exchange

Time for the Jan/Feb WC Recipe Exchange! This rounds theme is Healthy Recipes. For this round you can choose any category - breakfast, appetizer, soup, etc. And don't worry about what others define as healthy; go by your definition.

What to do:
1) Pick a healthy recipe that you enjoy.
2) Submit the recipe to wc.recipeexchange at yahoo.com. Submission deadline is Friday, 25 January.
3) Make the recipe!
4) Post the recipe, review, and pictures (if you can) to your blog or in a post. The deadline to make your recipe is Sunday, February 17th.
5) E-mail the WC Recipe Exchange with a link to the blog entry or post so we can keep track of the entries.

Rules:
1) Include your nestie name, any food allergies, any dietary restrictions, and dislikes.
2) Please make the title of the e-mail the name of the recipe. For example, Subject: Cinnamon-Apple Wheat Pancakes.
3) If you use a recipe from someone else, a book, magazine, or on-line, be sure to cite your source.
4) If a previously submitted recipe was not made, you can re-submit the same recipe.
5) A list will be kept of who has and has not made their recipe.

This rounds coordinator is FayeD. Please e-mail the recipe exchange account if you have questions. She unfortunately cannot check the account from work but will check in the evenings. If you need an answer faster please try paging her on the WC board.

Happy cooking!