Surprise Kiss

Posts Tagged ‘cooking’

A few weeks ago I wrote about a reader’s date night with her husband and how most Friday nights they enjoy watching sci-fi movies and having pizza deliver at home.  Another reader, Maria, wrote to me about how she and her husband on Saturday nights enjoy an evening at home watching movies also but her venue is a little different.

They enjoy renting through Netflix an Australian series about daughters and friends who manage a ranch in Southern Australia. It is called McLeod’s Daughters. The series ran for about 6 years and was a hit in Australia. They started with season 1 and are working through the rest of the series every Saturday evening.

Maria and Bruce get in the kitchen together and cooked a simple meal of salmon toped with a dill sauce and a salad. She was kind enough to share her recipe and said it is delicious! I plan on trying it this weekend.

Salmon with Dill Sauce

Wild Salmon (2 servings)

Season to your liking.  They like salt/pepper/ginger/lemon.

Place aluminum foil around the Salmon and seasoning and bake at 350 degrees until desired doneness about 8 to 10 minutes.

Dill Sauce Dip

1 cup plain Greek Yogurt (Maria recommends the full strength vs. low fat for this recipe)
1 handful of fresh dill, chopped
About 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (or your taste)
Salt to taste

Mix dill until it is all incorporated. It’s more of a creamy texture than a thin texture. Then top Dill Sauce on baked salmon.

Maria and Bruce have also concocted their own drink to enjoy while watching McLeod’s Daughters. This libation sounds very yummy.

Australian Tequila Sunset

1 part fresh lemon juice
1 part tequila (They use Gold Cuervo which has a light flavor vs. the oak barrel type)
4 parts soda water with ice (They use TJ’s Sparking Mineral Water)
Sugar to taste

Maria told me this has become their Saturday night tradition that they look forward to doing together. Cocktails, a gourmet dinner and a movie, a special night enjoyed together without spending a fortune. What a delight!

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Want to go to an awesome small, historical New England town for a little romance and relaxation? Then consider going to Mystic, Connecticut. The town of Mystic was founded in 1654 and was known as the shipbuilding mega during the clipper ship era. You both will have a very memorable weekend because there is a lot to do in and around this quaint little village.

After researching this area I found that the Saybrook Point Inn and Spa was the most recommended by several travel websites. It has been designated as a green hotel. Saybrook Point Inn and Spa overlooks panoramic views of Long Island Sound and is in the heart of historic Old Saybrook. You are minutes away from antique shops and theaters.

Here are just a few things you can do in Mystic, CT:

• Essex Steam Train & Riverboat – A train ride and dinner
• Mystic Seaport – Living history museum
• The Gray Goose Cookery – $35 for lunch and learn classes
• Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration
• Old Mistick Village – New England style shopping
• Stonington Vineyards – Wine
• B F Clyde’s Cider Mill – A winery producing hard cider

There are name brand outlets and casinos too! You could even go to eat at Mystic Pizza Restaurant where the 1988 film, Mystic Pizza, with Julia Roberts was filmed at.

Have a little Mystic love affair with your sweetheart in Mystic, Ct you will both go home with a mystic smile on your face everyone will be wondering about!

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

*Remember to always do your own research on where you want to stay and what you want to do. Service, reviews, costs, etc can change. Like I always say “Buyer beware.”

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Want to do something a little different for date night? Rent or borrow a boat (paddle, motor or sail boat) and enjoy a picnic dinner floating in the middle of a lake at sunset. Leave a note for your sweetheart that says:

“Life is always a picnic with you! Let’s sail away tonight and watch the sunset in our own little private boat!”

Pack a simple picnic dinner:

• Wine, Beer or Sparkling Cider
• Tomatoes & Pepper Jack Cheese on skewers marinated in Italian Dressing
• Grill Chicken or Salmon
• Salad of your choice
• Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pack everything and of you go to your romantic dinner.

Ah, you will both be enjoying the beauty of swaying trees, lapping water, chirping birds and the laughter and the pleasure of each other. Most importantly you will be creating memories for a lifetime! Who says date night is always boring?

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

What if you could make your spouse’s favorite restaurant meals that tasted as good as going to the restaurant? There are three websites that will help you do just that. What makes this so great is maybe you and your spouse are craving a certain dish at your favorite eatery but don’t have any money to splurge on eating out.

These websites helps you control the cost and control what you are putting into your body. As you know home-cooked meals cost less than eating out. So why not look at these three websites and see if you can find the special recipe you both have been craving for.

Larry loves the Olive Garden’s salad dressing. I looked it up on one of these websites and made it for him. He thought I went to the Olive Garden and purchased it there.

Why not surprise your spouse or talk with them and decide what you both want to make together. You can go to:

• copycat.cdkitchen.com
• recipes.robbiehaf.com
• copykat.com

Set the table, light the candles and add some nice music for a romantic dinner with your favorite restaurant meal at home. The money you saved can be put away in your anniversary envelope or account. Just another way to have more money for your romantic getaway!

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Yesterday it rained most of the day and it was cold, it was 50 during the day. I know some of you are laughing but for us Californians that is cold. Since the weather is chilly, I decided to make one of my husband’s favorite meals which is Tortellini Soup. This is an old recipe that I got from Bon Appétit years ago. I made some slight changes. It smells wonderful and everyone that has tried it loves it.

Tortellini Soup

4 14 ½ oz cans of beef broth
4 cups water
1 lb mild Italian sausage, cut into ½ inch pieces
10 oz fresh cheese tortellini pasta
10 oz fresh spinach tortellini pasta
½ lb cabbage, shredded
1 small green bell pepper, cored and diced
1 medium zucchini, sliced
1 small red onion, chopped
1 medium tomato, diced
1 crushed clove garlic
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Combine first 12 ingredients in large pot and season with salt and pepper. Bring to slow boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 min. Ladle soup into bowls. Serve immediately, passing grated Parmesan cheese. (Soup can be prepared 1 day ahead, covered and refrigerated)

Serve with garlic bread and a nice green salad. Delicious!!!

This makes a huge pot of soup. I have friends who have moved out of state call me because they couldn’t find the recipe and needed it. You will become quite famous when you serve this to family and friends. It will warm their hearts.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Since Saturday night is Halloween and it will be a busy evening because you will be taking the kids out trick or treating, why not make dinner ahead of time.  My husband and I love to cook together and a lot of times we will fix dinner for the next day.  I have a great recipe that I like to do for Halloween. It is easy and low in calories. I got it years ago from Cooking Light Magazine. I tweaked it a little by adding sugar to help cut down on the acid and serving it over rice. I have served it to many people and they all love it. Cook up some fun with my famous chili.

Butternut-Beef Chili

1 lb ground round or ground turkey
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
3 cups chopped tomato (about 2 large)
3 cups cooked peeled butternut squash (about 1 small) (*See below)
3 cups water
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
½ teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 (16-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ cup small pitted ripe olives
2 to 3 tablespoons minced seeded jalapeno pepper
6 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Hot cooked brown or white rice for 6

Combine the first 3 ingredients in a Dutch oven, and cook over medium-high heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Drain well; return meat mixture to pan. Stir in tomato and next 10 ingredients (tomato through garlic; (bring to boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in olives and jalapeno; cook 5 minutes. Spoon rice into bowls and ladle chili on top, then top each serving with green onions and cilantro. Yields about 6 servings or more.  Serve with cornbread and salad.

*Butternut Squash Cooking Instructions:

Halve squash lengthwise and scope out seeds. Bake cut side down in a baking dish with 1-2 inches of water at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until tender.  Peel and cube.

Get together with your husband and cook up dinner for Halloween. Hope you enjoy this chili recipe as much as my family has.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.