#1. What snacks do you eat at the movies? Do you buy them there or bring your own?

We don’t go to the movies much.   When we do, we usually eat first and we’re not hungry for snacks.
#2. What’s your favorite food movie, or movie that shows a lot of food?

Hmmm…I can’t think of one.
#3. What food or meal do you wish was available at the movies and why?

I wish they had plain popcorn drizzled with EVOO.
#4. What’s your most favorite way to make popcorn? Hot, cold, buttered, air, microwave, chocolate, caramel, you get it.

We have a hot air popcorn popper that we use all the time.  Recently we started buying organic popcorn in the bulk products at Central Market.  (for $1.19/pound)  We drizzle it with EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil) and then salt it with sea salt.  So yummy!!

#1. What brand of frozen dinners do you think are the best and why?

It’s been a while since we’ve had frozen dinners. I don’t remember the brand, but there was some frozen manicotti that we really liked a lot.

#2. What is your favorite frozen waffle or breakfast food?

Eggo Whole Wheat Waffles
#3. Frozen appetizers. Which one is your favorite?

Cheese sticks
#4. Share a recipe or meal made from at least one frozen food.

I use frozen veggies a lot, so a lot of meal variations could come from that.

As far as a recipe, this is quick and easy: Take a frozen pizza, add more cheese, and top with lots of your favorite fresh veggies. We add sliced Roma tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, onion, and green olives.

#1. When going out to dinner what items do your order? Appetizers, soup, salad, dinner, dessert.

Sometimes we order an appetizer to share. I usually order a dinner that comes with a salad. We rarely order dessert, but if we do, we get one piece and split it .

#2. How predictable are you when eating out? Do you usually order a meal that you’ve had before or do you like to try new things?

I am very predictable. Every once in a while, I’ll try something new.

#3. When eating at a restaurant, what beverage do you like to order with your meal?

Usually water with lemon, but sometimes I order iced tea with lemon.

#4. Name a meal that you ate at a restaurant that you liked so much you tried to recreate it, as well as the name of the restaurant and the recipe.

I have tried to recreate several dishes in the past, but artichoke spinach dip is probably the main thing. Here’s a recipe a friend of mine gave me for Olive Garden’s Artichoke Spinach Dip. It’s really good, but I’m still trying to make the dip closer to what we’ve had at Charleston’s.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped artichoke hearts
• 1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach
• 8 ounces sour cream cream cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (I left these out the second time I made it- my family likes it better that way)
• dash ground pepper

Directions:

Cook the spinach and artichoke hearts in a cup of water for about 10 minutes or until tender. Drain.

Heat the cream cheese in a small bowl in the microwave for 1 minute. Add the spinach mixture and stir well.

Add the Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well.

Serve with crackers or toasted bread strips for dipping. What we like best is to serve with Tostitos Gold Chips. They’re small triangular chips that are thicker and don’t break when dipping into a thick dip. I think that’s what they’re called. I know it has “gold” in the name. 🙂

From Fun, Crafts and Recipes

#1. Cottage cheese. Small curd, large curd, chunk or whipped?

Small curd, low fat.
#2. Burgers. Made fresh, preformed fresh or preformed frozen?

Fresh, either way, on whole wheat buns made in Central Market’s bakery.

#3. If you could only buy one kind of salad dressing what would it be?

Ken’s Steak House Creamy Caesar is what my whole family really likes!

#4. Share a crockpot or slow cooker recipe.

Crock Pot Chicken

(I post the recipe separately so I can index the recipes.)