#1. If you could travel anywhere to have a meal, where would you want to go and what would you want to eat.

I would want to go back to Hawaii and have fresh pineapple (pineapple just picked that day) and other fruits.
#2. When you go away do you make your own meals or eat out?

We always eat out.  That’s part of the fun of the vacation!

Now when I was growing up, my mother would always fix sandwiches to eat in the car.  A lot of times we would stay in a motel or cabin that had a kitchenette and she would cook.
#3. While traveling if you have to stop for a meal do you go in or do you go through the drive thru and eat in the car?

It depends on the situation.  If we’re in a hurry, we eat in the car.  If we need to get out and stretch our legs or use the restroom, we go inside.
#4. Share a recipe or food related trip for people making a long trip by car.

We always take snacks with us when we go on long trips, and the funny thing is that we’re usually getting into the snacks before we get out of town.  My husband teases us about that.  🙂

We have fixed “Trail Mix” countless times to take on trips throughout the years.  Here’s the simple recipe:

Trail Mix

1/3 part peanuts

1/3 part raisins

1/3 part M & M’s

You can make a small quantity or large quantity, depending on what you want.

#1. When you need to serve desserts, do you buy them or make them?

I nearly always make them unless I’m in a time crunch.
#2. When baking do you use butter, margarine or something else?

I’ve started using Smart Balance some, and so far it’s worked fairly well.  A few things require butter, though, and several things can use canola oil which is great.
#3. What meats or veggies do you cook in the oven?

I rarely use my oven.  I do a lot of stir-fry or saute veggies on the stove top.  I cut up chicken breast fillets and cook them in olive oil in a skillet.  I cook fish in olive oil in a skillet, also.  Every once in a while, I’ll use my crock pot to cook a roast or a chicken recipe.
#4. Share a recipe for anything that is cooked in an oven.

Crunchy Chicken Crescents

#1. Fruits and veggies. Do you prefer them peeled or not?

Definitely peeled because of all the pesticides on them.   Unless they’re organic and then I don’t peel them.
#2. What’s your favorite fresh fruit or vegetable smell?

There are several:  sweet strawberries, juicy peaches, an orange being peeled, watermelon, okra frying in the pan or just about any fresh vegetable cooking.

#3. What’s the worst food smell you’ve ever smelled?

I can’t think what it was right now, but I know my family would say cooked cabbage.  I’m the only one who likes it, and on the rare occasion I do cook it then they start gagging when they come in the kitchen.  lol    Actually, I’m not the only one in my family who likes cooked cabbage…our dog loves it!!
#4. Share the recipe for the dish that you love to smell cooking in your oven.

Again there are several:  Enchiladas, Lasagna, Sopapilla Cheesecake, brownies & cookies.

Here’s a recipe for Eggless Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies that I got from our daughter.  The neat thing about this recipe is that it’s safe to eat the dough.

#1. Cake. Buttercream, whipped cream or ice cream?

We like either, buttercream icing or whipped cream icing.  And definitely ice cream with the cake!
#2. When entertaining do you use real, paper, plastic or styrofoam dishes?

Depends.   Real for dinners, plastic for larger informal get-togethers.
#3. When hosting a party do you cook, have it catered or go to a restaurant?

Also depends.   I usually fix the food myself.  But once when we had a surprise birthday party for my husband, we had it at a restaurant.  And now that I think about it, we had a surprise party for our daughter at a restaurant also.
#4. Share a recipe that you frequently serve when having a party.

Chicken Fajitas, black beans, refried beans, guacamole, queso dip, and Sopapilla Cheesecake for dessert

#1. Name your biggest cooking influence.

My mother!  (and second place would be my mother-in-law)
#2. What is your ultimate comfort food?

Depends.  I like comfort foods that remind me of foods I had while growing up like fried okra, squash, potatoes.  (fresh veggies)
#3. Name one must have tool that you think every kitchen should have.

Kitchen shears!
#4. Share a time saving tip.

I use my kitchen shears to cut up chicken breast into chicken nuggets.

#1. Name one cookbook, cooking website or food blog that you frequently use.

I use allrecipes.com when I’m hunting for a specific recipe.  I like the email subscriptions I have from  Fun, Crafts and Recipes, Mom Cooks, and My Wooden Spoon.  I’m sure there are more good food blogs that I don’t know about.  (or have forgotten about)
#2. Do you watch any cooking shows on tv? Which ones?

I used to, but I haven’t watched any in a long time.  I like Sara Moulton and Emeril’s shows, and there are some others I can’t think of right now.  One of my favorite cooking shows that was on years ago was called The Frugal Gourmet.
#3. Are you in a cooking rut? Name a food or dish that you’d like to find a recipe for.

Yes, I am, and I need to get out of it!!   I printed out the recipes below to make this week and next.
#4. Share a recipe created by somebody else that you haven’t tried but would like to.

There are several:

Fried Rice With Eggs (chicken)

Fajita Turkey Burgers

Chris’ Paprika Chicken

Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole

Can you tell we like chicken?  🙂