Shull - Mix-and-Match Mama Eats

Cover by Kyler Dougherty Published in association with William K. Jensen Literary Agency, 119 Bampton Court, Eugene, Oregon 97404 Interior design Faceout Studio Food photography by Shay Shull All other photos by Claire McCormack Hogan Mix-and-Match Mama Eats Copyright 2016 Mix and Match Mama Published by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97402 www.harvesthousepublishers.com ISBN 978-0-7369-6613-9 (hardback) ISBN 978-0-7369-6614-6 (eBook) All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted. Participation in or encouragement of piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of authors and publishers rights is strictly prohibited. For Andrew, Kensington, Smith, and Ashby I am so blessed to sit at our table each night and share a meal with you. Love you. CONTENTS M aybe you picked up this book because you like to cook. CONTENTS M aybe you picked up this book because you like to cook.

Maybe you picked up this book because you read my blog. Maybe you picked up this book because you are tired of coming up with dinner ideas each night and you desperately need a few new tried-and-true recipes to turn to. You know what? Whichever gal you are, this book is for you! Years ago, my girlfriend Rachel made us her chocolate chip Bundt cake one day for a little event. Well, we all just loved it and asked Rachel for the recipe. And after thatWe all made this Bundt cake. We made it for every baby shower, church social, potluck, and dinner with friends.

We made it so much that after a year, I just couldnt make or eat this cake again. That being said, I didnt want to try a new recipe. I loved her recipe. I love the simplicity, the easy directions, and the fact that it turned out every single time. I loved that method. So I took the method and tweaked it just a bit, mixing and matching it into a butterscotch Bundt cake.

My girlfriends loved it! They loved it so much that the next time, I made it into a lemon Bundt cake, and then a pumpkin Bundt cakeand then Rachel finally asked me how many versions I thought I could make. I looked at her and blurted out the first number that came into my head100. Well, two years later, I finally finished my last Bundt cake in my little experiment, Bundt cake 101. Same recipe, same method, just with a few little tweaks. I realized as I was making these cakes that women really want to serve a variety of foods to their families, but at the same time they want reliable, trustworthy, crowd pleasing recipes that they know will turn out each time. I took that philosophy and my love of mixing and matching and applied my concept to all food.

Like sloppy joes? I can make 30 different versions using the same method. Monkey bread? Done! Burgers? Simple! Enchiladas, soups, casseroles, appetizers, breakfastsyou name it, I can mix and match it. I want people to want to be in the kitchen. I want people to want to make yummy, seasonal, quick, and simple recipes for their families each day. More than anything, I want people to be sharing meals together. Sitting down at their tables, digging into hearty suppers, and pouring out their days to one another.

Thats what I want. I want togetherness for you and your family. Food doesnt need to be complicated. Ingredient lists dont need to be long. Hours dont need to be spent slaving away over the stove. It should be quick.

It should be simple. It should be seasonal. And it should be shared with the ones you love. Unless noted, all entre recipes in this book serve four. From my kitchen to yours, happy cooking! How to Get Cooked Chicken Quickly 1. Stick frozen or thawed chicken in a slow cooker on low 7 to 8 hours or high 3 to 4 hours with water (about 1 cup).

This will poach your chicken, and then all you have to do is shred it with two forks right into your mixing bowl. Easyand my favorite method! 2. Use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and shred that up. 3. Chop leftover grilled, baked, or sauted chicken. How to Make Slow Cooker Meals Taste Better 1.

Always add something fresh at the end. Whether thats freshly grated cheese, chopped herbs, chopped green onion, or toasted nuts. Something fresh at the end always brightens up a slow-cooker meal. 2. Always brown your beef before you put it in the slow cooker. It only takes five extra minutes, but it helps your meal develop so much color and flavor.

My Best Entertaining Tips 1. Dont make all your own food! The Barefoot Contessa says that when hosting a party, you should make no more than three dishes yourself. Having a party is not about showing off how many recipes you can make. Its about being with your friends and family. Its about having fun! You need to take some help from the grocery store and buy dips, nuts, dessert, rolls, side disheswhatever. Just let them help you! Dont overwhelm yourself by trying to make everything yourself.

No one has fun with an anxious and busy host. 2. Candles! Candles! Candles! If you come to a party at my house, expect no less than twenty lit candles. I have them lit all over the place, even in rooms less frequented. It just says party when there are dim lights and candles. 3.

Speaking of lights, dim yours! I hate going to a party where the main overhead lights are blaring. That seems so impersonal, like a doctors office. Dim those lights, use lamps, and light your candles. Trust me, it will change the whole mood of the evening. 4. Listen to Michael Bubl.

Okay, okay, you dont have to listen to Bubl (but you should!). Just have some sort of nice, relaxing music playing. Or have festive party music playing. The music really sets the tempo of the party. 5. Dont cry.

You dont know how many times Ive been to a party where the hostess has cried because some dish didnt turn out right. Calm down, take a deep breath, and laugh about it. Worst case scenario, you order a pizza. If youre stressed out, your guests will be too. Just laugh it off and have fun. 6. 6.

Keep it simple! Casual food equals casual conversation. I love to serve big casseroles, taco bars, chili, and soupsyou know, easy and relaxing food. My friend Lori is the total inspiration for this. Whenever I go to her house, she serves the best and yummiest food without fussing over it too much (soups and sandwiches, pasta salads, dips and chips). If youre fussing over Beef Wellington or Filet Mignon with Lobster Sauce, your guests will feel like its a formal dinner, and theyll act stiff. I want them eating sloppy joes and feeling at ease at my house.

Just because the mama cooks doesnt mean the mama needs to show off. A good old Tostada Bar with a festive dessert and some fun music will create the perfect party. 7. Its the experience, not the food. The sign of a good party? When I leave and dont really recall what I ate but remember the people, the easy conversation, and the warm feeling the home gave me. If I leave remembering every course I ate but didnt really engage with anyone, it wasnt a successful party.