St. Patrick's Day Irish Coffee

St. Patrick's Day Irish Coffee: The best Irish Coffee that I have ever had was when 19 of us went to Ireland, hubs family and I. We try to go to a different country ever other year and that year we went to Ireland. It was one of the best trips, not only because I had never been to Ireland before but because they are of Irish decent, plus, Ireland is majestically breath taking. We just love being together, between laughing and story telling and lots of singing, there is lots of drinking! One gorgeous day, as we were driving the cliffs of Ireland, around the bend, my son in law and I noticed a beautiful spot to stop for a coffee. This is what we ordered. It was a  clear, crisp day overlooking the bright green cliffs, rams and sheep scattering about. As we were brought our Irish Coffee's, the waiter said a Good Morning with a twinkle in his eye. The first sip brought me to the Irish roots that I wish I had. It was so delicious with a combo of strong coffee, a bit of whiskey and fresh whipped thick cream. I savored each sip, admiring the Rhododendrons and wild Rosemary growing about. I sat thinking, don't lose this memory, 7 years later this memory strikes me whenever making an Irish Coffee. Because it is so simply delicious, a toast to you! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A shamrock for Good Luck!

 

Irish Coffee Recipe

1 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey
1 tsp brown sugar
6 oz hot coffee
Whipped heavy cream

Combine whiskey, sugar and coffee in a mug and stir to dissolve. Pour coffee into your favorite serving glass, float cold cream gently on top. Do not mix. Enjoy!

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Kreativ Blogger Award

I’m very excited to be the recipient of a Kreativ Blogger Award.  

I am so honored to be awarded The Kreative Blogger award by  Carrie at Carrie's Experimental Kitchen, Melissa Placzek of Chin Deep and Nel of The Papercup Kitchen.I have been blogging since August 13, 2011. Today is my seven month Blogiversary!
Thanks so much to Carrie Palladino Farias of Carrie's Experimental Kitchen, Melissa Placzek of Chin Deep, Nel Marie Rennison of The PaperCup Kitchen and Christine Simmerman (Pickles) of Food Thoughts Of A Wannabe Chef for nominating me. Be sure to check out Carrie's, Melissa's, Nel's and Christine's blog.  I met all four food bloggers on Facebook and immediately had a connection with all four of them. Even though we have never met in person, I feel like I have known them all for years. I am so inspired by these four incredible food bloggers. They have been food blogging for a lot longer than I and I learn so much from them everyday.
Being recognized as a Kreativ Blogger has opened up my exposure to new readers and followers.  I hope that those I nominate will embrace this opportunity and accept the challenge to share more about themselves as well as identify other blogs that they think stand out!
The guidelines for the award are:

• list six blogs that the recipient thinks are outstanding and deserving of the award

• share ten things that your readers may not know know about you

I have had lots of fun exploring other blogs.  And here are my nominations!
DRUM ROLL PLEASE!

1. Hot Pink Apron
2.Sugar and Spikes- Badassery in Baking
3. Ex-soy-cise! My soy-free fitness journey
4. Miranda Skinner- Pampered Chef
5. Rock Star Dad
6.Jett2Whit Productions

As for the 10 things about me that my readers may not know, here you go:

1. I grew up in Los Angeles.
2. I love planning parties and having parties. I will make up any excuse to have a party!
3. I have two beautiful children and three wonderful step children and an amazing husband.
4. I wanted ten children when I met my husband ( after all our kids are married, I will have ten kids, be careful what you wish for!)
5. I like to make simple recipes that don't make a big mess in the kitchen, one pot wonders!
6. I like to dream up recipes that involve lots of cheese.
7. I was a vegetarian when I moved to the East Coast. ( 19 years ago, do you think I will ever change my ways?)
8. I still dream of having a home on the ocean. ( I do have a bay view)
9. I collect coats, shoes and glasses.
10. I hoard food, especially now that I have my new pantry, if a disaster happens, you can always come to my home, we could probably live for another 5 years on what I have stocked away.

And there you have it: my 6 nominees and some little-known facts about this blogger.
Be sure to visit the blogs of my nominees.  Although all bloggers love traffic and new followers, it is the comments that keep us motivated to keep on plugging away.  So please leave comments when you visit.  Who knows, you could be the next nominee.
Thanks again to Carrie Palladino Farias of Carrie's Experimental Kitchen , Melissa Placzek of Chin Deep, Nel Marie Rennison of The PaperCup Kitchen and Christine Simmerman of Food Thoughts Of A Wannabe Chef for nominating me as a Kreativ Blogger.   Please visit them! Nettie Moore

Hasselback Potatoes

Hasselback Potato~ This is an easy and delicious way to make a potato look fancy.

Ingredients

6 Medium Size Potatoes
2 - 3 Cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Tbsp. Butter
 Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 425˚F. Put the potato on a chopping board, flat side down. Start from one end of the potato, cut almost all the way through.

Arrange the potatoes in a baking tray and insert the garlic in between the slits. Scatter some butter on top of each potato. Then drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy and the flesh is soft.

Serve with Teryaki marinated steak, I use Soy Vay marinade and Chinese Fried Garlic, marinated over night.

 

This post has been linked up to these fabulous blogs!

I have been awarded the ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD

I  received the "One Lovely Blog" Award from Ally's Kitchen. First off, I have to say that I am so honored that she chose me to give this award to. Ally was one of the very first bloggers who did a "shout out" about my blog to all of her thousands of followers announcing that she was doing an "Ally Rally" and that everyone should follow me, I- really- don't know- what- the- heck- I -am- doing- Moore- Or- Less- Cooking- Blog! I fell in love with Ally's photos and recipes and her irresistible love for food. As part of this award I must share some things about myself and then pass on this award to five (5) bloggers, who must do the same. 

 Describe yourself in 7 words…

Happy, Outgoing, Loving, Generous, Protective,  Loyal, Adventurous ( I really like how I chose all positive words about myself, it didn't specify, so I am not giving out the negative stuff!)

What keeps you up at night?

It used to be Menopausal Symptoms, but now that I had surgery last summer and am taking HR, I sleep like a baby.Usually just hubs snoring or us fighting over the covers keeps me up at night!

Who would you like to be?

There is a saying, "If everyone threw all of their problems in the middle of the circle, you would take your own back". I gotta be me!!

What scares you

I try not to think about what scares me, I believe that if you project your thoughts you can make them happen, so I try to think positive happy thoughts. All of my years of yoga practice has helped me to work on this, it is a practice after all. I heard someone say, "Worrying is praying for something to come true". I have to practice not to worry.

What are the best and worst things about blogging?

The Best things about blogging are:

Meeting so many wonderful people. I started blogging in August of 2011 and I have over 800 followers on Facebook and Twitter and My Blog Moore or Less Cooking. I would never have met all of these wonderful foodies if it weren't for Blogging and Facebook. So, since I have so many foodie friends, I am inspired by their comments and reactions to what I have cooked or baked or created, I have photographed every step, I have written about my experiences and then I get to put it all together and let the world critique my every move and every word. Pretty cool huh? I think it is incredible. Why? Because almost every single follower or friend that I have is very supportive and positive with their feedback and comments. These aren't friends and family, these are people that I have only met on Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest and Stumblr and Google!

The Worst things about blogging are:  It really is time consuming. Why? Because it is so addictive....there are so many wonderful recipes that I am wanting to share and write about and discuss with all of my new friends and then I look at the clock and 3 hours have passed and I have only posted pictures, but not in the order I imagined, so now I need to go back and rearrange them and then another 3 hours has passed and then, oh no.....I haven't even written about the recipe. Oh well, there is always tomorrow, got to go make dinner for my family!

What is the last website you looked at?
Six Sister's Stuff

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it  be? That I were better at letting go, yes, I know this is difficult for me, but at my age, I try not to let things stress me out, I have to take care of myself, so that I am healthy to take care of my family.

Slankets, yes or no? What does this have to do with the price of beans in South America? Yes, I live in Maine for God sakes.

Tell us something  about the person who tagged you…     I met What's for Dinner? Ally's Kitchen on Facebook when I first started blogging. I was hesitant to open a public account on Facebook for Moore Or Less Cooking because I am a very private person. One day Ally started an" Ally Rally" to get all of her friends to like me on Facebook,she said,"Let's get Nettie up to 100 fans." Every single one of Ally's followers had such wonderful things to say about Ally, I knew right away how generous and loving she was. Not only is Ally a famous Chef who has been on Master Chef and Gallo Commercials and is an actress and model and yogi, wife, mother and grandmother, she is a spectacular cook, baker and photographer with a positive upbeat personality that you just love talking to anytime. Here are some of What's for Dinner ? Ally's Kitchen's accomplishments and Awards:

	Master Chef Finalist Season 2 Top 100 Contestant Gallo Family Winery Grand Prize Winner Family Recipe Contest TASTE OF HOME Magazine November 2011 Featured on inside cover LENOX 1-2-3 Recipe Contest 2011 Winner  Examiner.com Ocean Spray Grand Prize Winner 2011 The Five Bloggers that I am awarding this One Lovely Award to are:

	Hillary Baldwin Baking Bad Debi Rogers Recipes For My Boys Marcy Elkin Hausman ,Blog Of A Perimenopausal Woman...When I Remember Nel  The PaperCup Kitchen Deb Debz Delicious Meals This post has been  linked up to these wonderful blogs!

Chocolate Banana Birthday Cake

This is a very special birthday cake for a very special girl who turned 18 years old. It's not every day that you turn 18 years old, so you need to have a very special cake. Most kids that I know request chocolate as a main ingredient in cookies and cakes, but let me tell you this is a double chocolate cake, with extra chocolaty goodness. The birthday girl loved my Chocolate Macadamia Nut Banana Bread so much that she requested it for her birthday cake. Of course I was thrilled and honored to make whatever she requested, but a bread for your birthday? I wasn't sure, so I thought and I thought and I went through every recipe of every blogger that I know looking for the perfect Chocolate Banana Cake, and low and behold, I found Dragon's Kitchen Chocolate Banana Cake! It sounded absolutely delicious and perfect for the Birthday Girl. So on this special day I created an amazing cake, step by step, it came out like perfection. I was swimming in the scent of chocolate aromatherapy.......heavenly. I skipped around the kitchen so pleased with myself that she would love her cake. The Birthday Girl's  Nonna arrived with candles and delivered her cake right to her. The phone rang with a very excited young lady on the other end, exclaiming with glee that it was perfect and lots of thank yous.

One piece of advice: Allow Bundt Cake to cool completely before turning out of bundt pan.

Had a hard time deciding which side to frost.

I chose this side.

Chocolate Glaze dripping everywhere, I mean everywhere.....free tastes!!

I took this incredible picture of Nonna and myself, obviously,  I have to stick with food photos!!

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup best-quality cocoa
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup sour cream
4 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup chocolate chips, melted and cooled slightly
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Glaze:
1 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Generously grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan.

2. In a bowl, sift flour with baking powder, baking soda, salt and cocoa; set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs until light in color and fluffy. Gradually add the sugar. Add butter and vanilla. Beat until well blended.
4. With mixer at low speed, beat in the sifted dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the sour cream. Fold bananas and melted chocolate into the cake batter; thoroughly combine.

5. Spoon cake batter into prepared Bundt pan and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

6. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Invert the cake onto a cooling rack and allow the cake to cool completely.

7. While the cake is cooling, prepare the chocolate glaze. Heat the cream until it just comes to a boil.

8. Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir until the chocolate is melted. Set aside until the cake is completely cooled.

9. When the cake is completely cooled, cover the top of the cake and sides with the glaze. Refrigerate the cake for at least an hour to set the glaze.   This recipe has been linked up to these wonderful blogs!
       

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