A Dragonfly's Design

Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil Pesto Crostini

2012-02-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

Three weeks of Meatless Monday's down!

Breakfast: Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Squares

While these were tasty, they did not hold up like in the picture. After cutting them and basically spooning them onto the dish, we topped the oatmeal with some (more) peanut butter and jelly (softened in the microwave for a few seconds so we could drizzle both). Overall, I was impressed with the simplicity of this dish and with the fact that there wasn't a lot of sugar- making them relatively healthy.

Lunch: left over Tomato soup
This soup lived up to every expectation I had. It had a well balanced tomato-y (is that even a word?) flavor that blended seamlessly with the salty Parmesan. It warmed us up from head to toe and filled our tummys. I am also pleased to report that the young man (he with hatred of veg) gobbled it all up. The trick is to make sure you cook it long enough for everything to get soft and then puree it until it's smooth.
It even re-heated well in the microwave (although I would lean toward re-heating it on the stove if I had the time).

Dinner: Minnestrone soup, green salad, and Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Pesto Crostini

Crostini means ''little toasts'' in Italian. Typically they are served as appetizers, the most common being bruschetta. You can top crostini with a large variety of meats, cheeses, or veggies. This is an easy rustic version. This made an excellent side to minestrone soup and salad.
PS- it's great the next day too (warmed up in the toaster oven OR cold)!

Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil Pesto Crostini

Ingredients...

1 Loaf crusty bread (I used an Artisnal Roasted Garlic loaf)

Mozzarella cheese (can sub monterey jack), shredded

Sliced tomato

1 teaspoon dry Basil or Italian seasoning

Prepared pizza sauce

Prepared Basil pesto

Grated Parmesan cheese

Directions...

Slice Crusty bread into 1/2 inch thick slices. Lay out in a single layer on a baking sheet.

Dollop a spoonful of pizza sauce and spread thin. You don't want a lot of sauce, it'll just make the bread soggy.

Sprinkle dry seasonings.

Top bread with shredded mozzarella cheese and a thin slice of tomato.

Top with a dollop of prepared Basil Pesto

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Place in a preheated 425 degree oven for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly and starts to brown.

Enjoy as an appetizer or along-side a big bowl of soup!

Love

2012-02-14T21:45:00.000-08:00

Even

After

All this time

The sun never says

To the earth

"You owe me."

Look

What happens

With love like that.

It lights the

Whole

Sky.

-Hafiz (fourteenth century poet)

Meatless Monday

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

Well, last Monday went well. So well in fact, the guys didn't miss the meat ~~at all~~ very much. We were able to follow the menu. I think that the breakfasts and dinners are kinda easy to work around, it's the lunches that are going to be more difficult. It's so easy to have a sandwich or a hot dog or even chicken nuggets. We'll need to do some brainstorming to figure out some quick and easy options the kiddo likes. For now though, we'll make it easy.

Here's our Round Two.
Breakfast: Peach Pancakes

I've got some peaches hanging out in the freezer that will work really well for this. I took them out the night before so they had a chance to thaw a bit before putting them into the batter. I also left the eggs out overnight so they would get a chance to come to room temp. As long as you don't leave them out too long (like a whole day or more), eggs won't go bad on the counter. This is a really great tip if you've got some baking to do and need room temp ingredients. Take them out before you go to bed and do your baking in the morning. I also mixed up the dry ingredients, so everything would be super easy for me in the morning.

Lunch: Bean and cheese burritos
Whole wheat tortillas, cheese and vegetarian re-fried beans. Right now, beans are going to be my go-to protein. I know everyone will eat them, and they are always in my pantry! Maybe soon we'll try tofu... baby steps...

Dinner: Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup, bread and spinach salad


Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup

I am really excited to try this soup out. First off it sounds amazing. Second, it's done in the crock pot. If it tastes as good as I'm imagining it will, it will definitely be added to the rotation. Added benefit: it is loaded with veggies (carrots, celery, fresh basil, and tomato) that I'll puree in the end, so no one (ie- the veggie phobes) will be able to pick out "the good stuff"!

I'll let you know how it all goes down, but I'm expecting to pass with flying colors!

Lasagna Soup

2012-02-10T10:45:00.000-08:00

Here in the Pacific Northwest we are in the mid of winter. During January, Mother Nature pretty much bombarded us with every form of precipitation possible. Snow? Yes. Ice? Of course. Rain? Freezing rain, freezing fog, slush, sleet, blah blah blah! Basically layer after layer of mess.

Thankfully the last few weeks have been rather mild. Bits of rain and fog here and there, but temps that aren't too cold and (thankfully) no snow or ice. There is one good thing about winter though. You can cook and bake to your heart's content and not worry about the house getting too hot or the soft fluff developing around your mid-section (That's what puffy coats and warm sweaters were made for. Besides its cold out, you need the extra insulation)!

I couldn't be happier. I have no where I need to go and nothing that has to be done (outside of the usual laundry and house cleaning). The pantry and freezer are stocked, and the power is on. What more could you need in the middle of winter? Well, good food of course!

We had the most amazing dinner the other night. It was called Lasagna Soup and I found it here.

Aaahh. Comfort and warmth in a bowl. And not to mention wickedly delicious.

I did make a few small changes to the recipe. For instance I used 1/2 pound, each, of spicy Italian sausage and sweet Italian sausage. I would also add more chicken stock or water during the cooking process, as the liquid tends to cook down, especially if you simmer it for a while, which I did.

Here's my method:

Lasagna Soup

Ingredients

SOUP

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 cup finely chopped onion

1/2 lb sweet Italian sausage

1/2 lb spicy Italian sausage

2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 teaspoons dry oregano

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 Tablespoons tomato paste

28 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes

2 bay leaves

6-8 cups chicken stock

8 oz pasta (I used campanelle)

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

salt and pepper

CHEESE

8 oz part skim ricotta

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon salt

pinch of fresh ground pepper

2 cups mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add sausage and break apart, brown (about 5 minutes). Add onions, cook until soft (about 5 more minutes). Add garlic, oregano, and pepper flakes, stir to combine. Add paste, stirring until paste turns deep red (a couple of minutes). Add canned diced tomatoes (juice included), 6 cups chicken stock, and bay leaf. Stir until all is combined and allow to simmer for at least 30 minutes (longer if you can stand it). Add remaining chicken stock as needed.
Combine all 'cheese' ingredients except for the mozzarella. Set aside until mealtime.
When you're ready to eat, cook pasta according to package directions minus a minute. You want the pasta to still be slightly firm to the bite (al dente). Place a scoop of ricotta cheese mixture (about 1/4 cup) in the bottom of a bowl. Top with the same amount of pasta. Top with a ladle of soup. Garnish with mozzarella cheese.
If there are any leftovers (and that's a big if!), store each layer separately. The pasta would absorb too much of the soup liquid otherwise.

Enjoy. Really, I don't know how you couldn't! Have a wonderful weekend.

Wisdom for your Wednesday

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

We must be willing to let go 
of the life we have planned, 

so as to have the life that is waiting for us.

-Joseph Campbell-

Meatless Monday

2012-02-06T14:33:00.000-08:00

It seems like everywhere I look this new year, someone's talking about "Meatless Mondays".
So I figured this was a band wagon I should hop on. It's really more of an experiment, as my family is definatly made up of carnivores.

My favorite dino from Meet The Robinsons

I'm not sure how long this will last, but we'll see. Things are definitely gonna get interesting around here as I anticipate significant whining. However, I see this as being a good thing in the long run. I figure this will give us a chance to try new things, get the creativity flowing in the kitchen, and help us get some healthier options on the table.

Today is our first Monday, so I'm going to make it pretty easy.

Breakfast-
Fruit and yogurt Smoothies with whole wheat toast

Lunch-
Veggies (cucumber, broccoli, celery, carrots, beets) and dip, cheese, and pickles. Grilled cheese and veg with dip for the young mister.

Dinner- 3 Cheese Quesadillas (cheddar, pepper jack, mozzarella), beans and rice, and Mexican Grilled Corn

I'm already excited, and I bet my family would be none the wiser if I didn't tell them we were missing our favorite form of protein...

Wisdom for Your Wednesday

2012-01-11T14:05:00.000-08:00

The purpose of life is to live it,

to taste experience to the utmost,

to reach out eagerly and without

fear for newer and richer

experience.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Christmas Movie #5

2011-12-19T15:19:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I hope you've been enjoying the Christmas Movies so far! This next one is another favorite of mine, but it definitely is not a movie for young kids. It is Christmas Vacation

I have to thank my husband and his family for this one. I hadn't seen it before I met him, but now it's one we own and pull out every year! Enjoy!

What we'll be sipping on...

Bailey's Hot Cocoa

Since this is a movie for adults... I think a drink for adults will hit the spot!

Ingredients...

Milk (a mug's worth per drink)

1 tablespoon Bailey's Irish Cream (per drink)

1 tablespoon Quick powder or any other hot chocolate powder (per drink)

Directions...

Heat milk on the stove, over medium high heat until small bubbles start to appear around the edges (this is called scalding the milk- it makes it hot and kind of frothy). Keep an eye on it, you don't want the milk to burn. Carefully pour milk into your mugs. Add one tablespoon each of Bailey's and Chocolate powder (if it's been ''one of those days'' add more). Stir. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle with a bit of chocolate powder.

Enjoy!

Christmas Movie #4

2011-12-17T22:06:00.000-08:00

Tonight's movie was The Santa Clause

What can I say about this movie? Original, good humored, and definitely a family favorite! I have even enjoyed the other movies in the series. It was fun watching it with my kiddo. I hope it will become one of his favorites.

What we snacked on...

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Sandwiches

If you love chocolate and peanut butter, you will love this quick and easy treat!

Ingredients...

Buttery crackers (Ritz or Townhouse)

Peanut Butter

Chocolate bark

Directions...

Spread peanut butter on a cracker and top with another cracker (make a sandwich).

Melt chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave according to package directions.

Dip and spread chocolate all over the cracker sandwich.

It's messy, but sure is worth it! I think next time I'll make some with Nutella...

Enjoy!

Christmas Movie #3

2011-12-16T23:02:00.000-08:00

Tonight's movie was Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

This is absolutely a childhood classic! It was made for TV in 1964 and has come around every year since! I can't imagine a person who hasn't seen this movie. What could be better than a story about Santa's most famous reindeer, and elf who wants to be a dentist and an island of misfit toys? Love it!

What we'll be snacking on...

Two Minute Mug Brownies with Ice Cream

Found the recipe here.

Ingredients...

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 T unsweetened cocoa powder

pinch of salt

2 T canola oil

2 T coffee or milk

Directions...

Combine all dry ingredients in a mug or ramekin. Mix until there are no clumps.

Stir in wet ingredients until everything is incorporated and no dry clumps remain.

Microwave at 30 second intervals, checking doneness. The top of the brownie should spring back to light pressure.

Top with ice cream, whip cream, caramel... whatever you enjoy with your brownie. ~~Devour~~ Enjoy!

Christmas Movie #2

2011-12-15T14:03:00.000-08:00

My second movie for this Christmas season is The Holiday.

This is an adorable romantic comedy centered around the Christmas holiday. Two single ladies (Camron Diaz and Kate Winslet) switch houses for Christmas. The last thing they want or expect is to fall in love. But love has a funny thing about turning up when you least expect it! Curl up with your sweetie and enjoy this one!

What we'll be snacking on...

Rol-etzels

My Mom makes these for Christmas presents because they are incredibly addictive, so make a ton! They'll disappear faster than an ice cube on a hot day!

Ingredients...

Rolos

Pretzels

Directions...

Cut sections of foil or parchment paper and line a baking sheet (sections allow for fast and easy removal).

Lay out pretzels in a single layer.

Top with Rolos

Place in a preheated 200* oven for about 5 minutes (really just long enough for the chocolates to soften).

Take out of the oven, allow to cool for a minute and then press the rolos into the pretzels. Remove the sections of foil to a cooling rack.

Pop them into the fridge for 30 minutes or until chocolate is set.

Enjoy!

Christmas Movie #1

2011-12-13T20:27:00.000-08:00

Our first Christmas movie of the season is a classic, well sort of. It is The Muppet Christmas Carol based on Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol.

This is one of my favorite Christmas stories, and what better way to introduce it to kids than with Muppets?

This version follows the original story fairly closely, but lightens it up quite a bit with that trademarked Muppet humor and music. You can't go wrong with Michael Cain as Ebeneezer Scroge, Kermit as Bob Cratchit, and Gonzo as Mr. Dickens himself.

What we'll be snacking on while we watch...

Homemade Apple Chips

We LOVE this recipe. Sure you can buy them, but they will be loaded with preservatives and sugar to keep them "fresh". The only other option would be to make them yourself, and let me tell you it couldn't be easier. The apples are sweet enough on their own, and you control the texture (crispy or chewy) as well as the flavor (add your favorite spices).

Ingredients...

Firm apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith apples work well)- one apple per person

A sprinkle of cinnamon (optional)

Directions...

Slice the apples thinly (about a quarter of an inch) across the width of the apple.

Using an apple corer tool or a small cookie cutter, punch out the cores (if you don't have either of these, you can use the tip of a sharp paring knife).

Place the apples on a foil or parchment lined baking sheet. As they dehydrate, they'll shrink in size, so pack on as many as you can in a single layer. And don't worry if they break or aren't cut perfectly. The ugly ones taste just as good as the pretty ones when all's said and done.

Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon (or any other baking spice you prefer- nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin pie spice...) or leave plain.

Place the cookie sheet in a preheated 200* oven.

Flip apples every 30 minutes until they reach desired texture. It took me somewhere between 90 minutes and 2 hours. If you want them soft and chewy take them out sooner, if you want them crispy leave them in longer. But be sure to watch them- they can go from crisp to burnt in no time flat!

It seems these disappear as soon as they come out of the oven, but if you have leftovers (I seriously doubt that will happen), you can leave them in a container (covered for chewy, open for crispy) on the counter top for a couple of days!

The 12 Days of Christmas

2011-12-12T16:25:00.000-08:00

Every year, following Thanksgiving, we are bombarded with Christmas.

Christmas in the stores, Christmas on the radio, and Christmas on the TV!

I usually don't watch a whole bunch of the Christmas programming. While it's definitely feel-good, sometimes it gets a bit too cheesy for me.

So I've put together a list of my favorite holiday movies- those that we pull out year after year. Over the next 12 days (can you believe that there are only 12 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS?!?!), I'll be sharing the list with you. I hope you enjoy the movies and maybe you'll watch along with me.

Time to make a list...

2011-11-11T20:55:00.000-08:00

I love knit picks :)

Check 'em out and make your own wish list!

Day 31

2011-11-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

My final day in the 31 Day Challenge was great. Again, I used someone else's recipe so I won't actually write it out. I highly recommend checking it out though, it was tasty and totally awesome because it was made in the slow cooker! It was a meal inspired by the fast food joint Panda Express. I served my chicken over brown rice with a couple of pot stickers on the side. Chinese "Take-In"!

Orange Chicken

Recipe and directions here

Well, I'm finished. I'm kind of going through withdrawls. I spent the last 31 days really thinking about what I was putting in front of my family. It was fun and challenging. Was it tough? Yeah, but I'd totally do it again. Maybe you'll join me next year?

Day 30

2011-10-30T23:38:00.000-07:00

I made the most amazing cookies tonight. I found them on another blog, so rather than copying the recipe (copyrights and all), I will just give you the link. I promise you, they are extremely easy and delicious!

Chocolate Rolo Cookies

Recipe here

Day 29

2011-10-30T23:35:00.000-07:00

We love crescent roll hot dogs in our house. It is a great go-to dinner on busy week nights. In honor of Halloween, I ''dressed'' them up a bit...

Mummy Dogs

Ingredients...

Crescent rolls
Hot Dogs

Directions...

Press out crescent rolls in rectangles (two triangles together) being careful to press out the seams as much as possible.
Using a pizza roller, cut strips out of the dough.
Wrap the hot dogs with the strips of dough.
Bake according to package directions on crescent roll containers.

Day 28

2011-10-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

Today's dish was both a success and a failure. The failure was that the dish was supposed to look like this:

recipe and picture here

instead it looked like this:

So instead of getting stuffed baked apples, I got applesauce. Good thing it tasted amazing! Another bonus, it made the house smell very fall-ish. Like I had been baking all day :)

Slow Cooker Applesauce

Ingredients...

6 small McIntosh apples
1/4 cup backed brown sugar
1/4 cup walnuts
2 tablespoons raisins (I used golden raisins and currents)
1 tablespoon dried cranberries
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup water

Directions...

Core apples, leaving bottom intact, with a paring knife.
Place apples in a single layer in slow cooker
Stir together all the other ingredients, minus water and orange juice and spoon into cored apples.
Pour orange juice and water over apples
Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.
If your apples completely fall apart, like mine did, stir well and pull out the whole skins (or just mash them up too if you like the texture).
Enjoy!

Day 27

2011-10-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

Tonight's dinner was superb. I mean really, melted cheese? On bread? and Sausage? If you've ever thought fondue was too fancy or hard to make, let me allay your fears. It is easy. And it is delicious (even if it is fancy...)! This would be a great appetizer, but we always make it into a meal.

you can find the original recipe here

Swiss Fondue

Ingredients...

1/2 pound Gruyere cheese, grated
1/2 pound Emmental cheese, grated
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2/3 cup dry white wine (Chardonnay works well)
1 garlic clove, cut in half
4 tablespoon Kirsch (cherry brandy)*
A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Ground pepper

Directions...

Toss the grated cheeses together with the cornstarch.
Rub the inside of a heavy saucepan with the cut garlic clove.
Add wine and 2 tablespoons Kirsch (* I never add Krisch, only because I never have it. I just add more wine to the mix) and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the cheese mixture by handful, stirring, until mixture is hot and smooth.
Add remaining 2 tablespoons Kirsch (or wine) if mixture is too thick.
Season with nutmeg and pepper, to taste.
Transfer to a fondue pot and serve immediately with dippers of choice.

We love these dippers: rye bread, sourdough bread, tart green apples, roasted potatoes, roasted broccoli, sausage.

Day 26

2011-10-26T21:30:00.000-07:00

Here's another great slow cooker meal. I didn't cut the chicken before putting it in the slow cooker. Right before serving, I used the back of a spoon and broke the chicken apart. This makes enough food to feed a crowd, or for freezing for a later date.

Chicken Spaghetti

Ingredients...

2 pounds chicken breasts
1 bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
15 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice
15 ounce can tomato sauce
6 ounce tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried garlic
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions...

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
Serve over pasta.

Day 25

2011-10-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

This recipe came straight off of pillsbury.com. I am not much of a pork chop fan, and I never really understood the whole ''pork chops and applesauce'' thing, but I am definitely a fan of this meal. The chops and appples were so tender, you could cut them with your fork. The cranberries added a hint of tang, and the cayenne and cinnamon added just a hint of heat in the back of your throat. It was by far the best meal we've had this month! And to make it even better, it was done in the slow cooker! We are planning on repeating this as one of our holiday meals.

Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Apple Chutney

Ingredients...

4 center-cut bone-in pork loin chops, 1 inch thick (about 2 lb)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

6 tablespoons packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne

1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries

2 medium baking apples, peeled, chopped (2 cups)

Directions...

Spray 3- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.

Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper and place in slow cooker.

In small bowl, mix brown sugar, vinegar, ginger, cinnamon, red pepper and cranberries.

Spoon over pork in cooker and top with apples.

Cover and cook on Low heat setting 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes.

We served ours with a dollop of mashed potatoes, but you could have yours with roasted root veggies, sweet potatoes or a corn dish. Enjoy!

Day 24

2011-10-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a recipe I got out of Deceptively Delicious. I'm pleased to report that the muffins turned out really well. They were moist and sweet. Yum!

Applesauce Muffins

Ingredients...

Topping

2/3 cup oats

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons butter, diced

Muffins

1 1/2 cup flour

1 cup oats

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup applesauce

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

½ cup milk

1/2 cup sweet potato puree (can use baby food...)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup veg oil

1 egg

Directions...

Preheat oven to 400*

Combine topping ingredients

Combine flour, oats, powder, soda, and cinnamon.

Mix applesauce, milk, veg puree, sugar, oil and egg.

Add dry to wet and stir until combined.

Bake 18-20 min, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Enjoy!

Day 23

2011-10-24T21:54:00.000-07:00

This is a lovely dessert that represents fall well. The aromas, flavors and ingredients are warming and easily found in the fall. I like to serve the pears warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and the sauce can be saved and used as an ice cream topping on its own. Enjoy!

Ginger Pears

Ingredients...

5 firm, ripe pears (Bartletts or Anjous work well)
3 cups apple cider
1 teaspoon finely grated ginger
pinch of salt
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup cold water
1/2 teaspoon almond extract or Amaretto

Directions...

Peel, quarter and core pears.
Set pears, apple cider, ginger and salt to simmer on stove for 20 minutes, or until pears soften.
Mix cornstarch and water in a separate container. Add to pears and stir until sauce thickens.
Remove from heat and add almond extract or Amaretto.
Serve either warm or cold.
Enjoy!

Day 22

2011-10-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

So this one is kinda cheap... BUT we almost always have this whenever there is a get together at our house (think football parties, movie nights, and game nights). In fact we've made this twice this week alone.

Chili Cheese Dip

Ingredients...

8 ounces of Velveeta Cheese, cubed
15 ounce can of chili
Your favorite type of tortilla chips

Directions...

Place cheese and chili in a microwave safe bowl.
Microwave in one minute increments, stirring in between. It usually takes about 3 minutes.
Serve with your favorite chips

Day 21

2011-10-23T22:16:00.000-07:00

Have you ever made your own pizza? It's a lot of fun, especially when you have little ones helping out in the kitchen. Use this recipe as a start and make your own creations.

Chicken Sausage Pizza

Ingredients...

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust
1/2 cup Pizza Sauce
2 cups shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
2 Chicken Sausages, chopped
1/4 cup Roasted Red Peppers, sliced
1/4 cup Red Onion, sliced
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese
1 teaspoon Italian Seasonings
1 teaspoon dehydrated garlic

Directions...

Preheat 425*
Layer ingredients in order.
Bake for about 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and browned.
Enjoy!

Day 20

2011-10-22T14:59:00.000-07:00

I made this for a potluck, and boy is it an excellent appetizer! You could also top a green salad, make a sandwich on some toasted sourdough, or wrap it up in a whole wheat tortilla. Yum!

Asian Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients...

2 cups cooked chicken, finely chopped
1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
4 ounces water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
1/2 cup spicy peanut sauce
1 tablespoon fresh mint, finely chopped
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4-1/2 cup chopped roasted peanuts
*everything should be chopped to about the same consistency
Small Bibb lettuce leaves (my grocery store didn't have Bibb lettuce, so I used endive, which worked really well)

Directions...

Mix all ingredients (except peanuts and lettuce) in a medium bowl adding chicken broth as needed (if your salad is kind of on the dry side, add more).
Spoon mixture into lettuce cups.
Garnish with chopped peanuts.

Day 19

2011-10-19T21:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a meal with a little international flair. I am happily surprised that it went over so well in my house (I am feeding some fairly picky eaters), there were no leftovers! We did our chicken on the grill, but you could also cook it under the broiler or even stove top if you wanted (forget the skewers if you do stove top). You could also use a store bought Peanut Sauce, but this sauce was so easy, why would you want to? I'm sure the leftovers would be tasty (IF you end up with some). Serve with rice or noodles- your choice!

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

Ingredients...

Chicken Satay...
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 teaspoons honey
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cloves minced garlic
1 pound chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes

Peanut Sauce...
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
2 cloves minced garlic

Directions...

Combine all "Chicken Satay" ingredients to a resealable bag. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Immerse bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent burning.
Thread cubed chicken onto wet skewers, leaving some room between pieces.
Over medium heat, grill your chicken, turning occasionally until all pieces are cooked through about 10-12 minutes.
To make sauce- combine all sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sauce is smooth and warm. Serve with chicken.
Enjoy!

Day 18

2011-10-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

This recipe comes to you courtesy of a dear friend of mine. It is a great meal for parties, family nite or freezing for a later date. We served it with our Pesto Pizza.

Vivian's Pasta

Ingredients...

1 lb uncooked Ziti

1 lb Italian sausage

1 cup chopped onions

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoons tomato paste

salt & pepper to taste

2 (14.5 oz) cans petite-diced tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 T dried

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions...

Cook pasta according to pkg directions, omitting salt & fat. Drain pasta and set aside.

Remove casings from sausage, if you've bought links. Cook sausage, onion and garlic until browned & crumbled.

Add tomato paste, salt & pepper, canned tomatoes (with juice), bring to boil.

Cover, reduce heat and simmer 10 min.

Add basil and cooked pasta to sausage mixture.

Place half of the pasta mixture in a casserole dish coated with non-stick cooking spray.

Top with half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan.

Repeat layers.

Bake in a 350* oven for 25 min or until bubbly.

Enjoy!

Day 17

2011-10-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

I don't think I can tell you enough how much I love my slow-cooker. It is truly an essential tool in my kitchen, and I would recommend it to anyone. The prep, clean up, and effort for most slow-cooker meals is minimal and the final product tastes amazing.

Today's meal:


there's no way to make this look pretty, but trust me... it's good!

Slow Cooker Jambalaya

Ingredients...

1 pound chicken breasts, cubed
3 cups chicken broth (plus extra)
3/4 cups water
1 1/2 cups uncooked brown rice
4 ounces smoked sausage, sliced
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
2 cloves minced garlic
1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)
1 bay leaf
14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes

Directions...

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker.
Cook on low for 6 hours, adding more chicken broth as needed

Day 16

2011-10-18T15:21:00.000-07:00

Penne Bake

Ingredients...

1 lb pasta cooked
2 cups marinara sauce
16oz ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Parmesan cheese

Directions...

Boil pasta in salted water according to package directions.
When pasta is done, drain and return to the hot pot.
Mix in all other ingredients and stir until well incorporated and ricotta is melted.
Spray a casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray and pour in pasta.
Top with Parmesan cheese.
Bake in a 350* oven until everything is warmed through (approx 30 minutes).

Day 15

2011-10-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients...

4 tablespoons butter

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup dry sherry

3 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 lb cooked chicken, cut into bite size pieces (rotisserie chickens from the grocery store work really well for this)

1 cup frozen veg, thawed

Directions...

Melt butter in dutch oven, then add garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds.

Stir in the flour.

Slowly whisk in the sherry, scraping up any browned bits.

Stir in chicken broth and cream.

Simmer until thickened about 10 min.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Stir in chicken and veg, warming thoroughly.

Pour into pan, top with a can of biscuits cut into pieces.

Bake at 375* for 15 min or until biscuits are done.

Serve and Enjoy!

Day 14

2011-10-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

Breakfast Scramble

Ingredients...

9 eggs, broken and blended
1/2 lb breakfast sausage, broken-up
5 slices bacon, chopped
32 oz package of frozen hashbrowns, cooked
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions...

In a skillet over medium high heat, cook hashbrowns according to package directions until done.
In a separate skillet (large enough to add hashbrowns), cook bacon, drain and set aside.
In the bacon skillet start breakfast sausage. When it is almost done, drain off some of the fat and then add hashbrowns and eggs. Stir mixture continuously until eggs are cooked (this will only take a few minutes).
Add bacon and cheese, and stir until cheese is melted.
Salt and pepper to your taste.
Serve hot (I like to top mine with salsa- yum!) .
Enjoy!

Day 13

2011-10-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

We went out of town for part of the weekend, and I haven't done all my posts yet... (sheepish grin)

I was able to cook though, so I'll get them up throughout the week, and hopefully be all caught up by the end of the week.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups

Ingredients...

Your favorite pre-made chocolate chip cookie dough
(using pre-made dough will ensure consistancy)

Directions...

Spray a standard size muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.
Take about a tablespoon of cookie dough and form into the bottom and up the sides of the cups in a standard sized muffin tin. Make sure the dough is fairly smooth, without any breaks in the dough. The dough should be no more than about a quarter of an inch thick through out.
Bake approx 8 minutes.
Wet a teaspoon measuring spoon, and with the back press the center of the cookie cup down gently. The dough will naturally try to puff up, by pressing it down you keep the cup shape.
Bake 2 more minutes, press dough with spoon. Repeat until cookie cup is done (my cookies took about 12 minutes to bake)
Cool completely in muffin pan.
Using a toothpick, gently run along the edge between cookie and pan to loosen. Gently lift out.
Fill with ice cream and top with your favorite dessert toppings (chocolate sauce, whip cream...)
Enjoy!

Day 12

2011-10-12T22:35:00.000-07:00

I think that it is safe to say that fall is officially here. The days are consistently cooler, and the nights are cold enough to need an extra blanket on the bed. In my opinion, this means perfect soup weather. And what would make it even better than to be able to spend all day cooking it without actually having to spend all day cooking it. Of course what I mean by that, is using the slow-cooker. All the aromas without the work!

Tonight's dinner was found on here.

Cheesy Potato Soup

Ingredients...

1 32 ounce bag of frozen diced hashbrowns (thawed)
1 32 ounce container of chicken broth
1 medium stalk of celery, finely chopped
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
bacon
scallions, chopped

Directions...

In a slow-cooker, combine thawed hashbrowns, chicken broth, celery and onion.
Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
Using a potato masher, slightly mash potatoes to a creamier consistency.
Mix flour and milk in a small bowl. Stir into soup. Set heat to high for 30 minutes.
Melt in cheese, stirring continuously.
Garnish with chopped scallions and bacon.
Enjoy!

Days 10 and 11

2011-10-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

I decided to roll day 10 and 11 together, because it was one meal that became two.

Every spring we plan, plant, and hope our vegetable garden does well. Usually there's a thing or two that doesn't do well, but we always have tomatoes (I tell people tomatoes are ''stupid-easy'' to grow). This year we had amazing luck with the tomatoes, 50 pounds of amazing luck over the course of the season. Now I love tomatoes as much as anyone can, but 50 pounds is an incredible amount. Especially when the majority of them ripen all at once.


30 pounds brought in all at once!

We had a work party and processed all the tomatoes (peeled, portioned, and froze). It is really lovely to have a taste of summer in the middle of a cold dark winter! My favorite thing to make with the tomatoes is a Marinara Sauce. This sauce is so simple and allows the true tomato flavor shine.

Anywho, Day 10 was the Marinara Sauce served with pasta, salad and bread. So simple and delicious. The recipe is here.

Day 11 was sauce, round two, in Lasagne . I love to make homemade lasagne, especially when I have some homemade sauce to push it over the top. Here is my go to recipe to making the goods.

Lasagne

Ingredients...

Marinara Sauce
Lasagne Noodles
16 ounces part-skim Ricotta Cheese
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 tablespoon Dried Italian Seasonings (or use a teaspoon each of basil, oregano and parsley)
1 teaspoon Minced Garlic
Parmesan Cheese

Directions...

Partially boil the lasagne noodles in batches of 4-5 (I usually go about 5 minutes) with a tablespoon (doesn't need to be presice) of olive oil (this will keep the noodles from sticking after you drain them).
Meanwhile, mix the ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella, 1/4 cup shredded parm, Italian Seasonings, and garlic in a large bowl.
Spoon some sauce into the bottom of a large casserole pan.
Layer noodles, ricotta mixture, a handfull of mozzarella cheese and more sauce (in this order). Repeat until pan is full. Top with shredded mozzarella and parm cheeses.
Cover with foil and bake in a 400* oven for 25-30 minutes or until lasagne is bubbling. Remove foil and let go another 10 minutes to brown the cheese on top.
Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes before cutting so lasagne sets.
Enjoy!

Day 9

2011-10-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

We went to a birthday party Sunday afternoon, and were asked to bring a side to share. I decided to make a Greek Pasta Salad. It was really tasty, quick to make, and so good there were hardly any leftovers (Kiddo even liked it)! The ingredients are adjustable to your liking, think of the recipe more like a guideline than a must follow.

Greek Pasta Salad

Ingredients...

4 cups pasta, cooked according to package directions (rotini, penne, etc)
1 cup cooked chicken, cooled and shredded (I used a rotisserie chicken I bought from the store)
1/2 cup creamy Greek dressing (I used this)
1/2 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
same amount pitted Greek olives
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions...

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl (adjust amounts as necessary) and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate leftovers. Enjoy!

Day 8

2011-10-08T23:27:00.000-07:00

Straight out of college, my husband got a job in New Mexico. So we packed up our one bedroom apartment, VW Bug, and two cats and made the cross country trip. Thus began my love affair with New Mexico Green Chiles.

As you can probably tell by the name, green chilies are a big deal in New Mexico. As well they should be. They are a mild(ish) green pepper that is often smoked before being eaten. You can find them in and on everything in New Mexico. From green chile burgers, to chile relleno, I've even had them in fettuccine alfredo (by the way, aaah-mazing!). But one of the best applications for the green chile, is chile stew.
This was our dinner for Day 8:

Green Chile Stew

Ingredients...

This will make a large pot of stew

1 whole stewed chicken (yes, we actually spent the day stewing a chicken. If you want to be ~~lazy~~ fast, buy a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store) picked apart
4 medium sized potatoes diced
2-3 quarts good quality chicken stock (The amount of stock needed is really dependent on how much chicken, chiles, and potatoes you use)
1 (15oz) can diced tomatoes
12 green chiles, roasted and skins peeled off (if absolutely neccessary, and I mean a dire situation, you can sub in a large can of whole green chiles, but really try to go with the fresh ones... I do believe it makes a difference!)
1/2 cup diced onions
1/2 cup of white wine
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions...

Set a large stew pot over medium heat and add oil.
Once oil is hot add diced onions and cook until softened (3-4 minutes stirring often)
Deglaze pan with white wine, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
Add stock, potatoes, tomatoes, chicken and chiles (if need-be, add more stock so the soup is a consistency to your liking).
Bring up to a boil.
Cover, leaving lid slightly ajar, and turn heat to low.
Simmer for an hour.
You can garnish this with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream, or can be eaten as is. Makes really lovely leftovers, because somethings just get better with time.
Enjoy!

*How to roast a green chile*

Pick large, firm chiles and wash well.

Pick a heat source:

Broiler

Gas stove-top burner

BBQ (charcoal or gas)

Heat peppers, turning frequently, until the skins are charred and blistering

(char = flavor don't be afraid to really burn the skins)!

Place in a bowl and cover with a wet towel.

Let stand for 15 minutes.

Cut the tops and peel the skins, they will now slip right off. You can use these directly, within a few days, or freeze (If freezing, leave skins on until you are ready to use them. Pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds and proceed with the cutting and skinning).

Yum!

Day 7

2011-10-07T22:13:00.000-07:00

Today we had breakfast... for lunch!

Peach Pancakes with bacon, yum! I had some left over peaches from my farmer's market trip, so I "googled" peach pancakes and came up with this recipe, and I thought I'd give it a go. Phew! If you need a good recipe for pancakes you should give this one a try. This would be a great stand-by batter (with or without fruit) and you could probably sub-in any other kind of fruit you wanted.

They. Were. Amazing.

We will definitely be repeating this one.

They even got kiddo's seal of approval.

Day 6

2011-10-06T22:22:00.000-07:00

Tonight's dinner had all the factors that lead to a great mid-week meal: it was quick, easy, and a crowd pleaser. We had Quesadilla Casserole.

It was one of those McCormick "Recipe Inspirations" packets, where all the spices/ seasonings (minus the salt and pepper) come together along with a recipe card and instructions. We've tried a couple of these different "inspirations", and so far have been rather pleased with them. The nice thing is you get a recipe card out of it, so if you like the meal you can make it again without having to buy the spice pack. Kiddo wasn't much of a fan, but then again if his food is mixed together he gets rather suspicious that you are trying to trick something "healthy" into him. The whole dinner fed four adults and a partial plate for the wee one with a little bit left over.
For dessert, I made a Rustic Peach Tart. I made it with peaches I bought at our local farmer's market, and I'll tell you what... nothing beats farmer's market produce (that is unless it is your own home-grown produce)! The peaches were so tender and ripe and incredibly juicy. This is your recipe for the evening...

Rustic Peach Tart

Ingredients...

2 or 3 skinned peaches, sliced (*for directions on this, see below)
1 Refrigerated pie crust
a couple tablespoons of large grain sugar
2 tablespoons cold butter

Directions...

Place pie crust on parchment paper or lightly sprayed (with non-stick cooking spray) foil
Top pie crust with sliced fruit leaving 2 inches around edge.
Cube butter and top fruit
Sprinkle a few teaspoons large grain sugar over fruit (if your fruit is really sweet, you won't need a lot of sugar)
Fold the edges of the pie crust over the edge of fruit, overlapping as you move around the tart. It should be very rustic looking (hence the name)
Lightly brush crust with water using a pastry brush.
Sprinkle crust with more sugar.
Bake at 350* for 40-45 minutes (check on your tart toward the end of the backing time to make sure your crust isn't burning).
Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting (lets the juices set up a bit)
Serve with some vanilla ice cream- yum!

How to skin a peach

(also works well for skinning nectarines, plums and tomatoes)

Set a large pot of water to boil over high heat.
Wash and score the skin of the bottom of the fruit with an "X" shape. Be sure to use a sharp knife so you don't cut your fruit too deep- the deeper the cut, the more juice will escape into the boiling water.
When water reaches a rolling boil, drop some scored fruit into the water (don't crowd the pot, you want the water to keep boiling)
Leave for 20 seconds (less time for riper fruit, more time for unripe fruit) then pull out with a slotted spoon and place directly into a bowl of ice water (yes, a bowl of water with actual ice in it) leave for a few minutes. This ice bath stops the fruit from cooking and cools it enough so you can handle it.
The skins should slip right off, leaving the flesh intact.

Day 5

2011-10-05T22:38:00.000-07:00

October 5's dinner was Meatball Soup and Pesto Pizza

I picked up Jessica Seinfeld's book, Deceptively Delicious from my local library in hopes that I could learn some tricks to get my Veggie-Phobic Tot to eat more of the good stuff. It's all about hiding pureed veggies in different kinds of dishes. I am not above a little bit of deception ;)
Tonight's dinner was meatballs in a tomato soup base. The broth was made up with pureed carrots, tomatoes, garlic, onion and chicken broth. Pretty basic and for the most part pretty good. I think I'd make the broth again. The meatballs had pureed sweet potatoes in them, and that made them surprisingly sweet (duh). I think, though, I would make some changes to these. First off, there were no real seasonings (besides from a little bit of paprika- that you couldn't taste at all) in the meatballs. I think next time I would add something spicy, like some chili powder or a touch of cayenne, to contrast the sweet. Ya know, sweet and spicy always goes well together. The recipe also called for using cubed bread in the meatballs. They did not hold up through the cooking process, and half of them ended up dissolving into the broth. It really ended up being tomato hamburger soup with meatballs. A little much. I think I would try using breadcrumbs instead in attempts to get them to hold together through the cooking. You also added some cooked pasta to bulk up the soup. I don't think you'd need to, the meatballs make it hearty enough.
My side was a pesto pizza, which was of my own creation and is your recipe for today!

Pesto Pizza

Ingredients...

Pre-made Thin Crust Pizza Crust (I used Freschetta Artisan Pizza Crust- Thin)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Minced Garlic
Pre-made Pesto with Basil
Grated Parmesan cheese

Directions...

Pre-heat oven to 425*
Drizzle olive oil over pizza crust and spread with a pastry brush.
Sprinkle minced garlic on crust
Top with a couple tablespoons pre-made pesto (enough to your liking, but make sure the crust is covered).
Sprinkle parm on top of pesto
Bake until toasty and cheese is starting to brown, about 10-12 minutes.
Enjoy!

Day 4

2011-10-04T22:07:00.000-07:00

Day 4's Dinner: Pork Chops, couscous, and Mexican Grilled Corn with Cilantro.

I have a confession to make. I have never eaten grilled corn on the cob before. I am now a convert, I don't think I'll eat it any other way!

Mexican Grilled Corn with Cilantro

Ingredients...

2 ears corn
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

Directions...

Shuck the ears of corn
Toss corn in olive oil, salt, and pepper in a medium sized bowl (reserve the bowl).
Grill over medium heat for 10-12 minutes until the kernels are tender.
Place cilantro, lime juice, and warm corn cobs in the reserved bowl and toss.
Garnish with fresh lime wedges.

Day 3

2011-10-04T09:48:00.000-07:00

A funny thing happened...

So, I was talking with my mom about this challenge. She was very enthusiastic and encouraging about the whole thing. This was a good sign because she often recognizes my crazy impulses at the onset and is more than willing to tell me when I'm being a dork and getting in over my head. You should know that I am extremely impulsive- like the time I decided I was going to run a marathon even though I hated running and would do everything in my power to avoid doing so. Or the time I decided I was going to make a craft every day for the next year even though I was well aware that I had a toddler at home. See? Ridiculously impulsive. She had one question though :

Are you just doing dinners at home, or is it all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)?

Leave it to moms to ask the hard questions. I thought about it for a moment and came up with this answer:

I was thinking I would just focus mostly on dinners.

Here's my reasoning: Some days it's just easier to grab something while we are on the run, and besides dinners out are often more expensive and more time consuming than lunches on the go. Albeit lunches and dinners out are probably equally unhealthy, I just figured the dinner thing would suit the challenge (and lifestyle) a little bit better. Mostly making excuses so I'd still be able to go to Taco Bell every now and then. She invited me to meet with her stitching group for lunch.

Now, I am a firm believer in Karma. You know, the force that smacks you around when you're feeling cocky. So when the appointed time rolled around, the kiddos and I packed up in the car and set off to the designated food stop for lunch. We had a lovely lunch with the ladies, my boys were particularly charming. When it was time to leave, we loaded up in the car, got our seat belts on, then... nothing. Absolutely nothing. The car wouldn't start, wouldn't click, the lights wouldn't even turn on. The battery was completely dead. I don't know about you, but having a dead car battery at naptime is not my idea of fun. This was definitely a sign that we needed to be eating at home as much as possible. Sigh, I guess I can live without Taco Bell.

Last night's dinner was a really quick and easy one. Although it isn't the prettiest, my family devours this in no time flat. It is really quick and is perfect for when you have leftover fish (I think fish tends to get a little funky when you re-heat it, so this is a great way to use it up without wasting the leftovers). Using canned tuna makes it even faster- I can get this on the table in no time with a can of tuna! We had:

Tuna and Potato Pancakes

Ingredients...

(will make about 8 patties depending on size)

16 oz frozen shredded hashbrowns thawed
8 oz cooked and cooled fish (salmon works really well with this) or 2 cans tuna (well drained)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp Minced garlic
Pepper
Any variety shredded cheese

Directions...

~Flake fish (or drain your tuna) and mix with the thawed hashbrowns and fresh cracked black pepper.
~Form patties and make sure to squeeze out extra liquid. Both the hashbrowns and tuna will have a lot of water, if there is too much in the patties they won't stick together and will make your pancakes soggy.
~Warm oil (just enough to coat the bottom of your pan) and garlic over medium high heat, stirring often so the garlic doesn't burn.
~Once the garlic is fragrant, add the patties to the oil. Cook for about 5 minutes on each side (or until hashbrowns are brown and crispy). On the second side, top the patties with about a tablespoon shredded cheese and let melt before taking out of the pan.
~These are really great with katchup, sour cream, or a squeeze of lemon- whatever you prefer.

My 3 year old LOVES these and often out eats my husband and me. Enjoy!

Day 2

2011-10-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

October 2nd's dinner was a feast fit for a king! We spend at least one night a week with my family for dinner. This is a great opportunity to spend time together, and eat eat eat! We share the cooking duties, and last night I happened to get the night off.

My dad loves to cook pot roast, that is his specialty. This is a meal that takes all day (and makes a big mess according to him) but is so worth it. The beef and carrots simmering away until they practically melt in your mouth. The rich smells permeating the air, creating a warmth that embraces you. I can't think of a meal that represents fall better than this.

Pot Roast, Carrots, Mashed Potatoes, and Scalloped Corn

31 Days

2011-10-02T16:21:00.000-07:00

October 1st marked the first day of the "31 Days... Challenge" hosted by The Nesting Place. That means for the next 31 days, I will be talking part in this challenge.

I've been thinking a lot about this over the last couple of weeks trying to come up with something to write about for an entire month... crafting, knitting, cupcakes, cleaning, blah blah blah. Nothing really stuck with me and I had pretty much given up on the idea. Until I went for my run this afternoon and it finally hit me. We've been really trying to limit our eating out lately and that would be the perfect challenge. So for the next month, we will be eating homemade, healthy and mindful meals at home. I hope you will join me for 31 Days at the table.

Since I am (fashionably) late to the party, it looks like I will be playing a little bit of catch-up. But the good news is we actually ate at home last night (the bad news is I have no pictures), so here goes...

Cheesy Chicken Casserole

This is one of my husband's stand-by recipes. He's got a couple of goodies he can pull out whenever he is responsible for dinner, and this is one of them. It is pretty quick and would make an awesome left-over revamp if you've got all the ingredients hanging around. It is also great for customizing with your favorite kind of meat or veg.

Ingredients...
1 box Mexican or Spanish Rice
1 jar (15oz) Tostitos nacho cheese dip (or your favorite cheese sauce)
2 chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
1 cup frozen corn kernel, thawed
1 4 oz can diced green chilis (we had some from our garden that we roasted- yum)

Prepare the rice according to the package directions and preheat oven to 350*.
While the rice is cooking, dice chicken and cook over medium high heat until no longer pink.
Spray a casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Spread cooked rice in the bottom of dish.
Layer with frozen corn, chilis and chicken.
Top with the nacho cheese.
Place in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until bubbling.
Enjoy!

Inbred Animals

2011-09-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

I hope this gets you through your Wednesday

(I couldn't resist)

"Hoo" Loves Cupcakes?

2011-09-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

My latest cupcake creation... Owls!

Eyes: Oreo Cookie halves with Junior Mints

Nose: Orange jelly beans

Ears: Oreo cookie bits

Cake: Chocolate

Frosting: Chocolate

From the book Hello, Cupcake!

By Karen Tack & Alan Richardson

In Rememberance

2011-09-11T13:23:00.000-07:00

September 11, 2001- September 11, 2011

10 Years Later, We Still Remember

August- Retrospect

2011-09-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

August was a month full of stepping stones here in my little slice of Heaven.

First, I celebrated my 5 year wedding anniversary with the most amazing person I know. He inspires me, he lifts me up, and embraces all my ADD tendencies with a little bit of grace and a whole lot of humor. If you told me I would be where I am now, five years ago I never would have believed it. In that short time we graduated from college, moved across the country twice, change jobs three times, lost some very dear family members, we watched friends get married and saw a 30 year marriage fall apart, we had two beautiful boys, and turned a house into a home. And those are just the big things. Everyday we experience something new. Five years ago I had my ideal that didn't involve half of those things, but each stepping stone we've tread has made us stronger as individuals and as partners. The only thing I knew five years ago, is that we would still be moving forward, together.

Speaking of this guy... he's also reached a major milestone in August. One year ago my husband decided that he was going to make a major life change. He was going to do something that he (and I) never thought he would do. He took up running. Now for some this is not really a major thing, but for us this started an absolutely amazing transformation. My husband made the decision that he wanted to be around long enough to watch his kids grow up, and took matters into his own hands, er feet. If you'd like to, you can read about it here. He celebrated his one year ''runniversary'' this month, and is planning on running a marathon in October. Way to go babe, I am so proud of you!

Rocky Road Brownies

2011-09-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

Question: How can you take a brownie and make it better?

Answer:

Turn them into Rocky Road Brownies!

Ingredients:
A Box of your favorite brownie mix
(I chose the most decadent kind I could find: Ghirardelli Brownie Mix with Chocolate Chunks)
Mini Marshmallows
Chopped Nuts
Chocolate Chips/ Chunks

Bake your brownies according to the package instructions, pulling them out about 10 minutes before they are supposed to be finished (if you do the toothpick test, it should come out wet and gooey).
Top the brownies with marshmallows, chocolate chunks and chopped nuts.
Place back in the oven for the remainder of the cook time (5-10 minutes), the marshmallows should start to melt and look toasty.
Cool and enjoy.

I would recommend them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, because really, what goes better with brownies than ice cream?

Wisdom for Your Wednesday

2011-08-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

it's funny, i always imagined when i was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. but then when i grew up i found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools - friendships, prayer, conscience, honesty - and said 'do the best you can with these, they will have to do'. and mostly, against all odds, they do.
-anne lamott

enjoy your day :)

A New Twist on an Old Classic

2011-08-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

I am certainly a sandwich girl. To me, they really make the perfect meal. I don't think there's a sandwich I've met that I didn't like. However, in my book nothing beats a BLT. Especially when you can use some of your home grown goodness on it. Right now it is prime tomato season, and I took advantage with this beauty:

Ingredients:
Focaccia bread lightly warmed in the toaster. This beauty was an herbed focaccia with rosemary and oregano- yum
A light smear of Mayo, just enough to keep the bread moist.
A couple leaves of baby spinach. Now some may argue that you should use an iceberg or a leaf lettuce for this, but I believe that the spinach provides a stronger flavor that holds up with the bread, besides I had spinach so I used spinach.
Bacon- without it, it would just be an 'LT'. While that is certainly ok, we're going for the whole shebang here!
Slices of tomatoes picked right from the garden. If you've never grown a tomato, you need to. Hands down, nothing beats the flavors of a tomato you've grown yourself. I especially like them straight from the yard when they are still warm. Mmmmmm...

Smores

2011-08-01T09:32:00.000-07:00

"How can I have some more of something if I haven't had anything yet?"

"You're killin' me Smalls!"

A New Project

2011-07-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

I have finally given in to the call of a new project.

I've cast on for these socks!

How cute are they?! The yarn I've chosen is a self-striping yarn that goes from black to blue to black to green to black to pink, so there is little stripes of color that pop out of the fabric. And I am slowly working on them. They are my "in between projects" project. The repeat on these socks is only four rows long, so they are great for setting down and picking up as I have time. I've got no time-line on finishing them, although they seem to be going pretty quickly despite not having a lot of knitting time right now.

If you haven't checked out the Knit Purl Hunter KAL sponsored by Skacel, you should check it out. Michelle has come up with a different KAL for the first 6 months of this year featuring a different Skacel yarn. The projects have either been socks or mitts. I've already picked another pair of socks from this, but they will have to wait :)

What about you? Have you given in to any new projects?

Wisdom

2011-06-29T09:38:00.000-07:00

There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it.

You surround yourself with people who make you laugh.

Forget the bad, and focus on the good.

Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't.

Life is too short to be anything but happy.

Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.

That Kinda Weekend

2011-06-27T15:58:00.000-07:00

We had a very restful weekend here at home. What did we do?

some gardening

played in the sprinklers

read

knitting

and had lots of family time

I hope your weekend was as enjoyable as mine!

The Best Cookies

2011-06-24T16:35:00.000-07:00

These cookies are the best! They puff up nicely, are light and delicious. They are particularly good with milk, although coffee or tea would make a great substitute. I recommend using them for bribing kiddos or changing moods of cranky spouses. Enjoy!

-INGREDIENTS-

2 1/4 c all purpose flour

1 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

1 c softened butter or margarine

3/4 c sugar

3/4 c packed brown sugar

2 t vanilla

2 large eggs

1 1/2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 c chopped pecans

1/3 c dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.
In another bowl, cream together butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time until incorporated. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, until incorporated.
Stir in chocolate, nuts and cranberries.
Drop by tablespoon onto an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool and enjoy!

Indulgences

2011-06-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Yesterday I had a major craving for a latte, and denied myself the indulgence. Don't ask why, I'm not sure really either. A friend told me that coffee prevents people from killing other people, and that I should get one before someone got hurt, but I just didn't do it. I think it was because it was the first 90+ degree day and I didn't really want to leave the house to go get a hot coffee.

Anyway, my resolve was not nearly as strong today. The kiddo and I headed out early this morning. Early enough to beat the heat and get a breakfast of hotcakes and sausage at a favorite fast-food joint. And there I gave into the craving. Granted it was far from gourmet, but it certainly did hit the spot. And that means that the general population should be safe for another day.

I am also resisting the urge to cast-on these socks. I love everything about them (so far- as I can only see them in pieces). The picot edge, the anklet length, the heel, even the patterning. I think it will be my next project, as I have a test knit that I need to be focusing on currently. I definitely have a case of the starts, and that is an indulgence that is hard to ignore!

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

To my two favorite Dads:

My Dad

And my Kiddo's Daddy:

Hope you enjoy your day- Love!

Super foods

2011-05-05T10:24:00.000-07:00

As if you needed more reasons to eat your fruits and veggies!

This article gives lots of great information on super fruits and veggies. What will you have today, as part of a

healthy diet?

I for one, can't wait till I can start harvesting my garden! What's in the ground right now? Collards, mixed leaf lettuce, carrots, and spring peas. Peppers (green chilis and bells), tomatoes, cucumber, and zucchini will be going in soon! Summer is my favorite time to eat!

More Fun With Cupcakes

2011-04-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and peas and carrots for my brother-in-law's birthday. I am definitely getting into the cupcake baking spirit!

Think outside the box

2011-03-17T16:50:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled with this dish!

It's not what you are think they are...

They are cupcakes! The noodles are piped frosting, the meatballs are "Ferrero Rocher" candies, and the sauce is seedless strawberry jelly.

Yum!

Another week goes by...

2011-03-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

So apparently the ''fever'' that caught me last week, was only skin deep and avoided me this week. While I did do some crafty things, I, sadly, have nothing to show for it. I did some sewing, and some knitting, but didn't finish anything worth showing off.

I spent the first two or three days last week getting my swatches and patterns ready for our monthly pattern release over at A Year Of Swatches. This consisted of finishing knitting the actual swatches (I had one come down to the wire), write and proof the patterns, take pictures, and make sure everything was posted in an orderly and sensical manner. That task was completed, but cut into my allotted crafting time.
Thursday I spent working on a sock pattern that I am writing (a first) and Friday I did some sewing. My brother-in-law, a welding student, asked me to sew him a ''welding cap'', I obliged and that rounded out my second week of (not-so-much) crafting.

This week isn't looking to be so much better, and it's only day 1! I've been perusing the knitting patterns over on Ravelry, because I have contracted an obsession to knit a sweater (God help me). So that pretty much wasted all the time I had allotted for today. The good news is I have found a couple of patterns I like (once I've narrowed it down I'll share them with you...) and tomorrow will be devoted to yarn shopping. I know, I know, I shouldn't really go shopping until I have the pattern picked out, but one of the local shops has a yarn I've been wanting to try on clearance (new dye lot coming in) and the price just can't be beat. I figure that I can find something worth knitting with this stuff, and there's plenty in the bin for a sweater, so that's that!

Yarn shopping... before I have a pattern... don't give me that look...

Craft-fever

2011-02-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

Last week was a good one for crafting. I've challenged myself to do a little bit of crafting everyday. I want to spend about an hour working on something, with the goal of finishing it, or at least getting a good handle on it in that time. It doesn't really matter what I make, as long as it gets the creative juices flowing. I'll try to do a weekly update every Sunday to share what I've done!

My creative week started on Tuesday:

I did a little bit of ''art'', if you want to call it that :) This is a 2 inch ceramic pot that I colored with a silver sharpee. My son got in on the action and colored one of his own. Were going to get some small flower seeds, plant them, and watch them grow.

Wednesday:

I did a little bit of beading. The body is a straight jewelry pin and the wings are wire that are just twisted around the body. I love the beads: the body beads look tye-dyed and the wings are alternating seed beads in bright rainbow colors!

Thursday:

I quilled a birthday card for my Granny. She turns 80 this month! Wow! I love the effect of quilling. It is simple to do, and you can really create a lot with the little paper shapes.

FRIDAY:
I made some more beaded dragonflies, although I forgot to take pictures before they were sent off to friends! They were made with the same beads as above.

The weekend was (and often will be) devoted to knitting. I always have something on the needles, so it's easy to grab and go for all that weekend business!

A Sweet Treat

2011-02-22T10:15:00.000-08:00

I got a little creative in the baking department last week. I had a little potluck dinner to go to and it was my turn to make dessert. The full recipe and instructions can be found here.

The insides of the truffles were chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting mixed in. After you mix the cake and frosting you roll them into 1 inch balls...

The outsides were a combo of melting chocolate and melting vanilla. I melted small batches of the chocolate or vanilla, dipped each ball individually (the vanilla needed to be dipped twice), and allowed them to harden on a sheet of foil...

Next it was time to decorate! Again I melted small batches of the vanilla and chocolate, then spooned it into a baggie, cut the corner out of the bag (making a very small hole), and drizzled the melted stuff over the balls...

Each ''truffle'' was placed inside a mini-muffin paper and then they were ready to eat! The cake was so moist and sweet.

The coolest thing about this project was the fact that you could take the rolled cake balls (before they get dipped in chocolate) place them in a zip-top bag and throw them in the freezer! Just take them out of the freezer and pop them in the fridge a day before you want to use them. Then proceed as planned. They still taste great and the cake doesn't dry out at all!

A Rant About V-Day

2011-02-14T12:54:00.000-08:00

My husband and I do not celebrate Valentine's Day. Never have, and likely never will. Not because we are cynical, or against love, or anti-chocolate. In fact, we are quite in love, affectionate and we (well, at least he) loves chocolate. We decided a long time ago that it was more important to celebrate our love everyday instead of saving it up for one day a year. It's the little things that are important. Like when he empties the dishwasher before he goes off to work in the morning or the fact that he lets me sleep in every Saturday. Or that I make dinner for his stinky friends (and enjoy it) or that 300 days out of the year there is some sort of sport on TV. For us, Valentine's day is more like our own personal Thanksgiving. It's when we remember what we mean to each other and how our lives would be incomplete without "us". It is not about chocolate, stuffed bears, or flowers.

We spend a quiet night at home with a home-cooked meal and (sometimes) a bottle of cheap champagne (less that $5... hey I told you it was cheap) and the two of us. That's all we need to remind us that we are in love.

Adventures in Slow-Cooking

2011-01-11T17:03:00.000-08:00

I found the best unexpected slow-cooker recipe yet... Apple Butter!

We have some friends that are part of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), and every month they get a box of farm fresh produce- what ever happens to be in season that month. They were going to England to celebrate Christmas with family, and offered us their box for December. In it were three types of winter squash, two bags of mixed greens, some cilantro (don't know how that was in season, but whatever), dried thyme, two bunches of carrots, and about half a dozen of red delicious apples. Everything got picked off one by one until all that was left were the apples. Don't ask me how they got left behind, lost in the shuffle I guess, but they started to soften a bit and I started going through the mental list of what to make with them. Apple bread or muffins? Apple sauce? and then it hit me... Apple Butter! Now, I love apple butter, but I am the only one in my house to eat the stuff so I usually don't buy it. But I got a new canning pot (and utensils) on mega clearance this fall and took that as the perfect opportunity to try it all out.

The recipe made 8 1/2 pints (17 cups) of butter that is now canned and awaiting its ultimate purpose. Some of it will go back to the couple that gave us the box. The recipe is below!

All Day Apple Butter

found on www.allrecipes.com

5 1/2 pounds of apples peeled cored and finely chopped

4 cups white sugar*

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker, mix well, and set to cook on high covered for 1 hour.

2. Turn cooker to low and cook for 9 to 11 hours (I went with 11 and did this overnight).

3. Uncover and cook on low for another hour.

4. Blend until desired consistency.

5. Spoon into sterile containers, cover and refrigerate or freeze.

* if your apples are super sweet you won't need nearly that amount of sugar. My apples were a combo of red delicious, fugi, and galas, all pretty sweet apples so I cut the amount back to 3 cups and it was plenty sweet. You can put in half the amount in and check it and added it as you feel need be.

Gifts

2011-01-08T19:46:00.000-08:00

I wasn't too ambitious this Christmas as far as crafting went. Last year, I made every member in my family a hat. Which really wasn't so bad. This year, however, I decided this year I was going to cool it and give gifts that were already made ahead of time. No frantic last-minute knitting, just relaxing and enjoying the season! Here was what made it through...

A HAT

Pattern: A Cloche Call

Yarn: JoAnn Sensations Cosetta

PILLOWCASES

A PAIR OF MITTENS

Pattern: Palm Surprise Mitts

Yarn: Katia Austral

A PAIR OF SOCKS

Pattern: An Anklet a Day

Yarn: Premier Yarns Serenity Garden

I also hand-dyed some cotton yarn, but gave it away before taking pictures!

Cabin Fever

2011-01-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

If I had to describe my attitude in one phrase, it would be ''cabin fever''. It has been so cold here lately, that going out, even to play in the back yard, is heavily debated, thought through, and deemed a bad idea. I'm not sure that the temperatures have broken 25 in the last two weeks and the roof tops and lawns of the neighborhood are covered in a perpetual layer of frost. We are confused since the sun is brightly shining, and the wind is not blowing. It seems like it would be really nice outside. But as soon as you open the door there is a blast of frigid air to greet you.

My son is going nuts. Into everything. Undoing everything. Terrorizing the cats. The only saving grace is he has his new Christmas toys to distract him, for about 15 minutes. We've watched a lot of movies, which I hesitate to do lest he turn into a couch potato, but it's the only activity that we can do where he isn't getting into trouble every two minutes.

I've started about half a dozen ''home'' projects. Cleaning out closets, cabinets, drawers. Purging things that are too old and out-of-date to use. But I am making little progress on those projects (see above statement about rascally toddler), so the house resembles more of a frat house than anything else.

As you can probably imagine, my crafting and cooking has suffered greatly. The knitting sits in it's basket untouched and dinner has been reduced to McDonalds drive though and frozen or boxed meals. I am hoping for the change to snap and for me to get my motivation and energy back. Or at least for it to warm up enough that my son can spend half an hour outside running his little heart out.

Next time, I will share some of the little Christmas gifts I made. It hasn't been a totally barren craft-land.

Super Mashers with Chicken and Green Chili Hash

2010-12-15T09:05:00.000-08:00

This week I have revisited Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats. I prepared recipe number 144: Super Mashers with Chicken and Green Chili Hash. Now I am a huge fan of anything green chili, so this seemed like the perfect dinner... chicken, green chilies, mashed potatoes. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint (except for the fact that I dumped the leftovers all over the kitchen floor, that was disappointing).

Every layer in this dish was full of flavor. You start with a layer of garlic and scallion mashed potatoes; add a layer of sharp cheddar cheese; and top it with chicken, bell peppers, onions and green chili strips seasoned with green chili salsa. It was like a fajita in mashed potatoes instead of a tortilla! To change it up a bit, you could stuff a baked potato or fill a tortilla with the same ''hash''. YUM!

This recipe is one of a variation on a theme. She has what she calls a master recipe and then makes a couple more featuring a few different ingredients. Same basic dish with different flavors. I can't wait to try the other variations!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-12-02T10:32:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick little Thanksgiving project for the little ones who will be joining you for dinner. Take a large Styrofoam ball, cut it in half (thru the middle). Paint it brown. Take a smaller Styrofoam ball, also paint it brown. Two google eyes, a red balloon and a piece of orange craft foam cut out in the shape of a beak make the face (either use hot glue or craft glue). Take the sharp tip of a pencil and pierce holes along the back deep enough to fit the crayons in. Voila! Cute and easy!

Pattern and idea from: www.parents.com: 100 Days of Holidays Newsletter (it's free)!

Plans For an Inspired Weekend

2010-11-11T14:27:00.000-08:00

I have just returned from the craft store with two bags full of supplies and a head full of ideas and inspirations. Not to mention the pile of WIP's sitting on my kitchen table.

Here's a little taste of what's to come:

To be covered by fun paper

for the little guy's room.

A new book full of
holiday themed goodies.

A pair of socks in progress

Plus a washing machine full of new fabric destined to be adorable pillowcases!

I'm currently working on a couple of birthday presents (I'll share those next week), and homework for an Afghan KAL that I'm moderating starting in January (we are working on a blog to share all that on, so pay attention and I'll let you know about that in a couple of weeks)! I am also planning on dyeing some yarn for Christmas gifts this weekend, if I get the time...

It looks as if my plate is a bit overflowing, but isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about? Stuffing yourself with all the things you love most? Thankfully for me, most of these crafty WIP's will end up being gifts so I do have a little bit of time to spread them out.

Ahhh... it looks to be a great weekend.

A Nice Place to Sit

2010-11-07T15:57:00.000-08:00

A Handsome Hat

2010-11-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

Here is another finished object. I did it earlier this fall, but was waiting for the designer to release the pattern before sharing it with you. It is called "Burning Love Hat'' and can be found here.

It is really a great cabling pattern. And she even gives hints about how to cable with-out a cable needle. Which, by the way, I totally get the hype now- it is a very handy technique especially when working small cables (one or two stitches).

There are four sizes ranging from toddler to adult and it is super fast (a couple of afternoons), pretty darn easy (despite all the cables) and heirloom quality once finished (if I may say so myself). All you need is a size US8 16 inch circular needle and a skein of worsted weight yarn (I prefer wool). Like cake.

The only thing I can add is to check it along side your favorite beanie to make sure the length is alright before you start decreasing. I wish mine was just one repeat longer...

Kiddo modeling his brand new ''hockey game hat''.

Fall Pictures

2010-10-28T14:51:00.001-07:00

Red leaf, wet ground

Bird fattening up for winter

October's Glory

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

2010-10-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

Our book club book for September was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. This book is a series of fictional letters written by members of a Literary Society, ie a book club, during the German Occupation of the Guernsey Islands (located between the shores of England and France).

I would definitely recommend this book. It gives some historical insight to the experiences of people during WWII, in a situation that most didn't know existed. I, for one had no idea that any part of England was occupied during WWII, did you? The format is truly unique, as it is entirely letters written by different people. If you're interested, found a great review here.

Photo of the Day

2010-10-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

A busy bee preparing for winter

An Ode to Fall

2010-10-22T09:28:00.001-07:00

A fall inspired work in progress...

Fall is in full tilt in the Pacific Northwest with it's brisk breezes and fiery colors. This really is my favorite time of year. All my senses are heightened and I feel like I can accomplish and enjoy more. Summer is always so fast with places to go and people to see; winter makes you want to hide in your cozy hole; and spring is so unpredictable. But fall... is fresh and colorful. My husband and I spent two years living in New Mexico, where the seasons were Hot and Windy, I didn't know I could miss seasons so much, especially fall. My only complaint is the days are now getting shorter, and all those six and eight legged creatures are trying to find a cozy place to wait out the winter. Ick.

I read a great article/blog post this morning. You can find it here. It is all about finding creative ways to use your brain, change your routine, and be creative. What a lot of great ideas. There isn't anything tough or weird in it, but I think it's a great start to making your life a little more satisfying. There are two of the things in that article that I am thinking about implementing into my daily happenings... but that is for another day.

On a personal note, I have some creativity simmering away right now. A sewing project that will hopefully be done by Halloween, a couple of gifts in the works, a whole slew of cards to make, and a delicious dinner on the way. I also have a few finished objects that I can't wait to share.

With that, I am off to the farmer's market. It's the last one of the season...

Warm Woolies

2010-10-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

Just in time for winter...

Companion Mitts

Noro Kureyon and Fisherman's Wool

Shepherd's Pie

2010-10-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

Raise your hands if you've ever had Shepherd's Pie before. No? Well, you should.

Shepherd's Pie is a meat (usually beef) and veg casserole topped with mashed potatoes and warmed through in the oven. With as simple a formula as that is, you can imagine the infinite possibilities. It is a great meal for leftovers since you can use ANY type of meat that is hanging out in your fridge or freezer. I've used brisket, roasted chicken, even taco meat. Add frozen veggies (or leftover cooked veggies) and top with some mashed potatoes. If everything is warm it takes just a few minutes in the oven to brown the potatoes and warm it through. Or you can leave it in the fridge for a couple of days and have a mid-week dinner done in a flash (just pop in in the oven to heat up- everything is cooked already)!

So where is this going? Smoked Turkey Shepherd's Pie, recipe #2 in Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats cookbook. This used bacon and ground turkey as the meat; sauteed carrots, onions, celery, and bell pepper for the veg; and (of course) mashed potatoes with peas for the topping. The ''smoked" part came from smoked paprika and the smokey bacon. I added a little bit of poultry seasoning and topped the whole thing off with a bit of smoked Gouda cheese to boost the flavor even more.

The inner workings...

I then divided the ingredients into three smaller casseroles for three separate dinners (each of the three could feed 3-4 people). If I wanted to, I could have covered the casseroles well and put them in the freezer for much later, but I gave away two of them to family and saved the third for us. (By the way this recipe is written to feed four, but as you can see it really is more like eight or more, especially if you add a salad and rolls along side... Rachel has big appetite).

Really what could be better?

Happy eating!

A Vegetable Intervention

2010-10-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

Last week my son was hanging out with his Grandparents while my husband and I were at a couple's book club meeting. My Mom made him a dinner of creamed peas and mashed potatoes and oven baked chicken. Sounds good right? Well, while they were eating, my Mom suggests to her darling Grandson that he eat some of his mashed potatoes and he looks at her with the most serious expression a two year old can give and says: "I don't eat vegetables."

Now, I fully realize that toddler refusal of vegetable consumption is nothing new. However his grandparents were rather shocked at the verbal conviction that this particular toddler used in his refusal. I was embarrassed, my husband thought it was hilarious (he's not much help in this particular venue of child rearing). I admit we were pretty complacent when it came to meal time. We'd offer a variety of foods (fruit, protein, whole grains, dairy, veggies, etc) and let him chose what he'd like to eat. Real meals before snacks, milk or water to drink. We though that was good enough. Apparently not. It was time for an intervention.

I plan on taking a tricky approach, hiding the goods in his favorite meals, and then gradually showing him that what he really likes is also good for him. Today I took the first step. We had vegetable soup, pureed smooth in a blender. I added some cooked macaroni noodles to entice him. And guess what? He ate it. In fact he ate around the noodles (leaving most of them behind) and polished off the broth of the soup.

Mom: one, Veggie Phobic Tot: zero.

Although in reality he wins too :)

I know this will be a long, drawn out, frustrating, and likely tearful process, but in the end I think it will be worth it.

Crock Pot Dinner

2010-10-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

Monday night is family dinner night and I decided that I was going to make it "Crock Pot Night"

We had Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore, which happens to be my favorite Italian meal. This variation was pretty good. It made a huge amount of food that served 5 adults with about three more servings as left-overs. Sorry there's no ''real life'' picture. We'll just say that it didn't look like the picture above, despite how tasty it was.

I happen to be a huge fan of the crock pot. Some may think that it is a bit old fashioned or confusing but they just don't understand. If you still aren't sold on the joys of slow-cooking, here are some reasons why I love it!

1- It takes about 15 minutes of prep work. Wash, chop, stir, open a can or two and that's it!

2- It can cook all day- which in turn means that all the flavors get a chance to really mingle with one another, making dinner taste like you slaved away all day. Example? Cook a pot roast while you're spending the day out picking apples this fall and come home to a hot, delicious meal!

3- It can cook in less than a day. Most slow cooker recipes give you the option of a faster cook time (ie 3-4 hours rather than the 6-7 hours for a slow cook), so even if you don't get a chance to get started until the afternoon you still have the option of having a meal ready when dinner time rolls around.

4- Clean up is a breeze! You can literally have your entire meal from a single pot, and since you did your prep hours before, chances are that stuff's already been cleaned up and put away!

5- Makes for great left overs. You can cook large portions of food that can be frozen or packed away for lunch during the week.

6- There is a plethora of information, recipes, and cookbooks available out there, so you never have to work very hard to get some good ideas or recipes.

7- You can do dessert too! No kidding! But I will save that for another day...

happy eating!

Tex-Mex Salad

2010-09-28T15:48:00.001-07:00

Tex-Mex Salad
6 servings

1 Bag pre-washed Spinach
1/2 can (15 0z) Black Beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 chopped bell pepper (preferable red, orange, or yellow as they are sweeter)
1/4 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 avocado cubed
Crushed tortilla chips (for garnish)

Arrange salad in that order (I told you it was easy). Can be dressed with salsa or ranch (I love jalapeno ranch!) dressing. To make this a meal, double ingredients and add either taco or fajita seasoned beef or chicken.

Enjoy!

Let's take a trip...

2010-09-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

Last night's dinner was a little trip down to the Texas-Mexican border. I'm not really sure how authentic this menu is to this region, but it was still tasty. We had Tex-Mex Mac-n-Cheddar with beef and peppers, recipe number 6 out of Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats cookbook and a Tex-Mex Salad I made up on my own. Sorry there won't be any pictures because the mac and cheese wasn't as pretty as it was tasty. If you've ever seen Hamburger Helper, that's pretty much what it looked like. Although, I would have to say that it was infinitely more healthy and tasty than its boxed counterpart (there are some in my family who like HH, I am not one of them).

I am really diggin' the mac and cheese recipes out of this book- there are four with the same prep and basic ingredients. First off, they are rather simple: boil some pasta, make a cheese sauce, add either a meat or a veggie and combine. No real difficulties here. But the different varieties make each one unique from the last. Three of the four I have made (although in this venture I've only technically done two) and I think that my favorite is still the Mac-n- Smoked Gouda with Cauliflower. Last night's dish would come in at a close second. Granted, last night I rushed the cheese sauce and ended up with a rather soupy mac rather than the gooey cheese that I could have gotten by taking my time, it was still well received leaving limited leftovers in the fridge.

If you tune in tomorrow, I will give you the recipe for my Tex-Mex salad... can't wait to make that beauty again!

To Kill a Mockingbird

2010-09-22T13:00:00.001-07:00

I am dedicating today's post to one of the greatest books in American Literature.

I am a member of two book clubs, one I am an active member (I read all the books in the time allotted) and the other I am a optional member. How does the optional status work? Well, it really is a knitting group that the members choose to read the same book every month and then we have something to discuss at our monthly knitting night. Both groups chose very different subjects. The knitting group, ironically, chooses craft themed books and the other group is more random (with each member getting to take their turn to pick). Funnily enough, both groups chose the same book for the month of August: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This summer marked the 50th anniversary of this story's existence.

It is written in the perspective of a six year old girl from the tired old (fictional) town of Maycomb, Alabama. The story takes place during the height of America's Great Depression, World War II, and racial segregation. There are really two stories in the book, which start separately but by the end are intertwined in such a way one couldn't speak of one without the other. A strange recluse, a trial where one man's word challenges another, and the coming of age of two southern children create a sobering glimpse into our nation's history.

If you've never read this book, or it has been a long time, you really should read it again. I had forgotten the details of the book, and how much I really liked it. I had read it before, in high school, when it was required of me but as a teenager I had the tendency to read it, write the report, and then promptly forget about it. I think that as an adult I could really appreciate the story on a more mature level.

Confessions

2010-09-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

So I have a confession to make. I made this realization this morning while thinking about this blog and, and trust me it was a no brainer.

I got bored. I got bored making Rachel Ray's recipes all the time. Sure they were tasty, but for the most part they were all very similar. Same type of ingredients, same type of prep, and in a lot of cases, same flavors. Add to that the fact that the recipes always made huge amounts of food. Much more than a family of two and a half would eat. And we've been trying to go on a ''food spending diet'' as well as trying to eat healthier. It's just not working out. Sorry Rachel, I'd like to see other chefs but I still wanna be friends.

So I have come up with a couple of solutions. I'd still like to pursue cooking through 365: No Repeats, but I'd also like to try some different things. I have a couple of cookbooks designed for one or two serving meals, as well as one with over 100 different things to do with chicken (which is perfect for our family, we LOVE chicken). So I'm thinking three or four nights will be dedicated to these ventures (one per the three nights). I'm pretty sure I could swing that, and still remain sane.

I hope you'll forgive me, but a girl's gotta have some variety in her life!

Wine's always good after a tough break up.

One Salad, Two Ways

2010-07-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

This week I had the opportunity to make two salads that contained almost the same ingredients. All I did was get all the ingredients, and then made two half recipes and voila! One Salad, Two Ways!

The first was Salad Capricciosa (Recipe number 185 in Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats Cookbook). It's kinda like an Italian version of a chef salad. There's romaine lettuce, artichokes, tomatoes, onion, basil, parsley, prosciutto (which I sub-ed in bite size pepperoni pieces), peas, and mozzarella cheese. Mix this with a lemon pesto vinaigrette and you've got yourself a steller (and easy) salad. This went to a potluck dinner, and there were NO left-overs. It was fresh and light, especially with the lemon in the dressing.

The second recipe, Caprese Hot-or-Cold Pasta Toss (recipe number 79), was a slightly different take on the Salad Capricciosa. Instead of the lettuce, you add cooked penne rigate (any short cut pasta would work), everything else was the same! You do a slightly different prep too. All the salad ingredients (artichokes, tomatoes, onions, etc) get sauteed in some garlic and olive oil, tossed together and you're good to go. This one was great because you could serve it hot out of the pan or chilled. Perfect for leftovers! I love meals that are tasty hot and cold!

Chalk one up for versatility!

A Study in Green

2010-07-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

As I've said before, this has been one crazy summer. But I am resolved to get back into the swing of things. My new goal is to try and get two recipes done a week. I will (with best intentions) stick to this new plan, and I'll be sure to let you know about it :)

I've got two recipes to tell you about. The first meal could be described in two words: green and spicy. I prepared Mexican Tomatillo Stoup with Chorizo (recipe number 311 from Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats). The green came from the tomatillos (which there was 2 28oz cans of). The spice (which was a little crazy, even for someone who likes spice) came from chorizo, jalapenos, and cilantro. There are some in my family who request no chorizo, so instead I substituted spicy Italian sausage. Next time I think I'll just go with a plain sausage or ground beef so the spicy factor isn't so outta control (there is enough in this stoup to make it interesting with out letting it getting so crazy). Other than that the soup had some great things going for it. It had an interesting depth of flavor and it was relatively low in fat from what I could tell (potatoes, chicken stock, sausage, and some veggies).

The next recipe was Turkey Noodle Casserole (recipe number 9). I have to say that I am still on the fence with this one, but the guys in my family loved it. I would have personally liked the cheese to be a little more saucy and creamy rather than just melted cheese. This recipe was simple and took little time to complete- less than 30 minutes. With a few changes it will be a good one to repeat, perhaps in the fall when it isn't 100 degrees outside...

Back in the Saddle

2010-06-22T20:29:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, it's been a while. But please believe me when I say that I've thought of you often. And to boot, I've been really busy. So, as you know, my son turned two last week. To be expected the week was filled with celebration, eating, and family. Phew, what a week.
So I've made another decision about my cooking though Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats. It is now too hot to be eating soups and casseroles (although there probably will be some randomly thrown in there) but perfect weather for the more grill-friendly recipes. So, over the next couple of days I will go through and sort through the recipes, and find the weather friendly ones.

In the mean time, I will give you this... Lemon and Artichoke Risotto with Shrimp (314). I can honestly say that I have never eaten, made, or wanted risotto before. I've always heard that it is a complicated, time consuming process. But really, it wasn't all that bad. It did take some constant stirring, but the ''labor'' was worth it. The risotto was really well balanced, between the tangy lemon, creamy rice, and sweet peas. I'm looking forward to trying another risotto.
Happy eating.

Happy Birthday

2010-06-15T09:38:00.000-07:00

My son turns two today. It is hard to believe that this could be happening, the time has gone so quickly! Someone once told me, "the days are long, but the years are short." I believe every word in that statement.
We celebrated his birthday this weekend, with friends and family surrounding us. And we had a blast!
So what does a two year old want for his birthday?
Cake...
The coolest gift, ever...
And some reading time to cool down...
He couldn't be happier. Thanks to all who helped us celebrate! And happy birthday little one- I love you!

I love soup

2010-06-09T15:31:00.000-07:00

It's true. I love soup. I could eat it on a daily basis. It's nutritious, and delicious, easy to make and makes your house smell homey and inviting. Usually during the winter, I make at least one pot of soup a week. So imagine my delight, when I drew not one, but two soups in this most recent batch of recipes! Soups are easy. Usually the only effort put into making soup is throwing your ingredients into a pot and let it simmer away. The clean-up is minimal, and you can fake out your diners to think you've slaved away all day.

Last night I made recipe number 99 from Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats cookbook, Chicken, Corn, and Black Bean Stoup. Everything I said previously held true. It was quick, easy, smelled delicious, and filled us up to the brim! I served it along side a mexi salad (greens with corn, cheese, avocado, tomato and salsa to dress it) and some jalapeno poppers (the kind you find in the freezer section of the grocery store). Aah, my bowl runnith over.

A word of warning to those who don't like it hot (spicy that is), this is a bit of a fiery soup. This calls for a chipotle chili pepper in adobo sauce. This is a smoked jalapeno which just gets more and more hot through the process. You could do a couple of things to tame the fire. Instead of adding the pepper you could add some smokey chili powder or chipotle flavored hot sauce (Tabasco makes a version of this). This is infinitely easier to add to suit your spice level (add until its hot enough). You could also add fresh (or canned) jalapenos, which are less spicy than the chipotle version. I loved it the way it was, but there are lesser spice-tolerant people in my family and the next time I make this I will tone down the spice to suit their tender tongues.

How do you feel about soup? Are you an 'eat it every day' or only an 'only when its cold' kinda person. Will you eat it for a meal or only as an appetizer? Curious minds want to know...

Two for One

2010-06-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

So as far as this past week was concerned, cooking was successful, blogging was not. I realized that I have three dinners to tell you about, that I haven't even talked about. Tonight I will give you a taste of two of the meals, and will save the third for another night.

Meal number one, or rather 232: Chicken Sausage with Fennel and Onions, was moderately successful. Try as I may, I could not find fennel. I searched three different grocery stores and to no avail. I didn't think it would be so hard to find, I am wondering if it's not in season- any clue? So anyway, I made the sausage and onions as per the recipe and then added some bacon-y brussel sprouts and crusty bread to round out the meal. I suppose that it only sort of counts since one of the three ingredients in the recipe was missing, but I don't think I will repeat this one since it was just a quickie that we make on a variation on a very frequent basis (like for dinner tonight we had sausage with mac and cheese).
Earlier in the week I made meal number 104: Garlic and Herb Chicken and Romesco Sauce for my hubs and bro. It. Was. Awesome! There is this fantasticly spicy sauce made with roasted red peppers, tomato, and garlic. It was really tasty and even had a bit of a kick to it, which was even appreciated by our two year old. It was really fast to make, just throw everything in a food processor and let it go then serve it over the cooked chicken (which did take a bit of time). I was supposed to serve it over spicy arugula greens, but decided to instead serve it over some spaghetti. It will definitely be on the list of repeats, excellent!

Well there you have it. One more post and I will be all caught up, but that will have to wait for another day. See you next time, happy eating!

2010-06-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome back after a most enjoyable holiday weekend. I hope that you had a wonderful time doing whatever it is you did. Every Memorial Weekend, for the last thirteen years, my family and four other families make our way down the Oregon Coast for three relaxing days filled with absolutely nothing! Except for sand castle building, ocean exploring, aquarium visiting, shopping, and of course eating! What a great way to recharge the batteries!

We're home again, and that means that I am back to cooking my way through Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats cookbook. The recipe that I'm going to tell you about today was number 294, (Chicken #14753) Deviled Divan. We had this before we left on vacation, and was a great quick and inexpensive meal (I had everything needed for this in the pantry and freezer!). You bake up the chicken (with lemon and thyme), add some mustard sauce and cooked broccoli, top it with cheese and pop it under the broiler to melt together. The 'deviled' part is some hot sauce added to the mustard sauce to give it a kick (next time I'll add a bit more, because it was completely lost in the final product). It was fast, easy and delicious- what more could you ask for the night before leaving on vacation?

Sorry the picture isn't the greatest, we were so excited to be eating, that I forgot to take the picture before diving in!

I should get at least three more cooking nights in this week, so come back and see what's in store! Happy eating!

"If you like pina coladas..."

2010-05-25T14:28:00.000-07:00

Then you'll love Pina Colada Shrimp!

Last night was family dinner night, and we had number 96 in Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats cookbook: Pina Colada Shrimp! I don't normally do shrimp, mostly because I don't have any real experience dealing with it, and most anytime I have it in a restaurant it is so overcooked it tastes and feels like eating a pencil eraser. I am happy to report though, that this shrimp meal was a success.

This shrimp dish was a blend of sweet and spicy. It was cooked with a combination of pineapple, coconut milk (I was able to find and use the real thing as opposed to the drink mixer the recipe called for), red pepper flakes and cilantro. I also opted for cleaned and precooked frozen shrimp. This way I saved myself some time by not having to clean, devein, and cook the shrimp. I could just warm them up and mix them into the sauce.

This was recipe that I probably would never have been brave enough to make without the inspiration of cooking though this book, and everyone agreed that its a keeper. I hope that the really scary recipes turn out to be as fun and successful as this one (or at least not terrible)! There will be two more meals this week (Tuesday and Wednesday nights), and then I will be off on vacation for the Memorial Weekend from Friday until Monday! Maybe there is a real Pina Colada in my future...

Buffalo Hot ... Burgers

2010-05-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

Hello to all. I hope you had a nice weekend. We had (mostly) good weather, so there was a lot of yard work and gardening done at our house. We did however, take a break Sunday afternoon to have some good company and good food! Of course good weather at our house means grilling, and in addition to plain burgers and 'dogs, I made some Buffalo Turkey Burgers with Blue Cheese Dressing (number 260 in Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats Cookbook).

I'm not typically a huge fan of buffalo hot wings, but I have to tell you, the burger version is outstanding! The patties were flavorful and juicy and the sauces (buffalo wing sauce and blue cheese dressing) were the right balance of spicy and tangy. This recipe was easy to prepare and quick to disappear. I'll defiantly use this one again! More to come tomorrow!

Happy eating!

knitting...

2010-05-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

So, really. I haven't been cooking. This week has been nuts. Most of the nights this week I have had other plans around the dining hour, so my boys have been left to fend for themselves. Thank goodness for leftovers!

I have, however, been knitting (I'm always knitting) so how about a little show and tell? Right now my obsession has been socks. I love how you can take a wad of string (usually what it looks like after my cats or son has gotten a hold of it) and a couple of sticks and make something functional and fun. The possibilities are endless! And you know it will be something you can use when you're finished.

I completed a pair this weekend (it only took a handful of days from start to finish), and can't wait to make the next pair! You can find the pattern here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/an-anklet-a-day

The yarn is Felici by Knit Picks in the color Coney Island (which has since been discontinued) and I only had to use one skein for the pair. Sweet!

Happy knitting!

Boring Chicken

2010-05-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

No sooner had I mentioned the thought of summer weather, did I wake up to this. Rain. Rain. Rain. That's ok though, because it's still pretty warm, and at least it's cooling off the house from the 80 degrees it was yesterday. I planted some more seeds yesterday in the garden, and hadn't gotten around to watering them, so the benefits of the rain are twin fold.

Sunday evening my father-in-law came for a visit and dinner, so it was a perfect opportunity to make dinner! We had a fun visit, he brought my son a t-ball tee and a bucket full of wiffle balls (which has since become the new obsession). And dinner? Well... dinner was pretty lame. I made Big, Thick, Hearty Thighs... (#50 from Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats cookbook). It was basically stewed chicken with some potatoes and peas. Stewed chicken is fine if you have it in a soup or if you are adding it to a casserole. But stewed chicken on it's own is pretty boring. And this was no exception. I was complaining to my mom about this and she so wisely told me that they couldn't all be good, we were bound to find some stinkers. I guess she's right.

In fact I think the leftovers will end up in a soup, either lentil or chicken noodle... what do you think?

"There's no I in team, but there is one in meat pie..."

2010-05-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday to you! Hope you week went well, and your weekend is even better. We are finally enjoying some warm weather. Spring can be fickle here in Washington, warm and sunny one minute and cold and wet the next! I think though, we are done with the cold and ramping up toward the heat of summer!

I have two meals to tell you about, so lets get going! We had brisket for dinner on Monday that left us with a TON of leftovers. We needed a plan, although it could have been eaten as is... it was delicious. What to do...? I had planned on preparing Aussie Meat Pies (#201 from Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats), and instead of going with the ground beef that the recipe called for I went with the leftover brisket. Can I say... FANTASTIC! What a great idea. It's always a great plan to reuse your leftovers and make them into another meal!
I fiddled with the recipe a little bit by making them into actual pies rather than the sandwich-like things that were called for. The recipe called for baking the crusts out and then topping them with the meat filling. Instead, I layered the crusts with the meat filling in the middle and pinched them shut around the edges. This really didn't take a whole lot more time, and the result was certainly a hit. We ended up with NO leftovers. A first for Rachel's generous meals.

Meal number two was certainly fancy, although not as tasty as the first. Don't get me wrong, it was "delish''... just not as "delish". We had Chicken No. 14,754- Chicken Bustard, a.k.a. Chicken in a Basil- Mustard Sauce (#295). I was a little wary because I'm not big on dijon mustard and things prepared in a lot of it, but it worked. I think the biggest reason this recipe turned out ok was because a couple of spoonfuls of pre-made basil pesto was added to the sauce at the end (by the way, I don't think I have ever had pesto before, and after trying it I can't tell you why- it is really quite good. I even spread some on the bread that was served along side). I served the chicken atop some orzo pasta to soak up the excess sauce, which also made for a pretty presentation. Overall, we decided it would be good enough to repeat, and recommend to you :)

Hope your weekend is fantastic, we are off to a birthday party... Happy B-day Dad!

Lunch for the Ladies

2010-05-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

This is going to be one of those weeks. The kind that gets out from under you and try as you might you won't be able to catch up to it as it snowballs down the hill. So far I only have one meal to tell you about, but I do intend on cooking again tonight so there will be something to share tomorrow.

Monday afternoons I host a knitting group at my house. It's just a small group of ladies. We knit, we chat, and then we eat. Usually I make a big pot of soup (especially when the winter weather is raging outside), but this week I decided to do something different. Recipe #1 in Rachel Ray's 365:No Repeats is a meat, egg, and cheese Scramblewich. Since our group was smaller than usual, I thought that would make for a good opportunity to have something different. I had some cooked ham in the freezer, and the left-over smoked gouda (from last week's mac-n-cheese), and quickly whipped up the sandwiches.

Overall, I would have to say the best part of this recipe would be that it's easy, and you most likely have everything you'd need already in your fridge. Meat, cheese, eggs, and bread. Simple as that. And the cost? For four it was only $1.57 a person (plus, as always, there were some leftovers).

See you tomorrow, and happy eating!

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T22:26:00.000-07:00

First of all, Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommas out there!! We are who we are because of you!

This is what my mommy got for her special day... I mosaic-ed a terra cotta flower pot with some shards of stained glass. Cool, huh? Second... FOOD! I've cooked twice more since my last post. The first time was Thursday night, which was game night for my hubs and his friends. I prepared Chicken Schnitzel (#132 from Rachel Ray's 365:No Repeats). I think the boys liked it- there wasn't any leftovers. Here is another recipe that requires the chicken breasts to butterflied and then pounded out as thin as possible. I was feelin' lazy so instead of spending the time and muscle, I sliced the chicken as thin as I could. I ended up getting about three thin slices across each chicken breast. This was a super simple meal requiring practically no prep- one could easily get this on the table in no time! One interesting thing about this particular recipe was that there is nutmeg in the breading. I thought would be a little weird, but it added a new dimension to this would be (otherwise) boring dish.

The second dish I prepared was Mac-n-Smoked Gouda with Cauliflower (5). This was a home run! Although, in the future I am planning on cutting most of the meals in half. This spicy mac-n-cheese (cayenne and paprika) could certainly feed a crowd! In fact there's enough leftovers for dinner tomorrow.

These two meals were the cheapest yet. The Chicken Schnitzel weighed in at $11.07 total, making it a whopping $2.77 a plate for four people. The Mac-n Smoked Gouda w/ cauliflower was $15.08 total. This dish would probably yield ten servings easily, making it $1.51 a serving. Nice!

Now I know what you're thinking... there's supposed to be one more meal. I haven't done the Veal Scallopine w/ Dijon Sauce, Asparagus, and Avocados (#189). The reason is simple... I can't find the veal! So until I do find it, or come up with an appropriate substitution, this meal is going back into the pool. Fear not though, I will be back!

Happy eating!

Two for Two

2010-05-06T13:53:00.000-07:00

Dinner number two was last night: Turkey Stroganoff Noodle Toss (recipe 341 in Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats) and the Red Caraway Cabbage from recipe 132. I believe this meal was a success, although not nearly as high on the list as Monday's dinner (the family was still raving about that one!). Definitely would do this again, especially the cabbage. I don't know what it is about cooked cabbage, but I love it! It's sweet and tender, and with the addition of red wine vinegar and granny smith apples, tart and tangy as well! Dinner totaled at $11.10 (including the meat) which for five ended up at $2.22 a head! Sweet!

One thing I have to say about Rachel's dinners is you can certainly feed a crowd. This dinner was supposed to feed 4, and we could feed four at least twice! In fact, the leftover cabbage is going to a pot-luck dinner tonight!

Happy Eating!