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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Turkey Pot Pie
So the cook book I used today is one of my favorites. I use it for about...oh...two recipes. Ha! Here is one of them - Turkey Pot Pie. Yummers! I make this after the holidays so I can make my own turkey stock with the bones and so we can use up the left over turkey. Brad has a thing about leftovers, he won't eat them two days out, so I have to hide them. Skillfully.
Here is Pioneer Woman's recipe taken from her website:
Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
1 pie crust (1/2 of Perfect Pie Crust recipe)
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1/2 cup finely diced carrot
1/2 cup finely diced celery
2 cups leftover turkey, light and dark, diced or shredded (or both!)
1/4 cup flour
2 cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
splash of white wine (optional)
1 cup heavy cream
Frozen peas (optional)
Fresh thyme, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Melt butter in a skillet or dutch oven. Add onion, carrots, and celery, and cook until translucent (a couple of minutes.)
Add turkey and stir. Sprinkle flour over mixture and stir. Cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly.
Pour in chicken or turkey broth, stirring constantly. Splash in wine (you can leave this out if you’d like.) Pour in cream. (May add frozen peas at this point if you’d like.)
Bring to a slow boil and allow mixture to cook and thicken for a few minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste (do not underseason), and fresh or dried thyme to taste. Do one final taste at the end and add what it needs.
Pour mixture into a casserole dish or deep pie pan.
Roll out crust so that it’s about 1 inch larger than the pan you’re using.
Place the crust on top of the pot pie mixture, and press crust into the sides of the dish. Cut vents in the top of the crust.
Bake for 30 minutes or until very golden and bubbly.
Allow to cool for a little bit before serving.
Now here is the big thing - Brad hates peas. I leave them out when I make this, sometimes adding in broccoli sometimes not. Eh. I also make double crusts from her recipe in her book and freeze one for the top of this and use the other for a pie for the meal. So basically we have apple pie for our Thanksgiving dinner and then pot pie a few days later. It is heaven in a casserol dish. Try it. Love it. Then become addicted to Pioneer Woman and dream of being her one day.
I don't have a photo of this because we ate it...and then the leftovers Brad stuck in a plastic container before I could get the camera out. Whatever. It was good.
Here is Pioneer Woman's recipe taken from her website:
Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
1 pie crust (1/2 of Perfect Pie Crust recipe)
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1/2 cup finely diced carrot
1/2 cup finely diced celery
2 cups leftover turkey, light and dark, diced or shredded (or both!)
1/4 cup flour
2 cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
splash of white wine (optional)
1 cup heavy cream
Frozen peas (optional)
Fresh thyme, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Melt butter in a skillet or dutch oven. Add onion, carrots, and celery, and cook until translucent (a couple of minutes.)
Add turkey and stir. Sprinkle flour over mixture and stir. Cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly.
Pour in chicken or turkey broth, stirring constantly. Splash in wine (you can leave this out if you’d like.) Pour in cream. (May add frozen peas at this point if you’d like.)
Bring to a slow boil and allow mixture to cook and thicken for a few minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste (do not underseason), and fresh or dried thyme to taste. Do one final taste at the end and add what it needs.
Pour mixture into a casserole dish or deep pie pan.
Roll out crust so that it’s about 1 inch larger than the pan you’re using.
Place the crust on top of the pot pie mixture, and press crust into the sides of the dish. Cut vents in the top of the crust.
Bake for 30 minutes or until very golden and bubbly.
Allow to cool for a little bit before serving.
Now here is the big thing - Brad hates peas. I leave them out when I make this, sometimes adding in broccoli sometimes not. Eh. I also make double crusts from her recipe in her book and freeze one for the top of this and use the other for a pie for the meal. So basically we have apple pie for our Thanksgiving dinner and then pot pie a few days later. It is heaven in a casserol dish. Try it. Love it. Then become addicted to Pioneer Woman and dream of being her one day.
I don't have a photo of this because we ate it...and then the leftovers Brad stuck in a plastic container before I could get the camera out. Whatever. It was good.
Road Trippin'
We were not able to be home on Thanksgiving this year because Brad worked the Friday after Thanksgiving. We were thinking of driving back on Thanksgiving, which we decided against which was good because the pass was crazy-times that day! We went home the weekend before and Ella had a great time meeting her cousins and extended family.
I have to say that being able to introduce Ella to my family was one of the most special memories for me. My Mom's family was amazing, showing up on a Sunday just to see her! We had a wonderful brunch prepared by my mom and grandma and Ella was passed around like a champ for several hours. Family is so important, and living far away really reminds you of that every day. I was lucky to live close to my family on both sides and have some amazing memories growing up with my cousins that were close to my age. Here are some photos, Ella with her cousins and me with mine!
We are very exhausted from our cross-state road trip, but Ella was a champ only having us stop once on the way over and twice on the way home. The second time was to change her diaper in the parking lot of Daddy's work...only about 45 minutes from home. Oh well!
We had Ella's first Thanksgiving at home with just the three of us - four counting Star! It was a nice quiet holiday that was uneventful until Mommy set off the fire alarm by burning the pie crust. Touchy little thing! We ate our meal thinking of our families and what fun traditions we had growing up. I remember the acres of desserts at my Grandma Rita's, Grandpa Mike's amazing turkey that was wrapped up in cheese cloth, and of course my favorite memory of Grandpa the year he was told by the doctor he could have one glass of wine. He found the largest goblet and filled it to the rim! One glass, he didn't say how big that glass had to be! I am hoping we have some great memories with her and our family for years to come. Now that Christmas is fast approaching I am thinking of new traditions to start with her. Of course we will have photos and decorating the tree, but I want to make sure to have cinnamon rolls like Grandma Rita always had, maybe even gingerbread houses, but what else? So fun to have a "family" all my own to start traditions with!
Happy Holidays and sending my love to my distant family and friends everywhere!
I have to say that being able to introduce Ella to my family was one of the most special memories for me. My Mom's family was amazing, showing up on a Sunday just to see her! We had a wonderful brunch prepared by my mom and grandma and Ella was passed around like a champ for several hours. Family is so important, and living far away really reminds you of that every day. I was lucky to live close to my family on both sides and have some amazing memories growing up with my cousins that were close to my age. Here are some photos, Ella with her cousins and me with mine!
It was also very special to see my aunts with Ella. My Aunt Sherry and Aunt Charlene showered her with love, and taking pictures I kept thinking of how when Ella is older she will treasure these photos. I also remember looking at photos with my relatives when I was younger and thinking "Wow...look at so and so! They look funny!" Hee Hee! To forever keep these photos in circulation I am putting them on here for her. Also, a photo with her Uncle Danny (who will want to be called Uncle Dan but I think I'll win with the Danny...)
We had Ella's first Thanksgiving at home with just the three of us - four counting Star! It was a nice quiet holiday that was uneventful until Mommy set off the fire alarm by burning the pie crust. Touchy little thing! We ate our meal thinking of our families and what fun traditions we had growing up. I remember the acres of desserts at my Grandma Rita's, Grandpa Mike's amazing turkey that was wrapped up in cheese cloth, and of course my favorite memory of Grandpa the year he was told by the doctor he could have one glass of wine. He found the largest goblet and filled it to the rim! One glass, he didn't say how big that glass had to be! I am hoping we have some great memories with her and our family for years to come. Now that Christmas is fast approaching I am thinking of new traditions to start with her. Of course we will have photos and decorating the tree, but I want to make sure to have cinnamon rolls like Grandma Rita always had, maybe even gingerbread houses, but what else? So fun to have a "family" all my own to start traditions with!
Happy Holidays and sending my love to my distant family and friends everywhere!
Friday, November 18, 2011
My Tummy Time Master!
So if you aren't a parent you may not understand Tummy Time. So since babies are told to sleep on their back, they now have this thing called tummy time which is time that a baby is supposed to be on their tummy to build up their neck muscles and also to help them crawl...eventually. It sucks. At least for Ella it sucks. She cries like a mad crazy baby and then mommy cries and then we fail and I flip her over on her back.
After this crying/screaming/sense of failure experience over and over again I decided I better figure out what the heck I am doing wrong. Plus, I don't want to go to our pediatrician (who happens to be a very nice Russian lady) and admit that she has no tummy time because mommy is a wimp. So after asking other moms and looking online I found that they make these pillows that are long and thin that babies can lean on so their heads are slightly elevated and it helps them not have to smash their pretty noses on the ground. I'm not about to buy a stupid pillow that is specially made for this. That sounds really wasteful and I don't feel like leaving the house right now because I am having some horrible reaction to something and my eyes are swollen and red. I look super awful...
Okay back on topic! So I came up with a better idea! I rolled up one of her fluffy blankets and set her on that. She held her head up at 90 degrees and looked at me like "FINALLY CRAZY MOM! I CAN DO THIS!" So hooray! Tummy Time Master on my hands. She loves it because she can see everything and when she gets tired she doesn't have to smash her cute nose...or rub her face on the ground...getting so upset that she throws up. Uh yeah...it was bad news bears for a while.
So here is my little champ, taking on the world:
This kid is amazing! Okay...that's all...just had to brag!
After this crying/screaming/sense of failure experience over and over again I decided I better figure out what the heck I am doing wrong. Plus, I don't want to go to our pediatrician (who happens to be a very nice Russian lady) and admit that she has no tummy time because mommy is a wimp. So after asking other moms and looking online I found that they make these pillows that are long and thin that babies can lean on so their heads are slightly elevated and it helps them not have to smash their pretty noses on the ground. I'm not about to buy a stupid pillow that is specially made for this. That sounds really wasteful and I don't feel like leaving the house right now because I am having some horrible reaction to something and my eyes are swollen and red. I look super awful...
Okay back on topic! So I came up with a better idea! I rolled up one of her fluffy blankets and set her on that. She held her head up at 90 degrees and looked at me like "FINALLY CRAZY MOM! I CAN DO THIS!" So hooray! Tummy Time Master on my hands. She loves it because she can see everything and when she gets tired she doesn't have to smash her cute nose...or rub her face on the ground...getting so upset that she throws up. Uh yeah...it was bad news bears for a while.
So here is my little champ, taking on the world:
This kid is amazing! Okay...that's all...just had to brag!
Pulled Pork in a Crock Pot & Bismarcks
I have made this recipe before...but since it is my favorite I decided to use it as this cookbook's contribution to my journey. We usually have this on yummy rolls with baked beans, potatoes, and some sort of veggie. It is yummy and easy!
The book is Favorite Brand Name Best-Loved Recipes
BBQ Pork Sandwiches p 134
Pork stuff
4 lbs boneless pork loin roast (fat trimmed)
1 can beef broth
1/3 cup Worcestershire Sauce
1/3 cup hot sauce
Dump everything on top of the loin in the crock pot and cook on high for 5 hours (or 10 hours on low). I usually do this before leaving the house or in the morning so I do low and then turn it up to high for an hour because I like the juice to really get in the meat. If you don't want it super spicy you don't really need all of that hot sauce. It is a lot and is kind of weird. It doesn't make the meat really spicy or anything so I don't think it really has a purpose...sorry cookbook people.
Sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup mustard
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tbs hot sauce
Okay here is the thing about this sauce - it is really strong flavored. It has a mustardy molasses flavor that my hubby HATES so I usually make it for myself and he just uses his own BBQ sauce from the bottle. If you don't want it to be too strong I usually swap the molasses for brown sugar and then only do a few squirts of mustard. Cook it on the stove top for a few minutes and then put it on the pork that you shred once it is done doing its thing in the pot.
Here is the photo:
Now for dessert I tried something in one of my "old" cookbooks. It is called Better Homes and Gardens Jiffy Cooking. This is from 1967, which means it is kind of weird. I know that you wouldn't think that...but I am having a super hard time finding things that I can make in these older books. A lot of them call for ingredients we no longer have in our basic diet (canned liver? whaaa?). Plus...hubby is picky and I don't think he wants to try some of the gelatin molds which apparently was all the rage in the 1950-1970's. Gross.
So I found this easy idea that I thought I would try.
Quick Bismarcks p 67
"Luscious jelly-filled treats for breakfast or dessert. Coffee is a must-"
So you take canned biscuits and flatten them down to 1/4 inch then put your fave jam on one side, fold over and seal the edges and fry in hot fat for 3 minutes on each side. Drain, roll in powdered sugar, and EAT!
Sounds easy enough...but I think our biscuits are much bigger now a days...and filled with more fluffing layers because I could not get these babies to cook. I fried them and then put the in the oven and the fluffed up so big that the filling ran out. Needless to say...they were DELISH! Hubby was dying eating them. I suggested maybe just baking them to which he got a blank look on his face and said "well...the frying kind of makes them good..." so I think we may have to keep frying them. They taste like donuts, yummy donuts. I wish I had a fryer...frying on the stove top was rough times because I tend to scream when the oil pops and bubbles. I can just imagine ladies having these at an afternoon tea as they complain about their husbands who don't help with the kids and need a martini when they walk in the door from work. Or not...maybe that is just my Mad Men view of that time period. Oh well...make these anyway!
So the photos are of BEFORE I baked them because they are pretty...even if raw in the middle. Pay no attention to the raw middles...only the pretty little things on the plate. Also, side note, the photo on the cookbook is very weird. I think it is supposed to be hot dogs or something. Odd.
The book is Favorite Brand Name Best-Loved Recipes
BBQ Pork Sandwiches p 134
Pork stuff
4 lbs boneless pork loin roast (fat trimmed)
1 can beef broth
1/3 cup Worcestershire Sauce
1/3 cup hot sauce
Dump everything on top of the loin in the crock pot and cook on high for 5 hours (or 10 hours on low). I usually do this before leaving the house or in the morning so I do low and then turn it up to high for an hour because I like the juice to really get in the meat. If you don't want it super spicy you don't really need all of that hot sauce. It is a lot and is kind of weird. It doesn't make the meat really spicy or anything so I don't think it really has a purpose...sorry cookbook people.
Sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup mustard
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tbs hot sauce
Okay here is the thing about this sauce - it is really strong flavored. It has a mustardy molasses flavor that my hubby HATES so I usually make it for myself and he just uses his own BBQ sauce from the bottle. If you don't want it to be too strong I usually swap the molasses for brown sugar and then only do a few squirts of mustard. Cook it on the stove top for a few minutes and then put it on the pork that you shred once it is done doing its thing in the pot.
Here is the photo:
Now for dessert I tried something in one of my "old" cookbooks. It is called Better Homes and Gardens Jiffy Cooking. This is from 1967, which means it is kind of weird. I know that you wouldn't think that...but I am having a super hard time finding things that I can make in these older books. A lot of them call for ingredients we no longer have in our basic diet (canned liver? whaaa?). Plus...hubby is picky and I don't think he wants to try some of the gelatin molds which apparently was all the rage in the 1950-1970's. Gross.
So I found this easy idea that I thought I would try.
Quick Bismarcks p 67
"Luscious jelly-filled treats for breakfast or dessert. Coffee is a must-"
So you take canned biscuits and flatten them down to 1/4 inch then put your fave jam on one side, fold over and seal the edges and fry in hot fat for 3 minutes on each side. Drain, roll in powdered sugar, and EAT!
Sounds easy enough...but I think our biscuits are much bigger now a days...and filled with more fluffing layers because I could not get these babies to cook. I fried them and then put the in the oven and the fluffed up so big that the filling ran out. Needless to say...they were DELISH! Hubby was dying eating them. I suggested maybe just baking them to which he got a blank look on his face and said "well...the frying kind of makes them good..." so I think we may have to keep frying them. They taste like donuts, yummy donuts. I wish I had a fryer...frying on the stove top was rough times because I tend to scream when the oil pops and bubbles. I can just imagine ladies having these at an afternoon tea as they complain about their husbands who don't help with the kids and need a martini when they walk in the door from work. Or not...maybe that is just my Mad Men view of that time period. Oh well...make these anyway!
So the photos are of BEFORE I baked them because they are pretty...even if raw in the middle. Pay no attention to the raw middles...only the pretty little things on the plate. Also, side note, the photo on the cookbook is very weird. I think it is supposed to be hot dogs or something. Odd.
LIVE with Regis!
Today I watched the last episode with Regis on LIVE! and I cried. I know partly because I am still a little hormonal, but also because I just totally love that man. My addiction to Regis started when I was in elementary school. If I would stay home from school sick I would watch his show with Kathie Lee with my mom. My mom hated Kathie Lee and would complain the whole time, but it was just a fun and light hearted show. In high school I would watch it during the summer and then again in college I would watch it while getting ready in the morning for classes. My favorite episodes were the Halloween ones where they would go crazy dressing up. The best thing about Regis is how real he is, he tells us about what he did that night, about his family, his friends, and the small crazy things that happens to him. He does good, he means good, and in the world we have now with crazy reality TV stars who marry for 72 days, violence and hatred and "news" that is filled with personal opinions and anger. With Regis you didn't have to hear about who he voted for, you just got to hear about his crazy adventure to the voting booth. He didn't tell you what to buy or what to think, just that he couldn't open the package that his latest gadget that he didn't know what it did came in. LOVED IT!
A few years ago while in New York I got to meet the man himself at a restaurant. He was eating with Joy and I know that he probably hates to be interrupted, but he noticed us looking and asked us if we wanted a photo with him. He was funny and enduring and above all else polite. He was also dressed to the nines - dang! What more can you ask for?
I hope that it isn't the last time I see Regis, and I'm pretty sure it isn't! He is a wonderful man and it is an end of an era with light hearted banter and goofy experiences and I hope that Kelly can continue on the show...what else am I going to to between the hours of 9 - 10am!?
Okay I'm done with my strange love of Regis...continue on with your days now...
A few years ago while in New York I got to meet the man himself at a restaurant. He was eating with Joy and I know that he probably hates to be interrupted, but he noticed us looking and asked us if we wanted a photo with him. He was funny and enduring and above all else polite. He was also dressed to the nines - dang! What more can you ask for?
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| Regis in New York City |
I hope that it isn't the last time I see Regis, and I'm pretty sure it isn't! He is a wonderful man and it is an end of an era with light hearted banter and goofy experiences and I hope that Kelly can continue on the show...what else am I going to to between the hours of 9 - 10am!?
Okay I'm done with my strange love of Regis...continue on with your days now...
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Paula Deen without butter?
So this week I spent about an hour going through different cookbooks to plan out what to make. I then had to go back and cut things out because Brad has work dinners this week and I can't really eat as much as I planned.
My Grandma gave me a Paula Deen cookbook last year that I haven't opened. It was actually a book my mom gave her, which she never opened, so she regifted it to me! Ha! I was worried about the butter usage in her recipes, but the one I used didn't have any butter. Yes that's right, Paula Dean without butter! It was delish!
This is the book I have: Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics
Old-Time Beef Stew p. 58
2 lbs stew beef
2 tbsp oil
2 cups water
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 clove peeled garlic
1 or 2 bay leaves
1 medium onion, sliced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
Dash allspice
3 large carrots, sliced
4 red potatoes, quartered
3 ribs celery, chopped
2 tbs cornstarch
Directions (according to me):
Brown the meat in a big pot with the oil (imagine that Paula is saying oil in her accent...hee hee). Add the ingredients up until the carrots. Cook at simmer for 1.5 hours, and check it because apparently my water evaporated super quick. It was weird. I cut up the veggies during that time and added them with ANOTHER 2 cups of water and cooked for a half an hour until tender. Paula says to then remove 2 cups of water, which after 30 mins I had no water...so I put 2 cups of water in a measuring cup and microwaved it until boiling (about 2 mins). To that add a 1/4 cup water mixed with the cornstarch and then added that to the dry stew. Thanks Paula...no idea why it was so dry. I let that cook for about 5-10 mins until it looked like stew and then served it with crusty bread and a side salad. It was super yummy, just apparently needed 4 extra cups of water. Good thing I had extra water...
Here is the photo (pay no attention to my messy counter...and apparently a screwdriver):
I also used the book Put a Lid on It to make crock pot coffee cake. Now when I decided to do this I had grand visions of a lovely cake that I could make overnight, waking up in a dreamland where warm coffee cake is waiting for me. LIES! It was horrible. I'm actually not even going to give you the recipe because it was awful. The thing about this blue berry coffee cake is that a crock pot is not even heat. It heats from the bottom and sides, so basically you have a burnt bottom and sides and a soggy top. Weirdness. Do not attempt this at home. Plus, it says to cook for 3-4 hours. That can't be done overnight! Why would you ever wish to make a baked good in something like a crock pot when it could be done in 20 mins in the oven? Whatever...I'm sticking to meats in that baby! I'll do a round two with that book later. I can't count the gross cake-thing. It was just gross.
My Grandma gave me a Paula Deen cookbook last year that I haven't opened. It was actually a book my mom gave her, which she never opened, so she regifted it to me! Ha! I was worried about the butter usage in her recipes, but the one I used didn't have any butter. Yes that's right, Paula Dean without butter! It was delish!
 |
| Image from Amazon.com - the best place to buy books! |
This is the book I have: Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics
Old-Time Beef Stew p. 58
2 lbs stew beef
2 tbsp oil
2 cups water
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 clove peeled garlic
1 or 2 bay leaves
1 medium onion, sliced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
Dash allspice
3 large carrots, sliced
4 red potatoes, quartered
3 ribs celery, chopped
2 tbs cornstarch
Directions (according to me):
Brown the meat in a big pot with the oil (imagine that Paula is saying oil in her accent...hee hee). Add the ingredients up until the carrots. Cook at simmer for 1.5 hours, and check it because apparently my water evaporated super quick. It was weird. I cut up the veggies during that time and added them with ANOTHER 2 cups of water and cooked for a half an hour until tender. Paula says to then remove 2 cups of water, which after 30 mins I had no water...so I put 2 cups of water in a measuring cup and microwaved it until boiling (about 2 mins). To that add a 1/4 cup water mixed with the cornstarch and then added that to the dry stew. Thanks Paula...no idea why it was so dry. I let that cook for about 5-10 mins until it looked like stew and then served it with crusty bread and a side salad. It was super yummy, just apparently needed 4 extra cups of water. Good thing I had extra water...
Here is the photo (pay no attention to my messy counter...and apparently a screwdriver):
I also used the book Put a Lid on It to make crock pot coffee cake. Now when I decided to do this I had grand visions of a lovely cake that I could make overnight, waking up in a dreamland where warm coffee cake is waiting for me. LIES! It was horrible. I'm actually not even going to give you the recipe because it was awful. The thing about this blue berry coffee cake is that a crock pot is not even heat. It heats from the bottom and sides, so basically you have a burnt bottom and sides and a soggy top. Weirdness. Do not attempt this at home. Plus, it says to cook for 3-4 hours. That can't be done overnight! Why would you ever wish to make a baked good in something like a crock pot when it could be done in 20 mins in the oven? Whatever...I'm sticking to meats in that baby! I'll do a round two with that book later. I can't count the gross cake-thing. It was just gross.
Friday, November 11, 2011
My Cookbook Tour!
I love cookbooks. I think that is kind of an understatement - I am obsessed. I have a very large collection that grows constantly because I ask for cookbooks for all gift events. Also, people donate them to me when they don't want them anymore. It is wonderful. You can tell so much from cookbooks. I have some from all different decades, different cooks, and some very special ones that my Grandmother Rita gave me. Sometimes I sit and read them just for fun. My friend Erin understands this, probably the only person who does...try it sometime!
So while I am in love with these books of food, I am guilty of actually only using about three over and over again. In my whirlwind cleaning while on maternity leave I took them all off the shelves and reorganized them, only to realize my obsession is actually slightly crazy. In order to justify what if they were cats would make me a crazy cat lady (crazy cookbook lady? whatev!), I decided to take a little tour. Here is my declaration:
I, CougarKate, will vow to cook at least one recipe from each cookbook in my collection by this time next year.
Sure that sounds easy...but I actually have some off the wall items. One cookbook has a squirrel recipe. I think I will find something else in that book. Yikes! Here squirrley squirrley!
Not kidding: here is the section...yes SECTION on squirrel oh and of course POSSUM!
To start this I am using a cookbook that one of Brad's aunts gave me at my bridal shower.
Book #1: Nordstrom Friends and Family Cookbook
Here is the amazing item I chose, based on my desire to eat as much pasta as possible...mmmm pasta!
Mom's Baked Ziti p 79
Mom's Tomato Sauce:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion
1 clove garlic
2 cans (15ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
2 teaspoons brown sugar
Kosher Salt
black pepper
The directions (according me) - chop up the onion and garlic super fine (if you have a picky hubster that claims he doesn't like onion as much as he used to) and then cook them in the olive oil until translucent. Then dump in the tomato sauce and paste and sugar, and cook to combined. Taste it and add a ton of salt if you are me...
The rest of the stuff:
1 3/4 tbls kosher salt
1 pound ziti (I had this weird shaped pasta I used instead...and whole wheat...it makes me feel better about myself)
1 pound ground beef
1 container (15 ounces) ricotta cheese (I did low fat...again to feel better about myself...)
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 chopped fresh parsley (yeah I forgot to buy this...so we didn't have it)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or more...hey I had whole wheat pasta and low fat ricotta)
What I did - brown the meat with a little of the salt while cooking the pasta. Once it is browned remove from heat, add the ricotta, beaten egg, and some pepper. You are supposed to add the parsley too...unless you forgot it because you are a bubble head. Combine it all up and then add half the sauce and stir it all up real good. Dump in the pasta, unless you used a too small pan like me, so dump it in with the pasta in the big pan...then mix mix mix! Dump the yummy pink colored mixture into a 9x13 inch pan and dump a ton of mozzarella cheese on top, bake at 350 for 20- to 25 minutes until ooey gooey! Now here is the important part...don't forget about it because you are playing with the baby and then hubby comes home and looks at you like you are crazy finally asking "Um...is there dinner!" to which you jump up flustered and pull out a slightly browned baked ziti dish. It tasted good...but the cheese was a little tough. Darn.
This was super yummy - and easy peasey! It makes a ton though...way more than two people could possibly eat. I am going to cut it in half if I make it again. IF because I have about two billion cookbooks to get through....
I would have a picture, but I forgot. It happens people...I have two month old at home!
So while I am in love with these books of food, I am guilty of actually only using about three over and over again. In my whirlwind cleaning while on maternity leave I took them all off the shelves and reorganized them, only to realize my obsession is actually slightly crazy. In order to justify what if they were cats would make me a crazy cat lady (crazy cookbook lady? whatev!), I decided to take a little tour. Here is my declaration:
I, CougarKate, will vow to cook at least one recipe from each cookbook in my collection by this time next year.
Sure that sounds easy...but I actually have some off the wall items. One cookbook has a squirrel recipe. I think I will find something else in that book. Yikes! Here squirrley squirrley!
Not kidding: here is the section...yes SECTION on squirrel oh and of course POSSUM!
To start this I am using a cookbook that one of Brad's aunts gave me at my bridal shower.
Book #1: Nordstrom Friends and Family Cookbook
Here is the amazing item I chose, based on my desire to eat as much pasta as possible...mmmm pasta!
Mom's Baked Ziti p 79
Mom's Tomato Sauce:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion
1 clove garlic
2 cans (15ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
2 teaspoons brown sugar
Kosher Salt
black pepper
The directions (according me) - chop up the onion and garlic super fine (if you have a picky hubster that claims he doesn't like onion as much as he used to) and then cook them in the olive oil until translucent. Then dump in the tomato sauce and paste and sugar, and cook to combined. Taste it and add a ton of salt if you are me...
The rest of the stuff:
1 3/4 tbls kosher salt
1 pound ziti (I had this weird shaped pasta I used instead...and whole wheat...it makes me feel better about myself)
1 pound ground beef
1 container (15 ounces) ricotta cheese (I did low fat...again to feel better about myself...)
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 chopped fresh parsley (yeah I forgot to buy this...so we didn't have it)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or more...hey I had whole wheat pasta and low fat ricotta)
What I did - brown the meat with a little of the salt while cooking the pasta. Once it is browned remove from heat, add the ricotta, beaten egg, and some pepper. You are supposed to add the parsley too...unless you forgot it because you are a bubble head. Combine it all up and then add half the sauce and stir it all up real good. Dump in the pasta, unless you used a too small pan like me, so dump it in with the pasta in the big pan...then mix mix mix! Dump the yummy pink colored mixture into a 9x13 inch pan and dump a ton of mozzarella cheese on top, bake at 350 for 20- to 25 minutes until ooey gooey! Now here is the important part...don't forget about it because you are playing with the baby and then hubby comes home and looks at you like you are crazy finally asking "Um...is there dinner!" to which you jump up flustered and pull out a slightly browned baked ziti dish. It tasted good...but the cheese was a little tough. Darn.
This was super yummy - and easy peasey! It makes a ton though...way more than two people could possibly eat. I am going to cut it in half if I make it again. IF because I have about two billion cookbooks to get through....
I would have a picture, but I forgot. It happens people...I have two month old at home!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Happy Halloween!
It was Ella' first holiday, and one of my favorites! I had a hard time finding a costume that fit her since she is only fitting in 0-3 month clothes and most are 6 months and up. To be the "crafty" mother I made her costume. I have fond memories of making costumes with my mother - coming up with what we want and finding easy, inexpensive, and creative ways to make it look like what we wanted. Sometimes it works...sometimes not...but it is so much fun!
I wanted to make her a bumble bee to match our last name. She is my Baby Bee after all! I got a yellow onesie from a secondhand store, black pants, and a black stretchy headband. Then I went to the craft store and got taffeta ribbon material (found in the wedding aisle as I found out after an hour of searching), black fabric paint, and black pom poms. I also had to get stick on sparkles...because all little girls need sparkles.
To make the skirt just cut a piece of ribbon or elastic to the length you want. I measured on her waist and decided to use ribbon rather than elastic because it was easier to just tie than slide on her wiggly body. You then cut strips of taffeta double the length you want the skirt. Take the strips and taking both ends, tie a knot in the center along the elastic. You go all the way around doing that until it is as thick as you want. I used yellow and black to give it a little more fun. I then put press on sparkles on it randomly so it has a little glamour!
For the shirt I then used tape and a ruler scotch tape to measure out the stripes. I used the width of the ruler for each stripe to make it easier and ran the tape along the length. Then I painted it with the black and let it dry on both sides.
For the headband it is just black pom poms hot glued on. Super easy and much better for her than the long antennae because she likes to pull on things and I could see an eye getting poked out!
Done! There is my sweet bee, and no other baby had her costume which is fun!
Here is the end result:
Happy Halloween everyone! We had a great time, 7 trick or treaters, homemade pumpkin cinnamon swirl bread, and hot cider. Yum yum!
I wanted to make her a bumble bee to match our last name. She is my Baby Bee after all! I got a yellow onesie from a secondhand store, black pants, and a black stretchy headband. Then I went to the craft store and got taffeta ribbon material (found in the wedding aisle as I found out after an hour of searching), black fabric paint, and black pom poms. I also had to get stick on sparkles...because all little girls need sparkles.
To make the skirt just cut a piece of ribbon or elastic to the length you want. I measured on her waist and decided to use ribbon rather than elastic because it was easier to just tie than slide on her wiggly body. You then cut strips of taffeta double the length you want the skirt. Take the strips and taking both ends, tie a knot in the center along the elastic. You go all the way around doing that until it is as thick as you want. I used yellow and black to give it a little more fun. I then put press on sparkles on it randomly so it has a little glamour!
For the shirt I then used tape and a ruler scotch tape to measure out the stripes. I used the width of the ruler for each stripe to make it easier and ran the tape along the length. Then I painted it with the black and let it dry on both sides.
For the headband it is just black pom poms hot glued on. Super easy and much better for her than the long antennae because she likes to pull on things and I could see an eye getting poked out!
Done! There is my sweet bee, and no other baby had her costume which is fun!
Here is the end result:
Happy Halloween everyone! We had a great time, 7 trick or treaters, homemade pumpkin cinnamon swirl bread, and hot cider. Yum yum!
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