It's been a busy week, busy but fun. Yesterday at school was a marathon day with so many activities! We painted shamrock pictures, planted seeds to grow in our window, did a scavenger hunt and the afternoon class also baked Irish soda bread. That along with our regular schedule made for busy little people!
One of the girls in the pm class walked in and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a classmate wearing a sequin bow tie for St. Patricks Day. She said, "You look dapper!" and he looked at her with a puzzled look on his face. She proceeded to say, "Dapper is a fancy word for handsome!" You should have seen him puff up with confidence! She then continued to the back of the room to hang up her coat. I LOVE MY JOB!!!
Today is my wedding anniversary. Mike and I have been married for 32 years, how can that be possible? But when I think about my son being 29 and my daughter 26, it feels right. The big debate last evening when we went out for an Irish libation was where to eat tonight. We talked about driving to Columbus which is just a 45 min. drive, eating here somewhere or making our own. It just seems that on a special occasion you should be treated, but there's nothing more disappointing than going out for a special meal and it doesn't live up to your hopes. I'll let you know what we decide.
A couple of days ago I found THE BEST carrot cake recipe. I like cream cheese frosting but I think they are usually too sweet. This one is perfect in my world. I hope you will try it! I probably will make it again for Easter.
Carrot Cake
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
3/4 cup oil
4 eggs
3 cups carrots, grated
Frosting:
1/4 cup butter
4 oz pkg light cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup coconut
Measure all ingredients and mix in a large bowl. Beat for 3 minutes. Pour into a 9x13 greased pan. Bake @ 350* for 35-40 min or till it tests done in the middle. If it's getting dark, cover loosely with foil last 10-15 min.
To make frosting cream butter, cream cheese and vanilla then add the powdered sugar till smooth. Fold in nuts and coconut, frost cake.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
We're potato people. Not potato heads, potato people.
When I think of March food, I of course think of corned beef - a favorite at our house! Cabbage, brussel sprouts, green beer, potatoes... See how I slipped in the beverage?? tricky :-)
In March of 2008 I posted a Party Potato recipe, and it's great! I found a similar recipe for you working girls/guys (myself included) that you can put together much faster since you don't have to cook the potatoes first. See what you think of this easy cheesy version a la' 2010!
PARTY POTATOES II
2 lbs frozen hash browns
1/2 cup grated onion
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup melted butter
1 16 oz sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Mix all ingredients together and bake in a 9x13 pan @ 350* for 1 hour. (I'll bet you could do this in a slow cooker on low) Also, another version of this puts crushed cornflakes mixed with melted butter on top for a divine crunch factor!
In March of 2008 I posted a Party Potato recipe, and it's great! I found a similar recipe for you working girls/guys (myself included) that you can put together much faster since you don't have to cook the potatoes first. See what you think of this easy cheesy version a la' 2010!
PARTY POTATOES II
2 lbs frozen hash browns
1/2 cup grated onion
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup melted butter
1 16 oz sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Mix all ingredients together and bake in a 9x13 pan @ 350* for 1 hour. (I'll bet you could do this in a slow cooker on low) Also, another version of this puts crushed cornflakes mixed with melted butter on top for a divine crunch factor!
Ewww, jello.
Jello is a word that makes me nauseous. I can't stand the texture, I know I've mentioned that before on this blog, but it's still true. Therefore I am always looking for a salad that can take the place of a jello salad on an Easter table or another "jello" holiday. This little salad probably could clog a few arteries, but it goes down like a dream! Almost a dessert - yum.
PINK FLUFF SALAD
1 can cherry pie filling
1 (12oz) cool whip
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8-oz) can crushed pineapple, drained well
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup pecans
Stir together the sweetened condensed milk and cool whip. Fold in pie filling, then add pineapple, marshmallows and pecans. Chill several hours before serving.
PINK FLUFF SALAD
1 can cherry pie filling
1 (12oz) cool whip
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8-oz) can crushed pineapple, drained well
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup pecans
Stir together the sweetened condensed milk and cool whip. Fold in pie filling, then add pineapple, marshmallows and pecans. Chill several hours before serving.
Pass the salad please.
We had Christmas March 6th. Yes, I said Christmas! Actually it was the last of the gatherings, we went to Grandma Ann's for a turkey dinner that was supposed to happen a couple of months earlier. Ann makes the BEST gravy in the world. I've watched her do it, I've asked questions, I've tried to replicate her gravy and still no luck. So flavorful, so perfect.
Whenever we would ask what to bring for a family meal at her house, for years she told us to bring bread. :-( Not that bread isn't important, but it's not fun. This time I wised up and said I'd bring a salad, one of Mike's all time favorite salads. This recipe is older than the hills, you've all had it I'm sure. But when I looked it up on my blog to make it, I didn't find it....so I'm posting it for myself if not for you. Try to use it up in a couple of days or it gets really ugly.
Broccoli Raisin Salad
1 head of fresh broccoli, cut up into florets-about 4 cups
1/2 cup red onion sliced thin, then quartered
1 cup sliced celery (optional)
1 lb bacon, fried crisp and drained-crumble
1/2 cup hulled sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raisins
Dressing:
3/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp. vinegar
Combine all ingredients in the first group and add dressing that has been stirred together. I substituted Hormel real bacon bits instead of frying the bacon, much easier!
Whenever we would ask what to bring for a family meal at her house, for years she told us to bring bread. :-( Not that bread isn't important, but it's not fun. This time I wised up and said I'd bring a salad, one of Mike's all time favorite salads. This recipe is older than the hills, you've all had it I'm sure. But when I looked it up on my blog to make it, I didn't find it....so I'm posting it for myself if not for you. Try to use it up in a couple of days or it gets really ugly.
Broccoli Raisin Salad
1 head of fresh broccoli, cut up into florets-about 4 cups
1/2 cup red onion sliced thin, then quartered
1 cup sliced celery (optional)
1 lb bacon, fried crisp and drained-crumble
1/2 cup hulled sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raisins
Dressing:
3/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp. vinegar
Combine all ingredients in the first group and add dressing that has been stirred together. I substituted Hormel real bacon bits instead of frying the bacon, much easier!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Caviar Dah-ling!
One upon a time, long ago.....Mike and I tried caviar. We wanted to experience the elegance, dare to try the unknown, savor it with a little sip of bubbly. Our fatal mistake, we let our budget determine the kind we bought and it was horrid! I have never tried it again *sigh*.
This caviar recipe is for a modern day tortilla toasting type of party. My friend Donna sent me her recipe, and I did some online research and combined a little of this and a little of that. I made half of this batch - and it still was quite a lot. Many of these recipes called for bottled Italian dressing, but I find that a little harsh sometimes depending on the brand. I opted for the EVOO and red wine vinegar. You decide what sounds best for your family!
TEXAS CAVIAR
2 cans black eyed peas, drain
2 cans corn, drain
2 cans Rotel tomatoes with chili's (or jalapeno if you like it spicy)
2 cups of red or yellow pepper, chopped
3 jalapenos, stemmed, seeded, diced
1/2 cup onion
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano
1 1/2 tsp cumin
6 Tbsp red wine vinegar -whisk together with:
6 Tbsp olive oil
Combine all of these ingredients and refrigerate for a couple of hours. Serve with tortilla chips.
This caviar recipe is for a modern day tortilla toasting type of party. My friend Donna sent me her recipe, and I did some online research and combined a little of this and a little of that. I made half of this batch - and it still was quite a lot. Many of these recipes called for bottled Italian dressing, but I find that a little harsh sometimes depending on the brand. I opted for the EVOO and red wine vinegar. You decide what sounds best for your family!
TEXAS CAVIAR
2 cans black eyed peas, drain
2 cans corn, drain
2 cans Rotel tomatoes with chili's (or jalapeno if you like it spicy)
2 cups of red or yellow pepper, chopped
3 jalapenos, stemmed, seeded, diced
1/2 cup onion
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano
1 1/2 tsp cumin
6 Tbsp red wine vinegar -whisk together with:
6 Tbsp olive oil
Combine all of these ingredients and refrigerate for a couple of hours. Serve with tortilla chips.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Biscuits Anyone?
It's Saturday night, and it was a good day. Coffee this AM with a couple of my coworkers. Shopping with my husband at Wmart. A little time spent watching and old movie this afternoon, & a nice dinner including a glass of Cabernet. After that a Bruce Willis movie, Surrogates - it was futuristic and kind of interesting! We ended up the evening with an ice cream Sundae. I saw Rachel Rae put this together and it looked yummy. Vanilla Bean ice cream topped with melted peanut butter and hot fudge sauce. I think I used too much PB, it was intense!! It only takes about 30 seconds in the microwave to make it smooth enough to pour. The hot fudge was my favorite part, a little like a peanut butter cup on ice cream ;-) yea!
To go with our spaghetti tonight I found a recipe for a cheesy garlic biscuit. Most recipes called for Bisquick, which I did not have. I finally ran across this that was supposed to be similar to a Red Lobster biscuit, it was pretty good and very easy to put together. I'll use a little more garlic or fresh garlic the next time I make them, they were pretty mild.
Cheese and Garlic Drop Biscuits
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
***Topping:***2 tablespoons melted butter & 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Combine flour, salt, baking powder, cream of tartar, sugar and garlic powder in a mixing bowl. Cut in shortening using a pastry blender. Mix milk and then cheese into mixture with a wooden spoon. Drop by large spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 F for 10-12 minutes. Mix melted butter and garlic powder together and brush on warm biscuits as soon as you remove them from the oven.
This is supposed to make 8, but I missed that fact until after mine were in the oven and I had only scooped up 6, woops. Needless to say I had to bake mine a bit longer, just go by the color and you'll know when they are done.
To go with our spaghetti tonight I found a recipe for a cheesy garlic biscuit. Most recipes called for Bisquick, which I did not have. I finally ran across this that was supposed to be similar to a Red Lobster biscuit, it was pretty good and very easy to put together. I'll use a little more garlic or fresh garlic the next time I make them, they were pretty mild.
Cheese and Garlic Drop Biscuits
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
***Topping:***2 tablespoons melted butter & 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Combine flour, salt, baking powder, cream of tartar, sugar and garlic powder in a mixing bowl. Cut in shortening using a pastry blender. Mix milk and then cheese into mixture with a wooden spoon. Drop by large spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 F for 10-12 minutes. Mix melted butter and garlic powder together and brush on warm biscuits as soon as you remove them from the oven.
This is supposed to make 8, but I missed that fact until after mine were in the oven and I had only scooped up 6, woops. Needless to say I had to bake mine a bit longer, just go by the color and you'll know when they are done.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
You can't rollerskate in a buffalo herd
- 1 8-ounce package cream cheese
- 2 cups cooked chicken (a store-bought rotisserie chicken works best), shredded
- 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce, recommended brand: Franks Original
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup blue cheese dressing (eyeball it)
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (eyeball it)
Preheat oven to 300°F. Cover the bottom of an 8x8" dish or pie plate with cream cheese.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, wing sauce and butter, and pour over the cream cheese-filled dish or pie plate.
Top with just enough blue cheese dressing and mozzarella cheese to cover (adding too much cheese will cause a thick skin to form that will make eating the dip difficult once the cheese cools).
Heat the dip in the oven for 20 minutes. Serve with Scoops (Tortillas or Frito's) alongside for dipping.
PS Anyone know the song attached to the title above???
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)