Designing Dinner

Moving On

2008-05-12T17:54:00.001-07:00

We have jumped on the blogging bandwagon!

Check out our new blog at:
http://designingdinner.wordpress.com/

See you there!

The Big 3-0!

2008-05-08T17:18:00.001-07:00

Last week I entered the next decade....life in my 30s! My parents and brother sent me flowers to celebrate the occasion! Jared and I celebrated my new milestone with dinner at OSHO Japanese Steakhouse. We enjoyed a wonderful hibachi dinner!!!

Thanks to everyone who made my 30th birthday special!

Hugs and kisses!

Macadamia Berry Dessert

2008-05-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

The title of this dessert makes me want to prepare this dessert again! If you love raspberries and macadamia nuts - you must try this dessert!

Ingredients:
1 cup crushed vanilla wafers (about 32)
1/2 cup finely chopped macadamia nuts
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 tablespoons orange juice
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 package frozen, sweetened raspberries, thawed
1 carton frozen whipped topping, thawed (8 ounces)
fresh raspberries and additional whipped topping, optional

Directions:
1) Combine wafer crumbs, nuts, and butter. Press to bottom of greased 9-in springform pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
2) In a large mixing bowl, beat the milk, OJ, and lemon juice on a low speed until well blended. Add raspberries; beat on low until blended. Fold in whipped topping. Pour over crust. Cover and freeze for 3 hours or until firm.
3) Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving. Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with fresh berries and whipped topping.

Husband Rating: A-
The filling was great - light and refreshing...but the crust was a bit too much. The nut flavor was pretty strong with the wafers.

Wife Rating: A-
I agree with Jared....the crust was a bit too much flavor for me. I am also not a big dessert fan, so I can only eat sweets in small doses! The raspberry flavor was great though!

Pork Lo Mein

2008-05-08T16:59:00.000-07:00

Jared and I were anxious to use our new wok from my mom, so we found a great Chinese food recipe in our Taste of Home Cookbook! (We were on a roll with this book!) Our friends joined us for dinner (served the same night as the poppers), and they enjoyed the dish too.

Ingredients:
1 pork tenderloin (1 pound)
1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups fresh snow peas
1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
3 cups cooked thin spaghetti
1/3 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons sesame oil

Directions:
1) Cut tenderloin in half lengthwise. Cut each half widthwise into 1/4 inch slices. Set aside. In a resealable bag, combine the soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes; add pork. Seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
2) In a large non-stick skillet or wok coated with non stick cooking spray, stir-fry pork with marinade for 4-5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Add peas and red peppers; stir-fry for 1 minutes. Stir in spaghetti and broth; cook 1 minutes longer. Remove from heat; stir in sesame oil.

Husband Rating: A
The pork was tender and had a great flavor. We used whole grain barilla pasta for a healthier alternative!

Wife Rating: A
I love Chinese food -- and this was a great dish!

Jalopeno Poppers

2008-05-08T16:51:00.001-07:00

Jared and I found the jalapeño poppers recipe in our Taste of Home Cookbook and decided to try them out with friends. We went to buy one pound of peppers, but they did not have enough for one pound, so we make as many as we could with the tiny jalapeños that we purchased! Our friends loved them!!!

Ingredients:
1 package cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1 pound fresh jalapeños, halved lengthwise and seeded
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
sour cream, onion dip, or ranch dressing

Directions:
1) In a large mixing bowl, combine the cheeses, bacon, and seasonings. Spoon about 2 tablespoonfuls into each pepper half. Roll in bread crumbs.
2) Place in a greased pan. Bake uncovered at 300 degrees for 20 minutes for spicy flavor, 30 minutes for medium flavor, and 40 minutes for mild. Serve with sour cream, dip or dressing.

Husband Rating: A
Jared loved the poppers! They had just enough spice -- we went for the medium flavor!

Wife Rating: A
These were so good! Tiny, but good!!!

We're making these again...definitely!

Blog Update...Coming Soon!

2008-04-18T08:01:00.001-07:00

Despite my crazy schedule, I have managed to find some time to cook...I just have not found the time to blog about our meals. :)

This weekend I will be uploading three different menu items:

Jalapeño Poppers
Pork LoMein
Raspberry Pie

Recipe and pictures to come...

Italian Calzones

2008-02-24T17:13:00.000-08:00

I purchased pizza dough last week and ever since, Jared has been thinking about a calzone stuffed with pepperoni, salami, and cheese. So, we decide that this afternoon was a perfect day to make them since we had a few hours to let the dough rise, as well as time to prepare and enjoy them. This time we did not have wheat dough, but they still turned out great!

Ingredients:
1 pizza dough (we made 2 calzones with 1 dough)
Sliced pepperoni
Sliced salami
Shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup Ricotta cheese
Flour
Olive oil
Marina sauce for dipping

Directions:
1) Roll out dough on a floured surface. Once desired thickness and size have been reached, place dough on lightly greased cookie sheet.
2) Fill one half of the dough with pepperoni, salami, cheese, and ricotta cheese. Fold over dough and seal with fork. Drizzle olive oil over the dough for crispiness.
3) Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Husband Rating: A+
Jared wants to serve these calzones to guests! He really enjoyed the flavor of the meats and the ricotta cheese filling.

Wife Rating: A+
Think of your favorite calzone from a restaurant....well, this calzone tastes better! :)

We'll continue to make calzones and try a different filling each time!

Menu: February 25 - March 1

2008-02-23T08:13:00.000-08:00

Jared and I managed to put together another week of menu planning with our schedules. This week has a hectic ending, so we only need 4 dinner meals.

Monday: Spaghetti and homemade Turkey Meatballs

Tuesday: Southwestern Chicken Salad (either served on lettuce or in a pita)

Wednesday: Fried Fish and homemade Pirogies

Thursday: Hot Dogs with Sauerkraut & Italian Pasta Salad (Preparing for our summer BBQ's)

Friday: Crazy day....eating when/what we can!

Saturday: Dinner at our wedding venue (for old time's sake -- my mom's idea) The dinner is part of their spring bridal tasting! ;)

Jared's Burritos

2008-02-23T08:06:00.001-08:00

Jared has been craving burritos for a while and we decided to make our burritos vegetarian style. Preparation was quick and easy!

Ingredients:
1 bag yellow rice
1 can black beans
Burrito size flour tortillas
1 can refried beans
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 package of Mexican or taco cheese, shredded
Salsa, to taste
Hot Sauce, to taste
Sour cream, optional

Directions:
1) Cook rice according to package. In the meantime, rinse black beans and prepare to warm.
2) Heat up refried beans. Add half of the taco seasoning mix and stir. Warm up black beans.
3) Warm up flour tortillas.
4) Add 1 scoop of rice, 1/2 scoop of black beans, 1/2 scoop seasoned refried beans, cheese, salsa, hot sauce, and sour cream.
5) Wrap tightly and enjoy. Serve with salsa and sour cream on the side.

Husband Rating: A
More filling than the burrito looks -- pace yourself! Chicken or beef can be added for a meat burrito.

Wife Rating: A
Considering I am not a fan of burritos (not really sure why), I was pleasantly surprised. We did not have sour cream, which would have made it even better!

We'll make these again - most likely with ground seasoned turkey meat.

Garlic Cheddar Chicken

2008-02-22T05:05:00.001-08:00

I am so glad that I borrowed this recipe from a friend's blog -- thanks April! What could taste better than chicken and cheese?! I was able to prepare this between work and class, the only day of the week that I have about 2 hours to myself. Dinner was ready for Jared when he walked in the door. I also made garlic cauliflower as a side!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded thin (We used 3 breasts - not halved)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2) Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat, and cook the garlic until tender, about 5 minutes.
3) In a shallow bowl, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, Cheddar cheese, parsley, oregano, pepper, and salt.
4) Dip each chicken breast in the garlic butter to coat, then press into the bread crumb mixture. Arrange the coated chicken breasts in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Drizzle with any remaining butter and top with any remaining bread crumb mixture.
5) Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Recipe from: http://wineloverscookingdiary.wordpress.com/

Husband Rating: A
Jared loved the garlic flavor of the chicken, and of course the cheese topping!

Wife Rating: A+
I have found another great chicken recipe that I plan to keep! I loved the flavor, and it was very moist.

I will most definitely make this dish again. I think it would be a great dish to make for guests too!

Chicken Pot Pie

2008-02-22T04:57:00.001-08:00

I have been thinking about making chicken pot pie for a long time because my coworker mentioned her recipe using leftover chicken. We had tons of chicken leftover from our roasted chicken, so we had the perfect reason to make pot pie. The recipe is from my coworker, so I do not have specifics.

Ingredients:
Leftover chicken
Frozen mixed vegetables (we had a bag of carrots, peas, green beans, corn, and Lima beans)
1 can of cream of chicken soup
2 pie crusts (we used the Pillsbury 2 pack)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2) Roll out pie crust and place in baking dish. Add chicken, vegetables, and cream of chicken soup.
3) Cover with top pie crust. Poke holes for ventilation.
4) Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until brown and bubbling.

Husband Rating: A
Jared loved the pot pie, minus the Lima beans. He said the pot pie brought back memories of childhood. He also said, next time he will be more selective with the veggies. :)

Wife Rating: A
Awesome -- this is such a quick, easy, and delicious meal. It does bring back many memories!

We'll make this again....definitely!

Menu: February 18-February 22

2008-02-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Somehow I am finding time to create menus and made dinner....can you believe it?! Sadly, I am falling into a routine working 2 jobs....however, I don't plan on getting used to it for too long!

Monday: Chicken Pot Pie

Tuesday: Leftover Chinese Food

Wednesday: Greek Salad

Thursday: Garlic Cheddar Chicken (compliments of April's blog, http://wineloverscookingdiary.wordpress.com/

Friday: crazy schedule -- eating when/what we can.... :)

Saturday: Burritos with Beans and Rice

Is it the weekend yet???!!

Lemon Roasted Chicken with Vegetables

2008-02-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

Jared's mother gave us this chicken when she bought it on sale for a great price. We were waiting for a perfect time to cook it, and we found it -- tonight. Our pre-Valentine's Day dinner! The only thing missing were potatoes, but we added stuffing, so it was perfect.

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken
1 bag of carrots, chopped or baby
1 celery bunch, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 can of chicken broth
Olive oil (1-2 tablespoons)
Salt, Pepper (to taste)

Stuffing for chicken:
1 onion, quartered
3 cloves garlic
1 lemon, quartered
Celery leaves from stalk

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Clean chicken and pat dry. Stuff with stuffing ingredients. Season with salt and pepper (both inside and on top of chicken). Squeeze juice of lemon on top.
2) Use kitchen twine to tie legs together. (We did not have twine).
3) Add veggies to roasting pan and pour in 1 can of chicken broth for basting.
4) Drizzle olive oil over chicken and veggies.
5) Cook for 20 minutes per pound.
6) Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Husband Rating: A
Perfectly moist and well seasoned.

Wife Rating: A
I really enjoy this dish, and look forward to it even more when we turn it into chicken soup! The stuffing was a bit dry, but only because we timed our food wrong....We also added a cucumber salad.

Of course we'll make this again in the future!!!

Ragin' Cajun' Bean Soup

2008-02-13T17:10:00.001-08:00

The soup recipe was from one of those soup in a bag from a craft fair. The soup was pre- assembled with the beans, soup mixes, and dehydrated veggies. We added some fresh ingredients to make it a bit more fresh. The recipe makes a TON of soup, so plan for many nights of leftovers, and freeze a portion of it first.

Ingredients:
Soup Mix
We added the following:
Peppers, diced
Onions, diced
Celery, diced
garlic, chopped
1/2 pound Kielbasa, cooked
1 can diced tomatoes

Directions:
1) Rinse the bean mix with cold water, drain, add to crockpot and cover with water (7 cups).
2) Add spices and dehydrated veggies and cook for 9 hours on low.
3) Add fresh veggies, Kielbasa, and diced tomatoes, and cook for 1 more hour on low.

Husband Rating: A
A wonderful, spicy, and savory soup.

Wife Rating: A
This soup was definitely hearty and spicy. I could only eat a little bit at a time. ;) I really enjoyed the meat in the soup too!

Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Tomato

2008-02-13T17:04:00.001-08:00

Jared and I were looking for a new macaroni and cheese recipe for this week, which we could prepare Sunday night before our crazy week. We found the recipe on www.allrecipes.com.
We changed it a bit since we did not have tomato soup in the house.

Ingredients:
1 pound macaroni
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup (we used 1 can of diced tomatoes)
1 1/4 cups milk
3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
8 tablespoons butter, divided
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Pour in pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
2) In large bowl, combine macaroni, soup, milk, cheese and 6 tablespoons butter. Pour into 9x13 baking dish. Top with bread crumbs and dot with remaining butter. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Husband Rating: A
Jared thought it was perfect with the diced tomatoes. He thinks a bit of sliced jalapeños would be a great addition too.

Wife Rating: A
I enjoyed the change of consistency with the diced tomatoes and the bread crumbs. The recipe makes a lot of food (more than enough for 2...and then some)!

Menu: February 11-February 15

2008-02-09T07:16:00.000-08:00

I have not been able to put together a menu in quite some time because of my schedule, so I am lucky to have created a 5 day menu for this coming week. I am sure that some of it will change.

Monday: Baked macaroni & cheese with tomato

Tuesday: Cajun bean soup (crockpot overnight)

Wednesday: Roasted Chicken

Thursday: Roasted Tomato Quesadillas

Friday: Hot Dogs and Baked Beans (a perfect summer dish)

Wish me luck....I hope I can stick to this menu!!!

Spaghetti Pie

2008-02-09T07:00:00.001-08:00

The Spaghetti Pie recipe was given to me by one of my neighbors during my bridal shower. I misplaced my recipe cards from June 07-January 08....and it was wonderful to find them! My teaching schedule and work scheduled does not allow for much cooking time, but I can manage to cook on Thursday in between teaching and my night class. The spaghetti pie turned out awesome!

Ingredients:
6-8 ounces of spaghetti (cooked and drained - we used Barilla Whole Grain)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup Ricotta cheese
1 cup spaghetti sauce (we made our own sauce)
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1) Grease pie plate. Toss spaghetti with olive oil.
2) Combine eggs and Parmesan cheese and add to spaghetti.
3) Put into the pie plate and form a crust-type look. Spread Ricotta cheese in the center of the "well."
4) Cover with sauce all over the top. Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees.
5) Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and bake for 5 minutes more.
6) Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Let sit 5-10 minutes before cutting.

TIP: This is great reheated for leftovers (which I have already tried)!

Husband Rating: A
"Perfect. It reminded me of my mom's recipe that I ate when I was younger." Enough said!

Wife Rating: A
I love a different pasta recipe and this hit the spot. I was pretty happy with how it turned out for my first time!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies - January JKnottie Baked Goods Exchange

2008-02-09T06:54:00.001-08:00

I found the Peanut Butter Cup Cookie recipe on www.allrecipes.com and decided immediately that I wanted to make them for my January secret bride - Dawn. I knew I made the right decision when I asked her if she liked peanut butter, and she said - yes, and even more so with chocolate! I might even go as far as to say that these were the best cookies I have ever made....they came out perfect!

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped peanut butter cups

Directions:
1) In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, peanut butter and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and peanut butter cups.
2) Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating: A+
Jared has been eating them everyday...he loves peanut butter cups, so these cookies were a winner in his book!

Wife Rating: A+
Yummy! I really enjoyed these cookies -- especially warm!

I will definitely make these again! I hope you enjoyed the cookies Dawn!!

January JKnottie Baked Goods Exchange

2008-02-09T06:33:00.000-08:00

During the month of January, I received Raspberry Ribbons and homemade bread from Dawn, a wonderful JKnottie. Both of the baked goods were awesome, and Jared and I could not wait to eat the both. We made garlic bread with cheese, which turned out awesome! The cookies lasted for such a long time -- I just finished them the other day.

Raspberry Ribbons (Taste of Home Recipe)
Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raspberry jam

GLAZE:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well.
3) Divide dough into four portions, shape each into a 10-in.x2 1/2-in log. Place 4 in. apart on a greased or foil lined baking sheet.
4) Make a 1/2-in depression down the center of each log. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Fill depressions with jam. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until lightly browned.
5) Cool for 2 minutes. Remove to a cutting board; cut into 3/4-in slices. Place on wire racks.
6) In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over warm cookies. Cool completely.

Yield: 5 dozen

French Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups flour (all purpose or bread flour)
1/2 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 package yeast (or 1 1/8 tsp)
1/2 cup very warm water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375. Roll dough into a 12 x 8 rectangle. Starting at the longer edge, roll dough up tightly and seal the seam. Roll gently back & forth to round off the ends.
2) Place on ungreased cookie sheet & bake for 25-30 minutes or until tops are golden brown. This is amazing served warm with olive oil and italian spices for dipping. It also works well if cut into cubes and served with cheese fondue.

Husband Rating: A
Jared LOVED both the bread and the ribbons. He enjoyed the fresh bed, and said that the ribbons were fantastic.

Wife Rating: A
I loved both as well. It was a nice treat that we have never had before, and the bread was so fresh!

Thanks DAWN!!!!!

Student teaching AND working full time = NO life

2008-01-30T17:39:00.000-08:00

I am sorry that my blog has suffered the past 2 weeks, but I have a good excuse. My life is no longer my own, until May 9th when I am done student teaching. Unfortunately, that also means that my menu planning and cooking every night will be non-existent. I am very sad about the idea of this lifestyle for the next 14 weeks, but I know I can get through it....and see the good that will come from all of this hard work. I will continue to check blogs, and provide updates about my life....and once in a while, I hope to post a menu and a recipe or two! I will post the picture of my latest January BGEX gift and the goods that I sent as well!

Stay tuned....

JKnottie December BGEX Gift

2008-01-17T03:00:00.001-08:00

Well, the BGEX continues, and my secret baker for December was Kristi. The holidays made the BGEX a bit difficult, and unfortunately Kristi got sick as the holidays approached. She was very thoughtful and still managed to make something special for Jared and I, and we got the goods yesterday in the mail. She left me a note to let me know that she forgot to send the recipe cards and ingredients, so I do not know what we are eating. ;) I think the snack on the right is called dog food or puppy chow....either way, it's really good! I have not really tried the other snacks yet, but they smell delicious! I will post the ingredients after I speak to Kristi!

Thanks Kristi -- Jared was excited to try 3 different baked goods this time around!!!

Pork Chops & Scalloped Potatoes

2008-01-17T02:51:00.001-08:00

Jared and I were looking for something to different to do with pork chops and I found a recipe that included homemade scalloped potatoes, so it did not take long to add this one to our menu. The preparation for the dinner was really easy and for the most part, it turned out to be a good meal.

Ingredients:
5 potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 onion, quartered then sliced
2 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste
5 pork chops (we only made 2 -- and we used bone-in pork chops)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Place the sliced potatoes and sliced onion in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish; mix gently. Cover the potatoes and onions with cheese. Fill dish with milk halfway. Place butter in several places on top of the cheese. Place the pork chops on top. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake 60 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Turn pork chops over halfway through cooking.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com
Picture from my kitchen

Husband Rating: B
Jared thought the dish was just ok. The pork chops seemed to dry out, which he did not enjoy. He really liked the potatoes! Definitely slice the potatoes thin -- so they are soft. Maybe the pork would have been different if we used boneless pork chops????

Wife Rating: B (Pork) A (Potatoes)
I was content only eating a few pieces of the pork because honestly, I could do without meat sometimes. The potatoes -- delicious! I will never make scalloped potatoes from a box again! (Well, after we use the one box that we have left). ;)

We'll make the potatoes again...not sure about the pork.

Alfredo Bake

2008-01-15T16:55:00.000-08:00

Before I talk about tonight's dinner, I must say that I finally figured out how to take a decent picture of our dinner. :) All this time, I have been taking the picture with the flash ON, while tonight I decided to try it with the flash OFF. Well, as you can see above...the correct way is with the flash off.... :) Alfredo Bake is a dish I borrowed from another blogger/JKnottie/JFacie.
http://wineloverscookingdiary.blogspot.com/ I am so glad that we tried this meal. We made a slight modification...

Ingredients:
8 oz. pasta, cooked and drained (we used an entire box)
2 cups broccoli florets
1 cup mushrooms
1 1/2 cups chicken, cooked, shredded or diced (we omitted the chicken to have a meatless dish)
1 jar Alfredo sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons butter

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Coat the bottom of a 13x9 pan or a medium size baking dish with a thin layer of Alfredo sauce. In a medium bowl, mix the pasta, broccoli, mushrooms, chicken, garlic, and Alfredo sauce until combined.
3) Place mixture in baking dish and top with mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Cut the butter into small pieces and scatter on top of cheese.
4) Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is hot and bubbly.

Recipe from http://wineloverscookingdiary.blogspot.com/
Picture from my kitchen

Husband Rating: A
Despite having a headache and not feeling so well, Jared really enjoyed the Alfredo Bake. He liked it so much that his exact words were, "I really like this sauce...how did you make it?" And my reply was, "It was from a jar..." ;) I couldn't help but smile...

Wife Rating: A
Pasta and cheese -- I'm sold. I am not usually a fan of Alfredo sauce, but we made extra pasta than the recipe calls for, so it was not completely overwhelmed with sauce.

We found another keeper....next time I will add the chicken.

Ground Turkey Stroganoff

2008-01-14T16:24:00.001-08:00

Now that the holidays are over (tear), we are back on the menu bandwagon. I hope this time for good! I was searching for some new recipes for ground turkey and came across a recipe titled "Lazygirl's Ground Turkey Stroganoff." It does not get any easier than this meal! The entire meal cooks pretty fast and the prep is really easy.

Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package uncooked egg noodles (we used Healthy Harvest by Ronzoni)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound ground turkey
1 tablespoon minced onion
1 cube chicken bouillon, crumbled
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon paprika
salt to taste (we omitted due to the salt in the mushroom soup)

Directions:
1) Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place the egg noodles in the pot, cook 6 to 8 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
2) Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place the turkey and onion in the skillet and cook until turkey is evenly brown and onion is tender. Mix in the bouillon.
3) Stir the cream of mushroom soup and water into the skillet. Cook and stir until heated through. Season with paprika and salt. Serve over the cooked egg noodles.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com
Picture from my kitchen

Husband Rating: A
Jared thought the dinner was phenomenal. Good comfort food that was tender, juicy, and delicious.

Wife Rating: A
I have to agree with Jared -- this was definitely a good comfort food dish. I think a dash of salt as the recipe calls would be good. If you like a lot of pasta -- add more than the recipe says to cook.

We'll make this again in the future!

Menu: January 14-18

2008-01-11T06:16:00.000-08:00

Jared and I fell off the menu wagon as a result of the holidays, but we are back!

Monday: Ground Turkey Stroganoff

Tuesday: Salad

Wednesday: Baked Pork Chops & Scalloped Potatoes

Thursday: BLT's

Friday: Alfredo Bake

The menu may be modified by date depending on our schedules and life in general.

So glad to be back!

The bloggers "in-crowd"

2008-01-08T07:28:00.001-08:00

I apologize for the food blog interruption, but the fun continues with the JKnottie/JFacie friends! A game of "tag" has been created, and the results of the game are below. Talk about self reflecting... ;)

What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was 19 years old a freshmen in college (spring semester). I was volunteering with the campus ambulance squad and trying to boost my sad GPA from first semester.

What were you doing 1 year ago?
I was planning the biggest day of my life -- my wedding. I have to admit the hard work was ongoing, but the in the end, it paid off...big time. At this point last year, all of my vendors were booked and I was working on invitations and whatnot.

Five snacks you enjoy:
1) Nachos/Chips & Salsa
2) Fruit (strawberries, apples, and bananas)
3) Granola Bars
4) M&M's
5) Anything crunchy

Five songs that you know all the lyrics to:
1) Big and Rich - Lost in this Moment
2) It's Your Love - Tim McGraw
3) Anything country -- I listen to it all day at work
...I know that is not five...but with all of the country songs...I think I am covered!

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1) Support my family for the rest of my life
2) Build my dream house
3) Travel often
4) Shop, shop, and shop!
5) Donate!

Five bad habits:
1) Checking to make sure everything is off before I leave the house in the morning
2) Not keeping up with my car and the necessary maintenance
3) Stealing the covers at night
4) Slight control freak
5) Not making the bed every day

Five things you enjoy doing:
1) Relaxing with Jared
2) Visiting our families
3) Camping
4) Reading
5) Working out

Five things you would never wear again:
1) Tight pants
2) Short skirts
3) Different color socks (unless they are pant socks for professional dress)
4) Scrunchies
5) I must agree with April on this one....NKOTB gear!

Five favorite toys:
1) My digital camera
2) Computer
3) Cell phone
4) Workout ball
5) IPOD

Now....for the next step...okay friends, you have been tagged!! GO!

Melanie

Alanna

Sarah

We now return to regular scheduled blogging (menus and recipes).... A new menu will be coming shortly. This week has been a bit crazy.

Happy New Year !

2008-01-02T16:37:00.001-08:00

Welcome 2008!

Here's to a wonderful, happy, and healthy 2008 full of great recipes, wonderful food, and friends and family to share in the memories.

Bring on the recipes!

Chicken Piccata

2008-01-02T16:31:00.001-08:00

Jared and I were looking forward to our chicken piccata, as we initially planned to prepare the dish when his brother was visiting. Our plans changed of course, so we did not get a chance to make the dish until tonight. I was really pleased with how it turned out -- and it was pretty easy to prepare. We served it with a side of green beans and some salad.

Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 egg
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup butter
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder (we used 2 bouillon cubes)
1/2 cup boiling water

Directions:
1) In a small bowl, beat the egg together with 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice. Set aside.
2) In a shallow bowl or dish mix together the flour, garlic powder and paprika. Dip the chicken in the egg/lemon mixture, then in the seasoned flour.
3) In a large skillet, melt butter/margarine and brown the coated chicken pieces.
4) Dissolve the bouillon in the boiling water, then add the remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Pour liquid into skillet. Cover and let simmer for 20 minutes, turning chicken pieces after 10 minutes, until chicken is tender. Garnish as desired and serve.

Husband Rating: A
The chicken was moist and held the flavor well. Jared recommends to use chicken cutlets or thinner chicken breasts.

Wife Rating: A
Jared and I agree on this dish -- the chicken had awesome flavor.

We'll make this again.

Fast Fancy Chicken

2007-12-27T16:41:00.000-08:00

Jared and I cooked dinner for another couple last night, which turned out great -- thanks to a friend's blog, http://www.anirishgirlwhocancookanddrink.blogspot.com/. We were initially hosting our friends last week, but plans changed and we rescheduled for the day after Christmas. I have been wanting to make Kat's recipe for the Fast Fancy Chicken, and last night was the perfect opportunity. Our friends are pretty easy going, and this dish was a big hit. We enjoyed the chicken with a side of corn, salad, and wine!

Ingredients:
6 Boneless Chicken Breasts
6 Slices Swiss Cheese
1/4 lb. Fresh Mushrooms, Sliced
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 Cup White Wine
2 Cups Herbed Stuffing Mix
1 Stick Butter/Margerine

Directions:

1) Pre-heat oven to 350. Place chicken in lightly greased 9x13 baking dish.
2) Top each piece with a slice of swiss cheese. Arrange mushrooms over cheese. Mix soup and wine and pour over chicken. Sprinkle stuffing mix over top and drizzle with butter.
3) Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes

Recipe from http://www.anirishgirlwhocancookanddrink.blogspot.com/
Picture from my kitchen

Husband Rating: A
Jared liked the moist chicken and the crunchy stuffing on top.

Wife Rating: A+
I really enjoyed this dish, especially the cheese and crunchy stuffing on top. All of the ingredients combined created a wonderful taste.

We'll make this again -- probably for family!

Oreo Pudding

2007-12-22T11:02:00.001-08:00

Taking a picture of the oreo pudding was difficult because of the light color to the pudding. Jared makes this pudding for family and friend get-togethers, and it is always a big hit. He came home with an empty bowl! I am glad that I asked for a little bit before he went to work.

Ingredients:
2 packages of vanilla pudding
2 cups of milk (we use skim, otherwise it is too heavy)
1-16 oz tub of cool whip
1 package of Oreos (half crushed in pudding, other half used for topping or to dip)

Directions:
1) Empty pudding packages into a big bowl, and add the milk. Stir until well blended.
2) Fold in the cool whip (best if thawed, and at room temperature).
3) Mix in crushed oreos.
4) Add remaining oreos as topping when ready to serve.

Husband & Wife Rating: A+
A party favorite! Also goes well with bananas -- yummy!

JKnottie December Baked Goods Exchange

2007-12-22T09:08:00.000-08:00

This month I was creating baked goods for a special JKnottie, Clara! Clara was my first Secret Baker, and now I was hers! I decided to make cookies that were perfect for the holiday season. I found the Chocolate Mint Snow Top cookie recipe and was sold. After Clara ok'd mint flavors, I was ready to go.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate pieces
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon mint flavoring
Powdered sugar

Directions:

1) Combine flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside. In a saucepan heat 1 cup of the chocolate pieces over low heat until melted, stirring constantly.
2) Beat butter with a mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in granulated sugar until combined. Beat in melted chocolate, eggs, vanilla, and mint flavoring. Stir in flour mixture and remaining chocolate pieces. Wrap dough in plastic wrap. Freeze 30 minutes or until firm enough to shape.
3) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in powdered sugar. Place balls about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until tops are crackled. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet. Transfer to wire racks. Cool. Makes 4 dozen.

Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens, picture from Clara (her pic turned out better than mine)!

Husband Rating: A+
Jared really enjoyed the mint flavor -- and it is definitely minty!

Wife Rating: A+
I am not usually a big mint fan, but these are good!

Christmas Time Menu!

2007-12-22T09:01:00.000-08:00

We will be spending the holiday with both families, so the following menu will be prepared after Christmas and before New Year's Eve!

December 26-30

Wednesday: Kat's Fast Fancy Chicken (our rescheduled dinner date)

Thursday: Greek Salad

Friday: Baked Chicken Nachos (Jared's brother is coming to visit for a few days -- so the weekend menu may be changed slightly based on going out to eat)

Saturday: Pasta with fresh tomato sauce

Sunday: Chicken Piccata

Sausage & Pepper Calzones

2007-12-22T08:52:00.001-08:00

Jared and I purchased wheat dough the other day in the grocery store and were looking for a new recipe to try. We decided on a calzone and with sausage in the freezer -- we found the perfect recipe. We started off a bit crazy in the kitchen, preparing the calzones without the recipe, but we found our way pretty quickly.

Ingredients:
1 (11.3 ounce) can refrigerated dinner rolls, at room temperature (we used wheat dough)
Cornmeal for rolling (We rolled the dough in flour)
1 pound spicy Italian sausage, removed from its casing
Olive oil, for sauteing, if necessary
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 large yellow bell pepper, cored and seeded, cut into small dice
1/2 large red bell pepper, cored and seeded, cut into small dice
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley (optional)
Olive oil, for brushing
Your favorite marinara-style pasta sauce

Directions:
1) Separate rolls onto a cornmeal-sprinkled work surface. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest while preparing filling.
2) Fry sausage in a 12-inch skillet, breaking it up into small bits with a spoon, until it loses its raw color, about 5 minutes. Depending on the amount of fat in the pan, drain or add oil to equal about 2 Tbs. Add onion and peppers; saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic. Transfer to a bowl. Cool to room temperature; stir in cheeses and optional parsley.
3) Adjust oven rack to center position and heat oven to 450 degrees.
4) Sprinkling with cornmeal as necessary, roll out each roll into a 7-inch circle. Spoon a scant 1/2 cup of filling just below the center line, leaving a 1-inch border along the bottom half of the dough circle. Spoon filling just below the center line of the circle of dough, leaving a border along the bottom half of the circle. With wet fingertips, moisten the bottom border. Fold dough over filling and press edges together. Thoroughly seal by using fingertips to crimp and flute the edges or by pressing with the tines of a fork. Place on a large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. (At this point, can be frozen up to 2 weeks.)
5) Brush tops with oil. Bake until golden brown, about 16 minutes (longer if frozen). Let cool slightly and serve with warm marinara sauce.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating: A+
Wonderfully over-stuffed! Jared thought the calzone was "really good." Jared could not get over the size of the calzones too!

Wife Rating: A
The wheat dough is awesome. I would have enjoyed more cheese in my calzone. The sausage and pepper flavor was great.

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

2007-12-22T08:46:00.001-08:00

Jared wanted a hot dish to share with his coworkers at their Christmas Party yesterday, so he made Spinach and Artichoke dip. I cannot remember where I got this recipe from, so please let me know if it belongs to you so I can give credit to you. It was so easy....and so delicious. I did not want him to take it all to work, but he did. :( I am planning on making this again -- soon!

Ingredients:
1 block of cream cheese
1/2 cup mayo
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
12 oz. jar of artichokes (drained)
1 pkg chopped spinach (thawed and drained)
1-2 cloves garlic, pressed

Directions:
1) Mix ingredients and bake 20 minutes at 375 degrees.
2) Serve with tostitos or bread.

Husband Rating: A+
A perfect party appetizer! Use more garlic for more kick.

Wife Rating: A+
I loved this recipe -- and enjoyed a few bites before he took it away. :( Spinach and artichoke dip is one of my favorite appetizers.

I am going to make this again -- maybe for New Year's!!!

Bruschetta Chicken

2007-12-22T08:34:00.001-08:00

On Wednesday we were planning to host friends for dinner, but unfortunately plans changed, and they needed to reschedule. Jared and I still decided to make the Bruschetta Chicken for ourselves, since he did not have it the first time I made it. This is such a great dish, and requires little effort!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup egg substitute
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts halves
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1 tbsp butter, melted
2 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped
3 tbsp minced fresh basil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:
1) Place flour and egg substitute in separate shallow bowls. Dip chicken in flour, then in egg. Place in greased 13x9 in baking dish. Combine Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, and butter, sprinkle over chicken.
2) Loosely cover with foil. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until topping is browned.
3) Meanwhile in a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Spoon over chicken. Bake 3-5 minutes longer or until tomato mixture is heated through.

Recipe from Taste of Home's Test Kitchen Favorites Recipe Book.

Husband Rating: A
The chicken was very moist; and the fresh ingredients make the dinner very flavorful.

Wife Rating: A+
I love this chicken and the garlic flavor! The bruschetta topping is awesome!

We'll definitely make this again!

Christmas Tree

2007-12-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

Jared and I purchased our real Christmas tree pretty late this year -- a week before Christmas. We usually cut it down or buy it during the second weekend of December, but this month has been quite hectic for both of us. This year was a new experience for us for another reason too. We purchased the tree from the trees in the Kohl's parking lot, sold to us by an interesting older man. :) We also finally managed to pick a tree that fit perfectly in our living room. Each year we seem to pick a "small" tree, but once inside, it's too big! Well, this year -- it's perfect!

Menu: December 17-22

2007-12-16T17:37:00.000-08:00

With Christmas a week away, this week's menu will be light, and all dinners will serve to help clean out the fridge before the holiday!

Monday: Leftovers

Tuesday: Cobb Salad

Wednesday: Bruschetta Chicken, Steamed Broccoli, & Pasta (Hosting dinner for friends)

Thursday: Sausage and Pepper Calzone

Friday: Rigatoni with Sausage

Saturday: Leftovers

Merry Christmas!

Chicken Stuffed with Spinach & Ricotta Cheese

2007-12-16T17:10:00.000-08:00

After last week's Chicken Parm, Jared mentioned that he was interested in trying a stuffed chicken dish. So, I looked around for some recipes and found a chicken stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese. The recipe I found last week, unfortunately was not the recipe I used tonight because I could not find that recipe anymore. :( So, I found one that was a bit more detailed, required bacon (which we did not have), so we had to modify the dish a bit. After prepping the chicken, I realized that the chicken did not really need a side dish.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 (10 ounce) bag washed fresh spinach (we used a box of frozen spinach, thawed)
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
8 slices thick sliced bacon (we omitted this ingredient)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2) Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook and stir until it begins to brown, about 30 seconds. Quickly stir in spinach, and continue cooking until the spinach has wilted. Transfer the mixture into a bowl, and set aside to cool.
3) Slice through the chicken breast horizontally to within 1/2 inch of one long edge, then open the meat like a book. Place each opened chicken breast in between two pieces of plastic wrap, and pound with a meat mallet to a thickness of 1/4 inch. (I did not flatten the chicken).
4) Stir the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, and onion powder into the cooked spinach until blended. Evenly divide this mixture among the chicken breasts, then roll each into an oblong shape, like a burrito, tucking in the ends. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Wrap each breast with 2 strips of bacon, and secure with toothpicks. Place into the prepared pan.
5) Bake in preheated oven until the bacon is brown and crispy, and the chicken is no longer pink, 45 minutes. Remove from oven, and allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before removing toothpicks and serving.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating: B+
Jared thought the top part of the chicken was dry....which was a result of omitting bacon. The spinach and cheese mixture had a nice flavor, and the garlic was prominent.

Wife Rating: B+
I had high hopes for this meal and I was somewhat let down. I enjoyed the spinach and cheese mixture, but the chicken was just ok. I agree with Jared -- it was a bit dry on top.

Although the dinner was just ok...I will attempt to make another stuffed chicken in the future.

Boneless Ribs, Zesty Potatoes & Veggies

2007-12-15T17:11:00.000-08:00

Jared and I were looking forward to making homemade BBQ sauce, a recipe given to us by his sister's boyfriend. We decided to try it on some boneless ribs on Thursday night. We added Zesty Red Potatoes, thanks to http://wineloverscookingdiary.blogspot.com/.

BBQ Sauce Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups margarine
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 garlic cloves or garlic powder to taste
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 cup vinegar
3 cups ketchup (28 to 32 oz. bottle)
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. chili powder

Directions:
1) Combine all of the ingredients except for the last 4 in a saucepan.
2) Simmer for 20 minutes until thick, stirring occasionally.
3) Turn off heat and add the last four ingredients.
4) Add to meat or store in a glass jar/bowl in refrigerator.

Zesty Red Potatoes Ingredients:
4 medium red potatoes, halved and thinly sliced
2/3 cup small onion, halved and thinly sliced
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
salt to taste

Directions:
1) Arrange potatoes and onion in an ungreased 9-inch square baking sheet.
2) Combine butter, pepper flakes and salt; drizzle over potatoes and onions.
3) Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 15-20 minutes longer, or until potatoes are tender.

Recipe from http://wineloverscookingdiary.blogspot.com/

Husband Rating: A
Jared loved the crispy potatoes and the BBQ sauce was just right....no more store bought BBQ sauce for Jared!

Wife Rating: A
I LOVED the potatoes! The BBQ sauce reminded us of summertime!

We'll make this again soon -- probably next time with chicken.

Monkey Bread - November BGEX Gift

2007-12-15T17:03:00.000-08:00

I did not get a chance to take a picture of the Monkey Bread before I sent it to Sarah, so I have borrowed the picture from her kitchen -- after her sister grabbed the first bite! Jared's mom makes this recipe often, and before meeting Jared, I had never heard of it before. If you have not tried Monkey Bread yet, you are missing out!

Ingredients:
3 packages of buttermilk biscuit tubes
1 cup sugar (divided)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar

Directions:
1) Take 3 packages of buttermilk biscuit tubes (10 per roll) and cut each roll into 4 pieces. Drop roll pieces into 1 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Drop sugar-coated pieces into a well buttered Bundt pan (don't squish roll pieces when placing them in the Bundt pan).

2) Put 1/2 cup of the left-over sugar/cinnamon mix and 1/2 cup packed brown sugar and 1 cup of butter (2 sticks) into a small saucepan.

3) Bring this mixture just to a boil; remove from heat immediately. Carefully drizzle over the roll pieces.

4) Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

5) Cool slightly in an upright position, then tip pan over onto a plate to remove from pan.

Recipe from www.cooks.com

Husband & Wife Rating: Although Jared and I did not get to sample our own Monkey
Bread, Jared walked into the house as it was cooling and was practically drooling over the smell. It looked so fresh and fluffy...and ready to eat! We can only judge the smell -- A+

We'll make this again...very soon.

Salad Pizza

2007-12-13T12:57:00.001-08:00

We will always find an excuse to eat pizza in our house! Jared introduced me to salad pizza when he was working on Long Island. If you love pizza and salad....then there is no reason why you would not love Salad Pizza. It is very simple and comes together quickly.

Ingredients:
Pizza dough or Boboli crust
Pizza sauce (we used homemade sauce)
Cheese
Lettuce
Tomato
Cucumbers
Italian dressing

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2) Prepare pizza as normal (sauce and cheese), and bake until cooked.
3) In a salad bowl, prepare salad and toss with dressing.
4) Add salad to finished pizza.

Husband Rating: A
Jared really enjoyed the salad pizza and the whole wheat crust that we used. The toppings can fall off easily because each piece is small, but definitely tasty.

Wife Rating: A
Yummy -- pizza and salad! One of my favorite meals!

We'll make this again in the future...probably with pizza dough.

Menu: December 10-15

2007-12-09T20:07:00.000-08:00

The holidays are fast approaching, which means our schedules will soon become a bit chaotic each week.

Monday: Ravioli and salad

Tuesday: Leftovers (we have tons from last week)

Wednesday: Pizza salad

Thursday: Ribs, zesty red potatoes, and veggies

Friday: Holiday party @ work

Saturday: Chicken stuffed with spinach & feta cheese

General Tso's Chicken, Fried Rice, & Spring Rolls

2007-12-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

Jared and I love Chinese food...chances are anytime he wants to go out for dinner, it's for Chinese! We decided that we wanted to make our own, including the rice and spring rolls. The General Tso's recipe came from the side of the bottle, I borrowed the fried rice recipe from a fellow food blogger, http://wheresthechorico.blogspot.com, and the spring roll recipe from www.cooks.com. Timing is crucial for this meal, in order for everything to be ready at the same time. It is also helps to have more than one person cooking -- so share the kitchen!

General Tso's Chicken

Ingredients:
1 chicken breast cut into cubes
1 tablespoon oil for frying
6 tablespoons General Tso's sauce
Broccoli (steamed)

Ingredients:
1) Cut up chicken into cubes and cook in hot oil until chicken is cooked through.
2) Add General Tso's sauce and stir.
3) Mix in broccoli before serving.

Fried Rice

Ingredients:
2 eggs
carrots
peas
2 cups of long grain rice cooked and chilled (the longer the better!!!)
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup chopped onions
2 cloves of minced garlic
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
cooking oil
Pork, shrimp, or chicken (optional)

Directions:
1) Saute onions with minced garlic, red pepper flakes and ginger.
2) Add peas, carrots, and meat and cook for 5 minutes.
3) Mix in rice. Create a circle with your rice mixture and crack open two eggs into the pan and scramble. Mix with rice once egg is ready.
4) Add the soy sauce and mix. Cook rice for a few more minutes and it should be done.

Spring Rolls

Ingredients:
egg roll wrappers (we used phyllo dough)
2 carrots, shaved
white cabbage
1 cup dry flavored soy mince (we omitted)
beansprouts
salt & pepper to taste

Dipping sauce:
soy sauce
white vinegar

Directions:
1) Shred carrots and cabbage. Add beansprouts.
2) Add soy sauce, salt, and pepper to taste.
3) Wrap into wrappers or phyllo dough and fry in oil.

Husband Rating: A+
Do you honestly think that Jared would not like Chinese food?! He loved the rice because it had a kick, and ate 3 spring rolls. He did suggest that next time, we double the phyllo dough so that the spring roll is thicker, and bake the rolls instead of pan frying. (Good idea)!

Wife Rating: A+
The amount of work involved in preparing this meal was crazy, but it was well worth it! The rice had great flavor, the broccoli in the General Tso's sauce was delicious, and the spring roll was great! Jared's suggestions are definitely ones to consider for next time!

...There will be a next time for this meal!

Creamy Green Chiles Soup

2007-12-08T15:29:00.000-08:00

Jared and I receive a lot of food gifts, and this soup was one of them! We decided to try one before the soups take over our food cabinet. The soup mix is from Darby Creek Gourmet Soups and the mix contained it all, except for the milk and cream cheese!

Ingredients:
Creamy Green Chile soup mix
4 cups of milk
4 cups water
7 oz can of chopped green chiles (we used a 4.5oz can)
8 oz package of cream cheese
If using low fat or skim milk, use 8 cups of milk and no water.

Directions:
1) Boil 8 cups of milk and bring to a boil.
2) Add contents of soup package, can of green chiles, and cream cheese.
3) Simmer 30-35 minutes, stirring often.
4) Salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Husband Rating: A
Jared loves a soup that is perfect for a cold day, and this is definitely one of them. He even finished my bowl!

Wife Rating: A
The soup is definitely creamy...and perfect for a cold day. I think if we added more green chiles it would have had more of a kick!

We are looking forward to the leftovers!

Radio City Christmas Spectacular!

2007-12-08T08:31:00.000-08:00

I know this is not a food related blog, but I wanted to share pictures from our NYC trip to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Jared and I have never seen the show before, so it was very special for us. We went as "chaperone's" for my job, so the entire trip (bus and tickets) were free for us!

The beautiful tree in Rockefeller Center

Celebrating 75 years!

Jared and I in front of the Christmas balls and Radio City

The red Christmas balls!

One of the opening acts with Santa!

The Rockettes!

The live Nativity Scene

The finale!

The trip was quite an experience, and if you have never been, I definitely recommend making a trip to NYC during the holiday season to see the show!!!

Chicken Parmesan

2007-12-06T19:14:00.000-08:00

I found the recipe for tonight's dinner on a fellow JKnottie/JFacie's blog. http://wineloverscookingdiary.blogspot.com/
When planning our menu for the week, we wanted a chicken dish that we have not cooked in a while. The chicken parmesan is prepared a bit differently than we have in the past, but this version is a bit healthier since the chicken is not fried. We served it over a Whole Grain Penne Pasta.

Ingredients:
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Italian breadcrumbs
Garlic powder
Parmesan cheese
Marina Sauce (we made our own sauce)
Mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder. Mix in chicken to coat.
3) Place chicken in 13x9 baking dish and cook for 30 minutes.
4) After 30 minutes, remove chicken and cover breasts with sauce. Bake for 10 minutes.
5) After 10 minutes, top chicken breasts with mozzarella cheese and bake for 5 minutes.

Husband Rating: A
The chicken was very moist, full of flavor and the whole grain pasta was delicious.

Wife Rating: A
I love cheese -- and this was very cheesy! The pasta was delicious and the chicken was great. Definitely a good choice!

We'll make this dish again -- definitely!

Caesar Salad

2007-12-05T18:18:00.000-08:00

Tonight's salad was an excellent choice for this week's menu. After two nights of meat dishes, it was very refreshing to have a non-meat dinner. Plus, the homemade Caesar salad dressing made this salad perfect!

Ingredients:
1 head romaine lettuce
2 cups croutons, divided
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon prepared Dijon-style mustard (we used a creole-style mustard)
1 lemon, juiced
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

We also added a cucumber to the salad

Directions:
1) Clean and chop lettuce, set aside.
2) Crush 5 or 6 of the croutons in a deep mixing bowl. Add the garlic, mustard, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Blend thoroughly in a mixer and slowly add olive oil until creamy.
3) Pour dressing over the lettuce, add parmesan, remaining croutons, toss and enjoy.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating: A+
Jared's exact words tonight were, "this salad is better than any Caesar Salad that I have ever had in a restaurant." (WOW)!

Wife Rating: A+
I was nervous about the mustard substitution, but it turned out great. The garlic was amazing! The salad was refreshing and crunchy!

We'll definitely make this again -- maybe with chicken next time! (I will probably share this for our holiday party at work)!

Jambalaya

2007-12-04T19:17:00.000-08:00

Jared and I "cheated" tonight out of convenience. Our Jambalaya was Zatarains, straight from a box. We added turkey kielbasa, which tasted great! We made a quick salad to compliment the meal.

Ingredients:
Zatarain's Jambalaya mix
1 pound of chicken, turkey, etc. (we used Turkey Kielbasa)

Directions:
1) Follow the recipe on the box. :)

Husband Rating: A
He really enjoyed the Jambalaya flavor -- it definitely had a kick!

Wife Rating: A
I like spicy food, and this had just enough flavor and spice! The salad was an excellent add-on.

Dinner was a quick and easy one because we picked up our wedding video tonight (which included 3 final copies, 2 raw footage cd's, and a bottle of champagne)!!!!

Hot Dog Casserole

2007-12-03T18:37:00.000-08:00

You might think that we were hosting children tonight at our house with hot dog casserole, but you would be wrong. Jared has been wanting hot dogs for a while and with our grill neatly tucked away until next year, the casserole was a great option. If you are looking to bring the taste of the amusement park to your house, definitely try this dinner.

Ingredients:
1 (28 ounce) can baked beans
2 (16 ounce) packages hot dogs, sliced
1 (7.5 ounce) package corn bread mix

Directions:
1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2) Pour the can of beans into a 9x13 inch baking dish so they cover the bottom. Arrange hot dog slices so they cover the beans as completely as possible. If too much juice seeps through to the cornbread, it will take longer to cook. Prepare cornbread mix according to package directions. Spread the batter evenly over the hot dog layer.
3) Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until cornbread is cooked through. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.

Husband Rating: A
Another great meal, or as Jared said, "another hearty meal." Jared went back for seconds!

Wife Rating: A
This meal was so easy and fun to prepare and eat! The recipe makes a lot of food -- and could be used a party appetizer.

Oh (fake) Christmas Tree!

2007-12-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

Christmas is a time for sharing, and like many of my blogging friends, I decided to post a picture of our 6' fake Christmas tree, tree #1 of 3, sharing our home with yours. We decided this year to put the tree in our bedroom. Our real tree will be placed in the window of our living room. Each year, the hardest part is deciding which ornaments to put on the real and fake tree. As you can tell, we have a great start on our Christmas shopping too!

I will post a picture of our real tree after we pick one out and decorate it with our ornaments!

Menu: December 3-9

2007-12-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

Last week's menu did not produce much for leftovers, so hopefully this week's will be different.

Monday: Hot Dog Casserole

Tuesday: Jambalaya

Wednesday: Caesar Salad

Thursday: Chicken Parmesan

Friday: NYC to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular!!!!

Saturday: Cajun Bean Soup

Sunday: General Tso Chicken & Fried Rice

Potato Soup

2007-12-02T15:49:00.001-08:00

Today was a perfect day to make potato soup in the crock pot. The weather reached a high of 20 degrees today and it snowed on and off all day. I borrowed this recipe from another Jknottie, Kristi, who posted the recipe on the JKnottie Cookbook blog -- http://jknottiecookbook.blogspot.com/ We started cooking the soup at 11am so it was ready for dinner.

Ingredients:
8 cups potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 small onion, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1 tsp garlic
4 cubes chicken bouillon
2 tablespoons dried parsley
6 cups water
2 cups milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Directions:
1) Place the potatoes, onion, butter, chicken bouillon cubes, parsley and water into a slow cooker. Set on low and let cook for 6 to 8 hours.
2) At least half an hour before serving, stir together the milk and flour until no lumps remain, and mix into the soup.
3) Cook for 30 minutes or until the soup is thickened. Add real bacon bits and shredded cheese on top.

Husband Rating: A-
Jared thought this was a hearty soup for a cold day like today. He finished my bowl for me!

Wife Rating: A-
The soup was good, although I think it needed less flour (it was too thick for me) and some salt and pepper.

Baked Haddock

2007-12-02T11:06:00.001-08:00

Jared and I decided to add another fish dish to our menu this week. However, when we went shopping last Sunday, the grocery store did not have Haddock, so we substituted the Haddock with Flounder. The recipe calls for a white fish, so we were set. Unfortunately, this dish did not turn out as planned.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground dried thyme
4 haddock fillets (we used flounder)
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
2) In a small bowl, combine the milk and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and thyme. Dip the haddock fillets in the milk, then press into the crumb mixture to coat. Place haddock fillets in a glass baking dish, and drizzle with melted butter.
3) Bake on the top rack of the preheated oven until the fish flakes easily, about 15 minutes.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband & Wife Rating: C
The fish turned out too salty, so we did not eat more than 2 bites.

Suggestions for a future attempt:
* Use panko bread crumbs instead of regular or flavored bread crumbs
* Use less salt than the recipe states.

As a result of the wasted lunch, our meal replacement was last night's leftovers from Sukhothai Restaurant in Albany (Cashew Nut with Chicken)

Husband and Wife Rating: A
Definitely much better than the fish!!!

JKnottie November Baked Goods Exchange

2007-12-02T10:57:00.001-08:00

I have participated in another great Jknottie Baked Goods Exchange in November, and my Secret Baker for this exchange was Kat!!!! Jared and I enjoyed a cookie last night for dessert, and they are delicious!

Ingredients:
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup applesauce
2 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Combine shortening, brown sugar, and egg.
3) Stir in 1/2 cup applesauce.
4) Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and ground cloves, and add to shortening mixture.
5) Mix in raisins and nuts.
6) Bake 10 minutes.

Husband Rating: A+
Jared really enjoyed the cookie! The applesauce keeps the cookie nice and moist.

Wife Rating: A+
Yummy!

Thanks Kat!!!! We will definitely be making these cookies for friends and family.

Taco Salad

2007-11-28T19:25:00.000-08:00

This picture does not do justice to the taco salad -- it was delicious. We modified the recipe a bit by sticking to our non-recipe directions.

Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef (we used turkey meat)
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans (omitted)
1 (16 ounce) bottle French dressing (we had a spray dressing and used a bit)
1 head iceberg lettuce
1 (14.5 ounce) package tortilla chips
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped tomatoes
4 tablespoons sour cream
1/2 cup prepared salsa

Directions:
1) In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and drain excess fat. Stir in the taco seasoning, chili beans and French-style dressing. Fill the dressing bottle 2/3 full of water and add to the skillet. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
2) Crush the bag of chips, open the bag, and toss the broken chips into a large bowl with the lettuce, cheese and tomatoes. When the meat mixture is done, combine it with the lettuce, tomatoes, chips and mix well. Then, add salsa and sour cream.

Husband Rating: A
Jared liked the crunchy tortilla chips and he added hot sauce to kick it up a bit.

Wife Rating: A
Cheese, tortilla chips, salsa, and sour cream -- I'm set!

We'll definitely make this dish again in the future.

Shrimp Scampi (Tuesday's Dinner)

2007-11-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

Jared came home with shrimp a few weeks ago, so we froze it for a special time, and yesterday seemed like a perfect day. We decided to make one of our favorite (old time) recipes, one that we made quite often years ago. However, this time we followed a recipe from www.allrecipes.com.

Ingredients:
2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cloves garlic, minced (added more)
1/4 cup dry white wine (omitted)
3 green onions, chopped
Angel Hair pasta

Directions:
1) Preheat broiler to 500 degrees (260 degrees C).
2) Stir shrimp together with butter, garlic and wine. Place on a baking sheet and broil for 10 minutes. Sprinkle on scallions and broil for another 2 to 3 minutes, until shrimp are firm. Serve hot.

Husband Rating: A
Jared loved the shrimp broiled instead of sauteing in a frying pan.

Wife Rating: A
I loved the garlic with the pasta!

We'll definitely make this again!

Greek Chicken

2007-11-28T12:17:00.000-08:00

I have been busy with the holiday and traveling, so my blog has suffered, and so has our fridge and cooking. :) We finally went shopping after we created this week's menu. The Greek Chicken was a meal prepared by his mom, which we froze a few weeks ago. I do not have a picture to share or the recipe at this point. I know you can find a Greek Chicken recipe on www.allrecipes.com.

Shrimp Scampi picture and review to follow.

Menu: November 26-December 2

2007-11-25T18:43:00.000-08:00

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

Monday: Greek Chicken

Tuesday: Shrimp Scampi

Wednesday: Taco Salad

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Dinner with friends

Saturday: Potato Soup

Sunday: Baked Haddock

Orange Honey Garlic Chicken

2007-11-18T11:27:00.001-08:00

We were planning on making the Orange Honey Garlic Chicken on Saturday, but with my work schedule, we ran out of time. Plus, we did not marinate the chicken, so it would not have been ready. So, today was a perfect day, and we decided to make it for lunch. We prepared a tomato, cucumber, and red onion salad, along with scalloped potatoes (from a box). ;)

Ingredients:
1 (2 to 3 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces (We used chicken breasts)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup orange juice
2 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika

Directions:
1) To Make Marinade: Combine the soy sauce, honey, orange juice, garlic, oregano, pepper and paprika. Mix all together and pour over chicken pieces. Refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
2) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3) Remove chicken from refrigerator. Place chicken and marinade in a 9x13 inch baking dish and bake, uncovered, in preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours. Baste once.
* Since we used chicken breasts, the chicken only needed 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating:
Jared thought the chicken had good flavor and that the orange and honey flavors were prominent, but the garlic was very subtle.

Wife Rating:
I liked the chicken, but would add more garlic next time!

We'll try this again sometime, and will probably cook it with a whole chicken as the recipe states.

Pepper, Onion, & Feta Pizza

2007-11-15T05:48:00.000-08:00

Jared and I love pizza and I realized after we made the pepper, onion, and feta pizza, that for 3 weeks now, we have cooked something from the Greek family. This pizza was so easy and very good!

Ingredients:
1 (12 inch) thin pizza crust, homemade or prepared, such as Boboli
3 cups chopped red, green, yellow and/or orange bell peppers (any combination)
1 cup sliced yellow or red onion, separated into rings
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
3/4 cup crumbled herbed feta cheese

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place crust on pizza pan or cookie sheet. In a bowl, combine remaining ingredients except cheese. Spoon mixture over crust. Top with cheese.
2) Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until vegetables are crispy-tender. Remove from oven and serve.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating:
Jared was in pizza heaven and said, "I might eat the whole pizza tonight." When we roll out our dough, we are able to make a pizza of 9 square slices. He did hold back and we have some for leftovers.

Wife Rating:
The pizza was so good and very fresh. "Yummy"

We'll definitely make this one again!!!

Baked Macaroni & Cheese

2007-11-13T16:23:00.001-08:00

Jared and I have made baked macaroni and cheese before, but without a recipe and with little effort. Believe it or not, I was looking forward to following a recipe that required a bit of "work" and different ingredients.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons melted butter
8 ounces macaroni
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 2 quart casserole dish. Place the bread crumbs into a small bowl and mix well with the melted butter; set aside.
2) Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, then place into prepared casserole dish.
3) While the pasta is cooking, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the minced onion and cook until the onion softens and turns translucent, about 5 minutes.
4) Stir in the flour, pepper, salt, and dry mustard until incorporated, then pour in the milk and bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring constantly until the milk has thickened, about 10 minutes. Take the milk off of the heat and stir in the Cheddar cheese until melted. Pour cheese sauce over the macaroni, then sprinkle evenly with buttered bread crumbs.
5) Bake until the top is golden and bubbly, about 20 minutes.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating:
Finding a meal that Jared does not like is hard to find, so it was obvious that Jared enjoyed the macaroni and cheese.

Wife Rating:
Anything with cheese is a winner in my book! The bread crumbs were a nice touch and the onion was subtle, yet added good flavor.

We'll make this again!

Crockpot Beef Stew

2007-11-12T14:17:00.000-08:00

Beef stew was perfect on a cold, cloudy day like today. We modified the recipe from the book, "Where's Mom Now That I Need Her?" (Yes, I still have that book since college) to cook in the crockpot. The recipe makes enough for leftovers!

Ingredients:
1 pound stewing beef
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons cooking oil
1 1/2 cups water
2 onions, sliced and separated
3 potatoes, cubed
3 carrots, sliced
3 stalks celery, sliced

We added:
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms

Directions:
1) Cut meat into bite-sized pieces. In bag, combine flour, salt, and pepper. Put pieces of meat, and shake to coat.
2) Brown meat until browned on all sides.
3) In crockpot add potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, and mushrooms.
4) Add meat and water.
5) Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. (We only had 4 hours, so we cooked it on high all day).
6) Add flour (by tablespoonful at a time) for desired thickness. (We only added 1 tablespoon).

Husband Rating: A-
Jared thought the stew was good, but that the water could be replaced with beef broth for more flavor.

Wife Rating: A-
I definitely agree with Jared...more beef flavor would have been perfect. Although, I would eat the stew with all the vegetables and no meat!

We'll make this again... and probably will alter the recipe a bit.

Menu: November 12-16

2007-11-12T10:21:00.000-08:00

This week will be a short week because of our plans to go out with friends and my schedule at work.

Monday: Beef Stew (crockpot)

Tuesday: Baked Macaroni & Cheese

Wednesday: Peppers, Onion & Feta Cheese Pizza

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Dinner with friends!

Saturday: Orange Honey Garlic Chicken

Pork Chops with Garden Rice (Monday's Lunch)

2007-11-12T10:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Veteran's Day! Our menu changed a bit this week due to an unexpected get together with friends. Since we were both off today, we decided to cook meals for both lunch and dinner. Thanks to a recommendation from Kat, http://anirishgirlwhocancookanddrink.blogspot.com/
we were looking forward to trying this meal.

Ingredients:
6 (1 inch thick) pork chops
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (14 ounce) can vegetable broth
1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped orange bell pepper
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh mushrooms

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Season pork chops with salt, pepper, and paprika. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute the garlic about 1 minute, then brown pork chops about 2 minutes on each side.
3) In a pot, bring the vegetable broth and rice to a boil. Mix in the Italian-style diced tomatoes, green bell pepper, orange bell pepper, green onions, and mushrooms, and cook about 5 minutes, until heated through. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange the pork chops over the rice and vegetables.
4) Cover, and bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until rice and vegetables are tender and pork has reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating: A+
Jared's first reaction was "it smells delicious." He did not even have a dish prepared and he was drooling over the smell. He really enjoyed the flavor of the rice, although he did suggest we use brown rice next time for a healthier addition.

Wife Rating: A+
I agree with Jared. The smell of the dish throughout the house was amazing. The flavor of the pork chops and the garden rice were a great pair!

We will definitely be making this dish again!

Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce

2007-11-09T04:16:00.001-08:00

Last night's pasta dinner was a meal we cooked for friends. We could not have picked a better dish to share with them. They raved about the dish and the freshness. We did not get to take a picture, so the picture above is from www.allrecipes.com.

We made dinner at their house, and they supplied the wine and fire!

Ingredients:
1 (16 ounce) package dry penne pasta (we used wheat spaghetti)
8 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup Italian dressing
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1) Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place the penne pasta in the pot, cook 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
2) In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the tomatoes, Italian dressing, basil, red onion, and Parmesan cheese.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating: A+
Jared really enjoyed the pasta, fresh tomatoes and onion.

Wife Rating: A+
This dish was so easy to make and was delicious! The salad and red wine, compliments of our friends, were perfect.

Friends' Rating: A+
They were both very happy with the meal that we picked for last night.

We'll definitely be making it again in the future!

Garlic Chicken Fried Chicken (Wednesday)

2007-11-09T04:09:00.001-08:00

Jared and I love garlic, so when I found this recipe, I thought this would be a great meal. In the end, I found out it is very similar to chicken cutlets, but with more seasoning. We did not have much time for cooking, so we were unable to add more side dishes. The chicken stuffing was a great choice.

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons garlic powder, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded thin
1 cup oil for frying, or as needed

Directions:
1) In a shallow dish, mix together the garlic powder, pepper, salt, paprika, bread crumbs and flour. In a separate dish, whisk together the milk and egg.
2) Heat the oil in an electric skillet set to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Dip the chicken into the egg and milk, then dredge in the dry ingredients until evenly coated.
3) Fry chicken in the hot oil for about 5 minutes per side, or until the chicken is cooked through and juices run clear. Remove from the oil with a slotted spatula, and serve.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating: A-
Jared thought the chicken was good, but could have used more garlic powder -- maybe fresh garlic.

Wife Rating: A-
I agree with Jared. The name of the recipe begins with garlic, I think the garlic should have been more prominent.

We'll make this again in the future. Next time, we'll add the zesty potatoes, and a veggie.

Cabbage & Kielbasa

2007-11-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

I decided to use my new crockpot for the first time and try a new recipe as well. We had kielbasa and I found a cabbage and kielbasa recipe for the crockpot. There was a lot of anxiety from leaving my crockpot alone, but in the end it turned out fine. I halved the recipe because we were not using 2 pounds of kielbasa. However, I should have followed the recipe for the cabbage because it cooked down a lot!

Ingredients:
8 cups shredded cabbage (I used 4 cups -- use 8)
3 medium potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (We left them out because of the reviews)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
2 pounds fully cooked kielbasa or Polish sausage, cut into serving size pieces (I used only 1 pound)

Directions:
1) In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the cabbage, potatoes, onion, salt and pepper. Pour broth over all. Place sausage on top (slow cooker will be full, but cabbage will cook down). Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until vegetables are tender and sausage is heated through.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating: A
Jared liked the combination of the kielbasa and cabbage. He definitely wanted more cabbage.

Wife Rating: B+
Although a fan of German food, I thought this dinner was too salty and mushy for me. I think 8 hours in the crockpot was too long. Maybe with more cabbage it would have been different. The picture above does not do much for the meal. I am glad I tried something different, but I won't be running to make this again soon.

Greek Salad (Monday's Dinner)

2007-11-06T07:18:00.001-08:00

Although, Jared and I made a Mediterranean salad last Monday, this salad was very different. We love Greek salad, mostly for the kalamata olives and the feta cheese! The dressing was perfect! If you love salads, definitely try this one!

Ingredients:
1 cucumber, diced
2 large tomatoes, each cut into 8 wedges (I used cherry tomatoes)
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/2 cup thinly sliced green bell pepper
1/2 cup whole, pitted kalamata olives
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1) In a medium bowl, layer cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. Sprinkle with oregano, then drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating: A+
Jared loves salad...and that is probably an understatement! He really enjoyed the salad and the fresh veggies!

Wife Rating: A+
I must agree with Jared. Homemade salads are so much better when you make the dressing too!

We will definitely be making this salad again!

Menu: November 5-10

2007-11-05T05:41:00.000-08:00

The weekend plans are still up in the air, so this week's menu includes dinner from Monday-Friday.

Monday: Greek Salad

Tuesday: Kielbasa with Cabbage

Wednesday: Garlic Chicken Fried Chicken

Thursday: Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Friday: leftovers

Saturday: Pork Chops with Garden Rice (courtesy of http://www.anirishgirlwhocancookanddrink.blogspot.com/)

As with each week and our crazy schedule, the menu is subject to change.

Broccoli Lasagna (Sunday's dinner)

2007-11-05T04:59:00.000-08:00

Last night's dinner was Broccoli Lasagna (the 1st picture was actually taken this morning, the second picture is from www.allrecipes.com). After coming home from Philly, we had plans to visit some friends and have dinner at their place. We decided that we would make Broccoli Lasagna, since it was on our menu for the week. Of course, using low fat cheese and skim milk, I think our recipe turned out slightly different from the original recipe. Nonetheless, it was still pretty good.

Ingredients:
9 lasagna noodles
3 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 1/2 cups milk
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 (10 ounce) package chopped frozen broccoli, thawed and drained
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
3) In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Cook onion and garlic in butter until tender. Stir in flour, pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt and nutmeg. Stirring continuously, pour in milk, a little at a time, allowing mixture to thicken. Bring to a boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat and stir in parsley. Set aside.
4) In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, broccoli, Parmesan, 1 cup of mozzarella and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir until well blended.
5) In a 7x11 inch baking dish layer: 1/4 cup white sauce; 3 noodles; one-third of remaining white sauce; half the broccoli mixture; 3 more noodles; half remaining white sauce; remaining broccoli mixture; 3 noodles; remaining white sauce. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Cover with foil coated with cooking spray. (We used an 8x13 dish -- we do not have a 7x11 dish).
6) Bake in preheated oven 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Husband Rating: A
Jared was excited to try a different type of lasagna. I have never made a white sauce lasagna before!

Wife Rating: A-
Considering the fact that I felt a bit off...not sure if I am fighting a 24-hour bug, I managed to eat a little bit. I did like it, but I am not sure about the nutmeg.

Friends Rating:
They seemed to like the lasagna. I did receive a compliment on last night's dinner on my IM this morning!

I'll try this again in the future...but the not too soon future.

Philly in the Fall

2007-11-05T04:42:00.001-08:00

Jared and I decided on a whim that we wanted to visit Philly. We talked about it in early October, but never solidified any plans. My sister is a Junior at Villanova, so our decision to visit historic Philly was also a great way to see my sister. We spent all day Saturday touring around the historic buildings of Philly (Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Congress Hall (first pic), and tons of others). Jared loves guided tours, so we spent some money to have a guide. Of course we found a great cheese steak place for lunch, pictured above. We met up with my sister at Villanova later in the afternoon for a tour of campus and a chance to relax. The evening ended with a trip to the King of Prussia Mall, dinner, and Terror Behind the Walls, the haunted mansion at The Eastern State Penitentiary (definitely check it out...or at least google it)! The end result of a great weekend was a tired Sunday.

We are already planning our next visit during March (taking advantage of spring break). The next trip will definitely include the Rocky steps, more of the historic buildings (specifically going into them), and a day-time tour of the penitentiary. Is it spring yet?!

Boneless Pork Ribs (Friday's dinner)

2007-11-05T04:34:00.000-08:00

When Jared and I put together last week's menu, we were not planning to visit Philly for the weekend and catching up with my sister at Villanova. So, our menu was slightly modified and the Boneless Ribs were made on Friday. We left just after work and since Jared was home, he had dinner ready for me when I got home. :) Sadly, I was not feeling very well, so I only ate a few bites of his dinner, right off of his plate. We really enjoyed the flavor of the ribs.

Ingredients:
4 pounds boneless beef short ribs, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup tomato juice
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground cloves
1 pinch ground black pepper

Directions:
1) Preheat the oven broiler.
2) Place ribs on a rack in a broiler pan, and broil on top oven rack 15 minutes, or until well browned. Remove from heat, and transfer to a baking dish. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
3) In a saucepan over medium heat, mix the tomato sauce, tomato juice, onion, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Season with cinnamon, cloves, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Pour over the ribs in the baking dish.
4) Bake ribs in the 350 degrees oven 45 minutes, or until meat pulls apart easily with a fork and reaches a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Recipe from www.allrecipes. com

Husband Rating: A
Considering the fact that Jared made the meal by himself, and had to eat much of it alone, he still liked the ribs. Maybe a bit more sauce next time?

Wife Rating: A
Of the few bites that I ate, I would say this is a keeper. I liked the flavor and the tenderness of the meat.

We'll definitely try this again in the future.

Baked Chicken Nachos

2007-10-31T18:13:00.000-07:00

I am so glad that I "borrowed" this recipe from a fellow July Knottie's blog (http://wineloverscookingdiary.blogspot.com/). Jared and I love nachos, but have never made them this way before. They turned out so crunchy and cheesy AND we love cheese! The nachos were extra special tonight because Jared had dinner ready for me when I got home from work. I am so lucky!

Ingredients:
2 cloves garlic, crushed
6 green onions, sliced, white parts and tops separated
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 shredded cooked, whole chicken breast (we used Perdue Short Cuts Chicken)
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup salsa
1/2 (12 ounce) package tortilla chips
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Mexican Cheese blend
1/2 large tomato, diced

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) In a 12 inch skillet over medium heat, cook and stir the garlic, white parts of the onions in oil until tender. Mix in shredded chicken, salt, and pepper. Toss until well coated with oil. Stir in the salsa.
3) Arrange tortilla chips on a large baking sheet. Spoon the chicken mixture over the chips. Top with cheese blend and tomato. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted.
4) Remove from heat and spring with green onion tops before serving. Top with sour cream and jalapeños (optional).

Husband Rating: A
Awesome!

Wife Rating: A+
I love nachos -- one of my favorite meals!

We will definitely make these nachos again -- especially for parties!

Thanks to April for finding the recipe on www.allrecipes.com.

Grilled Sausage Patties with Peppers & Onions

2007-10-30T19:31:00.001-07:00

This week's menu should have been titled: Quick and easy meals....This was yet another quick dinner to put together. I cannot take credit because Jared cooked most of it before I got home from work. We do not eat sausage often (for obvious health reasons), but when we do it always seems to hit the spot.

Ingredients:
1 (16 ounce) package of sausage patties
1 green pepper, thinly sliced, can use red pepper
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon oil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 pita breads, cut in half
lettuce (optional)
mustard (optional)

Directions:
1) Preheat grill to medium heat. Grill patties about 3 minutes per side, or to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
2) Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute peppers, onions, and garlic in oil until softened.
3) Place patties in pita half with peppers and onions. Add lettuce and mustard if desired. (We added mustard).

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating: A
Jared said the sausage hit the spot!

Wife Rating: A
I love pitas so anything sandwiched into one is great! The peppers and onions had a lot of flavor.

We'll make this again...probably more in the summer time!

Crunchy Mediterranean Salad

2007-10-29T16:21:00.001-07:00

A quick dinner was needed tonight and this was perfect! Next time, I might even cut the vegetables the night before to save more time! Jared and I love salads, and we are trying to include a salad as a meal into our diet each week. We have found another winner!

Ingredients:
1 can chick peas, drained, rinsed
1 cup cucumber, diced
1 1/3 cup small cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1 cup green pepper, diced
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives (we used green olives and did not cut in half)
2 green onions, finely chopped
Romaine lettuce (we added this ingredient to the salad)
1/2 cup olive oil
juice of 2 lemons
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper

Directions:
1) Combine first 8 ingredients in a large bowl.
2) In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, mint, and garlic. Whisk in salt and pepper, and adjust seasonings as needed.
3) If storing salad for later, do not pour dressing onto salad -- store for later.
3) combine salad and vinaigrette and toss to coat.

Recipe courtesy of Good Things Catered (THANKS!) http://goodthingscatered.blogspot.com/

Husband Rating: A+
Jared loved this salad! If we had more time, he probably would have eaten more! He loved how fresh the salad was overall -- and the homemade salad dressing!

Wife Rating: A+
This salad is great! A perfect salad for the summer (too bad it is almost winter). ;) I loved the dressing too! Next time I will add feta cheese!

There will be a next time for this recipe!!!!

Tropical Turkey Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, & Asparagus

2007-10-28T16:11:00.001-07:00

Jared and I have never experimented with meatloaf. We have always prepared it with the typical seasonings and red sauce. However, today, we decided to try something new and very different. We were really pleased with this dish. The ingredients kept the meatloaf moist and full of flavor. We added garlic mashed potatoes (from a box), and Asparagus to complement the dinner.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup egg substitute
1 (8 ounce) can unsweetened crushed pineapple, undrained, divided
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1 1/2 pounds ground lean turkey
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
2 green onions, finely chopped
2 teaspoons finely chopped jalapeño pepper (we left these out)
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 pinch pepper

Directions:
1) In a bowl, combine egg substitute, 1/3 cup pineapple and the seasonings. Add bread crumbs; mix well. Crumble meat over mixture; mix well. Press into an 8-in.x4in.x2in loaf pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Top with 1 tablespoon of pineapple. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until meat thermometer reads 180 degrees. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine onions, jalapeño , honey, lime juice, pepper, and remaining pineapple. Serve with the meatloaf.

Recipe from www.allrecipes.com

Husband Rating: A
Something totally different and the meatloaf was "excellent." Like myself, he is still trying to get used to pineapple.

Wife Rating: A
The meatloaf was delicious. I did not add too much of the salsa mixture because I am trying to get used to pineapple. (I never ate pineapple until our honeymoon because I always thought I did not like it -- well, it's pretty good). The side dishes were a good choice.

We will try this dinner again in the future.

Menu: October 28 - November 3

2007-10-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

Week 1 of my menu planning went pretty well. I was very happy that I did not have to think about dinner everyday. Spending time during the weekend to create the entire week's menu is worth it!

Sunday: Tropical Turkey Meatloaf & Veggies

Monday: Crunchy Mediterranean Salad (courtesy of Good Things Catered)

Tuesday: Grilled Sausage Patties with Peppers & Onions

Wednesday: Baked Nachos (courtesy of Cooking Diaries of A Wine Loving Soccer "Mom")

Thursday: Leftovers - a busy day with little time to cook

Friday: Broccoli Lasagna

Saturday: Boneless Short Pork Ribs, Veggies, & Potatoes

White Chocolate Macadamia Nuts Cookies

2007-10-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

After coming home from our honeymoon in Hawaii, Jared and I were going through a Macadamia Nut phase. We decided we wanted to make these cookies since white chocolate chips are one of my favorite cookie ingredients.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup coarsely chopped white chocolate chips

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
3) Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.
4) Cool and serve!

Servings: 4 dozen

Husband Rating: A
Jared loved them! We made them at his parent's house and left the extras with his mom....needless to say, he was sad when we did not have any at home.

Wife Rating: A
Yummy! I can't wait to make them again!

Homemade Chili

2007-10-27T13:28:00.001-07:00

With little time to prepare dinner on Thursday, I defrosted Jared's homemade chili. We do not follow a recipe for the chili, so the following ingredients are mostly added to taste.

Ingredients:
1 pound turkey meat (or ground beef)
1 can of crushed tomatoes
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1/2 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic
cumin to taste
salt/pepper to taste
Worcestershire Sauce
Ketchup
Hot Sauce
Jalapeños (optional)

Directions:
1) Ground turkey meat, drain.
2) Combine all ingredients in a sauce pot or crock pot (depending on how much time you have).
3) Stir together and simmer for 1 hour.
4) Serve with shredded cheese & tortilla chips

Husband Rating: A
Jared loves making chili, especially on a cold day. He likes to change up the recipe a little bit each time.

Wife Rating: A
I love it! Jared's chili reminds me of growing up when my dad made chili -- the one dinner dish he would make. ;)

Of course we are making this again -- probably as fall ends and winter arrives.

Angel Hair Pasta with Pesto Sauce

2007-10-24T18:40:00.001-07:00

A quick dinner if you're lucky like I was to have the Pesto Sauce already made for you (by someone else). Jared's mom made the sauce for us, and his brother and sister when we went to visit this past weekend. I decided to cook the sauce with Angel Hair pasta. We did not have enough sauce for the amount of pasta that we cooked -- we did not eye-ball it too well. However, it still had great flavor. We decided to throw together a tomato, cucumber, and onion salad with the pasta as well.

Ingredients/Directions:
I did not think this information was necessary considering the steps included boiling water, adding pasta, draining the water, and mixing the pasta with the sauce.

Husband Rating: A-
Jared enjoyed the pasta with pesto sauce, but felt that we needed more pesto.

Wife Rating: A-
I agree with the husband.

The dish was my quick and easy dinner for the week. We will definitely make the dinner again in the future, but the next time we will make our own pesto sauce.

Baja Fish Tacos & Yellow Rice

2007-10-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

After coming back from our honeymoon in Hawaii, Jared and I decided that we would try to incorporate more fish into our diet. I am not a big fan of fish, but since it is a very healthy meal option; I am trying to eat more, and make fish dinners that I enjoy. The following recipe was great because there was a ton of flavor including that of the fish.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 (1.25 ounce) package ORTEGA® Taco Seasoning Mix, divided
1 pound cod or other white fish fillets, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 package (12) ORTEGA® Taco Shells, warmed (I used wheat tortilla wraps)

Toppings:
Lettuce, tomato, salsa

Directions:

1) Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, cilantro and 2 tablespoons seasoning mix in small bowl.

2) Combine fish, vegetable oil, lemon juice and remaining seasoning mix in medium bowl; pour into large skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat for 4 to 5 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with fork.

3) Fill taco shells with fish mixture. Top with tomato and sour cream mixture, lime juice and taco sauce. Add toppings.

Recipe from Allrecipes.com

Husband Rating: A
Jared enjoyed the fish tacos, especially because it was a new dish for us. It was a great alternative to beef and chicken tacos. The yellow rice was a nice side dish as well.

Wife Rating: A
Considering I am that big into fish, I enjoyed the tacos. I thought all of the toppings and sour cream mixture created a nice flavor, plus the taco seasoning was a perfect "marinade" for the fish.

We will definitely make this dish again!

Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken

2007-10-22T14:46:00.001-07:00

Jared and I enjoy a lot of chicken dishes, so it was no surprise that we liked this dish too! The preparation was easy, which means so was the clean-up! Salad and steamed cauliflower were also in attendance.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup dry bread crumbs
2/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking dish.

2) In a bowl, blend the olive oil and garlic. In a separate bowl, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, basil leaves, and pepper. Dip each chicken breast in the oil mixture and then in the bread crumb mixture. Arrange the coated chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish, and top with remaining bread crumb mixture.

3) Bake for 30 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Recipe from: www.allrecipes.com

Husband rating: A
Jared cleaned his plate! (Although, I must admit that Jared cleans his plate just about every night -- I have not found a meal that he does not like.)

Wife Rating: A
Great chicken dinner! Very easy to make, and did not take a lot of time. If you love Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs, this is a great dinner!

We will definitely make this dish again in the future!

Pumpkins, Wine, & Family

2007-10-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

Jared and I were looking forward to this weekend for a long time. We planned to visit his family, go to our favorite pumpkin farm, and end the day at a local winery. The weather was beautiful for a fall day, with a late afternoon shower followed by a gorgeous rainbow. We came home with pumpkins, wine, and leftover food!

We thought this pumpkin scene was fitting for us newlyweds! The pumpkin farm creates a great display of pumpkin characters ranging from cartoon characters to nursery rhymes to married couples!

I could not get enough of the beautiful leaves...the colors were so vibrant. It was a cloudy day so the picture does not really show off the leaves.

On our way to Black Bear Farm Winery, we were caught in the middle of a storm. As soon as it stopped raining a beautiful rainbow crossed the sky. I have a few pictures of the rainbow, but this one really shows the colors! Plus, now you can see how beautiful the trees are at this time of the year. The wines were great, and the company...perfect.

Now we're looking forward to our next "weekend away."

Menu: October 22-27

2007-10-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

Jared and I are hoping to create some consistency in our life considering the fact that my work schedule is different each week. Creating weekly menus will be our attempt towards normalcy.

Monday: Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken, Veggies, & Salad

Tuesday: Baja Fish Tacos & Rice

Wednesday: Angel Hair Pasta with Pesto Sauce (made by Jared's mom)

Thursday: Chili (leftovers)

Friday: Dinner with friends

Saturday: Halloween Party -- bringing a dish to share!

My baked goods have arrived!

2007-10-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies!

I am so excited because my baked goods arrived in the mail today! As soon as I saw Jared bring in the priority box, I knew it was them. To go along with the upcoming holidays, my secret baker sent me Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies! Of course, after taking the picture, Jared and I had to try one.

And the verdict is.....DELICIOUS!

Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup shortening
7.5 oz. pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1) Preheat over to 375 degrees.
2) Cream the sugar, shortening, pumpkin, and vanilla together. Mix until light and well combined.
3) Mix the flour, baking soda, and ground cinnamon. Stir the flour mixture into the creamed mixture. Mix until well combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
4) Drop by teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until set. Let cookies cool on a rack.

Can substitute pumpkin pie filling instead of the puree.

Thanks secret baker! (Secret Bride)

First time blogger...

2007-10-18T07:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally created a blog and here it is! I do not have anything food related to post yet, but I expect to post meals and their recipes by early next week. My husband Jared and I are going away for the weekend, so we will not be cooking. We'll be spending time at his parent's house, pumpkin picking, visiting wineries, and relaxing with his brother, sister, and mother. I cannot wait for a nice, long, relaxing weekend. Jared's mother is an awesome cook, so I will share any recipes from the weekend if we cook at her house.

I also want to say that I have enjoyed checking out all of the JKnottie blogs so far. Your blogs have been very inspiring and I hope to "borrow" to some of your recipes soon. I am very happy to have "met" many wonderful people during our wedding planning process.