this is day # 8 of new recipes...
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/marys-macaroni-cheese-62578.aspx?cm_mmc=eml-_-rbe-_-20110208-_-1034
and it is a fantastic macaroni and cheese, and with a little tweaking will be my new go to all time favorite dish...everyone loved it...had little smokies with bbq sauce, homemade biscuits, and green beans...to go with it...
Sian and Zoe made the biscuits and Si said it was the first time she had made biscuits...cute, should have gotten pics of them doing it...
before I forget, day # 7 was this: http://stephaniecooks.blogspot.com/2009/06/slow-cooked-london-broil.html and since I made it before bowling, only Tim ate it but, he said it was good and he would like it again...
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
risotto and cranberry chicken
day #6 of brand new recipes for the month of February...
tonight was a first for a couple of reasons...I had never tasted risotto, much less made it...tonight I did both and I am amazed...
it was fun and easy to make and it tasted good also...Tim said "let's have risotto at least once a week from now on..." OK with me...
so here was the whole menu:
cranberry chicken recipe from Stephanie Cooks
parmesan risotto
cranberry bread
green beans
and I did not get a picture...since I am still not feeling 100% I just took a couple of bites here and there and that was enough for me...
the chicken was interesting in that you mix french dressing, cranberry sauce and a packet of onion soup mixture all together and cover the chicken in it...everyone loved it tho...and they want me to make it again...
http://stephaniecooks.blogspot.com/2010/12/cranberry-chicken.html here is the link to the chicken...I bought by accident the jellied kind of cranberry sauce and I think it really needs the whole berry kind instead...her picture looks so much better than the real thing in person did...
now the risotto, OMGoodness, I have a new love...so so good...do not know why I did not try it before this...and really the only reason I did was because of Hell's Kitchen and how Gordon Ramsey goes on and on about it....
http://stephaniecooks.blogspot.com/2009/03/parmesan-risotto.html the link for the risotto and next time I am going to make enough to try Stephanie Cooks, her risotto cakes...
tonight was a first for a couple of reasons...I had never tasted risotto, much less made it...tonight I did both and I am amazed...
it was fun and easy to make and it tasted good also...Tim said "let's have risotto at least once a week from now on..." OK with me...
so here was the whole menu:
cranberry chicken recipe from Stephanie Cooks
parmesan risotto
cranberry bread
green beans
and I did not get a picture...since I am still not feeling 100% I just took a couple of bites here and there and that was enough for me...
the chicken was interesting in that you mix french dressing, cranberry sauce and a packet of onion soup mixture all together and cover the chicken in it...everyone loved it tho...and they want me to make it again...
http://stephaniecooks.blogspot.com/2010/12/cranberry-chicken.html here is the link to the chicken...I bought by accident the jellied kind of cranberry sauce and I think it really needs the whole berry kind instead...her picture looks so much better than the real thing in person did...
now the risotto, OMGoodness, I have a new love...so so good...do not know why I did not try it before this...and really the only reason I did was because of Hell's Kitchen and how Gordon Ramsey goes on and on about it....
http://stephaniecooks.blogspot.com/2009/03/parmesan-risotto.html the link for the risotto and next time I am going to make enough to try Stephanie Cooks, her risotto cakes...
Thursday, February 17, 2011
the salted pig
hi guys...well, I am feeling just a tad better and really needed to get out of this house and Tim did not disappoint...he took us to dinner at this new place here in Riverside that just opened this week...
Oh My...
what can I say...the food to die for...a bit pricey but...
I am in love with their menu...they have deviled eggs...you never see deviled eggs on a menu...the menu says, not your mom's deviled eggs and so I asked the waiter what was in them and it sounds sort of like mine...
ok, I got the mac and cheese (made with fontina and gruyere) (2 cheeses I have not had before) and it was quite tasty...
Tim got a burger (called the Pig Burger) with 1/2 bacon, 1/2 beef, a over easy egg and garlic mayo...(first time for Tim having egg on his burger)...
Greg got braised shortrib sandwich which has pickled onions, apples and horseradish...
the fries come in little aluminum buckets (so cute) and were very good...freshly made and sliced thin just like I like them...
as I said the food was fantastic...
the decor, was wonderful, very modernistic...lots of dark wood cabinets and tables and chairs...long tall lists of the many many beers from all over are listed for all to see...we were sat immediately at a nice table...
there was tons of wait staff, who were right at your side for your every whim...even when our waiter was busy elsewhere, someone else was right there refilling our drinks...
someone at another table got the filthy fries and I definately want to go back and try these...with beer cheese, herbs and roasted garlic...
almost forgot...for dessert we got candied bacon ice cream...what??? really??? now, bacon is my most favoritest ever ingredient...did not know if I was willing to try it in an ice cream but, the waiter said it was delicious and it really was...the ice cream was homemade and really really good with huge pieces of bacon and still crisp...a little too much, we left stuffed...
someone had a great imagination when thinking of this menu...you don't see this very often at all...
a funny story (well I was sort of mortified) we were sat near the kitchen (this absolutely gorgeous long shining in between dark woods kitchen...) and all of this fantastic looking food kept coming out and every one would ooh and ahh over each passing of dishes...when I look around, this guy was bringing out a tall glass with something coming out of the glass and I said to Tim, "on my gosh that is beautiful, what dish is that???" he first looks all around to see what I am talking about and finally after much laughing and laughing says, "uhm Mom, that would be trash."
yeah embarrassing, you can't take me anywhere...
sorry Tim...
web link: http://www.saltedpigriverside.com/food-drink/ you have to check out this link to see the other menu offerings...the battered dates, with cream cheese bacon and honey looked devine...
they do have a children's menu and a Sunday brunch (how much do you want to bet their hash would be sooooooooooooooooooooooo good???) and they have daily specials as well...
this is so near the court houses that I'll bet they get a lot of judges and lawyers as customers...
your check comes in one of those little mini (your grandma had these) canning jelly jars, too cute...
isn't there something so wonderful about eating on brand new silverware and drinking from new glasses???
Sunday, February 13, 2011
paula deen's goulash
goulash...that is #5 of new recipes for the month of February...
this recipe is good and I will probably make it again...to the cooking hamburger, I also added crumbled italian sausage...hubby thinks when he sees anything resembling marinara sauce it is mandatory to add the sausage and I think it added some depth to the dish...
here is the link: http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/bobbys_goulash/...
when making this dish, I would not cook for the 30 min it says to after adding the macaroni and you also have to keep stirring it as it sticks very easily...
late note...this dish made terrific leftovers, expecially for the week that I was sick...
this recipe is good and I will probably make it again...to the cooking hamburger, I also added crumbled italian sausage...hubby thinks when he sees anything resembling marinara sauce it is mandatory to add the sausage and I think it added some depth to the dish...
here is the link: http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/bobbys_goulash/...
when making this dish, I would not cook for the 30 min it says to after adding the macaroni and you also have to keep stirring it as it sticks very easily...
late note...this dish made terrific leftovers, expecially for the week that I was sick...
Saturday, February 12, 2011
easy layered chicken bake
this is the title that Kraft Foods gave to this dish...I would call it delicious...so yummy...
easy layered chicken bake is day # four of new recipes for the month of February and I cannot believe that so far 4 out of 4 are winners...can I pick them or what???
here is the link to this fantastic recipe....http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/easy-layered-chicken-bake-75568.aspx...
I posted on facebook that from start to finish this recipe takes under one hour and you can use whatever leftovers you have on hand...this actually is how I came upon this recipe...I had leftover chicken and didn't know off hand what to do with it...
this recipe link had 4 versions of this dish...
the one I made is the amandine version...there is also a tex mex one, a bruschetta one and a mushroom and broccoli one...based on these 4 versions, I have already come up with a couple more different types...how about rice on top??? how about peas instead of green beans???
I took leftover cut up chicken breasts (I had made extra from when I did the chicken carbona) and layered it in baking pan...sprinkled some seasonings over the top, then layered green beans (I used frozen) and then 2 cans of cream of chicken soup (& 1 cup of milk)...on top of that, I put 2 boxes of stove top stuffing mixed with 3 cups of water on top and baked for 30 minutes...I then sprinkled mozzarella cheese on top and baked for a few more minutes...almost forgot to say, that in between the layers of soup and stuffing I sprinkled sliced almonds...
to me (& this is my opinion) this tastes like Thanksgiving all rolled into one dish...this recipe is definitely a keeper...my mouth kept wondering where the cranberry sauce was and the pumpkin pie???
I went to the Kraft web site and this has mixed reviews...but, one person rated it based on the fact that she used uncooked chicken (so make sure you use pre cooked chicken)...overall it had a 4 star rating out of 5...I am going to go rate it now...
so everyone in the family loved this dish and my son had a great idea to add some dried cranberries to the stuffing next time...
Friday, February 11, 2011
asian beef and noodles
asian beef, stir fry veggies and noodles that is what I made for dinner tonight...
day three of all new (to me) recipes that I am trying all month of February...this one definitely is a keeper, even tho it is just done and no one has even tried it yet...the smell??? OMGoodness, the smell was divine...Sam and I walked up to the shopping center and coming home, we could smell MY dinner all the way down the street...
ok, Sam is eating and said that she loves it and would want it again...
recipe is from http://stephaniecooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/crockpot-asian-beef-and-noodles.html and even she said that the dish does not picture well but, who cares how it looks when it tastes so so so good...
next time I might not add the veggies till closer to the end of cooking...
also made homemade wontons (well actually my little sous chef did) and it is a nice accompaniment to the dish...
I am so happy with all the dishes I have made so far and I am glad that I took this monumental task on...
day three of all new (to me) recipes that I am trying all month of February...this one definitely is a keeper, even tho it is just done and no one has even tried it yet...the smell??? OMGoodness, the smell was divine...Sam and I walked up to the shopping center and coming home, we could smell MY dinner all the way down the street...
ok, Sam is eating and said that she loves it and would want it again...
recipe is from http://stephaniecooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/crockpot-asian-beef-and-noodles.html and even she said that the dish does not picture well but, who cares how it looks when it tastes so so so good...
next time I might not add the veggies till closer to the end of cooking...
also made homemade wontons (well actually my little sous chef did) and it is a nice accompaniment to the dish...
I am so happy with all the dishes I have made so far and I am glad that I took this monumental task on...
Thursday, February 10, 2011
baked potato soup
day two of new recipes
baked potato soup...OMG oodness was this the best thing ever??
4 large baking potatoes
bacon
6tbs butter
1/2 cup flour
6 cups of milk
8 oz sour cream
1 cup of cheddar cheese
DIRECTIONS
1Pierce potatoes with fork; place on microwave-safe paper towel or roasting rack in microwave. Microwave on HIGH for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender, turning once halfway through cooking. Cool slightly.
2Meanwhile, cook bacon in Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp. Remove from Dutch oven; drain on paper towels. Crumble; set aside.
3In same Dutch oven, combine milk and flour; blend well. Cook over medium heat about 15 minutes or until bubbly and thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
4Cut cooked potatoes in half. Scoop out cooked potato from skins; place in medium bowl. Discard skins. Mash potatoes well.
5Add potatoes, bacon, 2 tablespoons of the onions, 1 cup of the cheese, salt and pepper to milk mixture. Cook and stir until cheese is melted. Add sour cream; cook and stir until soup is thoroughly heated.
6To serve, spoon soup into individual bowls. Sprinkle each with remaining onions and cheese.
1Pierce potatoes with fork; place on microwave-safe paper towel or roasting rack in microwave. Microwave on HIGH for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender, turning once halfway through cooking. Cool slightly.
2Meanwhile, cook bacon in Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp. Remove from Dutch oven; drain on paper towels. Crumble; set aside.
3In same Dutch oven, combine milk and flour; blend well. Cook over medium heat about 15 minutes or until bubbly and thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
4Cut cooked potatoes in half. Scoop out cooked potato from skins; place in medium bowl. Discard skins. Mash potatoes well.
5Add potatoes, bacon, 2 tablespoons of the onions, 1 cup of the cheese, salt and pepper to milk mixture. Cook and stir until cheese is melted. Add sour cream; cook and stir until soup is thoroughly heated.
6To serve, spoon soup into individual bowls. Sprinkle each with remaining onions and cheese.
I differed from the recipe slightly, in that I made a roux with the butter and flour and milk...
absolutely a keeper recipe...cannot wait to make it again and again...
recipe came from www.pillsbury.com
coupons for the month of February...
well, we went shopping kind of late in the month...I usually like to go the first couple of days of the month but, you know who (wink wink) is still feeling under the weather...we went on the 9th of the month...
and you already read that all this month I am trying new recipes...no usual recipes for me...oh no...all NEW recipes and I am trying more chicken and less beef...
so, all of this being said...I spent $325 on a month's worth of groceries and (drum roll) I saved
$20.24 in coupons...I am still happy but not quite as happy as last month's total...so far this year (2 month's worth) I have saved almost $50.00...that makes me proud...
it is very time consuming to make menus, research recipes, make grocery lists, research cooupons, print them, cut them out, etc etc...but, in the end $20.00 is $20.00 and if I can keep this up, it will potentially save us upwards of $300 or so in a year...isn't that amazing???
and you already read that all this month I am trying new recipes...no usual recipes for me...oh no...all NEW recipes and I am trying more chicken and less beef...
so, all of this being said...I spent $325 on a month's worth of groceries and (drum roll) I saved
$20.24 in coupons...I am still happy but not quite as happy as last month's total...so far this year (2 month's worth) I have saved almost $50.00...that makes me proud...
it is very time consuming to make menus, research recipes, make grocery lists, research cooupons, print them, cut them out, etc etc...but, in the end $20.00 is $20.00 and if I can keep this up, it will potentially save us upwards of $300 or so in a year...isn't that amazing???
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
chicken carbona
day one of new recipes....
OMGoodness...this was fantastic...if you have read my posts before, you know that I had never
tried a white sauce on pasta and now, I am addicted...
I made this for dinner...
http://valsocal.blogspot.com/2010/07/chicken-carbonara.html
and it was so so good...Tim and picky princess also liked it...
when I first read the recipe and it said to sprinkle some walnuts on top, I thought, nuts??? but they added such a dimension to the dish...I wanted nuts in every bite...
you have to try this dish...
OMGoodness...this was fantastic...if you have read my posts before, you know that I had never
tried a white sauce on pasta and now, I am addicted...
I made this for dinner...
http://valsocal.blogspot.com/2010/07/chicken-carbonara.html
and it was so so good...Tim and picky princess also liked it...
when I first read the recipe and it said to sprinkle some walnuts on top, I thought, nuts??? but they added such a dimension to the dish...I wanted nuts in every bite...
you have to try this dish...
Monday, February 7, 2011
back to cooking
since Tim and pretty princess are back from Tokyo, I am back to cooking...I went almost a week without...
so, last night, their first night back, I made appetizers; mini pizzas, mini corn dogs, cut up veggies, cheese taquitos, chicken nuggets, and homemade egg rolls...oh, don't forget the chips and dip...
Tims's first day back to work and he is very tired from jet lag so, made him baked chicken, macaroni salad, homemade bread, and broccoli...
tonight is bowling for me...
so, last night, their first night back, I made appetizers; mini pizzas, mini corn dogs, cut up veggies, cheese taquitos, chicken nuggets, and homemade egg rolls...oh, don't forget the chips and dip...
Tims's first day back to work and he is very tired from jet lag so, made him baked chicken, macaroni salad, homemade bread, and broccoli...
tonight is bowling for me...
Friday, February 4, 2011
german chocolate cake
since pretty princess and tim are still gone to Japan, I have not cooked...hey, why cook for just 2 when you are used to cooking for a lot more than that...I will be back to cooking on Sunday that is when they come back...
but, today I did make a german chocolate cake and 24 cupcakes for the birthday dinner at Elk's...guess everyone likes my baking as there was none to bring home...I made the 13x9 as a cake with chocolate frosting and the cupcakes were the chocolate cake part and then the coconut pecan frosting...
and forgot to take pics...
but, today I did make a german chocolate cake and 24 cupcakes for the birthday dinner at Elk's...guess everyone likes my baking as there was none to bring home...I made the 13x9 as a cake with chocolate frosting and the cupcakes were the chocolate cake part and then the coconut pecan frosting...
and forgot to take pics...
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