Archive for April, 2011

Both my daughter and I watched THE wedding this AM.

There was no way I (or she) could stay up all night, so we recorded it.

My little princess was so excited to see a real live princess get married. She (my princess) woke up early, got her fancy clothes and jewelry on. Did her make up and hair and was ready to watch.

Me….I just watched in my PJs.

We both agreed that it was the most beautiful, classy weddings ever. Both Princess’ looked incredible.

Did you get a chance to watch? Did you stay up to watch?

I am a huge pasta lover.

I dont discriminate. I love it in all shapes and sizes.

But I must confesss……I have never, not ever, cooked with Orzo. It has scared me….intimidated me…..made me eat gallons of ice cream at a time.

Ok maybe I can’t blame that last one on the pasta.

I decided one day while at the store to put on my big girl pants, man up and take that little guy on.

I have no idea why I was so frightened of this little thing. I love it. It cooks faster (which helps with my impatience) and its smaller so you can shovel more in your mouth.

I feel so good about my self….I can take on the world!

This is a fantastic side to the Chicken Puri Puri

Creamy Garlic and Cheese Orzo

Ingredients

• 1 box ( 16oz) Orzo
• 8 Tbsp butter
• 6-8 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp pepper
• ½ container Cooking crème cheese
• 1 cup sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded
• ¼ cup scallions

Directions

1. Cook pasta (orzo) in a large pot of salted boiling water. Cook about 8-9 min, just until al dente.
2. In a large pan melt butter. Add garlic, salt and pepper; cook about 1 min (just until softened). Add cooked pasta. Fold in cooking crème. Once incorporated, add cheese; simmer and continue to stir until melted.
3. Add scallions and gently stir.
4. Serve warm.

I got my first blog award!!!!

“Holla, What What!!” (as my 4 year old says)

And the best part is, it is from one of my most favoritest blogs!!!!

Not only is Angie over at Kneady Sweetie the giver of this awesome-ness, but she is a genius in the kitchen. Please, please, please check her out….and her blog

Thanks Angie!!!

On to the rules……

Now I have to share 7 things about muah……..

1. My idea of a perfect day is hermit-ing at the house (staying home). BBQ, booze..I mean ice tea and water, pool, and good TV is all I need. I am a simple girl.
2. I love to watch hockey and MMA. Thats it….I get WAY to board with other sports.
3. I absolutely HATE to work out. I come up with every excuse imaginable to not work out….unless it is boxing. I love to box. (wow 2 and 3 make me sound violent)
4. My husband and I met on a blind date (I tried to back out of it…long story), got engaged 1 month later and got married 6 moths later…..and are still together (9 years)
5. I would love a basset hound puppy, and am working on the hubby everyday for one. If anyone wants to send me one I wont be mad. I would name him Frank or Charlie.
6. I am a clean freak!!! If you come to my house, you will most likely find me following behind you cleaning. I am so Monica from Friends (with the vacuum cleaner for the vacuum cleaner). Drives my family crazy
7. I have the best Mom and sister out there! The three of us have been thru a lot together. Love you guys.
8. Since 7 was more of a shout out, Ill give you one more. I hate to shop but love new things. I hate crowds and on-line shopping makes me tired.

There you have it….now you personally know me

Here are 15 other blogs that I am OBSESSED with….I check these blogs out daily…sometimes twice…I am a bit of a stalker….j/k no restraining orders please

1. The Farmers Wife
2. In Katrina’s Kitchen
3. Diet Hood
4. Como Water
5. Ravie Nom Noms
6. Stephs Bite by Bite
7. Bake at 350
8. Flour Dusted
9. Our Eyes Eat First
10. How Sweet it is
11. Wilde in the Kitchen
12. Our Best Bites
13. Deelicious Sweets
14. Gingerbread Bagels
15. 1 Fine Cookie

There are sooooo many more that I stalk visit. My family thinks my computer is glued to me sometimes

When I heard that Steph over at Stephsbitebybite.com was hosting a bake sale for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I knew I had to get involved.

I admire Steph not only for raising money for a great cause, but she is running in the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon. I can barely get up the gumption to run to the mail box . Running a marathon is defiantly on my bucket list.

The reason I so desperately wanted to get involved with this particular bake sale is, a short few months back my husbands incredibly sweet and beautiful aunt died from Leukemia. She was far to young.

She is desperately missed and thought of everyday.

So I have decided to donate some of my goods….baked that is

Make them

Malinda wasn’t much of a sweets person (she had much better will power than I), but when she did indulge she enjoyed lemon cookies, ginger snaps and red velvet cake.

Bake them

I too am a red velvet cake lover. So I made these little guys….Red Velvet Cookie Muffins w/ Brown sugar cream cheese icing….hello starchy pants, how u doin?

Frost Them

I hope I did her proud and I hope you enjoy.

Please, Please Please check out Steph’s site and donate to this wonderful bake sale (Friday, May 13th)

***Please remember to also check out Baking and Cooking, A tale of two loves Bake Sale benefitting Relay for life, May 2nd. I will be donating my Oreo Sugar Cookies.

Both are incredible causes.

Red Velvet Muffin Cookies

Adapted from How Sweet Eats

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon red food coloring
• 1 Tbsp Almond milk (regular will work fine too)
• ½ pkg Oreo Cookies, crushed into fine crumbs
• 1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• ¾ cup Brown Sugar
• ¼ cup (½ stick) butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375. Liberally grease and flour (or use paper liners) a mini muffin tin.
2. Cream butter and sugars together until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and combine until smooth.
3. Beat in red food coloring. Stir in cocoa, flour, baking soda and salt until just combined.
4. In the bowl of a food processor combine Oreo cookie crumb and ½ (4oz) cream cheese until well combine
5. Using a medium (1.5 Tbsp) cookie scoop, scoop out cookie dough into each cup of the mini muffin pan. Gently form up the sides creating a depression.
6. Take some of that Oreo goodness and scoop about 1 -1 ½ teaspoonfuls into the cookie dough cup.
7. Take a small amount of cookie dough and place on top and pinch together
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove and let cool.
9. For frosting, combine remaining cream cheese (4 oz), brown sugar, ¼ cup butter, vanilla and cinnamon. Once fully combine, add in powdered sugar ½ cup at a time.
10. Put in a gallon sized Ziploc bag, cut off the one of the corners and frost cooled cookie muffins.

This is what makes me happy…. (other than my family, of course )

Cake batter Ice Cream w/ Sprinkles of course!

Everything is going to be ok…..at least until it is gone

What makes you happy?

*Please remember to check out Baking and Cooking, A tale of two loves Bake Sale benefitting Relay for life, May 2nd. I will be donating my Oreo Sugar Cookies.

This came from staying up ALL night while the dear hubby was on a business trip.

I just cant seem to sleep with him not here. Thank goodness for coffee and energy drinks. I consumed 3 the other day….don’t judge….ok judge.

I wanted to make something special for when he came home.

As I rummaged thru my fridge looking at the nothingness I had to make his favorite meal, I began to just toss stuff in the food processor.

The flavor is out of control. He gobbled it up, asking for more. (sadly I had no more ). The kiddos even loved it.

Piri Piri Chicken

Ingredients

• 2 lemons, zested and juiced
• 6 cloves garlic
• 2 red peppers, roughly chopped
• 3 serrano chili peppers, seeded
• 1 bunch flat leaf parsley
• ½ bunch cilantro
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ancho chili powder
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• ½-1 cup olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 chicken breasts

Directions

1. In the bowl of a food processor, process lemon zest, juice, garlic, red peppers, chili peppers, parsley, cilantro, paprika, chili powder and vinegar. (you may need to process in the middle of adding ingredients to make room).
2. While processor is on and running drizzle in olive oil. Start with ½ a cup. Add more to desired consistency (I only needed ½ cup)
3. Remove and reserve about 1 cup.
4. In a gallon size Ziploc bag add chicken and remaining processed sauce.
5. Stick in fridge for 1 hour (overnight for best results).
6. Remove chicken ½ before cooking. Turn grill on to medium-high heat.
7. Place chicken on grill. Cook 15 min, turn cook 15 min more (or until done).
8. Serve with reserved sauce.

Because I know you haven’t had enough eggs the last few days, here is away to have some more

Im not really an egg person, per se, but I am very much a finger foods, pot sticker, dipper person.

I love things you can pop in your mouth and continue to do dishes….or surf the web. ( I typically do the latter)

Even the cooking challenged can do this….(shout out to Jamie…you can do this )

Three easy steps:

1) Make your scrambled eggs.

2) Fill your pot stickers and seal

3)Cook

4) Eat

Ok sorry four easy steps.

MMMMmmmmm…..looks tasty huh?

Serve with some buffalo sauce or sriracha chili sauce.

Breakfast Potstickers

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• ¼ cup bacon, crumbled
• 1 Tbsp milk
• ¾ cup cheese
• 16 wonton wrappers
• ¼ cup water
• 1 Tbsp oil

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, scramble eggs, bacon, milk and ½ cup of cheese. Pour into a heated pan. Cook over medium-high heat until done, about 3-4 min.
2. Take 1 wonton wrapper and place 1 tsp of cheese in center. Add 1 Tbsp of scrambled egg mix. Wet sides of wrapper, bring together and seal.
3. In a large sauce pan, over medium-high heat, add water and oil. Place potstickers in. Cover and cook about 2 min. Remove cover and continue to cook until all water is gone and potstickers begin to turn golden (about 5 min).
4. Serve warm with buffalo sauce or sarache chili sauce. Makes about 16.

Happy Easter all!!!

Hope you find all the eggs. It is never fun finding them a few months/years later

OMG!!!!!!!!

Once I found this frosting recipe I knew exactly what I was going to do with it…..eat it….oh and make something for you!

So, I made a batch of frosting for me…and a second one for these.

The hubby doesn’t understand how I can eat a whole batch of frosting and still be “testing it”. But I am sure you understand.

After inhaling these you can run around like a crazy person from the sugar rush. Or at least I tell people it is because of the sugar rush

Snickerdoodle

From How Sweet Eats

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¼  cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla
• ½ tsp almond extract
• 1 ¾ cups flour
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp coconut milk (if you don’t like coconut milk, can’t find it or just don’t want to, regular milk works too)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth.
3. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well until combine.
4. Mix in flour, baking powder, salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix until dough comes together.
5. Add in milk. If dough is crumbly, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until it comes together.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
7. Once cooled fill with frosting (if you have any left )

Brown Sugar Buttercream

From Always with Butter

Ingredients

• 1½ sticks of butter, softened
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3 Tbsp heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla

Directions

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer cream butter and brown sugar together.
2. Add cinnamon and powdered sugar (1 cup at a time so you don’t end up in a huge dust cloud).
3. Add milk and vanilla.
4. EAT!!!! Or frost if you must

It is snack time!!!!

Now I don’t completely understand the whole chicken and waffles thing….but I sure understand Ice cream and waffles!

What do you like to snack on?