Sunday, February 26, 2012

Scentsy Party Success

I <3 Scentsy!!! I have been up since 8:30 today getting ready for my Scentsy party, it was my first home show. Let me tell you that I was very nervous!!! Not that I don't mind speaking in front of people, just that there is no script to base off of. I wasn't sure what to say, and while I was cooking and getting ready, I had to figure out what to say. I cook best when I am in my pj's I'm not sure why, but it is easier for me to let loose, and do what I need to do. I made many recipes today. All of which turned out well. Except for the Artichoke dip, that was just yucky, and I threw it in the trash.

I want to say thanks to everyone who came, and ordered, and Thank you to Mary Ann and Pat for doing book parties with me :D

Shrimp Crostini
Recipe Courtesy of Paula Dean

Servings 24 crostini
Cook time: 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup mayonnaise
5 cloves garlic, minced and divided
2 tablespoons minced green onion
1 tablespoon of black pepper
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons of minced fresh parsley leaves
24 medium fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
24 toasted french bread rounds
cherry tomatoes, halved for garnish
fresh parsley leaves, for garnish

Directions

In a small bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, 2 cloves garlic, green onion and pepper; set aside.
In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add remaining 3 cloves garlic and parsley. Add shrimp; cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until pink and firm. Do not overcook.
Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over French bread rounds. Top each with 1 shrimp. Garnish with tomato halves and parsley leaves. (I don't like the tomato, so I didn't use it).

Cheesy Baked Artichoke Dip
Yield; Makes about 2 2/3 cup

Ingredients
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (packed) grated Parmesan cheese (about 2 ounces)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sour cream
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
pinch of salt
2 14ounce can artichoke hearts packed in water, well drained, chopped into 1/4inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 cup Italian cheese blend
french-bread baguette slices, toasted

preparation
whisk 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, pepper, onion sald, and garlic powder in medium bowl to blend. Stir in chopped artichoke hearts. Transfer mixture to 3 cup ramekin.

Sprinkle dip with remaining 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, Italian cheese and paprika.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake dip until heated through, about 25 minutes (about 35 if chilled). Serve warm with toasted baguette slices.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

It takes one food, and my husband says; "Sweetie that was really good, your cooking has gotten better!"


The gyro you are looking at is not what I made, I should have photographed it, but that was an after thought. Anyways...allow me to tell you about my day. Got a passport today, and hopefully around May we will be on a Cruise to the Bahama's. (Well applied for one...) But when you go to get one you have to have your birth certificate, and I am beginning to think that I was hatched from an egg, because when I need that darn thing I can NEVER find it. After about an hour of looking for it, I finally found it on the bookshelf in my office, needles to say after it is sent back to me from the U.S. Government it is going in the same place I put Hubbies!!! (Did I mention that because I had to have my picture taken, that I have super cute Hair today that you can find on facebook? And My hair has gotten long, there is no way I'm cutting it this time around!!)

So let's get back to the food...did I mention that Rachael Ray is my food GURU? One day I would love to meet her and cook just one dish with her. Anyways, I get the Rachael Ray mag, (Actually my grandma gets it, or used to, and after she reads it and the food network mag, I take them..she lets me) and in it there are a ton of recipes. I found one for a gyro type thing, and let me tell you this is worth making and FOLLOWING the directions as they are listed!!! The first time I made this over the summer, I didn't drain the horseradish...it was so watered down that you couldn't eat it like a sandwich. So to make a long blog short...do what Rach says, read all the directions from start to finish!!!

Steak 'Em Up Pitas (Courtesy of Rachael Ray)

serves 4; prep 15 mins; Grill 15 mins
(The brazen kiss of horseradish wakes up a gorgeous filet Mignon draped in sweet grilled onions.)

1/4 cup 2% greek-style yogurt
2 tbsp. mayonnaise
2 tbsp. prepared horseradish, drained
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
EVOO, for brushing
2 onions, cut into 1/3 inch thick slices, rings left intact
salt and pepper
1 1/2 lbs filet Mignon ( I didn't have that so i used flank steak), cut crosswise into 4 even pieces
4 plain pitas
1 bunch spinach-stemmed, thoroughly washed and dried (last time it did not taste good with spinach, so we skipped it this time).

1. preheat a grill to medium. In a small bowl, mix together the yogurt, mayonnaise, horseradish and garlic.
2. Lightly brush EVOO on the onions. Place them, rings intact on the grill (if you have a grill topper, use it here). Season with salt and pepper, cover the grill and cook, carefully turning once, until softened and lightly charred, about 5 minutes; transfer to a bowl.
3. Pat the beef dry and brush with EVOO; season with salt and pepper. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before thinly slicing crosswise.
4. Grill the pitas, turning once, until just warmed through, but not crisp, about 1 minute. Slice off the top third of each pita and spread the insides with 2 generous tsp. of horseradish sauce, then stuff with the spinach, sliced meat and grilled onions. Finish with a dollop of remaining sauce and serve immediately.

Please enjoy and try, and tell me if you tried it and what you thought <3

I'm still not sure if I like Chili...


I have NEVER liked chili...I was the kid/am the adult that order's chili at "Wendy's" and picks out the meat and onions and eats only them. I'm not sure what it is about Chili that I don't like, other than I REALLY hate beans. But you can make Chili without beans.

Anyhow..Hubby has been bugging me about making Chili. My mom has always said that even though I don't like some of the things that he likes, I should make them for him any way. So I found a Chili recipe that I thought that I could eat or like, there isn't a ton of ingredients, and there is only one kind of bean, so I thought that I could stomach it. But, it is hard to make something that you don't like. I like to taste my food before I serve it. I usually get full when I do cook, because I sample all the way through. I listened to Anne Burell, from food network, when she said good cooks sample their food. But, I think that I need to be more like my cooking guru Rachael Ray, and just eyeball the things that I throw into the chili. Some things can use a little more, and some things a little less.

So, I made Chili. The night I made it, I did not like what I tasted. Hubby ate a bowl, like it was the best Chili that he had ever had. Yesterday, after it sat over night, and chilled, Hubby wanted another bowl. He made a bowl, and added some cheese, and I don't know what about it tasted good, but after it sat I liked it. I didn't eat a bowl, but I had some of his and it was good. We will see if I actually LIKE Chili...hahahaha

Game Day Chili (From Pillsbury Cookbook, that is totally Free online >.<)
Prep time: 30mins Start to finish: 2hours and 30minutes Servings: 8

2lb ground beef, chuck
1 medium onion, chopped
3 to 4 cloves garlic, chopped (I used three)
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons of ground cumin
1 to 2 teaspoons of ground red pepper (cayenne, I used one)
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 can (6oz) tomato paste
1 3/4 cups Progresso beef-flavored broth
1 bottle (12oz) dark beer (I used yungling)
3 cans (8oz each) tomato sauce
2 cans (15 oz each) pinto beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (4.5oz) Old El Paso chopped green chilies
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1. In a 5 to 6 quart Dutch Oven, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain (I cooked the the onion and garlic first, without the beef, I don't like that the grease and fat from the beef gets in the onion and garlic.)

2. Add chili powder, cumin, red pepper and paprika; cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste; cook 1 minute longer. Add remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cover; simmer 2 hours.

Let me know if you tried it and what you think <3

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Hosin Chocken Say what????

Alright now...In making this I really thought that I would become a better cook, and now I am beginning to feel a little defeated, like I really never knew how to cook in the first place. On a side note, I don't think that my "George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Grilling Machine" is getting hot enough. I had to burn my chicken in order for it to be done.

So...
Once Upon A Time, in a place called Radford Virginia, I was stuck there for a summer....in that summer I had no meal plan..and so I had to make and buy things on my own. I got a George Foreman grill, and in it was a cook book. My mom had come down to spend the week with me, and looked over this cook book. She wanted to try the recipe for Hoisin Chicken, and I agreed. It is very yummy!!! And so I decided that it was time to share with the Hubby!! He liked, it and now I am going to share it with you...

Hoisin-Glazed Chicken Thighs

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons prepared barbeque sauce
1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
1 green onion chopped
non-fat cooking spray

Remove any visible fat from the chicken. Place the thighs in a flat glass pan (I put mine in a plastic dish, with a lid and put in the fridge). Combine the hoisin sauce, barbeque sauce, Worcestershire sauce and green onion and pour over the thighs. Cover tightly and refrigerate for 1-12hours. Coat the grill with cooking spray and preheat for 5 minutes. Discard the marinade and grill the thighs for 5-7 minutes. Serves 4-6.

**I used breasts instead of thighs. I also poured a little of the marinade on the chicken while it was cooking.

Let me know if you try it and what you think <3

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Warning: Rated "B" for Bland



Did I mention that I love cookbooks? Even the ones that you buy in the super market? I love going through them and trying to find something to make that I think won't take a ton of time, and tastes really good. I bought a Pillsbury one (even though you can go to the website and get them for free... >.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Two Blogs in one night...at 2fer (not all about food) part b

This blog will be called "b." "B" is for Bad parenting and Bad eating habits (this one has to do a little with food, YES)!!!!

Today was a hectic day a work, people everywhere, buying everything, mix in Valentine's day and the "s" word and there you have it, ciaos in walmart!!!!

Dear Parents:

If your child is under the age of 5, they should be watched in a store. S*it, if your child is under the age of 18, watch your child. If your child is gone more than a second you should panic. You should not get pissed off, if an employee of that store happens to find your child. Count your blessings that it was an employee and not some child murder. In fact I am pretty angry at the way you acted today. I hope that all of your 11 kids are better parents than you are!!!

Signed: The Employee that is more worried about your child than you are!!!

Dear Parents of kids with no table manners:

Do you not teach your child the proper ways to consume food? I shouldn't have to sit in a restaurant, break room, or anywhere else and listen to your child eat their food. What happened to children should be seen and not heard? Noodles need to be twirled not slurped. You should also chew your damn gum with your mouth closed. Please tell your kids that they should chew their food and not swallow it before chewing it. Also to those people in the break room at Wally World, who don't pick up their crumbs or any other mess you make, I have a grudge against you. I don't want to put my arms down in your mess. I still have to go back to work after you are done making your mess. Please stop it. Please and thank you.

Signed: A very pissed off person, with food issues!!!!!

Two Blogs in one night...at 2fer (not all about food)

I have to do two blogs in one night because I had a good and bad day and I don't want to put the bad into a good one...so here is the good. I will call it "A" for Angel!

Not sure if it is a good blog, but it is a better blog. Today another Angel went to heaven. I didn't know Adam Jackson very well, I worked with him. But he was at Walmart mainly while I was at school. But the one summer that I worked with him, it was great getting to know him. Sara; if you are reading this, he was so sweet, and the things that he told me and the dreams that he had for the two of you were amazing, I really wish the two of you could have lived out this dream.

I'm not sure how to segway into this, so I will just go into it. Tonight when I was driving home I heard the new song by Miranda Lambert; "Over You." I have liked this song for some time, well since it came out. But, I had one of those moments. You know the one where you hear a song, but you haven't really listened to it until that day...well I was listening tonight, with tears in my eyes. I don't want to take away from anyone's grief, because I didn't know him that well and it would be selfish of me.

It just made me think about things that we take for granted in our lives. Someone at worked was making fun of me the other day, because I was talking about the kissing routine that Hubby and I have. No matter what time we wake up for work, we kiss good bye. Then before bed we always kiss, and then we kiss in the morning, even if we are going to be together all day. We try not to go to bed mad at each other, if we are having a disagreement. Because you really don't know when you are telling someone good bye, and you really don't know when you seeing or saying something to them for the last time. So I will leave this post with Lyrics from Miranda Lambert's song, I hope that you find some solace in your pain, and that the clouds will go away and a sunny day will come your way....

"Over You"

Weather man said it’s gonna snow
By now I should be used to the cold
Mid-February shouldn’t be so scary
It was only December
I still remember the presents, the tree, you and me

But you went away
How dare you?
I miss you
They say I’ll be OK
But I’m not going to ever get over you

Living alone here in this place
I think of you, and I’m not afraid
Your favorite records make me feel better
Cause you sing along
With every song
I know you didn’t mean to give them to me

But you went away
How dare you?
I miss you
They say I’ll be OK
But I’m not going to ever get over you

It really sinks in, you know, when I see it in stone

Cause you went away,
How dare you?
I miss you
They say I’ll be OK
But I’m not going to ever get over you

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Caution: This shit is hott!!! ***

Holy moley!! When they say spicy they mean hott!!!! So I got a Chinese Favorites cook book for Christmas, it is one of those books that you find near the magazines in the grocery store. I looked through it one day at the store and thought that I would make a salad in it (I still haven't yet). I found a spicy peanut noodle recipe, and being that I love PASTA!!, decided that I would make it. Well today I finally got around to it. Oh my gosh it is hot. Tastes good, but so hot!! My lips are tingling!!! There isn't much to tell, other than if you like spicy food you will love this!!!

Spicy Peanut Noodle Salad
1/3 cup FRENCH'S Honey Dijon Mustard
1/3 coup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium teriyaki sauce
2 tablespoons FRANK'S REDHOT sauce, or more to taste (don't add extra unless you like HOTT)
2 cups thinly sliced vegetables, such as green onions, snow peas, cucumber or bell peppers
4 ounces thin spaghetti, cooked and drained (11/2 cups cooked)

1. Combine mustard, chicken broth, peanut butter, teriyaki sauce and Frank's REDHOT sauce in a large bowl; wish until blended.

2. Add remaining ingredients; toss to coat. Serve immediately. If desired, serve on salad greens.

Let me know if you taste it!!!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Do not try this at home!!!


Some things just should be left in my brain and not cooked, or shared with others!!! It has been a long time since I made a recipe (okay about a week), Hubby has been getting home late, and I have been working weird hours; which leaves no time in the kitchen. But about a week ago I made something again, that hubby loved, and I hated. At work when I have to walk to Lawn and Garden, I pass the food section, there is really no way around it unless I go threw the back of the store and that takes a hell of a lot longer. So I have to pass the pasta isle. At the end of that isle where I pass, there are jars of Rague sauce, and one of them is a cheddar sauce. It looks so yummy and every time I pass it I just think about a hamburger. So the other day when I got off early I decided that I was going to make something with it, and here is what I came up with:

1 Jar of Rague Cheddar Sauce
1/2 lb of Hamburger
1 tomatoe
1 onion
2 pickle spears cut up
1/2 a head of lettuce
about a tablespoon of mustard
about a tablespoon of ketchup
and half a box a shell noodles

Fry hamburger until just slightly pink
Boil noodles until tender but not yet done
In a baking pan add shells, hamburger, tomatoes, onion, pickles, mustard, and ketchup. Cover with tin foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Then peal the foil back, and stir, your noodles are going to be crispy, but once you stir them, the sauce will make them soft again. Add the Lettuce and then bake again for a half hour. Stir again after taking out of the oven, and then serve.

I thought that this would taste like a baked hamburger, however...to me it just tasted like mustard and ketchup heated up. The smell of it even made me gag, I had to turn on all the air fresheners in the house. Oh it was bad. I don't recommend you trying this. But if you are like my Hubby, and will eat almost anything; then you should totally try it!!!!

Friday, February 3, 2012

Neither Cooking or Reciping Just Blogging


The girl that you see in this picture is completely me!!!! You are seeing everything about me in this picture minus three things...you can't see my feet that are wearing flip flops, you aren't seeing my doggies, and you don't see me how I dress five days a week (blue and Tan). I thought that I needed to show this picture. Cause you need to know more about who you follow!!! Why I went off on this random tangent I have no Idea, but that is usually what I do best.

The last blog that I left you I forgot to give you directions...they will take me sometime to write up, and I don't have enough time between work and getting ready for work to get them to you right now. But in time I will get them to you don't worry!!! Now I have to tell you a secret (that is not really one but you have to know!). I HATE doing the dishes!!!! If you come to my house and see dishes there is a reason, I wait as long as I can, to not do them. Without them getting yucky. I don't know why, but I have always hated this chore, I would rather clean toilets than do dishes!!!! It might have something to do with the many food issues that I have, that I am about this list for you, and is the true purpose of this blog. You might ask why are you going to all this trouble to learn about food and cooking, if you have this much trouble with food. Well I am trying to get over that, so that I can make more and more yummy things without worry....so here I go...

A. My food must not and will not touch each other (divided Plates)
B. I will not eat meat that is not cooked all the way threw, I would rather burn it than see pink
C. Do not hide things in my food, and not tell me and then expect that I will eat them
D. Wash your hands after you come from the rest room, and after touching your nose, if you don't I will not eat your food you have made me, and trust me I pay attention!
E. Don't touch my food with your hands even if they are clean unless I either give you permission, or I give it to you.
F. Don't be a Indian giver, and give food back to me.
G. Sometimes I make food that I don't want to eat, just cause I don't want to eat them doesn't mean that you shouldn't try it if I offer it to you.
H. Don't tell me that you don't like a restaurant or food, and then try to get me to eat it or there, I won't try it.
I. If I tell you that I don't like it don't make me eat it, I will get sick, that is just what I do.
J. Speaking of letter "C" if I ask you what is in something and you don't tell me, don't get offended if I don't eat it.
K. Don't be surprised if you take me out somewhere and I order something simple like chicken nuggets or a hamburger, I get nervous eating something different.
L. Also if you invite me to your house and make something that I wouldn't normally eat, don't get offended if I don't eat it
M. I often eat chips (more than often) because I know that I won't get a surprise and they taste good.
N. I won't eat eggs out, your house is counted as out, so don't make me eggs.
O. I won't eat meat without a condiment
P. In High school, I ate only a few things for lunch...A bowl of Pepperoni, Pizza, Stromboli, Chicken Nuggets, Salad and Fries, because I knew that there would be no surprises.
Q. If you try it and say it is good, I might try it.
R. I love Sushi (as picky as I am I do love it so)
S. I could eat Spanish food every day
T. Since having gallbladder surgery almost a year ago Feb, I don't eat spicy food, and something has been breaking me out, but I am not sure what yet.
U. I will try fruit, any of them, just tell me what it is
V. I hate Strawberries
W. Celery makes me gag, I hate it!
X. Cream Cheese is a good Additive for almost any thing
Y. Milk makes me sick
Z. Now that you know, I know you are still going to ask, just remember to not get offended when you find the answer!!!

That is all for now!!!!