I think I got a dose of radiation today.
I was your-crowaving (as my son used to call microwaving) some broccoli, I opened the microwave....and it was still going!!!! So now, my machine I use every day for everything from morning oatmeal to aftter-dinner brownies is b r o k e n.
My dh says that it's only a $6 switch, but...we'll see how this turns out.
Wondermom
Jan 15 on Jan 16, 2011---Rotisserie Chicken (and if it's smokin' it's cookin', if it's burnin' it's done!)
I made a list of restaurant foods I miss, and want to recreate, and put Boston Market haphazardly in the middle. Unfortunately/fortunately for me, our closest market is quite a bit of a jaunt down the road (like 25 mins), so I really had to want it to acquire it. But now, the jaunt is a few hundred days away.
We've had a rotisserie for years, a beast of a machine that was definitely required a few lessons in order to operate it, especially operate it without filling our house with smoke-alarm-induced squeals. I don't even know if they make Oster rotisseries anymore, but this one
is pretty similar (except ours is about 9 years older, not a Black and Decker and not digital, but besides that it's exactly the same---HA!).
I used a rosemary/sea salt rub on the skin (added great flavor to the birdy), but there are more recipes to be tried!
Wondermom
We've had a rotisserie for years, a beast of a machine that was definitely required a few lessons in order to operate it, especially operate it without filling our house with smoke-alarm-induced squeals. I don't even know if they make Oster rotisseries anymore, but this one
is pretty similar (except ours is about 9 years older, not a Black and Decker and not digital, but besides that it's exactly the same---HA!). I used a rosemary/sea salt rub on the skin (added great flavor to the birdy), but there are more recipes to be tried!
- Line the bottom tray with foil---it's a nasty mess that can just be tossed.
- Be sure to tie down your birdy's phelanges appropriately. If he flops around his little bits can scorch on the heating coils.
Wondermom
Jan 14, 2011---Hot Pastrami Day (and making friends everywhere you go)
So, today is hot pastrami day. I'm not sure who supports the meat industry better than my family, so I took it upon myself to inform my local deli counter worker of this all-important holiday. It's nice to know that I have a guaranteed audience every time I visit my grocery store, as they are all about service, so we had a nice long chat about pastrami versus corned beef and subsequently a conversation about collusion and the egg-market. I was really interested in if I am going to see a reduction in my egg bill any time soon, or if my grocery store is going to just pocket the money. Needless to say, if you're feeling lonely, or want to discuss local news, visit your deli counter.
On the notion of meat, I was presented with an opportunity today to help a blogger---I haven't met, nor do I know anything more than the following.
1) She's entered some sort of a contest with hillshire farms
2) She's going to do something good-will-oriented with her winnings
3) I get a coupon for voting for her? $2 bucks worth to be exact.
So in the time that it's taken you to read this, go visit here, then follow the link, vote for her and get coupons. Every processed-meat lovin' person is happy.
Wondermom
On the notion of meat, I was presented with an opportunity today to help a blogger---I haven't met, nor do I know anything more than the following.
1) She's entered some sort of a contest with hillshire farms
2) She's going to do something good-will-oriented with her winnings
3) I get a coupon for voting for her? $2 bucks worth to be exact.
So in the time that it's taken you to read this, go visit here, then follow the link, vote for her and get coupons. Every processed-meat lovin' person is happy.
Wondermom
Jan 13, 2011---Days all off, but what's new?
So yesterday officially was curried chicken day, so how did our little eating-in household celebrate? With deep dish pizza, of course! Apparently I got my days confused, and made the MOST AWESOME deep dish pizza (most awesome mostly because 1) it was my first attempt EVER and 2) it was more than edible;)
I used an iron skillet (which we rarely use---mostly for camping and things on the grill). It wasn't the lightest meal, so I paired it with some spinach salad and some peaches.
The End Product......
I will say that I probably won't make this on a school night again, as it was time intensive when my children were being....intense. It was literally a miracle that dinner was done at 6, and on any other night of the last year I would have just said "whatever" and gotten take-out. But, I'm holding strong!
I used this recipe (http://www.food.com/recipe/pizzeria-uno-chicago-deep-dish-pizza-205279) except I altered it slightly (due to what I had and recipe recommendations from the feedback). I used only 3 1/2 cup flour (and I used bread flour), and I didn't use basil, but canned tomatoes with basil already in it, and
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning (mine was salt-free).
Tonight we're having crock pot curried chicken, as to help with the time in the kitchen at inopportune times.
On a side note, today is Peach Melba Day, so those of you participating, oh Happy Day to you!
A well-fed Wondermom
Jan 11, 2011---Milk Day continued...Yogurt Promo
The dairy industry wants us to get our calcium! I love it when I get things for free:) So, it's a win-win when we get offers for free yogurt! Got to http://www.yoplait.com/calcium and Yoplait will send you a coupon for a free yogurt!
Happy Milk Day!
Wondermom
Jan 11, 2011---Breakfast Smoothie
So, what do you do when you find berries on sale? Or do you ever venture out to a patch and come back with oodles of berries? Or do you grow your own? I don't grow my own berries, but a few times of a year I find myself with a plethora of berries so I freeze them. I started out by just freezing blueberries. I had grandiose ideas every June to pick blueberries with my darling children and didn't know what to do with the extras after making everything blueberry, so I just froze them. No cookie sheet and no additional muss or fuss, I just threw them in the freezer (ok, they were still in a bag not loosey goosey traipsing around the freezer). Then I started freezing other berries and bananas (with the skin). And now, in the dead of winter, I can have smoothies with berries! My kids lap them up for the sweet (but healthy) treats they are!
Here's my Oh-So-Simple Smoothie Recipe. It takes 5 mins (or less) and uses one of my favorite love/hate appliances, the blender (the one in the pic is pretty sleek---maybe Santa will bring it to me next Christmas!)
1. Berries---anything ya got
2. Bananas
3. 1 container yogurt
4. Water
Prepare berries (wash 'em if you need to) and prepare banana (u n p e a l). Put berries in blender. Add water. Put on ice pulse function to chop 'em up a little. When smooth enough to blend and not kill your blender motor, add banana and yogurt. Insto presto breakfast o.
Add whole grain english muffin, toasted with peanut butter and banana slices for a yummy and quick, fast, and wholesome breakfast.
(ok, these have some leftover Cool Whip from the Heath Pie dolloped on top).
Here's my Oh-So-Simple Smoothie Recipe. It takes 5 mins (or less) and uses one of my favorite love/hate appliances, the blender (the one in the pic is pretty sleek---maybe Santa will bring it to me next Christmas!)
1. Berries---anything ya got
2. Bananas
3. 1 container yogurt
4. Water
Prepare berries (wash 'em if you need to) and prepare banana (u n p e a l). Put berries in blender. Add water. Put on ice pulse function to chop 'em up a little. When smooth enough to blend and not kill your blender motor, add banana and yogurt. Insto presto breakfast o.
Add whole grain english muffin, toasted with peanut butter and banana slices for a yummy and quick, fast, and wholesome breakfast.
Jan 11, 2011---Milk Day continued...Milk Promo
So check this out!
http://www.whymilk.com/pouronemore/
Enter to win free milk for a year, and if you don't win, then you get runner-up prize....of a coupon! I got a coupon for a free half gallon of chocolate milk with any gallon purchase. No problem! We drink 4 gallons of milk/week in this house!
http://www.whymilk.com/pouronemore/
Enter to win free milk for a year, and if you don't win, then you get runner-up prize....of a coupon! I got a coupon for a free half gallon of chocolate milk with any gallon purchase. No problem! We drink 4 gallons of milk/week in this house!
Jan 11, 2011---Milk Day
of hot chocolate chip cookies, I am going to use milk to soak my shrimp tonight. As I don't live on the coast, I use this technique to make the shrimp taste fresher. Soak for an hour before cooking and ...voila! I'm finding that eating in isn't such a chore when I cook mah-velous food...and my family doesn't complain! I cook for a picky crowd sometimes and it's disheartening when I hear growns; it makes me growl! So enjoy it how you take it, because it does the body good---pass it on!
Wondermom
Jan 10--National Bittersweet Chocolate Day (and other gifts from God)
So, today is bittersweet chocolate day. In honor of one of God's greatest gifts, I'd like to submit a haiku, for your pleasure.
Beautiful in every which way, just like deep, dark, rich chocolate. Chocolate truly is a matter of taste. In this life of ours, there are :the few, and the disturbed, who do not like chocolate, the unfortunate souls who are allergic to chocolate, those who are distinctly dark chocolate lovers and then there are milk chocolate aficionados. Like a part of our personality, it is a marker that sticks with us like a tattoo.
If you haven't figured out which chocolate you are, just know that dark chocolate has awesome health benefits (Google flavinoids).
I made this goody for a baby-shower. It's actually Rice Krispie treats (the bottom layer is peanut-butter, the top is white-chocolate (the fake chocolate) and raspberry). The bottom layer is covered with a dark-chocolate ganache and the top layer is toped with white and dark chocolate swirls.
love my lovely heart
dark chocolaty blissful treat
fill my saddened soul
Beautiful in every which way, just like deep, dark, rich chocolate. Chocolate truly is a matter of taste. In this life of ours, there are :the few, and the disturbed, who do not like chocolate, the unfortunate souls who are allergic to chocolate, those who are distinctly dark chocolate lovers and then there are milk chocolate aficionados. Like a part of our personality, it is a marker that sticks with us like a tattoo.
If you haven't figured out which chocolate you are, just know that dark chocolate has awesome health benefits (Google flavinoids).
I made this goody for a baby-shower. It's actually Rice Krispie treats (the bottom layer is peanut-butter, the top is white-chocolate (the fake chocolate) and raspberry). The bottom layer is covered with a dark-chocolate ganache and the top layer is toped with white and dark chocolate swirls.
So today, whether you curl up with the movie Chocolat
, or open a a big old box of Godiva Chocolates
, just know that it is a delicious treat...to be shared!
, or open a a big old box of Godiva Chocolates, just know that it is a delicious treat...to be shared!So, which chocolate team do you root for?
Wondermom
Jan 9---Leftovers on a lazy wintry Sunday
Winter is here...again. Apparantly it never left, but rather it took a siesta. We've been having milder weather here until this morning when we awoke to a dusting on the rooftops of snow. Of course my beautiful children declared it was time to make a snowman (even though there was all of 2 cm of the white stuff).
On that note, I'm going to take cues from Father Winter and eat on the bounty from last night's dinner.
I used beef from Sat night's dinner for half of the meal and chicken for the other half. I basically made the following...also known as my distorted representation of Mexican food. A few things to note about my cooking. #1 Casserole generally equals some sort of addition of "cream-of" soup. #2 I'm a lazy cook and want food done quickly as to reduce the crazy-level in my house---so I will do as little as I can as quickly as I can, but of course I expect an awesome product. I know there is a flaw in my reasoning somewhere. #3 I also try to use as few ingredients as possible---less to measure, less to prepare, less to buy?!??!;)
Mexi-Casserole
3/4 bag fresh Spinach
5 cloves garlic (microwave for 30 sec with skin on, remove from microwave, remove skin, and slice in half)
1 1/2 lb chicken
4 tortillas
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 c cheese
cream sauce
1/2 can cream of chicken soup
4 oz brick of cream cheese
1 tsp powdered garlic
1 can milk (i.e. use the cream of chicken soup can....twice)
1. heat olive oil and garlic in a med-hi skillet
2. add chicken and brown
3. when chicken is done, add spinach. cover skillet with lid and let spinach soften (it's like 1 min)
4. shred in food processor (or chop with knife )
5. for sauce stir all until creamy on med-hi heat
6. put two tortillas on the bottom of a 9x11 casserole dish, add 1/2 of chicken/spinach mixture sprinkle cheese, add two more tortillas, more chicken/spinach mixture, more cheese, cover with sauce generously.
For the beef version I actually used a chopped jalapeno, sauteed it, added the beef (it was about 1 1/2 c med-rare/med), warmed the beef in the skillet, added a recipe of the cheese sauce, and about 1 cup rice. I proceeded to make two layers of casserole.
Ta da.
Wondermom
On that note, I'm going to take cues from Father Winter and eat on the bounty from last night's dinner.
I used beef from Sat night's dinner for half of the meal and chicken for the other half. I basically made the following...also known as my distorted representation of Mexican food. A few things to note about my cooking. #1 Casserole generally equals some sort of addition of "cream-of" soup. #2 I'm a lazy cook and want food done quickly as to reduce the crazy-level in my house---so I will do as little as I can as quickly as I can, but of course I expect an awesome product. I know there is a flaw in my reasoning somewhere. #3 I also try to use as few ingredients as possible---less to measure, less to prepare, less to buy?!??!;)
Mexi-Casserole
3/4 bag fresh Spinach
5 cloves garlic (microwave for 30 sec with skin on, remove from microwave, remove skin, and slice in half)
1 1/2 lb chicken
4 tortillas
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 c cheese
cream sauce
1/2 can cream of chicken soup
4 oz brick of cream cheese
1 tsp powdered garlic
1 can milk (i.e. use the cream of chicken soup can....twice)
1. heat olive oil and garlic in a med-hi skillet
2. add chicken and brown
3. when chicken is done, add spinach. cover skillet with lid and let spinach soften (it's like 1 min)
4. shred in food processor (or chop with knife )
5. for sauce stir all until creamy on med-hi heat
6. put two tortillas on the bottom of a 9x11 casserole dish, add 1/2 of chicken/spinach mixture sprinkle cheese, add two more tortillas, more chicken/spinach mixture, more cheese, cover with sauce generously.
For the beef version I actually used a chopped jalapeno, sauteed it, added the beef (it was about 1 1/2 c med-rare/med), warmed the beef in the skillet, added a recipe of the cheese sauce, and about 1 cup rice. I proceeded to make two layers of casserole.
Ta da.
Wondermom
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