Tasty Kitchen Casseroles

The boys making pizza casserole

            Call me a little slow on the uptake, but I have recently fallen in love with the Tasty Kitchen website, and have pretty much prepared nothing but Tasty Kitchen recipes for the past few weeks post this incredible discovery.  I recently prepared these two yummy casseroles and easy stromboli.  The first recipe for Buffalo Chicken Casserole I made with my brother Ethan in mind, and everyone who tried it that night loved it! 

            The second recipe for Pizza Casserole, was excellent as well, and was even better because I was running late from a high school volleyball game I was watching the cheerleaders at, and CHRIS MADE THIS ONE HIMSELF!  With Clancy’s help, of course.  It was yummy as leftovers, and I ate it for a few days and didn’t get sick of it!

            The third recipe, isn’t technically a casserole, but I didn’t exactly know how to classify it, it baked in the oven, and of course, came from the Tasty Kitchen site.  It is a recipe for Stromboli and was so easy and very delicious!  Give any of these a try soon!

Slainte!

Buffalo Chicken Casserole:

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/buffalo-chicken-casserole/

Pizza Casserole:

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/pizza-casserole-4/

Easy Stromboli:

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/easy-stromboli/

Enjoy!

Mooooooo

            Like any good farm girl would, it is now time to follow up the delectable desserts post, with some beautiful beef.  All of these recipes are delicious and different in their own way.  If you are looking for a hearty dinner, I suggest you give one of these red meat varieties a try soon! 

Slainte!

Beef Stroganoff:

Recipe:

-2 lbs. stew beef, cubed

-salt and pepper to taste

-2 10 ¾ oz. cans cream of mushroom soup

-3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

-3 oz. pkg cream cheese, cubed

-16 oz. container sour cream

-cooked rice or noodles

Preparation:

Place beef in slow cooker; sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Pour soup over top; add Worcestershire sauce.  Cover and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours.  Stir in cream cheese and sour cream 30 minutes before serving.  Serve over rice or noodles.

Steak with Skillet Tomatoes:

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/steak-skillet-tomatoes-00000000060107/index.html

Salisbury Steaks:

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/mome28099s-salisbury-steak/

Enjoy!

Delectable Desserts

            I think that I have mentioned before that rather than having a sweet tooth, I seem to have sweet teeth.  With that said, I would highly recommend any of the following desserts, and feel this is an excellent place to start with recipe sharing week.  The blackberry cobbler that I made did not turn out the best as it was a little runny.  However, it was super tasty, and was great once it made it to your mouth.  The s’mores cookie bars might possibly be my new favorite dessert, and I seriously can’t wait to make them again.  The cinnamon sugar cookies were also delicious, and I loved topping them with the candy corn.  I agree with Buddy the Elf, candy corns are certainly one of the four main food groups…

Slainte!

Blackberry Cobbler Recipe & Preparation:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/08/the_great_cobbl/

S’mores Cookie Bars Recipe & Preparation:

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/se28099mores-cookie-bars/

Cinnamon Sugar Cookies Recipe & Preparation:

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/cinnamon-sugar-cookies/

Enjoy!

HELP!

For example, I could write about how this guy is snoring next to me as I type this post... 

            I’m assuming that many of you have noticed that my posting recently has been anything but regular.  Well friends, now it’s time for me to come clean.  The dirty truth?  I am just feeling really stuck with where the blog is right now.  I have been thinking about this for some time, and just really don’t know what to do.  While I have grown to love cooking, and many of you have expressed to me that you enjoy the recipes that I share, I am just fresh out of words and ways to describe the meals we try each week.  This is the reason I currently have 30 or so recipes that I could potentially share with you, and I don’t because all I could really say is this was good, or we didn’t quite like this, etc.  I just feel that I have been there said that, and it makes posting tedious.

            So here is where I am at, and what I am thinking.  I would like to create a new site altogether where I share not only my recipes, but random musings from my everyday life which includes much more than cooking.  Now, I by no means think that I am especially interesting, but feel that my life involves so much more than the meals that I make and would like to write about other facets of my life such as family, friends, marriage, marathons, and puppy parenthood, along with many other numerous things, of course.

            With that said, here is where I open things up to suggestions.  This new plan would require coming up with a new site name, and that is where I am stuck.  I just haven’t fallen in love with anything I have come up with, and am very open to your ideas.  Mostly, I would like to get my name out of it if possible.  I would also enjoy feedback as to whether or not you think this is a good idea, or if I should just shut up and stop blogging all together.

            In the meantime, my plan is as follows: I will share all of my recipes that need to be shared with you by category.  This will be easiest to do, and might be nice to see a bunch of beef dishes together, etc.  Hope you enjoy them, and I look forward to your feedback on this pending change.

Slainte!

Mrs. McQ

Peachy Keen

     Happy Labor Day Everyone!  I hope that you are all relaxing and enjoying the day.  I don't know about you, but I am so incredibly grateful for this extra day to the weekend to catch up and get everything done.  Life seems to be flying by at super speed these days!  I have noticed the first trees beginning to turn, and am welcoming fall with open arms this year.
     Yesterday, I had the time to swing by a farmer's market near my home which is hailed for its plethora of fresh produce, and it was nothing short of spectacular!  The vegetables were so gorgeous, I nearly cried that my camera was at home rather than hanging from my neck, ready to capture the vast array of colors in all their glory.
     The other problem I encountered, was that after Saturday's football game, I found myself with very little spending cash.  Does anyone else seem to have the problem of cash flying from their wallet?  Seriously, I cannot be trusted with cash!  So, due to lack of funds, I had to be especially picky as to what I purchased at the market.  Not to worry, however, my little money went a long way as I landed these delicious peaches!  They.were.so.good!  I had one this morning, and slightly felt like I was 4 years old again the way the juices were running down my face.  Is there really any better way to start a day off than that?  Hope your labor day is equally juicy!

Slainte!

Fettuccine Alfredo with Broccoli

Attention all carb lovers!  If you are looking for a quick and easy carb fix, feast your eyes on this simple recipe for Fettuccine Alfredo with Broccoli.  This meal is simple and delicious and will surely satisfy those secret cravings of yours.  Although this can traditionally be somewhat of a heavy dish, the fact that this variation does not include meat, and instead substitutes broccoli, makes it a little lighter for these summer months.  Give this one a try now, and trust me, you will thank me later!

Slainte!

For recipe and preparation instructions check out the following link:

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/low-fat-fettuccine-alfredo-10000000663085/index.html

Enjoy!

Zesty Chicken Enchiladas

I am curious to know from all of you new home cooks out there if you have ever had an experience in which you took stock in what you have achieved and thought to yourself, "I got this!"  Well friends, I am excited to report that I recently had such an experience, which I will now share with you.  What happened is this:

Coming into the kitchen to prepare a meal, I typically set the table before I get started, and then try to lay out the ingredients to make sure everything is ready to go and that I don't find myself in some kind of bind once I get going.  On this day, I methodically followed step one of setting the table, but must have been just feeling it and decided to just start working through the ingredients on an as-needed basis.  So, as I was working on this new recipe for zesty chicken enchiladas, I realized that I had omitted many key ingredients from my grocery list either because I thought that I had them or deemed them unimportant to the overall success of the dish.

So there I was, sans many important ingredients with a decision to make.  Do I keep going and see what I can come up with off the cuff with the ingredients I do have? OR, Do I toss what I have done so far into the garbage and drive to the nearest fast food restaurant and salvage this thing?  Well friends, I chose to be brave and go for it, and you know what?  It turned out awesome, if I may say so myself!  Thus, at the end of this I felt more proud of myself than I think I ever have as I successfully paired ingredients to come up with something as close to the original recipe as possible and it ACTUALLY WORKED! 

Now, because I don't even remember how exactly I managed to make this turn out, I will give you only the original recipe, my blessing and words of encouragement that you too can change recipes to make them your own!

Slainte!

For recipe and preparation instructions, click on the following link!

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/zesty-chicken-enchiladas-00000000012498/index.html

Enjoy!

PW Pasta with Pancetta and Leeks

            Hello Everyone!  So sorry for the sporadic blogging these past few weeks.  I have been feeling like I would like to take the blog in somewhat of a different direction, but haven't yet decided what I would like for that to look like.  Anyway, once I do arrive at this, I will be sure to keep you posted!  In the meantime, I have a yummy Pioneer Woman recipe to share with you.  You know how I love all things Pioneer Woman!

             This magnificient recipe for pasta with pancetta and leeks was found in the "Cowgirl Food" section, and did not disappoint.  In fact, I think that I am salivating as I think about it.  I was that good.  It's the kind of dish that makes you thankful for your pyrex dishes that you can use to store the leftovers in so there is more delicious goodness for the next day!  If you love carbohydrates in the form of delicious pasta, I beg you, give this recipe a try soon!  I would even recommend taking up running, as I have, as an excuse to consume more of said carbs.  Just an idea...

Slainte!

For recipe and preparation instructions, click on the following link!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/07/pasta-with-pancetta-and-leeks/

Enjoy!

Meatball Subs

Yes, I had already taken a bite when I took this photo...couldn't wait!

            As I mentioned before, one day a week I get to go into work a little later, which results in getting home later.  This means that there is less (and sometimes even no) time to do any meal prep.  On these evenings, my slow cooker is my BFF.  Last night was no exception, as I left work, drove to Clancy’s doggie daycare (yes, I have become that kind of dog owner-but only on the day I work late), and as my furry son and I traveled home, I could hardly hear myself think over the grumble of my stomach.

            Lucky for me, I am type A enough to have already prepared a quick simple meal in my slow cooker that was just waiting for me when I got home.  This meal of Meatball Subs, came from my Superfast Slow Cooking cookbook, and literally involved me chopping up an onion, thawing out some meatballs, putting them in the slow cooker, and covering with spaghetti sauce.  So easy!

            If you are pressed for time, or just love a good meatball sub, make this one immediately.  Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!  I think that kids would really like this one as well, as it is yummy and just messy enough for their liking.

Slainte!

Recipe:

-40 frozen meatballs, thawed

-26 oz jar pasta sauce

-1 onion, chopped

-6 hoagie buns, split and toasted

-6 slices Muenster cheese

Preparation:

-Combine meatballs, pasta sauce and onion in a slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low setting for 4-6 hours.  Place meatballs in toasted hoagie buns and top with cheese.  Broil to melt cheese, if desired (I was too hungry for this step).  Makes 6 sandwiches.

Enjoy!

PW Milky Way Cake!

            There really isn’t much about this next recipe for Milky Way Cake that the Pioneer Woman leaves unsaid about it in her post.  The main thing I remember about her description of it is that this cake is ridiculous.  After preparing it myself, I thought, “Amen Sister, this might in fact be the most ridiculous cake I have ever prepared or allowed my taste buds to enjoy.”

            I mean this cake’s ingredients, are like 10, 000 milky ways and 5, 000 sticks of butter.  Does it get any more ridiculous/wonderful than that?  I don’t think so.  In fact, I feel that we are at times entitled to a little ridiculousness in our lives.  Ridiculousness in moderation, of course. 

            So if you find yourself with a little time on your hands for preparing and enjoying a ridiculous cake this weekend, I would encourage you to give this one a try.  If you share it with others, as I did, prepare yourself to chuckle when people ask you about the ingredients.  I found that a smile with a simple “you don’t want to know” did the trick nicely. 

Slainte!

For recipe and preparation instructions, check out the Pioneer Woman’s site:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/05/milky-way-cake/

Enjoy!

            

Delicious Dip!

            If you were to ask my husband, “What is your wife’s number one sneaky snack?”  He would answer without hesitation, “Chips!”  Seriously, it’s a problem,  I have tried to convince the hubby of the existence of a chip monster in our home, but he wont buy it.  Rats.  So here I am, coming clean about my addiction. 

            This affinity I have for chips is only magnified when I come across a good dip to sink them into.  Well friends, I have found over the years that summer is the perfect time to scavenge for other’s tried and true dip recipes, and this summer has been no exception as I recently discovered a real gem.

            About a month ago, we were visiting my in-laws friends cabin (confused yet) when their friend, Dee, brought over this delicious corn dip.  After giving it a try, I immediately located Dee, and asked her to please pass on this recipe.  She reported that she received this recipe from a friend, and so on it goes.  Before we left for the evening, she walked over to her cabin and brought me a pre-printed copy of the recipe!  Does it get any better than that?

            Knowing I had hit the jackpot, I couldn’t wait to make this dip.  It was so easy and yummy and I am pumped to now be passing it along to you.  I implore you, try this for your next gathering soon!

Slainte!

Recipe:

-1 small 7 oz. can of Mexicorn

-1 cup mayo (regular not lite)

-1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

-1 Jalapeno pepper, cut up finely

Preparation:

-Mix ingredients into a smaller baking dish.  Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. 

*This recipe doesn’t make much, so please consider doubling it!

Enjoy!

Dinner Disaster

With my new job, one exciting thing is that I go in one day of the week later than the others, and as a result I stay at work later on that day. I have found this to be a day that I look forward to, as I get more done around the house in the morning and then try to prepare a crock pot or other slow cooking dish for dinner so that it is ready when I get home at night.  So, each week as I do my meal planning I keep an eye out for something great to try.  As you all know well by now, I often find myself checking out the Pioneer Woman's site for delicious recipes and a good laugh as I love her sense of humor.  Have I mentioned my secret desire to befriend the Pioneer Woman?  I am confident we would get along, maybe even become instant besties. Anyway, so I was scrolling through her site and found the most delicious looking recipe for pork sandwiches with cilantro-jalapeno slaw

and knew that I MUST TRY THESE SOON.  I immediately added this to my meal plan, put it together on my morning off, headed to work, and then proceeded to slip into daydreams about how wonderful dinner would be, and how much more deeply in love Chris would fall with me when the sandwhiches hit his lips...

 

Suffice it to say, that my day went along well until I received a text from my wonderful hubby around 7pm asking me what he should do with the meat in the oven.  My heart sank.  Surely I had told him to take it out at 5pm!  Well folks, I hadn't told my husband, and he hadn't asked, and what we were left with was a ruined stock pot, a charred pork like substance solidified to the pan, a smoke filled kitchen, and a lingering odor of burnt nastiness that seemed to plague us for days.  The life lesson here?  Always make a note to your significant other as to what to do with the meal you lovingly prepared for them!

Did I mention that when we got home from Chipotle we noticed the buns were moldy?!

 

I suppose you are wondering how I managed to salvage this dinner and mask my disappointment at not getting to eat what looked like the best sandwhiches ever?  Well folks, I drowned my sorrows in a delicious calorie packed Chipotle burrito!  I really think it was just what we needed to turn the night around.  In the meantime, a valuable lesson was learned, and I achieved what is my most memorable mishap to date.

 

Slainte!

 

To see the sandwhiches I was attempting to make check out the link below:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/pork-sandwiches-with-cilantro-jalapeno-slaw/

 

Enjoy!

Mmm...empty burrito bowl container...

Pizza Paradise!

            About a month ago, we were prepping for a 50-mile bike ride benefit for our dear friend, Emily, who is battling breast cancer.  Because the ride was taking place early in the morning in Remsen, IA, we decided to spend the night before with our wonderful friends Nolan and Emmy.  I don’t know about you guys, but I hate that life gets so busy that visits with good friends become sparser than I would like.  So, when the opportunity comes to spend time with friends like these, I can’t wait!

            We arrived at Nolan and Emmy’s home in time for dinner, and boy were we in for a treat!  Emmy is always preparing something fabulous, and this was no exception.  After the initial bite of this homemade pizza, the first thing out of my mouth is “Can you send me the recipe for this?”  I knew I had to share it with all of you, and my intuition told me that I would be craving it within 24 hours.

            So, when I finally made it myself, I was thrilled to find how easy it was, and it was just as delicious the second time around.  If you love a delicious homemade pizza, PLEASE make this for yourself soon!

Slainte!

Pesto Recipe:

-2 cups fresh basil

-3 tablespoons pine nuts

-1/2 cup olive oil

- 3 cloves garlic

-1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

Pesto Prep:

-Add garlic to the food processor, and mince.  Add basil, pine nuts, and salt/pepper.  While processor is running, slowly add olive oil.  Stop processor, then stir in the cheese.

Pizza Recipe:

-Pillsbury thin pizza crust

-shredded chicken

-red onion

-green peppers

-tomatoes

-fresh mozzarella

-basil leaves

Pizza Prep:

Pre-bake the crust according to package directions.  Spread the pesto over the crust, and add the above toppings to the top of the pesto.  Finish with a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and salt, and thinly shredded fresh basil leaves. Bake until the mozzarella is melted.

Enjoy!

Simple Summer Salad

            Being the good Midwesterner’s that we are, Chris and I tend to value a hearty evening meal.  Because of this, I would say that we typically view salads as “lunch fare” or a side dish.  So, when I saw this recipe in the August 2011 issue of Real Simple Magazine for Grilled Chicken and Corn Salad with Avocado and Parmesan, I felt confident that this salad might have what it takes to make me a supper salad convert.

            Boy was I right!  It was tasty and filling, and the blend of flavors was delicious!  The overall prep time was very minimal, and was super easy on me as I enlisted the help of my favorite grill master.  I was very pleased with the sweet corn we picked up at a stand near our neighborhood, as it tasted quite a bit like the corn we get from my parents, which is a rare find in my opinion. 

            The homemade dressing served with this salad is light and lemony, and of course easy to prepare.  The blend of flavors simply sings of summer!  Give this one a try soon, you won’t be disappointed!

Slainte!

Recipe:

-1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

-2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary

-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

-4 tablespoons olive oil

-Kosher salt and black pepper

-2 6 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

-3 ears of corn, shucked

-5 ounces baby spinach (about 5 cups)

-1 avocado, cut into bite size pieces

-2 ounces Parmesan, shaved

Preparation:

-Heat grill to medium high.  In a medium bowl, whish together the lemon juice, rosemary, garlic, 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper.  Transfer half the dressing to a small bowl; set aside.  Add the chicken to the remaining dressing and turn to coat.

-Rub the corn with the remaining tablespoon of oil and season with ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.  Grill the corn and chicken, covered, turning occasionally, until the corn is tender and lightly charred, 4 to 6 minutes, and the chicken is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.  Cut the kernels off the cobs and slice the chicken.

-Toss the spinach, chicken, corn, and avocado with the reserved dressing and sprinkle with the Parmesan.

Enjoy!

*Remember: Always Kiss the Cook!

Summer!

            Hello everyone!  This probably goes without saying, but life has been CRAZY around here.  To me, summer is always the most wonderful season, and this one has been no exception.  This explains how I have managed to be MIA for the past two months.  While I have been toying around with different ideas for the blog, and trying to decide the best way to keep it moving forward, I can absolutely assure you that I have continued to prepare a wide variety of meals and can’t wait to share them with you!

            I am hopeful that you are all enjoying a fabulous summer, and that you are finding creative ways to beat the heat.  Because it seems like forever since you have heard from me, I will conclude with a brief summary of what I have been doing instead of blogging this summer.  Let’s see, I have: finished the school year, attended numerous weddings and celebrations, started taking yoga classes, learned how to knit, taught two choreography camps for local cheer and dance squads, took my high school cheerleaders to camp, gone to the lake, quit my job, started a new job, ran in some 10k and 5k races, played with my puppy, had a wisdom tooth extracted, spent time with friends and family, went on a 50 mile benefit bike ride (I only made it 37 miles), chopped off my hair, hosted the 2^nd annual 4^th of July bash at my home, and celebrated my first anniversary!  Whew…crazy!

            So, in summary, things have been crazy but are settling down.  I can’t wait to share my most recent masterpieces and mishaps with you!

Slainte!

Best Lasagna Ever!

            On to round two of recipes that I stole from my little sis.  When I was scrolling through her blog roll, and saw this same subject line that I am now sharing with you, I will admit that I was a little suspicious.  How could this possibly be the “best lasagna ever?”  Isn’t that maybe going a bit too far?  Deciding I would never know unless I gave it a try for myself, I went out and got the ingredients to give it a go!

            The one downfall that I will share with you about this recipe, is that it was way more ingredients than I typically use in the dishes I prepare.  I wasn’t upset at all about more involved preparation the increased ingredients led to, but Chris was getting a little antsy when I kept tossing ingredients in the cart and responding to his question of “what dish is that for? “ with the response, “don’t worry about it, it is for the best lasagna ever.”  I figured if I was wrong, I could let him take it up with Brooke!

            With that said about the plethora of ingredients, we will just say I was starting to feel the pressure of preparing a wonderful dish.  The verdict?  She was right!  This just might be the most delicious lasagna I have/will ever taste!!  Chris was also absolutely beside himself with joy as it seemed he offered up a compliment after each bite!

            So, if you are wanting to test this one out and see if you are in agreement that this is the best.lasagna.ever, I would encourage you to try it out soon!  Be sure to keep me posted with the results!

Slainte!

Recipe and Preparation:

http://brookethefamilycook.blogspot.com/2011/04/best-lasagna-ever.html

Enjoy!

Notice the adorable puppy sleeping on the floor :)

Spaghetti Salad

            This last weekend, I finally made a virtual stop by my sister Brooke’s blog.  If you have not checked her out yet, I highly recommend that you do!  I spent what felt like an eternity going through her entries and eating up (not literally though I wish I was) her fun family recipes and kid friendly dishes.  It had been a bit since I had last went through it thoroughly and I was so impressed! 

            I was working on my own meal plan for the week, and stole 3 ideas from her!  Being the younger sister, she always jokes that she copies me.  I shot her a text telling her all of the meals that I was going to try of hers and joked, “Who is the copy cat now?!”

            This first recipe, is a recipe that I first remember trying when my Aunt Deb would serve it at the Pioneer Seed Corn supper every year.  The taste of the dish takes me back to my youth almost like no other.  My mom often makes this one as well, and it was just what I needed to take to my friend’s barbeque that weekend! 

            The other fun thing about this dish that reminds me of family, is that I chose to make it a day after Chris and I brought home our puppy!  Chris had to swing by his work, and I really needed to get the dish made, so I laughed at myself thinking that rather than “sleep when the baby is sleeping” I needed to “cook when the puppy is sleeping!”  Do you think I can officially coin that phrase?  Anyway, in this season of barbeques and pot lucks, I strongly encourage you to give this dish a try.  And of course, stop by my sister’s blog and check out her yummy recipes!

Slainte!

Recipe and Preparation:

http://brookethefamilycook.blogspot.com/2011/03/spaghetti-salad.html

Enjoy!

Herb Garden!

Since the time this photo was taken, Chris has made me these adorable little labels using sticks shaved down with the name of the herb written in permanent marker...so cute!

    

            This year, after making the commitment to prepare more meals at home and improve my skills as a home cook, I have began to realize that I blow through herbs like it is my part time job.  Being a lover of home and garden stores, early this spring, I started scheming with Chris as to what would be the best plan for growing our own herbs.  Because I know that I would one day like to have a full vegetable garden, but also realize that I do not have the time for such an undertaking now, I knew I needed to start small.

            We went back and forth between wanting to do a container garden or disguise our herbs amongst our other plants and flowers.  Ultimately, after much debate (and many trips to Home Depot), we decided a container garden would be best for this first year.  So, we purchased 5 pots (3 bigger and 2 smaller) and just purchased 5 different started herbs.  We settled on basil, cilantro, parsley, sage, and rosemary, as these are what I find myself using most frequently.

            So far, this has been an excellent decision, and it makes me feel like a culinary champion when I go out to the deck to cut the herbs for that evening’s dish.  I would almost recommend doing this solely for that feeling, as it’s quite exquisite!  If only I could feel that “masterful” everywhere I go!

            Please let me know if you or someone you know has a successful herb garden or larger vegetable garden.  Like I mentioned, I am hopeful that one day I will be able to expand mine to a full-fledged vegetable garden so all ideas are welcome and appreciated!

Slainte!

Orange you gonna give these delicious skewers a try?!

            With the weather here in Nebraska keeping us guessing whether or not summer is actually upon us, I guarantee that if you give this delicious meal a try, you just might feel like you are enjoying a meal in the middle of June!  I found this recipe for grilled chicken and orange skewers in the May 2011 issue of Real Simple Magazine.  While I was preparing it, Chris’s interest was certainly piqued as he saw me stringing the kabobs together.  “Is that chicken AND oranges?” He asked, turning away thinking something to the effect of “what is she attempting now?”

            Because that cutie husband of mine also happens to be the resident grill master in our home, he was in charge of grilling the skewers after I finished the preparation.  From start to finish the meal took no more than 45 minutes to prepare, and the end result was fantastic!  I myself would have never mixed the oranges, onions, and chicken on the skewers, but the combination was absolutely delicious! 

            If you, like me, have had a husband who has been cooped up and away from his sacred grilling post all winter, I would highly recommend that you try this one soon.  After all, we know that you will really be the one doing the meal preparation, but sometimes I think guys secretly want to lend a helping hand, especially if it involves a little smoke and fire!

Slainte!

Recipe:

-1 ¼ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (6 to 7), cut into 1 ½ inch pieces

-1 small red onion, cut into 1 ½ inch pieces

-1 navel orange, cut into 16 pieces

-1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for the grill

-1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

-kosher salt and black pepper

Preparation:

*I use metal skewers, but if you use wooden ones, do the following:

-Soak 8 small wooden skewers in water for at least 15 minutes

-In a large bowl, toss the chicken, onion, and orange with the oil, cumin, cayenne, ¾ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper; thread onto the skewers.  Heat grill or grill pan to medium, lightly oil the grate and grill the skewers, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and the onion is just tender, 15 to 18 minutes.

Rib-Eye Steaks with Whiskey Cream Sauce

            If you have ever met my husband, Chris, you would know after reading the title of this post that there are two reasons he would be all about this dish.  Steak and whiskey.  In fact, those two things might just rank right up there with his wife!  So, when I suggested we try this dish from my friend the Pioneer Woman, he was game.  However, when I was preparing it a few days after and asked for him to go grab me some whiskey, he thought we needed to have a talk.

            After assuring him that I have not taken to drinking whiskey while cooking, he obliged and brought me up a bottle.  Handing it to me with care, he said something to the effect of, “this better be good.”  He was handing over to me one of his most prized possessions after all!

            So, after an easy prep, it was judgment day.  Would this dish be worth the whiskey? Er…wait?  Well friends, I am pleased to say it was!  We both enjoyed it thoroughly, and it just had a really unique taste that we both loved.  If you have a whiskey-loving, carnivorous husband like I do (or if you are a whiskey-loving carnivorous individual yourself) I would recommend you give this one a try soon!

Slainte!

Recipe:

-5 tablespoons butter

-3 tablespoons diced onion

-1/4 cup whiskey

-1/4 cup beef stock or beef broth

-Dash of salt

-Freshly ground black pepper

-1/4 cup light cream

-2 rib-eye steaks

Preparation:

-Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat in a small skillet.  Add the onion and cook until brown, about 4 minutes.

-When the onion is brown, turn off the heat for a moment so you won’t catch fire!  Pour in the whiskey.

-As soon as the whiskey evaporates, turn the burner on medium and pour in the beef stock or broth.  Add salt and freshly ground black pepper.  Add another tablespoon butter. 

-Allow the mixture to bubble for 30 seconds, then reduce the heat to low.  Over low heat, pour in the cream.  Whisk, adding more cream if the mixture looks too brothy.  Allow to simmer on very low heat while you prepare the steaks.  Stir occasionally.

-Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Generously salt and pepper the steak on both sides, then add it to the hot skillet.

-For medium rare, cook for to minutes on each side for a thin steak, or 3 to 4 minutes on each side for a thick steak.  Place the steak on a plate and spoon the sauce over the steak!!

*Also, we enjoyed this steak with a great red wine my parents brought us from Napa Valley…I recommend you do the same!

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to ME!

            

            Hello everyone!  I’m sure many of you are wondering, “What does it take to get a blog update out of this girl?”  Well friends, the answer seems to be that it takes a day off and some free time, which have been, sadly, very rare recently.  However, because today is my BIRTHDAY, I decided to treat myself, take the day off, and do the things I enjoy most. 

            So, today I have been getting things done at home, running errands, and even made myself a delicious carrot cake!  I found the recipe for my birthday carrot cake on the Pioneer Woman’s website.  After I found it last week, I couldn’t wait to give it a try!  I didn’t really care what I accomplished today, but just knew that I must make time to make that cake!

            The recipe and preparation are super easy, and the result is very tasty.  I will say that it is not super “carrot-y” which I was a little disappointed about, but overall it was a great recipe and I will likely use it again as I LOVE carrot cake.  Now, this morning I baked in my robe (which was fun), but I also need to mention here that I received an incredible gift from my friend Sota (her real name is Amy, but I refuse to call her that) as she sent me a gorgeous apron that she sewed herself!!  It was such a beautiful, thoughtful, and unexpected birthday surprise that I nearly started crying when the UPS man delivered it to me!

            

         This beautiful apron reminds me that I have been blessed beyond measure in my 26 years to encounter so many wonderful people and call them my friends.  Each birthday I try to count my blessings and recall the past year I have been blessed to live.  This past year has taught me a lot about life, love, and loss and I am looking forward to the year ahead.  One think I can guarantee is that there will be more delicious recipes to come!  Hopefully I can just get my poop in a group so they can come to you faster!

Slainte!!