Addicted to my Kitchen

2010-08-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

So...yeah...

I am about to have a baby here in the next few days, and I will openly admit the only thing I've cooked has come in a box or a can for the last few weeks. Anyone who gets pregnant in November/early December -- beware! Being 9 months pregnant in the Summer is DREADFUL!

I have also made a move over to Wordpress, and while I have not posted many recipes there, there are plans to hopefully add a recipe section once I get around to it. I love, love, LOVE baking in the Fall, so hopefully I will be settled enough and motivated to get things rolling on the new blog then.

For now, enjoy the other blog by clicking here and I hope to be moving recipes over there from here in the near future.

If you are looking for some great food sites, try these:

Pioneer Woman
My Baking Addiction
Brown Eyed Baker

I know, I know...

2010-04-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

Believe me, I have missed this blog. It's hard keeping up with this blog, and a family blog, and you know, actual life. I have pictures of so many things I've made in the kitchen, but have not been able to find the time to post anything.

I guess I can blame the child growing inside of me, as he continues to lure me to the couch every afternoon for a looooong nap.

I certainly hope I can find some motivation soon...please keep checking in! Don't leave me!

FAIL

2010-02-04T14:19:00.001-08:00

Cupcake FAIL. Birthday FAIL. Mom FAIL.

Note to self: Use Non-stick Spray ALWAYS.

An Ode to Hard Times

2010-02-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

Hard Times is not quite a local restaurant, but I think they began their journey somewhere in Virginia. I didn't hear about them until 2 summers ago, when my husband and I were celebrating our 5th Anniversary...alone! My mom and dad had taken my then 2 and 1 year old girls for a week so we could get away for a little bit.
We had 2 days at home before we headed to our vacation destination of Charleston, SC so we decided we would dine out and see lots of movies -- 2 of the hardest things to do as parents.

The first night, my husband asked if I wanted to try out Hard Times. He had been there a few times before with some friends and raved about their chili mac. Me, not so much. Remember how picky I am? Well, the thought of picking out beans and onion chunks from chili was not exactly how I wanted to spend our first night out alone. But, after much convincing, I gave in.

Hard Times quickly became the place we took pretty much everyone who came to visit us for the next year and a half. We were there a LOT. You simply could not beat their awesome chili-mac, plus they brewed their own root beer and it was AMAZING. My standby was the 3 way Texas Chili Mac with a grilled cheese (best bread ever!) and a root beer or 5.

Of course, as our luck would have it, Hard Times in our little town closed it's doors last Spring. I was devastated and immediately went online looking for their other locations and plotting how we could stop there on our way to...well, anywhere within an hour of where we were traveling to. Luckily there are still a few locations not far from my hometown, we just have never had the chance to go.

So, this past weekend, I caved. I HAD TO HAVE SOME CHILI MAC AND A ROOT BEER. Granted, I am pregnant, so I'm sure I would have survived if I didn't get some, but try telling that to my hormones.

On a grocery store visit, I bought some ground beef, a packet of chili seasoning mix, and some shredded cheddar. When the kids went to bed Friday night, I went to town and made my "Ode to Hard Times" 3 way Chili Mac.

Basically, I just browned the ground beef, added in the seasoning packet along with just some of the pasta water, and let it simmer while my noodles cooked up. I piled the meat high on my naked noodles, threw some shredded cheddar on top, and cracked open a bottle of root beer.

Of course, it wasn't the same, but it was pretty darn good!

Keeping it Real...

2010-01-30T14:27:00.001-08:00

Recipe Coming Soon...

2010-01-21T15:09:00.000-08:00

Homemade Granola Bars

2010-01-05T11:15:00.001-08:00

Well, I think we have a new house favorite. Ironically enough, I decided to make granola bars after spending close to $300 at BJ's on all kinds of odds and ends -- including a box containing about 75 granola bars. I think we are now up to our ears in granola, but they are good and they are good for you so bring it on, granola bars!

And I promise, they are very easy to make and don't require a lot of exotic ingredients or time. You can also add or take out pretty much any ingredient you'd like. For instance, this recipe called for wheat germ. I didn't have any, so I added in flax seed instead. I got no complaints! Try them today!

Homemade Granola Bars
adapted from Ina Garten

2 cups oats
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup toasted flax seed
3 T. unsalted butter
2/3 cup honey
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 t. pure vanilla extract
1/4 t. kosher salt
3/4 cup raisins

Preheat the oven to 350.
Toss together the oats, almonds, and flax seed on a large baking sheet.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Reduce oven temp to 300.
In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt.
Bring to a boil over medium heat.
Cook and stir for a minute, then pour into oat mixture.
Add the raisins and stir well.
Pour the mixture into an 8x12 baking dish lined with parchment paper.
With slightly wet fingers, press mixture down evenly into pan.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until light golden brown.
Cool for 2-3 hours before cutting into squares.
Serve at room temperature.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Scones

2009-12-14T12:24:00.000-08:00

So, whoever (whomever?) said scones are like biscuits was lying. Don't get me wrong, biscuits are cool and everything, but scones are da bomb! Being the chocolate lover that I am, I especially love these chocolate chip scones. They are sweet, but not too sweet that you feel sick if you eat one for breakfast. They are the absolute best companion to coffee or hot chocolate, too! Make them today - you won't be sorry!

Before I give you the recipe, I will tell you that I use a food processor to make my scones. Usually any time a recipe calls for cold butter (scones and pie crusts mostly), I use my food processor because it just divides the butter so much better than anything I have tried, plus it's super quick and, if you recall, I have 3 small children so anything I can get done quicker is sweet!

Chocolate Chip Scones

2 cups flour
3 T. sugar
1 T. baking powder
6 T. cold butter
1/2 cup + 2 T. half and half or heavy cream (milk would work, too)
1 egg
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 400.
Put your flour, sugar, and baking powder in the food processor and pulse a few times.
Cube up the butter and add that to the processor. Pulse for about 20 seconds, until smooth.
Measure out 1/2 cup of the half and half, and crack the egg into the measuring cup.
Pour wet mixture into food processor while pulsing, until dough forms.
Throw in chocolate chips and pulse a few times until they are distributed.

Roll dough out onto a floured surface and shape into a rough circle, maybe an inch thick.
Slice into 8 tri-angular slices and arrange on a cookie sheet so that no edges touch
Take a pastry brush and brush the tops of each scone with the 2 T. half and half.
Bake for 15 or so minutes, until browned. Let cool.
Drizzle with powdered sugar icing (2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2T milk - add milk by the T. until you get desired consistency). I like mine thick!

Enjoy!

Bran Muffins!

2009-12-09T12:15:00.000-08:00

Bran Muffins make a light but hearty breakfast. Or a light, hearty snack anytime of the day. Just ask my husband because whenever I make these, they disappear throughout the day and the night! They are super easy to make and you can easily add anything to them, like raisins or nuts. These are best enjoyed (in my house) plain, though!

Bran Muffins

1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1T. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups Original All Bran Cereal
1 1/4 cups fat free milk
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Mix the cereal and milk in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
Go back to the cereal and milk, and add in the egg and vegetable oil.
Slowly incorporate the dry mixture into the wet mixture.
Scoop into muffin tins (makes 12 jumbo muffins)
Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Leftover Central - Cranberry Bars!

2009-12-01T10:53:00.000-08:00

We had my folks down for Thanksgiving this year, and even though I made my wonderful and very easy REAL cranberry sauce, they ate from the can. Sigh. Parents...what are we going to do with them? Well, luckily they only ate about a teaspoon of it each, so Thanksgiving night I found myself online looking for something to make with leftover cranberry sauce. There were lots of options, and I opted for something sweet! So if you find yourself with leftover cranberry sauce, try these!

Cranberry Bars

1 cup flour
1 cup oats
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup cranberry sauce

Combine all ingredients except the cranberry sauce in a bowl and stir until mixture resembles crumbs.

Reserve 1 cup of the crumb mixture and press the rest into the bottom of an 8 inch square baking pan.

Evenly spread the cranberry sauce over the pressed crumb mixture. *

Crumble reserved 1 cup of crumbs evenly over the spread cranberry. Pat gently.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, until it is golden brown.

Let cool, and cut into bars. Keep stored in the refrigerator. :)

*note: my canned cranberry needed a quick stir in a separate bowl to become spreadable

My Thanksgiving Meal, a diagram...

2009-11-30T17:32:00.000-08:00

After my poor oven spent nearly 8 hours straight on no lower than 325, the result was an incredible meal, the juiciest bird with the crispiest skin, and even a few new sides!

Over the next few days, I hope to be sharing with you what I am doing with our leftovers. Alas, my parents took home the entire bird so there will be no turkey soup, but that's OK since I'd be the only one eating it. I will say, the Corn and Wild Rice dish from The Pioneer Woman was a huge hit with my vegetarian husband. He just finished off the last of it tonight so I know I'll be making it again soon.

See you soon!

Happy Turkey Day!

2009-11-25T16:09:00.000-08:00

Hope your turkey doesn't burn!!

After several years of deep frying turkey and having it come out looking and tasting like cardboard, I am delighted to be cooking my Butterball in my oven this year!

Have a safe and joyful Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving-palooza!

2009-11-23T17:52:00.000-08:00

OK, as promised, here are 2 of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes. First up, Stuffing! I don't actually put this in the bird, but you most certainly can! Next, a very simple and yummy cranberry sauce. Repeat to yourself, "I do not need the canned stuff. I do NOT need the canned stuff."

FYI: T. = Tablespoon and t. = teaspoon

Thanksgiving Stuffing

12 cups of cubed white bread
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
6 T. butter
1 t. rubbed sage
1 t. dried thyme
1 t. salt
1/2 t. ground pepper
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 pound cooked sausage, drained

In a 400 degree oven, toast bread cubes 5-7 minutes, or until barely golden

In a large skillet, melt butter and cook onion and celery over medium heat for 3 minutes or until softened. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and add bread cubes, sausage, herbs, salt, pepper, and broth*. Toss well.

Transfer to a baking dish and bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes until heated through and a crust forms on top.

*This year, since my wonderful and sweet husband no longer eats meat, I will be substituting vegetable broth. I am positive it will not alter the taste, as I have substituted vegetable broth several times in other recipes and it has tasted wonderful. I will also be omitting the sausage for his serving, obviously. It'll still be yummy!

Cranberry Sauce

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 cups cranberries

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.

Boil rapidly for 5 minutes, then add the cranberries. Return to boiling, then reduce heat.

Boil gently 3-4 minutes (skins will pop on the cranberries).

Remove from heat and serve warm or chilled.

See? Easy Peasy! Try it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before I go, I wanted to share that I will be trying a new recipe this year. For as long as I can remember, my Thanksgiving meal has consisted of the same things, and while they are all yummy, it was time to add another vegetable dish that my main squeeze can enjoy too! So, I am giving The Pioneer Woman's Fresh Corn with Wild Rice. Let me know what you think if you've had it or are trying it this year, too!

National Bundt Cake Day!

2009-11-17T13:45:00.001-08:00

Apparently November 15th is National Bundt Cake Day...who knew? I was a few days late, but decided today was as good a day as any to celebrate.

I made this bundt cake, a chocolate peanut butter one. Follow her instructions, cause that's what I did! It did take a while and definitely used up a lot of my mixing bowls, but I think it'll be worth it. Here is the chocolate ganashe recipe I used for the top. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving!!

2009-11-16T17:10:00.000-08:00

OK, so I am going to admit that I just today (November 16) realized that Thanksgiving is NEXT week! Whoops! I thought I had another full week, but nope.

I am going to be posting some recipes this week, most likely without the picture process since I am not going to make everything a week before we eat it!

My Thanksgiving menu consists of: Turkey, Sausage Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce (not canned!), Crescent Rolls, Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie.

Not too exciting, I know. BUT, everything is homemade and so incredibly yummy!

Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Vegetarian)

2009-11-03T16:45:00.001-08:00

OK, so...vegetarian if you don't crumble a bunch of bacon on top. I couldn't resist! :-)

I made this yummy soup on Sunday when it was rainy and cold...warmed me right up! Not to mention it was super easy and fast, yet tasted like it had been simmered all day long.

Melt 6 Tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan

Throw in 1 pound frozen chopped broccoli; stir 5-6 minutes

Throw in 6 Tablespoons flour, stir to coat

Pour in 4 cups vegetable broth or stock

And 1 cup half and half plus one cup skim milk

Stir together with a pinch of salt, half teaspoon red pepper flakes and a teaspoon of worchestershire sauce

Let simmer (stir often) for about 20 minutes. It will thicken a bit. Then dump in 2.5 cups shredded cheese. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, whatever you like!

Stir until it melts (won't take long at all) and you are done!

Enjoy! I totally would have eaten this out of a bread bowl, but I couldn't find them at my grocery store! Humph!

Lots happening in the kitchen!

2009-10-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

It's all happening too fast to document! I have been super busy with the baking business, I'm cranking out more cupcakes and scones than I can keep track of! Which means less blogging unfortunately. But when I do get a chance to make something that isn't going directly out for delivery, you bet I will be posting it on here.

I have some great and fun ideas for Halloween and plan to share some more Fall recipes and foods that will make your house warm and welcoming no matter what the temperature is outside!

Stay tuned...family coming this weekend but hoping to post some more early next week!

Crockpot Vegetable Stew

2009-10-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

Last week I broke out the crockpot to celebrate the arrival of Fall. Normally, the first thing I would make is Beef Stew. It is my husband's favorite. Except, last summer, he stopped eating meat! So I have made some adjustments. Anywho...here is everything you need to make a hearty vegetable stew!

Vegetable Juice, Water, Worchestershire Sauce, Oregano, Majoram, Bay Leaf, Onion, 2 medium potatoes, 1 can green beans, 1 can corn, 1 can green beans, 1 can carrots, salt

Pour 2 1/2 cups of vegetable juice into your measuring cup.

Then fill the rest (I have a 4 cup measuring cup) with water.

Add in 1 tsp. Worchestershire...

2 tsp. dried oregano...

1/2 tsp ground majoram, and the bay leaf. Put aside.

Cube up your potatoes, and slice up your onion.

Throw the potatoes in your crockpot

Next the onions.

Next the corn (drain first)

Carrots (drain these, too)

Then the green beans!

Pour your vegetable juice mixture over all the veggies

Mix it all up!

And throw the top on. Leave it for 6-8 hours. Your house will thank you.

Corn Bread!

2009-09-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

Today was a first for me. Can you believe I have never made cornbread?! Now that it's officially Autumn in my house (today was the first day I had to wear socks!), I decided to break out the crockpot and make some vegetable stew (recipe coming tomorrow!) and thought some cornbread would go pretty well with it. And it's EASY! Here you go!

Dry ingredients in one bowl:

1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup self-rising cornmeal
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
3/4 teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients in another:

2/3 cup milk
4 Tablespoons melted butter
1 large egg

Dump the wet ingredients into the dry...

and mix together until just combined.

Grease a baking pan OR a cast iron pan.

Spread out batter evenly in desired pan:

Bake at 425 for 25 minutes, until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Tell me!

2009-09-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

OK, gearing up for some food blogging this week since I don't have a lot going on. I'm sure, just because I said that, I will end up super busy but...

Please leave a comment telling me what types of recipes you would like on here. Desserts, breakfast, crockpot, seasonal, etc.

My baking business is doing fabulously and I have been pondering some fall-type things to do with my regular weekly deliveries...apples and pumpkins come to mind. Fall is my favorite season, too!

I hope you are all doing well!

Hiatus

2009-07-24T15:57:00.000-07:00

Well, I really dropped the ball didn't I? I really want to be able to post a few times a week with recipes, but here's the thing: It's summer and we have been INCREDIBLY busy. And it's hot and being hot outside and then having my oven on all day inside doesn't really work for me.

So I promise to be back when it gets a little less busy and a little cooler outside. I have been taking pictures of food and will have plenty to post about once we restore order around our house.

I promise!

Stuffed Shells!

2009-06-09T12:55:00.001-07:00

Now you didn't think I would post a recipe for tomato sauce without providing you something to put it on, did you?

This recipe is loosely based on the recipe for Three Cheese Stuffed Shells found in my Better Homes and Garden (aka red checkerboard) cookbook. It is the yummiest, and by far one of my favorite pasta dishes. Here is how you make it!

What you need:

Pasta Shells, Parsley, Oregano, 1 beaten egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, salt, parmesan cheese.

For the filling: Measure out 2 cups of cottage cheese in a bowl.

Add in 2/3 cup dried parsley and 1/4 cup dried oregano

Add in your beaten egg:

Then throw in a good handful of shredded cheese. I used a mozzerella and cheddar mix.

Then throw in 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Mix it all together and you have your filling! Yum Yum!

In the meantime, get a large pot of salted water boiling:

Throw in your shells. I used about 15

Let them boil for about 12 minutes. You want them to be only slightly flimsy.

Strain them however you like. I love this spoon strainer!

I put them directly into the casserole dish they will be cooked in.

Grab a shell and start stuffing!

Here's one! I like to pack 'em up nice and full.

Here's the whole group!

Next, pour some tomato sauce (canned or homemade) over the top:

Spread evenly:

Then cover with even MORE cheese. This is making me hungry.

Here you go! Put it in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes.

Let cool for a few minutes then enjoy! I did not get a picture of the finished product because it was gone faster than my little hands could get to the camera! I hope you make these soon!

I would love to hear about any of the recipes you try on this site or any others, so feel free to leave comments or e-mail me. I love e-mail!

~Katie

Tomato Sauce

2009-06-08T17:04:00.000-07:00

Do you know how easy it is to make your own sauce for spaghetti/pizza/stuffed shells? Well, it is! I used to buy and try all kinds of different sauces, but the picky eater in me was always dis-satisfied with something and I ended up altering each recipe by adding meat or straining out chunks (yes, I am that picky. Chunks are GROSS, OK?!)

Then one day I was in the grocery store scanning the sauce aisle and I came across these tiny cans called tomato paste. Keep in mind as you're thinking "this girl is an idiot, how can she just have discovered tomato paste?!", I was 19 and had just started going to the grocery store without my Mommy, cut me some slack people!

Anywho, I bought a couple of cans and came up with a sauce. It did not take long at all, so those of you who think a good sauce must be simmered all day long are wrong! I have always used dried herbs in it, but I imagine if you have fresh ones, this sauce would be even better.

Lets get to it! Here's what you need...not much!

Tomato Paste, Parsley, Oregano, Basil, Garlic Salt, Salt.

Empty your tomato paste into a bowl:

Run your bowl under the tap for a few seconds:

Whisk it together and slowly add more water by the tablespoon until you get your desired consistency:

This is my desired consistency. I usually go a little thicker for pizza sauce, though.

Next, add some dried oregano (just under 1/4 cup). Out of oregano, basil, and parsley; oregano is my favorite so I use more of it. If you prefer another, add more of it! You can totally taste as you go!

Next? Basil. I add about half of the amount of oregano I used, so 1/8 cup.

Next? Parsley. I just do a pinch because it's my least favorite.

Then I throw in a teaspoon of salt.

And lastly, garlic salt. I put in a pretty fair amount. Probably 2 Tablespoons.

If it tastes too salty, add a little sugar. Whisk it all together and you have yourself some sauce!

New Recipes Coming, I promise

2009-06-06T18:35:00.001-07:00

Banana Nut Muffins

2009-05-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

Here's some trivia about me that you may not know...I think bananas are disgusting. I think they smell gross, their texture is too squishy, and taste? I won't even go there. But I am the minority in my house, so I am happy to peel them for the girls and bake with them for the hubster. I now present to you...banana nut muffins! I apologize for the quality of some of these pictures...the lighting in my kitchen at night is not ideal for taking pictures, but that's when I got the motivation, so pardon some of the yellow-ness and blur you will see.

This recipe makes 12 jumbo muffins, probably 18 regular muffins, and approx. 2,375,888 mini muffins. ;)

Here's what you need:

Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Salt, Eggs, Milk, Vegetable Oil, Bananas, Walnuts

Start by adding 3.5 cups of flour (all-purpose), 2/3 cup of sugar, 4 teaspoons of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt into a large bowl. Whisk and make a hole in the center.

In a smaller bowl, crack 2 eggs:

Measure 1 cup of milk (skim is fine - it's what we use)...

...and add it to the eggs

Then do the same with 1/2 cup vegetable oil:

And beat them all together!

Now, set that aside for a second and grab your bananas.

The easiest way I have found to mash up bananas is to squish them in the peel first.

Then peel them and squish them into a measuring cup using a fork, until you have about 1.5 cups, which was about 3 medium/large bananas.

Next, head over to your cutting board and roughly chop some walnuts:

Now, back to the bowls! Slowly pour the egg/milk/oil mixture into the flour mixture.

Then add your squished bananas:

I use the whisk again here and slowly whisk it all together, it will still be lumpy, which is OK.

This is about where I stop:

Next, you are going to add your roughly chopped walnuts and fold them in with a spatula.

Now, you are ready to scoop! I find the easiest way to get the batter into the muffin tins is to use an ice cream scoop. You can spray it with cooking spray to help ease the batter into the tins.

Use a heaping scoop to put in your muffin cups:

Then pop them in the oven (400 degrees) for about 15 minutes (this is for jumbo muffins).

They will be nice and brown on the top when they are done. I have no picture of the finished product (it was too dark when I finished baking them) so you will just have to make them yourself to see!

It happens to all of us

2009-05-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

right?

I guess the last week or so there has been so much going on that I simply have not had time to document any baking. I honestly have not made much food or goodies, except Friday when I made a chocolate cake for company coming over and then made the same chocolate cake (this time with a different frosting) again yesterday because, well because I felt like it. Both were last minute decisions so, alas, the picture taking and documenting did not take place.

But I do urge you to click on the link below and try this recipe out, it looks amazing and I plan on making it very very soon!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/

Breakfast Burrito!

2009-05-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

For dinner! I desperately need to go grocery shopping. It's not even funny, y'all. My fridge looks like that of a bachelor -- cheese, beer, water, and an apple. Ridiculous. Needless to say, I will be grocery shopping tomorrow while the kids are in school, but I had to come up with something to make for dinner and it actually turned out quite yummy and filling (and CHEESY!)

Start with a pan coated with olive oil...you can't really tell, but there is EVOO in there!

Cube up some potatoes into bite-sized pieces:

Throw them in the pan (medium heat). They will sizzle!

Add salt and pepper to taste, that's a LOT in our house!

I threw in some garlic salt, too:

Then stir it up...

Cover it, and leave it for 15 or so minutes, stirring a few times.

Once they are browned and starting to soften,

Crack some eggs (I used 6),

More salt and pepper!

Whisk 'em up!

and pour them in the potatoes!

Dump any kind of shredded cheese you have on hand

stir...letting the eggs scramble

and once they are good and done (not too wet, but they will be slightly moist because of the melting cheese)

Scoop some into a tortilla shell (I had whole wheat, YUM) and wrap them up!

Quick and easy (and not to mention filling!) breakfast or dinner!

Pizza Bianco (White Pizza)

2009-05-02T17:34:00.000-07:00

This has become our Friday night staple for the last 5 months or so. I totally happened upon it by accident, too -- which can be a wonderful thing in the food world. You see, there are several grocery items that I always always have in my pantry. Tomato paste is one of them. I make my own sauces for things like spaghetti, lasagna, and stuffed shells. I have for years and I don't plan on changing that anytime soon so we always have tomato paste around.

So imagine my surprise one Friday night when I already had my pizza dough rising and went to make my sauce, but we were out of tomato paste! I had just left a message for my hubby to pick some up on his way home when I thought, "White Pizza!" After looking at a few recipes online, I concocted my own spinoff and we have seriously been eating it every week since.

I make my own dough as well so the whole she-bang is on here for you! You can make the dough first and then make the sauce while the dough rises, or make the sauce whenever and just keep it in the fridge until you are ready for it. I'm starting with the sauce!

Here's what you need for the white sauce:

minced garlic, salt, pepper, onion powder, oregano, corn starch, milk, parmesan cheese

Start by throwing about a tablespoon and a half of minced garlic in a saucepan (medium-low heat) with just a teaspoon or so of olive oil. The oil is optional, but I don't like to let garlic saute by itself, just doesn't seem right to me.

Once you can smell the garlic (2-3 minutes?), throw in half a teaspoon of salt, pepper, and onion powder and a whole teaspoon of dried oregano:

Then chuck in a tablespoon of corn starch:

Mix it up, it will clump:

Then add a cup of milk and 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese and stir together, turning up the heat to medium-high:

It will take about 5 minutes before it starts bubbling and thickening:

And another 2-3 minutes before it's done. You'll see it's quite thick and slightly brown:

Take it off the heat and let it cool and you're done! This makes 1 or 2 pizzas, depending on how much sauce you like on your pie. Now onto the dough! This dough is SUPER EASY, so please try it at least once. I would be so sad to find out my pizza sauce got spread on a Boboli crust or something!

Pizza Dough:

This makes 1 pizza.

In your mixer bowl; dump 2 teaspoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 pack (or 2 teaspoons) active dry yeast.

Pour in 1 cup of warm water:

Stir and let it sit for a few minutes, until the dough activates (looks kinds foamy):

By hand, mix in 2 cups of flour, dough should be coming together, but still a bit wet:

Then add 1 more cup of flour and, using your dough hook, let it mix up until...

...it all sticks together and you have a still slightly tacky dough.

Next, I normally grab a small handful of flour and knead it in by hand just a few times until the dough is firm and disc-shaped.

Then cover it and leave it for 45 minutes or so. It will rise, I promise!

Dough; meet lightly floured surface:

To make a near perfect pizza dough circle, start by rolling the dough once vertically and then once horizontally.

Repeat, alternating between the two until you have enough dough to peek out of the sides when you put your pizza pan over it:

Then gently pick up your dough and put it on a well greased pizza pan so that you have some hanging over the sides:

Then simply fold the overlapping dough under to form your crust!

See? Wasn't that hard now, was it?!

Now let's bring together our dough and sauce and finish this baby up!

Plunk down your sauce in the middle of your dough while your oven preheats to 400:

Spread it out evenly using a spatula, or the back of a spoon:

Now you can start adding your cheese! I used mozzerella, but I have used Mexican Blend before and cannot WAIT to use provolone, since it's my favorite:

Now pop it in your oven!

Watch it melt...

But don't stop there! Once the cheese and crust are slightly brown, like this:

Gently slip it off the pizza pan and onto the bottom rack of your oven. This will help the bottom of your crust get nice and crispy!

It won't take long, but once it is slightly more browned, like the pic below, you are good to go!

Pull it out and wait a few minutes, which may not be possible, I've been there many times...

Then slice it up and enjoy! You may never want a regular pizza again!

Well, that didn't happen.

2009-05-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

OK, so the weekend of no plans didn't go "as planned". Just as I was getting the kids down for a nap and getting excited for the cookie making, my wonderful husband informed me that a person was coming by to test our water "really quick". It was some service from Home Depot that he signed up for.

Well, 2.5 hours later, the guy left. The entire nap time was spent seeing how disgusting our water is (which, really, it is) and being sold (or NOT being sold, in our case) a whole house water system for only $5,995!

So, cookies will have to wait, but our dinner tonight will be posted shortly...that is, after I make it and eat it!

No promises...

2009-05-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

but I concocted a new cookie a few days ago and since we are laying low this weekend, I might make them again and post them on here. I can't get enough of them! Think Oreo, but about 10x yummier!

Candy Bar Cookies

2009-04-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

Really, if you don't think you want to eat something whose title has both "candy bar" and "cookie" in it, there is something wrong with you! This is one I have been making for a long time. Like, back when I still lived with my parents. I know it's a recipe from my Mom and quite possibly from the Christmas Cookie Swap she used to do every holiday season. Regardless, they are YUM! And, best of all, they are super easy and fast to make!

Here is what you need!

Graham Crackers, Butter, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter (or Chocolate Mint) chips

Throw 1 and a half packages (about 15) graham crackers into the food processor

Grind 'em up until they are very fine

Melt 1 stick of butter in the microwave (about 45 seconds)

That makes half a cup of melted butter (when the foam subsides)

Add it to the processor and pulse about 4 times, shouldn't take long to come together

Spread graham cracker mix into a greased 9x13 pan

Pour evenly the whole can of condensed milk* over the graham cracker crumbs.

You may need a spatula to even it out.

Next, sprinkle your regular chocolate chips evenly over the milk, I'd guess it's about 1.5 cups?

Don't fully cover the milk. This is just right.

Cover the rest with the peanut butter (or chocolate mint) chips. Still, it's OK if some of the milk shows through.

Pop it in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes, until it is slightly brown all over.

It needs to cool to room temperature to allow it to cut best, but here is the finished product!

And here is a look at them from the side, so you can see the thickness

YUUUUMMMMMMYYYYYYYY! It is seriously hard not to eat one of these each time you walk by them!

*In the pictures, the sweetened condensed milk is fat free. It does NOT come out unless you use full fat condensed milk. What was I thinking trying to make something a little less fattening?! Believe me, it tasted just as good but the fat free milk is thinner, therefore it does not set as well and you can't cut them into bars. So if you are super depressed and decide you want to eat them right out of the brownie pan with a fork while you cry and watch "Steel Magnolias", go for the fat free milk.

Enjoy!

The Bakers Dozen Scones

2009-04-26T17:40:00.000-07:00

Here is what you'll need to make a plain scone:

Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Butter, Half and Half, and Egg.

The first step is to measure out 2 cups of flour, 3 Tablespoons of Sugar, and 1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder and dump them in your food processor.

Cut up 6 Tablespoons of butter(room temp or cold) :

And throw them in with the dry mix.

Whiz, whiz, whiz until it looks like crumbs

Next, measure out a teeny tiny bit more than half a cup of half and half...

and one egg.

With the food processor running, pour the egg and half and half in the shute.

And leave it alone until the dough forms all on one side.

Next, shape the dough into a disc or ball. I had quite a few to do this day!

Roll out the dough into a circle about an inch thick and 8 or so inches wide.

At this point, you have a plain scone! You can brush some half and half over the dough, sprinkle it with sugar, and pop it in the oven at 400 for about 15-20 minutes (until browned) and you'd be good to go...but lets do better, shall we?

Once the dough is on a baking sheet, take the back of a knife and poke some holes - not all the way through.

Then fill them in with frozen blueberries:

Poke some more holes, and fill them in with cream cheese:

Now brush some half and half over the entire scone, and sprinkle with sugar.

Most scone recipes tell you to score them before baking, but I just wait and cook the whole thing first and cut when cooled. That way they make sharper, more even cuts.

Anyway, bake the scones at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until browned. Once they are cooked and cooled, I cut them into 8 even slices (like pizza).

To make them even tastier, you can drizzle some powdered sugar icing on them. I will post how to make that this week hopefully. Enjoy!

Potato Enchiladas!

2009-04-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

Yum....

This is the second time I have made this dinner, and while it is a little longer than a 30 minute meal, it is worth it and you can most definitely make it ahead of time. Now, a little background: In July 2008, my meat-loving husband stopped eating meat. It just started grossing him out all of the sudden. Also in July 2008, I was 4 months pregnant with our baby, and pretty much everything but cheese grossed me out. Cheese will NEVER gross me out, but that's a story for another time. So, I was met with the challenge of turning some of our favorite meals into vegetarian meals. I was SO excited when I found a recipe for these enchiladas, and though I have simplified it a bit, it is still just as yummy! So here we go!

First, cube up some potatoes, any kind. I used red. I guess it's 4 cups? I only measure accurately with baking. Muy importante.

Add them to a pan of boiling, salted water.

I threw some onion in there for the flavor, but left them big so I could pick them out because I like onion flavor, but not onion texture. Read my mom's comment about how picky I was in this post.

Cover them and let them cook for 10-15 minutes. You could take that time to chop some fresh cilantro. I took that time to swap laundry and feed my baby.

But I did come back and chop about 2 cups of cilantro.

After straining the potatoes and adding them back into the pot, I threw in a few handfuls of Mexican Blend Cheese. You can use whatever cheese you like. Cheddar, Mozzerella, Colby, mmmm cheese....

Next, add your chopped up cilantro.

Mix. Try not to eat directly out of the pan.

Next, take your enchilada sauce and pour a little into the bottom of a casserole dish. Then lay down a tortilla shell, scoop in some potato filling, and wrap. Repeat until you run out of shells or filling.

It took me 5!

Next, pour your remaining enchilada sauce over your enchiladas.

Try to cover as even as possible, but I never fully soak them -- I like some of them to be dry.

Next, sprinkle with more cheese. I ran out of Mexican Blend, so I used Mozzerella.

Pop in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes, until they look like this:

There you have it! Try it and let me know how it turns out, OK?

Amazing what you can get done when Mom comes to town.

2009-04-22T08:06:00.000-07:00

Except baking, of course! Sorry to leave everyone hanging for the last week. I had my Mom visiting and got a ton of stuff done outside of the kitchen!

I made a headboard, cleaned the garage, started painting my baby's room, gathered stuff for a yard sale (we made $400!) and got a date night with my hubby!

This morning I documented the scone making process, so stay tuned! Hopefully I will get it up while the kids are napping.

Let me start with this.

2009-04-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

Do not be afraid. What you see above you is quite possibly the oldest piece of kitchen equipment known to man. It is a mixer, blender, food processor, scary old machine that my mom still uses! I was forced to use this all weekend, and luckily the food turned out OK. It ain't no Kitchenaid, that's for sure! I actually guessed it was from the 70's, but my mom still has the user manual (which is amazing enough) and it's from 1987! Now, I was 6 years old in 1987. The 80's were full of color, weren't they? Then why is this thing fifty shades of brown?

I am happy to be home where I will never take for granted my lovely KitchenAid again.

Still haven't done brownie research, but I have some banana bread in the oven and am going to try out some blondies (which I have never made or eaten before) this afternoon. I plan to document it all and hopefully post the recipe later this evening (if they are good, that is).

In the meantime, go to your KitchenAid and show it some love this afternoon, or it might be replaced by something scary from the 80's.

Goal for the week!

2009-04-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

OK, we made it home and I am ready to get back in the kitchen tomorrow! My mom came down for the week so hopefully I'll get some time to get to some recipes I've been wanting to try.

But my ultimate goal for the week is to find a GREAT brownie recipe. I have tried several and there is always something I am not fond of so I plan to do some research and try a few out, unless the first one rocks!

If you have a recipe for brownies that you would like me to try, please let me know!

Easter Sunday Overload...

2009-04-12T12:56:00.001-07:00

Ham, green bean casserole, potatoes au gratin, homemade rolls, pasta salad, strawberry shortcake. Full belly.

It's been a fun weekend at the folk's house. I've been in the kitchen and I've been out of the kitchen. I've been to church. I've been to the beach. I've caught up with old friends. I've TAKEN NAPS. My kids have not slept much. My baby has not slept well (except during the day, of course).

I have completely lost all willpower when it comes to food.

We head back home tomorrow and I am looking forward to getting back into a routine, getting back into my kitchen, and getting better sleep! But I love my family, too. Happy Easter all!

The thing about baking is...

2009-04-10T18:02:00.000-07:00

you can do it anywhere! I was wondering if I would get my hands in any dough Easter weekend, especially since we are not at home, and sure enough, Day 1 here at my parent's house and I cranked out about 30 cinnamon rolls! I have made so many that I didn't even need my recipe and they turned out great!

My grandmother heard about and wanted to try them...funny thing is I made a batch to give her and totally left them in my freezer at home -- oops! Now we will be eating them all weekend and I am just not sad about that, sorry to say.

I do want to make a promise to document more of my cooking when we get back so you guys have full recipes and pictures to go along with them...so keep checking back. We will be driving back home sometime Monday so hopefully I'll be back in the kitchen Tuesday.

Everyone have a wonderful Easter!

The Verdict. And someone please make me stop!

2009-04-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

OK, so everyone seemed to like the enchiladas last night. When my non-formula drinking kids take their first bite and then say "When I eat all of this, can I have some more?", that's a good sign!

I will definitely be making them again soon and when I do I will post the recipe and pics on here...I will be changing it around to simplify it a bit and make it more mine, now that I have the gist of the basic recipe. I always follow a recipe exactly the first time I make it, then doctor it to accommodate my family and our likes and dislikes. Most of the dislikes come from me, the ultimate picky eater. One day I'll have to tell you just how hard it was for my parents when I was at the dinner table as a youngin'. I'm sure there is much snickering at their house when I call to say the kids refuse to eat something I made.

Now, someone please stage an intervention. PLEASE. My addiction is getting dangerous. We leave town tomorrow and I purposely did all of my baking last night for my deliveries this week -- 4 dozen scones -- so I could clean and pack and make lists and clean and pack some more... I even thought as I finished up last night around 11pm, "I am actually looking forward to not baking for a couple of days", but what am I doing today? I am making cookies to bring with us. I am already bringing a dozen cinnamon rolls (made yesterday and frozen until we leave) but just walking through my kitchen this morning made me want to bake something.

I SO do not have time, but it looks like in between scrubbing toilets, I'll be (after washing my hands thoroughly, of course) making 2 kinds of cookies to bring home for Easter weekend. Maybe it should be re-named Eater Weekend?

Those darned peanut butter chips are calling my name...I'll be back later!

What happens when you google "what to make for dinner tonight"?

2009-04-07T15:01:00.001-07:00

So, not only am I addicted to my kitchen, but I also really love looking at food sites and blogs online and after not having a chance to think about dinner yesterday, I googled "what to make for dinner" hoping for some inspiration.

Through weeklygeekshow.com, I came to a site called Cookthink, where you can type in what you are craving or what foods you happen to have around the house, and it will pull up recipes for you. Awesome!

I did this tonight and ended up making Potato Enchiladas...we'll see how they turn out as I am not-so-patiently waiting for my husband to get home. The oven is pre-heated and as soon as his car pulls in the driveway I will be popping those suckers in the oven...OK so maybe I couldn't wait and they are already in there. I hope he gets home in the next 20 mintues or he might be eating something else. I can smell the yummy sauce and the cheese melting as I type. I may go drool on the window of my oven until I hear the timer go off...

I'll let you know how it goes and if I like them, I will be putting them up here soon. The recipe I found was a little dis-organized, but now that I have the general idea of how to make them, I will be simplifying them. Later!

A Play on Spaghetti - Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

2009-04-06T17:44:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I love pasta! I could eat it every day, but sometimes the old spaghetti standby just doesn't cut it. I came across this recipe from Pioneer Woman (who is my online idol, I just love her!) and decided to try it the other night. It was good! Definitely a nice change from your standard spaghetti. I took some pictures of the process along the way, though I left some steps out because I was too hungry and impatient. I also veered just a little off her recipe to make it a quicker fix since we had been out all day.

So..start by getting out your food processor and add half a jar of roasted red peppers. I used this kind. And, yes, that is flour all over my poor food processor...lets just say it gets used a LOT.

Add half an onion, roughly chopped (her recipe has you add them later but I don't like chunks in my food so I put them in here), and some toasted pine nuts (I toasted mine quickly in my pan while getting the peppers out of the jar) and whiz away.

Pine Nuts

Peppers, Pine Nuts, and Onion Before...

During...

And after, added to a pan with some garlic sautee'd in a little olive oil.

Next (and this is the part where I forgot to take a picture) add half a cup of half and half or heavy cream and mix together while your pasta of choice is cooking. Once the pasta is done, strain it and add right into the pan.

Mix it up and you are ready to eat!

Normally I would plate it and take a picture of the finished product, but it sat for a while as we were busy putting kiddos to bed and I was so hungry when we got done, I may have actually taken my fork right to the pan...is that wrong?

If you try this, I really hope you like it! I have yet to dislike anything I've tried of PW's.

I am working up something awfully cute for Easter, and hopefully I'll have time to get it done and document the process before the weekend hits. Later!

Yummy Spring Day Lunch

2009-04-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

Recently, my husband went vegetarian on me and though it was daunting at first, I love creating fun meat-less meals for him. We were all working outside yesterday so I thought this would make a great (not to mention quick) lunch.

This one's as easy as it gets -- take some bread (hubby likes whole wheat) and throw some cheese, sliced cucumbers and sprouts on it, maybe even some roasted red pepper or raw onion. Cut up some strawberries and you (or at least I) have one happy hubby!

Here we go...

2009-04-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

Well, after years of privately blogging about family and random things, I decided to start a public blog about my addiction to my kitchen. I just can't get enough cooking and baking! I don't have a gourmet kitchen by any means, but I am pretty proud of some of the creations made in there. I can't go a day without making some sort of home-cooked meal or goody so I figured I could share some pictures and recipes, maybe even some step-by-step directions along with photos and where I got the recipes from.

This year I decided to see if my baked goods could make any money and I must say I have been pleased with the result! I opened my own business in February 2009 called "The Bakers Dozen" and I provide baked goods to local businesses here in my hometown. So far it's been really fun and I would love if one day (when all of the kids are in school, of course) I could open my own bakery. But even if I did, I would still be addicted to my own kitchen!