Monday, February 28, 2011

Manic Monday

This post will be short and sweet. Today was a back to work day for me... its always difficult going back to work after a week long vacation.  Pete and I shared dinner duties tonight, but he pretty much made dinner since I'm still not feeling good.  I just cant seem to shake this darn cold!  


I ate about 87 tacos smothered in salsa and taco sauce, and then a taco salad after that.  I'm good for crunchy tacos about four times a year, they remind me of being a kid for some reason.


We also had a conversation about eating tacos from the top or the side... obviously Mikayla is a top-taco eater.  She ate two tacos, which is a lot for such a lil princess!


Someone was excited to go back to school after a week long vacation... I guess that's the fun of being 5!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Soup for Colds

Tonight I mustered up the energy to finally cook for my family!! I decided to make French Onion Soup... but not the quick version I usually make.  I actually went to the store specifically for the ingredients for this soup, which is not how I grocery shop... ever.  I did pick up two boxes of this yummy beef stock:


I usually use beef broth, so this was a huge change in the taste of the soup.  This particular French Onion soup was full of flavor, but it was not thick and hearty, so if you like your soup thick this is so not the soup for you!

I started out by heating olive oil in a big soup pot, heating olive oil over medium heat, and adding about 5 sliced onions.  After cooking them for 10 mins, stirring constantly, I added a tspn of sugar to help caramelize them.  I cooked them for 25 mins more and then added garlic.  Next came beef stock, white wine, and 2 bay leaves.


I cooked this and let it boil for about 20 mins more.  While this was cooking I sliced a French Baguette and toasted 8 slices in the oven.  Then I filled up 3 soup bowls and topped them off with a few slices of bread on each one.  I then put fancy shredded mozz cheese on top.  The recipe usually uses fancier cheese, but since I don't smother my food in cheese it doest make a huge difference to me. 


I popped these puppies in the oven and broiled them til the cheese was nice and crispy

Mama, Papa and Baby Soup Bowls
 



On the side we enjoyed some of Pete's tortellini pasta from yesterday, along with some grilled cheese sandwiches.  I made a few different types of grilled cheese, using regular Italian bread as well as the french baguette.  Variety is the spice of life ;)



Grilled Cheese Variety Plate

French Onion Soup

  • 6 large red or yellow onions, sliced.

  • Olive oil

  • 1/2 teaspoon of sugar

  • 2 cloves garlic

  • 8 cups beef stock 

  • 1/2 cup white wine

  • 2 bay leaves

  • Salt and pepper

  • 8 slices of toasted French bread

  • Shredded Cheese, to taste
  • Husband teaches wife new tricks

    Since I was still feeling lousy yesterday, my husband once again came to my rescue in the kitchen.  (This proves they do know where the kitchen is!!).  A few nights ago we were eating bread and I couldn't figure out what was on the bread, when he told me it was roasted garlic.  "You never had roasted garlic??" he asked me surprised.  Nope, no I haven't.  I was so shocked to find out that roasted garlic tastes nothing like regular garlic. 

    Last night the husband was feelin a lil frisky... in the kitchen, and decided to teach me how to make roasted garlic.  First thing he did was take a whole head of garlic, skin on, and cut the tops right off.  Then he assembled his ingredients: he used a can of anchovies, basil, oregano, rosemary and salt. 



    He then took the anchovy oil and drizzled all of it over the garlic clove


    The took the open side of the garlic and rubbed it into the spices.



    Then the garlic was wrapped in tin foil and placed in the oven at 450 and was roasted for about 35 minutes.  (we kept checking it, so I'm not sure how accurate the timing was.  It def wasn't longer than 40... but not any less than 30)


    Ta-daaa! It came out looking amazing!




    The entire inside of each individual garlic clove comes right out of the skin, and it comes out so smooth!

    One full roasted garlic head
     I spread (a ton) on a piece of bread with a lil butter...


    It was sooo good! I think next time I'm going to roast more than one head of garlic, and then place it inside a small jar filled with olive oil and rosemary and use it as needed.  I think this way it could always be on hand and the spices will have a lot of time to set. 

    Don't think we let that open can of anchovies go to waste ;) The hubby made some tortellini with vodka sauce, and mixed those puppies right in! We love love love anchovies, and I promise if they gross you out or you don't like them you cant even tell when they are cooked in sauce.  (Our fav way is on pizza) It makes the sauce have such a nice flavor, its amazing, you should try it!


    He took a jar of vodka sauce, mixed it with tomatoes, garlic, and whatever else struck his fancy, then dumped the can of anchovies right in.


    They disintegrate right in the sauce, no need to worry!

    Dinner, Husband style!
    Being cooked for is always nice, everything tastes better when its made for you!

    This Weeks Cravings

    Saturday, February 26, 2011

    Quiet Days

    Eggs haven't really been nice to me recently during my pregnancy,so this morning at breakfast I tried to dodge them. This is hard for me because I love eggs!! I could eat them every day and never get sick of them, there are too many exciting ways to eat them.  This is the first breakfast that I haven't ordered eggs... but I did order Cinnamon Raisin French Toast with bananas and Canadian Bacon.  Pretty Amazing.


    On today's agenda?  Pretty much recovering from being sick... so basically I'm laying on the couch for one more day watching movies.  If I'm motivated later to cook or bake, I shall share!

    Princess is visiting her father, so its peace and quiet for mommy today, and I'm going to take full advantage of mommy alone time.

    Friday, February 25, 2011

    Veggies and Cookies, Veggies and Cookies

    Since Ive been sick today I pretty much didn't have an appetite, although knowing I have a growing baby boy in my belly forced me to eat, and eat healthy too.  When I woke up from an amazing, relaxing nap I quickly made some cheese quesadillas with salsa and leftover veggies from yesterday alongside some roasted garlic hummus.  Not exactly sick food, but a halfway balanced diet for a growing baby!


    My wonderful husband came to my rescue for dinner just like yesterday; he ordered a veggie pizza with pepperoni from a new pizza place that actually delivers to our house!! With it he ordered a side salad... he knows how important it is to me to eat a lot of veggies.


    Once dinner was over I mustered up what energy I had to do the dishes and... bake some cookies! I made an adaptation of Alicia Silverstones Vegan Cookies, which I have made before and they always come out delicious!

    First, in a large bowl, Mikayla mixed together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda.


    In another bowl, we mixed maple syrup, olive oil, molasses, and vanilla.  Then, we poured the wet ingredients into the dry and mixed everything together.  We also decided to add pecans, craisins and chocolate chips.  I initially wanted dried cherries and walnuts but I just didn't have them on hand. I mixed everything together and made 8 cookies balls and pressed them down on the pan before sticking them in the oven for 8 mins.  I really like to place the cookies far away from each other because sometimes when I make them they spread.


    After I put the 8 cookies in the oven I decided to mix some of this flax seed into the rest of the batter.  My mother gave this to me for Xmas and I just don't know what to do with it! I added one heaping tablespoon to the rest of the dough (which officially made 24 cookies)


    All 24:


    These cookies are so yummy and I like that they don't contain any eggs or butter! While these were baking I also made a pitcher of homemade iced tea, peach flavored:


    And now I'm going to continue my snowy Friday sitting on the couch, being lazy, and watching Bounty Hunter.

    Alicia Silverstone Cookies

    1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
    3/4 cup all-purpose flour
    1/3 cup brown sugar
    2 tsp. baking powder
    1 tsp. baking soda
    1/3 cup maple syrup
    1/3 cup olive oil
    1 tsp. vanilla extract
    1/2 tsp. molasses
    1/4 cup craisins
    1/4 cup pecans
    1/4 cup chocolate chips

    Oven on 350... bake for only 8 mins!!! Dont overbake!!

    This recipe is linked to

    Mouthwaterning Mondays
    Hearth and Soul Hop
    Rookno17
    Tasty Tuesday

    Breakfast: The Sweetest Thing

    The worst thing about being pregnant and sick and having a 5 yr old? The morning doesn't stop! It still needs to roll on, moms still need to wake up, function, cook breakfast... you catch my drift.  I didn't sleep AT ALL last night, I had a fear of strep throat, even though now it feels so much better!

    Breakfast: Mikayla wanted to cook something.  She got out her brand new piggy-whisk that her Nana bought her, and got to work:

    Mikayla cracked 2 eggs, and added vanilla, almond milk and cinnamon in a bowl, and whisked away (complete with hand on hip)


    While I assembled amazing stuffed french toast using these yummy ingredients


    I smothered one piece of bread with Nutella and the other with all natural crunchy PB, then sliced up a banana and placed it on top of the Nutella


    Then we dipped it in Mikaylas mixture, cooked it on the stove for a few mins, and (heavily) drizzled it with the worlds best maple syrup


    It was sweet and delicious! We added the rest of the banana on top, and enjoyed it while watching Strawberry Shortcake, the movie.


    
    Stuffed Gooey Goodness
    
    YUM!
    And now its time to lay on my sick couch and enjoy my snowy vacation day and have my family spoil me.

    This Recipe Linked to:
    Full Plate Thursday
    Friday Potluck
    Tackling Bittman Recipe Hop
    Fat Camp Friday

    Thursday, February 24, 2011

    Good News, Bad News

    Good news and bad news: Good news is, Mikayla doesn't have strep.  Bad news is, I have a sore throat.  Best news is, McDonald's is now serving up these amazing treats:


    Yummm, that's right... its already St Patty's day at McD's.  Shamrock Shakes always make sore throats feel better!! After a day at the doctors for Mikayla, my friends came over to do secret wedding stuff.  It was nice, I finally met the beautiful Corlie Shea!! I forgot what its like to have a baby around, but I should probably get used to it awfully soon.  Since I wasnt feeling well, my amazing hubby made us dinner, he made a wonderful pizza for us to share.  I also chopped up lots and lots of veggies, because my girlfriends and I just love to eat veggies!



    Broccoli, Celery, Red Pepper, Zucchini, Cucumbers and Sugar Snap Peas, served alongside a Roasted Garlic Hummus.

    I'm still feeling under the weather, so I made myself a mug o' tomato soup.  Eating soup is so much more fun when its in a mug


    Especially when the mug reminds me of my wedding weekend! I'm off to fall asleep watch a movie with the husband, with my puppies and a huge box of Kleenex! (Yuck-o)

    Wednesday, February 23, 2011

    Lazy Chicken Pot Pie

    So, I've eaten well so far on my vacation.  Last night the hubby made me Shrimp Couscous and Brushetta Bread, I was in heaven! ( I really wasn't in the mood to cook, so I'm glad he picked up the slack instead of ordering a pizza). 



    This morning my mama made Mikayla and I amazing homemade waffles, which I smothered in blueberries, bananas, pure maple syrup and blueberry syrup... sooo delicious! Thanks mom!



    And for dinner, I made a lazy man's pot pie


    Pete wanted to make it pretty with the asparagus!

    So, here's how it happened: First, you cook one pound of chicken breast in a frying pan.  I loaded the chicken with spices while it was cooking (Garlic Salt, Oregano, Basil, and Pepper)


    Then I melted 1/4 cup butter (which is 1/2 a stick) in a pan, added 1/4 cup white wine and then threw in chopped veggies: 2 red potatoes, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 celery stalk, garlic and some mushrooms, and cooked them on the stove 'til they were soft


    Make sure they are soft, but not too soft!! Then I mixed in 1/2 cup of flour and 1 tbsp of white sugar (you could prob make it without, but I think it helps the meal taste less floury)


    Mix well, then add 4 1/2 cups of water and 3 chicken bullion cubes, and bring the mixture to a boil


    Add peas.. I used 1 cup because I like them.  I also add tons of spices here to mask the flour... I just dump in spices, mix and taste.  The sauce will be nice and thick by now, and you can pour it into a pan.  I like to use my casserole dish


    For this exact "pot pie" I would bake it covered for 25 mins on 350, uncovered for 5, then add biscuits


    I added a can of Pillsbury Biscuits, there were 8 in the can.  Then bake for 15+ mins, until the biscuits are cooked and brown.  I think its important to make sure you put the raw biscuits on top of a hot mixture so ensure they cook underneath.



    You're supposed to scoop out the biscuits first then smother them, but I didn't want them to get soggy so I put it on the side.  I also cooked up some asparagus that I picked up while grocery shopping at my moms... thanks again mom! This is such a good comfort food on a lazy day, and its unbelievably easy to make, all you really need to do is prep, chop, bake and serve!

    Now its time to finish watching lots and lots of Netflix with my amazing husband and pop some popcorn on the stove (because we don't own a silly microwave)!

    Lazy Chicken Pot Pie
    1 lb chicken
    1/4 cup butter
    1/4 cup white wine
    2 red potatoes
    1 onion
    1 carrot
    1 stalk celery
    some 'shrooms
    2 cloves garlic
    4 1/2 cups water
    3 Chicken flavored bullion cubes
    1/2 cup flour
    1 tbsp white sugar
    1 cup frozen peas
    spices- Basil, Oregano, Garlic Salt, Pepper, Red Pepper, Parsley
    1 can Pillsbury Biscuts, Original