Category: MISC

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

It’s time to link up for Happy Homemaker with Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at home mom and Laurie at I’m an Organizing Junkie  for Menu Plan Monday.

It was a lazy rainy weekend around here – lot’s of reading, baking, recipe creating, DVR catching up,  race watching and goofing off.

BREAKFAST

Yogurt, blueberries and granola.


THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
THIS MORNING:
Gray, dreary and drizzly.

FOR THE WEEK:
?? Keeps changing so we will see!

TO DO LIST
TODAY:  

  • Laundry 

  • Spring Cleaning

THIS WEEK:

  • EBAY

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION & DVR

  • Scandal

  • Justified

  • Perception

  • Rizzoli & Isles

PLAY TIME (If I can find any)
I’m still tweaking the new framework for my weekly menu and recipe links. 

And for those that were wondering what those acronyms you often see on my menus are:
C.O.R.N. = CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
Y.O.Y.O = YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
 Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie
BREAKFAST
DINNER
DESSERT
MONDAY
Oatmeal with Fruit
C.O.R.N. or Y.O.Y.O.

TUESDAY
Bagel & cream cheese
EXPERIMENT NIGHT

WEDNESDAY
Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
Rosemary, Parsley & Thyme Chicken

THURSDAY
Scrambled Eggs with cheese & Toast
Garlic Cider Chicken

FRIDAY
Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
 White Bean Gratin

SATURDAY
 Bacon & Eggs
Coffee Meatballs & Noodles
SUNDAY
 Pancakes
Apple Cider Pork Chops

LAST WEEK’S RECIPES I TRIED and their RECIPE LINKS

NEW RECIPES TO TRY IN THE NEAR FUTURE

  • Orange Cardamom Roast Chicken

  • Pork with Apple Cream Sauce

  • Hungarian Meatballs

  • Hawaiian Meatballs

  • Dulce De Leche Pineapple Ice Cream Sundaes

  • Dulce De Leche Cookie Bars

  • Couch Potato Bars – they have peanut butter, pretzels, bacon, potato chips and chocolate chips – A MUST TRY COMBINATION

    MY FAVORITE PHOTO FROM LAST WEEK

    I took a few photos for a golf pamphlet my mom is putting together.  This one turned out pretty.

    The pond looks like spring is about to bloom too.

    BLOGS TO CHECK OUT
    Nothing new this week.

    HOMEMAKING TIP / PRODUCT REVIEWS
    When using plastic ware for anything tomato or pizza sauce, a quick spray with non stick cooking spray will prevent the tomato sauce from staining your plastic.

    Tired of sticking your finger reaching for your cake tester?  Add some wine, OOPS I mean add a wine cork to the end for storage and make it safer.

    ON MY MIND LATELY & PRAYERS & INSPIRATION

    ROSEMARY, PARSLEY & THYME CHICKEN

    Rainy and dreary here today so I started the crock pot and the oven for some yummy new recipes. This chicken recipe turned out particularly yummy and fork tender.

    ROSEMARY, PARSLEY & THYME CHICKEN
    4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
    1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, frozen
    2 stalks celery, sliced thick
    1 bag baby carrots
    2 shallots, sliced
    1 clove Elephant Garlic, minced
    1 teaspoon black peppercorns
    several sprigs fresh thyme
    several sprigs fresh rosemary
    several sprigs fresh parsley
    1 KNORR gel bouillon
    3 tablespoons plum jelly
    1/4 cup red wine
    1/2 cup hot water
    2 tablespoons quick cooking tapioca flakes
    Juice of 1 lemon
    2 cups egg noodles
    fresh ground pink Himalayan salt and black pepper
    1 cup frozen peas

    • Layer celery, carrots, shallots and garlic in bottom of crock pot.
    • Salt and pepper vegetables.
    • Place frozen chicken thighs on top of vegetables.
    • Gather peppercorns, thyme rosemary, and parsley into a cheesecloth bag and tie shut. Add bag to crock pot.
    • Whisk together wine, water, bouillon, jelly, lemon juice, and tapioca. Pour over chicken.
    • Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours.
    • Add peas and egg noodles. Re-cover and cook another hour.

    BLUEBERRY CRUMB CAKE

    Rainy and dreary here today so I started the crock pot and the oven for some yummy new recipes.

    BLUEBERRY CRUMB CAKE also makes great muffins

    CAKE
    1/4 cup organic butter, softened
    3/4 cup sugar
    1 JUMBO egg
    1/2 cup whole milk
    1/2 teaspoon PURE vanilla
    2 cups flour
    2 teaspoon baking powder
    1/4 teaspoon sea salt
    1 teaspoon lemon zest
    2 cups small wild blueberries

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Spray a 10 inch spring form pan with non-stick spray.
    • In a large bowl cream butter with sugar.
    • Add egg, blending well.
    • Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
    • Alternately add flour mixture and milk, beating until well blended.
    • Fold in lemon zest and blueberries.
    • Spread into prepared pan.

    TOPPING
    1/4 cup organic butter, softened
    1/3 cup flour
    1/2 cup quick cooking oats
    1/2 cup sugar
    1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
    1/3 cup brown sugar
    2 tablespoons chilled butter, sliced thin

    • In a medium bowl mix together softened butter, flour, oats, white sugar and cinnamon until well blended.
    • Sprinkle on top of cake.
    • Sprinkle brown sugar on top evenly.
    • Place chilled butter slices randomly around.
    • Bake 40-45 minutes until cake tester comes out clean from middle of cake.

    CAPPUCCINO CRÈME CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE PIE

    1/3 cup butter
    1/2 cup Hershey’s cocoa
    1/4 cup sugar
    14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
    1 – cup semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
    2 – eggs, slightly beaten
    1 1/2 cups ground ginger snaps
    1 1/2 cups ground vanilla wafers
    4 tablespoons butter, melted
    CAPPUCCINO CRÈME (recipe below)
    Cherry cordial Hershey’s milk kisses

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • In a small saucepan melt thebutter over low heat.
    • Stir in cocoa and sugar.
    • Add the sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips and eggs.
    • Stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Pour into crust.
    • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until center is almost set.
    • Cool completely.
    • Refrigerate until ready to serve.
    • Just before serving, prepare and spread CAPPUCCINO CREME over top.
    • Garnish with chocolate pieces, if desired.
    • Cover and refrigerate leftover pie.

    CAPPUCCINO CRÈME
    1 cup (1/2 pint) whipping cream

    1 1/2 teaspoons powdered espresso
    2 teaspoons Hershey’s Cocoa
    3 tablespoons powdered sugar

    Directions:
    In a mixing bowl, combine whipping cream, powdered espresso, Cocoa and powdered sugar. Beat until stiff. Makes about 2 cups.

    SAUER PULLED PORK

    SAUER PULLED PORK
    2 cups sauerkraut, rinsed and drained*
    2 pound pork tenderloin
    2 tablespoons Dijon mustard mayonnaise mixture
    1 cup beer**
    salt and pepper, to taste

    • Place sauerkraut on the bottom of your slow cooker.
    • Cut tenderloin in half and lay on top of sauerkraut.
    • Generously salt and pepper meat.
    • Spread Dijon on top of meat.
    • Pour beer over around meat.
    • Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours or on high 4-5 hours.
    • Remove meat to cutting board and shred using 2 forks.
    • Serve on thick toast layers with sauerkraut and with sliced red onion.

    *I used a local organic sauerkraut as is without rinsing or draining
    **I used a pumpkin ale and used ALL of it

    GRILLED CHEESE & TOMATO SOUP CASSEROLE

    GRILLED CHEESE & TOMATO SOUP CASSEROLE
    adapted from TasteofHome.com                         
    serves 4
    3 ounces cream cheese, softened
    1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
    8 slices sourdough bread
    4 slices provolone cheese
    4 slices extra sharp cheddar cheese
    4 slices mozzarella cheese
    2 tablespoons Classico sun dried tomato pesto
    1 clove garlic, minced
    salt and pepper to taste
    1 JUMBO egg, beaten
    1 cup whole milk
    1/2 +/- cup shredded mozzarella cheese

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Spray baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
    • Spread butter on 4 slices of bread.
    • Place in baking dish butter side down.
    • Spread cream cheese on top side.
    • Add 1 slice of each cheese on top of cream cheese.
    • Butter the 4 other pieces of bread and place butter side up on sandwiches.

    • In a small saucepan whisk together the tomato pesto, garlic, salt and pepper until well combined.
    • Over medium high heat add milk gradually, whisking until well blended.
    • Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 5 or so minutes until begins to thicken.
    • Pour a small amount of the tomato mixture into the beaten egg to begin with (do it too fast and egg will curdle) whisking constantly until well blended. Gradually add remaining tomato mixture, whisking constantly.
    • Pour over sandwiches.
    • Top with half of shredded cheese.
    • Bake 15 minutes, flip and top with remaining cheese and bake another 15 minutes or until golden brown.

    HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

    It’s another Monday… and you know what that means. It’s time to link up with Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at home mom and Laurie at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Happy Homemaker and Menu Plan Monday.

    It was a lazy weekend around here – lot’s of reading, race watching and goofing off. Weather was too nice!

    BREAKFAST

    I’m cheating and having Mickey D’s on my way to town.


    THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
    THIS MORNING:
    It’s cold this morning, but promises to be warm and sunny by the time I get back from shopping and errands!  It’s just so short lived before it’s cold at night.

    FOR THE WEEK:
    Less and less promise of sun and more and more promise of dreary skies as the week progresses.

    TO DO LIST
    TODAY:

    • Grocery Shopping
    • Errands

    THIS WEEK:

    • Laundry
    • EBAY

    CURRENTLY READING

    TELEVISION & DVR

    • Scandal
    • Justified
    • Perception
    • Rizzoli & Isles

    PLAY TIME (If I can find any)
    I’m still tweaking the new framework for my weekly menu and recipe links.

    And for those that were wondering what those acronyms you often see on my menus are:
    C.O.R.N. = CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
    Y.O.Y.O = YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
     Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie
    BREAKFAST
    DINNER
    DESSERT
    MONDAY
    Oatmeal with Fruit
    C.O.R.N. or Y.O.Y.O.

    TUESDAY
    Bagel & cream cheese
    EXPERIMENT NIGHT

    WEDNESDAY
    Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
    Sour Cabbage Pulled Pork

    THURSDAY
    Scrambled Eggs with cheese & Toast
    Grilled Cheese Tomato Soup Casserole

    FRIDAY
    Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
    		 Blackened Salmon

    SATURDAY
    Lemon Souffle Pancakes
    Casino Wings
    		 Upside Down Chocolate Cake
    SUNDAY
    Parmesan French Toast & Bolognese Sauce

    LAST WEEK’S RECIPES I TRIED and their RECIPE LINKS

      NEW RECIPES TO TRY IN THE NEAR FUTURE

      • Rosemary, Parsley & Thyme Chicken
      • Garlic Cider Chicken
      • Coffee meatballs & Noodles
      • Apple Cider Pork Chops
      • Pulled pork & coleslaw sandwiches

      MY FAVORITE PHOTO FROM LAST WEEK

      LOL I honestly didn’t take anything but food pictures this week.

      BLOGS TO CHECK OUT
      Nothing new this week.

      HOMEMAKING TIP / PRODUCT REVIEWS
      After you clean the cat’s litter box pour 1/2 inch of distilled vinegar in the bottom and let it sit 20 minutes.  The vinegar will seep into the pores and scratches in the plastic and neutralize the ammonia smell.

      ON MY MIND LATELY & PRAYERS
      I’m praying for a world at peace.

      INSPIRATION

      BACKGAMMON SOUP

      This soup got it’s name because I was off my feet for 2 days battling a knee issue during a cold rainy weekend and all we did was play backgammon.

      BACKGAMMON SOUP
      1 pound country sausage
      1 medium onion, chopped
      1 cup (3.5 oz pkg) sun dried tomatoes pieces
      2 tablespoons Classico sundried tomato pesto
      2 tablespoons quick cook tapioca
      6 cups water
      1 KNORR beef bouillon gel
      1 1/2 cup white beans
      1 cup baby carrots

      • Soak and cook white beans according to directions.
      • Whisk water with bouillon gel until well blended.
      • Whisk in tapioca, pesto, salt and pepper to taste.
      • Bring to a boil.  Lower heat to a simmer.
      • Add carrots, simmering for 30 minutes.
      • While carrots are simmering to tender, brown sausage and onion until a small crumble and drain off fat.
      • Add sausage and onion to pan along with beans.
      • Simmer another 30 minutes.