11/28/07

So only about 5 weeks left of 2007. I haven't thought about goals for 2008, I like to save that for the week after Christmas. Because Thanksgiving was early this year, I keep thinking that it is already the first week of December...I am almost done w/my Christmas shopping. I am really not looking forward to the wrapping--I don't like to wrap.

Tom really wanted to have Chicken Cacciatore so this is the recipe I used.

Chicken Cacciatore
Copyright, 2005, Ellie Krieger, All rights reserved
Show:
Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger
Episode:
The Big Freeze

4 skinless chicken breast halves on the bone, about 2 pounds
Salt and freshly ground black pepper ( I used Seasoned Salt)
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion,
thinly sliced 1 red bell pepper,
thinly sliced 1/2 pound white mushrooms,
thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, (I used Garlic Garlic)
minced
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can whole tomatoes in juice, chopped and juice reserved
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more to taste

Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a saute pan over moderately-high heat. Brown the chicken on both sides, about 8 minutes. Remove the chicken.
Reduce the heat to moderate. Add the onion and pepper, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to brown. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the wine and cook until reduced by half. Add the tomatoes and juice, oregano, red pepper flakes and 1/4 teaspoon of salt and simmer the mixture covered for 10 minutes.
Return the chicken breasts to the pan and simmer, covered, until the chicken is just done, about 20 minutes longer.

Then I made these and put them in the freezer:


Butter and Jam Thumbprints
From Food Network Kitchens


1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
2/3 cup sugar, plus more for rolling
1 large egg
1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped from pod, or 1/8 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup raspberry, cherry or strawberry jam ( I used Rhubarb Strawberry Fruit Spread)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.

In another bowl, whip the butter and the sugar with a hand-held mixer until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla until just combined. Slowly beat in the dry ingredients in 2 additions, mixing just until incorporated.

Scoop the dough into 1-inch balls with a cookie or ice cream scoop and roll in sugar. Place about 2-inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Press a thumbprint into the center of each ball, about 1/2-inch deep. Fill each indentation with about 3/4 teaspoon jam.

Bake cookies until the edges are golden, about 15 minutes. (For even color, rotate the pans from top to bottom about halfway through baking.) Cool cookies on the baking sheets. Serve.
Store cookies in a tightly sealed container for up to 5 days.

Harvest Blessing Mix

It was a very busy weekend. I had a TS party w/a great host on Friday night and all her friends loved everything and 1/2 of the guests are going to have their own parties in 2008. Then Saturday afternoon another party, another great host and a great group of guests. Some of those ladies are interested in taking a look at my businesss.

Then Saturday night Tom and I and our friends went to see Steve Dahl and the Nadas at Durty Nellies. When we were looking for parking in the parking garage next to Durty Nellies, tom got lost. he thought we were going up level by level when we were going in a circle. LOL , it was very fun..for the record Tom had not been drinking...

Then Sunday I was at St. Patricia's craft fair until 2, came home and got ready for Bryce's little B-day party at 5:00PM. Yesterday and Today I've been trying to catch up and get ready for our Thanksgiving trip.

Patrick brought this home today so here is a recipe to share!

Harvest Blessing Mix
Each ingredient in this snack mix symbolizes something associated w/the Harvest Season (Thanksgiving)

Bugles Brand Corn Snacks
Represents a cornucopia, a horn of plenty

Pretzels
Represents arms folded in thanks and prayer

Candy Corn
During the first winter, the pilgrims were each allotted only 5 kernels of corn per day because food was so scarce.

Dried or Candy Fruits
Thanksgiving is the celebration of the harvest

Peanuts or Sunflower Seeds
Seeds represent the potential of a bountiful harvest for the next season if they are planted and well tended.

Peanut Butter Cookies

I am in a cooking making mood. I got a new mixer yesterday from Target ($14.99) and so today I am making:

Double Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup Peter Pan Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 cup Blue Bonnet-stick (1/2 cup = 1 stick)
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups crisp rice cereal
1 pkg (10 oz each) peanut butter morsels
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F.
Combine flour and baking soda in small bowl; set aside.
Beat granulated sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, Blue Bonnet and shortening in large bowl with electric mixer on medium-high speed until creamy.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating until well blended after each addition. Add vanilla. Stir in cereal and peanut butter morsels. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; transfer to wire racks. Cool completely. Store in air-tight container.
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I don't have any shortening, so I am using all butter. Also I have baking powder not soda, so I'll be using that instead. This is the first time I am trying this recipe we'll see how it goes.

Today I made a recipe out of the Chicago Tribune for Butternut Squash...tomorrow I am going to be looking for an acorn squash recipe!

Roasted butternut Squash w/thyme (this recipe is vegan)
1 butternut squash, peeled, cubed
6 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 shallot, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tsp salt
Heat the oven to 350, Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, tossing to coat; spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet or wide, shallow casserole dish. Roast until the squash is cooked through and lightly caramelized, 40-50 minutes.
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Tomorrow is Bryce's birthday, but I think they might have it marked down in his class at school as today he came home wearing a crown? Seeing the crown inspired Anna to wear a Barbie Princess outfit all day.

Atlantis Squarepantis

Lots of excitement here tonight...only 7 more minutes until the world premiere of Atlantis Squarepantis. Patrick and Bryce have been looking forward to the new spongebob movie for at least a month. Hopefully they'll go right to bed when it is over at 8pm.

I found a new recipe to try...only thing is I think I am the only one in this house that will eat it!

Sauvignon Chicken Pesto
1 oz Olive Oil
8 oz Chicken Breast
2 sliced tomatoes
2 tablespoons Dried Tomato and Garlic Pesto pls 1 tsp
4 oz. Fresh Moz
4 oz Sauvinon Blanc Wine
4 oz Chicken Stock
2 tbs Fresh Diced Tomatoes
2 oz butter
Salt and pepper to taste.
1. Sear chick breast w/the olive oil for 4-5 minutes on each side.
2. Rub chicken w/pesto--make sure chicken is done b/4 doing that.
3. Place fresh diced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella on top of the chicken
4. place chicken in the oven to melt the cheese (2 minutes)
5. Remove pan from oven and place pan back on the flame. Add wine, chicken stock and a tsp of the DT and Garlic Pesto.
6. Let the wine reduce and add butter after , add salt and peper to taste. Serve w/pasta or potatoes and if desired garnish w/parmesan cheese or asiago cheese and fresh chopped basil.

The boredom sets in.

Oh for pete's sake, the boys are so 'bored' today all they are doing is bickering and fighting. Too bad, I can't say go outside and play and come back at dinner time. I should probably take them out to a park or the local high school to run around the track...but yesterday I wound up getting to have a suprise root canal--lucky me!--and I don't feel much like going to the park.

Last night I made a turkey breast so today I took the leftovers and tried out this recipe:

Turkey Pot Pie

1 Box of Creamy Wild Rice Soup
1 pkg of frozen mixed veggies (thaw)
3-6 tblsp butter
2 cups chopped turkey
1 can of beer
1 Bountiful Beer Bread Mix

Follow directions on the box to make the Creamy Wild Rice Soup. Simmer for 45 minutes and then add the package of veggies and the chopped chicken and mix together. Then spread the mixure into a 9x13 pan. Then mix the can of beer w/the Bountiful Beer Bread Mix and spread the bread batter on top, drizzle w/butter if desired and bake at 375 for just about 40 minutes.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Yesterday was the Parent/Teacher conference for me and Patrick's teacher. She said he is doing very well and that he is up to the reading level of 1.5 (which is 1/2 way thru first grade). He is almost ready to move up to the next reading group---so I have high hopes that he'll be up to grade level by the end of the year. (fingers crossed) Beyond that he is doing well in school because his classroom is 9 kids which means each child gets all the attention they need and problems are found quickly. It is too bad that througout the school system kids and teachers don't enjoy the benefits of smaller classrooms. I know 9 kids in a room isn't feasible --but it should definitely be less than 20. So that was wonderful right there to hear Patrick is doing well and that everyone in his class gets along, since last year Patrick suffered due to a rotten bully.

Bryce didn't have a conference because he is doing so fabulous at school.

Anna's conference is on the 15, I am not sure exactly what they'll have to say about Anna--I am guessing it will be all good--she loves school and what's not to like...they play, sing songs, read books and have a snack!

November 6th

Now did anyone ask me if the kids could have a 4 day wknd this week...and 5 days off in a couple of weeks?

Alright the 5 days off is great because that is Thanksgiving and we'll be heading to West Virginia...but a 4 day wknd this week? And it's cold outside, so hmm what to do w/the kids. Maybe I can put them to work scrubbing the floors and the baseboards? Hahaha!

I hope the weather is not unseasonably cold, I would like to see if I can take the kids out to run around Lake Katherine a few times--or to the park...I would be fun to make cookies or cupcakes--but I'll end up eating the majority of them!

And Speaking of Food, let me be th first to wish you a Happy National Fondue Month!

Whoa, who knew there are 2 websites devoted to fondue!
http://fonduerecipes.org and http://gofondue.com

Cheese Fondue

ingredients list:
8 oz of shredded chedder cheese.
8 oz shredded emmental chesse.
1 garlic clove.--one teaspoon Garlic Garlic
1 can of beer.
2 tablespoons of flour.
1 teaspoon of Salt.
Pinch of pepper.
French bread, diced into cubes.
Instructions for Cheese Fondue:
Mix together all of the ingredients (except bread).Melt the mixture and place into a fondue pot.Dip the cubes of bread into the melted mixture and eat.

The Halloween Pics!

time to trick or treat!




Classic Spiderman Bryce!










Patrick the Power Ranger!







I was able to attend both Patrick and Bryce's Halloween parties. Bryce was so excited to see me that he was smiling from ear to ear and jumping out of his seat. Patrick gave me a big hug as soon as I walked into his classroom. I wish I could have gone to Anna's as well but her party was the same time as Bryce's and I was hoping that she wouldn't notice since it was her first school party.

Less than 2 months until Christmas

One of my fellow 'tastebuds' found a Wii for me, so a big part of my holiday shopping is done. Wahoo! Now I'll just get some games and a couple of extra controllers and we'll be go to go on the big day and it should be good for hours of fun and entertainment for the kiddos over winter break.

I am in the middle of my busiest work week ever...had a party on Tuesday, a corporate shopping day yesterday, a party last night, a party tonight, a craft show tomorrow, a party tomorrow night and a party on Sunday. So hmmm I need a goal for bookings...OK, my goal is 6 bookings 2 for now and 4 for January. We have a nice incentive for January and hosts can earn it w/reg parties or catalog parties or fundraisers...so I need to remember to mention that it applies to catalog parties this weekend.

Next week no parties until ahhh Friday. Then I'm basically working all weekend. Party Fri night, Craft Show Saturday, Party Sat night, Craft Show Monday. Then Tom is going to New York for a couple days.

It's that really busy busy time of year, which is great because I love the holidays so it is fun for me to be positively submerged in them!

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The weekend right before Chirstmas we are staying downtown on the Mag. Mile using the free hotel stay I earned w/my sales this past fall...so, I am debating, take Anna to the American Girl Store? Or avoid the American Girl store? I am betting you can't get out of there for under $150...so looks like it would be best to avoid the American Girl store---she's only three...it can wait!

The other day I made our Cafe Portabella Mush soup as a sauce w/some sour cream and put chicken in it and put it over my favorite noodles---which are hard to find! Reames frozen noodles, I have a bunch of the noodles leftover so this afternoon I am making "Mama's Soup" for the family to have 2morrow while I am gone.

Mama's Soup
8-10 cups chicken stock
1 cup diced carrots
1 med onion
1 large parsnip diced
1 1/2 cups celery diced (partick really likes the celery so I add extra)
1 frozen chicken breast
1 bag of the Reames frozen Noodles
dash of the Onion Onion
dash of the Spinach and Herb

I put everything except the frozen noodles in a big pot and let it boil/simmer until the chicken is cooked, then I take out the chicken cut it up, put it back in the soup, add the frozen noodles cook for another 20 minutes and it's all done. I used to put in a diced potato and green beans, but there was too much complaining and boycotting of the soup by the boys so now it's a very basic soup. I cook it w/the onion uncut and then I take the onion out at the end. Fresh Parsley is the best add on at the end. Yum.

Carving Pumpkins

Since it was like a nice weekend in June here in Chicagoland this past weekend, I decided we should go ahead and carve the pumpkins while the weather was nice and we could do it outside--and just not worry if they don't make it to Halloween.

Patrick was telling a scary story...Anna's pumpkin was like a lite brite pumpkin and guess who did most of the scooping and carving? yep, me. Bryce did a great helping w/his pumpkin Mr. Fangs.

The seeds have been roasted and seasoned w/the Seasoned Salt. Yum.

Seasonal Favorites.

Candy Cane Hershey's Kisses are coming. I tried to go to the Hershey's website to find out when I might be able to find them in stores that's how much I love them!

And then there are the seasonal blizzards, right now or just about right now you should be able to go to your local Dairy Queen and get a pumpkin pie blizzard...yum. And right after Thanksgiving they will have the blizzard I wait for all year. And I can't remember it's name! It's vanilla ice cream, crushed peppermint candies and chunks of dark chocolate. Ahh soooo goood.

Starbucks is a place I don't go to but a few times a year, most of which are during the holiday season when I can get a peppermint mocha and a cranberry bliss bar. Ahhh the perfect breakfast.

And the cookies. I love a tin of homemade cookies of an assorted variety. My favorite are spritz cookies--which are basically butter, a dash of almond extract, flour, eggs, and more butter for good measure.

Butter the key to delicious holiday cooking!

a website I am checking out today for new cranberry recipes:

http://www.oceanspray.com