Mmmm This Week

Stuck to the menu once again this week, minor changes but nothing that entailed a trip to the grocery store. High five for me.

I skipped Tantalizing Tuesday this week but will try to remember to post a goodie for you this round.

Here's the menu, yum.

Monday: mini pita pizzas
Tuesday: Kim's Nana's Parmesan Chicken chicken recipe along with wee roasties - newbie
Wednesday: broccoli soup with sandwiches on fresh crusty buns - didn't bother with the soup last week so it's a newbie
Thursday: tacos
Friday: Soy Glazed Beef with Green Bean stirfry - so yum!
Saturday: Saturday: Chicken breasts with egg noodles on the side
Sunday: Anniversary dinner - order in

Glub, glub.

Mmmm This Week

As promised I'm here to post my menu for the week. I know you've been chomping at the bit just dying to hear what we'll be eating this week. Hold onto your hats kids, it's going to be a yummy week with lots of new recipes because I'm crazy like that.

Monday: spaghetti
Tuesday: chicken fajitas
Wednesday: beef and broccoli stir-fry - newbie #1 of the week
Thursday: Gordon Ramsay's broccoli soup & wraps - newbie #2
Friday: rosemary-garlic chicken, Buttered Noodles with Chives - newbie #3
Saturday: chicken caesar salad using Fergie's delish dressing
Sunday: broiled chops, wee roasties

We managed to follow the menu this week, I switched a couple days around but only ate what was on the the plan. The new peanut noodle recipe we tried was yummy but I heated the ingredients in a pan to avoid drenching myself while whisking - sticky peanut butter doesn't whisk well - next time I would use less soy sauce than is called for, it was a little too salty for us.
Oh, and we ate it warm - with the temperature being minus 20 and colder this week we needed all the warmth we could get.

Monday was the one and only shopping day which was certainly a nice change and for once I didn't find myself tossing a bunch of wilted veggies on garbage day. I only bought what we actually intended to use and guess what, we used it: what a simple yet brilliant concept. Any new recipes out there that you want to share? Be sure to leave me a link!

Tantalizing Tuesday

that-crazy-broccoli
Originally uploaded by Dennis Ferry

The only thing healthy about this recipe is the broccoli but it's uber yummy so really, what does it matter?

Creamy Broccoli Salad
this is a dish I bring to every immediate-family meal because they all love it!

What You Need:
2 small broccoli
3/4 cup mayo
1/2 cup sugar
4 tbsp vinegar
chopped red onion
1 cup grated cheese
bacon bits (optional)

What You Do:
Now read this very carefully because it's easy to mess up.
1. Mix.
2. Eat.

In all seriousness, I suggest you mix up the wet bits with the sugar before adding the veggies.
That's all!

*insert sarcasm here* I Know You're Dying to Know...

An old pic from a trip to Jamaica 3 years ago: bliss.

I'm back on my organization kick. I went hunting for a post to link to as proof of past attempts at organization and laughed when I realized my disorganization stretches beyond the real world and into my little bit of property in cyberspace. In other words I can't find what I'm looking for so I'll give up and trust that you'll take my word for the fact that every now and then I attempt to get organized.

Now that we are a one car couple I am finding it more important than ever to know what it is I need when I make a trip to the shops; it stinks when I realize I forgot to pick up 'such and such' and then remember I don't have a car available to take a quick trip. I've decided that the way I am going to limit the number of grocery store stops we have to make is by scheduling one visit to the grocer a week: Mondays will be shopping day. The only way I'll actually be able to stick to this is if I start making weekly menus that we actually use. I figure this will not only save us headaches and a ton of time - considering I hit the grocer at least 4 days a week now - it ought to save us a bunch of money. How often do I pick up extra things because I'm hungry when I shop after school? Every visit.

I'm posting my weekly menu here not because I think you actually care to read it but for myself, if I post my menu every Sunday I'm more likely to stick to it. I'm keeping with my other plan of more healthy eating and attempting new recipes each week so I'll be sure to link to any recipes that can be found on-line if I use any.

Alright. Week one of menu planning... GO!
Monday: taco salad
Tuesday: Sesame Peanut Noodles - new yum for the week
Wednesday: balsamic chicken, brown rice, asparagus
Thursday: out
Friday: pork stir fry
Saturday: Steak, baked potatoes, salad
Sunday: salmon and homemade fries

A Terrific Taste of India

Photo taken and uploaded by Kristian Rasmussen

Tanya left us a box full of lovely edibles when she took off to Russia. One of the treats found in the mix was Gourmantra's boxed Tandoori mix. I followed the simple directions printed on the box and the end result: DELISH. Mike gobbled down his plate of chicken and rice announcing how fantastic the chicken was appx. 8 million times before suggesting this become a weekly meal; it really was fabulous. If you like Indian food you have to give Gourmantra's boxed mixes a shot.

Tantalizing Tuesdays are Biggity Back!

Ceasar Salad
Originally uploaded by sonialena

Tantalizing Tuesdays retired a few months back but it's returning for 2009. One of my 8 thousand plans for the new year is to try at least one new recipe a week, what better way to keep track of my new favs than to post them here for you to try yourselves? If all goes well I'll post more than one recipe each week... we'll see though, that might be pushing things.

I've started a blog link list for food blogs I like down on the right side of this page, feel free to leave links for yummy blogs and/or recipes in the comment section and I'll be sure to check them out.

My first TT post for the year is a recipe for a excellent caesar salad with an amazing vinaigrette dressing. Our friend Fergie brought the salad to our annual Christmas with the Crazies pah-tay and was kind enough to pass the recipe my way. Double yum.

Fergie's Fabulous Caesar Salad

What You Need for the Dressing
6-8 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white vinegar
3-4 splashes of Worcestershire
3-4 splashes Tabasco
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 whole egg
1/2 tsp sugar
(you have free range for the following ingredients - add what you want to taste, the amounts are ranges recommended by the chef)
1/4 - 1/2 tsp tarragon
1/4 - 1/2 tsp mustard
1/4 - 1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 - 1/2 tsp salt

What You Do
Easy peasy: mix it all up

What You Need for the Salad (serves 8)
3 romaine hearts
1/2 lb bacon cooked and crumbled
mozzarella cheese - as much as you like
dressing

What You Do
Tear it, cook it, shred it, pour it, toss it

Soy Good

Picture from MarthaStewart.com

First new recipe of the year was one I found through Dinner Tonight. Oh Yum Yum Yum. Super easy and really yummy. I served it over rice and used a crazy cheap steak and it was delish. This puppy has been written out and stuffed in my recipe binder, now it's your turn to try it out. Enjoy! p.s. Stay tuned for more recipes with the return of Tantalizing Tuesdays

Soy Glazed Beef with Green Beans
Serves 4

What You Need
3 tablespoons soy sauce
5 teaspoons rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon Asian garlic-chili sauce
1 teaspoon olive oil
3 (about 1 1/2 pounds) skirt steaks
Coarse salt and ground pepper
8 ounces green beans, trimmed
4 ounces bean sprouts

What You Do

1. Combine soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and chili sauce in a small bowl; set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over high heat; swirl to coat pan. Season steaks with salt and pepper; cook until browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
3. Pour off fat from pan; add green beans and 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat to medium. Cover; cook until beans are crisp-tender, 4 to 5 minutes (add more water if pan becomes dry).
4. Thinly slice beef. Pour soy mixture into pan; toss. Return beef and any accumulated juices to pan; cook (uncovered) until heated through. Add bean sprouts; toss to combine.

Eat it and love it. Oh and then let me know what you thought of it.

Delish Dutch Apple Pie

Jessy's grandma's apple pie is super yummy and super easy to make. I know, I've made it three times in the last week. This is one of those recipes that everyone at the table requests after eating a piece. DELISH!


What You Need for Filling:
4 cups cooking apples (3-4 apples) peeled and chunked - I recommend Gala apples
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp flour
Nutmeg and cinnamon to taste

What You Need for Topping:
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup butter
2 tbsp cream/milk (optional and I chose not to use it)

Pastry: 9" pie shell

What You Do:
1. Sprinkle apple chunks with lemon juice.
2. Toss with sugar, flour, nutmeg and cinnamon.
3. Place in pie crust.
4. Sprinkle on topping.
5. Cover loosely with foil.
6. Bake at 425 degrees for 45 minutes.
7. Uncover, dribble with cream if using, and bake for 15 minutes more.

Easy & Delish = Danger

Read this post at your own risk.

This is the time of year when I go hunting for new blogs to add to my list of regular reads, I have a hard time sitting down doing nothing so surfing blogdom kingdom while watching tv during Christmas holidays is my way of relaxing.

Tonight I stumbled upon Made by Petchy where I found a pattern for an adorable and simple little peanut dress that I think I might whip up for Rosie for Christmas AND the recipe for this simply deadly delightful chocolate cake in a cup. Seriously. CAKE in a CUP. BRILLIANT. In less than 5 minutes I made one for Mike, when I asked how it tasted and received a chocolate mouth filled "Yum!" I proceeded to make one for myself and I concur: YUM.

Easy peasy. I highly recommend the hot fudge topper along with coconut as suggested by Petchy. Mmm mmm good.

Here's the Recipe:
Dump the following ingredients in a coffee mug and stir
5 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp sugar
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt

Once you've stirred these goodies add the following:
1 tbsp oil
3 tbsp milk (or 1 tbsp milk plus 2 tbsp applesauce)
1/4 tsp white vinegar

Stir it up and place mug in the microwave. Cook on full power for 1-2 minutes, depending on your machine.

One of the ladies who left a comment following Petchy's post suggested that you "watch for the rise and then the beginnings of falling back into the cup (for done-ness) or the signature steaming up of the microwave door, after which (she) count to about 15." I'll try this next round!

When you pull it out of the micro you'll look in the mug and think "ew" or "hmmm I don't think that's done" even when it is. Use your typical cake testing method to see if it's all good and then tip your mug upside down on a plate. Give it a few moments to settle (this would be a good time to melt your hot fudge and/or scoop your ice cream) and then give the mug a shake and THUMP out falls your little cake. Well, in theory you'll get the thump. I had one thump and one that I had to dig out with a spoon.

This is a pretty rich dessert that tastes like a brownie so next time I'll share one with Mike OR I'll be sure to add vanilla ice cream and pineapple to take the edge off. Oh me oh my this cake in a cup might not be a good thing after all.

PB & Chocolate

Original Photo Uploaded by Bakerella

My grandma's peanut butter balls are unbelievably yummy. I begged my grandma - okay, all it really took was a "please" - to make 400 balls for our wedding reception and our yummy giveaways were a huge hit. My zillion cousins and I fight over who should have the first ball at every family function; of course Grandma makes enough for all of us but she gets a kick out of us oohing, ahhing and slapping at each other over them.

Since the Christmas season is upon us and Kim has requested my grandma's recipe I figure it is the perfect time to share it with you. Let me know what you think if you end up making them. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Grandma D's famous Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

What You Need:
2 cups peanut butter
5 cups sifted icing sugar
8 tbsp butter
2 tbsp wax (I use a little less or it ends up tasting waxy)
1 3/4 cups chocolate chips OR 5 squares bakers chocolate

What You Do:
1. Mix peanut butter, icing sugar and butter together.
2. Form into balls and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
3. Melt wax and chocolate in a double boiler.
4. Coat balls in chocolate (a fork with a bent handle works well for this job)
5. Set on wax paper or parchment paper and let harden in fridge.

EAT! Be warned, consuming too many of these puppies can leave you with a serious bellyache.

Thanks to Flickr I found the great shot of peanut butter balls shown above which led me to Bakerella's awesome blog! Now I think I might try out her Nutter Butter recipe and there's this Red Velvet Cake Balls recipe that looks delish and oh my god these peanut butter cookies dipped in chocolate. I think I've found heaven on-line.

Can't Get Enough!

I nearly forgot... again.

Today I am thankful for Kraft Dinner. I am also thankful that Mike doesn't eat the stuff, if he did I would have a serious problem. Thankfully his lack of love for KD means I only eat it when he's traveling.

He's in Boston... guess what I had for dinner? You got it.

Thanks to The Faz for this pic.

I went to the gym after school today - don't look so surprised - so I don't feel too guilty about eating the entire box. YUM!

This is... a favourite recipe I would like to share

Mike will be thanking Three Buttons for this weeks "This is..." theme. Typing up this recipe has me craving Pad Thai, guess what we're having for dinner...

Thai It You'll Like It Pad Thai
Recipe from Looneyspoons by Janet and Greta Podleski

What You Need:
12 ounces uncooked fettuccine or linguine
2 cups sliced red bell peppers (colour really doesn’t matter, just slice them in strips)
1 cup snow peas, trimmed and halved
1/3 cup chopped green onion (or whatever you have on hand)
1/2 cup low-sodium low-fat chicken broth
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons reduced-fat peanut butter (or soy nut butter)
1 1/2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon white vinegar or rice vinegar
1 teaspoon grated gingerroot (I never add this, no ginger fans here)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 lb cooked chopped cooked chicken breast (or shrimp)

What You Do:
1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and keep warm.
2. While pasta is cooking, prepare sauce.
3. In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients except shrimp; mix well.
4. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium.
5. Cook and stir for 3-4 minutes, until vegetables are crisp-tender and sauce is bubbly and slightly thickened.
6. Stir in chicken (or shrimp) and cook just until heated through, 1-2 minutes; do not overcook if using shrimp or it will be rubbery.
7. Toss hot sauce with pasta and serve immediately.

This is supposed to be a low-fat recipe but it's also supposed to serve four people. You guessed it, we split it in half and devour it with absolutely no problem. DELICIOUS!

Bad Turned Good

I arrived home from a long day at school and opened a bill that nearly caused me vomit. It's not that it was unexpected, it's just that the money that I had planned to pay this particularly painful credit card off with has been held by a certain government agency (no names mentioned) for the last month and I was pretty much convinced that they were going to decide against giving me the money. Long story short, I hopped online to check the status of my moolah after groaning over the bill and hallelujah!! What are the chances that today happens to be the day that they finally deposited the money in my bank account?! Honestly, what the? Needless to say I am one happy woman.

It gets better.

When it comes to material things in this world money is certainly high on the top of my list of wonderful things. Take a moment to think this through before you judge!! I didn't say it was number one on my list of important things in life, I said MATERIAL things and in order to gain material goods you generally need money. Second on my list of material fabulousness is food. Technically this would be number one but without the moolah I wouldn't be eating much.

Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, me going from near barfage to happy happy.
Mike is away all this week on business which leaves me eating on my own. I have no problem eating alone but lately since I don't get home until late and then have a pile of homework to complete it seems that every time I have had an alone meal I end up eating Kraft Dinner. Don't get me wrong, I love KD, it brings back waves of pleasant childhood memories but eating it more than once every couple weeks is not acceptable. I like to savor it and don't want to ruin the experience by overindulging. Point being, I wanted to avoid KD this week so on the way home from school (pre-near vomiting bill opening) I stopped at Zehrs to pick up a few quick meals.
Oh... my... GOD. Someone told me ages ago to try the President's Choice Thai Green Curry Shrimp meal but I didn't listen. What the hell is wrong with me?! I have found my new favourite thing.
In just 6 minutes (5 minute cooking, 1 minute sitting) I had some of the best green curry ever! I loooooooooove green curry, it's one of my top three Thai dishes so imagine my delight in finding the easiest meal on earth in just my flavor! Amazing! Is it low calorie? Not at all but neither is Kraft Dinner so there.

A great start to my week, let's just hope this luck continues.

It Was Better Than Fair

It was a lovely day spent with one of my all time best girls: Tanya. We drank cappuccino (yep that's a pic of mine up above) and ate yummy fresh salads and sandwiches at a new Fair Trade cafe located Uptown Waterloo: Seven Shores Urban Market and Cafe. It is a wonderful little cafe where you can find good eats and beautiful handcrafted items to decorate your home and self. Of course we ate gelato today as well, how could we not when it was right there in front of us and oh so mmm.

Only a week and a half until Mike and I leave on our trip out West which I am crazy excited about BUT that means I only have a week and a half left to get in all the Tanya-time I can. She heads off on her year (maybe two) long adventure in Russia when we're vacationing in BC. Did that 'two' sound more like I meant 'too'? It wasn't an accident. I'm very excited for Tanya but selfishly sad for me, I'll miss her like crazy!

Mikey Likes It!

I'm always thrilled to find a new recipe that both Mike and I like, it's not always easy but thankfully in his old age my man is willing to try new things. This might not seem like a big deal to some but Mike is known for being a bit of a 'selective' eater... I think it's safe to say that he was known to be picky but in my opinion he is moving out of the picky zone.

I found a yummy recipe in June's issue of Chatelaine and when I read the words pork tenderloin I figured it would be safe to suggest it to my husband. The part I wasn't so sure of were the peaches... he wasn't so sure himself until he took a bite and YUM!

This is a really easy, healthy and filling summer salad. Speaking of healthy and lazy I'm too lazy to type out the entire recipe so I snapped a pic of Chatelaine's original recipe.

I couldn't find minced chipotle in adobo sauce at the discount grocer near my house so I just chopped up half a jalapeno and tossed it in. Mmmm mmmm good.

See, super easy and really yummy!

Take Care Tantalizing Tuesday

Tantalizing Tuesday is retiring. Don't fret, pull yourself up off of the ground and wipe away your tears. I'll continue to post recipes every now and then that I believe you cannot live without but trying to come up with a weekly treat to share has become a chore so I'm saying enough is enough and kiboshing the whole thang.

I think I might hop on the Flashback Friday bandwagon and start posting pre-1985 pics on - you guessed it you clever person you - Fridays! I love looking at old pics and this will give me an excuse to create digital images of the old snapshots we have floating around.

Adios Tantalizing Tuesdays!

Tantalizing Tuesday

A tried and true recipe that I'm asked to bring to every family dinner because who besides my man can say no to cheese and creamy mayo combined?

Simple Broccoli Salad

What you need:
2 broccoli heads cut into bite size pieces
3/4 cup mayo (fat-free works just fine)
1/2 cup sugar
4 tbsp white vinegar
1 cup grated cheese
Optional: chopped onion, bacon bits

What you do:
1. Whisk together the mayo, sugar and vinegar until it's smooth.
2. Stir in cheese and optional bits.
3. Add chopped broccoli - am I the only one who can't say those two words together without hearing Dana Carvey singing "Choppin broccoli"?
4. Let sit for a few hours or overnight. If you're in a rush then go ahead and gobble it up but it's better once it has had a chance to rest.

Tantalizing Tuesday

The last Girls Night In that Jess hosted was super yum. We went with an all appetizers menu and there were a multitude of delicious dishes.

I snagged a recipe off of Pioneer Woman Cooks (one of my fav cooking blogs) and it was a hit! Remember to keep your fingers out of your eyes when you're making these and be sure to scoop out all of the seeds or someone will be in for a fiery surprise. wow, I'm a poet.

Bacon-wrapped Jalapeno Puppies aka BLISS

This recipe came from here, thank you Pioneer Woman!

What you need:
fresh jalapenos (2-3 inches long)
cream cheese
bacon
toothpicks
cookie tray
wire rack

What you do:
1. Slice the jalapenos lengthwise and clean the little suckers out with a spoon.
2. Cut the bacon slices into smaller bits (big enough to wrap around the jalapeno once it has been stuffed). I found cutting my pound of bacon in half worked well, the Pioneer Woman suggests thirds but these would have been too small for my puppies.
3. Start filling the jalapeno halves with cream cheese, just scoop and stuff.
4. Wrap each jalapeno with a slice of bacon and stab through the middle with a toothpick to hold the meat in place.
5. Place the wire rack on the cookie sheet (the cookie sheet will catch the bacon drippings)
6. Place the puppies on the rack.
7. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes (or more depending on how crispy you like your bacon).
8. Chomp Chomp.

These are super easy and crazy good. Be sure to check out the Pioneer Woman Cooks blog for lots of recipes that are well written (funny) and easy to follow thanks to awesome photographed directions.
Check this Dump Cake out: maybe for your birthday mom?

Tantalizing Tuesday

The sweetest thing I can share with you this week is found in the post below: super sweet but for hugging and kissing only, please no chomping the baby.

If you have a chocolate chip muffin lover in your household you'll have to give this recipe a shot. I have made three batches o in the last seven days, you guessed it: the man loves chocolate chip muffins - oink oink. I'm now the muffin baker extraordinaire. Thankfully it's a quick and easy recipe.

Chocolate Chip Mmmmuffins
found on my latest 'great find' recipe site: RecipeZaar

What you need:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup light-brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
optional: 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

What you do:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Grease 12 muffin tins
3. In a large bowl stir together dry ingredients
4. In another bowl mix together wet ingredients
5. Make a well in center of dry stuff and add the wet, stir just until it's combined - don't go crazy!
6. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes
8. Remove muffins tin to wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes
9. Remove muffins from tin to finish cooling
10. Serve warm! Super delish.

The only thing that makes me go 'meh' about these muffins is the fact that they are pretty dense, more like a scone than a muffin. The positive to that is that the chocolate chips float throughout the muffin rather than sinking to the bottom.

Apparently I'll be making chocolate chip muffins on a weekly basis now, does anyone have any good choc. chip muffin recipes?

Tantalizing Tuesday

I posted the amazing roasted turkey recipe a few weeks ago and promised to follow-up with the giblet gravy. Easter is this weekend already, crazy how time flies, if you're planning on making turkey try out this gravy... it's super delish.

Giblet Gravy
recipe thanks to the Food Diva

What You Need:
3 tbsp butter
gizzard, neck and wing tips from turkey
1/4 cup of each, carrot celery, onion diced
1 small bouquet garni: leeks, parsley, thyme, bay leaf, celery stalk, 10-15 peppercorns
1 qrt chicken stock, or pan juices with fat removed
1 tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 2 tbsp cold water
garlic clove
sage stalks
salt & pepper
cheesecloth & butcher twine (for bouquet garni)
saucepan
strainer

What You Do:
1. Prepare the bouquet garni by making a sandwich. If you're unsure of how to go about this you can watch this short free 8 minute video made by the Food Diva. The leek and celery act as the bread; fill with parsley, thyme, bay leaf, celery and peppercorns. Wrap & tie with cheesecloth.
2. In a saucepan, melt butter
3. Add gizzard, wingtips, neck, giblets, celery, carrots, onions
4. Add salt and pepper.
5. Over med-high heat cook until vegetables and meats begin to caramelize
6. Add chicken stock, scrape bottom of pan to deglaze
7. Add bouquet garni, season slightly
8. Add sage stalks and garlic clove
9. Simmer for at least an hour until meat is tender & broth is flavoured (I let it simmer for a few hours but am sure to keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn't boil dry)
10. Strain into a clean saucepan
11. Add some liquid from turkey out of pan (once turkey is cooked through)
12. Add about 1/2 of cornstarch mixture, simmer until slightly thickened
13. Season, keep warm
EAT.