Falling Off The Horse
Wowie, did I fall of the horse! And bad too. The month of November goes down in the record books as nonexistent.
I have been super busy. I did manage to squeeze in a couple of new recipes. I plan to at least try to get them laid out here in the next couple of days.
Somethings that happened in November, well I am not at liberty to discuss until a later date. But that is totally cool. Other things, well, the hubby and I received some big awards from his branch in the army. He received a St. Barbara's award and I received a Molly Pitcher Award. I am very proud of him for his achievement. Added bonus, we got to go out for the evening and I wore a pretty dress. :o)
I know we have moved into December and I am thankful that the hubby helped me greatly with the Christmas decorations. I was so overwhelmed in November I feel like I had no energy to do anything. But we have decorations - indoor and out - up, presents purchased (still need to wrap), and cards ready to go out into the mail. I know in just a few short days I will get to relax and do what I like best - make yummy dinners and desserts and enjoy the holidays.
I'll be coming back in force - at least I hope so!
Pumpkins
So besides all of the candy, which I usually buy and proceed to eat myself, the one thing I really enjoy about Halloween is pumpkins. And no, not in the I gotta have Pumpkin Spice Lattes or Coffee sort of way. I like the carving the pumpkins. I am not exceptionally good at it. Although, every year I think I do a better job then the year before. I like searching for a pattern, tracing it out, and pretty much forcing the pumpkin to it's cut up demise.
This year I decided to go for a more simple pattern but one that I find inherently funny.
Can you tell which one is mine? I somewhat force my husband to play along and carve a pumpkin as well. But I usually pick out his design as well. Since you can't see the actual pumpkin when it is totally dark, here they are with a little light.
This year I decided to go for a more simple pattern but one that I find inherently funny.
Carving isn't the only thing I like about pumpkins. You are probably thinking - bring on the pumpkin pi (haha, pie) recipe already! Nope, I am not a big fan of pie. I really like going through the innards and collecting all of the seeds. Then I like to toast them. So here is the recipe...
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Ingredients
Pumpkin Seeds
Water
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Steps
1. Dump seeds into pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil. Once it has begun boiling, set heat to simmer and cook for 2 hours.
2. Strain water and pat seeds dry with paper towels.
3. Heat oven to 250 degrees.
4. Spread seeds over a baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil over seeds then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Use your hands to make sure it is all evenly mixed. Re-spread out seeds on sheet.
5. Bake in 250 degree oven for 1 hour.
6. Let cool and Enjoy!
Sadly, this year my two awesome pumpkins did not yield a lot of seeds. I am very disappointed. I might just go out and buy some more...maybe carve them but definitely steal their yummy seeds and toast them.
Backyard
JT has been an out and about sort of baby. We have never really taken him outside to just play - until yesterday. It was really beautiful out. So, we let the dogs out to run around the backyard, took JT and his tractor out, and even brought a couple of burgers and hot dogs out to grill us some dinner.
JT learned really quickly that putting his hand down on the grass is not quite the same as carpet. This realization caused several moments of intense screaming. I guess he takes after mom - I am not a super outdoorsy person. I like a nicely manicured lawn but that is about as far as my love of the outdoors goes.
After overcoming this small "grass isn't carpet" inconvenience, JT did have loads of fun running around in a much more wide open space.
JT learned really quickly that putting his hand down on the grass is not quite the same as carpet. This realization caused several moments of intense screaming. I guess he takes after mom - I am not a super outdoorsy person. I like a nicely manicured lawn but that is about as far as my love of the outdoors goes.
After overcoming this small "grass isn't carpet" inconvenience, JT did have loads of fun running around in a much more wide open space.
Crock Pot Corn Chowder
So, I signed up for the Crockin' Girls weekly e-newsletter. It was alright but about two weeks ago - I think they made a great change. Instead of just one video instruction recipe, they are now sending out a weekly meal plan for your crock pot. So if I am not crazy about the recipe they are highlighting, I have 4 more recipes to choose from. The pizza recipe came from that weekly meal plan and so does this corn chowder.
Ingredients:
Steps:
The Final Product:
For some reason, I don't think I can take a great picture of food while it is in my crockpot. Looks aren't everything. This was really good - unfortunately, I forgot to strain the water from the whole kernel corn. BUT, I did throw in an extra potato so it wasn't soo watery. I do have a couple of notes of improvement for next time I make it because lets be honest this is going to be a great cold weather meal.
First, brown the diced ham in the insert on the stove. This will let out the saltiness of the ham and keep the ham pieces crunchy.
Second, I would probably use a total of 6 medium potatoes. So when it comes to the mashing step, the soup will definitely be nice and thick.
Third, during step 3 I would consider adding some cheddar cheese and pepper. I feel like the soup needed a little kick.
All in all, this is a keeper recipe. I even planned ahead and chopped my potatoes and onion (I purchased the ham already diced) the night before. It made the dump ingredients in the cooker really quick the following morning. I guess all that really matters is that JT gobbled this soup up. His approval is all I really need.
Corn Chowder
from the Crockin' Girls
Ingredients:
4 potatoes (peeled and diced)
1 Can of cream corn
1 Can of whole kernel corn
2 Cups of chicken broth
8 Ounces of diced ham
1 Cups of diced onions
1/4 Cups of butter
2 Cups of half and half
Steps:
1. Place potatoes, both cans of corn, chicken broth, ham, and onions into the slow cooker. Remember to strain the water/juice from the whole kernel corn before placing in slowcooker.
2. Cook on low for 7-8 hours.
3. Mash the mixture to your desired consistency and then add the butter and half and half.
4. Cook for an additional 30 minutes on high, and you are set!
The Final Product:
For some reason, I don't think I can take a great picture of food while it is in my crockpot. Looks aren't everything. This was really good - unfortunately, I forgot to strain the water from the whole kernel corn. BUT, I did throw in an extra potato so it wasn't soo watery. I do have a couple of notes of improvement for next time I make it because lets be honest this is going to be a great cold weather meal.
First, brown the diced ham in the insert on the stove. This will let out the saltiness of the ham and keep the ham pieces crunchy.
Second, I would probably use a total of 6 medium potatoes. So when it comes to the mashing step, the soup will definitely be nice and thick.
Third, during step 3 I would consider adding some cheddar cheese and pepper. I feel like the soup needed a little kick.
All in all, this is a keeper recipe. I even planned ahead and chopped my potatoes and onion (I purchased the ham already diced) the night before. It made the dump ingredients in the cooker really quick the following morning. I guess all that really matters is that JT gobbled this soup up. His approval is all I really need.
Walking
For the past week or so, JT has been taking steps. Yes, steps. Little steps that almost constituted walking. Everything he has done this he has made sure that I am either a. not paying attention or b. unable to capture the momentous occasion on video. Well, tonight, I managed to catch the steps. You will have to wait until about the 40 second mark for the awesomeness to occur.
CrockPot Pizza
Whoa, whoa, whoa. CrockPot Pizza. Yeah, I know. I did not exactly have a lot of confidence in the whole pizza in a slowcooker idea. Yet, I could not resist the novelty of the idea. So being a little lazy, I decided what the heck, let's do this thing!
Ingredients
When I first lifted the top of the slowcooker, this was the site I saw:
Call me surprised. I didn't think it would be so...normal looking when it was done. After carefully extracting the pizza, I got a better look at it:
All in all, it was quite tasty. Too bad I couldn't eat all of it. So go ahead and make your pizza in your CrockPot, you won't be disappointed!
CrockPot Pizza
from Crockin' Girls
Ingredients
1 Can of refrigerated pizza doughSteps:
1-2 Cups of pizza sauce
1-2 Cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
Your favorite toppings
1. Spray your slow cooker with non-stick spray. Don't skimp out on the spray, you want that pizza to slide out at the end of the cooking process.Finished Product:
2. Unroll the pizza dough and spread along the bottom of the cooker. Let edges come up 1 inch on the sides.
3. Spread pizza sauce, cover with cheese, and top with your favorite toppings.
4. Cover slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 2 and a half hours. Uncover and let cool for 20 -30 minutes. Carefully remove from slow cooker and enjoy!
When I first lifted the top of the slowcooker, this was the site I saw:
Call me surprised. I didn't think it would be so...normal looking when it was done. After carefully extracting the pizza, I got a better look at it:
All in all, it was quite tasty. Too bad I couldn't eat all of it. So go ahead and make your pizza in your CrockPot, you won't be disappointed!
Clever Little Boy
No, I do not mean it to brag. Sometimes I just find that my son does things that I don't expect him to be doing. Case in point:
Not screaming his head off because his Taggies are out of his reach:
Mimicking story time before bed:
Not screaming his head off because his Taggies are out of his reach:
Mimicking story time before bed:
Root Beer Float Cookies
Recently, my mom was out to visit. She sent me the link to this intriguing cookie recipe. We gathered up all the necessary ingredients while she was here. Unfortunately, her trip ended too soon and we did not have enough time to test out these cookies. I finally had some time today to get down and dirty with...
Root Beer Cookie Ingredients:
Root Beer Frosting Ingredients:
First, I managed to get about 58 cookies. Based of the original link, I guess I didn't make my cookies to big. I thought they were pretty substantial when I dropped the dough.
Second, the cookies remind me a lot of the consistency of my favorite Aunt Dora's Love Knot cookies. They don't sink like chocolate chip cookies. The cookies sans frosting have a wonderful hint of root beer. Not at all over powering - which is what I was expecting.
Third, the frosting makes the experience. The sugar creates that bubbly explosion just like the carbonation of a root beer float.
Just so delicious! The only downside, JT does not eat cookies, which leaves me with waaaay to many cookies to eat.
Root Beer Float Cookies
from Six Sisters' Stuff
Root Beer Cookie Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softenedCookie Steps:
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. root beer extract or concentrate
4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1. Preheat oven to 375º.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in buttermilk and root beer extract.
3. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture.
4. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Root Beer Frosting Ingredients:
4 cups powdered sugar (or icing sugar)Frosting Steps:
3/4 cup butter, softened
3 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. root beer extract or concentrate
1. In a mixing bowl, combine all frosting ingredients. Beat until smooth.
2. Frost cooled cookies.
First, I managed to get about 58 cookies. Based of the original link, I guess I didn't make my cookies to big. I thought they were pretty substantial when I dropped the dough.
Second, the cookies remind me a lot of the consistency of my favorite Aunt Dora's Love Knot cookies. They don't sink like chocolate chip cookies. The cookies sans frosting have a wonderful hint of root beer. Not at all over powering - which is what I was expecting.
Third, the frosting makes the experience. The sugar creates that bubbly explosion just like the carbonation of a root beer float.
Just so delicious! The only downside, JT does not eat cookies, which leaves me with waaaay to many cookies to eat.
Slacker
Ah yes. The slacker bug has hit again. Well, not that I have been slacking off, I have been plenty busy. I have just been too busy to sit down and write. It has been almost two whole weeks since I last wrote. Yikes!
It has been a bit quiet on the foodie front. My hubby has been away on business and I just can not bring myself to make huge awesome meals for one person. Now, JT is starting to eat regular meals, if the I can make things small enough. But let's be honest, sometimes it is just easier to pop the microwave meals in and not think. I do have a bunch of recipes lined up to try with a heavy emphasis on crockpot meals. Why? Besides the fact that it will be ready whenever the hubby gets home, the meats become tender enough that JT can just gum at it. Well, doesn't he have teeth? He does - at least 6, we are cutting a few more as I type. But he still has not quite gotten the concept of chewing or in his case mashing the food up with his gums.
I have also been kept busy with Army life in general and volunteer work. It is rewarding but sometimes I would like to put it on hold so that I can do all the little activities and hobbies that relax me.
Oh, I did manage to find my little flip video hd recorder. Now that JT is moving so much, it seems like a godsend. So here are a couple of clips from the past two weeks:
It has been a bit quiet on the foodie front. My hubby has been away on business and I just can not bring myself to make huge awesome meals for one person. Now, JT is starting to eat regular meals, if the I can make things small enough. But let's be honest, sometimes it is just easier to pop the microwave meals in and not think. I do have a bunch of recipes lined up to try with a heavy emphasis on crockpot meals. Why? Besides the fact that it will be ready whenever the hubby gets home, the meats become tender enough that JT can just gum at it. Well, doesn't he have teeth? He does - at least 6, we are cutting a few more as I type. But he still has not quite gotten the concept of chewing or in his case mashing the food up with his gums.
I have also been kept busy with Army life in general and volunteer work. It is rewarding but sometimes I would like to put it on hold so that I can do all the little activities and hobbies that relax me.
Oh, I did manage to find my little flip video hd recorder. Now that JT is moving so much, it seems like a godsend. So here are a couple of clips from the past two weeks:
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