Anyone feel like participating in a challenge? It isn't so much that you are competing against people, but more trying to challenge yourself. See, I had been a subscriber to Cooking Light since the Jan/Feb 2000 issue. I received that first subscription as a gift (Thanks Craig!) and it is what started me on my foodie journey. However, I have really starting coming away from Cooking Light with other recipe sources (Food Network) and to be honest, you start seeing the same recipes over and over. With the move and everything, I let my subscription run out, but I just picked up the June issue at the grocery store. I haven't looked at it except the index in the back to figure out how best to do this challenge.
Here are the rules:
- Make one recipe from this issue each week, plus two additional squeezed in somewhere.
- It is ok to substitute as long as the frame of the recipe remains the same (ie, if the recipe calls for skim milk and all you have is 2% by all means, use your 2%)
- One recipe should be something you would not normally try. This can contain an ingredient you don't normally cook with or I might try an appetizer or dessert since I usually don't make those from this magazine.
- Bonus: Make an entire meal from this magazine.
Anyone in?
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
This Old House
Ok, here are some house pictures. This is the outside, taken in March when we were first looking at it:
And here is the pool, nicely fenced off to keep James out. Again, this was in March so there are no leaves on the trees.
Mark took the rest of these pictures before the movers came so hopefully you can see what everything is. Here is our formal living room looking toward the entry way:
Our family room:
Dining room:
Kitchen:
Breakfast nook and GAS stove. We actually got a new stove. If anyone needs an old gas stove with oven that doesn't really work, it is in front of house available for pick up.
Master bedroom:
And the most awesome screened in porch ever!
And here is the pool, nicely fenced off to keep James out. Again, this was in March so there are no leaves on the trees.
Mark took the rest of these pictures before the movers came so hopefully you can see what everything is. Here is our formal living room looking toward the entry way:
Our family room:
Dining room:
Kitchen:
Breakfast nook and GAS stove. We actually got a new stove. If anyone needs an old gas stove with oven that doesn't really work, it is in front of house available for pick up.
Master bedroom:
And the most awesome screened in porch ever!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
First Boat Ride
What? You wanted pictures of the house? Well, these were just too cute not to share.
This is when we were first getting underway. James really did not like the life vest. It made him chubbier than normal.
Ok, so we took it off (don't tell the coast guard) and things started looking up. Ohhhhhh, look at the water!
Even better, look at the new captain:
Now we have got the hang of it!
This is when we were first getting underway. James really did not like the life vest. It made him chubbier than normal.
Ok, so we took it off (don't tell the coast guard) and things started looking up. Ohhhhhh, look at the water!
Even better, look at the new captain:
Now we have got the hang of it!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
No pictures, new recipe
I know where the camera is, but apparently Mark needed it for work, so still no pictures. However, I have a yummy recipe to share that I made last night. This was the first complete meal that I made in my new kitchen. This is a very easy and tasty meal, but it takes 3 hours to bake so those of you with JOBS should save this for a weekend. It would be great as a Sunday dinner. I served it with steamed broccoli drizzled with lemon olive oil.
Crispy Chicken with Basil and Sweet Tomatoes
4 chicken drumsticks and 4 chicken quarters (I used 2 HUGE, Dallas sized breasts)
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
bunch of basil, rough chopped
1 lb cherry tomatoes, halved (I used half pound grape tomatoes)
10 cloves garlic, chopped (I used 6)
olive oil
1-1/2 lbs of new potatoes, scrubbed and chopped into bite sized pieces (I used 3 large red potatoes)
Preheat oven to 275. Season chicken with salt and pepper and put them in a snug-fitting pan in one layer. Throw in all the basil leaves, the tomatoes, and the potatoes. Scatter the garlic into the pan and drizzle over some olive oil. Mix around, pushing the tomatoes and potatoes under the chicken. Place in oven and bake for 1 hour. Take it out, and stir all around a bit and raiser the heat to 325 and cook for another 2 hours.
Crispy Chicken with Basil and Sweet Tomatoes
4 chicken drumsticks and 4 chicken quarters (I used 2 HUGE, Dallas sized breasts)
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
bunch of basil, rough chopped
1 lb cherry tomatoes, halved (I used half pound grape tomatoes)
10 cloves garlic, chopped (I used 6)
olive oil
1-1/2 lbs of new potatoes, scrubbed and chopped into bite sized pieces (I used 3 large red potatoes)
Preheat oven to 275. Season chicken with salt and pepper and put them in a snug-fitting pan in one layer. Throw in all the basil leaves, the tomatoes, and the potatoes. Scatter the garlic into the pan and drizzle over some olive oil. Mix around, pushing the tomatoes and potatoes under the chicken. Place in oven and bake for 1 hour. Take it out, and stir all around a bit and raiser the heat to 325 and cook for another 2 hours.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Movin' Out
Yes, yes. I know I need to have some pictures, but I can't find the camera. At least the Internet is hooked up. Anyways, I just wanted to let everyone know that we are in our house and we love it. It is so pretty. It is so nice to have our stuff and that James has a room and I can watch whatever I want on tv. Yay!
We have done well with the unpacking and finished everything that HAD to be unpacked right away. Then we moved on to what was easy to be unpacked. Now, we are hovering at things that don't have to be unpacked and are hard (ie, going through what needs to be put in the attic). We might be at this stage for awhile.
We have a ton of boxes if anyone needs them for anything!
We have done well with the unpacking and finished everything that HAD to be unpacked right away. Then we moved on to what was easy to be unpacked. Now, we are hovering at things that don't have to be unpacked and are hard (ie, going through what needs to be put in the attic). We might be at this stage for awhile.
We have a ton of boxes if anyone needs them for anything!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Check please!
We closed on our house yesterday and we are officially poor. But we have a pretty house with a pool! Everything went fine and my signing arm held up great. When all the paperwork was finished, the assistant came in to make sure everyone was fine and to ask, "did everyone get their check?"
Um, I didn't get one! ;)
Um, I didn't get one! ;)
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Saturday, May 5, 2007
I make my own baby food!
So, lately I have been feeling a little inadequate as a mommy. Not sure why, maybe it is because I have started the weaning process, or because I don't co-sleep, or maybe it is because James can't seem to get past fractions and onto algebra. Just kidding about that last one. But the foodie in me wants to cry out and everyone who knows me already had a clue, "YES, I make my own baby food." So there.
For recipes and tips, I use www.wholesomebabyfood.com. They have beginning recipes for fruits, veggies, and meat. They also have different finger food ideas and even teething biscuits for older babies.
Although, it is not as easy as opening a jar, baby food is pretty easy to make. I simply cook fruits or veggies very well, then puree in a food processor. I freeze the baby food in ice cube trays in an easy 1 oz serving size.
One of the main reasons I do it is to save money. To be honest, I don't know if it is that much cheaper, but I just pay attention to sales. I have picked up a 1 lb bag of carrots for a dollar, two cans of pears in juice for 88 cents, and a bag of frozen peaches for $1.50.
A favorite recipe is Lentil Stew. Simply put about 1/4-1/2 cup lentils in a pot, add 1 or 2 pealed potatoes...and maybe a carrot, throw in a few cherry tomatoes and a dash of paprika, then cover with water and cook until everything is soft. Puree in food processor and freeze. It makes a ton and I usually add a cube or two of green veggies for a well balanced meal.
For recipes and tips, I use www.wholesomebabyfood.com. They have beginning recipes for fruits, veggies, and meat. They also have different finger food ideas and even teething biscuits for older babies.
Although, it is not as easy as opening a jar, baby food is pretty easy to make. I simply cook fruits or veggies very well, then puree in a food processor. I freeze the baby food in ice cube trays in an easy 1 oz serving size.
One of the main reasons I do it is to save money. To be honest, I don't know if it is that much cheaper, but I just pay attention to sales. I have picked up a 1 lb bag of carrots for a dollar, two cans of pears in juice for 88 cents, and a bag of frozen peaches for $1.50.
A favorite recipe is Lentil Stew. Simply put about 1/4-1/2 cup lentils in a pot, add 1 or 2 pealed potatoes...and maybe a carrot, throw in a few cherry tomatoes and a dash of paprika, then cover with water and cook until everything is soft. Puree in food processor and freeze. It makes a ton and I usually add a cube or two of green veggies for a well balanced meal.
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