Cooking Challenge Week TWO, Recipe 2

Tonight I'm making indian fry bread tacos with Hidden Valley Ranch Sausage Stars for an appetizer.  The sausage stars a great appetizer to bring to a Thanksgiving/Christmas gathering.  They look great on a platter, taste amazing, and seem like they'd take forever to make (but shhhhhh, they don't!).  The majority can be made the night prior and just assembled shortly prior to baking.

Hidden Valley Ranch Sausage Stars

1 - Package Original Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix

(prepared according to package directions)
1 lb Jimmy Dean regular (or I prefer spicy) sausage, browned & drained
1 - 8oz Bag Kraft Mexican 4 Cheeses
1/2 - cup red bell pepper (optional)
2 Tablespoons chopped black olices (optional)
1 - package wonton wrappers


Brown sausage and drain off any grease, set aside. Mix ranch dressing according to package directions. Mix the sausage, prepared dressing, bell pepper, black olives, and cheese together. Place won ton wrappers in a lightly greased muffin tin.

 
Bake 5-7 minutes until lightly golden brown. Watch them carefully so they dont get too brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool. When cooled, fill 3/4 full with sausage mixture. Return to the oven and bake 5-7 minutes until cheese melts.
 
***If making the day prior, mix ingredients and follow the first step to bake the won tons.  Place won tons in a ziploc bag and store overnight.  Refrigerate sausage mixture in covered bowl overnight.
 

Cooking Challenge Week TWO, Recipe 1

I am going to attempt to post the recipes by Wednesday each week.  With this in mind, I've decided to break this weeks posting into three parts.  I plan to make these postings a bit longer to ensure I cover all the details for each recipe.  Plus, the chicken alfredo "recipe", will officially be documented for the first time and I expect it will be a bit wordy.

Jen's Indulgent Chicken Alfredo

Serves: 2-4   Start to Table time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:
1lb boneless, skinless, chicken breasts-cut into strips
1 pkg fresh button mushrooms-quartered
1/4 small onion, diced
1 cup breadcrumbs-I prefer Italian
8 Tablespoons butter
1 jar alfredo sauce (yes, I usually just buy the premade stuff) Classico Four Cheese Alfredo Sauce
1 pkg fettuccini noodles
1/4 cup chopped tomato
Pepper to taste

1.  Boil the noodles according to package
2.  While the noodles are cooking, place 2 Tablespoons of butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat.  Sautee onions until translucent, then add the mushrooms until they begin to sweat.  Remove mushrooms and onion from pan and turn off stovetop heat.
3.  Melt 6 Tablespoons butter in a small bowl in the microwave.  Spread out the breadcrumbs on a plate.  Line up the cut chicken, bowl of butter, breadcrumb plate, and a clean plate on the counter.  Take each piece of chicken, dip into the butter, then coat with the breadcrumbs.  Place breaded chicken on the clean plate until all pieces are coated. (I often add shredded parmesan, paprika and garlic to the breadcrumbs for extra flavor.)
4.  Heat up the skillet where the onions and mushrooms cooked and add in the breaded chicken.  (You may need to add a little more butter to the pan.)  Cook chicken until no longer pink inside and nicely browned on the outside.
5.  While the chicken is cooking, heat the alfredo sauce in a small saucepan. 
6.  Once the chicken is almost browned, add back in the onions and mushrooms to warm (or add the mushrooms and onions directly to the alfredo sauce).

Plate as follows:
Noodles
Sauce
Chicken with mushrooms and onions
Sprinkle with tomatoes and pepper to taste

Tips:  The mushrooms and/or onions can be left out.  I've also made this with shrimp in place of the chicken.  Rhodes rolls breadsticks are the perfect side to this dish! 

I would love to get your feedback on this recipe.  Is there anything that is confusing or seems misleading.  Have you made this dish?  If so, please post your comments below.

Enjoy!

Cooking Challenge Week One!

“Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.”

Below are three of my favorite recipes...pick at least one to make this week and get started on the challenge: 

1. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cheese-Ravioli-with-Pumpkin-Sage-Sauce-2/Detail.aspx

This shouldn't be too intimidating since most of the ingredients are packaged items. I made this recipe with some sauteed shrimp on top (bought the frozen stuff, defrosted in a bowl of cold water, took off the tails (they pull right off), then melted some butter in a pan, added some diced onions, sauteed the onions until they were soft, added the shrimp with a little salt and pepper and cooked till they were warm over medium heat.

2. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Real-Italian-Calzones/Detail.aspx

This is a much more involved recipe, but would be fun to do on a Sunday. Yeast sounds intimidating but it's not too tough once you make a few things with it. I usually turn on the oven to 200, let it heat and then shut it off. I then make the dough and put it in the oven with a damp towel on top. That way my dough rises. When I don't do that, I think the temp in my house must be too cool, and the dough often doesn't rise.

I would also suggest reading the user reviews for these recipes. They often have tips for changes to make or things to add.

The last time I made this recipe, Ed and I had a friend over on a no-carb diet.  Obviously, I didn't know this prior, and our gracious guest ate multiple servings.  He stated later that he'd be happy to come back again and break his diet just for this meal!  Oh, I almost forgot...we LOVE Rhodes rolls.  I highly recommend following the instructions on the package for the breadsticks.  They go great with the calzones! http://www.rhodesbread.com/products/view/800

3. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Rempel-Family-Meatloaf/Detail.aspx

This is the only meatloaf recipe I've ever made. I actually don't really like meatloaf outside of this recipe and my moms. For this recipe I use 1/2lb pork and 1lb beef. I also line my pan with bread prior to putting the meatloaf in. This helps to make the meatloaf less greasy. The pork makes such a difference in the flavor though!
 
 
Happy Cooking!
 

  PS. I stumbled acrossed this photo this afternoon and decided it MUST be added to my blog.  This is a photo of my nephew "P".  I imagine him saying.  "Look, you just take the pot out of the cupboard like this..."

 

Cooking Challenge

I recently had a friend ask me to teach her to cook.  I was so flattered that this got me thinking...I have a ton of recipes that I love (many from http://www.allrecipes.com/) and would be happy to share.  So I'm creating a challenge for everyone who reads this. 

Here are the details:

• Each week I will post three recipes that I've tried and had great success with.  Many of these recipes will come from http://www.allrecipes.com/ and typically have high ratings from users on that site.  Which, by the way, if you haven't checked out http://www.allrecipes.com/ yet, you are missing out!  It's a free site and users rate the recipes after making it.  When a recipe has hundreds and sometimes even thousands of positive reviews, you can be pretty sure that it's worth your time making. 
• I will add my tips or comments to the recipe for that week.  I'll try and post the recipes each Wednesday so you have time to shop prior to the weekend (which I'm guessing is when most of us actually have some time to cook).
• All you have to do is make ONE recipe each week.  Of course, I suggest you make all three of them, but one recipe is sufficient.
• Once you make the recipe, please take a moment to share your review in the comments section.

Now...lets get cooking!

Taco Twist Bake Recipe | Taste of Home Recipes

Taco Twist Bake Recipe Taste of Home Recipes

My first 5K!

The ReadyTalk Race for Charities 5K (RRC) is brought to you by ReadyTalk, Colorado’s premier Audio and Web Conferencing provider.

Who: Serious Runners, Casual Walkers, Families and Four-Legged Friends
What: ReadyTalk’s 2nd Annual 5K benefitting Denver’s own Work Options for Women and Young Philanthropists Foundation
Where: City Park, Denver
When: Saturday, August 7, 2010Race Start: 9:30 am
Events: 5k run (runners only)2K walk with four-legged friends

http://www.readytalk.com/community/race-for-charities.php

Chicken

Chicken

Southwestern Cheese Panini

Southwestern Cheese Panini

Turkey & Tomato Panini

Turkey & Tomato Panini

Tijuana Torta

This looks amazing!
Tijuana Torta

It's been a while...

I continue to struggle with a focus for this blog...so I will now continue with some random updates. :)

1. Sunday Funnies:  I was making dinner this past Sunday and minding my own business when I happened to glance out the kitchen window.  I actually did a true double take before blurting out: "Ed, we've got cows in the driveway!".  I was actually rather impressed with myself in the few moments that followed.  I ran out the door, threw my hands up (you know, to make myself big as if they were bears), and ran after the two cows and six calves as they made there way back down the driveway. I proceeded to hollar "get", "get out of here", and "go on" and they leisurly made their way back.  Ed, on the otherhand was a bit more calm.  He made a phone call to the local farmer to find out if they were his cows-they were.  At this point, I realized shooing them back into the country road probably wasn't necessary...HOWEVER, they weren't going to get near my garden.  By the time I saw the beasts, they had made their way up the driveway and were closing in on our vehicles.   One right turn and a few more yards and they could have began quite the feast.  Regardless, they did some damage to the grass Ed is trying to grow out on the side of our driveway. 
2. The Wednesday Letters:

This is one of the very few Fiction books that I truly enjoyed.  I typically go for True Crime/Serial Killer type books, but this book somehow drew me in.  Ten pages into the book and I was moved to tears.  I was thrilled when I got close to the end of the book and my hand slid across the back cover to find a letter to read at the end.  I recommend this book to men and women and also plan to write Wednesday letters to my the man I marry, someday.

3.  THE Garden:  I've spent the majority of the past month or so working on the garden.  Here's what I've learned so far this year...

• 
  
  I am not capable of starting plants from seeds.
• 
  
  correction-I can start them, but they won't make it once they are planted outside
• 
  
  exception-I can start corn from seed outdoors, but even my weird neighbor back home was able to accomplish that in the city
• 
  
  Nebraska weather is NOT the same as Wisconsin weather...
• 
  
  Nebraska gets a lot more severe weather.  This includes, tornados, hail, and severe winds-none of which is good for the garden.
• 
  
  I would love to someday live a sustainable lifestyle: aka, I secretively want to be a farmer.
• 
  
  I'm in denial about my grapes.  I planted them in May and have yet to see any sign of life.  I keep telling Ed they are "dormant".
• 
  
  It can rain for three days straight, but the wind out here dries that all out quick
• 
  
  I am very grateful for the owl that lives in the cistern next to my garden.
• 
  
  Weeds grow faster than vegetables
• 
  
  Freshly dug dirt is the perfect litter box
• 
  
  I need a gate for the entrance to the garden
• 
  
  The pumpkins Ed planted last year reseeded or has he likes to say "volunteered" (this also happened to be right where I was hoping to plant more tomatoes...I kinda wish I had pretended they were weeds and pulled them instead of telling him.)
• 
  
  Burpee shipped me some plants that arrived wilted beyond repair and refunded my money no questions asked-very happy with their customer service
• 
  
  Something ate my hostas
• 
  
  I need to learn to can.

4. Turkeys:  Nebraska residents can purchase three turkey tags over the counter.  I purchased and shot all three.  Two Tom's and one Jake...the third one I called in and shot while hunting completely on my own-that includes staying in a cabin alone.  That by itself was an accomplishment for me.

2010

1 Drake Mallard

4 Snow Geese

1 Skunk

3 Turkeys

1 Rainbow trout

What I miss...

• The sound of waves crashing along the shore of Lake Michigan

• Rollerblading at LakeShore Park
• Summerfest
• Kopps

• Leaves
• All the windows and sunlight in my old house

• Lying on the hardwood floor next to my fireplace
• Ordering in Chinese food
• Grilling out in the driveway

• Listening to planes fly over and shake the house
• Girls Greys Anatomy night
• Sand volleyball at Jerseys

• .But most of all....my friends...

SPRING!

It was in the mid 60's yesterday in Dalton, Nebraska!  I took advantage of the weather and did a little bit of weeding...ok, a lot.  I cleaned up the flower bed in front of the house and filled up FIVE barrels full of weeds and rose bush trimmings.  It was amazing at how quickly that cleaned up the front of the house.  There is a ton more to do, but I figure if I take it day by day it won't be so overwhelming.

Being a former Wisconsinite, I am rather unfamiliar with tumbleweed.  I had the impression those things only existed in Arizona. Well, I am quickly learning that Nebraska is overrun by them.  They are somewhat amusing to watch roll down a dirt road.  However, when they pile up in your garden, along your fence line, next to an open trailer, etc. it gets rather annoying.  I can't wait to watch them burn in our burn barrel.  Um, just so you know, our burn "barrel" is actually similar to the picture below (but about three times the size)...

Have I mentioned how much I love where I live?

Tonight we are expecting a snow storm that could give us anywhere from 1-9 inches (the weathermen here are as bad as Wisconsin), so it's going to be a while before I get to start planting anything.  I am going to continue to dream though.  I have so many seeds to start and plenty of tools (thanks to Ed's mom!) but am patiently waiting for April before starting anything.  Last year, I started too early and ended up having to repot a bunch of plants and it turned out to be much too much work.  So I'm trying to have patience...which is NOT one of my strong suits.

While doing a little outdoor spring cleaning, I noticed another horror.  Ed confirmed that we have moles making cute little piles of dirt next to the house.  First of all, the moles are not cute! 

Thank God I have yet to see one in the yard.  I keep hoping Callie or one of the cats will take one out, but no luck so far.  We have two mounds so far that look like this:

We only have the two so far but I'm expecting the nicer weather to be cause for the lil guy to invite his buddies over.  So, if anyone has tips on how to get rid of these things, please let me know...

Laundry/Mudroom/Workout Room/Pet Storage/etc.

I am considering redoing our "laundry" room.  Unfortunately, while putting some thought into this, I realized this room serves several purposes:

• Laundry Room
• Mud Room
• Pet area
• food storage
• feeding area
• litter box
• Freezer location
• Possible fitness room (the treadmill is currently stored here)
• I would also LOVE to use this room as a sewing room-I'm such a dreamer!

Overall, the room is somewhat of a catchall room (aka "junk" room). 

I recently went shopping in Loveland, CO and became inspired while visiting the back room of a story called Cozy Cottage.  The room had a cream color and then some distressed looking furniture.  I realized a few things.  Number 1-I love that color for a laundry room.  Number 2-I would like a table for folding clothes in that room. Number 3-There is no way I could afford to buy the table they had displayed.

SO, I am starting small and hoping to get the room painted soon.  Once painted, I am planning to put up a witty quote.  I am looking at Wall Words Website to find something cute to put up there.  I've used this company before to put the following quote up in my bedroom:  "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but the moments that take your breath away."  I highly recommend this company (I don't get any sort of kickback for this.)  They are based in the US, female owned, and offer great customer service and the best product!  Unfortunately, I've experienced what companies who attempt to immitate wall words product actually deliver.

Anyhow, I would really appreciate any inspiration ideas for that room.  Here's what I've found so far...

I love the Laundry sign on the shelf.

I'm considering leaving in a cabinet that we have in that room and covering the lower half with a curtain.  Of course, I'd need to sew that and don't have a place for my machine quite yet.

I am hoping that with a fresh paint job and some more inspiration, I may actually start enjoying doing the laundry! 

Saag Paneer

Madhur Jaffrey Indian Cooking

Just looking at this photo makes my mouth water.  Ed needs to go out of town for the weekend, so I'm seriously considering driving to Denver, CO with the sole intention of getting Indian food for dinner. 

I love Nebraska, but I miss Milwaukee restaurants.  I would cook some of these dishes, but Ed isn't very adventurous in that department and it's a lot of work for just me.   Hmmm, road trip!

Oh and for those of you who don't know what this dish is....it's basically heaven.  The cheese looks like tofu (it's not tofu-it's so much better) but is so delicious.  The spinach is in a savory creamy sauce that once again is making me water.  Denver, I'll see you Saturday!

Go here for the recipe if you'd like to try it at home:
Saag Paneer Recipe

One lucky Skunk

Ed purchased a skunk trap. Callie continues to have an odor that limits the amount of attention I can give her. I just can only handle the skunk smell for so long.  I thought about spending some money on odor eliminator kits, but I am hoping in a week or two the scent will subside. 

*Tomato juice does NOT get the smell out

Skunk Recipe

Poor Callie was sprayed by a skunk this weekend. The #*($& got her right in the face! Today she had a shower...here's the recipe:

Step 1:

Rinse with 2 cans v8 juice

Step 2:

Wash with-

1 bottle peroxide

1/2 box baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 oz. doggie shampoo

Step 3:

Rinse with the juice from 1/2 a lemon

After she got out of the shower and I blew her dry, I realized the majority of the smell was still right between her eyes (you could even see the oil still on her fur). I shampooed that a bit more and followed up with some more v8 juice. I wish I could say she smells great, but for now at least my eyes aren't watering from the smell and we have our girl back in the house.

Ed

I stumbled upon this picture and it made me think of Ed. I thank God for bringing him into my life. He has become my best friend whom I admire and trust completely. The more I learn about him the greater my love for him becomes. I never knew how great a relationship could be until I moved to Nebraska. I couldn't be more blessed.
I pray that we live to take a similar photo some day.