I'm Back

I love  Christmas but this year was a bit of a struggle for me.  It all started on Dec 2nd with a trip to Shawnee to a Christmas parade.  I got so sick and was puking all the way home and into the night.  It was all over after that....the rest of the month was blur.  I developed anxiety during this lovely sickness.  It was so bad that I had to have my mom 24-7.  I know this was hard for her because she likes her time at her house but she stayed with me.  My little guy also got sick and his best friend g-pa took care of him.  I didn't care about anything during this time all I wanted was to not feel the way I was feeling.  So talking to people about this little hush hush thing called anxiety I found out that over half the world is on something for this. Really?  I am now one of those people and I have no problem telling anyone about what has been going on in my head.  I could have never made it through this mess with out my mom, dad, hubby, son Blaine, and (at times) little Logan.    Thank you guys

Look what I want a Walgreens.

Also how much do I love the makeup at Walgreens...it's the best

Chicken with mushroom cream sauce

Yesterday I whipped up something Julia Child.  This one is not time consuming.

Take some cut up mushrooms and saute them in some oil.  While you are doing that brown your chicken in some oil in another pan until golden.  Take the chicken out and add some shallots and white wine.  I probably used about 2/3 c of wine.  I cooked that until the onions were soft.  Then I added about 1/2 of cream, chicken, and the mushrooms.  Put a lid on it and let it cook for about 10 minutes.  Make sure you spoon the cream on top to the chicken.  It is really good if you don't like mushrooms then just don't add them.  Thankfully both my kids love them but the other kid (hubby) doesn't. 

twins?

People always say how much my son looks like me...

Green Tea

Green tea who knew.  Well, I am sure a lot of people knew how good green tea is for you but I didn't.  After my second child my hormones were all crazy and still are.  Hormones out of whack cause this girl to have a broken out face.  I have tried EVERYTHING.  I have gone to the dermo a million times.  Nothing has worked until recently.  I have been drinking tea and water like crazy.  I drink it about 4 times a day.  My face has actually been sooo much better.  Don't believe me just google benefits of green tea. 

bored

I am very blessed to be a stay at home mom...HOWEVER sometimes I look out the window and wonder what it would be like if I was out there.  I watch my neighbors leave everyday for work and watch them come home from work.  I wonder what it would be like to have co-workers and go to co-worker events.  My husband has some events that we go to but I always feel out of the loop.  They all have their inside jokes.  I also wonder what it would be like to wear something other than jeans.  Don't get me wrong I love my life and would not trade it for anything but I wonder. 

Baked apple pudding

Every October since 10-22-05 I have made this baked apple pudding.  It is my little guys favorite.  I only make it once a year and that is the day that they have the Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin special.  My little guys curl up on the couch with a bowl of this stuff  and watch the special.  Oh and let me tell you I made my boys help me make it.  I want them to be able to cook.  My hubby is not much of a cook but you better believe I will be like Paula Dean with her boys.

Baked Apple Pudding
2c. apples
1/2 tsp lemon juice
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. milk
1 c. flour

TOPPING
1/2 c. sugar
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
dash of salt
1 c.  boiling water

Slice 2 cups of apples, put in 8*8 buttered pan.  Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice.  Cream sugar, salt, and butter.  Add baking powder, milk, and flour (alternately).  Turn batter over apples.  Mix sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.  Turn over top of batter.  Pour 1 cup of boiling water over all.  Do not stir.  Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

pumpkin cupcakes

To start I have no idea how to get this thing off my blog that says the cutest blog.  If anyone knows please let me know.  I made the most wonderful cupcakes ever.  This is not my pic but it looks just like the ones I made.  NO camera to take pics...sorry.

I bought the spice cake mix and baked my cupcakes just like the box.  Then I just took a block of cream cheese softened and added some powdered sugar (I am not sure how much but I just added enough to make it creamy).  To top it off I added some cinammon.  Then I sprinkled some cut up pecans on it. 

Julia Child's Coq a vin

Good morning blog friends.  Yesterday I did it...I tried to make Coq a Vin and I am happy to say it was a success and a lot of fun to make.  I am blogging at my parents house because our computer crashed and also I am sorry to say I have no pics because I have no camera.  Boy what a sad case I am.  So I got this recipe out of the Julia Child recipe book but honestly there is a LOT to type so I just copied this off of a website.  ENJOY!
Legendary chef Julia Child appeared on "Good Morning America" on May 11, 1995, with her Ragout of Chicken and Coq a Vin recipes.




Coq au Vin is chicken in red wine with small braised onions, mushrooms, and lardons of pork - an elaboration on the far more elementary preceding ragout, coq au vin involves more hand work since you have lardons of bacon to prepare for the special flavor they give to the sauce. Then there is the traditional garnish of small braised onions and sautéed mushrooms. This combination makes a wonderfully satisfying dish, and a fine one for company.





Ingredients

1/2 cup lardons (4 ounces -- 1-by-1/4-inch strips of blanched slab bacon or salt pork - see Special Note below)

2 1/2 to 3 pounds frying chicken parts

2 tbs. butter

1 tbs. olive oil (or good cooking oil)

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 or 2 large cloves of garlic, pureed

1 imported bay leaf

1/4 tsp or so thyme

1 large ripe red unpeeled tomato, chopped, (or 1/3 cup canned Italian plum tomatoes)

3 cups young red wine (Zinfandel, Macon or Chianti type)

1 cup chicken stock (or more)

Beurre manie, for the sauce (1 1/2 tbs. each flour softened butter blended to a paste)

Fresh parsley sprigs (or chopped parsley)

1/3 cup good brandy (optional)

12 to 16 small brown-braised white onions

3 cups fresh mushrooms, trimmed, quartered and sautéed

Cooking Directions

Browning and simmering the chicken. Before browning the chicken, sauté the blanched bacon or salt pork and remove to a side dish, leaving the fat in the pan. Brown the chicken in the pork fat, adding a little olive oil, if needed. Flame the chicken with the brandy, if you wish -- it does give its own special flavor, besides being fun to do. Then proceed to simmer the chicken in the wine, stock, tomatoes and seasoning as directed in the master recipe.



Finishing the dish. Strain, degrease, and finish the sauce, also as described. Strew the braised onions and sautéed mushrooms over the chicken, baste with the sauce, and simmer a few minutes, basting, to rewarm the chicken and to blend flavors.



Special note: To blanch bacon or salt pork: When you use bacon or salt pork in cooking, you want to remove its salt as well as its smoky flavor, which would permeate the rest of the food. To do so, you blanch it -- meaning, you drop it into a saucepan of cold water to cover it by 2 to 3 inches, bring it to the boil, and simmer 5 to 8 minutes; the drain, refresh in cold water, and pat dry in paper towels.

Green Bean Bundles

I took these awesome little things to a dinner the other night and they were a hit.  My aunt Brenda (shout out) makes them for our family get together and there is never any left.

SO here is the ingredients
3 cans of whole green beans
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 stick of butter
garlic salt
Bacon cut in half
preheat your oven to 350.  Take about 7 whole green beans and wrap half a piece of bacon around them.  Put them in a baking dish.  Next melt your butter and brown sugar together.  Pour it on top to the green beans and then sprinkle with garlic salt.  Bake for  45 minutes.  After I baked them I broiled them so the bacon would be a little crispy. 

They will be a hit.  I promise!

Beer Bread

I found out how you can make your own beer bread like the ones you get at home parties.

12 oz beer (not corona or light)
3C self rising flour
1/3 C sugar
3 Tablespoons of melted butter

Set your oven to 350.  Spray a bread loaf pan real good with flour spray.  Mix beer, four, and sugar.  You may have to use your hands and it will be sticky.  Put it in loaf pan and then take your melted butter and spread it on top.  Bake for 50-60 minutes

Julie Julia

I am watching again Julie and Julia.  It has motivated me again to cook.  Tomorrow I hope to start cooking.  Aww I dream of cooking school.  Anyone want to pay for it?  So I hope to be able to take pics but my camera is no longer working right but hopefully it will atleast take one pic.  Wish me luck. 

blog I look at

I thought I would show a blog I look at everyday.  This lady is just toooo perfect.  I mean she has 5 kids and looks incredible.  http://vivafullhouse.blogspot.com/

curtains

I made my son some curtains for his room and it was super easy.  I bought some drop cloth at Lowes for $9.  I washed the drop cloth and then cut it in half.  I used my handy dandy sewing machine and stitched up the sides.  Blue ribbon was added at the bottom.  Again my pictures are awful because my camera needs to be thrown away.  So very sorry about the awful quality of the pic.

spooky silhouette

I apologize about the awful picture quality.  My camera has had it.  We got this camera 6 years ago and it is now done.  This little project was very cheap and very easy.  I just went to this website http://www.bhg.com/holidays/halloween/crafts/unique-halloween-craft-ideas/and downloaded the free pictures.  It will tell you all the instructions you need to know. 

Nate Berkus

Really I can't believe I wasn't invited to the Nate Berkus show!  I am only kidding but it seems like all the blogs I look at twice a day was invited.  So if you haven't looked at the blog called Max and Isabellas room you have to!  I look at everyday and it is great plus she is going to be on his show.  Brooke Happy birthday friend!

Halloween and fall stuff

I am ready for Halloween....well not really the weather of Halloween but the decorating part. 
Here is some stuff I did.  I took a board and modge podged craft paper onto it.  I then took orange burlap and cut out a pumpkin.  Just modge podge that to the board.  easy as can be

Just another pic of my silly  boy with another costume

my little boys

My sweet nephew Corbin

banana bread

Raining today and what is better than baking on a rainy day?  I have the best banana bread recipe ever and super easy.  I will also show Logan's picture of the day.  People always laugh and say oh he looks so cute...I want to tell them no! don't tell him that.  I think it is cute but come on...everyday is a bit much.

BANANA BREAD

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup of brown sugar
2 large eggs beaten
2 1/3 cups of mashed bananas.  I use 4 bananas

1.  Preheat oven to 350
2.  Grease 9x5 loaf pan
3.  In large bowl, combine flour,soda, and salt
4.  In seperate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar
5.  Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended
6.  Stir banana mixture into flour mixture until just blended
7.  Pour into loaf pan
8.  Bake 60-65 minutes

recipe to try

Ingredients


3 large eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup grated Parmigian-Reggiano

Kosher salt

2 balls fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced

8 slices crumbed Pullman loaf

Peanut oil, for frying (If you have a nut allergy, use canola or a neutrally flavored oil)

1 cup all-purpose flour

Sauce:

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 cloves garlic, smashed

Pinch crushed red pepper flakes

1 lemon, juiced

3 tablespoons capers, finely chopped

1/2 stick butter

Kosher salt

3 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley leaves

Special equipment: toothpicks

Directions

Beat together the eggs, milk and Parmigiano-Reggiano in a medium bowl until they are a homogenous mixture. Season with salt, to taste, and reserve.



Divide the mozzarella between 4 slices of the Pullman loaf. Put the remaining slices of bread on top of the mozzarella and press to close.



Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.



Add peanut oil to a large wide skillet until it is at least a 1/2-inch deep. Heat over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F.



Dredge each sandwich in flour and shake off the excess. Dip each sandwich generously in the egg/and cheese mixture. Work in batches, do this process to each sandwich just before frying, it's not a good idea to flour and dip ahead of time. Secure each sandwich with toothpicks. Put the first sandwich in the hot oil. Remove the toothpicks to turn and insert the toothpicks in the second side. When each sandwich is nice and brown on both sides, remove it from the oil and blot it on paper towels. Put it on a sheet tray with a rack and keep warm in the preheated oven. Repeat this process with each of the sandwiches.



Cut the sandwiches diagonally into quarters, arrange on a serving platter and serve with the sauce.



Sauce:



In a small saute pan combine the olive oil, garlic and crushed red pepper. Cook over medium heat until the garlic is golden brown and very aromatic. Add the lemon juice and capers and shake to combine. Swirl in the butter and season with salt, to taste. Toss in the parsley and serve immediately.



Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeesey!

soup to make

Ingredients


Extra virgin olive oil, plus high quality finishing oil, for garnish

1 large red onion, diced

Kosher salt

Pinch crushed red pepper flakes

3 garlic cloves, smashed and finely chopped

1 cup white wine

2 pounds ripe summer tomatoes, diced

10 basil leaves, half whole and half cut into chiffonade

2 cups tomato juice

2 cups day-old Italian bread, crusts removed and cubed

1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Directions

Coat a large wide pot with olive oil over medium heat and add the onions. Season with salt and crushed red pepper, to taste, and cook until the onions are soft and very aromatic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Toss in the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes. Add the wine and cook until it has reduced by half. Stir in the tomatoes, season with salt, to taste, and cook until the tomatoes are really soft and juicy, about 12 to 15 minutes. Toss in the whole basil leaves.



Working in batches, carefully puree the tomatoes in a blender*. Return the tomato puree to the pot and add the tomato juice and the bread. Cook the soup over medium heat for until the bread has completely lost its shape and the soup is really thick, about 20 minutes. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning, if needed.



Ladle the soup into bowls and serve garnished with grated cheese, basil chiffonade and a drizzle of big fat finishing oil.



Notes

*When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.



Next Recipe

crafting

I have been crafting this weekend.  Here are a few things I have done.

pillow

Ok I know this post may be no big deal to a lot of you but to me it is HUGE!  I made a pillow the right way with my new sewing machine (thanks again mom).  It is a big deal also because my "helper" tried to help me with it.  He also tried to "help" me with the cleaning.  Gotta love him. 

boxes who knew

Ok so I would have totally done the before pic but I am not going to embarrase myself.  This closet was bad!  I had the grand idea to use some boxes and put wrapping paper around them.  I then took little squares of wood and painted them chalk paint.  I just hot glued them on and I have to say I like it.  Who knew boxes could look so cute. 

chalkboard picture

I took and old picture and painted it white.  Then I put several coats of chalk paint.  Turned out pretty cute.

Sick boy

Well my little guy is sick and having to have breathing treatments. 

Of course no sickness stands in the way of dressing up.