My lunch today

Homemade Turkey Pot Pie

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It's cold, this is HOT and I guess it's been out but I missed it... ENJOY

That time of year, Again

Yes! It's almost New Years day and I cannot WAIT. No, not for 2011 itself, but for our annual brunch. We had to cancel it last year as it's a huge expense and after the adoption and Christmas it just would not fit into out budget. We are back in action this year and I hope never, EVER have to miss it again.

I have not been so EXCITED about cooking in ages. Even for Thanksgiving I was dreading cooking. My menu is all ready, My check list of what to cook what day, what time and what to freeze, store, needs early prep, needs chopping early.... All on the list. I am hoping the list keeps me inline and on track. I tend to go on tangents (don't say IT Bobby!) Today I am prepping bread for french toast, it's best to slice your bread, let it sit out over night on a wire rack to get hard, then dip in your egg mixture, it absorbs better and holds its shape. I am also doing the Banana split cheesecake today, 2 things of hummus, and some prep work. Tomorrow is finish french toast, make cake pops and pie pops (that's right! CAKE AND PIE POPS, I ROCK!) and tomorrows i'll rap my lil weenies in bacon to prep for cooking Sat morning.

But, here is what is on the food menu:
Waffles
French toast
Cinnamon rolls and Raspberry sweet rolls
Eggs,
Bacon
Sausage
Egg n a Basket (it's slices of black forest ham in a sm muffin pan with an egg baked in it, there is other stuff in there too...)
Biscuits n Gravy
Salmon w/dill (very good with scrambled eggs)
potatoes O'Brien
hummus
Meat Balls (maybe) more of an appetizer
Deviled eggs
lil weenies wrapped in bacon
fruit salad
Turkey (yes a turkey, I LOVE turkey had to have an excuse to make one)
Sweet potato hash (yummy!)
cake pops
and pie pops

If I can find a decent prime rib roast... that too. maybe.

Bob's Mom will keep saying why so much food, but usually only the desserts are left. Everyone is filled on everything else by dessert time.

One More Day

The Excitement is mounting here at our house, Well for Bobby and I. It's Sabrina's second Christmas and she's much more aware now (just enough, I bought most of her gifts while she was with me, and it didn't seem to make a difference. We did not go to over board (you parents know it's hard at this point not to), but she did get a TON of clothes, and that's just from us and my Mom. But Everything is good and we got through another year, Next birthday #2. HOPEFULLY she will be all well for that one. She still as 3 incisors that need to come in, so lets cross fingers they are done by then. We want CAKE!!

Well have to go finish making my Mac n Cheese we are taking for the Christmas dinner. Man that mac n cheese is good, but it's a PAIN to make. I'll post a pic, there is a 10 cheese one and 6 cheese. Everyone loves them.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

So Glad that Is OVER

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone. There were some wins, and some loses. We had a pretty good menu we ate about an hour and a half later than I had planned but honestly all the food came out great. Desserts... that is another story.
Here is what we had (since we forgot to take pictures).
Turkey (and NO Mom, I didn't have to cook it all day)
Ribeye roast
Corn bread dressing
Creamy garlic & Chive mashed potatoes w/cheese
zesty green beans
Smokey sweet potato souffle
Pomegranate glazed carrots
and
rolls
Pumpkin cheesecake
and Red velvet cake
My Drama.... I needed cream cheese and mascarpone for the frosting and I thought it said either or. Every store around us was out and stupid me decided to just use creme fraiche... bad idea. It had a weird tang to it. I should have just used more cream cheese and left it at that. The mascarpone has a very lovely sweet taste I love and I could not remember what creme fraiche tasted like, it's been a few years since I've used it. Boo hoo.

But everything was still good. My nephews came over and plus my Mom and her husband were here. Everyone enjoyed everything and especially enjoyed Sabrina's antics. She was the life of the party, we all laughed so much. I don't want to cook another big meal again for a few months. I am still exhausted.

Tex Mex Treats

I have to share this recipe for one of her daily snacks/treats.  She loves this one and last night I but a bit of a spin on it.  We have a tough times getting her to eat meat especially fish.  She is a typical kid and very back and forth.  One day she likes something the next the "that's nasty look" pops on her face.   We are lucky most of her snacks she likes and gobbles down readily, same with her breakfast oatmeals.  So here it is, give it a try.

Oh and since Bobby did not post an update yet, it was a whole week of either climbing out or I'd her her on the monitor just as she'd start climbing and run in and get her.  FUN FUN.

Tex-Mex Rice Cakes (Makes 14-16 Cakes) *see add in at 7 and 8 for salmon
1 Cup Cooked Brown Rice
1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs
1/2 Cup Cheddar Cheese, grated
3/4 Cup Frozen Corn, defrosted
2 Tbsp Cilantro, chopped
1/2 Tsp Salt
2 Eggs, whisked About
2 Tbsp Vegetable or Canola Oil for cooking
1. Combine the first 6 ingredients in a bowl and mix to combine.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs.
3. Add eggs to the rice mixture and mix to combine.
4. Using about a 1/4 cup of the mixture, shape mixture into patties.
5. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and add patties, cooking 2 minutes on each side until golden brown.
6. Serve alone or with salsa.
For adding the salmon
7. divide recipe in half
8. put 1 3oz can of  salmon into mixture

A Different Kind Of Dinner (well for Us)

I thought I'd try something different.  Everyone is constantly talking about chicken & waffles, and I can't eat chicken so I kept thinking of compromises.  I didn't really want to do turkey and waffles (but I did).   So, I made Bobby the chicken & waffles and mine with turkey breast.  I used a recipe for the waffles that is cheddar cheese waffles, for some reason my head said I'd like that more than just plain old waffles or buttermilk waffles.  My head knows it's business.  Also I wanted to batter the meat in a buttermilk batter, I found several recipes that just floured the meat but that for me was not going to make the skinless breast have enough flavor. Sabrina and I had already gone to the store that day and I was out of buttermilk, yes I keep buttermilk in the fridge, I use it a lot in recipes.  So I used an amber ale to make my batter, deep fried the meat, made the waffles in my Belgian waffle maker and the maple infused syrup (maple syrup in a sauce pan, throw in a few fresh thyme leaves and a bay leaf then let it get to a boil).  OH MY GOODNESS!  this was SO good.  It was beyond filling.  WE WERE STUFFED.  Of course the turkey breast were much larger than the chicken breast so I could not even finish that.  But now I can say I've had chicken and waffles, (sort of).  I'd make it again that is for sure, but next time i'd go get the buttermilk.  The ale worked out in a pinch, but the buttermilk batter would have been much fuller and fluffier.  

I made Coq Au Vin the other night and darnit if I did not forget to take a pic of it along with... yes yes  My yes MY lemon cheesecake.  I made a recipe for a lemon cheesecake I have been working on for a while and this was my first run with it.  We had a wine tasting party Saturday night so I made the Coq Au Vin, my Mango Mojo pork chops My mac and cheese (yes that recipe is mine also)  I made a 6 cheese Mac and a 10 cheese mac.  The TEN went fast.  Most people had 2 or more servings.  I also made for dessert berrimisu. Also you can see from the pic I made Sabrina some mini frittata's for her dinner and snacks.  I love those things.