Resolution 2012

2012 - No more excuses.



Guacamole

As mentioned in my previous post, I am fasting.  I'm doing the Daniel fast, the same one I did last year, and it went so well that I know not another year will ever pass without me starting every January the same way.  I am in my final week now, the fast is 21 days, and let me say- it can be extremely tough!  On the 23rd, my first day off the fast, I will be drinking coffee, which I had to give up, and eating PIZZA! 

But that's all I can write about that now or else I'll just be torturing myself.  For now, I'm doing my best to have variety and keep it interesting with the fruit, veggies, and whole grains that I am allowed to eat.  This guacamole really hits the spot, especially on days where I struggle the most.

Guacamole

recipe from allrecipes.com

3 avocados - peeled, pitted, and mashed

1 lime, juiced

1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup diced onion
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional)

Blend everything together either in a food processor or stir together if you prefer it chunkier.  I made this batch too smooth, so the next day I took the leftovers and added in a cut up avocado and tomato.  This is the best guacamole recipe!

Game Day Pizza Dip

Yesterday I was quite content with spending the day in my PJ's.  In the morning I found myself lounging on the couch, checking facebook on my phone, when I saw a post from the Pioneer Woman that her show on the Food Network was about to start.  I was watching Modern Family on my dvr so I missed the first half of her show.  Then I went and let my pup out and missed the ending too!  When I came back Ms. Paula Deen was on, making this pizza dip.  I decided at once we needed it for game day, and by we I mean hubs because I'm fasting.  So I threw on some clothes, ran to the Publix, and got all the ingredients.

This smelled soooo good when I was making it, I don't know why I tested my willpower like that.  But rest assured, I WILL be making this for the Superbowl!  I just watched Paula make it and did what I remembered, changed it to hubs tastes too.  Here is the original recipe.

I started out sauteeing turkey sausage crumbles, turkey pepperoni, red and green peppers, and onions.  You can use your favorite pizza toppings, Paula had mushroom and bacon as well to hers.

Then add in 2 blocks of cream cheese.  You should probably soften first so you don't end up with this like me:

Add in a generous sprinkling of Italian seasoning with the cream cheese.

Then throw it in a pam sprayed casserole dish and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  That's it!  So easy.

Paula also made breadsticks from pizza dough which I'm sure would set this over the top, I just toasted some garlic bread and cut it into strips. 

Halloweenie

I swear, I've posted nearly every day in my head.  Imagine my alarm when I sign on and there are hardly any posts!  Where'd they all go?  Oh yeah, never left my head.  I have been cooking and taking pictures so one of these days I'm going to get around to putting up some more fabulous recipes!

In the meantime, some Fall/Halloween favorites I found on Pinterest:

Candy Corn Jello Shots

Creative idea- 2 bundt cakes=1 pumpkin!

Happy Halloween!!!

57 days until Christmas!!  :o)

Chicken and Herb White Pizza

Anyone else addicted to Pinterest?  Eh?  Eh?  I am completely addicted.  I even have the iPhone app and everything, any spare moment I have I'm looking at other people's pins and repinning as my own.  I haven't tried anything out yet, with all the fun recipes and crafts on it I can't wait!

I'm kinda stuck in a dinner rut - get home from work all tired and not feeling like cooking, I often find myself making the same things over and over.  I'm tired of the same things!  Today after work I went straight to the grocery store, picked up a Cooking Light, found a section called "Dinner Tonight" and said SOLD!  And I'm so happy dinner tonight was pizza!  I walked around, grabbed the ingredients for tonight and tomorrow's slow cooker dinner and came home to throw this marvelous creation together....it was fabulous!   I didn't follow the recipe 100% - I only found pizza dough in the bread aisle, not the refrigerated kind the recipe calls for.  And fresh pecorino Romano cheese?  While I'm certain tastes amazing, was not in this girl's budget.  I got store brand packaged shredded mozzarella.

I just looked over the recipe and see that they say it serves 6---teehee...hubs and I ate the whole darn thing.  Who eats just one pizza slice I ask you!?

Chicken and Herb White Pizza

Recipe Adapted from Cooking Light

1 premade pizza dough

Cooking Spray

1 Tbsp Butter

2 Garlic Cloves, minced

2 Tbsp all purpose Flour

1/2 tsp black pepper

3/4 cup reduced fat milk

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

1 1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken breast

1/4 cup diced red onion

1 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano

1Tbsp chopped fresh chives

1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 450.  Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add garlic, cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly.  Add flour and pepper; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a whisk.  Gradually add milk, stirring constantly.  Cook 3 minutes or until thick and bubbly, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat, add cheese, and stir until cheese melts.

Spray pizza dough with cooking spray and place on baking sheet.  Spread white sauce over dough, leaving a 1/2 inch border.



Top with chicken and onion.  Bake at 450 on bottom oven rack for 12 minutes or until crust is golden.  Sprinkle with herbs.

YUM!!!!

Cornbread

Thank you for the bake sale ideas!  I ended up making pumpkin cream cheese muffins, chocolate covered cherry cookies, and apple pie bars.  Yeah ~ I tend to go overboard when baking, especially if it's for other people!

A while back I mentioned that I wanted to create my own versions of recipes that I have at restaurants.  Today I did something easy to start out..  One place I always used to go to while living up north was Boston Market.  I loooove Boston Market!  I could go in and just eat the mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, and cornbread..but I wouldn't feel right eating nothin but carbs like that so I throw in some chicken and make the ultimate decision - mashed potatoes or mac n cheese!?!?  Excruciating, that decision is.

But oh!  The cornbread is so delicious too..I love a slightly sweet cornbread and that's hard to come by.  This time I totally fess up to cheating.  Know what I did?  Yes, I googled.  "Boston Market Cornbread recipe"  And this is what came up.  The reviews were good so I gave it a go.  Result?  It's really really good.  Boston Market?  Pretty close but not there yet...I thought it could use the slightest more milk I think.  The recipe calls for 2/3 cup...heck I may throw a whole cup in next time and see how that goes.  And one more thing ~ it calls for softened butter.  My butter was soft but I mixed with a spoon so it didn't get dispersed as it should have, could be another reason that the moisture wasn't 100%. (I know you are saying - Uh..yeah!  Duh!) Would I make this again?  Hellllllls yeah!  Enjoy!

Boston Market Cornbread

recipe from Food.com

Ingredients

2 (8.5 oz) boxes jiffy corn muffin mix
1 (18 oz) box butter recipe cake mix
5 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1 1/3 cup water
1/2 butter (softened)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all dry ingredients.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well.  Pour into greased cupcake pans or mini loaf pans.  Bake at 30 minutes or until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool slightly in the pan, until they pull away from the side a bit)  Remove from pan and serve warm.

Note: I made 6 jumbo muffins, 12 regular size, and 2 muffin tops with this recipe!

You gonna eat the rest of your cornbread.

Tell him to get his own damn cornbread.  He can't have my cornbread.  There'll be consequences and repercussions!

A Question for the Masses!

We are having a fundraiser bake sale for the American Heart Association at work.  Lots of people have offered to bring in cookies, cupcakes, and brownies.  Which leaves me to wonder what to bring in myself - turtle topped rice krispie treats?  Banana bread? 

What is your favorite thing to bring or eat at a bake sale?