Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

11.30.2010

Tasty Tuesday

"Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life!"
-Albert Einstein


Hello! With the holiday season upon is I know things can get a bit crazy. However, making time for your family and dinner is a must! So, to make dinner a bit easier I have some great, easy recipes that I will be sharing. Enjoy!

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses"
-Joyce Brothers




Chicken & Vegetable Stir Fry
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

* 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
* 1 lb chicken breast, cut into strips
* 2 pkgs frozen stir fry vegetables (I use birds eye)
* 3/4 cup stir fry sauce
* 2 Tbsp chili sauce
* Cooked rice

Directions:

1.) Drizzle oil around sides of saute pan; tilt pan to distribute evenly.
2.) Heat oil in pan on high until oil faintly smokes.
3.) Add chicken; stir fry 4-5 min.
4.) Add vegetables; stir fry 2 -3 min.
5.) Add sauces and cook until heated through.
6.) Serve with rice.

Thought of the Day:

"Family life is a bit like a runny peach pie - not perfect but who's complaining?"
-Robert Brault


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

11.25.2010

THANKSGIVING: 2010

"For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson


Hello! I would like to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your day, no matter where you are, or what you do.



"Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow."
-Edward Sandford Martin


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

11.01.2010

Mosaic Monday

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."
-Stacia Tauscher


Hello! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! It is officially Fall/Winter in my neck of the woods - we had a light dusting of snow this weekend. It made trick-or-treating very "fun," to say the least! At least my boys had a good time!

I have decided to change my posts around a bit and I am making Mondays, "Mosaic Monday!" Enjoy the pictures!

My creation

Thought of the Day:

"Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music."
~William Stafford


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

3.09.2010

Tasty Tuesday!


"Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family."

-Anthony Brandt


Hello!

So, another Monday has passed, another dinner under our belts, and many more to cook. Some days I wonder, as I am sure you do too, why I bother. I mean the preparation for a meal is enough to make some people run for cover, then you have the actual cooking process, not to mention clean up! PHEW! No wonder why so many people eat out...it is easier.

That being said, I just cannot imagine life in my home without our family dinners. Don't get me wrong, we still go out to eat quite a bit, but we also share many evenings gathered around the table enjoying each others company. After all, isn't that what all the work is for?

As tired as I may be at the end of a day, sitting down with my husband and two boys, eating a home cooked meal is as good as it gets. We have laughter, seriousness, "grossness," silliness and everything in between. But most of all, we have each-other exclusively for that one hour. No phone, television, computer, video games, etc.. It makes all the meal preparation worth its weight in gold.

Today I would like to share a dish that everyone will love and hope you are able to experience all emotions that a family dinner can evoke, after all: It's Priceless.


"The family is one of nature's masterpieces."
-George Santayana



Easy Macaroni & Cheese

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

* 4 Tbs. butter
* 4 Tbs. all-purpose flour
* 3 cups milk
* 3 pinches ground nutmeg
* 3 pinches freshly ground pepper
* 2 cups shredded yellow cheddar cheese
* 2 cups colby-jack cheese
* 4 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese
* 1 Lb. rotini pasta, cooked al dente and well drained
* 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs


Directions:

1.) Place the butter in a saucepan over low heat and warm until the butter is melted.
2.) Add the flour to the melted butter.
3.) Using a whisk, stir the flour and butter together until the mixture is smooth and bubbling but not browned, about 1 minute.
4.) Increase the heat to medium.
5.) Stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, slowly pour the milk into the saucepan.
6.) Continue to stir and cook until the mixture is smooth, thickened and gently bubbling, 6 to 8 minutes.
7.) It should be about as thick as melted ice cream.
8.) Remove the saucepan from the heat.
9.) Add the nutmeg and pepper and stir several times.
10.) Add the cheddar, colby-jack and parmesan cheeses.
11.) Stir until the cheeses have melted and the sauce is smooth.
12.) Add the pasta to the saucepan with the cheese sauce.
13.) Stir the pasta gently until it is well coated with the cheese sauce.
14.) Pour mixture into an oven-safe casserole.
15.) Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top.
16.) Bake at 350° about 15 minutes.
17.) Spoon the macaroni and cheese into bowls and serve immediately.


"Family is just accident.... They don't mean to get on your nerves. They don't even mean to be your family, they just are."
-Marsha Norman


Joke of the Day:

Things to Think About

1.) You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.
2.) Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.
3.) Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.
4.) Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

11.26.2009

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2009!





"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
-John Fitzgerald Kennedy








"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving."
-H.U. Westermayer








"Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart."
-Seneca






Wishing everyone a day filled with love and laughter!

11.05.2009

Thanksgiving Thursday!

Hello & Welcome!

Every Thursday for the next few weeks will now be known as: Thanksgiving Thursday!

I will be sharing favorites that I prepare on Thanksgiving!

Enjoy!


Sausage, Chestnut and Mushroom Dressing



I adapted this recipe from a William-Sonoma recipe that I found years ago.

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

* 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
* 1 1/2 lb. mild Italian sausage, casings removed
* 2 yellow onions, diced
* 3 garlic cloves, minced
* 7 oz. cremini mushrooms, quartered
* 1 tsp. minced thyme
* 1 1/2 tsp. minced sage
* 2 tsp. kosher salt
* Freshly ground pepper, to taste
* 1 cup roasted and peeled chestnuts, halved
* 1 package (1 lb.) Focaccia stuffing (I but this from William-Sonoma)
* 2 Tbs. minced parsley
* 3 to 4 cups chicken stock, warmed

Directions:

1.)Preheat an oven to 375°F.
2.)Grease a 3-quart baking dish with 1 Tbs. of the butter.
3.)In a large fry pan over medium-high heat, cook and crumble
the sausage until cooked through, about 7 minutes.
4.)Transfer sausage to a plate.
5.)In the same pan over medium heat, melt the remaining 3 Tbs. butter.
6.)Add the onions and fennel and saute until soft, 10 to 12 minutes.
7.)Add the garlic, mushrooms, thyme, sage, salt and pepper and cook,
stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and beginning
to brown, about 12 minutes.
8.)Let mixture cool to room temperature.
9.)In a very large bowl, combine the sausage, vegetable mixture,
chestnuts, stuffing and parsley.
10.)Stir in the stock 1/2 cup at a time, making sure it is completely
absorbed into the croutons.
11.)Taste a crouton; it should be moist throughout but not crunchy or mushy.
You may not need all of the stock.
12.)Transfer the stuffing to the prepared baking dish (#2), cover with foil
and bake for 20 minutes.
13.)Remove the foil and continue baking until the top is golden brown and crisp.



Broccoli Rabe with Pancetta and Garlic



This is my husbands favorite!

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

* 2 lb. broccoli rabe, trimmed & cut into bite-sized pieces
* 3 oz. pancetta, diced
* 3 garlic cloves, chopped
* 2 to 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
* Small pinch of hot red pepper flakes
* Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
* Juice of 1⁄2 lemon, or to taste

Directions:

1.)Bring a large saucepan three-fourths full of water to a boil.
2.)Add the broccoli rabe and cook until just tender,about 5 minutes.
3.)Drain and set aside.
4.)In a fry pan over medium-high heat, saute the pancetta until
lightly crisp, about 5 minutes.
5.)Add the garlic, 2 Tbs. of the olive oil and the red pepper flakes
and saute until the garlic is just slightly colored, about 1 minute.
6.)Add the broccoli rabe, adding more oil if needed to prevent scorching,
and toss it with the garlic mixture until tender and heated through,
about 1 to 2 minutes.
7.)Transfer the mixture to a serving dish and grind black pepper over top.
8.)Add the lemon juice and toss well.
9.)Serve immediately.


Baked Corn Casserole



Last, but certainly not least is my ALL TIME FAVORITE!

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

* 2 large eggs
* 1 cup sour cream
* 1/2 cup melted butter
* 1 can (16 oz.) whole kernel corn (drained)
* 1 can (16 oz.) creamed corn
* 1 Pkg. Jiffy© corn muffin mix
* 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Directions:

1.)Preheat oven to 350.
2.)Lightly spray a 13x9 baking dish with nonstick spray
3.)Add all ingredients to a large bowl.
4.)Mix well (will be lumpy)
5.)Add the entire mixture to your prepared pan.
6.)Bake on middle shelf for 40 minutes, until set & golden.
7.)If needed, cover with aluminum foil during baking to prevent
casserole from getting to dark.
8.)Top with grated cheddar cheese.
9.)Bake 10 minutes more or until cheese has melted.
10.)Cut into slices and serve.


Until Tomorrow:
Go Ahead & Indulge!

10.30.2009

Foodie Friday!

Yeah it is Friday!
However, as a SAHM I really do not think that holds much meaning. Do you?

Since every place I look is all gun-ho for Christmas, I decided to focus on the holiday that gets lost in the mix:

Thanksgiving!!!!!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! I mean what is not to love? Family, Food and Fun!

Oh and did I mention food?

We usually, much to my chagrin, go away for Thanksgiving!

However - this year everyone is coming to my home! I am so excited - I have not cooked an "OFFICIAL" Thanksgiving meal in 3 years!!!

I have my tried and true favorites and have already purchased many of them!

Today I will be sharing these wonderful products and in upcoming posts will share recipes using these ingredients!


Tuesday I headed to the mall and hit my FAVORITE store: Williams-Sonoma!!!
I do not know what I would do without that place!!!



We buy these turkeys all the time and they are wonderful!


Willie Bird Organic Free-Range Turkey






Don't feel like making your gravy from scratch, well this makes an awesome gravy!

Turkey Gravy Base





Hot soup that tastes great and is easy to make! This is a favorite in our home!

Organic Butternut Squash Puree





This next ingredient can be used so many ways - I always have it in my pantry!

Pecan Pumpkin Butter





Personally, I do not like cranberry sauce, but this is my husbands favorite!

Apple-Orange Cranberry Relish




Well, there are more, but you get the picture!!!
Coming next - recipes incorporating these ingredients!

Until tomorrow:
Go Ahead and Indulge!