OMG! Look What Nina's Eating

Strawberry Pretzel Fields Forever

2011-02-28T20:14:00.011-05:00

My mom used to make this pretzel salad when we were growing up and going to a picnic or covered dish supper. The funny thing is that I never liked it that much growing up, but boy has that changed. My mom made this for a Super Bowl Party we had this year and OMG!!!!!! it was sooooo good!! Seriously, you have no idea how good it was. And what's even funnier is the recipe is called "My Friend Pat's Pretzel Salad". Ha! I have no idea who Pat is, but her recipe for Pretzel Salad is yummmmy! :)

The first thing you do is take 2 cups of pretzels and crush them. I think the easiest thing to do is to put them into a zip lock bag

and then take a rolling pin and roll it over the pretzels and that's it. So simple and an easy cleanup too. Bonus! Save a few of the crushed pretzels to garnish with at the end.

Next you want to melt 3/4 cup of margarine and then mix that together with the crushed pretzels and 4 tbsp. of sugar. Spread the pretzel/butter mixture over the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan. Bake this for 8 minutes in a 400-degree oven. Cool.

Next you want to cream together an 8-0z cream cheese and 1/3 cup of sugar. Then fold into that mixture 8 ounces of Cool Whip.

Then spread this over the crushed pretzels. Note this looks a bit lumpy and it should not. :) This is because we did not completely cream the cream cheese and sugar first before folding in the Cool Whip. Make sure you do this and it will not be lumpy.

Next you want to prepare a small box of strawberry Jello with 1 3/4 cup of boiling water. And then stir in the frozen strawberries. Pour this over the cream cheese layer. And then refrigerate for 3 hours.

Have you ever had this or something similar? It is really really good. :) You should go out and buy the ingredients tomorrow and then surprise your family with this delicious treat. They will definitely be your besties!! Pinky swear!

Pecan Gems

2011-02-01T11:58:00.009-05:00

This is my Great Aunt Tissie's (her real name is Clarissa, but when I was little I couldn't say that and so somehow we all call her Tissie) recipe for Pecan Gem cookies. Now, my family always pronounced pecan as pee-kin, not sure why or how it got started, but that's how I grew up pronouncing them and I still do occasionally. Ha! I have also heard these cookies called Pecan Tassies, but that just doesn't make sense to me. They are a gem!

Anywho, these are my one of my absolute favorite cookies to make at Christmas. Not sure, why only Christmas though. I mean really, we make cookies other times of the year too right, so why not these? Hmmm, maybe I'll have to make them again soon. Or, maybe you'll have to make them and tell me how you like them. They are really easy to make too.

First you mix together 1 stick of soft butter with 1 3-oz. cream cheese and 1 cup of flour. This can be difficult to mix and so I use a pastry blender to mix it. Looooove this utensil, it makes cooking easier and it's fun too!

Next, you take a little bit of the dough and pinch it into a little ball and then place it into a gem pan. This is what my great aunt called it. Now today, we call it a small muffin tin. :) You will have to form it around the sides of each gem pan. I used this cool little utensil I got from Pampered Chef but cannot think of what it is called. DO NOT grease the pan. There is way enough butter in the dough so it won't stick.

Next, you mix together 3/4 cup of lite brown sugar, 1 egg and 1 tbsp. of melted butter and 1 tsp of vanilla. Put this mixture into a saucepan and heat on the stove until it just comes to a boil. Do not overcook it.

Once it comes to a boil, take it off the stove and let it cook a little bit and then add in 1 cup of chopped pecans.

Spoon the mixture into the gem pans evenly and then cook in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes and then reduce the heat to 250 degrees for an additional 15 minutes. Take out of the oven and let them cool completely before removing from the gem pans.

OMG!!! Seriously, seriously the BEST thing you've ever tasted. It is just like eating a mini pecan pie. It's a fantastic treat in your mouth. My mouth is watering just thinking about them.
Fab-u-lous!!!!!! Please, make them now and there be a party going on!!!!

Sick of the Snow? Make a Snowball Cake.

2011-01-29T20:19:00.007-05:00

I made this Snowball Cake for Christmas dinner. It is sooooo good and really lovely. And did I mention that it is so simple to make. Seriously, even the cooking challenged could make this cake! Ha! :)

So many of my friends in CT. are sick of the snow and so I figured they could make this Snowball Cake and maybe not hate it so much. I love the snow and it figures that I moved back home to PA. and then it snows a ton in CT.

So, first you mix a Devil's Food Cake according to the directions. I mix this in a glass mixing bowl and this is what I bake it in too. Make sure you have a bowl that you are able to put in the oven.

Next, mix together one block of 8-0z cream cheese and 1 egg and 2 tbsp. of sugar.

Then plop (yep, that's exactly what you do) it right in the center of the cake mixture and then put the bowl in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour and 5 minutes.

After baking take out of the oven and cool for about 10 minutes or so

and then turn over inverted and empty onto a wire rack. Let the cake cool completely.

For the icing, mix 1 package of Vanilla Instant Pudding, 1/4 cup of Powdered Sugar and 1 cup of milk. Stir in 2 cups of Cool Whip.

Once the cake has cooled completely, ice the cake and then sprinkle white coconut all over the cake. I probably used more than what was called for, but I think it looks so pretty with all of the coconut on top and on the platter too.

Beautiful right? Now, the snow is not so bad right. Make this cake and the snow will not seem so bad anymore. :)

Mac & Cheese in the Crock Pot

2011-01-02T18:35:00.006-05:00

I love, love LOVE Macaroni & Cheese. No seriously, I really, really love Macaroni & Cheese. I have always loved it since I was a little girl. In fact, until two years ago, I've had homemade Baked Macaroni & Cheese every year for my birthday since I was about 7 probably. I can eat Macaroni & Cheese from the blue box, from the yellow box, at a restaurant, at home (okay, I am starting to sound like a Dr. Seuss story. Ha!) or anywhere. I really love the stuff. It is my FAVORITE!!!!! OMG! fab-u-lous. If it is on the menu at a restaurant then guaranteed I am trying it!

About three years ago my mom started making this Macaroni & Cheese for picnics and it is to die for! And the best part is that is made in a crock pot! How cool is that? You add everything together and that's it! Presto, a couple of hours later and it's done!

Here's what's in it:

You first cook 7 ounces of macaroni on the stove and then add to a crock pot.

Then you take 1 cup of sour cream,

and then 2 cups of small curd cottage cheese,

and 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.

Mix that all together with 3/4 tsp. of salt, 1/4 tsp. of garlic salt, 1/4 tsp. of pepper and then let it cook. That's it! OMG!!! It is so stinkin' good. It is creamy and gooey and cheesy. Mmmmmm, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. If your family and kids love Macaroni & Cheese then you've got to make this one because they will LOVE it!

It's a Fruitcake, not a Door Stop!

2010-12-29T07:33:00.013-05:00

My mom uses my Grandma Tarner's recipe for fruitcake and she makes one every year. She used to make both a dark Fruitcake (which was my favorite, but darnit she doesn't make those anymore!) and a white fruitcake.

Now fruitcakes get a bad wrap. Yes, they are the butt of a lot of jokes, but seriously the one my mom makes is out of this world!! She has had people tell her they don't like fruitcake, but they do like her's! Yes, it really is that good. Plus, the colors are amazing. I swear it is like looking at a stained glass window when you look at a slice and hold it up to the light. Ha!

I would love to say it is simple to make, but it isn't. There is A LOT of cutting and the cutting up of the fruit is TOUGH!!!!!! Then when you mix everything together there are so many ingredients that it is so HARD to stir! Okay, I'm not really a doing a good job at selling this am I? Ha! But, OMG, the end result is SOOOOOOOO worth it! My peeps, I am telling you, you really need to try one of these at least once before you die because you so won't regret it! I pinky swear!

So, here it goes:

You first cut up all of the dried fruit. These are the cherries. You need one cup of them cut (the container they have at the grocery is plenty.) You can get them in either green or red and this year we got them in green. They are kind of gooey (not sure what the gooeyness is though).

Next you cut up the pineapple. And again, you need one cup. This is incredibly hard to cut. It's dried and so that's probably what makes it so difficult to cut. Again, it comes in the festive red and green colors. Pretty right?

Next, is the citron (again 1 cup). I'm not really sure what kind of fruit this is. I really have no idea. I just know it is candied fruit that you put into fruitcake. :) I asked my mom what it was and her answer was, "the kind you put in a fruitcake". Ha! See.

And then comes the gumdrops (you need about 2 dozen or so). Ugh, now these can be the worst to cut up because of the sugar and the gumminess of them. Okay, I know, "gooeyness and gumminess" are not words, but I like them, so there! :)

The last is the fruitcake fruit stuff. It's already cut up and so that is really simple. Ha!

After you have everything cut up you want to just sprinkle some flour over them to keep them from getting even more sticky overnight. We always cut everything up the night before and then get up the next morning and make the fruitcake.

Now, after everything is cut you just mix it all together in a BIG bowl. You also add some other ingredients that I will mention as we go along.

So, first you take one cup of sugar and mix it with one cup of shortening and four eggs and 2 1/4 cups of flour.

You then mix in 1/2 tsp. of salt and 1 tsp. of baking soda and 1/4 tsp. of cream of tartar.

Next, you add in 1 cup of coconut.

Then, you just start adding in each of the dried, cut-up fruits, one at a time. So, you add in the citron,

then the pineapple,

then the cherries,

then the gumdrops,

then 1 cup of white raisins. Now before you mix the raisins in you should cook them on the stove in a saucepan with water. You just cook them long enough until they plump up. (I swear this is what my grandma's recipe says.)

Next, you add in 1 cup of walnuts,

and then finally you add in the fruitcake fruit.

So, next you grease an Angel Food Cake pan with butter. Make sure you grease it well because you don't want this cake to stick at all. Then take a brown paper bag and trace the bottom of the pan around it and then cut it out, along with a hole in the center. This fits down in the pan. It sounds weird I know, but that's the way my grandmas did it and why mess with something that works right? Just do it. :) You should grease the paper bag too once it is in the pan.

Then you scoop (trust me there is no pouring involved with this humongous cake) the cake into the pan.

Yes, I weighed the fruitcake and it weighed 7.2 pounds!!!!!! It really is heavy!

Then place the pan on the middle rack of a oven and then take two pie plates and fill them with water and put them on the rack under the fruitcake pan. This helps to keep the cake moist as it is baking. You may need to fill the pie plates again before it is done baking. Set the timer for 3 hours and that's it!

Man, is it ever good!!!! Trust me, the store bought fruitcake has nothing on my grandma's! OMG! It is fab-u-lous!!! Really, really good!

Fresh Caught Salmon from Alaska

2010-12-24T12:48:00.012-05:00

As I've mentioned before my brother Todd lives in Alaska.He loves salmon fishing and goes many times during the salmon season. You can really only catch salmon when they are running.

I mean really look at all of those fish and the size of them!!!! My brother is the one on the right.

He catches, cleans and sometimes even smokes his own salmon. He sent us a big box of the salmon he caught and some of it was smoked. Mmmmmmm, is it ever good! Seriously, there are so many things you can do with smoked salmon. We had a family Christmas Party a couple of weeks ago and I decided to make some Smoked Salmon Dip. OMG!!! It was fab-u-lous!!! Forget about the smoked salmon from the grocery, BLEH, this is sooooo much better. I mean c'mon really, what is better than fresh caught wild Alaska salmon??? (nothing.) If you cannot get it fresh then the farm raised or wild in your local market should do okay too.

So, he sent me three pieces of smoked salmon. You will need 8-12 ounces for this recipe.

I cut it up into little chunks.

Then I added an assortment of ingredients, such as:
8oz. softened Cream Cheese
1 cup of mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. Tobasco sauce
1 bunch of green onions
1/2-1 tsp. of garlic powder
1/2-1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 pack of fresh dill (I just grabbed a bunch from the herb garden that wasn't yet frozen)
1 tsp. of Old Bay Seasoning
a dash of black pepper
and some squeezes of fresh lemon juice.

Then you mix this all up in a bowl and then put into a cute and festive bowl and walluh that's it! So easy right? You've got to try it. I know your mouth is watering right now isn't it. Lucky me for having a super awesome brother that lives in Alaska. Thanks Todd (and I think my sister-in-law Terry caught some of these too!!!) Plus, it is her recipe! And yes, she is the one that inspired me to write this blog in the first place!

The Best Kind of Date!

2010-12-20T21:56:00.010-05:00

I think I finally got everything moved from CT. back to PA. and so, it is baking time!!! Get set because for the next couple of days there is going to be a ton of baking and cooking things on this blog. So, c'mon back often and check it out and let me know what you think.

So, my mom always makes these Date Balls each year. This year I wanted to make then on my own and so I did. They are soooooo incredibly delicious!! You've got to try them. Dates get a bad rap often, but they are so gooey and yummy and oh my garsh, so yummy!!! And they are so
easy!
You take some dates

and cut them up into pieces. You'll need a cup of them cut. I bought the fresh ones (which can be pricey though), but my mom used to always just them in a block. I'm not sure what that means exactly, but that's what she told me. Ha! :)

Anywho, next you mix 1 cup of sugar,

with 2 eggs in a saucepan.

Next you take two tbsp. of butter and melt it in a saucepan.

Then add to the saucepan the dates.

Keep stirring until the mixture draws away from the sides. Now, I'm not exactly sure what "draws away from the sides" means. Ha! I stirred and stirred and I never actually saw it draw away from the sides. I asked my mom and she said she didn't know, but that it was done when it looked like it was done! What??? Anyway, stir it until it comes to a slight boil. The remove it from the heat.

Add 1 tsp. vanilla,

and 3/4 cup of chopped nuts (I used pecans, but you can also use walnuts if you wish).

Let it cool for about 10 minutes.

Add in some 2 cups of Rice Krispies.

Now you have to let this cool a bit because otherwise it is too hot to pick up and it needs to get sticky as it cools. When it is cool to your hand, take about a teaspoonful and roll it in your hand

and then roll it in some coconut and then set aside to cool more.

That's all you do! It's really easy and quick. OMG!!! They are so incredibly fab-u-lous!!! Seriously, make some and then let me know what you think.

Loaded Sweet Potatoes

2010-11-30T18:31:00.004-05:00

Have you ever gone to a steakhouse and gotten the delectable, delicious and oh so scrumptious loaded sweet potato? You can easily make these at home and they are so much cheaper. Ha! I made these for dinner tonight. It so quick and so simple!

All you do is take a sweet potato and jag holes all over it with a fork. Then wrap it in a paper towel and put it in the microwave for 10 minutes. Take it out and cut it lengthwise and squeeze open, put some butter and brown sugar on it and that's it! Yuuuuuummmmoooooo! Seriously this is so incredibly good. You can easily get your kids to eat these potatoes. They are healthy and nutritious too. You don't have to add that much butter and brown sugar to make it sweet and yummy. They have a natural sweetness to them. I make these all the time. OMG, really, really good!

I also made some brussel sprouts. These get a bad rap. True, when I was little I didn't like them either. One time we were at a neighbor's house for dinner and I snuck mine into a napkin and then excused myself to the bathroom and flushed them all down the toilet. I got in trouble for that one. Ha! Now, I am a big fan though. Years ago, I dated this guy Dan and he had me make them for dinner and I couldn't believe how good they were. I've been a fan ever since. They are easy too. I just cut the end off and peel a little bit of the leafy part off. Then put them into a pot of boiling water. Once the leaves start to fall off a little bit they are usually done. I also stick a fork into them to make sure they are soft. Then I take them out and put a little butter on them and some parmesean cheese and that's it! Fab-u-lous! Seriously, they are sooooo good and OMG! let's just talk about how stinkin' healthy they are!! You've got to try them. You really do. I promise you will like them.

I also made a quick salad. I've been trying to eat more vegetables (at least 2-3 with each meal) and so I just threw together some spinach, roma/cherry tomatoes, shredded part skim mozzarella, and some slivered almonds. That's it. So easy and so good.

A totally veggie meal tonight. What fresh veggies to you make on a regular basis and how do you prepare them?

Not Bogged Down with These Cranberries

2010-11-29T19:41:00.007-05:00

My mom makes this amazing Cranberry Relish each holiday. Believe me it is fab-u-lous!!!! People who think they don't like cranberry relish have got to try this kind because you will loooooove it! It is a perfect combination of tart and sweet. And it is so incredibly simple to make.

So all you do is take a bag of frozen cranberries (You just buy them at the grocery store and freeze them) and an orange. You grind these together. You grind the orange peel and all.

My mom uses this old fashioned food grinder that suctions onto the table and you put the cranberries and the orange in the top and turn the handle which pushes the fruit through the grinder. I'm sure you could also use a food processor. But, to me, there is something nostalgic and nice about using a machine that has been used for probably well over 30-some years to make so many dishes that so many others have enjoyed. I love that idea.

Okay, so once you have the cranberries and orange ground, you simply add in 1 cup of sugar and mix it all together. That's it!! Yes, really. That's all there is to it. Next, you just take spoonful and enjoy! How do you make your cranberry relish?

Scalloped Oysters!

2010-11-24T21:13:00.007-05:00

I love oysters and make this Scalloped Oyster side dish . My one brother actually requests it every Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is so so simple, yet so so good. Seriously it is fab-u-lous!!!

Here's what you do.

You first melt 1/4 lb. (that's 1 stick of butter) in a skillet. Next you take 1 cup of crushed saltine crackers and 1/2 cup of bread crumbs and add that to the skillet, mixing completely with the melted butter.

Put half of the cracker mixture on the bottom of a 9x9 baking dish.

Drain 1 pt. of fresh oysters. Make sure you save the liquid.

Place the oysters in a single layer on top of the cracker mixture. Sprinkle with salt.

Use 1 tbsp. of cream or evaporated milk and mix with 2 tbsp. of the oyster liquid. Also throw in a few dashes of Tabasco sauce. I shake the bottle of Tabasco about 3-4 times. It really depends on your preference for the spicyness you like. Spoon this liquid mixture over the oysters. I always reserve about 1 cup extra of the oyster liquid and about 1/2 -3/4 cup of cream and mix that with more Tabasco and then I have it to sprinkle on the next day before reheating them. It just moistens it more.

Place the other half of the cracker mixture over the oysters.

Bake in a 325 degree oven for 25 minutes.

That's it!!! Fab-u-lous!!! Really, to die for!!! Once you make these for one holiday, believe me, they will started being requested for every holiday!

Fried Pies???

2010-11-10T19:39:00.011-05:00

When my mom and I were touring Tennessee this past summer we stopped by Loretta Lynn's Country restaurant and store. I love me some Loretta Lynn (she is being honored on the CMAs tonight too!!!!!) and so we had to stop.

While there I bought these fried pies. I remember Kelley over at Kelly's Korner always blogging about Fried Pies. She always talked about the chocolate ones, which sounded so yummy, but we could only find the peach ones. We got them and then pulled over on the side of the road before even getting back on the highway and ate them. They were good. Not fantastic, but good. I would probably get them again definitely, but probably not the peach ones. Now if I can ever find the chocolate ones, I am all over that.

Have you ever heard of Fried Pies and if so, where can I get more of them???? Keep in mind that I live way up north in Pennsylvania and have seriously never heard of them around here, but can I order them somewhere?

Here are some more pictures of Loretta Lynn's place. We also stopped by her mansion and also her daughter Sissy Lynn's store.

This is a remake of the house she grew up in.

Porkchops and Applesauce...That's Swell

2010-11-06T20:47:00.013-04:00

Sorry for being incognito for the past month. I lost my job and am moving back home to Pennsylvania. While I am extremely happy about moving back closer to my whole family and friends, I wish it would have happened differently.

Okay, well Peter Brady had it half right with the applesauce. A couple of weeks ago I made my annual homemade applesauce. If you remember reading from last year's post I love to make my own applesauce. Yes, I know I could easily buy it, but mine tastes so much better!!!! Seriously, you should make your own and then you'll understand. Plus it is super simple.

First I washed off of my apples.

Then I slice them all. I tried to use my Pampered Chef Apple Slicer and that worked for some of the apples but the majority of them were way too large and I kept getting the apples stuck in the slicer (not fun!). So, for the larger ones you can just slice and core them yourself.

Then, I put all of the apple slices in a huge pot of water and turn the burner on high. I let them boil for about 10-20 minutes until they get soft.

Next, I use a food mill to get the skin off of the apples. Trust me on this one, it is MUCH easier to boil the apples and get them soft so the skin just peels off, rather than peel them all by hand ahead of time. That's a big waste of time plus you run the risk of wasting so much of the apple in the peeling process. So anyway, you take a bunch of the boiled apple slices and place them in the food mill and then take the wooden utensil and swirl it around the food mill and the apple sauce falls out the bottom and the skins stay inside. So Simple!!! Amazing! I don't think you can even buy these anymore.

Finally, you have this wonderful container of applesauce. I add in some of the Cinnamon Red Hots and some Cinnamon. That's it! Soooo simple and yet so fab-u-lously delicious!!!!!!

Do any of you make your own applesauce and if so, how do you make yours?

Bleeding Hearts and Mummy Dogs

2010-10-10T23:19:00.004-04:00

Okay, so continue on with yesterday's Halloween post, I also tried out two more recipes. Again soooooo incredibly simple and yet soooooo delicious!! Your kids are going to love these and you will too!!!!

Sorry for only the one picture and of course the pre-baking picture. The foods were so good, I started eating them and then realized that I forgot to take a picture first! Ha!

The first one was for Mummies. They were so easy and so cute. You just take a package of hot dogs and some of the Pillsbury Breadsticks. Unroll the breadsticks and then separate into pairs (two breadsticks together). Roll the breadsticks out so they are really really long and thin. And then wrap the rolled out breadstick around the hot dog. Leave a space at the top of the hot dog for the mummy's head. You really have to roll these out. You will think it is way too long and too thin, but trust me once it is wrapped around the hot dog it will start to unwrap itself. That part is a huge pain. Put these in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes and then remove, put mustard on the face for two eyes and that's it! So cute and so good. I used the Nathan's Hot Dogs. They are pricey but OMG!!!! so good! It is really the only hot dog I eat anymore.

Now onto the next one. This is called a Bleeding Heart. It is basically Baked Brie! OMG!!! Baked Brie is one of favorites!!! Soooo good. All you have to do for this is buy an 8oz. round of Brie Cheese or you could buy the large round if you like. Then you take a package of the Pillsbury Croissants and lay that out flat and then separate into two separate squares. Place the Brie Cheese on one of the squares and then pour 3/4 of Cherry Preserves over the top (you can use whatever preserves you want but bleeding makes me think red and that is what the recipe called for too). Then you place the other croissant square over the top and seal along the sides. Brush with a beaten egg and then place this in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes and that's it! I always thought Baked Brie was so extravagant and hard, but boy was I wrong. It is just so simple. But the finished plate is gorgeous!

So, now go out and make them for your little ghosts and goblins! :)

Bat Wings and Spiderwebs!

2010-10-09T20:14:00.014-04:00

I am getting ready for a Halloween Party and decided to work out some spooky and scary recipes. Ha! :)

I made these adorable Bat chips. They were so simple, but so good!!!

You just take a bag of flour tortillas and a Halloween cookie cutter and cut out some shapes. I had a bat coookie cutter and so that is what I used. You have to hit the top of the cutter a few times and wiggle it around some so you know it went the whole way through the tortilla.

They are so cute right!?!

Spray a cookie sheet and then place the cut-outs on the cookie sheet and spray the cut out shapes.

You then mix together 3/4 tsp. of coriander, 3/4 tsp. of paprika, 3/4 tsp. of garlic salt and 1/4 tsp of black pepper. Sprinkle the cut out shapes with the spice mixture. The place in a 350 degree oven for 8 minutes and remove.

That's it!

I also then made this fab-u-lous Spider Web Dip to go along with the bats. It is gorgeous!!!

All you do is combine 3/4 cup of salsa and 1 8-0z. block of cream cheese and then spread it on a pie plate. Next put a layer of guacamole over the cream cheese mixture. And then put some sour cream in a zip lock bag and snip the corner off and then make circles over top of the guacamole. Just keep making circles until you've reached the center. Then you take a knife and run it from the center outward. Do this the whole way around. That's it! Simple right. But look at the fantastic final project. Perfecto!

Sandra Bullock and Fabulous Grilled Cheese

2010-09-25T19:43:00.005-04:00

Back in August I went to Austin, TX for a couple of days of rest and relaxation. We stayed in an amazing house right along the Indian River in Bee Cave. One of the days we traveled in to Austin and went to Sandra Bullock's deli, Walton's, for lunch. The decor was so awesome, very relaxed and comfy.

I ordered this fab-u-lous Grilled Cheese with Bacon sandwich. OMG!!!! Can I just tell you how incredibly good it was!!!! There was soooooo much cheese and huge, thick pieces of bacon! Seriously, it was nothing I have ever had before and believe me, I consider myself a connoisseur of Grilled Cheese!!! :)

This is a picture of the inside of the restaurant.

And this is the front window.

We didn't run into Sandra that day, but last year when my friend Jessie was there, Sandra was sitting at the next table writing. So cool right? Love her!

Chex Party Mix Bowl (well kind of)

2010-09-17T18:57:00.008-04:00

A couple of weeks I went to a patio party at my friends Kim and John's place. They built a new patio in their yard and had a party to break it in. I saw this recipe for a Chex Party Mix Bowl in a magazine and thought I would give it a try. It really wasn't that difficult to make; although, mine fell apart. :)You just take a bag of Chex Party Mix (you use 8 cups).

Then take 2 egg whites

and beat until stiff peaks form. I love the little egg separator utensil I have. I use it all the time. It's just plastic and you can find it in any kitchen section of any store really.

Then mix the egg whites with the Chex Party Mix.

Put it into an oven safe bowl. Take a piece of aluminum foil and place in the bowl on top of the Chex Party Mix. You can use the foil to push the Chex Party Mix up the sides of the bowl.

Put the bowl in a 325 degree oven for 30 minutes. Take out of the oven and let cool for 5 minutes and then remove the foil. Wait until completely cool and then turn the bowl upside down and remove from the Chex Party Mix. What you should have is a nice round bowl.

Instead, this is what I had. Ha! I think I didn't make the Chex Party Mix thick enough up the sides of the bowl. Just make sure it is THICK. Plus, I think I needed a wide bowl and one that wasn't so deep; gravity was not our friend that day. :)

Hey, it's a work in progress. Haven't you ever made something and the first time you made it, it didn't turn out correctly? Next time it will turn out better I'm sure.

My Grandma Reed's Stuffed Peppers

2010-09-15T17:51:00.008-04:00

These are not like your average stuffed green peppers. There is no hamburger, no rice and no tomato sauce. I had actually never heard of stuffed green peppers made with hamburger, rice and tomato sauce until a couple of years ago. I was at a restaurant and ordered the stuffed peppers and when they came to the table I looked down at my plate and wondered if they mixed up my order with someone else's. They said no. Hmmmm, strange. You see, the stuffed green peppers I always had growing up were made with bread, cheese and butter and then cooked in chicken noodle soup. Yep! It is fab-u-lous!!! So so good!!!!! And it is how my grandma Reed always made them and how my mom made them too.

First you cut off the top of some green peppers so they can sit upright on their own.

Then you dice up some bread or you can tear it apart. How much you use really depends on how many green peppers you have. I had eight and I used about half a loaf of bread.

You then dice up some sharp cheddar cheese. I just buy a block of the Kraft Sharp Cheddar Cheese.

Then melt some butter. Again, how much you need depends on many peppers you have. I like mine cheesy too. :)

Mix everything together in a bowl and add in some salt and pepper. Stuff the green peppers with the stuffing mixture. I also add a piece of cheese to the top of each pepper.

Next, in a large on pot on top of the stove, cook a can of chicken noodle soup with one can of water. Set the stuffed green peppers down in the chicken noodle soup so they are sitting upright. Cover with a lid. Cook for about 15 minutes or so. The peppers should be somewhat soft and the cheese on top should be melted.

Put on a plate and pour some chicken noodle soup over the top. OMG!!!! It is sooooooo good!! You've got to try them like this. Seriously, tell me you're going to make them tomorrow night because you know it sounds so good, right?

Strawberry Fields Forever

2010-09-11T09:06:00.014-04:00

No, this isn't a Beatles tribute. :) This is a fab-u-lous Strawberry cake. It is actually out of Paula Deen's magazine and y'all know how fantastic her recipes and foods are. Well, this was no different and it most definitely did not disappoint.

You first just take a white cake mix.

A box of Strawberry Jell-O.

Frozen Strawberries in Syrup (thawed and pureed).

And eggs.

Mix the box of white cake mix with the box of Strawberry Jello, 4 eggs and the 10-ounce package of pureed strawberries and 1/2 cup of oil and 1/4 cup of water.

Pour into two 8-inch round cake pans. I used 9-inch because that's what I had, but the 8-inch make a higher layered cake.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes (mine actually took more like 35 minutes until a toothpick came out clean).

Cool completely on a cooling rack before icing the cakes.

I made my own Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting. This is really simple and really so much better than the store bought kind.

For the frosting, you combine 1/4 cup of softened butter, 1 8-oz package of softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup of pureed frozen strawberries in syrup, 1/2 teaspoon of strawberry extract and 7 cups of confections' sugar. Just mix this all up and that's it! See, it is really, really easy and oh so good! Seriously, you will DEFINITELY be licking this bowl!!! Ha!

I then decorated it with some sliced strawberries. It is so pretty right? Everyone loved it! It was soooooo moist!! You've got to make this today. Let it be the last hurrah for the summer!! :)

P B & B

2010-08-27T21:42:00.005-04:00

No, not P B & J, but P B & B, which stands for Peanut Butter and Banana. Elvis had it goin on man because this combination is outstanding. I don't put mine on bread though. Instead, I use the Quaker Fat Free Caramel Cakes. OMG!!! These are sooooo good. I mean, really folks, they are caramel and fat free. Totally a win win right?

So, I just take two caramel cakes and slather on (yes, I really do slather it on and the word slather is a funny word, it reminds me of Slytherin from Harry Potter, but anywho. Man, do I ever digress. Ha!) Better N' Peanut Butter (one of the best peanut butters out there) and then slice up some bananas on top. Mmmmmmm, sooooooo good!!! And soooooo good for you too!!! It is only about 4 WW points and so it is the perfect snack. This is definitely one of my go to staples. Seriously I have this snack at least 2-3 or more times per week. It is fab-u-lous!!!! Your kids will love them. heck, your adults will love them too! :)

Do you use rice or corn cakes and if so which do you like and what do you put on them?

Mellow Mushroom = Goooooood

2010-08-19T10:28:00.005-04:00

I felt like I had to put the goooooood like that because it is supposed to be a mellow place and so that means talking slowly right? Ha! What the heck am I talking about right? Well, when my mom and I were in Tennessee and in Pigeon Forge we ate one night at this pizza place called the Mellow Mushroom! The outside is so cool looking and so we needed to check it out. The inside was so cool too. Very mellow indeed. Lots of tie-dye and lava lamps. Ha! Makes me wonder what the owners were thinking (or not thinking at all) when they designed the place. :)

We started out with cheese garlic bread, which is always one of my favorites. If it's on the menu and I am at a pizza place I am 100% guaranteed to order it for an appetizer! It is just so good. This was OMG!!!! so gooey and cheesy and fab-u-lous!!! And there was a ton of it. Yep, my mom and I ate the whole thing too!!!

Then we ordered a pizza. Man, I tell there was a ton to choose from. You could order a pizza and add on your own toppings, but that can get pricey especially if you are like me and love a ton of pizza toppings. So, we choose the white pizza, which is a favorite of mine. It had olive oil, goat cheese, another kind of cheese I cannot remember now, tomatoes, and roasted red peppers. OMG!!! really, really good!! We each had two pieces of pizza and took the two other pieces along with us and then had them in the car on the way home the next day. I love cold pizza the next day. Seriously, it has been my go to staple for breakfast many many times.

I think the Mellow Mushroom is a chain in the south right? Have you ever heard of it or been there?

Double Chocolate What???

2010-08-11T20:34:00.008-04:00

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread that's what!! Yep, double chocolate zucchini bread. It is FAB-U-LOUS!!!!!!!! Seriously, you've got to try this. You know you always have so many zucchinis in your garden and so what do you do, make zucchini bread, zucchini pancakes, grill it, etc. Who would've thunk it that you could add chocolate and even double chocolate? OMG!!! Soooo incredible. And it is so simple!

First you take 2 zucchinis and peel them. You can leave the skin on (it won't change the taste), but I always peel mine.

Next, grate the zucchini. I just use a box grater.

Then, in one bowl mix together 4 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of cocoa (I use Hershey's powdered kind), 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 3/4 tsp. of salt, 1 tsp. of cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp. of nutmeg.

In a separate bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups of oil, 3 eggs, 1 1/2 cups of milk, and 2 tsp. vanilla.

At intervals add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until it is fully mixed.

Then add in 1 cup of chocolate chips.

Pour into 2 greased loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes and then remove from the pans and cool completely.

DELICIOUS!!!!! You will never even know this has zucchini in it! C'mon your kids will love this and you will get them to eat some vegetables too! Plus!

Poppy Seed Chicken for the 91st!

2010-08-08T19:30:00.006-04:00

Yesterday we had our 91st family reunion! yep, you read correctly, my father's side of the family has been getting together every summer for 91 years now!! What a feat it will be at 100 years!!!

We always do potluck and I am always thinking weeks in advance of what I would like to make. And now because of this blog a few family members are looking forward to it. Ha! :) Well, I decided to make Poppy Seed Chicken. I got the recipe out of some magazine. I cannot remember which one though. It was really good and super simple to make. It would be perfect for a potluck dinner or to make for someone who has fallen ill or for your own family. It is quick too and so it should be a go-to dinner for your family on nights when you are beat but still want something hot and filling.

First you boil enough chicken for 7 cups. I used 6 good-sized boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I always boil my chicken when I'm using it in a casserole. It's just so much easier. Once it was cooled off I just diced it up. Well, actually it was more like pulling it apart than dicing. :)

While the chicken was boiling I sliced two 8-oz packages of Portabello mushrooms.

Cook the sliced mushrooms in a skillet with 1 tbsp. of butter until browned.

Add the sliced mushrooms to the chicken in a large bowl.

1 tbsp. of Poppy Seeds.

Next, to the bowl I added 2 cans of Cream of Chicken Soup.

2 cups of Sour Cream.

1 cup of Slivered Almonds.

Mix this all up really well and then put in a greased 9x13 baking dish.

Finally, mix together 2 tbsp. of melted butter with 1 cup of crushed butter crackers (like Ritz Crackers). Sprinkle these over the chicken dish. Cover with foil.

Bake in a 375 degree for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes until bubbling.

OMG!! Seriously this is really good and I cannot believe it doesn't have any cheese in it. I swear there is no good casserole without cheese, but I have proven myself wrong because here is one! It is so easy and quick. Your family will love it. I did have to add some salt to taste before eating.

Mmmmmmm...Fudge!!

2010-07-29T10:41:00.007-04:00

I love fudge. Plain and simple, it's just good stuff. My mom has always loved fudge but until recently my notsomuch. My mom makes really good fudge too. She makes peanut butter fudge and orange creamcicle fudge. Man, the stuff is good.
While we were in Pigeon Forge, TN. we did quite a bit of shopping. We needed a break one of the days and decided to just sit down at this little bakery and get some fudge to share and a cup of coffee. The fudge was OMG!!!! FAB-U-LOUS!!!! We got three different little slivers to try and share. It was so incredibly hard to just order slivers and not big 'ole hunks of the stuff.

This first one was called a Bear Paw and it was layers of chocolate and peanut butter!!! Seriously sooooo good.

The second one was called a Tiger Paw and it was layers of white chocolate and peanut butter!! Amazing!!! And I'm not even a big white chocolate person, but man oh day this stuff was incredible!!!

Then because I love pecans we got a pecan and caramel and white chocolate one. I cannot remember if it had a cutesie name or not, but it was GOOD!!!!!

Who out there loves fudge? What's your favorite???

The Divine Intervention and Pecans Too (Ha!)

2010-07-27T19:10:00.007-04:00

While we were Gatlenburg, TN. we got a little hungry but didn't want to eat lunch yet. So, we stopped by this little candy shop. The candies and sweets inside looked divine. The smell gotcha too as soon as you walked in the door.

I saw these cute little packs of pecans balls and the inside was marshmallow. And there were two to a pack, which was perfect for my mom and I. I'm not sure I have ever seen these before and I know I had never tried them. Are they a southern thing?

My mom saw some candy called Divinity that she loves. She decided that's what she was buying. And it came in a pack of two too, which again was perfect for the two of us. :) I'm not really sure what Divinity is or what exactly it is made of. It is REALLY REALLY sweet though. It was just super sugary. It was good, but not my favorite. I did like it though. Have you ever heard of Divinity? Do you like it?

Country Fried (Is there really any other way???)

2010-07-24T20:58:00.006-04:00

I was told by my blog friend Nicolle that while in the south on vacation I had to have some country fried steak with white gravy and green beans cooked in bacon fat.

Well, I did have some fab-u-lous country fried steak with white gravy!!! OMG!!! This was incredible!!! It really is so good in case you've never had it. I remember growing up my mom and my sister loved country fried steak, but for some reason I never did. I loved fried chicken, but not steak. Well, I don't know what the heck was wrong with me because this stuff is AWESOME!!!! The outside is crispy like fried chicken, but then the inside is juicy like a steak. Seriously, doesn't that just make your mouth water reading this???

Well, I didn't see green beans cooked in bacon grease in any restaurant we went to and so I didn't get to try those. However, I did get dumplins with my country fried steak. These were delicious!!! They were thick and creamy. I love dumplins. I've had these before and didn't know they were southern. But I can see with the rich and creaminess that they would be. :) I swear all things in the south are rich and creamy. Mmmmmmm.

Can you say BBQ!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-07-22T14:47:00.006-04:00

OMG!!! No really, OMG!!!! We went to Corky's BBQ in Memphis and has the BEST BBQ EVER!!! Yes, everything must be in caps when I am talking about this place because it is that good!!! I had heard about Corky's many times on QVC, but never tried it. Food Network also did a show with the best BBQ places and Corky's was on the list. It is so good!

I got the "regular" portion of ribs. Yep, this is the regular size!! I got them wet, which means barbecue sauce on them. You could also get them dry, which is Memphis style, but I like it saucy! You also got a side of cole slaw, which was fab-u-lous and some barbecue baked beans, which were also fab-u-lous!!!

Then of course since I am in the south I thought it would be sacrilegious to not get sweet tea. The sweet tea was amazing. How are y'all not diabetic though with all the sugar??? :) If I lived in the south I would be drinking that ALL DAY LONG!!!!

My mom got the pulled pork and then she put some sauce on it. The pulled pork was sooooo good too! Fantastically delicious!!!

These ribs were the best and there are Corky's chains all over TN. and so if you are ever here then you've got to try them. Or if not, then watch QVC when they do food and buy some. It is so worth it.

I Need Some Help with Places to Eat in the South

2010-07-17T15:27:00.006-04:00

Okay, so you need to help me out. My mom and I are going on a road trip tomorrow. We are so excited!!! We are leaving at 6:00am for Tennessee!!!!! We are going to

Graceland (Memphis),

Dollywood,

Nashville

and possibly Gatlenburg. Now, I know quite a few of you are from the south and so I really need some suggestions on places we have to stop by and eat. Or maybe you can suggest some southern food we need to try no matter where we are in the south.

Here is our driving agenda and so suggestions along the way would be great.
I-81 Pennsylvania
I-81 Maryland
I-81 West Virginia
I-81 Virginia
(Believe it or not, we are so far south in Pennsylvania that we can go through four states in about 45 minutes to an hour!!! We are only 10 minutes from the Mason Dixon line and so we are almost southerners. :)
I-40 Tennessee

I think on the way back we are going to try and hit Kentucky because we have never been there either.

Okay y'all (gettin' that down now) give us some places to chow down. :) I can't wait to hear what you suggest! Credit will be given along the way too!!!

Lucky I Don't Have to Sew These Buttons!

2010-07-15T11:00:00.004-04:00

Seriously, I don't know how to sew on a button. :) My mom has shown me a bazillion times, but I just can't get the hang of it. I always ask her to sew it on for me. Thank goodness for moms right?

Anywho, my mom and I took my niece, Danica, to Cracker Barrel for breakfast this morning. You know how much I love me some Cracker Barrel. I'm not even joking, I could eat there every morning! Ha! So, when we walked in and were waiting to be seated Danica sees all the candy and she says to me, "If if eat all my food can I have a very special treat?", of course I have to say yes because she asked so nicely. Well, she orders a pancake and the pancake is huge. She ate half of it and I thought that was good enough. I don't want her to learn bad habits like I did when I was little (you have to eat everything on your plate because there are starving children in the world).

We get done eating and head on out to the store and she first picks up this big box of candy. I tell her that is way too much candy and her momma will kill me if I buy her that. Then she picks up some wax bottles. You know the ones with the juice in them. I try to explain to her that those really are not for eating. I don't think she would like them. Finally, she chooses the candy buttons. She says to me, "I don't know what these are or what they taste like but I want them". Ha! So we bought them.

When I was little I loved these. I don't remember them being this big or this many on a single sheet though. I mean really there are a lot and the package comes with three sheets of candy buttons!!!!! Plus, I remember when I was little I would peel off the candy and always get some paper residue stuck on the candy and just eat the paper and all! There was no paper sticking with these. They came in cherry, orange, lemon and raspberry! I don't remember lemon or raspberry flavors either. OMG!! They are so good. However, it is not vintage or old time candy if it is all together different from what it was. :)

Do you remember these and did you like them?

Oh Yeah It Is Better'N Peanut Butter

2010-07-11T11:07:00.005-04:00

This peanut butter is amazing!!! I was hesitant to buy it because I've tried natural peanut butter before and didn't like it. I have been trying to eat healthier lately and so regular peanut butter is just too many calories.

So, there I was at Trader Joe's looking at the various kinds of organic, healthy peanut butter. Seriously, I was standing there forever. I read everything. My mom and sister were getting irritated because I couldn't make a decision. Finally, I decided on the Better'N Peanut Butter brand.

After trying it I am HOOKED!!! OMG!!! So0000, fab-u-lous!!! It tastes just like regular peanut butter. I'm not joking. It really does! And it has 85% less calories and 1/2 of the fat of regular peanut butter! It is so sweet and sugary, which you wouldn't at all expect from natrual peanut butter. It is soooooooo yuuuuuummy!

Like I said I bought mine at Trader Joe's, but when I googled the brand I found a different label for the peanut butter. I'm not sure why but it is the same kind. If you look in the natural foods section of your grocery store you can find it.

Trust me, try it, you'll like it!

So Tasty and So Simple Potato Salad

2010-07-08T10:16:00.009-04:00

Hey y'all (I feel a southern drawl comin' on this mornin') I made the most amazing potato salad on the 4th of July for a picnic. It is was so simple and homemade!!! Those two don't always go hand-in-hand, but this time it was so true!

I first mixed up some of the new Tastefully Simple Simple Salad Dressing Mix. This is a new product out of their Spring/Summer catalog and it is fab-u-lous!! It can also be used for pasta salad. Seriously, you've got to try it. It comes in a box with 3 separate packets to make.

Okay, so I made the dressing first. And then I boiled 2 lbs. of red potatoes. I really love red potatoes (sometimes also called new potatoes) because they are small and cute. They are not as overwhelming as whole big potatoes. Even if you are making a big potato dish using the littler ones seems easier for some reason.

Then I added 3 chopped hard boiled eggs
.
Then, lastly I added celery.

Mix it all up.

I also garnished it with some radishes. I just love radishes. They are so colorful and bright and the perfect look for summer. Right?

And that's it! Seriously, it's that EASY!!!! And it is still homemade and the flavor is INCREDIBLE!!!! Everyone really liked it and couldn't believe how easy it was to make. You can purchase some of the dressing here or order anything else that is so yummy from the catalog!!!

Tira ma who?

2010-07-06T20:46:00.008-04:00

Tiramasu, that's who. Ha! I told you I crack myself up. :)

We went to a 4th of July picnic at my aunt and uncle's house and I made a Tiramasu Trifle. I love making trifles. Seriously, I am the Queen of Trifles!

I found this recipe for a Tiramasu Trifle and my sister Missy really wanted me to make it and so I did. I think I like making Trifles because they are really simple. Bing bang boom they are done.

First you take 24 Nilla wafers and lay them on the bottom and up the side of a trifle dish (love trifle dishes too because I just think they are so pretty). Pour 1/4 cup of brewed coffe over the Nilla Wafers.

Next take 2 squares of Semi-Sweet Chocolate and shave it. I started out using a microplane but didn't like that it didn't turn out curly and pretty and so I switched to a hand-held grater and that made it more curly.

Next I used my KitchenAid mixer to mix together 1 8oz. Cream Cheese, 2 packages of Vanilla Pudding and 3 cups of Milk. Mix it together until it is well mixed and thickened.

Next, stir in 2 cups of Cool Whip.

Then, you take half of the Cream Cheese mixture and spread that over the Nilla Wafers, then sprinkle half of the shaved Chocolate over that.

Repeat the layers one more time. That is, Nilla Wafers, brewed coffee, Cream Cheese mixture, shaved Chocolate.

Add the remaining Cool Whip to the center and then add 1 cup of Raspberries.

Let it chill for 2 hours. Yummmmmm. OMG! It is sooooo good!!!! Fab-u-lous!!! Everyone loved it! If you like Tiramasu then you will love this. And look how pretty it is!! You too can be the Queen of Trifles. I will share my crown with ya! :)

Summer Grillin'

2010-07-03T21:10:00.005-04:00

Nothing says summer to me like grilling. I love grilled vegetables. And I especially love them when they are fresh out of the garden. We have a huge garden at my mom's house. This year we have planted: 3 summer squash plants, 6 tomato plants, 4 broccoli plants, 2 zucchini plants, 4 green bell pepper plants, 4 cucumber plants, red beets, parsley, and lettuce. And the rhubarb and horseradish grows naturally every year too. Whew! It's a lot right? :) When I was growing up we had three separate gardens, 1 in our yard, 1 in our neighbor's yard, and one at my grandparents house. My dad loved having a vegetable garden. He would end up giving away a lot of the vegetables away, but he just liked to watch them grow. My mom canned and froze a lot of vegetables when we were growing up too. I can remember sitting on the back porch and snapping beans and shelling peas. It seemed endless back then, probably because it was part of our chores before we were allowed to go out and play.

The other night we got our first summer squash and so I decided to grill it up. I just tossed it with some olive oil and salt and pepper.

I then added some baby carrots and some cherry tomatoes.

I put them in one of those really cool grilling woks. Way cool!!!

There will many more pictures of the yummy veggies coming this summer.

Let me know if you have a vegetable garden and what veggies are your favorite and what you like to do with them.

Super Duper Weenie...the BEST

2010-06-29T19:50:00.006-04:00

Yep, that's really the name of the place, Super Duper Weenie! If you watch the Food Network and ever watch Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, then you have seen this place on one of the episodes!!! Guy did an episode on Super Duper Weenie. It is located in Fairfield, CT.

To look at the place you would think "Yeah, right. It's a little shack and probably not too good." But boy would you would be wrong!!! This place is fab-u-lous!!!! OMG!!! really, really good. It is a little shack, but it has humongous character and flavor!! :)

They have about 15 different kinds of hot dogs to choose from. This time I got the California Dog, which consists of fresh cut onions, a homemade chili sauce and American cheese. It was really good!!!

And OMG!!! can I just tell you how AMAZING the french fries are?!!!!! They are fresh cut and just sooooo good. YUMMY!!!!!

If you are ever driving up I-95 through Connecticut in Fairfield and see a billboard for the Super Duper Weenie then you have got to stop!! It is right off the highway and so easy off, easy on.

What do you like on your hot dogs?

It's Like Sticking a Straw in a Coconut

2010-06-24T16:35:00.009-04:00

That's what the container says. :) I bought some of this coconut water last week at Whole Paycheck, that's what my friends and I in grad school called Whole Foods! :) The water is by Vita Coco. I was thinking it would be like milk, but it really is like water. Silly me, not sure what I was thinking. I mean, c'mon it says coconut "water". Duh! :)

It has an interesting flavor. Not sure what I quite think about it. I wish it were more coconutty. (Not sure if that is a word, but as I tell my students, it's a words now.) It is 100% pure coconut water. I've never cracked open a coconut and drank the water out of it and so I wasn't sure what to expect. If I ever make it onto Suvivor, I am all set though. (It is an obsession of mine to make it onto Suvivor one of these days!!!)

Have you ever tried this coconut water before? Or any type of coconut water before? Did ya like it?

The Salmon Aren't Running Yet, But...

2010-06-22T19:33:00.005-04:00

Last year at this time when I was in Alaska visiting my brother the salmon had just started running and so the fisherman were lined up, really lined up. Seriously, they park along the side of the road put their rods in the water, catch their daily allotment (depending on how many salmon are running determines how many you can catch in 24 hours), then they go sit/sleep in their cars until midnight and then get out and fish again to catch the next bunch. In the summer there is no darkness, it only gets dusk, and so you can easily fish at midnight.

Well, I don't like farm raised salmon and so I normally only get Alaskan Wild or the ones my brother sends me. We were at Trader Joe's the other day and so I bought some. My mom and I grilled it up last night. I don't get all fancy with it normally and so I just put some olive oil and salt and pepper on it and put it on the grill. Salmon is soooo good for you. It can be fishy tasting at first, but if it is made correctly then it is tasty!! I like mine a little more crispy/blackened than this, but it was still good.

OMG!!! It was really good. It goes to show that you don't always need a lot of ingredients to make something good. :) How do you like to prepare your salmon/fish dinners?

On a Mission

2010-06-17T09:46:00.007-04:00

I made these fab-u-lous quesadillas the other night. I thought I would try a different kind of tortilla and so I bought two different flavors of Mission's Tortilla's.

I bought the Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil

and the Garden Spinach & Herb. They are really good. I cannot say I could really taste the individual flavors that greatly but they were good and they're pretty too right? Ha! :) You know it's all about the prettiness.

I added, of course, my favorite go to...spinach and mozzarella. Don't forget that you can really add in tons of the spinach because it wilts down to normal size once it gets warm. But then I also added some black beans. I think black beans don't get their just exposure. I mean, they are good and good for you. They practically have no calories and fat and so whats not like???

Have you ever tried different flavors of the Mission tortillas? if so, what's your favorite? What do you use them for?

Giddy'Up Pizza

2010-06-15T16:15:00.005-04:00

Not sure about this title but I was thinking fresh foods from the farm, hence the giddy'up and it is a pizza. Ha! I guess sometimes my reasoning only makes sense to me. :)

This is one of my mom's and I's favorite homemade pizzas. It is so simple and really, really good. First you just drizzle some olive oil on the crust and then add some fresh spinach, fresh basil and some goat cheese. Those are definitely the staples. You can also then add whatever you like. We added cherry tomatoes last night. My sister, Missy, doesn't like tomatoes which is why only half of the pizza has tomatoes. Sometimes we also add mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes.

Missy made this pizza. If I would have been made by me it would have a ton more spinach on it. I really load on the spinach. Don't worry if it looks like too much because it never is. The spinach wilts down once it gets warm and so it is never too much. :)

Do you make your own veggie pizza and if so what are your toppings?

Pop' ems!

2010-06-13T20:42:00.006-04:00

I just totally looooooooove the Pop' ems donut holes!!! They are soooooo good! They come in glazed or chocolate. I usually only get the glazed ones. OMG!!! They are fab-u-lous!!! I am getting excited just writing about them right now. Darn, I wish I had some to eat. Ha! Hostess makes them and so you should immediately, at once, go out to your grocey store or convenience store and buy them!!! You will not regret it. That is, unless you are like me and you end up eating the entire box in one sitting!! Ha! Ha! :) Oh yeah, I so wish I was joking. Have you ever tried them? Pop the Pop' ems in your mouth.

Only the Berry Berry Best

2010-06-10T06:43:00.004-04:00

It is berry season!!! Besides the colors of the fall in New England, berry season is one of my favorites! Love, love, love strawberries and blueberries!!!! I mean really, look at how colorful they are. They are amazing. Plus, I love my new camera and the detail I can get with it! :)

I seriously could eat strawberries and blueberries every day and I have actually lately. Ha! The sweetness of the strawberries and the pop in your mouth when you bite into a blueberry!
Fab-u-lous!!!

I am heading home to Pennsylvania on Friday for the rest of the summer. I know strawberry season is early this year and so I am hoping I can still find strawberry patches when I go picking this weekend. Keep an eye out for some photos of that. I am taking my niece Danica with me. Ever since she saw Cailliou go strawberry picking she wants to go to. :) Good times!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

2010-06-06T21:09:00.002-04:00

Leslie over at Out of Their Mouths won the $40 tastefully Simple Gift Certificate!!!!! Yea Leslie. I am so excited for you. Please email me at nina_tarner@hotmail.com so I can give you more information on the gift certificate. You are going to absolutely love the Tastefully Simple products! Hope you're hungry!!

Bacon Bacon Garlic Garlic Potato Skins

2010-06-02T06:29:00.007-04:00

Who doesn't love potato skins?? I mean really, potatoes, spices and melted cheese. Mmmmm....so good, right?

I had a Tastefully Simple Success Event (meeting) last night and took an appetizer.

I decided to use the Bacon Bacon and Garlic Garlic as my products in the dish. These are some of the best spices EVER!!!! I mean people go CRAZY over them!! These bottles are huge and they last a loooong time. If you have never tried Tastefully Simple products or heard of them then you have to check it out here. I'll mention a giveaway at the end of this blog. :)

The potato skins were really easy to make. I simply baked 10 potatoes in a 400 degree oven for 1 hour. You can easily use less potatoes, but if you are serving quite a few people I suggest making more rather than less because everyone loves them. Seriously, they were ALL GONE very quickly!

Once done baking, split the potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the potato.

Next, mash the potatoes a bit so they are not so lumpy. Isn't the potato masher one of the BEST kitchen utensils ever??? Love it!

I next added some of the Bacon Bacon and some of the Garlic Garlic. I also added some sour cream and some cheese. Then just stir it really well so it is well mixed.

Now, spoon the potato mixture back into the potato skins. I didn't use that much because I wanted them to be more like potato skins rather than twice baked potatoes. I also pressed the potato mixture down some.

I then added some more Bacon Bacon

and also more cheese. You can never have too much cheese right?

Then I just put them in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. OMG!!! Soooo good!!! What are your favorite toppings on potato skins???

I am giving away a $40 gift certificate to the Tastefully Simple products of your choice. From today through Sunday if you leave me a comment you will get one name entered in the drawing. If you also leave a post about my giveaway on your blog you will get your name entered twice! If you post about my giveaway on your facebook profile you will get your name entered three times and if you follow my blog you will get your name entered four times!!!! You can check out the Tastefully Simple website here.

Not a Sandpaper Tasting Energy Bar

2010-05-31T15:41:00.007-04:00

Energy bars have come a long way. I remember back when they were gross. Seriously, you ate one and they tasted like heavy-on-your-tongue sandpaper. I'm not sure if that makes sense to you, but it's the best way for me to explain it. Imagine something with the texture of thick, gooey paste with the flavor of dry, raw oats. Better understand it now? Good.

I guess I was always under the impression that you had to be in training for something or a body builder or in really good shape to eat the energy bars. I mean, what are they really for??? Please, someone tell me. I am in no way in shape (although I am on Weight Watchers recently and am trying! They are 5 points.) and am not a body builder and definitely not in training for anything either. Is it wrong that I am eating them?

Well, I had a coupon for the Cliff Bar and thought I would give it a try. I was hesitant because of past experience as mentioned above.

I chose the Crunchy Peanut Butter Cliff bar and OMG!!! it was sooooo good. Really, really yummy! I was totally shocked. My tongue (really my taste buds I guess) was doing the happy dance. :)

There were so many flavors to choose from at the grocery store. Seriously there must have been 15 or more! Like I said I tried the Crunchy Peanut Butter; however, I also bought the Banana Nut Bread and

the Carrot Cake! I am really looking forward to trying both of these, especially if they are anything like the Crunchy Peanut Butter one.

So, now that I ate it, bring on the energy right? Have you ever tried energy bars? Which are your favorites?

So Cute Baby Shower!!

2010-05-26T07:08:00.006-04:00

On Saturday, I went to my friend Deirdre's Baby Shower. I teach with her at Sacred Heart University and she is having twins!!!! One boy and one girl!! Her shower was at Knapp's Landing Restaurant, which is right on the LI Sound in CT. There were a ton of people there and it was a really nice. I forgot my camera (DUH!) and so thankfully someone else got some pictures.

These were little Baby Buggy cookies that were given to everyone as favors. OMG!!! TOO CUTE!!! And they were very very tasty too! I love baby showers because everything is so girly and adorable. Ha! For couples showers, I'm sorry but it is still girly!

And here were the cakes. How incredible are they??? The blue one was chocolate with a raspberry filling and the pink one was vanilla with a lemon filling. They were super good too!

There were also pink and blue M&M's on the table with little sayings on them like "2 is better" and "twice as nice".

Special Brownies

2010-05-24T19:12:00.014-04:00

No, not those kind of special brownies, these are special because they've got a little something extra and special in them.

I added Heath Toffee Bits to the brownie batter. I love toffee. I mean what's not to love about chocolate covered hard caramel??? Yummmmmm!!!!!

Maybe I went a little overboard adding the whole entire bag of toffee bits, but oh well. Nah, who I am kidding, there is no such thing as adding too much of anything when it comes to brownies. Right? :)

And you know one of the best parts of making brownies? Yep, having the bowl to lick afterwards!! And then there is also licking the chocolate off of your finger!!! Yep, I sure did!! C'mon who are you kidding, you know you do the same thing!! Ha! :)

I love brownies, but I like things added to them even better. I like adding more chocolate chips, or fudge chunks or peanut butter or butterscotch chips, marshmallow fluff, etc. I could go on and on. What do you like to add to your brownies????

Fire Up the Grill

2010-05-23T08:26:00.005-04:00

I was over at my friend's house yesterday and we grilled burgers for dinner. These burgers were so delicious!!

Her husband wanted me to capture the entire grilling experience and to show how serious he is about his grilling. Ha! :) (Plus, he thinks having this blog is super cool!)

This picture is of course of the grill. He put the hammer on top to show his seriousness. If you mess with his grill he will knock you out with the hammer.

You can see the thickness of the burgers. You have to make them thick though because once they start cooking then they shrink and nobody wants an itty bitty burger. The red pepper flakes add that little kick at the end. Mmmmmm...

My friend also made this great tortellini salad. It had diced pancetta, sugar snap peas, fresh dill out of her garden and tomatoes. It is so fresh and delightful. Really, really good. It's something different from the usual potato or macaroni salad.

What a fab-u-lous plate of food right? Soooo yummy!!!! And the lettuce on the burger was right out of her garden.

Burgers on the grill always make me think it is officially summer. Yes, I know you can grill during the winter, but there's nothing like a warm summer evening and the grill fired up and burgers cooking. I like burgers plain and also with toppings. My favorites are mushrooms, bacon, cheese and tomatoes. How do you like your burgers?

Mmmm...Chobani Yogurt (It's Greek to Me!)

2010-05-21T16:50:00.005-04:00

I have fallen in love. True everlasting, hurt-in-my-heart kind of love. Yes, Chobani is my new lova. Seriously, you've got to try this!!! It is to die for! OMG!!!!

I tried Greek yogurt before and wasn't really a fan, but then again I only had the plain kind. Well, now Chobani came out with flavored Greek yogurts. I love yogurt, always have!!! Blueberry and peach are usually my favorite flavors. I may have a new favorite. Chobani has a Strawberry Banana flavored yogurt that is fab-u-lous!!!!! It is rich and creamy and smooth. Seriously, my mouth is watering (I am a drooling fool) as I am blogging about it! Ha! :)

You can find Chobani in probably any grocery store in with the other brands of yogurt. It may seem a little pricey, but IT IS SO WORTH IT!!!!! Maybe just use it as a treat every now and again. I bought five of them though!!!

Trust me on this one, you will be a fan.

I'm Baaaaaack and with Meringues!!!!

2010-05-20T17:17:00.008-04:00

So sorry for being incognito again. I just had to get through the end of the semester. There was sooooo much grading to do and unfortunately the blog went by the wayside. But I am back now and OMG!!! have I got some yumminess for you!

We got a new Whole Foods in Connecticut. Okay, well it's been here for a couple of months but it is a couple of towns over and I just got there for the first time today. Let me tell you though I will go back OFTEN!!!

I picked up these incredible meringues. I blogged about meringues awhile back. I LOVE (super puffy pink heart) them!!! They are so light and refreshing. And because of the lightness of them of course that just means you can eat more of them. Ha! :)

My friend Erin is under the weather and I know how much she LOVES meringues and so I picked some up for her and dropped them by to cheer her up. :)

I got some Lemon Meringues. No, not lemon meringue pie but Lemon Meringues. Ha! I crack myself up.

I also picked up some Dulce de Leche flavored ones. YUMMY!!! Seriously they are so good. I really don't know which ones I like best.

These came in the mini size, which makes them uber cute!! I mean seriously, look at the cuteness!!

(I just got my new camera a couple weeks ago and love the clearness when I zoom in! This thing has a 30x zoom!!!!!!!!)

Do you love meringues and if so what's your favorite flavor??? I shoudl try making meringues. Nah, buying them is so much better!

Oh Yes!! Sweet Potato Fries

2010-04-27T17:08:00.006-04:00

Trader Joe's has the MOST amazing Sweet Potato Fries. And they are soooooo soooooo simple. They come in a bag already cut and so you just put them on a foil lined baking sheet, sprinkle a little bit of salt on top with some olive oil and bake. That's it!!

OMG!! They are so good and tender. I think I may have baked this batch a little bit too short in time because they were soft instead of crispy. But, if you wanted yours crispy then just bake them longer and not use as much olive oil. Mine however, were fab-u-lous!!! You've got to try them immediately!!

Yummmmmmm...Cheesecake Factory

2010-04-25T09:16:00.006-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Cheesecake Factory again. I know, I know, bad for me, blah, blah, blah. C'mon it's the Cheesecake Factory!!! Need I say more??? Ha! Seriously though, I don't go every day or even every week. So, I've gone twice in two months. So what? Before that it was a year or more since I had been to the Cheesecake Factory.

I got the Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp. It was sooooooooo good!!! OMG!! Fab-u-lous!!!! The peanut sauce is amazing!! You have got to order this dish the next time you are there because it is unbelievable!!

My friends both ordered the Fish and Chips, which looked pretty fantastic too! What is there not to like about beer battered fish and then french fries??

We all then ordered some pretty amazing and completely delicious cheesecake. Sorry about the pictures showing half-eaten slices of cheesecake. I totally couldn't wait to dig in and then remembered I had to take some photos for the blog! Ha!

I got the Key Lime Cheesecake. This is one of my favorites!!!!!

My one friend got the Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake. Another one of my favorites!!!

My other friend got the Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake. This is pretty fab-u-lous too!!

So, next time you are at the Cheesecake Factory try one of them, or better yet try all three!! :)

This Little Italian Place with BIG Taste!!!

2010-04-17T19:00:00.006-04:00

A couple of weeks ago when I was home in Chambersburg, PA. my mom and sister and niece and I went to this little Italian place on the town square. It's called "cafe d'italia" and it is freakin' awesome!!! OMG!!! for such a little place it has amazing BIG taste!!! It is really really that good. It was warm outside and so we decided to sit out front at one of the cafe tables. It was perfect!

I started out with this amazing Caesar salad! I LOVE Caesar salad. This was out of this world good. The dressing was perfect and it was just so darn good, I'm getting stuck on what else to say about it. Actually, I'm having a hard time typing and thinking because my mouth is watering. Ha! :)I then ordered for dinner the lobster ravioli. Fab-u-lous!! Seriously, it is the best I've ever had. I'm not a huge red sauce person and so I asked if I could get it with Alfredo sauce. No problem. OMG!!! This was the best Alfredo sauce I've ever had. It was not too thick. It had a delicious smoky flavor. And HUGE pieces of lobster!! It was the BEST!!

My mom got an Italian sub.

And my sister got a chicken Parmesan sub and those looked really good too. Everything was just amazing.

If you are ever on the town square in Chambersburg, you've got to try this place out and tell them I sent ya! let me know if you liked it too!

No Devil in These Eggs

2010-04-07T07:00:00.006-04:00

For most holidays and picnics my family has deviled eggs. Others tell me this is strange to have deviled eggs for holiday meals, but we've always done it. And I love deviled eggs so I have no problem with it. :) Why are they called Deviled Eggs???

They really are simple to make too. You hard boil some eggs. In case you don't know how do this, just put some eggs in to a pot of water, bring to a boil and then cover and turn off the burner and let sit for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, I usually run cold over them so they get cool enough to touch. So, under cold running water just peel the eggs. On a side note, I heard that if you buy the eggs a week or two before you are going to use them, they are easier to peel. So, make them when they are a little bit old. Strange, I know, but true. :)

Once you have the eggs peeled, cut them in half lengthwise and take out the yolks.

Once the yolks are out of all the eggs, mix the yolks with mustard and mayonnaise. I don't have exact measurements for this, I just do it by taste. I would say to start out with a smaller amount and taste it and then you can add more if need be.

Once you have that all mixed, then take a spoon and fill the egg halves with the yolk mixture. You then sprinkle with paprika. It just takes a little bit of paprika. :) I sometimes also like to put a slice of olive on top. It gives them a special extra flavor. Mmmmm...they are sooooo good!! What do you like on top of your deviled eggs?

There are a ton of pretty deviled egg dishes I've seen in various stores. This one has been in our family forever. I don't ever remember my mom using another one. It's really pretty.

Ambrosia (Huh?)

2010-04-05T20:46:00.006-04:00

My mom has made this dish called Ambrosia for picnics since I was little. I'm not really sure where the name comes from, but it is really good! Mmmmm...I can even taste it right now as I am typing this. Yummy!!

Now this is a really simple dessert to make. Everything is 1 cup!! You first take 1 cup of marshmallows.
Then add in 1 cup of canned pineapple (I'm sure you could use fresh too, but the canned is so much easier).

Next, add in 1 cup of mandarin oranges. Who doesn't love the sweetness of mandarin oranges??? They are cute and sweet and good for you too! :)

Next, add in 1 cup of sour cream and then 1 cup of coconut.

Mix it all together well and then eat! :) Yep, it is that simple. It is pretty light and refreshing. the texture is fun. I swear if you make this for dessert, everyone will love it. Your kids will love it too!!

Oh my! Heavenly Dessert!!

2010-04-04T20:08:00.007-04:00

I made this dessert for Easter dinner today and let me tell you, it was AWESOME!!!! OMG!!! So good! And it was so incredibly simple to make.

You first mix 1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs with 1/4 cup of sugar and 6 tbsp. of butter.

Then just press firmly in the bottom 13x9 baking dish.

Next, beat 2 packages (8oz.) of cream cheese with 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of milk until well blended. Spread this mixture over the graham cracker crumb crust. It may lift the crust a bit and so I found out that if you spray some Pam on your spreader it helps a lot.

Next mix 2 3/4 cups of milk with 2 packages of lemon pudding. Pour over the cream cheese mixture. And let that sit for 5 minutes.

After the five minutes, spread some strawberry Cool Whip over top. It can be hard to find the strawberry Cool Whip at the grocery store and so if you cannot find it, I found mixing frozen strawberries with regular Cool Whip works well. (I can usually only find the strawberry Cool Whip around Christmas time.)

That's it. It is so simple. It is really pretty with all the layers and the colors. It is the perfect springy or summer dessert! And it isn't really heavy, really light and refreshing.

What is the Word for Yummolicious in Spanish?

2010-04-02T20:46:00.005-04:00

I am home in PA. for Easter and tonight we went to one of my favorite Mexican places, Tito's Tacos, on the town square in Chambersburg. It is truly, authentic Mexican food and it is
fab-u-lous!!! We started out with the BEST queso EVER!! The chips are homemade too and still warm when you get them.

I ordered the chorizo quesadillas. Mmmmm, love chorizo. It is a spicy meat and can be greasy sometimes, but this was really good.

I also had a chile relleno. I love chile rellenos. Mmmmm, OMG!!! so yummy!!!

My sister got the beef nachos. The beef is amazing. It really looks like steak and tastes amazing.

She got it with a side of rice and beans. The portions are humongous right?

If you like Mexican food and are ever in Chambersburg, PA. then you've got to stop by Tito's Tacos.

Granola (No, really Granola, not tree-huggers). :)

2010-03-26T12:47:00.004-04:00

I know I posted about this granola very early on in my blog, but I made it again the other night and I think it turned out the best I ever made it. It is so simple to make and super cheap. Seriously, if you like granola and buy it a lot, then you should really try my recipe and make it yourself.

You take 4 cups of oats, not the minute oats, but the old fashion kind in the tall cardboard cylinder. Then add to that, 2 cups of coconut and 2 cups of sliced almonds. Don't use slivered almonds, make sure they are sliced or whole. I like them with a little bit of salt too, but you can just as easily use the unsalted almonds. In a separate small bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup of oil with 1/4 cup of honey. Whisk it together until it is fully incorporated. Then pour the honey mixture in with the oat mixture and stir completely until it is completely mixed. Pour it out into a glass cake pan and put into a 250 degree oven for 15 minutes, take it out and stir completely and then put it back in for another 15 minutes, again take it out and stir around completely and then put back in for another 15 minutes. Next, take it out and lay on wax paper or parchment paper until it is completely cooled. Put into a container and you can add craisins, cranberries, raisins, etc.

OMG! It is fab-u-lous!!! Seriously the BEST granola you will ever have. And it is waaaaaaay cheaper than buying it at the grocery store, cause let's face it granola is just way over priced.

Scallops and Pasta

2010-03-23T20:05:00.006-04:00

So, I really love scallops, but I cannot always figure out different ways to fix them. So, tonight I thought I would go healthy.

I first diced up some zucchini, cherry tomatoes, garlic, and red, yellow and green bell peppers. I then added all of the veggies to some hot olive oil in a skillet. I let that cook for a while until I thought the zucchini was soft.

I then added some marinara sauce and then added some bay scallops. I like both bay and sea scallops, but I think when I am cooking a dish I like using the bay scallops because they are smaller. Let the scallops cook until they are opaque.
In another saucepan I cooked some angel hair pasta. I like angel hair the best out of all the pastas. I think I like it because it is thinner than the others. I am not a huge fan of pasta. I mean, I like it but I'm not all crazy about it. I know some people that could eat pasta every night and never get tired of it. Notsomuch me though. :)

Anywho, when the pasta and scallops are done cooking, I just added them all together. I then finished it off with some shredded Parmesan cheese. Mmmmmm, delicious!!!

I really don't have a name for this dish, but you really should try it. If you aren't a lover of seafood I am sure it would work well with chicken or tofu too!!

Was M.I.A. but Now I'm Back

2010-03-21T19:22:00.006-04:00

Hi all! Sorry about being MIA lately. I have been swamped at school with grading, and grading, and even more grading. I seriously need to stop giving so much work. It is a hampering on my social life. Ha! I am back now though and will be posting more yummy, fab-u-lous dishes and restaurants that I love!

I recently got this oh so yummy salmon from Schwan's. Do you love Schwan's too???? I remember years ago when I was at home my dad used to get the best ice-cream from Schwan's. Well, believe me they have so much more than ice-cream!!! They come right to your door and you can get a ton of good products. Check out their website here and see if they deliver to your area.

Anywho, back to this salmon. OMG!!! It is so incredibly gooooood! I love salmon to begin with but this is super duper fab-u-lous!!! And of course you know me and rice. Yummy! And of course I always have butter on my rice. It is so good!!

Do you like salmon and if so, how do you like yours cooked? have you ever tried Schwan's?

Artichoke, Spinach & Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

2010-03-10T10:54:00.009-05:00

Okay that is a mouthful of a title and once you make and try this lasagna you will want to keep your mouth full!!! Ha! :) This lasagna is fab-u-lous!! OMG!!!! So good! And it is so easy to make. here's what you do.

Take a packet of Tastefully Simple's Viva Garlic Alfredo Sauce and make according to directions on the packet, mix it with 1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream and 2-3 tbsp (or more if you like it cheesy like me) of Parmesan cheese.

Next in a separate bowl, combine 3 cups of shredded chicken. I used thigh meat because it is juicier. I just boiled the thighs and then let them cool and took off the skin and deboned them and then pulled the meat apart. Combine the shredded chicken with a 14.5 ounce can of artichoke hearts that you have drained and cut inot smaller pieces, 1/4 cup of chopped onion (or just 2 tbsp. of Onion Onion mix from Tastefully Simple), 1/2 - 1 tsp. of Garlic Garlic from Tastefully Simple, 3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese and 4 ounces of crumbled feta cheese. Mix that all really well. (How cool is it that you only need a couple of teaspoons or tablespoons of the mix compared to buying the vegetables???)

Next in a 9 x 13 greased baking dish, pour 2/3 cup of the alfredo sauce and spread evenly around.

Next add 3-4 lasagna noodles (I use the kind that you don't have to boil ahead of time).

Then 1 cup of packed spinach leaves.

And then 1/2 of the chicken mixture and 1/2 of the remaining alfredo sauce, repeat the layers.

Bake in a 350 degree oven covered in foil for 45-50 minutes. Take the foil off and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until browned on top.

Mmmmmm, it is sooooooooo good. Seriously you've got to make it. It will definitely be a huge hit. People will be requesting it all the time. I made it last night for a Tastefully Simple meeting and it was seriously gone in about 10 minutes. No joke!!

Strawberries and Chocolate = Yumminess

2010-03-07T11:30:00.012-05:00

Tastefully Simple just came out with their new spring/summer line of products and OMG!!! they are are incredible! I will be blogging about them throughout the next couple of weeks or months.

They have this amazing Strawberry Cheeseball Mix that is fab-u-lous!!! I like it as a cheeseball because c'mon what's not better than a sweet and delicious ball of cheese covered in graham cracker crumbs??? However, I thought of another way to serve it. I got this idea of sandwich cookies from the Joshua Brody Francis blog (you should check it out because it is a lot of fun to read and her sister has an amazing poof for her hair!!). A couple of weeks ago she made some chocolate chip cookies with vanilla icing in-between. Well, I thought it would be fantastic to make the Strawberry Cheeseball mix and then put that in-between two double chocolate chunk cookies. I then rolled them in red sprinkes. OMG!!! Can I just tell you how insanely good they were!!!! I mean really, strawberry cream cheese in-between chocolate chunk cookies!!!!

You should really try it out. They are incredible!! I am also going to try the Key Lime Cheeseball Mix in-between sugar cookies. I will blog about them too. Stay tuned.

Hop On Over for Cheddar Bunnies

2010-03-05T07:09:00.006-05:00

These are so incredibly cute and so incredibly good!!! They are Cheddar Bunnies. You can get them in a variety of flavors. I like the white cheddar ones and also the regular cheddar ones. My friend Rachel gives these to her daughter Lila all the time and my sister Missy gives them to my niece Danica on a daily basis. Maybe I should say hourly basis. Ha! :) They are just so good. They are like the Goldfish crackers or even Cheez-its, but sooooo much healthier! They are made from Annie's, which is a healthy food brand that you may heard of. Their stuff is pretty good. But, I digress.

The Cheddar Bunnies have 0g Trans Fat, Low Saturated Fat, No Cholesterol, No Sugar Added, and Non -GMO. They are completely organic!! And really they are so good. They are definitely not just for kids, but if you have kids, then I would go out and buy these immediately because why not give your kids a healthier snack that they will love!!!! They can be found in every grocery store pretty much. Just look in the healthy food section.

White Chicken Chili

2010-03-03T06:46:00.009-05:00

Okay, first off why is it called White Chicken Chili? What other kind of chicken is there besides white chicken???? Very confused by that. Ha!

Anywho, last night for dinner I made some White Chicken Chili. I love this dish because it is so full of flavor, so simple, pretty darn healthy and super yummy! And it doesn't make a ton and so since it is juts me I don't have to worry about all of the leftovers. I'm not a huge leftover fan. I can last about 2 days, maybe 3 on leftovers, and then I am just tired of it.
Like I said, soooo easy. You just take a pound of chicken and cut it into cubes and cook in a pan with 1 tbsp. of oil.

Once the chicken is white (and no longer pink) add in 1 cup of water and a packet of McCormick's White Chicken Chili mix and 1 can of white beans. Let that come to a boil and then turn it back to simmer for 10 minutes. That's it!!! So simple!

OMG!!! So good! I like to put green Tabasco on mine to add a little heat. I also put in onions, cheese and sour cream. You know, the normal chili staples. What do you like on your chili?

You should really stop by the grocery store today and pick up the ingredients because after a half hour of being home you will have an amazing and super yummy dinner ready. And it is healthy too!!

Alligator Pizza for my Birthday

2010-02-27T09:15:00.012-05:00

Yep, you read that title correctly. Two weeks ago my friends and I went out for my 40th birthday to this really cool bar/restaurant for dinner. It's called Two Boots. Now that title comes because Italy is in the shape of a boot and so is Louisiana. They have pizza and New Orleans (NOLA) fair, hence the two boots. :) very clever play on words right? There are various other Two Boots, such as: West Village, Bleecker Street, Avenue A, Grand Central, Upper East Side, Hell's Kitchen, Bridgeport, and Los Angeles. You can find there website here. If you live in or close to one of those cities, you've so got to go to there. It is absolutely worth it. I have a friend that lives in Los Angeles and want her to go and check it out, so Raven go the one at 1818 West Sunset Boulevard and let me know what you think of the place. She also also has a really cool Etsy store (Dirty Pretty Things) that you can check out here.

Anyway, we started out with fried macaroni and cheese. This is soooooo good. OMG!! Seriously good. It is a huge block (believe me when I say huge) of macaroni and cheese that is then fried! Macaroni and cheese is so good by itself but then to fry it, OMG! genius!!!! I so wish I would have taken a picture of it. Darn me and trying to entertain everyone (making sure I got to talk to everyone that was there). We also have fried alligator as an appetizer and it was really good too. Ive never had it before, but I'm never one to shy away from food and will try anything once. I had frog legs before in NOLA and that honestly tasted like chicken. And so did the alligator. People say that as a joke, "...tastes like chicken", but it really is true that so many foods taste like chicken.

We then ordered a couple of different types of pizza and one of them was alligator pizza. It was soooooooo good. OMG!! really really spicy though. I think that bis because it had a spicy orange sauce on top along with a wasabi sauce. It was so good, but the hot sauces kind of overpowered everything else.

What is the strangest thing you've ever tried?

Juicy Steak and Loaded Potato

2010-02-25T21:26:00.005-05:00

Sometimes a gal just wants some meat and potatoes, ya know? I love me a juicy steak every now and again. Mmmmm...tonight I made a steak and a sweet potato and cheesy cauliflower. Yep, all just for me. :) The steak was so good. I just added a little McCormick Grill Mates, which I totally love. You should really try it the next time you have steak. It is that good!! I usually like my steaks rare. The redder the better. I like it still mooing. Ha! I know some of you may be vegetarians and so I am sorry if I am offending you, but I am all carnivore. :)

The sweet potato was so yummy! You know how they make them at Outback or Texas Roadhouse or Lone Star Steakhouse, where they are loaded. Yep, you know the ones, butter and brown sugar. OMG!!! So incredibly good. And they are so easy to make at home. I just poke holes in the potato with a fork (all over) and then wrap the potato in a paper towel and put it in the microwave for about 6 minutes and then mmmmmm....so good! They are so good and good for you too!! have you ever tried them at home??? If not, you so totally have to. Tomorrow really, you should go out and buy some sweet potatoes and make them tomorrow night for dinner. Trust me, your family will think you are the bestest!!

What is your favorite cut of steak and how do you like yours cooked?

Fully Loaded Quesadillas

2010-02-24T19:05:00.007-05:00

My friend John made these awesome quesadillas. You know me and the quesadilla, if it can go between two flour tortillas then I am all about it. :) Just add some sour cream and guacamole and walluh perfecto!

These were awesome and they had so much in them. There was chicken, corn, mushrooms, onions (I think), cheese, maybe garlic too. Oh geesh, I cannot even remember what was in them. Maybe I should have checked with John first before starting this blog. Ha! Oh well, I am giving him credit and how I am explaining is nowhere close to giving them justice! Trust me they were awesome!! And he didn't even use a quesadilla maker!!!

What do you put in your quesadillas or what is your favorite type?

The Hills are Alive with Aebleskiver

2010-02-16T17:05:00.009-05:00

Okay, I know it is a weird name. I call it edelweiss like the song from the Sound of Music. You know the one the Captain sings. It's a beautiful song. Thus I digress though, a couple of weekends ago I went over to my friends Kim & John's house for aebleskiver. I had no idea what this food was, but all I heard was danish and I was so totally sold! Mmmmmm...danish donut holes. Sounds delish!!

They were really good. You basically dip them in sugar or jelly! I tried both (as you can see in the photo) and they were equally fab-u-lous!! I think I did the sugar better, but the jelly was by no means unlikeable. :)

They were really easy to make too. Here is what you do:

In a clean glass or metal bowl, beat 2 egg whites with an electric mixer until they can hold a stiff peak. Set aside.
Mix together 2 cups of flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, baking soda, 1 tbsp. sugar, 2 egg yolks, 4 tbsp. melted butter and 2 cups buttermilk at one time and beat until smooth. Gently fold in the egg whites last.
Put about 1tablespoon of vegetable oil in the bottom of each aebleskiver pan cup and heat until hot. Pour in about 2 tablespoons of the batter into each cup. As soon as they get bubbly around the edge, turn them quickly (Danish cooks use a long knitting needle, but a fork will work). Continue cooking, turning the ball to keep it from burning.

The aebleskiver pan cups are really cute. I have seen them in the Williams Sonoma catalogs a lot lately! Who woulda thunk it?

So, have you heard of aebleskiver? Have you ever tried them? Will you try them now?

Hey I just thought, it is Fat Tuesday and also Faschnaut Day (Donut Day in Pennsylvania) and so these are kinda like donuts and perfect!!

The Cheesecake Factory (nuff said)

2010-02-13T12:20:00.010-05:00

Last weekend I was at a Tastefully Simple conference and we went out to eat at the Cheesecake Factory and OMG!!! can I just tell you how much I love the Cheesecake Factory????? It is super duper licious! Really, really that good!

I just ordered a simple cheeseburger (I know, stupid stupid me), but my friend Rachel ordered this amazing dish called Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp. It was a Thai dish with spices and meat and rice and all kinds of goodness. I mean just look at that picture. It is gorgeous. Don't you just love the perfect ball of rice? And the flavor was to die for!!! This is seriously what I will be ordering next time.

Then, oh yeah, the cheesecake. You cannot go to the Cheesecake Factory without ordering a piece of cheesecake. I don't care how full you are, it doesn't matter you MUST ALWAYS order some cheesecake. It's okay if you have to share it with someone, but you have to get some! So without further adieu....

This is a the Red Velvet cheesecake and OMG!!! incredible!!!! Complete heaven! I mean, look at it. It is beautiful!

Next up was this piece of Godiva Chocolate Chocolate cheesecake. If you love chocolate, this is definitely the one for you!!!!! It is overboard chocolate. And it's really gorgeous too. I really love the whipped cream dollops. They are so cute and I found out that a machine does that.

And the last one is a chocolate peanut butter cheesecake!!! It was the best of both words...chocolate and peanut butter! What's better than that?? NOTHING!!!! And my friend Mike found out that if you took some of the peanut butter dollop and then some of the Godiva Chocolate cheesecake together it is super yummy! Seriously fab-u-lous!!!

Now usually my mom and I always get the Key Lime cheesecake which is incredible. It is so refreshing and yummy!! My mom loves the Raspberry Lemon cheesecake and it is also soooo good!!! What is your favorite cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory??

Garlic Garlic Lettuce Wraps

2010-02-09T22:03:00.015-05:00

I had a monthly meeting for Tastefully Simple consultants tonight and for each month's meeting we are supposed to prepare a food dish using one of the Tastefully Simple products.

I love lettuce wraps (had my first at PF Changs) and decided that I could easily make some using Garlic Garlic.

They were so easy to make. I just first browned some ground turkey in 2 tbsp. of cooking oil and then added in shredded carrots and nuts and then some of the Garlic Garlic. Now I added a lot, probably about 2-3 tbsp. because I really like garlic! :) Then I added in some sweet Asian dressing.

Tastefully Simple has a fantastic Sesame Teriyaki sauce that would have been awesome but I ran out and didn't have any.

Then you simply take some romaine lettuce leaves (I buy them as "Just Leaves" and not as a head) and add a spoonful of the turkey mixture and then put it in your mouth! OMG!!! So fab-u-lous!!! They are great and a lot of fun for kids. Kids seem to really like eating with their hands and so lettuce wraps are perfect.

You can find the Garlic Garlic at my Tastefully Simple website here. Everyone seems to really really love the Garlic Garlic. It can be made as a dip for chips or veggies or you can put it on fish or chicken or add it into meatloaf, etc. There are so many uses for it. And it comes in a pretty decent size bottle for a spice. The marinade/sauces are also a huge hit. I am running a special right now, that anyone with an order over $50.00 I will let you choose one thing off of the website for free (excluding the gift sets)!!!!!

I have done fundraisers in the past too. It is a perfect fundraiser for schools (PTA) or sports teams or church groups. The easy thing is that the products get sent directly to the buyer and so there is no figuring out who bought what and so on! Let me know if you would like more information on the awesome fundraiser I could do for you. I am way better than gift wraps or chocolate!!! Ha! :)

Brides have bought The Trio of spices for gift favors for wedding guests and they attach a little ribbon with a note saying, "Thank you for spicing up our life with your love and kindness." How cute and unique is that??? Or brides can register for weddings through my website. What would be more perfect than a new married couple having a fully stocked pantry???

Tastefully Simple is an awesome company to work for and if you need extra moolah to pay off credit card debt or bills then it would be perfect for you. Plus, you get 30% off all of the products! You can be a stay-at-home mom and still earn money (about $500 a month only working one night a week) but on your schedule! I have two friends that are stay-at-home moms and they do it because they love the time it gets them out of the house around other people, but they can be at home during the day and one of them made $1500.00 extra last month!! Let me know if you want more information.

Sarah's Uber Healthy Cookies

2010-02-07T20:20:00.007-05:00

My past Research Assistant and student, Sarah, has a recipe for these amazingly healthy cookies. She was a distance runner and now she and her husband own a Cross Fit gym and so they are super healthy and fit. I was skeptical at first because c'mon "healthy cookies", Ithinknot. But, I thought I would give it a try.

OMG!!! They are fab-u-lous!!!! And so simple and delicious.

You mix 1/3 cup of butter, 2/3 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 tsp, cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. baking soda, 1 egg, 1/2 unsweetened applesauce (I actually used sweetened), 1 1/4 cup of flour, and 1 14/ cup of big oats. Mix that all together really well and then drop onto a cookie sheet. Place in a 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes and then devour!!!! You can also add in raisins or craisins or dark chocolate chips, which is what I added.

They are unbelievable. You really cannot imagine that they are healthy. But look at the ingredients and you know they are. They are super good, or uber good! They don't have any sugar and really nothing that fattening or bad for you :) Try them out and let me know what you think. I have a friend Dave that I am hoping will try these out. he thinks I always eat a ton of junk, which is sometimes true, but these are right up his alley. Hope he's proud. :)

Spice Spice Baby

2010-02-02T17:48:00.006-05:00

Last night I made General Tso's Chicken. If you remember from a previous post, I love General Tso's Chicken. It is my most favorite Chinese dish. Yummy!!!

You also know how much I love Trader Joe's and they have this amazing General Tso's sauce. They call it Trader Mings. Ha! How funny and cute is that??? I love it!

It was really easy to make. I just got some boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut them into small pieces and cooked them in a pan in a little bit of olive oil.

Once the chicken was cooked through, I just simply added in the General Tso's sauce and let it cook for about 10 minutes. And that's it...done! I mean really, how easy is that?

I put it over a bed of rice and OMG!!! so good! If you like spicy then this is definitely for you because it is really spicy. I actually had beads of sweat on my forehead and that never happens to me. :) You need to try this. I swear you will love it as much as me! It's really pretty filling too. I didn't have anything else for dinner except the General Tso's over rice and it was way filling.

Okay, seriously, I think Trader Joe's should start giving me a cut of the profits because let's face it I am one of their biggest supporters, right? :) I wonder if they know how much I talk them up. I wonder if people actually listen to me and go out and buy the stuff from Trader Joe's that I talk about. :)

Fruit Salad. Yummy Yummy!

2010-01-31T16:05:00.005-05:00

Okay if you have children then more than likely you know all about the title right? You know, the Wiggles!!! They have a song about fruit salad. I made an amazing fruit salad last weekend for the book club. I love making fresh fruit salads. Although, my Aunt Teresa makes an amazing fruit salad from fruit cocktail, bananas and orange juice. Seriously, so good!

But for this fruit salad I made, it was so simple. I used small red seedless grapes, blueberries, strawberries, fresh pineapple and clementines. It's so pretty and colorful right?

I love fresh pineapple. Boy, it's not exactly the easiest to cut up but man, is it ever good. It is so sweet and the texture is a little hard but then soft and it is so juicy. Mmmmm, there is only good things to say. I also love clementines. They are small oranges and juicy. but, the thing I like best about them is that they are easy as heck to peel. Right? Peeling oranges kept my friend Larry in grad school from eating oranges. Ha! Okay, that may be bad and extreme, but true. With clementines there is no excuse because they are so simple!

This fruit salad was amazing. OMG!! So incredibly good. how do you make/like your fruit salad??

Do You Love Meringues??? Or Should I Say Cloud Fluff??

2010-01-29T17:36:00.009-05:00

I just recently started loving Meringues. Mmmmm...sooooo yummy! I have some vanilla ones from Trader Joe's right now (don't worry my friends in Texas without Trader Joe's, you can get Meringues almost anywhere!). I had them sitting out for the book club last weekend and they were such a hit. My mom has always liked Meringues but me notsomuch, until recently. I'm so glad I started liking them though because OMG!!! they are fab-u-lous!!! And they are fat free. What's not to love about that right??? I've seen them in a variety of different flavors and am excited to try all of them.

They are so pretty too right? I love the shape of them. It is fun and whimsical and they are light and fluffy. Maybe they should be called Cloud Fluff instead of Meringues. Ha! :)

Do you like Meringues and what flavor is your favorite???

Crock Pot Bread Pudding

2010-01-26T20:42:00.006-05:00

So, continuing on with the Chick Lit Book Club menu, we come to another dish I made. I made this amazing Apple Bread Pudding and it is made in the crock pot. Yep, that's right, in the crock pot!!! What's easier than that right? (I wish the above picture did more justice, you'll just have to trust me on how incredible it is.)

You mix together 3 eggs and 2 cups of milk (or Half & Half or Cream) and 1/2 cup of sugar. You then add in 1 can (21 ounces) of Apple Pie Filling (yep canned pie filling). Next cut 1 loaf of Cinnamon Raisin Bread into cubes and add into the egg and apple mixture. Pour this then into a greased crock pot and cook on low for 3 hours. Let set uncovered for 45 minutes. I then dobbed some whipped topping on top.

Mmmmmm, OMG!! Yummy!! Everyone will think it is fab-u-lous and they will think you are fab-u-lous for making it!!!! It is so easy. It is perfect for a dinner dessert or for card club or Bunco get togethers or brunch.

Nutella & Nanners

2010-01-25T13:22:00.005-05:00

I started a Chick Lit Book Club and we met for the first time yesterday. I hosted the first meeting at my place. I made so many yummy foods and so keep checking back this week to see what all we had.

I was at a conference a couple of weeks ago and had something like chocolate and banana won-tons. And so I got to thinking that since this was going to be a brunch type of food affair it would be great to mix Nutella and bananas and fill won-tons and then fry them. OMG!!! So incredibly yummy!!! They were super fab-u-lous!!! The ultimate, uber, dessert!! Seriously, I cannot say enough about them.

They were really easy to make. I just took a little bit (you really need to keep it to a little bit or it will be too full (yes there is such a thing) and seep out the sides), probably like a tsp. and place in the center of a won-ton wrapper (these can be found in the grocery store where the tofu is) and then place a little bit of banana on top of that. Fold it up and seal it with some water on your fingertip and then drop into a pot of hot oil. It doesn't take long at all to cook so definitely keep an eye them.

They are so crunchy and then gooey and warm and chocolately. OMG!! Sooooo good. They were a big hit and everyone seemed to like them. I can't say if they were really healthy, but Nutella is somewhat good for you considering it tastes like chocolate and then you have the bananas, which are a fruit. If it weren't for the frying part they would be perfect. Well, perfect for the health conscious people. Who are they again????

Down on the Farm Pizza

2010-01-21T19:24:00.006-05:00

I really really love pizza. I swear my sister, Missy, and I could eat it every night and never get sick of it. I'm not a pizza snob either, I like it anyway and anywhere. I can Dominoe's, Pizza Hut, fancier restaurant pizza and even some frozen pizzas. However, every now and then I like making my own pizza. It's really easy and I can include all of the favorite toppings and it doesn't cost me $1.75 extra per topping! (Seriously, that's what it cost at the cheaper pizza places in Connecticut. It's insane!)

When I'm at my mom's place I will even make my own crust using her bread machine. Sometimes I make it ahead of time and freeze them so I have them when I need them, but that hasn't happened for awhile. And so, I bought some pizza dough at Trader Joe's and you know how healthy Trader Joe's is and so it is was whole wheat pizza dough. I was hesitant, but decided to get it anyway. It ended up being really moist and not too sticky or doughy (is doughy a word?). As you notice in the picture above I am using a pizza stone. I got mine through Pampered Chef and I LOVE my pizza stone. It is incredible and cooks everything so evenly. It is definitely worth every penny because they can be a little pricey, but again so worth it!

I made a veggie pizza this time (hence the farm reference in the title) and used a lot of my favorite veggies, such as mushrooms and black olives (are black olives a veggie???). I used the canned ones. Oh hush up. Who cares if they were canned versus fresh. Get over it. :) I also shredded my own mozzarella. Actually that wasn't my intention, I thought I was buying fresh mozzarella and was going to slice it and just put that on the pizza with some fresh basil, but then opened it and realized it wasn't fresh and so my plans changed. Thank goodness for some well-stocked canned goods. Phleh. :) I also really like the Pepino Pizza Sauce that you can get in the Pizza sauce aisle at the grocery store. However, I realized that I didn't have any and so this time I used Trader Joe's Marinara Sauce. It was more watery than I like on a pizza, but I didn't put a lot on and so it was okay.

I then put it in a 425 degree oven for about 8 minutes and walluh, perfecto! Okay, maybe not perfecto, but it was really good. It was so cheesy, which is how I like it. Sure, it makes it more difficult to eat because it is flimsy, but it was cheesy and that's all that really matters right?

Do you make your own pizza and what are your favorite toppings?

No Pudge Brownies

2010-01-19T08:05:00.004-05:00

These are brownies are fab-u-lous!!! Seriously, you cannot even tell they are fat free. They are moist and gooey and yummy! I've seen them in a lot of different grocery stores and so I am guessing they are in yours too. Check the healthy or organic section or the brownie section. They come in a variety of flavors, but I just got the regular ones. You only have to add plain or vanilla-flavored yogurt and that's it! OMG!!! So, so good!

They are so gooey and cake-like. 100% serious that you cannot tell they are fat free. You know when you buy something low fat or fat free and you can tell when you are eating it that it is fat free? Well, not with these. They are so chocolately. It is amazing. Once you eat these, you will never buy regular brownies again!!

No Silence with these Lambs

2010-01-17T19:23:00.006-05:00

I bought some lamb chops at Trader Joe's the other day. I have never made lamb chops and I'm not even sure if I've ever eaten lamb chops, but they looked good. I've seen people on Food Network make lamb chops and they are always talking about how easy their recipes are right?

I found a recipe from Giada DeLaurentiis on foodnetwork.com and it looked easy, said it was easy and sounded yummy. For the cooking of the lamb chops you simply salt and pepper the lamb chops and then chop up 2 tbsp. of rosemary and sprinkle over the lamb chops. Cook over the grill for about 5 minutes per side.

In the meantime you make the sauce, which consists of 1/3 basalmic vinegar, 2 tbsp. honey and 1 chopped clove of garlic.

When the lamb chops are finished you drizzle (mine was more like a pour because I like it saucy) the sauce over them.

OMG!!! So so good. I mean really, really good. They are really easy to make too. So, go ahead and try them. You'll like them!!

And so the Eggnog is Gone for Another Year

2010-01-15T20:40:00.006-05:00

If I have my choice of plain coffee, I choose Dunkin' Donuts, but if I want a latte or a flavored coffee drink then I am all about Starbucks. Those red holiday cups get me every year. There is something about Starbuck's bringing out the red holiday cups that puts me in the Christmas spirit.

I love, love, love the Eggnog Latte at Starbuck's. I seriously can't enough of them. I order it the same every time, Grande Skim Eggnog Latte 140 degrees. I get it at 140 degrees (or kid temperature) because I want to drink it right away. If I get it made normal then it is way too hot and I cannot stand burning my tongue. So, if you ask for it kid temperature then it is hot, but not so hot that you have to wait to drink it.

Today was the last day I could get the Eggnog Latte. I just lucked out that I went in today because after this they are gone for another year. :( I was informed though that the Gingerbread and Pumpkin Spice would be available through March though. Gingerbread, notsomuch, but OMG!!! Yummy Pumpkin Spice, which is another of my all-time favorites.

Do you frequent Starbuck's and what is your favorite drink?

These Chips Rock (or Pop)

2010-01-11T14:24:00.007-05:00

I tried these new chips recently and OMG!!! let me tell you, they are the most fab-u-lous chips EVER!!! They are Pop Chips. They are not fried and they are not baked, they are just heated til they pop. This makes them pretty healthy for you considering you are eating chips. Very cool!!! I am a huge chip fan and so these are right up my alley. I don't feel guilty (okay I don't feel guilty too often anyway) about eating many of them.

They come in a variety of flavors, which I am sure I will be trying all of them real soon, but so far I have only had the originals. They kind of remind me of Munchos, which are pretty fantastic too!

You seriously need to go to your grocery store and buy these immediately because they are all that (and a bag of chips). Ha! :)

Tofu Noodle Fettuccine Loaded

2010-01-09T17:05:00.013-05:00

I got this recipe from Hungry Girl, who is fab-u-lous!!! If you have never heard of Hungry Girl, check out her website here. She is just a gal who is always hungry.

She tries to stick with low-calorie, good-for-you foods and her cookbook has recipes that all under 200 calories!!! Yep, you read that correctly!! She has been on a lot of news shows lately and stops by the Rachel Ray show often. Tonight, I made the Fettuccine with veggies. Well, it wasn't your normal fettuccine. I used the Tofu Shirataki Angel Hair noodles.They are actually pretty good and uber healthy for you too! They are made out of tofu, which I am a fan of by the way. They smell a little fishy, but you can rinse them off and all is well. You can find them in your grocery store in the healthy section, right around where the other tofu is. I think it is normally in the refrigerated section.

An entire bag is your serving size!!! Seriously, the ENTIRE bag!!! So, you take one bag of Shirataki Noodles, and drain them and then dry them really well. You can use either a cheese cloth or paper towels. You want to then cut them up a bit with some kitchen scissors.

Then chop 1/2 cup of red bell pepper, 1/2 of zucchini, and 1/2 cup of broccoli florets. Cover these in a bowl and microwave for 2 minutes.

Next place your noodles, 2 tsp. of low-fat Parmesan cheese, and 1 tbsp. of fat free or low fat sour cream into a bowl and microwave for 1 minute, stir completely, and microwave another minute.

Stir everything and add salt and pepper and garlic powder or chili powder to taste. It is a humongous amount of food and really good and healthy for you. And it is soooo easy. It only takes about 10 minutes of prep total! And if you are doing WW it is only 3 points!!! Really, I know. Can you believe it?? Yummy!!!! Super duper licious.

Mrs. Gibbles is Yummolicious!!!

2010-01-07T19:52:00.012-05:00

Does your grocery store sell Gibbles Potato Chips? Well, they are delicious and they are made in Chambersburg, PA., which is my hometown. If you remember back to one of my earlier posts where I was talking about foldies, you will totally understand why the Gibbles chips are so good. :)

Next door to the Gibbles company is a restaurant called Mrs. Gibbles Family Restaurant. We went there tonight. It was my first time but oh so not my last. It was sooooo good. Mmmmm... Everyone orders a meat or entree and then all of the sides are served family style, which I love. We had mashed potatoes and corn as our sides. They first serve you a salad and corn fritters. OMG!! CORN FRITTERS!!! Fab-u-lous!!! They also have this amazing homemade salad dressing which is incredible. It is a little bit sweet and a little bit sour. It's just incredible. I'm not sure if you can order it online or not. Just go to their website and check it out to see if you can.

I ordered the Barbecue Pork Ribs and they were fall-off-of-the-bone good!!! They were so incredibly tender and juicy. OMG!!! Seriously, so good.

So, if you are ever in Chambersburg, PA. stop on by or the next time you are in your grocery store look for their chips. Really, really good.

No Losing These Meatballs

2010-01-06T21:04:00.005-05:00

The title comes from that silly song we sang as kids. You know the one, "On top of spaghetti, all covered with cheese. I lost my poor meatball when somebody sneezed." That song is really crazy actually if you think about the words. The meatball rolled off the table and onto the floor and then the person follows it?? Gross!!! Ha! :)

Anywho, for one of our family parties last week my mom decided to make the meatball recipe that you always see in the magazines this time of year. I don't think I ever noticed it as much before, but now that we have made them I see it in every magazine I read.

It is really the simplest of recipes and oh so good. You take a 2 lb. bag of already cooked meatballs and i jar of Heinz Chili Sauce and 1 can of Jellied Cranberry Sauce. Then cook these all togethre on the stove. Well, I am a lover of the crock pot and so I did it in the crock pot. I put everything in a couple of hours in advance (you could do it in the morning though) and put it on Low or Warm and then forget about it. Then when you are ready for dinner, it's all set and ready to eat!

They really are that easy and that good!!! They were a huge hit at the party. It sounds weird using both chili sauce and cranberry sauce together in one recipe, but it goes together perfectly! So good! It has a sweet and spicy taste together, which is always a party in your mouth.

So, for your next party or get together or just for dinner some night, make these meatballs. Trust me, they will be eaten so fast that none of them will be left to roll onto the floor!

Sweet Potato Bisque

2010-01-05T20:53:00.003-05:00

I have had this Sweet Potato Bisque from Trader Joe's for awhile and decided to make it the other night. I think I have had this before but I cannot remember. But anyway, it is soooooo good. And it is so easy because it is all ready to cook when you buy it. Just pour it out of the container and cook on the stove or in the microwave and that's it! It has a really cool lid to reclose if you don't want to make the whole container at once.

Of course I had to add my dollop of sour cream on top. Now I have those Daisy commercial song in my head. You know the one, "A dollop of Daisy...". Uuggghhh, now I keep hearing it. And now I bet you do too right? :)

On behalf of the Food Lovers Everywhere I accept...

2010-01-05T11:53:00.008-05:00

Thank you so much from the Wife over at The Cobia Family for my Chic Blog Award. I love it! I am a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe and so this blog award is fab-u-lous!!! I am forwarding the Chic Blog Award to:
Southern College Girl
Joshua Brody Francis
Clemson Girl and the Coach
Boyd's Crazy Mama
Simply Southern
His Doorkeeper
Kiss My Pink Tiara
Goosman Art
Kim's Stampin' Pad
Dirty Pretty Things to Ponder
Sweet, Sassy, Southern and Classy

This blogs are all very Chic and I love reading them!!!

Long John Silver's = Oh My Stomach!!

2010-01-04T21:05:00.005-05:00

My mom and I went to Long John Silver's tonight for dinner and now I am paying for it. Don't get me wrong, I love Long John Silver's, but it doesn't always love me back. The food is delicious. I mean, c'mon, it is fried and greasy and what else do you need to make it good. That malt vinegar they have just makes everything else on the menu more delectable. Plus the hushpuppies are soooo good. And they always give you those little crunchies. You know what I am talking about, the little pieces of fried batter.

I usually order the 2 Chicken Planks & More, which means it comes with 2 chicken planks, 2 hushpuppies, french fries, and cole slaw. And it is the creamy cole slaw, which is so good.

But after it's all said and done I get what my sister, Missy, calls Gut Rot. This is that yucky feeling in your stomach, when you have had to much fried and greasy food. But, you like it and so you keep going back to the same place even though you know the consequences. Do you like Long John Silver's? Does it like you? Do you have a similar place that you like going to even though you know how you will feel later?

Red Velvet Yumminess

2010-01-02T14:28:00.004-05:00

I love Red Velvet Cake. I mean, what's not to love? It's red, which is one of my favorite colors, and soft and sweet and it has a thick layer of old fashioned cream cheese icing!!!! Mmmmmm.. Yummy!! The other night I made some Red Velvet cupcakes to take to a New Year's Eve party. They are so simple, but oh so good.

You first just make the cupcakes by the directions on the box of a Red Velvet Cake Mix. My Aunt Martha Jane would be killing me right now if I was admitting to anyone that I made cake from a box. She swears she has NEVER made a cake from a box. She was appalled when she heard that I do. :)

I use an ice cream scoop (my mom's idea) to put the icing into the cupcake papers. It's never easy and it always makes a mess, but using an ice-cream scoop is really easy and there is essentially no mess at all.

Anywho, when the cupcakes are finished and cooled completely, juts take a container of cream cheese icing and ice the cupcakes and that's it. Really, really simple!!!! Now, I do on occasion make my own cream cheese icing, which is not that difficult and takes super duper fab-u-lous, but I was pressed for time and didn't have my recipe book at my mom's house and so I just used the store bought icing and it was still really good!!

Pork & Sauerkraut for Good Luck

2010-01-01T22:32:00.009-05:00

It's a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition to have pork & sauerkraut on New Year's Day for good luck throughout the year. So, every New Year's Day for as long as I can remember we have had pork & sauerkraut. My mom usually makes this on the stove but this year we were having a family get together with my mom's whole side of the family and so I decided to do the dish in the crock pot.

First you take some pork chops and put them directly into the crock pot. I buy the boneless and skinless ones because it just makes it easier.

Then add two cans of sauerkraut and some water and that's it. Put the crock pot on low and just let it cook nice and slowly.

Right before you are ready to eat, make some mashed potatoes and some dumplings. My mom just uses the dumplings recipe from the Bisquick box. Mmmmm...the dumplings are yummy! When making the sauerkraut on the stove, you can drop the dumplings right into the sauerkraut pot when it is boiling, 10 minutes with the lid on and then 10 minutes with the lid off and they should be fully cooked. If you are cooking it in the crock pot then you can probably do it the same way, just make sure your sauerkraut is boiling.

Then you put the mashed potatoes on your plate and then some of the pork and sauerkraut on top of the mashed potatoes. OMG!! It is so good. And luck for the rest of the year!!!

Monkeying Around

2009-12-30T18:52:00.007-05:00

On Christmas morning I usually make a breakfast casserole, but this year we decided to keep it simple and so I made Monkey Bread. OMG!!! Monkey Bread is only the best, most awesome, most delicious food ever!!! Seriously, if you have never had Monkey Bread you have no idea what you are missing.

I made an orange and vanilla flavored Monkey Bread. It is so simple. Seriously, you could go out right now and buy the ingredients and have some uber yummy Monkey Bread in about 30 minutes!!

You take the refrigerated biscuit mix and cut each biscuit into quarters.

Then take a box of instant vanilla pudding and add orange zest and 1/4 tsp. of cinnamon. Roll the biscuit pieces in the dry mixture.

Place the pieces into a greased round cake pan. Next melt 2 tbsp. of butter and drizzle over the pieces. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Mmmmmm....pull apart and enjoy some sweet, gooey, goodness. Go ahead, monkey around!!!! :)

Scalloped Oysters. Yummy!!!

2009-12-29T09:07:00.010-05:00

Sorry I've been MIA lately, but I've just been busy with the holiday and parties to attend. :) And I don't get a really great wireless connection at my mom's house and so sometimes I am limited.

We always go to my brother's house in DC on Christmas and I am always requested to make the Pecan Pies and Scalloped Oysters. If you are not a seafood person, then this is totally not for you. And if you are a seafood person, but not oysters then this is not for you too! :) But, if you are like me and love oysters then read on. Ha!

I love this dish and am not sure why I only make it a couple of times a year and only for holidays. It would be great any old day of the year. It's really that good. Pinky swear! :)

I went ahead and took an actual picture of the recipe for you, but will break it down with photos too.

You first have to crush some 1 cup of saltines. I simply put the saltines into a zip lock bag and then take a rolling pin over them. It makes it easy and a simple clean up.

Next you melt a stick of butter in a skillet and then add in the cracker crumbs and 1/2 up of bread crumbs.

Then spread 1/2 of the mixture over the bottom of a dish. I usually use a baking dish, but lately we seem to lose them or forget them at my brother's house and so I just bought a handy disposable one.

Then place the oysters over the crumb mixture and the rest of the cracker mixture over the top of the oysters. Then mix together the drained oyster juice (okay that may sound a little yucky) and 1 tbsp. of cream and a dash of Tobasco sauce (I like it hot and so I add more than a dash) and then drizzle that over the oysters.

Cook it in a 425 degree oven for 25 minutes and then OMG!! yummy goodness!! It is seriously that good!!! And flavor is unbelievable. It overwhelms your mouth. Mmmmm....

Aunt Clarissa Young's Pecan Gems

2009-12-23T20:41:00.012-05:00

My Great Aunt Clarissa (I used to call her Tissie because I couldn't say Clarissa when I was little and the name always stuck with me) used to make these yummy Pecan Gem cookies. They are actually like mini (really really little) pecan pies, but they have a whole lotta yumminess to them! :) My mom and I decided to make them tonight.

You start out by making your own crust from scratch. Yep, you heard me right, from scratch! It is actually really easy, you just take 1 stick of butter, 3 tablespoons of cream cheese and 1 cup of flour. Mix that together with a fork and then pinch it into little balls.

You take the little balls and put them into mini muffin pans and spread them out and up the sides of the muffins cups so it looks like a crust.

Next you mix together one tablespoon of melted butter with 1 teaspoon of vanilla, 3/4 cup of brown sugar and 1 egg. Bring this to a boil and then remove and let cool a little. Add in 1 cup of chopped pecans.

My mom has this antique nut chopper and I love it. You put the nuts in and move the handle up and down to chop the nuts. Hey, who needs a food processor when you've got this great gadget???

Anywho, add the chopped pecans into the mixture and then place a spoonful into each muffin pan. put into a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes and then reduce the temperature to 250 degrees and bake an additional 15 minutes.

Take them out and let cool and then walluh....OMG!! yumminess!

You should really make these because they are so good and really simple to make. Seriously, it only took us about a 20 minutes total to make 24 of them. And oh my gosh they are so worth it. The problem is that they are so tiny that you just keep popping them into your mouth and it's hard to stop. But if you like pecan pies or someone you know does then you've got to make these. They are fab-u-lous!!! My brother, Todd, in Alaska is going to be so jealous that we made these. Ha! Ha! But my mom just said she is going to mail him some.

Let me know how they turn out! :)

OMG!!! Prindable-licious!!!!!!!!

2009-12-22T16:38:00.012-05:00

Yes, this post required that many exclamation points in the title. Ha! :) My mom and sister and I ordered the Mrs. Prindable's candy/caramel covered apples from QVC (love me some QVC, by the way). I've seen them on there many times and always wanted to order them, but never did. Until this year. My sister and I just couldn't resists any longer. We ordered a bunch and split them between her, my mom and I.

We got the milk chocolate/peanut butter ones, the sprinkles ones, and the white and milk chocolate ones. OMG!!! They are so fab-u-lous and so incredibly good!!! Mmmmmm.... You really need to go onto their website right now this very instant and order them because you have not lived until you've tried the Mrs. Prindable's apples!!! Seriously, listen to me, order them right now. You won't regret it!

Has anyone else ever ordered these?????????? Did you like them?????????

I'm With Jared on This One

2009-12-21T19:28:00.003-05:00

Tonight my mom and I went to Subway. I like Subway, but never think of going there. Why? I'm not really sure because it is good, it is healthy and it is pretty cheap. After eating too many chips and dip this past weekend (seriously, I had a ton!!!), I thought I would try to order something healthy. I went with one of Jared's favorites, the Black Forest Ham. I even got it on wheat bread. I really love the Italian Parmesan one, but decided to go with the wheat. I did get Lite Mayo and some provolone cheese which I probably should have done without, but c'mon give a sister a break. :) Then, I did my normal veggies: lettuce, tomatoes, onions, black olives, pickles and hot pepper relish. Mmmmmm...Yummy!! OMG!! It was so good.

What is your favorite Subway sub and what fixins do you get on yours?

This Would be Great for Snow Cones

2009-12-19T21:00:00.005-05:00

So, I arrived in Pennsylvania on Wednesday for the holidays and today this is what I awoke to.

We have 15 1/2 inches on the ground and it is still snowing like crazy!!! I love the snow and so I am a happy camper! It is quiet and clean and sparkly. As Lorelai Gilmore (aka The Gilmore Girls) once said "Everything is magical when it snows."

I know it would have been an excellent day for some baking, but after shoveling twice and then giving up I was too exhausted. :)

Yummy Salads, Part Deaux

2009-12-17T21:19:00.006-05:00

As promised here is a another OMG!! Nina amazing salad. Am I allowed to say it is an amazing salad, even if I'm being bias since it is mine? Ha! :)

Anywho, this salad had spring greens, mushrooms, tomatoes, goat cheese (OMG!!! YUMMY!), and avocados. I love, love, LOVE avocados!!!! They are really so cool. They are firm, but soft and green and full of yummy goodness! Mmmmmm. Plus, they make a mean guacamole, but that's for another blog on another day. :)

Seriously though, this salad was pretty fab-u-lous!!! I think the kicker was the avocado and goat cheese. They really went together perfectly. And I topped it off again with the Trader Joe's Thai Peanut Dressing. Man, that stuff is so darn good, I want to take a bath in it. Ha! :)

Another Yummy Salad...Beets and Goat Cheese

2009-12-16T21:44:00.005-05:00

So the other night I made this very yummy salad. OMG!!! So yummy! Even if you are not a salad person you will LOVE this one! I used a spring mix of greens and then added in mushrooms, and little niblets of corn, tomatoes, and red beets and goat cheese.

Mmmmm. I love goat cheese! I seriously could eat it every day. I love almost any kind of cheese really, but goat cheese is definitely one of my favorites. I also love red beets! My mom used to grow these in her vegetable garden and she would can them and so we grew up with them. Every picnic we would have pickled eggs and red beets. I know, it may sound weird, but oh so yummy! I love putting red beets on my salads. I also used that fab-u-lous Trader Joe's Thai Peanut Salad Dressing. That stuff is sooooooo good!

I may another yummy salad, which I'll blog about tomorrow so stay tuned.

And the Winner Is......

2009-12-15T19:15:00.006-05:00

Nicolle from Boyd's Crazy Mama!!!!! Nicolle is a great blog friend that is always so sweet in leaving me comments and I am so excited that she won the Quesadilla maker. Nicolle can you send me an email at tarnern@sacredheart.edu and give me your mailing address and I will mail out your quesadilla maker. :) I hope you love it as much as me!!! :)

Latke Palooza

2009-12-13T20:09:00.005-05:00

My friends Kim and John invited me over to the house tonight for Hanukkah and latkes. I am not Jewish and therefore, have never celebrated Hanukkah or had latkes. I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought they would be like fried hash browns. Instead, they were more doughy and like an oatmeal cake. You eat with either sour cream or applesauce over top. I had them both ways and they were really good. We also had rotisserie chicken and brisket. Mmmmmm. Everything was delicious!

To all of my Jewish blog friends, Happy Hanukkah! :)

Going Bananas Over This (and a giveaway)!!!

2009-12-08T07:57:00.009-05:00

If you remember back to when I went home to PA for the Apple Harvest Festival and I had that wonderful crepe, you'll know why I loved this dinner.

Two nights ago I was stuck and couldn't figure out what to make for dinner. I decided to try something new. You know me and my quesadillas. :) Well, take one flour tortilla and spread some Nutella on it. Nutella is fab-u-lous!!! OMG!! So yummy! It is a chocolate hazelnut spread that you can find in your grocery store. I think it is in the peanut butter section. Have you ever had Nutella? Do you love it too???

Okay, back to the dinner. I think sliced up a banana and put that on top and then another flour tortilla on top. I then placed into my ever wonderful quesadilla maker.

Mmmmmmm soooooooo good. Really, really GOOD!!!!! Maybe it should be more of a dessert than a dinner, but who cares. It was just really good!! You must go and buy some today.

Because I am loving that quesadilla maker so much, I am going to give one away! leave me a comment telling me why you want to win one. You can also have your name entered twice by posting this giveaway on your blog and another time by following my blog! Let me know by Sunday night (12/13) at 11:00pm how many times to enter your name!! SO EXCITING!!!!!

It's Safe to Eat the Snow

2009-12-06T21:44:00.013-05:00

I went to a Christmas Open House at my friend's this afternoon. Instead of the usual hostess gift of a bottle of wine or a box of Godiva Chocolates or flowers, I decided to make a cake to take along. I found this beautiful Snowball Cake in a Kraft email and thought it would be perfect.

It was really simple to make. Just take a greased mixing bowl and make a Devil's Food cake according to the box directions. Then mix together one block of cream cheese with 2 tbsp. of sugar and 1 egg. With the cake mixture still in the mixing bowl, put the cream cheese mixture on top in the middle. Then put the mixing bowl into a 350 degree oven for 1 hour and 5 minutes. Yep, it gets baked in the mixing bowl (just make sure your bowl is oven safe).

After it is done baking let it cool on a wire rack. In the mean time mix together with a wire whisk one 3.4 ounce of vanilla pudding, with 1/4 cup of powdered sugar and 1 cup of milk. Then stir in one container of Cool Whip and refrigerate until you are ready to ice the cake. When the cake is cooled, ice it completely and then take a bag of coconut and cover the cake.

OMG!! Yummy! And it so pretty! Everyone loved it and thought it was amazing. It was really so simple though. Go ahead and make it for your next party. People will think you are fab-u-lous!

Bring the Java Cause this Cookie is Being Dunked

2009-12-04T13:55:00.007-05:00

I am having my 2nd Annual Cookie Swap tonight. It's always a good time, but stressful. Of course, I waited until last night to make 6 dozen cookies and of course I didn't choose an easy (or cheap) cookie to make. Ha! Last year I made the Chocolate Whopper cookies, which are both time consuming and expensive. Especially when I had to make 2 six-dozen sets for two separate swaps. But, man they are so good and everyone loved them.

But, I digress. :) Well, this year, as I mentioned, I waited until last night to start my 6 dozen cookies. I made Double Espresso White Chocolate Dipped Biscottis. OMG!!! Yummy! Seriously, these give Nonni a run for her money. Ha! And I think there is definitely a learning curve because the second batch was much easier than the first.

First you mix together (I used my Kitchen Aid Mixer) 1 stick of softened butter, and a cup of sugar. Then add in 2 1/2 tsp. of baking powder and then 3 eggs. Next add in 1/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 tbsp. espresso powder (I bought some of the Starbucks VIA packs which worked out perfectly). Then add in 2 3/4 cups of flour. Then stir in by hand 1/2 cup of hazelnuts and 1/2 cup of chopped chocolate covered espresso beans. That's it. It's really not too much.

Separate the dough into 2 separate loaves and flatten out to 11 inches long and 2 inches wide. Brush a combination of 1 egg white and 1 tbsp of water across the loaves and then sprinkle with 1 tbsp of sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool completely and then cut diagonally in 1-inch slices. Put back in the oven for 8 minutes, take them out and flip them and then put them back in for another 8 minutes.

Let them cool completely.

Melt white chocolate with 1 tbsp of shortening and then dip half of each biscotti into the melted chocolate and then sprinkle the chopped chocolate covered espresso beans over them.

Again, OMG!! Yummy! They are really fab-u-lous!

I can't wait for the party to start tonight. I hope everyone really loves them as much as I do!