Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Cake Decorating 101

Funny how everthing slows down for the Christmas break and I decide to learn something new!!
I took a Wilton Cake decorating


My firstcake

I had a lot of fun decorating this cake.
I learned how to use the piping gel to make my "santa star" and I mastered making the stars.
Turned out pretty good if you ask me.
I also fell in love with buttercream icing.
Well, without the shortening.


My Second cake
This one scared the crap out of me!!
If you look closely you can see the sweet peas that I have on the side of my cake and I have roses on the top.
I also learned how to do shells around the bottom of the cake as well.
Only took me an hour and a half to do this one.
Lots of practice time though before I attempted to even touch the cake.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Christmas Morning Wife Saver

Merry Christmas everyone!!
I am sure that you are just as busy as I am getting ready for the big day tomorrow.
Have you thought about what you are making for the crowd that will be at your house in the wee hours of the morning?
I have..
I'm making this today!
Christmas Morning Wife Saver
Ingredients
16 slices bread, crust removed
sliced ham
sliced cheese
6 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2-1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 cup minced onion
1/4 cup green pepper, finely chopped (green capsicun)
1-2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
3 cups whole milk
1 dash Tabasco sauce (optional)
1/4 lb butter, melted
enough crushed corn flakes, to cover
Directions
1In a 9"X 13" buttered pan, put 8 slices of bread that the crust has been removed.
2Add ham layered over bread.
3Lay cheese over ham.
4Cover with rest of bread.
5In bowl beat eggs, salt and pepper.
6To egg mixture add dry mustard, onion, green pepper, worcestershire sauce, milk and Tabasco (optional) Pour over bread, cover and let stand in fridge overnight.
7In the morning cover with crushed corn flakes.
8Melt 1/4 1b butter and pour over top of flakes.
9Bake uncovered for 1 hour at 350 degrees F.
10When baked let sit for 10 minutes before servi

After Christmas Turkey soup

K, what on earth do I do with all this turkey!?!
My Nana used to make a turkey soup.
And I was foolish enough to think that I would remember what she put in it.
GRR!!





INGREDIENTS
1/2 leftover turkey carcass
1-1/2 medium onions, chopped
1 large carrots, diced
1 celery ribs, diced
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup half-and-half cream
1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon pepper


DIRECTIONS
Place turkey carcass in a soup kettle or Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour. Remove carcass; cool. Set aside 3 qt. broth. Remove turkey from bones and cut into bite-size pieces; set aside.
In a soup kettle or Dutch oven, saute the onions, carrots and celery in butter until tender. Reduce heat; stir in flour until blended. Gradually add 1 qt. of reserved broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
Add cream, rice, salt, bouillon, pepper, remaining broth and reserved turkey. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes or until rice is tender.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

comfort food tonight!!

Are you one of those moms that's up far too early and the first thought in your head is "what are we going to have for dinner tonight?"
I am.
And, looking out the window and seeing snow snow and more snow I am feeling like tonight is comfort food night!!

I fondly remember snowy days as a child.
Looking out the big bay window in the family room with my nose pushed up against the glass so I could see the snowflakes closer as they fell...letting my breath fog up the window and then taking my finger tip I would draw shapes and designs over and over again.
Now looking back I understand how the fingerprints must have drove my Mom mad but I remember feeling so peaceful there.
I could sit there for hours just watching the snow falling to the ground.
Well, until mom called us for dinner that is!
I love comfort food...feels like a hug from mom!!
I love pulling something taste and warm out of the oven for my family too.

Tuesdays have now turned to be just as busy as our Wednesday's used to be so tonight we are having Chicken n green beans (and yes, my kids WILL eat green beans without trying to hide them up their noses):


4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 lb./450 g)
2 cups frozen green beans
1/2 cup water
1 can (10 fl oz/284 mL) condensed low-fat cream of mushroom soup
1/4 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/2 cup Part Skim Mozzarella Shredded Cheese

HEAT large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cover. Cook 5 to 7 min. on each side or until chicken is cooked through (170ºF). Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm.

ADD beans, water, soup and thyme to skillet; cover. Cook 6 min. stirring occasionally.

RETURN chicken to skillet. Cook 1 min. or until chicken is coated and heated through. Top with cheese.

A flair for the Italian side in me...

Honestly, I wonder if I should have been born Greek or Italian.
I love their food!!
Granted the Alberta girl in me will always settle for a steak but,
I get bored of the same ol' same ol' day in day out.
Meat and potatoes has never really been my thing.
Granted I love a good BBQ but I need to experiment and try new things.
Food is for enjoyment!! Right?

Learning is something that should never stop once you leave school.
But that doesn't mean that learning can't be fun!!
At first this recipe scared the daylights out of me.
Sounded so fancy and honestly I didn't know if I could give it justice.
But...I learned a few things along the way..like how to deglaze a pan
And the meal was amazing!!
A definite keeper!


Ingredients
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
½ lb ground beef
6 oz Italian sausage, skinned
1 cup red wine
18 oz can crushed tomatoes, chopped (ground)
1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped (1/4 tsp dry)
1 tsp fresh sage, chopped (1/4 tsp dry)
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
2 lbs Tortelloni
Parmesan cheese, freshly grate
Procedures

1. HEAT oil in a large pan. Add celery, carrot, onion, garlic and cook about 5 minutes. Add meat and cook 10 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. DEGLAZE pan with wine; let reduce. Add tomatoes and remaining ingredients and stir. Simmer for about 1 hour.
3. TOSS hot, drained pasta in sauce. Top with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Recipe found: Tortelloni Bolognese