Hey all! I know you must be thinking, "Where has she gone? No postings...no musings...no randomness that is the life of B and 1-2."
I know you are going into withdrawal. Yeah, right ;)
But, I just want to let you know that I've decided to break for the holiday and step outside of my life for a bit. I will return to blog in January...just right now I'm exhausted and need a break. I'm sure you all can understand.
I wish you all the best and merriest holiday season with your friends and family. May you enjoy old traditions..as well as start some new ones. I'm still taking pics and already have a line up of things to talk about when I get back....but I've got to refresh, recharge, and reset my batteries.
Enjoy your holiday!
See you in 2012!
~B
Friday, December 16, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
-internet issues--back Tuesday
So, having trouble uploading my post today.....
will have it up tomorrow.
will have it up tomorrow.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Beer Waffles.........and Fried Apples
Well, this dinner taught me alot about life. About its ups and downs. About failures and successes. How to be just good enough.
And you thought this was just a waffle? Turns out, going through almost a stick of butter will put some perspective in your life. =)
I was going to follow this recipe exactly. Give 1-2 a yummy, soul warming meal on a chilly evening.
However, the cinnamon caramel apples got chucked. I don't work well with hot sugar. It burned too quickly and my milk wasn't hot enough to meld seamlessly with the sauce. So, I ended up with a black, lumpy mess with curdled milk (yeah...I didn't take a picture...just not appetizing).
I got down on myself. I usually am pretty good in the kitchen and I know that if nothing else is going right in my life...I got the cooking part down pat. If its just me, I'd have chucked my entire plan for dinner and sat in front of episodes of Friends eating tortilla chips and salsa for dinner declaring myself to be the worst chef ever. But, I felt for my pride's sake...I should try at least the waffles. I do know that I can make some of those.....so, to the fridge I went for flour, milk, butter....and beer????
Yep. Beer. And not just any ol' beer....good ole Busch Light. The Beast.
I know this original recipe was made with a cooler beer than that...but even with this brand (admittedly it is wayy cheaper than alot of beers out there...and some/most may argue it is like water or has no taste)....it tasted good. And hey, I did get some beer for myself after I poured off the 3/4 cup I needed for the waffle.
Classy huh? Beer and waffles.....maybe a new combo brewing here.
It was delicious.
The apples don't really have a recipe...just core and slice up 2 golden delicious apples and cook over low heat with 2 tbsp melted butter and a generous sprinkling of cinnamon. Let them sit over low heat for a while until they start to break down and get soft. I like the peel...but you can peel them if you so desire.
I'm sure just about any type of beer will do. It made alot of waffles and they are light, airy, and filling!
So from tragedy comes triumph. I feel redeemed. Have a great weekend everyone!
Beer Waffles
adapted from Brown Eyed Baker
Print this recipe!
Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1 tbsp sugar
2 tsps baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup 2% milk
3/4 cup beer (I used Busch Light)
2 tbsp butter, melted (I used unsalted)
nonstick cooking spray
Directions:
1. Mix all dry ingredients (flour through salt) in large bowl. Set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together all wet ingredients. Add wet to dry. Stir until batter is combined. It will be lumpy!
2. Preheat waffle iron. Once heated, spray with cooking spray. Ladle batter onto waffle iron and close. Cook until desired degree of golden brown. Remove from heat and repeat until all batter is cooked.
3. Serve with butter, maple syrup, and fried cinnamon apples. Its a winner!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Breakfast Pizza
Tuesday night, I wanted pizza. But, I had leftover deer sausage to use up. And this sausage tasted more like breakfast sausage than italian dinner type sausage....so why not make scrambled eggs and sausage pizza?
Kinda didn't know how to sell it to 1-2....he's not usually a breakfast for dinner guy. But, he was open to giving it a whirl (I know he was tired and really didn't want to cook anything himself...so this was probably the next best thing). I was kinda scared (hell, I usually am...about everything!), but I went forth with the idea anyway and truly ADORED the results!
I made the eggs well too. Those things have plagued me since I learned how to cook. I've always overcooked them, or not cooked them enough. This time though, they were just right.
And a bit about the deer sausage...don't be afraid to try it. Deer is so lean, it has to be mixed with another meat (one you've probably eaten before...assuming you eat meat). But, you could make this with pork sausage, turkey sausage, chicken sausage, or even veggie sausages. Its up to you!
We at the whole thing. Watching an SVU Marathon (apparently it comes on every Tuesday on USA...where have I been?). While trying to fend off a hungry 13 pound beast who wanted our scraps. It was perfect. Delicious. Rewarding. Nice.
Enjoy!
~B
Breakfast Pizza
Print this recipe!
Ingredients:
1 prepared pizza crust (I used Great Value package mix and fixed that per the directions)
1/2 lb deer sausage, cooked and sliced into bite sized pieces
6 eggs, beaten gently
3 tbsp milk
pepper
1 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 tbsp butter
hot sauce (optional)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven as directed on pizza crust. Mix and prebake if necessary (mine has to).
2. In a medium skillet, cook deer sausage over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until reheated. Remove from heat.
3. Once you have prebaked the crust, if necessary, spread 1 tbsp butter on dough and allow it to sink in. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese. Top with warmed sausage. Bake in the oven per your dough's instructions.
4. While pizza is cooking scramble eggs. I put the eggs in a bowl and beat them gently. I added in the milk and pepper (I generously sprinkled pepper) and beat eggs some more to incorporate more air into the mixture. Using the skillet I warmed the sausage with, I put this over low heat. Once it was warm, I poured the eggs in and slowly began stirring, until the eggs began to set. I kept stirring until they were cooked through...about 3-5 minutes (depends on your degree of doneness you like.
5. Once you remove the pizza from the oven (my crust was done in 7 minutes), then I topped the pizza with the scrambled eggs and the rest of the cheese. I sprinkled it with hot sauce for a garnish. Cut in half and serve!!!! It was buttery, cheesy, and eggy. A great combination any night/day of the week!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Starting another week....
Afternoon! Happy Monday. Hope all had a nice weekend.
As I talked about last week, there are changes all around my house. On top of the cleaning, purging, and organizing....its also the holiday stuff. The cookie baking (yes, I did that...recipe to come!), the holiday parties, and the decorating. I have no idea when I'm going to get any of that other stuff (the parties and the decorating done...my to-do list is out of control!)
Again, I'm in need of something quick. Pasta and chicken to the rescue.
It doesn't look super beautiful...but it was super easy and super filling.
I love rigatoni pasta. Its not too big, or too small...but juuuuust right. And I love the lines that cling to the chicken and the sauce here. Plus, it gets stuck in the holes too...so flavor envelopes the carby goodness!
This recipe was easy. It was a rotisserie chicken, rigatoni pasta, bag of steamed veggies, and some Philly Cooking Creme, and some leftover pasta water.
Gee...do you sense a trend here? I just really need a starch + protein + veggies + some type of cheese = a delicious meal. I can do alot with that equation.
Heck, its the only math equation I can do. I'll let you in on a little secret....
I. CAN'T. DO. MATH.
Its just not something that comes easily to me. In fact, 1-2 and my friend Kim can tell you all about how I don't even add/subtract/multiply/divide correctly. Its humorous to them. I think they want to say "bless her heart" every time I make a huge mistake. And, it isn't just the hard math problems..but easy ones most of all (those are the most embarrassing).
For example, yesterday, 1-2 asked me what 1 + 1 was. Easy....2. Then, he asked 1 X 1 was. I, of course, in that moment, said 2....
Yeah, I made a mistake.
I knew it the second I said it. He just laughed, and sweetly corrected me with, "No honey...its 1". I love that man. I'm sure he was laughing hysterically on the inside. But, he was able to control it for my shamed self. Maybe I need to go back and teach basic math facts to 2nd or 3rd graders...and then teach myself at the same time. =)
I'm glad I can cook instead. I won't be winning any sort of math awards for my ability to work with numbers.
Enjoy!
May you be thankful this week....for something, anything. Your job, your car, your home. Heck, even the hot water you took a shower with this morning. Slow down. Take time for you. You are worth it.
Thanks for reading!
~B
Creamy Chicken Pasta with Veggies
Print this recipe!
Ingredients:
1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 lb box rigatoni, cooked, with 3/4 cup pasta water reserved before draining
3/4 of a 10 oz. tub of Italian Cheese and Herb Philly Cooking Creme
1 bag steamable veggies (whatever mix you like)
Directons:
1. Cook pasta as directed on package, salting the water once it comes to a boil. Drain, and reserve pasta water.
2. As pasta is cooking, shred the chicken. Place chicken in large bowl.
3. Steam veggies. Dump hot veggies into mixing bowl. Place hot pasta in bowl and toss together.
4. Add cooking creme in 2 big spoonful batches, stirring to incorporate. Add pasta water, about 1/3 of a cup at a time, to make sure its the creamy consistency you desire.
Serve.
As I talked about last week, there are changes all around my house. On top of the cleaning, purging, and organizing....its also the holiday stuff. The cookie baking (yes, I did that...recipe to come!), the holiday parties, and the decorating. I have no idea when I'm going to get any of that other stuff (the parties and the decorating done...my to-do list is out of control!)
Again, I'm in need of something quick. Pasta and chicken to the rescue.
It doesn't look super beautiful...but it was super easy and super filling.
I love rigatoni pasta. Its not too big, or too small...but juuuuust right. And I love the lines that cling to the chicken and the sauce here. Plus, it gets stuck in the holes too...so flavor envelopes the carby goodness!
This recipe was easy. It was a rotisserie chicken, rigatoni pasta, bag of steamed veggies, and some Philly Cooking Creme, and some leftover pasta water.
Gee...do you sense a trend here? I just really need a starch + protein + veggies + some type of cheese = a delicious meal. I can do alot with that equation.
Heck, its the only math equation I can do. I'll let you in on a little secret....
I. CAN'T. DO. MATH.
Its just not something that comes easily to me. In fact, 1-2 and my friend Kim can tell you all about how I don't even add/subtract/multiply/divide correctly. Its humorous to them. I think they want to say "bless her heart" every time I make a huge mistake. And, it isn't just the hard math problems..but easy ones most of all (those are the most embarrassing).
For example, yesterday, 1-2 asked me what 1 + 1 was. Easy....2. Then, he asked 1 X 1 was. I, of course, in that moment, said 2....
Yeah, I made a mistake.
I knew it the second I said it. He just laughed, and sweetly corrected me with, "No honey...its 1". I love that man. I'm sure he was laughing hysterically on the inside. But, he was able to control it for my shamed self. Maybe I need to go back and teach basic math facts to 2nd or 3rd graders...and then teach myself at the same time. =)
I'm glad I can cook instead. I won't be winning any sort of math awards for my ability to work with numbers.
Enjoy!
May you be thankful this week....for something, anything. Your job, your car, your home. Heck, even the hot water you took a shower with this morning. Slow down. Take time for you. You are worth it.
Thanks for reading!
~B
Creamy Chicken Pasta with Veggies
Print this recipe!
Ingredients:
1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 lb box rigatoni, cooked, with 3/4 cup pasta water reserved before draining
3/4 of a 10 oz. tub of Italian Cheese and Herb Philly Cooking Creme
1 bag steamable veggies (whatever mix you like)
Directons:
1. Cook pasta as directed on package, salting the water once it comes to a boil. Drain, and reserve pasta water.
2. As pasta is cooking, shred the chicken. Place chicken in large bowl.
3. Steam veggies. Dump hot veggies into mixing bowl. Place hot pasta in bowl and toss together.
4. Add cooking creme in 2 big spoonful batches, stirring to incorporate. Add pasta water, about 1/3 of a cup at a time, to make sure its the creamy consistency you desire.
Serve.
Friday, December 2, 2011
White Chocolate Cherry Smore's Waffles
Hey all! Happy Friday!
Hope you had a good week. Mine was long and tiring. But, only a few more weeks to go before another major holiday and break! I know I can't wait.
You know what I haven't had in a while that I'm missing?
Waffles........
Yeah. Waffles. They just make me so happy! =)
I took a basic recipe (the one I did for smore's waffles) and made it White Chocolate Cherry Smore's Waffles. They were DANK (my word for straight up awesome!)
Here's how I did it:
As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I was given a coupon to sample some of the Duncan Hines Comstock Fruit Filling in exchange for a post. Now, I know most people use said filling for pies...or cookies...or crumbles of some sort. But, nope...not me. I used mine to top waffles. And it was nothing short of amazing.
I was worried it would be too sweet to top the waffle with. I was worried the cherries wouldn't have any bite. That it would just be heavily artificial cherry flavor. Honestly, it wasn't. It smelled like cherries and even had the tart bite of cherries with my first spoonful. It wasn't even super duper sweet like I expected it to be (it is a pie filling and all). It was very delicious...and then I dreamed of other ways to top things like ice cream, french toast, pancakes...and even oatmeal (I know it would perk up a bowl of warm oat-y goodness). Yes, the majority of those things are breakfast foods, but I could eat breakfast all the time and be completely okay (1-2 might have different ideas....he's not a breakfast for any meal other than breakfast type of guy). So, I may have to keep this idea to the morning time...but for me, it sure was tasty for dinner! I know Ashley enjoyed them too (hey girl!)
The waffles were insanely easy. You don't even need milk...or eggs. You just need Bisquick (or your pancake mix of choice), graham crackers (I had honey), cinnamon, marshmallows, and white chocolate chips, and water. Mix and pour onto a hot waffle iron. ***Note: please use cooking spray...the marshmallows can make the waffles stick more to the iron***
Have a great weekend...and go make some waffles!
See you soon!
~B
White Chocolate Cherry Smore's Waffles
adapted from this post
Print this recipe!
Ingredients:
1 cup Bisquick (I used the heart smart variety)
3 graham crackers, crushed into small and extra small pieces (I used Honey Grahams this time)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
heaping 1/4 cup of white chocolate chips
heaping 1/4 cup marshmallows
3/4 cup water
nonstick cooking spray
can of cherry pie filling (I used Comstock brand)
Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Add water and mix thoroughly until all is combined. Preheat waffle iron.
2. Ladle batter onto center of waffle iron, WHICH HAS BEEN GENEROUSLY SPRAYED WITH COOKING SPRAY, and cook until degree of desired doneness.
3. Top with cherry pie filling if desired. (Note: I also had butter on the waffle before topping it with the filling). You could also just use butter and syrup like normal.
Hope you had a good week. Mine was long and tiring. But, only a few more weeks to go before another major holiday and break! I know I can't wait.
You know what I haven't had in a while that I'm missing?
Waffles........
Yeah. Waffles. They just make me so happy! =)
I took a basic recipe (the one I did for smore's waffles) and made it White Chocolate Cherry Smore's Waffles. They were DANK (my word for straight up awesome!)
Here's how I did it:
As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I was given a coupon to sample some of the Duncan Hines Comstock Fruit Filling in exchange for a post. Now, I know most people use said filling for pies...or cookies...or crumbles of some sort. But, nope...not me. I used mine to top waffles. And it was nothing short of amazing.
I was worried it would be too sweet to top the waffle with. I was worried the cherries wouldn't have any bite. That it would just be heavily artificial cherry flavor. Honestly, it wasn't. It smelled like cherries and even had the tart bite of cherries with my first spoonful. It wasn't even super duper sweet like I expected it to be (it is a pie filling and all). It was very delicious...and then I dreamed of other ways to top things like ice cream, french toast, pancakes...and even oatmeal (I know it would perk up a bowl of warm oat-y goodness). Yes, the majority of those things are breakfast foods, but I could eat breakfast all the time and be completely okay (1-2 might have different ideas....he's not a breakfast for any meal other than breakfast type of guy). So, I may have to keep this idea to the morning time...but for me, it sure was tasty for dinner! I know Ashley enjoyed them too (hey girl!)
The waffles were insanely easy. You don't even need milk...or eggs. You just need Bisquick (or your pancake mix of choice), graham crackers (I had honey), cinnamon, marshmallows, and white chocolate chips, and water. Mix and pour onto a hot waffle iron. ***Note: please use cooking spray...the marshmallows can make the waffles stick more to the iron***
Have a great weekend...and go make some waffles!
See you soon!
~B
White Chocolate Cherry Smore's Waffles
adapted from this post
Print this recipe!
Ingredients:
1 cup Bisquick (I used the heart smart variety)
3 graham crackers, crushed into small and extra small pieces (I used Honey Grahams this time)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
heaping 1/4 cup of white chocolate chips
heaping 1/4 cup marshmallows
3/4 cup water
nonstick cooking spray
can of cherry pie filling (I used Comstock brand)
Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Add water and mix thoroughly until all is combined. Preheat waffle iron.
2. Ladle batter onto center of waffle iron, WHICH HAS BEEN GENEROUSLY SPRAYED WITH COOKING SPRAY, and cook until degree of desired doneness.
3. Top with cherry pie filling if desired. (Note: I also had butter on the waffle before topping it with the filling). You could also just use butter and syrup like normal.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Ch ch changes.....
Hey there! Happy Wednesday...almost to Friday...but closer to December....
Cool right?
Eh...right. =)
I'm gonna start out with my thankful thought of the day...its my last one in November. I'm thankful for Ginger, my 8 year old pup. She had quite a health scare and spent yesterday in the vet all day. She's now at home snuggling me while I am typing. I'm so thankful she is here safe with her mom. She's also clean too (I bathed her upon her coming home!). She's been such a sweet presence in my life the past 8 years....her wagging nub (she's had her tail docked) and her big ears just keep me laughing. Love you Gingy!
Okay, so as my title suggests...things are a changin' around my house.
S moved out on Monday. And I'm prepping my house for a new roomie...
Lots of cleaning and tidying up to do. I'm also purging things...I took 4 bags to Salvation Army Monday afternoon and I just keep finding more stuff I don't use/need/want anymore.
I feel as if I need to close one chapter of my life and open up a new one...if that makes sense?
Well, all this time cleaning means little time for cooking....enter frozen meals from 1-2's grandma! She made a veggie soup that totally hit the spot last night....and what goes better with soup than:
crackers and hummus right????
Bet you thought I was going to say grilled cheese. =)
As a part of the Foodbuzz Tastemakers Program, I got a free sample of Sabra hummus in exchange for a post. I just couldn't turn this down. I love their original hummus...so much so that its the only hummus I buy...until now.
I got the roasted red pepper to try. To be honest, I've always been kinda freaked out at the prospect of the stuff in the middle of the hummus. Maybe its a texture thing? I mean, I like the creamy hummus itself, but maybe I worry about the freshness of the glob in the middle? I don't know. Sometimes I'm weird.
But, I do love roasted red peppers. So, I thought I'd give it a try.
The ingredients were short and easy to read. I understood them and realized the stuff in the middle was actually real food. My first taste of this stuff was on a spoon. Verdict: Yummy! I liked how creamy it was and how it wasn't overpowered by the red peppers at all. I was afraid it was going to be too full of garlic or to roasted red peppery for my taste. It wasn't at all. I kinda expected it to be spicy as well. And I was a very happy girl with that first bite when I realized it wasn't. So, the next bite was more like a glob of it...next to my saltines for some dipping perfection.
I even got some of the middle that I had always been irrationally fearful of. I turned over some of it because roasted red peppers are actually inside the hummus (under the middle). I also thought that the flavoring of the hummus was just in the middle, not throughout. I can't vouch for the other ones, but I loved this fact! Makes me feel like I'm actually getting lots of roasted red peppers (hey they are colorful and nutritious...hummus is totally a vessel for veggies!).
It was delicious. A definite score if you are looking for a way to switch up your normal flavor of hummus!
Thanks Sabra and Foodbuzz!
Take care!
See you in December~
B
Cool right?
Eh...right. =)
I'm gonna start out with my thankful thought of the day...its my last one in November. I'm thankful for Ginger, my 8 year old pup. She had quite a health scare and spent yesterday in the vet all day. She's now at home snuggling me while I am typing. I'm so thankful she is here safe with her mom. She's also clean too (I bathed her upon her coming home!). She's been such a sweet presence in my life the past 8 years....her wagging nub (she's had her tail docked) and her big ears just keep me laughing. Love you Gingy!
Okay, so as my title suggests...things are a changin' around my house.
S moved out on Monday. And I'm prepping my house for a new roomie...
Lots of cleaning and tidying up to do. I'm also purging things...I took 4 bags to Salvation Army Monday afternoon and I just keep finding more stuff I don't use/need/want anymore.
I feel as if I need to close one chapter of my life and open up a new one...if that makes sense?
Well, all this time cleaning means little time for cooking....enter frozen meals from 1-2's grandma! She made a veggie soup that totally hit the spot last night....and what goes better with soup than:
crackers and hummus right????
Bet you thought I was going to say grilled cheese. =)
As a part of the Foodbuzz Tastemakers Program, I got a free sample of Sabra hummus in exchange for a post. I just couldn't turn this down. I love their original hummus...so much so that its the only hummus I buy...until now.
I got the roasted red pepper to try. To be honest, I've always been kinda freaked out at the prospect of the stuff in the middle of the hummus. Maybe its a texture thing? I mean, I like the creamy hummus itself, but maybe I worry about the freshness of the glob in the middle? I don't know. Sometimes I'm weird.
But, I do love roasted red peppers. So, I thought I'd give it a try.
The ingredients were short and easy to read. I understood them and realized the stuff in the middle was actually real food. My first taste of this stuff was on a spoon. Verdict: Yummy! I liked how creamy it was and how it wasn't overpowered by the red peppers at all. I was afraid it was going to be too full of garlic or to roasted red peppery for my taste. It wasn't at all. I kinda expected it to be spicy as well. And I was a very happy girl with that first bite when I realized it wasn't. So, the next bite was more like a glob of it...next to my saltines for some dipping perfection.
I even got some of the middle that I had always been irrationally fearful of. I turned over some of it because roasted red peppers are actually inside the hummus (under the middle). I also thought that the flavoring of the hummus was just in the middle, not throughout. I can't vouch for the other ones, but I loved this fact! Makes me feel like I'm actually getting lots of roasted red peppers (hey they are colorful and nutritious...hummus is totally a vessel for veggies!).
It was delicious. A definite score if you are looking for a way to switch up your normal flavor of hummus!
Thanks Sabra and Foodbuzz!
Take care!
See you in December~
B
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