How to Make Napkin Decoupage Eggs - Parents

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I know this has nothing to do with cooking, but I wanted to share it. :) With Easter just around the corner, I've been trying to think of fun things to do with the kids now that they are a bit older. I stumbled across this little craft and thought it would be a lot of fun and easy to do. Not that I'm shunning the idea of dying eggs this year...that's a tradition that'll stick in our house!...but this will give the girls something they can keep and play with. (I promise to post some Easter recipes too!) :) Happy crafting!

How to Make Napkin Decoupage Eggs - Parents

(no these aren't mine...but I thought the picture was pretty.)  :D

Grandma's Pasta Fagioli

Pin It Now! My dear grandmother shared this recipe with me.  It's her "secret" way of making Pasta Fagioli.  I haven't made this yet (I plan to!), but I wanted to share it for those who are looking for a quick yummy soup for dinner.
Straight from Grandma:  "This soup is delicious and everyone who eats it will want the recipe."  :)  Happy cooking!


INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 or 2 lbs of hamburger or sausage (I use hamburger)

1/2 cup of onion chopped

3 cans of Campbells Minestrone soup 

1 can mild chili beans

1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies

1 jar salsa mild or hot

2 soup cans of water and 2 tbl. of sugar

1/4 to 1/2 lb Macaroni cooked (You'll know how much to add  and add last after soup is done}

Brown meat and onion together. Add remaining ingredients. This makes a crockpot full.  Add more water if you like it soupy like I do. Cook only till hot and blended approx. 15 min.  Enjoy! 

Cooking Tip: How To Tell if an Egg is Good or Bad

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Okay, I have to admit, the video is cheesy as hell, but I totally learned something new! One of those great little tips that will save you time in the kitchen. :) Happy cooking!

A twist for Edamame

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A versatile spice blend from Lantern's Andrea Reusing Lucky 7 At her Chapel Hill restaurant, Lantern, Andrea Reusing marries Asian flavors with ingredients sourced from North Carolina's farms and fisheries. In her first cookbook, Cooking in the Moment, the award-winning chef aims to share the simple recipes she makes for family and friends in her home kitchen with cooks everywhere. Here, she puts Asian spices into play with a colorful seven-spice powder that seasons a new-to Carolina crop: edamame. Add a pinch to flavor the soybeans, then follow Reusing's lead and use the leftover blend to add subtle heat to sashimi, noodles and soups. Warm Edamame with Seven-Spice Powder Recipe adapted from Cooking in the Moment by Andrea Reusing (Clarkson Potter)

Menu for April 11-15 *Budget Week* Monday: Sesame Soy Meatballs

Pin It Now! Each month, I am going to do a very budget friendly weekly menu.  Each dish claims to feed a family of 4 for $10 (per meal)  I'm sure some will depend on what is on sale at the store, but so far, I think most will stand up to the hype.  I do; however, plan to double some of the dishes in order to have leftovers for lunch the next day.  Looking forward to a week full of new recipes!  Happy cooking!


Monday:  This should be a fun, kid-friendly dish and simple to make.  According to the website, this dish should cost you $2.50 per person.  (again, family of 4)  I'm including a noodle recipe to go with it, so it might change the price just a bit.  You can serve these with rice, noodles, or all veggies.  A side of Miso soup would be good too (though high in salt)


*Kid Korner:  have your kids roll the meatballs

Tuesday: Chicken Curry

Pin It Now! I LOVE Indian food...when it's not wicked spicy.  :)  I'm going to serve the chicken over Israeli couscous instead of rice and I plan to use a variety of peppers (red, yellow, orange, green) to add color to the dish.  After reading reviews, I'm also going to add some cilantro and green peas.  According to other cooks, this dish...cooked to order...would be a bit of a stretch to feed 4.  So, I may double this.  The price per person for this dish is $2.39.  (I'm assuming they bought chicken on sale)

Wednesday: Beef-Barley Soup

Pin It Now! I already have some left-over chuck roast in the freezer, so I'm kind of cheating here.  However, you can usually find chuck for about $3.99 per pound.  Since you are only using 3/4 lb in the recipe, you can just freeze the rest for another day and stick to the $2.41 per person price.  An easy dish to make and simple ingredients.  

Thursday: Lamb Tagine

Pin It Now! The hubby and I really enjoy lamb.  When cooked right, you don't get a "gamey" taste at all.  This recipe sounds wonderful and received rave reviews.  Not sure about the cost of lamb, so I'll see if I can get it to stick to the $2.45 per person price tag.  I may also double this dish as well...some reviews said it would be a good idea!  :)  The couscous recipe follows (make double..it's that good!)


Going to follow this reviewers tips:

"This recipe was excellent. I doubled it. We served it over pearl couscous seasoned with cinnamon, a bay leaf, lemon zest, salt and broth. The only change I made was to add baby green beans (Trader Joe's) about 20 minutes before the tagine was finished. Great addition. Served it with a very nice Sextant zinfandel. For dessert, we made orange cardamom creme brulee. Will definitely make again, but next time, will include more good friends."

Friday: Turkey and Bean Chili

Pin It Now! I'm never one to turn down chili...and it's so fun to try different recipes for it!  At $1.75 per serving this is quite the budget dish.


*Kid Korner:  let kids add ingredients to the pot and stir.

This week's Kitchen Technique - Knife Skills

Pin It Now! Jamie on knife skills, 30-Minute Meals

We've all seen those chefs on TV chopping away...barely looking at what they are doing.  I know I've tried, and ended up with bits of fingers mixed in with my veggies.  Ugh.  I really think it's important to have good knife skills...not only to save our precious fingers, but to also save time in the kitchen.  What I like about this video is that it shows some simple ways to start cutting...safely.  And of course you realize it's going to take a lot of time and practice.  However; with that practice will come the skill.  So watch, practice (practice some more) and start to wow your guests!  Happy cooking!  (and cutting!)  :)

Curious...

Pin It Now! So, I've been thinking about all my fellow cooks.  How did your menu turn out for the week?  Are you trying anything new?  Planning anything special?  My step-dad is making good'ol hot dogs tonight...with some of my mom's coleslaw.  Going to sit back and watch some basketball!  (tomorrow too, since my hubby's Lady Aggies are going for the woman's title!)
I'd love to hear about your week!  :)  Happy cooking!

April 4th week

Pin It Now! Well hello fellow chefs.  I am very sorry to say that I won't have a menu for you this week.  I am spending time with family and won't be in my kitchen.  I did; however, make Beef Bourguignon last night and I'm making the Thai rice noodles with peanut sauce tonight.  But, that's the extent of the cooking for this up coming week.  Hopefully you can create a menu for your week from previous posts.  I'll be bringing you a new menu the following week.  :)  Happy cooking!   

My "can't live without" in the kitchen...

Pin It Now! Many new chefs, when reading recipes are going to stumble upon the infamous "Dutch Oven."  When I first started cooking I had NO idea what they were talking about!  I had to google it find out what one even looked like...
So I recently had to say goodbye to my huge dutch oven.  She decided to chunk off a quarter size chip of enamel right from the middle of the pot.  Depressed I tucked her away in the recycling bin and then proceeded to research Dutch Ovens.  Here's what I've found...it's slim pickin's out there!


Now I don't know about you, but I just can't drop $250 (and up) for a pot (Le Creuset).  I had to find something else.  I ended up purchasing a Lodge (great reviews and affordable...check Amazon).  So, without further adieu...here she is:

I'm in love; however, I wasn't paying attention when I purchased and ended up with a 6 quart.  Now, that doesn't seem small, but for me, it is.  I need at least 8 quarts..if not even a bit bigger.  I usually double recipes in order to have extra for lunches.  Not wanting to order another one (though I may) I went on the hunt to Home Goods and Marshalls...fingers crossed, but no luck.  So, I'm still going to look for a larger one, but I'm keeping this one too.  Tested it out on the Oktoberfest Stoup and it worked really well.  So, I'm happy.  :)  

  

How to Poach an Egg - CHOW

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I never thought I would like poached eggs, but then I finally gave in and tried Egg's Benedict...all I can say is YUMMY!!!! So, I decided to learn how to make them my self. This is also a great inexpensive way to create so fun lunches to take to work and school. Happy cooking!

Pizza for Breakfast!

Pin It Now! Are your kids in a breakfast rut??  Cereal each morning?  Try this one day and surprise them!


*Kid Korner:  have the kids spread on the cream cheese and add their own fruit toppings

Pizza for Breakfast? Yes, Fruity Breakfast Pizza!

We made these for my daughters birthday party.  The kids had so much fun putting them together.

Fruity Breakfast Pizza.

Here they are coming together in the prep area.  I didn't add the bananas until right before we were ready to create...didn't want brown banana pieces!  :)

Me and my princess...having a great time!  


Ready for the oven!

Fruity Breakfast Pizza:

• English Muffins (I used Trader Joe's Brand)
• Strawberry Whipped cream cheese  (or any other kind your kids like)
• A Sprinkling of Cinnamon and Sugar
• Fruit of Choice, cut into bite-size pieces (I used Strawberries, Bananas and Blueberries)

Halve muffins.  Spread with cream cheese and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Arrange fruit on top, and toast in oven.

Menu for March 21-24- Monday: Ginger-Garlic Tuna Burgers on Cucumber Salad

Pin It Now! Monday:  Ginger-Garlic Tuna Burgers on Cucumber Salad

This is a Rachel Ray recipe.  I tried to find a link for it, but no luck.  So typing it in for you.  :)  This sounds light and fresh and looks like a great way to start off the week!

Tuesday: Oktoberfest Stoup

Pin It Now! This just flat out sounded awesome!  I don't care if it's the end of March...I'm making this!  Our one bad meal of the week.  I'm going almost all Rachel Ray this week...(I was perusing her cookbook that I pilfered from my mom)  Hoping this tastes as good as it sounds!

Wednesday: Lemon Roast Pork Tenderloin with Warm Beets, Chicory, and Goat cheese

Pin It Now! Rachel Ray again....I LOVE beets, so I just had to give this a try.  (and pork is on sale)  Never used Chicory before (don't even know what it looks like) but Rachel says it trumps regular ol' lettuce.  We'll see.
*update:  use Endive if you can't find Chicory.

Thursday: Fish Sticks

Pin It Now! *Quick and Easy!
Yeah, you read that right.  Good ol' fish sticks.  My friend gave me a great recipe and we made some a couple weekends ago.  SO good...(and I grew up dousing my fish sticks in ketchup just to get them down.)  These are great and the kids LOVE them!  Serve with a side of veggies or a fresh salad.


At Costco, you can buy a bag of frozen Mahi Mahi fish.  They are individually sealed so you can use as much or as little as you need.  Light tasting fish.

Kitchen Technique of the Week

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A couple of readers have asked for some info on the proper way to chop an onion. This video is short and sweet and the best part is it's Gordon Ramsay (yeah, I'm a fan) :) Hopefully this will speed up some of your prep and keep those tears at bay! :)