Still Cookin'

Jan 14th:  Buffalo Wings, Maple Cupcakes, Garlic Fries

Deagan has loved these wings so much that he asked for them every day for the week following until I made him some more.



I made these for a brunch baby shower.  I thought they would be perfect with the oats and maple syrup

Jan 15th:  Pumpkin Tartlets

OK, so I made 30 of these on the 15th and they were gone by breakfast so I decided to make another batch (30) on the 16th.  They were gone in 5 minutes.  I think I have found Mike and the kids new favorite snack

Jan 16th:  No bake cookies, Beans and Orzo pasta

Deagan helped me make no bake cookies today and he had so much fun helping.  Every time I turned around there was a piece here, a whole cookie there missing.  Everyone enjoyed this easy treat.

This was so easy to make.  I used my homemade chicken stock to boil the orzo pasta, a few other ingredients and presto, Dinner is served.  Deagan loved it.  He cleaned his bowl so quickly.  I made a double batch because I wasn't sure how much the recipe would make and Deagan ate ALL of the leftovers.  Kira liked the beans in it.  At least she tried it right?

Jan 17th: Mexican Quesadillas

Jan 18th: Easy As Peach Pie

Holy Cow!  This was more of a cobbler than a pie and I couldn't believe how quickly it all came together.  Literally 5 minutes and it was in the oven.  The aroma that was coming out of this pie tin should be bottled up and sold.  I'd love it as a candle, lotion, body wash... oh anything really.  It smelled amazing.  Mom said it tasted amazing as well. 

Seriously, Look At This!  Peaches and Raspberries.  YUMM-OH!

 Jan 19th:  Curried Chicken and Noodles

I know this looks unappetizing and I wish I had some serving dishes to do it justice.  I was inspired by my gal pal Katie to find a coconut and curry recipe and I found this one.  Super easy and Mike said it was really good.  A few changes for next time would be to use yakasobe noodles instead of ramen noodles for a better texture and add some water chestnuts and pea pods.

 Jan 20th:  Breakfast Burritos, Baked Fries, and Shortcut Revel Bars

These were so gooey and amazing looking.  I served a warm one to Mike (my hubby) with ice cream on top. He said it was a piece of "Chocolate Heaven" 

Jan 21st:  Omelet (Paula Dean style)

I thought this was totally brilliant when I saw it on one of the Paula Dean cooking shows.  She put all her ingredients in a Ziploc back and put it in a pot of boiling water.  They came out so fluffy.  I used my frittata recipe for this and the family really loved it.  I have since made it with just eggs and broccoli and was surprised how nice the broccoli turned out in it.

Jan 22nd:  Sesame Hot Dog Rolls     I didn't get a picture of these but I am def going to make them again and post it next time.  What an easy cost friendly lunch.  Stay tuned for this one.

Jan 23rd:  Starry Night Taco Cups  This was a fun one.  Again no pic but Deagan was so funny with his.  His new favorite show is Man v. Food with Adam Richman. (funny side note:  I couldn't remember the host's last name from the show so I just asked Mike and he didn't know but guess who does?  Yeah, Deagan)  He's obsessed with the show and wanted me to set the timer for him to eat his dinner just like Adam.  So I set the timer and he packed away two of these Starry Night Taco Cups.  Of course I had to be chanting "Man v. Food" and "Go Deagan Go!" throughout his challenge.  We followed it up with a mock press conference where I asked Deagan questions about his food challenge.  What a goof.  Adam, if by chance you ever come across this,  Please know you have a very avid 5 year old fan who loves you here in the Gresham, OR area.

Jan 24th:  Spiced Nuts

Whenever I have my booth set up at America's Largest Christmas Bazaar, there is a booth a few rows away from mine who make the most amazing spiced nuts.  I'm not kidding.  I smell these nuts for 6 days and think about very little other than how I can't wait to sneak off to buy some for lunch.  I found a recipe in my Demarle Gathering Of Friends cookbook and thought I'd give it a try.  While I'm sure this isn't the exact recipe from the expo, it will serve as a wonderful alternative to get me through to the next Christmas season.



It's just a New Year's Resolution

So before the New Year officially began, I started to go into a cooking frenzy.  No reason for it, other than the fact that I got a bunch of new cookbooks and wanted to try some of them out.  Well, I had so much fun that I decided that for my New Year's Resolution I was going to make at least one new dish from one of my many fabulous cookbooks every day of the year.  I know that sounds ambitious but I don't intend for every dish to be this extravagant thing.  I do have 2 small children after all and I don't think they would be up for some of the delicacies you would find in some of the finer restaurants.  So I'm keeping the ingredients pretty recognizable to everyone so that the fam will at least be willing to try them out.

After I told some friends and family about what I was doing they all compared it to Julie and Julia. (Oh I LOVE this movie)  My girlfriend Katie recommended that I start a blog and update it with my progress.  It sounded like fun so I thought I'd give it a try.

So here it goes.  I know it's a little late in the month of January so I thought I would list a few of the things that I have made so far this year.

Jan 1st:  Baked Egg Bread Bowls and Rocky Road Popcorn (served at two different times of the day of course)

Jan 2nd:  Chicken Broth for future recipes.  (I know this sounds kind of lame but it was a long day and I had never made my own stock before.) 

Jan 3rd:  Home Run Chicken Salad and Home made bread crumbs

Jan 4th:  Cinnamon Scoops

Jan 5th:  Raspberry Filled Lemon Cupcakes, Pork Roast in Apple Cider, and Sail the Seven Seas Pasta Salad

I've never really made cupcakes before.  I've attempted to make cupcakes from a cake mix but never from scratch before.

Official Taste Tester

My 5 year old son Deagan was in charge of the camera.  This is my favorite shot that he took

This is the first time I have frosted a cupcake and it actually looked pretty

Three generations of bakers in the kitchen.  It was so much fun.

The finished product.  Can't wait to make some more cupcakes.  They are so cute.

           

This was the first time I ever made gravy.  I had to call Mom and tell her.  I was so proud.

  

   Jan 6th:  Italian Chicken Sandwiches

I bought the cookbook for this recipe alone.  The rest were just are just bonus recipes

Jan 7th:  Crunchy Fruit Salad,  Cream Cheese Biscuits, and Juju's Juleps

Getting the kids in on the action

         

Ok, I've made this jambalaya before but I just had to show a picture of it.  The whole meal went together and it was the first time I made a full themed meal.  So fun.

Blackberry Cobler for The Pioneer Woman.  Super Easy and a big hit.

             

Jan 8th:  That's A Wrap and Kickin' Smores
Jan 9th:  Racin Rice and Broccoli
Jan 10th:  Chicken Nuggets, French Fries, and Cheddar Fondue with dippers
Jan 11th:  Spinach Tartlets, and Chocolate Fondue with dippers

These were a huge hit.  Both at home and apparently at my husbands work.

Jan 12th:  Chocolate Shock Biscuits

Little biscuits with marshmallow and chocolate inside, rolled in sugar and cinnamon and baked to golden brown perfection.  Deagan devoured most of them and even shared a few with Kira and Daddy.

Jan 13th:  Hot Artichoke Dip and Chicken Rustigo

I've never used orzo pasta before but I have always loved it.  Now Mike and the kids do to.

What a good eater.  He ate up his whole plate.

Kira tried a few bites but was much more interested in the Artichoke Dip from the Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook.