Halloween Cookies

I offered to make cookies for a friends wedding next summer. You know, the pretty cookies that look almost too pretty to eat. Ya, those.

Except, I have never made them before. And, I don't like baking. So call it momentary insanity....

.... read more

mexicano yumminess

Darin had been following the Atkins diet for some time, and although I have discovered some great recipes that he could eat, I mostly found it very frustrating trying to cook for him. 

So when he said he was done with it, I celebrated a little in my head.  Maybe a little out loud, too.

Of course I asked him what I could make for him, what did he want most now that his world of food had just opened up.  He replied, and I quote, "Mexican!" 

So I put my Indian cookbook I had been cooking from, and pulled out my Mexican cook book.  Meh.  I found nothing that really spoke to me.  So I made chicken fajitas.   I gave them some kick as the girls weren't eating with us that night.  Sooo good. 

But, I still wanted something more.  Gooey, tasty and pretty.  So I decided I would make enchiladas.  The recipe in my cookbook sounded bland.  So I did a little research online and found this....

http://www.asweetpeachef.com/chicken/shredded-chicken-enchiladas/

And it was a winner!  We all loved it.  The only thing I did different was that I used flour tortillas instead of corn, at Darin's request.  And it was a good choice. 

Lacey over at A Sweet Pea Chef is a chef who shares some great recipes that she prepares for her family.  Do go take a look! 

And next time you are craving some enchilada, do try these!

yummm!

A Carrot, An Egg and A Cup of Coffee

I got this in an email and I liked the theme of what it was saying.  Enjoy...


A carrot , an egg, and a cup of coffee...

-- You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.--

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying A word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see." "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma the daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.



When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
 
 
 
~~~~~~May we all be coffee~~~~~~

Family Photos

We had some family pictures done a few weeks back. 

Please take a look at the photographers website...

Jen Martin Studios on da web

or on Facebook...

Jen Martin Studios on FB

After a few pics of the fam, we added in Carla and Skippy. 

They are officially family because we say so. 

And then we mixed in a little fun...

My guys...

Vicki said this picture looks like, "you two aren't married and really like one another."

Meaning, that we look like we are newly in love. 

I have to agree.

I'll share more once I receive the non-watermarked pictures. 

Jen, our photographer...  is.....  

AWESOME!!!!!

Someone, Please Tell My Husband

I would like this for Christmas, please and thank you.

Mastering the Art of Cooking by Julia Child
Volumes 1 & 2

Julie and Julia

I am watching Julie and Julia.  I love this movie.  I love both the characters.

Julia Child.  So strong, yet warm and vulnerable.  So Passionate.

Julie.  So vulnerable, narcissistic and tender.  So Passionate.

I love both their husbands. 

They all inspire me.

I want to do a dinner club.  I have thought about this for several years.  Pushed to the back of my mind during my 3 year stint as the full-time working mom of 4. 

But, it has been on my mind again.  I discussed it with a friend a week or so ago.   She has often thought of the idea also. 

Here is what I envision.  A small group of women (and/or men, why not?!?!) who love to cook and entertain coming together once a month or so.  Hosting the dinner would rotate.  Each dinner would have a theme.  French, Italian, Indian, Asian, or a particular food (a la Iron Chef) etc.  And each person would contribute one course. 

Sounds like fun.  Right? 

It does require some planning.  It requires someone to find participants, coordinate and plan.  Herein lies the problem.  I don't know if my schedule can take another commitment. 

But I long to try recipes and cook for people other than my husband and kids.  Although they are all wonderful, cooking for a family can sometimes hold you back.  As in, no one in my house likes lamb, or mushrooms,  or spinach, or lemon desserts.  I love all these things.  So, when do I get to cook these things? 

I don't.

This is where a dinner club would satisfy this longing to try more, better, different....

So I will plan.  It may take a year to pull it together.  Maybe a couple. 

Have you ever done one of these?   Do you have advice on inspiration, practical ways to organize, themes, anything???

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Tomato Curried Chicken

I love curried dishes.  And if you don't, then you need to try this dish, and you will be converted.


Because I love you, I am going to share one of my all-time favorite recipes.  Last night I served it with brown basmati rice and sauteed cabbage.  It. Was. Amazing.

Look at the sauce deglazing. 

 Isn't it gorgeous?

I can't even describe how much I love preparing and eating this chicken.  Even left overs reheat well. 

Go.  Make some now. 

Thank me tomorrow.

Tomato Curried Chicken

3     chicken breast - boneless and skinless, chopped into bite sized pieces and coated with seasoned flour
1/4  cup butter
1/4  cup diced onion
1     minced garlic clove
3     tsp curry powder (you can adjust amount according to your preference, I find 3 gives it great flavor and a little zing, but the kids still like it!)
1/2  tsp thyme
4     cups fresh chopped tomatoes

Preheat oven to 350F.
Brown coated chicken in butter until lightly golden.  Using a slotted spoon, remove chicken and place into your greased casserole.
Toss together in a bowl, onions, garlic, curry powder and thyme.  Add to pan drippings and gently simmer until golden. 
Add tomatoes and simmer until deglazed.
Pour sauce over chicken.  Bake uncovered for 45 mins, or until chicken is tender.

A Big YAY and a Huge FAIL!

I love make-up.  I may not wear very much of it, but I love it.

And when I find something good, I can't even begin to describe how happy it makes me!

And this makes me happy!

I love...   I LOVE this mascara.  It goes on so evenly and is not at all clumpy.  It makes my eyes pop without even using eye liner! 

No more spider lashes!

Priced at around the $8.00 price point, you can't go wrong!

It also washes off fairly easy. 

Go.  Buy this now.  You won't regret it.  You're eyes will love you!


Onto a make-up fail....   My Cover Girl lip stain.  Blech!

It seemed like such a great idea.  In theory. 

I mean, I  hate lipstick.  I hate the way it feels on my lips and in all honestly, I don't really like the way lipstick looks.  On most people.  Clown like.  But, that is just me and my twisted view on things. 

The idea of the lip stain, though, intrigued me.  It's like a marker.  You draw it on.  No waxy crappy gunk on my lips?  I could do this!

Clearly not.  For so many reasons.

1. Clown lips.

2.  They didn't have any demos in the store, so I had to choose a shade based on the picture of the color.  IT'S SO NOT THE COLOR IN THE PICTURE!

3.  As it starts to wear off, which takes quite awhile, it looks awful.  Like I have wine stained lips.  (I know, I know... how ironic!)  And could I wash off the remaining stain?  No.

So I am sorry Cover Girl.  Your lip stain is a big ole FAIL for me.

Johari Window

Here's a fun little expirament to find out how others percieve you compared to how you perceive yourself. 

"The Johari Window was invented by Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham in the 1950s as a model for mapping personality awareness. By describing yourself from a fixed list of adjectives, then asking your friends and colleagues to describe you from the same list, a grid of overlap and difference can be built up."

here is the link to mine... http://kevan.org/johari?name=fruitloopgirl


Hope you will play along!

Macy's $100 Gift Card Challenge

Check out Macy's Find Your Magic!

Take the Daily Fashion Challenge for a chance to win a $100 Macy's Gift Card, shop incredible one-day-only finds and much more!

May I Have Your Attention Please

You are beautifully and wonderfully made!!

You are amazing!!!!

You are loved!!!

http://www.operationbeautiful.com/

Today, In My Kitchen

Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies

(from Cookie Madness)

Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling:
12 oz cream cheese, softened
6 tablespoons brown sugar (dark or light)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 large egg plus 2 tablespoons beaten egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 tablespoons flour



Brownies Batter:
2 sticks (8 oz) unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon plus a tiny pinch of salt
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
9 oz bittersweet chocolate chips (1 ½ cups), melted and cooled
1 cup (4.5 oz) Flour



Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9 inch square pan with foil and spray foil with cooking spray.

Make the filling first. Beat the cream cheese and both sugars together with a mixer, then reduce speed and beat in the pumpkin, egg, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. Stir in the flour. Set aside.

In a second bowl, beat the butter, salt and sugar until creamy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the melted chocolate chips then stir in the flour. Pour all but about 3/4 cup of the chocolate mixture into the pan.

Spoon the pumpkin mixture evenly over the brownies layer.

Drop reserved brownie batter over pumpkin to give the brownies a splotched, marbled look.

Bake on center rack at 350 for 45-50 minutes or until brownies test done. That is, when a skewer inserted comes out clean. Let cool for about two hours at room temperature and then chill for a few hours or overnight (the longer the chill, the better). Lift from pan and cut into 16 large squares.

Where It Begins

My heart broke yesterday when I read about the young man who ended his life after being outed on YouTube by his roommate and others at college.
Bullying is by no means a new problem. I was bullied in school by a group of mean girls, and silently started to believe what they said. It took me years to shake that off.

It needs to stop.

EVERY life is valuable.

If want our kids to respect one another, then it starts with us. Come on parents, lets teach our kids to respect themselves and others by living as an example. If you speak degrading of others or call them names just because you disagree them or their decisions, and you are supposedly the mature adult, how are your children, who are sponges, absorbing and learning from everything around them, supposed to know better than to behave the same way. 
 
Getting off my soapbox now.

Random Useless Stuff

Because I love randomness and because we all need more useless information in our heads.  =)

~ Ketchup has not always been made out of tomatoes. It started out as a general term for sauce, typically made of mushrooms or fish brine with herbs and spices. Mushroom ketchup is still available in some countries, such as the UK. Some popular early main ingredients include anchovy, oyster, lobster, walnut, kidney bean, cucumber, cranberry, lemon, and grape

~ By 1800 B.C., the ass(Donkey) had reached the Middle East where the trading city of Damascus was referred to as the “City of Asses” in cuneiform texts.

~ Urea, one of the main components found in the urine of mammals, was first synthesized in 1828. Urea was the first ever artificially created organic molecule that was made from inorganic raw materials.  (yes folks someone thought it was a good idea to create synthetic urine.  Do we even want to know why?)

~ After a dam is created the water upstream of the dam begins back up, creating a reservoir. The weight of this water creates pressure on the underlying bedrock. This excess pressure is known to have triggered earthquakes near at least three of the dams throughout the world.

~ The fork as an eating utensil was introduced in the Middle East before the year 1000. First introduced to Europe in the 10th century by Theophanu, Byzantine wife of Emperor Otto II, the table fork had, by the 11th century made its way to Italy. The fork's arrival in northern Europe was more difficult. For many years it was viewed as an unmanly Italian affectation. The Roman Catholic Church expressly disapproved of its use: "God in his wisdom has provided man with natural forks — his fingers. Therefore it is an insult to Him to substitute artificial metallic forks for them when eating." It was not until the 18th century that the fork became commonly used in Great Britain.

~ Bumblebees are one of the few insects that can regulate their body temperature, via both solar radiation and via internal mechanisms of "shivering" and radiative cooling from the abdomen.

~ During the filming of the movie "Scream", director Wes Craven kept telling Drew Barrymore real life stories about animal cruelty in order to keep her looking scared and crying. She is a keen animal lover in real life.

Have a great day!
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