Pork Shoulder and all it's Glory

This week pork shoulder was on sale at the grocery and I am not one to deny the pig. When you are shopping on a budget and trying to get the most out of your food, pork shoulder is the way to go. Our family got 3 delicious meals out of this pork shoulder.
The best way to cook this piece of meat is low and slow. I use a Dutch oven but a crock pot works just as well. Rinse your pork, score it on the fat side, and place it in your pot. I season mine with plenty of salt, cumin, oregano, and pepper. I also add in one diced onion, some minced garlic, and one bunch of fresh cilantro. Add in about 1 inch of water to the bottom of the pot. If using a Dutch oven place in the oven at 325 degrees for 3 1/2 to 4 hours. For a crock pot cook on high for about 5 hours. You want your pork to be fork tender so you can easily shred the meat.

The first night we basically turned our kitchen into our own Chipotle. I made some cilantro rice, heated up some black beans (yes from a can!), cut up some cherry tomatoes, sliced avocado, and topped with shredded Monterey jack cheese and sour cream. I also had some flour tortillas and salsa verde out. It was perfect. My boys made their own tacos and I made my own burrito bowl! Kids seem to eat more when they feel they made their own food.





The second night I took some of the shredded pork, placed it in a bowl and added 1 cup of Herdez salsa, 1/2 cup Herdez salsa verde, the left over black beans, 1/2 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese and mixed it all together. I placed the mixture in a casserole dish and topped with corn muffin batter. Just use your favorite corn muffin mixture and follow the directions on the box. I always add in sweet corn from a can to my corn bread. Once you top your casserole with the corn muffin mix, bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until the muffin mix is cooked through.
This meal was perfect for our cold weather. I used up all my leftovers from the night before and it was such a good hearty meal.

Lastly we made our absolute favorite breakfast. My husband and I used to frequent this charming Hawaiian café in San Diego called Lelani's. They had this dish the Ono Kahlua, it's like corned beef hash and eggs but the Hawaiian version and so much better! Every time I cook pork shoulder I recreate this dish for my husband. He loves it and you know ladies the way to a mans heart is through his stomach! All you do is cook some rice, place your rice on a plate and top with some warmed up shredded pork shoulder. Then fry up 2 eggs any way you like (we like ours sunny side up, the yolk just adds this extra sauce..mmmmm) place your eggs on top of the pork and that's it. Serve it with soy sauce and hot sauce! Best breakfast ever!






There you have it, Pork 3 ways! It may take a few hours to cook this pork but the end result is 3 easy and delicious meals that will get you and your family through the week!

Reuben Dip - Your best game day snack

Around Cincinnati we love our Sauerkraut and we love a good dip at a football party! This Reuben dip goes hand in hand with fall, football, and a good brew. It's tangy, cheesy, baked until it's bubbly, and oh so bad for you (shhhh!). I actually got this recipe from one of my mom's friends and every time I serve it up someone is asking me for the recipe, so here it is.

Reuben Dip
16oz sauerkraut
8oz   Swiss cheese
8oz   buddings corned beef
1cup mayonnaise
Rye Triscuit's for serving


Pre heat oven to 350

Strain your sauerkraut in a colander. Cut up your corned beef into small pieces and shred the entire 8oz of Swiss cheese. In a mixing bowl combine the sauerkraut, corned beef, and Swiss cheese. Add in the mayonnaise and blend together. You want a tuna like consistency. You may need to add more mayonnaise. Once the dip is all mixed and has a nice consistency place it in a 9x13in baking dish and spread evenly. Bake until its bubbly about 25 min.
Serve hot with Rye Triscuit's on the side.
There you go easy cheesy Reuben Dip!!

Butternut Squash Soup with Sage

Halloween has come and gone and we have officially stepped into November. With the cold brisk air and the leaves that are covering my yard, I know it won't be long until those leaves turn into to snow. November is a great month with so many exciting things happening. The leaves have officially changed to their full fall colors, there is a smell of bonfires and football in the air, and at the end of the month we get to reconnect with our loved ones around a table full of some of the greatest things in life! I love to cook always, but I really love to cook in the fall.
I made a Butternut Squash soup the other night that was so delicious, it was perfect to set the tone for the upcoming holiday season. This is a simple recipe with big flavor. It's so smooth and silky, and a nice piece of a toasted baguette that has been rubbed with garlic makes for a perfect utensil!
My boys love this soup and I hope your family does to.

Butternut Squash Soup with Sage

2 butternut squash (peeled and cut into cubes)
2 apples ( peeled and cut)
1 large yellow onion
3 cloves garlic minced
1/4 cup fresh chopped sage
1/2tsp nutmeg
8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
salt
pepper

First peel, cut, and clean your butternut squash. Butternut squash has seeds inside you want to make sure you spoon them out, just like a pumpkin. Cut your squash into large cubes and do the same with your apples. Heat your soup pot on med high and add a couple Tablespoons olive oil. Saute your onion until translucent then add in your garlic, apples, salt,  and butternut squash. Continue to sauté for another 5 minutes while stirring occasionally. Add in your sage and cook another 2 min. Pour in your chicken broth and let simmer for a good 30-45min. You want your butternut squash to become fork tender and for all the flavors to come together.
Take your soup off the heat and very carefully with your emersion blender (hand blender) blend on high until your soup is totally smooth. Place your soup back on a low heat and add in your nutmeg. Add salt and pepper to taste.
I top mine with some fried sage and a toasted garlic baguette on the side for dipping!
Embrace the season and cook from the heart, that always works for me!!

Simple Autumn Centerpiece - DIY

Today I took a look around my house and I almost threw up in my mouth....do you ever have that feeling? I have two young kids a black lab that sheds everywhere and my husband and I both have full time jobs. Cleaning the house let alone decorating it for the different seasons, seriously takes a back seat. Yet on some rare occasions I get a crafty bug up my butt and for one day I am the crafty mom. The queen of the DIY projects, as long as the projects don't take longer than the time in between my kids leaving and coming home from school!:) Also it has to be a seriously cheap DIY project, were on a budget over here!
So today I did a swift google search on some autumn centerpieces got some ideas from a couple that I liked, took a look around my house at what I had on hand then to the store I went. I was thinking rustically intimate, I found a bag of gourds at Home Depot for $6.95 and a small white pumpkin for $3.95 I grabbed them and I was outta there! Next I ran over to Pier One, you can find good deals in the clearance area but only in the clearance area. That store reminds me of how seriously broke and untalented I am at decorating. Anyways I did splurge on these really cute napkin rings they were $3.95 a piece. Then I picked up a green candle on clearance for $5 and 3 tea light candle holders for $0.50! That was it! This was the beautiful result...   

 

For the centerpiece I used some of my old mason jars I had saved, my candle I bought fit in the opening of the large mason jar. I used some smaller mason jars as well and placed tea light candles in those along with the other 3 tea light candles that I bought. We have an abundance of empty wine bottles around our house (thanks to me) so I thought those would add a nice touch. I decided to keep the label on because it just seemed to match. I used the top of a corn cob from the bag of gourds I bought and pushed it inside the wine bottle. Having some height is nice! On the right is my place settings with the napkin rings I splurged on, aren't they perfect! Luckily I had some fall placemats! I also spray painted a couple of the gourds with gold spray paint I had left over from a cake project. Anyways I was pretty proud of myself! Lets see how long this table stays looking this way!!
I hope this inspires some of you do-it-all moms, craftily challenged, or anyone who is just looking for a easy and cheap DIY.
***Coinciding with my fall table for dinner I made homemade corned beef reuben sandwiches, sweet potato fries, and a cold cider beer!! It was awesome!!

5 quick tips to battling the grocery store

 

The grocery store - It's this daunting task that looms over our head on a weekly basis..ughhhhh. It only gets worse as the kids grow and consume food like a vacuum. One day your pantry is packed and you get a feeling of relaxation and pride, patting yourself on the back and saying "you did good today, you will not have to make any extra trips to the grocery this week." hahahahaha yeah like that really happens.
Lets get real here, to me the grocery is like any test I used to take, I wait until the last minute then I am scrambling around only to realize the end result is going to be an ultimate fail. Like when you come home from the grocery and you realize you are missing one ingredient to every meal you had planned!
Well now that I am getting older and wiser, I have realized that good preparation is key. Here are a few tips to help you get through those grocery aisles like a breeze.

1. Plan out your meals for the week-
I know this sounds like a lot of work but having a clear idea of what you will be eating every night helps you not over purchase. When you don't know what your going to make you tend to buy a bit of everything which then leads to food going bad. You know you do it, you think ooh that looks good maybe I will use that and then you never get around to it. Have a plan ladies!

2. Write out a grocery list..and don't leave it at home-
This is a very obvious tip but lets face facts, we are busy with a million other things and we don't always have a list on paper. The one in our head never seems to be good enough. Write it down and remember it!

3. Use your coupons-
Every grocery store offers them. Mine even sends them to me in the mail. Go through them, know which ones you will use and use them. If you don't you are just throwing money away.

4. Avoid at all costs taking your kids with you-
I am sorry if that sounds harsh but seriously going to the grocery is bad enough, you don't need to add in pushing around that damn car cart that takes corners like a semi. Also your kids make you buy stuff that you normally wouldn't..let's save that money, mama needs a new pair of shoes! No kids!

5. Do not go to the grocery store hungry or tipsy-
Last but not least, shopping while hungry or a little buzzed. Not good ladies, it disrupts your whole purpose of being there. You will want to buy everything and eat everything which will directly lead to what I stated above "you will come home with a bunch of randomness and nothing that you can pull together to make one meal!" Save yourself from making multiple trips to the store during the week.

That is all, happy shopping ladies and I say ladies because you know the men ain't doing it! 

Chicken Piccata

This is one of my go to dishes during those busy work days. It takes a little work in the beginning but if you can manage that, you will have a delicious dinner and enough left over for later in the week! This is also a hit with the kiddos!

Chicken Piccata

3 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 cup flour
2 eggs
2 cups Italian bread crumbs
3 lemons
1/2 cup white wine
1tsp capers
2Tbls butter
1 cup fresh arugula
Shaved Parmesan
Salt and pepper

Pre-heat oven to 400
To prepare your chicken breast take your cutting board and wrap it in plastic wrap. Take one chicken breast and butterfly it (slice on the side of the breast and cut almost all the way through, so when you lay it flat it looks like a butterfly). Cover the breast with another piece of plastic wrap and then pound out. You want your chicken to be thin (you do not need a meat mallet for this, I used the back of a thick wooden spoon). Repeat this process with all 3 pieces of chicken. Once your chicken is ready set aside and prepare your flour, eggs, and bread crumbs. Have 3 separate plates set out. First plate take your flour and season it with a little salt and pepper, then whip your eggs and have those in your second plate, finally place your bread crumbs in the third plate. Season your chicken well with salt and pepper. Have a large skillet on the stove heating up with about 2Tbls olive oil. Take your piece of chicken dredge it in the flour and shake off any excess, then dip in the eggs, and end with bread crumbs. Make sure both sides are lightly coated. Place your chicken in the skillet and brown on both sides for about 2-3 minutes. Add more oil if needed in between each piece of chicken. Place your golden brown chicken on a foil lined baking sheet. When all your pieces of chicken are browned put in the oven and start on the sauce.(the chicken will only need to cook about 10 minutes in the oven)

For the sauce, wipe out the skillet you used to brown the chicken. On medium heat take the juice of all 3 lemons, the white wine, and capers and bring to a boil. Reduce your liquid by about half. Turn off your heat and add the 2Tbls butter. Swirl until your butter is melted. Place your chicken on a large platter and pour the lemon butter sauce over top. Finally take the 1 cup fresh arugula and toss it with a little olive oil and salt and pepper. Place over the chicken and top with shaved parmesan.

This dish is so lemony fresh, and yummy! If you can get through the pounding out and breading part it is fairly easy and quick to make! My family loves this chicken and I hope yours will to.

**Pasta or wild rice make a great side to this dish
***This chicken is great the next day over a fresh salad for lunch

Basil Peach Cobbler

First Sunday of NFL Football yesterday and I went a little cray in the kitchen. Made sweet chili lime chicken wings, heirloom tomato salad drizzled with homemade bleu cheese dressing, baked mustard fries, and basil peach cobbler!
 I had received a bag of fresh picked peaches and they were totally ripe. I needed to use them before they went bad. So I decided fresh peaches, fresh basil, a little sugar and spice, done!

Here's the recipe:

Filling
3 pounds peaches
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup chopped basil
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 Tbls Flour
zest of an orange

Topping
1 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 stick unsalted butter cold cut into cubes

For the filling mix the ingredients with the sliced peaches and place in a baking dish.

For the filling add all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix together. With the mixer on add in your cubes of cold butter. Continue mixing until the ingredients starts to hold together and feels moist. Crumble your topping over the peach filling.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes

**You can make this dessert ahead of time and keep in the refrigerator before baking. Bake while you are eating dinner and it will fill your house with an amazing aroma. It will be warm and bubbly just in time!

Why your mother (and one day you) goes to the bathroom with the door open!

Things you tell yourself when your younger:

"I will let my kids do what they want"
"I will clean my room when I want to"
"I will wake up whenever I want to"
" I will be the coolest parent ever"
"I WILL NOT go to the bathroom with the door wide open"

Things that actually happen when your older:

You do not let your kids do whatever they want, you make your kids clean their room as you continue the never ending task of cleaning your own house, you do not wake up whenever you want because you either wake up for work or from your kids standing at your bedside staring directly at you asking for breakfast over and over again until you drag yourself out of bed on a weekend at 7am, and finally yes, you find yourself sitting on the pot with the door wide open.
Why you ask...?? Well here are the events that lead up to the moment where modesty is thrown out the window forever.

I distinctly remember multiple times as a teenager my mother yelling from the other room asking me to get in here so she could have a full on conversation with me while she is sitting on the toilet with the freaking door open. A relationship with your mom as a teenage girl is already difficult enough, I mean everything she does is embarrassing, but this tops it all. C'mon does the woman have no modesty? No, actually she doesn't and later in life I have learned why.
One day if your lucky and if you wish you will be pregnant. And so it begins. You will go to multiple OBGYN appointments straddling your legs for whomever and if you are so very lucky like I was your hospital will be a "teaching" hospital. So when your about to give birth to your first child and you are in the middle of a contraction your doctor will come in with 10 med students and ask if it's ok for them to watch?!! Why not, there is already a million other people in here staring directly at my crotch, lets go ahead and add a few more. That's what I was thinking. What I replied was "I DON'T CAAAARE!!" due to the fact my son's head was crowning and I just wanted that dam baby out! After that you just try regain any self respect you have left and you don't let anyone look in the direction of your crotch for a good 6 months and that includes yourself. No one wants to see that! Then comes the time that all first time mothers struggle with. Conquering the shower. You know, when your husband is at work and you have been in your PJ's for 3 days straight and you absolutely have to take a shower because your hair is so greasy that it's in a pony tail with no pony tail holder. "What do I do with the baby though?" you ask yourself. "What if he cries, or somehow falls out of his swing, or rolls over, or climbs out of his crib???" Newborns can do that can't they? So what do you do, you take a shower with the door wide open and the curtain half way pulled back so you can watch your sleeping baby.
There you go...the beginning of the end....
When kid #2 comes along your attitude has totally changed. Going to the bathroom or taking a shower is now your one and only source of peace. I would look forward to taking a shower for days. I say days because you are still in your PJ's all the time, this does not change except your in your PJ's for a week instead of 3 days. I specifically remember one day when I was so proud of myself. My kids were a little bigger now and I was working part time. It had been a long week with work and the kids, but I had managed to clean the house, get the laundry done, and make an awesome dinner. I of course was still in my robe but when my husband got home I had it all planned out. I would feed them and while they were eating I would go and take a nice long shower. I tell my husband "I am going to go shower, you watch the kids". Finally peace. I am just starting to relax when I hear my youngest  knocking on the door, the door was locked of course. After multiple knocks he stops, a couple minutes later I hear the door knob turning and then I hear a little voice say "mom are you taking a shower?" and there is my son standing in the bathroom with a set of tiny toy keys that he managed to open the bathroom door with! Are you serious! I scream down to my husband to get up here and get my son. So he comes up and grabs him, but does he think to close the bathroom door...NO! The door is wide open letting all the nice warm air out and once again I am standing naked for all to see. You have now officially arrived.
This is your life. You can not escape the opening of doors when you are trying to have a moment of peace. By the way my husband can go sit on his throne for a half hour with not one kid trying to get in??? WTF.
At one time your mother was modest and had privacy, then she had you, and now you have kids and no privacy. It's an ongoing cycle. No way of escape.
I am my mother...you are yours...and that is all.
I did conquer being the coolest parent ever though at least in my mind!

Tuesday Tip: Chefs Knife

Do you own a nice chef's knife for your home kitchen? I am not talking about the big knife that came in your knife block as a wedding gift....unless it was a really nice wedding gift! Every cook should have a good chef's knife. This is something you should splurge on (a little). You can find a good knife for around $80, but they definitely go up from there depending on the brand and type of steel. For a good home cook you don't need to get to technical and you don't need to break the bank.

Some good brands are:

Wusthof - you can find these at Williams Sonoma
J.a. Henckels- these are at Bed Bath and Beyond, and are your cheapest option
Shun - This is a Japanese steel and will be your most expensive choice. Williams Sonoma, Macy's, Bloomingdales, and Sur La Table will carry an option.

When you are working with your knife at home always have a safe cover and place to store it. Also remember the sharper the knife the less likely you are to cut yourself. When you are finished using your knife never put your knife in the dishwasher or down in the sink! This is for 2 reasons, 1.Someone could reach down in the sink and cut themselves and 2. Your knife could rust.
The proper way to clean your knife is to run it under warm water, wipe it clean, dry it, and then put it away.

Just a little Tuesday Tip.

Best Bloody Mary Ever!

In the spirit of this 3 day weekend, I will share the best Bloody Mary recipe ever with you! These Bloody's have gotten myself and a few of my friends through some hard mornings and onto some beautiful Sunday Funday's! Take this recipe and share it, I guarantee you will be praised!

1 48oz can Tomato Juice
2 cups Vodka - the good stuff
2 cans beef broth
3 Tbls worchtershire sauce
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3/4 tsp tabasco sauce
salt and pepper

Mix all the liquids together in a large pitcher, add your salt and pepper to taste. Pour over ice and serve with bleu cheese stuffed olives, celery stick, and a lime wedge!

Your Welcome!!! 

Mastering the Art of my life....

As I sit here on a Sunday afternoon doing laundry, folding laundry, and cleaning bathrooms the movie Julie & Julia came on. Maybe you have seen it or maybe you haven't, but this movie actually means something to me. It's about Julia Childs and a young professional woman named Julie. The movie goes back and forth between the 2 women's lives. One taken in present time which is Julie who is a young professional woman that is unhappy in her job and releases stress by cooking, the other story taken in the past about Julia Childs life and how she became...well Julia Childs the chef.
Both stories have an underlying message that is the same, one that I totally relate to as many women/men do. The question we all ask ourselves "what do I want to do with my life?".
In the story of Julia Childs life she was in government like her husband. They traveled all over the world and ended up in France. There only her husband worked and she found herself bored. She kept thinking of things she liked to do but nothing was what she really wanted to do. She finally found Le Cordon Bleu the French cooking school and that was it for her. For the present day New Yorker Julie, she was working a 9-5 job and about to turn 30. So she decided to start a blog about how she would learn to cook by cooking her way through Julia Childs cook book Mastering the Art of French Cooking. After about 3 months of blogging about her experiences she was the 3rd most popular blog and got a huge write up in the New York Times. Which basically led to the making of this movie I am blogging about. (it was based on a true story)
I wish things were that easy. I am not saying these ladies had it easy, like most of us they were lost. I mean your a kid and you think when I grow up I am going to do exactly what I want to do. Well kudos to those of you who did, but for many of us it does not come that easy. I am a 32 year old mother of two, a wife, a homemaker, a bill payer, a housekeeper, and a sales professional. I love to cook and want to write about it and teach others how to do it and I want to cook on T.V. . I KNOW what I want to do. It's just how the hell do you get there? People say work hard, well I do work hard, they say don't give up, I never give up. I have tried out for the Food Network 4 times, I tried out for Masterchef once and made it, but only to be sent home for not causing enough drama.

The true issue is how do you do it all????

How do you get there and still pay your bills and take care of your family. Do you just go for it and quit your salaried job to go work in a kitchen to learn from a chef and build from there?
Well, I did that. It was exactly what anyone who wants to cook for a living should do. As long as you have no kids and a mortgage to pay.
This is not a blog about me complaining, even though it kind of sounds like it. It's about what inspires us and how to stay inspired throughout your life. So many things get in the way or just deter us from our dreams. I always told myself I wouldn't be that mom who tells her kids "Mommy gave up her dreams when she had you, you were enough". I'm sorry but that's a bunch of bull. I love my kids and I would do anything for them, but that doesn't mean I have to give up on myself. On the other hand being a mother and being married I feel I have to constantly reinvent myself. It's easy to let all those little strings take priority over number one. It's a balancing act that I am still trying learn.

So I will continue to work, blog, make custom cakes, and most importantly COOK until I get to exactly where I want to be.
To everyone else out there, everyday is an opportunity to take back who you are and become who you want to be....
As for myself, I will continuously watch this movie to stay inspired and remind myself it's never to late. Also I always tend to make such a delicious meal when it's on!

5 tips for a perfect Grill Out

Just because it's Labor Day weekend doesn't mean summer is over or the grill will need to be put away. We grill almost year round in our household, but on long holiday weekends it's always a staple. To me there is nothing better than getting together with friends and family, cracking open an ice cold beer, and firing up the grill. Ahhhhh pure happiness. You really can't go wrong with hosting a cook out, but just in case here are a few tips to help you along the way.

5 Tips for a great Grill Out

1. Depending on which type of grill you are using Charcoal vs. Gas you need to know when it's hot and ready. Obviously there is a temperature gage on your gas grill but not always on your charcoal grill. With Charcoal you want your coals to be smoldering, gray on the edges and still a little black in the middle. Rule of thumb for both types of grills is when you place your hand over the grill and it's to hot for you to hold your hand their for a couple seconds, then it's ready. You want a nice hot grill so it sears the outside of your meat but keeps the inside juicy.

2. When grilling don't move your proteins around to much. Place them on the grill and leave them, don't poke at them or flip them over every minute. Also don't cut into your meat to see if it's done or not. Meat will firm up the more it's done. Chicken obviously you want to feel totally firm, for red meat, rare will feel squishy with no give, med rare will be a more bouncy, med you will start to feel it firm up with just a little give, and well will have no give to the meat.

3. When cooking red meat always bring your meat to room temp before cooking. This will allow the meat to cook evenly. Also always allow 5-10 minutes of rest time for your proteins when you pull them off the grill. This will allow all the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. This will keep your protein tender and juicy

4.Having your grill properly cleaned is a must. Always clean your grill after each cook. It's easier to clean when it's hot. Also brushing your grill racks with some oil before you cook will help to keep your proteins from sticking.

5. Have a cooler of Ice Cold Beer around at all times. Everything at grill out's tastes better with an ice cold beer!

Great weeknight sidedish - Summer Gratin

 Gratin isn't just for potatoes folks, here is a great recipe for a zucchini and squash gratin.

2 whole Zucchini - sliced thin
2 whole Summer Squash - sliced thin
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup parsley
1 Tbs fresh thyme
1/4 cup cilantro
1 shallot
1 cup Swiss cheese - Shredded - use a decent Swiss
1 Tbs Kosher salt
Zest of 1 lemon

Slice all your squash and zucchini and place in a bowl with 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt, let sit for 20 minutes. After 20 min strain the liquid from your squash and try to pat dry as much as you can. Place your parsley, thyme, shallot, cilantro, and olive oil in a food processor and puree. When ingredients is very finely chopped add them to the squash along with 1/2 a cup of the shredded Swiss. Mix gently until the squash is coated. In a baking dish layer the zucchini and squash one by one until they are gone. Top with the rest of the Swiss cheese.
Bake 400 - for 35 minutes. Let set for 10 minutes after you pull it from the oven

***I served this as a side with steak but it can go with any meal and it's oh so yummy!

BLTE's a weeknight savior

This week has been a busy one. Sunday we started off with our son's very first baseball game. I now finally know why parents get so worked up over these things. Yes we were the parents in the stands yelling "That's my kid!" as he hit a line drive over the pitcher's head. Mind you the pitcher was the coach that decided he would put my son in the very back of the line up because he didn't play T-ball before he joined Coach Pitch. HA to you coach, my kid hit better than any kid on that team. Okay now that I got that out... back to my week. After baseball it was back to school week, we had open house night, had to get school supplies, take the boys to the doctor's for their checkup's, work out new child care for my youngest, and of course go to work everyday! By Thursday I was exhausted. I had forgotten to thaw out any sort of protein for dinner, I needed something quick and easy. I had a huge bag of fresh tomatoes from my dad's garden and I thought why not go with a good'ol BLT! Yes, can't go wrong with a BLT and I will add a delicious runny fried egg on top! I also had 3 potato's in my pantry that were about to grow sprouts so I decided to bake up some Parmesan garlic fries to go along side our sandwich's. It was a last minute meal, but the best one we had all week! When it comes to dinner I always like to have a plan, but usually those plans go out the door by Monday night.  As long as my family is around the dinner table that's all that matters to me :).

Parmesan Garlic Fries Recipe:

3 Whole Potatoes - Peeled
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tbs Parmesan
1 clove garlic minced
salt and pepper
Pre-heat oven 425
Cut your potatoes in half length wise then cut in fourths length wise. You want them to be a little thick. Toss your fries in olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Use a little oil for the baking sheet so the fries don't stick. Bake your fries for 40 minutes, turn them over about half way through. Place your hot fries in a large bowl and add your minced garlic, parmesan, salt, and pepper then toss. Make sure all your fries get coated with the parmesan and garlic.

Morning Routine

Everyday I wake up and start my day exactly the same. My 2 boys have already made their way into my room and onto my bed with every toy they can carry. Somehow they still seem surprised that I wake up when they are playing cars on my face! And the morning rituals begin, which means checking my phone, email, and facebook while still lying in bed. Once I am motivated enough to actually move I make my way downstairs (along with my kids who decide they only leave mommy's room when she does) to find my husband who is already awake and has decided NOT to start a fresh pot of coffee. You would think the first one up starts the coffee, it's not that hard and he would have a much happier wife in the morning if the coffee is already made! Come on guys it's the little strings....
I of course get right on that! I get the kids their breakfast and then I turn around and face what I already knew was coming, what is there waiting for me every morning no matter how much I clean up the night before....it looks a little something like this

This isn't my kitchen, we would never keep a fish bowl in the kitchen, but to give you an idea of what my kitchen looks like this is it. It's the never ending pile of dishes. Does this happen to anyone else? We even have a dishwasher. I don't know how it happens, I cook dinner almost every night and I clean as I go then I do the dishes after dinner or my husband does. It doesn't matter though somehow the dishes just find their way back in the sink.
I always pictured my life would be exciting, stylish, fun, and glamorous you know like on TV. Yet another realization when you get older and have kids of your own is that some of the things your parents used to say to you is actually TRUE. Which brings me to this gem of a statement that my dad would say to me when I would tell him I wanted to grow up and be like the people on TV...
"That is not real, it is not real life now turn that off and go outside and play!" He was right, but what I do know is that I still have a pretty fun life and I am the one that can make it exciting. You work hard, you play hard, and you do a lot of darn dishes.
So from now on I will face those dishes and I will face them like all the hard working mothers before me just like this....

in a little apron, heels, pearls, and my husband looking on with a smile.....hahahahahahahaha! (bottle of wine not pictured)

all the little strings

To my followers and fellow recipe lovers this is not goodbye to 3 boys and a chef, it's hello to the woman behind it. I love trying out new recipes and writing about it, but I also love 100 other things. Things that make me who I am, things that make me strive to be more. These things or all the little strings of my life that pull me in a million different directions make up my world and that's what I want to put out there. I will still be staying true to what I love most cooking/cake decorating, but I will be adding in more everyday things I run into. Trying to be a mother, wife, career woman, and still staying true to who I am isn't always easy. This blog will be for all those ladies out there and their little strings of life. So ladies from our apron strings, to shoe strings, even to our G-strings, here's to having it all and doing it in a stylish pair of pumps!

Perfect Panna Cotta

In these hot and humid summer months of the Midwest, there is only a couple things that I crave dessert wise. One is just a good old chocolate and vanilla swirl cake cone with rainbow sprinkles, and the second is anything with juicy fresh fruits of the season. I am not a fan of eating hot desserts in the summer, give me something light and refreshing! This simple to make dessert is perfect for a hot summer night, it's cool, creamy, just a little sweet, and oh so delicious. Panna Cotta is a cream custard that's usually paired with a simple sauce and fresh fruit. I love to pair mine with fresh peaches soaked in a little Brandy and brown sugar.





Perfect Panna Cotta - serves 6-8

3 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
1 envelope powdered gelatin (about 1 Tbs)
4 ounces cream cheese (room temp)
1tsp vanilla
1/2 cup sugar

In small sauce pan heat your heavy cream and sugar. Bring to a low simmer. Pour your envelope of gelatin over your cup of cold milk and let set for about 2 minutes, then pour into hot cream. Let your cream and milk simmer for a couple more minutes. You want to make sure your gelatin is fully dissolved. Have your cream cheese ready in a bowl along with your 1tsp of vanilla. Pour your hot cream over your cream cheese and let sit for 2-3minutes. Using an emersion blender(hand blender), blend together the mixture until it is smooth. If you don't have a hand blender you can use a regular blender but be careful when blending the hot cream.
Pour your mixture into ramekins and place in the refrigerator until set, about 2-4 hours.

For the topping peel, pit, and dice 4 ripe peaches. Mix with 1Tbs brandy and 1Tbs brown sugar. Let peaches sit until the natural juices start to release. Spoon the peaches over the Panna Cotta and serve.

*Panna Cotta can be served either unmolded onto a plate or left in a parfait dish

Ice Cream Sandwiches - A messy success!

This past weekend my youngest son Jack turned 3! I can't believe how quickly time goes by when your older. I also can't believe I just said that, I am officially turning into my mother! Birthday's are a big deal to me and I always want my kids to know how special they are! I usually go all out and throw a big party with lots of food and I always make some elaborate cake specifically for them! For Jack's 3rd I decided against a huge cake and went with homemade ice cream sandwiches! It turned out to be one beautiful messy success! My boys are always wanting to help me in the kitchen when I am baking, so this dessert was a great way to let them be creative and feel involved. Now these can take you 10 minutes or a couple of hours depending on how much work you want to do. I will give you some ideas for the long version and also let you know the ultimate shortcuts!
First the cookie. I went with homemade chocolate chip. The boys got to get their hands dirty and that's just the thing that my boys love! They rolled up the cookies for mommy and placed them on the cookie sheet.
Short cut: Buy the cookies from the bakery at the grocery store any kind you like, you could even buy mini cookies and make bite size ice cream sandwiches.

Next the ice cream: I made homemade cream cheese ice cream. Yes it's as delicious as it sounds! Here's the recipe (you need an ice cream maker)

8oz cream cheese - room temperature
1 1/2 cups whole milk
3/4 cups sugar
1 Tbs light corn syrup

Have your cream cheese ready in a large bowl. Bring your milk, sugar, and corn syrup to a simmer. You want to simmer long enough for your sugar to dissolve about 10 min. After your milk is done simmering, pour over your cream cheese and let sit for 2 minutes. Using an emersion blender (use regular blender if you do not have emersion) blend your cream cheese into the milk until smooth and silky. Let cool fully in a refrigerator. Once your ice cream base is chilled all the way through, pour into your ice cream maker and spin until frozen.
Let your ice cream set in the freezer until it's frozen enough to scoop. You do not want your ice cream to be to soft when making your sandwiches.

Shortcut: Just buy the ice cream. Any flavor you want!

Once your cookies have cooled and your ice cream is soft enough to scoop, start to assemble your sandwiches. We had a nice little system down. I would scoop the ice cream onto the bottom cookie and Riley would place the other cookie on top. Then we chose to roll our sandwiches in mini M&M's. That was Jack's favorite part. Just make sure your ice cream is not to soft, this causes the M&M's to melt and fall all over the place. We learned the hard way!
As soon as you finish a sandwich place it directly in the freezer. That's it! You can make these ahead of time!
Also if you don't want to use M&M's you can choose any kind of candy your kids like! Get creative! It's all about spending time with your kids and getting them involved in the kitchen!
As much as I like my desserts or cakes to look beautiful, I had to put that aside and embrace the mess! It was a huge success in the Mandap house! Jack approved!
Happy Eatings!

Baby Shower Cake - Pea in the Pod

It has been a while since I have been able to post on my blog and even longer since I have had the time to sit down and make a cake that I was proud of. Last week I had the pleasure to do just that. A friend of mine asked me if I could make a cake for a baby shower she was throwing. She had sent me a few pictures of what she was thinking and one of the pictures was a cake with a pea in the pod theme. I find those cakes so adorable, so thats what we decided on and I was excited to get started! She chose simple yet elegant flavors for the cake, classic white with raspberry buttercream. I got my cake baked off and chilled, for the buttercream I just made a simple vanilla buttercream and added my raspberry sauce along with some fresh raspberries. Using a fresh raspberry sauce which is mostly just a raspberry puree not only gives the buttercream a bright beautiful color, but also gives it such a fresh and bright flavor as well. I assembled my cake with 3 layers and 2 layers of buttercream. Once assembled I gave it a quick crumb coat with vanilla buttercream and let it chill for about 4 hours so it would set. While the cake was chilling I got started on my little pea pod.

The peas I made out of cake balls. I had some left over cake batter so I baked it off and formed multiple sized balls. I popped them in the freezer and got them all nice and hard. (this blog is not sounding so much like a food blog anymore with all this talk of balls) Once they were frozen enough I wrapped them with a thin layer of colored fondant. For the baby face I just made a thin indentation for the mouth and the eyes. You can use any thin tool you have or you could just use a toothpick. I used a soft pink petal dust for the cheeks and formed the hat with fondant as well. When I made the pod I mixed fondant and gum paste together. That way the pod would be sturdy enough to hold all the peas in place.

When I finished the pea pod I set it aside to harden and pulled out my chilled cake. I covered it in a buttercream fondant. I am self taught when it comes to handling fondant so the way I do things may not be correct, but it works for me. I always make a batch of simple syrup which is equal parts sugar and water. All you do is bring the sugar and water to a boil just until all your sugar is dissolved and then let cool. I brush my cake all over with the cooled simple sugar right before I cover with fondant. This allows the fondant to stick on to the cake. I use a fondant smoothing tool to get all the sides and top of the cake smooth. After I my fondant was on I placed my pea pod on top of the cake and curled it just enough to match up with the edge of the cake. Again I used the simple syrup on the bottom of the pod so it would stick to the cake. Next I started with some of the small details that really just make the cake! I made the leaves and the curly strings at each end of the pod. For the strings I used the gum paste/fondant mixture and I just rolled them out and then started twisting. I put a small yellow flower bud at the end of the pod for a little extra color and to make the babies hat pop. I finished off the cake with a small pearl border to match the peas. I just piped those on with my vanilla buttercream and that was that!
    The cake came out better than I had imagined and it reminded me of why I loved decorating cakes so much. It may take me hours to do but the end result is always so gratifying. Sometimes I even surprise myself.

 

Happy Eatings Everyone!

Krystal

P.S. The mother to be was very happy with her cake and I was told "OMG the cake was amazing...not kidding!"