So this is officially the first recipe I have actually written out (with the exception of my cajun chicken pasta)
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 tbsp baking powder
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs, separated
2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp melted butter
Directions:
Mix together buttermilk**, egg yolks, vanilla and sugar. Sift the flour and baking powder into the wet ingredients. Stir together until well mixed. Then add the melted butter and stir. Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl until you reach stiff peaks. While your pan or griddle is heating up, Fold the egg whites into the batter. Butter your pan or griddle, add a ladle of batter and wait until you see bubbles all over before you flip.*** Repeat until your batter is gone.*
*Keep your pancakes warm while you finish the batter. Preheat the oven to 250. Place pancakes on an ungreased baking sheet in a single layer and cover lightly with aluminum foil and put in the oven until you are ready to serve.
**Don't have buttermilk? You can use regular milk, but if you have 5 minutes and lemon juice or white vinegar you can make your own. Take your measuring cup and add 2 1/2 tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar and add milk to that up to the 2 1/2 cup mark and let sit for 5 minutes.
***If you want to add blueberries, chocolate chips, pecans, walnuts, etc. to the pancakes, do so after you have ladled the batter onto the griddle, but before you flip. You can control how much you want in each pancake, how well its dispersed AND you prevent it from burning.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
MY taste
Just something I want to get off my chest.
There are things I like to eat, and things I do not like to eat. I don't appreciate when people tell me I would like something, when I simply know I would not. I try not to say I don't like something unless I've tried it. BUT if I don't like the ingredients (that I have tried before) in a recipe I'm pretty sure I won't like the dish, its that simple.
I've run into this a few times. I've been invited to peoples homes where they may serve something I don't like, and if I can avoid eating it I do, if I can't I choke it down... Its not their fault I don't like it! (and to anyone who may read this and be offended, this is from years ago not recently)
I like to give Mike a hard time because of the long list of things he will not eat. And I've tried to make him eat stuff I've made even though he doesn't like it because I hate waste or I just won't make something I like because I know he won't like it. But truthfully I have quite a long list of things I won't eat either (its just not as unusual as his list)
For example... I don't like mushrooms - its not the flavor, in most things that isn't my problem - its the texture. I cook with mushrooms to give things really good flavor, but then pick out the mushrooms because the feeling in my mouth makes me gag. Taste isn't as much my problem with things - texture and smell is what gets to me. Beans are one thing I have NEVER liked. From lima beans, kidney beans, refried beans to chick peas, and in any formation (ie, hummus). I've tried them all and just don't like them, I even specifically make chili, split it, and add beans to one half for Mike, and leave the other half plain for me. Its just how I am. An example of smells that make me sick - curry... I can smell it a mile away and it makes me gag. After living in an apartment and smelling that in the hallway for months, I just can't take the smell. Another thing... Cinnamon - Mike hates it, I love it in desserts, but I can't eat it in savory dishes, I've tried thinking I like it why wouldn't I like it in this - well I don't- It makes things taste weird to me :(
I am a bit of a super taster - I can taste the alcohol in things normal people can't. So there are things I don't eat, or surround my self with because I just don't enjoy it. period.
Just felt the need to get that out there so you all know I'm not just saying I don't like something - there is a reason behind it all.
There are things I like to eat, and things I do not like to eat. I don't appreciate when people tell me I would like something, when I simply know I would not. I try not to say I don't like something unless I've tried it. BUT if I don't like the ingredients (that I have tried before) in a recipe I'm pretty sure I won't like the dish, its that simple.
I've run into this a few times. I've been invited to peoples homes where they may serve something I don't like, and if I can avoid eating it I do, if I can't I choke it down... Its not their fault I don't like it! (and to anyone who may read this and be offended, this is from years ago not recently)
I like to give Mike a hard time because of the long list of things he will not eat. And I've tried to make him eat stuff I've made even though he doesn't like it because I hate waste or I just won't make something I like because I know he won't like it. But truthfully I have quite a long list of things I won't eat either (its just not as unusual as his list)
For example... I don't like mushrooms - its not the flavor, in most things that isn't my problem - its the texture. I cook with mushrooms to give things really good flavor, but then pick out the mushrooms because the feeling in my mouth makes me gag. Taste isn't as much my problem with things - texture and smell is what gets to me. Beans are one thing I have NEVER liked. From lima beans, kidney beans, refried beans to chick peas, and in any formation (ie, hummus). I've tried them all and just don't like them, I even specifically make chili, split it, and add beans to one half for Mike, and leave the other half plain for me. Its just how I am. An example of smells that make me sick - curry... I can smell it a mile away and it makes me gag. After living in an apartment and smelling that in the hallway for months, I just can't take the smell. Another thing... Cinnamon - Mike hates it, I love it in desserts, but I can't eat it in savory dishes, I've tried thinking I like it why wouldn't I like it in this - well I don't- It makes things taste weird to me :(
I am a bit of a super taster - I can taste the alcohol in things normal people can't. So there are things I don't eat, or surround my self with because I just don't enjoy it. period.
Just felt the need to get that out there so you all know I'm not just saying I don't like something - there is a reason behind it all.
The Stuffed Shells...
INGREDIENTS:
1 (12 ounce) package jumbo pasta shells
2 eggs, beaten
1 (32 ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 pound shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
8 ounces grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 tablespoon dried parsley
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1-2 28oz jars of pasta sauce (or make it homemade)
DIRECTIONS:
| Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). |
| Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. |
| In a large bowl, mix eggs, ricotta, half the mozzarella, half the Parmesan, parsley, salt and pepper until well combined. Stuff cooked shells with ricotta mixture and place in a 9x13 inch baking dish. |
| In a medium bowl, stir together pasta sauce, mushrooms and reserved mozzarella and Parmesan. Pour over stuffed shells. |
| Bake in preheated oven 45 to 60 minutes, until edges are bubbly and shells are slightly set. |
Fail
I have neglected this thing... mostly because I haven't made anything really noteworthy. This month I have been recreating meals by cooking one big meal, and using the left-overs in new ways. It has been successful, however I have still had left-overs that ended up getting thrown away... Even when I try not to waste there is still waste :(
I did manage to remember to freeze the ham. There was soooo much. It was maybe an 8 lb ham, supposedly servings for 10, but I made 5 meals for the two of us, breakfast a couple days and still have half of what I started with!
I did make my Stuffed Shells... had to. The ricotta was about to pass its sell by date. This recipe makes enough for 3 meals. I'll post it soon. Hopefully.
I am having a Pampered Chef Cooking Show here in July, and am trying to save my pennies to go out for a nice anniversary "linner" So my July shopping will be limited. I have made my menu and list and think I can buy everything I need including miscellaneous stuff (Keira's stuff aside) for under $150 for the month! AND I'm only shopping at Jewel and Aldi (ok ok and probably Target too) - trying to save gas!!
Keira has begun solids. We have only tried rice cereal and carrots so far, but not bad for her only being 4 1/2 mos old. I will be picking up oatmeal for her, and trying out some jarred baby food to see what she likes before I go forward with my making of the baby food since I hate waste so much. I had carrots in the fridge and made that for her for the heck of it, since she's not a huge fan of the rice cereal. She doesn't seem to be much of a fan of carrots either, but she's getting the hang of eating. I'm thinking applesauce or sweet potatoes will be next.
Shopping aside, have I ever mentioned how much I love freecycle??! Cause I do, I really do. Not only have I gotten tons of unopened formula through freecycle. But DIAPERS! I love finding the post of someone who bought diapers in bulk and their baby grew out of them and have a ton left! YAY for me. I'm picking up almost 2 full packages of Huggies and Pampers Size 3 dipes tomorrow. Thank You Freecyclers!
OK I'll stop rambling - I will post my stuffed shells recipe soon, and my July menu/grocery list too. AND I made up my own pancake recipe after much pancake research, and they were freakin' delicious, so I'll post that recipe too.
I did manage to remember to freeze the ham. There was soooo much. It was maybe an 8 lb ham, supposedly servings for 10, but I made 5 meals for the two of us, breakfast a couple days and still have half of what I started with!
I did make my Stuffed Shells... had to. The ricotta was about to pass its sell by date. This recipe makes enough for 3 meals. I'll post it soon. Hopefully.
I am having a Pampered Chef Cooking Show here in July, and am trying to save my pennies to go out for a nice anniversary "linner" So my July shopping will be limited. I have made my menu and list and think I can buy everything I need including miscellaneous stuff (Keira's stuff aside) for under $150 for the month! AND I'm only shopping at Jewel and Aldi (ok ok and probably Target too) - trying to save gas!!
Keira has begun solids. We have only tried rice cereal and carrots so far, but not bad for her only being 4 1/2 mos old. I will be picking up oatmeal for her, and trying out some jarred baby food to see what she likes before I go forward with my making of the baby food since I hate waste so much. I had carrots in the fridge and made that for her for the heck of it, since she's not a huge fan of the rice cereal. She doesn't seem to be much of a fan of carrots either, but she's getting the hang of eating. I'm thinking applesauce or sweet potatoes will be next.
Shopping aside, have I ever mentioned how much I love freecycle??! Cause I do, I really do. Not only have I gotten tons of unopened formula through freecycle. But DIAPERS! I love finding the post of someone who bought diapers in bulk and their baby grew out of them and have a ton left! YAY for me. I'm picking up almost 2 full packages of Huggies and Pampers Size 3 dipes tomorrow. Thank You Freecyclers!
OK I'll stop rambling - I will post my stuffed shells recipe soon, and my July menu/grocery list too. AND I made up my own pancake recipe after much pancake research, and they were freakin' delicious, so I'll post that recipe too.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
A Whole Week
Wow, busy-ness and sick make me a dull girl...
So last week I made a whole chicken, and then made meals all week from the chicken... AND still had left-overs (that need to be thrown away yet)
This week = HAM!
I made a 8lb spiral ham yesterday that I got for under $9!
We just had some box scalloped potatoes and some Green Giant Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Carrot in Cheese sauce frozen thing, and a salad with it yesterday.
Tonight:
Cheddar and Ham Mac and Cheese
(Cheap and Delicious and easily enough for 6+ people... really its a TON of food!)
Ingredients:
2 boxes of Mac and Cheese, prepared
about a cup of frozen peas
between 1 and 2 cups of ham
about a cup of shredded cheddar cheese
between a half a cup and a cup of ritz crackers crushed, with a tbs of butter
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400. Prepare the Mac and Cheese as directed. Add the peas and ham, mix and put in a baking dish. Top with cheese and then top with ritz crushed crackers. Bake for 15 minutes.
ENJOY! :)
So last week I made a whole chicken, and then made meals all week from the chicken... AND still had left-overs (that need to be thrown away yet)
This week = HAM!
I made a 8lb spiral ham yesterday that I got for under $9!
We just had some box scalloped potatoes and some Green Giant Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Carrot in Cheese sauce frozen thing, and a salad with it yesterday.
Tonight:
Cheddar and Ham Mac and Cheese
(Cheap and Delicious and easily enough for 6+ people... really its a TON of food!)
Ingredients:
2 boxes of Mac and Cheese, prepared
about a cup of frozen peas
between 1 and 2 cups of ham
about a cup of shredded cheddar cheese
between a half a cup and a cup of ritz crackers crushed, with a tbs of butter
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400. Prepare the Mac and Cheese as directed. Add the peas and ham, mix and put in a baking dish. Top with cheese and then top with ritz crushed crackers. Bake for 15 minutes.
ENJOY! :)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Proudness
So I ended up spending more money than I wanted to this month, but than I realized... I didn't spend all of it on food! I got some things for Keira, some of the usual household stuff, and something Mike needed... Although I really spent $195, only $141 of it was on food, averaging out about $28/week, $4/day!! Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner accounted for, for 5 whole weeks - and I'll still probably have more food than I know what to do with - since that is always the case...
ah, thanks for letting me get that off my chest!
My other proud moment of yesterday... I made a whole chicken! I don't know why, but those whole birds intimidate me, I made a turkey breast a while back for the first time and was so impressed with how good it turned out for having never done it before, so I tried out the whole chicken.... DELICIOUS! I'm so happy that I've conquered a fear, and it turned about awesomely moist and delicious!
Now to use the left-overs for the rest of the week... I'm making myself some chicken salad for lunch today YAY!
ah, thanks for letting me get that off my chest!
My other proud moment of yesterday... I made a whole chicken! I don't know why, but those whole birds intimidate me, I made a turkey breast a while back for the first time and was so impressed with how good it turned out for having never done it before, so I tried out the whole chicken.... DELICIOUS! I'm so happy that I've conquered a fear, and it turned about awesomely moist and delicious!
Now to use the left-overs for the rest of the week... I'm making myself some chicken salad for lunch today YAY!
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