Recipes From Other Blogs

One of the blogs I go to for inspiration and great recipe ideas is Closet Cooking. Kevin knows how to photograph food in a way that would make the pickiest eater drool. What I love the most is how he writes his recipes. His directions are numbered and are clear and concise (the best part). I've bookmarked several of his recipes but I recently tried this one for Shrimp and Pineapple Teriyaki. It came together so quickly and although mine didn't have quite the glaze that his did, it was very tasty. I served it over brown rice and we had our favorite Bok Choy Salad on the side. Have you tried that yet? What are you waiting for? It's fabulous!

This is Kevin's photo, not mine. See, doesn't he take scrumptious looking pictures?! No need for me to upload my picture when his is so much better!

Last night we tried another fellow blogger's, Foodie Tots, recipe. She and I share a similar philosophy of food and I'm always anxious to see what healthy dish she has concocted. I thought this Hearty Winter Baked Ziti was great but Wes thought it smelled better than it tasted. What he smelled was the cheese baking on the top of the dish, however the cheese was not throughout the dish because it was intended to be healthy. I love that both carrots and kale were hidden in the dish which would be perfect for those picky eaters! I don't have one of those but I'm preparing myself for the next time when I just know I won't be so lucky. I made the dish exactly as directed but I did divide it into 2 casserole dishes and froze 1 before cooking it in the oven (freezing before the noodles are fully cooked will hopefully make for less soggy noodles).

Again, her picture, not mine. The one drawback to my new camera is that it's a little cumbersome to tote to work just to download pictures from dinner. I will make the sacrifice eventually, I promise.

Weekend Getaway

It's amazing what a mere 24 hours can do for your well-being. In such a short amount of time you can relax, rebuild, and rejuvenate yourself and your relationship. Wes and I enjoyed a short jaunt to Burlington's Willis Graves Bed & Breakfast this weekend. It was nice to escape the day-to-day grind of housework, job, and yes, even precious Colin. I think all relationships need some time away, some time for just the 2 of you. I was able to relax for the first time in a while and just enjoy the company of my loving husband - what a nice treat!

It certainly didn't hurt that the B&B was in such a lovely setting and pretty darn near perfect in every aspect! These innkeepers have truly thought of everything and left no stone unturned. From the fresh baked cookies waiting on our bed, to the steam shower and ultra-luxurious spa tub, to the his and her robes hanging in the closet, the huge selection of movies for your private viewing, books upon books, and a gourmet breakfast to boot, what more could you possibly ask for?! Oh perhaps your own personal sitting room with a warm and cozy fireplace? Are you in heaven yet because we sure were. We were supposed to meet some friends for dinner, which we did, but it was so hard to leave our cozy suite. Just look at some of my pictures capturing the homey feel of this beautiful home.

The warm and inviting sitting room with the gas fireplace.

An alternate view of the sitting area.

The bedroom - notice the fresh baked cookies and bottled water on the bed.

The exquisite bathroom.

The piece de resistance, the steam shower! Have you ever?!

and the enormous, multi-colored lights, tub!

Are you sold yet? It was an amazing place to recharge and unwind. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone looking to get away for pleasure or business. They will meet and exceed your every need. I've stayed at several B&B's and this one is at the top of the list. Oh and if you check out their website, be sure you look at their gourmet breakfasts! My little heart is going pitter-patter just remembering that luscious creme brulee french toast and breakfast pie!

Distance does make the heart grow fonder. We couldn't wait to see our little Colin when we got home. While I think he had a good time with Grams and Grandpa, he was glad to see his Mommy and Daddy. He clung to me like glue for most of the night which was just fine by me! We missed him but it was good for all of us! Wes and I both agreed that it would be nice to do this more often (you know, more often than once every 3 years!).

Helping Out

About this time last year some friends of ours began the vigorous, yet rewarding journey of adoption. They documented their adventures here so that we could all learn and experience it vicariously through them. I believe it takes a special person to adopt, one that I admire and respect so much. It takes a very selfless person to seek out to help a child that might otherwise go unnoticed most of their life. Cara and Jason's story brought many a tear to my eye because of their unbridled determination and devotion. This little boy faced much uncertainly and it just warms my heart to know that he was blessed to get to come to such a wonderful family.

I recently came across the blog of Josh and Rachel, who are unable to have children of their own and are therefore looking to adopt a child from Korea. Having learned of the tremendous costs associated with adoption from Cara and Jason, I could completely understand and sympathize with their efforts to raise funds to aid them in their quest. I just wanted to provide you with the link to their story and blog in case you too feel compelled to help.

Move over Nole...

here comes Colin!

Weekends are a time to kick back, relax, and just go with the flow. With that said, I decided to let Colin pick out his own outfit on Sunday. He has, on occasion, picked out his own shirt from time to time but to pick out both top and bottom was a first and now I know why! He has, well, eccentric taste. Clearly his favorite shirt is the monkey shirt because he chooses that every chance he gets. But the pants. Oh the pants. He picked his loudest, most garish pants that he owns. If any of you are familiar with the Zutano line, you know that their clothes have a tendency to be very bright with multi-colored patterns. Yep, those are the pants he chose! I was bent in half laughing as I dressed him in his selected outfit. He was proud as a peacock as he pranced in to show Daddy his threads. Daddy's response? "Oh my! Buddy you look good."

Thankfully, he managed to get yogurt all over his shirt and pants prior to he and Wes leaving the house. Wes gladly changed his clothes and thus the outfit was no more.

I have to focus on the positives though, at least he was willing to actually pick something out, showing he does care about what he wears. Now I just have to work on his colors and teach him what colors work well together. Looks like he'll have to start watching Project Runway with me!

Special Dinner for a Special Guy

Since I don't normally cook on Saturdays (my one day off from kitchen duty), I didn't cook a Valentine's meal. We did carry out on Saturday and I planned Wes' special meal for Sunday. One of his favorite dishes at the now closed Macaroni Grill was Penne Rustica. I remember looking at their nutritional information one evening before going there and being totally shocked and amazed that they would be allowed to serve dishes so high in fat, calories, sodium, and lord knows what else! Of course Wes' favorite was no exception. I knew it must be laden with cream, cheese and butter. So when I came across this blog where she recreated it as healthfully as possible, I bookmarked it for a special occasion.


While I've never had the original version, this recipe turned out remarkable! I realize the addition of 2 cups of half and half isn't exactly low fat or healthy, it is somewhat better than the heavy whipping cream alternative! Since I followed the recipe pretty much as written, I won't post it again. I did double just about everything (except the half and half) because I wasn't sure how much the original made. By doubling it, I got 5 good-sized portions. I also used panacea instead of the bacon or ham.


This recipe came together so quickly and practically effortlessly! There's nothing I love more than an easy meal that turns out great. I hope you enjoy this as much as we did.

Will You Be My Valentine?

And just how could I resist with this precious face?! Valentine's has taken on new meaning now that I have another love in my life. Don't get me wrong, I love special surprises from Wes too, but good things do come in small packages!


So picture this: I was sitting at my desk minding my own business (probably reading someones blog) when I hear a noise. I look up and it's my precious Colin walking towards me with a pot of hyacinths as big as his head. He was so proud to be carrying something all by himself to give to his Mom-ma, as he so fondly calls me. I would have broken into tears except for the fact that I had all the eyes in the office on me. Wes said he asked Colin if he wanted to take the flowers to Mommy at work and Colin excitedly said "uh-huh!" So the entire way down here he would point at the flowers and say "Mom-ma". It meant the world to me that Wes thought of it and Colin executed the plan so well! Thanks to both of my boys for a very memorable Valentine's Day.


By the way, the picture above was staged this morning since I didn't have my camera ready on Friday. Even if I did, I wouldn't have been able to fully enjoy the moment if I was busy trying to snap the perfect picture. It will remain an image in my mind forever though!

Announcing...

the arrival of my nephew, Foxx! Foxy graced us with his presence this morning at 1:34 am, weighing in at 7 lbs 13oz (not too shabby for being 3 weeks early!). He was 20 3/4 inches long which is no wonder considering the height of both of his parents. I'm not sure if you can tell in the picture but he has sandy brown hair and blue eyes (subject to change of course).

I went to see him this morning and I could have held him and rocked him all day! It seems like just yesterday that was me in the delivery room but somehow Colin's already 19 months old. Time flies!

Congratulations to the new parents! He's an absolute doll and I hope you weren't expecting him to walk before he's 5. With 2 older sisters and a new dad, he'll be lucky to ever be put down!

American Idol Rantings

I hope I didn't lose any of you with the title. Hi, my name is Danielle and I'm a self-confessed reality tv junkie. There I said it, does that make you happy? I don't think I'm any less of a person because of my obsession, perhaps it's even made me a better person. Yeah, that's stretching it but at least my life seems better than most, I've learned some cooking techniques, and thanks to Miss Jay, I have learned how to walk the cat walk - that's important isn't it?! I've even been know to dust off my sewing machine after watching a few episodes of Project Runway.

Even I have my limitations though. I won't subject myself to the "so-called" reality shows that are so far removed from reality that they should not even be classified in the same group - you know, the likes of Rock of Love, My Super Sweet 16 (although sadly this probably is reality), I Love Money, etc. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I also don't care for the reality shows that use brainpower, Survivor (over it), Amazing Race, etc. So that leaves the creme de la creme, my guilty little pleasures - The Bachelor, American Idol, Top Chef, America's Next Top Model, and Project Runway to name a few.

I'm loving the Bachelor, Jason, this year. For once, they've chosen someone that is genuinely nice and is actually on the show to find love. What a concept! A friend of mine and I were talking and she couldn't figure out what it was that was different about this bachelor. She finally figured it out, it's hard to not like him because he's just so nice. I guess with other bachelor/bachelorettes we've had a love-hate relationship with them but this one almost seems too good to be true. I was rooting for him to be chosen by Deanna but I guess things happen for a reason because now he has 3 great girls to choose from. I've heard that he did find true love and he's in love with whomever he chose.

On to the real reason for my post, American Idol. AI is not what it once was. Gone are the days where I would stay up late phoning in my vote for the likes of Kelly Clarkson or Tamyra Gray. I haven't phoned in a vote for many seasons now and it doesn't look like I will be this season either. Perhaps it's the lackluster talent but moreover (Gene that one's for you), I just think the show has run it's course, or "jumped the shark" as some people say. In the beginning I believe the voting was honest and accurate and the results were actually based on the home audience. Now, I think the ratings and marketability of the contestants have swayed the shows producers to tabulate the votes one way or the other. Last night's show fell right in line with my theory.

How can you tell me that Tatiana

or Spiky-Haired-Piercing-Guy

weren't picked on their quirkiness? I'm not hating on their talents, okay I am, they can sing better than me (although my son prefers when I talk in song). But there were plenty of contestants who far surpassed these two in the talent department.

Take for instance my personal favorite, Pharrell look-alike, Jamar,

who was hands down better than either of the other 2, yet he didn't make it because he didn't have the personality? I could have sworn this was a singing contest! This is just another sign this show has lost its credibility and thus, a lot of its viewers.

I won't bore you with judges but I have to at least comment on Paula and Randy's wardrobe choices night before last. I've searched for pictures to no avail. Suffice to say Paula's necklace was atrocious! It looked like pieces of scrap metal attached to a necklace. Seriously, no need for a bullet-proof vest with that thing on. It was huge, gaudy, and unattractive. And to go with her wardrobe mistake, Randy's t-shirt was equally as offensive. It was a black t-shirt with screen printed necklaces (large ones) around the top. And not just 1 necklace, multiple ones. I've never been a huge fan of Randy's wardrobe but this t-shirt topped the cake. Perhaps the show should focus on the judges, both their skills and wardrobe choices, instead of trying to select contestants based on their marketability!

There, I feel better having gotten that off my chest. Never fear, I'll still be watching but it also won't be the end of my world if I miss an episode.

More Valentine's Ideas

I know what you're thinking, for someone who hates the commercialism of Valentine's Day, you sure are spending a lot of time talking about it. Okay, Hallmark you win; you've successfully embedded this holiday for love into my thick skull and I succumb to you. I still stand by my feelings of celebrating on non-Valentine's days too but Hallmark has made it next to impossible to ignore this holiday. That is without feeling like a total meanie. You don't want your loved ones to be left out (this is all part of Hallmark's master plan you know). Since I've been subjected to this peer pressure, I might as well share some ideas with you to show your loved ones how special they are to you. Truth be told, I just like the excuse to buy things and be crafty!

First of all, please don't forget your loved ones who you are not married to or are in a relationship with, i.e. your mother, father, children, grandparents, pets, etc. After all, we all like to be reminded from time to time that we're appreciated and loved.

• Make them a card (actually more personal and thoughtful than buying one).
• Another cost efficient idea is to invite them over for dinner. Again, even if you just have take out or something quick, it's the time they'll spend with you that will matter most to them. If they're not in town, you could look into having a meal sent to them from one of the many Internet food stores. Many of them have frozen meals or entrees that can be shipped almost anywhere. Or how about just some cupcakes or a pie? Again, tons of those on the Internet.
• Have your kids make cookies both for themselves and to share with a local children's hospital or even the neighbor kids.
• Make your pet a homemade dog treat (I don't have a dog but I understand these treats are easy).

Now on to your spouse/boyfriend/significant other. Think about what makes them happy, what makes them relax, what makes them unwind. And think outside of the Hallmark realm!

• How about a couples massage or just a single massage for him/her?
• What about an afternoon alone, without the kids, to do as they wish - whether to stay at home and read (WES) or to go golfing/shopping/etc?
• If you want to do something together, why not cook a romantic dinner for 2 (after all, we all know reservations to any restaurant at this point are out of the question). You could split up the courses between you and then pop a nice bottle of wine as you cook - how romantic is that?!
• You could have a scavenger hunt to find love notes around the house or homemade coupons - use your imagination here!!
• You could pretend this is your first date and recreate that day or come up with new surprises(blindfolds make this even more fun and more of a surprise). The day could include breakfast in bed, a picnic (either inside or out depending on where you live), a walk in the park, going to a play/sporting event/museum, and/or taking a drive in the country. Or you could plan the whole day to never leave the house. The possibilities are endless!

I hope this has provided you some inspiration for the upcoming holiday. Even if you don't like any of my ideas, hopefully you can use them as a stepping stone to come up with your own master plan. If you really want to surprise your loved one, plan your activities for next weekend when they're totally not expecting it - but you better not skip this Saturday entirely or you might be in the dog house by next weekend!!

Adorable Banners

One of my daily reads is Be Different...Act Normal. She always has a ton of ideas and giveaways! Her current giveaway is for a banner by Emmie Cakes and they are absolutely adorable!! I love the birthday ones and I also like the Christmas one. She does special orders as well and her prices are quite reasonable for the amount of detail and time she clearly puts into each banner. So go get yourself registered for the giveaway and then promise me that if you win, you'll give the banner to me! Just kidding...well not really but you don't have to tell me if you win. Good luck!

This one is my favorite:

Random Thoughts

Since I have several stories, none of which would merit their own separate post, I thought I'd do a hodge podge post. My first story, or rather announcement, is that I'm going to be an aunt again! My sister is due with a baby boy March 6th, however it looks like the little guy will be gracing us with his presence much before then. We've all taken our guess as to the arrival date and I've chosen February 28th. I think that's going to be pushing it (ha ha) but we shall see. More details and pictures to come.

Kids say the darnedest things. I look forward to the days when Colin starts putting things together and comes up with his own funny stories, although I'm in no hurry. For now, I get to enjoy my niece, Elise (6), and her hilarity. She was baking cupcakes with Grams yesterday to give to her class for her birthday. Grams asked if her science teacher was back yet and if she was feeling better. Elise said yes but her music teacher has been absent. Grams asked what was the matter with her and Elise's precious response was, "She's having her pencils taken out."

She has a tendency to speak very matter-of-factly and this was no exception. Grams asked, "Her pencils?"

Apparently pencils = appendix to a 6-year old!

Lastly, don't forget this Saturday is Valentine's Day. In case you haven't read my posts on certain Hallmark holidays, I'm not generally a fan. But if you need an excuse to do something special for your loved one, so be it and get to work, you've only got 5 days! Do something out of the box for you - perhaps a surprise, a home cooked meal, a personalized coupon book?? If you start the trend, your loved one is surely to follow suit...eventually!

Heart Attack

My heart is still reeling after the scare we had this morning. Let me set the scene for you. We (all 3 of us) were in the kitchen this morning, as I was getting my things together to leave for work. Colin was doing his own thing which we've grown to accept pretty much no matter what it might entail, since that means we actually have a free moment to think and/or move. Colin is still in exploration mode and he seems to be growing almost daily, producing a win-win combination for him, since that allows him to explore areas he's never seen or felt before.

One of his favorite things to do in the kitchen is open drawers (and cabinets) and pull out the contents until he finds something that intrigues him. That brings us to my oh-my-gosh-what-do-I-do moment. I had turned by back to put on my coat, Wes was getting his breakfast ready, as I turn around, I see Colin holding....gasp, THE knife. Not just any knife, he had the knife I had previously cut my finger with and had to have stitches knife! And where was he holding it? Not by the handle, but by the blade! Horror of horrors. Somehow I was coherent enough to realize any sudden cry or movement might make him tighten his grip. As calmly as I could, I lunged at him and snatched it away. Now please don't think I'm a totally irresponsible parent and think I leave knives like this in arms reach of my child. No, this knife had a plastic sleeve on it (which he had taken off), it was tucked away up next to the side of the drawer that he had been in multiple times and never so much as touched that area before. Thank goodness for my brilliant husband who told me "we needed to put that thing up" or I don't know what I would have done next! Sorry honey, I know you were just trying to help but what I really needed was someone to pick my heart up off the floor!

I made Wes check Colin's hand for cuts and blood, as I wasn't sure my poor ticker could stand the sight of either at this point. Somehow, we all escaped the event unscathed and Colin was none the wiser as to what had just transpired.

Remind me again why that knife was a good present?

Comfort Recipes, Part 2

Day 2's recipe is for the ultimate comfort food. I had to chuckle a little as I wrote that because my mind immediately went to Tyler Florence when I typed the word “ultimate”. Everything he makes he claims is the ultimate. It drives Wes absolutely nuts and I just think it’s funny to watch him get so agitated! He does have a point though, is it necessary to have the “ultimate grilled cheese” or the “ultimate deviled eggs” – not that he’s showcased either but you get the point. Sorry, I got carried away and need to get back to the ultimate comfort food, Chicken Pot Pie. While I like the dish, it’s not necessarily one of my favorites. Truth be told, the crust is my favorite part and I’ve been known to pick out the veggies and just eat the crust. I searched and searched for the best recipe after Wes ate this all-natural one I had gotten at the Coop and declared it as one of the best he’d ever eaten. No pressure, geesh! I couldn’t find one that suited, so I combined, altered, and eventually came up with my own. I thought it was fantastic but Wes said it needed something, salt or butter he suggested. Admittedly, I don’t use much salt and try to cut back on the butter wherever possible (just not the crust!). So keep that in mind as you’re considering the recipe. The chicken mixture in this dish could stand alone but the crust does add something and makes it more traditional. The filling can be made a day ahead and then reheated before using. By doing that, this dish comes together pretty quick on a weeknight.

Chicken Pot Pie

Filling:

7 T. butter, divided (you'll need 5T. at room temperature)

5T. flour

2 T. olive oil

1/2 cup chopped celery (about 3 stalks)

1/2 cup chopped carrots (about 2 large)

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 large red potato, chopped

3 garlic cloves, chopped

1 cup sliced mushrooms

salt and pepper to taste

dash of red pepper flakes

3 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup half and half

2-3 cups cooked, shredded chicken

1 cup frozen peas

Crust:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, chilled and cut into 16 pieces

1 1/2 cups flour

5 oz cream cheese

1/2 tsp salt

pinch white pepper

To make the filling: Melt 2 T. butter and olive oil in a large saute pan and heat over medium. Add the celery, carrots, potatoes, and onions and cook until slightly brown, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic and mushrooms and cook another 5 minutes. Add the salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer. While that is coming to a simmer, mix remaining 5 T. butter (at room temp) and flour in a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon at a time to filling, whisking after each addition. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until thickened, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in chicken, peas, and half and half. Season with salt and pepper. (The filling can be made a day ahead.)

To make the crust: Preheat oven to 375. In a food processor, pulse the flour and butter until crumbly. Add the salt, white pepper, and cubed cream cheese. Again, continue pulsing until crumbly (the mixture should resemble coarse crumbs). Gradually add water, 1-2T. at a time, just until mixture forms a ball. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and roll out to a 1/4-inch thickness.

To assemble: Divide the filling between 6-8 individual ramekins or other oven-safe cooking bowls. Cut dough to be slightly larger than your dish and top filling with dough rounds. If you want a more golden crust, beat egg in a small bowl and lightly brush the beaten egg on the dough. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden.

Not the best picture but I wanted The filling.

to at least show what the finished

product looked like with the crust.

Comfort Recipes for These Snowy Days, Part 1

I've refrained as of late from posting my weekly menu because of the few recipes failures I had back in December. Well I'm back with a vengeance to deliver several stellar recipes to you. The first, Golden Winter Soup, came to me by way of Cooking Light. I made a few modifications so I'm posting my version below. Although they look quite tasty, I didn't make the croutons that were to adorn the soup. Instead, I wanted something more substantial to make a more complete meal, so I opted for Southern Living's Greek Beef Wraps.

Both recipes were really good and I'd recommend them both. The soup was creamy and rich and perfect for a cold winter's night (take note that it serves 8 comfortably). The wraps were a good accompaniment and provided a little boost of flavor that the meal needed. The only modifications I made were to use a regular onion instead of a red one, I made my own Greek seasoning to avoid purchasing an entire bottle, and used THE best onion flatbread! I had a feeling this recipe would be dependent on the bread exterior and while the filling did carry itself well, I was right. I wish I had taken a picture of the onion flatbread because it was great! The best I can tell you is I got it at Good Foods Coop and it resembles the Indian bread, naan. These were both great reheated the next day too.

Golden Winter Soup

2 T. butter

1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed into 1/2-inch pieces (about 4-5 cups)

4 small Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed into 1/2-inch pieces

pinch of salt and pepper

2 medium leeks, chopped (about 3/4 cup)

4 cups free-range chicken broth (I used a combination of low-sodium and full sodium since I don't usually add salt)

2/3 cup half and half

Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add squash, potatoes, salt and pepper; saute 3 minutes. Add leek; saute 1 minute. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20-30 minutes, or until veggies are fork-tender, stirring occasionally. Place half the soup in a blender (you could use an immersion blender if you have one that works better than mine!). Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape), place towel over opening, and blend until smooth. Pour into a large bowl. Repeat with remaining squash/potato mixture. Add all pureed soup back to Dutch oven and stir in half and half (you do not have to turn the heat back on). Cover to keep warm until you're ready to serve.