Awesome News!!

I took Seneca to the arcade last night and she won 500 TICKETS!!! What did she win??? The Nobel Peace Prize.

Let's Share A Secret!

Breading breading breading, more often than not, everyone has their own type of breading that they prefer. That standard personalized seasoned breading that nobody can steer us away from. Rock on! Here’s an idea to get you and your breading a little closer together and recycle!

So. You love your breading, can’t get enough of it, right? Every recipe that tells you how to make a breading you scoff, for you and you alone have the perfect seasoned breading.

But there’s a problem. Waste! You go through all that effort to make it just right every time (without the aid of a recipe, because, again, you made it up) and invariably you end up throwing some away, or not having enough, and the whole thing gets very frustrating. Halfway through breading pork chops, your hands are coated and sticky, there are four chops left, and the breading is gone . . . Don’t order pizza!!!

I have a solution!

Have you ever bought the cardboard flavored powdered parmesan cheese? Yeah, that one with the neat little dual speed top? Did you throw it away when it was empty? Do you get where I’m going with this . . .

The next time you have an empty container of parmesan cheese, don’t throw it away. Simply wash it out! Make a batch of your breading, and store it in the revamped parmesan container. You can even decorate it, if you’re feeling saucy. Go nuts with it! Save two or three of those handy little buggers and make a different flavored breading for each. Whenever a recipe calls for any type of breading, measure an equal part of yours and go to town.

You’ll thank me later (hopefully in the form of large stacks of non-sequential 20 dollar bills).

Recipe Rescue #4

I am on a mission to sort through the veritable stock pile of recipes that occupies a drawer in my buffet. As I sort through the mess and convert them all to a nice and neat templated database I will take a select few and post them here. Wasting no time let's keep moving forward . . .

Sweet Potato Casserole 350° 20 minutes + 10
This is, quite possibly, the best Thanksgiving side dish known in the galaxy.

4 sweet potatoes
1 stick butter
1 egg
1/2 tsp. baking powder
6 oz. buttermilk
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
bag mini marshmallows

Cook potatoes in oven or microwave, peel and place into large mixing bowl. Add all with the exception of marshmallows. Mix thoroughly and add to an attractive 13x9 baking dish. Bake for the first 20 minutes, then cover casserole with the marshmallows and bake for the final 10 minutes.
**reduce the fat** Yeah, right.

Recipe Rescue #3

I am on a mission to sort through the veritable stock pile of recipes that occupies a drawer in my buffet. As I sort through the mess and convert them all to a nice and neat templated database I will take a select few and post them here. Wasting no time let's sally forth . . .

"Leeky" Potato Soup

If you have never worked with leeks before, I'm telling you now, wash those suckers very well.

6 potatoes diced and peeled
2 onions chopped
1 stalk celery
1 carrot sliced
1 leek diced
4 cups water
4 chicken bullion cubes
1 bag bacon pieces
1 can (13 oz) evaporated milk
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter
pepper to taste
chopped chives
finely chopped parsley

Crock pot - Add all ingredients (with the exception of the evaporated milk and chives) to a crock pot. Cook on low 10-12 hours, on high 3-4 hours. In the final hour of cooking, add evaporated milk. Serve, top with chives.
Stove top - Add all ingredients (with the exception of the evaporated milk and chives) to a stock pot. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer until vegetables are soft. Add evaporated milk and simmer additional 5-10 minutes. Serve, top with chives.
**assorted substitutions** replace carrot with baby carrots, replace water and bullion with reduced fat/low sodium chicken broth.

Recipe Rescue #2

I am on a mission to sort through the veritable stock pile of recipes that occupies a drawer in my buffet. As I sort through the mess and convert them all to a nice and neat templated database I will take a select few and post them here. Wasting no time let's continue . . .

Garlic and Creamy Three Cheese Dip 350° 20 minutes

2 tbsp. minced garlic
2 packages cream cheese softened
2 cups grated asiago cheese
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

In a mixer or processor, blend cream cheese, asiago cheese, heavy cream, sour cream and parsley. Pour into an attractive baking dish (as this will be your serving dish as well) and top with mozzarella. Bake as directed. Dip should be bubbly, top should be golden brown. Serve hot with garlic toast, crackers or a nice firm bread (crusty Italian).
**fat reduction** substitute neufchatel cheese for cream cheese, low/no fat sour cream, reduced fat mozzarella cheese

Recipe Rescue #1

I am on a mission to sort through the veritable stock pile of recipes that occupies a drawer in my buffet. As I sort through the mess and convert them all to a nice and neat templated database I will take a select few and post them here. Wasting no time let's get started with my first selection . . .

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

1 head each broccoli and cauliflower
1 medium chopped onion
1 bag bacon pieces
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp. white vinegar
1 bag shredded cheddar cheese

In a large bowl, break up broccoli and cauliflower into small florets, discard stem. Add to broccoli and cauliflower - onion, bacon pieces and cheese. Combine sugar, mayonnaise and vinegar, pour over other ingredients. Chill and serve.
**time saver** broccoli and cauliflower florets are sold together by the bagged salads in the produce dept.**
**fat reducer** low/no fat mayonnaise, reduced fat cheese

Time Out, Injury on the Field.

I psycho cleaned the front bathroom.

Up side.
It looks beautiful.
Down side.
I injured my back, once again, and can not walk much.
I am a stay at home mom with a 7 year old, 2 year old, and 2 month old.


Today is a reading day.






Ow.