Toast Cake

This past weekend I decided to make the Kiddo French toast. I can’t remember the last time I made it, I know it’s been years (probably at least four) so he had no idea what it was I was going to make him eat. He watched me mix the eggs and dump in the milk, he saw me add a bit of sugar and his smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. He watched me add the vanilla and the nutmeg and it grew a bit more (he thinks of those as ‘cake’ ingredients).

I turned on the skillet and he asked if I was making it like toasted cake, I told him yes that when it came off the skillet it would be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I then pulled out the powdered sugar and the butter and the syrup.

The Kiddo loved it! He ate three pieces before he was full, he saved a few for his dad (for when he got home from work). The next morning I started to get out the cereal and the Kiddo demanded the “special cake toast” again. I decided it sounded okay so I made another batch. He gobbled it up as quickly as he had the day before.

He told me that he thinks we need to have the special toast every day for breakfast. I told him we’d get fat and that we better save it for a once a week thing instead. Breads good for you and all but covering it in powdered sugar and dipping it in syrup doesn’t help the healthy factor any.

Theologically* speaking

Is chocolate, chocolate? Does all chocolate taste the same?


I don't mean the obvious, the percent of cocoa to sugar, or the flavorings. If you take two chocolate bars from two different countries with the same cocoa ratio would they taste similar (both use the cocoa bean right?).

What if it was made from a "new" cocoa bean... what then? Would the chocolate taste different?

If I had a little more money I think I'd need to buy some and try it just to see. That and I've never actually tried a chocolate covered cocoa bean before, I wonder if it's anything like a chocolate covered coffee bean?


*Can I even use a religious word to reference a debate on chocolate? I say yes, so I did... but that doesn't help me shake the tiny bit of guilt I have that you word'y people will be shaking your heads at yet another instance of me butchering the language.

Dessert

Yesterday the Kiddo pretty much inhaled his dinner. I don’t normally see him eat that fast and wondered out loud to the Man a couple times about whether maybe he was growing again. After he finished eating dinner he cleared his plate and glass off the table, and stated loudly that he should now get a treat because he ate so well. I told him that was an okay idea, thinking maybe he’d hit the fridge for a candy cane kiss but instead he decided he would like some rainbow sherbet.

He ran to his room and got his step stool, stretched and strained to reach deep enough into the freezer to grab the sherbet container.

Then he got a bowl, a spoon, a serving spoon, and set the microwave timer for 15 minutes (so it could thaw). After that it was serve, put away, and eat. My kid is pretty good I gotta say.

....................

The man and I made him figure out how to do the entire thing by himself. It took him two tries to place the step stool in a spot where he could duck under the freezer door AND reach far enough in to get the sherbet. It also took him a minute to figure out that he could scrape the sherbet off the serving spoon with his eating spoon.

He was pretty proud of himself when he was done :)

Icecream bread?

To of my favorite things combined into one? And it couldn't be easier!!

Get off your butt and go buy some self-rising flour - and a pint of ice cream - because those are the only ingredients for this recipe. (yes, really.)

You can experiment with flavors, I'm thinking I might try a peanut butter cup flavor next...


Ice Cream Bread

1 pint of melted ice cream
1.5 cups of sifted self-rising flour

Butter and flour a standard size loaf pan. Heat your oven to 350ºF. Mix your ingredients until smooth. Pour the batter into the pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes.

That's it. (yes, really!!)

Enjoy! And report back what you think.

Summer Baking

Lately I've been on a baking kick. It's the Man's fault, or more correctly speaking it's his coworker's fault. Several weeks ago he sent the Man home with a giant zucchini. I spent a bit of time trying to figure out what to do with the thing and finally ended up grating it into four 3c containers for bread. I froze three of them, and used the last to bake a couple loaves of honey sweetened, 60% coco chocolate chip, bread.
The good news is that it was really good, and I still have half a loaf left! The bad news is that it started me on a baking kick.

I've had a jar of Almond Butter sitting around that I'd purchased a few months ago on a "health" whim (see almonds are "good nuts" and the fats in them actually tell your body to burn fat, but peanuts aren't so almond butter is healthier for you). Anyway I've had a jar sitting around, it's just not as good as peanut butter on a sandwich, it's great on apples but I don't eat apples all that often so it's just been sitting there not being used. And I thought, as I debated what to bake next, that I really would love some sort of peanut butter brownie...
So I pulled out the brownie pan and made some perfectly amazing brownies, made with Almond butter, whole wheat flour, and coconut.

Then this week I decided that I wanted to use up the last bit of the almond butter. What to do, what to do...
How about some almond butter cookies with a coco chip set into them. The Kiddo helped me with the chips part, and these cookies are SO good. I really hope the Man takes a bunch to work tomorrow or I'm going to end up eating them all!

Breakfast oats

I know that there are a few of you out there that eat oatmeal every now and then (I think my mom does at least once a week if not more often). I've been eating it quite a bit because it's so cheap and easy, and keeps me full till lunch. I eat regular Quaker oats, the non packet kind, because who needs the extra sodium and sugar those little handy packets carry.

Anyway lately I've been reading quite a bit about how steel cut oats are so much better then rolled. I finally went and bought some (because, hey, they are about the same price so why not give them a try). I read the boxes nutrition label and found they are almost identical in nutrient value etc... so why then are they better?











Pretty obviously the picture on the right side is rolled oats. The picture on the left is steel cut.

Old Fashioned Rolled Oats - These are made by steaming the groats and flattening them with a roller. The Quaker Old Fashioned Rolled Oats are very thinly rolled, as are the store varieties by the same title. If you look hard, however, you can often find rolled oats that are twice as thick as the Quaker variety, and these make a lovely, less creamy version of oatmeal than the Quaker ones do. Quaker sets the industry standard, so theirs is considered REGULAR Old Fashioned Rolled Oats. If they are thicker, they are called THICK Old Fashioned Rolled Oats.

Quick-cooking rolled oats -- These are made by flattening pre-cut groats. They cook in about 5 minutes.

Steel Cut Oats or Scottish Oats or Irish Oats- These are groats which have been cut into two or three pieces. Cooking time is considerably longer than for rolled oats.

So here's basically what I figured out. The actual nutrition value of each type of oat is pretty much the same but it's the glycemic index of the oats that's the important part and what makes the steel cut oats the better choice for breakfast.

See here's the thing... the important part with food is how much is done to it to break down the cell structure before you get it and eat it. One way this can be done is by cooking the food item. The longer the cooking time, the greater the breakdown of the cell walls, and the faster that food can enter your blood stream and the faster your body will react to it by producing insulin to break down the carbohydrates (sugars) into simple, readily usable forms.

We want the happy medium, ... breaking down the starches just enough to make them tasty and easy to digest, but not so long that they become unfavorable, i.e. high on the glycemic index. The less you break down your foods, the less the glycemic reaction will be, the more stable your blood sugar will remain, the longer you'll stay "full" and the fewer cravings you will have.

So, when they steam and toast rolled oats they are actually raising the glycemic index and so that type of oat raises your blood sugar faster then steel cut.

And there you go, the long story of why I am going to eat steel cut for a few weeks. It's my own personal experiment on breakfast food. I mixed in a handful of raisins, and a tablespoon of peanut butter. It was the yummiest thing I've had for breakfast in awhile and here it is several hours later and I'm still comfortably full. Things are looking good :)


*They take forever to cook BUT if you soak them overnight they cook as quickly as rolled oats do:

Soak 1/2 cup oats and 2 cups milk (or water) overnight, covered, in med-sized bowl. Transfer to medium saucepan, add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp cinnamon and cook on stovetop over med-high heat to bring to a boil. Lower heat and maintain a gentle simmer and cook, uncovered, stirring frequently until oats are softened and most of liquid is absorbed and becomes thick, about 10 minutes. Either serve right away or...the leftovers can be transferred to a resealable container, cooled and covered and stored in the fridge for up to a week reheated as needed. Superduper yummy!!

A weekend with raw Broccoli

It's been a frustrating and relaxing and delicious last few days.

We spent most of Saturday bouncing around all the pounds that were open seeing if we could find a dog that would meet all our requirements. We made it to three pounds and two pet stores (where they had rescue adoption days going on). We found ONE dog that might have worked, a boxer shepherd mix. She was a year old, about 30lbs, brindle with white feet, and the perfect size for him. We took her for a walk around the store, cuddled her and let her and the kiddo walk together too. She loved having loves and giving them, she paid attention to the kiddo and us equally. The ONLY problem with her was she was super timid, and that worried us. We weren't sure what her temperament would be if and when she got over that and so we didn't adopt her. The kiddo kept asking me when we are going to go back to petsmart to get his dog. He really liked her. I explained that she was just a little to shy for us so we let her find a different family to live with and that we'd keep looking. He was a little disappointed but moved on. Fortunately he is so easy going that he can want something without having to have it. So even though he liked her a lot he is looking forward to getting to go look again.

Saturday night the Man took us to dinner to celebrate Mothers day. We went to Sweet Tomatoes and I had the most AMAZING broccoli salad. I haven't ever really liked raw broccoli so I wasn't sure I was going to like the salad but I served myself about half a cup worth anyway. It was so super yummy!! I googled it and found the recipe online, I figure I can tweak it a little bit using truvia instead of actual sugar (and craisens instead of raisens) and drop the calories per serving about 100 points! I highly suggest you guys try this, SO good. And when you do try it, pop me a note and let me know what you thought about it!

Joans Broccoli Madness

Sunday I slept till 9, then came into the living room to find the Man and the Kiddo chatting on the couch. The Kiddo dragged me to the table to show me my "surprise" which was two new frying pans (which I really needed!). Then we all got dressed and the Man took me to an amazing little restaurant. I had a roast beef, mushroom, cheese omelet and it was so big I almost exploded trying to finish it.

All in all it was a really nice weekend. Little disappointed about the dog, but then if we do end up getting one for the Kiddo it has to be one that will work for him and our situation so I've accepted the fact that it could take awhile to do.

food for thought

Fast food is good. Well some of it is. Of course good doesn't always mean good for you, in fact it seems like it very rarely does. Lately the more I try to learn about "healthy" eating the the more I'm hearing how carbs are bad. Which is sad because I really love bread, and pasta!! And breaded chicken tastes quite a bit better then a slab of baked dry meat...

Speaking of... I recently came across the KFC Double Down which has a fairy average (for fast food) 540 calories and 32 fat grams. (to give you an idea the Big Mac, has 540 calories, and 29 fat grams). Of course the healthy eating nuts of the world are up in arms about it because it's so terrible for you (um relook at those numbers I typed... ...).

Is it bad that my first thought was "mmm that looks kinda good!"

If you're reading this...

As I'm typing this I'm drinking my morning coffee. It could just as easily have been tea... the reason I mention drinking anything is because I"m thinking, for the hundreth time, how I desperatly need a insulated mug. It's so cold lately that my coffee cools down way quicker then I actually want to drink it. So, if you're reading this mister Man, take a note and go buy me one ;)

Several months ago I posted about bacon in a can. Today I get their product email and find they now have Bacon Flavored POPCORN. How good does THAT sound!! Every time I go to the grocery store lately I try to remember to pick up a box of popcorn, then I usually end up skipping it or forgetting it. Recently I told the Man that I really need an air popper so that the Kiddo and I can snack on healthier popcorn. The fact that they make bacon flavored stuff in the microwave bag makes me want to reconsider that idea. mmmmmmm

mmm chocolate!

Chocolate pots? She is a tiny bit annoying but these look soooo good I had to share. I'm thinking at least a couple of you will want to make these (mama? *grin*).



I watched it a couple times and jotted down the recipe.

Chocolate pots
(makes 4 ramekins worth)

Ingredients:

3/4 c semi sweet chocolate chips 1 stick plus a bit of unsalted butter

2 eggs 3/4 cup sugar 3 Tbs flour

Melt chocolate and butter, set aside to cool. Mix eggs and sugar, then add flour. Gently fold in chocolate. Poor into buttered ramekins. Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes.

Done when top is cracked but inside is goey.

A bit of spicy

I have found yet another recipe made with chicken that the Man will eat!! I really think a couple of you will like this one too, it is SO easy to make and would be good with chicken or turkey.

I'll admit that it really doesn't look like much but it's very good.

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Kings Ranch, Chicken
(serves 4-6)

In a small bowl take 3 cups leftover cold shredded or cubed roast chicken (if you don't have leftovers then buy a couple roasted chicken pieces from the grocery deli), toss with a tablespoon or two of lime juice or chicken broth from cooking to moisten. Let sit at room temperature for a few minutes while you mix the rest.

In large bowl mix:
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
3/4 cup El Pinto Chipotle Salsa, mild, medium or hot, your choice (this has a great flavor).
3/4 cup sour cream
1 dash red pepper flakes (leave out if you like your food wimpy)
1 tablespoon Penzey's Chili 9000 chili powder (this stuff is the best)
2 cups tomatoes with green chili, with any liquid drained off

Tear or cut into 1 inch pieces:
12 corn tortillas (6-inch)

Measure out:
1 generous cup shredded Cheddar/Colby Jack cheese (about 4-5 ounces)

Place half the tortillas in a 2 quart casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray or VERY lightly greased. Stir chicken into soup mixture. Top the tortillas in the casserole with half of the soup/chicken mixture. Repeat layers, sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350F for 35-40 minutes, until hot and bubbly (if cheese starts to overbrown, cover with foil the last 10 minutes).

Top with additional sour cream if you like. Serve with veggies and cornbread. Stand back.

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*note that it's really spicy, I actually prefer the taste of the salsa more then the chili powder so the next time I make it I'll cut back a little on the chili powder and the red pepper flakes.

*Also I want to layer a bit of cheese with that second layer of chicken mixture. The original recipe doesn't say to do that but I like cheese. Keep an eye on it, the cheese browns a little to quickly... it's best when it's gooey and stringy.

Appitizing...

I've got a new recipe for y'all. You know how I like bacon!

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

1/2 lb bacon cut in half
1 (8 oz) can water chestnuts
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Wrap 1/2 strip of bacon around each water chestnut and secure with toothpick. Combine ketchup and sugar in a small bowl and mix together; dip each wrapped water chestnut into this mixture.
3. Place water chestnuts in a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking dish and bake covered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until bacon is crisp.

chicken

The Man usually doesn't like chicken. So, just because I'm lazy, I don't generally make it. But the Kiddo likes chicken and so do I (if it's done right) so I've decided to start making a few things and seeing if the Man will eat them.

Last night I tried my hand at Stuffed Chicken with Sundried Tomatoes. It was YUM, the Kiddo AND the Man liked it so it's staying in the recipe book. I think a few of you will like it too.

Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Serves 6

8	ounces cream cheese , softened
4	ounces goat cheese , softened
1	cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes , drained, patted dry, and minced
2	teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
1	clove garlic , minced
6	boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6 to 8 ounces each), trimmed
3/4	cup mayonnaise
2	tablespoons Dijon mustard
2	teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3	cups fresh bread crumbs
	Lemon wedges (for serving)

1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 425 degrees. Stir the cream cheese, goat cheese, tomatoes, thyme, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper together until smooth.

2. Pound the chicken to an even 1/4-inch thickness. Pat dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper. Mound 1/4 cup of the cream cheese filling at the wider end of the chicken, form the cheese into a log, and then roll the chicken up. (You will have some leftover filling.)

3. Arrange the chicken rolls, seam-side down, about 1/2 inch apart in a 9 by 13-inch baking dish coated lightly with vegetable oil spray.

4. Mix any remaining cream cheese filling with the mayonnaise, mustard, and lemon juice, then brush the mixture over the tops and sides of the chicken. Toss the breadcrumbs with the butter, then press onto the tops and sides of the chicken rolls.

5. Bake until the breadcrumbs are golden and the very center of the chicken rolls registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about 30 minutes. Serve with the lemon wedges.

Bacon??

I posted awhile back a link to some really kick butt pixie sticks.

Today, via the same website, I bring you Tac Bac - Tactical Canned Bacon!!

I don't think I have to say anything else really.... mmmmmmm bacon *wistful sigh*

Monday Monday Monday...

I'm actually almost ready for today. Generally Mondays don't mean much different then any other day of the week but since I've started working it is now my first day back at work. I'm hoping at some point I'll get used to the idea and stop feeling stressed all day till it's time to go.

Over the weekend we went to out little nieces birthday party. She turns six this Wednesday and had her party the weekend before so that the Man could go. We all had a good time, the Kiddo most of all, and ate some really good food. I have now have a new recipe to try for chili verde and can't wait to make it. When I do I'll be sure to post it for you all to try.

Till then how about a good, easy, inexpensive recipe

Taco Soup.

1 can kidney beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can tomato sauce
14 oz tomato juice (or chunked tomatoes)
1 can corn
1 packet taco seasoning
1 cup water
1 lb hamburger
spice (salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic, and chalula are what I use)

Throw all the canned beans, tomatoes, corn, into a crock pot and set it on medium. Brown your meat, simmer with the taco seasoning, then chuck that in the pot too. Add spices to taste and let simmer for at least 4 hours. Serve in bowls with shredded cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips.

Roast Beef...

Roast beef is pretty darn good I must admit, so when I get an excuse to go eat at Arbys I take it! The excuses don't happen often, eating out (even fast food) tends to be more expensive (and fattening) then it's worth.

As most of you know I flew back to Utah on Monday evening and since the Man worked in the early early AM on Tuesday we went ahead and ate Arbys for dinner (fast and easy to get him to bed quicker). Their menu was all sorts of different from the last time I went. The sign said that they have burgers??!! Well more specifically they have roast burgers, and if you watch tv then you guys probably all knew about them already.

The whole point of my rambling being that there is a cupon out there for a free Roastburger with a purchase of a drink. mmm I haven't tried it here in UT yet, but I know Lady D used it down in AZ and ended up with a 1.25 burger and drink lunch.

Free Arbys Roastburger

Oink... Oink..

I can't believe I missed this, apparently it's been out there for a month and I'm only JUST reading about it!! If I was a braver person (with a bit more disposable income to use on food) I'd SO try this... That's two pounds of bacon and two pounds of sausage... I can feel my arteries clogging up just looking at the picture!

Bacon Explosion

Cowboy Chili

I've been trying a few new recipes of late. I'm trying to expand my cooking repertoire while making things that don't involve a bunch of expensive ingredients. My favorite new recipe is one for some really amazing chili. It's quick to make and 90% of the ingredients are pantry food so can be kept on hand till a good chili days rolls around. Chili with a kick plus a sweet cornbread baked on top, quick, easy and delish!

*for those that want it I put the recipe in comments

I can share... ... ...

So since I know some of you don't think I shared the yummy goey fabulous teddy bears... here's proof!! And I'll even go one step further (because the Man will probably accuse me of taking it from him and eating it myself after I took the picture)...

I didn't even make him do any silly tricks to earn it, I just gave it to him!! That should be good karma for like a year I'm thinking. Yep I'm in the green zone now for sure.

oh YUM!

When the Man messaged me yesterday to ask if I had ever heard of chocolate covered cinnamon bears the first thought was Nuh UH!! Second thought was oooh yummy, I bet those are good he dang well better bring me home one to try. So he swindled his grasshopper out of the second half of her bag of them. I'm not sure how he did it, I think he did the whole hypnosis thing "you are getting very tired of sweet sugary teddy bears, you want to give sweet sugary teddy bear yummyness to me"... ... Either way I got to try it (thanks girl!! I owe you one.)