Another Update----Books

Well I decided at that beginning of the year that I wanted to read more, with not working I thought I should have plenty of time, so I pledged to read 50 books in 2009. This is why the book list has shown up on the side of my page. Reading more has proven true. With Kevin working nights I find myself engrossed in books. My new love is Fern Michaels. Everyone of her books have grabbed me and they just make me want to keep reading more and more. I just went back to one of my fave authors Jennifer Crusie. I really love her writing and her subjects. So that's what I have been up to. Plus I finally figured out how to get on the computer at Starbucks so I'm good to start posting more. So in the days, well maybe weeks to come I will be posting more! In the meantime I am working on a cake for my BFF's Dad's Birthday for tomorrow and then my sister-in-laws wedding cake next week. So I'll have lots of cake updates and maybe some old recipes I have made that I need to post! I hope everyone is well!

xoxoxo
Crystal

I'm still alive!

Okay not having a computer at home has really cut into my posting on here. Plus Kevin changing jobs and now working nights makes it harder to make meals. I haven't quite gotten the hang of cooking a big meal at noon. Hopefully I will catch on soon! I am working like crazy trying to get cakes done for my sister-in-laws wedding and bridal shower, so I will have those posts soon! Until then I just wanted everyone to know that I am still kickin' stop by soon for new posts!

Ina's Granola

We started making this granola last year around Mother's Day and my mom got on a kick and started making it like crazy in the last couple of months. I made a double batch to give some to my best friends when I saw them last week. It is really good, really fast and easy and such a great treat for your friends and family! Ina's original recipe is 3 times this so this has been divided down for a smaller portion!

1 cup oats
1/2 cup nuts (we use almonds or pecans, you could use anything)
1/2 cup coconut (we use just the sweetened stuff in the bag!)
3 Tbl vegetable oil
2 Tbl Honey
1/4 cup dried cranberries, cherries, really any dried fruit you like

Combine all ingredients and spread on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake on 350 for 15-20 minutes until everything is nice and golden, you may want to fluff everything halfway through to make sure it all gets golden!

Ina's Peanut Butter Frosting

This frosting is so fluffy and good. I am really excited to make a nice fluffy chocolate cake and put it on it, my hubby would really love that!


Kathleen's Peanut Butter Icing from Ina Garten

1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup heavy cream
Place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.

My hubby's breakfast treats

My mother-in-law makes these for my hubby every time we go down to visit them. I finally decided to start making them and I'm glad I did as this gets my hubby to eat breakfast everyday so I will continue making them.

1 package smoked sausage
1 container refrigerator biscuits (any kind will work)

If your container of biscuits have 10 in them then cut your smoked sausage into 10 pieces (same for if they have 8, do 8. etc). Smash a biscuit in the palm of your hand into an oval shape. Place a slice of sausage into the top of the biscuit and roll up. You can totally enclose the sausage or leave some open. You can also place some cheese into the middle as well. I usually take a slice of American cheese and fold into thirds and place a third in each biscuit.
Bake at 375 for about 13-15 minutes until nice and golden brown!

My mom's banana bread!

I have no idea where my mom got this recipe as it's the one she's made forever! It is so good especially made into muffins with some mini-chocolate chips added!

1 cup sugar
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2-3 med)
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 Tbl oil
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 cup nuts (I use pecans, but walnuts would be good)
2 1/2 cups flour

Grease and flour 9x5x3 in loaf pan (or muffin cups). Measure all ingredients into large bowl, beat on med speed 1/2 minute, scraping sides and bottom of bowl constantly. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350 55-65 mins for loaf about 18 mins for muffins, until wooden pick comes out clean. Remove from pan, cool before slicing.

My sister-in-laws wedding cake

I have been making wedding cakes for 2 years now and am needing to post all of them. I will post the newest one now since I have the picture with me. It's for my sister-in-laws April wedding. She has asked me to make the cake and I am very excited to do it for them! I made a mock one so she could see what I was thinking of doing with her vision! This is how it turned out!

Goat Cheese Chicken

This is another recipe brought about due to me having some goat cheese on hand. We absolutely love goat cheese and I thought what could be better than combining it with chicken!
1/4 of a log of soft goat cheese
3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded to 1/8"
3 Tbl marinara sauce (again I use Prego)
1/3 cup italian bread crumbs
1/3 cup parmesan cheese

Combine bread crumbs and parmesan cheese together in a shallow dish. Spread enough goat cheese to cover the chicken and then place 1 tbl of the marinara on each chicken breast. Roll the chicken up. Coat in the parmesan cheese/bread crumb mixture. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 400 for about 20 mins (I use a meat thermometer so I'm not sure on cooking time).

The BEST Appetizer EVER

Me and my mom once went to Carraba's Italian Restaurant and had the most wonderful appetizer that they call Scotty Thompson. I had a log of goat cheese that I was wanting to make for dinner and that's how these next two came about!

1 log of soft goat cheese
1/2-1 cup of marinara sauce (I used Prego)
6 slices Texas Toast
1 stick butter
1 tbl garlic powder

Heat oven to 400. Place log of goat cheese in pan sprayed with Pam. Cover cheese with marinara sauce. Bake for about 20 minutes until it's nice and melted. Meanwhile melt butter in microwave dish (I use a glass measuring cup) and then stir in the garlic powder. Place Texas Toast slices on a baking sheet. Cut off crusts and then spread the butter mixture over both sides. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Serve the toasts along side the goat cheese mixture. YUM!

Weekly Menu 2/1-2/6

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. We got rid of our internet at home so I have to come to my parents or go to the library in order to use their computers. I forgot my camera today so I can't do any blog updates. But I will do the Weekly Menu and promise Goat Cheese Marinara Chicken, Blondies, Banana Nut Chocolate Chip Muffins and maybe Oatmeal Raisin Cookies along with the trial wedding cake for my sister-in-law and anything I make this week!

Hamburgers with homemade fries
Brats with homemade fries
Chicken parmesan with pasta
Steak (not sure sides but probably roasted asparagus)
Turkey panini's (may make my pumpkin soup with these)
Pizza Friday, may do pizza bake

Weekly Menu 1/18-1/23

Sunday: Chicken and Corn Chowder (My Kitchen Cafe)
Monday: Smothered Pork Chops, steamed green beans and new potatoes (Taste of Home)
Tuesday: Chicken, mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus (Taste of Home)
Wednesday: Parker's Beef Stew (Barefoot Contessa)
Thursday: Mac-n-cheese with hot dogs (out of the blue box, it's our cheap night)
Friday-Sunday: We will be at Kevin's parent's for our nephews birthday party!

Bourbon Chicken

This is another recipe (and picture) that I stole off My Kitchen Cafe She is quickly becoming my favorite blogger!
Bourbon Chicken
adapted from Blog Chef as seen on My Kitchen Cafe

Ingredients:
2lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 tablespoons oil (for pan-frying)
cornstarch (for dusting, optional)

Sauce:
1 garlic clove (minced)
¼ teaspoon ginger (I used ground ginger)
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
¼ cup apple juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
½ cup water
1/3 cup soy sauce

Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, and if you choose lightly dust with cornstarch. Heat oil in your wok and fry chicken bits in batches until lightly browned. Drain on paper towels and set aside.

In a bowl combine all sauce ingredients. Pour into wok and bring to a boil. Add chicken bits back to the pan, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Weekly Menu 1/10-1/16

Tonight: Eating with my parents, DH ate with his after cutting wood

Tomorrow: lunch-Leftover pizza from Friday night dinner-Bourbon Chicken with Rice (from MyKitchenCafe) ***Had the pizza for dinner as we snacked on other things all day***

Monday: Chicken and Corn Chowder (MyKitchenCafe) ***Had the Bourbon Chicken***

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Italian Beef (again MyKitchenCafe) ***Breakfast for dinner since dinner club was cancelled on Wed and I wanted the crockpot meal for Wed***

Wednesday: Girl's Dinner Club (at my BFF's house) ***Slow Cooker Italian Beef***

Thursday: Beef and noodles with l/o beef from Tues. ***I did actually make this***

Friday: Pizza Friday, may do pepperoni and cheese bread again ***Yep we had pepperoni and cheese bread, man that stuff is good!***

Orange Chicken

I had this on my "to make" list for awhile and couldn't hardly wait any longer. You see I LOVE anything Chinese and thought this was a great alternative to the fried yumminess that is the usual Chinese food. This recipe did not disappoint! It came from another of my fave blogs: MyKitchenCafe, I love her stuff!

Orange Chicken
adapted from Blog Chef as seen on MyKitchenCafe

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2" cubes
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons oil or butter

1 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon finely minced ginger
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons green onion
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup water

Heat oven to 350. In a shallow dish combine the flour, garlic powder and pepper. Dip each piece of chicken in flour mixture and coat evenly.

Pour oil (or melt butter and pour) in a shallow baking dish, large enough to accommodate chicken in a single layer. Arrange chicken in pan and bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan combine water, fresh orange juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, orange zest and whisk over medium heat for a few minutes. Then stir in brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and green onion and let it come to a boil. Combine cornstarch with water and let it dissolve and add it to the sauce until thickened.

After chicken has baked the 30 minutes, turn each piece over and pour 1/2 sauce mixture evenly over chicken. Bake another 30 to 40 minutes basting frequently.

Serve chicken over rice with extra sauce on the side.

Cheesy, beefy, rice and bean enchiladas

This recipe has some inspiration from one of my favorite blogs, Amber's Delectable Delights. She has 2 enchilada recipes on her blog and it reminded me that I should make some this week!

Crystal's Cheesy, Beefy, Rice and Bean Enchiladas

1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground turkey
Taco Seasoning packet
1 jar taco sauce
1 can black beans
enough white rice (I used Minute Rice) for 2 servings, already made
4 oz cream cheese
2 cups Mexi-Blend Cheese
6-8 flour tortillas

Brown ground beef and turkey together in skillet over medium heat. Drain. Return to skillet. Stir in packet of Taco Seasoning and make according to directions. Stir in 4oz of cream cheese and let melt.

Pour enough taco sauce in 9x13 pan to cover bottom. Drain and rinse black beans. In assembly formation take one tortilla and place it in the palm of your hand. Now place a scoop of ground meat in tortilla, then a spoon of beans and a spoon of rice in tortilla, top with shredded cheese, roll up and place seam side down in pan on top of sauce. Continuing rolling all enchiladas with meat, rice and beans. Cover with taco sauce and remaining cheese.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes until cheese is melted and browned.