Month 6, Day 9

Today I just felt like baking. Vacation Bible School starts in just a few short days and each adult is supposed to provide three dozen cookies on a day we picked. I always always always forget to bring stuff when asked. Never fails. Except for this time. I was talking to my sister about VBS when she mention how tired she was of the standard store bought fair we get every year. 

I suddenly realized how right she was and determined in my heart to be the change I wanted to see. 

So after a nap I sat down at my computer and searched Pinterest / Google for the perfect Chickfila-esk chunk recipe. 

Or may I did that first and ten took a nap. I'm not sure. Anyways both of those happened and I soon found myself taking inventory of my supplies and going too seek more. 

Fast forward a couple of hours and trip through Walmart a batch of cream chese pineapple dip whipped and a pause to clean patio furniture for the snack area, I had my ingredients and was ready to make my cookies. 

I think we've all made homemade cookies a time or two, but this recipe was so specific on how things should be I just knew these cookies would be awesome. 

And they were. I think I'll tweak the recipe a bit and add more chocolate and some oatmeal but other that it. They were delicious. 

Happy sigh. 

Weekly Recap

This [Past] Week Categorized: 

Good

1. Making plans to see Rei and her partner this summer!! 
2. Finishing the first week of the Couch to 5K plan 
3. Trying new recipes 
4. Finding out two friends are expecting babies :) 
5. Meeting the cutest beagle mix puppy ever
6. Planning and making dinner/snacks ahead for the coming week 
7. Trips to the Library 

Bad 

1. Starting a fire in my stove
2. Finding a dead bird in my bedroom 
3. Finding out I may need to get screened/assessed for dyslexia 
4. Staying up 'till 4AM and subsequently being late for church
5. Finding out I need to update my car's registration $60 !! >:-(

Ugly 

1. PMS
2. Cutting myself with a butter knife
3. Watching my dachshund eat a baby-rabbit 

At the very least the good out weighed the bad right? :)

Adventures in the Kitchen v. 3.19.12

I think we have established by now, that I am a picky eater. However, there is one food I will consume, every day, all day if I could... and that would be pizza. Not that home-made, thin, crunchy stuff, but think crusted, cheesy, deep dish type pizzas.(Pizza Hut anyon)  So when in search of something new to try, it was a no brainer that the Pizza Loaf was going to be at the top of my list.

This was a really simple recipe, and fun too. Prep time takes about fifteen minutes, and the loaf is fully baked in about thirty. I was really pleased with the result, and its definitely going to be a regular menu item in my house.

I made three batches, the first I used the whole pound loaf called for in the recipe. The second time I divided the pound loaf into smaller sections, and made two smaller loafs, which made easier storing. I will be freezing at least one, to see how it does. I ate some of the first loaf for dinner, and it tastes just as good re-warmed as it did fresh.
 
Things the recipe won't tell you:

• This recipe calls for frozen bread down, and while it says not to let it rise, if it rises in the refrigerator, its no biggie. 
• I don't know what kind of frozen bread dough was used in the original recipe, but mine doubled while in the oven. I don't know why I didn't think of that before, but your nice jelly roll, won't stay so nice after it gets out of the oven. I don't know exactly how to fix that, but it tastes good.
• The original recipe does not have you add pizza sauce to your creation, for good reason. But I  am (sometimes) the type of person who has to find it out for myself, so I did, and I did. Go with the original version. It doesn't taste bad, but it is soggier.
• If you make smaller loafs, don't put them as close together as I did!! The middle won't cook as fast! Blegh! 

Mini Pizza Loafs Fresh from the Oven. 

Pizza Loaf

• Prep: 20 min. Bake: 35 min.
• Yield: 10-12 Servings

203555

Ingredients

• 1 loaf (1 pound) frozen bread dough, thawed
• 2 eggs, separated
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 8 ounces sliced pepperoni
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup pickled pepper rings
• 1 medium green pepper, diced
• 1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives
• 1 can (15 ounces) pizza sauce

Directions

• On a greased baking sheet, roll out dough into a 15-in. x 10-in. rectangle. In a small bowl, combine the egg yolks, Parmesan cheese, oil, parsley, oregano, garlic powder and pepper. Brush over the dough.
• Sprinkle with the pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, pepper rings, green pepper and olives. Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal and tuck ends under.
• Place seam side down; brush with egg whites. Do not let rise. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Warm the pizza sauce; serve with sliced loaf. Yield: 10-12 slices.

Originally published as Pizza Loaf in Quick Cooking September/October 2003, p28

 

Don't forget! My URL is changing in 1 days!
www.mynameis-erin.blogspot.com

Adventures in the Kitchen V.3

There are days when I just in the mood to cook. 
As a college student, I never really had time to do a lot of cooking; so when I did it was always a drudgry because I was tired, exhausted and had a million other things to do, besides eating. 


Enter Pinterest.


The combination of Pinterest + lots of random time on my hands, I have found out that cooking can be very enjoyable when you aren't stressed! Who knew!


My latest creation, can't really be called cooking I suppose, but it was enjoyable none-the less. 


This tale starts a couple of weeks ago, really. I was at my friend's house and was afford some homemade hot chocolate mix. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was the best hot chocolate from a mix, that I'd had in a long while. 


"I need this recipe" says I. 


And she, nicely directed me to "A" website with a simple looking hot chocolate mix recipe. What she failed to tell me, was that SHE didn't make the mix, nor was the website she sent me too, anything like what they had served. 


So I'm happily measuring this and that, heating water, eagerly anticipating my first cup of hot cocoa. 


I was a bit concerned, that the recipe only called from a 1/2 cup of hot chocolate mix, while you loaded up on powdered sugar, creamer and dry milk.. but no matter, this is what it says to do! Far be it from me to say any different. 


The water was boiling at this point, so I pour a mug, generously supplied helped myself to four big scoops of mix. 


My first sip was... nasty.


I stirred some more, let it cool, and went back to review the comments left on the website. 


Another sip, still tastes like dry milk with some chocolate powder. 


I went back, dumped half the container of hot chocolaty mix into my bowl, and tried again.


My disappointment knew no bounds. 


6 cups of waste. 


Was there any way to salvage this at all? 


There was.


Several google searches later, I came across another recipe, that had you add a package of instant chocolate pudding, along with unsweetened cocoa to the mix. 


I knew what I had to do. The next day, David and I headed to Kroger to pick up the ingredients that may just save this mixes life. 


IT DID! 


The stuff is officially AMAZING. Add some whipped cream? Its heaven I tell you. 




Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix [as Modified by yours truly]

2 cups powdered milk

1 (3 ounce) package chocolate pudding mix (use regular not instant) [Erin Notes: Instant works just fine]

1/2 cup powdered instant chocolate drink mix (such as Nestle Nesquick)

1/2 cup french vanilla non-dairy coffee creamer

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup sifted unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions: Mix Well! :) 

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/creamy-hot-chocolate-mix-in-a-jar-for-gift-giving-191970#ixzz1nn3RkGvt

From Twitter 04-07-2011

Words of Wisdom for the Day:

• Mann! Why is after 12am already!? waaah.
• Off to botch another test!! #optimism
  
• Going to attempt burgers for dinner tonight. Its like one of the few things I can't make right it seems.
  
• I think I've found the secret to great burgers....not using ground beef!!
  
• Scrubbed my kitchen from top to bottom. Still have a chapter of math to study. not to mention my bathroom to clean, clothes to fold...#tired

Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

First Snow

I'm skipping today's #Reverb10 prompt, cause it was just like, I ....I can't even explain the confusion I felt when reading it. Inteeways....the weather announcements started around Thursday afternoon, a huge storm system was supposed to go through our fair city over the weekend. Snow, rain, sleet the whole nine yards. All the locals were skeptical, after all the most snow scene around here is about 0.5 inches. Skepticism rose to a whole new level when Saturday morning dawned bright and 50 degrees. 


And it wasn't until 11PM that the rain started. Cold, bitter rain. I began to become optimistic that we'd have snow by the morning. My disappointment was great when I  stuck my head out into a cold, gray day. 
However, by the time church was out the flurries were coming down hard and fast, much to Pompei's delight, and the dachshunds horror. By the time, we were getting ready for the evening service, the roads were getting slick, and icy.


Now most northerners who move down here, are always laughing at the locals and how quickly the town shuts down when the snow starts falling, however, they don't realize that those huge...shall we say "ditches" or drop offs, the mountainously steep roads, are a like riding the roller coaster of death, on a thin sheet of ice. Four wheel drive or no. I've attempted to drive them. Believe me, its not an experiance I want little children and busses going through.


So what do I do on a Sunday evening, with no church and lots of snow coming down?? Well after I freeze my nose off, letting the dogs play in the yard....

I organize my closet!!!!!!! I know, I know try not to be jealous. It had to be done, I needed to get to my clothes.

Have you ever washed your entire closet all at once? 

Like, take every.single.piece of clothing out of your closet and wash it?

No?

You probably should do it every so often. #justsayin

ANyway, so I'd done that last month, for a reason,that I'm not going to tell you right now, and spent sometime sorting through, bagging up the clothes I haven't worn in like...since I bought them, and let my sisters go through them. #werecoolwithhandmedowns

I made quite a dent in my closet, so now instead of taking up both sides, it only takes up one....and a dresser...and a bunch of tubs....See? 

Before...

 In between....

 And After! 

Except you can't see my closet...

Or inside it...

So you'll just have to take my word..K?!

After that was done, I cleaned other parts of my house and all the while managing my city on Age of the Empires II. Gold Edition. My mom used to think that game was violent.  It is sorta, of but a girl has to keep her city safe, and if I have to commission, armies of archers, elephants, calvary and hoards of villagers to keep my food supplies up. You should try it sometime. :) During the managing of my second empire, I whipped up some Monkey Bread. 

Yummy, ooey, gooey, goodness. Note: Don't try to grab the pan without oven mitts. Also don't stick your finger in the empty pan and try to lick the remaining glaze...it burns. 


Oh wait..you actually wanted pictures of snow?! About that...there's the little problem with it getting dark at 5:30PM and yeah. Maybe tomorrow. Speaking of Monday, I don't have to go in until 10AM, and with any luck they may just shut her down.......


You'll excuse me, so I can go pray for 12 inches of snow?


See Ya!

Reverb10 - Day 5-6

December 5 – Let Go. 

What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Author: Alice Bradley)

This year, I let go of most of my carefully laid out plans for my life. I had so many plans and ideas for how I wanted this year to go...while a few of those did work out, most had to be pitched out the window. I'm ok with it..now, given my control freak tendencies I had to work through theses feelings and be ok with just letting God have control. I have since learned, to focus on one day at a time, there is a time and place for future planning, but every day life sort of things can be "winged".  

December 6 – Make. 

What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it? (Author: Gretchen Rubin)

I'm going to run with this topic, and tell you about the last food item I made. Prepare to be dazzled by my cooking abilities. 

The last thing I made was......

.......drum roll............ 

A sandwich! 

Right before I sat down to tackle my last class assignment. 

I used bread, deli ham, lettuce, onions, mayo, salt, pepper and provolone cheese. It was quite good if I do say so myself. Brain food.  :) 

However, this sweet potato casserole, has been on my "cooking to-do" list for quite sometime. Perhaps when finals are done I'll be able to tackle it. 

{via}

 

Potato Soup - October Recipes

One of my goals on my 101 N 1001 list, was to try at least two new recipes a month. This however, was before I knew I would be out of a stove for at least the first 8 months of my new list of goals. And when I did get a stove, I can't say that I was all that inclined to do much cooking. It takes time, effort and energy...none of which I seemed to have at the time. Now that the weather has cooled off I have had this sudden desire to do a lot of cooking. 
Now I'm a very picky eater, but when I find things I like, at restaurants and such I like to see if I can find a recipe so I can make it at home. O'Charley's has THE BEST Loaded Baked Potato Soup. THE BEST. And this is from a person who does.not.like.soup. End of story. 
So I've been searching online for a recipe that came close to acheiving their soup, and while I'd tried one earlier this year (it was horrible) I found another and combined it with one I used last time, and this time it was awesome! Even my family loved it! That's saying a lot people. 
So without further ado, I give to you: Erin's Potato Soup as derived from here and here. 

2 Large Baking Potatoes
1/2 cup Butter (I used Earth Balance)
4 tbls Flour

3 cups chicken broth

1 cup shredded cheddar Cheese
Bacon bits
1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper 

1 tsp basil

1 cup half-and-half

Dice unpeeled red potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes. Place in pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Let boil for 10 minutes or until cooked. 

In a separate pot, combine melted margarine and flour, mixing until smooth.Here I added a handful of cheese and mixed in. Add salt, basil and pepper; mix well. Gradually add broth. Bring to boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, cream, bacon bits and extra cheese; heat through but do not boil. Garnish with bacon, cheese and parsley.

It was a really simple recipe and great for those cool winter days! I'm so excited with how it came out! :) 

These little things make me happy. :)

                        

Summer Break: Week 2

Now that I’ve revived from my post-school-funk, I am really starting to enjoy having nothing to do. Week 1 was pretty emotional for me, depressing really; there were also a lot of other things going on in my life that didn’t help out my mental state, but God and I got a real good talk in Friday and I determined to let go and let God and he’s defiantly helped fight and win since then.

I can see this being the second most nerve racking summer of my life, as I seek direction as to what I’m supposed to do this year. Financial Aid was finally sent my way, though I haven’t received anything just yet, which was a huge relief off my back at first, but as time has progressed I am beginning to realize that I can’t stay at my current job.
It’s tough because I really, really, like my job, my co-workers, etc.. but I am barely making enough to cover the few bills that I have. Then I receive a phone call, technically I called her, but it sounds more dramatic this way. My mom had been talking to our insurance agent about an issue, they got that resolved yada, yada, yada, and then the agent starts asking questions.

Note to self, if insurance agents starts asking question find some way to remove yourself from the conversation.

To surmise the situation, the insurance company didn’t have me down as the primary driver on my dad’s car, which at the time I was placed on the policy I wasn’t, so they adjusted that status and guess what?! That action added $50 to my low $45 a month payment. To panic or not to panic is the current question, though they haven’t raised it just yet, it’s only a matter of time. At this time I believe “Nationwide is on your side” will be who I go with as for me their rate would only be $50 a month which I can totally handle.

But it also brings the startling reality that I.Am.Broke. I guess I should be happy that I’m finally getting into the full role of a college student, but I’m not seeing much to laugh about. Thus begins the question of what to do now. I can get another part time job in the summer, but how is that going to help me when school starts again? Or I can look for a full time position which will cut me out of going to class fulltime and receiving financial aid.

Or I can get a full time job that is similar to my current position where I can do homework around my other work… Which then limits the places I can apply to; or…um..nope I’m out of ideas here. Now you should know something about me, I am very picky as to where I apply to work. First because well …(and this may be a totally lame reason) I want to have a chance that I can continue working with service dogs, so that cuts me out of the Food and Retail Industries. Second would be the people, I’m going into interviews looking around at people, how they greet me, how they respond to each other if I can help it I do not want to get back into drama city.

Though with my track record I’m due for another drama filled job *sobs*.
• First Job = 2 women owners, 2 women managers, 4 women employee’s and a gay guy = D.R.A.M.A  When you are starting to dream about your job and are almost getting physically sick on the way to work in the morning...its time to move on.
• Second Job = Husband and Wife owned/managed, 3 girls = No Drama, Great Bosses very fair, awesome co-workers albiet a bit crazy at times. 
• Third Job = 1 woman owned/managed/dictated……yeah I’ll let you feel in the blanks= DRRAAMMMAA -Granted that was the one job where I actually LOVED my work and my co-workers. I do miss the WORK a lot, but not the heavy amounts of stress.
• Fourth Job = Corporation still some drama, but none involving me or those that I work with. So nice to come home and not think about your job until you get their the next morning
• Fifth Job = Who knows????

Thirdly would be flexibility, I’ve probably changed my schedule at least every three months during my time here, they have been awesome about working with my school and other job schedule (at the time) and I’ve been LOVING having my weekends free.

Oh. HA and I guess pay would rank up there between 1 and 2.

But the biggest thing I guess that’s “holding me back” is my parents reaction to me telling them that I was considering leaving, my current place of employment. Let’s just say it wasn’t “excitement” that greeted my pronouncement. And while I will ultimately make my own decision….I do value their opinions, (I can actually admit that now without cringing NEVER TELL THEM THAT would ruin my credibility) plus they get to listen to my job rants…However I think we’ve gotten to the point where I don’t really have a choice anymore.

So the Job hunts begins.

In other news, I have gotten Way tired of eating frozen food and decided to try a simple recipe from the The Pioneer Woman’s Cook Book.

Steak Bites{Full Recipe}

See! They even look like hers!!

I rarely follow cooking directions to the "T", so I added in some of Emeril's BAM BURGER seasoning, which spiced it up!

And since this is officially the longest post I’ve ever written…on this blog.. I will end it.
Tata!
Erin

"Don't you hate it when......"

• ......You run out of skips on Pandora - A great pity, but if they would actually put songs in the line up that I'd LIKE....

• ......IT SNOWS - I HATE SNOW. Its supposed to come down in droves tonight. Snow doesn't equal FUN to me. Just a day of being stuck at home, with no power and possible wrecks in your front yard. 
• ......You forget to check the settings on your camera before snapping a couple hundred photos. Most of the time this is ok, unless I decided to play with my Appeture or Shutter mode, or adjust the white balance to Florescent. SO ANNOYING! 
• ......When you download Google Chrome, and they tell you it won't run on your computer version. GRrrr yeah so some of us aren't rich enough to get Snow Lepoard...
  
• .......You forget you are boiling something on the stove and the water evaporates and your eggs explode... ADD I'm serious!

Oh yeah...Food! That's what I was about to do......
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