Category Archives: Food

Food

Meal Plan Monday

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Hey guys! I hope that you are having a great week! I am getting bored with my standards so I may have to find some new recipes to try soon! But for this week, here we go!

Monday: Spinach, Corn and Chicken Enchiladas with Beans and Rice
Wednesday: Pasta Bake
Thursday: Corned Beef Hash
Friday: Shrimp, Spinach and Gnocchi in a Butter Garlic Sauce with Buttery Rolls

Food

Top Chef Masters Season 2 Gets Going!

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I don’t know what I am more excited about: the fact that Top Chef Masters has started back up or the fact it is on Hulu so I don’t have find some poor quality airing somewhere? Either way lets jump right in! Let the snark go!

Govind Armstrong!!! Love him on everything I have seen him on (Top Chef, Iron Chef, etc) Susan Feneger? I have never seen her without Mary Sue! Then there were Anna Sorun, Jerry Traunfeld, Jimmy Bradley (Harold was his sous chef), and Tony Matuano.
First Quick Fire of the season! I am kind of shocked that we are starting off in teams. A Chinatown challenge could be really good. Ah, but it was a trick. It is the mini mart! This is a season 1 challenge so I think it is totally fair! At least they get to cook in their own kitchen. The Bravery is judging? Never heard of them.
Govind’s red mac and cheese looks very good. I think the spice in the Cheetos could add a dimension to their sauce. Susan and Tony’s bread pudding looks pretty good. A crispy rice cake? Not sure what that means but the clamesco sauce sounds a little creepy. Susan and Tony’s apple banana bread pudding won the quick fire! Not that surprised.
So they are doing a team elimination challenge. I don’t really care for it and neither do some of the chefs. They have to make a duo dish for 30 couples to have a first date with.
Susan and Tony’s styles are different but they seem to be able to work together where as Govind seems to just not like the idea of working with someone. Govind and Jimmy are making a duo of lamb with seared lamb carpacchio and lamb loin. I don’t know about lamb carpacchio even if it is seared. Ana and Tony are going exotic with duck done 2 ways with flowers in both. Susan and Tony did pepper shrimp with scallops and pasta. Yum!
Judges seemed to like the lamb carpacchio but they weren’t quite as happy with the chop. They thought was chewy. Jerry’s duck was a hit but Ana’s wasn’t as pretty as it was tasty. They didn’t think the ducks matched. James wasn’t sure if he liked Tony’s pasta. But Susan’s seemed to be a total hit and they seemed to match up well. James seemed to have the most bad things to say about everyone. Not a surprise!
In the end Susan and Tony edged out out Jerry and Ana by 1 star. Govind and Jimmy were kind of left in the dust.

I think that was a great start for a new season! I am excited to see how the rest of the season will go!

Food, Uncategorized

Party!!!!

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Welcome all you fellow partiers from the Ultimate Blog Party! Thanks for stopping by to see me! And what is a party without food and fun?

Why don’t you get yourself some bacon wrapped asparagus? And get some shredded roast beef and put it on some of the fresh butter rolls! Make sure you get some dessert too because what would life be without some chocolate;)? We have a super easy chocolate cream pie and some peanut butter brownie bites.

Isn’t life better with good food and good friends;)? My goals is to make easy delicious food, share tips and maybe watch some tv. So what are you favorite food secrets;)?

Visit more partiers over at UBP!

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

So prizes I would like to win (who wouldn’t;): Of course the grand prize of a laptop! But other than that… I would love US101, US 112, US39, US 105, US87 but I would be happy with just about anything (but my youngest child is about 3;).

Food

Bring on the Foam!

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You faithful Top Chef fans will remember Marcel Vigneron. He is the cocky gastronomist who almost had all his hair cut off by drunken cast mates.

He will be starring in a new series for the Syfy channel called Marcel’s Quantum Kitchen. It was announced during the March upfronts along with some really odd reality shows;). I don’t know if it is going to be good or not butI am sure it will be interesting!

Food

How I Made 5 Trays of Enchiladas in 2 Hours

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I do bulk cooking but not in the once of month method. I don’t make 30 days worth of food in 2 days. Instead I take an ingredient and then make a lot with it. This time it was chicken breasts. I assembled 5 trays in less than 2 hours.

Now to be honest I didn’t cook the meat in that time. I had dump a bunch of boneless skinless chicken breasts into the crockpot and turned it on low to cook over night. Then (while I was at a baby shower) my husband gave my 6 year old a big bowl, the meat and 2 forks. She went to town and shredded it all. Then he put it into gallon bags for me.
So today I assembled all my ingredients. Enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, corn, spinach, shredded cheese, and tortillas. I thawed the spinach under hot water and squeezed all the water out. In the big metal bowl I mixed up the spinach, corn, meat, cheese, some tomato sauce and enchilada sauce. The tomato sauce keeps it from being to spicy for the kids. Then I rolled! You know the process… put sauce in the bottom of your baking pan, then dip the tortillas in sauce, then put some filling in and roll! The key is to have everything lined up and ready to go. I use up the enchilada sauce then I just grab the next can sitting on the counter.
So for those of you who think they don’t have time for bulk cooking just remember that in about 2 hours I fully assembled these, made my kids pb & j sandwiches, tended to them during lunch, washed up and changed the baby, and did all my clean up! If I can do it so can you!

(I included this post in Cooking for a Crowd at Raising Olives)

Food

Buttery Rolls

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One of my favorite things I love is bread! My 2 specific favorites are Costco rolls and those buttery rolls they used to have in the public school cafeteria (one of the few things I miss about public school;). Well, I found a recipe over at Money Saving Mom (thanks Crystal!) that is almost hit the spot! I tweaked it a bit and while it isn’t healthy, it is yummy!!!! I don’t know if they freeze because they are so easy and never last more than 2 days (and that is only with self discipline;)!
Ingredients:
1 cup warm milk (70-80 degrees) – I microwaved it a bit and used an instant read thermometer
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups ap flour
2 teaspoon instant yeast

Add ingredients from top to bottom to your bread machine. Run on dough cycle. Make sure you check the machine when it almost done mixing to make sure that all the flour is mixed in. You can add a little water if you need it (my machine always does). When dough is complete, divide into 20-24 portions and shape into balls or some sort of ball like shape. Cover with a light towel and let rise for 15 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 13-15 minutes until golden brown.
Yield: 20-24 rolls

Food

Meal Plan Monday

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I hope everyone is having a great 1st day of spring! Here is my plan for the week! Nothing all that exciting but it is a plan none the less;).

Monday: Corned Beef Hash, Scrambled Eggs, Broccoli
Tuesday: Shredded Chicken, Spinach, Corn Enchiladas
Wednesday: Pinto Beans, Shredded Chicken, Rice
Thursday: Shrimp, Pasta, and Spinach in a Garlic Butter Sauce
Friday: Pasta Bake