My Mom Makes Delicious Food - Oreo Cookie Balls

Baking is a genetic thing.  Seriously. My Great Nana, my Nana, my Mom and I are all ridiculously good at making delicious food (not to toot our horns, but TOOT TOOT).

The other week, my mom made these ridiculously excellent cookies - Oreo cookie balls. I swear to God, it's all the deliciousness of an Oreo without the need to chew. It MELTS in your mouth.  My mom got the recipe from here, so I'm going to just give it to you as is - no tweeks to the actual recipe.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4490984_oreo-cookie-balls.html?fb_ref=like&fb_source=message

However, I do recommend melting chocolate and dipping the tops in it - or using confectioners sugar to dip them in!


Also: remember to check out my friend's fashion blog!  New stuff this week - ALL excellent!!


http://momentsintheseam.wordpress.com/

Tortilla Chips, Appleberry Salsa and empanadas (Thanks, Alicia!)

I'm going to post four recipes, three directly from my BFF Alicia, and one that I altered from her original.

Alicia's AppleBerry salsa is legitimately one of they MOST refreshing things I have ever eaten.  She made it for our best friend's bridal shower we had on a hot day and I refused to walk away from it.  It's cool and refreshing, as well as a good break from the spice of regular salsa. It's also sweet enough to entice any kids, and fool them into thinking it's NOT good for them.

AppleBerry Salsa: 
2 medium granny smith apples
1 c. strawberries, sliced
1 kiwi, peeled and chopped
1 small orange
2 tbs packed brown sugar
2 tbs apple jelly

Directions:  *Peel, core and slice apples, then chop.  Slice the strawberries/chop the kiwi.  Place fruit in bowl, zest and juice orange.  Add orange zest & juice, brown sugar and apple jelly. Mix together until combined.

Combine the salsa with these AMAZING Cinnamon chips she makes and seriously, die and go to heaven.  I could eat an entire bag of these - they aren't overwhelmingly sweet since the salsa it's paired with makes up for the it, but the touch of sweet makes them a delicious snack in their own right as well.


Cinnamon Chips:
4 7-inch tortillas
1 Tbs granulated sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix cinnamon and sugar. Spray tortillas lightly with water and sprinkle both sides with sugar mixture.  Cut into wedges and place in oven to bake for 8-10 minutes or until light brown and crispy.  Allow to cool and enjoy :)



Plain Tortilla Chips

Basically, follow the above recipe, but without the cinnamon and sugar.  I sprinkled half of mine with kosher sea salt and paired them with some yummy hummus.  Delish!

Alicia's husband's family is from Guatemala, and his family always eat theses - she handed down this little gem and we've been enjoying it ever since.  Alicia bakes her's on a greased cookie sheet at 425 degrees for 12 minutes. I tend to fry mine in vegetable oil for 3-4 minutes per side (you want to puff the dough and melt the cheese!)  Anyway, these things are awesome paired with rice and beans (add some Sazon, delish) and make enough for leftovers!  I'm basically copying/pasting Alicia's original recipe, because she tells you where you can find the stuff if you aren't familiar with spanish style foods.

Empanadas

20 Goya discs (frozen section of grocery store, orange in color)

12 oz. Goya Sofrito Tomato Cooking Base (found by the taco stuff)

2 packets of Goya Sazon seasoning (found by the taco stuff, they sell small 1.41 oz boxes of the packets)

2 lbs groud beef/turkey

1 small diced onion

a bunch sliced of green olives (MDHousewife: We don't use these. Don't tell my husband...)

a bunch of shredded mozzerella cheese (MDHW: I usually use a cup or two, depending on how it looks)

MDHW addition: I add chopped red and green peppers :) One each!

 

Directions: Let discs thaw while you prepare the following (I usually seperate them and lay them on the table to thaw).  Brown meat in skillet, drain grease and put in large mixing bowl.  Sautee diced onion in about 2 Tbsp of the grease from the meat.  Add onion to the meat in the bowl.  Add sliced green olives, a bunch of shredded mozzerella cheese,, 2 packets of Sazon and whole jar of Sofrito to mixing bowl.  Stir. One disc at a time, use a rolling pin to roll out slightly bigger than it is already (do not make it too thin - just a little bigger).  Put as much meat mixture as you can fit in the disc, fold it over and using the tines of a fork, press the sides together.  

 

-- IF YOU BAKE THEM, PRE-HEAT YOUR OVEN TO 425 DEGREES! Bake for 12 minutes on a lightly greased cookie sheet, turn over around 6 minutes in.  Enjoy!

--IF YOU FRY THEM, BEGIN HEATING OIL OVER MEDIUM HEAT AND WAIT UNTIL HOT. (I usually fill a deep pan halfway, so it can evenly fry the sides and bottom without greasing the tops).  Put 3-4 empanadas in the pan at a time and fry 3-4 minutes on each side, until the dough is cooked evenly, the insides are hot and the cheese has melted.

I dip mine in sour cream - enjoy :)

Homestyle Curry and ... wait for it... brownies.

I figured since I make this recipe on a regular basis (and am making tonight after work) that I should really post it.  Also, the lovely people I work with have been bugging me for brownies, so I figure that getting up to grab my recipe and actually posting it will motivate me to make them....


Homestyle Curry
This recipe is a pretty simple and easy to make - beginners can easily make it and newbies to curry-land can easily try it for the first time.  Remember to find a grocery store that sells Naan bread - if you can't find one, I can post a recipe!

Ingredients:
4 tbs oil
1 lg onion, chopped
1 tbs garlic
1/4 inch of ginger, chopped (or 1/2 tsp)
1 tsp corriander
1/2 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp paprika
2 lg tomatoes, diced (do NOT use canned tomatoes - these need to be fresh)
1 pound of meat, cubed (I usually use chicken, but occasionally we have lamb)
OPTIONAL: 1 1/2 tbs of sriracha sauce - if you like serious spice.  Tone it down to 1/2 if you only like some bite.

Directions:
Heat oil in large pan (I use a large skillet approximately 3-4 inches deep) over medium heat, add onion & saute for 20-25 minutes (Be careful, if you burn the onion, you have to start again.  You're looking to get them slightly caramelized - if you choose to use sriracha, add this too). Add garlic and ginger, fry for one minute.  Add coriander and stir for one minute.  Add tumeric, cumin, garam masala, paprika and saute for 30 seconds (stirring). (You should be seeing a thicker, almost paste-like substance from the mixture of the spices - it's dark brownish red.  Good work!) Add 6 ounces of water and cook for 10 minutes.  Add diced tomatoes and cook down for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Add your meat and 7 ounces of water and cook until done.  Serve over rice with Naan bread - enjoy :)


Brownies
This is a recipe I use often.  It's easy to toss chocolate chips, nuts, peanut butter or caramel in without altering the recipe - it makes it simple for beginners!

 **Preheat oven to 300 degrees F**


Ingredients:
4 lg eggs
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 sticks butter, melted
1 1/4 cocoa
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp salt
(I add 1/2 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips, too)

Directions:Whisk eggs and sugars together, add dry ingredients.  Mix until combined (add chips/nuts if you'd like). Pour batter into a greased 8x8 pan (for approx 9 THICK brownies) or a 9x13 (for ... 12 thin brownies) and bake for 45 mins - 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.

Enjoy :)

Spicy Blu Cheese, Tomato and Crab soup & Jambalaya Recipes

I have so much work to do. These are our last two official weeks of class before field placement (and then student teaching) and I have some seriously ridiculous levels of stress I'm dealing with.  I'm also sick. LOSE.

To combat my anxiety, I baked, cooked and cleaned all of last week.  Two items that got some recipe requests were the Tomato/Blue Cheese/Crab soup and the Jambalaya - so that's what I'm posting.  If anyone wants the pumpkin cheesecake/white chocolate cheesecake, carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese icing, sugar cookie or oatmeal raisin cookie recipes, let me know.

Here we go:

Spicy Tomato, Blue Cheese and Crap Soup:
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 medium red onion, chopped
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- 4 cloves (4 tbs) garlic, minced
- 1 28-oz can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 1/2 c. of vegetable stock
- 3/4 c. Heavy Cream
-2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce (or any hot sauce, really)
- 1 teaspoon oregano leaves
-1/2 pound of blue cheese
-1/2 - 1 pound crab meat (if desired)


Directions:
In a medium soup pot, saute onions in olive oil for about 2 minutes.  Add garlic & continue to saute for additional 2-4 minutes.  Add tomatoes (and tomato juice in can) and stock - bring to light simmer.  Add cream, sriracha and oregano - simmer for 45 minutes.

Crab: if using, put in a pan over light heat with 1 tsp lemon.  Heat thoroughly.

Pour soup into a food processor or blender, add blue cheese and blend until smooth.  Add crab, stir.

Eat :)


Jambalaya Recipe (Plus Bayou Blast)
disclaimer: I stole this from Emeril Lagasse and then changed pieces.  If you want the original recipe, go to foodnetwork.com

Ingredients:
- 1 pound of peeled and de-veined shrimp
- 1 pound sausage (I used regular sausage, not andouille)
- 1 tsp Bayou Blast (recipe below)
- 1 medium white onion, chopped
- 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 large jalapeno pepper, chopped
- 1 large tomato, diced
- 1 tsp Worchestshire sauce
- 1 tsp hot sauce (I used Frank's)
- 1 c. uncooked rice
- 2 c. celery, chopped
- 2 tbs garlic
- 4 c. chicken stock
(**Optional: 1 pound of chicken, increase stock to 5 c.**)


Directions:
Cover shrimp (and chicken) with bayou blast, coat well and put in refrigerator. 
In a large pan (medium soup pot) saute all peppers, onions and celery in olive oil on high heat.
Add garlic, tomatoes, Worcestershire saue & hot sauce.
Add rice and slowly add stock.

Reduce heat to medium and cover - cook until rice absorbs liquid (approx 15-20 minutes).
When rice is just tender, add meats and cook until done.  Serve and enjoy :)

Bayou Blast:
2 1/2 tbs paprika
2 tbs kosher salt
2 tbs garlic powder
1 tbs pepper
1 tbs onion powder
1 tbs cayenne or red pepper flakes
1 tbs oregano
1 tbs thyme


Mix together, store in cool dry place.




Enjoy everyone :)

BRRR.

I just wanted to state today will be a baking day...


...because I just took the dogs out and it's legitimately 40 degrees or less.


BRR.

I disappear better than Houdini...

..seriously. I do.  Sometimes I feel like a snow globe - like someone just tilted me upside and shook.  Shit goes flying everywhere and then I'm scattered and lost.  The joys of a person with obsessive compulsive disorder who is overwhelmed. 

I know I'm the recipe guru, the girl with the book in her hand and the crazy dogs who drive me nuts. But sometimes, I realize in the scheme of life, how small I am.  And how LOUDLY that makes me talk.  I speak loudly and act assertive to ensure that I'm part of the big picture.  I often feel forgotten in the shuffle...like poor Maukaley Calkin in Home Alone. They legit FORGOT his ass.  And got to Paris (and next, New York) before going...son of a bitch.  That's how I feel. Forgotten. Lost in the shuffle.  I'm the "oh shit" moment.  The loud, assertive me is never lost...just scorned, disliked and attacked.  Ah, well.  That part of me is okay with it.  But the part of me with feelings? I feel lost.

Finally understanding my issues with OCD is freeing, yet terrifying.  For years I just said, "I Like It Clean. I Like It This Way." I was the crazy bitch.  Now I say, "Listen. I HAVE to vacuum each spot twice, twice a day. I HAVE to fold laundry a CERTAIN way.  I HAVE to. If I don't, I lose control."  I feel like my ownership of my problem is like taking responsibility for an action, it's fulfilling, but has surprising consequences...I'm still working on those - and how this issue effects my marriage.

I physically cried in public today. Joy. How lovely and embarrassing.  My professor was discussing suicide - and not being kind.  While I may have not been in the in circle with the people who committed suicide, I was a friend.  And it hurts knowing someone is gone for good.  It's almost 5 years later and it still bugs me that nothing could have been done.  But to stand in front of a classroom and be flippant and rude about it? That destroys me.  The "strong, white female" that all of us (even you guys!) have lurking inside - with the finger snaps, stilettos and attitude - was shattered.  How delightfully repugnant.  October has been a hard month for the past 5 years...the 25 and 26 of this month always LOOM at me - glare over September like, "hah! We're coming!!"  I don't lock myself away and mourn anymore...and I don't drink until I don't remember.  I just...don't. A horrific suicide and a tragic unnecessary, medically preventable death within two days...I don't know how I got through it at 19...I don't know how I continue to not deal with it and get through it at 24.  Probably the same way I continue not to deal with my grandfather dying and feeling abandoned, as well as my father essentially disregarding me my whole life.  I just...don't.

In other news NOT about my boring third world existence in which I feel about thisbig I tried a new recipe for buns (like, hamburger buns).  Basically, go to my archives and use the saaaammme recipe I used for stromboli and pat them into small balls after the bread machine cycle, let them rise for 40 minutes in a warm, damp place and then brush the tops with either egg wash or melted butter. Bake at 350 for 20-35 minutes. YUM!

See you soon?  Probably....Fall break is next week and I'll have lots of time to bake and blog <3

'Til then...

Books & Being on the Radio!

I was mentioned on our local country station today - TWICE!  Bob 94.9!   I was so excited. TWICE.  That's amazing to me. I'm not important or interesting, I just know lots of stupid information!  WOOO FOR STUPID INFORMATION!!

As an aside: I'm going to the library today to get the books for my "ask 10 friends for a book recommendation and read them" for my 101/1001 list.  Here's the list:


1) Lottery by Patricia Wood
2) Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
3) Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
4) The Help by Kathryn Stockett
5) The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
6) Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
7) The Last Child by John Hart
8) World without End by Ken Follett
9) Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
10) Game of Thrones by G.R.R. Martin


Also just finished the new James Rollins book, "Devil Colony" which is awesome.  It's the latest book in his Sigma series.  It's really, once again, an excellent display of a talented writer with a signature character.  It's truly page turner!

I also read A Dog's Purpose: A Novel for Humans by W. Bruce Cameron. SO GOOD.  All dog owners/lovers should read this. It's a book about a life of a dog through HIS eyes.  Its a tear jerker, a laugh out-loud-er and a page tuner. I read it in 8 hours.  




I'll keep everyone updated on my 10 books :)

Day Zero Project

I began a list for the "Day Zero" project.  Here we are:

http://dayzeroproject.com/user/ecksteins1

Homemade Spinach Noodles & Rice Krispy Treats :)

Spinach Noodles

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 bag spinach
3 cups flour
1 tbs water
2 tsp garlic powder
salt/pepper

Directions:
-In a food processor (or blender or whatever) empty contents of bag of spinach and break down
-(change food processor blade to dough blade/mixing blad) Add flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder
-Add eggs on at a time, add water
-If mixture is solid and dough like, remove, knead on a lightly floured surface
-If mixture is slightly wet, remove and add flour, then knead of a lightly floured surface
-Roll thin (I roll mine to an 1/8 of an inch, basically as thin as you can get it and still peel it off your surface)
-Cut into whatever shape you desire (I use squares, because it's easy - but you can do long noodles!)
-Add noodles to salted, rapidly boiling water.
-Let cook until floating at top or done to liking.

Enjoy!

Rice Krispy Treats
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 bag marshmallows (10.5 ounces)
1 box  rice krispies cereal (or cripsy rice or whatever generic)

Directions:
-Melt butter in large bowl in microwave or in sauce pan over low heat on the stove.
-Add marshmallows, coat in melted butter and stir til melted (if you're using the stove, stir CONSTANTLY, or they will burn!!)
-If using large bowl from microwave, dump cereal in bowl and coat with marshmallow; if using sauce pan, move marshmallow INTO a large bowl and then do as said above.
-Press into 9x13 pan and cover, let cool.
-Cut. Eat.

There are many variations on these - you can add melted chocolate or melted peanut butter, I just prefer plain old rice krispy treats!  Enjoy!

New puppy!

Just wanted to apologize (again) for my slow posting. Hubs and I ended up getting a second dog, so we're a bit crazy busy. First, prepping for her and second, working with her.  She's on day 3 and doing well!  Meet our kids, Kona and Sydnee!

Kona is our chocolate lab, she's a litttle bit over a year old.  Syd is our baby, our newest little addition, and the black lab. She's about 8 1/2 weeks.

See you later for noodles and rice krispies!

Lasagna and Mike's (almost) Famous Garlic Bread

Liz's Famous (Okay, only to Gina) Lasagna

Ingredients:

1 box of lasagna noodles (I used the kind you have to cook, but San Gorgio makes ready-to-eat stuff)
8 ounces ricotta cheese
2 eggs
1 lb. mozzarella cheese, grated
2 c. Parmesan cheese, grated
2- 24 oz jars of pasta sauce (I use Fransico Rinalldi sauce, in the tomato and garlic. If you like a drier lasagna, I recommend only using 1 jar)
1 lb ground beef (or turkey, that's low cal/fat)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
salt & pepper

Instructions:
-Boil lasagna noodles 10 minutes in 4 quarts water. 

-Drain and rinse with cold water, place individually on parchment paper (or foil works well too - just so it doesn't stick and can dry while you make the other stuff!) 

 -Brown hamburger - drain and rinse. 

-Put hamburger in a bowl and pour sauce over - mix well.

-Add basil, oregano and garlic to sauce mixture, set aside.

-In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs and 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese; mix well.

-In  a greased13x9-inch baking dish, spread 1 cup pasta/meat mixture.
-On top of the sauce, place noodles so they overlap just slighltly (I can do about four across length wise and on on the end tall ways) 

-Spread about half of cheese mixture over the noodles.

-Top with hamburger/sauce and repeat layering.

-Top layer should be sauce and topped with ridiculous quanities of cheese so it's bubbly and delicious.

 

Bake uncovered 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before serving

Mike's (almost) Famous Garlic Bread:
Ingredients:
1 loaf of Italian bread
2-2 1/2 cups of butter
3 heaping tablespoons of fresh garlic (we prefer Dellalo, but that's hard to come by if you don't live in Jenette, PA or use the dellalo.com website!!)
1 cup of shredded mozzerella cheese


Directions:
-Cup bread in half lengthwise
-Mix together butter, garlic and cheese
-Spread onto insides on bread.
-Lay bread with cheesey-garlicy goodness facing up.
-Place in oven on broil until cheese is brown, gooey and ridiculously delicious.

(I know it sounds easy, but seriously, I've never had better garlic bread than this, minus my mom's!)

Enjoy!

Yuck-o.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'll eat just about anything, within reason.  However, I made those roll-ups I was talking about (prosciutto, cream cheese, artichoke hearts, horseradish with a balsamic glaze?) weird.  So I'm not posting the recipe. Because if the hubs is wary on it, then lets be serious about everyone the heck else eating it.

Lasagna fell through last night - we had chicken sausage instead (delicious and half the fat/calories of regular sausage, plus tastier too!).   We ARE having lasagna tonight, with Mike's (hubs) "almost famous" garlic bread.  After I get back from class I'll post the recipe, in case anyone decides THEY want lasagna too :)  Also pumped because Mom sent some fresh picked lettuce and zucchini from the garden.  Can't wait to make something with those babies!

And some final encouragement for you gym avoiders (like myself): get a gym partner - someone to hold you accountable for yourself and your actions.  My kick butt neighbor and I are going to start going together. I already pay for a membership, but don't go.  She's my door knocking, unlocking, yelling and dragging friend.  I'm pretty sure that I'll have to be dying in order to get out of it.  Her boyfriend is Mike's accountability dude.  Between the two of us, I'm pretty sure we've put on 90 pounds in the past 5 years - that's gotta go. Plus some.

So, moral? Find someone to kick your butt, and eventually, you can kick theirs too :-D

Breakfast potatoes (hint: use leftovers!)

So last night my hubs and I had some boiled potatoes (the little red ones, yum!) with butter.  I have a tupperware of leftovers.  So, we get to have breakfast potatoes :)  If you're making them from scratch (aka, you weren't lazy like we were last night and ate whatever we wanted) just take about 10 little red or yellow potatoes and boil them until soft. Then follow directions. If you only have big potatoes, cut them and boil them like mashed potatoes- but don't peel them! I love the lovely rustic look.

Okay, here you go:

Breakfast Potatoes:

Appropriate amount of pre-cooked potatoes
2 tbs minced garlic
1 small onion, chopped
2 tbs olive oil

Put 2 tbs olive oil in a medium pan, warm.  Add garlic and onions - let them cook (as Emeril would say) "until they're nice and happy" - that means the onions are translucent and maybe have a nice brown on them, and the garlic is beautifully aromatic.  Add your potatoes, and cook until warmed through, maybe some browning (depends on your tastes).

Super easy! We're eating ours with bacon and dippy (i.e.: over medium) eggs and toast. Delish :)


I'll post a picture when the lovlies are done!  Stay tuned for the lasagna I'm putting together and placing in the fridge for the hubs to cook today (I have to work :( ).  Yum!

Catch-up!

Gak! I've been MIA for a little. To make up for it, I'll post a few recipes over the weekend - today I made banana bread, crostini's and bruscetta, and I'm going to attempt some prosciutto roll ups with balsamic glaze. I'll probably post my lasagna recipe too, since Gina asked me too a few weeks ago.


So, apologies, gang, but here we go! It's Catchin' up time, y'all!

Banana Bread

Banana Bread Recipe:

• 1/2 c. shortening
• 1 c. sugar
• 2 lg eggs
• 1 c. mashed ripe bananas (2 to 3 medium)
• 1 tbs milk
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• 2 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 c. chopped walnuts

 

In a bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas, almond extract and milk. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in nuts.

Pour into a greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pan. Bake at 325° for 65-70 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

Enjoy :)
 

Rocky Road Cupcakes w/ Marshmallow Icing

Rocky Road Cupcake Recipe:
350 degrees, 25 minutes

• 2 c. all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 c. unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 1 1/3 c. sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 c. sour cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/3 c. milk
• 1 c. mini marshmallows
• 1 c. almonds (I purchased whole, but chopped them in half  for the inside of the cupcake)
• 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa powder together in medium bowl, set aside.

- Beat sugar and butter until fluffy.  Add milk, eggs, vanilla, and sour cream, beat until combined.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients until just combined.
- Fold in marshmallows, almonds, and chocolate chips.

Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool.


Marshmallow Icing Recipe 

• 1 lb. of unsalted butter
• 2 jars marshmallow creme  (14 oz)
  
• 1 lb. box 10x sugar 
• 2 tsp. vanilla

 Cream butter, add marshmallow fluff, mix until combined.  Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix until combined.  Frost cupcakes, add mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and whole almonds to decorate!

  Enjoy, fellow foodies!

Meatballs!

We had spaghetti and meatballs last night for dinner (with homemade sauce, yum!) and I'll post my meatball recipe.   The best thing is that it makes leftovers, so that means meatball sandwiches!


Liz's Meatballs
3 pounds of ground beef (or turkey, I use either)
2 eggs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons basil
2 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon thyme
bread crumbs to combine
salt/pepper

- First, add the eggs to the meat, and mix (I use my hands, but hey, you can use a spoon).  The mixture should feel moist, but not wet.
- Add cheese, garlic, basil, oregano and thyme. Mix to combine evenly through meat.
- Mixture should be moist and easily rolled into a ball that stays together. If not:
a) it's too dry, add another egg or b) it's too wet, add some bread crumbs.
- Form balls with your hands - I make mine about the size of baseballs, so when they cook down they become a decent size.  This makes about...20-24 meatballs.
-Spray a non-stick pan with olive oil/pam/whatever you use, and let heat at a medium, medium-low temperature.  Add meatballs and cook for 5-8 minutes on one side until a crispy crunchy golden brown appears on the outside. Flip over.  Cook another 5-8 minutes.  At this point, it truly depends on the size of your meatballs at how long you cook them.  I cooked mine for about 15 minutes or more - cook a few and split one open. Go from there.
- Remove meatballs from pan and place on a paper towel (in a bowl or on a plate) to allow extra grease to drain.

Eat :)

Yankees?!

Okay, we had leftover night for dinner. I made cheesecake, so I'll post w/ pics today or tomorrow.

HOWEVER.

WTF is going on with my Yankees?!  This is embarrassing.  I'm seriously devastated at their performance lately. It's disgusting. Now, don't get me wrong - I love them. Heart and soul and such. But come on.  It's a nightmare.

I was at the O's game when we left it at 15-3. EVERYBODY hit.  It was glorious. I really thought we might be on to something this year....


....I didn't realize it was a Red Sux (yes, on purpose) sweep.   Ugh. I am broken hearted.

Asiago Cheese Bread!

Sorry I've left you hanging - I tried to post this before, but the site was down for maintenance or something.  First, I'll give you the Asiago cheese bread (It takes like the Au Bon Pain Asiago cheese bagels, I've been told) and I'm trying something new for dinner, so tune in tomorrow for the break down of that.


Asiago Cheese Bread
As noted before, this bread dough was made in a bread machine, on the dough setting. Please contact me for the hand made recipe - it DOES differ.  That being said, here we go!

Ingredients: 
1 1/3 c. water 
4 c. bread flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp yeast (active rapid rise for bread machines)
1/2 lb asiago cheese, shredded

Directions: As stated before, my bread machine calls for wet ing. to be added first, followed by dry. Then you add a the yeast to a well in the middle - without touching the water. Add your ingredients the way that your machine stipulates.

Add water to bread pan, followed by all dry ingredients except yeast.  Make well in center (not touching water) and add yeast. Place pan in bread machine and start dough setting. Read a book until it's finished :)

Now, I don't have pictures, but, minus the pepperoni & etc, it's exactly the same as the pepperoni roll. So you can follow those pictures.

1) Shape dough into ball
2) Separate into two even sized loaves (there is enough dough to do three, but they are sad and small, I recommend two)
3) Roll out each ball to a rectangle, approx. 7x3.
4) Fold in half, and in half again. Press down. Let rest ( I do one ball, and it gets to rest while I roll the other.) Repeat twice.
5) Roll and stretch each piece to form an 11 inch loaf of bread. 
6) Place bread in a greased pan, cover with a damp towel and put in a warm place - let rise for 30-45 minutes or until doubled in size. (preheat oven: 450)
7) Lightly coat the top of each loaf with olive oil (LIGHTLY - seriously.)
8) Bake bread at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and hollow sounding when knocked on.  Allow to cool for 20 minutes.

Enjoy :)

Easy breakfast and then some...

First, the "and then some" -  I was FINALLY able to lose some of the weight I gained after Pappy died.  Seriously, in like, 3 weeks, I managed to gain like, 15 pounds. It's ridiculous. But, I'm down three pounds.  Seeing yourself in a bathing suit tends to motivate you into exercise.  Anyway, easy breakfast - and delicious too!

Next to the ingrediant, I've posted the approximate calorie count (thanks to iPhone app, Lose It!) and how much I paid, so you get the general idea of how much it costs!


Veggie Egg White Omelet

--> 1/2 c. egg whites (approx. 60 calories) - I use Weis brand, and it costs 1.99 for 16 oz, so 32oz (2 containers) is about 50 cents less than a 32oz carton of the egg beaters variety.
--> 1/2 c. chopped fresh broccoli  (approx. 15 calories) - .99 cents a crown @ Weis.
--> 1/4 c. chopped green bell pepper (approx 7 calories) - 10 for $10 at Weis (I got mine @ Foodland, but they were 10 for $10 there, too. I bought 2, so $2.)
-->1/4 c. chopped white onion (approx 16 calories) - I paid $1.89 for two onions, I refuse to do the math, so we'll just say, $1.89.
--> 1 piece of swiss cheese (approx 106 calories - OUCH.) We like swiss cheese and I get GOOD swiss, because it's delicious.  For one pound I paid $8.56 (YAY SALES!).
--> 1/8c. roasted chicken, no skin (approx 20 calories) - I had chicken legs in my freezer, and we had chicken/avocado sandwiches last night, so we had leftovers.  Honestly, I think the legs were free from mom, but they usually run about $5.00 for two HUGE legs at Weis.

I add salt, pepper and ground red pepper flakes - capsicum revs up your metabolism and makes it really WORK to digest - google it. I promise.  You can also use any meat or veggies you wish, I just so happen to like these and had some chicken.

Directions:
1) Add 1 Tbs EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) to a pan and heat - add onions, broccoli and pepper, saute until cooked half way.

2) pour in egg whites and cover with lid, cook until solid (unless you LIKE runny eggs. Whatever, but ew.)
3) Flip omelet (I like to let both sides cook. The concept of uncooked eggs makes me sick. So I cook both sides)
4) Add swiss and chicken, cover for 1-2 minutes.
5) Fold omelet, put on plate and eat :)

  I had already started eating. Sorry its messy. But it's delicious.

Oh!  Breakfast calorie count: 244 calories
Breakfast price (now, remember this is for EVERYTHING purchased, not just what I used, so you'll have extra broccoli, chicken, onion, pepper, etc - that's lunch and dinner! We'll call this the price for THREE meals):  $22.44 (that's about 7.50, which you can't beat for fresh veggies!)

----> If you take out the POUND of swiss cheese, the price goes down to $13.88, which is $4.60 for breakfast (three meals, remember?)  however, that swiss can be used for ANYTHING. So, do the math as you please.

Plate note: I also eat a banana with mine, as you can see. I eat half. Kona gets the other half. She realllllly likes bananas.....

Ok! We're off to the rail trail today (a trail near our house) for a good long walk. Have a beautiful day!

I'm back, baby!

Ugh, long time no post - what an epic fail.  After December, with the holidays, wedding, deaths, etc - I couldn't find the time to sleep let alone post.

Finally got Kona on her new work out deal, she was getting far too lazy and destructive, all at the same time. We do 4 miles a day, M-F and then 10 miles on the weekends.  That burns approximately 3,000 calories.  Give it a go :)

In exciting news, purchased new books today! Jeffery Deaver, "The Burning Wire" and Michael Connelly, "The Poet", check back for my reviews :)

Spent my day trying to master a recipe that I can find NO WHERE, that a cute shop near Mike's family has (www.Delallo.com).  It's a pepperoni roll. It's basically bread with cheese and pepperoni inside. DELIGHTFUL!  I have a bread machine, so here is the bread machine recipe:

For French Bread  (place ingredients in bread machine in order that YOUR machine specifies, mine is wet then dry, yeast last)
 
Ingredients:
-1 1/3 c. water
- 4 c. bread flour
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp rapid rise yeast for bread machines

Directions:
1) Add wet ingred., followed by dry (should cover wet) to bread machine pan.
2) Make a well in the flour, add yeast (should not touch water)
3) Place pan in bread machine, set to french bread setting (or dough setting. If you do not have a dough setting, set to French bread baking, and remove dough before final rising stage.)
4)When cycle is complete, remove bread from pan and place on lightly floured surface and punch down.
5) Divide into 3 equal portions and roll into a ball. As shown below.

 6) Roll out to rectangle measuring approx 7x3 inches.

 7) Fold in half, and in half again. Press to flatten.  Let rest for 1 minute. Re-roll as above. Repeat twice.

 8) After final roll, use basting brush to spread a light layer of olive oil (I use Delallo brand, EVOO) and garlic directly on the dough.  Then add about a 3/4 c. mozzarella cheese (I use skim) and pepperoni (my # deviated with the size I was able to safely get the dough).

9) Fold top and bottom to meet in the middle.

 10) Fold ends in.

 11) Brings folded sides together and press dough to form a seam along the bottom.

 12) It should look like this.  Make it as long as you'd like (make sure you have some room in your bread pan to allow for rising) by rolling it into a long loaf.

 13) Place in floured pan, cover with olive oil coated plastic wrap or a warm kitchen towel. Place in a warm place and allow to rise for 30-45 minutes.  Begin preheating oven to 450 degrees.

14)  Dough should be fluffy and warm, place in 450 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.

Delicious!  (Mine are cooking. I'll post a picture as soon as they decide to be finished :))

Edit:

Here's the look when finished, plus the inside!

Enjoy :)