50.

I have slowly come to accept the fact that that grocery store and I are in a long-term relationship, whether I like it or not.  I've been trying a variety of things to make the relationship a smoother one, however haven't had much luck yet.  While doing some reading online tonight I came across a list of 50 fun things to do in a grocery store.  Hmmm, maybe these tricks will spice up my relationship with the supermarket.

1.Ask the produce manager if he happens to have any fresh Oompah Loompah fruit.
2.While holding a cantaloupe directly in front of your chest, squeeze it and smile dreamily.
3.Every time you turn the corner with your shopping cart, shout "Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!"
4.Go up to the manager and tell him or her that you've lost your mommy.
5.While waiting in line at the checkout, juggle some lemons.
6.Tiptoe stealthily up and down the aisles - and around corners - with a magnifying glass.
7.While scratching frantically, ask the manager if he or she has anything for body lice.
8.After visiting the bakery section, go up and down the aisles exclaiming, "My buns are squishy!"
9.While arguing with an invisible friend, you proceed to play tug-of-war over an item.
10.Hold your nose while standing in line at the meat department.
11.Ask the deli clerk how much potato salad it would take for two people to comfortably wrestle in.
12.Fake cell phone conversation: "Doctor, I couldn't possibly have malaria. That was weeks ago!"
13.Start doing a river dance in front of the corned beef.
14.Tell the checkout cashier that you have to hurry, or your spaceship will leave without you.
15.Tell the checkout bagger that you knew him in a former life, and ask why he left without a note.
16.Ask someone if they saw your picture in the post office and remark that it was one of your best.
17.On a hot summer day, ask the manager if someone can help you clean the snow from your car.
18.Tell a customer that you're from the future and have just zapped back for an historic vacation.
19.Walk around holding a copy of the Scarlet Letter while sporting a big red "A".
20.Ask a clerk if you can test several types of deodorant before making a decision to buy one.
21.Using a stethoscope, listen intently to several coconuts in the produce aisle.
22.Tell one of the lobsters that you've brought the potion to turn him back into a man.
23.Run up to the fresh vegetables in the produce aisle and yell, "Boo!"
24.Play peek-a-boo with a little old lady while waiting in the checkout line.
25.When the clerk in the deli asks for your order, mime it.
26.Walk around smoking an invisible cigarette - and get great satisfaction from it.
27.Pretend to cook a meal using the pots and pans in the housewares aisle.
28.Bring a concealed whoopie cushion with you and activate it every couple of minutes.
29.Ask if anyone has seen your pet snake - he was just in your pocket a minute ago.
30.While waiting in the deli line, pretend to read an invisible book - be sure to turn the pages.
31.Hold up a can of bug spray and ask someone what type of cracker would go best with it.
32.Shout out, "OK, who squeezed my melons?!"
33.If you see someone offering samples, keep circling like a shark and snatch snacks at each pass.
34.Invite other customers to join you in a game of limbo using a pepperoni stick.
35.Go up to a dead fish on ice, sob and say, "We were supposed to be married on Saturday!"
36.In the middle of one of the aisles, scream, "Food fight!"
37.Stand in front of the ice cream freezer, look intently at it, and scream intermittently.
38.Squirm around a lot and shout, "Quick - where's the hemorrhoid cream?"
39.Pick up bananas at random; act as though you're on the phone and say, "Sorry, wrong number!"
40.Point accusingly at one of the cucumbers and say, "I thought I told you to wait in the car!"
41.Holding a flea collar, ask a clerk how you get the flea to hold still so that you can put it on him.
42.Look for someone holding a jar of honey, and then explain that this is actually bee vomit.
43.Every time you pass a particular type of meat, imitate the sound of the animal.
44.Walk down the aisles like a turkey, while opening your eyes as wide as physically possible.
45.As you pass the lettuce, turn toward it, fold your arms and say, "You're out of your head!"
46.Pick up a jar of pickled pig's feet and - in a distraught voice - say, "Oh, no! It's Babe!"
47.As you pass people in the aisles, look startled and run in the opposite direction.
48.Bring a ventriloquist dummy and argue about what to buy for dinner as you go through the store.
49.Tell the produce clerk that the bananas are fighting again, and that they're all getting bruised.
50.Tell the manager to call for a clean-up in the laxative aisle.

I likie.   :)

first time meatloaf.

Meatloaf isn't something I grew up eating so its never been on my radar.  I decided to give it a try tonight and it turns out meatloaf isn't as nasty as it sounds.  Why couldn't it have a prettier sounding name though?  Tourtiere really got the better part of that deal.  This took about 5 minutes to prep - a really simple recipe.

Ingredients

1.5 lbs (about 0.65 kgs) extra lean ground beef (or ground chicken)

1 package onion soup mix

1/2 onion, diced (I didn't put this in but wish I had)

1 egg

1/2 c bread crumbs

3/4 c milk

pepper to taste

3 tbsp brown sugar

1/3 cup ketchup

Method
Mix everything except brown sugar and ketchup together in stand mixer. Transfer to loaf pan. Mix remaining ingredients together and pour on top.  Cook at 350 for 1 hr 10 minutes or until no longer pink on the inside.  Serve with a salad to counteract the meatiness.

Shepherd's Pie

I'm one of 'those people'.  You know, the one's who like to mix all their food together on their plate? Yup, that's me.  I don't care if my pasta touches the Caesar salad, or if I get gravy on my peas.  One dish meals, in my opinion, are fan-freakin-tastic.  I've made Shepherd's pie once in my life, and if I'm being honest, it was balls.  Tonight was attempt number 2 with a different recipe (a combo of 5 different recipes I found) and SUCCESS!  I'm pumped to have a lot of leftovers for lunches.

Ingredients
4 medium potatoes, peeled & cubed
1 package extra lean ground beef
1 cup carrots, chopped
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 onion, diced
splash olive oil
1 cup stock (chicken, beef or vegetable)
2 tbsp ketchup
2 tsp Worcestershire
1/2 c cheese, grated (I used mostly old Cheddar and a little fresh Parmesan)
sprinkle of garlic powder
1 tsp butter
2 tbsp flour

Method
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Peel, wash, chop and boil potatoes.  While they cook, add onion to a frying pan with the olive oil.  Cook until onions are clear. Add beef.  Cook until browned. Add flour and stir.  Add stock, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.  Mix and cook for three minutes.  Spread beef mixture on bottom of oven safe dish. Throw carrots and peas in microwave for 4 minutes. Spread them over the beef.  Once potatoes are soft, drain them and add butter, salt, pepper and garlic powder.  Beat with electric mixer.  Spread on top of peas and carrots.  Sprinkle grated cheese on top.  Bake for 15 minutes uncovered.  Broil on high for 2 minutes.  Serve! 
Serves 6 people

Pressure is on...

Valentine's evening was spent at home in my sweat pants and hoodie, cooking. The perfect evening - truly!  My husband was Mr. Sneaky Pants and sent me a dozen roses at work yesterday.  So romantic!  Pressure was on to make pretty amazing dinner.

The menu:

King Crab Legs with garlic, lemon butter

Roasted asparagus with crumbled goat cheese

fresh sour dough bread dipped in olive oil and herbs

Roasted Asparagus Ingredients

1 bunch asparagus, ends removed

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

salt & pepper to taste

goat cheese

Method

 Toss asparagus with all ingredients until coated.  Spread onto cookie sheet and cook at 425 degrees for 8 minutes. Plate and sprinkle goat cheese crumble on top.

Bertoldi's

The husband and I decided to hit the town for a lovely Valentine's dinner on the weekend to avoid the 'rush' on Valentine's day.  We tried out a place that we've never gone to before and we were beyond impressed.   We would highly reccomend everything we ate.  This is what we ordered:

Zio's Platter: A combination of freshly roasted porketta, prosciutto cotto (cooked) and prosciutto crudo (cured), calabrese salami, cacciatore salami, padano cheese, roasted green and black olives, cipollini onions, roasted cherry tomatoes, dry figs and Bertoldi bread sticks.

Ravioli: Pasta filled with spinach, ricotta cheese, fresh basil and served with our rich tomato or bolognese sauce.


Chicken Parmigiana: Fresh breast of chicken, breaded with a light Italian seasoned crumb and topped with mozzarella cheese.

The wine selection is quite extensive - I could have sat there all evening snacking on olives and drinking red vino.  I still believe that I'm a blonde Italian.  If you are looking for a place to go for dinner in the London area, Bertoldi's is fantastic and very reasonably priced.

Love is in the air...

Happy Love Day

I couldn't resist baking a batch of my favourite cookies tonight...

Taco Dip with Homemade Seasoning

A relatively last minute get together with my lovely sister and brother-in-law is happening here shortly to watch the Grammy's.   I needed a quick appetizer type recipe with items I have laying around.  I came up with a quick, make-shift  layered taco dip recipe.  There are a million and one recipes out there for this type of thing but this is what I created.  Hope it tastes good....

Taco Seasoning
Ingredients

1 tbsp. chili powder

1 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. crushed dried red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp group cumin

1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp. salt

pepper to taste

Method

Mix everything together. Wow, difficult eh?

Taco Dip

Ingredients
taco seasoning (see above)
1 package light cream cheese
3/4 c low fat sour cream
3/4 c salsa
1 cup lettuce, shredded
3/4 c old cheddar cheese, grated
guacamole (click HERE for my recipe)

Method
Mix taco seasoning, cream cheese and sour cream thoroughly.  Spread on bottom of dish.  Spread guacamole on top.  Pour over salsa.  Sprinkle lettuce and finish with the grated cheese.  Ideally this should sit for a few hours before serving to let the  spices activate and diffuse.  Serve with tostitos. 

fluffy pancakes

I woke up this morning and the second thing that came to mind was 'It's a pancake type of morning'.  The first thing that came to mind - -  flashbacks of high school lovebirds plastered up against the gym walls last night.  This lucky girl was a chaperon at our very eventful high school semi-formal.  Not only is it a pancake type of morning, it's also a Bailey's in my coffee to try to forget about last night, type of morning. 

I realize that I've posted a pancake recipe before, however that one is more of a crepe style pancake.  This recipe is great if you are looking for a traditional, fluffy type of pancake.  ENJOY!

 Ingredients

3/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons white vinegar

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg

2 tablespoons butter, melted

cooking spray

Directions

Combine milk with vinegar in a medium bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to "sour". Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk egg and butter into "soured" milk. Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until lumps are gone.  Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side.

Makes 8 medium pancakes

mac & cheese phone call...

Jill: "I have no clue what to make for dinner tonight"

Katie: "Homemade mac & cheese"

Jill: "Done."

If only meal ideas came that easily every time (that's what she said).  As mentioned in a previous post, Katie isn't much of a cook.  She has certainly redeemed herself with this recipe (if you can even call it that...). 

Jill: "OK can you tell me the recipe"

Katie: "Sure.  Maybe a bag of pasta, something like that. Cook it and put a layer down.  Sprinkle some garlic salt and pepper then put some dopples of butter, like 9 of them or something."

Jill: "Are dopples like cubes?"

Katie: "No, more like when you use a lath on a piece of wood.  The wood shavings that come off...those are like dopples.  9 of them.  Then sprinkle flour on.  Sort of like it's a light dusting of snow.  Add grated cheese and repeat until the dish is full. Oh yeah, and milk.  Maybe like a 1/2 cup or something."

As you can see, Katie is quite technical and exact with her cooking.  Props to Katie, because it turned out!  Here is how I translated Katie's 'recipe'.

Ingredients

6 - 8 cups cooked pasta

1 1/2 - 2 cups grated cheese

2 tbsp butter (I'd omit the butter next time- all that cheese provides quite of bit of grease...)
1 tbsp flour

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 cup milk

salt & pepper to taste

Method

Cook pasta.  In an oven proof dish (with lid) put 1/3 of the pasta in the bottom.  Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, pepper and flour. Add 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat twice more.  Add milk over top.  Cook covered at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.  Uncover and cook for 5 additional minutes.  Serve immediately.  I had it with ketchup. Yum!

Flu & Food.

I cheated. Again. But I have an excuse...

My husband just finished battling a bout of the stomach flu. I called home when I left work to see if he wanted me to grab anything he said "Chinese food". Hmm, ok - interesting choice after upchucking all day.  I didn't think Chinese take-out would mix very well with the stomach flu (MSG, grease etc.) so I decided to stop by the grocery store and grab some ingredients to make our own Chinese food.  The cheating part...packaged seasoning and frozen spring rolls.  I feel guilty.... but because of this I was able to whip up a 'homecooked' Chinese meal for the hungry hubster in a half hour.  Although the packaged seasoning was good, the sodium content was too high for my liking.  Next time I make Chinese food I will be making my own seasoning. The menu: beef and broccoli, chicken fried rice and shrimp spring rolls.  Although I used some processed items I'm fairly confident that my meal was far healthier and fresher than takeout.  My husband even said that he much preferred my rice to the takeout kind. Brownie points for both of us.

Beef & Broccoli Ingredients
1 package Beef & Broccoli seasoning
2 quick fry beef steaks (very thin!), cubed

1/2 onion, chopped

3/4 head of broccoli, chopped

Method

Over medium heat cook beef on frying pan until almost browned.  Add onion. Cook 3 minutes.  Add broccoli and cook until desired crispiness.  Add seasoning mixture (with correct amount of water and soy sauce) and cook for 2 minutes.  Serve immediately. 

Chicken Fried Rice Ingredients

1 package fried rice seasoning

2 cups cooked rice (whatever your favourite kind is. I used Basmati - YUM!)

1 chicken breast, cubed

splash of olive oil

2 eggs, beaten (that's what she said)

3 green onions, sliced (I used diced onion because I didn't have green - green would have been better)

1/2 c frozen peas

1/2 celery, chopped

2 tbsp soy sauce

Method

Cook up your rice. Set aside.  Over medium heat, cook chicken breast in a splash of olive oil in a large fry pan until no longer pink.  Add onion, peas and celery.  Push to side of pan. Pour beaten eggs on empty side of pan.  Break into tiny pieces as it cooks.  Add rice to pan and mix everything together.  Sprinkle on fried rice seasoning and add soy sauce.  Mix thoroughly.  Serve.

Balls.

My sister-in-law will gag when she reads this, but I'm 99.99% certain that peanut butter and chocolate is the absolute BEST combination ever. Care to challenge me and my highly valid statistic? In my opinion, every dessert should have some form of P.B in it. Today was yet another snow day for us teachers so I decided to try out a dessert that I've never attempted to make before. Peanut butter balls it was. Holy $&!^, these things are amazing!  I'm pretty sure I'll be dreaming of these balls tonight. (that's what she said).

Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 1/2 cups rice crispy cereal
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
*makes 2 dozen

Method

Melt peanut butter and butter in saucepan, over low heat. In large bowl, mix crispy rice cereal and confectioners' sugar well. Pour melted peanut butter and butter over cereal and sugar and blend together thoroughly. Form into 1 inch or smaller balls, spread on cookie sheets, chill till firm in refrigerator. Melt chocolate in double boiler (or microwave - but keep an eye on it! Stir often)  Coat balls with chocolate and place on cookie sheet and chill until firm. balls. firm. ha!