Merry Christmas

I just wanted to drop a line to say MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my awesome readers!  I hope you and your families have a wonderful time together.  If you are heading out of town, travel safe.  Enjoy every minute of the holiday and try not to get wrapped up in all the chaos and stress of it all.  Relax and enjoy one another.


PS: I learned a very important lesson this morning while trying to make a cherry cheese cake.  Heavy cream is whipping cream NOT  table cream. Dammit.  Back to the drawing board...

Taco Salad

A student suggested that we make taco salad this week for our food lab.  What a great suggestion!  It was a hit.  When I got home tonight I decided to make it for hubster because I knew he would love it.  I didn't have prepackaged taco seasoning or Catalina salad dressing so I made both from scratch.  I also used ground chicken instead of beef.  It turned out GREAT!

Taco Salad
1 Romain heart, chopped
1/4 cup salsa
1/2 cup grated cheese
1/2 lb ground chicken (or beef)
1 huge handful cheese Doritos, crushed
1/2 package taco seasoning *see recipe below for homemade seasoning
1/2 cup water
Catalina dressing to taste *see recipe below for homemade dressing

Cook ground chicken over medium heat until cooked through.  Drain fat if needed.  Add taco seasoning and water.  Simmer for 5 minutes or until liquid is almost gone.  Serve over salad that has been prepared with other toppings.  Enjoy!  My students really enjoyed this meal...so did my husband!

Catalina Dressing

1/4 cup ketchup 

4 tablespoons sugar

4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon paprika

Splash of Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup olive oil 

salt and pepper

Shake together in a mason jar.

Taco Seasoning

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

 

Power Through

Let's face it, life can throw us some pretty crappy situations.  Just when you don't think you can handle one other thing, that one other thing happens. The amazing thing is, you always get through it.  We are all capable of powering through the craziest $h!t and when you get to the other side you think 'whoa, how did I survive that?'. There are so many little things that seem to help me power through the B.S. Here are some of my favourite pick-me-ups in no particular order:

• A Starbucks beverage of any sort
• Snail mail
• A compliment from a stranger (or student!)
• My family!
• A pep talk from a good friend
• Going out for dinner with my husband
• Candles (Pine or pumpkin spice scents are my fav!)
• Going on a walk with my pup
• Will Farrell movies
• Flowers - my amazing Mother sent me flowers 2 weeks ago!  How thoughtful!
• Text messages in the middle of the day
• A dirty joke
• Red wine
• Music

For those of you going through a tough time right now try to do a few little pick-me-up things for yourself.  For those of you who aren't going through a tough time right now, do something nice for someone who is.  It quite possibly could be the pick-me-up that they need to get through...

~ Dr. Phil Jill
 

Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Crisps

I'm not one to shop at Metro.  I find the prices at 24 hour grocery stores to be outrageous but I only need two items so I ran in. On my way to the checkout I grabbed a box of crackers from one of those store front displays (I'm a sucker like that...that's what she said). They are fabulous! I think you might be able to purchase them at Food Basics as well (I will look next time I'm there and let you know).   They are Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Crisps and are Iresistibles brand (ain't that the truth!).  According to the box they are "Artian biscuits (ummm, whatever that means) made from the finest grains and seeds.  Excellent with cheese, dips or on their own." I agree!  They would be AMAZING with brie cheese.  A quick and easily transportable appetizer to bring to a holiday party.  I think the box ran me about $4.00.  Worth every penny.... they are gone already....opps....

 

3rd Annual Cookie Exchange

Last night was our 3rd annual cookie exchange with some lovely friends. This is my 2nd cookie exchange that I've been sick for. ugh!  Last year I had to make 6 dozen cookies while nursing the worst hangover of life and this year I'm working through a brutal cold.  I cannot even begin to tell you how brutal it was baking cookies last year when I couldn't even stomach water. This year was a much more enjoyable experience. I decided to make the same cookies and last year and ended up making 4 batches (about 90 cookies) of Chewy Ginger Cookies.  The other ladies made Pecan Puff Cookies, Peanut Butter Balls, Chocolate Almond Bark, Sugar Cookies and Rolled Chocolate Short Bread. A great variety.  I will eventually get the recipes for all of the treats. I've 'sampled' all of them and they are all Y.U.M.M.Y. and look pretty cute too!

Cabbage Soup

I'm currently fighting off my 2nd cold of the school year. blah. After doing some reading on natural health remedies I thought it would be good to put my leftover cabbage to good use.  Cabbage soup it is.  Here is some information I found....

"Health Benefits: Eating cabbage soup can also offer a range of health benefits. Cabbage is packed with nutrients. One cup of cabbage has nearly an entire day's recommended daily allowance of vitamin K, and half the amount of vitamin C you need each day. It also has plenty of fiber and B vitamins. As a vegetable in the cruciferous family, it contains plenty of phytonutrients, or beneficial plant chemicals that are useful for everything from cleansing our system of toxins to lowering our risks for a variety of cancers. In addition, cabbage can contribute to gastrointestinal health, and can be beneficial for a range of women's health issues."   Information from: http://www.ehow.com/list_5793708_cabbage-soup-benefits.html

Ingredients
1/2 small cabbage, shredded (or 1/4 of a large cabbage)
splash of olive oil
2 beef or chicken bouillon cubes
4 cups of water
1/4 of a onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Method
Over medium heat heat olive oil in a pot.  Throw in garlic and onion into pot and cook for a few minutes. Toss in everything else and simmer for 25 minutes.

Coleslaw

I eat pretty much anything except for weird meats (that's what she said). I certainly get every dollar's worth at a buffet. I love pasta, veggies, potatoes, fruit, breads, cheese, everything!  Last week while speed walking through the produce isles at the grocery store I realized that I've never bought a cabbage. Weird.  So I tossed one in my cart. Cabbage is one of the foods on my "indifferent" foods list along with pie, yogurt, stew and corn to name a few.  Tonight I had meatballs (found here) and decided that a coleslaw side would be a perfect compliment.

Ingredients
1/2 small-medium cabbage
1 large carrot
1/4 of a red onion
1/2 cup mayo
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
salt & pepper

Method
shred cabbage and carrot (I used my food processor).  Shred red onion much smaller then the cabbage and carrot.  In a bowl mix mayo, vinegar, mustard powder, salt and pepper.  Pour over cabbage, carrot and onion to coat.  Eat.

now....what to do with this leftover cabbage....

Winning X2

Last night this girl won her very own turkey!  That's right, a turkey! I found out that I might actually be relatively good at curling. hmm, who knew?! Closest rock to the turkey won!

 Mama, Jill's bringing home the bacon turkey for Christmas  this year... woot woot!