Combo Fried Rice

This is fried rice with a twist....

In a large skillet place 2 T olive oil and then salt and pepper two chicken cutlets and fry until done.  Set aside and then cut into bite size pieces.  Meanwhile boil a bag of instant brown rice and drain.

While the rice is cooking, chop celery, onion and carrots and add S&P. In the same skillet (after the chicken is removed), add the vegetable mixture and the juice of an orange.   Stir fry until tender, and add in soy sauce.

Toss in the rice and stir fry, add in the chopped chicken.  Stir fry and taste, adding in soy sauce as needed.  At the end, stir in about two cups of baby spinach until it wilts.

Top with chopped cashews.  Serve up and enjoy!

As my husband said when he ate, this meal was like cashew and orange chicken mixed with a little stir-fry - and it worked!  The spinach was just an added touch of green for the holidays...:)

Thump Box

A friend's son had this cool device and showed it to several other guys were oohing and ahhing over it - because it's SO cool - it is a bluetooth speaker that turns any surface on which it sits into a loud speaker system!  Great gift idea for the guys...

Found it online...

Tea for Two?

Look at these unique tea towels for the holidays!  Llamas, ugly sweaters, and cats!

Super cute for yourself...or as a hostess gift! From Paper Source...

3-ingredient Mac n Cheese

My family requests this simple dish every time we eat together - and it's just three simple ingredients - a recipe I copied and learned from my grandmother...

2 bags large elbow noodles
10-12 slices Deli Deluxe American cheese slices
1 stick butter

Boil water and salt it, according to directions, toss in macaroni and cook until tender (not al dente.)

Prepare a 13 X 9 dish with pats of butter on the bottom.

Drain the macaroni well, and place half of them in the dish, layer with half of the cheese, then macaroni again, more pats of butter, and top with the rest of the cheese.

Heat in a 350 degree oven until the cheese melts and runs throughout the mixture...

It's really divine... Don't substitute any other cheese or any other noodle or any other step... :)

Trail Mix Deluxe

Trail mix is easy and a great snack for the weekend following thanksgiving...

Dried apricots cut in fourths
Dark chocolate chips
Salted edamame dried roasted
Walnuts
Sunflower seeds
Pepitas

Chilaquiles for Supper

Chilaquiles - that was the recipe - but I didn't quite have all the ingredients - so I improvised.

I used:

1 can chili
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
2 cups cooked stewed chicken (I bought this already prepared and cooked)
8 jarred jalapeno slices
5 green onions, sliced
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt

half bag of tortilla chips

sliced radishes
chopped cilantro
1/2 cup sour cream mixed with 1 T lime juice
lime wedges
fresh cherry tomatoes halved
avocado, chopped

In a food processor, mix all of the above half list of ingredients into a puree.  Heat 2 T olive oil in a 12" skillet partially covered for about 8 minutes.  While that's cooking, prepare all of the toppings.

Stir in the half bag of tortilla chips and the chicken, and gently stir, coating all the chips.  Serve immediately  on a plate and top with the bottom half of ingredients.

Really good!

DIY Lip Balm

What a cool gift idea for teen girls - a DIY lip balm kit!  It's from Uncommon Goods, a really unique website with gift ideas sure to please!

Hang Your Stockings

We bought one of these last year - they sit in front of your fireplace and they have hooks for your stockings - really pretty and affordable - and there are lots of choices for design!  All at Kirklands...

Holiday Salad

This is a great salad, one you can make a few hours ahead of time, and it's pretty for the holidays because it's red and green!

4 cups strawberries, halved
3 cups fresh blueberries (I used blackberries)
3 medium Granny Smith apples, cubed
1/3 cup lime juice
1/3 cup honey
2 T minced fresh mint

In a large bowl, combine the fruit.  In a small bowl, whisk lime juice, honey & mint.  Pour over fruit and toss to coat.

Weekend Bag

Over the next few weeks if you're traveling, you might need a bag - OR this would make a great gift for those on your list who travel - it's retro - it's vintage - and it's SO cute - two styles.

The Weekend Bag from Modcloth!

Tomato Soup

Tomato soup sounded so good for a fall dinner, so I used Pioneer Woman's recipe with a few notes below.

You can find the recipe here.

This was an easy recipe to make, so that was nice.  I don't have an immersion blender, so I used my upright one - be sure to only fill it no more than half full when blending hot soup - and hold on the lid - as it will spew everywhere if you don't!

The Parm toasts were easy to make and delicious with the soup - I'd recommend making them!

This makes a lot of soup, so I reduced the ingredients by a third.

And finally, it did need salt and pepper at the end - so taste it to see how much.

Enjoy!

Just Golden

I love World Market because there are always unique gifts to find there, if you just look.  They sell the Golden Books - the classics - AND they have these cute Golden Books juice glasses and plates, too.

For a super cute gift, put together a collection of a few Golden Books with a set of dishes to go with...

Hang it Up!

These two Christmas finds are so cute and...after all...it is almost time to decorate!

This garland is at World Market and it's felt with little pompoms hanging on each letter!

This advent wreath is only in stores at Target....

....and a chalkboard version!

Cauliflower Pizza

This recipe caught my eye because the crust for this pizza is cauliflower!  It's from the magazine Cooking Light and you can click here to get it...

Here are my comments on the recipe.

It takes an hour to make it, and there are lots of steps.  The cauliflower is really rich in taste, but the pizza needed more salt and pepper for flavor.

It was interesting and good, but I think if I make it again, I'll use a bit of marinara sauce, as it just wasn't as flavorful as I would have liked.

The idea of the cauliflower crust was pretty cool...and innovative...and delicious...once we got the spices right.

Try the recipe and see what you think.

Socks for Him

These funky socks are great for the men on your list who want something a little different...from Earthbound.

Salt & Pepper Please

Found these at World Market today and they had SO many cute ones to choose from - on sale for $4.99 each - so I got a few for gifts!

Look at these:

Leather & Metal Beauty

This group Mission Lazarus sells some of the most awesome leather and metal goods that are so unique and well made!  Check out these products, great for Christmas gifts - I've seen them, felt them, and bought them - they're great!

Apple Tart

This apple dessert was so easy and I was able to throw it together because I just happened to have all the ingredients!

Puff Pastry sheet thawed
3 gala apples, cored and sliced thin
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
juice of 1/2 lemon
Caramel sauce (I used caramel ice cream topping)
1/2 cup chopped pecans

This recipe is in my Pioneer Woman cookbook!

Preheat oven to 425.

Cut the pastry sheet into two long rectangles and place on parchment paper on a baking sheet.

Add the sugar, salt and lemon to the apples and toss well, let it sit a few minutes.  Arrange them layered, down the two rectangles. Bake about 20 minutes til the pastry is puffed and golden.

Remove to a platter, drizzle with caramel sauce, and top with pecans.  Cut into little rectangles and eat warm...

Stacked Dog

This Stacked Dog is a full meal and full of layers of flavor...

You'll need: (to serve two)

2 baking potatoes, sliced into long thin fries
Canola oil
Celery Salt
Grated Cheddar
3 Franks
Two hotdog buns
Chopped white onion
Yellow Mustard
Pickle strings (or relish)


Heat about 1/2 inch of canola oil in a frying pan and let heat while you slice the potatoes.  Careful not to crowd the pan, fry the potatoes in 2-3 batches, drain on paper towels and sprinkle with celery salt.

Meanwhile, toast the hot dog buns, and grill the franks (sliced in half lengthwise)

Spread mustard on the open faced bun, top with three frank slices, pickle strings, white onion and fries and cheese.  Serve with cherry tomatoes alongside!

Butternut Squash Walnut Spaghetti

This is super rich, super satisfying and super quick....

You will need:

1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 lb spaghetti
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 cup bread crumbs
2 T unsalted butter
2 T olive oil
2 T chopped parsley

Heat the olive oil in a skillet and stir fry all of the pieces of squash until tender and golden.  Set aside and keep warm. In same skillet add another T of olive oil and toast the bread crumbs, then set aside.Cook the spaghetti until al dente and drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

Drain spaghetti and add to skillet over low heat, with the butter, and toss.  Add in the walnuts, squash, cheese, bread crumbs and parsley, and water if dry.  Toss and then serve.

Enjoy this delightful fall meal!

The Best Sandwich

I ate lunch with a friend recently at Noble Pig here in Austin, and I ordered the turkey sandwich.  It was SO delicious I wanted to re-create it at home.

I tried and it really came out just as tasty and is now my favorite sandwich - all with such simple ingredients!

I toasted a bun (or you could use multigrain bread), then spread both sides with olive oil mixed with S&P for the dressing.  Next, I topped it with fresh deli sliced turkey, sliced cucumbers, sliced red onion and sliced cherry tomatoes.

That's it.  My husband and I both just shook our heads at how good it tasted without mayo or mustard or cheese!

Two Necklaces

I love the store Earthbound, because they always have some unique jewelry and other cool gifts. Right now on line, their jewelry is on sale...

This Festival Necklace is on sale right now under 8 bucks!

And this necklace isn't on line, but I found it in the store.  Pretty for sweater weather!

A Good Bracelet

My niece is a representative of Noonday and I just recently received this beautiful bracelet (from my brother - her dad) and I absolutely love it.  Their jewelry is always unique, beautiful, and your money goes to such a good cause...

Check out the Noonday line and order a few pieces for Christmas...

Boxcar Children

We saw this idea online but then my husband sort of made the idea his own...

We had two moving boxes and he made a windshield out of one of the flaps.  Next he cut a door in one, and a "tailgate" in the other, making one a car and one a truck.  We affixed two smaller boxes on the driver's side for their snack trays (like Sonic used to bring!)

Next, we used paper plates for wheels, bottoms of plastic cups and water bottles for headlights and tail lights, and gave them stickers to decorate.  Later we added a steering wheel out of a plate and a brad, so that it turns.  

They enjoyed these all day - and it was great - because it was a rainy one!

A Favorite Meal

One of my absolute favorite meals...

Here's what I had left in my veggie drawer and fridge at the end of the week:

carrots
russet potatoes
green beans
white onion
bacon
cheese (American)

Fry the bacon in a skillet (about 7 slices) and drain, reserving the grease.  While that's frying, dice veggies into same-size pieces and add to the skillet, along with 2 T butter.  Leave them alone to fry until golden brown, then toss.  Keep frying and stirring sparingly until all veggies are tender.  Season with salt & pepper and your favorite seasonings.

Turn heat down and place 3-4 slices of American cheese on the top, as well as the crumbled bacon.  When cheese is melted, serve and enjoy.

There is no meat in this dish except the bacon, but it's extremely tasty and satisfying...

Coats for the Tots

Shopping for coats for the littles?  Old Navy is having a sale in the store this week, and these coats were great prices for him and her, for the toddlers on your list or in your family!

The boy's is lined with tshirt type material and it comes in brown or green...

This little girl's peacoat is so cute front and back! (half off!)

Bean Burger Deluxe!

i've made veggie burgers/black bean burgers using several recipes and they've mostly fallen apart, which is so frustrating.

however....this recipe from Pioneer Woman worked - and it was delicious!

drain two cans of black beans and mash them with a fork, coarsely.

add 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs, 1/4 grated onion, one egg, 1/2 tsp chili powder, salt and pepper to taste.  then add in a few dashes of hot sauce, or i just used some salsa i had leftover.  let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.

prepare a skillet with 2T olive oil and 2T butter heated over medium low heat.

score the bean mixture into four equal sections and form patties a bit bigger than the buns you are using.

place them in the skillet for five minutes, till browned, and flip.  place swiss cheese slices on top and let them sit another five minutes to cook all the way through.

serve on buns spread with a mix of mayo and hot sauce, top with lettuce, red onion, and freshly sliced tomato.

we enjoyed these with hummus and pita chips!