What I love, What I do, (from the Kitchen): October 2010

Friday, October 29, 2010

"Spooked"

Our family likes to do these type of activities, kind of a "Pay it Forward" type things. Each year we take several plates of goodies to various parts of our neighborhood and leave the Spook on the porches. It is fun to see it spread and go from neighbor to neighbor. This year has been a little disappointing because the ghosts have only moved a couple of places. I think the economy has had a part in that.. Never the less it is fun to sneak around and get it started.

You've Been Spooked

These treats are for you and Halloween too.

This game is real fun, so here's what to do!

Just think of a neighbor, or think of a friend

We'll do the whole town before Halloween's end.

Make them a surprise or a really cute treat

Keep it a secret and they'll think you are sweet!

Put it on their porch (include this poem)

Smile to yourself and get quickly home!

The faster you do, then there's more of the fun

There's a lot of people to cover before Halloween's done.

Hang this ghost in your window when you are through

So everyone can see it and join in the game too!

There is not time to waste, Halloween is near.

Find someone quick and spread TRICK-OR-TREAT cheer!

After Halloween is over we look forward to our plans for Secret Santa's (My neighbors don't even know I blog so this doesn't make me worry about getting caught. ) It helps make the Holiday's so even more meaningful.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Mummie's Halloween Party

Halloween is such a fun time!

Natalie made the cute invitations for our get together.

The Gourmet Guy and I were able to have most of our family at our home for a little Halloween party. Because I am going to be gone when Harry Potter comes out next month I combined some of the ideas that I had for a party I wanted to do with Halloween.

I thought for a snake this guy turned out pretty cute. The Gourmet Guy and I had a lot of fun making this. We simply took two bundt cakes and cut them to fit into the shape that we wanted. Frosting him took more time and frosting than I planned or wanted but I was very pleased with the end result.

These wands were super easy I just dipped some pretzel sticks into melted chocolate and then sprinkled the top with Halloween colored sprinkles. I put them in the freezer for about a half an hour, just long enough for the chocolate to become solid again.

We had chocolate frogs, cinnamon devils, candy corn and pumpkins, M & M's, chocolate covered bat droppings (raisins), and an assortment of mini candies.

Natalie and Rebecca made these cute cute cookies as well.

This a spider bread raising for dinner.

These are also spiders, just melted chocolates with chow mein noodles topped with M&M's for the eyes. I also placed these in the freezer for a short time.
I had planned on doing calzones or "pizza benders" for dinner with everyone making exactly what they wanted in them. But in the interest of time we bought Pumpkin Pizzas from Papa Murphy's, we'll do "pizza benders another time!

After dinner we started the fun this is Rebecca's masterpiece.

From Natalie's family, the cannibal pumpkin.

And from Jessica's family.
The invitation stated that no one would be admitted to the party without a costume.

Count Gourmet Guy taking a bite out of the "mummy," too bad my costume kept slipping on me.

Muse even stopped by to join in the fun! Cameron was Chris, Rebecca was Dom and Rachel was Matt. They seriously like this band, some more than others.

Natalie's family aren't they cute!

Jessica's family. I felt so much safer with a police man and a strong cowboy there to protect us.

Just had to do a close up on this little kitten, she is such a doll.

This little Tigger kept us laughing the entire evening!

I can't believe he's turning one this week.

It was such a fun evening I wish the whole family could have been there.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Cakes for Little Girls

Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street

Belle from Beauty and the Beast

I have made a cakes for a couple of friend's daughters this past month and have tried a new style of decorating from a picture. I prefer to cut a cake to shape it and then just cover that but this has also challenged me artistically. I still have a long way to go, especially when it comes to faces, but the cakes turned out fun and the girls liked them!

The Pantry

The pantry can be a life saver if it is well stocked and can help when you just don't know what to fix for dinner.

As I have made meals over the years I have stocked up on things that are common in my recipes so all I have to do is shop from my shelves. It is easy to come up with things quickly when you have supplies on hand. It may seem like a lot to have on hand but these are some of my pantry/storage staples and if you build slowly it isn't oppresive to purchase. Watch the ads and sales in your local stores.

Canned/Storage:
Tomato Sauce
Tomato Paste
chicken broth
beef broth
tuna
chicken
corn
olives
beans- kidney. canellini, black, refried
dried beans, red, white, pinto, split peas
creamed soups, mushroom. chicken. celery
tomato soup
bean with bacon soup
rice
flour
sugar
favorite spices
variety of pasta's
peanut butter

Freezer:
chicken breasts
bone in hams
chuck roasts pork roasts
pork chops
lean ground beef
ground turkey
Itailian sausage
vegetables

Refrigerator:
milk
eggs
butter
Tillamook cheddar cheese
Lowfat mozerella cheese
sour cream
cream cheese
mayonnaise
miracle whip
ketchup
mustard
half and half
cucumber
lettuce
celery
carrots
apples
limes

Pantry Shelf:
onions
avocados
tomatoes
garlic
potatoes, red and Idaho russet

Home Canned Items: (I love to can!)
tomatoes
chicken breasts
green beans
salsa
chile sauce

Favorite From the Pantry Recipes

Lauri's Italian Sauce

3 bottles whole tomatoes (4cans approx. 1 lb size)
2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
3 8 oz. cans mushrooms

3 T. dried Oregano
3 T. dried Marjoram
3 T. dried Basil
1 ½ T. dried Thyme
T. Fennel (optional)
dried onion or two chopped fresh onions
2 T. minced dried garlic or 5 cloves fresh garlic minced (if using fresh onion and garlic sauté them in olive oil until transparent and then add the remaining ingredients)

Combine all of the above ingredients and bring to a boil, simmer on low heat until thickened. (I usually simmer it for several hours)

Meat Sauce

4 lbs, lean ground beef
2 chopped onions
2-3 cloves garlic, minced

Brown the meat and add the onion and garlic and cook until tender. Add to the marinara sauce and simmer.

Sour Cream Enchilladas

Mix
4 lb. hamburger
2 onions, chopped
6 carrots, grated or chopped
1 or 2 green pepper chopped
2 T. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1/4 t. garlic salt

Brown beef and drain, add prepared vegetables. Cook until tender and drain, cool.*

Add to hamburger mixture
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/4 oz. can green chili's chopped (more if you want a little more spice)
1 c. sour cream
1 c. milk
Monterey jack and cheddar cheese grated (to your taste)
corn tortillas

Fill corn tortillas with meat mixture. Place seam down in a 9x13 baking pan. Layer with sauce and cheese. Bake at 350 for 25 mins. This can also be served lasagna style in a casserole dish. This saves time rolling the enchiladas. It just depends on how you want the dish to look on the plates.

*This meat mixture is great to use for other things as well, it can be used to make sloppy joes, tacos, or with other ground beef recipes. It is a great way to add more vegetables to meals with out children or picky eaters even knowing. Just freeze into portions in a zippered bag and thaw when you need a quick meal.

Tips

Always fill your sink with hot soapy water and wash as you go. This helps to keep the mess under control. (I love to cook to I really hate to clean up after!)

When you fix rice for a meal make extra and freeze some of it in a zipper bag. With this premeasured rice it is easy to do a quick thaw and serve or add to other ingredients for a quick and easy meal.

Post a shopping list where you can find it, when you run out of something simply write it down and teach your family to do the same. You are less likely to be caught off guard when you are making your favorite dish.

Make a menu and include your shopping list. You spend less time in the store when you have a plan. When you make more trips to the store you simply spend more money. Having worked with a large grocery chain I learned some of the tricks used to get you to buy more. Be prepared when you go!

Shop the Ads. Make your menu out with the ad and use the shopping list. Most people don't have time to run from store to store getting the best deal on just a few things. When you compare and find the best prices it saves you time, money, and gas.

When making dishes like lasagna, manicotti, chicken pot pie, and many casseroles make two at the same time and freeze the second one for rainy day or a sick friend. It takes little effort to make the extra and it can be a big bonus in your freezer.

Tomatoes should not be stored in the refrigerator but on your counter top. The cold causes them to break down and turn mushy.

If you need to ripen your avacados faster place them in a small paper bag with a banana or apple. The gas that they put off causes the avacado to ripen faster.

Don't store onion and garlic together because the garlic goes bad faster from the gas emitted from the onions,

Applesauce Spice Cake

2 c. sugar
1 c. shortening
2 c. thick unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
2 t. cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
1/2 t. cloves
1/2 t. allspice
1 t. salt
8 t. baking powder (that's right)
3 c. flour
1 c. nuts chopped (optional)

Cream together shortening and sugar, add eggs. Mix dry ingredients and combine both mixes. Spread on to a sheet cake pan and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Frosting:

½ c. plus 2 T. butter
5 c. powdered sugar
2½ t. Mapleline flavoring
3 T. milk

Soften butter and combine with remaining ingredients, spread on top of cake.

This is good to take to Pot Luck dinners or large gatherings. I would also freeze leftover cake in individual servings for my kids after school or when they needed a quick, small snack.

Zucchini Blues

Took it for granted
When it was planted
That I had just enough

Now during my days
I'm trying new ways
To use up all this stuff

My basement is crammed
It's been jellied and jammed
Make into bread and cake

It's been chopped and sliced
And grated and diced...
There's nothing else to make!

I've baked it and planned it
Boiled and canned it
And frozen all I need

I have had my fill
There's too much... and still
It's growing like a weed.

(After going away for a week I came home to find six zucchini that were bat size in the garden. Seems like the kids didn't look as hard as they said they did! So I thought of this poem. Anyone need some Zucchini?)