So if I keep waiting to actually download the pictures off my camera onto the computer I may never post again. But my pictures never look as good as ya'll anyway.

Although it is back to 100 degree weather, the brief heat break and rainshower did wonders for my motivation. Last week the best thing I made (or the only thing I can actually remember) was the snapper in a foil packet. I put a snapper filet on a huge pile of red swiss chard, shallots, lemon slices, wrapped it all upand and threw it on the grill for about 12 minutes. I made a simple butter sauce that I put just a little but of truffle mustard in. Jon made some caldillo -i think that's what he called it. Its like the taco filling with ground beef, potatoes, and highly spiced but its sort of soupy. I love it!! 

This week so far -beans and greens on Monday night with some navy beans I cooked on Sunday, the rest of the chard, and some mini meatballs. Tuesday I made some really good stuffed shells using all my leftovers from the weekend -shredded, chicken, grilled squash, zuccini, mushrooms, homemade pesto, provolone cheese. All baked inside those big pasta shells and covered with more cheese. I was worried Jon and tony wouldn't like the pesto flavor cause I put 3 huge spoonfuls in but they gobbled it up. I am convinced anything with pasta and cheese is a winner so I will be trying the veggie lasagna soon. And last night was not so successful... I had 1 avocado, 1/2 jar bread and butter pickles, 1 peach, a handful of cheese-its, and a big glass of chocolate milk!  Jon and Tony had bratwurst and just stared at my strange dinner selection. I have some sirloin pieces that I thawed out so I hope to make something with that tonight but we'll see.

Meatless Monday

Eli beautiful Pics of your Can Goods! Can't wait to try them. Nothing clever today, but I made a good Meatless Monday Meal thought i'd share.

Zucchini and Spinach Lasagna:

1 8 oz,whipped chive cream cheese

1 15 oz ricotta

1/3 c fresh basil

1 tsp salt

4-5 med zuke thinly sliced use that mandolin ladies ;-)

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 10 oz pkg fresh spinach

2 cloves of garlic minced

6 no-boil Lasagna (i couldn't find this so used WW LASAGNA noodles)

1 7 oz pkg shredded mozzarella

Preheat at 425 stir together first 4 ingredients. Saute Zuke until lightly brown then add spinach until wilted add garlic cook 1 more minute. Then Layer your veggie, noodles, cheese repeat. Top Lasagna off with the whole bag of mozzarella DO IT! Bake covered 25-30 min then uncover bake 5-10 min more let stand and ENJOY.

There is sooo much cheese in this that the kiddos and men in your lives might enjoy - mine did.

Wishing you both Happy Cooking.

Heather

Pickles and such

Hello ladies!

We're back from vacation and I can't wait to get back into the kitchen and cook. Rudy and I made a deal to stay away from any fast food on our trip and I must say that we stuck to it! However we are a little tired of pub/brewery fare pizza and mexican as it was all that the little towns seemed to have. I do have to say that we did see a couple of Asian restaurants, but were a little nervous to try them in such small towns. Maybe next time.

So I have a few things to tell you ladies. First is that I am watching a little food network and just saw that The Pioneer Woman has a show that will debut on Aug. 27th. Should be worth checking out.

Second I guess I am going to have to make these cookies that Heather now calls C4. I am going to try a chocolate hazelnut cookie with Temple tomorrow, and may wait until Heather comes for a visit to try the chip cookies.

Third is that before I left for our vacation I got in the pickling/jam wagon. I made some blueberry jam that turned out pretty great. Maybe a little too sweet for my taste, but the girls loved it. I couldn't decide if I wanted to use pectin or not and ultimately added half the recommended amount and cooked the jam for a little longer. It turned out to have a good consistency.

I also made bread and butter pickles/jalapenos and some pickled zucchini. The zucchini recipe is from here:

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/quick-pickled-zucchini-recipe.html

I use a serrano by mistake, but I like the subtle heat it gives to the pickles. Great flavor without being to vinegery :)

I got the bread and butter recipe from smitten kitchen and I thought the pickle were OK. The tumeric didn't incorporate into the liquid. I am not sure if I should have let it cook longer or what. But the Jalapenos were AMAZING!!! I was standing in the kitchen eating them out of the jar trying to figure out what else to eat them with. I did can a batch so I can share them with you both!

here is the link to the jalapeno recipe: http://www.jalapenocafe.com/recipes/preserve/preserve_BreadButter.html

Tonight I think we are going to have beef and broccoli stir fry. I am now off to find some lunchbox ideas for T.

First grade!!!!! Where did the time go?

SISTERS INSPIRED DINNER

Tonight I made a SISTERS INSPIRED DINNER thanks to you both. The Menu Thai Chicken Tacos with Cabbage Slaw and Crack Chocolate Chip Cookies (aka Preggers Cookies). Stephanie you are not alone I've never heard of these cookies before why were we left in the dark for so long...seriously why these cookies are addictive. For the tacos, I marinated diced chicken breast in cilantro, red pepper flakes, fresh minced garlic, fresh minced shallot, a little fish sauce, soy sauce, and sirachia. A couple of hours later just cook the mixture in a skillet and set up your taco station. I had limes, sour cream, shredded cheese and tomatoes. I skipped a step and bought the pre-made cabbage slaw from the grocery store so dinner only took 15 minutes. We gobbled them up with the anticipation of the "drug" that was to come next - "C4" or Crack Chocolate Chip Cookies. With one bite your taste buds are confused and happy at the same time. The saltiness of the chips on your tongue draws you in wanting more and then BAM the sweet chocolaty goodness of the chocolate chips hits your mouth. There is a strange familiarity in these cookies and you will be hooked for life.

Other People's Pickled Produce

I wanted to follow up with my Pickling Adventures. So after a month in the fridge I cracked open the Pickled Cucumbers and Cherry Tomatoes and well they came out...OK, just ok, pretty vinegary is that a word? I will try it again and maybe even graduate to canning next year but you got to start somewhere. Anywho, I'm sad to say that my Garden is now DEAD thanks to a record breaking Heat Wave and I'm on to eating other people's pickled produce. Until next year. Heather

Pregnant Cookies

Aparently this is nothing new but I had never heard of it until yesterday. I had a customer come into the kitchen and he told me his baker makes chocolate chip potato chip cookies. WHAT!!! Come on you cannot tell a pregger that and not expect me to make some. Yes they were all I hoped they would be, sweet, salty, and chocolaty, the lightest crunch with a bit of softness in the middle. I think I had three or four. (FIVE) I would have taken pictures but I can't seem to get it together enough...So if either of you have some time make a basic batch of chocolate chip cookies and add 2 cups of crushed lays -YUM!

As far as dinner -We had flank steak last night, it was marinated overnight in pineapple juice, cilantro, onions, salt and pepper. Grilled it quickly and cooked it to about medium, I sliced it thin and served with corn tortillas, carmelized onions, and guac. I love anything in a corn tortilla!

Tonight I'm not so sure what to make.