Friday, November 27, 2009

I'm still full!

No cooking in our household today, just leftovers and more leftovers = yum! I really am still full! Yesterday was a great Thanksgiving spent visiting my family, previewing our wedding video, and me learning Catch the 5 or something like that;)

Recipes will come again Sunday. Right now, it's all about the leftovers, and shopping! I went back and forth all day about going out on "Black Friday" and finally about 3pm I did venture out - not bad at all, and the same sales as 5am! I ventured out again around 7:30 for some fake snow for our village, etc, and it was a little busier then, but still not bad. Maybe tomorrow I'll make it out before 3:00pm as I'm working on my shopping "plan" while watching Moonlight and Mistletoe:)

Enjoy the holiday season, everyone - take a minute to take it all in everyday:)

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!!


Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you are able to enjoy this day with family, friends, and lots of great food!! I think next year in my blog I will post t-day recipes leading up to Thanksgiving...how's that sound? Too late now! :)

Today and everyday I am grateful for my awesome husband, family, friends, my freedom, my returning health, and much much more - be grateful not only today but everyday, and don't be afraid to show it and speak it:)

Gobble Gobble!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve, everyone! The pumpkin pie is baking in the oven (about 6 mins left!) and I'm happily here writing from the warmth of my home - it's cold in New England today!

Anyways, I'm just making tacos tonight in preparation for Turkey Day - no, I'm not cooking tomorrow, but I don't want to make a meal where we'll have leftovers b/c I'm sure my family will send us home with a ton of them...and then I'll be looking for crazy turkey recipes!

I wanted to hopefully open up a discuss today about a few things:

1. Rachael Ray's cookbooks, specifically 30 minute meals - has anyone ever been able to really make one in 30 minutes? Do you find for most you have to go to a specialty grocery store to get some items? I'm, unfortunately, not a fan...

2. How/what is the best way to get rid of greasy oil when cooking something like hamburg in a fry pan? I've tried to do the whole lid covering the pan as much as I can, just tipping the pan, etc, but something always falls out. I read today that using a baster and sucking the greasy stuff out that way is the best - has anyone ever tried this? Any other suggestions?

3. Last one! Today when making my pumpkin pie, I had leftover filling (not just the filling from the can, but the whole mixture) - what do you do with it??

Happy Thanksgiving, and don't be afraid to show how grateful you are:)

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Fajita Friday!


Woohoo! We looked forward to Fajita Friday all week on the meal board!! For some reason, I am good at making fajitas, cookies, and omelets...strange;) Anyways, I usually make some sort of Mexican recipe once a week, as we love it (thank you $5 Mexican cookbook at Marshall's), but this is something I thought of that works!!

You need:

A type of protein - I usually use, and did use, stew meat cut into bite sized pieces this week. You can also use chicken, shrimp, any kind of fish, even pork I bet!
2 green peppers cut into slices
2 red peppers cut into slices
1 white onion cut into slices
brown sugar
hot sauce
chili powder
lime juice

Heat fry pan or skillet over medium high heat, adding about 1-2 tbsps of olive oil when heated. Add cut-up veggies first, as they will take longer to tenderize. After about 5 minutes of those cooking, add the meat. In a bowl, combine brown sugar and chili powder....but wait wait wait. I am usually the master of measuring things, but for whatever reason, with this recipe I am not...I use atleast 1/4 cup brown sugar, or more if I think it looks like it needs more, and I just sprinkle chili powder until I think it looks good - I'd say it's probably atleast a tablespoon. Stir this up and pour over the veggies/meat in the pan. Then start shakin' on the hot sauce, preferably Frank's Red Hot - again until it looks right to you. I use probably atleast 1/4 cup. Stir everything up and let continue to cook.

Once everything is cooked to your liking, either turn the temp up to high, and pour the lime juice over the mixture and watch it sizzle, just like in the restaurant, or if you have fancy fajita dishes, add the mixture to your fancy plate and then squirt with lime juice - it should sizzle just the same.

I think sometime I'll surprise the husband with fajita week, using all different kinds of meats/fish/veggies and see how he likes it...that might be a little much though;)

Anyways, once sizzling, turn off heat, add mixture to warmed tortilla wraps (I usually warm 6 at a time in the microwave for 25 seconds) and any other topping you may want (husband adds sour cream, I add avocado) and enjoy! YUM and perfect for a Friday night:)

Next - I'm thinking I might start talking about some cookbooks I like and some I just really don't like...I'll just say for now, sorry Rachael Ray fans! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and go Patriots!