October brings some of our favorite things...baking...fall leaves...more baking...Fresh apples on the neighbors tree (which translates into fresh apple pie for us on the back fence). Many people may not realize this, but Glen is a pie making machine...He can whip up the best pie crust...His apple filling is delish. It is his duty each thanksgiving to make the pies. I can hardly wait. Hopefully I can find some Libby solid pack pumpkin.. I hear there is a pumpkin shortage and being that that is my favorite pie, it could be a crisis.
He has had a love for pie making ever since he was little and his mom would make pie for Sunday dinners..and we are talking almost every Sunday. He tried making his first pie right after we were married and we are happy to report, that he has perfected it in every way. I get to make the filling on all but the apple, but he gets all the credit, which is ok with me, because the crust really does make the pie. Jeffrey also makes a wicked apple pie, so apparently it has passed down to him.
Last weekend I was in Philadelphia for some PC training and a little sight seeing. Got to see the liberty bell, Independence Hall, Amish Land, Hershey (the parking lot because I was too sick to go on the tour) and I went to the top of the Rocky Balboa steps... Lots of fun and good training. Ready to get back to life and finish earning my trip for the year in PC. Plus, Ryan has his papers in for his mission, so we are in waiting...It will be a little crazy getting him ready to go, but we are so excited for him.
For dinner today there wasn't much excitement or experimenting, but it was comfort food at it's finest. We had a very simple chicken & rice casserole. It's quick and has the yummy corn flake topping which makes "funeral potatoes" the best.. I got this recipe from the cookbook that was put together from our friends and neighbors in our church. This particular recipe is a favorite from the Knierim family.
Chicken & Rice - Makes a lot.
4 chicken breasts - boiled and chopped
4 cups cooked rice
1 can evaporated milk
2/3 cups diced fresh celery
2 tbs dried onion flakes
1 1/2 cups mayo
3 cans cream of chicken soup
2 teas. lemon juice
1/2 stick of butter melted...mix in 1 1/2 cups crushed corn flakes.
Spray 9 x 13 baker with cooking spray..spread mixture evenly in pan. Top with crushed corn flakes. Cover and bake for about an hour at 350.
Last Sunday
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Better Late Than Never...
So, yes we have been living the crazy life... Over Labor Day we rented a big garbage trailer from the county and set about Laboring all weekend. Cleaned out stuff and tore down our back deck, which to be honest has needed to be replaced for about five years (by needing to be replaced I mean, actually a health hazard)...I really don't know what happened to the rest of the month, it just flew by.
On the 23rd, Nicole, Melissa and I went a little crazy and drove to California for the Epicenter festival, which is really just a reason for a lot of really weird people who love rock and roll to gather in one place. There were fifteen bands that pretty much rocked all of Irvine CA for 12 hours...It was so much fun. We loved watching all the weird people hang out..We pretty much stuck out like a sore thumb, but that's ok. Let's just say that the wacky weed is legal if you have a prescription and most everyone there had a "medical condition." I felt a little naked without any tatoos but hey, there is always next year...(just kidding)..I'm pretty sure I am going through my midlife crisis and that is why I am feeling the need to re-visit my youth by attending these concerts...I actually do like the music, which scares me even more.. After November I am taking a break from concerts for awhile (unless Nickelback or Skillet comes to town...or wait...maybe Brad Paisley or....ok, it maybe won't be too long of a break, but I'm going to try).
Our ward also changed boundaries and buildings so Glen has been super busy with church..thus the no cooking thing, because he kind of heads up the whole experimental cooking adventures...
With today, being conference (no actual church) He felt like hitting the kitchen again..Here is our latest food adventure...So, for years, Glen has hated Cafe Rio...When we go there, he never wants anything...Awhile back he was trapped there with some friends, so he ordered a side of tortilla's and some house dressing to dip them in. He loved the dressing, so this weekend we googled the recipe and gave it a whirl. I was excited too because we used the $200.00 food processor for the third time in like a year. The good news is that it's delish! Tastes just as good as the original and makes quite a bit...and it's pretty cheap to make too. We had to find the low fat tortilla's from Lynn Wilson (3 points on WW Plus) since Nic and I started Weight Watchers again last week. I would have used the light mayo from best foods, but Glen was in charge so I had to defer and count the stupid points when I ate it..I did get the low fat buttermilk...anyway, I digress.. So here is the yummy recipe...Since you can google it, I'm pretty sure it's ok if I put it on here..
Tomatillo Dressing
1 package dry ranch dressing mix (I used the cheap western family for .59 and it was just as good as the 1.79 package of hidden valley...just FYI)
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup mayo
2 small or 1 large tomatillo (found by the jalapeno's, kind of look like little green tomato's with skin)
1/2 clove garlic - minced
1/2 bunch cilantro - chopped
1/2 tsp lime juice
1/2 small jalapeno, seeds removed (wear gloves...lessoned learned)
Blend it all together in a food processor until smooth and not chunky. Let sit for a few hours in the refrigerator (if you can stand it...I had to try it right away)
I also experimented with the pampered chef's newest two tools...A simple slicer and the microwave chip maker...I never thought we would ever come out with that, but we did. I must say that the first time I tried it I wasn't impressed. However, now that I am on WW and pretty much have abandoned regular potato chips, I have a new outlook. One small potato (3 points) makes a lot of chips.. and once they sit for a little and finish crisping up, they are pretty tasty. You can sprinkle any kind seasoning...I like the sea salt the best, but season all isn't too bad either...lightly. Took about ten minutes to make one potato worth..
That's about it for now. I will try and post some pics from CA...They are funny.
On the 23rd, Nicole, Melissa and I went a little crazy and drove to California for the Epicenter festival, which is really just a reason for a lot of really weird people who love rock and roll to gather in one place. There were fifteen bands that pretty much rocked all of Irvine CA for 12 hours...It was so much fun. We loved watching all the weird people hang out..We pretty much stuck out like a sore thumb, but that's ok. Let's just say that the wacky weed is legal if you have a prescription and most everyone there had a "medical condition." I felt a little naked without any tatoos but hey, there is always next year...(just kidding)..I'm pretty sure I am going through my midlife crisis and that is why I am feeling the need to re-visit my youth by attending these concerts...I actually do like the music, which scares me even more.. After November I am taking a break from concerts for awhile (unless Nickelback or Skillet comes to town...or wait...maybe Brad Paisley or....ok, it maybe won't be too long of a break, but I'm going to try).
Our ward also changed boundaries and buildings so Glen has been super busy with church..thus the no cooking thing, because he kind of heads up the whole experimental cooking adventures...
With today, being conference (no actual church) He felt like hitting the kitchen again..Here is our latest food adventure...So, for years, Glen has hated Cafe Rio...When we go there, he never wants anything...Awhile back he was trapped there with some friends, so he ordered a side of tortilla's and some house dressing to dip them in. He loved the dressing, so this weekend we googled the recipe and gave it a whirl. I was excited too because we used the $200.00 food processor for the third time in like a year. The good news is that it's delish! Tastes just as good as the original and makes quite a bit...and it's pretty cheap to make too. We had to find the low fat tortilla's from Lynn Wilson (3 points on WW Plus) since Nic and I started Weight Watchers again last week. I would have used the light mayo from best foods, but Glen was in charge so I had to defer and count the stupid points when I ate it..I did get the low fat buttermilk...anyway, I digress.. So here is the yummy recipe...Since you can google it, I'm pretty sure it's ok if I put it on here..
Tomatillo Dressing
1 package dry ranch dressing mix (I used the cheap western family for .59 and it was just as good as the 1.79 package of hidden valley...just FYI)
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup mayo
2 small or 1 large tomatillo (found by the jalapeno's, kind of look like little green tomato's with skin)
1/2 clove garlic - minced
1/2 bunch cilantro - chopped
1/2 tsp lime juice
1/2 small jalapeno, seeds removed (wear gloves...lessoned learned)
Blend it all together in a food processor until smooth and not chunky. Let sit for a few hours in the refrigerator (if you can stand it...I had to try it right away)
I also experimented with the pampered chef's newest two tools...A simple slicer and the microwave chip maker...I never thought we would ever come out with that, but we did. I must say that the first time I tried it I wasn't impressed. However, now that I am on WW and pretty much have abandoned regular potato chips, I have a new outlook. One small potato (3 points) makes a lot of chips.. and once they sit for a little and finish crisping up, they are pretty tasty. You can sprinkle any kind seasoning...I like the sea salt the best, but season all isn't too bad either...lightly. Took about ten minutes to make one potato worth..
That's about it for now. I will try and post some pics from CA...They are funny.
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