I Got Nothin'

Please to enjoy this lovely picture of my hubby's flower. I think it's a fairy duster or something.

French Onion Soup

This is an Alton Brown recipe. It's super easy and uses only one dish (it's all made in an electric skillet).

It starts by sweating the onions for about 45 minutes in a whole bunch of butter. Can't go wrong there.

But then during the soup making part he has you add 10 ounces of apple cider. At first I thought I liked it okay..defintiely a little different from the usual onion soup. Then as I delved deeper, I decided it was definitely too sweet. So next time, I will decrease the apple cider and add more broth. I think with those changes it will be incredible.

Who am I to question Alton Brown? Well, no one really. Don't tell him, okay?

Pop Up Pancakes

I was looking for a German pancake recipe and got distracted when I ran across this instead from Make and Takes. The whole family seemed to like them, they are kind of on the egg-y side, but I guess that's what makes them puffy.

Get a load of how the shape turned out completely different in two different muffin pans.

Kinda strange, huh? But, the little cup shaped ones were perfect for holding a bunch of blueberries!

A Bunch of Things I've Made But Didn't Blog About

Catchy post title, eh?

This is the Gratineed Pineapple from the Noble Pig. It was the perfect time to make it since a local grocery store had pineapples for $1 each. I love pineapples in almost any shape, form, or fashion, and this didn't disappoint. My daughter and I were the only ones who liked it, but she didn't like the topping, which was the best part. Crazy girl child.

This pork chop is loosely based on Smitten Kitchen's crunchy baked pork chops recipe. I just couldn't bring myself to make my own bread crumbs and bake them when I had a perfectly good can of already made bread crumbs in my newly organized spice cabinet. Heck, I even knew right where they were. I did enjoy the addition of parmesan cheese to the breading.

I just love this sorta caeser salad from Rachael Ray. She makes it with grilled mushrooms on top, but so far I've just made it plain. The homemade croutons really make it (which didn't show up too well in the pic...maybe I had eaten them all already). It's extra good when I make it with a lemon stolen from my neighbor's tree.

I know I showed this cheeseball after New Years, but I didn't tell what's in it.

You mix 2 packages softened cream cheese with 2 tablespoons finely chopped onions, 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper, 1 eight oz can crushed pineapple (well drained), 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 1 tsp or so of Lawry's seasoned salt. Mush it all together and form into a ball shape, then roll around in more chopped pecans. Chill at least one hour before serving. Everybody will go nuts when they try it.

And these are the chicken and dumplings my husband makes for me (dontcha just love my Bear in the Big Blue House bowl?)

Sometimes it makes him a little grumpy.

Maybe it's from cutting out all these little dumplings. Maybe it's about time with another guest post from him so he can share his recipe.

Dorito Chicken

I'd call this one white trash meets Southwest. (hmm...much like myself) I'd also call it freakin' delicious. Found this one at about.com...here it is for ya:

2 to 3 cups diced cooked chicken 1 cup sour cream 1 can cream of chicken soup 1/4 cup finely minced onion 1 tsp. chili powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/2 cup grated Cheddar cheese 1/2 cup grated Mozzarella cheese 1 bag (medium size) bag of Doritos, crushed

Grease or spray a 2-quart casserole dish. Cover bottom of casserole with half of the crushed Doritos. Mix all other ingredients , except cheese ,and place on Doritos. Put remainder of crushed Doritos on top of this. Add cheese on top. Ready to bake ! Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes.

I think it would also be yummy with a can of those little diced green chiles in it, but didn't put them in there because I knew the kids would freak out.

BTW...I'm approaching my 100th post not too far away so I guess I need to be thinking of some sort of giveaway, don't I? I'm thinking candy. Can't go wrong with candy. Unless it melts in the mail. But it would still be good. Just get a spoon and quit your complaining.....sheesh!

And Now For Something Completely Different

You may have noticed the things I like to cook aren't necessarily "calorie conscious" or "figure friendly". I have, in the past, endeavored to consume things they don't make my ass quite as large. And when I was in that mindset I ran across someone called the Hungry Girl. Her website is chock full of ideas for lower fat/calorie substitutions and new products for people trying to lose weight.

I was very happy to receive her new cookbook as a Christmas gift this year. I had kinda had my eye on it for a while.

(is someone trying to tell me something?)

I hadn't had a chance to try any of the recipes because I've been busy cooking butter-laden, cheese filled monstrosities that are still residing in my arteries as we speak. (Well, maybe not, I've been taking my zocor.) I decided today was the day to give it a whirl and picked a yummy sounding recipe that only has 4 ingredients....that's my kind of cookin'!

(the pie filling was supposed to be light so I wrote it on there with a sharpie...that's okay, right?)

Ooey Gooey Chocolate Cherry Muffins

1 box of No Pudge Original Fat Free Brownie Mix

1 cup Fiber One bran cereal, crushed

2/3 cup light cherry pie filling

1/4 cup light vanilla soymilk

Preheat oven to 400.

In a bowl (duh) mix all ingredients together. Place batter evenly into a 12 cup muffin pan sprayed with Pam or lined with baking cups. Bake for 20 minutes.

I thought they turned out kinda pretty, were definitely easy. They had a nice fudgey consistency, and the cherries gave it a nice zing. And, when you slice into it you can see the fiber cereal in there like a bunch of little worms :)

Here's the nutrition info for anyone following along at home: Each muffin has....131 calories; 3.5 gm fiber, and ,0.5 g fat.

I doubt these low fat muffins will make up for the dinner I'm going to have that is probably worth 3000 weight watcher points.

Peanut Butter Cup Bars

When I saw this recipe at Must Love Chutney, I knew it was for me. Because I LOVE Reese's PB cups. What could be better than a homemade version?

Sure you could go out and just BUY a package of Reese's, but how can you be sure you'll really get close to a full cup of butter? You can't. And what assurance do you have that you'll be consuming almost 2 cups powdered sugar? None, whatsoever. Why take the chance? It's crazy, I tell ya! Just make these at home, consume the entire pan without sharing any with your family, and you'll be sure just exactly what your getting.

Seriously...it's so good, it made me a little weak in the knees. Or maybe that was the crash after the sugar high. Whatever, I'll take it.

Here is her recipe:

Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter

1 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1 cup peanut butter

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

To make bars:Melt 1/2 cup of butter over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in confectioners' sugar. Add peanut butter and graham cracker crumbs, stirring until creamy. Spread mixture in square (8x8" or 9x9") pan. Pat down evenly.

To make topping: On low heat in a saucepan add 1/4 cup butter and the chocolate chips. Heat until butter is melted, and chocolate is very soft, but not fully melted. Remove pan from heat, and continue stirring until chocolate is melted and shiny. Spread the chocolate over the peanut butter layer. Refrigerate 1/2 hour. Cut into squares.

I suggest doubling that....seriously.