Monday, October 26, 2009

storyteller cafe's corn chowder

can't say anything else, but yummy!!!!

2 ounces diced bacon
(part for garnish)
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon diced onion
10 ounces roasted corn kernels
8 ounces chicken stock
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
2 ounces heavy cream
6 ounces pulled
cooked chicken meat
4 ounces diced Yukon
gold potatoes
1 teaspoon chopped cilantro leaves (garnish)
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Sauté 1⁄2 of the diced bacon. When it is done, drain the fat, then add the garlic, onion and sauté until transparent, but not brown. Add the roasted corn and chicken stock.

Bring the soup to a low boil. In a separate sauté pan, prepare a roux combining equal parts of melted butter and flour. First, melt 4 tablespoons butter in the hot pan, then add 4 tablespoons flour using a wire whip until the mixture is smooth. Let roux cook until the moisture is cooked out. Allow roux to cool on stovetop.

Meanwhile, let the soup boil on low heat for 1⁄2 hour. Then add the cooled roux into the soup use a wire whip to incorporate the roux into the soup. After the roux is completely incorporated, constantly stir soup to keep from burning or roux from sticking to bottom of pan.

Add the cream, pulled chicken meat and diced potato. Let simmer for 1⁄2 hour.

Meanwhile, cook the remaining bacon until crisp. Drain grease and chop into small pieces. Place in separate container.

Take cilantro bunches and wash. Dry cilantro. Chop cilantro with no stems (very small pieces.) Place in separate container. As soup is done simmering, add kosher salt and black pepper to taste.

Place finished soup in hot soup bowls. Top with garnish of bacon and cilantro right in the center of bowl."

Friday, October 23, 2009

beef and broccoli

we had this for dinner tonight. quick and yummy!

Recipe Detail: "Beef & Broccoli
From: Campbell's Kitchen
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes

Serves: 4


Ingredients:


1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound boneless beef sirloin steak or beef top round steak, 3/4-inch thick, cut into thin strips
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Tomato Soup
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 cups fresh or frozen broccoli flowerets
4 cups hot cooked rice


Directions:


Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and stir-fry until well browned.
Stir the soup, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic powder and pepper in the skillet and heat to a boil. Stir in the broccoli and cook until it's tender-crisp. Serve the beef mixture over the rice.
Tip: To make slicing easier, freeze the beef for 1 hour.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with glazed baby carrots: steam carrots with a touch of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. For dessert serve chocolate ice cream."

Monday, October 19, 2009

i could walk 500 miles.......

actually, i walked three, but a mile and a half of it included carrying my little girl up the hill in west rutland to get back to the church.

we had the kosta walk for hunger yesterday after mass. noah is required to walk it, and toby could if he wanted to. amelia was going to stay with todd - that was the plan......BUT, mimi decided she was NOT going to stay with daddy.

we left church, and toby made it to the west rutland high school before he called todd. on the phone he was telling todd, "i could do it when i was a kid, but i can't do it now!" amelia hates her stroller, but she was doing good so i kept walking when todd picked toby up by the west rutland library. we turned by the cash market to start walking back to church and got to the town hall when amelia decided that she had enough.

called todd because the plan was to call if any of the kids needed a lift. where was he? on his way to the mobil station in center rutland to get toby a bagel!!!! i told him not to bother because by the time he got back i would nearly be back at the church. i was by the legion when he called, and i hung up on him. i was nearly done - for him to take her then would not have been worth it.

i carried her the rest of the way, and i couldn't breathe anymore when i got to the top of the hill. i felt like i was having an asthma attack! it was very scary. i know i am not in the best shape, but usually doing hills doesn't hit me like it did then.

needless to say, i spent most of the day yesterday not speaking to him. all is good today though. just a bit sore. no other side effects.

so, although i COULD walk 500 miles, i will stick with the three that i completed and call it a day!

Creamy Slow-cooker Chicken Recipe - MyRecipes.com

Creamy Slow-cooker Chicken Recipe - MyRecipes.com: "Prep: 10 min.; Cook: 4 hr., 15 min.
Pair this versatile low-fat recipe with Roasted Vegetables and Rice, or use in other innovative ways. Shred the cooked chicken, and toss with hot cooked pasta. Create a casserole or jump-start a filling for easy enchiladas or a fast pot pie. Or splurge and spoon this dish over freshly baked biscuits.
Yield
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
6 skinned and boned chicken breasts (about 2 1/2 lb.)
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 (10 3/4-oz.) can reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup
1 (8-oz.) package 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 (0.7-oz.) envelope Italian dressing mix
1 (8-oz.) package sliced fresh mushrooms
Preparation
1. Sprinkle chicken with seasoned salt. Cook chicken, in batches, in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 2 to 3 minutes on each side or just until browned. Transfer chicken to a 5-qt. slow cooker, reserving drippings in skillet.
2. Add soup, cream cheese, white wine, and Italian dressing mix to hot drippings in skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted and mixture is smooth.
3. Arrange mushrooms over chicken in slow cooker. Spoon soup mixture over mushrooms. Cover and cook on LOW 4 hours. Stir well before serving.
Note: For testing purposes only we used Good Seasons Italian All Natural Salad Dressing and Recipe Mix.
To make ahead: Prepare recipe as directed. Transfer to a 13- x 9-inch baking dish, and let cool completely. Freeze up to one month. Thaw in refrigerator 8 to 24 hours. To reheat, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and bake at 325° for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated"

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

rain, rain go away

today is crappy like my mood. mimi had a bad case of croupe last night. i hardly slept at all, and now, i am playing referee to two boys who really should know better. i have had enough!

toby was supposed to have soccer tonight, but the rain didn't help. not sure if they had it since the hour he was supposed to go it didn't rain at all, but i wasn't going to go and have amelia out in the rain and damp or the boys because i know they would get sick.

i am fighting another migraine - o, joy!

Sunday, October 4, 2009

happy anniversary to us!

even though he is in rosemont, illinois it was still a beautiful day. until, of course, the boys decided to play tackle football. yes, that can never turn out good! Noah pulled a muscle up near his heart, AND, since he is allergic to grass you can guess that it didn't turn out well.

he is convinced he is going to die. everytime he breathes in a big breath he says his heart hurts - really it is the pulled muscle. because, let's not forget, when you manhandle your little brother, you are not always going to come out of it unscathed! and, with rolling around in the grass and toby throwing grass on top of him, his throat got tight and he threw up.

but, let's not forget that last night he was going to die because he swallowed some of the shampoo.

i don't know how to help him with these fears - it may be time for me to call on doug again and just let noah go in and speak with him. not become a fixture on the couch which we can all see happening.

he has decided that his favorite new game is wii fit. now, for months before this it was baseball 2k9. he could not play another game but that one. heaven forbid toby want to play another game - it did not go well. so, now he is tracking ALL of his moves. everything. it is even written in a notebook because he wants to be healthy.

I can understand healthy, but above and beyond.......o, that is my boy, and i love him for every flaw and compulsive tendancy that he has. because for better or worse, he is mine. he is here - which is something i might not have had when he was born. so, as frustrated as i get with him, i love him!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

another rainy day

i have to say that i am sick of this migraine! it is time for it to go away. i am proud of noah though - he really stepped up for me today by helping out with amelia and toby. i was so sick this morning that i felt like i would throw up. he played with amelia so that i could lay down for a bit. it helped me to start feeling better.

monday cannot come fast enough after this week!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

october???

where has this year gone to?

day two of no sugar, and my head is SPLITTING! but, i know it is all worth it. i am especially proud of myself for not giving in to my stress with crazy eating.

it would be so easy to book tickets and get on that big airplane to chicago, but, i will not. i will stay here and keep the kids in school, and hold out hope that the weekend will be ok. i will just daydream that i am not here - do you think that will work???