Video: Sandwich Skewers

Last Wednesday, I posted my first video post demonstrating how to make an Apple Cider Ice Cream Float.  I had so much fun with that post, and all of the encouraging feedback, that I attempted a second post to share this Wednesday.  Who knows, it just may become this blog's Wednesday thing.

In today's video post, learn how to make a healthy football snack to bring to your next tailgating event.  If football isn't your thing, you could make these quick and easy sandwich skewers as an appetizer for your next party or just a few for a fun midweek lunch.  Enjoy!

Hopefully the volume issues have been fixed from the last post, but if you are having a hard time hearing this, please click in the lower right hand corner where it says "You Tube," and that might give you a better overall picture and sound.

Terror on the Trail

I mentioned in yesterday's post, that Trainer C has been keeping my husband and I busy.   So busy in fact, that I've been cardio-ing it up everyday.  I decided to change up the scenery a bit over the weekend and thought that walking a trail through a local park would not only be exercise, but ever so peaceful.  Here's what happened instead.  I learned why I, Lisa Mowry, have no business walking alone on a trail in a park.

Issue Number 1: I have seen FAR too many episodes of Dateline, 48 Hours Mystery, what have you.  I have seen the horrors (via my TV) of what can happen to a woman on a quiet walk through a park.  Therefore, this walk was off to a bad start from the beginning.  I was way, way too jumpy. 

Let's have a scenario, yes?  Picture it.  Sweet little ol' me, just trying to rock out to a little Flo Rida, when I notice 5 teenage boys closing in on me on the trail.  Ten minutes pass...and they are getting closer.  What's that?  Ten more minutes go by, and two more teenage boys appear.  Seriously, where are they coming from?  So now it's me and 7 teenage boys on the trail through what now seemed like creepy woods and not a peaceful trail.  As they close in on me, I turn down my music so I can hear their plot.  Then...they pass me by.  Apparently, they were a cross country team or something.  They clearly had no interest in running in the 90 degree heat, so apparently scaring me was a ton more fun.  Ok, in their defense, I really don't think they know how my crazy brain was working.  I'm pretty sure that they were oblivious to me altogether.

Issue Number 2:
Dear People with Killer Dogs,

I understand that you love them dearly, and that you whole heartedly believe that they couldn't hurt a fly.  However, they are in fact considered to be killer dogs for a reason.  In conclusion, if your dog is on the killer dog list, please keep a tight rein on the leash.  Other people, namely me, don't love to be pushed up against the side of a bridge by your deadly pet.  While I am a huge dog lover, I am also a lover of life.

Sincerely, Annoyed Lady Pushed Up Against Side of Bridge By Killer Dog.

Issue Number 3:  I love nature, really, I do.  Not in a "I want to go camping" kind of way, but more in a "I'd love to read a book on the beach" sort of thing.  So walking the trail had all the appeal in the world to me.  What I didn't plan for was a snake encounter.  Sure, said snake might have been overlooked by many to be a worm, but since I was in hyper-defensive mode, I was on guard for any and all attacks.  Even though my snake was just a little guy, I figured he must have a momma.  Since I was in a particularly overgrown area, I was extra spooked.  Ever since my neighbor told me that snakes can climb trees, I've been a tree spy.  So the remainder of my walk was spent looking for other snakes by both scanning ground and sky.

So what do you think, was I relaxed and in a peaceful state of mind at the end of this hour walk?  Not really, and for that reason, I'm sticking to sidewalks and indoor machines.  That is unless I have a walking buddy with me, and then all is well.  I don't think Dateline or 48 Hours Mystery has yet to report on "Trouble on the Trail" when there were two people there.

With all of that being said, clearly you can see that I'm taking what Trainer C is saying to heart.  I am trying my best to follow his plan...at least for this week.  So in sticking with this "no grain" theory, I made chili for dinner last night.  Oh what a chili it was!

Last night, I made Rachael Ray's Chipotle Turkey Chili with Apples and Cheddar (p.105 October edition of the magazine).  Before you count this one out because you think apples and chili sounds weird.  I hear you, I understand that theory, but really...it's not.

My friend M and her son came over for dinner last night.  She was a bit unsure of the apples in the chili bit, just as I was a tad unsure of the toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas).  We decided to make the recipe as written without changing anything.  We were both quite pleasantly surprised.  WE LOVED IT!  It really is a surprisingly delicious chili!  With 99% lean turkey meat, not only was it so tasty, but not even a tiny bit guilt inducing.  M and I give this 2 thumbs up each, and maybe even a big ol' high five.  Really guys, it's great stuff!  If you make this one, please come back and share!

FYI-To control the heat on this chili to your liking, remove the seeds from the chipotle peppers, and add in as much or as little of the chipotle/adobo mixture as needed to meet your desired heat level.

Link to Rachael Ray's Chipotle Turkey Chili with Apples and Cheddar Recipe

The Quest for Healthy

Thanks to everyone who watched my first video post!  I appreciate all of your kind feedback, and I'm thrilled to know that some of you enjoyed Apple Cider Ice Cream Floats this past weekend.

So, where have I been since that post?  Well to put it simply,  Trainer C got ahold of me.  Thankfully, he still doesn't know about my food blog, or he would really have not been thrilled about the whole float business.  However, he wants me to eat only protein, fruit, and veg for the week.  No grains, bread, pasta, what have you...the fun stuff.  On top of that, I've got what I consider to be a rigorous workout schedule.  Fun?  Not exactly, but I'm willing to give it one solid week.  FYI, I just passed the halfway mark on the week.

Today, I want to share with you last night's dinner.  If you are looking for something healthy to feed your family, I'd like to suggest Baked Tilapia with Avocado and Tomato.  I found this recipe online while searching for a recipe including avocados.  You see, the grocery store had them on sale for 39 cents each last week.  That is CHEAP when it comes to avocados around here, so I stocked up. Now I'm looking for grain free recipes to use them up.  

If you aren't a fish person but you want to be, I just want to let you know that tilapia is a great starter fish. It isn't fishy, and it's so easy to make.  For this particular recipe, you just olive oil the little fishy up, make a little rub of various dried seasonings, and bake.  While it's cooking, you make this sort of deconstructed guacamole.  My husband isn't an avocado fan, and he enjoyed the tilapia minus the "guac-ish" topper.  As always, tailor it to suit your taste buds!

I hope your week is off to a great start!  As for me, I'm off to the grocery store to get food for this week's recipes!  If you're looking for a little something fall-ish to make tonight, join me in making Chipotle Turkey Chili with Apples and Cheddar (from p.105 from the October edition of the Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine).  Recipe and post to follow tomorrow!  Happy Monday!!

Link to Woman's Day magazine's Recipe for Baked Tilapia with Avocado and Tomato

Video: Apple Cider Ice Cream Float

I thought in celebration today of my blog's 6 month anniversary, I'd try my first video post!  I hope you like it!

The Rachael Ray mag's Apple Cider Ice Cream Float is AMAZING!  I wish I had taken a bite on camera, I would have probably freaked out!  It tastes just like warm apple pie a la mode!!  Next time you have a hankering for some apple pie, save yourself some time and just whip up an Apple Cider Ice Cream Float!

Link to Every Day with Rachael Ray's Recipe for Apple Cider Ice Cream Floats!

Are You Chicken?

I'm going to keep the banter to a minimum tonight and just focus on the yum.  Tonight I prepared dinner again from the October issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray.  I made One-Pot Braised Chicken and Pears. 

I'm always on the lookout for a quick and easy way to prepare chicken, and this recipe definitely satisfies both criteria.  To add to its accolades, it is tasty, belly warming, and it makes the house smell like a Hallmark Christmas movie.

                                    

The link to the recipe is below, but first, I'd like to tell you about two change-a-roos I made to this particular recipe.  First, it calls for a  3 1/2 pound chicken that you cut into 8 pieces.  Here's the prob with that, I don't cook whole chicken cut up or otherwise.  I have a sort of chicken phobia for the most part.  This phobia can be pinpointed to a few close calls in the under cooked chicken department (EW!)  Another reason why this recipe was so great, braising left no fear of undercooking.  

My specific issue with whole chicken occurred about a year ago I suppose.  I had decided that I was going to make a good ol' fashioned roast chicken for dinner one night.  I went to the grocery store, bought one, and excitedly opened it to begin prepping it.  That's when I saw it...feathers.  There were still feathers on its butt.  Oh my gosh, just thinking of it now makes my stomach queasy.  I promptly threw out the chicken, called my mom freaking out, and stopped eating chicken all together for a few weeks.  A long story leading to the fact that I opted out of handling a whole chicken and used breast meat instead.

Change-a-roo number 2...this recipe called for brandy.  I don't have any, but thanks to the new liquor store going in down the street from the princesses preschool, I thought I'd pick some up on the way home from dropping them off this morning.  I pulled in, sat in the car for a few minutes and debated.  I couldn't decide...was it weird that I was going into a liquor store on a Tuesday morning?  Would I be less judged if it were a Saturday afternoon?  I decided either way, I needed the brandy, so into the liquor store I went.  

Now here's the super embarrassing part.  When I walked into the open front doors, I realized that the store wasn't quite open just yet.  Two men informed me of this, while quite possibly judging this suburban housewife.  I panicked and thanked them for opening a liquor store in the suburbs, so that I wouldn't have to drive downtown anymore.  I'm pretty sure I came across as a boozy suburbanite momma. So I almost told them about my blog, and that the booze were just for cooking, (in some sort of an attempt to try and defend myself) but I decided to pivot and dash.  I was out of there...brandy-less.  FYI-instead of brandy, I used apple juice, and it turned out just fine.

I know the appearance of this meal doesn't look
super appetizing, but don't count it out.  It's delish!

I'll have to say that this was a satisfying meal.  It gave you that good, comforting feeling like a steamy bowl of chicken noodle soup.  I served it with brown rice and a salad, and the whole meal was really great.  If you're in the market for a quick and easy chicken recipe too, give this one a try.  It's definitely going into my comfort food file.

Link to Every Day with Rachael Ray's Recipe for One-Pot Braised Chicken and Pears

Got Any Plans?

How's life going in your world?  In my world, life seems to finally be settling back into a routine.  After a busy summer and our typically revolving door of visitors, life is calming down for a bit.  While I love hustle and bustle as much as the next gal, I also love quiet times at home with just my family.  While I'm enjoying this time of quiet, I know life will pick up to super busy again before I know it.  Things never stay quiet for long around here.

In thinking about the rest of the year, I think about the holidays.  I just love them!  I feel like the last part of every year is the best part!  First the fun kicks off with my birthday celebration in September, then comes Halloween in October, somewhere in there fall shows its pretty little face, then there's the Texas Tornado's birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  I know you are thinking that I forgot New Years, but I didn't.  I can't stand New Years.  It's the party crasher, the ender of fun, the party pooper.  When you wake up in the new year, there's no more holidays for awhile, it's winter (BOO), and all you can think about is the fun you had gaining all of your new found holiday weight over the past few months, and you spend the day formulating a plan as to what you are going to do about it.  Bummed you out, didn't I.  Sorry!

Since the bummer new year isn't looming for awhile, I say let's focus on the fun!  I'm a planner by nature.  I love things planned as far in advance as possible.  Clearly motherhood has thrown a kink into my planning many a time, but still, a planner I am.  Since I already know that I'm going to be hosting a house load of people for Thanksgiving, I say no time like the present to start testing out foods for said occasion.  

Today, I cracked open my beloved Rachael Ray mag.  Why is the October edition beloved you ask?  Buy it, turn to page 140, and wonder no more.  This week I plan on trying some of the recipes from it.  Today's food trial is a delicious, belly warming treat, Pear and Parsnip Bisque.

Important things to know...I love anything bisque!  Thick and creamy soup?  Yes, please! Second, I had no clue what a parsnip looked like.  I should have google searched its image before grocery shopping.  Of course the parsnips were all piled in with other things I don't know really well.  I was pretty sure it was the white carrot looking thingy, but I had to find and ask the produce guy to be sure.  I'd love to know what he was thinking, because his face sure said a lot.  I think he thought, "This poor inexperienced 'cook' is going to torture her family with whatever she plans on doing with those parsnips."  Certainly I can't say for sure that's what he thought, but it is a fair account of what his face was saying.  To save you the trouble, it is indeed the white carrot looking thingy.

I couldn't find the recipe link online, so I'm going to give it to you below.  Why?  It's that good!  

Ingredients: 

• 4 TBSP butter
• 1 bunch scallions, sliced
•  4 cups cubed parsnips (I peeled these, but it didn't say to.  I would though)
• 1/4 cup white wine (I love recipes that encourage me to open up some wine!)
• 2 cups broth (I used chicken)
• 2 comice pears, chopped (these are red pears/FYI-I peeled these too.)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

In making this bisque today, I cut it in half.  The recipe yields 6 servings, and that was plenty more than I was going to need.  Everything I'll give you (ingredients, directions) is the full recipe, not my reduced version.

In a large saucepan, melt butter.  Add the whites of the scallions and the parsnips, then cook for 8 minutes.

 Add the wine, the broth, and 1 1/2 cups of water, and bring to a simmer. 

Reduce heat and cook for 8 minutes; add the pears and cook for 10 minutes.  Puree with cream, season with salt and pepper, and finally top with the green part of the scallions.

This soup was surprising for many reasons.  For one, I didn't know what to expect from parsnips.  Also, it was relatively little prep work, or so it seemed because the girls were happily entertaining each other.  It was rather effortless to pull together.  It made the house smell fantastic, just like Thanksgiving.  Lastly, it was delicious.  It was a delightful bisque.

I hope you give this one a try.  I felt good serving this one to my family.  I like to take a break from always having meat every night, so this was a simple, hearty alternative.  Who knows, maybe it will make it into your Thanksgiving lineup this year.

Hope everyone had an awesome weekend!  Here's to a great week full of delicious eats!

Can You Forgive Me?

Since I gave you a less than appealing fall food option in my last post, I'm seeking forgiveness in today's offering...Brown Butter Pumpkin Bread.  Am I forgiven?  If you're not sure, make this, taste this, and then perhaps you'll be a forgiving place.  If nothing else, you'll ideally be in a fall place.

Speaking of a fall place, yesterday was the closest we've come to anything fall-ish around here.  It was 60's in the morning and 70's in the afternoon!  Such a difference from the 100+ at the beginning of the week.  Sure the highs for the weekend are in the 90's, but who cares! It's not 100 anymore.  I say, bring on the pumpkin!

If you're feeling pumpkiny or fall-ish this weekend, I suggest a loaf (or 3 mini loaves) of pumpkin bread.  It could be just the gateway into fall you've been looking for!

 Link to Fat Girl Trapped in a Skinny Body's Recipe for Brown Butter Pumpkin Bread

As a total aside in reference to the cracks in the earth from the last post, did anyone see on the national news where a puppy fell in one!  Thankfully that sweet little pup was saved and is fine, but seriously...these cracks are that big!  There's a chance of rain in the coming days, so here's to hoping the earth can repair itself quickly!  

Hey Fall, Can You Hear Me? It's Texas. We're Ready For You!

 Yes, those are deep cracks in the earth.  This is our reality in Texas.  After the hottest summer on record, with little rain to speak of, this is Texas.

 Grass is beyond dried out.  What looks like fall leaves on trees, are just dying trees.  It's sad.  In many parts of the state, wild fires are/have been devouring land and homes.  What we really need is rain and LOTS of it.

I took all of these pictures today on my morning run.  They tell the sad tale of a brutal summer.  The above picture shows a dried up creek near our home.  The girls love to go there, especially the 4 year old princess.  She loves to look for minnows and snakes.  Yes, 2 snake "friends" used to call this home.

Where is everything going?  This nature walk has always been fun for us because we could find bunnies, fish, and armadillos (alive ones, really...they do exist!).  Lately, it's such a bummer.

Besides dreams of rain and prayers for the fires to end, I think about fall.  I know, I'm probably boring you at this point with my fall obsession, but I just really need some fall around here.  It was 100+ again yesterday.  Really, the middle of September and it's over 100.  Happily, that little CBS cutie says that there's a cold front coming...and RAIN!  Yeehaw!

What's a cold front for Texans?  Well, a high of 83, that's what's projected for tomorrow.  After the summer we've been through, that describes a cold front for us.  What's it like where you are?  Is it actually starting to look and feel like fall yet?  If so, we Texans are super envious.

Since I can't force fall to show up around here, I did my best to be fall-ish today.  First, I lit my Pumpkin Spice Yankee Candle and cooked up a little fall meal for lunch.  Sure it's hot outside, but inside with my air conditioner I can pretend that it's not.  Today's lunch was Pumpkin Cheddar Mac n' Cheese.

WHAT?!  I know that's what you loyal readers are thinking.  Way back in March, during the first week of this blog's existence, I attempted Rachael Ray's Philly Cheesesteak Mac n' Cheese.  It was, in a word, heinous.  I believed in that moment that the American institution that is the ever wonderful mac n' cheese should never, ever be tainted again.

So what happened to my mac n' cheese belief system?  Well, yesterday I was doing a little warm up on the treadmill at the gym, and low and behold the Rachael Ray show was on.  The Pumpkin Cheddar Mac was her recipe of the day.  Something about watching it all unfold before me, coupled with a little carb rebellion, a little nugget of curiosity was set in motion.  When I got home and looked the recipe up, it turned out that I had the majority of the ingredients on hand.  In this moment, from that little nugget of curiosity came a plan.

How was it?  Eh.  On behalf of the recipe, I will say that I didn't use the ground mustard because I didn't have any.  Can't say if that would have helped or not.  Truly, I can't classify it as heinous like I did the earlier mac, but it wasn't that great.  Neither of my kids wanted anything to do with it.  I tried to sell it to the 4 year old princess as "a marriage of pumpkin pie and mac n' cheese."  This only yielded a confused look and "huh?" from her.  I can say this about the recipe.  It tastes EXACTLY like what you are imagining.  Pumpkin...and...mac n' cheese.  If that sounds dreamy to you, go for it.  If not, it's okay by me if you pass on this one.

If any of you do give this one a whirl, please come back and share your thoughts.  I think my mac n' cheese belief system is still intact.  I had a momentary lapse due to my curiosity nugget, but that moment has passed.  I will now be seeking fall foods in other forms.

For Those of You Curious...The Link to Rachael Ray's Pumpkin Cheddar Mac n' Cheese Recipe

Birthday Love

I love my birthday. Ok the actual date isn't super fabulous, I'll give you that.  However, the birthday love rocks!  My parents flew in from Florida to spend my birthday with me, and that was awesome!  Having extra people around celebrating you is always a great thing.  Having extra people around to help eat a giant cake is a plus too.

Besides the fun of having my parents in town, my husband and girls treated me like a birthday queen.  I love being the queen!  They got this queen the most fantastic of gifts too!  My long, long awaited pretty red Kitchen-Aid mixer!  That's right, 28 year old me is forgiven.  I got my mixer!  Yippee! My parents got me the ice cream maker attachment, so now this wannabe cook is ready to go!  

The first thing I made with my new mixer?  My birthday cake.  Some may think it strange for one to make one's own birthday cake.  However, a brand new cook like me is always itching to make/bake something!  Why not my own birthday cake?  Plus, I couldn't wait to take the ol' mixer out for a spin.

I hear ya asking...what kind of cake did I make?  Senorita Mix-a-lot (the name of my new mixer...yes, I name stuff. That's what I do) and I made a 4 layer lemon cake with lemon curd buttercream frosting topped with strawberry swiss meringue buttercream frosting.     G-O-O-D stuff!

I saw this recipe on a blog I've cooked from a time or two before, and I knew it was the one, the only, my birthday cake.  I mean really, just look at the glorious guts of this cake!

 I have included the link to the recipe below.  Her pictures of it are absolutely amazing!  I would have probably taken more pictures, but we were so busy with the candles, the singing, oh and the eating, that I kind of picked celebrating my birthday over a cake photo shoot.

I will say this about making this big, fancy birthday cake, I sooo felt like Buddy the Cake Boss.  I wanted to be Buddy.  I think I channeled my inner Buddy about the moment I made the lemon curd buttercream and it was divine.  I thought, "hey, I'm good."  I felt equally awesome when I rocked the strawberry swiss meringue buttercream.  Also, the cake itself was actually the perfect amount of lemon.  For once, I nailed the right amount of lemon zest!  Way to go Birthday Me!

I believe I hit a new level of success in nailing this spectacular cake.  If/when you go for it, be sure to have many a pal around to help you eat it.  It's a biggin'!

Link to Recipe from "Fat Girl Trapped in a Skinny Body" Lemon Layer Cake with Strawberry Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Remembering

It's been 10 years, can you believe it?  Sunday, we will remember a most horrific event in our nation's history.  A moment that divided time into a "pre 9/11" and a "post 9/11" world.  In one single day, everything shifted.  What was that day like for you?

Everywhere you look this week, there are various shows and documentaries to help send us back to that day, that Tuesday, September 11, 2001.  Like many of you, I am recalling that day, and with those recalled memories, remembering the emotion of that day, and that period of time thereafter.

To be honest, I woke up that morning incredibly self focused...incredibly.  You see, it was the morning of my 25th birthday.  I had been a bit uneasy about that birthday for months.  It felt like a slippery slope to my 30s, and I so wasn't ready for those.  So I started that day, excited on one hand that it was my birthday, but a bit bummed on the other hand that I was now officially 25.  See, I told you...incredibly self focused.

That September, I was a first year elementary school teacher.  There are plenty of challenges that go along with a teacher's first year in a classroom, but none compare with what that day or the days following would hold.  I taught in suburban Orlando, which is on EST, just like New York and D.C.  As our school day was beginning, the plot of that day was grimly unfolding.

Ring! Ring!  The phone call that changed it all.  A fellow co-worker and one of my student's parents called scared and shaken.  She began rattling over the phone what was happening.  She was terrified.  Here I was, barely 25, trying to process what was so quickly being shared with me over the phone.  She told me that the school didn't want the children knowing, so I couldn't say anything.  Can you imagine being told the events of 9/11/01 as they are happening, and be unable to do anything?  I couldn't talk to the 25 4th graders in my room, I couldn't even talk to another adult.  I was just expected to keep it in until school got out.  It was a very long, very hard day.  That sweet co-worker did give me a quick break so that I could call my family, which was incredibly kind.

What's amazing to me, is what kids know.  I was surrounded by 25 9-10 year olds, and from the climate of the school they knew that something was very wrong.  The tear stained eyes of the staff, the whispers, and the children who one by one were picked up by their parents until only a few remained.  Those remaining were frightened, and I told them that some sad things were happening in the world, but that we were safe at school.

Well you know what, 25 year old me got over herself really fast that day.  Once the horror of the day unfolded, I knew turning 25 was a blessing and not something to dread.  What was happening to people and families all over our nation was so tragic.  I don't think I can ever dread a birthday again, because I will always remember the deeper meaning my birthdate holds.  Like you I'm sure, I'll never forget that day.

As you watch and remember this weekend, I want to offer you a bit of comfort food.  I know that even though I will again be celebrating my birthday with my family, I will still need a bit of comfort watching all of the 9/11 shows.  What I want to share with you is an easy chocolate croissant recipe.  Comforting, right?  It's wonderfully easy too.  I've been making these the past 2 weekends, and I'm addicted. I realize that this violates the "no carb" business, but if I'm going to eat carbs, you can bet that they will be delicious!

The recipe link is below.  All you need is a sheet of puff pastry, or 2 if you want to double it, some chocolate chips (I only use like 5-6 chips per croissant and believe me they are chocolate-y), egg wash, and some salt...please don't forget the salt.  The magic of salt and chocolate together might be the reason why j'adore les croissants!  Remember to defrost your puff pastry overnight, or you will be anxiously waiting a long time the next morning.  Mix up a batch this weekend, snuggle up with a quilt and some coffee, and remember your 9/11/01.  Treat yourself to a little comfort, you are SO worth it!

Link to Completely Delicious' Easy Chocolate Croissants Recipe

Chocolate, More Chocolate, and a Trainer

So, I was just looking over my most recent posts and a funny thing occurred to me.  They have all been about chocolate.  You may have noticed this, but I hadn't.  There's the chocolate cake from GNO, the s'more whoopie pies, and the most recent brownie s'mores.  Where do you think all of this chocolate has landed me?  That's right, the gym.

Now that both girls are in preschool, I thought it would be really fun for my hubby and I to spend our mornings working out.  Ok, maybe really fun in a bit of a stretch, but with all of this chocolate, let's just call it necessary.  I even got us a trainer, Trainer C.

Today was our first day busting it out at the gym as a couple, and Trainer C gave us little mercy.  See, I thought it was going to be somewhat easier than it was, and now, I can barely walk across the room.  Trainer C is even a funny fellow.  He's so funny in fact, that he believes in limiting carbs...well, really no carbs.  I'm still reeling from this, as I'm not sure how he feels about all of the chocolate I've just ingested.  Here's the thing though, I'm not telling him about this blog, because I don't want him to know what a naughty little trainee I've been.  That's right, I've still got the brownies, but proudly I passed on one today. Matter of fact, I even gave this "no carbs" business a good solid run today...we'll see what tomorrow holds I guess.

So tonight, rather than telling you about my grilled chicken and veggies, I'm going to share with you a meal we had over the weekend.  Back in a little time where cream sauces were possible...

This meal comes from the most recent issue (October) of the Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine.  If you've got one handy, I say crack it open to page 140, and you can see some of the yummy eats from this blog and the sweetest Texas Tornado you ever did see.  Ok, back on topic...there's a section about chicken in crock pots.  I, for one, am a huge proponent of anything crockable (def. "able to be crocked"). The very first little chicky number caught my attention immediately (page 125), "Melt-In-Your-Mouth Tarragon Chicken."  Dreamy, eh?  I couldn't find a link to it online, so I'll summarize it for you below.

To make the chicken: 

Put 4-5 oz. of chicken broth into a 6-7 quart crocky pot.  In a small bowl, combine 4 TBSP. of dijon mustard, 1 tsp. of salt and 1/8 tsp. of pepper.  Rub this mixture all over 4 lbs. of bone-in chicken (skin discarded).  I need a disclaimer here to state that I used a little over 2 lbs. of boneless chicken breasts instead.  Need I say why?  Bulk shopping at Costco, of course.  Place the chicken into the crocky and top with 3 cloves of finely chopped garlic and 2 TBSP. of chopped fresh tarragon.  Cover and cook on LOW for approximately 5 hours or until internal temp. reaches 165 degrees.

To make the sauce:

Once the chicken is cooked, transfer it to a plate and cover to keep warm.  Then strain the juice remaining in the crocky into a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer over high heat.  In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup of heavy cream and 2 TBSP. of cornstarch.  Whisk this mixture into the saucepan and watch the saucy magic happen, translation=cook until sauce is thickened.  Stir in the juice of 1 lemon.  Then pour this sauce over the chicken.

To finish it off:

In a small bowl, combine the zest of 1 lemon, 1 TBSP. of chopped flat-leaf parsley, and 1 TBSP of chopped fresh tarragon.  Top the chicken and sauce with the zesty herb combo.

I paired this meal with some brown rice and fresh broccoli, see Trainer C, it wasn't all carby.  Oh, except I did forget the giant 3 foot loaf of wonderful french bread.  Oh, those were good days...

How'd it taste?  Well, pretty good.  I'd like to think for most folks, it was fantastic.  However, I have had little success when it comes to cooking with lemons.  Everything I make comes out too lemony.  I think I know what happens too.  I just cannot be trusted with a zester.  I go absolutely wild!  I'm always afraid it will be bland, so I lean too far the other way.  I thought this time might be different though.  Whatever lemon was called for, I put in half.  Still though, if money were riding on it, I'd blame my zesting.

Even with my over lemony meal, my crowd still ate it.  The best part you ask?  The leftovers.  It was one of those rare meal treats, where the leftovers were actually more tasty than the first round contender.  Always a welcomed and pleasant surprise!

Lastly, and this is top secret stuff here...no one, and I mean NO ONE, tell Trainer C about the big 4 layer birthday cake I'm baking myself this weekend, got it?  Oh, and it's a 4 layer lemon cake, so this ought to be interesting!!

And The Winner Is...

Congrats to Karen!  You were chosen (at random, via random.org) to receive a 1 year subscription to the Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine!  I hope you enjoy it!  I will be contacting you via facebook, so that I can get your information.

Thank you again to everyone who reads and supports this blog!  You are all appreciated!  Thank you also to everyone who participated in this giveaway!

I'm off to get the princesses ready for their first day of preschool!  First though, this mommy needs a big tall coffee...

Good-bye Summer, Hello Preschool

While my calendar shows that there are still a couple of weeks left of summer, it still somehow feels as if today is it.  Labor Day, summer's grand finale.  Tomorrow in the preschool world, summer is over and school begins.

Big things are happening around here too folks.  Big things!  The Texas Tornado is off to preschool tomorrow.  It was a game time decision, but it's really happening.  That sweet Tornado is off to conquer and destroy new places, starting with her preschool classroom.

I'm actually a tad bit more concerned for her teachers, than I am worried about her.  Here's the thing, she went into meet her teachers on Friday, and she ended up charming the room.  She pulled out every adorable stop, and the entire room ate it up.  Even other kids' parents were sucked in.  My husband and I looked at each other in disbelief.  "Is this really happening?" I thought.  She managed to wrap the entire room around her baby finger in minutes.  My biggest concern, you ask?  Well basically, that they have no idea what's coming their way.  Honest to goodness, she's the cutest, sweetest thing, but she is called the Texas Tornado for a reason.

As for the 4 year old princess, she couldn't be more thrilled to be going back to school.  School is her thing.  She's ready to read, write, learn spanish, whatever they've got...she's ready for. If driver's ed were available, she'd take that on too.

Art education is a biggie in preschool circles, and let me tell you...she's quite the artist.  I would classify her as more of a realist than an abstract artist.  For example, she was drawing a picture of me, her "sweet momma" this morning, and low and behold, she captured my essence.  When she held up the picture as proud as can be, she pointed out all the beautiful work she had done.  "Look momma, there are your pretty blue eyes, your lovely red lips, and your big zit on your chin."  Me: "Thanks sweetie, that's really good work."  Lovely, one for the scrapbook for sure.

Since we are bringing summer to a close today, we had to send it out in style.  How you ask?  S'more style.  While I still have many a s'more bridge to cross, I had to have a ceremonial sayonara s'more to kiss Texas's hottest summer on record good-bye.

Today's s'more I decided to make a bit outside of the box.  I still utilized the graham cracker bottom and topper, however the guts of the s'more are where things go off the beaten path.  For what typically would be a Hershey bar, I replaced with a Betty Crocker Triple Chunk (made with Hershey's syrup) brownie.  For the usually fluffy white marshmallow, I used a Chocolate Royale flavored mallow.

Here's the end result, a s'more-ishly wonderful adios to the hottest summer both Texas and I have ever endured.  I raise a brownie s'more toast to you for a fantastic school year and a super dee duper fall!

The October issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray is technically suppose to hit stands tomorow, but I've already heard that it is out already in some locations.  I have been enjoying the pictures and emails from those of you who have already picked up a copy.  I appreciate all of your support and your celebration with me, as this blog and I enjoy a little space in that issue on page 140.  Thanks again for reading and for your support!  I love you guys!

Super Dee Duper September

Super Dee Duper!  That's the latest word/phrase the 4 year old princess is sneaking into our vernacular.  She uses it as a happy replacement for "very."  Things can be "super dee duper exciting" or "super dee duper fun," even "super dee duper great!"  If you're not careful, you too will find yourself using this phrase by the end of this post.

I have to admit that "super dee duper" has already seeped into my brain.  Let me tell you that it is adorable coming out of a 4 year old's mouth, and ridiculously immature coming out of mine.  With that being said, please forgive my momentary immaturity.  I am SUPER DEE DUPER excited that it's September!!

                                        Source: midwestliving.com via Lisa on Pinterest

What's so fantastic about September?  Oh where to begin the list?!  First, let's start with Starbuck's.  I love Starbuck's fall flavors.  One pumpkin spice latte?  Ah yes, that'd be mine.  It's my unofficial kick off to fall, my absolute favorite season.  A good solid 3 months of consuming all things pumpkin: pies, lattes, waffles, pancakes, muffins...mostly carbs I suppose.

Second, typically it means cooler temps.  That's no different for us, the tortured folks of Texas.  We are actually getting a cold front this weekend! OH YEAH!  Our highs starting this weekend, will only reach the 90's!  While this comes with a small dose of sarcasm, people here are really excited.  The words "fall" and "sweater" are actually common around here just thinking about it.  After 65+ days of 100+ degree temps this summer, and high of 93 may actually require a sweater for us.

I could go on, probably forming a Letterman worthy Top 10 for my love of September, but I'll spare you and round it off with my third favorite thing about September...my birthday.  Yes, most adults outgrow their love of their birthday.  I have yet for that to happen.  I'm really thinking that it never will.  I absolutely LOVE it!  While I'm always a fan of gifts, it's the cards, emails, etc. that are my favorite.  I love hearing the kind words from all of wonderful people in my life.  It's a time where I feel more loved than ever, and who wouldn't love that?

Ok, I like the gifts too...  Matter of fact, I just woke up to an early birthday gift this morning in my inbox.  A sweet college friend, who heard my cry for help in the last post, sent me a Williams-Sonoma gift card with the message that I can go and pick out some bakeware/cookware to help stock my kitchen.  Thank you S, you're awesome!

What's your favorite season/time of year?  What makes you happy?  If you can't answer that one for sure, get in your car, drive to Starbuck's, order a pumpkin spice latte, and ponder it.  If by the end of said latte you still haven't decided,  I say join me in my love of fall.  If you're still not sure, go back to the counter and get a pumpkin muffin.  Really guys, fall...it's super dee duper!

Click here for a chance to win a 1 year subscription to the Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine.  Must enter by Monday, September 5th!