Winter Grilling

So I have had this small "George Foreman Grill for One" for about 4 years now.

I bought it when I lived in a small condo, and didn't have room to store anything.

Surprising, I've used it more than I expected.

It does pretty good chicken

and

AWESOME

Panini's!

I got this big daddy grill for Christmas.

Ok.. maybe it's not Big DADDY

but it is to me!

It comes with removable plates.. much easier than my little one to clean.

Now my 2010 goal is to actually get a real outdoor gas grill.

For some reason, I'm scared I'm going to catch the neighborhood on fire...

but it's a fear I plan on conquering this year.

Cupcake Cake Pan

I usually post my baking success stories..

but...

this

isn't of them

My nieces are 5 & 7, so I thought this would be the perfect cake for our belated Christmas Celebration this past Saturday.

 Look how adorable these cakes are!

(Am I the best aunt ever or what?)

Oh

my

GAH!

(***heavy sigh***)

Ok.. so..

HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU FROST THIS THING?

First, I trimmed both layers so that they laid flat on each other

I tried "piping" the frosting on the top spiral layer...

that was goopy and messy.

Basically, there is not a picture of the finished product because when it was done,

it was hideous... edible but not pretty anymore...

I gave the pan to my sister-in-law!

PW's Phyllo Mushroom Bundles

These are crazy delicious!

This was my first time to work with phyllo.

I did ok for my first time, I must say !

Click here to check out the recipe on The Pioneer Woman's website

A Gift for a "Domestic Goddess"

...which isn't ME..

but I really did need a new vacuum cleaner, so I was excited !

It cleans both carpet and tile..

YAY!

Here is my old vacuum

and

NO

it is not a dyson **heavy sigh***

it was $40 at Walmart when I bought it 2 years ago.

I loved it at the time - but who doesn't LOVE a new vacuum cleaner?

Now it clogs up and picks stuff up and moves it to other parts of the floor

but the worse thing..

it overheats which means you have to "vacuum" fast or you might not get one room completed..

(or at least have the dirt distributed equally across the floor - giving the appearance of clean since it has the "vacuumed" tread marks)

If you are looking for such a vacuum, let me know.. but hurry fast

I might put it on craigslist.

What To Get A "Foodie"

Rachael Ray's Expandable Lasagna Lugger

 in Green

It has 2 insulated levels.

This is the bottom...

...and this is the top...

I also got the lasagna dish as well.

Perfect Christmas present!

Another Great "Foodie" Gift

A Microplane "zester"...

This is one of those things I've been wanting.. and just never bought myself.

Well, I got it for Christmas

My life is now complete.

Strike a Pose

Is it a Gap Commercial?

No, just my son being a goofball.

Although, I believe everything he is wearing is from the Gap..

Christmas Day - PW's Potato Salad

We had Christmas dinner at my house

My stepsister brought the ham and my neighbors brought the pork

This is Pioneer Woman's (PW) Perfect Potato salad.

It is one of the best I have ever tried.

Click here  to go to PW's site for the recipe.

I made it exactly as directed.

except

I didn't have a fresh dill from the garden or a potato ricer

so I just mashed them the old fashion way

they were very creamy

and

fabulous...

(BTW - I do want a potato ricer now!)

Christmas Day - Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole

I made this on Christmas Day.

The recipe is courtesy of "chaos in the kitchen"

Click here for the recipe.

It is the best broccoli-cheese recipe I've made yet.

I was leery of the onion and celery,

but

OH MY GAH

I will forever use onion and celery from now on

I did change things up a little

I used a can of cream of chicken-mushroom soup and a can of cream of mushroom soup.

(I accidentally picked up a can of "Light Italian Wedding Soup" instead of the Chicken Mushroom..

Thank goodness, I had one of the staple cream soups in my pantry.)

I used also fresh broccoli

I ended up with more broccoli and rice than the recipe called for
so...

I compensated with extra milk and extra colby jack cheese

(because you can NEVER have enough cheese)

 To stay true to my love of cheese,

I even topped it off with more SHARP cheddar cheese

 

Christmas Day - Simple Spinach & Strawberry Salad

oops!

Forgot to take a picture of the pretty holiday salad

imagine red sliced strawberries on a bed of green spinach leaves

or

 click here

to get the recipe from Whole Foods

It is easy and colorful and delicious!

Test Kitchen - PW's Enchiladas Experience

PW's Beef Enchiladas

This is the first recipe I made out of The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook.

It was actually at the request of my son!
Test Kitchen consensus - Pretty Good!

I just let the corn tortillas get too soggy when I cooked them in oil and dunked them in the sauce, so they basically disintegrated into the dish - making this an enchilada casserole.

The following week, I have made PW's White Chicken Enchiladas!

I have been on a quest to discover the best Chicken Enchilada recipe.
This one is a keeper.

The last recipe I tried called for flour tortillas... and the "test kitchen" feedback confirmed that flour tortillas are just too thick and gooey for chicken enchiladas.


 I was so excited about this cream sauce, I had to take a picture.

Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture of the finished product.

If you click the link above the picture, you'll see PW's beautiful picture.