Food Friday

I have to admit, I found this week challenged me foodily and not in a good way. I could never quite get on the same page as my menu and I found that my kitchen just wouldn't stay clean. Throw in the rain and 40 mph gusts of wind, and it's just been one of those weeks. Case in point: I have a carpet runner in the washing machine because Husband couldn't get Mandie out the door fast enough this morning. I don't know if you can actually wash a carpet runner in the washing machine but Maternal Unit suggested the delicate cycle, so we'll see what happens (apparently, I'm way too lazy to track down my Little Green machine). I did manage to come up with some edible items, so here they are in all...their mediocrity.



Slow Cooker Ham

We're a total turkey for Thanksgiving, ham for Christmas family and I only make my ham in the slow cooker. I also ate the piece with all the crispiness on it. It was delish.

Husband devoured this ham, which I glazed with my own homemade glaze. Okay, are you ready for this? Are you sure, because it's complex. Take a half cup pineapple juice and a half cup brown sugar and put them in a saucepan and bring it to a boil, stirring continuously, until thickened. Pour over ham. I know, I'm totally full of myself.

So this year, I went very low key. Instead of making everything myself (short of growing whatever veggie I decided to make), previous holiday food had all been from scratch. This year I had to work 12 am to 8 am at The Hotel, so I knew I wasn't going to want to cook when I got home. So it was corn from a can, brown and serve rolls from Safeway and the mashed potatoes were from scratch. Because I make the best mashed potatoes. Just ask anyone (who values their life).

source

Once a week, I end up having to work back to back shifts at both jobs and with the need to get enough sleep, I don't have the time to really cook, so we have a Freezer Food day. That's right, I buy frozen entrees and myself an extra hour hour of sleep. This week, we had Margaritaville Calypso Coconut Shrimp, which were quite tasty but don't expect Red Lobster perfection here. The biggest plus, though, was the abundance of sauce they give you. One packet totally sauces 12 shrimp and I'm a huge double (okay, triple) dipper. Kudos on the sauce Margaritaville!

Out of the frying pan and ready for the oven

I will say, though, while this week was particularly humdrum, I did conquer one of my fears: frying food. *wild applause here* I am deathly afraid that I will somehow spark the Apocalypse by frying anything. However, when I came across a recipe for Taco Bell Mexican Pizzas at Fantastical Sharing of Recipes, I couldn't resist. The Taco Bell inspired grilled stuffed burritos had been such a huge success, I thought, why not try to recreate the whole menu?! (okay maybe not the whole menu, but at least the stuff I like). Anywho, I used a whole pound of ground turkey versus a half pound, so I turned mine into double decker Mexican pizzas.

Whatever the Spanish is for "eat me," insert that here.

These were really good, except you wouldn't know it from Husband. Unbeknownst to me, he'd picked up something to eat (from Taco Bell, ironically enough) right before coming home. Well, all was not lost, as I've now popped my frying cherry (wow that really does read just as disgusting as it sounds and yet I can't bring myself to delete it). It's like a whole new world for me.

So, did you try your hand at something new this week? Flambe perhaps or maybe making ketchup from scratch?

Food Friday

This Food Friday post almost didn't happen. I started my new job yesterday (yay me!) and my next shift is at midnight tonight, so be thankful that Sears is supposed to be bringing my new washer and dryer or you'd be reading this tomorrow. On Saturday. Which isn't Friday and so loses something in translation. So, enjoy and make sure to check out the What's Cooking page click on the links or see below for the actual recipes.

 Sunday: Au Gratin Taco Bake

Everything goes into a pot and then into the baking dish.

Add cheese.

Best served with sour cream.

 Monday: Cheese and Mushroom Quesadillas with Mexican Rice

Rice and onions smells delicious when cooking.

Sauteeing up the 'shrooms for the quesadillas.

Add cheesy goodness.

I despise cheesy goodness leaking from my quesadillas, so I improvise.

Sour cream is a perfect addition the cheesy goodness.

Tuesday: Carmelized-Garlic Chicken from Betty Crocker Chicken Tonight

Garlic and chicken

Topped with provolone cheese (dare I say it? cheesy goodness)

 Wednesday: Mexican Lasagna

Another everything into the pot and then into the pan. Topping corn tortillas.

Add another layers of tortillas, salsa and cheese.

Not photographed with sour cream but you can believe it was there.

Thursday: Well we were supposed to have the Chicken Pot Pie from Cooking Nibbles but since it was my first day at my new job (yay me!), we opted for McD's. Hopefully, next week I'll be able to bust out this recipe.

TUESDAY-Carmelized-Garlic Chicken

(from pg. 131 of Betty Crocker Chicken Tonight)

Ingredients:

4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 tablespoon canola oil

2 teaspoons packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 water

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast halves

slices of Provolone cheese, halved

Directions:

(note: the original recipe calls for slices of tomato, Havarti cheese and basil to top each piece of chicken. Husband hates tomato, I didn't have Havarti so we (I) improvised)

Cook garlic and oil in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, just until garlic begins to turn brown. Stir in brown sugar until melted. Sprinkle salt over chicken. Add chicken to skillet. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, turning once, until brown. Add water. Cook over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until chicken is glazed and no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut and liquid has evaporated. Chicken will be golden brown. Watch carefully to prevent scorching. Top each chicken piece with cheese (or tomato, cheese and basil if you so desire). Cover and heat 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Food Friday

Now that we're moved in and settled, I was able to plan and execute a menu. It was glorious and since I can only run the dishwasher about once a day (I have to walk Melodie while the dishwasher is running or else she shakes like a leaf the entire time it's going), there was a little creativity in the cooking process. Without further ado, Food Friday.

Friday: Chicken Alfredo Pizza

Pizza crust from scratch with garlic butter

Ready for the heat

Time for my close up

Golden delicious

Might have taken every pot/pan in my kitchen but so worth it

 Sunday: Bacon Cheese Frittata

Cheesy eggy goodness

Perhaps it needs more cheese.

Done!

It was good but not great. Husband suggested adding hash browns, proving that he's more than just a pretty face.

Monday: Parmesan Corn Chowder

Pacific Northwest Comfort Food

Tuesday: Easy Mexican Chicken and Beans from Betty Crocker's Chicken Cookbook

Beans, Mexi Corn, Rotisserie Chicken, Taco Seasoning...any questions?

This sound became an oozing delicious mess on my plate. That'll teach me to buy tortillas somewhere other than Costco.

Wednesday: Cheese Turkeyburgers

I kind of made this up as I went along

Topped them off with Havarti cheese

Thursday: Bacon, Mushroom and Extra Sharp Cheddar Potato Crusted Quiche from For the Love of Cooking

Potato crust

Every body into the quiche!

Not burnt, just overly done (stupid oven).

Biscuits and quiche.

All recipes will be posted on the "What's Cooking?" page, so be sure and check it out.