Christmas Brunch at Mom and Dad's

This year we had brunch at mom and dad's house for Christmas.   I made several things, but 2 of the things I made were REALLY REALLY easy and REALLY REALLY good, Eggs with Specks and Sausage & Rice Casserole.

Eggs with Specks (quite possibly the simplest thing to make... EVER!)
6 eggs (scrabbled)
2 cups of monterey jack cheese, shredded
1 small can of chopped green chili peppers, drained

- spray a 9x9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.   combine ingredients.   bake at 350 for about 20 to 30 minutes (watch it until it is golden and solid)


(I got this recipe from my friend Brandon when we had a HONEY, YOU GOT SERVED brunch.   Guess what movies we watched that day! )

Sausage and Rice Casserole
1 box of wild rice (cooked)
1 lb of sausage, browned and drained
1 package of red, yellow, and green peppers and onions
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk

- combine and bake at 350 for about 40 minutes

Apricot Nectar Cake

I do not follow directions when I cook.   I may start out with a basic recipe and then change it to suit my needs. I add things, take away things, replace things.   (Thus, baking is a difficult process since you actually have to follow directions because baking is science) 


Apricot Nectar Cake is the only thing I will cook and follow the recipe.  It is my grandmother's recipe and it is delicious.  


Apricot Nectar Cake 
1 box Lemon Supreme Cake Mix
1 box small instant lemon jello pudding
4 whole eggs
3/4 cup oil
1 cup apricot nectar
- Mix and bake in greased and floured bundt pan at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.  Use toothpicks and make holes in the cakes 


Icing
1 stick of butter
-1/2 box confectioners sugar
1/4 cup apricot nectar

-  mix well and pour over hot cake

Gifts for Christmas Extravaganza

Sadly I could not make it to Christmas Extravaganza this year.   I was very disappointed.  Here are the gifts I made for the girls.   Customized clipboards and ornaments.  

"Russ, Please dont eat the truckster!"

Little brother's birthday card.  

Pumpkin Chicken Soup with Chickpeas

I am currently playing the game called "What Can I Cook Using Things I Have Since I Leave on Vacation  in a Week."  Because I really hate getting up and making my lunch for school I often make soup or something on Sunday and then eat it for lunch during the week.

Today using things I found in my freezer I made Pumpkin Chicken Soup with Chickpeas. It was super simple.

chicken broth (about 3 cups)
chicken (1 chicken breast thats been baked and diced)
1/2 a roasted pumpkin
1 can of chick peas
dash of chili powder
dash of paprika
garlic
black pepper
cumin
Combine and cook.  SUPER YUMMY and DELICIOUS!!!

Oops... My Bad.

So I just looked at my goals for 2011. I am FAILING miserably.  I have just started training for the St. Jude Half Marathon with some of my friends. If you would like to donate PLEASE feel free to check out our page.  


Being back to teaching full time has been fun and challenging.  Finding the time to do everything I want to do is simply impossible. I often feel like Jessie Spanno on Saved By the Bell.  


But, on the bright side I am happier than I have ever been.  I am okay with not meeting EACH of my goals. I just need to refocus on the important ones. 

SUPER SQUASH

Sorry I have not posted in about 6 months. I have been a little distracted.

This week I got a box of produce from my CSA. It had corn, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, honey, and zucchini. I have been eating LOTS of yummy veggies this week. (Also, I have started weight watchers so I am trying to be quite healthy)

Today I walked by the produce pile on the table and decided to make something yummy.

SUPER SQUASH

1 yellow squash

¼ of a Vidalia onion

Chopped, diced into tiny pieces (I used the chopper from Pampered Chef)

Steam in the microwave for about 6 minutes with a splash of water (I used the steamer from Pampered Chef)

Drain and add:

2 wedges of Garlic & Herb laughing cow

¼ cup shredded Colby jack cheese (low fat)

1 tablespoon bread crumbs

stir it up and scoop into 2 soufflé cups. Bake at 350 until golden brown (about 30 minutes)

Let me just say... AMAZING!!!!

When you care enough to make the very best...

I have recently gotten into the habit of making cards for my friends that are personalized for their unique interests and preferences. One of my oldest friends recently had a birthday. We bonded my 8th grade year over our love for certain boys from the Boston area. I felt nothing was more appropriate for Rachel's birthday.

Also, my friend Robby got engaged... I knew that our love for Eastland alumni had to be a part of his card.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

The blank wall in my kitchen had been driving me CRAZY! I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to put there. Then, while watching an episode of CougarTown I realized I needed to steal an idea right off their wall.

Also, I recently used my Uppercase Living lettering I had ordered to label my canisters. If you need any UL lettering, Lorrie is the person to contact. She is AWESOME!

Red Velvet Trifle

Red Velvet Cake is my favorite. After watching one of my favorite episodes of Friends where Rachel makes a trifle (as Joey would say, "Whats not to like?? meat- good, jam- good, custard- good) I decided that I needed to make one as well. I think Joey would agree that it was GOOD!

to make the cake

- Red Velvet Cake mix (yes, I know it is

cheating, but I was in a hurry and I wasn't really sure it was going to work)

- 3 eggs

- 2/3 cups water

- 1/3 cup oil (usually when I am make a cake I use applesauce, but I was out, so oil was

my other option

- half a box of cheesecake pudding

Combine all this (there is something scary about just how RED the batter is) and bake according to directions on the box.

Let me take a moment to talk about my most favorite cooking utensil... EVER. It would be the Pampered Chef Mix & Masher. I use it to mix cookies, cakes, brownies, etc. (you dont need to get the mixer out because it can be done with this great tool), i use it for guacamole and pretty much anything else that involves stirring. You should get one, ASAP! My AMAZING and AWESOME friend Stephanie will gladly help you get all the Pampered Chef Goodness that you need.

After the cake is baked, let it cool and crumble it up. Then you are ready for the creamy goodness. How I made mine was:

- 1 block of cream cheese

- about 1/2-1/2 cup of sugar

- 8 oz cool whip

- the other half of a box of cheesecake pudding

Combine these ingredients and layer with the cake, keep refrigerated

Goals for 2011

After taking a week to think about it, I have decided what I want to accomplish this year. I am also taking a new approach by charting it on my fridge so I have to look at it EVERY day. There is no avoiding what I want to do- it is in my face.

1. Lose 6.5 pounds a month

2. Write 5 blog entries a month

3. Travel somewhere new

4. Do something involving culture every month

5. Make plans and see friends

6. Complete a 5K

7. Write a letter or send a card every week

8. Track the distance I run/walk

9. Post new things monthly on my ETSY page (AliRage)

10. Create a new treasury each week on ETSY.

You unlock this door with the key of imagination...

I love The Twilight Zone. It is one of my favorite shows. I love Rod Serling. There is something eerie and attractive about him. I LOVE Tower of Terror at Hollywood studios at Disney World—who would not enjoy traveling through the opening credits and seeing and hearing Rod Serling face to face???? (SERIOUS downside of breaking one’s spine … I won’t be riding it again- makes me SO sad)

As New Years Day comes to a close, so does the annual Twilight Zone marathon. After several friends commented and referenced it on Facebook today, It made me think about what are my favorite 5 episodes and why… so here is my top 5 list.

5. THE DUMMY- simply put, this is the reason I am afraid of ventriloquist dolls. I have nightmares about them. I cannot be in the room with them. Clearly, they are all really alive, thanks Rod.

4. THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER- the best way to truly enjoy this episode is to watch it with kids who have never seen it… cover the screen the last few minutes and just have them listen. Have them guess what happens. Then let them watch it- the discussion that follows is AWESOME!

3.THE AFTER HOURS- I would also like to thank Mr. Serling for my fear of mannequins.

When they start saying “Marsha, MARsha, MARSHA” it terrifies me.

2. NUMBER 12 LOOKS LIKE YOU- Great concept, great episode… LOVE IT!!!

1. LIVING DOLL- TalkingTina is scary. SO SO SO very scary. Quite possibly the scariest fictional charactger ever. I hate dolls with blinky eyes because of Tina. I watch this episode fairly often and let me say… I’m pretty sure I get more scared EVERY time!

Happy New Year

Today was my New Year's Day Brunch. I love New Year's Day. Its a time to set new goals and get ready for an exciting year ahead. Today I had the pleasure of spending the day with my wonderful friends. We ate, talked, and hung out.

2010 was filled with great changes. I look forward to 2011 and to see what happens next.

My brunch menu consisted of:

berry amaretto cake

eggs with specks

hashbrown casserole

bacon & sausage pinwheels

fruit

mini chocolate chip muffins

brie apple tarts

banana bread

BlackEyedPea Dip

and... mimosas & bloody marys