Christmas Day

On Christmas Day it is tradition that we go to my parents-in-law's house.  We are almost always an hour late and every time we are suprised at how late we are running!  Thank goodness my husbands parents are so sweet about it! 

This is what we were treated to for Christmas Dinner!

Our feast consisted of Prime Rib, Lobster Tails, roasted potatoes and brussels sprouts (did you know that brussel sprouts are actually spelt brussels sprouts?!? I never knew!).

My favorite part of the dinner was the brussels sprouts.  Here is the recipe from my pa-in-law:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 pounds Brussels sprouts - trimmed and halved
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons pomegranate molasses ***
• Seeds from 1 pomegranate
• Finely grated zest of 1 lime
• 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Put the Brussels sprouts in a medium roasting pan; toss with the canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven until light golden brown and a knife inserted into the centers goes in without any resistance, about 45 minutes.

Transfer the sprouts to a large bowl and add the pomegranate molasses, pomegranate seeds, hazelnuts, and lime and orange zests. Season with salt as needed.

*** To make the Pom Molasses - In a small pot take 1/2 cup Pom Juice and add a tblspoon of sugar and molasses and reduce over low to medium low heat by half.  Should be syrup like when ready.

Easy Crafts :: Lap Blanket

A coworker of mine is recovering from a serious surgery.  I thought it would be nice to make her a soft and warm blanket.  I went to the fabric store and bought 1 3/4 yards of two different patterns of fleece.

Then you basically just line them up and start cutting.  You cut lengths of about 2 inches and each are between 1 and 2 inches apart.  I am not too concerned with it being perfect, after all it is a homemade gift.  If I wanted it to look like something I bought at the store I would have just bought one at the store! :) 

Then you just tie the different sides together and voila - you have a two sided blanket!

This is what it looked like all wrapped up with the Get Well Cards I have been collecting at work for her! 

Have you ever tried...?

Have you ever tried a bake in the bag type of seasoning packet?  I haven't.  So when I saw the one in the store for 50% off I decided to try it.

The directions were super easy.  Take out bag that is provided, add chicken and seasoning and throw it into the oven...

It turned out ok but is not something I would try again... even at the 1/2 off price!

For a side dish I sometimes use the boxes of rice.  When I do I like to add a bag of frozen broccoli.  It adds veggies and doesn't dirty another dish :)

Baked Brie - Super Easy!

If you know me at all, you know that I love, love, love cheese!  This recipe is one that my friends found and asked me to try.  



Ingredient List: 

A round of Brie
Crescent Rolls
1 egg

First you need to take the Crescent Rolls out of the container.  Then you split them in half so you have 2 squares - like the one shown in the picture.  Place one of the squares on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.  (I encourage parchment paper for this because it won't brown the crescent rolls too quickly like aluminum foil could.)  Once the Crescent rolls are on the parchment you need to press the perforated lines together.  If there are any holes the cheese will ooze through.

Then you place the brie in the center of the square.  You add the other square of crescent rolls to the top.  Cut off the excess in the corners and smooth it together until it looks like this.










Then roll out the excess and cut it into whatever shapes you want.  I decided to go with a circle cut into 4 because I know that I can make that into a flower pretty easily :)

Add your shapes to the top and then cover it with an egg wash.  The egg wash helps it brown.  You should use an pastry brush but if you don't have one a paper towel can work too. 

Bake in the oven at 350 for 20 - 24 minutes.  Then take it out and let it rest for about 5 minutes.  You just don't want it to all ooze out or for any steam to come out and hit you in the face or on the hand.  Trust me a steam burn is awful!

 If you want to get fancy you can add honey, cranberries and chopped pecans.  Then you just serve and enjoy!

We had it with a variety of crackers.

Dinner Tonight :: December 7, 2011 :: Spicy Roast Beef Sandwiches

Tonight I decided on something simple but delicious.  Spicy mayo helps to add something special to this dish.

 Spicy Mayo:
Chipotle in Adobo
Mayo

It really is that simple.  Don't be fooled though that little can of Chipotle in Adobo really packs a punch!  I usually take out the seeds and the ribs - to help cool it down a bit.  Then you can stick it in a plastic baggie and pop it into the freezer.  It should last up to 3 months.
This is a little of the Chipotle defrosted - about a tablespoon.

 You just add a bit of mayo and stir, stir, stir!

I add about 1/2 a cup of mayo to a tablespoon of chipotle but it depends on your taste.

 

This is my sandwich smorgasbord.  I like to have all the ingredients out so I know how much space I have on my bread!

Sourdough
Roast Beef
Lettuce
Tomato
Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Spicy Mayo

 I like to melt the cheese under the broiler for this sandwich.

Before:

After!

 The other side of the bread - layered with spicy mayo, lettuce and tomato. 

 All done! 

:: Dinner Last Night :: December 6th :: Wicked Blue Cheese Salad

Last night night I decided to make a crispy chicken blue cheese salad for dinner.  Even though it is mid-December I was in the mood for salad.

Here are the main ingredients for the crispy chicken:
This recipe is for 4 - or for 3 dinners and 1 lunch  :)
2 chicken breasts
3 large eggs mixed with about
1/4 cup of buttermilk whisked in
2 cups of Panko (Japanese style bread crumbs)
- vegetable oil - enough to fill the pot you are using up about 3 inches
** Seasoning - see below 

You cut the chicken up into bite size pieces and add it into the egg & buttermilk.

If you don't like the tang of buttermilk you don't have to add it.  Around my house it is a staple :)

 Then you transfer the chicken to the Panko.

I usually leave one hand to get dirty with the egg solution so that I can use the spoon with my clean hand to move around the chickie.

Once the chickie is fully coated then you will want to drop it into the oil.

I allowed my oil to heat to about 350 degrees - medium high on the range.

 Remember not to do too big of a batch at once.  As you can see here I have a batch in the egg, a batch in the Panko and I have another cooking in the oil.  This is another reason why I allow only one hand to get disgusting! :)

This is what the chickie looks like after about 6 - 10 minutes of cooking.  It will depend on your oil temp as well as the size of your chickie pieces.

Don't be afraid to get them out of the oil and cut it open to check.  It is better to check then eat raw chicken.

 Let them cool on some paper towel to remove the excess oil.


This is also a great time to flavor them.  I used a ** Montreal Chicken Seasoning **.

Here is the assembled Wicked Blue Cheese Salad.
I used Spinach for the greens, then added blue cheese crumbles, French's fried onions, green onions, spicy secret sauce from a restaurant near by, Uncle Dan's Ranch and the crispy chicken.

It was delish!  Rave reviews from my husband and our room-mate. 

Here is a close up so you can see all of the deliciousness :)

I served it with simple garlic toast points.

I used sourdough bread, cut it into triangles and added some butter, garlic and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.  Then I broiled it for a couple of minutes.






This is my first real post!  What did you think?  What did I not include that you needed to know?

Thanks!

-- Beth Anne

New To Blogging

Hi!  I am new to blogging and thought it would be fun to have a blog that combined all the things I love - crafts, cooking & everything creative!  I hope to add posts and pictures about the fun and creative things that I create.  Whether that is making a hair flower out of tule or creating a dinner from a fun recipe.  I hope that you will have fun following me :)