Epic Fail

"Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate, first one says "Oh my, it's getting late"  

The BK and I don't have any children, at home, but that doesn't mean we don't like to carve a mean pumpkin...So we drive all over the county to find the best pumpkins we can. The BK decides, maybe, we should roast some pumpkin seeds. I'm not a huge fan, but I find a couple recipes on Pinterest. Mmmmmmm...Cinnamon Glazed Pumpkin Seeds sound uh~maz~zuh~ing! 

On a cold, rainy, fall Tuesday, we begin the carving process. And I begin the roasting process:

Step 1:

After digging the guts out of old Jack, place the seeds in a bowl of hot water. This makes it easier to get all the stringy guck off your seeds...

Step 2: 

Spread your seeds on a baking sheet and allow to dry overnight.

Step 3: 

Transfer your seeds to a mixing bowl...coat with 1 tbs of olive oil and add 3 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 cup of sweetener, combine well. *Note: the original poster used Truvia Baking Blend, but I chose to use Sugar in the Raw. 

Step 4:

Spread seeds, evenly, on baking sheet and bake in a 310 degree oven for 30 minutes. Spread seeds around, and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

(I will admit a gigantic screw up...I read 3 tbsp on cinnamon instead of tsp! So I added a bit more olive oil and sugar. )

This was an epic fail. Epic. Fail. Oh, the cinnamon and sugar glaze tasted delicious...the seeds, however, had the texture of cardboard. I did a little digging around...it seems like the oven should've been set at 300 degrees and the seeds stirred more often. 

If you want to try this recipe, for yourself, you can find the original recipe here...
Maybe your attempt will be a success!!

                                 

not so MANIC MONDAY

"i can't keep my hands out of the cookie jar..."

FLASHBACK january 23,2014

the bk and i  are killing some time. we stop by the parent's place. dad offers us cookies. mmmmm. i like cookies. these cookies are delicious! i leave with a bag full!!!

FLASH FORWARD yesterday

i want something sweet, but i don't want to spend all day, in the kitchen, making a mess. then, i remember dad's delicious cookies and how simple they are!! 20 minutes later, we have cookies!!

SUPER EASY AMAZING SPICE COOKIES

ingredients:

1 box spice cake mix
1 egg
1 stick butter (softened, not melted)
cream cheese icing (optional)

preheat oven to 350〫.  mix together cake mix, egg, and butter until dough forms. roll into balls (about an inch), flatten slightly. bake 8-10 minutes. frost while still warm. makes 24.

*my butter was not softened because i decided to make cookies last minute. i popped in microwave for about 10 seconds, until just soft.
**let icing set before storing in an air tight container.

ENJOY!!

not so MANIC MONDAY

"mamas in the kitchen with the mac n' cheese..."

FLASHBACK january 24, 2014
another mandatory friday night means we need to come  up with another dish for dinner. that means i get to try another pinterest recipe!! i find the perfect side dish involving 4 of my favorite things: beer, bacon, cheese, and pasta!!

TODAY
it's a comfort food kind of day. and my mandatory friday night side would actually make a delicious main course for a simple monday dinner. you should give this pinterest success a try!!

BEER BACON MAC AND CHEESE

ingredients:

12 oz thick cut bacon
2 tbs unsalted butter
1/4 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground chile de arbol (or cayenne to taste)
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 c beer (i used great lakes christmas ale)
1/2 c chicken broth
2 c milk
1 tsp worcestshire sauce
1 8oz bag of shredded mild cheddar cheese
16 oz dry elbow pasta

boil pasta until al dente. drain and set aside. 
cut bacon into bite size pieces. fry, over medium heat, until crispy. set aside and reserve 2 tbs of the drippings, discarding the rest. 
melt butter in skillet with reserved bacon drippings. whisk in flour. allow to cook a minute or two to cook off flour taste. add spices and beer. bring to a bubble for about 3 minutes. add milk. when it comes to a bubble, add worcestshire, bacon, and cheese. whisk to combine.
add pasta. stir to combine. allow to cook over low heat for about 5 minutes.
pour into casserole dish. sprinkle with chives (optional). serves 4-6.

  

                         

enjoy!!!

bonus: kathy brought another successful pinterest recipe to mandatory friday night. click here to try CAKE BATTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. they were delicious!!!

TUESDAY MORNING

"let's watch the old year die with a fond good-bye...and our hopes as high as a kite...how can our love go wrong if we start the new year right?"

it's new year's eve. time to bid adieu to the old and welcome the new. so, how do you make sure the new year will be more amazing than the last one? by following ancient superstitions, duh doy! these superstitions say what you do on new year's day, you will do all year long. be sure to do only things that make you happy and follow cardinal's rules for an awesome 2014:

• make sure all your laundry and housecleaning are done new year's eve day. who wants to be washing clothes and cleaning house all year?!
• do your cooking the day before, and be sure to cook the following: black~eyed peas (for luck), greens (for financial prosperity), and pork (because chickens scratch backwards, cows stand still, but pigs root forward guaranteeing you will move forward thru the new year).

                      

• nothing goes out of the house on new year's day, or you will be losing things all year long.
• fill up the cupboards, fridge, and freezer the day before. if the cupboards are bare you'll be starving all year.
• kiss someone you love at midnight to ensure affection all year long.
• set a dollar bill outside on new year's eve and bring it in new year's day. this will ensure you have money coming in all year.
• the first person that enters your home, on new year's, should be tall, dark, and good looking. no joke. so i will be sending the bk out the door at 11:59 and letting him walk in at midnight...

• open your doors at midnight, to let out all the bad from the past year. and noise. make a lot of loud noise to scare off evil spirits.

so. spend today doing all these things, while you watch the walking dead marathon on amc, and you will have a bright and shiny 2014!

happy new year!!

SCRUMPTIOUS SATURDAY

"one potato...two potato...three potato...four..."

FLASHBACK november 5

mandatory friday night is coming...the "let's make a plan" email is going around. time? 6(ish). place? linksies. food? yes. we are grilling out...we don't even care that it's 30 degrees outside. it's byom (bring your own meat), byob (beverage), and a side to share. b has already said she's bringing deviled eggs. well boo...i've been dying for an excuse to make these again. so, yet again, i hit up pinterest, looking for the perfect side.

FLASH FORWARD mandatory friday

i decide on "crack potatoes", because...easy. and you can't go wrong with potatoes, cheese, and bacon.

CRACK POTATOES

ingredients:

2~ 16 oz containers of sour cream
2c cheddar cheese, shredded
2~ 3 oz bags real bacon bits
2 packages ranch dip mix
1 large bag (30 oz) frozen hash browns (shredded)

preheat oven to 400〫.  mix sour cream, cheese, bacon, and ranch dip mix in large bowl. stir in potatoes. spread evenly in 9X13 baking dish. bake for 60 minutes.
easy.

                     

PINTEREST SUCCESS!!

not so MANIC MONDAY

"and eatin' hot chili...eatin' hot chili...i love hot chili..."

FLASHBACK yesterday
yeah. so. sometimes you only flashback 24 hours. duh. anyway, it was a rainy, cool, lazy sunday. the plan for the day? football. football. and, yes, football. it's the perfect day for a big bowl of chili.

















FLASH FORWARD today
looking for something easy and comforting for dinner on a cool, crisp, fall day? here is the perfect chili!

BIRD'S EASY CHILI

ingredients:
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 small onion, diced
1 15oz can light red kidney beans
1 15oz can dark red kidney beans
1 28oz can baked beans
1 26oz can spaghetti sauce
½ c chili powder
½ c sugar
1 tbs cumin
1 tbs pepper
salt to taste
red pepper flakes to taste (i cup my palm and fill for the perfect heat)

brown meat and onions until cooked thru. add all beans and spaghetti sauce. add spices *all spices can be added to taste*. let simmer for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
yeah. it's that easy.

happy fall feasting!!

not so MANIC MONDAY

"it's just another manic monday..."

FLASHBACK a few weeks ago
FINALLY!! we pick up our csa veggies (click here to learn more about community supported agriculture) and get bell peppers. big, fat, red bell peppers. the bk starts complaining that we never have stuffed peppers. hmmmmmm. i wonder why not?
FLASH FORWARD a few days later
i search the web for a good stuffed pepper recipe. i'm not really feeling any of them. then, i remember, my sissie in~law posted one on her blog a loooonnnggg time ago (click here for her original recipe). let's try that!!

EASY PEASY STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

ingredients:

4 bell peppers (i used 2 red and 2 yellow)
2 pounds of ground beef (can substitute ground turkey)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 c water
⅔ c jasmine rice (you can use whatever, jasmine is my favorite)
2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried oregano 
salt and pepper to taste
dash or two red pepper flakes (not in original recipe but i wanted to add a little heat)
1 c shredded cheddar cheese

cut the tops off the peppers. remove seeds and membranes.  place peppers into boiling water for 3 minutes.  sprinkle insides with salt and place upside down on a paper towel to drain.
in a deep skillet, cook the meat and onions till meat is browned, drain fat. stir in undrained tomatoes, uncooked rice, worcestershire sauce, and oregano, 1 cup of water and a dash of salt and pepper, and red pepper flakes. bring to boiling; reduce heat. cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until rice is tender. stir in cheese. remove from heat.  place peppers into a baking dish and fill with meat mixture.  If there is any remaining meat mixture just put in dish around peppers. you can sprinkle shredded cheese on top of peppers, if you want. bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
serves 4.

yummmm!!! enjoy!!!