A New Week

Hmmm, I've got another confession. (I like to get things off my chest!) In addition to binge eating and not exercising I've been on a bit of a spending streak too. UGHHH, the guilt. Well, that's a lie. I've always felt that I feel guilty for not feeling guilty. Does that make sense? My friend Molly refers to it as the good ole' Catholic guilt. I'm not Catholic. I'm a Mormon. But, my dad came from a Catholic family so I think not only do I have the Mormon guilt...I've inherited the Catholic guilt too. It's a double whammy! But, The guilt isn't what I want to talk about.

I want to talk about what I've been spending on. As much as I need to get myself in check, I admit I'm sooo elated about it. I ran out of my favorite Lancome moistuizer way back when....So, I got another. Chi-Ching! I also had run out of my favorite shampoo & conditioner, Pureology. Chi-Ching! I got my hair cut on Friday. Then I was at Target & they have some really cute stuff right now... I picked up a fabulous hat & denim jacket. After that trip I went to Red Bluff. The main intent was to take care of my Grandpa for the weekend. I ran over to a jewery show with my sister before my shift officially started. I came home with a lovely, plump bag of jewelry. Oh, and another hat! Chi-Ching! I stayed the night with Gramps and had a great weekend with my family. My mom, sister & I snuck down to Chico for a few hours to have a little get together with Patrice. That is when the food binging got bad. I had a stomach ache the rest of the day and into Sunday. But....I looked really cute in my new hats & earrings!!!

Now, Monday has arrived. The spending spree is DONE! It's to the gym and minimal eating for me. How wonderful it is to have a fresh start!

Valentine's Day Belated

Here is my lovely new fondue pot, courtesy of East Bay Restraunant Supply.
It is adorned with Bruce's manly arm.

This year I planned a surprised date for Bruce & I....everyone in my club planned dates for our hubbies. The rule was that it had to be something neither one of us have ever done. After much research & thought, I made a reservation at East Bay Restaurant Supply. We did a cooking class where we learned about, made & ate FONDUE!!! We tried alot of stinky cheese. I thought it was dreamy....Bruce, not so much. He had a good time although he thinks fondue is alot of work for a not so great meal. I schooled him on the fact that fondue, stinky cheeses and such are among the most romantic foods on earth...He's not buying it. I would think that a girl from Red Bluff would be less likely to be attracted to this type of eating then a native Sacramenten. The truth is...Bruce is way more Red Neck than me!! So, he'll stick to his corn dogs and sunflower seeds while I enjoy my Gruyere & Brie. Thank you very much! Preferances, or should I say differences, aside....we had a wonderful date together. Here's a few pics to enjoy....Aren't you jealous?

Here is the lovely couple making fondue with Chorizo, jack cheese & peppers. Tasty Stuff!

Thanksgiving Favs Vol. 1

I absolutely love Thanksgiving. Fall is in full swing. The distractions of buying gifts, scheduling multiple parties every weekend, and kids yelling I want, I want aren't yet lurking. You just focus on how many blessings you have. And, you get all the fabulous cooking and traditions that other more hectic holidays offer. What could be better than that?

So, in the spirit of being grateful...I am sharing my favorite things of Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

Green Bean Bake Revisited


Ingredients

* 1 large sweet onion (white, yellow, or red), cut into 1-inch wedges, or 4 cups cipollini onions (wild onions), halved
* 1/4 cup cooking oil
* 3 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
* 2 lb. fresh or frozen whole green beans, trimmed
* 6 oz. baby portobello (cremini) or button mushrooms, halved
* 2 Tbsp. olive oil
* 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
* 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
* 6 oz. goat cheese (chevre), softened or cream cheese, softened
* 2 to 3 Tbsp. milk

Directions

1. In a large skillet cook onions, covered, in hot oil over medium-low heat for 13 to 15 minutes or until onions are tender. Uncover; add brown sugar. Cook and stir over medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until onions are golden and caramelized. Set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large saucepan cook green beans, covered, in a small amount of boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain. In a 3-quart au gratin or baking dish combine green beans and mushrooms. Combine olive oil, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Pour over vegetables, tossing to coat. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once, until crisp tender.

3. Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl beat together cheese and milk with an electric mixer on medium speed. Spoon cheese in lengthwise mounds along center of baking dish. Top with caramelized onions. Return to oven; heat 5 to 8 minutes or until cheese and onions are heated through. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

4. Test Kitchen Tip: To make ahead, prepare onions as directed in Step 1; refrigerate until ready to assemble. Prepare vegetables and mushrooms as directed in Step 2; refrigerate until ready to assemble. Remove onions and vegetables from refrigerator 30 minutes before using. To reheat, assemble dish as directed in Step 3, omitting cheese mixture. Heat in a 400 degree F. oven for 30 minutes. The last 5 minutes of baking time, spoon cheese mixture over onions.

Veggies, Please with some Bling on the Side

I know I'm starting off subject...but, I thought if I waited a full week to post it might allow for people to lerk and they would eventually comment. I was wrong. I seem to have several peepers who would rather remain silent. Admittedly, it's so silly but I tend to be hurt over a lack of commenting on my blog. I realize that's ridiculous. I'm over it. I've accepted that I have people that won't comment too much. I will try to be grateful people care to stop by at all.



On to the real post, I awoke yesterday morning to find my new box from Farm Fresh. This week we received sweet potatoes, collard greens, kale, leeks,broccoli,radishes, fennel, cranberries, pears & apples. This is so exciting for me. What do I do first?

I chopped leeks, collard greens & kale. Sauteed them for a bit. Boiled & chopped up a butternut squash from last time. Through in some lentils, diced tomatoes, chicken stock with course salt & pepper & oh, what a yummy soup did I have.

The kids weren't as convinced. Bruce, however, (he's my toughest critic) liked it. In fact, I think he really liked it. He happened to pass through the kitchen when I was cooking and saw the ingredients which was not good. I'm sure had he not seen them raw he never would have known and would have enjoyed it even more.

About my jewelry show, Holy Toleto, thanks to all my wonderful peeps that came. It was SO fun. I can't believe how great I did. My sister-in-law did a fabulous job setting the whole thing up. I'll be posting pics of my new loves shortly. I got so much stuff that I'll be cheery and positive for at least a full week!

P.S. I do give full credit to my couple of buddies that comment regularly. I can count on you to brighten my day!

P.S.S. (or is it P.P.S? I'm deliriously tired.) If any of you locals are interested in Farm Fresh to you. I have 3 $5 off a box coupons to hand out. You can order only 1 box to try it and see what you think. First come, first serve!

Produce Delivery!

Yummy Raw Kale Salad with Gouda, Pear & Walnuts

With our most recent Farm Fresh to You delivery, we received Kale. Kale was unheard of to me up until a few years ago. With 13 kids, my mom stuck to the very basics. Kale was not part of that. It is a power food. Really & truly, everyone should make it a point to try all of the leafy green varieties. Click here for the latest recipe I found using Kale...Doesn't it look delicious?

We also received a couple of sugar pie pumpkins..They are so cute. But, they won't last forever. I will be trying this pumpkin pie recipe from Martha Stewart. I'd really like to make it when I'm home alone and can curl up on the couch in my favorite PJ's(sorry no picture) and eat the whole thing while watching sappy chick flicks. Anyone want to join me?

This is What's for Lunch!

This is my new favorite lunch...Try it!!

I eat it w/ grilled cheese or salad or sliced cheese or salami and cheese(Can you tell I love cheese!) It's great to dip your bread into....Yeah, I love bread, too!
Gotta go...Soup's ready!

At the Farmers Market

Saturday AM, found me alone again...Bruce was working. Spencer had a soccer game that morning. But, we decided to leave early and stop at the farmers market that we love. We go to the one behind Country Club Plaza off of Butano & El Camino. It's nothing like the Thursday night Chico Market that is my all time fav(I love Chico!) but it is local and offers more than plenty for us.
(Notice the black reusable grocery bag on my shoulder!!I bought a bunch after being inspired by my eco-loving aunt & uncle in Beaverton)

Ratatouille Stoup

Here's the recipe from my last post. It's from Rachael Ray's yum-o family cookbook.


3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded & diced
1 red bell pepper, seeded & diced
1 medium eggplant
2 small zucchini, diced
3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes with their juices
6 cups chicken stock
1/2 lb small cut whole wheat pasta(I used penne)
a handful of parsley, finely chopped
a few fresh basil leaves, torn or shredded

Heat the olive oil in a deep pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, bell peppers, eggplant and zucchini. Season the veggies with salt, pepper, and thyme and cook until softened, about 7-8 minutes, stirring now and then. Add the tomatoes and chicken stock and bring the soup to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer. Stir in the pasta and cook al dente. Stir in the parsley and basil, adjust the salt & pepper, and serve.

Serves 6

Special Delivery

Our 1st box of fresh organic produce was delivered to our front door!! I am so ecstatic about this new venture for my family. I'm so motivated to cook more. I love cooking. I love food! I get so annoyed and frustrated having taste buds like I do and having a husband with none!! He's so picky. We received a honeydew melon, grapes, sweet peppers, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, basil, lemon cucumbers, arugula and okra. Maybe a few others...it's late in the day for me to remember such details. So, tonight we had the missionaries from church over for dinner. I signed up to feed them months ago so I was surprised to get a note on my door confirming our dinner tonight. (I got the note at 3. Dinner was at 5!!) I called them and confirmed. Bruce spruced up the house while I began cooking. Can I tell you how fabulous it was for me to make a gorgeous green salad with arugula(YUM!), tomatoes, lemon cucumber and sweet pepper varieties that were all picked fresh on Thursday! I added slices of fresh mozzarella to appease my husband who must have cheese in his green salad.(I'm all about cheese too so that's OK but he refused to try by salad because of the arugula.) It was great! I made a quick spaghetti sauce with all fresh veggies...and of course, french bread & BUTTER!! On a side note, My Uncle Jerry has been in the restaurant bus. for a long time...He's also a great cook. There's high pressure when your around him on food choices..I'd normally be nervous to feed him. When my Grandma was dying, my sister & I were busy caring for her physical needs while my uncle kept all of us well fed...(If you have to deal with death, GREAT FOOD IS A MUST!) I'm looking for a really cool recipe using my crazy produce selections to wow him with. My challenge with this box is the Okra. I've heard of Okra, but honestly, had no idea what it is or what to do with it. Thanks to our dear friend "Google", I figured it out. Here is a recipe that I want to try:




CHICKEN & OKRA GUMBO(You've gotta love the south)
Ingredients:

* 3 1/2 pounds frying chicken
* 1 onion, cut in chunks
* celery leaves
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 5 cups reserved broth
* 6 slices bacon, diced
* 1 pound smoked andouille or smoked sausage, sliced 1/4" thick
* 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
* 2 green bell peppers, chopped
* 2 celery ribs, chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped, or 1 (14.5 ounces) can diced tomatoes
* 1 can (approx. 15 ounces) tomato puree
* 1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels, thawed
* 1 package (10 ounces) frozen sliced okra, thawed
* 1 tablespoon fresh chopped thyme or 1 teaspoon dried leaf thyme

Preparation:
Combine chicken, the onion chunks, celery leaves, and salt in a Dutch oven or large kettle; add water to cover. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer about 45 minutes. or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken, reserving 5 cups of the chicken broth; discard onion and celery leaves. Remove chicken from bones; cut into bite sized pieces. Set aside.

Cook bacon and sausage in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until bacon is crisp. Remove bacon and sausage, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in Dutch oven. Crumble bacon; set bacon and sausage aside. Add onion, pepper, celery, and garlic to Dutch oven; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until vegetables are tender. Add chicken, bacon, sausage, reserved broth (should be approximately 5 cups), tomatoes, and remaining ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 1 1/2 hours.

I'll let you know how it turns out....I think I'm going to make this a regular feature on my blog...Good Eats from Tanja's Kitchen(or whomever's I steal it from)

Farm Fresh to ME!!

I'm so excited about the the service that my family is using. An organic produce farm from Capay, CA (where my mom was once a cheerleader)offers farm fresh plenty to your front door!! My friend, Ashley Kilpatrick, (had to specify last name since I have so many Ashley's currently in my life) introduced me to this farm. Her family has received the home delivery for awhile now and raves about it. I have tried many varieties of nuts, fruits and veggies in her home from this marvelous farm that were so fantastic. I'm expecting a little resistance from my ever so picky husband and children.(or alot) But, I will not give up! I'm determined that the whole family receive healthy, quality food. More to come about the good eats as we receive our first delivery. For more info click here.

My kids LOVE mahi-mahi

I was at Trader Joe's today & happened to have Bruce & the kids there. (The kids are always with me, but Bruce not as much) Bruce suggested getting fish for dinner. I personally love fish but wasn't so enthused. Spencer loved fish as a toddler but has grown picky. He's taking after his father as are my other children. So, I reluctantly bought some Mahi-Mahi figuring I'd be the only one eating. Wow, my kids all loved it and wanted more. I don't know why they suddenly changed their opinion but I've learned tonight to keep offering healthy choices to our picky eaters and you never know when they might eat it!!