Simple Cornbread
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
1/4 cup cooking oil
Mix all ingredients until well-blended. Pour into a greased 8X8" square pan. Bake at 425 degrees F for 20 minutes, until light golden color. Knife inserted in center will come out clean. Recipe may be doubled and baked in a 9X13" pan. Excellent with soup, stew, or chili.
Well, there you go. A simple recipe. I wish my life were as simple as that. It's not. Okay, in all honesty, I know that no one's life is simple. That's not what life is about. Sometimes however, life is enough to drive me crazy. I have a good life. I really shouldn't complain. So I guess I won't. However, that leaves me with not much to say today. So I guess that's all tonight.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Chicken and Dumplings makes Mom feel better
Well,
Today was interesting. I was at school, reading with my class and I got the message that I had a phone call. Usually I don't get interrupted unless it's important. So, I went down and it was Mom on the phone. She told me she was sick. She had taken a wrong pill this morning and was having a bad reaction. She asked me to check back in with her at lunch. Instead, I insisted she call the doctor's office to see what she should do. She called me again a few minutes later, saying she needed to go in immediately, but she couldn't drive herself. So, I got permission from my principal to leave and I picked her up, got her to the clinic, and spent the rest of the afternoon at home with her. She was dizzy, and had an upset stomach. She took a long nap, and then was feeling a tad better. Mom is feeling ok tonight. She went to bed around 8 pm.
For dinner tonight, I decided Mom needed something nourishing and comforting. So, I made Chicken and Dumplings. I know mom likes Chicken and Dumplings, but I have never made them. I tried to find a recipe I liked, but in the end, I decided it was more a method and I just kind of created my own version. It turned out pretty good. It was even easy, because I took a few shortcuts. One thing, if you make dumplings... DO NOT PEEK! DON'T LIFT THE LID! If you do, they will sink rather than float. Why is this important? Not sure, but it is to most serious chicken and dumplings fans. Maybe someone out there knows. Maybe you have a version that is a hand-me-down, traditional comfort food. If not, here is my modern-day, shortcut version.
Chicken and Dumplings
1 carton Swanson chicken broth
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
3-4 pieces of celery, washed and chopped
12-18 mini carrots, chopped
1/4-1/2 bag of Southern Hash browns, frozen
3-4 cups water
1 can Grands Homestyle refrigerator biscuits
Seasonings as desired (I used Mrs. Dash, about a tbsp onion flakes, and some Real Salt for flavor).
Over med-high heat, brown chicken breasts chunks in the bottom of a large pan with some chicken broth and a sprinkling of Mrs. Dash. Add remaining chicken broth and cook along with vegetables and desired seasonings until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender. When chicken is no longer pink, add biscuits on top of soup, put lid on, move pan in a circular motion for a few moments to help submerge biscuits. Let cook for 8-10 minutes. Do not lift the lid. (I used a pan with a glass lid so I could see the dumplings.) Turn off heat and keep lid on until you serve your meal.
One note, the biscuits almost overwhelmed the rest of the meal. Next time I might use only half the biscuits and cut them in half first. Then, I'll bake the rest so we can have fresh biscuits as well as dumplings. Mom and I both really enjoyed dinner. I recommend tasting the broth before you add the dumplings to make sure your seasonings are flavorful enough. You could also use canned chicken (drained). You would not have to cook it as long. Have fun experimenting. You might come up with something you really like. Besides, now I have lunch for tomorrow!
Good night!
Today was interesting. I was at school, reading with my class and I got the message that I had a phone call. Usually I don't get interrupted unless it's important. So, I went down and it was Mom on the phone. She told me she was sick. She had taken a wrong pill this morning and was having a bad reaction. She asked me to check back in with her at lunch. Instead, I insisted she call the doctor's office to see what she should do. She called me again a few minutes later, saying she needed to go in immediately, but she couldn't drive herself. So, I got permission from my principal to leave and I picked her up, got her to the clinic, and spent the rest of the afternoon at home with her. She was dizzy, and had an upset stomach. She took a long nap, and then was feeling a tad better. Mom is feeling ok tonight. She went to bed around 8 pm.
For dinner tonight, I decided Mom needed something nourishing and comforting. So, I made Chicken and Dumplings. I know mom likes Chicken and Dumplings, but I have never made them. I tried to find a recipe I liked, but in the end, I decided it was more a method and I just kind of created my own version. It turned out pretty good. It was even easy, because I took a few shortcuts. One thing, if you make dumplings... DO NOT PEEK! DON'T LIFT THE LID! If you do, they will sink rather than float. Why is this important? Not sure, but it is to most serious chicken and dumplings fans. Maybe someone out there knows. Maybe you have a version that is a hand-me-down, traditional comfort food. If not, here is my modern-day, shortcut version.
Chicken and Dumplings
1 carton Swanson chicken broth
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
3-4 pieces of celery, washed and chopped
12-18 mini carrots, chopped
1/4-1/2 bag of Southern Hash browns, frozen
3-4 cups water
1 can Grands Homestyle refrigerator biscuits
Seasonings as desired (I used Mrs. Dash, about a tbsp onion flakes, and some Real Salt for flavor).
Over med-high heat, brown chicken breasts chunks in the bottom of a large pan with some chicken broth and a sprinkling of Mrs. Dash. Add remaining chicken broth and cook along with vegetables and desired seasonings until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender. When chicken is no longer pink, add biscuits on top of soup, put lid on, move pan in a circular motion for a few moments to help submerge biscuits. Let cook for 8-10 minutes. Do not lift the lid. (I used a pan with a glass lid so I could see the dumplings.) Turn off heat and keep lid on until you serve your meal.
One note, the biscuits almost overwhelmed the rest of the meal. Next time I might use only half the biscuits and cut them in half first. Then, I'll bake the rest so we can have fresh biscuits as well as dumplings. Mom and I both really enjoyed dinner. I recommend tasting the broth before you add the dumplings to make sure your seasonings are flavorful enough. You could also use canned chicken (drained). You would not have to cook it as long. Have fun experimenting. You might come up with something you really like. Besides, now I have lunch for tomorrow!
Good night!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Freezing weather and a frozen drink
Hi there,
Well, school is back in session. Most mornings I simply have toast a bagel, spread it with cream cheese, grab a yogurt drink and head out. I almost never have a real, sit-down style breakfast on a school day. Not that I couldn't, I just usually sleep a little longer and save the big breakfasts for the weekends, holidays or for dinner...I love breakfast foods for dinner! Some mornings I have toast, sometimes it is simply a granola bar or banana. However, one of my favorite things are smoothies and orange julius. My family has had a recipe for orange julius for a long time. Sometimes I mix it up and use a different juice concentrate, but mostly I prefer the original version.
Orange Julius
1 6-oz can orange juice concentrate (I just use 1/2 of the 12-oz size, then keep the other half in the freezer for next time.
1 1/2 cups water
1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar*
1/2 cup milk
ice cubes to fill blender (usually 8 to 12)
Blend to icy texture. Enjoy...but beware of brain freeze!!!!!!! **You can use Splenda or another sugar replacement, and it works out fine!***
Speaking of freezing... it has been cold here. Yesterday, I had recess duty. Before I went out, I checked with our weather bug station at the school and it was 1 degree! I went outside and my nose hairs were freezing together. It was super-cold!!!!!!!!!!! Reminded me a lot of Canada.
So why did I give you a frozen drink for cold weather? I don't know! Just sounded good to me. I think I'd go make some now, except my feet are too cold. Maybe tomorrow.
We are studying snow this week in school. Our literature unit is on Snowflake Bentley, and our science core includes the weather. We learned of a day in Colorado...Silver Lake, to be exact. It is the record holder for the most snow to fall in a 24 hour period. Here is the information:
The most snow to fall in any 24 hour period is 75.8 inches (193 cm), well over six feet, that landed at Silver Lake, Colorado. The mountain lake sits at 10,220 feet elevation about 40 miles northwest of Denver. Its record-setting snowstorm began at 2:30 pm on the afternoon of April 14, 1921.
Even after 24 hours, the snowflakes still kept coming and by 6 pm on April 15, 1921 a record 87 inches had landed. The blizzard continued non-stop for 32.5 hours, ultimately leaving 95 inches of fresh snow on the ground. This set yet another record for the deepest accumulation from one continuous snowfall.
Crazy, isn't it? We actually measured out the approximate 76 inches. My students were in shock! The amount was much taller than they are. You should have seen the smiles on their faces as they pictured that much snow.
We pull out an article and poster I got a few years ago from National Geographic Explorer. It shows photographs of eight different styles of snowflakes. They also get to cut out paper snowflakes and we hang them around the room. For cursive, their poem this week is the Robert Frost classic, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. 
I'm glad it snowed this week. Way to go weather! Thanks for working with me.
Well, it is a school night. I'm going to go watch the weather. Goodnight all!
Friday, January 2, 2009
A Hard Day Calls For Chocolate Cream Dessert
Today has been a hard day all around. Some days are just like that. So tonight, I thought I would share a recipe for those times you might need to splurge a little. Unlike a treat would normally be for me, this version is a "healthier" treat, in case you like most people are pledging to lose a few lbs.
Chocolate Cream Dessert
1 pkg German Chocolate cake mix
1 egg
1 cup applesauce (replaces the fat)
8 oz softened fat-free cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup fat-free whipped topping
1 3.5 oz. package chocolate pudding
1 1/2 cups skim milk
3 cups fat-free whipped topping
Mix the cake mix, egg, and applesauce in a medium bowl. Pour into a 9"X13" pan that has been coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 cup whipped topping together. Spread over the cooled cake. Then mix the pudding and milk, pour over the cream cheese layer. Spread the remaining 3 cups whipped topping over the top.
I got this recipe from a Healthy Living book. Yes, I do own a book like that. I also own many cookbooks. I may not use all of them, but I love to have access to them. Also, if you go on to the Kraft food website, you can sign up for their Food and Family magazine. They publish it 5 times a year. I have enjoyed the magazine. Of course, if you prefer, you can just use their website and get the same information without the magazine. I just like to be able to hold it in my hands I guess. Or you can just keep reading my blog and I'll post lots of recipes for you.
So, out of curiosity...what resolutions have you made for this new year? Have you resolved to slim down? Save money? Organize your home, life, etc.? Pay off your debt or at least pay it down? I'm still working on making a plan for a couple of my resolutions. Maybe I will blog about my plans another time. For now, adieu.
Chocolate Cream Dessert
1 pkg German Chocolate cake mix
1 egg
1 cup applesauce (replaces the fat)
8 oz softened fat-free cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup fat-free whipped topping
1 3.5 oz. package chocolate pudding
1 1/2 cups skim milk
3 cups fat-free whipped topping
Mix the cake mix, egg, and applesauce in a medium bowl. Pour into a 9"X13" pan that has been coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 cup whipped topping together. Spread over the cooled cake. Then mix the pudding and milk, pour over the cream cheese layer. Spread the remaining 3 cups whipped topping over the top.
I got this recipe from a Healthy Living book. Yes, I do own a book like that. I also own many cookbooks. I may not use all of them, but I love to have access to them. Also, if you go on to the Kraft food website, you can sign up for their Food and Family magazine. They publish it 5 times a year. I have enjoyed the magazine. Of course, if you prefer, you can just use their website and get the same information without the magazine. I just like to be able to hold it in my hands I guess. Or you can just keep reading my blog and I'll post lots of recipes for you.
So, out of curiosity...what resolutions have you made for this new year? Have you resolved to slim down? Save money? Organize your home, life, etc.? Pay off your debt or at least pay it down? I'm still working on making a plan for a couple of my resolutions. Maybe I will blog about my plans another time. For now, adieu.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
About me and a casserole
New Year's Day 2009-
So, my life in general...in a nutshell, as it were. I live a simple life. I work, I'm actively involved in my calling at church, and I try to be aware of the needs of family and friends around me. I keep busy most of the time (occasionally there is a rare day that I spend in my pj's! ). When I am home and not busy with work that I have brought home, I love to spend time playing with the dog, Henry. I also love to read, crochet and do other handiwork, and of course, spend time on the computer. I enjoy going for walks and rides. I love nature...the stars, sunsets, the mountains, rain, snowflakes, the first flowers of spring, the autumn leaves, the moon; well you get the idea. I do not like thunder and lightening though! I have some favorite TV shows, movies, books, and music as do most people, but I think I'll save that for another post.
I do deal with stress in my life, who doesn't? Along with chocolate, bubble baths, and soft music one of my greatest ways to relieve stress is to spend time in the kitchen. That is why this blog has a kitchen theme. It is very me. Anyone who really knows me will agree.
I am working on becoming a healthier person. I am making some changes in the way I prepare my food, I have been using a smaller plate for some of my meals. I am trying to eat slower and drink more water. I need to exercise more. As you can tell though, I love my sweets. I love chocolate. I love ice cream. I love fresh baked cookies and brownies. I do give some of them away, but I eat plenty too. It's a real battle for me.
Okay, enough talk of me. Here is a quick casserole that's excellent for winter nights. I have found that for 4 people or less, you might want to either cut the recipe in half, or bake 1/2 in one casserole dish and 1/2 in another and freeze one for a busy night when you want a hot homemade meal.
Sour Cream Noodle Bake
8 oz. med. noodles
1 lb. ground beef
1 8oz. can tomato sauce
1 c. sour cream
1 tsp. minced onion
1 c. cottage cheese
1/2 c. shredded cheese
Cook noodles in salted water. Rinse. Brown meat, drain fat, rinse & then add tomato sauce. Simmer 5 minutes. Combine remaining ingredients in at least a 2 qt casserole. Pour meat on top. Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees F. For variety, add 1 can drained tomatoes to the meat & tomato sauce before simmering.
Love ya!
So, my life in general...in a nutshell, as it were. I live a simple life. I work, I'm actively involved in my calling at church, and I try to be aware of the needs of family and friends around me. I keep busy most of the time (occasionally there is a rare day that I spend in my pj's! ). When I am home and not busy with work that I have brought home, I love to spend time playing with the dog, Henry. I also love to read, crochet and do other handiwork, and of course, spend time on the computer. I enjoy going for walks and rides. I love nature...the stars, sunsets, the mountains, rain, snowflakes, the first flowers of spring, the autumn leaves, the moon; well you get the idea. I do not like thunder and lightening though! I have some favorite TV shows, movies, books, and music as do most people, but I think I'll save that for another post.
I do deal with stress in my life, who doesn't? Along with chocolate, bubble baths, and soft music one of my greatest ways to relieve stress is to spend time in the kitchen. That is why this blog has a kitchen theme. It is very me. Anyone who really knows me will agree.
I am working on becoming a healthier person. I am making some changes in the way I prepare my food, I have been using a smaller plate for some of my meals. I am trying to eat slower and drink more water. I need to exercise more. As you can tell though, I love my sweets. I love chocolate. I love ice cream. I love fresh baked cookies and brownies. I do give some of them away, but I eat plenty too. It's a real battle for me.
Okay, enough talk of me. Here is a quick casserole that's excellent for winter nights. I have found that for 4 people or less, you might want to either cut the recipe in half, or bake 1/2 in one casserole dish and 1/2 in another and freeze one for a busy night when you want a hot homemade meal.
Sour Cream Noodle Bake
8 oz. med. noodles
1 lb. ground beef
1 8oz. can tomato sauce
1 c. sour cream
1 tsp. minced onion
1 c. cottage cheese
1/2 c. shredded cheese
Cook noodles in salted water. Rinse. Brown meat, drain fat, rinse & then add tomato sauce. Simmer 5 minutes. Combine remaining ingredients in at least a 2 qt casserole. Pour meat on top. Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees F. For variety, add 1 can drained tomatoes to the meat & tomato sauce before simmering.
Love ya!
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