Without Further Ado...

I'm terrible at introductions, apparently,

seeing that I haven't introduced our little spot on the worldwide web to my new best friend!

Let me introduce you...Philadelphia Cooking Creme.

BFF's!

This best friend stuff has rocked my world meals. 

It's a really thick sauce that you add to anything to make it taste good.  

Anything.  

Tonight, for example, I cooked chicken and mixed vegetables (seperately). 

Once the chicken and veggies were cooked I combined them.  

Then I added the Italian Cheese and Herb Cooking Creme along with a can of spicy Rotel tomatoes. 

(Did I tell you she comes in different flavors?  LOVE!)

Mixed it all together and simmered while the rice cooked.

Wa la...Creamy, spicy chicken and veggies over rice.

Last week I used the Original Cooking Creme and added veggies, chicken and tomatoes and tossed it with pasta noodles.  Delish.

Chicken Enchiladas!

I just made up a recipe and I think it's my favorite meal EVER - chicken enchiladas.  This kind of thing just doesn't happen to me... 
If you want to make a yummy dinner on the fast, here is how I made it!

**I didn't measure things because I wasn't planning on repeating it, so feel free to vary this recipe however you'd like.**

I used the following ingredients:

• 2 cooked chicken breasts  (Chopped into small pieces)
• Salsa  (16 ounces at least)
• Cream Cheese  (I used 1/2 of a block)
• Corn  (I'd estimate about 1 cup)
• 1 small can diced green chiles
• 1 15 ounce can of pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
• 2 cups of shredded cheese  (I used 4 "Cheese Mexican Blend")
• 8 flour tortillas

This is how I prepared them:

• Heated cream cheese, corn and 1/2 of the salsa and 1/2 of the shredded cheese on medium low until the cream cheese and shredded cheese is melted and blended together.
• Added the green chiles, pinto beans and chicken breast to the mixture and stirred together over medium low heat.
• Then I greased a 9x13 pan and spread a small amount of salsa evenly on the pan.
• Next I just filled tortillas, (each with a big scoop of the mixture) rolled them and placed them in the pan with the seam side down.
• Top the enchiladas with the rest of the salsa and the remaining cheese.

Throw it in a 350 degree oven for 25-35 minutes.  Let cool a few minutes and enjoy...mmmmmmmmmm.

Ummm...Ben is going to be home in 15 minutes but I couldn't wait and just had 2.

Lemon Bars

I have LKB to thank for my darling husband.

Last night Ben found a recipe that he had to try - Ina Garten's Lemon Bars.  After our fantastic Jimmy John's dinner tonight, Ben just upped and started baking them. 

He made the crust, squeezed the lemons, sifted the powered sugar - the whole 9 yards.

They turned out FANTASTIC!  You should try them.  The recipe is here!

Look at that man sift!  He told me, "I add more powdered sugar than the Contessa".

Heading to the BIG EASY!!!!!!

Relaxing, reading books on the front porch, smelling spicy familiar scents, walking around the French Quarter- pretending like we live there, seeing old friends, listening to music on the steps of Jackson Square. Tomorrow. Can't wait!

See you in a week.

I'll leave you with this, it's yummy! 

Nutella Puff Pastry Dessert

1. 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed (from a 17.3 pkg.)
2. 1 lg. egg beaten for an egg wash)
3. 7.oz. nutella, roughly 1/2 jar (13 oz.)
4. 1 tbl. sugar
5. sea Salt to sprinkle
6. 4 Tbl. hazelnuts, whole, toasted and chopped
7. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Arrange puff pastry on a parchment lined baking sheet.
8. Form a 10 in. square and fold up the edges, just a little. Poke the middle of dough several times with a fork. 
9. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar
10. FREEZE for 15 min.
11. Transfer to oven and bake until pastry is puffed and golden, about 15 min.
12. Meanwhile roast hazelnuts in oven and then roll on a towel to remove skins and chop roughly
13. really good, and most things you can just keep on hand to make whenever you want

Fooood!

Growing this baby has made my mind mush.  The only thing I think about is food!

Here's a delicious, cheap, easy March recipe I got from LKB.  I made it on St. Patrick's Day, but you could probably get a good deal on some cabbage and whip this up tonight.  :)

It's so simple.  Here's the play-by-play:

Chop 1 medium onion and saute it in 2 Tbsp. butter until slighly browned.

While sauteing the onions, chop an entire head of cabbage.  Rinse it and then add it to the onion mixture.



Add the rest of the stick of butter (It's decadent like that) to the onion/cabbage mix.

Optional:  Add some cooked meat to the onion/cabbage mix.  I added about 1/2 cup of bacon crumbles.

Cook on medium heat until the mixture cooks down - about 30 minutes.

Add cooked egg noodles.  I tried to be good and use whole grain noodles.  I'd use regular next time, but if you're in a healthy mood, go ahead and try the whole grain!

Drain noodles and add to the butter, onion, cabbage, (bacon) mixture.

Add lots of salt and pepper!

ENJOY!!!!

My leprechauns and I did!



Time to try something new--- Korean food

Both Mickey and I have a strong Korean connection- I have 2 Korean daughters, and Mickey has a sister from Korea.
So here goes, if you haven't tried Korean food, it's time.
HOBAN is our favorite Korean restaurant. Korean food is very different from other asian foods.

You can peak at their menu here- one of my favorite things to order is Dolsot Bibimbap, it is rice in a VERY hot clay bowl-topped with veggies, beef and an over easy egg, the rice on the bottom gets really crispy. Really good. I also like Chicken Bokum (good low carb), Chap Chae and start your meal with Man Doo.

This is Chicken Bokum-  you also get all the little fun sides of different Kimchi.

Kim and Young are owners of Hoban- we have known them for years

I've traveled with Kim to Korea a couple times, and have had great eating and shopping adventures.

Piper is a regular here.

If you feel like being adventurous head over to :

HANA MARKET

my kids love these Ramen style soups

as much rice as you will ever need

fun little kitcheny things

Kimchi of many kinds

 This is "Mr. HANA Market"
I think we are his favorite customer! He can help you with any recipe-

Tradition is. Hana (daughter) and I buy kimbahb and eat it in the car on the way home-

If you feel adventurous and want to make your own Kimchi, go for it!

TA DAAAA!!!!        (Laura and Beth, we need to do this again- it was  great!)

Heres's the recipe:

Kimchi

Posted in Korean & Asian dishes on August 3, 2009 by lkbachman

Makes lots

ingredients

• 8 lg. napa cabbage – very large
• 1 handful salt per layer
• 2 bunches green onions – cut into 2 in pieces
• 2 cups water
• 2 tbls. flour
• 7 tbls. minced garlic
• 6 heaping tbls. sugar
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 5 handfuls korean red pepper

Method:

• chop cabbage roughly
• layer with salt
• let set 30 min
• mix on stove, 2 cups water with 2 tbls. flour – bring to a boil
• add to cabbage
• add garlic, sugar, and fish sauce
• add red pepper
• add green onions
• MIX the HELL OUT OF IT!
• leave on counter for 24 hrs to sour

*can be made the same way with white radish cut into cubes
*thanks to Kim from Hoban for the recipe

YOU ARE THE CREAM IN MY COFFEE!!!

Sitting at the computer all morning is
finally making me  s   l   e   e   p   y !!!
My favorite coffee  drink of choice is Starbucks, tall Americano with an extra shot & room.
If you are lucky enough to work from home or have access to hot water and time for a little fussing, I have an "almost as good" recommendation.

1. Heat water

the AEROPRESS   I ordered mine from Amazon. The coffee is REALLY good- if you like strong coffee. Actually you can make it as strong or however you like it. At first it seemed a little putsy- but I have the system down now, and it is totally worth it!

2. grind coffee

3. this is your filter

4. this is what the plunger looks like

5. attach filter

6. add 2 scoops of ground coffee

7.  set aeropress on top of mug, add hot water to the #2 level and
stir for 10 seconds

9. you now have espresso that you can
add as much water to as you want. So boil
a little extra water in the beginning to add
at the end.

8. wet the plunger, and then slowly (for 30 sec)
plunge the coffee into your mug

10. REALLY good and smooth.
Try it a couple times, it takes a little to get the
system down-  definitely worth it!!!
Ok- I'm going to make some now!