Wonka Vision Cookies

The other day I needed to run out and do a few work errands.  While driving my iPad (let's face it we no longer have cars...we are all now driving computers), my daughter, Baby A, called me.

I touched my dashboard screen and answered her call.  I could hear her voice perfectly and I greeted her.  She immediately says to me, "Am I in your purse?"  It took me a minute for my brain to process what she was saying, and to figure all of this out.  Apparently, what I didn't realize was that she was face-timing me, but I couldn't see her since indeed, my phone was buried in my purse somewhere.  So there she was, "lost" in my purse and able to see everything in it. 

And then, without missing a beat, she says, "I feel like the kid from Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory."  I nearly lost it right there in my car from laughter.  You must be a kid from the 70's (or a kid whose parents were from the 70's and made you watch the movie all the time, because it's all about parenting).  Baby A was referring to the infamous scene of Wonka Vision, Mike Teavee,  and his demise in the movie.  It's a classic scene and my daughter nailed it with her clever comment!  This is a fantastic movie that everyone must see at least once in their lifetime.

I definitely needed that good laugh for a few moments.  Given everything that is happening in our world right now, a little humor is much needed medicine.  Things have been very challenging with work and life.  When I think it's just a tough day, that seems to turn into a week.  This too shall pass and will get through it.

Until then, I honestly feel that chocolate makes everything better.  To brighten my day, I baked cookies because it makes me happy.  It's comforting to know that with a little butter, some chocolate chips, and 10 minutes, life is good.

Stay well, healthy, and sparkly this coming week!

Wonka Vision Cookies

In Honor of Mike Teavee

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup peanut butter chips

1 cup old-fashioned whole grain oats (aka, uncooked oatmeal)

1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Sift and combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl, set aside.  In a large bowl beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy.  Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Stir in chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, dried oatmeal, and pecans.

Drop by rounded tablespoon onto a prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.  

One Year Ago: No Post

Two Years Ago: No Post

Three Years Ago: No Post

Four Years Ago: Rustic Chicken Marsala Bake

Five Years Ago: Alma's Mac and Cheese and Maddy's Mighty Minions

Six Years Ago: Grilled Caesar Salad with Shrimp

My baking assistant Princess Brinkley doing her recon for morsels.

Meal Train Manicotti

This week I got to visit my friend and her recovering husband again in the big city.  I was scheduled for my final meal train to them and was excited to cook for their family and see her beautiful, smiling face again...not to mention their Golden Retriever puppy that I am so in love with.

Since my last visit I prepared a Fiesta Dinner for them, this time I thought I would take the Italian approach.

Dinner

Caesar Salad

Tuscan Garlic Bread

Sausage and Cheese Manicotti

Brownie Desserts (which I had to confess I didn't actually bake these)

Breakfast

Fresh Fruits

Ham and Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

This Manicotti is so incredibly easy and came to me from my friends Doug and Lois, who also gave me the Empanada recipe.  Doug taught me a trick to making these that is seriously a game changer (plus I came up with my own culinary hack)!  I have always been intimidated by manicotti and struggled with stuffing them...not any more!

Sausage and Cheese Manicotti

Courtesy of Doug and Lois

1 lb. ground Italian sausage

2 cloves minced garlic

2 cups creamed, small curd cottage cheese, pureed

24 ounces Mozzarella cheese

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup mayonnaise

28 Manicotti noodles (1 box = 28 noodles)

16 ounce jar of your favorite spaghetti or marinara sauce

1 tsp dry oregano leaves

4-6 ounces Parmesan cheese, finely shredded

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown Italian sausage and garlic, drain fat.

In a large bowl, mix cottage cheese, Mozzarella cheese, salt, and mayonnaise.  Add sausage mixture and blend well.

Boil noodles according to package directions.  Drain and lay on a non-stick sprayed foil sheet to cool.

***Cut each cooked and cooled noodle in half, width-wise.

Prepare a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick spray.  

Hold noodle flat side down, flush with hard surface prep area.  Fill each noodle with the stuffing mixture by hand or **use a small cookie scoop. You will use about 2 Tablespoons for each noodle.

Pour about half of the spaghetti/marinara sauce in bottom of prepared baking dish, just to cover.

Place the stuffed shells in sauce.

Cover shells with remaining sauce.  Sprinkle with oregano and Parmesan cheese.

Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes.  Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes, until sauce is bubbling.

Enjoy!  Be healthy, well and stay sparkling!

In order for the most sanitized cooking area, after mopping the floor, I had to quarantine myself in the kitchen.  I pulled out our 2 largest baby gates and trapped myself in (or trapped the dogs out), however you choose to look at it.  Needless to say there was much pouting involved with the two of them and Kylo Zen thought he could mesmerize me with those brown puppy eyes.

One Year Ago: No Post

Two Years Ago:  No Post

Three Years Ago:  No Post

Four Years Ago: Strawberry Banana Smoothie Popsicles and Strawberry Moon

Five Years Ago:  Alma's Mac and Cheese and Maddy's Mighty Minions

Six Years Ago: Grilled Caesar Salad with Shrimp

Creme Brulee French Toast and Father's Day

I know that Father's Day has commercially been all about BBQ, Beer, Tools, and Hammocks.  Well, last year I my husband received a hammock.  This year, I don't have a clue, but I'm sure we'll figure something out.

What I do know...is breakfast!

We do love a good French Toast around here.  Some of our favorites are Double French Toast, one of my personal favorites Croissant French Toast, and of course there is Blueberry-Raspberry French Toast Bake.

So if French Toast wasn't good enough, you throw it down with some Creme Brulee!  Are you kidding?!?! Utopia!!!

Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe

Courtesy of Sara Lee

8 slices Sara Lee Artesano Brioche Bread

4 eggs

1/3 cup milk

1/3 cup half & half

3/4 tsp vanilla

1-1/2 Tbl orange juice

1/3 tsp ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp salt 

4 Tbl butter, melted

1/3 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Whisk together eggs, milk, half & half, vanilla, orange juice, nutmeg and salt in a bowl until well combined.  Dunk each slice of bread in the egg mixture and place in a 9x13 baking dish.

Mix together butter and brown sugar and spread this mixture on each slice of bread, on both sides.

Bake for 20 minutes and flip each slice of bread.  Bake another 5 minutes.  

Enjoy!

One Year Ago: No Post

Two Years Ago: No Post

Three Years Ago: No Post

Four Years Ago: Grilled Lemon Chicken Flatbread Wraps and Happy Father's Day

Five Years Ago:  Alma's Mac and Cheese and Maddy's Mighty Minions

Six Years Ago:  Grilled Caesar Salad with Shrimp

Maui Wowie Shrimp Salad...Wow Did You Really Say That?

I suppose that even after 20+ years, my husband and I still have to work on our communication skills.  I don't think that challenge ever goes away no matter how long you have been married.

I admit that during our three months of quarantine (thus far) that I may have become a little slack in my work dress code attire on most some days.  My husband however, sticks to the code!  His sleep hours are the same, shower and coffee prep same time each morning, and he is impeccably dressed for work (at home) every day.  Me...not so much.

So, yesterday I thought I would get a little "dressed up" for my work day.  I had to make a quick stop in the morning to Sam's Club for Father's Day food before they ran out of everything this week.  It was 97 degrees, so I figured I would put on something light and airy. 

Back at work, in my fifth office remodel I did last weekend, my desk now sits over our HVAC vent in the floor.  Since it was so hot, our A/C was running a lot...on my feet and legs.  The air flow from the vent had me doing my best Marilyn Monroe flying skirt from "The Seven Year Itch" .  By late afternoon my toes had frostbite.  To avoid going into complete hypothermia, I needed to change clothes.  My work day was almost over, so I put on my cropped sweatpants, fuzzy Crocs, and my favorite cardigan to try and warm up.

My husband walked into our home office.  He said, "What happened to your pretty Sunday dress?"  Now mind you, what he was calling my "Sunday dress", which I would never wear to church, was an old Costco skirt from 15 years ago paired with my latest Target tank top and my nude Laura Conrad sandals from Kohls.  Given what my attire has been the past few months, I guess this was definitely a step up.  I said jokingly, "What's wrong with my outfit?"  He said, "It looks like Grunge!"  And there the words floated in the air....I went from my Sunday best to Grunge in 6.5 seconds flat.

My husband also says that I make shrimp too much.  I tell him he golfs too much.  Know this now, if he makes one more comment about my work attire, I will cook every single item from Bubba Gump Shrimp Company's restaurant menu for dinner for the rest of the year.

I would imagine that you could use really any shrimp you would like for this salad.  I chose to make last month's Maui Wowie Shrimp and it was an excellent compliment.

Please continue to be safe, healthy, and...sparkling!

Maui Wowie Shrimp Salad
Inspired by Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine
Courtesy of Food.com
Makes 4 Servings

Dressing:
2 tsp minced shallots
1 tsp capers
1/4 frsh lime juice
1/2 cup plus 1 Tbl olive oil
3/4 tsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbl honey

Salad:
4 vine ripened tomatoes, sliced very thin
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 Tbl capers
1/3 cup finely chopped sweet onion
12 large cooked shrimp, each cut crosswise into 3 pieces (grilled shrimp works great)
1/2 medium avocado, diced into pieces the same size as the shrimp
4 butter or bibb lettuce, cut into 1/8 inch strips
4 popcorn shoot mixed sprouts (optional)

For the dressing: Combine shallots, 1 tsp capers and lime juice in a blender and puree until smooth.  Add olive oil and mustard and blend until well combined.  Stir in honey.

For the salad:  Arrange 5 slices of tomato on each of four plates, overlapping them to form a circle with a hole in the middle.

Combine shrimp and avocado in another bowl, drizzle with some dressing and salt and pepper to taste and toss well.  Drizzle lettuce with a little dressing and salt and pepper to taste and toss well.

Mound 1/4 of the lettuce in center of tomato ring.  Spoon one 1/4 of the feta and shrimp mixture on top.  Drizzle tomatoes and salad with some of the remaining dressing.  Garnish with popcorn shoot sprouts, if desired.

One Year Ago: No Post
Two Years Ago: No Post
Three Years Ago: No Post
Four Years Ago: Grilled Lemon Chicken Flatbread Wraps and Happy Father's Day
Five Years Ago: Asian Shrimp Salad, Age Spots and Angeline Wine
Six Years Ago: Grilled Caesar Salad with Shrimp

Empanadas and Meal Trains

For a time that I am 95% at home between working and daily life, this has been one amazingly busy week.  I feel like I have been on the go (all for good reasons) and really packed a lot in...including rearranging my home office for the fourth AND fifth time this weekend.

A friend of mine from college also lives here in Colorado.  I learned that her husband was receiving a kidney transplant from her sister.  What an incredible miracle and blessing to have in her family.

Another friend of hers started a meal train calendar and asked people to sign up to deliver meals to her family, so she wouldn't have to worry about that while tending to her recuperating husband.

But of course, I said...sign me up!

The hardest part with the thousands of recipes I have was trying to decide which would work best, would travel well and would be easy for her to warm up for dinner.  I also wanted to make breakfast for her family, so I included a breakfast casserole and fresh pastries for them as well.  I supplied everything in caterers foil containers, to save her from having to dishes and also included the recipes for everything.  Here care package included:

Dinner

Chips, Salsa, and Fresh Guacamole

Sour Cream and Chicken Enchiladas

Spanish Rice and Pinto Beans

White Trash Cookies

Breakfast

Bear Claw, Cream Cheese Croissant, Apple and Cherry Turnovers

Chile-Cheese Egg Bake

During the week, I gathered up some girlfriends for an evening of outdoor Barre Yoga Fitness Class and Wine (my family decided it was really a chick night of "Drunk Yoga").  One of our favorite wineries Sweet Heart Winery offered this event.  It was so beautiful, out on their lawn during sunset.  However, I thought it was going to be a simple yoga stretching class.  It kicked my butt!  Now I know what a barre fitness class actually is.

I wrapped up my week for a date night with my husband at Hale & Bradford Stillhouse.  It finally reopened with limited hours and we got lucky to find a table for us that night to just unwind for a couple hours.  This place has a great ranch vibe and I love the architecture of this old building with all the original works.

Luckily for an easy dinner, I try to always have a tray of these on hand in the freezer for a quick go-to.  One of my other (drunk yoga friends') husband turned me on to these and we LOVE them!  I hope you all have a blessed, healthy week and keep on sparkling!

Empanadas
Courtesy of Douglas
Makes 20 Empanadas

1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. of ground chorizo
3 cloves pressed fresh garlic
1 cup pitted green olives, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp chili powder
Goyo Adobo all purpose seasoning to taste.  Start with 1/4 tsp.

2 packs Goyo Empanada Shells (in frozen section of grocery store, pack of ten). 
***If you cannot find the Goyo shells, I have also used the prepared/rolled refrigerated pie crusts.  You will need 4 rolls of them (2 double packs).  Cut these in 4-1/2 " diameter circles.

1 cup shredded Mexican/Taco blend cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 egg (for egg wash), slightly whisked
1 tsp. water

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large frying pan, combine ground beef, chorizo, garlic, green olives, salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, and Goyo Adobo seasoning.  Cook until ground beef and chorizo are completely cooked through.

Remove meat mixture from pan and place in large mixing bowl.  Add the Mexico/Taco Blend and Monterey Jack cheeses.  Mix well.

Before putting the meat in the shells, put egg wash around the inside edges of the empanadas so they get tacky.

Add approximately 1 Tablespoon of meat mixture to the empanada shell.

Fold over and press together with a fork.  Egg wash the remaining shell.  Do not do the edges again.

Bake on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy with Chimichurri Sauce, your favorite salsa, or guacamole.

One Year Ago: No Post

Two Years Ago: No Post

Three Years Ago: No Post

Four Years Ago: Basil, Bacon and Peach Baked Brie and "The Bee Sting"

Five Years Ago: Asian Shrimp Salad, Age Spots and Angeline Wine

Six Years Ago: Grilled Caesar Salad with Shrimp

Coconut and Macadamia Nut Bread Pudding

Apparently I missed quite the party at my house last night!

I should have listened to my senses when my first clue was one of my "barometric pressure migraines" coming on.  I am learning that it is a real thing and wind is not my friend.  Whenever we have one of our Colorado summer storms coming through, my head can feel it way before the meteorologists report it.

I checked with "Alexa" (because she is supposed to know EVERYTHING, right?) and she said wind from 6pm to 3am.  That's it.  That's all she had to say about the weather for the night.

At the last minute, my husband decided that we should probably bring in the cushions for the evening, since we are getting tired of chasing them down through all our neighbors yards every morning after these wind storms...there are A LOT of cushions!

Well, I took my ZzzQuil to help me sleep with my headache and try to rest through the night.  My husband said he was up all night with the wind, thunder, lightning and severe rain, maybe a little hail thrown in there too.  Ooops, sorry to hear that.  I slept through Mother Nature's entire party.

So here is what I have learned...listen to your instincts and...Alexa doesn't know shiznit!!

In honor of Tropical Storm Cristobal that is completely jacking with my head this week, I made a tropical dessert.  Enjoy!

Coconut and Macadamia Nut Bread Pudding

Courtesy of Donatella Arpaia and King's Hawaiian

Custard:

1-12 pack King's Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls, cut into cubes

16 ounces heavy cream

16 ounces whole milk

8 ounces coconut milk

6 ounces granulated sugar

6 egg yolks

2 eggs

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup coconut flakes

2 ounces butter, melted

8 ounces macadamia nuts, toasted and chopped

Coconut Caramel:

8 ounces coconut milk

6 ounces dark brown sugar

For Custard:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Heat the milks, cream and sugar and whisk into the eggs, yolk, and salt.  Strain.

Toss the bread cubes with some melted butter and spoon into a prepared (sprayed with non-stick spray) 9"x13" pan.

Pour the custard over and stir in the flaked coconut, allowing it to soak in and then pour on extra if needed.  The more butter and custard, the better.

Sprinkle the top with toasted macadamia nuts.  Bake for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

For Caramel:

Place the coconut milk and brown sugar in a small sauce pan and heat over medium heat until mixture simmers.

Whisk constantly until sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.

Drizzle over bread pudding before serving.

Stay well and keep on sparkling!

One Year Ago: No Post

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Three Years Ago: No Post

Four Years Ago: Caprese Grilled Chicken with Balsamic Reduction and The 2 AM Towel

Five Years Ago: Reese's Cheescakes

Six Years Ago: Fajita Salad and Island Fever

Chimichurri Sauce / Steak Marinade

June and summer are officially here and it's grill'n season!  We have both a traditional propane island grill and rotisserie, along with our my Traeger smoker/grill.  The weather is stunning right now and I cannot get enough of being outside this time of year as I am sure all of you are experiencing as well.

My husband is all about sauces.  He loves to have some kind of a sauce with meals.  This Chimichurri Sauce is what he loves to have with our empanadas.  Little known fact though, thanks to Bon Appetit, I learned that it also makes an AMAZING marinade for steaks too.

If you're looking for something special to make this coming Father's Day or want to share a special meal with your loved ones, trust me, this is the ticket.  Enjoy!

Chimichurri Sauce

Courtesy of Bon Appetit, Published, July 2011

1 shallot, finely chopped

1 Fresno chile or red jalapeno, finely chopped

3-4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced or finely chopped

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more

1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro

1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

2 Tbl finely chopped oregano

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

tri-tip, flat iron, or skirt steak

Combine shallot, chile, garlic, vinegar, and 1 tsp salt in a medium bowl.  Let sit 10 minutes.  Stir in cilantro, parsley, and oregano.  Using a fork, whisk in olive oil.  Transfer 1/2 cup chimichurri to a small bowl; season with salt and reserve as a sauce.  Place steak in a glass, stainless steel, or ceramic dish.  Toss with remaining chimichurri.  Cover well and chill at least 3 hours or up to (even better) overnight.

Remove meat from marinade, pat dry, and grill to desired doneness.

Spoon reserved chimichurri over grilled meat.

One Year Ago: No Post

Two Years Ago: No Post

Three Years Ago: No Post

Four Years Ago: Caprese Grilled Chicken with Balsamic Reduction and The 2 AM Towel

Five Years Ago: Crockpot Beef Tips, Tornadoes and Turtle-Brownie Sundaes

Six Years Ago: Fajita Salad and Island Fever

Ravioli with Lemon, Peas, and Pancetta

During my most recent grocery foraging (which actually is getting better), I made great progress.  I have learned to go early on weekday mornings with my new senior citizen friends.  They don't know I am their new friend, but that's okay.  They are wondering why I am there infringing on their allotted time.  I love watching my new friends, we have a lot in common.  They are very efficient and friendly (most mornings).

At checkout time, I looked over and noticed Food Network's recent magazine cover.  The dish on the front cover looked so beautiful and delicious.  Since it was early in the morning I was starving.  I had not eaten anything for breakfast yet, because I wanted to get to the store early to see my new friends.  

I saw the price of the magazine.  Sorry folks, no-can-do.  I am just too cheap.  I took a photo of the magazine and searched for the recipe on their website when I returned home.  Mission accomplished!

It has been in the high, very high 80's here and will be pushing up to 100 degrees this weekend.  Ooof, it's toasty here no doubt about that.  The saving grace is that it cools way down in the evenings so we can enjoy our nights outside.

This dish is the perfect summer dinner.  So easy, light, and has an incredibly fresh taste with the lemon and peas.  I loved it!!

I pray that you are all staying well and sparkly...Enjoy.

Ravioli with Lemon, Peas, and Pancetta

Courtesy of Food Network

2 ounces thinly sliced pancetta (8 to 10 slices)

2 10-ounce packages spinach-ricotta ravioli

6 Tbl unsalted butter

2 tsp finely grated lemon zest, plus 1 tsp lemon juice

1 cup frozen peas, thawed

1/4 cup grated pecorino-romano cheese, plus more for topping

Freshly ground pepper

Chopped fresh basil, for topping

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Meanwhile, cook the pancetta in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, turning, until browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes.  Remove to a paper towel lined plate and wipe out the skillet.

Add the ravioli to the boiling water and cook as the label directs.  Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain gently.

Combine the butter and lemon zest and juice in the reserved skillet over medium heat.  Add the peas, ravioli and 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking water; toss to coat.  Stir in the pecorino and toss.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add more cooking water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed to loosen.

Divide the ravioli, peas, and any sauce among shallow bowls.  Sprinkle with more pecorino.  Crumble the pancetta and scatter over the ravioli.  Top with basil.

One Year Ago: No Post

Two Years Ago: No Post

Three Years Ago: No Post

Four Years Ago: Olive Cheese Bread, Washers and Dryers and Ice Makers, Oh My!!!!

Five Years Ago: Grilled Balsamic and Blue Steak

Six Years Ago: Fajita Salad and Island Fever