Kirsten's Cooking

better than fried chicken

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:26:00 +0000

I remember reading this recipe on the Pioneer Woman blog several years ago. I believe it may have been called 'mayo' chicken and the guest blogger was Dutch Girl(?). I know I'd made it then, but I had forgotten about it. My guys really dislike chicken, so when I do make it, I'm always looking for good ways to disguise it.

I searched and searched google, trying "mayo chicken", "pioneer woman guest post", and everything I could think of. After a couple minutes of research, urban legend suggests that there was a falling out of sorts between the two bloggers. Whatever, I just wanted the recipe! I vaguely remembered the ingredients, so I just made it.

Lately, I've noticed it's made a resurgence (on Pinterest), and it's now known as "better than fried" chicken. Some recipes suggest Greek yogurt in place of the mayo. I've never tried it, because we all like the richness of mayonnaise.

We had it last night for dinner and even Josh said, "this is pretty good". We also enjoyed rhubarb muffins.

Here are the recipes:

"better than fried" chicken

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup mayo/Greek yogurt, or a combination
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tsp herbes de Provence
1 tsp granulated garlic
Salt, pepper
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, divided

1. Mix all ingredients, reserving 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs.
2. Spread mixture over chicken breasts. Sprinkle remaining breadcrumbs over chicken.
3. Bake at 375 degrees, uncovered, about 40 minutes, or until browned and chicken is cooked through.

rhubarb muffins (click link for recipe)

Evidence of a Charmed Life

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:42:00 +0000

My mom dropped off all kinds of "treasures" for me yesterday. High school yearbooks, old art projects, and lots of memorabilia. With the exception of a gold chain with a 'k' charm, I probably won't keep much. My mom kept all of her pre-natal appointment cards, their confirmation for childbirth classes, and wrote in a calendar describing every day of my first year. I have all of my report cards (which the kids want to look through), the program for my one and only gymnastics recital, and a dollar for getting published in the Junior Dispatch. My high school yearbooks contains all sorts of inane messages from classmates.

My childhood was easy. I had great parents, a good education, and supportive extended family. We took vacations, enjoyed the privilege of having just about everything we wanted, and generally lived a charmed life.

The moment that hit me like a ton of bricks is when I found this letter from my cousin.

In it, she describes her life (since we'd not seen in each other in a while). Her mom wasn't talking to her (her new stepdad prevented it). Her dad lived at the beach, and her stepmom stayed out until 5:00am every morning (with other men). She was struggling in school, and her only 'family' was a boyfriend named Brandon. What's really sobering is that I don't even remember this letter. Did I respond? In the midst of my charmed life, I probably didn't even know how to respond to something so heartbreaking. After reading that this morning, my thoughts directly turn to my children. I am so, so grateful for their 'charmed' childhood. I am thankful to God for protecting me from others' bad decisions, but regretful that she was not. I am praying for her today, because I've recently learned she is in an abusive marriage. Her son, who is the same age as our precious son, bore the brunt of his stepfather's rage just last week. I will keep praying, because that's all I can do. I don't know why life is so hard, but I do know I will fight to continue a protected life for my children.

Done

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Sun, 12 May 2013 00:27:00 +0000

I had a cooking event today where I was responsible for feeding 179 people. I managed to capture just two pictures, and I'm so glad it's over. Thankfully the menu allowed me to prep many things ahead of time and then to do my final cooking on-site yesterday and today. I never know how much to prepare, and invariably I have leftovers, but that's certainly a better scenario than the alternative!

This was a large undertaking, but it went extremely well and I'm very thankful for the opportunity.

I made: sticky bun ham and cheese sandwiches, chicken salad croissants, potato salad, shrimp and chorizo skewers, crudités with smoked salmon spread, fruit trays, chocolate fudge, molasses cookies, white chocolate truffles with lemon, and orange poppyseed cupcakes with raspberry frosting.

Sausage "quiche"

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:45:00 +0000

Also known as: the only thing I had the energy to throw together.

Today I made three batches of smoked salmon spread. Twelve pounds of potato salad. Turned eight roasted chickens into crazy amounts of chicken salad.

Then it was time to make dinner. Ugh.

I had the wherewithal to defrost a pack of country sausage links earlier in the day. I also had a red pepper, an onion, some leftover potatoes, and one egg. Thankfully I have the best neighbor. She's also my sister-in-law. She came to the rescue with three eggs (I already used three dozen earlier in my cooking exploits).

Within fifteen minutes, I had dinner in the oven.

Ever since my sister mentioned rhubarb sauce with tapioca (yesterday), I've been meaning to make vanilla pudding with rhubarb sauce. I simmered both on the stove while I cleaned up the kitchen for the bajillionth time.

I wish we had a good choice locally for home-cooked takeout. It was fairly painless to throw dinner and dessert together, but I would have welcomed a little help.

At any rate, here are the recipes!

Sausage "quiche"

1lb breakfast sausage, crumbled and casing removed
1 red pepper, chopped
5 small Yukon gold potatoes, par-cooked in the microwave
1 small onion, chopped
2tbsp olive oil
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups half and half
1 tsp Dijon
Salt, pepper
Shredded cheddar

1. Sautéed sausage in olive oil until barely pink. Add potatoes, peppers, and onions. Sauté until browned.
2. Place sauté mixture in baking pan.
3. Mix eggs, mustard, seasonings and half and half. Pour over sausage mixture. Top with cheese and bake for thirty five minutes at 375 degrees.

Vanilla Pudding Recipe

Rhubarb-Berry Compote

2 cups chopped rhubarb 1/4 cup strawberries/red raspberries 1 cup sugar In a medium saucepan, simmer ingredients until soft (about 7 minutes). Purée if desired.

Phone Snapshots

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:22:00 +0000

Lettuce Wraps

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:22:00 +0000

Otherwise known as: the best thing we've eaten this week.

I am so happy today. I wish my moods weren't dependent on variable circumstances (ie, the sun), but today is perfect. Sunny, 70 degrees, and cloudless skies. I roasted six chickens, skewered 200 shrimp and chorizo bites, and all of my desserts (for next week's event) are in the freezer.

And then there was dinner tonight. As Josh described it: amazing. I had a flat-iron steak in the refrigerator and I saw a Pinterest recipe for Thai-beef and lettuce wraps. After I looked at the original recipe, I knew I was going to have to start over. I always have things like: hoisin, fish sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil on hand. I mixed all of those together (about two tbsp each) and added a squeeze of lime juice and a tablespoon of sesame seeds.

After I grilled and sliced our steak, we simply topped the lettuce with shredded carrots, julienned
cucumbers, and the sauce. The interesting part is that they were surprisingly filling. The sauce was crucial, though, I must admit!

Reality Check.

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:53:00 +0000

So, I've recently acquired a new phone. I love it. The ease with which I can share my life is addicting. I especially enjoy discovering the accomplishments of others on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

I do worry, though. On our social applications, we only post our accomplishments, in most cases. As women, especially, it's so easy to compare ourselves and feel lacking. We all have gifts. Maybe you're not a baker, master organizer, crafting genius, or professional quilter. Maybe your gift just happens to be corralling three boys through a grocery store and keeping your sanity. Just because I can grill a piece of salmon does not make me any better than you.

I'd like to start a new series here that peels back the curtain on life every once in a while. My goal on this blog is to inspire you to love food. Every once in a while, though, I want to encourage you by showing you that our life is messy. I will show you my struggles and not allow myself to complain about my husband or kids. Please know that no one has it all together.

So, onto my first "reality check". Here it is.

What you see here are two suitcases. These have been sitting on Rob's 'side' of the room since April 14th and 21st, respectively. Why, you ask? Well, to be blunt: because I've been too unselfish to unpack them for him. I guess I'm very good at ignoring the fact that my husband works crazy hours to provide us a very comfortable living. Please don't try to tell me that they're 'his' suitcases, that I'm busy too, etc. I understand all of those things.

The fact of the matter is that I've been purposely ignoring them. Has anyone seen the "Everybody loves Raymond" episode where he and Deborah purposely leave a suitcase on the steps for three
weeks (each refusing to cave)?

How much better would our relationships be if we served each other? If we didn't keep a running scorecard in our head? If we gave grace when it is least deserved? I'm going to start today and unpack those d$&? suitcases.

Lately

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:28:00 +0000

I know I haven't posted in a while! At this point, I have a laptop that won't turn on. Don't feel bad for me, I still have an iPad, but it's not ideal for blogging. I don't even know how to download pictures to it!

I have a large cooking job upcoming, so I'll be preparing for that. Today I made ten pounds of fudge, four batches of molasses cookie batter, and a triple batch of truffles.

I miss posting on here, but Rob has been traveling for a while. Hopefully he'll have time to take my laptop to our computer technician (soon).

I hope you're all doing well! We're enjoying the flowering spring trees in our neighborhood, Josh's first volleyball season, Kate's soccer games, and our guinea girls.

I've just acquired my first iPhone, so hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to do short posts on there. I'd also love any advice on Instagram or twitter, so any help would be appreciated!

At any rate, I hope we can catch up soon!

Kirsten :)

Weekly Meal Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:46:00 +0000

I haven't gotten out my calculator to tally the numbers, but it's safe to say I spent hundreds of dollars last week. Between the vet bill and three trips to the grocery store (at $150 each), I'm feeling a little light-headed. And guilty. Thank goodness for my husband. He never makes me feel badly for spending money on groceries (or anything else we need). I usually don't spend money on things other than necessities, but food and gas really do add up in a family of five. Our kids are all packing their lunches for school, so that adds more heft to the grocery store trips (in money and actual food).

I do find that it's easier to keep my food bill relatively in check when I plan out our meals. It also helps to know what to defrost in the mornings or prepare ahead of time throughout the day.

So, today I spent about $80 at Price-Rite for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinner components. I still need to buy my meat and dairy.

So, here's what we'll be having for dinners this week!

Monday April 1st
Beef Roast with carrots, parsnips, onions, sweet potatoes, and yukon golds
dessert: lemon velvet pie (I was supposed to make this for Easter, but we stayed home due to the stomach bug - again)

Tuesday April 2nd
Burgers
roasted cauliflower

Wednesday April 3rd
Four cheese ravioli in a light cream sauce with peas and ham
salad

Thursday April 4th
Veggie Stir Fry with beef and jasmine rice

Friday April 5th
Pittsburgh Steak Salad

I'm also going to try this recipe for lunch today. Josh has a dentist appointment at 12:30, so I'm picking him up from school and I'll take this in a thermos for him to eat on the way to the office.

the chiles are soaking as we speak, for the "curry paste"

I also hope to make crispy eggplant slices and various salads for myself and the kids for lunches this week. As well as lots of green leafy vegetables and a few fruits for the guinea girls.

News By the Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:26:00 +0000

10 - the number of days we hosted Charlotte and Gracie in our house before I had to make a vet appointment.

$213. 60 - the amount of our first vet bill.

12 - amount of hours that pass until we administer the next round of eyedrops, skin cream, and antibiotics to our furry friends.

3 - pairs of flats I've bought in the quest for a comfortable pair. I love the look of jeans or khakis with flats, but could never find a comfortable pair. Until now.

36 - the age I will be on Friday.

24 - hours Rob and I will get to spend alone as a birthday treat! I think we're going to the cabin. I'm looking forward to no cell phone signal.

4 - the number of new recipes we tried in the past week - and liked!

grilled pesto chicken - marinated in lemon juice and pesto, so simple!

veggie stir-fry with this peanut sauce

roasted veggies - potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and cauliflower (amazing combination)

Alton Brown's beer-battered fish

7 - number of days that xfinity is featuring a watchathon.

16 - number of Downton Abbey episodes I'm trying to cram into these seven days. It's almost like a part-time job.

Well, that's all the news here for now! What's going on in your world?

Veggie Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:58:00 +0000

I love to re-create restaurant meals at home. I'm usually able to accomplish decent results, with the exception of Asian cuisine. I happen to love Thai and Vietnamese cooking, but I just can't make it taste as good at home.

I made a veggie stir-fry with grilled steak and peanut sauce last week that was really good. It still doesn't compete with a restaurant meal or more authentic dish, but we liked it anyway!

I found this peanut sauce on pinterest and topped our stir fry with it. It made the dish, definitely. Like the blogger suggests, I improvised with the ingredients I had on hand. I'll give you my version, but feel free to check out the original, for comparison purposes!

I served our stir fry with steamed jasmine rice and grilled flank steak, sliced.

for the veggie stir-fry:
1 red pepper, sliced
1 small onion, sliced
8 button mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cabbage, sliced
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped coarsely
1 Tbsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp soy sauce

In a skillet, heat sesame oil over high heat, until shimmering. Saute vegetables briefly, about three to five minutes, stirring occasionally, in order to get a browned (but crisp) color and flavor. Remove from heat and add soy sauce. Cover and set aside for serving

for the flank steak:
Marinate steak at least four hours in Newman's Own Sesame Ginger dressing. Grill approximately 8 minutes per side or until medium rare. Allow to rest for five minutes before slicing on the bias and serving.

steamed jasmine rice:
Steam according to manufacturers directions.

for the peanut sauce:
2 Tbsp peanut butter
1 tsp dried ginger
1 lime, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp hot sauce
1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 Tbsp fish sauce
1/ cup safflower oil
2 tsp honey
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp sesame oil

Mix all ingredients in blender until smooth.

**~~Quite~~ a few notes:
I think I'd like to use fresh ginger in both the stir fry and the peanut sauce.
This sauce will give you garlic breath, beware!
Fresh cilantro would have been nice on top.
You can totally improvise on the sauce, the veggies used in the stir fry, or meat selection (chicken, pork, or shrimp would taste great as well!)
We used forks, not chopsticks - too impatient!
I loved this meal, but next time I'll make more - Josh and I were both hungry afterwards :)

Birthday Party

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:01:00 +0000

So, I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but none of my kids have ever had a friend birthday party. I always have a family party where I make their favorite meal and it's a great time of celebration. I've typically used the excuses of: expense, my mental health, and our small house. I think I don't realize that my kids are much more extroverted than I am. I guess anyone is, really. :)

Well, I guess since we caved on the pet we must be on a roll. I allowed Kate to invite two friends to spend the night in honor of her birthday. I guess it's not technically a party since it's such a small number, but she's really excited and I think this will be special for Kate.

I'm fully prepared to now offer the same to Josh and Emma and I'm okay with that. I feel like as our kids get older the stuff I found daunting before seems to appear more manageable. Or maybe I'm just growing less selfish. Let's hope it's the latter.

Anyway, I found a couple of cute things on pinterest that we'll try tonight with the girls. I'm making stromboli and I bought a few snacks that Kate and her friends are excited about. I think we'll go for frozen yogurt after dinner and then come home for our activities.

The first activity is a really cute craft. I'm not normally a crafty person, but this looks pretty foolproof (what do you think?)

Here are the supplies we'll be using. I'm not sure how the stencils will work, but I bought seven canvases, so if we have a major success, I'll probably make a few gifts!

The other activity that Kate and her friends are excited about is this candy game.

The original idea is to wrap the candy up in tape, but we decided to use plastic wrap. We'll give the girls each 30 seconds to unwrap as much candy as they can, which they'll keep. It should be fun to see who can get the most, and how many turns it takes to unwrap the whole roll!

I figure the rest of the time they'll be giggling, playing karaoke, painting their nails, and probably not sleeping very much. Wish us luck.

Introducing.....

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:53:00 +0000

So, remember how I told you that Kate was dying to have a guinea pig for her birthday? I appreciated all of the helpful suggestions. Really, I did. We'd already hosted Patches, the class guinea pig, for Thanksgiving. We knew they were a little on the smelly side. We already knew we weren't allergic (thank you, Patches).

The truth of the matter is, I'm just not really an animal person. I think it stems partly from the fact that I've never really had a pet. Plus, they kind of just make me nervous.

But, if animals in general make me a little jittery, rodents are the worst. I won't even look at rats if we're in a pet store. It's the tail. Blech.

So, I was pretty sure that we were just going to tell Kate that the guinea pig idea wasn't a good one. That we're just not pet people. Then my mom, [quite possibly the only person that hates rodents more than me] laid a pretty good guilt trip on me. And we caved.

Without further ado.....meet

Gracie

And.....

Charlotte

That's right everyone, we not only adopted one guinea pig, but we found her a friend. They're actually really cute. Charlotte follows Gracie around so closely that she runs into her rear end when Gracie stops running. We kind of think they remind us of Kate and Emma.

And, something I never thought I'd do - I even hold them!

We all enjoy watching them, petting them, holding them, and just having them in our house (even Rob). Who knew?

Frosted Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:28:00 +0000

I hate making cookies. The measuring. The perpetual watching and waiting. I think it's the precise nature of making cookies that I rebel against. Unfortunately, this directly clashes with the fact that my husband loves to eat cookies.

I first saw these cookies (click for the recipe) a couple days ago and since I had a full container of Fage yogurt in the fridge, I thought I'd try them.

They are supposed to be a home made version of the ones you can buy in the plastic containers in the grocery store. Since I've never had those, I don't know how they compare. They probably contain less ingredients than the store bought version and I had one reviewer (a passenger in our car on our way to soccer practice) tell me they tasted better than the grocery store version.

Personally, I think the frosting is the best part. But when isn't it?

If you're feeling inspired, you could make these for St. Patrick's Day, but I think you'd be better served by just putting a few drops of green food coloring in your beverage of choice.

The stars aligned.

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:55:00 +0000

I like to describe our stage as "the golden years". Our kids are so enjoyable most of the time. Josh is a very easy teenager so far and the girls are pretty great, too! We still have our struggles, but for the large majority of our days, peace reigns in our house. I honestly feel like things are a little magical right now.

Occasionally, though, the girls have a stressful time getting ready for school.

Rob thinks he has the answer: to have them lay out their outfits the night before and then make them stick to that choice. He is such a boy. Like, really. That doesn't take into account how the clothing feels, how it fits, looks together, or what they feel like.

At least one day a week we have a complete breakdown. I'm talking tears streaming down someone's face on our way to the bus stop. I try to be as accommodating as possible, because I don't want them to feel uncomfortable for 7 hours.

Days like today, though, make all of our struggles a distant memory. They both showered, picked out cute outfits and let me do their hair. They put earrings in, helped me pack their lunches and brushed their teeth unsolicited. For those of you with school-age kids, I think you know what a miracle this is.

I even had time to take a few pictures!

I figure I'm going to need these pictures to look back on when their teenagers. Or when we're all sick with the stomach bug that has Rob in bed today.

Our Weekend in Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:31:00 +0000

This past weekend we had a little taste of spring. The weather was sunny and close to 60 degrees. It was so refreshing. We were outside as much as possible. I think we're all ready to come out of hibernation.

We rode bikes (some of us on motorized, some with pedal power). We grilled. We hung out with friends. We enjoyed a variety show at the girls' school. We dyed Easter eggs. We played. We lavished in the sunshine.

I also enjoyed taking some pictures of our weekend. Our camera is great. I really do love it. What I love most about it are the settings. Bless my husband's heart, he researched our camera for hours before and after we purchased it. He took lots of time to learn how to program the settings and it makes my life so easy. I do occasionally take some bad pictures, but that's the beauty of digital. Just delete.

So, anyway - our weekend in pictures. I can't wait for the next sunny and warm day! Looks like we have a couple of weeks.

In Defense of Fiction.

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:06:00 +0000

I love words. I love to read. I love to ponder. Reading helps me to form opinions. It incites emotions, making the heart swell.

Josh just finished a unit on, "To Kill a Mockingbird". Do you remember reading that in middle school? Josh was so into the book that he wanted to read further than they were supposed to. He was so into it that he got an 89 out of 90 on his last test. Because he was so enthralled, I decided to re-read it.

My favorite quote was from Atticus Finch, "you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view....until you climb into his skin and walk around in it". I'm not sure if the author was foreshadowing the race issues in the book by referencing "skin", but this is a powerful quote, in any case. Empathy is a virtue, and one that doesn't come naturally.

Like any good book, "To Kill a Mockingbird" incites emotions. The reader identifies with characters similar to their situation. Young readers relate to Jem, Scout, and Dill. Parents relate to Atticus Finch. Adults relate to the Radleys, and to Miss Maudie. The situations in the book infuriate, encourage, and create joy.

So, when I read this article, I was perplexed. Why, in heaven's name, would students be required to read Recommended levels of insulation (by the US EPA) or Invasive Plant Inventory (by California's Invasive Plant Council)? In the year 2014, required reading for students will equal 70% non-fiction books and manuals. The reasoning is that students will be better prepared for the workforce reading non-fiction.

I respectfully disagree.

Non-fiction manuals do not incite empathy. Non-fiction manuals do not challenge our opinions. Non-fiction manuals do the opposite of creating emotion.

Our students need to be able to reason, to empathize, to relate to characters different from themselves. Our students need to learn from our history and make better choices. Books like "To Kill a Mockingbird" educate in a way that history books cannot. To read about segregation and racism in a history book does not tell the story. We all agree that racism is wrong, but do we really know what that feels like and looks like? A good story will explain a situation in a way completely unlike a history manual.

I think the best way to "walk around in another person's skin" is to read. Reading has the immense power to help the reader identify with someone who may be completely different from them. Authors have the privilege to create a world in which the reader can escape the barriers of the real world. The world of a good book is one in which the reader can imagine that the barriers of race, socioeconomic status, and inequality are non-existent. The reader can place himself in the character's skin and walk around in it, sometimes changing his preconceived notions.

I don't know anyone that can relate to an invasive plant species.

What do you think?

News By the Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:03:00 +0000

$123.11 - the amount of money I spent at the first grocery store today. Somehow, shopping for produce, breakfast items, lunch items, and incidentals always ends up being the same amount. Last week it was $116.34. I still have to buy my meat and dairy.

5 - slices of crispy eggplant I'm enjoying for lunch. I make them ahead of time in a large batch and then reheat in the oven with marinara and mozzarella. It's so good.

7 - number of loads of laundry I need to do today. I typically do our family's laundry twice a week and it takes all day. At least I've gotten better at putting it away!

43 - minutes I stayed in my yoga class this morning. I hated every second. I know it's good for me, so I tried to make the best of it. I don't think it worked.

21 - random facts of information I know now about the Woodland Indians. Emma has a test tomorrow!

2 - overripe bananas I plan to make into banana bread. The kids will be thrilled.

1 - head of old cauliflower I plan to make into this soup. I'm not sure anyone will be thrilled.

34 (at least) - number of times Kate has begged for a guinea pig for her birthday. Help!

45 - minutes I spent in front of my light box today. Still feeling so much better.

60 - minutes I will spend at Emma's gymnastics class. I hate every second. I know it's good for her so I make the best of it.

4 - number of turkey burgers we'll be enjoying tonight. I make them with hot sauce and top them with blue cheese dressing. Rob wouldn't touch one with a ten-foot pole.

Well, that about sums up my day. Sometimes I like to think of myself as, "the least interesting person in the world". (kind of a riff on that dos equis commercial!) Basically it's laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, food preparation, running kids places, etc. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

On Self Importance

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:11:00 +0000

I realize that this is a cooking blog. While I happen to align myself as a Christ-follower, I am far from perfect. I typically do not write on the subject of faith, but occasionally I enjoy writing out my thoughts as a way to form my opinions. What follows is not, in my opinion, coherent or theologically sound, but simply my thoughts. Faith is a journey, and this is where I am today.

Recently, our church has been staging a sort of campaign (not declared, but this is my perception). The campaign seems to be aimed at discouraging typical "Christian" behavior. It's refreshing. In fact, I kind of want to stand up and cheer at the beginning (until I realize that I, too, am massively guilty).

In the midst of our sermon series, I've also been ruminating on several different experiences in my life as well as various things I've read or heard in the past few weeks.

Part of my inspiration for this post came from this article. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I think what impacted me, in addition to the words in the article, were the comments. Most were supportive, but there were a substantial percentage that were judgmental. I think many times the Christian community really believes that those with a certain kind of sin should wear a scarlet letter for the rest of their lives, in essence. That the result of sin should be a lifetime of punishment and damnation.

I also found this blogpost interesting. When I read it several years ago, I wasn't ready for it. Now, I think I understand it a bit better.

I'll never forget a conversation in a small group in which one of our members was recounting an experience she'd had with a roommate. The roommate had found herself pregnant and unmarried. After the initial shock, she was excited to become a mother and to welcome her baby. The member of our group was scathing. She couldn't believe that someone who found themselves in that position could be excited to have a baby unwed and with the obviousness of her sin. The ugliness of that judgement will live with me forever.

I think the root of judgement of others is self-importance. I think telling everyone how busy we are is self-importance. I think staying within our little Christian bubble is self-importance. I think telling ourselves that because we "follow the rules" [and tell ourselves we will be rewarded for good behavior] is self-importance.

I am as guilty as the next person. Mostly because I hate self-important people. I hate judgmental people. I hate typical "Christian" behavior. Each and every time I think through this issue of self-importance, I realize that my sin is just as great as those who are self-important.

My mom recently read an article in which a dad shared that he actually relished the times his children messed up. He felt that he could show them more love in spite of their behavior than he could when times were easy. What a strong spiritual parallel. I don't think God wants us to sin. I do think, though, that sometimes the repentance and redemption bring us back to Him in a way that smooth sailing would not. How much more proof can we show that we love [than loving in spite of behavior]?

I am reminded that there are 47 verses in the Bible about "dying to self". I haven't been able to find any that extol the virtues of those that judge the judgmental (darn).

I am curious to see what you think. I certainly don't have any answers, I just wanted to write out my thoughts.

As Christians we are commanded to show truth and love. I don't think we're doing a very good job, in some cases. I don't want to bash Christians on the whole, but I think some of us would be quite surprised if Jesus lived in our current culture. I don't think He'd behave the way we'd expect Him to. At all.

What do you think?

Baked Polenta with Tomato Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:21:00 +0000

I have only made polenta a few times. It's kind of unnerving how quickly the cornmeal becomes one glob.

When I saw this recipe for baked polenta, I was intrigued. I happened to have some venison sausage defrosting and thought this might be the perfect way to tone down the spiciness of the sausage. I've since made the baked polenta without adding meat and I like it just as much.

What it really reminds me of is macaroni and cheese with stewed tomatoes. I think this combination is a Pennsylvania Dutch creation? I do make baked macaroni and cheese (and stewed tomatoes), but this is so easy [in comparison] that it's silly.

I think it's also one of the cheapest meals I make. I'm not good enough at math to figure out the cost per serving or anything like that, but the ingredients are all pantry staples (with the exception of the fresh basil, which I ~~didn't have~~ omitted). You'll basically need: butter, salt, water, cornmeal, canned tomatoes, onion, and parmesan cheese.

I apologize for the quality of these pictures - I was majorly chasing daylight! (And, yes, the pans are sitting on my rug by the back door)

baked polenta - just needs a stir and to sit for 15 minutes

clockwise: sauteed venison, tomato sauce, polenta

Here is the original recipe, courtesy of Joy the Baker:

Baked Polenta with Tomato and Basil

makes 4 servings

For the Polenta:

4 cups water

1 cup coarse ground cornmeal

1 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

For the Tomato Basil topping:

1 (28-ounce) can whole and peeled San Marzano tomatoes

1 onion, peeled and sliced in half

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

salt and crushed red pepper flakes to taste

1/4 cup fresh chopped basil

Parmesan cheese for topping

Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In an 8×8-inch baking sheet, or a 2 qt baking dish, stir together water, coarse cornmeal, and salt. Stir to combine. The cornmeal will sink to the bottom of the pan and the water will turn a bit cloudy. Place in the oven to bake for 45 minutes.

Remove from the oven and add butter. Stir until butter is melted. Return to the oven to bake for 15 minutes.

Polenta will have a dry top and not jiggle when fully baked. Remove from the oven and stir in red pepper flakes and cheese. Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.

While the polenta bakes, cook the tomato sauce.

In a medium saucepan combine entire can of tomatoes, juice and all. Add butter and onion halves. Keep the onion halves intact, we want to be able to easily remove the onion at the end of cooking.

Place the pan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. The butter will melt and create glistening beads on top of the tomato sauce. The whole tomatoes will bread down, but still maintain just a bit of their tomato chunkiness. The sauce will thicken as it cooks down. After the sauce has cooked down, remove the onion halves and discard.

Remove from heat and gently spoon onto cooked polenta. Top with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. Serve warm.

I made the recipe as instructed and it was perfect! If you have five minutes to prep and an hour to wait, this is the perfect weeknight meal! Rob, Josh, and I loved it. Kate forced herself to eat it and Emma didn't even try it. You could definitely add roasted veggies, sauteed meat, or various cheeses - I'd say the possibilities are endless. I think that's the mark of a good recipe - a solid foundation that can be built upon to suit different tastes.

San Diego, CA

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 22:36:00 +0000

While Rob and I were staying in the Phoenix, AZ area, we talked about various day trips. When I realized that we were only five hours from San Diego, I suggested we utilize our last two free days and head for the coast. About thirty minutes later, we were packed and driving west!

We reached the sunset cliffs of Ocean Beach right at sunset.

We checked in to our hotel and then looked for a dinner option. We decided on TJ's Oyster Bar in Chula Vista. They specialize in fish tacos, which we tried and liked. But, our favorite were the smoked tuna tacos with cheese. I know that sounds weird, but holy cow - one of the best things I've ever had. We also really enjoyed the tostada with octopus. (Much better than when we tried to make octopus!)

I know this looks less than appetizing, but trust me - it was so delicious! The plate in the foreground was the octopus tostada - sorry we didn't save any tentacles for the picture! The plate to the right were the tuna tacos. I liked their fish tacos, but I found that they lacked the flavor of the other parts of our dinner. This was a great yelp score, and our total bill was $29.

If you're ever in Chula Vista - go to TJ's! I would suggest getting there early though, the whole place seats about 20.

Point Loma and Coronado Island

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 21:03:00 +0000

This past week we visited San Diego. Our time actually only provided a 2-night, 1-day stay, but we tried to see as much as possible. We walked from our hotel in Mission Bay to the nearest Starbucks, walking on the beach most of the way.

We decided to visit Point Loma and Coronado Island, selecting just two sights of the many things to do in San Diego.

We saw one sea lion, many surfers, no gray whales, and miles and miles of Pacific Ocean. Every vista was stunning.

gorgeous Pacific Ocean

tidepool areas at high tide

view of San Diego - notice the snow capped mountains

road to Cabrillo National Monument

one of my favorite pictures - endless ocean from a towering viewpoint

original lighthouse, no longer in use

crystal from the lighthouse

naval cemetery

We drove to Coronado Island, forgoing the ferry for the sake of time. The beaches were empty, but the scenery was breathtaking. We enjoyed the sun deck at the Hotel Del Coronado. Perfect afternoon.

wide and beautiful beaches on Coronado Island

Hotel Del Coronado

soaking in the sun

we enjoyed watching this sailboat

our carnivorous feast at Phil's BBQ

We walked a lot! It was about two miles each way to our Starbucks in the morning and we walked a few miles during our travels the rest of the day. We enjoyed dinner at a San Diego staple, Phil's BBQ. We arrived right before the line formed outside of the door. We didn't feel one bit guilty about our baby-back ribs, bbq chicken,1/2 lb cheeseburger, fries, baked beans, coleslaw, and a whoopie pie. It was a perfect day to see as much as possible in San Diego, CA. Til next time......

Arizona/California Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:14:00 +0000

Rob and I just returned from a week-long kid-free trip, part vacation, part meetings. Rob had a conference in Tempe, AZ, and we enjoyed some extra days filled with sightseeing, good food, and time together.

On our first full day, we hiked in Scottsdale, AZ at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve - 8.4 miles, to be exact.

We hiked up to Inspiration Point, timing it to enjoy our lunch there. We.Were.Starving. The hiking was gorgeous, but a bit challenging at some points. It was totally worth it, though.

Can you see how desperate I am? I packed several things, apple wedges with peanut butter being on the menu. I could not get the peanut butter open. Rob had been taking un-flattering pictures of me all day, so I guess he saw another good opportunity!

This was a great start to our trip! We were so ravenous by that evening, that we inhaled double-double burgers with cheese during our first experience at in-n-out burger. Yum.

The next day we impulsively decided to hop in our rental car and drive five hours west to San Diego. We loved it! We didn't take tons of pictures, but I'll share the highlights. We utilized yelp to nail down great little restaurants. None of our meals totaled more than $30, and they were all fabulous.

It's good to be back, but time with Rob and time in the warmth and sunshine were priceless.

Beef Stew

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:08:00 +0000

This is a re-post, but this remains one of our favorite winter meals. Beef stew. Chunks of beef simmered with browned onions, sweet potatoes, parsnips and carrots in a tomato and beef broth. The best part? I serve it over creamy mashed potatoes.

Wanna know my secret? Dark beer. The richness of a porter or stout adds a level of flavor not found in a simple meaty component.

See all those brown bits of goodness on the bottom of the pan? That's the result of high heat, olive oil, root vegetables and beef allowed to reach a glorious crispness. You should smell our house. I'm experiencing simmering nirvana.

Yum.

Click here for the full recipe.

A Letter to my younger self.

noreply@blogger.com (Kirsten's Cooking) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:13:00 +0000

Country signer Brad Paisley has a song entitled, "if I could write a letter to me". He writes a letter to himself at 17, and gives advice to his much younger self.

My life has changed a lot and not much in the past nine years. We still live in the same house and we're still the same people, but we're all older, and in same ways, wiser.

If I could write a letter to my almost twenty-seven year old self, it would go a little like this:

1. No matter what your dad tells you, you're not going to miss this. Truthfully, you're not even going to remember the crazy pace of life with a baby, a two-year old, and a kindergardner. Take lots of pictures, the rest will be a blur.
    a. You are going to miss your evenings. Your kids go to bed at 7:00pm, but in nine years, you'll be
         running those babies around to sports practices, games, gymnastics, and school events past 9:00pm.
         The horror.
     b. You are going to miss the fact that your kids, right now, are very affordable. They don't each much.
          They don't play sports. They've never heard of Ugg boots. They're happy wearing hand-me-downs.
     c.   You're going to love your kids as they grow up. You're going to love having real conversations with
           them. They get even more enjoyable the older they get.

2. You won't always be this poor. Keep your head up. You're not going to starve. Your bills will get paid. Don't stress your husband out about money. He's working hard for you, and before you know it, his integrity will result in more clients than he ever thought possible.

3. Don't sweat the small stuff.
     a. While it's important that you feed your kids healthy food, you need to find balance. They will be
          hanging out with friends and you want them to make good choices. If you over-control, they will
          go crazy when they find a little freedom.
     b. You can't always protect these little ones of yours. Remember the time you took all three to the
doctor? Two had pneumonia and one needed a cat scan. They will get hurt again. Badly. It will
be okay, just keep praying for them.

4. All your hard work will pay off. You'll get a call from your son's nurse telling you how much she appreciated his politeness. She literally says the words, "kids like him make my job worth it". Success.

5. That baby that surprised you? You're going to love her like crazy.

6. Make sure you make time for your husband. Your life is going to get so much more crazy. You'll barely see each other some weeks. Keep taking vacations with just the two of you. You'll need it.

7. Before you know it, your kids will all be in school. You're not going to have a perfectly clean house. You won't lose all of your baby weight. Just give it up.

The funny thing is, that probably in nine years, I'll figure out that I didn't know anything at this point in my life.

If you could write a letter to your younger self - what would you write?