Alphabet Soup

Now, when I talk about my recipe box, or recipe file, you're probably thinking about something cutesy like this, aren't you? Nope, not so much. Try this on for size: Those boxes on the floor, they're also full of recipes and cookbooks. And that doesn't count all the ones on the computer!! Yeah, I may have a few too many, lol!! So, I'm trying to be better and pick at least one new recipe to cook each week. I'm trying to add to the "tried and true" favorites. I admit, I should probably go through the boxes and get rid of the stuff that I'm truly never going to use, because I'm sure there's some of that in there. But I get emotionally attached to stuff, I admit it! I'm a full-fledged packrat. However, I'm trying to let go and de-clutter. A little. Anyway, the real point of this post is that I pulled out a new recipe to try today. I also need to admit that I don't always save the source of a recipe. So, when I post a rec...

I'm excited -- I've joined two online baking groups, sometimes called baking events. One, Tuesdays with Dorie , is a weekly event. The other, The Cake Slice , is monthly. I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew, but I'm excited about it. They are both going to force me to step out of my baking "comfort zone" so to speak. I won't actually start posting about them until January, and I can't mention what the recipes are yet, but my tastebuds are ready, lol!!

Merry Christmas everyone!! We have two days of celebrating around here, and I've already gotten three new cookbooks, lol, as well as more cooking supplies and gadgets. :) I also made this sinfully delicious new goodie -- Loaded Triple Chocolate Bark from Rebecca at Ezra Pound Cake . Oh. My. Goodness. Chocolate. More chocolate. Even more chocolate. Coated pecans. And coconut. Yeah. It's that good. I didn't make it exactly as written. I had chocolate and white almond bark on hand, which melts wonderfully in the microwave. I also didn't melt a third chocolate, but sprinkled mini semi-sweet chocolate chips on top instead. And then of course the pecans and coconut. Did I mention it was sinfully delicious?? Later!

I should be sleeping. Mostly because I'm already exhausted, but also because Kade has been running a fever tonight, and you know that babies and fevers often mean rough nights. But...here I am, blogging instead. I felt the need to share a few of my favorite things in the kitchen. No pictures to go along with the list, though. You don't get to see the clutter that has taken over my kitchen right now! *my Kitchen Aid mixer. I love that thing! D was amazed last year when I loaned my baby out to Christi, lol!! I've had it for over 5 years. It's the 4.5 qt style. If I ever have to replace it, I'll probably get a 5 qt, but otherwise, it's been great!! *aprons. I have quite a collection of aprons. Yes, I actually use them!! I'm a bit messy you see... Sean even has his own. I think he's up to three of them now!! *my coffee pot. Oh how I love thee. I think that technically I have three. My fave is my Senseo one cup machine. I heart it (althoug...

Alas, my previous post wasn't saved in drafts. Or at least I don't know how to find it if it is... Oh well!! Basically, I was going to say that yes, I have been cooking, and even trying new things, but the holidays are, well, crazy times and I just haven't had time to post! I was also going to say that I'm going to have to start posting about cooking in general, and life in general, because just posting about trying to get Sean to eat healthy new things just isn't going to cut it! :) I love the holidays, even with the craziness, mostly because it gives me an excuse to bake all kinds of things that wouldn't be in the "healthy" recipe category, lol. I have some evil new cookie recipes to share. I enjoy cooking, but I love baking. Now, I wouldn't want to become a pastry chef, because that's not what, or how, I cook. Oven roasted asparagus is about as fancy as we get around here, lol. By the way, that's become a regular side dish for...

ack! it ate my post...but I'll try again soon...baby calls right now

But I think that was partially in the preparation method. At least he tried it, so that's definitely good news! I just steamed it and added a little olive oil and some garlic salt. Not the tastiest broccoli I've ever had, plus I overcooked it a tad. Oh well. He did agree to try it again if I fix it differently!! I'm thinking he needs broccoli with cheese sauce...

So I finally found some good looking fresh asparagus at the store this weekend, and roasted it in the oven tonight (yes, we skipped Cub Scouts, hee hee). Anyway, I fixed it much like this recipe . Sean tried it, and actually liked it!! What's more, is that the hubby, who can be quoted as saying "I hate asparagus" really liked it as well!! Woohoo!!! I also cooked pinto beans in the crockpot. Sean tried them, but didn't really like the seasonings. However, he loved the cornbread; even asked for more!! So, it was a wonderful night!! For the pinto beans, I use this recipe as sort of a "base" except that I used pinto beans, because that's what I had, and I served it with cornbread instead of rice. I usually make it with a ham hock, but I couldn't find one yesterday, so I bought a ham steak and cut that up to go in the beans instead. I'm still floored over the asparagus. And it was really cute how much he loved the cornbread. Now, cornbread is one ...

Well, it's almost 10 am and I just ate breakfast (don't worry, I'll be starving by lunchtime!). I have butternut squash cooking in the oven, and my beans are cooking in the crockpot. I'm also cooking some peaches for the baby, who is paging me, so I guess this really is going to be a quick post!! I'll come back later and edit with recipes. :)

and apparently I didn't realize it, LOL!! Need more computer time... Here goes! Eight T.V. Shows I Watch: *CSI *CSI New York *Top Chef *So You Think You Can Dance *Good Eats *Bones *Without a Trace *Ace of Cakes Eight Favorite Restaurants: *Durango's *Tech Cafe *McAlister's *Orlando's *Taco Villa *Starbuck's (it counts, right?) *Olive Garden *Carino's Eight Fun Things That Happened This Weekend: *I got to play games with Sean at 50th St. Caboose, lol *Took a really cute pic of the boys this morning *Went to the Holiday Happening *Shopping at the fabric store *Friday was Sean's Thanksgiving lunch at school, got to surprise him when my dad showed up too! ...apparently I need to get out more...I'm sure there's more!! Eight Things I Look Forward To: *having a clean kitchen *having a clean house ...what, this isn't the wish list post?? okay, okay *getting out Christmas decorations *getting my Christmas cards in! I'm so excited!! *I'm really lo...

I am not creating or posting a new recipe for the challenge everyday, lol. I'll be lucky to get 2 or 3 in each week. Who knew life with kids would be so busy? I have officially thanked my mom for being my taxi service when I was a kid, driving me back and forth everywhere! Around here, Mondays are Tae Kwon Do and Cub Scout nights, Wednesdays are more Tae Kwon Do, and Thursdays are soon to be piano. I know lots of families are busier than we are, but that's plenty busy for me right now! Also, I've re-discovered that there is one kitchen gadget I still need...the self-cleaning kitchen!! :) Or maybe I just need a housekeeper that is willing to work for free. Oh wait...I guess that would be me!!

Go read this recipe . Check out the pictures. Wipe the drool off your chin. :) We made this tonight. It was a new recipe for me. First, let me say, it's not that easy to cut an acorn squash in half. Or maybe I need a different knife. Scratch that. I have a good knife. It's just not big enough. So, I need a bigger knife. I just caused all local ER doctors to shudder. Now, now, I've never cut myself bad enough to get stitches...but it does cause my husband to shudder every time I wield a knife. Apparently I scare him with my knife skills. Back to the point of this post -- the squash. I thought it was good. Very good. Sean didn't like it. But hey, it's all about exposure to new things, right? I did keep some of the squash plain so I could puree it up for the baby. He'll have to wait until tomorrow to try it...he got hungry before it was ready. :) I would also like to say that Sean has always loved to help out in the kitchen. I have some cute...

What initially started as an attempt to get Sean to try new vegetables, has morphed into a challenge to get him to try new things! The broader problem really seems to be that he has become very reluctant to try new things, and I can tell you he is very resistant to change. So, I've decided to use this challenge as a way to introduce him to new tastes, textures, just get him to try something new! We started last night by making Alphabet Soup with Albondigas (which is Spanish for meatball, in case you were wondering!). Now, he does indeed like meatballs, loves them actually, but these were 1) in soup (which he won't eat) and 2) surrounded by vegetables (gasp! the horror). It took a little work, but he did finally try one of the meatballs and to his surprise, they were quite tasty! We got him to try a sip of the broth, which he also discovered he liked! And of course the alphabet pasta was deemed acceptable as well. Did he actually take a bite of a vegetable? No. But you don't...

So, yes, I've decided to join in the blogging revolution (a bit late, I'll admit) but here I am! For those of you that know me, well I need no introduction. LOL! For those of you that don't know me, I am a 30-something year with two kids...three if you count my husband. :) Whoa, wait, did I say 30-something? When did that happen? Anyway...my oldest, Sean, is 6 and is not the biggest fan of fruits and vegetables. While searching the internet for solutions to that issue, I found http://greatbigvegchallenge.blogspot.com/ which is a really cool blog about this woman and her 7-year old veggie-phobic kid. They cooked their way through the alphabet. I ran this by Sean and he thought it would be fun. I told him we could make a scrapbook of our adventure, taking pictures of the veggies and our finished dishes, and putting the recipes in there. He thought that sounded good, but he also wants to make a TV show!! Have I mentioned that one of his favorite channels is The ...