Spinach and Raspberry Salad

from: Jess Nichols

Ingredients
1 bunch spinach
1 package red raspberries
2 kiwi fruit
1/2 cup pine nuts
1 cup raspberry preserves
1/2 cup vinegar

Directions
Clean the spinach and cut off the stems. Remove excess water. Set aside. Clean raspberries and add to spinach. Peel and slice kiwi fruit and add to spinach and raspberries.
For raspberry dressing: In a blender, combine the raspberry preserves and about 1 tsp of the vinegar. Add the vinegar in small amounts until taste and consistency are correct. Toss salad and serve with pine nuts.

New England Clam Chowder

from: The Williams-Sonoma New England Cookbook

Ingredients
1 pound of uncooked clam meat
1/2 cup water
2 slices thick cut bacon
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 small inner celery stalks with leaves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme or pinch of dried
3/4 lb. red or white boiling potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 cups half and half
1 1/2 – 2 cups milk, or as needed
1 cup chicken broth

Directions
Combine one cup of chicken broth and one cup of water and set aside. In a heavy soup pot over medium heat, fry the bacon until crisp. Transfer to paper towels using a slotted spoon. Add the butter to the bacon drippings and stir in the thyme, onion, and celery. Cook over medium heat until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Do not allow to brown. Add the potatoes and the broth/water mixture and simmer, uncovered, until the potatoes are almost tender.

Add the clams to the soup. Stir in the half and half and enough milk to arrive at a nice consistency. Bring to just below a simmer and heat to serving temperature. Do not allow to boil. Add the bacon and season with salt and pepper.

Mandarin Salad

from: Paula Kafer

Ingredients
Salad
½ cup sliced almonds
3 tablespoons sugar
½ head iceberg lettuce
½ head romaine lettuce
1 cup chopped celery
2 whole green onions, chopped
1 11-oz can mandarin oranges, drained

Dressing
½ tsp salt
dash of pepper
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon chapped parsley
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
dash of Tabasco

Directions
In a small pan over medium heat, cook almonds and sugar, stirring constantly until almonds are coated and sugar dissolved. Watch carefully as they will burn easily. Cool and store in an airtight container. Mix all dressing ingredients and chill. Mix lettuces, celery and onions. Just before serving add almonds and oranges. Toss with the dressing.

Breakfast Anytime Sandwiches

from: Paula Kafer

Ingredients
2 lbs frozen hashbrowns
½ cup melted butter
½ tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Pepper
½ cup chopped onions
1 pint sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups grated cheddar
2 cups crushed cornflakes

Directions
Defrost and separate hashbrowns and mix them together with the salt, pepper, sour cream, soup, and cheddar. In a separate bowl, combine cornflakes and butter. Spread hashbrown mixture in a large casserole dish. Cover it evenly with the cornflakes mixture. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

from: Martha Stewart Kids Holidays 2002

Ingredients
2 slices bacon
4 large eggs
½ cup milk
½ cup spinach, touch stems discarded, leaves rinsed and finely shredded
1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese, plus more for topping
¼ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 English muffins, split and toasted

Directions
In a large, nonstick skillet over medium high heat, cook bacon until browned about 4 minutes per side. Drain slices on paper towels, then crumble. Heat broiler. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and milk, then whisk in the remaining ingredients (except muffins and 4 tablespoons cheese).

Heat an ovenproof 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium low heat. Pour in the egg mixture, and cook until bottom is set, about 7 minutes. transfer to broiler and cook until top is set and puffy, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and immediately slide onto a cutting board; let rest 1 minute.

Using a biscuit cutter or inverted glass, cut out four rounds, or cut into four wedges with a knife. Place one portion on the bottom half of each muffin. Transfer to a baking sheet.

Sprinkle remaining cheese over the sandwiches; broil until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 30 seconds. Place top half of muffins on each sandwich and serve immediately.

Baked Hashbrowns

from: Paula Kafer

Ingredients
2 lbs frozen hashbrowns
½ cup melted butter
½ tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Pepper
½ cup chopped onions
1 pint sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups grated cheddar
2 cups crushed cornflakes

Directions
Defrost and separate hashbrowns and mix them together with the salt, pepper, sour cream, soup, and cheddar. In a separate bowl, combine cornflakes and butter. Spread hashbrown mixture in a large casserole dish. Cover it evenly with the cornflakes mixture. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Ham, Egg and Cheese Fondue

from: Paula Kafer

Ingredients
3 cups cubed French Bread
3 cups cubed Ham
½ lb cubed Cheddar Cheese
3 Tbsp flour
3 Tsp dry mustard
3 Tbsp melted butter
4 eggs
3 cups milk

Directions
In a 13 x 9 baking pan, layer bread, ham, and cheese. Mix flour and mustard together and sprinkle the mixture over the layers. Then drizzle with the melted butter. Beat egg and milk together, then pour over remaining ingredients. Cover pan with foil and refrigerate overnight.

Bake approximately 1 hour at 350. It’s done when the knife blade comes out dry.

Applesauce Muffins

from: Paula Kafer

Ingredients
1 cup applesauce
¼ cup milk
1 tsp lemon juice
½ cup oil
2 tbsp molasses
¼ cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup flour
1 tbsp baking soda
1 apple, chopped
1 cup bran cereal

Directions
Preheat oven to 400. Combine ingredients and fill muffin cups 2/3 of the way full. Bake for about 25 minutes.

Give that Man a Gold Medal!

Did y'all see men's gymnastics last night??? It was incredible!! After Paul Hamm fell butt-first into the judges stand after his vault, I almost turned it off I was so dissapointed for him. But man did he rally!! Of course the other gymnasts' flubs helped a bit too.

You had to feel pretty sorry for those Korean gymnasts though. They didn't make any big mistakes and they still didn't get the gold. But they did what the Romanians did Tuesday night and just delivered consistant, kinda boring routines. Awesome awesome awesome!

Rules

Lately I've had a series of dealings with RULES that just don't make any sense and a bunch of little people who either can't think for themselves or are too afraid to step out from behind their rulebook and do what makes sense!!!

Case #1: Idiots at Matt's Office
When Matt was hired, he was given $3K for moving expenses. It was a “forgivable loan” meaning that he had to pay it back if he didn't stay a certain length of time (all if he didn't last one year, h alf if he lasted 1 year, but not 2). So we're getting ready to do this moving/quitting thing and our lease is up on 31 Aug. Well Matt actually started work on 2 Sept so he and the idiots he works for/with had a three week battle about whether he could leave on the 31st and get to drive to Denver with me and my family (instead of by himself) and still get the loan forgiven. We heard tons of “It's our policy ..” and “We can't bend the rules …” It made us very annoyed because they have SO gotten their money's worth out of him. Calls that lasted 'til 2 AM, weekends spent at the office, and plenty of 80 and 90 hour weeks. Finally, though, they saw it our way. Matt will be able to leave with us. Continue reading “Rules”

Anniversary

Well, we've been married two whole years. They've been great!! And I know we're both looking forward to the big changes coming up … it's nice that big changes don't seem quite so scary when you've got someone so great to share them with.

Our anniversary will be celebrated in true style: plum wine, take-out chinese, and women's gymnastics.

Happy anniversary, sweetie! It's so nice to wake up next to you every morning …