TraveLog

As previously mentioned, I've been wanting to create a system of cataloging places I want to visit when I finally get (back to) a certain place. So I took a couple of hours yesterday and created the TraveLog. Basically, I've organized things by destination (NYC, San Francisco, etc) and then into categories under each (eats, shops, sights, other). I've rated them if I've been there and skipped that bit if I haven't. It may not be completely done … I'm toying with the idea of sub-classifying destinations (the various regions underneath the heading of “France”, etc). But we'll see. For now … I am happy with it.

I went with a vintage travel poster theme … and I used a new technique to include a custom font (it uses flash and javascript and I only understand about 75% of it). If it works out well, I will be able to use loads of custom fonts on the site. So that would be nice! Well enjoy!

Pregnancy Casserole

from: Jesser Original

Ingredients
1 (10 or 12 oz.) pkg. frozen broccoli, cooked according to package directions
1 can Campbell's (Healthy Request) cream of mushroom soup
2 cans (I use the big ones) chicken
1 c. grated mild cheese
1 tube low salt or low fat Ritz crackers, crushed
a splash of milk

Directions
Mix up broccoli, soup, milk and chicken (drain the cans of course). Top with the ritz crackers and then the cheese. Bake at 300 degrees for 20 minutes.

BORING

OK, first off, how cool is it that the computer randomly picked that MOTD to repeat on Talk Like a Pirate Day (which I wouldn't have even known about if it weren't for Shannon). But it made me laugh.

I have really nothing to post about today because other than spending an abbreviated day at work, not a lot happened yesterday. I went to the OB again … they screwed up my appointment so that I had the same appointment I had last time, basically. I got to hear the heart beat again, so that was cool.

I should have gone back to work after my appointment, but I hadn't planned on it, so I went on home figuring I could use the time to do some of the 100 things I want to do but seldom have time for … but as soon as I got home, the sinus headache I'd been working on all day decided to go from like a 2 to a 12 and *nothing* I did could convince it to go away. So I spent pretty much all evening lying in bed listening to a book on MP3 and moaning. Loki thought I was incredibly boring. He didn't get walkies … in fact, he barely got dinner.

Before I finally decided to give up and just go to bed (around 8:20), I took my prenatal vitamin, a benedryl and a tylenol. When Matt called at 10:30 my headache was still there. When I got up to pee at 12:10, it was still there. But when I got up to pee again at 1:42, it was gone. And so far, it's stayed away.

And now I've got to work late to make up the time I wasn't here yesterday … See? I should have just come back to work and felt miserable here.

*whine ended*

Very Official Weekend


Another busy weekend has zoomed by, very full of doings. Friday we had my parents and Kelly over for breakfast for dinner. I have a lot of great breakfast recipes, but I never seem to get around to making them because I never have time on weekdays and it always seems like we're too busy on weekends. So we requested everyone wear their jammies and had breakfast for dinner. It was quite enjoyable. After dinner we watched a few eps of The Office (American version) a show I'd never really seen a lot of … though not because I wasn't interested. Lack of time. One of the funniest shows I've seen in a long time. Continue reading “Very Official Weekend”

BPOH – Bonus Rooms


This week is bonus rooms … and for us, that's our offices. My office is located in our master suite. It's the “retreat” that links the master bath and master bedroom areas. It's a pretty nice sized room and it has a great set of built-in shelves. I spend loads of time here … we've got Tivo in there and the treadmill is near, plus my computer. We got the end-table and the chair and ottoman from the model home as well, and I'm very comfy in that chair, though usually I sit at the computer desk when I watch TV. Sometimes if we have a lot of Tivo to watch, we drag our extra futon matress in there and lay it on the floor …. then Loki joins us for some snuggles and back eps of Stargate. Continue reading “BPOH – Bonus Rooms”

Cravings

Taken (almost) verbatim from an IM conversation with my darling hubby yesterday afternoon”

matt: you back
jess: hi
jess: did you pick up any mini snickers by any chance ?
jess: i'm totally jonesing for them
jess: the ones with almonds
matt: no
matt: sorry
jess: i talked myself out of them when i went to the store yesterday
jess: along with chips and more bean dip
matt: poor baby
matt: we'l get some for you
jess: i should prolly be good ….
jess: i miss you!!
jess: i also want pita chips.
jess: and hummus
jess: why didn't you call me when you were at wild oats so i could make unreasonable demands?!?!?!
matt: I did
matt: I tried both your numbers
jess: well dammnit

Peach Cupcakes with Marscapone Frosting

from: Jess original

Ingredients
2 bags mini marshmallows
half a stick of butter
1 cup (approx?) peanut butter
rice cereal (rice krispies or similar) … 8 cups? I dunno
1 bag (larger) milk-chocolate chips

Directions
This is basically the recipe for rice krispie treats, but with a peanut butter chocolate cast to them. So you melt up the butter and then you add the marshmallows and melt them in like 1 min increments, stirring in between until they're all melty. Then you spoon in a bunch of peanut butter … until it looks more peanut butter colored. Then you toss in a bunch of rice krispies until it's the right consistency. I like fewer rice krispies in mine than the old recipes call for, but whatever you like. Then you smush the whole blob into a greased 9×13 pan and then you pour the chocolate chips over it in an even layer. Then you stick the whole thing in an oven (I did a couple of minutes broil this time, but next time I think I'll do 350 for a bit longer, maybe) and then the chocolate gets all melty and you can smooth it out with a spoon or knife or whatever so there's a layer on the top.

from: Cooking Light October 2003

Ingredients
4 cups cubed peeled Yukon gold potato (about 2 pounds)
1/2 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
1/4 cup low-fat sour cream
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Place potato in a saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until tender. Drain. Return potato to pan. Add milk and remaining ingredients; mash with a potato masher to desired consistency.
Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 3/4 cup)

Nutritional Info (3/4 cup(
CALORIES 215(30% from fat); FAT 7.1g (sat 4.5g,mono 1.8g,poly 0.3g); PROTEIN 4.5g; CHOLESTEROL 20mg; CALCIUM 51mg; SODIUM 280mg; FIBER 2.4g; IRON 0.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 34.5g Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough

from: Cooking Light May 2006

Ingredients
3 cups (1-inch) sliced asparagus (about 1 pound)
1 (9-ounce) package refrigerated linguine
4 bacon slices (uncooked)
1 cup chopped onion
2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup (2 ounces) preshredded Parmesan cheese
Shaved Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions
Cook asparagus and pasta according to pasta package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain; set aside.
Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until crisp; cool slightly. Remove bacon from the pan, reserving 2 teaspoons drippings in pan. Crumble bacon. Add onion, garlic, and oregano to drippings in the pan; sauté 4 minutes or until onion is lightly browned. Add tomatoes; cook 2 minutes. Add broth; bring to a boil. Stir in butter, salt, and pepper; remove from heat. Place asparagus mixture in a large bowl; add tomato mixture and juice, tossing well. Top with bacon and shredded cheese. Garnish with shaved Parmesan, if desired.

Nutritional Info (2 cups pasta mixture, 2 T cheese(
CALORIES 360(30% from fat); FAT 11.9g (sat 5.3g,mono 3.9g,poly 0.8g); PROTEIN 16.9g; CHOLESTEROL 23mg; CALCIUM 171mg; SODIUM 683mg; FIBER 5.6g; IRON 1.3mg; CARBOHYDRATE 46.1g

from: FillorBurst.com

Ingredients
2 Tilapia fillets
2 Portuguese rolls (or other not too hard, not too soft roll)
Blackened seasoning (Old Bay makes a nice one)
Chili powder
Cayenne pepper
Horseradish sauce
1/3 cup Light mayo
2 leaves Romaine lettuce torn

Directions
Mix mayo with cayenne pepper, chili powder and horseradish to taste. Chill. Sprinkle both sides of fillets with blackened seasoning and pan fry with a little bit of oil. Put mayo mixture on top and bottom of rolls. Place lettuce on top of roll and also bottom to keep roll from getting soggy. Place fillet between lettuce. Assemble and eat. Serve with baked or regular chips on the side.

from: Cooking Light November 2002

Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped Vidalia or other sweet onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup water
1 (10-ounce) package fresh spinach, chopped
2 cups chopped plum tomato
2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast (about 1/2 pound)
1/4 cup chopped cooked bacon (about 2 slices)
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 cups hot cooked angel hair (about 8 ounces uncooked pasta)
1/4 cup (1 ounce) shredded Asiago cheese

Directions
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 2 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add water and spinach; cover and cook 2 minutes or until spinach wilts.
Stir in tomato, chicken, bacon, and vinegar; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Serve over pasta; sprinkle with cheese.

Nutritional Info (1 C spinach mixture, 1 C pasta, 1 T cheese(
CALORIES 350(21% from fat); FAT 8.1g (sat 2.4g,mono 2.6g,poly 0.8g); PROTEIN 26.4g; CHOLESTEROL 42mg; CALCIUM 153mg; SODIUM 433mg; FIBER 4.7g; IRON 4.4mg; CARBOHYDRATE 44.7g

from: Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients
18 tablespoons (2 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 cups sugar
6 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

For the icing:
1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

To assemble:
2 half-pints blueberries
3 half-pints raspberries

Directions
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour an 18 x 12 x 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.

Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on high speed, until light and fluffy. On medium speed, add the eggs, 2 at a time, then add the sour cream and vanilla. Scrape down the sides and stir until smooth.

Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until just combined. Pour into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the center of the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool to room temperature.

For the icing, combine the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mixing just until smooth.

Spread three fourths of the icing on the top of the cooled sheet cake. Outline the flag on the top of the cake with a toothpick. Fill the upper left corner with blueberries. Place 2 rows of raspberries across the top of the cake like a red stripe. Put the remaining icing in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe two rows of white stripes below the raspberries. Alternate rows of raspberries and icing until the flag is completed. Pipe stars on top of the blueberries.

from: Words to Eat By

Ingredients
2 T soft butter or margarine, plus more for topping
2 T flour
½ t salt
1/8 t pepper
½ t mustard powder (optional, this gives it a little bite)
2 cups hot milk (take it off the heat just before it boils)
1 ½ cups diced cheddar cheese
12 oz elbow macaroni, cooked al dente
½ cup fresh bread crumbs

Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

Put butter or marg, flour, salt, pepper, and hot milk into blender container. Press low button, then high for 40 seconds. After 20 seconds, gradually add cheese. Mix with macaroni, and empty all into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and dot with additional butter or margarine. Bake for 30 minutes, until bread crumbs are nicely browned and cheese sauce is bubbling.

from: Cooking Light April 2000

Ingredients
1/2 cup fat-free Caesar dressing
1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
5 bay leaves
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 pounds large shrimp with peels on
1/3 cup dry white wine
10 (1-ounce) slices French bread baguette
10 lemon wedges

Directions
Combine the first 11 ingredients in a large nonstick skillet; bring to a boil. Add shrimp, and cook 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add wine, and cook 1 minute or until shrimp are done. Serve with bread and lemon wedges.

Nutritional Info (5 oz shrimp, with sauce, 2 slices bread(
CALORIES 403(20% from fat); FAT 9.1g (sat 3.8g,mono 2.4g,poly 1.7g); PROTEIN 34.4g; CHOLESTEROL 219mg; CALCIUM 211mg; SODIUM 1021mg; FIBER 2.8g; IRON 7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 41.7g

from: Cooking Light January 2005

Ingredients
Rice:
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
Dash of ground red pepper
1 (14-ounce) can light coconut milk
1 cup uncooked jasmine rice

Stir-fry:
1 teaspoon dark sesame oil, divided
1 (1-pound) flank steak, trimmed and thinly sliced across the grain
1 cup vertically sliced onion
1 cup red bell pepper strips
3 cups sliced bok choy
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce (such as Lee Kum Kee)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 lime wedges

Directions
To prepare rice, bring first 4 ingredients to a boil in a medium saucepan; stir in rice. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. It will be soft and creamy.
To prepare stir-fry, heat 1/2 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of beef; stir-fry 4 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; cover and keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining oil and beef.
Add onion and bell pepper to pan; stir-fry 5 minutes. Add bok choy; stir-fry 3 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add beef, cilantro, chili garlic sauce, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and black pepper; cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve with rice and lime wedges.

Nutritional Info (1 1/4 cups stir-fry, about 3/4 cup rice, and 1 lime wedge(
CALORIES 416(28% from fat); FAT 13.1g (sat 7.5g,mono 3.2g,poly 0.9g); PROTEIN 28.3g; CHOLESTEROL 45mg; CALCIUM 90mg; SODIUM 561mg; FIBER 1.7g; IRON 4.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 46.5g

from: Everyday Food July/August 2006

Ingredients
3 ears corn, husks and silk removed
1/3 cup milk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Sour cream (optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 200°. Remove kernels: Cut off tip of each cob; stand in a wide shallow bowl. With a sharp knife, slice downward to remove kernels. To bowl, add milk, egg, sugar, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; mix. Fold in cornmeal and flour.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Working in two batches, drop batter into pan by heaping tablespoons. Fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt; place in oven. Repeat. Keep warm in oven up to 30 minutes. Serve with sour cream, if desired.

Nutritional Info (1/4 recipe(
222 calories; 11 grams fat; 6.8 grams protein; 26.8 grams carbohydrates; 2.4 grams fiber

from: Everyday Food July/August 2006

Ingredients
Vegetable oil, for the grates
1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3/4 cup store-bought barbecue sauce (see note, below)

Directions
Heat grill to medium-high; lightly oil grates. Place chicken in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper. Pour 1/4 cup barbecue sauce over chicken, and toss to coat. Divide remaining barbecue sauce between two bowls (1/4 cup each); use one for basting and the other for serving.

Grill chicken, turning and basting occasionally with reserved basting sauce, 8 to 10 minutes total. Remove chicken from grill; serve with reserved serving sauce.

Nutritional Info (1/4 recipe(
222 calories; 3 grams fat; 40.1 grams protein; 6 grams carbohydrates; 0.6 gram fiber

from: Just Jenn

Ingredients
2 cups short grain rice, washed and drained
1 package tofu, drained and cut into small cubes
1-1/2 cups water
3 drops sesame oil
1/8 cup soy sauce
whatever else you've got (it's up to you):
white mushrooms
shitake mushrooms
green onions
carrots

Directions
Mix all your ingredients together. Put it a rice cooker and turn it on. It's that simple. would say, DEFINITELY sprinkle some pepper, and a little furikake, or you can shred some nori (dried seaweed) on top. It really makes the taste. Yum!

from: Cupcake Queen

Ingredients
cupcakes
1-1/2 cups (375 mL) all purpose flour
1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
1-1/4 cups (300 mL) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (125 mL) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 eggs
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
2 tsp (10 mL) grated orange zest
3/4 cup (175 mL) milk
2 peaches or nectarines, pitted and thinly sliced and cut into thirds
frosting
1 pound mascarpone cheese (always buy from Cowgirl Creamery)
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1-1/4 cups heavy cream

Directions
In a small bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, nutmeg and salt.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together sugar and butter until well combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until light and fluffly. Add vanilla and orange zest, beating well. Alternately beat in flour mixture and milk, making three additions of flour mixture and two of milk, beating until smooth. Fold in peaches or nectarines.

Scoop batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated over for 23-28 minutes or until golden brown and tops of cupcakes spring back when lightly touched.

Let cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely on rack.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (I didn't have this and just used the regular beaters), beat themascarpone, cream and confectioners' sugar until medium-soft peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. Be careful no to overbeat. Use immediately.

Musings

I want to do a site re-design. I like loads about the site as it is, but I think I could improve other things … the skins switch the colors around, but it doesn't change the layout, and that would be cool. I'd also like to add some other features … I still want to do a travel section to keep track of things I've visited and things I want to visit…

Matt is going back to Cali next week, which is a bummer. I miss him loads and I take to eating frozen things instead of cooking and talking to Loki lots (actually, I do this anyhow). Continue reading “Musings”

London, CO

I didn't know what city I was living in this morning. It was foggy the whole way to work. Sometimes we have fog right around our house … there's a lake nearby. But I can't ever remember having it the whole way to work. Here's a Wikipedia article on the subject in case you're interested.

Our weekend was a nice one. Pretty relaxing. We cooked quite a bit and got that weekend sorta stuff done … laundry, cleaning, etc. I got a desparately needed pedicure and now my toes are a nice raspberry pink. It really felt like fall this weekend.

5 years ago …