Homemade Croutons

If you're anything like me, you'll buy a loaf of Cuban or some other kind of bread to accompany soup one night, but by the next day, the bread is starting to get a little stale. So what do you do with this day old or even a couple days old bread? You don't want to throw it away because that would be a waste of money. The answer... you make homemade croutons! They're so easy to make and much better than the store bought kind.

Simple cut the bread into cubes. Toss in olive oil with a few seasonings like Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Coat well and spread onto a baking sheet in an even layer. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Let cool and store in a sealable plastic bag. Serve on top of soups or salads.

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Cheddar Ham and Corn Chowder

Here is another great, super easy soup recipe. Perfect for a cold, winter night. Serve with crusty bread.

Ingredients:
2 cups water
2 cups cubed peeled potatoes
1/2 cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 cups (8-ounce package) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 (15-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 and 1/2 cups cubed fully cooked ham

In a large soup pot, bring the water, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, salt and pepper to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until vegetables are just tender. Remove from the heat; do not drain.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Blend in the flour, let cook for a minute; until golden brown. While whisking, slowly add the milk. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly (may need to increase the heat a bit). Add the cheese and stir until melted. Stir the milk mixture into the undrained vegetables. Return large pot to the heat. Add the corn and ham; heat through, stirring occassionally. Serves 6.

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Baking: Do you love to bake?

One of my favorite things to do is bake.  I like to cook, but LOVE to bake.  There is something about baking a beautiful and yummy cake, or cookies or my personal favorite....brownies!  Brownies are yummy goodness....especially warm with fudge sauce on top with ice cream melting off to the side....oh sweet mother!!!!!

I found an awesome new website, Bakerella, today thanks to The Farm Chicks.  Does this website not scream YUMMY?  I am not a peach person, but that Peach Crunch Cake looks so good....something that would be delish on a cold winter day after filling up on soup or spicy chili.  It kinda reminds me of my momma's Peach Cobbler that our family loves.  You can't go wrong with that much butter! 

Image courtesy of Bakerella

The Smore Cupcakes looks devine!  My girls loves smores so I will be baking these up soon.  These look so much less messier than the original summer favorite.

Image courtesy of Bakerella

Ohhhhhh....these brownies look devine!  I will definately be making a batch of these....Brownie Candy Cups.

Image courtesy of Bakerella.

So, as you can see, this website had me at hello and I can't wait to start baking up some yummy goodness goodies!

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Valentine Projects for the Girls to Take to School

I want to do something different this year other than the normal Valentine card.  We can't give out homemade goodies to the students but we can for the teachers.  I think this is a super cute idea from The Farm Chicks for the teachers and maybe the front office as well.


I like this idea for treat bags for them to handout to their classmates.

Valentine Treat Packages

Photo Provided by Martha Stewart Living

Or maybe something like this on a smaller scale for the teachers.

Photo Provided by Martha Stewart Living

Candy and Tulip Bouquet

As an avid reader, this is a cute idea:

Photo Provided by Martha Stewart Living

Heart Shaped Bookmark

This would be cute for the girls to give to their best friends:

Photo Provided by Martha Stewart Living

Knot Bracelets

This would be cute as classroom treats.  Super cute!

Photo Provided by Martha Stewart Living

Valentine Treat Cup

These are just a few of the projects that I have been looking at for Valentine's day.  I am going to keep looking because I am sure that there is more awesome projects.

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Chicken Marengo

The restaurant I worked at while in college, Michael's Grill, used to have this dish on their menu. Then I was watching Food Network on Saturday and their new host Melissa d'Arabian made her version on Ten Dollar Dinners. So I figured I would finally try this dish that supposedly was first made for Napoleon Bonaparte after the Battle of Marengo. (A little history lesson for you along with a recipe.) Here is my version.

Ingredients:
3 Chicken Breasts, sliced in half to make into cutlets
salt and pepper
All-Purpose Flour
Olive Oil
1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 yellow pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1 (12-ounce) package of sliced button mushrooms
1/2 cup dry white wine, like Pinot Grigio
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/4 to 1/2 cup black olives, sliced (optional)
handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Season the chicken with salt and pepper and lighly dust in the flour. Heat about 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken in the skillet and brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a plate.

Return the skillet to the heat. Add a little more oil if needed, throw in the onion, yellow pepper, and mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes. You want the vegetables to still have a little firmness. Add the wine and let cook for a couple of minutes. Once the wine cooks out, add the chicken broth and tomatoes to the pan. Return the chicken to the skillet along with any juices and simmer in the sauce for 5 to 10 mintues. Once the chicken is cooked through, finish with olives and parsley.

Serve over cous cous or rice.

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Safeway Deals: Fruit Snacks, Pillsbury Rolls and more

I stopped in Safeway for some good deals today.  Here is what I got:

3 - 12 packs of soda...Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew and Mug RB
    @ $2.66 each
2 - boxes of Annies Mac & Cheese
    @ $.99 each 
     used this coupon (printed twice) and got both boxes free!
6 - boxes of Betty Crocker fruit rollups, gushers and bugs
    @ $1.00 box (used this coupon, or here, plus this cellfire coupon) and got 6 boxes for $3.00
2 - 5 pack Mac & Cheese
     @ $4.49 each (the pack had a coupon for Nabisco Snack Packs)
2 - Nabisco Snack Packs - 12 pack variety
     @ $4.49 each (used the coupons on the Kraft Mac & Cheese boxes) and got them for $1.99 each
2 - boxes Stash Chai Spice Tea
     @ $2.99 each (used this coupon) and got them for $1.99 each
1 - Quilted Northern TP 12 pack
    @ $5.99
2 - Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
    @ $1.99 each (used this coupon, plus this shortcuts coupon, and cellfire coupon) made
      them $1.98 for both
2 - Pillsbury Orange Sweet rolls
    @ $1.98 each (used this coupon, plus this shortcuts coupon and cellfire coupon) made
      them $1.88 for both
2 - Pillsbury Toaster Strudels
    @ $2.50 each (used this coupon, plus this shortcuts coupon and cellfire (coupon) made
      them $2.90 for both
1 - 18 pack of eggs
    @ $1.99
1 - gallon of milk
   @$1.99 each
4 - Safeway piecrusts
    @ $.99 each
1 - bag of mixed veggies
   @ $2.50
 
I also used a $2.50 catalina that I had.
 
My total was $54.89.  I saved $53.59. 
I also received 3 more catalinas.
  - $2.00 off from Pillsbury
  - $1.50 off from General Mills
  - $1.50 off from General Mills
 
Not bad for snack items and yummy rolls! 

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Blue Cheese Pasta

I am a lover of all cheeses, but blue cheese is one of my favorite, so this dish is right up my alley. It is deliciously creamy without any cream or milk. It is great as a side dish to accompany a steak, like we had tonight. However, with the meaty mushrooms in it, it could be served as a main course with a little side salad and crusty bread. Recipe courtesy of the Mr. Food Cooks Pasta cookbook.

Ingredients:
1 pound spaghetti
4 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 and 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
3/4 cup minced scallion
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the spaghetti al dente, according to the package directions. Drain and place in a large bowl. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, place the butter, blue cheese and chicken broth. Stir until the mixture has thickened slightly (enough to coat the back of a spoon), about 5 minutes or so. Add the mushrooms, scallion, lemon juice, salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes more. Pour the sauce over the spaghetti and toss to blend thoroughly. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.

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