Oh the weather outside is frightful, but my kitchen was full of delightful smells!  Nebraska, if you don't like the weather, stick around, it will change in the next 10 minutes!  We are looking out at around 10 inches of snow.  We had a snow day and it looks like another one for tomorrow.  I love snow days, it is a time to sit by the fire, read a good book, watch a movie and best of all, let your self and your creativity go in the kitchen.  Today, I decided to try White Chicken Chili.  I had tasted this at our church's annual chili cook off.  I had never tasted it before and it was amazing!  The kind of soup that warms you from head to toe.  So...let the adventure begin!

I am a lot like Lucy, I am a creature of habit.  My favorite scene with Lucy is the one about snowflakes!  
I was happy that I got out of my comfort zone and tried White Chili and my family thought it was a hit too!

This is the recipe I used, I can tell you that I altered it by doing the following:  I keep chicken base on my pantry shelf and I use this in place of a can of chicken broth. I did not have cayenne pepper, so in place of it, I used red flake pepper.  I also used 1% milk in place of the heavy cream.  I typically utilize milk that I have on hand, it reduces the fat content as well as it did not add an extra cost to the meal.  I also found that I only had one can of northern beans, so I added a can of pinto beans, this worked just fine.  A secret that a dear lady who was from Mexico told me, is to add cumin to Mexican dishes, so I did just that.  I added 1 tsp. of cumin and that was just right.  Don't be afraid to add your favorite spice, just start out with small amounts so you do not over power the dish with the spice.  It is better to have to add more than to add to much.  Here is the recipe:
http://www.food.com/recipe/white-chicken-chili-54230

Earlier in the day, I had 3 over ripe bananas, perfect for banana bread!  I have a favorite recipe I use that was handed down by my Grandmother.  I have yet to have this recipe fail!  You will notice that the recipe calls for dissolving the baking soda in the sour milk.  You will find this a lot in older recipes, this method helps activate the soda and will help the bread to raise.  I have found through the years that using 2 small loaf pans in place of a large one bakes a lot better. The regular size loaf pan is sometimes difficult to bake in the center and the rest of the loaf is over baked.  Be sure to generously grease your pans so they come out with ease.

Grandma Marie's White Banana Bread
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. shortening
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 c. sour milk (add a teaspoon lemon juice or 1 tsp. vinegar in bottom of measuring cup, and add milk)
1 tsp. baking soda dissolved in sour milk
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
3 bananas
1/3 c. nuts (optional)
Mix all ingredients together.  Put batter into greased regular size loaf pan, or split between two medium size loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees fahrenheit for 50 minutes.  Check doneness by sticking a toothpick in center, if it comes out clean, it is done.

Snow days bring childhood memories of comfort food, board games and relaxing!  I am in hopes of the weather improving and joining my family to make a winter snow family, complete with a dog, a cat and a chicken to represent our family.  Snow days for us are a welcome time to slow down and enjoy the day together.  What memories are you helping your family weave on a wintery snow day?

I leave you with a beautiful video of Snowflake Bentley.  If you have not seen his artwork, you must!  He devoted his life to looking at the unique snowflakes that grace us in the winter.  Peace!  Enjoy your winter and warm your hearts with comfort food from your kitchen!

Happy Valentines Day!  Now that we have indulged in sweets and lovely food today, did you remember that February is Heart Healthy month?  It is staggering to realize that it is estimated that over 630,000 Americans die of Heart Disease on a yearly basis!  Sounds pretty awful, but the good news is that you can prevent it happening to you and to your family with a few lifestyle changes.  It is a matter of what you are willing to do.  These "changes" do not have to be big, they can be a small as voiding your diet of one culprit food.  Foods to be aware of when thinking about your heart are those that are high in sodium, fat and sugar.  All of these contribute to chronic disease which leads to heart disease.  I want to focus on pop, and those close to me know, this comes as no surprise!  I have spent the last 2 years doing research and my motivation was when health deteriorated at our house and hit my back doorstep with a vengeance!  I used to love the saying, I would rather have a root canal than to do______fill in the blank.  Well, I realized the hard way, that root canals are not only painful physically, but painful to one's pocket book as well.  An average cost of a root canal is around $1,500.  Those of us lucky to have dental insurance, we get  a bit of a break, but a good amount will have to come from your pocket book.  For any amount, I could find better things to do than having a session of pain and time to heel.

So, how do we motivate ourselves to get rid of our pop habit or the sports drinks and energy drinks?  What can you do with extra money in your budget?  I challenge you to add up how much you spend on sugary drinks in your household per month, take it times 12 and is it a large amount?  If it is, motivate yourself by thinking about something you may like to have that is currently not in your budget.  If you know me, I would love an iPad!  I have so many things I could do with an iPad.  I would place a picture of MY iPad on a jar and slowly (because, my drink of choice would be Coke before I stopped drinking it and it is full of caffeine) reduce the amount you drink and put the money in the jar.  You will be amazed at how quickly it adds up.  Now, if this does not motivate you, perhaps these Public Announcement Videos from the New York City Health Department Will:

 The fact is this, pop and sugary drinks, along with energy drinks can contribute to deteriorating health.  Make it a treat and NOT a "gotta have it all day everyday" beverage.

Think about other choices, water, milk, and 100% juice in small amounts.  Juice has vitamins and minerals but is loaded in natural sugars.  These are just as bad for your health as sugar.  What about diet pop?  Diet pop has replaced those packets of sugar with aspartame and other chemicals.  In large amounts, these sugar alternatives can cause health issues as well.  Soda tends to be acidic and can strip the enamel from your teeth as well as we are learning that the carbonation from pop can pull calcium from your bones.  So....what is your choice?  Here is a fun video that I use when talking about the importance of Vitamin D and Calcium.  I am going to begin a research study of a lesson I am currently developing.  If you or someone you know is interested in reducing the amount of pop and sugary drinks your family consumes, please use the comment section of this blog to let me know.  I would love to have you look at my lesson and give me feedback.  Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!  Treat your Heart with Healthy food and remember to Exercise!

Valentine's Day is a mere week away!  What's cooking in your kitchen for your Sweetie?  Valentine's Day has a rich history.  Here is a video that gives a brief description of Saint Valentine. 

This story is really what began the whole idea of a special day to say "I Love You".  What is Valentine's Day without a bit of chocolate?  I wondered why chocolate was chosen and found the following:

Every February 14th love-struck men and women spend more than 1 billion dollars on chocolate products. Blame Cupid for the love-struck part, but why chocolate? What does chocolate really have to do with the most romantic day of the year? Here’s a brief history of chocolate and Valentine’s Day.

Our infatuation with chocolate first began 2,000 years ago when it was discovered in Latin America. The Maya and Aztec elites infused cocoa beans with water to form frothy chocolate drinks – the first frappuccinos, if you will – for special occasions and as sacrifices to the gods. The Aztec ruler Montezuma believed that chocolate was an aphrodisiac and routinely drank it before entering his harem, thus increasing chocolate’s popularity and its association with love and romance. As it turns out, he was ahead of his time. Modern-day scientists have linked the chemical phenylethylamine in chocolate to feelings of excitement, attraction and even pleasure.

The rest of Aztec society used cocoa beans as money and were unable to afford to drink it. Thus “gifting” chocolate for consumption was the Aztec version of John Cusak standing outside of your window with a boom-box. Christopher Columbus saw how the Aztecs revered cocoa when he entered the picture in the sixteenth century and immediately took the luxury product back to Queen Isabella of Spain. Chocoholics sprouted up all over Europe, sharing the legend of their new obsession’s alleged mythical powers. At one point in time, chocolate was believed to be so potent that nuns were forbidden from eating it and French doctors used it to treat “broken hearts.”

By the 1800s, the Cadbury Brothers set up shop in England and began packaging candies to sell to a mainstream audience. In 1861, in a genius marketing move, Richard Cadbury created the first ever heart-shaped box for Valentine’s Day, spurring the commercialization of the holiday. To this day, every February 14th we all still have a sweet spot for the sweet stuff.

THE HISTORY OF … VALENTINE’S DAY & CHOCOLATE

POSTED ON FEBRUARY 11, 2011 BY MADDIE DONNELLY

Here is what is on my Menu:

Lasagna

Tossed Salad and Your favorite dressing

Toasted Garlic Cheese Bread

Brownie Sundae

Game Plan for a Stress Free Dinner

Prepare a list and plan to grocery shop in advance on a day that you have time.

Wednesday
The key to this menu is the presentation.  Decide what dishes, silver ware, glassware, table covering and center piece to use.  I plan to use a center piece I actually still have out from Christmas.  It has a wintery mix of green pine, purple poinsettia with red accents.  This is a silk arrangement, and the colors are perfect for Valentine's Day.  I like to find things I already have and utilize them in place of buying something new. Re-purposing items gives me great satisfaction!  I am going to use a lace table runner and utilize the good dishes I have.  For the dessert, I have dessert dishes I inherited from my Grandma and they are a lot of fun for special occasions.  Don't forget to have a nice selection of music.  My selection is Kisses on the Bottom By Paul McCartney.

Next up, decide if you want your lasagna to be prepared in the normal fashion, or if you are going to utilize a slow cook recipe.  In either case, you will want to prepare.  I personally will make it in the normal fashion as I will be away from home next Thursday longer than it will take to make a good product in my slow cooker.  So, Wednesday evening I will put the lasagna together.  I begin by making sauce.  Brown hamburger and onions, drain and rinse meat.  My secret to sauce in a hurry is to use my favorite spaghetti sauce (or, the one that is on sale!).  Adding herbs and spices can help enhance the flavor of the sauce.  Oregano and Basil are always great flavor enhancers for Italian dishes.  Once you have your sauce going, you can also be preparing the Lasagna Noodles per the package directions.  Drain the pasta and rinse with cool water.  Lightly spray a 9X13 pan.  Spread a thin layer of sauce on bottom of pan.  Place three noodles on bottom of pan, on end of pan, add noodle, you will have to cut it to fit the pan so it lays flat.  Next, add sauce over the noodles.  You can then place a layer of cottage cheese on top of the sauce.  We prefer to leave out the layer of cottage cheese.  Next, sprinkle shredded mozzarella or an Italian blend on top.  Continue layering noodles and sauce.  The top layer is sauce and Cheese.  Cover with foil and put in refrigerator.  You could prepare your lasagna over the weekend and freeze the dish, then, pull it out to thaw Wednesday night.  Either choice works great.

The next item on the agenda is to bake a pan of brownies for your Sundaes.  Brownie mixes are great to use!  Yes, I do have a few items I use that are boxed.  Be sure to have a can of whipped cream for the top of your Sundaes, this adds a bit of flare for your dessert!

Thursday

All you need to do today is preheat your oven, bake the lasagna, I usually bake it at 400 degrees for about 1/2 hour.  If you are using a low-fat cheese, a little tip is to broil the top of the lasagna right before you take it out, it takes about 2 to 3 minutes, watch it closely.  It will add a nice bubbly brown to the dish.   Prepare your garlic toast while waiting for the lasagna.  I simply spread butter on french bread, sprinkle on garlic powder and top with cheese.  You can slice the bread in half and prepare both sides, or you can slice it into individual pieces.  

To lesson your stress, you can use a bag salad with a variety of greens.  Place salad in a nice salad bowl and you can add croutons and whatever other vegetables and things your family likes in a salad, the key is keep it simple!

You can cut the brownies and put them in the dessert bowls so that all you need to do is add a scoop of ice cream, chocolate sauce and top it with whipped cream.

Aaah, that was not so bad?  Beats the crowds and noise of a restaurant. Now, relax, set the tone with some great music and perhaps even a candle, and enjoy!  Bon Appetite!