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!

If you have never had a Crepe, you are missing out!  Even better, get creative in your kitchen, and whip up a batch of Crepes.  Crepes are native to France and the definition of Crepe in latin is crispa meaning curled.  Crepes are basically very thin pancakes.  They are filled with a variety of things.  Crepe Suzette  is a Crepe with a filling of sugar, orange and liqueur.  Personally, I fill them with fruit and even scrambled eggs and cheese.  Crepes are very simple to make and they are a hit for breakfast, dessert or any meal.  I like to make Crepes for Sunday morning breakfast.  I fill half with apple filling and half with scrambled eggs and cheese.  The following is a recipe from allrecipes.com.  It is one I have used and it works very well.  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/basic-crepes/

If you follow these simple steps, you can't go wrong!

1.  An easy way to mix your Crepes is in a blender.

2.  Use a non-stick egg pan for the Crepes.  You can use either butter or a non-
      stick spray.  Once your pan is greased, it should be ok for the duration of
      cooking the rest of the crepes, so you are not utilizing a lot of grease!

Pour batter in the center of pan 

Rotate pan to spread the batter evenly in the pan

Using a rubber spatula, loosen the sides of the crepe, turn it over and cook slightly on the other side

Apple Filling                       

Scrambled Eggs

Finished Product!   Enjoy!

From my kitchen to yours, find your inner culinary soul and enjoy cooking!  Valentine's Day is fast approaching.  Why not be bold and avoid the crowded restaurants and create your own romantic bounty of food!  In the words of Julia Child:
I think careful cooking is love, don't you? The loveliest thing you can cook for someone who's close to you is about as nice a valentine as you can give.
Julia Child

Until we meet again, Happy Cooking and....Bon Appetite !

What is better than a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup?  You can do this in a half hour!

2 to 3 chicken breasts, sliced into cubes
6 to 8 cups of chicken broth (I use Chicken Base and water, it stretches farther and I can control the sodium)
1 16 ounce package frozen vegetables
Salt and pepper to taste
A sprig of thyme is good if you like thyme and a bit of parsley for color and flavor too.
Noodles, I prefer to make my own!

Noodles:
1/2 c. flour to 1 egg.  For this recipe, 2 cups flour and 4 eggs are enough.
Directions:
Measure flour in large bowl, make a well in the middle of the flour.  Add slightly beaten eggs in the well.  Mix together the flour as much as you can with a fork.  Put mixture on floured surface and need the dough until it forms into a round ball.  Cover and place in refrigerator for 10 minutes.  Take ball out of frig and split the ball in half.  Roll thin and cut into noodles.  You can let noodles dry or cook them right away.  The trick is to be sure to add it to the broth when the broth is boiling. 

Chicken noodle soup is easy to make and tastes much better than from the can!  On cold frosty nights, it warms me from the tip of my head to the bottom of my toes!  Adding the vegetables to it helps to complete the meal.  Add a slice of whole wheat bread and you have dinner made, wha la!  This picture is borrowed from online, but looks a lot like my end product!  Use whatever vegetables that your family enjoys, dare to be creative!

Physical Activity, if you are like me, I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach!  I have never been the runner, I have never been the star athlete and if I think too much, I can get on a roll and be really negative about exercise.  For instance, I hate to sweat, I don't have time, and truthfully, I would rather just not worry about it!  This mindset changed for me over night in the spring of 2011.  My blood pressure was so high, I was considered in stroke zone and I received a fast ride to the hospital.  The diagnosis, well, my gene pool kicked in with a vengeance.  If you know me at all, when something happens, I have to know why and what to do about it.  So, I began to read as much information as I could.  I began to see a theme, EXERCISE!  So, rather than embracing that notion, I thought I should read some more, and yes, the same theme, Exercise.  I am happy to report, I do exercise.  I found motivation through a facebook group created by a very motivational woman who has quite a health story of loosing a lot of weight.  I gained motivation from my family who recognizes that we need to be active together.  I am finding it is really not that difficult.  I just had to get rid of all those points that I used as an excuse not to do it.
1. Sweat, ok, still not over that, but just have to deal with that one.  I visualize a hot shower after I am done.
2.  Time, the recommendation is 30 minutes most days of the week.  The good news is, I do not have to do it all at one time!  I stretch in the morning, walk over lunch and when I am at home, I ride my stationary bike or turn on my favorite aerobic program that I record on my DVR. 
3.  Become Addicted to Exercise!  Wow!  Now there is a concept, an addiction for me that may be positive.  A childhood acquaintance whom I have admired, was the athlete and continues into adulthood running marathons and all kinds of other things.  I once asked her what the secret is and she simply said, "you have to become addicted to the adrenalin rush of exercising."  Hm, I pondered this thought and wondered if I would get to this frame of thinking.  I think I am almost there.  Now, keep in mind, my idea of the level of activity and the addiction to it is far different from my childhood friend, but I am gaining ground with my health.  I find that when I do not exercise, I feel stressed and the stress stays with me.

The following is a slide show from UNL and has a lot of helpful ideas. 

http://www.slideshare.net/alicehenneman/how-should-you-spend-your-calorie-salary

My random advice:
1. Find time in your schedule and stick to it.
2. Take a day off if you want to.  This usually happens on the weekend.  It gives me freedom.  ( I have found, I am taking fewer days off because I like how I feel after a good workout)
3.  Do a variety of things for exercise, the same thing over and over again, gets old and stale.  Just be sure you stretch, incorporate an activity that gets your heart rate up such as aerobics or brisk walking, and weight bearing exercise.  Here is the part that is the best, you do not need a gym for any of this!  The weight bearing exercise is as simple as stomach crunches, or push ups. 
4.  Just DO IT!  Don't let your mind over ride your need to be healthy.  Your body is like a fine tuned machine, you need in-put (Healthy food) and output (exercise).

Let's face it, most of us have sedentary jobs and they are typically filled with stress.  If we can handle our jobs and fit in exercise, we will be healthier for it. 

5.  More importantly, you need to remember the importance of water, you got it, water!  Keeping hydrated is a key to your body running smoothly and helping you with your plan of action for physical activity.  Most doctors recommend 8 to 12 glasses of water a day, if you are exercising, you are in a hot environment or perhaps fighting an illness, you need more than the recommended amount.  Loose the pop and other sugary drinks and choose water.  If you don't like water, try adding a bit of fresh fruit to your water, right now, citrus fruit is in season, add a little lemon or lime to your drink. Create a habit for you and your family.

Until next time, fit in a little fitness into your life, you will be glad you did!  You will find yourself less stressed, you will have more energy and overall, you will have an attitude that you can take on whatever challenge life may throw at you!

I leave you with one of my favorite songs when I am feeling down, and really don't want to move forward. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LODkVkpaVQA

 

How are your New Year resolutions going?  If you are like most of us, you chose one directly related to healthy lifestyles, eating healthy, or loosing weight.  My resolution is to embrace cooking, stay away from eating out and with any luck, this will assist me in eating healthier and maintaining my weight.  So far, so good!  There are times when I have the desire to eat out because of a favorite dish that I have never made before.  One of the dishes recently was french onion soup.  Wow, super simple and since I made it in my kitchen, less expensive and healthier as I controlled the salt and fat content.  I utilized the recipe from Rachael Ray as a baseline and altered a few things to meet my needs.  It turned out fabulous!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/oh-so-good-french-onion-soup-recipe/index.html

Our family has a new soup that they will request in the future!


Next up, chicken pot pie sounded like a good meal for Friday night and would be great since we have bitter cold temperatures here in Nebraska.  Again, I went on a hunt for a great recipe.  I started out with my tried and true pastry shell recipe, the trick to a good crust is to chill the flour and fat mixture as well as the water (separate of course).  When cool, mix together and roll it out.  The following is the recipe I tried and it was very good!  I chose to use a regular pie pan and that worked well.Next time, I would make the sauce with a bit more liquid.  Other than that, it was a keeper!
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-pot-pie-ix/


The best way to keep my resolution of eating healthy is to find the joy of cooking in my own kitchen.  I hope you can do this as well!  Until I blog again, try something fun in your kitchen!