Mexicana Mama

After a recent babysitter cancellation, I decided no one was going to bring me down on a Friday night; so I ran to the market and whipped up a nice Mexican meal for two. I made homemade margaritas, spicy guacamole, and chicken enchiladas with roasted asparagus and refried black beans.  To finish it off, I served nutella-stuffed chocolate chip cookies sprinkled with sea salt. I had made them for Superbowl Sunday, it's not like I can just have those sitting around the house.  It was a meal to remember (even though I can't say I do).

Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:
8 soft corn tortillas

Filling:
3 cups chicken broth
4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breast, 6-8 oz
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
2 sprigs fresh oregano
1 small onion, quartered
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/3 palm full
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt

Sauce:

2 cups tomato sauce

2 teaspoons hot cayenne pepper sauce, several drops

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2 pinches

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 1/2 cups Monterey Jack shredded cheese, available on dairy aisle

Directions

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.

Wrap corn tortillas in foil and warm in the oven. Bring broth to a boil in a saute pan. Set chicken into broth with bay and oregano and onion. Return to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer. Poach chicken in broth 10 minutes. Remove chicken breasts to a bowl and shred with 2 forks. Add 1/2 cup of cooking liquid and tomato paste, spices and salt and work through the chicken using the forks.

Combine all sauce ingredients and heat through, keeping warm until needed.

Remove tortillas from oven and switch broiler on high.

Pile chicken mixture into warm corn tortillas and roll. Line casserole or baking dish with enchiladas, seam side down. Pour hot tomato sauce over the chicken enchiladas and top with cheese. Place in enchiladas in hot oven 6 inches from broiler and broil 5 minutes to melt cheese and set enchiladas.

PC: Annie's Eats
Recipe: Rachel Ray

Asian Made Simple

Asian food is one of my favorite go-to's for week night cooking.  It's flavorful, comforting, and therapeutic since it requires a lot of chopping and handling.  After sampling a few of my friend's flavorful dishes at a recent Cooking Club, I'm never at a loss for a better-than-takeout meal.

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken
Servings: 3

Ingredients:
3-4 boneless chicken breasts
salt/pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil

Sweet and Sour Sauce:
3/4 cup sugar
4 tbsp ketchup
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp garlic salt

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Rinse the chicken, pat dry, and season with salt and pepper (1 good pinch of each).  Coat the chicken in cornstarch and then the egg.  Heat the oil in a large skillet and cook the chicken in two batches until browned (the chicken will not be fully cooked through).  Place the chicken in a greased 9x13 pryex.  In a separate bowl, mix the ingredients for the sweet and sour sauce and pour evenly over the chicken.  Bake for one hour and turn every 15 minutes.  Serve with brown or white rice and enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of Allyson Becker from Lifeasalofthouse.blogspot.com

P.F. Chang's Mongolian Beef
Servings: 2
12 oz sliced beef tenderloin (Whole Foods will do this for you)
1 tbsp soy bean oil (I used olive oil)
1 tsp garlic
2 oz soy sauce
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp rice wine
2 oz green onion sticks, 3" long

Heat the oil in a saute pan.  Add the beef and cook for 30-60 seconds or until cooked.  Beef should be slightly browned around the edges and gray throughout the rest of the surface.  Add the garlic and toss for about a minute.  Add the rice wine, soy sauce, and sugar and bring to a boil.  Cook and reduce the sauce around the beef until all sauce has caramelized onto the beef (it should take around 5 minutes).  The pan should be dry before proceeding.  Add the green onion and toss into beef.  Serve with rice.

Recipe courtesy of Emily Hoffman from P.F. Changs

Martha's Cashew Chicken
Servings: 4

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1" cubes
1 tbsp cornstarch
coarse salt and ground pepper
2 tbsp vegetable oil, such as safflower
6 cloves garlic, minced
8 scallions, white and green parts separated, each cut into 1" pieces
2 tbsp rice vinegar
3 tbsp hoisin sauce
3/4 cup raw cashews (4 oz), toasted

In a medium bowl, toss chicken with cornstarch until chicken is coated; season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.  In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat.  Cook half the chicken, tossing often, until browned, about 3 minutes.  Transfer to a plate.  Add remaining oil and chicken to skillet along wtih garlic and white parts of scallions.  Cook, tossing often, until chicken is browned, about 3 minutes.  Return first batch of chicken to pan.  Add vinegar, cook until evaporated, about 30 seconds.  Add hoisin sauce and 1/4 cup water, cook, tossing, until chicken is cooked through, about 1 minute.  Remove from heat.  Stir in scallion greens and cashews.  Serve immediately over white rice, if desired. 


PC: Tablefortwoblog.com, pfcb.com, Martha Stewart

Happily Ever After

Cheese Plate (for two) with Heart-Shaped Figs:

(Cut the figs in half and shape into hearts)

Beet-heart Salad:

Filet Mignon with Herb-and-Cheese Potatoes

OR

Rack of Lamb with Herb Crust

Chocolate Fondue (include your favorite dippers):

If you prefer milk chocolate (rather than bittersweet chocolate) try this sauce from Betty Crocker

Can't celebrate on Monday? Surprise your loved one with Breakfast in Bed over the weekend:

Classic French Toast:

OR

Heart-Shaped Eggs and Toast

PC: Martha Stewart

Superbowl 2011

Easy Take Along Appetizers:

7 Layer Dip:

Reuben Dip with Rye:

Homemade Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing

Salads (believe it or not people appreciate a nice salad)

Ina's Chinese Chicken Salad

-I add half a head of chopped iceberg lettuce, half a head of chopped napa cabbage, & Chinese noodles

Salad on a Stick

Desserts:

Outrageous Brownies:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

S'mores Bars: (What would be a Superbowl party without them)?

Recipe for S'mores Bars

Servings: 12

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups flour

4 ½ sheets crumbled graham crackers (broken into small chunks)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

5 (1.5 ounce) milk chocolate candy bars (I use Hershey's)

3 cups miniature marshmallows

Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease an 8 inch square baking pan. Beat butter and sugar together until well blended in a large bowl. Add egg and vanilla; beat well.

In another bowl stir together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Press half the dough into the prepared pan. Bake 15 minutes.

Unwrap chocolate bars; arrange over baked layer. They may not quite all fit, you may be forced to eat a couple pieces. Sprinkle with marshmallows. Scatter remaining dough over the marshmallows, forming a top layer.

Bake 10- 15 minutes or until just lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting.

PC: IVillage, Strawman3125, Martha Stewart, Stockfood, Ina Garten, BakeorBreak, Baking Bites



DIY Valentine Napkin Rings

In case you don't have the time to invest in V-day decorations, go the DIY route to create a napkin holder or setting that will set the mood. The good news? You can use them year after year or else for a Spring or Summer Party. The great  news? They're cheaper than the real thing.

Buy real or faux flowers and sew or glue them onto a pony tail holder. 

To Form Leaves:

1. Fold a square green napkins in half along the diagonal.

2. Fold it in half again along the long edge

3. Fold it once more in half along.

To Form a Flower:

1) Use a square napkin of any color.  Fold the cloth in half along the diagonal.  Place it on your work surface so that the longest side of the resulting triangle is at the top.  Take the corner opposite the longest side and fold it up so that it just extends over the top.  The top and bottom edges should be parallel.

2. Fold the bottom edge up so that it falls just short of the top edge.  Begin rolling the napkin from one end.

  Guide and adjust the cloth as your roll to give it an even shape.

3. Slip the complete flower between the upper and lower halves of the leaves, and arrange in the glass. 

PC: Country Living, Martha Stewart

A Natural Affair

I can't help but fall in love with weddings that are held in the great outdoors. There is something so magical and enchanting about going au naturel as you can see for yourself.  This couple chose to mix nature with Eastern influences which is undeniably beautiful.

PC: White Loft Studio, Flowers: Beautiful Days

DIY Baking Party!

Serve your birthday girl a delicious treat with this sophisticated Baking Party!  Party guests will feel like real pastry chefs as they get the chance to make and bake a variety of gourmet desserts.  Each station brings new techniques and yummy creations as everyone rotates through seven fun-filled activities.  When the party is over, send your happy guests home with their own box of bakery fresh treats that show off their new baking skills.

Click here to purchase this $25.00 DIY Baking Party.  The party plan includes 50 pages of tutorials, party instructions, and gorgeous photos, including step-by-step directions. 

Here is an example of a Baking Party DIY Tutorial:

DIY Baking Party: One Charming Party, Kara's Party Ideas

Eat your Heart Out

Valentine's Day is just around the corner.  Here is a breathtaking bouquet idea that will make your Valentine fall in love all over again. At one end, start with a few drops of pink in the blooms of sweet peas, hyacinths, and nerines and lead them into fuchsia peonies, ruby fringe tulips, and raspberry cyclamens.  Complete the effect by wrapping your Valentine's gift in a pink inspired paper and serve a delicious meal.  Ideas to follow.

PC: Martha Stewart

Garrett's Popcorn

Last week, my husband and I had the pleasure of hosting our good friend DJ from Chicago for the night.  As a thank you, his beautiful (and always thoughtful) wife Emily sent us the greatest and most unnecessary gift imaginable-a tin of Garrett's famous Chicago-style popcorn.  If you've never tried this Chicago delicacy, you're truly missing out.  As I like to say, it's disgustingly good and the Chicago mix (half caramel corn/half cheesecorn) didn't land on Oprah's 'favorites' list by accident.  

So thank you Emily for not only making my pregnancy so delightful but also for reminding me that it's the simple and delicious things in life that people appreciate the most. 

Friends, remember this idea when you want to send someone a little something to show how much you care or to say thank you. It's the perfect gift.

PC: Garrett's Popcorn

"Udderly in Love"

An 'udderly' unique and rustic bridal shower for a couple who go together like 'Milk and Cookies.'  Set on the beautiful countryside, the centerpieces are made from items from Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, thrift stores, antique shops, and items the bride/groom already owned.  For seating, they used hay bales to go with their country theme.  I love theme parties!

Kara's party ideas by Love and Lavender

Photos taken by Jonda Spurbeck Photography

Skinny B-tch

I often turn to Mexican when I want a no-fuss weeknight meal that will taste good and do good for my body. My latest find: Old El Paso (Chicken or Steak) Fajitas. With only 4 ingredients to be purchased at the grocery including the kit itself, fajitas have never looked so good, and to be honest I've never felt so good... about a weeknight meal.

 I pair mine with refried beans (out of the can) and sliced avocado.  It's delightful, beyond simple as it takes around 15 minutes to make, and best of all, you wake up the next morning feeling skinny-mini! It's my kind of meal.

Here's what to look for at the grocery:

And here's how beautiful your meal could look:

Dinner doesn't have to stress you out! Just go the Old El Paso route.

PC: Old El Paso, Kalyn's Kitchen

A Menu Card that sings to me

PC: Cynthia Warren,

Grown up Tea Party

This magnificent and classic bridal shower reminds me of my sister's wedding... a pastel color palette, vintage linens, and delicate china.  If this doesn't say romance, I don't know what does.

PC: Jennifer Dery/The Sweetest Occasion