You'll Either Love It, Or Hate It . . .

Disclaimer: If you are a food snob who has no small children, eats exotically and shuns anything containing Cream of Chicken soup, turn away now. Do not read this post. It is not intended for the gourmet at heart.

If you can look at the above picture and immediately tell what we had for dinner on my birthday, you are either: a) a Mormon b)a fan of easy recipes or c) someone who uses "Cream of _____" soup in your cooking.

Because our church building houses three separate congregations, we rotate what time we'll go to church at the beginning of the new year. We are now at the 2:30 - 5:00 time, which is by far the least desirable time. It means I actually have to put forethought and effort into Sunday dinners. Needless to say, we are becoming really good friends with our Crock Pot and the delayed cooking feature on the oven! (Please leave any and ALL pertinent and delicious recipes in the comments section - I need your help!)

On my birthday I wanted something that would be easy and make everyone happy - including my one very picky eater child. I didn't want to listen to whining about food on my birthday. So we picked a meal that each person can customize and make their own - the Mormon Classic Hawaiian Haystacks.

I should probably mention here that some may hate the very idea of this recipe. If you are morally opposed to the combination of salty and sweet (think pineapple and ham on pizza) then this isn't for you. If you are against mixing fruit and meat, again this is not for you. If you don't like the idea of piling a bunch of seemingly random toppings on a heap of rice for a strangely delicious culinary experience, don't make this recipe.

I, however, really like it. The Hubby LOVES it. And my kids like to be in control (don't know where they get that from) and find joy in making their own specialized version of the Haystack, even if for one kid that means rice with cheese on it.

Enough! Here is the very simple recipe:

4-6 cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, shredded
2 cans cream of chicken soup (I use the 98% fat free)
1 can chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste

Combine above ingredients over medium/low heat on stove until well mixed and warmed through. Pour chicken gravy over white rice. (I use Jasmine rice). Top with your choice of the following toppings:

fresh or canned pineapple (hence the Hawaiian)
shredded coconut (again, Aloha!)
Chow Mein noodles (there's the Haystack)
sunflower seeds (or slivered almonds)
raisins (or craisins)
diced celery
black olives
chopped tomatoes
shredded cheddar cheese
green onions
green bell peppers

Here's a picture of the Hubby's plate. He puts the gravy on last - which is a shame in my book - I like to put the gravy on first, then the cheese so it gets nice and melty.

So, have a go at it and let me know what you think. If you've already had this, tell us your opinion!

Skool Lunch

Eons ago when I worked at a paying job where I sat at computer which was actually attached to a desk, instead of in front of my fireplace, there was a little restaurant across the street from my office building called "Skool Lunch". Adults would file in and out of Skool Lunch each morning and afternoon for a chance to eat food reminiscent of their elementary school cafeteria days, all plopped on a plastic tray and served by ladies in hilariously hideous cafeteria lady clothes and hair nets.

I ate at Skool Lunch often and LOVED IT! The grilled cheese sandwich was to die for and their rice crispie treats were generously sized and had just the right amount of chewiness. Other items on the menu included things like: liverwurst sandwich, tuna sandwich, ham and swiss sandwich, chicken noodle soup, tomato soup, various cookies, and of course, small cartons of milk.

I loved the clever concept behind this restaurant. I loved that the food was tasty. I loved how it took me back to my cafeteria days - the days when I squealed with glee if it was mashed potato and gravy day!

I cannot say the same for the food at my kids school. I can barely walk past the school cafeteria at lunch time because the smell turns my stomach. I have actually had lunch with my kids and watch as much of the "hot lunch" is thrown away by student after student. It is NAH-STEEE!

Last week when we had Monday and Tuesday off for the inauguration, I busted out the plastic lunch trays (bought on clearance at Target for $1.99 last year) and we had our own version of Skool Lunch: Annnie's Organic Mac N' Cheese, orange wedges and a fig newton. It was yummy and the kids and I had fun pretending we were in our own cafeteria where the food does not make one sick. Do your kids eat cafeteria food?

If I Had Room For Any More Food . . .

I'd eat this baby! Because he is so sweet and delicious and his eyes are as big as saucers. And because have you ever tasted a baby's belly? To die for! This is my newest nephew "M" and I relished every second of my four days with him and his family for the Thanksgiving holiday. Relaxing. Eating. Ignoring the responsibilities of my real life. Eating some more. It was just what I needed.

Then I came home and felt a small sense of panic as I realized that I had no turkey to leftover with. In swooped the Queen Vee and Kernal Ken to my house last night with a gigantic ol' pot of this:

All I had to do was make the corn bread and chow down! And somehow my sis-in-law Audrey figured she needed a fourth Thanksgiving, so it was a total bonus because I got to spend time with many of my favorite people and eat food I didn't have to cook. Okay, really they were just sick of turkey and needed to get rid of it somehow, but I am still really, really grateful and also warm from the soup. Huge thanks familia!

The last thing I'd eat if I had ANY more room for food would be this kid right here. I mean this reindeer. Do people eat reindeer (tastes like chicken)? As soon as I started busting out the Christmas decor, my little RedDeer was at my side, antlers on, helping out. He's a champ at putting the big grins on my face. This is how he ate his lunch before school today. I love a kid who's got the holiday spirit.

Now I'm full from all this pretend eating. Hope your holiday prep is in full swing and going well. I'm up to date on the decorating, but way behind on the gift purchasing. Gotta go do that right now!

Another Food Obsession . . .

I know what you're thinking - "This girl talks about food a lot. Does she think she's some kind of culinary genius? Does she think her food wisdom is really worth imparting? Nah, but I bet she can put food down her hole like no body's business!" (you would be correct.)

I actually had someone ask me why I haven't started a food blog yet. It's because I'm a total food poser. People like my sis-in-law Audrey are qualified to have a food blog. I'm qualified to say something every now and again about food I love that mostly other people make.

Today I want to encourage all who have not yet had the privilege to get themselves over to the grocery store and buy a Honeycrisp Apple.

I am a certified apple snob. Red Delicious - eww! Squishy, bland and used for school lunches. Granny Smith - nope. Too sour for cutting and eating, even if great for baking. Gala - overdone. Pink Lady - not crisp enough. I could go on and on about graininess, texture, size, etc. Enter the Honeycrisp.

First a little history: The Honeycrisp apple (Malus pumila cultivar Honeycrisp) was adopted as the state fruit of Minnesota in 2006. The apple was produced from a 1960 cross of Macoun and Honeygold apples, as part of the University of Minnesota apple breeding program to develop a winter-hardy tree with high quality fruit.

Honeycrisp apples are characterized by an exceptionally crisp and juicy texture. They are a perfect mix of honey sweetness and hint of tartness. When you bite into a Honeycrisp, you hear that crackling sound that tells you it's a good one - EVERY TIME! This apple is considered "dessert quality" which in my mind means it could be cut up and served by itself as a dessert. It is also good for use in baking desserts.

These apples are not cheap. You will not find them on sale for 99 cents a pound - ever. But my grocery store has had them on sale for $1.79 a pound the past three times I've shopped and I have hoarded the Honeycrisps into my cart like they were giving them away for free. I have eaten one of these apples every day for the past three weeks, feeling joy with each crunchy bite and thinking to myself, "This is what Autumn really tastes like. I love you apple."

Go give a Honeycrisp a try and let me know what you think. And if you eat Red Delicious apples, shame on you.

Ode To A Cookie . . . And A Boyfriend!

It has finally arrived. This is the day that I "out" the Boyfriend Cookies. As I type this post, I am dropping little crumbs of oatmealy goodness on my keyboard with reckless abandon. It's the cookies! I can't help myself. They're so darn delicious, I can't eat them fast enough!

A little history for those not in the know:

Many years ago I dated a boy who had the best oatmeal cookie recipe. Ever. In the entire universe of cookies. (If any one mentions Costco's oatmeal cookies - I will shun them.) He used to make these cookies and my whole family would swoon over them and him. What kind of high school boyfriend does that? One day I convinced him to give me the recipe. That was a very good day. And though our relationship eventually ended, one of the things that still remains is that cookie recipe, in his handwriting, tucked away in a safe place in my cookbook.

Fast forward to me meeting and marrying The Hubby , a.k.a. My Boyfriend (to our kids). One day I'm feeling the need for a little buttery, oatmealy love so I make "the cookies". The Hubby eats an entire dozen - still warm from the oven - and then while smacking his lips in a satisfied manner says, "I love that boyfriend of yours. I am so glad you dated him. I love him and I love his cookies."

So, the cookies previously known as "Mr. X's Super Duper Oatmeal Cookies" (no that's not his real name . . . protecting the innocent and all that stuff) are now known to everyone in my family and to many of my friends as "The Boyfriend Cookies" because they came from a great boyfriend and are now the number one favorite cookie of my forever boyfriend.

If enough of you beg - I might get permission to share the recipe with you on the blog . . .

Because I Love You (and chocolate with bananas)

Because I love you faithful readers of my silly-little-blog-about-nothing, I am giving you a tiny little slice of chocolaty banana love from my kitchen. Here is a fantastic LOW FAT banana bread recipe that compels me to buy bananas just so I can watch them go bad and make this recipe! Aside: it really was low fat, although I'm pretty sure the addition of the chocolate chips by me pretty much cancels the low out of it all. Oh well! This recipe came to me through my wonderful friend Ronalin Meck. I love her - and not just because she gave me this bread one day. Here it is, now go make yourself some!

Low Fat Banana Bread (with chocolate chips, of course)

1 C applesauce
1 C granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
3 mashed ripe bananas
2 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 C chopped nuts (optional)
1 C chocolate chips (crucial)

Pour batter into greased and floured loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Eat hot out of the oven so gooey chocolate gets all over your happy face.

On The Last Day Of Summer Vacation

On the last day of summer vacation, something big should happen -- Right? We'll we did our something big this morning when we packed up the entire Lee clan and headed down to the "Leesburg Restaurant". You can't really appreciate how special that is unless you can read the fine print on the sign above the restaurant, which reads "Since 1865"!

Word on the streets of Leesburg is that this place has some tastey food. Believe me, looks can be decieving and I had my doubts because it looks like a complete dump, but was willing to give it a try. Our first attempt was Friday night as we continued our four-year long quest to continually try local eateries we have never been to. When we got to the restaurant, their power had just gone out, so our efforts were thwarted.

No electrical outage was going to keep us from trying again, and today we succeeded! The restaurant looks like it's straight out of the movies, soda fountain like bar and all! The booths were tiny, but we all squeezed in and the wait staff (mostly teenagers) were fast, friendly and funny too. The best part of all though, was when our breakfast arrived and we chowed down on some seriously fluffy buttermilk pancakes, delicious french toast with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg and the crispiest bacon ever. YUMMMMMMM. We'll definitely pay another visit to one of Leesburg's oldest and finest - but maybe next time it will be for Sundaes and Pie!

We've gone to the pool one last time and tonight we will seal the deal with "End of Summer S'mores" with our neighbors before we send to the kids to bed and jump for joy that school starts tomorrow.

Sweltering . . .

It has now passed "HOT" here in Virginia, and has moved into completely uncomfortable, muggy and buggy. We're registering officially at 98 degrees, which with humidity feels like about 100 degrees. The plants and grass are wilty and dying. The pool today was barely a relief. (Picture of the Dogger included.) The kids can't even stand to be outside for more than ten minutes, and frankly I just want to sit inside with my head in the freezer.

While I've got time to kill, I thought I'd compile my innagural TOP TEN LIST. Once a week I'm going to pick a topic (ie. Top Ten Chick Flicks of All Time, or Top Ten Breakfast Foods) and give you what is, in my opinion, the top ten in that category. Think of it as a way to get to know me better, a way to get you thinking about your favorites, and a way to get you to respond to my Top Ten in disgust or agreement (can you tell I'm searching for comments?)

The dreadful heat of the day has inspired today's list:

MY TOP TEN TASTEY FROZEN TREATS

10. Skinny Cow Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich (It's big, smooth, creamy and low fat to boot! Round shape makes it seem somewhat grown up. Sandwich portion sticks to the fingers, which is as it should be with a true ice cream sandwich.)

9. Aunt Nancy's Frozen Sherbet Delight (a recipe handed down from the Hubby's aunt - a refreshing combo of vanilla ice cream, pineapple sherbet, fresh bananas and frozen strawberries in their juice. Perfect!)

8. McDonalds Ice Cream Sundae w/ Caramel & Nuts (How can you resist, especially when you get to the very bottom and it is all caramel? And the price is too good to be true.)

7. 7-11 Slurpee (I had to put this in for my Hubby, who literally lives for a giant sized Slurpee. So many flavors to choose from, and if you can't decide you can mix them all together and make a "Suicide". Even though I think there is a slight aftertaste of ashtray, darnit if it doesn't make my kids and my man happy.)

6. Jamba Juice Mango-A-Go-Go Smoothie (Why Virginians haven't caught on to the Smoothie craze like Utahns is still a mystery to me - oh wait, it's because they all drink frozen coffee. Anyway, this makes the list because you just feel healthy drinking it, even though each one is about 600 calories!)

5. Frozen Samoa Girl Scout Cookies (I only discovered this as a frozen treat when I couldn't wait for the cookies that I had stored in my freezer for safe keeping to thaw out. If you don't mind risking cracking a tooth - they are simply delicious this way! Then again, I'd probably eat a Samoa covered in mud . . .)

4. Costco's Berrie Smoothie (It's just big enough for two people to share, it only costs $1.35, and it packs a walloping 4 grams of fiber! This smoothie is actually really good for you. That's why I buy one to share with Soren every time I'm in that darn store.)

3. Snickers Ice Cream Bar (Have mercy. The genius who decided to make my favorite candy bar into an ice cream bar should be given a Rolls Royce, knighted by the Queen and invited for lunch at the White House. Bless you delicious, nutty, choclatey, melty treat.)

2. Cold Stone Creamery (I can combine my three favorites here - sweet cream ice cream, brownies and caramel - okay I do extra caramel - and have it mixed by some teenager with extremely large forearm muscles. It always tastes unbelieveable and is a good substitute for my #1 fave treat.)

1. Good Old Fashion Brownies and Ice Cream (The all time ultimate home style dessert. There are a few caviats however . . . the brownies must be fudgy, not cakelike. They must be warm enough to slightly melt the ice cream. The entire dessert must be topped with either homemade hot fudge or smuckers caramel, which has also been heated through to thin it just slightly. And there you have frozen treat nirvana . . . for me.)