Happy Birthday to Me! May 12, 2008

Yesterday we drove to my parents’ house to celebrate Mother’s Day with (duh) my mother. Since my birthday is coming soon (a few weeks) and we probably wouldn’t be able to get out that way, my mom went ahead and gave me my birthday gift early. She did a hell of a job-pretty much the best birthday present ever (she made a pretty hard act to J to follow!). It was a multi-part gift with a whole bunch of different things in it, but the best parts were a new big mixing bowl with measurements on the side, a good sturdy spatula (also good for keeping husbands in line), a cartoon turned into a piece of art that she customized with my hair color, name, and favorite cooking method – a version of this :

 

, except she had red hair, and it says something close to (it’s in the kitchen downstairs and I’m so not) While working on her cupcake recipe, Mox accidentally opens up a can of Whoopass. Pretty darn funny-oh and her apron is white with cupcakes on it-I thought it was neat that my mom made it match a Jessie Steele apron I showed her a while back. Even neater was when I opened the next part of the present and in it was….

Holy crap! The Jessie Steele apron I showed her a while back! How freakin’ cool is that?! I’m definately going to wear that while working on this month’s cupcake hero.

Yay!

Holy calamity! May 6, 2008

I thought I’d try my hand at a recipe+picture+process type post. The recipe for tonight’s dinner is Chicken Penne in Smoky Chili Cream Sauce (from Family Circle), which I altered slightly. It sounded good and the picture looked pretty darn tasty so I thought I’d give it a shot.

12 oz + 1 or 2 small handfulls uncooked penne pasta
1.5 Tbs canola oil
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4″ chunks
1/3 c. + a small handfull chopped onion
1 tsp minced garlic (or 3 cloves, I prefer more)
2 c prepared Alfredo sauce
1/4 c chipotle in adobo sauce, very roughly chopped
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp maple syrup
1/4 tsp salt
6 sliced cooked bacon, chopped (or large crumble)

1. Cook penne according to package directions. Drain.
2. While penne is cooking, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat on your super-awesome blacklight stove for about 5 minutes or until cooked through.

3. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

Stir in the Alfredo sauce, chipotle, chili powder, maple syrup and salt. Cook over medium-high heat until bubbly.

Stir in the chicken.

4. Place the pasta back into the pot and stir in the Alfredo and chicken mixture. Spoon pasta onio a large serving platter and garnish with the bacon.

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Oh my creamy Alfredo god. This was freakin’ delicious. I’m shocked by this Family Circle recipe. J is going to love this. Hopefully there will be some left over for lunch but I’m not counting on it.

Sorry Timmy, Sally Struthers ate your food so you go hungry today. May 5, 2008

Had to send this email out today, and wanted to let anyone that may have considered going know:

“Sorry to report, but the charity bake sale portion of the garage sale
is cancelled. I apologize if you had planned to bring baked items for
donation as we will not be able to sell any food whatsoever.
Sorry for the inconvenience!

(me)
Heritage Glen Homeowners Association
Social Committee”

Why? Because someone complained to the city that we didn’t have a permit to sell food. TECHNICALLY, we’re giving food for donations but whatever. So sorry, 1. The baking that I have done thusfar was for naught, and 2. I’m really really trying hard to edit myself because of how upset I am. I really thought we were going to be able to do some good this time around.