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Author Archives: michele343

Fresh Corn Casserole with Red Bell Peppers and Jalapenos

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Dinner, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 8 ears corn (still in the husk)
  • 2 red bell peppers, diced
  • 2 fresh jalapenos, diced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 stick salted butter, cut into pieces

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Remove the corn from the husks. In a large, deep bowl, slice off the kernels of corn with a sharp knife. Turn the knife to the dull side and scrape the cob all the way down to remove all the bits of kernel and creamy milk inside. (I do this inside the bowl because it goes everywhere if you cut it on a board.)

Add the red bell peppers, jalapenos, heavy cream, milk, salt to taste, a generous amount of pepper and butter and mix it well. Pour into a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Bake until thoroughly warmed through, 30 to 45 minutes.

Homemade Ranch Dressing

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Recipes, Sauce

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Ingredients

  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup real mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup Italian flat-leaf parsley leaves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Dash hot sauce
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup buttermilk (as needed for desired consistency)

Directions

Mince the garlic with a knife and then sprinkle on the salt and mash it into a paste with a fork.

In a bowl, combine the garlic paste, mayonnaise, sour cream, parsley, dill, chives, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, vinegar, paprika, cayenne and hot sauce. Add the buttermilk to desired consistency and mix to combine, tasting frequently and adjusting seasonings as needed. Chill for a couple of hours before serving, thinning with more buttermilk if needed.

Duchess Potatoes

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Dinner, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 5 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and diced, and boiled until fork-tender
  • 8 egg yolks
  • 1 stick butter, softened
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Nutmeg
  • 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 whole egg

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicon baking mat.

Lay the boiled potatoes on a baking sheet and place into the oven until slightly dried on the surface, 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove the potatoes from the oven and process through a ricer or food mill. Allow to cool in a bowl for about 5 minutes.
Add the egg yolks, butter, a couple generous pinches of salt, a generous pinch of pepper, a pinch of nutmeg and 3/4 cup cream. Stir with a rubber spatula to combine. Taste and make sure the potatoes have been adequately salted.
Transfer to a large pastry bag and pipe through a large star tip in a circular/upward spiral motion onto the prepared baking sheet.
Make an egg wash by mixing the whole egg with the remaining 1/2 cup cream. Lightly brush the piped potatoes with the egg wash. (This is a little easier if you chill the piped potatoes for half an hour or so.)
Bake until golden brown around the edges. Serve on a pretty platter!

Malted Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Baking, Desert, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup golden brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (rounded) malted milk powder
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • One 12-ounce bag milk chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cream the butter, then add both sugars and cream until fluffy. Add the eggs and beat slightly, then add the vanilla and beat until combined. Add the malted milk powder and beat until combined.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the butter mixture, beating gently until just combined. Add the chocolate chips and stir in gently.

Drop by teaspoonfuls (or use a cookie scoop) on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving plenty of space between the cookies (they spread out quite a bit). Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. The cookies will be very flat and very chewy. Allow to cool slightly before removing from pan with a spatula.

Optional: Allow to cool completely, then use 2 cookies to make an ice cream sandwich. Add sprinkles to the sides of the ice cream, then wrap individually in plastic wrap.

Prime Rib with Rosemary Salt Crust

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Dinner, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 1 whole boneless rib eye (12 to 15 pounds)
  • Olive oil
  • 1/4 cup tri-color peppercorns
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1/2 cup kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup minced garlic

Directions

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

Cut the rib eye in half (roast halves separately for more controlled/even cooking).

Heat some oil in a large skillet over high heat. Sear both rib eye halves until a nice dark golden color, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

Place the peppercorns into a bag and crush with a rolling pin. Shred the leaves from the thyme and rosemary sprigs. Mix the salt with the crushed peppercorns, rosemary leaves, thyme leaves and garlic. Pour olive oil over the rib eye and pour on the rub mix. Pat slightly to get it to stick to the meat. Roast for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 275 degrees F and roast until a meat thermometer registers 125 for rare/medium-rare, about 20 more minutes (the roast will continue to cook slightly after removing from the oven). Remove from the oven and let rest for 15 to 20 minutes before slicing.

Perfect Pot Roast

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Dinner, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • One 3 to 5-pound chuck roast
  • 2 or 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 whole onions, peeled and halved
  • 6 to 8 whole carrots, unpeeled, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 cup red wine, optional
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 2 or 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 or 3 sprigs fresh thyme

Directions

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.

Generously salt and pepper the chuck roast.

Heat the olive oil in large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the halved onions to the pot, browning them on both sides. Remove the onions to a plate.

Throw the carrots into the same very hot pot and toss them around a bit until slightly browned, about a minute or so. Reserve the carrots with the onions.

If needed, add a bit more olive oil to the very hot pot. Place the meat in the pot and sear it for about a minute on all sides until it is nice and brown all over. Remove the roast to a plate.

With the burner still on high, use either red wine or beef broth (about 1 cup) to deglaze the pot, scraping the bottom with a whisk. Place the roast back into the pot and add enough beef stock to cover the meat halfway.

Add in the onions and the carrots, along with the fresh herbs.

Put the lid on, then roast for 3 hours for a 3-pound roast. For a 4 to 5-pound roast, plan on 4 hours. The roast is ready when it’s fall-apart tender.

Blackberry Cobbler

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Baking, Desert, Recipes

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 stick butter, melted, plus more for greasing pan
  • 1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 cup self-rising flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 cups fresh (or frozen) blackberries
  • Whipped cream and/or ice cream, for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 3-quart baking dish with butter.

In a medium bowl, whisk 1 cup sugar with the flour and milk. Whisk in the melted butter.
Rinse the blackberries and pat them dry. Pour the batter into the baking dish. Sprinkle the blackberries evenly over the top of the batter. Sprinkle 1/4 cup sugar over the blackberries. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 1 hour. When 10 minutes of the cooking time remains, sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over the top. Top with whipped cream or ice cream . . . or both!

Cinnamon Rolls

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Baking, Breakfast, Recipes

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Ingredients

Dough:

  • 1 quart whole milk
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 packages active dry yeast (4 1/2 teaspoons)
  • 9 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 scant teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon salt

Filling:

  • 2 cups melted butter, plus more as needed
  • 1/4 cup ground cinnamon, for sprinkling
  • 2 cups sugar, plus more as needed

Maple Icing:

  • 2 pounds powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup strongly brewed coffee
  • Dash of salt
  • 1 tablespoon maple flavoring or maple extract

Directions

For the dough: Heat the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat to just below a boil. Set aside and cool to warm. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit on the milk for 1 minute.

Add 8 cups of the flour. Stir until just combined, and then cover with a clean kitchen towel and set aside in a relatively warm place for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the towel and add the baking powder, baking soda, salt and the remaining 1 cup flour. Stir thoroughly to combine. Use the dough right away, or place in a mixing bowl and refrigerate for up to 3 days, punching down the dough if it rises to the top of the bowl. (The dough is easier to work with if it’s been chilled for at least an hour or so beforehand.)

To assemble the rolls, remove half the dough from the pan. On a floured baking surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 30 by 10 inches. The dough should be rolled very thin.

For the filling: Pour 3/4 cup to 1 cup of the melted butter over the surface of the dough. Use your fingers to spread the butter evenly. Generously sprinkle half of the ground cinnamon and 1 cup of the sugar over the butter. Don’t be afraid to drizzle on more butter or more sugar! Gooey is the goal.

Now, beginning at the end farthest from you, roll the rectangle tightly towards you. Use both hands and work slowly, being careful to keep the roll tight. Don’t worry if the filling oozes as you work; that just means the rolls are going to be divine. When you reach the end, pinch the seam together and flip the roll so that the seam is face down. When you’re finished, you’ll wind up with one long buttery, cinnamony, sugary, gooey log.

Slip a cutting board underneath the roll and, with a sharp knife, make 1/2-inch slices. One “log” will produce 20 to 25 rolls. Pour a couple of teaspoons of melted butter into disposable foil cake pans and swirl to coat. Place the sliced rolls in the pans, being careful not to overcrowd. (Each pan will hold 7 to 9 rolls.)

Repeat the rolling/sugar/butter process with the other half of the dough and more pans.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cover all the pans with a kitchen towel and set aside to rise on the countertop for at least 20 minutes before baking.

Remove the towel and bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Don’t allow the rolls to become overly brown.

While the rolls are baking, make the maple icing: In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, butter, coffee and salt. Splash in the maple flavoring. Whisk until very smooth. Taste and add in more maple, sugar, butter or other ingredients as needed until the icing reaches the desired consistency. The icing should be somewhat thick but still very pourable.

Remove the pans from the oven. Immediately drizzle the icing over the top. Be sure to get it all around the edges and over the top. As they sit, the rolls will absorb some of the icing’s moisture and flavor. They only get better with time… not that they last for more than a few seconds. Make them for a friend today! It’ll seal the relationship for life. I promise.

Have you ever tried to make a point to someone…

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Friends

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Have you ever tried to make a point to someone… but you can’t because they’re a complete idiot??? 

Today my good friend just kept texting me about his job.  Now he works in customer service and he was complaining to me about his hours that he is getting and that he is going to have to work 3-11 New Years Eve.  Well after some talking to him about the things he has missed and the schedule that he has I told him that he is the one that is in control of things.  He is the one that hasn’t told his company that he would like to work a more regular shift, to have some days off, to not work crazy shifts.  But he said he wants to work the hours to have the money and things.  I said to him then don’t complain to me then.  Because you are the one that is in control.  You can change things if you want to. 

I asked him if working for all this extra money and getting all these hours if it is making him happy?  If he has time to use the money on what he wants to.  And he said no.  He said he wants to make money to take a girl out on a date.  And I said well when are you going to do that when you are always working?  He said it won’t be for long when he has enough money.  I just wanted to laugh.  Because when does anyone have enough money?

I am just sick of being a therapist and things to people.  I mean come on this isn’t rocket science this is easy to figure out.  But this is how my days go.  I spend my extra moments getting messages and things like this to deal with and I can’t believe it.  My friends always tell me how busy I am and how busy my family is but yet they find the time to ask me things like this. 

I don’t some days have the extra energy to want to be nice to something that is like umm hello wake up and smell the coffee dude. 

Bla Bla Bla

20 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by michele343 in Family, Kids, My Story

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I confess: I don’t listen to every word my children say, and the reason is simple. They talk too much. And they talk about stuff I don’t care about.

For some kid-related topics, I can’t even muster up fake interest, like PC, Nintendo or PS3 games. When Evan plays some of his games and he’d say, “Guess what? I raced this guy and I was going so fast. . . ,” I’d stop her right there. With a shake of my head and the traffic-cop “STOP!” signal, I’d say, “Uh, sorry there darlin’! Don’t take this personally, but I hate your video games. I love you, of course, and am interested in anything you have to say about virtually anything other than your video games . . . school work, creative projects, philosophical musings, friend dilemmas—anything real.”

They’ve all heard variations on this speech many times. At this point, they police each other. Evan will say, “So in Tron. . .” and off he’ll go, but only for a minute or two, before Evan says, “Dude! Look who I’m talking to! Mom doesn’t care about Tron!”

And it’s true. I don’t. I care about their real lives . . . at least, theoretically, but I have to say that sometimes their real lives are boring too. There was a time last year when Evan talked endlessly about his friends. Evan would walk through the door after school, Aaliyah trailing behind him. Evan would say, “Oh my Gosh, she’s making me crazy!”

Overall though, I do care about their real lives . . . just not all the time. Sometimes they have exceptionally bad timing. Last night at 9:00, my neck was hurting and I am starting to get a cold and was trying to get everyone ready for bed, when Aaliyah said, “Hey! I like that story about princesses mom.” That is how she asks me to tell her a story.

I’m proud to say that I could respond honestly: “Yes, I remember!”But I told her that it was late and mommy hurt and it was time to go to bed.

Twenty minutes later, Aaliyah asked if she was a princess? I told her of course she was. And she then ten minutes later was finally asleep.

But you know what? They don’t always listen to me either. So there.

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