Feast of the Visitation

Today is the Feast of the Visitation (the story in the New Testament where Mary goes and visits her cousin Elizabeth.  The prophet John the Baptist leaps in his mother's womb because he recognizes that Jesus in Mary's womb). Mary shows great hospitality and generosity toward her cousin.  I like to remember my maternal grandparents on this day.  They always went out of their way to be generous and hospitable (even to after their deaths, donating their house to be a Hospice Home).  Often times when we would come and visit they would treat our family to dinner out at Grandpa's favorite Chinese restaurant.  I made Chinese food in remembrance of them today.

Spicy Orange Beef
slightly adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/spicy-orange-zest-beef/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=spicy%20orange%20beef&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

1 pound beef tenderloin, cut into strips
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup rice vinegar (I used white)
2 T soy sauce
1 T hot chili sauce (used Sriracha)
1 T brown sugar
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup water
1 t cornstarch
4 cups broccoli florets

Marinate beef at least 2 hours in orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce, hot sauce, brown sugar, and garlic (reserve marinade).  Cook in an non-stick skillet.  Add broccoli just until steamed slightly.  Add water and cornstarch to reserved marinade. Let thicken and flavors blend.  Serve over white rice.

Happy Birthday Mother Church

Yesterday was the Catholic Church's birthday.  The Feast of Pentecost (50th Day of Easter) when the Holy Spirit descends upon the 12 Apostles and Our Blessed Mother.  To celebrate I made a mouth-watering dessert.  I love having dessert every so often (at least 1x week).  I receive emails with recipes in them on a regular basis.  Sometimes the recipes don't strike my fancy but most often they do.  This recipe is one that came just last week...perfect time for Pentecost.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Shortcake
adapted from: Cuisine at Home

Shortcake
1 3/4 cups flour
3 T sugar
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
4 T unsalted butter, cubed
1/4 cup chopped semisweet chocolate (I used chocolate chunks)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup plain yogurt (I did not have yogurt...used more cream)
heavy cream
sugar

Topping
1 10oz box frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed
4 cups fresh strawberries (I just 3 cups frozen strawberries all together)
1/4 cup sugar
2 t lemon juice (used orange)

Simmer for chocolate sauce (omitted)
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 T corn syrup
4oz chopped chocolate

Whipped Cream
1/2 cup whip cream
2 T powdered sugar
1/2 t vanilla

Preheat oven to 425.  Grease cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Cut in butter with a pastry cutter.  Add chocolate.  Mix in cream and yogurt until it just comes together.  Pat out in a large circle on flour counter (1inch thick).  Cut into biscuits.  Brush with cream and sprinkle with sugar. Bake about 15 minutes until golden brown.

Mix strawberries, juice and sugar. (Mash slightly if desired). Let rest.

Bring cream and corn syrup to a simmer.  Remove from heat. Add chocolate; let rest so chocolate can melt slightly.  Whisk until smooth.

Beat cream, powdered sugar and vanilla together until peaks form.

Layer cake half.  Strawberries.  Chocolate sauce and whipped cream.  Other half of cake.

A Breath of Fresh Air

The smell of homemade bread is one of my absolute favorites.  When I was younger, my mom would often times make her own bread.  My brothers, sisters and I would just wait patiently for that perfect loaf of bread to come out of the oven.  Mom would let it cool ever so slightly, butter us each a slice and top it with cinnamon sugar.  Heavenly!  Recently I attended a garage sale with one of my friends. It was at the first when I spotted it.  I found a 1.5 lb bread maker (marked at $5...I got it for $2).  I have made bread a couple times in it.  Both times have turned out wonderful.   BAP and SSP are ravage animals when it comes to any type of bread.  I think they come running when the smell homemade bread cooking, as I did when I was younger.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread
The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook

1/3 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup honey
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 T butter, cubed
2 cups flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 T +1t gluten (omitted)
2 t salt (omitted)
2 1/2 t yeast

Combine all ingredients in bread machine, as directed by manufacturer.  Set for medium crust (I made the mistake of just doing light crust; the bread turned out to be under done) on basic bread.  


Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
https://quietmint.com/2010/jalapeno-cheese-cornbread/

3 jalapenos, minced super fine
3 T water
3/4 cup sour cream (I used buttermilk and it turned out fine)
1 egg, slightly beaten
3/4 t salt
1 T sugar
2 2/3 cup flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
1 t yeast
3/4 cup grated cheese

Combine all ingredients (minus the cheese) in bread machine, as directed by manufacturer.  Set for medium crust on basic bread.  Add cheese when machine tells you to add nuts/fruits setting (or just before 2nd mixing).

Mmmore Chocolate Beans Please

About a month ago we went to a friend's house for lunch.  The boys had such a blast playing with other kids (other than each other).  For lunch we 'tricked' them into eating baked beans.  I have made the recipe a couple times since that day and the boys love them.  One of my dear sweet brothers loves them too (please say an extra prayer for him on Friday as he graduates from High School). We have nicknamed these beans as chocolate beans in hopes to get the little boys to eat them-it works (at least 2 helpings).  Serve as a side or a main dish; both ways are simply delish.  Great with an burgers. Make these instead of the typical canned baked beans.

Calico Beans
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Calico-Beans

4 ounces bacon
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 large (21oz) can pork and beans
1 can (16oz) kidney beans, rinsed and drained - use low sodium
1 can (16oz) butter/lima beans, rinsed and drained (I have used white beans here too) - use low sodium
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchip
1 T cider vinegar
1 t yellow mustard
1 t salt (I omit since going low-salt)

Cook bacon.  Cool and crumble.  Reserve a small amount of grease and brown beef and onion in it. Drain.
Combine all ingredients in a greased large oven-proof pot. Bake uncovered at 325 for 45-60minutes until as thick as desired. Or cook on LOW in greased crockpot for about 4-6 hours.

Best of Friends (Most of the Time)

Sitting in Daddy's 'Pappa Bear Chair'

All Snug As Bugs

(when SSP figured out how to crawl out of his bed, 

we found him many nights in BAP's bed until we got a toddler bed)

Riding Bike Together

3 Cheers For Ice Cream

Awesome Food I Did NOT Make (My Husband Did)

My dear husband gave me 'the day off' from cooking etc.  It was nice just being able to relax and breathe.  He even made me an awesome egg casserole (I gave him the recipe I wanted).  He did it; even though he forgot one minor detail of greasing the pan.  Oh well, it tasted really good.  He can make something more than mac and cheese and hot dogs.  Who would have thought?!  Wow was it good; I think I could have eaten the whole pan worth.

 Green Chile, Bacon and Cheese Egg Bake
adapted from: http://www.recipegirl.com/2012/05/11/green-chile-bacon-and-cheese-egg-bake/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRecipeGirl+%28The+Recipe+Girl%29

1 large (7oz) can diced green chilies
2 cups grated cheddar cheese (save 1/2 cup for topping)
3 cups milk
4 eggs
1 cup flour
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 t onion powder
1/3 pound bacon (cooked, cooled and crumbled)

Combine all ingredients.  Mix well (make sure eggs are beaten well). Pour into a GREASED 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes (we did closer to an hour since our oven is on the fritz and we were at Mass while it baked). Sprinkle with remaining cheese.  

Calling All Mothers (including Godmothers)!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!


God's Gracious Blessings on all mothers out there on this beautiful Mother's Day! (especially my own mom!) I am grateful to my dear husband for helping me be a mommy too on this day to my 2 boys and our little saints in Heaven. Happy Mother's Day!

First Family Picture with BAP

04-17

BAP Meeting Grandma For the First Time

Auntie Monica (GodMother) & BAP

BAP & Grandma Kathy

First Family Picture with SSP

10-06

Meeting Grandma Kathy For the First Time

Grandma & SSP

 SSP & Auntie Amy (God Mother)