Craziness

I've been so busy this week I haven't had time to think about what to make this weekend. So I will brainstorm right now. I really want to do a desert of sorts so maybe cookies? *mentally goes through my pantry* Maple Snicker doodles  Creamsicle? Ok moving on...I was thinking of making Chicken Parm Soup so maybe I'll take pictures and post it. Or maybe I could do a few sandwiches. I have this Apple Bacon Cheddar sandwich that is amazing. Well, I think I have the menu. Soup and sandwiches with a cookie for desert.

Raspberry Turkey Wrap

This wrap is amazing and is my go to quick meal. The salty bacon with the sweet raspberry vinaigrette is foodgasmic. I just got done eating one for dinner and thought I would share. Oh and excuse the boring picture. I was very hungry and didn't have time to be creative Lol.

Raspberry Turkey Wrap

Ingredients (put on as much or as little as you would like)

sliced turkey
bacon
provolone cheese
lettuce (I used a spring greens/baby spinach mix)
raspberry vinaigrette (I used Newman's Own Raspberry Walnut)
wrap (I used Flatout Lite Italian Herb)

Directions
Put as much or as little of everything on the wrap and enjoy!

Good Morning

I have been asked by a bunch of people about where I get the pictures I post on here. Well folks, I take them. That's why I only post on the weekends. I don't have time during the week to cook, take pictures and edit. So I just cook. Speaking of pictures, do you all think I should take pictures with every dish? I have a lot of recipes I could post and take pictures then next time I make it.

Does anyone have any requests? I was thinking of making in the upcoming weeks chicken piccata, chicken parm soup, purple monkey dishwasher soup, some sort of cookie(creamsicle, maple snickerdoodle, dark chocolate cranberry, s'mores... I don't know I'll figure it out later)  a few sandwiches and wraps etc. I would gladly take suggestions though.

Chicken Rice Soup

I hope you all like soup because I am addicted. I make a lot of soup. This is one I just put together because I was bored and was running out of my freezer supply of soup. I will make big batches and freeze soups in individual containers so I can grab them for lunches or a quick dinner. Like most of my recipes this is more of a guideline recipe. Play around with the ingredients. 

Chicken Rice Soup

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2 carrots, peeled, chopped to desired size

2 celery stalks, chopped to desired size

1 bay leaf

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon dried basil

4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups cooked rice ( I had left over brown rice. Use whatever kind you prefer) 

2 cups cooked, shredded chicken

1 cup chopped baby spinach.

Salt and pepper to taste
 

Directions

Place a soup pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, basil, cayenne pepper and bay leaf. Cook and stir for about 6 minutes, until the vegetables are softened but not browned. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Add in the rice, chicken and spinach; season with salt and pepper. 

Fruit Dip

I had this at a bridal shower and fell in love with it. The best part is how simple and easy it is to make!


Fruit Dip

Ingredients
1 6oz container of plain yogurt (Any flavor would work)
1 ½ tablespoons of cream cheese
Honey (optional)
Fruit (Berries, Melon, Apples etc. It works on everything)

Directions
 Mix yogurt and cream cheese together with fork until smooth. For extra sweetness add honey.

Apple Oatmeal Pancakes with Cinnamon Pecan Syrup

Apple Oatmeal Pancakes with Cinnamon Pecan Syrup

Ingredients 
½ cup quick cooking oats
½ cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup milk or buttermilk (Use what you want. I used skim milk because I’m on a diet.)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I used Smart Balance oil)
1 egg
2 apples
cinnamon pecan syrup (see below)

Directions
Place oats into flood processor and pulse until smooth. Add flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Pulse until blended. Add milk, vanilla, oil and egg and blend. Grate apples and stir into batter. Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium heat. Pour batter onto the griddle and brown both sides*. Top with syrup.

Cinnamon Pecan Syrup

Ingredients**
1 teaspoon butter
¼ cup pecans
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup syrup

Directions
Melt butter in a small sauce pan. Add pecans and cook over low heat for 1-2 minutes. Add cinnamon and stir to coat pecans. Add syrup and remove from heat.

* Be sure to stir the batter before each pour. The apples tend to sink to the bottom.
** These amounts are for my personal preference. Play around with it till your happy.

Ideas!

After much thought about what my next recipes will be I have decided on breakfast/brunch. I'm thinking a frittata or quiche and apple oatmeal pancakes with cinnamon pecan syrup. Sound good? I might make a few adjustments or maybe change my mind completely before Sunday. Or maybe I'll make my purple monkey dishwasher soup. Aha, I see I have your attention now. No I will not tell you what is in the soup. You will just have to wait and find out.

In other news I've been a recipe making fiend! I have this little notebook I carry with me for when inspiration hits. I just wish I had more time to cook and post blogs. Hope everyone is having a great week! See ya sunday.

I Love Ethan!

http://www.chloeneill.com/?p=1181

Entering the Drink Deep Contest!

Creamy Balsamic Tomato Soup

Ok so I was a little adventurous today and made 3 recipes. This is a super simple and tasty comfort soup. Serve with cheesy garlic bread or a grilled cheese. If your on a diet maybe add a salad. You can also garnish with whatever floats you boat. I choose parmesan cheese and fresh basil. You could also do salsa and sour cream or for your inner 5 year old add goldfish.


Creamy Balsamic Tomato Soup

Ingredients
1 cup broth (I used Beef broth but you could use chicken or vegetable)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 cup chopped onion
5 cloves garlic
2(28 once) cans whole tomatoes drained
¾ cup half-an-half
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 500 degrees

Combine ½ cup broth, brown sugar, vinegar and soy sauce in a small bowl. Place onion garlic and tomatoes in a greased 13x9 inch baking pan. Pour broth mixture over tomato mixture.  Bake at 500 for 50 minutes or until vegiatables are lightly browned.

Place tomato mixture in blender or food processor. Add remaining ½ cup of broth and half-an-half and process until smooth. This make take a few batches depending on the size of you blender.

Green Pizza

I love Pizza. It may just be the perfect food. I love how you can add as much or as little of everything and anything. So go on be creative and add what you like.


Green Pizza

Ingredients

Flatbread
2 tablespoons pesto (I used Roasted Artichoke Pesto )
½ cup broccoli
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon chopped sun dried tomatoes
parmesan cheese (optional)
fresh basil (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 500 degrees

Spread pesto onto flatbread. Layer broccoli (I like to sauté mine first) mozzarella cheese and sun dried tomatoes. Bake for 10 minutes or until crust starts to brown and cheese is bubbling. Garnish with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Roasted Artichoke Pesto

So for my first recipe I wanted something simple and versatile . I've been obsessed with artichokes lately ever since I tried them at a restaurant a few weeks ago. This recipes works on pasta, pizza, sandwiches or wraps. Later on I'll post a few recipes using this pesto. Enjoy!

Roasted Artichoke Pesto

Ingredients

¾ cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup lemon juice

4 large cloves garlic, halved

1 teaspoon thyme

1 bay leaf

2 packages frozen artichokes

¾ cup fresh basil

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 325

Heat on stovetop ½ cup olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Add the frozen artichokes and mix to coat. Over medium heat bring to a boil. Transfer to oven proof pan and cover with aluminum foil, transfer to the over, and cook until the artichokes are browned in spots, about 35-45 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Roasted Artichokes

Remove bay leaf. Put the cooled artichokes with the liquid into food processor or blender. Add remaining ¼ cup olive oil and basil leaves process until smooth. 

Finished Pesto

Time flies when you working in Photoshop

I just spent the last 4 hours figuring out how to change the design of this thing. Not done but it will have to do for now. Tomorrow is the first official food post! Are you excited? I am! I'll give you a hint as to what I'm making...Artichokes. It's not what you expect though. 

I have been a recipe making machine today. I hope your ready for all the soups, cakes, pizzas and crock pot awesomeness I have in store for you. Well I'm done for the night. See you tomorrow! 

Drum roll please...

My first post. YAY!

I was going to skip over the whole "about me" crap since most of you following already know me. Then I thought what if someone stumbles upon my little slice of blog heaven and is curious about the writer of said blog. Well it's your lucky day! My name is Kacey and I write this awesome blog. I'm a crazy cat lady and proud of it. My cats names are Stella, Jacobie and Dakota. I'm a portrait photographer and office manager at a local studio. Pretty much I take all the senior pictures for about 10 school's yearbooks. Funny thing is, I hate portraits. HAH! I'd rather be shooting commercial, fine art or food. You know, things that don't talk back to you. I'm obsessed with reading. Romance, Mystery, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Thrillers, Fiction of all kinds and even some Non Fiction thrown in there. Give me a paranormal romance and a bag of gummy bears and I'm a happy girl. One of my favorite things to do is to cook. It is my escape from life. I am a picky eater but slowly have been expanding my horizons. Now this is important so listen up. There are a few things I hate and will never...ever...EVER show up in my recipes: 

Peanut Butter-Yeah I know "What's wrong with you? How could you not like peanut butter?" Shut up and go away

Seafood- *gag* Been there, tried that, never going back.

Mushrooms- They squeak on my teeth and not to mention it fungus. Ewww

Those are the main ones. There is a lot more but I'm working on liking the rest of my list. I tend to get obsessed with one ingredient and cook the hell out of it then move on. I'm always up for suggestions and challenges. I had a friend challenge me to take pictures of Lucky Charms. Said I couldn't make something cool out of a bowl of cereal. Not only did I photograph the cereal in a few different ways but I even sold a few prints. So bring it! 

Let me give you a few more fun facts about me. My cat Stella's full name is Stella Blue after the Grateful dead song. I love gummy bears and you can persuade me to do anything for a bag of them. My drink of choice is Captain and Coke. I live outside Hershey PA therefore chocolate runs in my blood. My nicknames are: Pinky, Sunshine and Kacey-Bean. I have a dirty mind and a dirty mouth and I'm not afraid to use either of them.

Enjoy!