Peach and Blueberry Galette Yumminess

Doesn't a peach and blueberry galette scream summertime! I think it does. On a recent trip to our local Farmers Market, I got some juicy, sweet peaches. There were rows and rows of peaches. I strolled through the market, sampled each farmers peaches and picked the sweetest ones. I told the farmer I was baking it that day and she picked the perfect peaches for me for baking. I also bought my blueberries at the Farmers Market, but didn't taste all of them like I did the peaches. Not really sure why not, just figured the peaches were the most important ingredient.

I searched Pinterest for a recipe. I was looking for something that was easy, and not too many crazy ingredients. I found the perfect one here. I read several food blogs, Cake 'N Knife being one of them. This was the first recipe I've tried of hers and loved it. The crust was simple, straightforward and oh so good. The galette was perfect and just what I wanted. I will definitely be making it again this summer.

Spiralize Summer

So, I think I'm late to the game, but I got a Spiralizer or Spiraletti, or Zoodler or whatever you want to call it gadget. And I LOVE it!

I normally dread cooking on a Monday. After a long day at work, it's the last thing I want to do, but this Monday I couldn't wait to get home and try my new toy. I pinned a bunch of recipes on Pinterest, but went with simple garlic parmesan zoodles (zucchini noodles). Saute a little butter and garlic, add your zoodles, (I used zucchini and yellow squash), sprinkle with black pepper and saute for about 4 or 5 mins. Not too long. Mine still had a little crunch to them. Once heated, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and Viola! So easy, and delicious!

Here's the sprializer I bought, but for way less at Ross. Mine was $14.99! Can't beat that. With all the fresh veggies and fruits this time of year, I plan on spiraling all I can!

I was on a roll Monday night! I even made a peach and blueberry galette from the peaches and berries I got at the Farmers Market Saturday. I'll share that later in another post. It was so good! This past Monday wasn't too bad!

Grilling Pizza

I LOVE pizza!

I could literally eat pizza everyday. I've never grilled pizza before, but has been on my list of must dos. And this weekend my must do became I did! I found a pizza dough recipe on Pinterest that was perfect for grilling.

I planned on making the pizza dough the night before, but had a Girl Scout leader meeting and didn't get around to it. Luckily with this dough you can make it the night before or the same day you make the pizza. Very easy and versatile. I was up early so made the dough and let it rise all day until I was ready to grill.

Everyone made their own personal pizza, with a variety of toppings. It was so quick and easy! Perfect for summer evenings when you don't want to slave over a hot stove. I have a fruit pizza I want to try grilled, along with a few other pizzas I want to try. I see quite a few pizza nights this summer, and I don't mind! I LOVE pizza!

Want to grill your own pizza? Yes, you do! Grilled pizza dough here.

Fried Green Tomato BLT

I love fried green tomatoes and was so happy when I found some at the Farmers market this past weekend. They were perfect for fried green tomato BLT's. They were really good, but the next time I make them I will have more bacon on the sandwiches. I like my sandwiches piled high, and this one was kind of skimpy. I guess I was off my sandwich game that day.

More fried green tomato love here.

This Saturday called for heart shaped pancakes - just because.

Another Food Picture

Not sure if anyone has noticed, but I've been taking a picture or pictures everyday since the New Year. I've tried this several times before, and have always failed, but I'm determined to do this, so here we go again. Taking a picture a day is not as easy as it sounds though. Sometimes all I end up with is...food!

Oh well...at least we will know what we ate on a certain day. Sunday dinner was a roasted chicken in my new favorite dutch oven. It was good.

Little Things

It's truly the little things.

Grating carrots, cheese, whatever is so much easier when you have a grater like this. I had a little cheese grater that took forever to grate things. I complained about it and this showed up for Christmas. No need for any fancy food processor. Just a good, old fashioned grater like my mom had.

Simple - yet so appreciated.

I Baked Bread! Artisan Bread!

I baked bread!

And it's so pretty and good!

When I saw this post , I knew I wanted to try this bread. It only has 4 ingredients! So I got myself a dutch oven, made the dough last night - took all of five minutes and let it rise overnight. When it came time to cook dinner today, I followed the instructions in the blog post and into the oven my bread went with hopeful anticipation. After a short while, I could smell the baking bread. I wanted to take a peek, but held off for the 30 mins. When the timer went off and I lifted the lid, I got a huge smile on my face and started doing the happy dance, singing, "I baked bread, I baked bread"  It was so easy! So easy I'm mixing up another batch tonight, but this loaf will have rosemary and olive oil in it. I have a few other ideas too.

lemon and rosemary
cranberry, orange and almond
cinnamon, raisin and walnuts
garlic and cheese

So many different breads to try!

I've mentioned several times that I have a love/hate relationship with cooking. This is one of the times I loved it. I love trying new recipes and the recipe actually coming out the way it should! Experiences like this make me want to find other new recipes to try!

Dutch Oven Cooking

I've been wanting a dutch oven for a while now, but couldn't bring myself to shell out over $200 for a Le Creuset Dutch oven. I loved all the pretty colors, but paying that much just wasn't happening.

Then I found Lodge. I read all the reviews, found blog posts of people who compared Le Crueset to Lodge, and guess what. The Lodge performed just as well as the Le Crueset, and I got my 5 quart oven for $38 and some change at Walmart! You read that right! $38. As much as I hate Walmart, I was happy to get this. It's not as pretty as all the bright colorful dutch ovens, but I'm sure it will perform just as well. Lodge does have the pretty colors though, you will just pay a bit more for it. If you are on a budget like me, go with the black.

One of the first things I want to make in my new dutch oven is Artisan No-Knead bread. Yep, you read that right. Bread! I found this blog post, and plan to prepare the dough tonight and make my first loaf of bread tomorrow. I hope it's as easy as they say. It's suppose to be a chilly rainy day tomorrow, perfect for baking bread. I can smell the baking bread right now. Actually, I take that back! I smell wet puppy right now!!! So looking forward to smelling fresh baked bread instead!

CrockPot Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili

I have a love/hate relationship with cooking. I've mentioned this several times before.

I love looking for recipes and checking out food blogs. I have a subscription to Rachel Ray magazine, I'm always getting cook books from the library. I can sit and watch Food Network for hours! Paula Deen is my hero! Love her ya'll!

The hate part of this is I hate cooking the same thing over and over again! In between working all day, then home real quick for homework and dinner, then off again to whatever sports event the boys are playing, there's not alot of time for a gourmet meal. I swear we are going to turn into chickens we eat so much of it!

So searching for something different I found this recipe, Crockpot Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili. You're probably thinking that's a weird combination. I thought so too, but the board I got it from gave rave reviews. I'm not the biggest fan of turkey, and have never had white beans, but it's was something different and NOT CHICKEN!

So at 5am this morning - ok, ok...it wasn't exactly 5am. The alarm went off at 5am, I got out of bed about 5:15am, but that's still 30mins earlier than I normally get up! Geesh! Half asleep, I went downstairs to prepare the chili. Let me tell you, it smelled so GOOD! I wish I could be home to smell it while it's cooking! Let's just hope it taste good too! I will come back later and let you know.

If you'd like to try the recipe, go here. Or just look below.

sidenote: you can tell I'm not a professional food photographer. I should have wiped off the top of the crockpot before taking the picture, but it was 5-something in morning! That was the last thing on my mind!

Edited for results: chili was yummy! I really liked it. The boys ate it, but said they liked the "regular" chili better. Fonzy(hubby) liked it too. Next time I make it, I will add more chili powder - wasn't spicey enough.

Crock Pot Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili

Servings: 9 •
Serving Size:1 cup •
Calories:182.6 •
Fat:2.3 g •
Protein: 23.3 g •
Carb:10.9 g •
Fiber:8.8 g • Sugar: 2.1
Sodium:429.8 (without salt)

Ingredients:
cooking spray (I use my misto)

2 lb 99% lean ground turkey

1/2 tsp olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp chili powder, to taste

2 bay leaves

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp oregano

2 (15 oz cans) of white northern or navy beans, rinsed and drained

15 oz can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

4.5 oz canned chopped green chile

2 cups low sodium, fat free chicken broth

fat free sour cream for topping (optional)

chopped cilantro and chives for topping (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Heat a large heavy saute pan over high heat and lightly
spray with oil.Add meat and cook, breaking it up until white, about 5 minutes
Add to crock pot.
Add oil to the saute pan, then onions, garlic, sauté about 3 - 4 minutes;
Add cumin and sauté another minute.
Add to crock pot.
Add beans, pumpkin puree, green chilis, broth, chili powder, oregano, and bay leaves.
Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
Remove bay leaves and adjust seasoning to taste before serving.
Enjoy!

Red beans and rice didn't miss her!

Since school has started back and fall on it's way, I've been searching for recipes to use my crockpot more. I can't say it enough, there is nothing better than coming home from a hard days work and smelling something delicious when you walk through the door. It's like having a chef...or maybe not. I found this recipe for Louisiana red beans and rice and couldn't wait to taste it. I've had some really good red beans and rice, and I was hoping this would taste just as good.

soaking the beans over night

in the am...browning the sausage

sauteing the onion, peppers and garlic

you can't have Louisiana recipes without the original Creole seasoning
(ignore the chipped nail polish)





mixing it all up

set on low, and out the door to work

Verdict: I really didn't like this recipe. I've made my own red beans and it tasted a lot better. I think I will stick with mine, but if you want to try this recipe out, here it is.

====================================

Authentic, No Shortcuts, Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

Prep Time: 20 MinutesCook Time: 8 Hours
Ready In: 8 Hours 20 MinutesYields: 8 servings

"This is my take on a Louisiana classic. No shortcuts! Put everything into the slow cooker in the morning and you will have your meal ready in the late afternoon or evening, whenever you are ready. This recipe will feed a lot of people."

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound dried red beans,
soaked overnight
10 cups water
1 pound andouille sausage,
sliced into rounds
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and
chopped (optional)
8 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon ground black
pepper
1 teaspoon Creole seasoning,
or to taste
6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 ham hock
4 cups cooked rice

DIRECTIONS:
1.
Place the beans and water into a slow cooker. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the sausage in the skillet; remove from the skillet with a slotted spoon and transfer to the slow cooker. Reserve drippings. Add onion, green pepper, jalapeno pepper and garlic to the drippings; cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer everything from the skillet to the slow cooker.
2.
Season the mixture with pepper and Creole seasoning. Add the fresh basil leaves and ham hock. Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours, or until beans are tender. If the bean mixture seems too watery, take the lid off the slow cooker and set heat to High to cook until they reach a creamy texture.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2008 Allrecipes.com

Bourbon Mango Pulled Pork

With cooler weather right around the corner, it's time to break out the crock pot. Anyone who knows me, knows I am not fond of cooking.at.all. But cooking is not so bad when you use the crock pot. I throw the ingredients in the crock pot before work and viola, you come home to a great smelling house, and dinner done!

This past weekend, I printed out a bunch of crock pot recipes, hit Walmart to pick up all the ingredients, spent waaaaaaay too much money, but was ready for a week of crock pot meals. The first meal I made was a chicken in mushroom sauce. Didn't go over so well. Fonzy and the boys did not like it. It had white wine in the recipe and I think the taste kinda threw them off. Tonight was bourbon mango pulled pork.

the ingredients

Here's the roast after it cooked all day...doesn't look that great, but it smelled so good!

mangos....all pureed

pour the mangos in a pot. I know my pot looks pretty raggedy, but those are the ones that cook the best.

add all the other ingredients according to the recipe below.


Now for the bourbon. Yeah, it's the cheap stuff. I don't drink, so I had no clue what kind of whiskey to get. I was told Jim Bean was the best, but guess what...I wasn't spending alot of money on the good stuff when I was just cooking with it. Whiskey is whiskey to me.





Once I took the roast out of the crock pot, it fell right apart....it was so tender.


Mmmmmmmmmm.....pulled pork sandwiches. They were really good, even the boys liked it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bourbon-Mango Pulled Pork
Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Cook Time: 6 Hours
Ready In: 6 Hours 20 Minutes

Yields: 10 servings

"Spicy, smoky, and sweet. This is the perfect addition to that crusty roll you've been trying to figure out a sandwich filling for!"

INGREDIENTS:
2 mangos
1 (4 pound) pork shoulder roast
2 tablespoons ground black pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 cups water

1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
2 teaspoons honey
1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger bourbon whiskey
2 (12 ounce) bottles barbeque sauce
DIRECTIONS:
1.
Peel the mangos and remove the pits. Place the pits into a slow cooker, then roughly chop the mango and set aside. Place the pork shoulder into the slow cooker, and season with the black pepper, kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon chipotle powder; pour in the balsamic vinegar and water.
2.
Cover, and cook on Low 5 to 8 hours until the meat is very tender. Once done, drain the pork, discarding the cooking liquid and mango pits, and shred with two forks.
3.
While the pork is cooking, puree the chopped mango in a blender until smooth, then pour into a saucepan along with the honey, 1 teaspoon chipotle powder, and whiskey. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring frequently until the mango has reduced and darkened slightly, about 10 minutes. Stir in the barbeque sauce, and remove from the heat.
4.
Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker, and stir in the mango barbeque sauce. Cover, and cook on High 1 to 2 hours until the pork absorbs the barbeque sauce.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2008 Allrecipes.com