Weekend Dog Blogging (WDB) #31

This weekend was a very mixed bag for us. Nicholas hasn’t been feeling well all weekend, and had a high fever and earache last night, waking up pretty much every hour, on the hour. Thankfully he seems much better now, but we kept it pretty low key this weekend nonetheless.

My parents’ came over for dinner last night, to check out Nicholas’ new swingset. Unfortunately it has been raining nonstop since Friday, so as much as it pained Nicholas, there was no playtime outside last night.

For dinner last night, I ended up using a cookbook I got a few months ago, Italian Salads. I bought this cookbook for the cover picture alone; I mean, really, how could you not? And the cover recipe, a simple Tomato and Mozzarella Salad, is what I started last nights’ meal with, adding my homemade hamburgers, home fries and a tossed salad with my Creamy Gorgonzola Salad Dressing. A very simple, relaxing meal.

Tonight’s dinner was a clean-out-the-fridge night, but I managed to get three new recipes made nonetheless, getting a bit ahead of schedule for the week. I happened to catch an episode of Paula Deen’s show on FoodTV Network today, where she had a cook-off with her two sons, Jamie and Bobby. Jamie made a chili recipe, which I made this afternoon, since I had all but 2 ingredients for it already on hand. A perfect Sunday recipe, it takes only 10-15 minutes to throw together, and simmers on low for 4 hours until it’s done. It was tasty and can easily become vegetarian by just nixing the ground beed. I like the recipe, but so far, like Rachael Ray’s Manly Manny’s Chili one better.

For The Neighbor to bring to the office tomorrow, I made a batch of Chocolate and Nut Bars, a recipe I found in a Pillsbury magazine. A very simple and flexible recipe, but not a WOW for me, so it won’t be repeated. It was good (perfect for kids), just not spectacular. Too many other untried recipes out there!

And lastly, I made a Glazed Lemon Cake. This recipe was from a magazine clipping and was sent in by a bed-and-breakfast owner. It’s very light and delicious. Another easy recipe, the addition of whipped egg whites makes the cake very airy. (Recipes will be posted tomorrow).

OK folks, all for tonight … on with the Weekend Dog Blogging round-up. Until tomorrow… off to watch the last episode of The Next Food Network Star!

A year ago today… pasta and DJing.

Sweetnicks’ Creamy Gorgonzola Salad Dressing
1/2 cup sour cream
4 oz crumbled gorgonzola
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Mix up ingredients and serve over your favorite salad or with a platter of crudites.

Jamie’s Chili
Serves 8-10
1 pound ground beef and sausage, browned and drained
1 medium onion, diced
1 small green pepper diced
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can whole, peeled tomatoes
Cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 can chili beans
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans
1 package chili seasoning mix
2 cups chopped celery
Shredded Cheddar
Sour cream
Chopped green onions

Brown ground beef in skillet and drain. Set aside. Spray large pot with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the onion, green pepper, diced tomatoes, and whole tomatoes. Add cumin and chili powder, to taste, and cook for about 8 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add the beans, the ground beef, chili seasoning and chopped celery. Let simmer and slow cook for 4 hours. Serve with Cheddar cheese, sour cream, and green onion as garnishes.

Sweetnicks’ Notes: I think serving 6 is more like it. No sizes were noted for the cans of tomatoes. For the diced, I used 14 oz. cans, and for the whole (I used pureed), I used 28 oz. Recipe didn’t mention if beans should be drained, I drained mine. Cumin measurement wasn’t specified, I used a teaspoon.

First up is Choco from RobWonton, enjoying a lovely Spring day:

Simba from Up a Creek Without a PatL visits with another caption contest — go give your creativity a whirl:

Sadie from The Moveable Feast Food Blog sits for a spell:

Sascha and Bella look for some comfort from the storms over at The Fallen Souffle:

The adorable Ziggy pops in from Soul Fusion Kitchen:

A doggy sleepover? Yup, Nigel had one over at La Mia Cucina

The Hungry Rose manages a two-for-one shot with her kitty and pup:

Oh the face! It’s Baxterman from Ragus Pug

Little Willie from Eating for One is making new friends:

The napping trio from Dispensing Happiness… check out her site for more from the Naptime Series:

And last, but not least, our own Eli and Nicholas enjoying some Springtime weather: