Archives for November 2006

“Mama, if you be quiet and stop talking, we can hear Santa’s sleigh bells.”

I was either talking too much for his taste, or he’s really excited about Santa Claus coming. I’d like to believe the latter rather than the former, but he also told me I was a “mean mommy” tonight, so who knows what’s going through his little mind today. Kids – you just gotta love them.

Since he refused to eat the dinner I made tonight, and The Husband isn’t home yet, I’ll have to talk to you guys about it. Seriously, you’re going to love me for finding this recipe. I love recipes with funny names, and Thighs Over Rice definitely is no exception. I used drumsticks though, so aptly renamed it Legs Over Rice. It takes literally 5 minutes to throw together, and after 40 minutes in the oven, you’re rewarded with juicy chicken with extra crispy skin over a bed of very moist rice. Not a company-is-coming dish, for sure, but perfect for those crazy weeknights when you need to get dinner on the table fast and easy, and want something that everyone will most likely like.

Until tomorrow…

A year ago today… I *swear* I didn’t know the title of last year’s post until I grabbed the link – too funny.

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Luckily there isn’t a store near us, but unfortunately their website is just as dangerous, particularly when the holidays are approaching. Everything you need for your kitchen, dining room or bedroom, they’re just as nice as Pottery Barn, but a smidge cheaper.

Last week, I found quite a few must-have things, but the problem when buying kitchen, dining or entertaining type things as gifts for people is that it’s usually one for her, one for me, one for them, one for me. Not that that’s a necessarily a bad thing, but it tends to defeat the whole purpose.

I can’t show you all the stuff I ordered, since some of the recipients pop in here, but I can show you these very cool coasters. I know, you’re probably thinking “Coasters? Big deal.” Ahh, but it is. See I have this quirk with coasters … there are TONS of them available, but most of them are just not right as their surface is flat. See, when you have a drink with ice in it, where does the condensation go? Usually on the table or other surface you’re trying to protect, thereby negating the intent of the coaster. So I’m always on the lookout for coasters that have a bit of a lip to them, to keep the condensation where it belongs … on the coaster. And that’s what these do. And heck, they’re a fun design and you can’t beat the price.

I also picked up a few of these mini footed bowls – how cute are they? Perfect for so many uses … dipping sauces, melted butter, small servings of individual desserts, condiments and more. And again, the price? A wonderful bargain.

If you’re already planning for the next holiday gathering, they have a lot of great table setting ideas,. What I like is that most of them don’t scream “holiday,” so they can be used during the year as well. I’m practical like that.

And before I forget, even though Thanksgiving is over, go on and read my latest article for Cooking Light magazine’s web site. You just may get an idea for your next big feast.

All for now. Until tomorrow, don’t forget, it’s ARF/5-A-Day Tuesday.

A year ago today… a little bit ‘o everything.

P.S. Don’t forget to order your Eli 2007 desktop calendars. A portion of the proceeds will benefit a Bernese Mountain Dog rescue group. Just $7.50 includes shipping and handling … a perfect little stocking stuffer for that animal lover on your list. Drop me a line to place your order.

Happy Sunday everyone! Hard to believe we’ve had four days off … and they’re over already! Today was all about decorating for Christmas. The Husband and Nicholas got the tree yesterday and spent this morning outside putting up the garland on the fence and lights everywhere. I’ve always been big on lights, and luckily for me, The Husband goes along with it. No matter how many we have, it never seems to be enough, and more lights are already on my shopping list for this week. I’m not a big fan of the colored ones, especially since we put up a lot. I go for the plain white all the time. No Griswald house here. After dinner tonight, Nicholas and I spent some time decorating the tree. As with the outside decorations, I go for the twinkly lights. I’d sooner have a tree with just hundreds and hundreds of lights, and skip the decorations altogether.

The Husband made dinner tonight, satisfying some craving he’s apparently had for awhile. It’s a Cuban chicken dish, and if he knew how to spell it, I’d tell you what it was. Maybe The Sister-in-Law knows. He hasn’t had it since their grandmother died, and asked someone at work for the recipe, winging it after just getting a list of ingredients. I was impressed. It has potatoes, green olives, sofrito, garlic powder, tomato paste, chicken, adobo… and I think that’s it. Pollo something. ;) Cooks for an hour and a half, and smelled mad good. Any clues? Anyways, it was pretty darn tasty, and gave me a respite from the kitchen. After dinner, I made another batch of that Cranberry Conserve from Thanksgiving. So, so good. I way overbought cranberries this year, and will definitely be freezing some, but in the meantime, what’s your favorite cranberry recipe? I still have 2 bags to use up.

Alright folks, all for tonight. Tomorrow – Crate & Barrel love. Until then, the dog roundup.

A year ago today… more dogs.

First up is Kaji from A Transition to Vegan, getting spoiled with some yummy homemade dog treats:

A newcomer joins us this week – love the adorable mug! This is Spyro from A Real Epicurean:

And last, but not least, our Eli, on a trip to the park this weekend. Don’t forget to order your Eli 2007 desktop calendars. The below picture is just one of 13 in the calendar, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit a Bernese Mountain Dog rescue group. Just $7.50 includes shipping and handling … a perfect little stocking stuffer for that animal lover on your list. Drop me a line to place your order.

If you have leftover mashed potatoes from your Thanksgiving feast, you are in for a real treat. I was doing some recipe filing the other day and came across a recipe for Ham and Potato Patties with Horseradish Sauce from an old issue of Woman’s Day magazine. OMG, these are outrageously good and incredibly simple to make. Everything you like about a stuffed potato, but in a pattie form, oozing with cheesy goodness. Unfortunately, I’m the only one here who will eat mashed potatoes, so I’m hoping you guys will try these out and enjoy them with me.

Yesterday we ended up being out of the house for nearly the whole day, spending most of it tackling Christmas shopping, and a dinner playdate for Nicholas. I am closerthanthis to finishing up my shopping and it feels great. Usually I’m scrambling around the week of Christmas, picking up last minute odds and ends off my list. I’m sure there will be a few emergency scrambles, but I’m in good shape this year.

Now, for that Sweet Onion Tartlet recipe from Thanksgiving. The Neighbor Husband should brace himself. It was a Sandra Lee recipe. Last week, my mom and I happened to catch an episode of Semi-Homemade, mostly because there was nothing else on, and she made these tartlets. They didn’t rely quite as heavily on store-bought items as her other recipes tend to, so I decided to give it a try and include them as a pre-dinner munchie for Thanksgiving. They weren’t bad. They weren’t a wow, and certainly not enough for me to ever praise the ground Sandra Lee walks on, but they were tasty.

I think my biggest problem with her recipes is the word “homemade” being bandied about. I’m sorry, but taking a tub of Cool Whip and mixing it with a jello packet and letting it refrigerate until set is not homemade, even if you made it in your own kitchen. Maybe if she called it what it was, I’d go easier on her. I don’t know. Oh, and the kitchen that matches her outfit all the time? Puhleeze.

OK folks, all for tonight, I’ll leave you with the recipe for the Ham and Potato Patties – do try it. With the scallions in it, it makes a perfect addition for Kalyn’s Weekend Herb Blogging.

Until tomorrow…

A year ago today… Thanksgiving, Date Night and Herb Blogging.

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So far, so good. The Husband worked late tonight, so Nicholas and I got dinner from the chicken and rice man (aka Chinese food) and got right to work preparing a few Thanksgiving dishes. We managed to make Cranberry Conserve, Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes and the Sweet Onion Tarlets. When The Husband came home, he got right to work on his overnight turkey, and I already smell its deliciousness wafting up the stairs. So I have four things to make tomorrow, and I think I’m in pretty good shape.

If you want to take a break from your own Thanksgiving day menu prep, you can check out my latest article on Cooking Light right here.

And speaking of Thanksgiving, check out this wonderful recipe idea from Rachael Ray’s show today. I think we’ll definitely be trying this one over the weekend. It’s a great way to use up your leftovers very easily.

All for now. From the Sweetnicks family to each and every one of you, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. May your gravy be lump-free, and your homemade potatoes have just a few. May your guests arrive on time, and the turkey be cooked just right. May your kitchen disasters make great stories and may you have time to truly sit down and enjoy the holiday with family and friends, because that’s what it’s all about. Happy Thanksgiving!

Until tomorrow…

A year ago today … more Thanksgiving Day prep!

P.S. Buy our Eli desktop calendars now (a portion of the proceeds will suppport Bernese Mountain Dog rescue groups). Only $7.50 – drop me an e-mail at sweetnicksplace@aol.com to place order.

Yesterday, Nicholas was invited to a breakfast play date at a friend’s house. He’s got quite the social life … I don’t think I’ve ever had a breakfast date! The family is from Argentina, and as she laid out the breakfast offerings, she said that a traditional breakfast in Argentina is very simple, usually just toast and other breads. Remembering breakfasts at our cousins house in France, it’s much of the same thing … croissants, butter and assorted jams and jellies. It’s really Americans that do the whole eggs, bacon and sausage thing.

Along with the toast, she had a bowl of assorted nuts, fresh strawberries, a basket of crackers and pancakes for the kids, a recipe that she’s only made a few times. Fresh plum jam was an added treat, with plums fresh from her sister’s farm in Spain. Doesn’t get much better than that.

So, confess. What are YOUR breakfast traditions?

A year ago today… Bachelor Bob and other shenanigans.

P.S. Yes, there will be an ARF/5-A-Day roundup tomorrow.

The Husband has been a total doll, taking the reins in the kitchen this weekend, knowing I have been feeling crappy. Last night, he made steak with rice and black beans. Tonight, it was a huge roast pork and rice with red beans and tomatoes.

As much as he shakes his head and laughs at some of my food quirks, he still goes along with them. With meat that doesn’t have a gravy or sauce or that’s not heavily flavored, I tend to make a little sauce of ketchup and mayo to dip it in. Nicholas, much to The Husband’s chagrin, has picked up on this habit too. When The Husband fixed me a plate for dinner tonight, he even included a small bowl with my special sauce. Gotta love him.

Keeping it short tonight, because I want to finish planning the menu for Thanksgiving, and the meals leading up to it. But before I sign off, I’m going to leave you with something fun. Costco members know that around the holidays, they give out a great Costco cookbook for free. They’ve been doing it for 4 years now. This year, their free cookbook will be given out this week, from 11/24-26, while supplies last. They usually are gone by the end of the first day, so if you’re a member, make sure to head down and grab a copy. But now for the really good news … member or not, you can download and print copies of their cookbooks from the past 4 years right here (scroll down, they’re on the bottom left). Cool, huh?

For the very first time since we started SIXTY-ONE WEEKS ago, there is only other dog participating in Weekend Dog Blogging this weekend with Eli. Everyone else must be already getting started on holiday preparations. Eli was almost on his own until Ziggy came along. Until tomorrow…

A year ago today … the inability to resist temptation.

Ziggy pops in for a visit from Soul Fusion Kitchen in Los Angeles.

Rmember I mentioned Dale and Thomas popcorn a few weeks ago? When I discovered them, I thought it was just mailorder … then I found out they have retail locations … and recently, The Neighbor told me that Target carries their popcorn. Checked last week, and yup, she’s right. Now it’s going to be even harder to resist the temptation of the Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Drizzle popcorn. If you haven’t tried the popcorn yet, now you have no excuses. Until tomorrow…

A year ago today … home from Bermuda.