Dinner Challenge: Night 12

Today was a fun day. We stayed busy, which in turns means that Mason stayed happy (most of the time).  We started off by going to the gym.  I can tell you with complete honesty that I did not want to go at all, but I have realized that if we don't go and we stay home in the mornings by 11:30 I want to pull my hair out because Mason is being a monster.  Those girls at the gym are so great, they spoil him a lot.  I have them to thank for my mental and physical health!

Scott had duty today so it was just the two of us.  We had frozen yogurt, played with cars all afternoon, and watched football, a dream day for my little man. This also meant that supper was simple since Mason revolts if I am in the kitchen for more than 10 seconds without him.

Night 12

You may be asking yourself where are the pictures. The truth...

I've been lazy.  The memory card has been upstairs while the supper is downstairs.  I'm sure you can see my dilemma.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded

4 eggs, hard boiled and chopped

1/4 cup light Miracle Whip

1/4 cup Dijon Mustard

2 tsp dill relish

Salt

Pepper

Whole wheat bread

Combine all ingredients except bread in medium bowl.  Mix to combine and refrigerate for at least 3 hours to chill and let flavors combine.  This version is a little heavier on the egg than I normally would use, we had one leftover chicken breast so I substituted more egg for chicken.

*Picky eater tip: I spread sweet potato baby food on Mason's bread before putting on the chicken salad.  This helps get more veggies into them without them realizing your trick!

Dinner Challenge: Night 11

Short post tonight because it's Saturday and I have a hot date.

Wait... I think I confused my life with someone else for a minute.

Anyway, I usually plan all of our meals for two weeks, but I dropped the ball this time and we were stuck with two days of nothing, which won't cut it in this house.  I decided to defrost a turkey we got for Thanksgiving and never used.  We smoked it...it was awesome.

Night 11

Smoked Turkey

I'm not posting pictures, I forgot to take them before we carved it and no one wants pictures of a turkey carcass, it's just nasty.

We rubbed the turkey beforehand with a mixture of brown sugar, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and chili powder.  It smoked for 3 hours and finished in the oven for 45 minutes at 375. 

Mason ate it with sweet potatoes and a piece of cheese.  Scott had two huge sandwiches; I decided to try to show some restraint after eating more than my share of cinnamon rolls yesterday and just ate the turkey with a little Dijon mustard to dip it in.  It was a success all around.

Dinner Challenge: Night 10

Is it possible that all of the trash collectors in Riverside county are monitoring my son's sleeping habits so they know to come by and make a ton of noise right as he falls asleep?  Seems questionable and yet it happens every Friday.

Tonight I am making one of our favorite meals.  We usually eat this when it is cold out, but I got tired of waiting for a cold snap (hear that East Coast, waiting for the cold, ha ha ha). Two of our friends just had the most adorable little baby boy and I decided to make extra to take over to them, which I haven't told them yet. So... Brandy if you read this, chili and cinnamon rolls is what I have to drop off.

Night 10

Chili and Cinnamon Rolls

Yeast, water, flour, and a little time.  Seems simple enough and yet it produces some of the most delicious things in the world, one of them being cinnamon rolls.  Oh how I love to bake!

This little ball of dough...

Mixed with a little brown sugar, cinnamon, and of course butter...

Topped with a little icing...

Turns into a pan full of gooey yummy pastry!

 And of course there is the chili too.



Click Here for Chili Recipe

Click Here for Cinnamon Roll Recipe

Cinnamon Roll Recipe

I originally found this in Bon Appetit Magazine, but I made a few changes so they come out how we like them.

Dough:

1 cup milk

3 tablespoons butter

3 1/2 cups (or more) flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

2 1/4 tsp rapid rise yeast (from two envelopes)

1 tsp salt

non-stick spray

Filling:

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons cinnamon

1/2 stick butter

Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 tablespoons (or more) of milk

For Dough:

Combine milk and butter in glass measuring cup.  Microwave until butter melts and mixture is warmed to about 120 or 130 degrees, about 45 seconds.  Pour into bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment.  Add in 1 cup flour, sugar, egg, yeast, and salt.  Beat on low for 3 minutes, occasionally scraping the bowl.  Slowly add in 2 1/2 cups flour, scraping down the sides of the bowl.  If dough is very sticky add in a little more flour, a tablespoon at a time.  I have found I have to use 2 additional tablespoons.  Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead for 8 minutes.  (This is a very effective arm workout).  Put into large bowl that has been oiled with non-stick spray, turning once to coat.  Cover with plastic wrap and then kitchen towel, leaving in a warm place to rise for about 2 hours.

For Filling:

Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in bowl.

Punch down dough.  Transfer to floured surface and roll out to 15x11 inch rectangle.  If you can actually get yours to a rectangle, you are a genius, mine ends up more rounded, but it still works.

Rub the 1/2 stick of butter over the dough leaving a 1/2 inch gap along the border.  Sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar mixture over the dough.  Starting at one long end, roll dough up into a log, pinching as you go along to keep it tight.  Cut, seam side down, into 18 equal pieces. 

Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray.  Put rolls in cut side up, there will be no space between rolls.  Cover with plastic wrap and kitchen towel.  Let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, about 40 minutes. 

Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

For Glaze:

Combine powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk in small bowl.  Mix with a fork until smooth.  It should be pretty thin in consistency, if it isn't add a very small amount of milk at a time.

Drizzle over hot rolls fresh out of the oven and enjoy!



Chili Recipe

2 lbs ground turkey

1/2 a yellow onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 large can tomato juice (64 oz.)

1 can chili beans

Chili seasoning - We use a boxed kit that has chili seasoning, cayenne pepper, and masa flour to thicken it

Brown turkey, add in onions and garlic, cook until onions are soft. Add in seasoning, stir well.  Add in tomato juice and simmer for 1 hour.  Add in beans and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.  Top with cheese, crackers, and if you are like my husband, a cinnamon roll (gross I know).

Dinner Challenge: Night 9

Today I was really motivated. I started by cleaning, working out, and even making chicken salad for sandwiches for supper, all before 12:00.  I had a reason behind my motivation, it is Mom's Night Out with my group tonight.  So I had a great time talking and eating with my friends right??

Wrong.

Scott had to work 48 hours straight and was in a horrid mood when he came home.  I ended up not going and fixing a different supper, it's a double win for me, huh.

Night 9

Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes with Vanilla Brown Sugar Syrup

again inspired by the wonderful Joy the Baker (I really love this girl)

The syrup in this recipe is so delicious I want to figure out a way to bathe in it. I'm dead serious.

Pancakes

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/3 cup cornmeal (I actually used polenta and it turned out great)

1 Tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs, separated

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cup non-fat milk

1 ripe banana, mashed

Whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl  Whisk together yolks, oil and 1 1/2 cups milk in another bowl and add to the flour mixture, whisking until smooth.  Let batter stand for 5 minutes to allow flour to absorb liquid (batter will thicken).

Fold in banana.

Beat egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer at moderately high speed until they just hold stiff peaks. With a whisk, gently but thoroughly fold into batter.

Cook on a griddle sprayed with non-stick spray until golden brown on each side and set in the middle.

Syrup

1 1/2 cups packed dark brown sugar

1 1/2 cups water

3 Tablespoon unsalted butter

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine brown sugar, water, butter, and salt in a 2-quart heavy saucepan and bring to a oil, stirring until sugar is dissolved.  Boil until syrupy and reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, about 12-15 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, then let cool to warm or room temperature.

Dinner Challenge: Night 8

If intelligence is a deciding factor on whether or not you can donate eggs most of the women in the room with me last night are out... seriously.  When someone sits a nice color coded packet full of information in front of you and then proceeds to go over that information with you and you still ask the same question that was covered on page 3 ten times you do not deserve to give your eggs away.  I'm just saying.

Scott had to work late again tonight, by late I mean all night :(  Mason and I had a late lunch at, where else, Subway so we weren't really that hungry.  Mason ate leftover chicken (poor child will probably revolt one of these days), yogurt, and sweet potatoes.  I made a delicious spinach and pear smoothie. Do you think I'm being sarcastic when I say delicious...

I'm not.

Night 8

Spinach and Pear Smoothie

inspired by Joy the Baker

1 cup spinach leaves

1 pear, diced

1 frozen banana (I sort of forgot this step so mine was just a really really cold banana)

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 cup milk

Handful of blueberries

Combine milk and spinach in a blender, blend until there are no noticeable spinach pieces left.  Add in remaining ingredients and pulse until combined. Enjoy right away... trust me on this, it solidifies and gets grainy within 30 minutes, yuck!