Comments (3)

By Lana, July 28, 2010 8:55 am

It probably seems that all we eat around here is cake, cookies, pie and more pie. While we do love cake, cookies and pie (who doesn’t!?) we actually eat a lot of salad and grilled chicken and grilled vegetables. Dave is a whiz at grilled chicken. He got that ability directly from his dad.

Recently, I decided that we needed to branch out and try cooking beef. The only beef we know how to cook is hamburger. This week I went to the grocery store and, lo and behold, rib-eye steaks were on sale. I felt better about experimenting on $20 worth of steak rather than $40 (it was a big package of steaks).

Dave found some steak rub in our pantry and fired up the grill.

I want to tag this post to the recipe section so here’s the recipe: rib-eye, steak rub, grill.

OH. MY. WORD. Delicious. What in the world took us so long????

After I took this picture, I thought to myself that it looked kind of GROSS but I promise that it was wonderful!

What’s for dinner at your house?

Comments (7)

By Lana, June 29, 2010 9:32 am

Because Lauren was out-of-town last weekend, we decided to postpone our Father’s Day celebration a week. So, this past Sunday morning while Dave took a nap, Lauren and I made a cake.

Back when Dave and I could eat anything and not gain an ounce, I made this cake for special occasions. Those days are long gone thanks to babies, lethargy, and the passing years.

Lauren and I made two 8×8 cakes and popped one straight into the freezer. I felt better about us only eating half a cake!

Lauren helped me stir up the mix.

She took a break to lick the bowl clean.

This cake calls for crushed up cookies or candy so Lauren broke up Dave’s favorite cookies, Pepperidge Farm Milano Double Chocolate cookies. Pre-Lauren’s peanut allergy, I made this cake with chopped up Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups on top.

Here’s the finished product. Rich beyond words. I ate salad for lunch and dinner.

A close-up of the cookies.

My friend, Becca, gave this recipe to me years ago. I’ve since seen it various places with different cake mixes and toppings. It is most often called “Better Than Sex Cake.” I really don’t want to have the Birds and the Bees talk right now, so we are going to call it Crazy Cake at our house! Because this amount of sugar and fat IS crazy! And, it’s crazy good!

Crazy Cake

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 jar hot fudge topping

1 tub Cool Whip

Candy or cookies for topping

Make the cake mix as directed. While still warm, punch holes in the cake with the handle of a wooden spoon. Pour sweetened condensed milk all over. Spread fudge on top. Cool and then spread Cool Whip on top. Crumble cookies or candies on top of cake. Refrigerate.

I think this cake tastes best once it has been in the fridge for a little while. The fudge kind of solidifies and the whole thing is just yummy!

Dave, we hope you enjoyed your Father’s Day Cake!!!

Comments (9)

By Lana, May 5, 2010 3:30 pm

This. Is. Yummy. And no, it’s not good for you. My mom made this during her visit. Thanks Mom!

In honor of Cinco de Mayo…

(It’s not really a Mexican dish but we call it Deep Dish Taco Squares so it will have to do!)

Deep Dish Taco Squares

• 1 pound ground beef
• salt and pepper
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
• diced tomatoes
• diced avocado
• biscuit dough (see below)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 9×13 pan. Brown ground beef and drain. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Mix sour cream, mayo, cheese and onion. Set aside. Make biscuit dough. Press dough into pan, making a ½ inch rim around the edges. Spread beef over the dough. Top with sour cream mixture. Bake 25 minutes or until edges are light brown. Top with diced tomatoes and avocado.

Biscuit dough

Mix 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and enough buttermilk to make a soft dough.

Comments (9)

By Lana, April 9, 2010 4:21 pm

My mom is here visiting for two weeks. She is sabotaging my attempt to lose the baby weight by making my favorite foods. She made dark chocolate no bake cookies. I have no will power. I love these. They are my very favorite. Thanks Mom!

I am Cookie Monster.

Dark Chocolate No Bake Cookies

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/3 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (We used soynut butter because Lauren is allergic to peanuts.)
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 cups oatmeal
• Waxed paper

In a heavy saucepan bring to a boil, the sugar, cocoa, salt, butter and milk. Let boil until soft ball stage then add peanut butter. Stir until melted. Add the vanilla and oatmeal. On a sheet of waxed paper, drop mixture by tablespoons, until cooled and hardened.

My mom said that these are a little tricky. It is hard to cook them for the right amount of time. Too short and they won’t harden; too long and they get grainy. So, it might take a bit of practice. However, you can certainly eat them with a spoon if they don’t harden up right!

ETA: My mom said to take a cup of very cold water and drop a small amount of the boiling chocolate mixture into the water. If you can pull it together with your fingers on the bottom of the cup into a very soft ball, then it is ready.

Comments (23)

By Lana, March 16, 2010 3:00 pm

My guess is that most of you have seen those glorious food blogs. The ones where each step during the cooking process is beautifully photographed and described. Something like this post from the Pioneer Woman.

Well, I decided to try my hand at creating a food post. I’m sure Dave will roll his eyes as he does not get my obsession with taking pictures of food!

Oh and I dedicate this post to Julia K. who made this yummy chili for us and gave me the recipe.

Spicy Corn Chicken Chili

Here are the ingredients. Looks like a bunch but there is lots of opening and dumping so not so bad.

Uh oh. Gotta go change a diaper. I’ll be right back.

Might as well make a cup of tea.

Hope is not happy so now she is on the counter next to me.

OK, back to the recipe. Cut boneless, skinless chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Oops, I didn’t defrost chicken so I’m going to use hamburger. So, brown hamburger meat. Drain.

Hope is cranky so I am taking a break to get her down for a nap.

She is awake.

She is asleep.

Admire the onion and garlic.

Coarsely chop onion and finely chop garlic cloves. I’m not about to wake Hope up so I’m not going to use my Pampered Chef chopper. I hope this is coarsely chopped. Now, cook the onion and garlic in a little bit of olive oil for about 5 minutes.

But, I didn’t take a picture of the onions and garlic cooking because I got distracted by this.

What in the world is going on with the neighbor’s car???

Mix together spices: chili powder, oregano, cumin, coriander, cinnamon and cayenne powder. What?! I don’t have any cayenne powder? How is this going to be spicy?

Put the hamburger meat back in the skillet with the onion and garlic. Add spices, tomato sauce, water and salsa.

Add the corn and beans. And salt to taste.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring often. Perfect timing as Hope is waking up and hungry.

Uh oh. I didn’t stir once as I was feeding the baby. Good! It didn’t stick.

Look who just SMILED!!!

Chop 1/3 cup of cilantro to sprinkle on top of chili.

Ding Dong. The doorbell just rang. Hold on…

It was our neighbor (not the neighbor with the messy car). I’m still in my nightgown. And I haven’t brushed my hair. Oh well. Hopefully it wasn’t too shocking.

Lunch is ready and I am so exhausted I could fall over!!!

Spicy Corn and Chicken Chili

Extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cayenne powder to taste
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
(Or substitute one pound hamburger meat for chicken)
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup water
1/2 cup mild or medium salsa
1 (16-ounce) bag frozen corn kernels
1/2 can cannellini beans, drained
1/2 can chick peas, drained
Salt to taste
1/3 cup chopped cilantro

In a large skillet, brown chicken in a little bit of olive oil. Remove chicken from skillet and cook onions and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring frequently until onions are translucent. Stir in chili powder, oregano, cumin, coriander, cinnamon and cayenne. Add tomato sauce, 1 cup water, salsa, corn, cannellini beans and chick peas. Stir chicken back into mixture.

Season with salt, then bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring often, until flavors have melded and chili is thick. Serve over steamed white rice and sprinkle with cilantro.