Catz in the Kitchen

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Weekly Menu 3/5-3/11

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I had a whole menu planned for today. I had it all written out Saturday morning and then I started feeling sick, sicker, and even more sick. By the time Josh got home I was miserable. My body ached, I had a headache that wouldn't let up, and a cough that left me gasping for breath. Not fun! But the weather was so beautiful outside (for once) and Josh didn't want to let the opportunity of nice weather pass him by so he was going to work in the yard and I mustered up the energy to help him out. Which I think was a bad idea on my part, after cleaning out so many weeds and game planning with Josh about our backyard, I was exhausted and had chills and felt even worse. 
Grace woke us up in the middle of the night not feeling good and by Sunday morning, Josh was sick too. Which made me even madder because it was again a beautiful day and we were all stuck inside. Since, we were all sick and cooking felt like to much work, we got broccoli cheese soup in bread bowls and Mcflurries to help with the soreness from our coughs and started watching Hugo-which is kind of an odd movie, but we're only 30 minutes into it. At any rate, the kids ended up going to bed early...like way early- they were both falling apart and Josh and I watched Titanic. 
It's Monday morning and I was up at 5:30am...which for any of you who know me, you know that me waking up before 8:00am is a rarity and Josh has been seen off to work, I've eaten breakfast, and I'm waiting for the Excedrine to kick in since we're out of all our other cold meds. This is one of those days that I'm wishing I had bought that celery and onions at the grocery store last week. I would of made Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner tonight instead, but I have leftovers I can roll into another meal so I guess that works well too.  I hope you all are managing to not get sick!
Monday
Tuesday
Chicken with Blood Oranges, Baked Potato, and Veggies
Wednesday
Josh's Egg Mc Muffins with fresh fruit
Thursday
Spiced French Toast
Friday
Soy and Garlic Chicken Wings, baked potato, and carrots
Saturday
We have a dentist appointment...so we shall see! I would say dinner depends on the appointment and if we're all feeling well enough to go to the appointment. 
Sunday
Chimichangas

If there is going to be any baking going on this week, it will be later on in the week when I'm not so sick. 

Tuesday's Tidings for February 28, 2012

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I thought it would be fun to have a post once a week for all my ramblings, obsessions, finds, and whatever. As a stay at home mom, blogger, and homeschooling momma, I need an outlet. A place to house my thoughts, ergo, Tuesday's Tidings.

* Let's start things off with "The Hunger Games!" I'm obsessed. Ask my husband if you don't believe me. I read all 3 books in a little less than a week and I've already starting reading the first book again! It's incredible, amazing, and I can't wait for the movie to come out! Oh and I'm dying for the cookbook! I have visions of me making recipes from it and posting it on here for all of your enjoyment, haha!

* Last night, my husband and I went to the "Marriage Celebration Dinner" that our church does every year. We played The Newly Wed Game ( which Josh and I won) and I got all 5 answers asked about my husband right. Josh on the other, when asked which colored pair of slippers were my favorite, he put my Pink ones. During the duration of our marriage, I have never owned a pair of pink slippers. I've had leopard print...but I always keep going back to my old standby...the blue ones I've had since 7th grade. BUT, if I had a pair of pink ones, they would be my favorite!

* My dad ( who lives in Vegas ) ordered us a bunch of bagels from Einsteins Bagels today and they will be here in a few days.  I have one word to describe the Asiago Cheese Bagels, O-M-G!

* My kitten likes to eat the fresh flowers my husband brings home for me. This annoys me. A lot!

* The tv series "House" is ending in April. I'm not sure how I will get on without Hugh Laurie's snarky comebacks. I'm guessing I'll be okay, because there is still Simon Baker on "The Mentalist!"

* March Madness is upon us and it's times like these that make me even more grateful that I didn't marry someone who was obsessed with sports. I'll take the geeky tech world over sports any day.

* I opened a bag of Godiva Chocolate Truffles today and ate one. I then proceeded to eat two, and then a third one. Then I made a mistake at looking at the nutritional info and saw that one serving size is 3 truffles at exactly 210 calories.  I hate calories!

Weekly Menu 2/27-3/4

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March is upon us and I'm excited! Although this past week we've had a whirlwind of weather patterns, ranging from sun, to rain, to snow, to sun again. I've taken advantage of the good weather and raked leaves in the yard and opened the windows to let some fresh air into our home and it's invigorating! I'm looking forward to Spring even though it's the season I dread the most because of my allergies.

Since Spring is right around the corner and I'm excited about it, the weather forecast for the week is still desperately hanging with all it's might to Winter. And my menu for the week is reflective about that!

Monday
Tuesday
Ground Turkey Breast and Steak Taquitos with rice and beans
Wednesday
Thursday
(Awana Night)
Chili and Cornbread
Friday
Roast Chicken with Blood Oranges , Asparagus, and potatoes
Saturday
Sunday
Panini's and chips
Other yummies:
Butterscotch Brownies

Philly Cheesesteak Panini (or Panino?)

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I work across the street from a deli. I sometimes forget my lunch. I sometimes forget by lunch by accident. I sometimes forget my lunch on purpose. I sometimes forget my lunch and find myself at the deli at lunchtime. I sometimes think of the deli (wistfully) at times that are not lunchtime. The deli always (not sometimes) serves delicious grilled Philly cheesesteaks. 
I admit that the deli in question does not make the most authentic Philly cheesesteaks this side of the Mississippi (I will also admit that it is difficult to find authentic Philly cheesesteaks on this side of the Mississippi). I have been to Philly and had a cheesesteak there, and nothing quite compares. The experience is very much akin to having a hotdog on a street corner in Manhattan, fresh salmon at a riverfront Portland fish house, a taco and Corona on the beach in Cabo, or, I assume, a deep dish pizza in Chicago (pizza in the Windy City is the only one I haven’t done on that list, and I deeply resent that fact). Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean one can’t appreciate the magical combination of grilled steak and provolone cheese gracing grilled bread in whatever form it happens to present itself. I’m not the biggest fan of the grilled onions, but each to his own, right? Surely Philadelphians won’t deny me my individuality.

A week or so ago, we had panini on the menu for Sunday night at home - always a hit. It had been a while since I had forgotten my lunch (accidentally or otherwise), and I was craving heavily seasoned thinly-sliced steak and melted provolone. Suddenly, it hit me. If you’re a Hugh Laurie fan, you’ll know what I mean when I say I had a “House” moment. Why not combine the basic mojo of the meat and cheese combination I craved with the grilled goodness that makes up a panino (you did know panini was the plural and panino the singular, of course)?

The wonderful thing about panini is their unbelievable flexibility. There are evenings when I believe you could put absolutely anything between two slices of Italian bread and grill them and it would taste good. Anything. In this case, the ingredients are simple and flexible, and I totally made up the rules as I went along. The end result was delightful, so I would encourage you to follow the basic pattern set forth here, but, please, improvise.
For a sandwich like this, I highly recommend prepping your ingredients before you actually get to the assembly stage. Chop your lettuce, slice your tomatoes, buy your provolone cheese by the slice at your local deli counter and have your spices ready to go (I used a black peppercorn grinder, salt and a southwest seasoning mix - using the peppercorn heavily helped elevate the seasoning mix, dropping the “baja” quotient and raising the “lively” element). Getting the prep out of the way not only provides a colorful working environment, but also allows you to focus on the task at hand. 

For the steak, you really do want to pan fry. Use olive oil to keep your pan well greased and stop the steak from burning. As far as the cut of the meat goes, I just grabbed the thinnest cut I could find (which didn’t actually end up being as thin as I would have liked). As mentioned above, lots of black peppercorns ground over the meat as it cooked really got that heavily seasoned deli steak flavor going. The length of time you cook it is really going to vary based on thickness, but for the piece pictured here, it went about four minutes per side at medium heat. Slice it as thin as you can, and throw it back in the pan for a minute to sear it off. 

The panini themselves couldn’t be simpler to make. Buy a loaf of fresh Italian bread (sliced or not - your call) from your local bakery, spread some mayonnaise on it, layer steak, provolone and tomatoes, and place it on your panini grill. Yes, you do have to have a panini grill, and, no, there is no appropriate substitute. Even the expensive ones are normally under $100, and you can often pick a decent one up on sale for as little as $25. While the grill surface is heating up, brush it generously with olive oil, and then place your assembled sandwich (no lettuce!) on the grill. Lower the top half of the grill down, and give the bread a couple of minutes. Once grill lines begin to appear and the cheese has melted, you’re ready to go. The tomatoes should act as a barrier for the cheese, allowing you to take the top off the sandwich when it comes out of the grill, so you can add the lettuce. And...that’s it! Serve with chips, fries or even some fruit. I hope you enjoy this decidedly un-authentic take on Italian-East Coast fusion as much as my family did! 


1 lb thin, lean steak
1 loaf fresh Italian bread
2 large hothouse tomatoes
½ head chopped iceberg lettuce
½ lb provolone cheese, thinly slice
olive oil
black peppercorn grinder
southwest seasoning mixture (opt)

Heat frying pan to medium heat and grease with olive oil. Add steak, cooking four minutes per side, or to desired doneness (medium is recommended). Season heavily with ground peppercorns and lightly with southwest seasoning. Remove cooked steak from pan and slice thinly, then return to pan and sear off for about one minute. 

Slice Italian bread loaf into one-inch thick slices. Spread mayonnaise on one side, top generously with steak, and cover with provolone cheese. Top provolone cheese with thinly sliced tomatoes. Spread mayonnaise on one side of additional slice and place on top of sandwich. Brush olive oil onto heated panini grill and place assembled sandwich into grill. Close grill and cook until medium grill lines appear on bread. 

Remove sandwich from heat, remove top slice, and add chopped lettuce. Cut in half and serve immediately. 

A CatzInTheKitchen Original Recipe

Weekly Menu 2/20-2/26

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Well, we are back from vacation! I know some of you may not of known where we went, because I know my posting wasn't very often last week. Our internet connection was very hit and miss, and after the first night of trying to get things published, scheduled, and what not...I kind of gave up and I rescheduled Friday's post for this coming Wednesday; and guess what...Josh wrote that post!

So back to our little, not nearly long enough vacation...it was perfect! We went to Sunriver and it was beautiful. I haven't been up there in the wintertime since I was a little girl. The girls got to play in the snow, I took Grace ice skating, we made dinner for my parents one night. Oh did I forget to mention we went with my parents? I know a lot of people wouldn't call a trip with their parents (or in Josh's case, in-laws) fun or perfect, but with my parents it really is a ton of fun! We don't spend all of our time with each other which I think really is the ingredient for perfection. We meet up for an activity and then go our separate ways until dinnertime and then we meet up again, and go on our separate ways. My parents stay in a condo in Circle 6 and we stay in a very rustic old cabin on Circle 1. And the only reason we're able to go to Sunriver is my parents. They do some maintenance and work around the condo and cabin and in return are allowed to stay for free. To help my parents out and because we love it so much in Central Oregon, my parents let Josh and I tag along and we help them out by taking care of the cabin while they do the work on the condo. It's a treat to be able to go down there. Josh and I dream about one day moving down there...someday. *sigh* Until we are able to move down there, I have some pictures for you!

Hot Cocoa on our 1st night in the cabin.
Taking Gracie ice skating for the 1st time.
My beautiful parents!
Sledding!
Eden loving the snow!
I want my mom's camera! ;)
Me and Josh :)
Just a few pictures :) I really do want my mom's camera though! I don't have an DSLR and I have dreams about having one. But they are expensive dreams because I know that those cameras and their lens come with a whopping price tag. Oh well, something to save up for! Until then, here's this weeks menu :)
Monday
Our version of Egg McMuffins
Tuesday
-except I'll be making mine with leftover ground turkey breast
Wednesday
Crockpot Cheesy Chicken with rice and side salad
Thursday
Three Beans and Sausage served over rice with corn
Friday
Breakfast maybe...I'm thinking Pancakes
Saturday
and veggies
Sunday
Marriage Celebration Dinner with our church- Eating dinner at Chevy's!
Desserts and other wonderful goodies

I have some blueberries that need to be used up, so I'm thinking blueberry muffins.
Cookies for Josh's lunches this week. Not sure which ones though. Hmmm???

A Valentine's Day Memory

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Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I don't exactly have a recipe posted for a day, but today is a very special milestone for Josh and I. This will be our tenth Valentine's Day together. When we were dating, Josh took me out to Newport Bay, a wonderful seafood restaurant (and by our 18/19 yr old standards, an expensive restaurant!). When he picked me up, he handed me a beautiful bouquet of roses, a cheetah candle lamp that I had been eyeing at Claire's, and a black handbag with cheetah print lining inside. I was dying, I was so excited that he went into such a girlie store and bought me the things he knew I liked and wanted. Inside the purse was a million Hershey Kisses and I was instructed not to open it.

When we got in the car, he turned his cd player on and Justin Timberlake's first solo cd came one. I got so mad at him! He knew how badly I wanted that cd and I couldn't believe he bought it for himself (wow-writing that I sure seem awfully spoiled sounding, lol). Josh just started laughing at me. I asked him what was so funny, and he said, "I didn't buy the cd for me. I bought it for you!" LOL, I think I turned several shades of red!

We got to the restaurant and ordered our food and still I was not allowed to dig inside my purse for the Grand Finale of a gift. I remember thinking how silly I looked walking into the restaurant with two purses- one purse just wasn't good enough for me, ya know! Finally dinner was served and we enjoyed some wonderful food, however I can't remember what I ordered. After dinner, I was finally allowed to dig through my purse in search of the buried treasure. All the way at the bottom of the bag was a box. When I pulled it out, it was a jewelry box and inside the jewelry box was the Promise Ring I had seen and fell in love with! I was so excited and shocked. A promise ring to me meant a commitment from him that he would respect and love me and try his best to not hurt me ever! Two months later, he got down on one knee and his promise became a vow that he would never break if I would become his wife!

He was 18 years old and I was 19 years old and by many people's opinions and standards wayyyy too young to take on the commitment of marriage.  But he and I both felt that when you find that one person that you know God made for you, why wait! Though we were young and still had a lot of learning and growing up to do, we knew that we wanted to learn and grow together and that everything would work out as long as we supported each other. Which we have and will continue to do.

Valentine's Day, February 14, 2003 was a memorable one. I will always remember that to be the day he committed himself to me and I think he might always remember the dress I was wearing, lol! Just kidding. I think for him, it was significant because he saw a future with me that came out of nowhere and he couldn't wait for it to start!

I hope this Valentine's Day has you reminiscing about your first Valentine with your true love and celebrating the romance that you two share now! Have a wonderfully sappy puppy-loving day!

No Weekly Menu, but a Valentines's Menu Inspired Line-Up Instead!

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Yet again, I'm not going to have a weekly menu for you. But I have a good reason for it this week. Josh and I are taking the girls to Sunriver! We leave Wednesday and won't be back till Saturday, I think. But since I've gone without a menu for you over the past two weeks, I am NOT going to leave you empty handed this week. I thought that instead of having a menu, I'll share some Valentine's inspired food that you can make for your romantic night.

Over the past few years, Josh and I have made an effort to make Valentine's Day be something we celebrate with the kids. I mean, they have a lot to do with the love that Josh and I share for each other (I know, that was kind of a mushy statement right?) and we I like to plan a meal that is special and they can take part in as well.  So here are a few meal ideas for Valentine's Day!

Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce
I hope you were able to get some tasty romantic meal ideas out of this small but sweet line up! Have a wonderful Valentine's Day everyone!!

No Weekly Menu

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I apologize yet again!!! Earlier last week, I had a menu planned out and we were supposed to go grocery shopping early last week. That didn't happen. Thursday night, I got really sick and only started feeling better on Sunday. By then my list and menu was a bit of a mess and even though we went shopping, I have a feeling that I'm going to be pulling a rabbit out of the hat most of the coming nights. So there isn't much of a menu and I don't really feel like trying to come up with one. I'm just going to fly by the seat of my pants this week and see what I come up with :) Have a great week everyone :)

Taking a break for the week...

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Hey guys,
I meant to get out the weekly menu yesterday, but while I was making my list out and getting prepared to write the post, my dad called from Vegas telling me that my Great Grandmother Ninny wasn't doing so well and it was just a matter of days until she passed on.  Needless to say with that news, I wasn't in much of a posting spirit and I've been distracted ever since. This evening, I got the call from my dad that she's no longer in pain and with our savior in heaven.

My Great Grandma Ninny was such a wonderful woman who lived a good life. She was 94 years old and beloved by anyone who's ever met her. She had a very welcoming spirit about her and a friend to anyone, no questions asked. I feel quite blessed that she was able to make it to my wedding back in 2003 and that I was there to celebrate with our huge family her 90'th birthday,  and in July 2010, she got to meet my youngest daughter Eden, when we drove to California for our family reunion.

I had some posts scheduled to go out this week, but I'm rescheduling them for next week. Thank you all for understanding and give your loved ones and extra squeeze tonight :)

Love,
Chels

Weekly Menu 1/23-1/29

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I can't believe this is the last full week of January. In some ways it feels like it's dragged on and in other ways I just don't where the month went. Christmas was just here wasn't it and now all the stores are decorated for Valentine's Day.

When I was a kid, the days and months just blurred together in one long stretch. Now that I'm a Wife/Mom...I understand my mom's groans of there not being enough hours in a day.  Even today I woke up fairly early with a plan of how I wanted my day to go and it hasn't gone the way I had planned and many of the things I wanted to get done I haven't even started yet.  The laundry still needs to be folded and put away, and my bathroom needs to be cleaned, and I haven't even touched my Bible Study today. Ugh...and here I am blogging. Laundry, bathroom cleaning, and Bible Study are next on my list of things to do, but I did need to finish the grocery list so that we could go grocery shopping tonight.

Monday
Quick and easy to make and eat before grocery shopping tonight.

Tuesday
Ground Turkey Taquitos with beans and rice
Wednesday
Crockpot Cauliflower Soup in Bread Bowls
Thursday
(Awana Night)
Herbed Chicken and Tomatoes served over pasta
and glazed baby carrots
Friday
with salad and potatoes
Saturday
Cod fish and Chips 
( the chips being Josh's garlic and rosemary fries)
Sunday
Panini's of some kind...not sure, but I've got a few ideas
I'm on snack duty this week for Awana at church. So I'm baking up some cookies for that. I'm planning a yummy breakfast for the girls tomorrow morning. And...my sister has been wanting to make a carrot cake ( I've never ate Carrot Cake before) so we're going to bake that I think this week too. Are you baking up anything fun?
Desserts/ Etc.