Catz in the Kitchen

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Weekly Menu 12/5-12/11

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We finally got  99.9% of all our decorations up. We got our gorgeous Christmas tree on Saturday and did all of that decorating. On Sunday, we got our outside lights put up. And on Monday, my mom came over to help me decorate the inside of my home with some of the leftover swag from our Christmas tree.  We're doing Christmas this year at our house and I wanted the house festive and beautiful!

The fireplace mantel wasn't finished when I took that photo earlier this week and how do you like my Christmas Moose? It was my parents and they we're going to burn it because they didn't have a need for it anymore and the head no longer moves. But I wanted it ( I didn't care if the head moved or not), so my parents let me save it and now it has a home in my front yard. You can't beat free I tell ya! I felt so bad when my mom came over the other day to help me decorate, I somehow without me really planning it, started a Snowman collection and I have more snowmen than any other Christmas decoration. And the few other little doodads I have, are all little things that we're given to me or stuff I bought at Goodwill when Josh and I first got married. It's been a long time since I've bought Christmas decorations, so for this year, I'm making do with what I have. I know eventually, I'll probably be able to talk my mom out of some her's because she has more Christmas decorations than she knows what to do with and she doesn't really decorate anymore. I'm just waiting patiently till she lets me go through all of her stuff :) Her stuff is the kind go stuff I like; classy and cozy.
I still have a bit more decorating to do. I need Josh to hang the garland around my front door and then I need another wreath hook for a wreath I want to hang inside the house...but then I'm done! How about you?
Monday
We had leftover Texas Toast, so Josh turned it into French Toast with breakfast sausage that was ready for me when I got back from the gym :)
Tuesday
Homemade Pizza- Canadian Bacon and Pineapple
Wednesday
We're going grocery shopping tonight, so I'm going to take the Navy Bean Soup I made a few weeks ago and reheat it in the crockpot.
Thursday
(Awana Night)
Lime Chicken Tacos with these awesome new flavored tortillas I bought. I've been making these tacos for years and love love love them!
Friday 
Tuna Casserole with a fruit salad and bread & butter, the way my family always ate it
Saturday
Breaded Pork Chops with sage cream gravy, mashed parsnips and potatoes, and a garden salad. Are you shocked? Yes, I'm making an actual Pork dish...I hope it's good!
Sunday
One of my husband's favorite meals, Chicken Curry with rice and I'm still playing with a side dish...maybe rolls or something. 
It's been awhile since I've made the Chicken Curry for Josh. Last time I made it, I completely left out the rice, lol! He doesn't know I'm making it this week, so I'm sure he'll be in for a pleasant surprise when he reads this post later on.
Desserts & Etc

This week I'm going to try out my Ramekins. I'm so excited. I'm hoping to get to Ross later this week so I can pick up another set, because I only have 3 ramekins. :(
I'm also making yet another "new and holiday-ish" cookie this week!
And I want to hear what your one Kitchen Wish List item your asking for this Christmas. It could be anything?
 In years past for me, it was a Kitchenaid Mixer. But now...if I could have anything...it would be a toss up between a Dutch Oven, Cast Iron Skillet, or a Grill Pan- the kind that go over the burners...that way we could make Burgers all year long :)

Weekly Menu 11/28-12/4

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Today is the last day of November! I'm so super excited but sad at the same time because I love this time of year so much, but it just goes by way to fast.  This weekend, we're going to get our tree and decorate the house with all of our decor and lights and I cannot wait!

Have you guys decked the halls yet?

I can't say this is going to be an overly exciting cooking week around here. I'm only trying out one new dinner recipe. But comfort food is on the menu and I'm excited about eating that!

Monday
Nacho night- The one we made was HUUGE and so good!
Tuesday
Josh was at an awards benefit type ceremony at the Portland Art Museum for the bank, so the kids had leftover pizza and I made cheesy scrambled eggs. 
Wednesday
We're going grocery shopping so I might just make some sandwiches.
Thursday
My  mom's lasagna, corn, and garlic bread.
Friday
BLT Panini's with chips
Saturday
Sausage and Cream Cheese Casserole- I tried to find the recipe for this, but I couldn't find it, but Josh makes this around this time of year and it's so bad for you, but so good!
Sunday
Chicken Noodle and Sweet Potato Soup and probably some rolls
Desserts and Treats

Peppermint Snickerdoodles- As soon as I saw these on Deborah's blog I got so excited and knew I needed to make these :) I'll probably make them over the weekend for Josh's lunches for the following week. 

Weekly Menu 11/21-11/27

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Happy Thanksgiving Week, everybody! Are you all busy planning your menus and getting your homes decorated for your family and friends? That's what I'm doing too. Except, I'm playing the role of guest in my families homes this week. Maybe like some of you, we'll be joining two different Thanksgiving dinners this week.  On Thursday ( Thanksgiving Day),  we'll enjoy our family morning tradition of watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while we eat our Holiday Tradition Breakfast... Sausage Egg Casserole, and it is sooo good! Trust me, if you haven't made this before, you should make it this week. You assemble the whole breakfast the night before and then pop it in the oven in the morning. How Easy! C'mon, you know you want to make it. :)

Now how about that Black Friday Shopping? Are you brave enough to face the crowds and the stores?? I'm still on the fence about how much Black Friday shopping I'm going to be doing. I normally hit Target, but that's about it. This year I might go with my sister in law, but I told her it depends on how much money I can acquire before then, otherwise...it will just be me, by my lonesome, standing in line in that long long Target line, like last year. 
Monday
Tuesday
Ham Rolls
Wednesday
Nacho Night
Thursday
( Thanksgiving)
I'm in charge of bringing Pumpkin Pie, Rolls, Mashed Potatoes, and Cranberry Sauce
Friday
Homemade Pizza- Our Caprese and Canadian Bacon and Pineapple
Saturday
( Thanksgiving with my family)

Sunday
Leftovers
I love Thanksgiving leftovers, you can make some fun things with them. And the Turkey sandwiches the day after are YUM!!!!
Desserts

I'm in charge of Pumpkin Pies for Josh's family and then I'm also on desserts for my family. I've got a few ideas floating around in my head and I really need to commit, because tomorrow we're going grocery shopping. 
Since it's Thanksgiving Week, I just want to say a big Thank You to all of you guys who spend a few minutes on my blog reading my musings, commenting on recipes, and always being so encouraging.  Thank You! What are you guys thankful for?

How To: Homemade Chicken Broth

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If you just read my post on my latest and greatest roasted chicken, this is like Part 2 to that post.  I had never made my own homemade broth before. I had always wanted to, but never really planned for it. My husband is normally the one who always does the dishes and cleaning on nights when I've roasted a chicken, and everything has always gotten discarded in the trash can, but this time, I thought ahead and told  Josh that I had big plans for the chicken carcass and all of it's goodies and I wanted to save it all to make some homemade broth.

As it turns out, the week that I was roasting my chicken and hoping to make my own broth, Finding Joy in my Kitchen has been doing a "31 days of cooking from scratch" post. And, the day I was going to make my own broth, her post for making your own broth came out.  Her post about broth is full of a ton of information. I had no idea you could make your own broth by putting all of the ingredients you would need into your slow-cooker and you could simmer the broth all night while your asleep, and when you wake up, Voila, it's all done! I may just have to try that method next time.

The day you want to make your broth, throw all the chicken goodies that you had saved, like the carcass and any skin or little bits of meat that is left and throw it into a large pot. Chop some carrots, celery, and onion in half (minus the skin) and place that into the pot. Add some cloves of garlic, pepper, sea salt, a splash or two of vinegar (which helps the bones break down their nutrients faster), and a couple of bay leaves if you have them, which I did not.
Fill the pot nearly all the way full with water, and let it simmer on low for 4-8 hours. You may need to add more water to the pot after a few hours.

When your done simmering your broth, use a spider spoon or tongs and remove all the vegetables and big pieces of bones.

Using a mesh strainer over a bowl or a large measuring cup start pouring the pot of broth over the strainer. The broth will run through the strainer into whatever container is underneath the strainer, and the mesh strainer will catch all the smaller bits and pieces that you don't want going into your broth.
Let the broth cool quite a bit, and then you can transfer it to whatever container you're going to keep it in.

I poured my broth into glass jars and then put them into the freezer for when I need them. And out of my little young chicken that I used, I got 6 ½ cups of broth.

If you plan to use your broth right away, it will keep in your fridge for 1-2 days - otherwise, in the freezer for up to 3 months. :)

Homemade Chicken Broth
Source, adapted from: Finding Joy in my Kitchen
Chicken carcass, with leftover skin, bits of meat and bones
2-3 carrots cut in half
2-3 celery cut in half
onions, skin removed and cut in half
1-2 bay leaves
Sea salt
pepper
vinegar
garlic
water
Toss all ingredients into a large pot and fill pot nearly to the top. Simmer all day on low if possible.
When broth is finished simmering, remove carcass and all big pieces. Throw away or save and repeat the broth making directions.  Take a mesh strainer and place it over a container and pour the broth into the strainer, so it can catch all the little bits and let the broth run into your container. Allow broth to cool and then pour it into it's storage containers. Glass jars work great! Store in freezer for up to 3 months or in the fridge for up to 2 days. 

Weekly Menu 11/14-11/20

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Thanksgiving is next week!!!! I'm still wondering where summer went and here we are full swing in the holiday season of commercials, coupons, and sales. Grace got irritated last week with the Christmas commercials saying," We haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet and we're watching commercials for Christmas stuff. They should wait till after Thanksgiving!"  But guess what she is already doing? Yup, she is making out her Christmas wish list. Oh, man! I told her I didn't even want to think about it yet, lol!

I do love the holiday season so much though. But maybe it's an adult thing...ever since I got married and had kids...which pretty much happened and 19 and 20 years old, it feels like time is slipping through my fingers. I mean, I can remember just yesterday celebrating Eden's 3rd birthday in August. But it's actually November 15th and the days go by faster and faster every year. Now I understand my mom always saying,"There aren't enough hours in a day." 
Monday
Lentil Soup and leftover rolls
You all know my husband isn't a Lentil Fan, but I did get a,"It's good." from him. I'll take that as a compliment.
Tuesday
We really need to go grocery shopping tonight...so maybe we'll make wraps using some tortillas.
Wednesday
Roasted Butternut Baked Penne with leftover butternut squash from the soup I made last week and garlic bread.
Thursday
Awana Night
We're having a little Thanksgiving dinner with the kids
Friday
Chicken Mozzarella with Pomegranate Quinoa Pilaf
Saturday
Crispy Shrimp Pasta with a side salad
Sunday
We're having our annual Praise Him Potluck at church on Sunday and I think we're going to be pretty full afterwards so something easy for dinner. Our Southwest Breakfast Bowl Scramble will hit the spot :)
I'll be baking and cooking quite a few things this week for the upcoming festivities. I'm making cookies for my hubby's lunch and then other yummy things for the potluck :)
Desserts and other goodies

Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
I'm looking forward to a lot of these meals and desserts. And I am really looking forward to the holidays. Remember there are no calories on Birthdays or Holidays :)

Weekly Menu 11/7-11/13

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Can you believe Thanksgiving is right around the corner? I'm still wondering where summer went. I am really excited to start cooking up some holiday dishes along with some of my favorite warm pastas and meals.

Our weekend meals didn't happen because my parents took me and my family out for an impromptu Japanese dinner. Grace even learned how to use chopsticks :) So we'll be making those dinners this week :)

Monday
Tuesday
Chicken Cordon Bleu with broccoli and potatoes
Wednesday
Ground Turkey Taquitos with beans and rice
Thursday
( Awana Night)
Pigs in a blanket
Friday
Taco Pizza
Saturday
Creamy Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Soup
Sunday
And for desserts and other things, I desperately need to make some Croutons and cookies for my hubby's lunches.
Desserts and Treats


Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Crazy Cooking Challenge

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Crazy Cooking Challenge #3
Mashed Potatoes
This is my 2nd time contributing to the Crazy Cooking Challenge and I am so excited about it. For this mashed potato recipe, there were so many options, but I decided I wanted to take a more traditional route. I love Garlic. Like I really LOVE garlic and when I saw this recipe posted on Steamy Kitchen's blog, I knew this was the one for me.
Photobucket

Join us next month for the next Crazy Cooking Challenge. The more the merrier :)

We are combining two of my greatest 2 food loves. Garlic ( Duh), and Potatoes! They go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly! Okay, back to the recipe, chop off the head of the garlic and expose some of the leaves.
Place the garlic on top of a sheet of tin foil and drizzle some extra virgin olive oil over the garlic and seal the foil up into a nice tight packet and throw it into a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes or longer.
The recipe called for russet potatoes, but I love red potatoes so much that I had to add some in for color and water to a rapid boil and cook for about 20-25 minutes until tender and then drain.
When the garlic comes out of the oven, let it cool and then squeeze the cloves out of their little jackets and give them a rough chop.
Now, return  the potatoes to the pan over very low heat and a few tablespoons a ¼ cup of milk, salt and that delicious roasted garlic. Then, just mash it up! But don't mash it up to much because you don't want it to get sticky because of the garlic in there. Stir in some chives. ( I used dried, it was all I had on hand.)
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
1 head of Garlic
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
4-6 russet and red potatoes, scrubbed and skins on
3-4 TB butter
¼ cup milk
¾ teaspoon salt
1-2 teaspoon chives ( I used dried)
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Chop off the top of the head of a garlic. Place the garlic on top of aluminum foil and drizzle with olive oil and close the foil up, wrapping it up tight and throw it in the oven for 30-45 minutes. When it's done roasting, allow to cool slightly. Squeeze the cloves out of the wrapper and give it a coarse chop.
Place the potatoes in a large pot with boiling water and cover with water by 1 inch. Cover and boil and cook for 20-25 minutes over medium heat. When the potatoes are fork tender, drain and return to pot.
On low heat, add 3 tablespoons, ¼ cup milk, salt, and chopped garlic to the pot with the potatoes. Carefully mash the potatoes, leaving some lumps, but not mashing to much. Add additional salt or milk if needed. Stir in chives.
Enjoy!

Weekly Menu 10/31-11/6

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Happy "late" Halloween everyone! How was it for you all? We had a fantastic time. I ended up taking my two girls out with their best friends around our neighborhood, and later Josh's family joined us. This was our first year trick or treating in our new neighborhood and boy did we pick the spot! A very generous and excited neighborhood. Lot's of people decorated, lot's of great candy, and the best part aside from our streets lined with cars was that the neighbors really seemed to enjoy passing out candy :)

Grace (as Belle),  The Bento Sisters ( Cheerleader, Silver mist, Bumble Bee), and Eden as Snow White

Aside from Halloween being this week, we also started our 2nd grade homeschooling year. Normally, we start in October, but with the trips we had planned, we ended up having to push back our year to this week.  We school Tuesdays-Fridays, taking Mondays and all normal school holidays off.  So far, it's going very well, though we are only 2 days into it. The wonderful thing is Josh has really asserted himself into teaching Gracie her math class this year in the mornings before he leaves for work. Today she finished her math very quickly so they were able to knock out another book this morning, which made my day considerably easier since on Wednesdays I babysit one of my nieces for the day.

So my week has been quite the busy one so far. Please forgive that this post is late, but I promise, we have stuck to our menu beautifully and I foresee the rest of the week to go just as smoothly :)

Monday
Halloween Tradition of Chili!
This year I made a Crockpot Pumpkin Turkey Chili
Tuesday
Navy Bean Soup with toast
Wednesday
Pan-fried Swai, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and a garden salad

Thursday
Crockpot Cranberry Chicken, Rice, and veggies

Friday
Homemade Pizza 

Saturday
Chicken Cordon Bleu with steamed broccoli

Sunday
Roast Beef and Slaw Panini- This meal is catering to my husband. I'm not a bit roast beef person, but it was on sale and he likes it :)

I was going to make cookies this week for Josh's lunches, but the girls are keeping my hubby stocked in Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Butterfingers, so I'll make the cookies next week :) 

Weekly Menu 10/24-10/30

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And....I'm back! I promise, it will be awhile before I disappear like that again! We had a wonderful few days in California last week visiting Josh's grandparents and we really just spent time getting to know them and helping out where we could since Josh's grandmother is sick. I had meant to write a post or two while I was gone, but I was never on the computer for very long and I think traveling just makes you really tired. I was falling asleep by 9pm every night, lol!

I have a few repeat dinners from the previous menu. Josh and I had intended on going grocery shopping and making the meals I had planned out, and then last minute Josh pulled a fast one on me and decided that there wasn't a huge point in going shopping because things would spoil and not get used. So we got creative around the house instead and today we finally went grocery shopping :)

This is kind of my last week of freedom so to speak. Awana started last week and I can't remember if I mentioned it or not, but I'm actually leading the Sparks class this year along side my sister  ( in law). And next week...not this coming week, but starting November 1st, we are officially starting homeschool 2nd grade with Grace and pre-school like things with Eden. As I type, Josh is finishing our our yearly schedule for the books and stuff. So beginning next week, I'll become a lot busier than I was. At least we're not traveling anywhere for awhile, lol!

Monday
Tuesday
Spaghetti and Meatballs, corn and garlic bread
Wednesday
Thursday
Home-made Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes and peaches
Friday
Pan-Seared Swai with mashed potatoes and veggies
Saturday
Navy Bean Soup and rolls
Sunday
Josh cooks up something wonderful :)
I'm baking up some treats this week. I'm super excited about these. I signed up for snacks for this Thursdays Awana night and I've got some festive cupcakes lined up for them and I'm making a sweet dessert for us Monday night :) And since I never got around to making the kids muffins...that is on the list too.
Desserts and Treats

Candy Corn Cupcakes...with maybe a chocolate frosting???

I'm still not sure about which muffins to make and if I'm going to make them or not. What are you guys making this week?

Weekly Menu 10/10-10/14

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How do you all like the new look of Catz in the Kitchen? Josh and I spent quite a few hours working on it the other day and I'm still in the process of playing around with different ideas and fixing certain things. If you haven't noticed the "About Catz in the Kitchen" with my little picture is missing which is frustrating because I'm not sure where it went. I never removed it, it just up and left and I can't add it back. Sooo, I'm trying to figure that little gem out.

Aside from creating a new look, my family and I have been sick this past week. So a lot of the dinners I had planned didn't work out well, so that explains why you will see some repeat meals. This won't be traditional menu week you are used to. Josh, the kids and I are leaving Saturday morning to fly to L.A. to spend some time with Josh's grandparents whom we haven't seen in about 2 years.  We leave this Saturday and won't be returning till Wednesday early evening sometime, and then the very next day, our church launches it's yearly kids club, Awana and this year I'm going to be leading one of the classes with my sister in law. But I will try very hard not to keep you hanging while I'm gone :)

Monday
My sister in law and her husband are in town for a few days, so it's dinner at my in-laws home :)
Tuesday
Tamale Pie
Wednesday
Mexican Slop

Thursday
Pan-Seared Swai with Sweet potatoes or Rice Pilaf and a Garden Salad
Friday
Date Night...either Thursday or Friday
Saturday-Wednesday
Soaking up the L.A. Sun :)
I don't have much on my list of things to bake this week. Since today being Columbus Day is a bank holiday, Josh is off, and therefore, doesn't really need his usual homemade cookies in his lunches. So I'm taking the week off from cookie making. But I would like to make some muffins for the girls this week and dessert for the night we have the fish.
Desserts/Treats
Muffins....I can't decide between there Blackberry Lime muffins or these Apple Pie Muffins.
Which muffins do you think I should bake for the girls ?