Pumpkin Puree

So it turns out it isn't as bad as I thought to make your own pumpkin puree. I happened to be given some pumpkins and didn't want them to go to waste.

small baking pumpkin

cut in half and clean the insides out

put in microwave safe bowl with about 1-2 inches of water for about 15-20 minutes

let cool when you take out of micro

Scoop out and continue to cool

Put into food processor or blender

final product pumpkin puree

Fall love it

Okay it's been a while sorry, but I've been crazy busy with school. So today I am going to make my own pumpkin puree, first I have to cook a few little pumpkins. I'll be posting the steps soon, hopefully it all works out.

Dinner this week

It's been a crazy couple of weeks and my dinner planning has stunk to say the least.
This week for dinner we're having:
Monday-hamburgers

Tuesday-beans with sopapillas and red chili

Wednesday-Spaghetti

Thursday-Pork chops, rice and broccoli

Friday-Burrittos

Of course the days may change but it's always better when I have a plan.

Bacon In My Pocket: Cute as pie

You have to take a look at these awesome little pies.

Bacon In My Pocket: Cute as pie: "Last week my brother stopped by on his way across the country. It had been a long time since I saw him last (almost a year!) So I decided t..."

For Dinner tonight

I have a meeting tonight so I needed something easy so I decided to try the Potatoes Au Gratin. As I mentioned before I got the recipe from EatatHomeCooks.com It smells so good in my house right now. I also have some steaks marinating waiting to hit the grill.
I didn't want to leave my husband watching the oven so I put all the ingredients into the crock pot on low. The changes I made are in pink below.

• 1 1/2 pounds potatoes, unpeeled
• 2 Tbs. butter
• 2 Tbs. flour
• 1 1/2 cups hot milk (warmed in microwave)
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 tsp. parmesan
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• salt and pepper
• extra cheese for the top
• 
  
• Boil the potatoes in lightly salted water until tender. (I just washed and cut into 1/4" slices) Cool and cut into 1/4″ slices.  You can peel them if you like, but I like the rustic look and flavor of leaving the peels on.  Layer the slices in a buttered casserole dish. (I layered them in my crock pot)

Melt the butter in a saucepan.  Add the garlic and cook it for a minute over medium heat.  Whisk in the flour and cook for another minute.  Whisk in the hot milk, stirring constantly.  Stir in the cheeses and keep stirring until it’s all melted and smooth.

Pour the cheese sauce over the potatoes and top with extra shredded cheese.  (At this point I  out the crock pot on low and left to cook)Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  You can also brown it up under the broiler for a minute, if you like.

Dinner Menu

My kids have all started school and I go back next week. It's going to be crazy busy around here again especially with 3 night classes. So I'm trying to get a menu ready so I can have dinner ready before I leave to school. Wish me luck.

so here's my short list of ideas for the next few weeks. Of course now I need to go shopping

Spaghetti with meatballs 

Beef tacos with rice

Chicken Broccoli Divan http://eatathomecooks.com/2009/07/chicken-broccoli-divan-in-the-crockpot-or-oven.html

Vietnam Fried Rice  http://eatathomecooks.com/2009/01/vietnam-fried-rice.html

Chicken Fingers

Stuffed Shells 

Club Sandwhich

Sloppy Joe’s with homemade rolls

Steak and Black Angus Potatoes Au Gratin http://eatathomecooks.com/2009/09/black-angus-potatoes-au-gratin.html

pork chops with salad 

Making zucchini bread

Here's my mess I'll post the finished product soon. In the mean time I have some shredded zucchini to bag and freeze.

I found this recipe on Amandascookin.com I lost my original recipe that I've used forever :( . I know this will be great because every recipe I've tried from her site has been.

freezer meatballs

In the theme of trying to get ready for school to start, I was able to make 3  freezer bags full of meatballs. It's a favorite around here and a quick dinner too. 

my no rise bread :(

Final product made into croutons 

diced

sliced

long time coming

Wow where have I been? Life has been crazy to say the least. In less than a week my kids will start school and I go back in 3. It doesn't seem like we even had a summer  :(


So today I'm making homemade bread I'm on my second batch because I forgot the salt for the first one and it tastes just a little blah. I decided to make croutons out of those loaves. First time trying to make my own. I googled and found Hungry Cravings's blog for croutons so wish me luck.

http://www.hungrycravings.com/2010/04/homemade-croutons.html

I used my bread and they came out great.

homemade yeast donuts

I made these donuts Friday for National Donut day, I got the recipe from a friend, they are delicious!!!! and easy....


Yeast donuts:
2pks yeast (5tsp)
1/2 cup warm water (110-115*)
1/2 c warm milk
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c. shortening
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
4.5-5 cups flour
oil for frying

* I make this in my kitchenaid mixer with dough hook*
In mixing bowl place water, yeast and 1tsp sugar. let proof 5 min or until bubbly. add in milk, sugar, shortening, eggs, salt and 2 cups flour. Mix on LOW ( I use splatter sheild attachment too) Mix in enough flour until dough pulls away and forms ball. Mix another 4-5 min on 2-3 speed. Turn on floured surface and kneed it a few times (i usually do about 8-10 turns- probably dont have to do this since the machine does a lot) Grease bowl - place dough in it and turn once. Let rise 1hr in warm spot. Punch down. Cut dough in 1/2. roll out 1/2 dough to 1/2" thickness and cut into donuts with donut cutter (or round cup, cookie cutter ect all work). place on greased baking sheet and let rise for 30min or about double in size.

In electric skillet or pan, place enough oil for frying and let warm to 375 -(i bought an electric skillet at walmart for $20 and it works awesome- has temp control too!) gently place donut in oil. fry until brown, flip and brown other side. Take out and drain on paper (i use brown paper bag and paper towels) Cool. top with frosting/sprinkles ect. Frosting I make is just powder sugar, milk and almond extract. Thicker for frosting, thinner for glaze.

day one of trying something new

I'm not sure if I'll be any good at this blogging stuff, but I figured what the heck. I spend so much time reading and getting wonderful recipes and advice from some wonderful people that I might as well share it with those I know and maybe add a little something of my own.

I'm a mother of 5 and married to a man who gas made it possible to stay home for the last 14 years. I decided last year to go back to college so life has been crazy around here to say the least.

I love to try new recipes and try to make as much homemade food as possible. This summer I'm trying to grow a garden ( really it'll be a miracle if anything grows) I have a black thumb :)