Trying to think up something different but still slightly traditional for Christmas Eve Dinner because quite frankly I'm so sick of Turkey. We were watching a smoked pork shoulder with BBQ sauce, which just sounded really good for a change of pace at the Holidays. I'm gonna experiment with Indian Pudding for desert, which sounds really really good (note to self: Stop watching Food TV, it's not helping my expanding waist line). I'm also going to experiment with Pumpkin/chocolate fudge and a peanut butter/chocolate fudge recipe that is currently running around in my head. Next weekend should be a good baking weekend.
In the mean time, I feel like I've pretty much read all that I can read now. I'm looking for Push (the book version of the movie Precious), but I'm in no rush to read something really really deep and depressing.
What's really bad is that I've yet to watch New Moon. I'm a bad Twerd. I'm tempted to just wait until DVD.
I'm also still in love with my new TV. Thank you Black Friday! Bye bye ugly old TV that didn't even have the back hooked in correctly because I lost a few screws.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Turkied Out...
Posted by Misty G at 3:02 PM 0 comments
Thursday, November 26, 2009
My Contribution For Thanksgiving....Stuffed Mushrooms
So, I was watching Food TV's Barefoot Contessa, and Ina Garten has this really great recipe for Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms. I had to tweak the recipe a bit (okay a lot) because the stores in my area do not have some of the things she puts in the stuffing, but they still came out tasting really (and by really I mean REALLY) good.
I'm a novice when cooking with wine. I can marinate with it like a pro when I grill, but with regular foods (unless it's like a marinara sauce) I'm kind of clueless.
The recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of Marsala Wine. I didn't know Marsala Wine comes in sweet and dry, so I kind of felt silly debating in the liquor store for 30 minutes about it. I decided on Dry since mushrooms are earthy. I couldn't see a sweet wine with them
Clean them off with a damp towel (don't wash them under water, it will cause them to get too mushy as you cook them. Remove the stems, but don't throw them out. You will use them later.
Put the mushrooms in a container or bag. Take 3 tablespoons of Marsala wine and 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil. (Okay, I have to confess, I thought I had olive oil in my pantry and didn't, so I used Vegetable Oil. Bad Misty). Pour the oil and wine in with the mushrooms and get them all coated. Then let them sit while you do the other stuff.
The original recipe calls for green onions, but since I didn't feel like going to the store I just chopped up a white onion into really small pieces. I then took the mushroom stems and chopped them up really fine too.
Next you start browning up Sage Sausage. You can use something more spicy, but not everyone likes spice, and Sage Sausage just speaks the holidays to me. As it browns, make sure you don't leave any really big chunks of sausage, because that makes it hard to stuff into the mushrooms.
Pour the onions and the mushroom stems in with the sausage and combine. Add salt, pepper and garlic. Then add about a cup of Panko Bread Crumbs (you will find them in the Oriental Foods Section of your grocery store). If you feel like you need to add more bread crumbs, go ahead.
Finally add a package of cream cheese to the mixture till it all combines. Ina's recipe actually calls for Mascarpone Cheese, but I live in the boondocks of Oklahoma. There is no Marscapone Cheese at the Superwalmart or any of the other little markets. (I would kill for a Trader Joes in Lawton. Seriously, who do I have to bribe to get one?)
Now it's time to stuff your Shrooms! Once they are stuffed, you can take grated Parmesan cheese and sprinkle it over the tops with a little more salt and pepper. I actually even put some of the Parm in the sausage mixture before I started stuffing the mushrooms.
Once you've done all that, you put them in the oven for about 50 minutes at 350. I know if I actually got my hands on all the "right" ingredients it would have tasted even better, but honestly I don't think anyone really cared. We wolfed em' down in an hour.
The picture above is what they look like about 15 minutes before they are done. By the time they were ready to be taken out, all the juice in the bottom of the pan gets sucked up into the mushroom or evaporates in the oven.
If you make this recipe, make a lot. It goes fast.
Posted by Misty G at 2:41 PM 0 comments
Thursday, November 5, 2009
So Easy, Even My Mom Can Do It....
Posted by Misty G at 5:39 PM 0 comments
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Pumpkin Cookies
Posted by Misty G at 11:35 AM 0 comments
Thursday, October 29, 2009
It's Not A Pretty Desert, But It Is Soooooooooo Good!
Whip up the heavy cream, but DON'T over whip (unless you like that kinda thing, ah-hem)
Posted by Misty G at 7:33 PM 0 comments
Friday, October 23, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Pucker Up and Pie
I made my first Lemon Meringue Pie today! Woot! I actually did semi decent on the crust, but next time I'm going to make sure I have all the ingredients out and ready to rock. You have to do too many things at once. Okay, well, two things at once. Stir and pour. My brain only works in one gear, so and something else on and I tend to screw up when I'm working a recipe. In this case, I thought I read that the custard needed 2/3 cup of lemon juice, and it really only needed 1/3. Nice. What's kind of funny is I was thinking "man, this is a lot of lemons to squeeze!" the whole time. So, when I realized that the custard was now too liquidy I tried to add a little more of the thickening agent and forgot that it tends to clump if you don't mix it in right. It took a few minutes to get the bigger nuggets out. I'd like to say the white spots are glare from the lighting, but that would be a lie.lol.
So, I'm calling this my Pucker Up and Pie, since there are A LOT of lemons in this pie. It could end up being a happy accident. I think the end result looks pretty good for a first time pie!
Posted by Misty G at 4:14 PM 0 comments
Sunday, June 28, 2009
With Age Comes Clarity...just not for me
Today was a lazy day. The kind of day where I slept in, did maybe just a couple loads of laundry, and grilled dinner for the family. The kind of day where I didn't even bother to look what kind of shoes I had on until I looked down and noticed I wasn't wearing matching flip flops.
I did, however, have really good luck on the grill. If only my talents on the grill could find me a man! Le sigh. (on a side note, by man I mean one that will grill for me and not bitch about it the whole time....oh, and it would be nice if he had all of his fingers too. Those kinds seem to be in short supply around here).
Posted by Misty G at 5:38 PM 0 comments
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Shoe Diary, Part 2
Posted by Misty G at 6:42 AM 0 comments
Thursday, June 25, 2009
What's in your purse????
My love for purses is about as equal as my love for shoes. I've lost count of how many purses I actually have (though maybe not as many as people might think). I only know that when I see a purse, and it calls my name, I must buy. Normally I only buy if they are on sale, but I admit that the boot purse above cost me more than what I would usually pay. I like the green one just because it has fru-fru and beads. It's my girly girl purse. Bought them both at the Affair of the Heart in OKC (Note to self, do not go with two old ladies who smoke next year. They will only piss you off and want to leave early because they are tired)
When I say call my name, I'm really REALLY serious y'all. I hear bells and fireworks, and my eyes light up, and I get super happy all of the sudden. Whenever I feel a little down, I pull out one of my purses and suddenly I'm not quite so sad anymore. Superficial? Hell yes. I think every woman is allowed to have a something that makes them happy just because. I have no guilt over my small obsession.
Posted by Misty G at 7:18 PM 0 comments