help from a friend

A couple of nights ago, my best friend Amber asked me for an easy chicken recipe she could make for dinner. I told her the first one that came to mind, which was chicken fingers. Afterwards, she told me that she didnt have an egg to dip the chicken strips in, so she used peanut butter instead. Now, I thought that was very creative! But that got my creative gears turning. I had this recipe idea floating around in my head about taking apple jelly and putting it on chicken somehow. Well, after the peanut butter idea that gave me the perfect idea for my apple chicken! I took the apple jelly and thinned it out with a little warm water, and let the chicken strips sit in there. I coated them in a mix or breadcrumbs and crushed cornflakes, and fried them up in a pan. I wasn't sure how they would come out, since apple jelly doesn't have a very strong flavor. But, my son and I both inhaled them! They had just a hint of sweetness, and they were delicious! My son didn't even need ketchup to dip them in! Which of course made me very happy. Needless to say, there was no leftovers last nite. So, sometimes when ur out of something and hafta use a substitute, it comes out better than you planned! So get creative, and share your ideas with others, cuz it would always lead to a great idea!!

the best compliment i ever got on my cooking

Now, I have had compliments on my cooking before, but this one tops them all. One night over the summer, I made my Surf and Turf with White Wine Sauce. Now, at this time we lived out in the woods, so my brother decided there just had to be a campfire out there somewhere. So, he proceeded to make one. And I made the dinner. Beef tenderloin steaks smothered with baby scallops and mussels, with a heavenly sauce of garlic, shallots and white wine all over the top. And to go with it some fresh asparagus. I was really looking forward to eating this, and so was my friend Skye that was over for dinner. He always went straight for the fridge, because I don't eat leftovers. So, I plated everyone's dinners and we proceeded to eat out by the campfire. As Skye was eating, he was so in love with the food that he dropped his last bite on the ground. He was so upset, and he loved the dinner so much that he picked it right back up off the ground and ate it!! Now that must have been some amazing food if he was willing to eat it off the ground like that! Him and I still to this day tell people this story when people don't believe how good my food is. I know he will be first in line at the grand opening my of my restaurant. Thanx Skye!!

a new foodie in my life

After much encouragement from my older sister, I decided that I better get back to my blogging. For anyone else who has been patiently awaiting for a new post from me, I'm sorry. Many things have happened since I last wrote. I moved 2 times, and I started school. I'm in my second semester now. I'm also currently 14 weeks pregnant with my second child. And you bet that I'm going to teach this one all my culinary skills as well. My son is a little trickier, since he's quite the picky eater. He has no idea how lucky he is to have a mother who cooks like I do. My mother was the casserole queen when I was growing up! And during my first trimester, I felt so sick every day that most of my recipes, just the thought of them made my stomach turn! But now I'm in my second trimester, and the nausea has pretty much subsided. So, with love and encouragement, i blow the dust off my cookbook, tie on the apron once again, and fire up the stove! Bon Appetit!!