1-2-3 Shrimp Scampi!

This year I've become more adventurous in what I make on Fridays during Lent.  This week I wasn't quite in the mood for fish, and one can only eat so much pasta, so I decided to branch out and cook a shrimp dish.  This was seriously the easiest thing I've ever made, and it was DELICIOUS!  Serve over rice, pasta, roasted potatoes, whatever your favorite starch is!  We served this over wild rice because we had it on hand.

Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed is the best, it's juice for approximately 3 lemons; but you could probably use lemon juice concentrate, such as Real Lemon)

 
Eoin helped me hand-squeeze the lemons!

• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tbsp and 1 tsp of minced garlic
• 2 lbs of medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• ground black pepper, to taste
• crushed red pepper, to taste

Directions:

• In a large bowl, take the olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, garlic, black and red pepper and whisk together. Add cleaned shrimp to the mixture and toss to coat.  Put in the refrigerator and let marinate for at least a half hour.

• When mixture is done marinating, add to a skillet over high heat.  Cook until the liquid boils and the shrimp turn opaque.  

Spinach, Scallion and Provolone Quiche

I haven't posted a breakfast recipe in awhile.  Usually we either have fried or scrambled eggs with corned beef hash or bacon.  Last week I bought a container of cottage cheese, and fully intended to eat it.  Well that was until Friday came around, and I came to the realization that it was just going to go to waste.  I decided instead of wasting it, I would make a quiche for breakfast one day over the weekend.  The joy of making quiche is that you can use whatever you have in your fridge!  I added spinach, scallions (green onions), garlic and provolone to mine.  This very may well be the only way I get my son to eat spinach at the moment!  Since it was on a whim, it was also crust-less.  I am intrigued about all the future flavor combinations that I can try, and will definitely be adding them to this post as I try them!

Makes about 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 (16 oz) container of cottage cheese, I used small curd but you can use whatever fat content and curd size you prefer
• 1 (10 oz) package of frozen, chopped spinach; thawed and liquid squeezed out
• 1 bunch of scallions (green onions), white parts only, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon of jarred minced garlic
• 1/4-1/3 lb of slicing provolone, ripped into bite-sized pieces

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325ºF.  Spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs.  Then using a large spoon, add and mix each ingredient to the bowl.  Pour into prepared baking dish.

• Bake uncovered for about 35-40 minutes.  Mixture will rise slightly and start to brown.  Let stand about 5 minutes, serve.

Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips

Homemade tortilla chips are seriously THE EASIEST thing to make! You can fry them, but for a healthier version, I bake mine. You can season them however you want, toss them in a splash of lime juice, salt them; whatever your heart desires! All you do is take a large tortilla (you can use corn, whole grain or whole wheat); cut the tortilla into eight pieces (cut in half, stack, in half, stack, and in half). Put the tortilla wedges into a bowl and season with a drop of olive oil and whatever seasonings you like. I used salt and chili powder. Then spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 350ºF for 5-10 minutes, until you get your desired crispiness. Serve as a side to homemade salsa or guacamole! If you use a whole pack of 10 tortillas (most large tortillas come in pack of 10-12), you'll get 80 chips!

Valentine's Day Toddler/Preschool Crafts

So every once in a while, someone will ask me for ideas for arts and crafts to do with their child.  Usually, I don't do anything all that notable.  I am a Nanny to two 20 month olds, and my son is only 25 months old; so I can't do anything all that intricate.  I already have ideas of what I want to do next year and the year after, but I try and break down most of what we do to the simplest form, so it's not too overwhelming for them.  Plus, I don't want to do the same thing year after year, then it just seems like a chore for me!  Here are three Valentine's Day crafts that we have recently done.  They all came out so incredibly cute, and the kids were so proud of themselves.  The last craft is from Parents Magazine.  Usually I'm intimidated to even try the crafts they have, but this looked like something I could do!  The only thing I didn't like about this craft is that, although the kids glued everything down themselves, it still looked like they had help from an adult!  Aside from creating and cutting out all the parts, all I did was put glue on the back of each part!  They did the rest!  It still came out really cute nonetheless!

(This is actually copied from an email I just sent out today) 

Today Eoin's going to do a simple, cut out a white heart and let him fingerpaint it red, but we also did a few more intricate projects:

1.  Valentine's Day Wreath:

We took a paper plate (ours was pink, but any color will do) and cut the middle out.  I have a stash of multi-colored paper scraps so I cut out a bunch of different sized hearts.  The kids I watch are 20 months and Eoin is 25 months, so I do the gluing for them.  I just put a single line of glue all around the perimeter of the plate and then let them put the hearts all over.  I added more glue as necessary.  Then at the end I let them pick out a glitter glue color and just put a little trail all around it.  

2.  Valentine:

I cut one scalloped heart out of white paper (if you want to be even more creative, you can use a coffee filter or doily) Then cut a pink heart smaller than the white.  I have a heart hole punch, if you don't have one, just cut tiny hearts out of different color paper.  Glue the white and pink hearts on a piece of red paper.  Then take a paintbrush and spread glue over the two hearts.  I used the tiny hearts as confetti and let the kids sprinkle them onto the glue covered hearts.  You can also sprinkle glitter over the glue covered hearts.  While that dries, trace two hand prints on orange paper.  I wrote "I ♥ Mommy" on one and "I ♥ Daddy" on the other.  When the hearts dry, then glue the hands onto the paper.

3.  Stuck on you:

I got this one from Parents Magazine:

I included pictures of the step by step process.  

For the frog's body:  Fold the papper in half, then fold in half again.  Draw a half-heart against the folded corner, making sure that the top and side edges align with the folds.  Cut out, unfold, and flatten.

Cut 4 legs as shown, 2 at an angle about 5" tall and 2 straight about 4" tall.  Punch 6 hearts and glue to ends as feet (again, if you don't have it, just cut tiny hearts out) Glue legs under big heart, and bend larger legs at the knees.  Trace spoon handle on pink paper, cut out , and glue inside of mouth.  Cut 2 2" dark green and 2 1" light green (I used yellow) ovals, glue together.  Draw pupils; fold edges of ovals, and glue to top of head.

Reindeer Munch

This year for Christmas, Eoin made his Great Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles ornaments for Christmas. We also made a recipe that I had found in the December 2011 issue of Parents Magazine. Reindeer Munch is very similar to something that I had tried years ago called “White Trash.” It's fun and easy to make and is quite tasty too! I am going to post the original recipe. I did make some alterations, I used a mix of white, milk and dark chocolates. I already have my idea for next year's presents for Great Grandparents and Aunt and Uncles, but I'm pretty sure we'll wind up making this again as well, it was just that good! Parents Magazine suggests gifting this treat in a handmade container, I used a holiday decorative cellophane bag.

Makes about 12 cups (24 ½ cup servings)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups bite-size square-shaped rice cereal, such as Chex (you can also use Cheerios)
• 2 cups thin pretzel sticks
• 1 cup salted cocktail peanuts (or use soy nuts)
• 1 cup dried cranberries (you can use any dried fruit really)
• 1 cup candy-coated milk-chocolate pieces, such as M&M's
• 12 oz vanilla-flavored candy-coating, or white candy melts (I used white, milk and dark chocolate chips-not combined, I did a few batches separately)

Directions:

In a very large bowl, combine the cereal, pretzels, peanuts, dried fruit, and candy pieces; set aside.

Put bite-size candy pieces in a microwave safe bowl, melt according to package directions. Pour over cereal mixture; toss to coat.

Spread mixture on a large piece of foil. Let stand until set (about 30 minutes). Break into bite-size pieces.  

Spiced Sugar Cookies

It's been a Christmas tradition in my family for I don't even know how many years, that we make sugar cookies. My brother and sister have taken over this tradition and now make them every Christmas Eve. Since this past year I have been all about starting traditions for my family and I, I wanted a nice and easy cookie recipe to do. These are spiced sugar cookies from McCormick, a little different spin on the original sugar cookie, and this way, if I bring some to my parent's for Christmas Eve, it has a slightly different flavor to it. Eoin loved helping me make these cookies! He spent a lot of time helping me decorate them. You can use whatever you desire to decorate them. We used little cinnamon candies, red and green decorative sugars, multicolored sprinkles, and red and green frosting. The original recipe says that it yields 6 dozen cookies, but it depends on the size of the cookie cutters you use. We had enough cookies to bring to my side of the family for Christmas Eve, the other side of the family for Christmas, give to my landlord, and still have a tiny bit leftover for us.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/3 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• whatever you desire to decorate your cookies with

Directions:

1. Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Beat sugar and butter in a large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight until firm.
   
   
   
2. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookies cutters. If decorating with sprinkles or candies, decorate prior to baking. Place on greased baking sheets.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Bake in preheated 375ºF oven 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. If decorating with frosting/icing, decorate after cookies have completely cooled. Place back on wire rack to dry.
   
   
   

How to make your own table runner

On one of the first episodes of The Chew (and it actually may have been the VERY FIRST episode) Clinton Kelly made a very simple table runner (for Clinton Kelly's instructions, please go to The Chew and search under Clinton Kelly) . This was back in September. From the time I saw that segment, I knew I wanted to make them for Christmas presents. If you asked me 4 years ago who I would become, I never thought I'd turn out like this! I cook homemade meals more often than not, and now I make my own Christmas presents?!?! This truly is simple. I may be creative but I can't sew, crochet or anything of the like! These are NO SEW directions! Because of this, be VERY careful when cleaning the fabric!

• You want to preferably pick a cotton, or a cotton-poly blend for your fabric. Something that is going to be nice and thick and durable. I got my fabric from fabric.com but you can use your own reliable source for fabric, whether it be another website or a fabric store.
• Measure the width and the length of your table.
  • You want the table runner to be 1/3 of the width of your table. For instance, if the width of your table is 60-inches, then you want the table runner to be 20-inches. Then add 1 ½ inches to each side to allow for hemming. This would make your width measurement 23 inches.
  • You want the length of your table runner to be an additional 12-inches on either side than what you have measured. If your table is 90-inches long, then you would want the table runner to be 114-inches. Again, you must add 1 ½ inches to each side to allow for hemming. This would make your length measurement 117-inches.
    
    
    
    
    

• Cut your fabric to desired measurements.
• Measure ½-inch along all edges and fold into the backside of the fabric. Fold seam over again, this time 1-inch, to create your hem.
• Take some No-Sew Hemming Tape and press into the seam of your hem. Follow the directions on the back of the hem tape package to seal the hem into place.
  
  
  
• It is up to your own personal taste if you would like to keep the corners of the table runner square of if you want to angle it off. My best advice to you would be to make sure you MEASURE EVERYTHING OUT!

I used Christmas fabrics, so I opted to not use any extra embellishments on the runners. But if you don't find a pattern you like, you can always make a solid color table runner and then use fabric paint and a rubber stamp to decorate it. You can also make tassles for the edges if you'd like. Or even get some extra fabric and make some little place mats to go along with the table runner. With this project, the world is your oyster! Have fun!