June 30, 2009 - A Japanese Maple Tree grows on Prospect Street, Reading MA

Gorgeous

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 - FOOD Post

Remember don't read this if you haven't eaten!

4/5 Stars
Positive Point: Easy to prepare and put in the fridge for later cooking.

4 Servings (I really only need for 2 but Atom likes leftovers - go figure!)
8 oz salami (have them slice it thick for you at the deli)
4 weiner sausages - I used 4 small Polsa Kilbasa or one Hillshire Farm one
2 green bell peppers (the Italian ones)
3 tomatoes - not too large
2 medium onions
4-6 eggs (I used 6 but I think it should have been more)
1 tsp paprika (totally forgot about this one - I was too hungry to remember!)

Prep:

1. Cut salami into strips and sausages/kilbsa into slices
2. Rinse, deseed and cut bell peppers into strips, Peel and slice onions, (bell peppers and onions can be in same bowl prior to cooking), Rinse and slice tomatoes (keep tomatoes separate)
3. Saute sausages and salami in a skille for 3 minutes (use a cast iron one if you have it)
4. Add onion and pepper strips. Saute for a few minutes, then add tomatoes. Reduce heat.
5. Beat eggs, pour over all ingredients in pan
6. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until egg mixture is set. Sprinkle with paprika. Serve.

Good with Rye Bread or old-fashioned whole wheat bread

Make sure you have eaten before reading these types of posts...

So let me tell you that I will be posting updates on this cooking frenzy I'm on right now. What? Didn't I tell you already about it?

Well, I think I am a good cook, I can create my own dishes and stuff but realistically, I cook the same few things over and over again. BORINGGGGG... so I thought I'd put my recipe books and cards to use.

I went thru some of them and pulled out things that I KNEW I could put into my mouth without gagging (that would be almost anything without apples as an ingredient), had Atom look them over and made the shopping list for the ingredients.

Here are the 5 recipes I chose for the first week:

New Orleans Wine Sauced Chicken
Chicken Creole
Spicy Pepper Steak
Mushroom-Topped Pork Chops
Stuffed Green Peppers

Here is what I made after I realized that my fridge was stuffed with leftovers....
New Orleans Wine Sauced Chicken - 4/5 stars
this dish was super yummie! I was kind of surprised - even more so when I realized that I had put too much flour and my rue was going to require way more water and wine that asked for. Thankfully, I kind of knew how to fix it along the way (a total shoutout to my MOM - THANKS MOM!!!)

Chicken Creole - 2/5 stars
meh

Spicy Pepper Steak - 3/5 stars
a little less Meh only because it had BEEF in it and Joanne LOVES her some beef!

Mushroom-Topped Pork Chops along with Mushroom Risotto - 5/5 stars
SIMPLY AWESOME! Now there IS a story behind this dish - it was made on Wed and of course, I had invited two of my closest friends over to share it with me and Atom. (HI MYRA & ALFRED - btw they don't even HAVE computers lol)
Alfred happens to be a honest to GOD chef - so I knew that if this dish stunk - he would totally tell me - that and the fact that he is german ;) (Myra and Hubbie wouldn't)
The Mushroom Risotto wasn't part of the original recipe but I had to serve the center cut pork chops with something, right? Atom found a great site that had an easy Mushroom Risotto and that is what we did. It turned out awesome - I also sauted fresh spinach and mushrooms in butter and garlic as the vegetable. Alfred loved it - I felt as if I was on "Iron Chef" haha - he like the presentation too! YAY for me

So of course, it was a success and since it was, I thought I'd start blogging (w/pictures) about our meals as well...so enjoy and don't read this and look at the pictures if you are hungry ;)

June 30 2009 - Our Gardening!

Just me

June 14, 2009

At the Raspberry Beret - Employee Appreciation Night Dinner at the Manderin in Reading

Flower at the Manderin

Brother Allen from Bethel

Dinnertime

Anthony

After meeting Ice Cream Time @ Friendly's