Are you a lover or a hater?

So, I have this orange sweater, I think people either love it or hate it.  I personally love it or I wouldn't have bought it!  I think it's striking and you can see me coming a mile away.  It's funny to see people's reactions and listen to comments they make, all in good fun.  So are you a lover or a hater?

I reached into "The Stack" Sunday and I must have been feeling like a baker because both things I made required me to make a pastry dough!  And you won't believe how hard it was for me to find someone to come eat dinner with us, even my parents had other plans.  But alas, the next door neighbors were happy to be pick number 4 (yes, I had to ask 4 different people before I got a yes!).  And dinner was good.  The first thing I made was Pizza Rustica and I printed the recipe off the net in 2004.  It was really good and a beautiful presentation.  Side note: sometimes it kinda gets on your nerves to be married to a chef.  He thought the filling didn't have a direction, so before I put it in the pan he thought he should doctor it up.  I'm not sure what he added but just to appease him, I said it tasted better but really, it tasted the same.  Don't get me wrong, I've learned a lot from Joe and most of the time, his alterations do make a dish better, just not this one!

For dessert, I made a Free Form Apple Harvest Tart.  I'm not sure from where I printed this recipe but I know it wasn't the internet but it must have come from Kraft because the exact recipe is on their site.  Joe loved it, it's his kind of dessert.  The lemon gelatin was a nice surprise in the cream cheese.  Becky brought over an insanely luscious home made chocolate cake with homemade chocolate icing.  Straight off the Hershey's Cocoa Powder box I think!  This may be the recipe.


All in all, it was a good night with good friends and the Atwood Hill Reserve wine we bought at the wine tasting in November was especially delicious.  I think they are maturing as wine makers.  If you've never been there, make sure you check it out when the weather gets warmer.

By the way, Spring is only 6 weeks away!

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs...

I have received a 3rd sign that my New Year's Resolution of serving others is the way to go!  I've applied for a global volunteer opportunity.   Fingers crossed, it would be my original resolution on steroids!  Will let you know more if it comes to be...

Here is the lady lawn ornament/sprinkler I also told you about earlier, forgot the picture last time!

I'm ahead of the fashion trends with my new 99 cent navy blazer from GW.  While reading my bible, February issue, I came across the trend of red, white and blue.  I paired my blazer with red boots!  I did this BEFORE I saw this article.

And, look who else was featured in the bible...cutie patooti Andy Samberg...I think he is crushingly cute!  I've always had a thing for dark, curly hair on guys (Adam, Adrien Grenier, Andrew Shue, you get the picture!)  Ironically, I never dated nor did I marry a man that fits that description!  Anyway, I thought I looked pretty good and was happy to see I was ahead of the trends!  I try!


I haven't cooked much lately and the snow has kept me from shopping, but I have done a little for Gia's birthday party tomorrow.  Six years old...amazing!  When I have everything together, I'll share some photos.

Well, I'm off to find a recipe for a shower I'm throwing with my sis-in-laws on Sunday.  I'm not going into The Stack because I'm sure I can make a cheese appetizer dish with something from the different types of cheeses we have in the house.  Might as well use them up,  so I have to find a recipe that calls for the things I have and has a minimal grocery list. 

Speaking of using up, we had a good dinner tonight.  It pays to be married to a chef!  We had pot roast earlier in the week so Joe turned it into beef gravy over biscuits for dinner.  I wish I had a picture of it, I took it off the camera but when I went to post it, I don't know where I put it!!  It may be the fault of the 2nd apple martini...

Cheddar Biscuits:

1/2 cup shortening
1-1/2 cup self rising flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 TBSP sugar
1 TSP salt
2/3 cup milk
1 cup cheese

Heat oven to 450.  Cut shortening into flour, sugar and salt until mixture resembles fine crumbs.  Stir in milk and cheese until dough leaves side of bowl.  Turn onto floured surface and knead 10 times.  Roll into rectangle, 1/2 inch think.  Cut into 10 biscuits (I don't use biscuit cutters, I just cut into squares with a knife). Bake 10-12 minutes until golden brown.  Immediately remove from cooking sheet.

Apple Martini:
2 oz vodka (Kettle One, a nice Christmas present from a friend!)
1oz sour apple schnapps
1/2 oz triple sec
splash of Sprite

I have learned from a friend that a splash of Sprite in many clear liquor drinks is just the thing!  Served in a chilled martini glass with a crisp green apple wedge...I wish I could find the picture!

Later...



All good things start with "G"...

Goodwill, Gnomes, Gardens and Grandma....

If I had more time to shop at different thrift stores I would.  But, woe is me, I have a full time job and 3 kids and a busy husband and a marathon to train for so I just don't have the time to shop at different stores.  Thankfully, my GW is only a 5 minute drive away and very rarely disappoints.  Check out this cute Isaac Mizzrahi jacket that fits me like a glove that I got for 99 cents!

I really need a photographer or learn how to take better pics!  My head's cut off!

Sometimes, posting pics in this blog baffles me at times.  If I don't select all the pictures I want to add, I can't figure a way to add other pics later.  I'm a little technologically challenged so it doesn't surprise me.  Anyway, I wish I could have shown you the great garden ornament I got at GW a couple of weeks ago.  Mom and I we're shopping for "gag gifts" that I needed to bring to a party.  She showed me this ceramic figure of a larger older women laying on her stomach in a bathing suit and sun hat and I thought, "not very interesting", then when she pointed out what it actually was, it was mine!  It's a sprinkler for the garden.  You attach a hose to it and the water comes out the top of her hat!  I'll have to post the pic next time.  Anyway, she'll look great next to my gnome, who at present is tending my rosemary for the winter.  He helped it through the winter last year and I hope he does it again this year.  I believe in the magic of gnomes...  When I was cutting down my rosemary for the winter, a piece came out of the ground so I planted for indoors.  I've never had much luck growing rosemary indoors but, *knock knock* it seems to be holding up fairly well.  I've found the key to growing rosemary is to position it on the south side of the house.


I wonder what he does when I'm not looking!  Does he play with the other gnome in my garden?



The perfect window for my rosemary, facing south.

No Thursday night dinner last week but I do have some recipes to share.  Mom and Dad did come over but we just had soup and sandwiches.  My dad LOVES soup and Joe made a big pot of chicken noodle soup earlier in the week so we just had that.  My mom's birthday was this week so I made a couple of things so we had something to put the candle in so we could celebrate, low-key.  I would bet that you have everything on both these ingredient lists in your home.

Happy Birthday Marge!

Homemade Brownies

Margie's (my mom!) Lemon Bars

Crust:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup soft butter
1/4 cup confectioners sugar

Filling:
2 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp lemon juice (if I'm using fresh lemons, I put the zest in too)

Mix crust, press into greased 9X9 pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350.  Mix filling ingredients, pour over crust and bake 25 minutes.  Sprinkle with confectioners sugar when cooled.  Cut into squares.

I'm outta here...

I'm baaaack...

Since I was off from work for 2 weeks during the holidays I took a break from Thursday night dinners and posting on my blog but I've been up to a lot lately.  I'll try to recap the last few weeks in a few, small, paragraphs!

Homemade Christmas Ornaments - we had a lot of fun making these, the recipe was very simple, I have tons of cookie cutters so we went to town.  Plus, who doesn't love a homemade ornament from a kid?

Running, Running, Running - I've signed up to run my second full marathon...and I said I'd never do it again.  Blame it on my sister.  She's doing her first and I'm doing it to support her...that's just the kind of person I am.

New Year's Resolutions - We spent New Year's Eve like with did last year with good friends and good food.  I love going over the Flanagan's because they serve you deer disguised as good things like Taco Soup and Cincinnati recipe chili!  Kevin made deer jerky...it was REALLY good...maybe I like deer after all?  My resolution came to me whilst watching "19 Kids and Counting"...I'm a huge Duggar family fan.  Now, I'm not going to be growing my hair long, wearing skirts or quit drinking beer any time soon...but I am going to try and live my life modeled after "God first, others second, yourself last".  This subject was also brought up in the homily at church this week; we are here to serve God and others Fr. Mario said.  Therefore, my resolution is to serve others.  Now, I think I already do that to some extent in the way Joe and I open up our home to family and friends, but I think there are small ways I can do this too.

My other New Year's Resolution is strength train along with my marathon training.  I have NO upper arm strength, Joe makes fun of me all the time.  I'm going to try and change that.

Finds at the GW - there hasn't been much because I've been doing so much Christmas shopping.  But I found 2 pairs of jeans (Levi and Gap) for Isaac for $5.  I usually don't do well with boys clothes at the GW but that day was an exception.  I also found a Vera Bradley belt, new with tags, and got it for $2.  I'm going to try to sell it for $15 the proceeds goes in my Tattoo Fund jar!

Recipes:

I have been cooking a few things and I'm happy to share two "keepers" from the stack:

Roast Pork with Duck Sauce on Garlic Bread - I originally printed this recipe out in 2001.  It was really easy and really good.  Something a little different.  But word to the wise, make sure you use SWEET HUNGARIAN paprika and not regular or it will be HOT.  You can omit this seasoning on the bread altogether if you want.



I have no idea where I got this next recipe but it was AWESOME.  I highly suggest making this.  I served it with garlic bread for a meal.

Mama's Italian Wedding Soup

1 pound extra-lean ground beef (90/10)
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup dried Italian bread crumbs
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
3 tbsp minced onion
1 tspn dried basil
1/4 tspn garlic powder
2 1/2 quarts chicken broth (I used a little more, 2-48 oz cans)
2 cups fresh spinach
1 c acini de pepe or other tiny pasta (I used tubettini)
3/4 cup diced carrots
1 tbsp Italian seasoning

In a medium bowl, combine beef, egg, bread crumbs, basil, garlic and onion.  Shape mixture in to 3/4 inch (tiny) balls and set aside (I always take a bit of the mixture, cook in the microwave, taste and adjust seasoning as needed).

In a large stockpot, heat chicken broth to boiling; stir in pasta, carrots, Italian seasoning and meatballs.  Return to boil, reduce heat to medium.  Cook, stirring frequently, at a slow boil for 10 minutes until pasta is done and meatballs are no longer pink.  Add spinach and allow it to wilt.  Serve hot with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Gia's Family Birthday Party - We celebrated Gia's birthday a bit early since Erica and Chloe were in town and Karen was too.  We had Moe Joe's for dinner (Joe's version of Moe's Southwestern Grill) and a cake made by Isabelle for dessert.  Lots of family joined and we reminded Gia of how lucky she is to have some many people love her!

Oh, I've been sdoing ome sophisticated baking with an Easy Bake Oven.  Gia wanted one for Christmas so instead of buying her a new one, I cleaned up the one we had in a box in the basement and gave it to her.  It was Isabelle's.

I think that's it for now. 

Back with a baklava vengeance...

Whew!  This week has been a whirlwind!  It's so nice having the week off work and I've found plenty of stuff to keep me busy.  I had some time to myself after the dentist early Tuesday morning (look Ma, no cavities!) so I took advantage of being alone and finished my Christmas shopping.  The mall and the roads were surprisingly not crowded.  Since I had all my gifts, I decided to wrap them.  Now all I have is baking left.  Wednesday was a crazy day of baking.  The first thing I made was baklava.  I used to make it every Christmas then stopped for some reason so I'm back with a baklava vengeance.  Baklava isn't hard, it's just time consuming.  They take 50 minutes to bake and almost that amount of time to put it together.  But the end result is worth the effort.


The assembly


1 (17 1/4 oz) package frozen phyllo pastry, thawed
1 cup butter, melted
1 cup ground walnuts
1/3 cup ground almonds
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Syrup (recipe follows)


Cut phyllo to fit 13 x 9  pan.  Cover with a damp towel.  Lightly butter bottom of pan.  Layer 10 sheets of phyllo, brushing each sheet with melted butter.  Set aside.

Combine walnuts, almonds, sugar and spices, mixing well.  Sprinkle one-third nut mixture over phyllo in pan, drizzle with a little melted butter.  Top nut mixture with 11 sheets of phyllo, brushing each sheet with butter, repeat twice with remaining nut mixture, phyllo and butter, ending with buttered phyllo.  Cut into diamond shapes.  Bake at 350 for 50 minutes.  Cool thoroughly.  Drizzle warm syrup over pastries.  Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours.

Layers complete

Cut into diamond shapes

Syrup:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

2 teaspoons lemon juice

2 1/2 tablespoons honey.

Combine sugar, water and lemon juice.  Bring to a boil.  reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 7 minutes.  Stir in honey.

Out of the oven and ready for syrup

 Payden and Logan, 2 of the neighborhood kids, came down on Wednesday too so to keep them busy, I made dough for cut out cookies and let them have at it.  5 kids, icing and sprinkles...imagine my kitchen afterwards!  I am a master of the cookie cutout.  When Izzy was in kindergarten, her teacher asked me to make cookies one time...and she never stopped.  She'd provide me with the cut out and I'd make the cookies.  I have over 100 cookie cutters, if you even need something, just ask me, I've probably have it.  I make a butter cookie cutout as opposed to a sugar cookie.  Here's my recipe:

1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons vanilla
2 cups flour

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla.  Add flour, mix well, Cover and chill about 1 hour.  Divide dough in half, flatten between 2 pieces of waxed paper to 1/4 inch thickness.  Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet, bake at 325 for 15-20 minutes.  Cool on wire racks

Since I hadn't done enough, I decided to make a new coffee cake too.  I didn't have the hazelnuts or raisins called for so I improvised with walnuts and craisins!  I gave them out as gifts; I just hope they're good because I never made them before...but at least they look impressive.  The recipe made 4 coffee cakes so I took one up to Father at church, gave one to our neighbor and drove one out to Kevin and Kim.  What a pretty drive to their house out in the country with the snow on the ground.  Davis's...if you're reading this, you would have gotten a coffee cake but it has nuts!  I think everything I made this Christmas had nuts...sorry!

To give me a break from baking, I waited until dusk, put on my running shoes and some night gear and headed out for a run around the neighborhood to get in some exercise and look at all the Christmas lights.  It was just what the doctor ordered!

Today I made some easy stuff, pretzels with chocolate and M&M's...salty/sweet...mmmmm.  Me and the kids just got back from dinner with Jay and I'm making my Christmas coffee cake as I type this.  I'm not one to brag but this coffee cake is the best ever!  I got the recipe from someone I used to work with and if it isn't on the Christmas and Easter table, I get in trouble.  I just can't share it here, you have to ask me for it!  Or I'll make you one if you're lucky!

All I have left to do is clean the house and box up my goodies.  Now I'm going to watch a movie with the kids.  Merry Christmas to all!

Breaking 100...

Joe and I decided about a month ago to have a Christmas open house.  We've never had a Christmas party before and I just felt the need to do it.  Strangely, we're not really invited to many Christmas parties each year; I'm not sure if that's because no one is inviting The Schultz's to parties or if people are not having them!  So, if we can't go to a party, the party can come to us!

While stressful in the beginning, the party turned out to be a blast.  And the best part is we broke 100 when it comes to attendance...we had 101 people!  Crazy!  Joe and I feel very blessed to be able to say we have 100 people that would show up to our house to celebrate the season with us (but let's be honest, it may be Joe's cooking that brings them here too!)  We had family, old friends and new friends in attendance and everyone mingled and looked to be having a jolly fun time! 

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of the night!  However, I am left with a lot of good memories and LOTS of bottles of wine and whiskey and even a couple 6 packs from party-goers bearing gifts.  I may have to switch from beer and become a wino for a while...life is rough!  Here are some of the memories of the night:

The cookies - I flipped my brother Keith the bird on more than one occasion last night.  I made Spumoni cookies that looked beautiful but tasted like absolutely nothing.  How disappointing to put so much work in to dividing the dough, making each layer of chocolate, pistachio and cherry and then have it taste like nothing which Keith made sure to tell everyone who went for the cookie how it was a terrible cookie!  You win some you lose some.  Thanks Keith!

The sledding - I have an old wooden sled on my front porch that was serving as a nice winter decoration...until all of Joe's friends decided to go sled riding.  It was hilarious to see all of them going down my side yard and coming up covered in snow.  I guess the alcohol numbs the pain and cold.  Props to Kevin for going down standing up!

Little Beers - quite possibly, the best shot ever!  Joe M. brought this concoction.  Vanilla flavored vodka in little tine clear ups with just a dab of whipping cream on top so it looked like a nice beer with the perfect head (that's what she said!).  It was a hit of the party.

Moonshine - if you stayed late enough, Jason provided moonshine in a mason jar...the official spirit of the hills of Kentucky!

Barb - she got a lot of beer and a little moonshine in her, enough said, if you know Barb and have been to Joe's Father Day party, you know....

Joe's present from Jack - a T-shirt that Jack bought for himself but didn't fit...so he gave it to Joe.  Good thing is the shirt is a logo shirt for the drum cymbals Joe favors.

I'm sure a lot more memorable things took place last night.  I just hope everyone that was there will have good memories of sharing time with friends during one of the best times of year.

Merry Christmas to all and next time I'll have pictures...

I'd rather decorate myself...

...than my house!  I loathe decorating my house.  I'd much rather decorate me.  Hence, the posts about outfits, makeup and cool jewelery.  I will whip you up a meal, some cookies or an appetizer any time you want.  But decorating...it SUCKS!  I'm no good at it and I don't enjoy it.  I'm always amazed at my friends who go to Homearama to get decorating ideas...really?  Just not my thing.

So I decorated our house for Christmas.  But here's the thing.  None of my Christmas decorations match.  Why?  I just seem to get a mish mash of stuff from here or there.  Aunt Jeanne gives me a lot of stuff, she loves searching for the deal, the best price, the bargain.  Now, don't get me wrong, I've gotten a lot of good stuff from Aunt Jeanne, she's generous at Christmas with the cash, she's provided Joe some awesome kitchen tools at rock bottom prices; griddles, both stove top and electric, a set of stock pots, a roasting pan, just to name of few.  However, she also buys a lot of stuff because the price is too good to pass up...that ends up in the houses of me and my siblings.    Over the years, I have purged some mismatched items just because I'm not much of a decorator and I don't need all the stuff.  So I'm left with a few things, and I try to keep the ones that match, but again, I'm not very good at it so if you come to my house for Christmas, it is what it is...but the food will be really good!

Speaking of food, I really haven't cooked much since my last post.  Isabelle wanted to try this recipe she saw in one of my Taste of Home magazines so we made it and it was actually pretty darn good...a little fusion cooking at the Schultz House!

Greek Tacos
1 pound ground beef
1 can (14.5 ounce) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 teaspoons Greek seasoning (it's expensive, make your own with 1/2 teaspoon each of dried oregano, dried marjoram, garlic powder, lemon-pepper seasoning, ground mustard and salt)
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1 can (2 1/4 ounce) sliced ripe olives, drained
taco shells
feta cheese
chopped red onion

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.  Stir in tomatoes, Greek seasoning, garlic and pepper.  Bring to a boil  Reduce heat; simmer for 8-10 minutes or until thickened.  Add spinach and olives; cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until spinach is wilted.

Bake taco shells, spoon in meat mixture, top with cheese and onion.

Sorry, I didn't take a picture but everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Gia and I made gingerbread cookies last week for her to take to school.  It was grandpartents day and they got to go to school and help Gia make a gingerbread house.  I cannot provide a recipe for the cookies because I will admit that I cheated and made them from the Betty Crocker bag mix.

We also went to St. Nick at Night on Saturday and Gia got to tell St. Nick what she wanted.  She even made him a card!

I've been to GW a few times, nothing major to report, snow boots for the kids and this awesome necklace for me!

I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season!