July 24, 2008

What's For Dinner?

Tonight we're doing simple...Simple in that I don't have to think about anything in terms of cooking since my head is still a little fuzzy from yesterday's migrainepalooza! We're having burgers, baked beans and potato salad.

What are you having?

Posted by Dianne at 1:06 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with a Honey Drizzle

So yesterday I woke up with the mother of all migraines. I mean seriously!

Oh.

My.

GOD!!!

The stupid thing lasted all day and in fact my head is still sore and foggy, but such is life. Luckily Jamison can work from home, so he stayed home, worked, took care of Alexis and did conference calls while I stayed in bed, only to arise when nature called and such. It was not pretty. My doctor's assurance that these things get worse as you grow older doesn't help all that much as you can imagine! ;oP

So there was no "What's For Dinner?" last night because well I have no clue what Jamison and Alexis ate. I'm assuming they did eat, but you know what they say about assuming! ;oP We will have "WFD?" today though so check back this afternoon!

Now let's talk some sweet potatoes shall we?

I love sweet potatoes! There are so many thing you can do with them and they are such a nice change, not to mention a healthier alternative, to your standard white potato. Mashed sweet potatoes are ridiculously easy to make, all while giving a bit of a wow factor and by all means sweet potatoes are not just for Thanksgiving anymore!

What You'll Need per Person:
1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into rounds
Water
1/4-1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 tablespoon of honey

In a pot of water over high heat bring sweet potatoes to a boil and boil until tender. Once tender drain the potatoes and using a potato masher mash the potatoes until well mashed. Stir in and place mashed potatoes on a plate. Drizzle honey on top of each serving.

Notes: Sweet potatoes are sweet in and of themselves. The don't need a lot of sweetener and natural sweeteners (i.e. honey, natural brown sugar, molasses, maple syrup, etc.) are best. You could also add in a bit of freshly ground nutmeg if you liked.

Posted by Dianne at 7:51 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

July 23, 2008

Greek Yogurt Peppercorn Ranch Dressing

I'll be completely honest with you...I used to detest Ranch dressing. I don't know what it was, but I just didn't care for it, but recently I've been really hooked on homemade Ranch dressing. A lot of time the bottled stuff just comes off as too sweet, which is sort of silly given it shouldn't be sweet at all, but the homemade stuff I can handle, though it's fun to kick it up a notch and that is just what I did.

Greek yogurt gives this ranch a nice under tone, while the freshly cracked pepper gives it a nice kick. It's just perfect for salads, vegetable dipping or even oven baked chicken. It's always nice to have a versatile, quick and ridiculously easy dressing to go to! If Ranch is your dressing of choice then this is a must try for you!

What You'll Need:
1 cup of buttermilk
1 cup of light mayonnaise (Note: I like Hellmann's.)
1 cup of fat free Greek Yogurt (Note: As always I recommend Oikos.)
1 envelope of dry Ranch dressing/dip mix
Freshly ground black pepper

Mix together buttermilk, mayonnaise and Greek yogurt until completely smooth. Stir in Ranch dressing mix until completely incorporated. Add a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper until well mixed. Chill for at least 1 hour and serve or serve immediately.

Notes: You could leave out the black pepper if you liked, but I really like the flavor it adds.

Posted by Dianne at 10:23 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

July 22, 2008

What's For Dinner?

I'm completely drawing a blank today as to what to do for dinner. Inspire me!

What are you having?

Update: 5:21 PM: I actually figured out what we were having tomorrow night before I figured out tonight. How is that for putting the cart before the horse? ;oP

Tonight we're having breakfast for dinner. Jamison is having scrambled eggs, bacon and a gluten free roll. I am going to have an omelet or a vegetable scramble (I haven't decided which yet and will decide as I'm cooking) and Alexis wants fruit.

As for tomorrow, well you'll just have to tune back in then! ;oP

Posted by Dianne at 1:50 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

If you've been a reader of Dianne's Dishes for a while you've seen me talk a lot about not heating up the oven that much during the summer. But not heating up your oven doesn't mean you have to give up foods you would normally cook there, it just means you find a different way to cook them and a slow cooker is a perfect way to do just that!

The other day I got a turkey breast from South Mountain Creamery and I decided to see how it would turn out in the slow cooker. I mean you can cook chicken quite well in a slow cooker so why not turkey? I must say even though in theory I thought it would work I was very pleased with the result! The breast was tender, juicy and overall just very delicious and the whole process was beyond simple! I'll most definitely be trying this again!

Another good thing about turkey is that you can do many things with the leftovers too! How about Turkey Avocado Salad or Turkey Noodle Soup or Turkey Salad...You can also use turkey in just about any recipe you would use chicken instead. How is that for versatile?

What You'll Need:
1 turkey breast (Note: I used one that had the bone.)
Extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Dried rosemary

Place turkey breast into the bowl of your slow cooker. Drizzle with olive oil. (Note: You want a few tablespoons max.) Flip the breast over to make sure you get olive oil on both sides. Sprinkle with sea salt, black pepper and dried rosemary. Place lid on slow cooker and turn heat to high. Cook for 6-7 hours.

Halfway through the cooking process flip the breast once. Once cooked bring out of the slow cooker and let sit for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve immediately.

Notes: Any dried herb you like will work. Thyme would be fabulous!

Posted by Dianne at 7:26 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

July 21, 2008

What's For Dinner?

I put a couple of steaks in the slow cooker this morning with olive oil and spices for Alexis and Jamison for dinner. I'll pair that with mashed potatoes for Jamison and fresh cucumber and tomatoes out of the garden for Alexis. I'm making a Grilled Portabella Caesar Salad with Sea Salt croûtons for me.

What are you having?

Posted by Dianne at 12:31 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Drop Cookies

These cookies are one of Jamison's all time favorites. As a child we called them "Cow Drop Cookies" and I'll let you just imagine why! ;oP I have made these many times over the years and I have even made a gluten free non-oat version in the past since I haven't been able to locate gluten free oats that don't cost a bazillion dollars a pound.

See there I go digressing again...Where was I? Oh yes!

A few weeks ago our neighbor did us a huge favor and I wanted to send something home with him for helping us out. My mind immediately set on these cookies! They are quick, easy and beyond delicious and just perfect for when you want to whip something up fast to share! I also sent a batch to work with Jamison the next day, because why not share all around! ;o)

What You'll Need:
1 stick of butter
1 cup of organic cane sugar
1 cup of natural brown sugar
2 heaping tablespoons of cocoa
2/3 cup of half and half
1/2 cup of peanut butter
2 cups of oats
2 teaspoons of vanilla

Melt butter with both sugars, cocoa and half and half in a medium sized pot and bring to a quick boil over medium heat. Boil for five minutes. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until the peanut butter is completely melted and smooth. Stir in vanilla and then add oats. Drop by the rounded tablespoonful onto a baking sheet that has been lined with waxed paper or a silicone baking sheet. Let set for an hour or two and serve. Store in an airtight container.

How simple and delicious is that?

Notes: You could use crunchy peanut butter if you liked.

Posted by Dianne at 7:15 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

July 20, 2008

What's For Dinner?

Tonight Jamison and Alexis are having spaghetti and I'm having bow tie pasta salad.

What are you having?

Posted by Dianne at 5:46 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

Just Added FAQ!

I've had a lot of questions lately so I thought it would be nice to add a FAQ section. I will update it from time to time, but for now there is a button on the side bar or you can click the button above! If you have a question that isn't covered post it here, or you can shoot me an e-mail.

Posted by Dianne at 10:23 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

July 19, 2008

Six Random Things About Alexis (With A Little Help From Mom)!

Alexis has been tagged for her first meme by Sabrina and Alexander from Cooking with the Kids! So without further ado here are her answers as typed by me! ;oP

1. "When I grow up I am going to be a princess and I am going to marry a prince. We will be beautiful and get married in Paris near the Eiffel Tower!"

2. "My favorite food is edamame and rice. It's my favorite because Magi and Munchie like it too!" (Mom's Note: Magi and Munchie are her stuffed bears and it's her favorite because that's what she had for dinner tonight!)

3. "I like to share things with my little cousin 'Melson' but sometimes he takes things away from me. Aunt Nigh is my beautifulist aunt in the whole world and her sons 'Melson' and Grant are my favorite cousins in the whole world! I like to sing to Grant." (Mom's Note: Alexis still calls Nelson "Melson", but then again she stills calls Katherine Aunt Nigh, so there you go!)

4. "Uncle Ben is my uncle and actually he just very picks Grant up sometimes. He came over last time and I don't know why Grant was crying."

5. "I have a lot of different dolls. I have Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Melody, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. I really love my dolls because the do as enormous as I like as I watch television." (Mom's Note: "Enormous is her favorite word. She has no idea how to us it in context as something can be simultaneously "enormous" and "tiny" at the same time, but she likes it and it is cute! ;oP)

6. "I have a beautiful dress that I like to wear and be a princess. I have a beautiful necklace and a beautiful tiara and shoes that I like to wear too. Sometimes I pretend to put on makeup, but I don't really put it on because Mom won't let me. I'm going to be the beautifulist princess in the whole world. Love, Alexis!"

There you have it...Alexis spoke I typed...The things a five year old says! What can I say...she's cute! ;oP

Posted by Dianne at 7:39 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

What's For Dinner?

Tonight we're having takeout. It's hot (VERY HOT!!) and Jamison had to work all day so he's picking up dinner on the way home. Jamison is having steak hibachi, Alexis is having edamame and rice and I'm having sushi.

What are you having?

Posted by Dianne at 4:53 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)

The Yum Yum Award!

I would like to thank Carrie from Carrie's Kitchen Creations for awarding me the Yum Yum award! Now it is my turn to pass it on to five food blogs that I think make Yum Yum food!

1. Karen from Do Better: She's always making things that make me want to try them!

2. Di from Di's Kitchen Notebook: Di looks like she has fun in her kitchen and her recipes look fabulous!

3. Laura of Sweet Stilettos: If you haven't been to Sweet Silettos rush over now! Laura is witty and I just love her style, plus her food looks fabulous too!

4. Megan from My Baking Adventures: With a title like "My Baking Adventure" what would there be not to like? Megan has some fabulous ideas and her recipes look great!

5. Jayne from The Barefoot Kitchen Witch: Jayne made strawberry egg rolls recently...Do I need to say anything more than that? ;o)

Thanks again Carrie!

Posted by Dianne at 10:21 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)

I've Been Tagged: Six Random Things About Me!

Megan over at My Baking Adventures has tagged me with a meme! What fun! Now you get to find out six random facts about me that you might not have know! I know you all are just dying with excitement, so let's get to it shall we? ;oP

But first here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on the blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

I'm not quite sure who to tag (I never am!), but feel free to play along on your own blog, or if you don't have a blog just tell us 6 Random Facts about yourself in the comments section...It's always fun to learn new things about people! ;o)

Without further ado here I go!

1. Jamison and I met online years ago on a now defunct ewtoo Telnet talker. We talked online for about a year, then I let him call me and we talked on the phone a few times a week for several months, then we met in person in July of 1996 and spent a weekend together where he thought I was a witch and I thought he was weird but we ended up friends anyway and were then friends for 6 months, then we started dating in January of 1997 and we got married in December of 1997. Do I think you can find love on the Internet? Not really...I know contradicting isn't it? But I do think you can make friends and who knows where a friendship can go? Besides the best relationships are based on friendship anyway! ;oP

2. I was adopted when I was six months old. I used to say I would only adopt instead of giving birth, but then I had Alexis and I have to say I'm very content with my family the way it is. I like the three of us together. We have a nice dynamic. (How is that for a jumbled fact! ;oP)

3. I met my best friend Darlene when I was in 6th grade. We had some rough patches growing up (oh to be young, stupid and like the same boy!) but we got over the angst and by high school we didn't argue anymore and spent much of our free time together. Darlene still lives in the town I grew up in and we don't get to see each other nearly enough (the last time we saw each other was February of 2007) but the moment we do see each other we fall right into place as if no time has passed. We think alike and though we don't always agree on everything we respect each other's right to think differently. We can even complete each other's sentences! During some point in most days we e-mail each other and check in. I adore her! She is also Alexis' Godmother. We are planning a trip up to Maryland for her in October where we will celebrate my 35th birthday and also just spend some good old quality time together, because we just don't get to do enough of that now days! There may also be a day trip (or two) to the beach involved! I'm sure hijinks will ensue! ;oP

4. I'm happy. When I was younger I would never have pictured my life turning out the way it has, but it doesn't matter, because I truly feel blessed. I have a husband I adore and who adores me, a beautiful, smart little girl, friends who love me for who I am, etc. Life may not end up the way you thought, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is bad that it didn't! That doesn't mean that there aren't still things I want to do...See Mt. Saint Helens, go to Ireland, go to Paris, England, Italy, Greece, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, etc. But I truly am happy and that means more than anything!

5. I believe everything happens for a reason. You might not always understand why something happened, or ever understand to be honest, but whatever happens has a purpose in the grand scheme of things. That purpose might be for you to realize how truly lucky you are, or to see what it is like in some else's shoes, or to learn and grow, but there is a reason. And sometimes when you just cant figure it out you just have to let it go and trust that maybe you weren't the one who was supposed to learn/grow from an event, perhaps it was intended to make someone else find their path...

6. I am extremely shy. I know it doesn't seem possible, but it is true. It takes me a while to warm up to people, especially now that I am older, but if you make it past the initial acquaintance stage and we actually become friends I talk, and I talk a lot, and I'm not afraid to share my opinions. But if you saw me at a party I'd be the one sitting over to the side, possibly talking quietly to a few friends. I would not be the center of attention, nor would I want to be.

So there you have it...6 Random Facts about me! What are you waiting for...Get thee forth to your blog or the comments below and tell us 6 Random Fact about yourself! I'm dying to know! ;oP

Posted by Dianne at 9:31 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

July 18, 2008

What's For Dinner?

Tonight Alexis and I are having pan grilled lemon pepper tilapia with avocado salsa, sweet corn and sliced yellow tomatoes. Jamison is having a hamburger steak, sweet corn and a "baked" potato.

What are you having?

Posted by Dianne at 3:29 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

Cucumber Salad

It's fresh cucumber season! I just love when the cucumbers start coming in. English cucumbers are a nice substitute during the rest of the year, but there is just something about a cucumber fresh off the vine that gets me every time!

This salad is a quick, healthy side dish, or even main course if you like cucumbers as much as I do! It's perfect for a week night dinner, a picnic or even a snack! It will keep in the fridge for days so you can just grab it whenever you like! If you like cucumbers and Greek yogurt then this is the dish for you!

What You'll Need:
4-6 cups of sliced cucumbers
1/3 cup of fat free Greek Yogurt (Note: If you've been here before you know I like Oikos, if you haven't then that's what I use! ;oP Fage will work too, but the flavor of the Oikos is much better in my opinion.)
1/4 cup of fresh dill, chopped
1/4 cup of fresh chives, chopped
Freshly ground black pepper
A tiny pinch of sea salt

Cut cucumbers and place in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.

Mix together yogurt, dill, chives, black pepper and sea salt until well incorporated. Add yogurt mixture to cucumbers and toss to coat. Chill for at least 1 hour and then serve.

Notes: I really like this with cucumbers only, but if you wanted to you could add in some bell peppers and/or red onion.

Posted by Dianne at 7:37 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)