Kelly's Konfections & "stuff"

Veteran's Day Cake

2011-06-10T09:34:00.001-05:00

This years Veteran's Day cake for the local school assembly.

Georgetown Cupcake

2011-06-10T09:31:00.002-05:00

My very best girlfriend sent me these beautiful cupcakes from the famous Georgetown Cupcake in Virginia for my birthday.

Thank you Rita - Soooooooo Yummy!

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake

2011-06-10T09:29:00.001-05:00

I made this for a friend to give to his wife. Yummy!

The Magic Bullet

2011-06-10T09:21:00.003-05:00

I have been obsessed with the Magic Bullet commercials for years and this year it appeared under the Christmas tree. I was a bit scared that having the real thing at my fingertips would ruin the mystique but I was pleasantly surprised. The Magic Bullet is so great!

I use it to make hummus and smoothies and my daughter uses it to make homemade Slushies.

Simply put ice, water and Cool Aid powder in the Magic Bullet and give it a whirl.

Mother's Day

2011-06-10T09:05:00.007-05:00

I have the best daughter in the world! She has been cooking with me since she could reach the cabinets. But what I love the most is her creativity.

For Mother's Day last year she made pancakes and bacon. This year she decided to eliminate the cooking part of the Mother's Day feast.

On the Friday of Mother's Day weekend she got up early and fixed me a lunch to take to work.

Yogurt w/granola
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Sunny Delight
and a bag of pink and white marshmallows

She even packed a spoon and napkin. I am wondering if this is her dream lunch. A bag full of sugar - I LOVE HER!

On Mother's Day morning, she woke me up to breakfast in bed.

Sausage Egg Croissant
Peeled Orange
Sliced Banana w/Cheerios
Granola Bar
and Chocolate Milk
Such a balance of food groups - I was stuffed

Thank you Riley for making my Mother's Day so special!
I love you

Tinkerbell Cake

2011-06-10T09:01:00.003-05:00

This was for a little girls birthday party. So cute! The top layer is chocolate and the bottom is vanilla and all covered in pink and purple buttercream.

Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

2011-06-10T08:55:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe we had left over cinnamon rolls in my house but we did. It seems everyone slept late except for me so in my attempt to gift them with hot cinnamon rolls when they woke failed. By the time they got up it was time for lunch.

Anyway, the left-over cinnamon rolls made a fantastic bread pudding.

Sonic Fail!

2011-06-10T08:43:00.006-05:00

Don't get me wrong. I love Sonic but our local joint makes so many mistakes. I have never blogged a complaint but this warrants a first.

I ordered a bacon toaster sandwich with no egg. Therefore what I ordered consisted of three ingredients only. Toast, Bacon and Cheese. Easy right?

They didn't get even one of the components right. See for yourself.

Bread - NOT TOASTED

Bacon - BURNED

Cheese - on HALF the sandwich

An Orange Wedding

2011-06-10T08:35:00.002-05:00

Last night I finished what was my first orange wedding cake. After many discussions with the groom who was ordering this cake, I am happy to say that this is the most beautiful wedding cakes I have done.

It's all chocolate with strawberry filling and 100% piped buttercream.

We Will Miss You Lost

2010-05-24T15:41:00.003-05:00

In honor of the final episode of Lost, I created a Hawaiian feast for the event.

Lost Menu

Catfish Fillets w/fresh pineapple ginger salsa
Bacon wrapped asparagus w/ soy sauce, sesame oil & rice wine vinegar
Pasta salad w/ham, cilantro, candied ginger, sundried tomato

mmmm so good! We will miss you Lost!

Kid's In The Kitchen

2010-05-24T15:22:00.003-05:00

Riley has been helping me in the kitchen since she could hold a spoon. She started cracking eggs at 3 and pounding chicken breasts by the time she was 6. Now and again, the roles will change. Riley will cook the meal and I will oversee for safety and guidance. Here are a couple of her meals.

Hamburger Macaroni Casserole

This recipe is so simple. We used frozen fully cooked hamburger patties, boxed macaroni and cheese and grated cheddar cheese.

Simply cook the macaroni and cheese as stated on the box. While that is cooking, thaw and chop the hamburger patties. Once the macaroni is done, add the hamburger and half a package of grated cheese. Pour into a casserole dish and top with remaining grated cheese. Bake at 350° until golden brown.
Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes

For children, the shake and pour pancake mix is perfect. There is very little clean up and no mess mixing. Prepare as directed and simply add sliced bananas and a sprinkle of chocolate chips to the pancakes after you pour them on the skillet before the flip.

Falafel Delight

2010-04-30T14:27:00.004-05:00

I have been making humus for a while now so I decided to move on to another great chickpea dish so I created a roasted red pepper falafel.

Add all of the following ingredients to a food processor.

1 can chickpeas (drained)
1/4 cup chopped roasted red bell pepper (drain well if stored in oil)
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
3/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
3 Tablespoons flour

Mix until finely chopped and well mixed. Stopping and scraping down the sides often. Form mixture into patties and dust lightly with flour. Heat oil in large skillet. Carefully brown the falafel on both sides.

I served these with a fresh greens, sun dried tomato, and soy dressing.

Taco Soup

2010-04-30T14:07:00.003-05:00

As I have stated before, I don't like eating left-overs but I hate wasting food even more. I am continually creating recipes based on what is left over from the night before. This soup was created from the remains of taco night. This took less than 10 min to make and as we have seen before, it was better than the original meal of tacos.

Left-over Ingredients
Seasoned taco meat
Sour Cream
Grated Cheddar Cheese
Chopped Tomato
Sliced Green Onion
Taco Shells

Additional Ingredients
Beef Broth
Salt
Cayenne Pepper

Very simply mix the seasoned taco meat with beef broth, salt & cayenne pepper. Bring to a simmer and stir in sour cream and part of the grated cheese until melted. Serve topped with crumbled taco shells, remaining grated cheese, tomato, and green onion.

Dry Fried Tofu with Broccoli

2010-04-30T13:45:00.003-05:00

Tofu isn't always the easiest ingredient to prepare. I found a foolproof and simple way to create a pleasantly textured and delicious tofu stir fry.

Here is the link to the full explanation along with great step-by-step photo instructions.

http://hubpages.com/hub/How_to_Cook_Tofu_Like_the_Pros

These instructions may look like a lot of information but I promise this is VERY simple. After the dry fry process, I marinated the tofu in rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sliced onion, garlic, sesame oil and sesame seeds. Then quickly stir fried the tofu with broccoli.

Daddy's Venison Sausage

2010-04-30T13:21:00.005-05:00

My Dad made homemade venison sausage mixed with 40% Venison and 60% pork. It was so good and perfectly spiced. I took the raw sausage out of the casing and added it to a hot cast iron skillet with onions and bell peppers. Once browned, this mixture can be eaten alone or wrapped up in a tortilla.

I simply mixed up a box of Jiffy cornbread mix along with a cup of cheddar cheese and poured it over the top of the meat mixture right in the skillet and baked at 350° until golden brown on top. This can be served for breakfast or dinner. Thanks Dad!

Ravioli with Broccoli Romanes

2010-04-30T13:02:00.004-05:00

This meal took less than ten minutes and it was healthy, filling and packed with flavor. I simply tossed a bag of frozen ravioli and broccoli romanes in some boiling water and put green onions, sun dried tomatoes, garlic and chopped walnuts into a hot skillet with a little butter until onion are translucent. I tossed in the ravioli and broccoli and seasoned with salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese. So simple and so good!

Appetizers

2010-04-30T12:54:00.003-05:00

We served these three appetizers at the VIP mixer before the 100 Club of Central Texas annual awards banquet. This venue was held at a breathtaking exotic animal reserve in Creedmore TX.

Smoked Salmon on crackers with Cream Cheese, Capers, and Red Onion

Blue Cheese and Candied Walnut Tarts

Shrimp Cocktail Shots with Avocado and Cilantro

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

2010-04-30T12:04:00.003-05:00

This program is inspiring to say the least. I am moved to tears each episode. The facts he brings to light about the reality in our public and private kitchens will shock you. I hope everyone will visit his website and take advantage of the recipes and education provided to help change our bad eating habits.

Message from Jamie

This food revolution is about saving America's health by changing the way you eat. It's not just a TV show, it's a movement for you, your family and your community. If you care about your kids and their future take this revolution and make it your own. Educate yourself about food and cooking. Find out what your child is eating at school. Make only a few small changes and magical things will happen. Switching from processed to fresh food will not only make you feel better but it will add years to your life.

My new toy!

2010-02-25T09:37:00.002-06:00

I have a new love! I finally got a 600 series RED Kitchenaid mixer and it's amazing. Thank you Mom & Dad!

Super Bowl

2010-02-25T09:32:00.002-06:00

OK so we all know that the food you serve is more important than the game. This year, everyone was out of town but even though we had an intimate viewing we didn't skimp on the food. We made Pork Loin, Chicken wings (Honey BBQ & Stubs BBQ), and Green Chili Cheese Fritters.

A Few More Cakes

2010-02-25T09:24:00.002-06:00

Veteran's Day Cake - Designed by my 9 year old daughter. Three layers, Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla.
Mom's Birthday Cake - A very long tradition - made with the same heart pan passed down for generations and always strawberry cake with strawberry icing. I did however find some very interesting candles this year. The flame burned the same color as the candle.

A Baby Shower Cake - Yes brown icing mean it was ordered by Tina who is obsessed with brown icing. Her next order is for a horse cake. Wish me luck!

Same Few Ingredients - 3 great dishes!

2010-02-25T08:16:00.004-06:00

Last week I had an obsession. It was Tomatillos, Green Chilies, Chicken, and Cream Cheese. I got to experimenting and came up with three amazing dishes using these 4 ingredients. The creations were green chicken enchiladas, soup and quiche. All of which were amazingly good! I have included a few pictures and the recipes. As usual, these recipes are so simple.

Green Chicken Enchiladas

4 Chicken Breasts (cut into bite size pieces)
1 Chopped Onion
1 Can Crushed Tomatillos
1 Small Can Chopped Green Chilies
8 oz Cream Cheese
Corn Tortillas
Grated Cheese
Fresh Cilantro
Green Onion

Brown the chicken and onion in a deep skillet with a small amount of olive oil. Add Tomatillos, Green Chilies, Salt and Pepper. Once bubbling hot, add cream cheese. Mix until melted and turn off heat. In casserole dish, put a small amount of juice from chicken mixture in bottom of dish. Start by layering tortillas, cheese and chicken mixture until all chicken has been used. Top with a final layer of tortilla and cheese. Then bake at 350° until cheese is brown and bubbly. Remove from oven and top with chopped cilantro and green onion.

Green Chicken Soup

4 Chicken Breasts (cut into bite size pieces)
1 Chopped Onion
1 Can Crushed Tomatillos
1 Small Can Chopped Green Chilies
8 oz Cream Cheese
2 Large Cans Chicken Broth
Grated Cheese
Fresh Cilantro
Green Onion

Brown the chicken and onion in a deep skillet with a small amount of olive oil. Add Tomatillos, Green Chilies, Salt and Pepper. Once bubbling hot, add cream cheese. Mix until melted. Add Chicken Broth and bring to a simmer. Serve with grated cheese, chopped cilantro and green onion. Great with Poppy's homemade sourdough bread.

Green Chicken Quiche

Take the left over soup and mix in the left over chopped cilantro, green onion and grated cheese. Add 3 eggs per cup of left over mix. Pour into pie crust and bake at 350° until firm and brown on top. As everyone knows, I don't eat many left overs so I love to create an entirely new meal from the left over ingredients from the night before.

It's Apple Time Again

2009-10-16T09:31:00.004-05:00

Here is the first batch of caramel apples of the year. This first order included toasted coconut, mint chip, m&m, pecan and toffee.

Papa Murphy's

2009-09-28T13:05:00.003-05:00

OMG - I found something new and exciting. Papa Murphy's! It seems I am the last to discover this place. For those of you like me who haven't yet tried this genius concept, Papa Murphy's lets you design your own pizza and makes it fresh with raw dough, fresh vegetables, cheese and meat. Then they put it on an oven safe pan, wrap it up with instructions and send it home to be baked fresh before eating. It was so fresh and delicious and didn't have any chemical or preservative taste. The dough baked up perfectly crisp on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. You would think that the cost of this gourmet delight would have been high but in fact it was much less than the local chain producing common, uninspiring, tired pies. Just look at the image below and tell me it doesn't look like a work of art. Thank you Papa Murphy for a great pie.

More Cakes

2009-09-25T10:49:00.006-05:00

I did a couple of cakes over the last couple of months. Some were good and some.....not so much.

Yesterday we celebrated Riley's 9th Birthday. She had a bowling party and was very specific about how she wanted the cake. So here it is....A bowling ball and pin. The ball is half strawberry cake and half chocolate cake and the pin is vanilla cake. All covered in butter cream icing. Luckily the bowling ball didn't roll off on the way to the bowling alley.

One was a Sweet 16 cake.

Another was a first Birthday for a friend's Grandson. This cake makes me laugh every time I look at it. The cake was made to match the invitations which were trimmed in red bandanna with blue interior and brown text and trim. We got so tickled after this cake was finished because the brown letters of his named looked just like they were made of pieces of poop. But hey, one year old kids love poop right? (btw - I hate writing on cakes)

no carb Chinese

2009-09-25T10:41:00.002-05:00

So I am still working the "no carb" menu. I have come up with a way to get my Chinese fix without the guilt. This is so simple. I seriously should host a 15 minute working Mother's meal show!!

Simply brown lean ground pork in sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add frozen spinach, edemame beans, snap peas, yellow or red bell pepper and onions. Add soy sauce and heat until all veggies are heated but still brightly colored.

For the rest of the family, I serve this over udon noodles with an egg roll on the side. For me, it is a quick and satisfying way to tame my Chinese craving.

Tomatoe Basil Soup

2009-09-25T10:07:00.003-05:00

1 large can crushed plain stewed tomatoes
1 large can crushed stewed tomatoes (italian seasoned)
1 cup chicken broth
2 cloves chopped garlic
salt
pepper
1 c. heavy cream
1/2 stick butter

Mix together tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, pepper and garlic. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Blend with wand mixer right in the pot or blend in a blender then return to the pot. Simmer over low heat until you have to serve it. The longer the better, but I make it quick after work during the week and it tastes great in less than 20min. Before serving, stir in the butter and cream until melted and well combined. Serve warm with garlic cheese bread or sprinkled with croutons and fresh basil. However you prefer, this is a great beginning to the winter season.

Weekend Roast Chicken

2009-06-07T12:36:00.005-05:00

During the week, my meals take less than 30 minutes to make. Therefore, I save all my roasting for the weekends. In sticking with the no carb rules, I made onion roasted chicken with homegrown yellow squash and a fresh cold roasted leek salad.

Use your favorite bone in, skin on chicken pieces. My family prefers leg quarters. Make sure they are cleaned well. Salt and pepper both sides of chicken and place in baking dish skin side up. Top with lots of sliced onions and a few pats of cold butter. Bake for 2 hours at 350 degrees uncovered. Baste with pan juices just before serving. Skin will be brown and crispy.

Using the same bake time. Put a baking dish filled with thin sliced squash (yellow or zucchini) seasoned with salt, pepper and a little butter on bottom and top. This will bake for the same two hours next to the chicken.

Watch a movie and relax. (It's the weekend after all)

Once dinner is almost done, prepare your leek salad. Start by cleaning and slicing one large leek. Place in a hot skillet with a teaspoon of olive oil until nice and brown. Place on paper towel to cool. Mix together peeled and chopped cucumber, thinly sliced red bell pepper, fresh cilantro, salt, pepper, browned leeks and carb free miso dressing.

This meal is amazing and again carb free!

New Venture

2009-06-07T11:20:00.005-05:00

As my friends and family already know, I am on a mission to lose 100 pounds and change my eating habits. Don't worry, I still believe in cooking delicious, decadent, and satisfying meals. I am above all a "foodie" and by no stretch of the imagination a "health nut".

I started this goal 6 weeks ago and have already lost 27 pounds. In the first week, I realized I would face an obstacle in staying on task. I was provided a very simple representation of a menu by my doctor. Knowing that my goal would take about 6 months to reach, I knew I had to get creative. There was no way I was going to eat the same thing everyday or sacrifice taste and experience for any prolonged amount of time. Any "foodie" will understand that all meals must be an event even when losing weight.

So I started comparing the nutritional value of foods which gave me options for equivalent substitutes in my menu. Once I had created a list of acceptable foods, I started developing simple and delicious meals.

NO CARB Fried Okra

As you read this description, keep in mind that I work a full time job and have an 8 year old daughter. The meals you read about on this blog take less than 30 minutes.

I apologize for the low quality photo of this plate. Take my word, it looks much more delicious than this picture shows.

Anyone from the south knows how much we like our fried okra. I just had to figure out how to get my fried okra fix without ANY CARBS. I took sliced okra (fresh or frozen) and added them to a very hot skillet with only a tablespoon of canola oil. Let them cook stirring frequently. I added thin sliced onions to enhance the flavor and cooked until everything is evenly browned. (I like them nearly black) Then remove to a paper towel to drain off any excess oil. Salt and pepper to taste and enjoy. You will be amazed how much it tastes like real southern fried okra.

On this plate you will also notice a skillet browned catfish fillet. Simply, season fillets with garlic salt and pepper. Place in a hot skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil and tablespoon of butter and cook until golden.

As an additional side dish for our fish, I made a cauliflower favorite. This dish takes less than 10 minutes. Take a bag of frozen cauliflower florets and put in a small baking dish. Microwave for 2 minutes. While that is heating, prepare the sauce. Mix together a Tb real mayo, Tb of brown mustard, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Mix into cauliflower then top with grated cheddar cheese. Put back in the microwave for 4 minutes or until all cheese is melted.

This plate of food tastes like a guilty pleasure but is totally carb free.

The Grill

2009-04-14T22:12:00.006-05:00

So I have become a griller. We grill most nights and have invented some amazing dishes. There is no truer statement than "Everything is better on the grill". Below are a few samples of our new favorites.

Steak, Asparagus and Tomato grilled and served with fresh avocado and miso dressing

Grilled portabella mushrooms and bell pepper sliced and put on a piece of Tandoori Style Naan Bread with a shmear of cream cheese and topped with Monterey Jack cheese. I then put this "pizza" back on the grill to heat through and melt the cheese. Delicious!!!!

Bul Gal Bi

2009-04-05T14:38:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we went to Korea House in Austin and tried something new. Following a friends recommendation, we ordered Bul Gal Bi, short ribs marinated in a special Korean sauce then grilled. It came with many delicious tiny side dishes of fermented soy beans, kimchi, tofu and sprouts. We also shared a sushi roll of yellow fin and super white tuna.

Riley Makes Breakfast

2009-04-05T14:26:00.004-05:00

My inspired 8 year old chef Riley wanted to make us breakfast on Sunday morning. I took her to the store to purchase her ingredients.

She picked out breakfast sausage patties, eggs, biscuits and cheddar cheese. She cooked everything herself and made the most delicious breakfast sandwiches.

Asian Slaw Sliders

2009-04-05T14:00:00.004-05:00

In our house, pork sliders have become a staple. They are so easy and versatile. We experiment with different topping and seasonings to create many unique tastes.

Asian pork sliders begin with ground pork mixed with chopped green onions, salt, pepper and cilantro. Make into small patties and set aside.

Mix a quick Asian slaw with shredded cabbage, cucumbers and carrots dressed with rice wine vinegar, salt, pepper, cilantro and sesame oil.

Cook patties in a heated skillet oiled with a mixture of sesame oil and vegetable oil.

Toast several Hawaiian rolls. Place a petite patty with a spoon of slaw on each burger. Serve with pot stickers for a deliciously modern Asian meal.

Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger

2009-04-05T13:06:00.004-05:00

OK guys this is for you. This is a naughty, naughty burger but oh so good.

The secret is to make the patties real thin so that you can make double meat burgers without having too much meat. Remember more surface area means more flavor so two thin patties is much better than one thick one. Be sure to salt and pepper them liberally before grilling. These patties cook quickly to make sure you have everything else ready to go for the meal before firing up the grill.

First make the garlic mashed potatoes. Peel and boil potatoes until soft. Drain and set aside. He
at butter and chopped garlic in a skillet until butter sizzles and garlic cooks through. Be careful not to burn garlic pieces. Add the hot butter and garlic to the potatoes with a little milk and mash.

Keep the potatoes warm while you finish the burgers.

Make sure your fire is hot before you put the patties on. They won't take long but they need to get a good sear on each side. Make sure to put your cheddar cheese on the patties right before you take them off the grill.

Always toast the buns before assembly. Spread both sides of the bun with mayo then add two patties with cheddar, avocado slices, crisp bacon and fresh lettuce.

Serve with garlic mashers and enjoy. Ladies, this will make any man swoon.

Fish Sandwich with Spinach Mac and Cheese

2009-04-05T12:13:00.006-05:00

This meal was very simple and includes an easy way to slip spinach into your child's diet.

For the fish sandwich

Fresh fish fillets (Catfish or Tilapia)
Salt & Pepper
2T Olive Oil & 2T Butter
Garlic
Avacado
Cabbage
Cilantro
Green Onion
Mayo
Lime Juice
French Bread Loaves

For the Spinach Macaroni

Frozen Chopped Spinach
Penne Pasta
Monterey Jack Cheese
1/4 cup Milk
Salt & Pepper

Start by preparing the Macaroni. Boil the pasta until al dente. Drain and mix in thawed spinach. Season with salt and pepper. Layer in a baking dish alternating pasta and cheese with sprinkles of milk. Start with pasta and end with a layer of cheese. Bake at 350 until all cheese is melted and the top is brown.

While pasta is baking, preheat a large skillet. Add olive oil, butter and garlic. Season fillets with Salt and Pepper. Saute in hot skillet until brown and flaky.

For spread, mix mayo, chopped green onion, cilantro and lime juice.

To assemble sandwich, split and toast French loaves. Spread each side with mayo mixture. Add grilled fish, avacado and shredded cabbage. (or lettuce)

Serve with spinach macaronni and enjoy!

Valentine's Day Treats

2009-02-13T10:48:00.002-06:00

This year we had several requests for Valentine Treats so last night after running all over two small towns, I found enough strawberries and chocolate to fill the need. Below is a sample of what we delivered.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake for Two.
(Strawberry Cheesecake with dark chocolate ganache)

New York Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberries

Black and White Strawberries

Dark Covered Strawberries with Almonds

Teriyaki Elk Sticks

2009-01-09T08:42:00.003-06:00

I received a new gas grill for Christmas and have had a few nice evenings to enjoy it. Last night we made Teriyaki Elk Sticks.

Soak bamboo skewers in water so they don't burn on the grill. Then load them with strips of tenderized elk steak that has been soaked in teriyaki sauce and fresh garlic. Place on a hot grill for 4-5 minutes a side and brush with remaining sauce while cooking.

My 8 year old daughter loved these! Remember - Kids will eat anything on a stick.

Dim Sum Sunday

2008-12-30T17:23:00.005-06:00

On the last day of Christmas Vacation we decided to go out for something very special. We went for Dim Sum at Chinatown off Mopac in Austin. This was an amazing experience. I had never been to a traditional Dim Sum service. It was so beautiful and artistic and the servers were fantastic salesmen and women. The only torture was getting full and not being able to taste all of the delicious treats.

Thank you Chinatown! We will be back.

Baked Potato Soup

2008-12-16T08:15:00.002-06:00

Last Sunday we had a large catering job and brought home an entire roasting pan full of mashers. The weather dropped to freezing Monday night so the Soup Season continues. Below is a simple version of Baked Potato soup made with left over mashers. Of course this recipe is a one pot dish. After all, who wants to spend the evening washing dishes. It is warming, hearty and delicious. Enjoy!

Start by chopping a package of bacon and frying it up in your soup pot. Take out the bacon when crispy, leaving a small amount of grease in the soup pot. Fill the soup pot half way with left over mashed potatoes. Heat through. Add enough chicken broth to fill the pot about 3/4 full. (basically, 2 parts potatoes and 1 part chicken broth) Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer.

Serve soup hot with grated cheddar cheese, chopped green onion and crisp bacon pieces.

Elk Meatball Stew

2008-12-01T09:07:00.003-06:00

It's hunting season again and this year we were lucky enough to get some ground Elk from a generous and mighty hunter who braved the cold New Mexico mountains for this delicious Elk Meatball Stew.
Season the ground Elk with Salt and Pepper and form into small balls. Then brown in bacon drippings.

While the meatballs are browning, chop a small onion, three carrots, one clove of garlic and two red potatoes. Add all of this to the pot with the meatballs and cover with beef broth. Add one can of tomato paste for richness and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 min to an hour. As always salt and pepper to taste.

When the soup was done I simply rolled out pieces of raw bread dough and toasted them in a skillet. (Perfect for dipping)

French Onion Soup

2008-11-24T09:28:00.007-06:00

Who doesn't like French Onion Soup? I could do without the crying but the end result was so good!

Ingredients
2 Tbl Olive Oil
2 pounds onions thinly sliced
1 small clove garlic chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Tbl white wine vinegar
2 cups beef broth
1 cup water
1/2 French baguette cubed
cooking spray
Kosher or Sea Salt
Shredded Swiss cheese

1. In saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, garlic, salt and pepper, lower the heat to medium and cook, stirring, until the onions are golden, about 15 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, beef broth, and water. Reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan.

2. Cut French bread into cubes and place on sheet pan. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with course grain salt. (Kosher or Sea Salt) Toast at 350 degrees until brown.

3. Place a handful of toasted bread in bowls and ladle soup over bread. Top with grated swiss cheese.

Teriyaki Beef Soup

2008-11-24T09:13:00.006-06:00

This is a soup that costs very little and goes a long way. Serve with egg rolls for a perfect meal.

Ingredients

8 ounces boneless beef sirloin steak
1 tablespoon cooking oil
2 14-ounce cans lower-sodium beef broth
1 cup water
1 cup bite-size strips carrot (2 medium)
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups coarsely chopped broccoli
2 cups Udon noodles
1/4 cup sliced green onion (2)
1 cup teriyaki sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Directions

1. Trim fat from beef. Cut beef into bite-size strips. In a large skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in hot oil for 2 to 3 minutes or until beef is brown.

2. Add broth, water, carrot, ginger, and garlic. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 15 minutes or until the carrots are tender.

3. Stir in Udon, broccoli, green onion, teriyaki sauce, sesame oil, and red pepper. Simmer, covered, for 3 minutes.

Note: I made this soup again with left over pork that we grilled for fajitas and it was even better!

Sesame Catfish and Miso Salad

2008-11-24T09:03:00.002-06:00

This was an amazing meal! I simply patted some large catfish fillets with flour and cooked in a nonstick skillet with a little vegetable oil and sesame oil. Once the fish was browned I poured in a high quality sesame sauce. I turned the fish a couple of times to coat and heat sauce and added a handful of sliced green onions. I served the fish with a green salad with sugar snap peas and low fat, low cholesterol Miso dressing.

MMM Soup Season

2008-11-06T10:15:00.003-06:00

This fall has inspired a soup revolution in our home.

In the past two weeks, I have made Broccoli Cheese Soup, Greek Meatball Soup, Matza Ball Soup and the following incredible Tortilla Soup!

This soup was so easy! It took only 10 minutes and tasted better than any I have had in a restaurant. (recipe follows)

Simple Tortilla Soup

1/2 onion (diced)
1 large can Enchilada Sauce
1 can Tomato Sauce
2 cans Chicken Broth
2 Cups Chopped Frozen Ready to Eat Chicken Fajita Strips
1 can Black Beans
1 can Hominy
Salt and Pepper to taste

Toppings
Cheese
Avacado
Cilantro
Green Onion
Crispy Tortilla Strips

Simply brown onion in soup pot then add all other soup ingredients and bring to boil. Spoon into large soup bowls and top generously. Enjoy!!!

Warning - this soup was so good, we nearly made ourselves sick eating so much.

Happy Halloween

2008-11-05T09:00:00.006-06:00

This year we carved our pumpkins on Halloween Eve. Riley picked out two beautiful big pumpkins and we cut and scraped and scraped and cut and carved and rested and carved some more. Whew! That was alot of work and for some reason I didn't take a picture of the finished masterpieces so just imagine the most elaborate, wonderful carvings ever. :)

I did manage to save and roast the seeds this year which came out pretty good but didn't seem to hold the fresh cracked sea salt very well. I think maybe a finer salt would be better.

We also made giant chewy chocolate brownies with chocolate frosting, candy corn and orange colored white chocolate drizzle for Riley to hand out to her favorite peeps on Halloween. (At some point I will discuss my crappy camera and how I hope Santa is bringing me a new one - but that is a different post all together)

This year Riley dressed up in 50's attire. Her Nama made a fantastic Poodle skirt in pink. (oh, and the dog was dressed up too.)

Oh, The pleasures of Fall!

2008-11-05T08:40:00.009-06:00

Fall is in the air and this season is marked not only with the falling leaves and dead grass but with an annual phone message from my Rita in which she sings to me "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas". This is also the time of year for my highly sought after caramel apples. I make these from the first of October through New Years each year. I have a few pregnant coworkers that have been begging for them since September so I promptly started making them October 1st. I had to limit the orders Wednesday and Friday now that they are so popular. I typically make about 15 - 20 apples twice a week.

These apples are large and tart. They are dipped in a hot caramel bath then topped with a variety of candies and chocolate.

Happy Birthday Poppy

2008-08-21T08:38:00.006-05:00

My Father turned 61 yesterday so last night I ordered in some fresh quail and quail's eggs and made a feast. He also requested a "Ding Dong" cake. The menu was stuffed quail, grilled zucchini and poached quail eggs on toasted polenta cakes.

The quails came boned packaged nicely in a cooler with ice to keep them fresh and the eggs were laid that morning. I started by making the stuffing of Portabella and button mushrooms mixed with goat cheese, green onions and garlic.

I stuffed the birds and laid them in the backing dish before a quick saute in bacon fat before baking.

The tiny eggs were so beautiful! It took a few tries to perfect getting them out of the shell without breaking them.
Here is the "Ding Dong" cake Poppy requested. It was made with dark rich chocolate ganache which went very well with the red wine.

"Hey Cupcake!"

2008-08-18T14:51:00.003-05:00

Saturday Riley and I were treated to a movie and a big cupcake. The is the new hip spot on South Congress in Austin Tx. It is called "Hey Cupcake!". It's a very small Airstream with a very large rotating cupcake on the roof. It was Saturday evening about 6:30pm and raining and the line was wrapped around and down the side walk.

Riley had "The Standard (Chocolate Top, Vanilla Bottom)" with sprinkles of course!
I had a "Double Double Whipper Snapper (Chocolate Top, Chocolate Bottom with a squirt of cream filling in the middle)"

OMG Delicious!

Two Year Anniversary!

2008-08-12T17:07:00.007-05:00

To Celebrate 2 Years as an Art Director, I thought I would share a few of the fun things I have created.

Main Street Light Post Banners promoting our River Activities

5 Foot Billboard that can been seen entering Luling from the North

Hippie Picture Opportunity - Chili Cook Off 2007 (yes that is my parents - SMILE!!)

Wearable "Groovy" bus - Chili Cookoff 2007

Press Check - Milwaukee This is where I go every couple of months for the printing of my catalog.

Watermelon Thump Float 2007 (We won 1st place in the Business Division)

Watermelon Thump Float 2008 (We won 2nd place in the Business Division)

And of course, I made a few cakes...

Riley's 7th Birthday Cake (Hannah Montana themed of course)

Dual Birthdays for Mom and Laura

Baby Shower Cake for a Co-Worker

Cow Herding

2008-08-11T08:10:00.003-05:00

A typical evening in Cow Town! At 3:47pm Tristian and I went to San Marcos for dinner and a movie. We first had to visit the outlet mall for a little shopping but then off to dinner at 5:30pm .....Gordo's (as most SWT alumni know from the square) has branched out with a second location toward the outlet mall. Gordo's exceeded our expectations with hot, fresh mushroom swiss burgers and the evening was off to a great start.

We had been preparing for the new X-Files movie by watching all episodes from the beginning and I felt ready so we went to see the new flick at 7:10pm. (The time line might be important) Since I am neither Siskel or Ebert I will spare the movie review. We left about 9:30pm and made one stop at Hastings before heading home.

This is were the fun begins......half way between Martindale and Luling, we came upon a wreck that clearly happened about 1 min prior to us driving up on it. Several cars were involved and a dead cow was in the center of the road. This poor cow managed to take out 3 or more cars with major damage to all. We checked to make sure that emergency vehicles had been called and then proceeded on towards Luling. About 50 yards from the wreck we spot the rest of the herd.

This stretch of road is VERY dark. We played this scenario out in our heads and realized that this could be a dangerous situation as more cars and emergency vehicles would be racing to the scene of the accident. We decided to keep the cattle in sight and try to keep them from crossing the traffic again. We called 911 several times to alert them of our location and attempt to get help keeping these cows out of traffic but as anyone who lives in the sticks knows....this is a county law enforcement responsibility and the only TWO officers on duty were assisting the accident victims. So after about an hour of holding the frightened bovine, we managed to get them down a dirt road with little to no traffic.

Our evening ended up as an unforeseen adventure. Of course I had my camera and never thought to take a single picture. :(

The New Me

2008-08-05T13:16:00.003-05:00

Ok - I was finally sick of my Mother telling me to cut my hair so here it is. Enjoy!

Sushi

2008-07-29T13:04:00.002-05:00

After the Billy Bob Concert went tried a new Thai and Sushi shop on the Drag. Tristian ordered Yellow Tail, Tuna Sashimi and a Spider Roll. I had Grilled Pork Saigon Noodles and we shared some dumplings. I wish I would have had a camera to document this restaurant since it will be the last time we visit this establishment. So much went wrong and I am still feeling a bit upset in the tummy from this experience. (and everyone knows I have a gut of steel)

Billy Boy!

2008-07-29T12:54:00.004-05:00

Saturday night Tristian and I went out on the town. We went to the outdoor venue at Stubb's to see Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters! It was a little hot and humid to be outside but it was very cool to see Billy Boy up close. (He is a little guy off of the big screen) I even ran into my good friend Kerry who took these photos for me.

My first blog...

2008-07-28T15:33:00.003-05:00

Today starts a new day in my obsession with the internet. I am an avid reader of various blogs of mostly food and art. As I spend most of my life either in front of a computer or in my kitchen, the next logical step for me was to create a blog of my own.

I am neither a greeting card sender or a telephone chit chatter so in order to do my part in keeping my friends and family involved in my life, I have decided to blog it.

Also, if my 4 month old God Son can write a weekly blog so can I!

Most of what will be contained in this blog will be food because let's face it, I'm obsessed with the subject. I will of course be documenting the uniqueness that is my daughter Riley as she has become a great little cook and artist.