You have to check out this adorable dachshund, Iso... His owners are doing a whole series in slow motion. I cannot tell you which of the three installments I enjoy better. -sigh- Makes me want a puppy!!!
Iso in Slow Motion Channel on YouTube
Ravioli Soup
This weekend was crazy. I have been working on projects, cleaning, changing decorations from winter to Valentine's Day, and trying to avoid doing anything I didn't want to do! (ie ironing and cleaning bathrooms!!)
I tried a new recipe this weekend which was a huge hit!! I wish I could reference where I found it, but I only copied the ingredients onto a MS Word file and printed. Its ok, the final soup was no where near the inspiration recipe, so I do not feel horrible about referencing it!
**You will note my Valentine's table decor! I hope to take pictures today of all my pretties around the house for posting tomorrow!
Ravioli Soup
*1 pound ground beef
*1/3 cup dried bread crumbs
*1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
*2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)
*1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
*1 - 28 oz can of diced tomatoes in juice
*1 - 6 ounce can of tomato paste
*1 - 32 ounce carton beef broth
*1 cup water
*1 teaspoon sugar
*1 teaspoon dried basil
*1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
*1/2teaspoon dried oregano
*1/4 cup fresh parsley (dried is an ok substitute)
*1 - 25 ounce bag of frozen cheese ravioli
Brown ground beef and drain all grease. Add all remaining ingredients except ravioli and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for at least 30 minutes to mingle the flavors.
Cook ravioli according to package directions and add to soup right before serving. This will insure that your ravioli is cooked through and do not fall apart while you stir the cooking soup.
Sprinkle with some extra Parmesan cheese or Mozzarella cheese (as shown).
Cream Cheese Chocolate Truffles
I am still on the hunt for perfect teacher gifts for Valentine's Day... Ok, truth be told, I am just wanting to make some candies and cookies because its still snowing here in Kentucky and I am stuck inside and bored!
I made these and am totally in love!! They will get made again for Valentine's Day, just not sure if they will make it out of the house!!
Cream Cheese Chocolate Truffles
4oz cream cheese (do not use fat-free)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
*Cocoa Powder, powdered sugar, sprinkles and/or finely chopped nuts for the coating
In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese until a smooth consistency. Beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Add the melted chocolate and vanilla until mixture is well blended. Refrigerate truffle mix 1 hour.
Use a teaspoon to gather the chocolate mixture. Use your hands to roll the mixture into 1-inch balls.
Roll the chocolate ball in the the desired covering until evenly coated.
*I like to keep these refrigerated until ready to serve since they do have cream cheese in them.
*For a different taste, use 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate and 1/2 dark chocolate, melted together.
Spiced Cranberry Shortbread
Today I made something special for me. Its a gray nasty day with rain turning to snow in the forecast. (Yay me. -_-)
You have to try this recipe. It is fabulous!! For the cranberry and shortbread lover, this is a must try!
Spiced Cranberry Shortbread
*1 cup unsalted butter, softened
*3/4 cup sifted confectioners sugar
*1 tsp pure vanilla extract
*2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
*1/2 tsp salt
*1 tsp. ground cinnamon
*1/2 tsp. ground allspice
*1 cup finely chopped dried cranberries
Preheat oven to 325. Put butter, sugar, vanilla, flour, spices and salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir together until combined but not too creamy. Stir in dried cranberries.
Press dough evenly into a 8-inch square (or 10' round works as well) baking pan. Bake until firm and pale golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack, about 20 minutes.
*I cut my shortbread into hearts with a 2-inch heart shaped cookie cutter, trimming any stray bits of cranberry from edges with a paring knife. I was testing for potential teacher gifts for Valentine's day. It was very fragile, but they turned out lovely.*
Banana Pancakes
It's snowing again and we are stuck inside. This is really getting O-L-D fast. One thing always happens when its snows, I get the cooking bug.
So for lunch we had breakfast (neither of us are breakfast eaters, especially at the normal breakfast time!) To change things up a little, I made banana pancakes. Believe me, it was a huge hit!!
Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes
*1 medium ripe banana, mashed
*1 large egg
*1 tsp. baking soda
*1/4 tsp. salt
*1 tsp. ground cinnamon
*1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
*1 Tbsp. sugar
*1 cup milk
*1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose flour)
In a large bowl, combine the banana, egg, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar. Stir to combine. Add in the milk, ground flax, if desired, and flour. Stir until well combined.
Preheat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. Spoon batter, two pancakes at a time, into preheated skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until bubbles form in the center of the pancakes. Flip and cook an additional two minutes. Serve with sliced bananas and other desired toppings. (Peanut butter is my son's favorite)
Dog Bed aka Shelle is Bored
There is 6 million inches of snow outside and I am bored. Well, I was bored. Now I am just happy. Soon you will understand why!
Milo loves sleeping under my desk. Up until today he slept on old towels or blankets, haphazardly thrown into the corner next to my filing cabinet. I doubt he cared, but I always did! It was not only unattractive, but it was probably more of a fire-hazard than I would like to admit as it was close to my tower computer, 2 modems, a switch, a sub-woofer, and all the 3 million wires that it takes to run all the computer goodies I demand.
Today I made him a bed. Not just any bed, but a bed with a built in blankie! It is made from one of those polar fleece throws you can get anywhere for less than $5.00. I didn't take any 'in progress pictures, because I didn't know if it would turn out worthy of self applause!
The total cost for this? $1.50 for the throw at Goodwill. I prettified it with some blue cording I had left over from another project, which does not match my room, but I am not going to complain... I stuffed it with a King-size pillow I had laying around in a closet for overnight guests.
I think he is pretty happy, don't you?
(If you are worried about Dixie being jealous, don't be... Girlfriend takes her naps on my bed, snuggled up with her polar bear under the duvet!)
Crab Cakes and Tartar Sauce ala Shelle
We are seafood eating folks at my house. I am lucky to have a kid who is just as addicted to shrimp, oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, lobster -sigh-, salmon, etc as I am. Heck, he even loves calamari!! **Yes, I have raised him right!**
Last night I was itching for some seafood and living on this tiny budget doesn't allow me to head over to Regatta (my favorite local place for Seafood) for something. So, homemade it is and homemade it was...
Tartar Sauce
*1/2 cup mayonnaise
*1 tablespoon chopped green onions (green part only)
*1 tablespoons drained sweet pickle relish
*1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley leaves
*1 teaspoons Dijon mustard
*a squirt fresh lemon juice
*1/8 teaspoon salt
In a bowl combine all the ingredients and chill until ready to serve.
This can be kept, in a tightly sealed container, in the fridge for several days.
Crab Cakes
* 1 pound crabmeat, picked free of shells
* 1/3 cup crushed Ritz Whole Wheat crackers
* 3 green onions (only the green part) finely chopped
* 1/4 cup mayonnaise
* 1 egg
* 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
* 1 teaspoon dry mustard
* 1/2 lemon, juiced
* 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 1/4 cup butter or margarine
In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients, except butter. Shape into patties and dust lightly with flour to prevent sticking.
Heat butter or margarine in a large skillet over medium heat. Carefully place crab cakes, in small batches, in pan and fry until browned. This usually takes 5 minutes per side. Only flip your crab cakes one time and do not press down with your spatula.
Drain on paper towels prior to serving and serve with my tartar sauce.
