Thursday, January 28, 2010

Holy Salsa.

I don't care what anyone else says, chips and salsa are, hands down, the best snack (or meal) ever. Ever.

Even in my current state of hurl inducing nausea, I can eat chips and salsa. (Yes, I regret it later, but that's beside the point.) And thanks to The Pioneer Woman, I can honestly say, I just had the best salsa I have ever tasted.

I have died and gone to salsa heaven. And it's a good place.

But don't take my word for it, try it for yourself. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Restaurant Style Salsa
(Adapted from: The Pioneer Woman)

Ingredients:
1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)

¼ cups Chopped Onion (oops I forgot to buy an onion. I used a healthy sprinkle of Onion Powder instead)
1 clove Garlic, Minced
1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin (seeds too!)
¼ teaspoons Sugar
¼ teaspoons Salt (I used closer to a 1/2 tsp.)
¼ teaspoons Ground Cumin (oops, didn't have any)
½ cups Cilantro (more To Taste!)
½ whole Lime Juice

Combine everything in a blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you’d like (I think I did 18). Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed. Refrigerate salsa for at least an hour. Or eat it right away, you know, whatever.

Makes 7 cups or so. My food processor was plumb full.

So as you can see, I didn't follow the recipe exactly. Just imagine how amazing it will be if you use an actual onion and add the cumin!

Enjoy!



Wednesday, January 27, 2010

A pregnant woman's best friend

 Fiber One Toaster Pastries. Specifically the Brown Sugar Cinnamon variety.  Yum, yum.



Not only do they taste good, but the extra dose of fiber works wonders. If you know what I mean. And I think you do.

That is all. Back to your regularly scheduled blog surfing.




(Photo credit: Fiber One)

Fresh Outlook

It's amazing what a little snow can do.

Two days ago if you would have looked out on our back yard, you probably would have been a bit discouraged. It was slushy, wet, dirty and depressing. Lots of what my SIL calls, "snirt" (snow+dirt).  Not the kind of winter scene that screams "Come on outside, the snow is great!"

But then it snowed. Just an inch or two, but enough to transform our winter world overnight. Everything looks bright, clean, refreshing and inviting.

Too bad we're now having Arctic like temperatures. The kind of cold air that takes your breath away and freezes snot instantly. A forecasted high of....7. And that's without the windchill factored in, let's add that just for fun. Now we're looking at -11. In other words, not the kind of weather you take your toddler out to play in.

Oh well, maybe tomorrow. Nope, the high is only suppose to be 4. But wait, look! There, on the 5 day forecast! I see an 11! And then 16!

At least our view from inside is a little more encouraging. It's the little things.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Banana Crumb Muffins



Mmmmm...Banana Crumb Muffins. Not a bad way to start the day. I woke up craving banana bread. Not wanting it, but craving it. I had to have it and I had to have it now. So I jumped out of bed (ok, jump is a strong word. Rolled would be more appropriate.) and ran down to my computer. I remembered seeing a recipe on Annie's Eats for some sort of banana muffin and I knew they would be just what I needed.
And they were.
These muffins were magnificent. Dense, moist and just the right amount of banana. Both of my breakfast companions gave them two thumbs up. Well, Olive can't quite do thumbs up but she did ask several times for "Moe uffins see see!" (translation: More muffins please!)
Banana Crumb Muffins
(Adapted from: Annie's Eats)
For the muffins:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
½ teaspoon cinnamon (I used 1 teaspoon. I love cinnamon!)
1/3 cup butter, melted

For the topping:
1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter


Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly grease 10 (I did 12) muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg, cinnamon and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.


Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

Enjoy!

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Saturday, January 23, 2010

There's a reason I've been pretty quiet lately

and I promise you it's a good reason....



Coming to Duluth August 2010

But let's hope this "morning" (what a cruel joke that is!) sickness is gone waaaay before then!





Thursday, January 14, 2010

SQUEEE!!

IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE!



 

My HP TouchSmart 600 was delivered today.  Woo hoo!

Thanks again to MckMama for hosting this magnificent giveaway!

Now if only Olive would go down for her nap so I could open the box and set it up....

Sunday, January 3, 2010

New Year, New Adventure

My SIL and I decided to start the New Year off with a bang.

Or a blog, rather.

Daily doses of life. Check it out.

sixone[two]oneeight