Thai food.... with Randee

Several years ago we visited relatives in Vermont and they ordered thai food one nite. I am not too adventurous with food but I really did like this  dish it was an interesting and unusual tastes. IT was chicken with pineapple snow peas carrots and cashews. With coconut milk and red curry. IT was absolutely delicious. The curry added heat to it and the coconut milk balanced that out perfectly. It literally warmed you up on a cold nite. Yum. So I went home and tried to recreate it and I must admit it was pretty accurate and also delish. I made this last nite and here it is.....

These are the the ingredients that can be found at any food store in the asian food aisle. You will need boneless chicken breasts about one per person. You will also need a can of pineapple chunks, a can of coconut milk, carrots, snow peas, cashews and red curry paste...

Cook chicken in oil in a large pot until cooked all the way thru...

 Add coconut milk snow peas and carrots... let cook for about 5-10 minutes...

 Add pineapple chunks about 3/4 of the can...

 Add one tablespoon of the red curry paste.. this didnt make it very hot in terms of spice. I would start with that and taste and add if desired...

 Serve over rice and enjoy w your friend!!!

She loved it! Thanks Randee for coming over and having a taste!!!!

Target bargains....

Taking a break from cooking and decorating to show some bargains I got at target this week. I love those red clearance stickers!! Anyway here are some of my goodies...

This was a queen sized quilt that was $90 marked down to...22.48

 Another picture of the comforter. Its sort of fall looking without being too dark. Came with two pillow shams....

This is actually a quilt meant for a girls room but it was pink and cheap and cozy looking so I grabbed it...

Two shades of pink!

 It was $40 and I thought it was the sticker price but it actually came up...$19.99! woohoo

These items I found in the travel section and the packets on the table were on an end cap right near there...

Small tissue boxes for $0.67.... the silver eyeliner was $1.24

 These little packets were hair treatments body lotion and I think foot cream. They were $0.37

 Shout wipes were also $0.67....

 This was a six pack of triple roll ladies socks. Not the most stylish of things but for that price I can sleep in them!!


 Just a silly picture of my favorite boys and I ... love their expression!!!!!!!!!!!!

Banana Bread

Yum. thats what my kitchen smells like right now. Yum

Start with bananas eggs sugar and butter...

 

Add dry ingredients...

 Fill one large and three small loaf pans or probably two large...

 Messy but worth it!!!!

Recipe for banana bread...
1/2 cup (one stick) softened butter
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
3 mashed bananas
2 cups flour
1 and 1/2 tsp  baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup of nuts - i leave these out only because Jack doesnt like them
1/2 cup sour cream.
Method...
beat together first three ingredients. Add in bananas and beat thoroughly. Add remaining ingredients.
Pour into greased loaf pan about half way full. Bake 350 for about 20 - 30  min our until knife come out clean.
so delish warm with a little butter or toasted...enjoy!!

Momma's Meatballs

My meatballs are so famous and sought after that they deserved their very own post! I have to admit and Im sure I have said this before but I am not a measur-er with alot of my recipes and the meatballs are one of them. I judge by smell feel and look. Sometimes I will bake one really quickly and taste test it as there are many willing participants in my house willing to test them out!!

Ingredients. About a pound and a half of chop meat

80% lean. Garlic powder, percorino romano cheese, and white bread. You can also add dried parsley but I often forget this

Mix together chop meat 2 eggs 2 slices of white bread crumbled and some roamno cheese probably about 2-3 Tablespoonsful. Also about 1-2 tsp of garlic powder.

Mix together and form into balls. The chunks of white bread keep it moist along with the eggs. I dont use bread crumbs. Its hard to describe the consistancy of it. Probably the same as a meatloaf mix.

Bake at 350 for maybe 20 minutes. Cut open to be sure they are cooked thru. I always make sure they are totally cooked before adding them to my sauce. These are really really good. Its also good to put them in the crock pot with sauce all day its an easy way to keep them hot and ready to eat when you want. My mother makes them this way. I still cant get mine to taste as good as hers. I like to think its because she has 30 years experience making these. Im at about 5! Enjoy!!!!!!

Finally some recipes!!

I have taken pictures of some things I have made but I havent had a chance to blog the recipe yet so here  they are!!

This is meatless spinach lasagna it was really really good. Very cheesy. No red sauce. It is a little time consuming so I think its better for a weekend meal instead of during the week. It also calls for no bake lasagna noodles that I dont use because I dont like the taste of them- which of corse adds to the time but I think its worth it. It makes a huge amount and is perfect for a big family meal or lots of left overs for the week. I dont have 'play by play' pics just the finished product...

Recipe for Meatless Spinach Lasagna
1/3 cup butter cubed
1/3 cup flour
3 and 3/4 cups  half and half
1 cup heavy cream
3/4  cup grated parm cheese divided
30 oz ricotta cheese
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach thawed and squeezed dry
3/4 cup shredded carrots
12 no cook lasagna noodles
8oz of shredded mozz cheese
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 Tablespoon melted butter

Method:
-In a large saucepan melt butter and stir in flour until smooth and gradually add in creams. Bring to a boil. cook and stir 2 minutes and stir in 1/2 cup parm cheese
-In large bowl combine ricotta spinach carrots (you could also add chopped mushrooms here too) and remaining cheese
-layer ingredients in following order.(in a 13x9 dish) Cover bottom w cream sauce. then noodles. then half rictotta spinach mix then cream sauce and mozz cheese. Repeat layers ending w mozz cheese. Combine bread crumbs and melted butter and sprinkle over lasagna
-cover and bake at 375 for 55 min uncover and cook for about 10 more min. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting. This really helps it to keep its shape when cut.

School House Cookie Bars

This was so delicious and easy. Kids loved it. You could probably switch up the toppings and sauced and switch out the ingredients for  peanut butter chips and choc syrup. Or butterscotch chips and choc syrup.

18.5 ounce package yellow cake mix
2 cups quick cooking oats (i think you can use regular cooking oats and it wont matter)
3/4 cup oil
1 egg
12 oz jar caramel ice cream topping
1 cup choc chips
-Combine cake mix oil egg and oats. spread half (its really more like 3/4 of it unless you use a smaller dish. i used a greased metal 13x9 pan)
-Drizzle w caramel topping  choc chips and nuts if desired
Crumble remaining cake mix on top bake at 350 for 28-30 min cut into squares
- possible variations peanut butter chips. butterscotch chips. white chips. dried cranberries. Graham cracker crumbs and marshmallows and choc chips? why not
Enjoy ! this was quick and easy and a delicious after school snack. Yum