Category Archives: freezin

Relinquishing control of the list

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Leo is enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I have been in a bit of a funk lately (weather would be a key factor)  and I am desperately trying to pull myself out of it. The temperature right now is 10 degrees but it feels like negative 6 with the wind chill. Needless to say… this girl needs some help! After Justin hangs out with the guys today he has  offered to do the weekly grocery shopping  which makes me very happy! I tried to help him out by emailing him a grocery list that is organized by areas: veggies, fruit, dairy, meat, kleenex and light bulbs/ etc.  I do feel a bit guilty letting him do the shopping, but I think he will love the dinner I am making him tonight so I feel it’s a good trade off. 

Here is the list: 

1 tomato (we are using it tonight)
2 packages of mushrooms
2 shallots
1 garlic
1 green pepper
1 jalapeno pepper
1 asparagus
4 sweet onions
1 package raspberries
1 package blackberries
1 package clementines
1 pound ground beef
8 ounces cream cheese
1 container of ricotta (not sure size requirements… you might want to call me)
12 ounces white american cheese (we might have to shred it ourselves which is fine)
4 oz monterey jack cheese (we are probably going to have to buy a block because we can never find it shredded)
fontina cheee (4 ounces)
1 round brie
2 packages crescent rolls
1 milk
1 carton eggs
1 bread crumb
1 bottle parsley flakes
1 bottle of thyme (not ground)
2 boxes of funfetti cake mix ( i think its pillsbury brand.)
1 package heart healthy bisquick
1 quart  of apple juice or apple cider
2 jars ragu spaghetti sauce
1 package barilla penne plus (yellow one)
2 cartons of beef broth
1  skippy natural peanut butter
1 bottle honey
1 package of flour tortillas
1 loaf of bread
1 diet coke
1 bag of tortilla chips ( I like the tostito bite size, and we are almost out)
light bulbs
4 boxes of kleenex
 

How do you deal with the frigid temperatures and the dreary weather?

How do you organize your grocery list?

Living in a Snow Globe

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Explaining to my family and friends what it’s like to live in Minnesota right now can best be described as living in a giant  snow globe. Some days there is not a snow flake in the sky and others it seems like it is never going to stop snowing.   Well, apparently everyone is into snow globes right now and not just me.  I stumbled upon this site which you should definitely check out. http://www.snowglobemaker.com/

I love that Real Simple has a snow globe on the cover this month and I’m also crazy about  the Coca Cola commercials right now that have snow globes in them. The song that Coke has in the commercial  is by Train and I adore it.  Apparently Apple is also featuring the iPad in a snow globe.

One of my favorite Hanukkah Presents (2000) . I still haven’t been to New York but am hoping to go soon!
I leave you with a special recipe that reminds me of my family… PARTY MIX (most people call this chex mix but to me it will always be PARTY MIX) Whenever we have this stuff it feels like a party. My mom is the party mix queen and makes this stuff by like the truck loads. Justin can literally inhale a bag of this in one sitting. It is that addictive to him. 
Enjoy!
Ingredients:

1 box Corn Chex, 1 box Rice Chex, 1 box Wheat Chex, 1 box cheeze its, 1 bag pretzels,  2 sticks salted butter, Lawry’s seasoned salt, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce

1. Take two foil pans and put one stick of salted butter in each pan.

2. Preheat oven to 300 degrees

3. Put pans in oven and let butter melt.

4. Add Worcestershire sauce about 1/2 cup maybe a bit more to each pan.

5. Cover bottom of each pan with garlic powder and Lawry’s seasoned salt.

6. Mix each pan around with spoon

7. Add 1/2 a box of corn chex, rice chex, wheat chex, cheeze it, and  pretzels in each pan and stir around till evenly combined.

11. Put in oven for 20 minutes uncovered

12. Pull out and dump into  empty pan and put back in oven for 20 minutes .

13. Pull  out after another 20 minutes and dump in another pan and put back in oven for 20 more minutes.

 total time is (3) 20 minute increments or 1 hour :)

Not Your Average Kugel

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Alli, me, and Amy

 

I know I have some readers that might not know what kugel is so let me explain. Kugel is “A traditional Jewish dessert or side dish. The word is Yiddish for ball, but it is sometimes translated as pudding or casserole.” (this website is really interesting http://www.jewishrecipes.org/jewish-foods/kugel.html )

I love a little history lesson, don’t you? But moving on to a twist on a traditional classic. My friend, Amy keeps joking with me that she doesn’t know what it takes to get mentioned on the blog… well Amy, here is your gold star that you wanted. Amy made this Kugel for me recently and I could not get over how amazing it was. I begged her for the recipe and promised her a post with picture. Make this kugel… you will be amazed with not only how easy but how delish it is.

Amy’s Sweet Kugel
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) salted butter or margarine
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup pecans, halved
1 pound wide noodles
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Melt half the butter in a 12 cup bundt pan.  Swirl it around the bottom and up the sides.

2. Press the brown sugar into the bottom and press the pecans into the sugar.

3. Boil the noodles according to the package directions and then drain. In a separate bowl mix  the eggs, the remaining melted butter, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Next pour into the bowl that has the noodles and mix. Then pour into bundt pan.

4. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes  or until the top is brown. Let sit for 15 minutes before unmolding. The top will become slightly hard like a praline. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Side note: tomorrow is my last day of school and then begins winter break! I have a feeling that I will be pretty bored so expect some super fun blog entries to follow

:)

Erica

M&M’s + cake balls= best treat ever

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I wanted to make cake balls this past weekend and I wanted to jazz them up. I spied an unopened bag of mini m&ms and thought why not. This could not be easier and I would definitely suggest you make it with/ for kids. I brought half a batch to the people at work and the other half to family dinner.

Ingredients

1 nine by thirteen Betty Crocker cake ( I did a yellow cake)
1 container of frosting ( I chose chocolate)
1 bag mini m&ms
2 bags white chocolate melts.

Directions

Crumble cake into bowl and mix in 3 quarters of the container of frosting. Roll into 1 1/2 inch balls and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Melt the two packages of white chocolate in the microwave in thirty second increments. Make sure to stir with a spoon after each time.

Dip balls in white chocolate and place on wax paper or parchment paper. Carefully stick on m&ms before white chocolate dries. Store in air tight container in fridge.


What desserts have you made this month?

Any suggestions for another topping for the cake balls?

:)
Surviving in a giant snow globe

Erica

Adios Prairie Fire… Hola White Chocolate Bread Pudding

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First let me tell all of you that for the next couple of posts you are going to have to bear with me…. Apparently something has happened to the router at home and I am having to blog from my phone which I do not love for so many reasons ( blogging and skyping with my mom and dad are probably two of my favorite things that are being interrupted by this stupid router). No prob though my mom (my editor) will send me emails and I will fix any mistakes that you may see this week.

Ok so now that I have cleared that up let me fill you in on a dessert that has way too many memories connected to it and is amazing and not too hard to make…drum roll…. White Chocolate Bread Pudding!
This recipe I thought I would never have but unfortunately “the fams” favorite restaurant in Birmingham closed down and they sent out the recipe to the most ordered/most loved dessert their White Chocolate Bread Pudding. I made it this weekend for Justin and he gave me his stamp of approval.
Make this dessert for your family and friends! I promise you they will love it.


White Chocolate Bread Pudding
Ingredients
12 egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1/2 quart heavy cream
18 ounces white chocolate chips
1 1/2 loaves challah (cut off crust)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 quart half and half

Topping
1/2 cup butter
2 cups Graham cracker crumbs
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Grease a 9 by 13 baking dish. Layer bread into 3 layers. Cut and trim as necessary to get good coverage. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar until bright yellow. Heat the cream, half and half and vanilla until it begins to boil. Add white chocolate chips to egg mixture and stir in the hot cream until all the chocolate is melted. Pour this pudding mixture over the bread making sure to manipulate the bread soaking every layer with the pudding mixture.

Topping procedure
Blend 1/2 cup butter and then mix in all ingredients until well blended. Apply the topping by spreading it out evenly over the surface. Let the bread pudding stand for 15 minutes before putting it in the oven.

Bake in 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. ( I put mine on a cookie sheet when I baked it because I was worried it might overflow.)

What is your favorite restaurant?

Do you have a similar story of a restaurant you miss that has closed?

Do you have a great bread pudding recipe?

Gotta go green

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In case you didn’t know… My favorite color is green. It’s an obsession but I would like to say it’s a healthy one. The pillows on our sectional are green, my lanyard for school is green, I even made my bridesmaids wear celadon (light green) in Justin’s and my wedding. Maybe it stemmed from birth since my birthstone is peridot… But who knows. I’ve shown you a green cake ( pistachio cake) and you’re probably curious as to what else I will turn green….


Well I went to get a pedicure with Alli today and I thought why not my toes! It’s 10 degrees outside and my feet will be covered in socks and boots for at least 3 more months so I went for it!
Thanks to Kat for suggesting the sephora OPI nail polish… I’m now sportin ten toes in the color Leaf Him at the Altar.

How was your weekend?

What is your favorite color and how are you showing it off?


:)
Surviving in a giant snow globe

Erica

Winter Weather Necessities

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I have to admit as I was typing out the title of this post I immediately thought of the song from the Jungle Book, The Bare Necessities that Baloo sings to Mowgli (it must be the teacher in me). Winter Weather is hitting Minnesota and I must say quite hard. I mean below zero temperatures with wind chill makes staying inside super tempting. Lately when I leave the house the only thing not wrapped up in cashmere, fleece, down, or wool is my face. I decided what better way to celebrate the cold then a post dedicated to snow/ winter survival. Here is a list of some things that make my winter more bearable.

1. Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion- Now I have tried many different lotions and right now this one is my favorite. One of my favorite slogans its cheap and it keeps me cheerful and not itching dry skin.  

 

2. Mulling Spices- This is a winter staple and I hate to tell you that I don’t have any at home right now. I need to get over to Williams Sonoma and get some. All you need is a jar of the mulling spices and apple juice to make the best apple cider ever. My  mom used to make me this all the time for me in the winter.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/mulling-spice/?pkey=e%7Cmulling%2Bspices%7C2%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-

Mulling Spices, Set of 2

3.  Movies- Now one of my new favorite movies came out today and I just had to write about it. Despicable Me is animated and here is the story line from imdb: “In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru, planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon. (Yes, the moon!) Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world’s greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.” This movie has Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Julie Andrews, Kristin Wiig and Miranda Cosgrove in it.

Despicable Me Poster

On the subject of renting movies… because that is definitely something we do in Minnesota (not having to attempt the layer upon layer of clothing is fantastic) I know lots  of people are doing netflix. Justin and I have not been too tempted to do this because next to where we live is a redbox which makes life quite convenient. One dollar for a dvd is simply wonderful!

What are some of your winter staples/ necessities/ must haves?

Hooray for Hanukkah!

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Not sure exactly how much snow we had this weekend but thanks to the wonderful snow plows it did not put a damper on the family Hanukkah party tonight (Sunday).

I ended up making snowman cake pops with Alli yesterday. I had high hopes for these and was a bit disappointed with the final product. I could not find the right sprinkles for buttons and my edible markers were giving us some trouble but life goes on and at least they tasted yummy.


I got the cutest key chain tonight from Justin’s aunt. Everyone knows that when the cold weather rolls around you can find me in one of my many pairs of uggs so… this was a perfect gift for me.

:)
Surviving in a giant snow globe is bearable because of a great puffy coat, warm gloves, and a cashmere scarf!

How was your weekend?

Snowy Saturday Play Time

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The news here (Minneapolis) has been 15-20 inches of snow for today (Saturday) for the last couple of days. (i.e.- I’m starting to get a bit stir crazy) Justin always works on Saturdays and the last time that they predicted  a big snow storm a couple of weeks ago it was delivered and I did not appreciate it.  So the conclusion was to make myself a play date for today because I was not going to be stuck at home alone.

I called Alli on Thursday and told her that I was in desperate need of a girls day! She agreed  so we decided what better way to spend a snowy day then making cake pops and watching movies.

Here are a couple pictures that I thought I would share with y’all from a snowy Saturday in Minneapolis.

Molly sent me this picture of her dog Roxy in the snow.

We couldn't believe how much snow had fallen.

Tis the season… to shop

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It might just be me but I feel like when December begins so does the need to shop and buy everyone a present for whatever holiday they celebrate. It can be quite tricky to pick out the perfect gift for everyone.Here are some of my favorite gift ideas/ places to shop

1. The Cook Store- I love going here when I go home to see my family. They have great brie baking dishes and a variety of other cooking essentials!  Last time I was home I learned that they have a website. OMG I can now shop from Minnesota.

http://www.thecookstoremtnbrook.com/  

 
 

 

Brie Bowls from The Cook Store! These can go directly in the oven.

 

 2. Ebates- This is not a store but a website and you all need to sign up NOW! You might think it’s a scam but no it works! I have received a check from them. You can get cash back by simply clicking on your favorite stores from their site and then shopping on the internet. Just a few stores that are on their website: Gap, Banana Republic, Nordstrom, Barnes and Noble, Jcrew and list goes on!

http://www.ebates.com/index.htm

3. Uggs-  Maybe it’s just me but since it is 4 degrees here right now you better believe I am putting on a pair of Uggs for work today. My mom was a skeptic in the beginning but now she loves them as well. My favorite pair are my red ones that have a cute button on the side. (Might I suggest going through ebates sight if you buy these and then you can get cash back :) )

4.  Cook Books- I have so many favorite cookbooks that this is really hard to narrow down just a few to suggest. 

 

  Cake Pops by Bakerella- I have blogged about this one before but I am telling you this woman is a genius! (duncan hines cake+ store bought frosting + candy coating= delish and adorable) You can buy her book at Barnes and Noble or online at amazon.

http://www.bakerella.com/

  

The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond- I have just recently started following her blog. Her cookbook is brilliant. She has pictures for every step of the recipe. She guides you through the whole process which I love!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/

5. Pillow Pets- Now let me start by saying I do not have one of these but I feel like they are like the must have gift this holiday season. My cousin and the little girl that I nanny for have them. I think that Ms. Lady Bug and Jolly Giraffe are adorable!

http://www.mypillowpets.com/pages/pillows/pillowhome.html