Epic Failure

I know...those of you who know me I never make mistakes...ha ha ha.  The epic failure of this week (as there are many each week) was the silly sweet potato ravioli I made for dinner.  They were delicious, don't get me wrong, however, layering them between wax paper was a DISASTER!!!!

    NOTE TO SELF:

          hot soggy things don't do well layered between wax paper DUH!

I love wax paper in my ravioli...not.

Hot + soggy + wax paper = EPIC FAILURE!

This is how it should've looked (courtesy of Rachel Ray Magazine)  and aside from a wax paper incident, it WOULD have looked this perfect! 

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-index/dinner-recipes/Sweet--n--Spicy-Potato-Ravioli

I dare you to give it a try, but watch-out! The chipotle peppers are HOT so maybe take it down to 1/2 a chipotle...also I didn't have pumpkin seeds so I substituted roughly chopped almonds (still delicious) AND...I found a new love "queso fresco"  It is a delicious cheese from south of the border, but readily available at most stores (I found it in Tooele which means that you can get it anywhere ). It crumbles perfectly.  The texture and flavor remind me of ricotta cheese, although slightly saltier.  I crumbled some in a salad with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper and YUMMY! 



Quality Control

my latest...

It may not look like much, but at least I have good quality control!

I only hope they are learning SOMETHING!

 coat number one...check...I think I've hit a creative block... named Annie and Meg.

 xoxo girls!

The First

I love, love, love furniture and decorating.  I especially love furniture I can change to fit my decor or refurbish. I don't have "before" and "during" photos, but here are some of the latest remakes:

the best thing is this table turned out to be a family project!  Rich was out of town and so I would sneak downstairs thinking I might get a moment to myself, but as it turns out, all 5 kids would eventually come down and we all sat (I worked) and talked and laughed.  Nothing better than that...

and yes, the drawers actually work (our house majorly lacks storage space, so the drawers were an added bonus)!

 

More storage! and a color other than red (which I love)

I am supposed to be selling these, but I can't...quite...part with them...not yet...

Soul food

Cauliflower chowder...the best in soul food! My kids took it in their lunches the next day!  A true test of  the "delicious factor" ...he he he!

Cauliflower Chowder
2 small potatoes peeled and chopped
2 ribs celery chopped
1 large carrot peeled and chopped
1 onion chopped
1 medium head cauliflower cut into pieces
5 Tbs butter
3/4 c. flour
4 c. half and half (I used 1% milk and it was still divine!)
1 8oz pkg. cream cheese
more milk (trust me you'll need it)
salt and pepper to taste

start by adding all your veggies to a pot and steam them.  I used my steamer basket but you could do it in the microwave or a pot on the stove.

Cover the veggies and steam them until they are just about done.  If you over-cook them they'll turn to mush in your chowder. 

While your veggies are cooking, you can start your white sauce. Put your butter into a large soup pot and begin to melt it over medium heat.  When your butter is melted add your flour and stir until it is absorbed and fragrant.  Let it brown a little to cook the flour and give it flavor, then quickly add the cream (or milk or some of both for that matter), and whisk it until it is smooth. 

Turn your heat up and cook until thickened.  It will be VERY thick so more milk is a plus.  Add the cream cheese and milk and stir to melt the cream cheese.  Add salt and pepper to the white sauce then add the cooked, steamed vegetables. It is safe to say that the white sauce will be done before the veggies if you start them at the same time, so you may want to hold-off starting the cream sauce for a little. 

Finish the chowder of with more salt and pepper to taste and VOILA! Oh and, this soup goes fabulously with dill bread (maybe the recipe another day).

Party On!

The party was a success (though the breadsticks were a little late coming out of the oven).  Good friends, good food and good times all around! We had a fabulous selection of soups, a yummy green salad and delicious black-bean brownies.  We couldn't convince the kids that there were beans in them...fiber baby!  YUM!  everything was sooooo good.  Here's the recipe I made http://www.food.com/recipe/Crock-Pot-Chicken-Curry-Soup-164785

in my opinion, the toasted coconut is essential and pleeeeeeaaase use "hot madras curry powder" (yes you can buy it at Wal-Mart).  The taste is UNBEATABLE in comparison to other curry powders.

to the finish

I got a wild hair and decided to start a blog...
I'm having a dinner party tonight and spending my time messing with background colors and the such.  I'm no dummy but this will be a learning curve (the blog, not the party)! Here's to a party that will probably be running late because I've been sucked into yet another project... loving life...