I'm back! Well. Kind of.

I've been so busy at work and with the kids that I have been eating frozen meals (homemade ones! Let's not get crazy) and PB sandwiches for the kids. Tonight I decided to make this chicken stuffing bake thing because I kind of wanted stuffing. I didn't actually eat any at Thanksgiving (I WAS TOO FULL FROM APPETIZERS) so I was thinking about what I had....SO legs it is and some delicious boxed stuffing.

 

I browned the chicken in the oven and then mixed cream of chicken soup and milk and poured it over. 

 

Then mixed milk with a box of stuffing (I used Aldi brand because cheap) and spooned it over the top. 

The recipe I used (found here)  called for shredded cheddar on the top. 

So I did it. 

 

It was good, but I don't think I would put cheese on it again. Because cheese on stuffing wasn't what I wanted it to be. 

 

Now. A preview of tomorrow! 

Today I busted out my pasta machine that I have had for basically a year and not used yet and it is FANTASTIC.

I made fettuccini and some other skinny noodle and lasagna. Tomorrow I'm making a lasagna but here, look at this! 

 

 More pictures of the pasta making fun tomorrow. It was one of the most fun kitchen gadgets I have ever used and FRESH PASTA IS SO GODDAMN GOOD. My kids had buttered noodles for dinner (the chicken was taking too long but they will have it for lunch tomorrow). 

 

Until my next cooking adventure friends!!! 

All hawaiian all the way

So I had the day off for Veteran's Day and I decided to COOK. I know. I'm shocked too. 

I decided to do this crock pot pineapple chicken. Basically you put your frozen (or fresh) chicken into the crock pot, and make a marinade/sauce of brown sugar, soy sauce, chicken broth, garlic, pineapple juice and pour it on the chicken. Then you put the pineapple on the top! I forgot to do th cornstarch part, but I did broil them (which my kids picked the crispy skin off!). This came out DELICIOUS. I would absolutely make it again. My kids both LOVED IT. 

 

 

Pre and post broiling. 

Then I decided I should make my own Hawaiian rolls. MMMMMMMMM. 

Pretty easy and the secret ingredient is PINEAPPLE JUICE. I enjoyed these as much as the chicken. 

While rising. Pay no attention to how they are all smooshed. 

 

I made rolls and I made a loaf. Mmmm SOMEONE SAVE ME FROM MYSELF. 

 

We also had this random rice thing which didn't work out. Oh well. 

 

Recipe for Hawaiian rolls here  Nothing like fresh bread from the oven.....

Overall, will make BOTH THINGS AGAIN. 

I also made some sauce from my tomatoes from my garden, I used the same recipe from before....it's a freezer recipe and it made a TON. 

These had been ripening for awhile on my counter. I used all of the ripe tomatoes and then went out and picked the rest of the green ones off the vine for another batch of sauce eventually.

 

I cooked them with onion and garlic this time, no peppers. 

 

Enough to freeze and share. Going to make my own pasta this weekend. FINGERS CROSSED! Overall, it was an excellent day. Lots of cooking. Mmmmmm

 

Taco Tuesday - vegan style..maybe

Been a while for writing a food blog. Figured what better distraction from the elections than to jump back into food blogging. I was sitting here thinking "TACO TUESDAY"- which is always in caps cause you have to respect it. Was debating on whether to go out and grab some food or cook something at home. After being inspired by my compatriot Roberto's pic of a butternut squash and cheddar gratin, I had picked up a butternut squash. Well I picked it up before his pic but hey why not give him credit for it anyway. I mean technically he actually cooked it before I did. That's not a euphemism. So butternut squash + tacos? Why not!

Did a quick google search and came across Cookie + Kate Roasted Butternut Squash Tacos. Seemed easy enough and was something new to do with a butternut squash.  Also I think I might have gotten brownie points with my vegan and vegetarian friends as I believe this might have been a vegan meal in its entirety. Worse case scenario it was vegetarian. I don't know all the rules...maybe I'll just stick with vegetarian meal to play it safe. Someone will correct me at some point I'm sure.

I would say probably the hardest part was cutting the butternut squash and that wasn't bad at all. I did notice the lady mentioned that you could buy pre-cut butternut squash but being a fan of chopping/Julienning I do enjoy preparing stuff myself. Plus I own a plethora of knives so why not use them.

Post roasted Butternut Squash

Cabbage and Black Bean Slaw

Karen's homemade guacamole- even I don't know how she does it

Finish Product- Roasted Butternut Squash Taco

While on the vegetarian/vegan front I did come across these at the grocery store. Had a couple of things going for it 1) brand new and 2) was on sale. So why not. They were actually pretty tasty and per the label vegan. Pretty much paired it up with the guacamole. Not sure if they sell them everywhere or what but picked them up at Meijer. Definitely on the buy again list.

The Better Chip Sweet Corn chips

Regardless of how the elections go,  I think it was safe to say mission accomplished on this foodie adventure cooking.  New food? Check. Home cooking? Check.  TACO TUESDAY? CHECK again. Vote tacos for the win.

#FoodiePorVida,

Reef