Fall Cooking Class + Cookies

Tonight we kicked off our Fall Cooking Classes with an incredible Italian dish.  We had a fun demonstration and enjoyed some Quadertine Casserole.  This is such a tasty dish, and incredibly healthy!

The recipe includes so many vegetables and fresh herbs (or dried), and when we pulled the finished product out of the oven, it all smelled incredible.

Mixing in the fresh spinach...

 This informative table runner came from Naples Italy last year.  What fun decor!

We talked about different types of noodles and fresh herbs vs. dried herbs.  I loved looking at this pasta dictionary.

There you have it, Quadertine.

And as a little cooking class dessert, I thought it appropriate to enjoy these cookies.  Last night we headed over to Maria's aka brilliant cake decorator and she taught us the technique/special frostings for dam and fill sugar cookies.  I loved every minute of our mid-week girls night in.  Thanks Maria for your patience, and thanks Britt for making the cookies!  I can't wait to try this again.  I have a new respect for cookie and cake decorators. 

Everyone attending cooking class this fall received a welcome to class basket.  How fun! I can't wait to use everything in it, and learn more about the art of cooking! If anyone would like me to post this recipe or email it to them let me know.  You won't regret making this healthy dish!

spring cooking class - in session

The first time I attempted to make cookies after TT and I were married, I experienced a very harsh realization.  I no longer had access to a stocked pantry full of all the essentials to just whip out a batch of chocolate chip cookies, or cook up a spaghetti dinner.  At that moment, I realized I am in charge of my kitchen... and I'd hate to let myself (and TT) down.  Then I learned this - in most cases cooking dinner is not as easy as it looks.  Every time I'm cooking anything I have my phone on the kitchen counter ready to call my mom for more step by step instructions.  It might be something as simple as steaming broccoli, trying to recreate my mom's famous frosting, or wondering why my pizza dough isn't rising...basically I have a lot of cooking questions. 

So, the cooking classes were born.  Why? We all have our family favorite recipes, and my family happens to have a lot, because we all love to cook.  Both of my Grandma's are talented and adventurous cook. My mom is uber talented (who doesn't love their mom's cooking), and so is my Mother-In-Law. 

My mom is the creator of these cooking classes, and I can't wait for all six of them!  Tonight we started them off with a bang: Quiche. 

Quiche Lorraine. (This name bothers me. It sounds like Mrs. Lorraine.)

Chicken, Broccoli And Almond Quiche. (This one was my favorite).

And then there was Crustless Crab Quiche.  Unfortunately I didn't get a picture.  This quiche smelled the best coming out of the oven.   At the end of the night, my dad came in and gave each quiche a grade.  He's in charge of measuring our improvement, and babysitting the little ones. 

I'm excited for the next session.  It's focus is entirely on breads! We'll be making popovers, Italian Breadsticks, and learning to make the most of our Kitchenaids when making bread. 

Prepping -lots of pots and pans.

 Our favorite little helper.

Silly gooses.

Finished product!

Ham Fried Rice

Blackberry Messaged my sister tonight asking for a fast and simple recipe for dinner.  She texted three back to me, and this one seemed the fastest.  Thanks Britt, we loved it. The best part was running to the store for the ham peas and onions, and then getting home and finding out that we in fact did not have rice in the pantry.  Looking for my dessert now...

Tastes like Chicken

 One of my goals is to cook twice a week.  But tonight while I was cooking I realized why this is so much harder than it sounds.  If it were just cooking, that'd be fine.  But it's going to the grocery store (or in tonight's case my parents house), then cooking, which is totally fine, then cleaning up the tornado that at some point took the kitchen by complete surprise.  So when homework, laundry and maybe a workout are on the agenda for the night along with cooking, it gets a little harder to simply "cook".  Nonetheless I love to cook. I said cook a lot.

TONIGHTS MEAL: breaded chicken with baked potato and veggies 

  Ingredients:

two chicken breasts

one box stove top stuffing

one can chicken broth (low sodium, it's good for something)

one egg

Simple directions:

Pound the chicken breast in a baggie. Take the whites of one egg and drizzle it over the chicken on both sides. Put the Stove Top bread crumbs (what would be stuffing) in a bag and crush them into little bits. Yes, little bits.  Roll the chicken in the bits.  Place a frying pan on the stove, and put some butter in the pan.  Turn it on medium.  Transfer the chicken to the pan.  Slowly add the chicken broth, and the remaining Stove Top.  Cover the chicken with a lid.  I'm not sure why, I just know that helps it cook.  If you don't have a lid for your frying pan do what I did, and find another lid.  It still works.  Call your mom and thank her for the chicken breasts, and the baked potatoes.

Then, grab whatever veggies you have.  I had carrots and asparagus.  Yum!  Steam them, or grill them to perfection. Put the already baked potatoes in the microwave to warm them up.  And this is what I ended up with:

 

There you have it.  Nothin' special. And nothing too pretty, hence the sodas.  But that's what you get when you're just trying to make dinner for the hubs along with homework, laundry and a few other things!  The chicken by the way was delish, you guys should try it. It's fast, easy, and healthy!

There you have it! A quick, easy, DOABLE, recipe! 

Way better than our usual fast food.

Hubs should probably do the dishes right?  Thanks for reading fresh!

the one meal of the day

TT and I are sick.  Like I'm holding the Pepto in my hand at all times sick.  Yesterday I made him this soup and photographed it, simply minutes before I started feeling sick myself.  I love my new light blue bowls.  Anyway, thanks for the sweet comments, and thank you for reading!

Christmas Day

A little peek into our glorious Christmas day.

Christmas Day Dinner.

 A festive kitchen, dishtowels and all.

My very own appetizer.  

Candlelit dinner.

Peace, love, joy.

Mr. Snow Man

Christmas ornaments.

Welcome to Christmas Village.

The view from the window.

The view from the stairs.

 

The meaning of Christmas.

 

The Noel Home in Christmas Village.

 

Crafty Santa.

 

Poinsettia Lady.

 

Santa by the fireplace.

Peace On Earth.

*if you want to know where any of these beautiful decorations are from, please email me!*

It's SOO fashionable to cook!

I have been wanting to make these pancakes since I got Pioneer Woman's Cookbook.  Oh man, these were on the first page the cookbook fell open to, and looked delicious.  Finally, today after church I made them.  As you can see, I can't make them look as pretty as PW can, but I definitely recommend this recipe for pancakes...*there is a secret ingredient in these!* Anyway, TT and I downed this pile of goodness faster than you can say "Merry Christmas!!"

This was one meal that I wasn't worried about having too much butter, because I figure it's okay to splurge once in awhile.  These were delish! I can't wait to try these recipes PW's cookbook:

• Meatloaf
• Homemade Ranch with Iceberg Wedge
• Lasagna 
• Breakfast Bowls - - sounds exciting, right?

Want to know another cookbook with fabulous recipes?  The Gathering Of Friends, has amazing recipes, with memorable table scapes, and interior decor ideas too! I just love good ideas!

More style posts coming soon, but for now, happy eating, and happy holidays!  Have a killer recipe? Send it my way, puhleeze!

After all, it's SOO fashionable to cook.