Meals as a Mrs. ~ Creamed Pearl Onions

Pearl onions are a relatively new vegetable for me.  I already knew I loved Vidalia sweet onions if sauteed or fried as onion rings.  What I didn't know was how much I would like pearl onions until Adam introduced them to me when he made me Beef Bourguignon for the first time a couple years ago.  In fact, I like the pearl onions in this stew so much that when we make it, Adam will double the amount of pearl onions in addition to the extra mushrooms he puts in for his tastebuds.

So when I discovered this recipe for Creamed Pearl Onions I was super duper excited to try it.

Maybe my expecations were too high.  Perhaps I should have left my love affair with pearl onions alone and just kept it to the beef stew.  I was greatly disappointed by this recipe as the side dish of these veggies didn't taste at all like how I thought they would taste and I learned that I definitely prefer the pearl onions in their original format of being in the stew without the cream or anything else added to them.  If it's not broken, why fix it right??  I am curious though.  Do any of you have any recipes that use pearl onions??

Meals as a Mrs. ~ Rapid Rolls

I tried this recipe for Rapid Rolls out last fall just before Thanksgiving for November's GGG. 

The leftover rolls ended up making the trip home to Pennsylvania to be served with our Thanksgiving meal but they weren't exactly a hit with my family.  I think, in part, due to the fact that I goofed on the ingredients by using bread flour when I was supposed to use regular flour.  My family seemed to prefer the refrigerated Pillsbury rolls rather than these ones that were made from scratch.  Oh well, live and learn I suppose! 

Through trying out this recipe, I enjoyed using our KitchenAid mixer and if I were to follow the recipe again I would be sure to spray the cookie sheets to avoid the bottoms of the rolls sticking to the pan.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the finished product.  The rolls turned out crispier and more dense than I expected (again due to the flour perhaps?). 

Looks like I'm still on the hunt for a good made from scratch roll recipe.  ; )

“How beautiful is the marriage of two Christians, two who are one in hope, one in desire, one in the way of life they follow, one in the religion they practice.” ~ Tertullian

Meals as a Mrs. ~ Peanut Butter Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

This was a treat that turned out a lot different from what I expected.  I figured since this snack contained two of my all time favorite things (chocolate and peanut butter) that I would LOOOOVE this cookie.  Alas, that was not so. 

First teaspoons of peanut butter needed to be frozen for at least two hours.  Then they need to be cut in half.

Cover the gobs of peanut butter with chocolate chip cookie dough and shape into a ball.  Freeze again for at least two hours.

Fresh from the oven!

The peanut butter stuffed chocolate chip cookies were different from the usual cookie but I probably wouldn't make them again as they were too gooey for my liking.  Maybe I made the peanut butter gobs too large.  Maybe the cookies didn't bake all the way through or maybe the recipe I chose to follow for the chocolate chip cookie dough wasn't the best match.  I'm  not sure what went wrong with this one but my expectations were not met. 

However, I did stumble upon a different chocolate chip cookie dough recipe that subsitutes the gobs of peanut butter with peanut butter cups and claims that the modified cookie recipe is soley for making "stuffed" cookies.  Here is the link for that recipe.  Now that is a recipe I just know I will like!  I hope to try these cookies out soon!!

My friend, Monika, posted this on her wall earlier today:  “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” ― John Wesley

While this quote is a great motto to follow in general, I think it could have special applicability to marriage.  I know that I could stand to improve in putting forth more effort in areas within our relationship and in the home...especially when I'm feeling tired and just want to throw in the towel or shut down on a particularly tiring day.  I pray that I continue to contribute as much as I can and with a willing heart even when I might not neccessarily want to as I strive to serve God in my own small way within my roles as wife, mother, teacher, and all the other shoes I fill.

Meals as a Mrs. ~ Pumpkin Pie Cake

What do a country singer, colorful leaves, and my pups all have in common? 



Answer:  Pumpkin Pie Cake!


Last fall, Sara Evans, a country singer, shared on her facebook this recipe for Pumpkin Pie Cake on her blog.  Can you say Y-U-M?!?!


I baked this delicious dessert on one of the first cool autumn days we experienced last fall.  While waiting for the pie cake to be done baking in our kitchen, we had some play time with the pups in the living room and enjoyed the gorgeous view of the changing colorful fall leaves from our living room.  This was right before we shared the news with extended family and friends that we were expecting and was one of the last Saturdays we spent together with our pups as a family before letting the world in on our exciting changes.  Hmm, I wonder if Charlotte will have my sweet tooth or if she will prefer spicier foods like her Dad??

This cake turned out so moist and delicious.  I can't wait to make it again!!

I saw the above image on a friend's page and appreciated the image he created.  Thanks for sharing Bill!!  In reference to this image Bill provided this quote:

The purpose of the theology of the body is "to show the divine plan for human spousal love, to show the goodness and beauty of the whole sexual sphere against its cheapening in the 'objective, scientific' way of looking at nature. God’s plan and its renewal by Christ, the redeemer, is imprinted deeply within the bodily nature of the person as a pre-given language of self-giving and fruitfulness. For the person to live sexuality in an authentic manner is to speak spousal love in conformity with this truth of the language of the body."
- Dr. Michael Waldstein, Introduction for Man and Woman He Created Them, A Theology of the Body, St. John Paul II

Meals as a Mrs. ~ Authentic Cincinnati Chili

Each semester, in my Active Learning:  Science and Social Studies for the Young Child class, my students complete a Local Resources homework assignment.  The purpose of this assignment is to investigate field trip opportunities within a 50 mile radius of the student's hometown or place where he or she hopes to land a teaching job.  Per Adam's request, I also ask the students to list popular resturants or a place one MUST eat at in their hometowns which is almost as fun as viewing the educational experiences and opportunities that are available.  As a result, Adam and I have since learned about Cincinnati Chili as that has been a popular student favorite over the last couple semesters. 

Therefore, last fall, Adam set out to find an authentic recipe for this dish and that he did!  He made this Authentic Cincinnati Chili recipe in mid-October.  He made it 4-way complete with spaghetti, raw chopped onions, grated mild cheddar, and oyster crackers which made for a very interesting culinary experience.

I was surprised to learn that chocolate was part of this recipe!!  I also might have liked it better if the recipe used sauteed onions rather than raw ones.  It was fun trying this new (to me) dish and I'm excited to try other "local" cuisines as we get to know our new state of Ohio better.

In light of what happened in Orlando the other day, this passage from Corinithians has been going through my mind lately:

Love is patient.
Love is kind.
It always protects.
Always trusts.
Always hopes.
Always perseveres.
Love never fails.

Meals as a Mrs. ~ Mountain Dew Apple Dessert

I first had this recipe back in college when my aunt and uncle had this yummy dessert at a holiday gathering or maybe it was when I went over for dinner one night during my student teaching placement.  In any event, I can't recall the occasion but I do recall how good the dessert was and being surprised to learn that one of the ingredients was soda (or pop depending on where you live)!  Aunt Marie also shared that Coke can be used instead of Mountain Dew which would make the syrup a bit darker. 

 

 

These were really good warmed up and then served with some ice cream too! 

Newlywed Game (This time I answered the questions about Adam)

WITHOUT any prompting, ask your wife these questions. What would she say?  Here are my answers about Adam:

What is something I always say?  
"I'm only going to say this once...and only once....you were right and I was wrong."     :P

What makes me happy?  
The Rams, when we don't go anywhere, and of course Charlotte!!!
 
What makes me sad?
When the Rams don't win.
 
What was I like as a child? From what I hear on the shy side
 
How old am I?
43
 
How tall am I?  
6'1"
 
What’s my favorite thing to do?
Play video games, follow the various Rams' websites/message boards, research stuff online
 
If I become famous, what will it be for?
Your sense of humor or your knowledge of random trivia or of our faith!  
What am I good at?
Putting up with your wife.  ;)
 
What am I not good at?  
Staying mad at your wife.  ;-)
 
What makes you proud of me?
I love when you get fired up about something you feel passionately about and hearing what you have to say about it.  Your passion and knowledge shine through on that topic when you're talking and your words are inspiring to me!

What is my favorite food?  
Lasagna, burgers, sandwiches made a certain way, "real" Mexican food, ice cream
 
What do we do together?
Laugh and read.
 
Where is my favorite place to eat?
That place in the back of the liquor store in Corona, In n Out, the bowl place (I forget the name), the Togas place....but since those are all on the West Coast I guess out here...it would be Applebee's and the milkshakes at Burgatory.  Mmm!!!
 
When is our anniversary?
Which one?  ;)  
October 21 = started talking
November 7, 2013 = have seen each other every day in person or on skype with the exception of four days since then
May 4 = you proposed!!
May 23 = sacrament of marriage...woohooo!!!!
 
If I could go anywhere, where would it be?
Home to California and Constantinople/Istanbul
 
Do you think you could live with me forever?  
I suppose.  :D
 
Do I annoy you?
Define annoy.  The way I see it is we're all human and no one is perfect so there are times yes, that we all get on each other's nerves eh.
 
What is your favorite thing about me?   
You make me laugh.  The way your eyes crinkle up when you smile your mischeivous grin.  Your ability to be a kid at heart.  How you care for Charlotte, the pups, and me.  The fact that you're you.  <3

Meals as a Mrs. ~ Roasted Garlic Chicken Puffs

When researching Argentinian food last fall I stumbled upon a recipe for Roasted Garlic Chicken Puffs that is supposedly famous in Spain.  I remember being really excited to try this recipe and could hardly wait to sink my teeth into these puffs.  However, the strong taste (and odor) of garlic made my nose run and had me running for water just a few bites into our dinner that night. 

 Some notes I took while making these puffs were:  

• I used cream cheese with chives and added another 2 teaspoons of cream cheese
• The recipe calls for 2 tbsp. of fresh chopped garlic but I would eliminate this in the future or for sure reduce the amount if I kept it in the recipe.
• 1 tube of crescent rolls = 8 puffs

 Newlywed Game (Adam answered questions in this version...next time I'll answer them on him!)

WITHOUT any prompting, ask your husband these questions. What would he say?  Adam would answer as follows:

What is something I always say?
"Can you kill this bug?"

What makes me happy?
Little baby Charlotte's smiles, coos, and laughs

What makes me sad?
I don't want to say things that make you sad because if I say it, it'll make you sad.

What was I like as a child?
I didn't know you when you were a child.

How old am I?
That's a dumb question.

How tall am I?
5'6"

What’s my favorite thing to do?
Plan a wedding...too bad you can only do it once.

If I become famous, what will it be for?
Your blog.

What am I good at? You're good at being a wife and mother.

What am I not good at?
Killing spiders

What makes you proud of me?
I really feel proud of you when I hear you singing to Charlotte, playing games, and doing stuff with her.  How well you interact with her.
   
What is my favorite food?
Not lasagna.  Ice cream!

What do we do together?
We read.

Where is my favorite place to eat?
The dining room but if it's to eat out it's Panera or Melting Pot

When is our anniversary?
May 23rd 

If I could go anywhere, where would it be?
Heaven

Do you think you could live with me forever?
Nobody lives forever.

Do I annoy you?
In general no but you do have some certain talents.

What is your favorite thing about me? 
Your left pinky toe.  I like that you have a generous heart.  And your left pinky toe.