Outrageous Brownies

I had the most intense craving for brownies the other night and knew I had to make Ina Garten's Outrageous Brownies. They are a little more work than your standard cocoa powder and chocolate chip brownies but it's so worth it. Crunchy around the edge and oh so gooey and fudgy inside. True bliss with some ice cream or a glass of milk. Try them, I promise you won't be disappointed. Here is the link http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/outrageous-brownies-recipe3/index.html
On another note, has anyone seen It's Complicated? I've seen it twice now and I love the scene when they make croissants. And, who wouldn't love to own her bakery?!?

Chicken Tortilla Soup

I only needed one of these chile pods...
what I am going to do with the rest?

Last night I made the most delicious soup...Chicken Tortilla Soup. I had to go to a small Mexican market in Oxnard just to find one of the ingredients but it was worth it. It's got great flavor and I love anything that has chips. I topped the soup with sour cream and salsa. Yum! I used a recipe from a Rick Bayless cookbook I got from the library. I'm really looking forward to trying more of his recipes. Here is the link http://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/view?recipeID=51
I was unable to find the epazote sprig, but there are many more markets in Oxnard that may carry it. If you've seen it anywhere, please let me know.

Tamale Pie

I have decided I'm not the biggest fan of casseroles. I have the best of intentions when I make them but I usually end up taking a few bites and then decide I don't like it. It must have something to do with way too many ingredients all mashed into one dish. Serve me mashed potatoes, turkey and veggies and I'm happy...turn it into shepherd's pie...no thank you. There are a couple exceptions like my grandma's potato and sausage casserole or Paula Dean's baked spaghetti but other than that I'll pass. Unfortunately for me, my husband loves casseroles so I will make them occasionally to please him, hence the tamale pie I made the other night. I'm not going to share the recipe because even he thought there were too many tomatoes and it was a little too liquidy but if you have an exceptional tamale pie recipe or a casserole that's always a hit with your family, please share the recipe with me. I appreciate the convenience of the one dish meal and would really like to have some good recipes for future casserole endeavors.

Chicken roasted with red onions, potatoes and rosemary

I checked out the cookbook Pure Simple Cooking by Diana Henry from the library recently and today I finally got around to making something from it. I love the photos in this cookbook and tonight I made chicken roasted with red onions, potatoes and rosemary. It was really easy to make and can I tell you how amazing the house smelled while it was cooking.
To make this recipe you will need:
2 red onions, each cut into 10 wedges (I wasn't very exact about the wedge amount)
1 1/4 lbs new potatoes, unpeeled (I had russets in the pantry so I used those instead)
2 bulbs of garlic, separated into cloves, but not peeled (I thought this was weird, but when you pop the roasted garlic out of the skin it is amazing)
salt and pepper
1/2 C EVOO
2 t balsamic vinegar (I would use a little more of this next time)
5 sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 4-lb roasting chicken cut into 8 pieces, rubbed with sea salt (I also rubbed it with the EVOO)
Preheat oven to 400 deg. Spread the vegetables and garlic in a single layer over the bottom of a huge roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper, pour over the oil and balsamic vinegar, and add the rosemary. Toss the vegetables with your hands and tuck and chicken pieces in among them. Bake for 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are fork-tender.
YUM!

Chocolate Milkshake & Pedometer

Last night I exchanged belated Christmas gifts with family that we hadn't seen during the holidays and I received a pedometer that was on my Amazon wish list. If you don't have an Amazon wish list, I suggest you create one. It makes gift-giving soooo much easier. Anyway, today after what has seemed like way too many doctor appointments and tests I was told conclusively that I don't have anything scary no cancer no blood diseases no ulcers but an allergy. An allergy to what....I have no idea. That's the next step but for now I'm singing praises to God that I can stop worrying. So, I celebrated with a chocolate milkshake and opened my new pedometer. I intend on walking, running and stair-stepping as long as my stuffy nose, watery eyes and swollen glands will allow.
My milkshake....french vanilla ice cream from Trader Joes (the best vanilla ice cream I've ever had), organic milk and some peppermint chocolate mix that I got with a Starbucks gift card when they had their holiday clearance sale. So So Yummy!
My pedometer...ok I consider myself pretty technically savvy but seriously...it's like that instructions are written in a foreign language. I will figure it out though, it's pink and too cute not to use. LOL

Eggs N Things

This morning we woke up late, decided to delay cleaning our messy house and rather than add to the already huge pile of dishes we went to Eggs N Things. Normally, we don't eat there since there is always a line, but I really wanted some of their fresh squeezed orange juice and they serve you a crepe with jam before your meal comes which is too yummy to pass up. I had the special recipe pancakes with a side of bacon and my honey had the eggs and bacon with rye toast. I love rye toast so I may have sneaked a couple bites of his and maybe a couple bites of his hashbrowns too. Isn't that what being married is all about...you have to share, right?

Macaroni and Cheese

Last night...comfort food. I'm a chronic worry-wart. I don't know why, but sometimes I can't seem to stop stressing so I was in need of some major comforting. I've never made homemade macaroni and cheese. I actually adore the boxed kind with the powder cheese mix, but thought I'd branch out and make my own. It was so yummy. I used an online recipe that I halved the ingredients otherwise we would have tons and tons left. Here is the link:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Macaroni-and-Cheese-239270
What do you do to help combat worry and stress?