Do you ever wonder???

Do you ever wonder what you are eating? Holidays are surrounded by so much food. People will bring in dishes for holiday parties, office parties, and church events, etc. We just dig in and gulp down the yummy goodness. The other day my neighbor brought over some "mystery" dish for Christmas. I call it it "mystery" dish because it was meat covered in this red sauce. I took one bite and knew that it wasn't chicken. That got me thinking.....do we really pay attention to what we are eating? Why is it during the rest of the year we are careful to put our food back in the fridge but at the holiday party it sits out for hour and we think that its ok? What are they putting in the foods at these restaurants? Why is it that I can make a dish at home and have a pretty big portion. I can feel great enough to go for a walk within 15 minutes but when I eat out; now way. I have a small portion of something while dining out; I'm thirsty, bloated, and sluggish. Makes me wonder... if that ain't chicken what is it?

Hurricane IKE

Damage in Austin during Hurrican Ike. However, I do take hurricanes seriously. We were in Katrina and Rita. I feel so badly for the people of Galveston. Rebuilding your life is so difficult. The news doesn't report much anymore but things are still devastated down there. Please keep our Texas friends in your prayers.

Only in Louisiana

We use to live in New Orleans so this is pretty amusing to me. I love the little brother who is turning on the gas. Hilarious!!!

Midevil Times Dallas Texas

My husband and I went to Midevil Times for dinner and a show. We had a ball. It was so much fun. The food isn't that bad either. It's not what I consider fine dining but it's fun for the whole family. We went to the one in Dallas, Texas but I know they have them all over the country. It was fun!!!

Sweet Potato Pie

Awesome gifts!!!

What awesome gifts for someone who loves to cook. I love the aprons and the dish towels!!! You can find them at "The Beautiful Life" http://www.thebeautifullife.com/

Cute, Cute, Aprons!!!

These are so cute! I found them on a website called, "Heavenly Hostess." http://www.heavenlyhostess.com/ I like the one with lemons. It makes me want to cook something.

My favorite television chef EMERIL LAGASSE

I love this guy! He's so creative. My husband and I had dinner at his restaurant in New Orleans. It was fantastic. I've used some of his spices (blacken seasoning) on my chicken. The key to good blacken chicken is lots and lots of butter. I suggest cooking it outside on the grill or else your kitchen will be smokey. Add a baked sweet potato with a sprinkle of cinnamon and butter; and a glass of white wine. That sounds so good I'm going to make some lunch. Talk to y'all later.

Sur La Table vs. Williams-Sonoma

What kind of character are you? Are you a Sur La Table kinda character or a Williams-Sonoma sort of character? I believe there is a difference between the two. I love Sur La Table and I wouldn't deny myself a stroll through the store to get a good peek at the goodies. But I must say I'm a Williams-Sonoma gal. Williams-Sonoma has been there since I first started cooking. She has never let me down. I ALWAYS walk out with a gizmo or gadget in the bag. But I think Sur La Table is more affordable and offers something unique that Williams-Sonoma doesn't necessarily have. Sort of like a personality trait. They have the best juice glasses too. Share your thoughts with me. I'm interested in what y'all think.

Chipotle

I hate eating out. Let me rephrase that; I hate eating out on the run. I live in Austin, Texas and we get some pretty bad traffic at times. Bumper to bumper and a quick trip to the post office could you leave you stuck on the Mopac/183 for hours. Throw in a couple of errands and that is pretty much your day. I try to eat before leaving home because I absolutely refuse to eat McDonalds, Wendy's, Burger King, or any other greasy pit. If I'm going to pack on the weight it better be worth it. Those are not worthy of empty calories A big piece of NYC cheesecake; now we're talking.

But time to time I get stuck out there on the roadways and I find myself famished. Today was one of those days. Thankfully I marked out all the Chipotle restaurants in the area. Chipotle has been rated #1 healthy restaurants in health magazine. I really hate to even call it fast food because it's so healthy. Everything is organic and hormone free meats. Check out the website to see where your local Chipotle is located near you http://www.chipotle.com/ My husband is also a big fan of their monster burritos.

My Christmas Wish....

I'm hoping that Santa will leave a Cuisinart Food Processor; 14-cup, two blades, two discs, disc stem, with heavy -duty speed. I'm dreaming of all the wonderful things I could bake with this little guy. You can find me drooling over it in Williams-Sonoma.

Orange Cinnamon Rolls

This is one of my husband's favorite breakfast treats. This would be perfect for Christmas morning.

ORANGE CINNAMON ROLLS

1/2 (8-oz) package softened cream cheese

1/4 c firmly packed light brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp. orange zest

1 (11-oz) can refrigerated Pillsbury crossants

1 Tbsp. melted butter

1/2 c powdered sugar

1 Tbsp. Orange juice

Directions

1.) Preheat oven 375.

2.) Beat 1/2 (8-oz) package softened cream cheese; 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar, and 1 1/2 tsp. orange zest at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.

3.) Unroll 1 (11-oz) can refrigerated Pillsbury crossants onto a lightly floured surface.

4.) Spread cream cheese mixture over dough, leaving a 1/4 inch border. Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar.

5.) Gently roll up dough, starting at 1 long side. Cut into 11 (1 1/4-inch) slices. Place slices in a lightly greased 8-inch round cake pan.

6.) Brush top of dough with 1 Tbsp. melted butter. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden.

7.) Stir together 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 Tbsp. orange juice in a small bowl until smooth.

8.) Drizzle over hot rolls. Serve immediately.

We stopped by a bakery by our house. It wasn't a special occasion but we couldn't resist the temptation. It was so pretty I hated to cut a piece. It was a vanilla; filled with a lemon custard; buttercream frosting; topped with fresh fruit. It was to die for.

Christmas

Christmas dinner is something that everyone looks forward to. However, the table setting is just as imporant as the food itself. I found this one in Country Living Magazine. It's beautiful, so warm and inviting. It is perfect for the holiday.......

Red Wine Lamb Chops

This is perfect for a weekend dinner with friends. I came across this recipe a few weeks back and I'm glad I did. It was awesome. I threw in a side salad, french bread with olive oil & vinegar, and grilled asparagas with a touch of lemon pepper. I grilled the asparagas on the grill next to the lamb chops.

Ingredients for Red Wine Lamb Chops

2 c. red wine

1 tbsp honey

sea salt to taste

ground pepper to taste

1/4 freshly cut rosemary

2 tbsp of extra virigin olive oil

6 lamb chops

Directions

1.) Drizzle 1 tbsp. of extra olive oil over lamb chops. Cut fresh rosemary and sprinkle over lamb. Add sea salt and pepper to taste.

2.) Preheat the grill. Once ready place lamb chops and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.

3.) In a seperate bowl pour 2 c. of wine; 1 tbsp. honey, pinch of sea salt and pepper, 1/4 c. of fresh cut rosemary, 2 tsp. of extra virgin olive oil. Stir together.

4.) After the lamb is fully cooked; pull off the grill and place on a platter. Drizzle wine sauce over the lamb chops and garnish with fresh rosemary.

It's beautiful and tastes great!