Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Our Fun filled weekend!
We just got back from a fun weekend with my parents. It snowed so that added to the normal fun that we have. The kids enjoyed running around in the snow and collecting icicles. I enjoyed staying inside by the warm fire, watching Hallmark movies, decorating my Mom's room and going through all the jewelry from generations past. On our way home we stopped by the Hanggi Ranch. I grew up roaming the hills, playing in the barn, fishing in the pond, throwing cow patties, playing hide and go seek amongst the hay barrels to name a few. My dad now has the ranch since my grandfather has been gone for a number of years now. I have been wanting to go look in the deserted barn for a while to see what kind of treasures might be found. And boy did I find some treasures along with some not so nice things but that didn't deter me too much. I only screamed once when a barn cat jumped out from under some boards. I can't wait to go back with my Dad and get his help removing some things and I know there are more hidden jems underneath all the junk and yucky animal stuff. I posted a few of the finds that I immediately spotted. A table that is a pale teal and white and already very distressed, an old red retro stool, a trunk that Katy and I might fight over, I mean flip for, and some doors, window frames, stools, and various other things.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
"Fried" Zucchini
Do you like crunchy zucchini dipped in ranch? I grew up going to Carl's Jr. and getting those salty babies. But it has been years since I have gone to Carl's Jr. and would not have a good conscience getting them now with all the calories. So here is a healthy version of the same babies. I love to make these and they are best fresh out of the oven. If you need to rewarm them do it in your toaster oven to crisp them up again otherwise they will not have the same crunch. And make sure to use a low fat ranch dip or marinara sauce otherwise it won't be low calorie.
This is what the recipe said but I'll tell you later how I altered it. (I am really bad at using a recipe! Unless it's you Karen, then I try to follow your recipe since I know you have altered it to perfection!)
2 small or 1 large zucchini, cut into spears or 3/4 inch rounds.
1 1/2 tsp flour
2 tbs bread crumbs (I use Panko since they get brown and crunchy)
1 1/2 tsp grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp finely chopped parsley
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 large egg white
Preheat oven to 425
Mist a baking sheet with olive oil or cooking spray. I use a silpat or parchment. Put flour in a shallow bowl or a plate. (I didn't even use the flour but it probably would have made my crumbs stick better. I use a special romano cheese sprinkle from Penzey's called Brady Street cheese sprinkle so I omit most of the spices and such. I basically cheat since I'm lazy. But I have followed the recipe before and remember I loved it which is why I have started making them again.)
Mix together the next 7 ingredients and put in plastic bag or you can just put in a shallow bowl. Beat egg white till bubbly in a small bowl. Dip both sides of zucchini in flour then roll it around real good to coat it. Shake off excess flour then dip it in egg whites. Drop in crumb mixture or shake in bag till coated then place on your baking sheet in a singe layer making sure they do not touch...no touching (that temporarily brought back memories of long car rides where my Dad had to keep telling us not to touch one another). Lightly mist the tops with cooking spray. Bake for about 7 minutes then flip and bake until lightly browned. (I never turned mine and they were brown on both sides, again, I am lazy like I said or was busy doing school and forgot about them cooking until I could smell them and remembered to check them.)
Give them a try! Yummy!
This is what the recipe said but I'll tell you later how I altered it. (I am really bad at using a recipe! Unless it's you Karen, then I try to follow your recipe since I know you have altered it to perfection!)
2 small or 1 large zucchini, cut into spears or 3/4 inch rounds.
1 1/2 tsp flour
2 tbs bread crumbs (I use Panko since they get brown and crunchy)
1 1/2 tsp grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp finely chopped parsley
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 large egg white
Preheat oven to 425
Mist a baking sheet with olive oil or cooking spray. I use a silpat or parchment. Put flour in a shallow bowl or a plate. (I didn't even use the flour but it probably would have made my crumbs stick better. I use a special romano cheese sprinkle from Penzey's called Brady Street cheese sprinkle so I omit most of the spices and such. I basically cheat since I'm lazy. But I have followed the recipe before and remember I loved it which is why I have started making them again.)
Mix together the next 7 ingredients and put in plastic bag or you can just put in a shallow bowl. Beat egg white till bubbly in a small bowl. Dip both sides of zucchini in flour then roll it around real good to coat it. Shake off excess flour then dip it in egg whites. Drop in crumb mixture or shake in bag till coated then place on your baking sheet in a singe layer making sure they do not touch...no touching (that temporarily brought back memories of long car rides where my Dad had to keep telling us not to touch one another). Lightly mist the tops with cooking spray. Bake for about 7 minutes then flip and bake until lightly browned. (I never turned mine and they were brown on both sides, again, I am lazy like I said or was busy doing school and forgot about them cooking until I could smell them and remembered to check them.)
Give them a try! Yummy!
Valentine's Day
What a joy it was to try to make Valentine's day special for my family. It was a bit challenging on me physically being sick and having one child that had been sick for almost two weeks. Although I did not do everything my mind would have liked, it was a blessing to see them enjoy the little extra touches that Mommy did to say "I love you". Steve and I had gone out a couple days before and enjoyed a yummy dinner, holding hands, looking into each other's eyes and well all that lover stuff!
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