Not so great

Those muffins sound yummy, Marcie. Definitely will be wanting that recipe :)

So, my two recipes for this week didn't work out very well. The fries were fine (hard to go wrong with those), but the chicken never baked! I had it at 400 degrees for like an hour and it was still pink-ish inside! Plus, the recipe for the bread crumb coating wasn't the best and it all flaked off and didn't look that great. So, we made a pizza instead..lol. The banana lime cake is okay, but too limey for my taste. Guess I'll chalk these two up to experience. Oh, and this cookbook used ounces instead of cups for things like the flour for the cake. Annoying!

Hope the rest of you have better luck. Any thoughts on when we should meet, btw?

yo

So I have no idea why my last post didn't work. Oh well! I just posted that I tried some avocado type salsa that was wayyy good. I will be a party planning diva (as soon as we have space to host guests ;) with plenty of chips and dips!
I also tried a new recipe this morning for some Cinnamon Apple Raisin muffins (from my veggie cookbook) and they were really good for a change.
Keep on cookin ladies!

-Marcie

Round 2!

Everyone's recipes sound so great! This week I am baking a banana lime cake and making oven fried chicken (healthy version of normal frying) and homemade french fries. Mmm...

2nd recipe

we tried another tomato recipe...well actually 2 diff recipes, one is lion house tomato bisque, and the other a tomato/cheese salad-which is one of my fav. they're both real easy to make and taste great!!

mmm...mmm...good

wow, this one was grrrrrr8! me ans my mom made it. it's so fresh, very tasty and easy! all you do is chop up garlic, FRESh tomatoes from your garden ( store bought is not the same) and FRESH basil from your garden...which luckily my parents had both in their garden! and then oil, mix it, let it marinate for a couple hours, and then serve cold over cooked but cold noodles. right after i cook the noodles, i just dump the hot water and keep rinsing it with cold water so i don't have to wait forever. :) then you sprinkle shredded mozzarella or parmesan on top! it's Mucho delisioso!

me too!

Ok, so I tried the most basic, simple salsa recipe in the book -- one that included fully identifiable ingredients : D It was called "Real Salsa" (as oppossed to fake salsa??). I just had Trent taste-test it and it was a hit!! The only problemo is that I'm missing a piece to my chopper thingy so it did take awhle to chop the onions and they still weren't really "finely diced" but I loved the flavor. We're going to take it camping with us tonight. Yum! If nothing else, this recipe book has provided me with a basic salsa recipe for when I'm craving some chips and salsa (which is basically every day-- am I pregnant?? J/k)
-Marcie

I did it!

I cooked my two recipes! For dinner, I made a tomato bean soup and these twice baked potato things. The soup was pretty much your basic veggie soup. Tomatoes, veggie stock, mixed beans, celery, carrots, garlic, herbs, and zucchini. Is that really how you spell zucchini? Hmmm...It was tasty. For the potatoes, I rubbed them in oil, salt, and pepper and then baked them. Then, I scooped out the flesh of the potatoes and mixed it with yogurt, cumin, cilantro, mashed garbanzo beans, and some other herb that I'm forgetting at the moment. Then, I baked them for another 10 minutes. They were pretty yummy. Kind of tasted like humus. Oh, and on the soup, I put a dollop of this yogurt/basil/garlic/parmesan mixture. That was yummy and kind of added something special to the soup.

So, there you have it. Pretty healthy and definitely filling. I'm good doing the party whenever you guys want after Sept. 12th.

Raven

Hey ladies!

Raven, I'm glad to hear you're settled in to your new home!! Woo hoo for more space! You guys left the ward so abruptly that I don't think everyone realizes you are gone yet :D
Also, I had to post a link to this crazy article: http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/234734/
There was an AP poll conducted that determined that only 1 in 4 adults read a whole book last year!! Crazy. I honestly don't think there was a time in my whole life where I didn't at least read ONE book in a year (c'mon people, how hard is that?!). This is sad. How do people continue to learn if they don't pick up a book?? They should have interviewed my dad -- he read a total of 300 books last year. Yeah, that is a whole different kind of crazy ; )
I finally recieved my cookbook. Lo and behold it calls for ingredients I've never heard of. Great. So, needless to say I haven't ventured to the store yet to try to determine where these special types of dried peppers (ect.) are located. I haven't forgotten my committment to make two a week though : ) The recipes sound good, so as soon as I have the ingredients down I will be the salsa queen! No one else has posted yet... duh duh duuuunnnn... This was supposed to be "easy" remember?? : )
I'm fine with changing the Par-Tay date if you guys are. The next week would be fine with me.

-Marcie

Request

Hi, Ladies-

So, I have a question/request. I was thinking it over and wondering if we could change the day of our next meeting. My parents are visiting from NC from Sept. 5-12 and since they are only here for a week, I think I'd like to spend as much time with them as possible. Do you think we could change the date? I can do any other day (probably).

Sorry!

Raven

more salsa ...

So I tried another salsa recipe, and I think we're hooked. It definetely isn't "quick" to make your own salsa but it is DEF cheapter then buying the $3.50 fresh stuff (that lasts a day in our home), and it is healthier then that bottled junk that has like two chunks of tomato : ) This salsa was real similar to the first I tried but this one had two whole avocados diced in it. Delicioso! It would make a great party salsa .... so I'm just gearing up my repertoir for when we have a house and I can be a party host extrordinaire! I think our housewarming party (on this still future home ; ) will be a chip and dip party haha.
Anyway, my lasagna just dinged, I'm outtie!

-Marcie
btw, amy has officially dropped off the planet ; ) J/k she has been out of town alot, but I do know that she has tried one decadent chocolate recipe. Yum!

Post your books!

Hey Ladies,
Could everyone post the names of their books, and like Raven, post the names of the recipes you have/will try for the week? THat would be awesome!
I have ordered Chips, Dips & Salsas for my book and am still waiting for it in the mail :( I can't wait to try some recipes from it!
Happy cooking (instead of "Happy reading!")

-Marcie

Book Club Notes

Hey Ladies!
Here is a recap from our awesome meeting this morning.
For our next book we will each be choosing a recipe book. The goal is to use the recipe book TWICE a week in your meals/treats whatever. We want everyone to post what foods they are trying (though you don't have to post the recipe, just post each week). Our next meeting will be on MONDAY Sept. 10th at 7 p.m. at a park location which is currently unspecified. Each of us will collaborate and bring a dish or two that we tried from our recipe books so that we can have a big ol' potluck with our families. That night we will also share recipes we really enjoyed, and be able to have a FHE together as a group. I think it will be a ton of fun!! So .... Get crackin! Get your books asap becuase we want your posts to start this week telling us about your kitchen adventures!

-Marcie

Meeting time

I think everyone is aware that we're planning on meeting on Sat. the 11th (that is THIS saturday) at 10 a.m. right? :) I look forward to seeing everyone there -- and to discussing Amy's fun new idea for next months book.

-Marcie