Cookin' Mama

I've been trying to channel my inner Martha lately.
My foray into crocheting has failed miserably- I really think I can't use my fingers like a normal person.
To make up for this domestic deficiency I've been trying new things in the kitchen.
I have been skimming magazines like Ladies Home Journal, Women's Health, etc. for yummy and relatively healthy recipes. This week was my busiest week of cooking thus far... with 6 or 7 new recipes! So, since I know you all are so very interested I've made a list and graded myself for each effort and how the dish turned out.

Chicken Flautas and Spanish Rice- (A+)This one was very easy and turned out great. I lifted the flautas recipe from Women's Health and the rice was bag but still I wouldn't say I totally cheated on this one because I chopped fresh red onion for the flautas, then rolled them with chicken and cheese.

Turkey Wrap- (D) This one was an after school lunch for me and it didn't turn out as yummy as it seemed in the picture. I think it was because the recipe calls for honey mustard and I didn't have it so I used dijon. Oops. Plus it said use 2 laughing cow wedges on one tortilla and that was just too much damn cheese. I don't think I'll repeat this one.

Onion Burgers and Fries- (A+) This one was amazing! Lipton onion soup mix, water, and meat and viola! Fries were frozen but I get full credit for patting out my own burgers. Besides this is 2010 and you aren't going to catch me over a damn potato machine shooting out fries.

Ham & Cheese Calzones and Leftover Fries- (C-) This recipe came from my pampered chef connection and the failure was all my fault. I love onions and I think I over estimated how much I love them cuz this damn thing was basically an onion in a pizza crust. Another problem was my easy bake oven. The top of the crust was cooked but not as wonderfully golden as the bottom and sides. I've heard that means your oven is off-temp or something like that and you can correct it by covering the fast cooking parts with foil....or is it the non-fast cooking parts? Hell, I don't know- I'm not that advanced. Not sure if this one will be attempted again.

Zesty Ravioli Skillet and Bread Sticks- (A++) This one was freaking amazing. This was one that my pampered chef connection actually cooked for me and it was so good then and I actually managed to recreate it! Woohoo! It is a very nice tomato sauce without being spaghetti saucy. Three cheese ravioli, spinach, diced tomatoes. Extra points on this one because I used heavy whipping cream for the first time ever AND managed to get Dwayne to eat some spinach with the promise of sex. I am happy to report that we both got what we wanted.

French's Onion Chicken, Oven-Roasted Vegetables, and Onion-Roasted Potatoes-
Chicken Grade (A), Veggie Grade (B-), Potato Grade (C)= Overall (B-)
I hate that damn French's Onion commercial where the lady bribes her kids to the table by saying "it's french's onion chicken" and I was like whateva lady- they aren't going to eat that! Well, I am going to type my apology letter to French's as soon as I am done posting this. That chicken was freakin good! Very easy...crush the french's onions, egg, flour if you like, bathe the chicken and 20 min- done! The Veggie's came out a little too "limp" for me... I like crispy veggies. I think I over estimated the abundance of veggies I chopped ( zucchini, squash, onions,green pepper, mushrooms) and added a lil bit too much oil. The potatoes turned out to be a pain in the ass- the recipe didn't tell me to spray the pan and I thought the oil on them would be enough- wrong! Talk about sticking. The bad score on the potatoes is leveled out by the fact that I bought squash and zucchini for the first time ever.

Most of the problems are my fault cuz I suck. But all in all I'd say it has been a pretty successful cooking experience. One thing that makes it even better is that I actually used all the items I bought- not one thing went to waste. I used the small left over amounts of mushroom and spinach in an omelet this morning. Yum. Now I just have to find some recipes I'd like to tackle for this coming week.

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In other news-

1. I got a tattoo!! My stars are awesome. I will have to post a more recent pic after I study- which I am supposed to be doing right now.

2. Is it bad to keep secrets? Even for just a weekend? Our tax money came in Friday and I haven't said anything to Dwayne about it. I'm just letting it sit there quietly for the weekend. I feel like I'd like my account to rest for just a little bit. Is that bad?

3. The following is an example of the people I go to school with. (And this concerns me because I'm worried about the "value" of my degree....)
In my speech class we are currently evaluating great speeches to pick out main ideas, supporting details, transitions, etc, etc.
Friday's assignment was the famous "I Have a Dream" speech. We were supposed to read it individually and then get in groups of 4 and discuss. I outlined the speech as I read because I rock and noticed quite unhappily that no one else in my group had written down anything. NOT ONE OTHER PERSON. Omg. So, here is what happens from this point on- all of which I will testify before God that this is true-

Me: Does anyone have any other ideas, other than the ones I wrote, about what the main points of the speech are?

DumbGirl#1: Well, he mentions a check and it being returned insufficient funds, and about the "bank of justice" being empty- so the banking system must be a big issue to him.

*crickets*

Me: Um, well actually, the "check" is a metaphor. It isn't real. He is speaking about a promise of racial equality.

*DumbGirl#1 Blank Stare*

DumbGirl#1: Oh, ok.

DumbGirl#2: Amanda, can you be the one to write this? I mean, my vocabulary is really small.

*crickets*

Me: Um, ok. I guess I will just figure this out on my own.......

DumbCountryBoy: Sounds good to me!


4. We have been watching the Olympics like non-stop. Love them. If you aren't watching the Olympics, especially Ice Skating, then you are a terrible American. Seriously.


Well, I think that is all for now......