Sunday, May 31, 2009

cosmopolitan Jell-O cups


This recipe was in the current issue of Food and Family and I thought it looked cool and refreshing. I was right! The dessert was well received and is definitely a keeper.
cosmopolitan Jell-O cups
Ingredients:
1 (3 oz.) package Jell-o Strawberry flavor gelatin
1 cup orange sherbet
Cool Whip Whipped Topping (in a can)
Directions:
1. Add 1 cup boiling water to gelatin mix in medium bowl; stir 2 minutes until completely dissolved.
2. Stir in sherbet until melted. Pour into 4 martini or wine glasses.
3. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm. Top each with 1 Tbsp. Cool Whip just before serving. If desired, garnish with a lemon or lime twist. Enjoy!
I think it would be great with strawberry jello and pineapple sherbet too.
Blessings,
Lisa

Friday, May 29, 2009

Show and Tell Friday, May 29, 2009

Today is Show and Tell Friday at Kelli's House. Please visit her blog to view more treasures!


About three weeks ago, I started knitting classes at our local yarn shop. The photo above shows my practice/learning piece. I've learned to cast on, knit and purl, and last night started ribbing. I'm feeling more confident each week and have decided to continue classes all summer long (and maybe beyond!) to keep my momentum going. The class instructor, Allena, is a very talented knitter and is very patient with me. I appreciate that! Visit her etsy shop at



The skeins of yarn above will be used for my first project a Booga Bag. It's a felted handbag. I'm excited to start that project next week and dream of making a few of them to give as Christmas gifts this year. Below is what the finished purse will look like, although my colors are a bit different.

Thanks for checking out my Show and Tell Friday!

Blessings,

Lisa

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Chicken Fajitas and Salsa Rice


Hola! It's Mexican night at our house. I'm going to share with you my favorite fajita recipe and the recipe for salsa rice, along with some photos. I envy those bloggers who always have a photo story to go with their recipes~so I thought I'd give it a try! It was quite an effort, but here is what I have:

Chicken Fajitas

The ingredients: cumin, salt, pepper, dry oregano, lime juice (fresh is the best) and olive oil.

Combine the ingredients in a ziploc bag. I put mine inside a bowl to give the bag some support. Then add four boneless, skinless chicken breasts.


Marinate the chicken breasts for 30 minutes on the counter or for up to 8 hours in the refrigerator. I always do it for at least an hour in the refrigerator.



About 30 minutes before grilling chicken, in a deep skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for about 3 minutes, until softened, stirring often. Add the bell pepper and stir fry for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, cover and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring once, until the peppers are crisp tender.

Here is our plate filled with the grilled chicken, which has been sliced cross-wise into strips, peppers and onions. I serve fajitas on tortillas with sour cream, cheese, and lettuce as toppings.

As a side, I made Salsa Rice. You can find the recipe here. It is so easy and so good too! I used Chi Chi's Fiesta Salsa in Medium.

Here's the recipe for the Fajitas:

Marinade~

3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crumbled

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Fajitas~

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 small onion

1 large green bell pepper

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

8 flour tortillas, stacked and wrapped in foil

Toppings~cheese, guacamole, lettuce, sour cream

Make the marinade: In a zipper-type food storage bag, mix the lime juice, oil, garlic, cuming, oregano, salt and pepper. Add the chicken, seal the bag and turn until chicken is coated. Let marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or for up to 8 hours in the refrigerator.

Meanwhile, slice a small onion and cut one large bell pepper into thin strips. In a deep skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for about 3 minutes, until softened, stirring often. Add the bell pepper and stir fry for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, cover and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring once, until the peppers are crisp tender. Spoon the mixture onto a serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm.

Heat foil wrapped tortillas in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes.

Grill chicken breasts on a gas grill for about 7 minutes each side, until juices run clear. Remove from grill and let stand for 3 minutes, then slice crosswise into thin strips. Add to serving platter with vegetable mixture.

To serve, remove the tortillas from the oven. Top the middle of each tortilla with chicken strips, pepper mixture and desired toppings. Fold the bottom of the tortilla to cover part of the filling, then fold in the sides.

Enjoy!

Blessings,

Lisa


Yellow Cake with Peanut Butter Icing

I found this recipe at Christy Jordan's Southern Plate when a friend asked for a yellow cake with Peanut Butter Icing. I made a Betty Crocker yellow cake with butter in the batter and it was the best yellow cake I've ever made from a mix. I highly recommend it. Then I topped it with this icing:

1- 1/2 C sugar
7 T milk
2 T Shortening
2 T margarine
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 C creamy Peanut Butter

Combine sugar, milk, shortening, margarine, and salt. Bring to a rolling boil in a heavy saucepan, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Once it reaches a boil, let boil for one or two minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and add vanilla and peanut butter. Beat until smooth and quickly spread onto cake.

Christy has some great step by step instructions, photos and a wonderful story to go with this recipe on her blog, if you'd like to check them out.

Blessings,
Lisa

Monday, May 25, 2009

Our First Weekend at Camp

On Friday, we left for our first camping weekend of the summer season. We had a busy weekend at camp. We even had some excitement on Saturday when a major storm blew through the area when we were taking the boat out of the lake. It even hailed! We were all soaked to the skin by the time we got back to camp and so was everything on the deck! It took until Sunday afternoon for most of it to dry out and some of it was still wet. Here are some photos from the weekend:


Our dd posing for the camera.





Hosta in our garden at camp.





DS roasting a marshmallow.





Our campsite with the lights on.




My dh doing what he loves most~being on the boat!

DD all smiles on the boat!




Clouds forming over the lake.



Couldn't camp without taking a picture of Tortellini Antipasto Salad! ;0)
Thanks for checking out our weekend pictures!
Blessings,
Lisa








Simple Woman's Daybook, May 25, 2009


For Today...


Outside my window... it is sunny and the temperature is a warm 61 degrees.


I am thinking...about what colors to use in my planters for this summer. Red is always my first choice.



I am thankful for...our jobs and the ability to provide for our family.



From the kitchen... chili dogs, yellow cake with peanut butter icing for a friend's birthday tomorrow.



I am wearing... my nightgown.



I am reading... Simple Abundance, the Bible and A Slice of Heaven by Sherryl Woods.



I am hoping... to get my pots filled with flowers today, as well as my Americana decor out for the summer.



I am creating... a knitted apple washcloth for ds's teachers. It will be my first real knitting project since starting classes.



I am hearing....the neighbor mowing her lawn and Canon in D on the real player. It always reminds me of walking down the aisle at our wedding.



One of my favorite things...my backyard.



A few plans for the rest of the week...I am meeting with the consultant for a jewelry party I'm having in a few weeks. On Thursday, I have knitting class. Otherwise just the usual cooking, cleaning, teaching and loving that happens each week.



A picture thought: our weekend getaway






Read more daybooks at: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Have a week full of blessings,

Lisa

Menu Plan Monday, May 25, 2009


Happy Memorial Day in the U.S.! Thank you to all of our service men and women for their sacrafices to keep America and Americans safe and secure.
Last week's menu included some new recipes. The Roast Beef Au Jus in the Crockpot was fantastic. I switched up a few things because we had Spiced Pork Chops instead of Grilled Pork Chops and Pizza Cheeseburgers instead of Cheeseburgers. Both were well received and yummy!
Here's this week's plan:
Sunday~ Grilled Kielbassi, Macaroni Salad and Tossed Salad at camp
Monday~Hot Dogs with Chili Sauce and Leftover Salads, Frosted Brownies
for dessert
Tuesday~Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Garlic Toast and Tossed Salad
Wednesday~Chicken Fajitas and Salsa Rice
Thursday~Grilled Steak, Baked Potatoes, Grilled Vegetables
Friday~Pizza and Wing Night
Saturday~Graduation Party
View more great menus at http://orgjunkie.com/
Have a week full of blessings!
Lisa