Monday, January 5, 2009

Cookcation over, time to get to the cutting board

The past week has been a blur of antibiotics, eye drops, medicine schedules and oh yeah, did you notice it's a new year?

R and G shared an ear infection back and forth and back again, and SPH came down with a nasty case of tonsillitis that landed him at Urgent Care on New Year's Eve. My night owl husband was, no joke, in bed by 6:30pm on New Year's Eve. Fun times! It's okay though since we stuck with our plan to visit my parents, and I was able to join my parents and their friends for a night of adult conversation...a real treat for any parent of young children.

Just like almost a year ago, by the grace of God I have somehow dodged the nasty germ circulating in our home. But after the past week of trying to take care of three boys, I feel like I might need a few days rest in bed, "cough, cough" (wink).

Santa brought me a few new toys for the kitchen, including this tool I have been pining for for years:
and:

My new microplane zester and grater are without a doubt, the best kitchen tools I have gotten in a long time. If you have been toying with picking one (or two) up, I highly recommend them.

Over the break I also have been coming up with some new recipes to try and post. Slacker Mama, I am on the search for a good, unique panini recipe for you and your new toy. My quest to find a good slow cooker rib recipe has sadly ended, as I have decided trying to live up to our Weber smoker ribs using a slow cooker is a exercise in futility.

So new year, new recipes, new foods, new fun:

Tonight we're doing football fare for the Fiesta Bowl...and then it will be...
Baked Couscous and Spinach Salad
White Bean Mediterranean Quesadillas and Tzatziki
Grilled Steaks, Sauteed Kale, Balsamic Mushrooms
Slow Cooker Beef and Butternut Squash Stew
Chicken Fiesta Soup (and oldie but goodie!) with Jicama-Mango Salad

Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't say...

GO BUCKS!
SPC

7 comments:

Slacker Mama said...

I'm sure we'll be watching the game tonight and cheering for the Bucks as well!

And I'm excited to see what you come up with...we've used the Griddler for pancakes thus far only. Though with the weather forecast we might be grilling our chicken on it this week!

Queen Mommy said...

I came upon your blog from Slacker Mama's. I love seeing all your recipes and thinking about maybe one day making them. Just wnated to let you know we will be cheering for the Buckeyes as well tonight. All four girls are sporting their Buckeye cheerleading (or onesie) outfits today!

George Erdosh said...

Yes, I have one microplane zester and I agree, it's very good and I use it often.

It is hard to emphasize the usefulness of GOOD kitchen tools for cooking. Without them, cooking is a chore and a cook quickly loses interest in the kitchen. In fact, I devoted a full chapter to this subject in my recent book: Kitchen Tools to Keep, Kitchen Tools to Trash in my new book.

Check out my latest (Nov/08):

Tried and True Recipes from a Caterer’s Kitchen—Secrets of Making Great Foods

www.eloquentbooks.com/TriedandTrueRecipes.html
www.howfoodswork.blogspot.com

emstitt said...

I need to start meal planning for the week...back to the grind! (Although, I'm secretly happy since there isn't as much "entertaining" involved...well, at least formal entertaining....)

Sweet Pea Chef said...

Slacker--I meant to ask you...any "won't eat that" ingredients I need to steer clear of for your panini creation?

Slacker Mama said...

Well, if John's going to eat it, it can't have mushrooms in it...or turkey subsitutes (e.g., turkey sausage, ground turkey, etc.).

And, I just realized that you didn't have a microplane before Christmas! How did you ever survive! I use mine at least a few times a week!

Live.Love.Eat said...

Sorry everyone has been sick so much. Hope they're coming around the mend. Yes, go Bucks. Too bad though. Hubs said it was a really great game so he dealt ok with the loss. Happy New Year!