Positivity in Cooking/Recipe Review

I find great comfort in my kitchen when I cook, even more so since we moved into our new home almost three years ago. My current kitchen isn't really what some would consider to be a "gourmet kitchen", but to me, it's my gourmet kitchen. I love it, and it makes me happy! 

In our other home, my kitchen was rather small with very little room to work. It was hard to move around because the kitchen table was right smack dab in the center of the kitchen. I didn't have very much counter top space, and that tended to make meal preparation a little daunting. 

What makes my new kitchen so nice is that my table now has its own corner, out of the way from everything else. So what you are seeing above here is my whole work space, and for me, it's just enough. In our new kitchen, I love to cook. I love to experiment with new recipe's as well as being creative when I can. That is one thing I wish I could do more of and have a little flare for is being more out of the box creative. For me, cooking has become a very positive and a mentally healing experience for me. But I also think it can be a totally magical experience when you're creating new dishes!

As I said though, I do enjoy finding new recipes to try, so per my daughter's request today, she wanted split pea soup. Off to pintrest I went to look for a delicious, but simple recipe for split pea soup. I don't like to make certain things that are overly complicated with a ton of ingredients, if I can help it. So I found this great recipe from Valerie's Kitchen. Sometimes when I make these recipes, I do them as written. The next time I make them, I often put my own spin on it, but I have to say, this recipe is amazing as is, if you LOVE a good, yet simple split pea soup recipe. So let's get started, shall we?! 

I always double all soup recipe's because I am usually feeding at least 3-4 people, as well as I love to have left over soup, and sometimes I send some home with mom too!! So here we started out with 2-16oz bags of dried split peas and 2 Tbsp of minced garlic. I just used the minced garlic in the jar. I love that stuff. It's easy peasy and always ready to use. 

My next layer here is 4 peeled and chopped carrots, 4 celery ribs and 2 medium white onions. The recipe instructions said to chop small, but to be completely honest, I chopped them, not small, but not really big chunks either because as it cooks, and you're stirring, they're going to get soft and break down anyway. So I wouldn't worry about chopping them too small. 

Here we have some fresh thyme. I needed 2 Tbsp for my double recipe. I have never worked with fresh thyme before and it said chopped thyme. I had no clue what I was doing with my thyme! So I found a really informative video on Youtube. So if you don't know what you're doing with your thyme either, you can watch what to do here. 

So here is the thyme all pulled off from the stems, and then I just gave it a quick run through with my knife per the video before I put it into my crock pot.

So far now in my pot, I have the dried split peas, garlic, onions, carrots, celery and fresh thyme. 

Now, the recipe called for a meaty ham bone to be shoved down into all those yummy vegetables and then pour your chicken broth over just to cover. One of the past recipes I have used before called for a pork hock. It's a part of the pigs leg that is just above the foot and below the knee. I couldn't find any at my local store this time, plus I thought I had a few left in my freezer, but when I got home, I found out I didn't. Now, I always buy a ham steak to chop up into my split pea soup anyway, so as you can see, I have two ham steaks, one already chopped. I feared if that would be enough for flavor, but I called Mom and she said it would be fine. Plus these ham steaks have a little fat in them and that's where you get most of the flavor from. As I was chopping up these ham steaks, I did do a little taste test. They had a very nice smoked flavor and that did end up coming through in my finished soup. 

I layered the ham on top, threw in a few bay leaves and then I poured in about 10 cups of my chicken broth. I had a total of 12 cups as again, I doubled this recipe. As you can see, with all that goodness in the crock pot, I poured in what I could fit and then set the other 2 cups aside. I did end up putting in the rest later on. 

I set the crock pot on high with a plan of letting it cook around 8 hours. This was after about an hour of cooking. I gave everything a stir before going out to run a few errands for my Saturday afternoon. So my hope was to come back to an amazing smelling home. There is nothing quite like coming home to a really good soup cooking in the crock pot and the aroma is just filling the house. It's awesome!!

Now this is my favorite part. This is where cooking feels almost magical to me. We came home from running a few errands and as I had hoped, the house smelled so good. I just let everything simmer, the crock pot still on high and this was where I was at about 6 hours later. The magic that split pea soup is to me had taken place. This might seem silly, but this is just one thing I love about split pea soup! It starts out as this chicken broth based soup and you wonder how is that (see pic above) going to get to this amazing, warmth of comforting, creamy deliciousness?! It just does. The peas soften, the vegetables cook and as you stir it up, that creamy goodness just starts to form and you have this beautiful, split pea soup.

We weren't planning on eating for a couple of hours yet, so once the magic happened, I turned the pot on low and just let it simmer, stirring it occasionally because it does tend to separate as it continues to cook. It was fine though after stirring it a couple of times. I always serve a soup like this with a crusty bread, again, it's a comfort thing. 

Mom was over for dinner last night and we all enjoyed this wonderful soup. The recipe I found is definitely not one that I would do much tweaking to. The only difference I did was I used the ham steaks instead of a meaty ham bone. The steaks worked great, and gave some amazing flavor, but that wouldn't stop me from using a nice meaty ham bone if I found one the next time I plan on making this soup. 

I think out of everything I do make, soups are one of my favorites, especially during the winter months. I love having my mom over to visit. I love cooking for her and the kids. There is nothing quite like gathering around the table over some hearty soup, fresh bread (even if I didn't make that myself) and having family togetherness with some good conversation. That to me is everything. My life has become all about those little moments that I cherish. Life is too short. So find the moments that make you happy, cherish them and embrace the positivity. 

**Note** The original recipe called for fresh Italian parsley, which I just found in my fridge with my soup leftovers in the fridge. I completely forgot that I bought it and it never made the soup. It wasn't missed. But I'll definitely have to make this soup again and include the parsley! Sorry about that. 

Source: Recipe can be found at http://www.fromvalerieskitchen.com/2015/04/slow-cooker-split-pea-soup/

Dutch Oven Cooking

Hey Everyone! So as you all know, I received this beautiful, enameled cast iron dutch oven for my birthday which I just absolutely love! You can cook with it on the stove top, or you can also put it into the oven for roasting or baking. It honestly has become my favorite piece of cookware in the kitchen. So, needless to say, I have been experimenting with it, and I tried a couple new recipes!

The first thing I tried was a roasted chicken. I'll be honest, I didn't really have a recipe for this per se, so I kinda....winged it. (ba dump bump chhhhhhh....Ok, that was bad! LOL) However, I did borrow the concept behind my roasted chicken from this recipe here , but did a totally different take on my chicken as I didn't have rosemary on hand, or lemon. I had cilantro, and lime. This recipe was very easy and it made for a really easy, throw together kinda meal. 

I used about a 5lb bird for my meal. So, preheat your oven to 475 degrees. I started by taking 1/2 stick of melted butter. To that melted butter, I added some fresh minced garlic, but you could use the garlic from the jar. I added some chopped cilantro and zest from my limes. I also seasoned the melted butter with some salt and pepper to taste. Next, I used salt and pepper to season the cavity liberally. I cut the limes in half, juiced them and set aside the juice as well as the rinds. 

I sliced some onions, a little bit on the thick side and lined the bottom of the dutch oven with them. I also drizzled a little bit of extra virgin olive oil ("EVOO" as Rachel Ray likes to say) over the onions as well. Save the scraps from your onions. By this time, the butter mixture has hardened some. Using your hands, get very friendly with your bird and slather him up with the butter mixture everywhere. Carefully peel the skin away on the breast and slather the butter where you can on the meat under the skin as well, but don't tear the skin. Place the chicken in the dutch over right on top of the onions. Stuff the cavity of the bird with the onion scraps, garlic, the lime rinds and extra cilantro. 

It is usually suggested that you tie the chickens legs together. They say it helps with the cooking process and helps with even cooking. I didn't have any kitchen twine, so I didn't tie up my chicken. But if you have some twine, or even PLAIN dental floss, now would be the time to tie up your chicken. Pour the reserved lime juice over the chicken.

Don't cover your chicken. Let it roast, but if you see that it's getting to dark for your taste, then cover it ajar so that your protect it from the direct heat. With that being said, place your chicken in the oven at 475 for the first 15 minutes and then turn the oven down to 350 and roast at 20 minutes per pound or until the internal temperature reads 165. You can also baste your chicken about half way through, if you want. Although I didn't. I tried not to disturb it too much and just keeping the good heat in the oven. 

This chicken turned out amazing. It was very tasty and moist. I am looking forward to making it again soon!! 

Mmmmm roasted chicken with lime, cilantro, garlic and onion!! pic.twitter.com/NNADNAnMI2

— Pamela Eberle (@crazycatmomma8) October 22, 2015

The next recipe I tried was this homemade apple cider beef stew from the Taste Of Home website. This is a wonderful recipe for fall. A little bit of a different twist from your standard beef stew. It has sweetness from the apple cider, (you can also use apple juice) and yet subtle savory flavor. I really enjoyed the sweetness in this stew though. 

We made this on Halloween evening as I had my mom over for dinner. I did make a slight alteration on this recipe though. The original recipe called for 3 cups of apple cider and 2 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar. After I added that with the stew beef, it just didn't seem like it would be enough for 4 people. My daughter and her boyfriend were here for dinner as well. Anyway, I actually added 6 cups of apple cider and 4 Tbsp aopple cider vinegar to my 2 lbs of stew beef. We adjusted the vegetables accordingly to a double recipe and the ratio of beef to liquid actually worked out pretty well. I don't know, please feel free to experiment, but after I added the liquid to the beef, I was fearful that it wouldn't be enough. I also found that although the cook time states 1-3/4 hours, we found that it took longer to get the veggies tender. Other than that, great recipe....tasty and pretty easy!! Below is the recipe that I altered, but you can get the original recipe here!!

Apple Cider Beef Stew #fall #fallcooking #heartygoodness pic.twitter.com/q0mp4VO4Lg

— Pamela Eberle (@crazycatmomma8) October 31, 2015

 TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Cook: 1-3/4 hours (you will probably need more time than this)

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 6 cups apple cider or juice
• 4 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 4 teaspoons salt, optional
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 6-8 medium carrots, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 6 celery ribs, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 3 medium onions, cut into wedges
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup water

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven, brown beef on all sides in oil over medium-high heat; drain. Add the cider, vinegar, salt if desired, thyme and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/4 hours.
2. Add the potatoes, carrots, celery and onions; return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes or until beef and vegetables are tender.
3. Combine flour and water until smooth; stir into stew. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Yield: 8 servings.

Final product! #appleciderbeefstew #fallcooking #coolerweathercooking pic.twitter.com/o6w38rt7nw

— Pamela Eberle (@crazycatmomma8) November 1, 2015

If there is nothing else I enjoy more, it is being together with family, cooking and having a meal together. I find I enjoy this the most when I am feeling down, or a bit stressed. Being with family and having meals together is one way that I find the good moments in my life, cherish them and embrace the positivity!! Thanks so much for reading.

Sources:

Bowl Of Delicious
Taste Of Home

Fall Cooking

Hey There!! Fall is upon us! I actually broke down and turned on the furnace tonight. There was a little bit of a chill in the house when I came home. It's cold outside and they're actually calling for a little bit of the white stuff this weekend! Fantastic. (insert sarcasm here)

Anyway, I celebrated a birthday a week ago and from my Mom and Dad, I received an awesome dutch oven, along with a brand new set of some really nice knives. The dutch oven is cast iron and enamel coated. It's a beautiful teal color. 

For me, when fall comes, and it comes to great meals, I love anything that is hearty, and makes you feel warm and satiated. I love doing soups and chili's a lot!! As seen on my other blog, Crazy Cat Mommy's Corner, I shared with my readers how I make my own CHILI!! So feel free to take a peek over there, if you haven't already!

This week though, we were looking for something a bit different. My daughter found this recipe for White Chicken Chili from Taste Of Home. So head on over there and check it out. A little side note on the recipe--- It calls for Cayenne Pepper. I opted to go with crushed red pepper flakes. The Cayenne pepper was $5.99 at my local grocery store for a little bottle. Red pepper flakes were a little cheaper. Other than that, I found this to be a great recipe. We all agreed it was a keeper. If you try it, you'll find that it is a little more soupier than a regular chili. But it works. It's the mashed great northern white beans that give it its creamy consistency. But definitely worth a try. We all enjoyed it. 

Below we have posted pictures from my Twitter feed. I was sharing the process as I went along. My camera didn't quite capture the true pretty color of my new dutch oven though, but its still beautiful just the same!! I am looking so forward to getting a lot of use out of it for many years to come. 

To me, I find awesome positivity in being able to cook meals for my kids and have us come together for a new recipe I have found. I enjoy being able to bring all of us together for meal times and have that time together. With them being older now, we all tend to have different schedules. However, we always manage to find the time to have meals together when we can. I make sure that I cherish those times together. Family is so important. 

So, let me know if you try the recipe and how you liked it. Thank you for reading and remember, take the time to cherish the moments, and embrace the positivity! 

My new enamel coated cast iron Dutch oven!! #lovingthecolor pic.twitter.com/CTMlpUhew2

— Pamela Eberle (@crazycatmomma8) October 16, 2015

The beginnings of white chicken chili!! #fallcooking pic.twitter.com/3vL1GsMK7b

— Pamela Eberle (@crazycatmomma8) October 16, 2015

Almost ready!! pic.twitter.com/9nDdW5ujRr

— Pamela Eberle (@crazycatmomma8) October 16, 2015

Mmmmmmm!! White Chicken Chili!! pic.twitter.com/ulZSprLuZn

— Pamela Eberle (@crazycatmomma8) October 16, 2015

Everything Happens For A Reason

Sometimes disappointing things in life just happen. We don't know why they do or we may think the universe is just against us, but I have always held on to the faith that sometimes, everything happens for a reason. We might not always know the reason at the time, and we might not ever find out that reason. 

The week my cousin passed away, I had picked up around 72 hours at work because I had/have been having some financial difficulties lately. Between finishing out the week I was on and the new week that was coming up, I would have put in 96 hours total between both my clients.  It wasn't something I wanted to do, but I needed to do. I had prayed for help about a week or two prior, and all of a sudden, my clients other aide just up and left her, telling the agency she wouldn't be able to work for the next few weeks. I felt that was my sign, my help that I asked for. So I called my agency picking up whatever hours I could. 

So I finished up the Saturday of that week with a 12 hr shift. That was August 1st. I worked Sunday, August 2nd, a 12 hour shift.  Long story short, with the client I picked up the extra 72 hours with, when I got in on Tuesday for my evening shift, I found out her son had cancelled for the next week and a half starting with Wednesday, August 5th. I was upset and angry. But then, my mom reminded me "Everything happens for a reason."  On August 6th, when I would have been working a 12 hr shift, at 9 am in the morning, that's when I got the text from one of my aunts to call her. That's when I found out my cousin died.

 I was extremely grateful to be home with my two children and not at work. I was able to break the news to them and we were able to find comfort in one another. I was able to be there for my Aunt in her time of need. I was able to partake in helping create memory boards for my cousins services. Something I wouldn't have been able to do if I had been working 12 hour shifts. In a time of darkness, I was grateful to be able to have some positives that came out of it. 

As I have stated before, life is about trying to find the positive moments that you can, find what you're grateful for and blessed with. This weekend, my mom, my daughter and I were scheduled to go away together for an all girls weekend at my parents cabin which is located in the southern tier part of WNY near Olean, NY. 

We were looking so forward to it. It's especially pretty this time of year with the fall leaves changing. Well as the week went on, we knew it wouldn't be as beautiful as we had hoped due to weather. It's been raining, a little cooler and damp! 

But as I packed up my pumpkin cake I had just finished frosting, and waited for my daughter and her boyfriend to get home from school, I got a call from my mom. She sounded so disappointed. 

We have a very steep, stone hill that leads up to our cabin. To this day, so many years later, we often wonder why on earth we purchased a cabin on such a steep hill. Anyway, my parents had paid a guy to grate the hill and straighten it out as every few years, it gets pretty weathered and rutted. Well, it wasn't done as quickly as they had hoped. They actually expected it done much sooner than just this past week. 

So when my mom called me, the last thing I expected her to tell me was that we couldn't go to our cabin. As I said, the guy just fixed the road and turned the dirt and had grated it. He told my parents that with all the rain we had been getting, it might not be a good idea to go up the road because it is so wet. I am not sure if he was worried about our tires causing damage to the freshly grated road because of the potential for mud, or if was worried about the potential for danger trying to make it up in the mud. I still wanted to try and go. My mom has an AWD vehicle. I said "We can make it, let's go!!" I've always liked to believe we are unstoppable! Now that I'm writing this, and thinking about my cousin, knowing her, she definitely would have risked it and gone anyway. I don't believe she let anything stop her. 

However, my mom in her infinite wisdom brought up a very good point. In all the years we have had our cabin, driving there and never knowing what we would face once we got to that hill, no one has ever called us to tell us you might not want to come. But the fact that this guy called us and told us, my mom felt we should heed the warning. So as disappointed as we were, we decided it best to stay home. Now to break the news to my daughter.

She actually took it better than I thought. I mean, yes, she is 19 and a very mature 19. It's not like I was expecting her to stomp her feet and pitch a fit! LOL But, she was the one that reminded ME about finding the positivity!! 

I have only adopted this new mentality in my life recently. I am still learning to embrace it and accept it in a few different facets of my life. It's about a whole new journey for me. It's about teaching myself and learning to control the things that only I can control. It's more about me not dwelling in negative energy and focusing on the positivity. I was very proud of my daughter that in that moment, she reminded me of that with her attitude. That no matter what, it's all going to be ok. I feel blessed and accomplished that I feel as if my new outlook has been affecting her positively also!!

With the disappointment behind us, we made a new plan. My mom came over to my house with the plan to spend the night. She brought everything with her for what we would have had for breakfast the next day. We all got comfy, we ordered in Chinese food for dinner, played a game and made popcorn, and stayed up til 1 am having some quality family time. Oh and of course, no family fun time evening is complete with out good music!!

Yesterday, we had coffee and pumpkin cake, and later we made a delicious breakfast of bacon, eggs, biscuits and juice. Mom stayed for most of the day and we enjoyed each other's company just as much as we would have at the cabin and I think that's what matters most. 

So as I sit here on my porch, sipping coffee on a beautiful, crisp fall Sunday morning, I am reminded life happens and life goes on. But if you dwell in the negative parts of life, you lose out on some of the wonderful blessings life has to offer. You lose focus on what is right in front of you. The next time something disappointing happens, take a step back and re-center yourself. Take a breath and take a moment to be grateful for what you have in that immediate moment. Your health, a loving family, and a roof over your head. Say thank you. Remember to cherish those moments and to always embrace the positivity.