Monday Meals

This week I have another easy, yet very tasty meal for you: Chicken and Vegetable Packets.

This recipe is very easily customized to your tastes as far as vegetables go, and can be changed according to what you have on hand. You can also use cheap meat or whatever cut you have on hand.

I normally use chicken leg quarters for two reasons: They're very cheap (I got the last package for 49 cents a pound!) and the dark meat adds flavor and doesn't dry out. I have never used boneless, skinless chicken breasts, so I don't know how it would turn out.

Step 1. Tear off a sheet of foil large enough to wrap your meat/veggies in.
Step 2. Place one leg quarter on each piece of foil and sprinkle with herbs and spices of your choice. (I usually go for salt, pepper, garlic, basil, oregano, etc.) You can put some spices under the skin of the chicken, too.
Step 3. Pile on the veggies! This time I used potatoes, carrots, parsnips, red bell pepper (I think), and tomatoes.

Step 4. Sprinkle on some more spices and drizzle everything with olive oil.
Step 5. Wrap it up and cook!

There are two ways to cook this. You can bake them at 375 for about an hour, or you can grill them for 30-45 minutes. Both are equally tasty, so it just depends on how you prefer to cook.
Here is a picture of the packet after it was cooked.
Hmm, it doesn't look much different than the raw picture. ;)
Since I was taking pictures of my plate, Gracie wanted me to take one of hers.
I hope this made sense. It's not really a recipe, just a meal that Weldon taught me how to cook, and that we enjoy fixing and eating! Feel free to ask any questions!!

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

Wednesday--Project Day

My project this time is destined to be a baby shower gift--if I decide that it's worthy of that role. I'm not totally satisfied with the way I sewed it together, but I'll just wait and see. Sometimes after letting something sit for a while it looks better.
This was a lot of fun to knit. I've found that I enjoy knitting toys more than blankets or scarves. They are just so fun!

Monday Meals

I'm going to cheat a little this week. I found a recipe that was super easy to type up and didn't take too much time to post. But, it's also just as easy to cook and eat this!

Pepperoncini Beef

3-5 lb. roast (whatever is on sale, and whatever size feeds your family w/leftovers!)
1 jar sliced pepperoncinis

Put the roast in a crockpot and pour the jar of pepperoncinis with all the juice over it. Turn on low and cook for 8-9 hours, until the meat is falling apart. You can cook this on high for 4-5 hours if you don't have time for the slow version.
I like to use the crockpot liners for easy cleanup.
We normally eat this on sandwich rolls with cheese, but I've been told it's good over rice as well.
This is not spicy, the pepper flavor is mellowed by the meat.

This picture is taken a little way into the cooking process. Sorry I don't have an after picture.

Wednesday--Project Day

I started this project yesterday and finished it today. Well, I think I finished it. I'm not sure if I'll put another coat of paint on it, or if it will even stay this color. And I'll need my husband's opinion when he gets home from his trip. ;)

I thought I had a before picture already, but couldn't find it. You'll just have to imagine this tray in a dirty, scuffed off-white.
First, I spray painted a quick coat of black paint.

Then a coat of green--Grass Green, I think--this is still wet

Finished and back on the kitchen counter

Closer in--I think I like the splash of color. I also want to continue the red on the walls in between the cabinets (not sure why the previous owner didn't do that).
I love quick, easy projects like this! Sometimes its the little things that make a big difference in a room. Come back next week for more--hopefully it will be my daughter's room that I'm working on then.

Monday Meals

This week's recipe is easy, pretty fast, and a great weeknight meal! It is also easily doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.

Pepperoni Stromboli

You start with frozen bread dough--can't beat that! You'll want to thaw it, of course. Choose whichever method on the bag that works for you; depending on how much time you have. I let this batch thaw overnight in the fridge.


Cook your ground beef, drain and let it cool a little bit.

Roll out each loaf of dough separately; brush with egg, oil and spices.

Top with ground beef, pepperoni and cheese.

Roll up and brush with more egg mixture.

Bake.
Here's the actual recipe:

Pepperoni Stromboli

2 loaves frozen bread dough, thawed
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup oil
1/2 tsp. each: garlic powder, salt, pepper, oregano, ground mustard
1 lb. ground beef, cooked
3 oz. pepperoni
2 cups mozzarella cheese

Roll each loaf into a rectangle. Combine egg, oil and spices; brush over dough.
Arrange beef, pepperoni, and cheese on dough. Roll up jelly-roll style. Brush with remaining egg mixture.
Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.

Serves 4-6 people

**If you double the recipe, don't double the egg/oil mixture. I always throw some out.**
**I made 4 smaller loaves in this batch, so if you make two like the recipe states, yours will be much bigger than mine.**

Announcing.......

The next Food Network Star---Gracie Stogsdill!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/weldonst/GracieCookingShow#5457856112833580914

I tried to post the video directly on here, but it took too long and wouldn't upload--sorry!!

Recap of the Weekend

Last Thursday, we packed our car to the brim and took my sister and one of her friends to Washington, D.C. It was a 'thank-you' to them for all the help they gave us when Cora was about a month old and Weldon had to leave on a business trip.
We got up to D.C. around noon. The Cherry Blossom Festival is going on right now, so it was pretty crazy with people, cars, and people. We parked about a mile and a half away from the Mall, and walked over. We were loaded down with backpacks, cameras, a stroller and a baby carrier. Looking like typical tourists, of course. We wanted to blend in, you see.
Our first stop was the restrooms. Sorry, Weldon, you were traveling with 4 girls! Well, 5, but those wearing diapers don't count. Being a typical ladies restroom, the line was almost as long as our walk had been. We finally made it in and back out--whew! Thank goodness!
We decided to walk through the American History Museum first. The museums were just as crowded as the outside areas, if not more. We didn't see everything in the museum, just some highlights, as we had two children under 3, and it was close to lunchtime. We saw the 'Star-Spangled Banner' exhibit, which houses the flag that actually inspired the song. We were all amazed at how large it was.
Next we viewed the rooms containing the gowns of the first ladies. Most of these are inaugural gowns, but I'm not sure all of them are. The most impressive of these to me was Martha Washington's gown. It's been around for over 200 years, and still looks good. Of course it looks old, but I guess the quality of the fabric and the way it's been preserved were really good.
We also saw Julia Child's kitchen--I would love to have her collection of copper pots! We saw a couple more exhibits and then went looking for lunch.
Lunch was a hot dog and cold drinks from a street vendor, and we sat next to the carousel on the Mall. Guess who wanted to ride?! Gracie rode once with Weldon and once with Bronwyn. I think she could've ridden all day.
Next we took her to the Museum of Natural History to see all the animals. We weren't there long, but saw the African animal section and the dinosaurs, too.
Then began the looooong walk back to the car. Funny how the walk back always seems twice as long. Especially since Cora cried all the way back. I think she thought she was never going to be fed again!!
Once in the car, the kids fell asleep. (after eating) We headed out of D.C. and ate dinner at P.F. Chang's. After dinner we went to our hotel and crashed!
Friday morning we got up and got pastries at a bakery, then shopped at the Container Store. Unfortunately, that is the closest one to me! Probably a good thing, though, as I could spend tons of money there!
We spent the day in the Georgetown area. First lunch at La Madeleine (also the closest one to us) then we walked around the streets and shopped a little bit. When everyone got tired, we found a quiet park and relaxed for a while.
We headed out of D.C. at just the wrong time and got stuck in traffic. The worst traffic, though, was caused by a wreck. Once we got past that, it was fine.
We spent Friday night through Sunday at Mike and Maureen Steintz's house. We had a great time visiting, playing sports and enjoying the fellowship with everyone up there, and look forward to going back soon!
Here's some pictures from the trip:

Cora loves Twizzlers!!