I'm not a lover of Spaghetti myself, and since it was on the request list for this weeks grocery list I mixed things up a bit since I was the one doing the shopping. All with a change of noodle did this dish come to life for me!
Italian Bow tie Dish:
One pound ground beef
one hillshire sausage
Jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
Bow tie pasta
Parmesan cheese
seasoning to flavor-- I used garlic salt/powder
Directions:
Boil bow tie pasta until tender.
cut sausage in bite size pieces and brown up in skillet. set aside in a mid-large size bowl.
brown ground beef in skillet. Drain, set aside in the bowl with sausage.
mix sauce and bow tie pasta in large bowl in addition to your Parmesan cheese and seasoning.
in a 9x13 dish add mixture from bowl, place in oven at 350 for 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted.
And it's as simple as that, you're done and enjoy a simple and delicious meal!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Cash for Clunkers Extension
Labor day! The program "Cash for Clunkers" has now been extended to Labor day. What a great little progom to trade in your crappy clunker to be recylced--which would other wise not be worth anything at trade-in--for up to $4500 towards a new vehicle.
I believe there were two main goals to this program:
#1-- boost the car makers economy by an incentive to purchase a NEW car by trading in your old one.
#2-- permanently take gas guzzlers off the road by scrapping and recycling them.
Any Catches?
Well-- you have to buy or lease a new car.
And-- the new car has to get atleast 22 miles per gallon... what? 22 miles per gallon... that's it? The Gov't doesn't seem to be pushing the car makers to go green very hard... 22 miles per gallon doesn't really seem like much a challenge for the auto industry.
So, I think the program was more focused on saving the car industry rather than re-innovating its standards!
I believe there were two main goals to this program:
#1-- boost the car makers economy by an incentive to purchase a NEW car by trading in your old one.
#2-- permanently take gas guzzlers off the road by scrapping and recycling them.
Any Catches?
Well-- you have to buy or lease a new car.
And-- the new car has to get atleast 22 miles per gallon... what? 22 miles per gallon... that's it? The Gov't doesn't seem to be pushing the car makers to go green very hard... 22 miles per gallon doesn't really seem like much a challenge for the auto industry.
So, I think the program was more focused on saving the car industry rather than re-innovating its standards!
A Chrystal's Original Recipe: A Roast Dinner For Gary
Gary says he'll eat S%#t if it's made right but I completey disagree. He tends to be way more picky than he says he is. But this roast dinner sends his approval meter through the roof. I always know when he is full and happy when he says, " I'm not gonna lie, this is really good!"
So I guess that means he lies about the other dishes he says were good only after I asked if he liked them huh? Well hey, ya can't score on every meal, but I sure do enjoy watching him fill his belly with this one...
A Roast Dinner for Gary:
1 round bottom roast
Carrots
Potatoes
1 red onion
32+ oz. of chicken broth (Swanson’s)
1 tablespoon Accent
1 Tablespoon ground mustard
2 Tablespoon garlic salt
1 Tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon salt
Dash of paprika
Directions:
In a crock-pot, add potatoes, and onion quartered, peeled and chopped carrots, chicken broth, dry ingredients and roast. Cook for about 2-3 hours and remove the tender potatoes. Continue cooking until roast is tender approx. a total of 5-6 hours.
Mash and blend potatoes, adding milk and butter to taste. Set aside.
Once roast is finished cooking strain broth from vegetables and roast. in a sauce pan or skillet over medium heat whisk flour into broth until it reaches a gravy thickness consistency.
Serve roast with mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies, and a side salad to top it off! Yum Yum!
Tid-bit: by cooking potatoes with meat/broth, gives your mashed potatoes an incredible kick to the flavor.
So I guess that means he lies about the other dishes he says were good only after I asked if he liked them huh? Well hey, ya can't score on every meal, but I sure do enjoy watching him fill his belly with this one...
A Roast Dinner for Gary:
1 round bottom roast
Carrots
Potatoes
1 red onion
32+ oz. of chicken broth (Swanson’s)
1 tablespoon Accent
1 Tablespoon ground mustard
2 Tablespoon garlic salt
1 Tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon salt
Dash of paprika
Directions:
In a crock-pot, add potatoes, and onion quartered, peeled and chopped carrots, chicken broth, dry ingredients and roast. Cook for about 2-3 hours and remove the tender potatoes. Continue cooking until roast is tender approx. a total of 5-6 hours.
Mash and blend potatoes, adding milk and butter to taste. Set aside.
Once roast is finished cooking strain broth from vegetables and roast. in a sauce pan or skillet over medium heat whisk flour into broth until it reaches a gravy thickness consistency.
Serve roast with mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies, and a side salad to top it off! Yum Yum!
Tid-bit: by cooking potatoes with meat/broth, gives your mashed potatoes an incredible kick to the flavor.
A Chrystal's Original Recipe: Isaiah's Favorite Enchilada's
Every week when I make my trip to the grocery store my oldest son Isaiah always asks if I'll be making enchilada's. Without fail, I end up making them atleast once a month... I'm surprised we aren't sick of them yet. But the dish always yields about two days worth of left overs and there are never any complaints! I've been making this dish for about 5 years now and it is delicious! Isiah claims that they are 10 times better than any restaurant enchilada's and 20 times more filling. What a compliment to the cook!
Isaiah’s Favorite Enchilada’s
1 bag of skinless boneless chicken breats (about 6 pieces)
Garlic salt
Ground pepper
Salt
Lemon pepper
1 can of olives diced
One small onion minced or chopped to preference
1 4 oz. can of El Pato salsa
1 4 oz. can of El pato green chili
1 16 oz. can of red enchilada sauce
2 8 oz. bags of grated cheddar cheese
Bag of 20+ corn tortillas
Vegetable oil
Directions:
Boil chicken until cooked through. Let chicken stand to room temperature and shred. Mix chicken with all ingredients in large bowl excluding the red enchilada sauce and cheese, these two items will be saved for last.
In skillet, add oil to 375 degrees, add corn tortillas, do not fry to crisp, just to soften, set aside.
When done, take out 1 bag of 8 oz. grated cheese. Roll cheese and chicken mixture into each tortilla and place in 9X13 pan.
Once filled tightly with enchilada rolls cover with red enchilada sauce and second bag of 8 oz. grated cheese. Cover with foil and place dish in oven for 30 minutes at 375.
Tip, if there is left over chicken mixture it can be saved for chicken tacos or you can make a smaller second dish of enchiladas, if making one dish you do not need to use entire can of red sauce for topping, add to preference.
Isaiah’s Favorite Enchilada’s
1 bag of skinless boneless chicken breats (about 6 pieces)
Garlic salt
Ground pepper
Salt
Lemon pepper
1 can of olives diced
One small onion minced or chopped to preference
1 4 oz. can of El Pato salsa
1 4 oz. can of El pato green chili
1 16 oz. can of red enchilada sauce
2 8 oz. bags of grated cheddar cheese
Bag of 20+ corn tortillas
Vegetable oil
Directions:
Boil chicken until cooked through. Let chicken stand to room temperature and shred. Mix chicken with all ingredients in large bowl excluding the red enchilada sauce and cheese, these two items will be saved for last.
In skillet, add oil to 375 degrees, add corn tortillas, do not fry to crisp, just to soften, set aside.
When done, take out 1 bag of 8 oz. grated cheese. Roll cheese and chicken mixture into each tortilla and place in 9X13 pan.
Once filled tightly with enchilada rolls cover with red enchilada sauce and second bag of 8 oz. grated cheese. Cover with foil and place dish in oven for 30 minutes at 375.
Tip, if there is left over chicken mixture it can be saved for chicken tacos or you can make a smaller second dish of enchiladas, if making one dish you do not need to use entire can of red sauce for topping, add to preference.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Feeling Green?
Have you heard of the Texas Tycoon T. Boons Pickens who is on the crusade of greener energy? He promotes natural gas, and wind powered energy... taking his campaign all the way to Washington and slowly but surely is getting encouraging support and achieving the much needed attention from politicians and has discussed his plan with the President Obama as well.
I really think he has some great ideas! Check him out at pickensplan.com
You can sign up for newsletters through email.
here was the most recent newsletter I received:
"It has already been a great week for natural gas and the Pickens Plan. Yesterday, another piece of legislation promoting the research and development of natural gas-powered vehicles—H.R. 1622—was passed by the House of Representatives. As CQ Today noted in the coverage of the bill, “Oilman T. Boone Pickens has been crusading for a switch to greater use of natural gas vehicles, as a centerpiece of his campaign to reduce dependence on foreign oil. His plan has been winning growing support from members of Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.” The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Sullivan of Oklahoma (one of the original co-sponsors of the NAT GAS Act), provides $30 million per year for natural gas vehicle research from 2010 to 2014 and directs the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency to focus research on commercial vehicles. The legislation also charges those agencies with developing procedures and national standards for the vehicles and for natural gas fueling stations. A special thank you goes out to Representative Sullivan for being a leader in the nation’s fight to reduce our reliance on foreign oil. The vote? It was overwhelmingly in favor of the bill, 393 to 35. It was a huge victory. It’s further evidence of the fact that Members of Congress are recognizing the tremendous benefits of natural gas: it’s clean, it’s abundant and, most importantly, it’s American. Army, you’re really making a difference by reaching out to your elected officials.This was a great achievement but we need you to keep up the momentum to get the NAT GAS Act—H.R. 1835 and S. 1408—passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by President Obama into law this year. Take a minute to send your Member of Congress an email asking them to become a co-sponsor of the NAT GAS Act."-pickens plan newsletter 7-22-2009
I really think he has some great ideas! Check him out at pickensplan.com
You can sign up for newsletters through email.
here was the most recent newsletter I received:
"It has already been a great week for natural gas and the Pickens Plan. Yesterday, another piece of legislation promoting the research and development of natural gas-powered vehicles—H.R. 1622—was passed by the House of Representatives. As CQ Today noted in the coverage of the bill, “Oilman T. Boone Pickens has been crusading for a switch to greater use of natural gas vehicles, as a centerpiece of his campaign to reduce dependence on foreign oil. His plan has been winning growing support from members of Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.” The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Sullivan of Oklahoma (one of the original co-sponsors of the NAT GAS Act), provides $30 million per year for natural gas vehicle research from 2010 to 2014 and directs the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency to focus research on commercial vehicles. The legislation also charges those agencies with developing procedures and national standards for the vehicles and for natural gas fueling stations. A special thank you goes out to Representative Sullivan for being a leader in the nation’s fight to reduce our reliance on foreign oil. The vote? It was overwhelmingly in favor of the bill, 393 to 35. It was a huge victory. It’s further evidence of the fact that Members of Congress are recognizing the tremendous benefits of natural gas: it’s clean, it’s abundant and, most importantly, it’s American. Army, you’re really making a difference by reaching out to your elected officials.This was a great achievement but we need you to keep up the momentum to get the NAT GAS Act—H.R. 1835 and S. 1408—passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by President Obama into law this year. Take a minute to send your Member of Congress an email asking them to become a co-sponsor of the NAT GAS Act."-pickens plan newsletter 7-22-2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
On the next EPISODE of COokIng WiTh CHryStaL;)
I'LL BE DISCUSSING THE RECIPES THAT MADE A HOME RUN AND THE ONES THAT DIDN'T...STAY TUNED!
A mid-summer visit!!!
My Sister Tiffanie, her Husband Levi, and my niece Emmi came down for a nice mid-summer visit two weeks ago! Following them two days later was my brother Anthony, who we threw a going away party for because he is leaving for the ARMY September 22nd!
My brother and his Friends
My brother and Isaiah
Marques and his Birthday MONEY!!!
Baby Emmi!!!
Brother-in-law Levi
My three boys, my step-brothers, and baby Emmi
Mom, Tiffanie, and me!
While they were down we managed to have a Birthday thingy for Marques who turned 9, a day outing to the lake, a girls night out, and lots of baby chasing to digest all great food we ate while they were down, oh and the going away pool bash for Anthony up until the minute they took off at 5 p.m.!
I can't wait to see them all again... maybe if the economy starts to shift in a positive direction here in Cali. Gary and I can afford to wrestle our three kids to New Mexico for a nice visit too!
My brother and his Friends
My brother and Isaiah
Marques and his Birthday MONEY!!!
Baby Emmi!!!
Brother-in-law Levi
My three boys, my step-brothers, and baby Emmi
Mom, Tiffanie, and me!
While they were down we managed to have a Birthday thingy for Marques who turned 9, a day outing to the lake, a girls night out, and lots of baby chasing to digest all great food we ate while they were down, oh and the going away pool bash for Anthony up until the minute they took off at 5 p.m.!
I can't wait to see them all again... maybe if the economy starts to shift in a positive direction here in Cali. Gary and I can afford to wrestle our three kids to New Mexico for a nice visit too!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
CoOkiNg WiTh CHryStaL...;)
Compliments of pauladeen.com Ya'll!
With three stubborn boys and one hungry man, satisfying everyone at every meal is nearly impossible!
But with the help of some of Paula Deen's recipe's I've been cooking mean and absolutely non-lean for the last 3 weeks.
Diet tip for those of us trying to keep our figure...eat in moderation, do not go back for 2nds! Which is very hard to do with a great dish to chow down on.
Here is a sure fire way to fill the belly's of the one's you love with 100% satisfaction...and no need to make a side plate of P,B &J!
BBQ Pork Sandwich
Ingredients:
Dry rub:
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons dark brown suga
2 tablespoons paprika
1/2-tablespoon cayenne
4 pound shoulder pork roast (I used a 6lb. 'cause we like to eat!)
2-cup apple juice
1-cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire
1/2-tablespoon liquid smoke
1/2-tablespoon garlic powder
6 soft hamburger buns with seeds
Paula Deen’s Original BBQ sauce (I used reg. ole' BBQ sauce)
Coleslaw (I didn't use this but I wish I had)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Mix the dry rub ingredients in small bowl. Sprinkle dry rub all over the pork roast, pressing into the pork.
Cover with plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Combine liquid ingredients and the garlic powder in a medium bowl and pour into a large Dutch oven. Place pork in the oven and tightly cover with aluminum foil then lid. Roast for 4 hours or until fork tender and shreds easily. (for those of you who don't know what a dutch oven is, it's a deep cast iron pot, I substituted my slow cooker instead!)
Brush the roast with cooking liquid every hour.
Remove from oven and let stand until cool enough to handle. Shred the pork with a fork or tongs into bite size pieces.
Serve on hamburger buns topped with BBQ sauce and cole slaw.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Ease of Preparation: Easy Yield: 6 servings
We had plenty of left overs however, they didn't last long the next day! And once again remember, the key to keeping your figure and enjoying a flavor-full meal is eating in moderation, NO 2nds!
FYI FOLKS!
sign-in at pauladeen.com and save recipes in your very own recipe box...next time your scrambling to figure out what to cook up for dinner, log-on to your recipe box pick a meal, print, & go!
With three stubborn boys and one hungry man, satisfying everyone at every meal is nearly impossible!
But with the help of some of Paula Deen's recipe's I've been cooking mean and absolutely non-lean for the last 3 weeks.
Diet tip for those of us trying to keep our figure...eat in moderation, do not go back for 2nds! Which is very hard to do with a great dish to chow down on.
Here is a sure fire way to fill the belly's of the one's you love with 100% satisfaction...and no need to make a side plate of P,B &J!
BBQ Pork Sandwich
Ingredients:
Dry rub:
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons dark brown suga
2 tablespoons paprika
1/2-tablespoon cayenne
4 pound shoulder pork roast (I used a 6lb. 'cause we like to eat!)
2-cup apple juice
1-cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire
1/2-tablespoon liquid smoke
1/2-tablespoon garlic powder
6 soft hamburger buns with seeds
Paula Deen’s Original BBQ sauce (I used reg. ole' BBQ sauce)
Coleslaw (I didn't use this but I wish I had)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Mix the dry rub ingredients in small bowl. Sprinkle dry rub all over the pork roast, pressing into the pork.
Cover with plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Combine liquid ingredients and the garlic powder in a medium bowl and pour into a large Dutch oven. Place pork in the oven and tightly cover with aluminum foil then lid. Roast for 4 hours or until fork tender and shreds easily. (for those of you who don't know what a dutch oven is, it's a deep cast iron pot, I substituted my slow cooker instead!)
Brush the roast with cooking liquid every hour.
Remove from oven and let stand until cool enough to handle. Shred the pork with a fork or tongs into bite size pieces.
Serve on hamburger buns topped with BBQ sauce and cole slaw.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Ease of Preparation: Easy Yield: 6 servings
We had plenty of left overs however, they didn't last long the next day! And once again remember, the key to keeping your figure and enjoying a flavor-full meal is eating in moderation, NO 2nds!
FYI FOLKS!
sign-in at pauladeen.com and save recipes in your very own recipe box...next time your scrambling to figure out what to cook up for dinner, log-on to your recipe box pick a meal, print, & go!
Employers seeking to achieve Highway Robbery!
As many of you out there, I've been on the job search due to an unstable and uncertain job I currently have. As back-up I've decided to start searching for another job and am willing to take a pay cut. However many of these companies seem to be asking a lot from the potential employee for a mear fraction of what they are actually worth.
I've been frequently visiting Craigslist.com and by doing so, feel insulted for so many experienced workers who are now out of work and are desperate to find anything that will put them back to work who come across a page-long list of job duties only to get to the end of the page to learn this employer is only offering $9 per hour. HIGHWAY ROBBERY is exclusively the correct phrase that should come to mind after encountering such a post for employment.
I just can't imagine the audacity that some of these companies must have who are knowingly taking advantage of this recession in order to lower their pay rate and demand the same amount of work and responsibilities from an employee. It disgusts me!
I've been frequently visiting Craigslist.com and by doing so, feel insulted for so many experienced workers who are now out of work and are desperate to find anything that will put them back to work who come across a page-long list of job duties only to get to the end of the page to learn this employer is only offering $9 per hour. HIGHWAY ROBBERY is exclusively the correct phrase that should come to mind after encountering such a post for employment.
I just can't imagine the audacity that some of these companies must have who are knowingly taking advantage of this recession in order to lower their pay rate and demand the same amount of work and responsibilities from an employee. It disgusts me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)