Tortellini Soup

This is a favourite around here, but we never know what to do with the other half of the cabbage!

Tortellini Soup

500 gr Italian Sausages

5 C Water

2 (14.5 oz) Cans Stewed Tomatoes with Juice

2 tsp Basil

1 pkg Dry Onion Soup

2 C Tortellini

3 C Shredded Cabbage

In a large pot over medium high heat, saute sausage until browned and crumbly (5 min).

Pour in water, tomatoes, basil, onion soup mix.

Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 min.

Stir in tortellini and cabbage.

Simmer until tortellini is cooked (10-15 min)

As We Wait For Gilmore Girls....

In a few short days the eagerly anticipated Gilmore Girls returns to our screens for four 90 minute  episodes.  But as I look forward to these new installments, I also know that it will be over too soon.  I have been waiting for Chancery to be old enough to watch Gilmore Girls with me, so I did not re-watch all the old seasons in preparation for the re-boot, but I have been thinking of all the other shows which have tided me over in the last several years & have some connection to Gilmore Girls.

   If you have not allowed yourself the pleasure of the fast-speaking, coffee drinking Gilmore Girls, I advise you to start there.  It's where it all began after all.

Now, I have not actually watched Parenthood (I don't know what was going on in my life at the time, but I didn't really hear much about it when it was on) but I have heard all kinds of good things about it in the last year & I intend to go back & watch it.  One of the main characters is Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls).

Hart of Dixie is the story of a female doctor from New York city who is bequeathed a small town practice, or half of it anyway.  The show deals with her adjustment to small town life & the quirky characters who are her new neighbours.  Hart of Dixie uses the same sets at Gilmore Girls.

Bunheads is a story about a Vegas showgirl played by Sutton Foster, who moves to a small coastal town, & begins teaching ballet.  It's written by Amy Sherman-Palladino, who also wrote the first 6 seasons of Gilmore Girls, & the upcoming Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.  Many of the actors from Gilmore Girls also appear in Bunheads, such as Liza Weil (Paris Geller), Kelly Bishop (Emily Gilmore), & Sean Gunn (Kirk).

Younger also stars Sutton Foster as a recent divorcee who is on the hunt for a job.  When she discovers that she keeps getting turned down for being too old (over 40), her friend encourages her to pretend to be in her 20's.  She is now trying to maintain her younger identity & keep up to speed on all the technology, fashion & slang she should know!

I've heard that This Is Us is the new Parenthood.  If you liked Parenthood, you will probably like This Is Us.  It has a great cast including Milo Ventimiglia (Jess from Gilmore Girls).  It follows the lives of triplets (one who's adopted), who are trying to figure out adult life, & also flashes to their growing up years, giving us some perspective on what they are struggling with.

And we're back around to Gilmore Girls!  There has been some discussion on whether the show will return for more after these 4, or if it will really be over.  I'm excited to see what the people of Stars Hollow have been up to over the past 9 years, but I won't get my hopes up for more episodes.  After those are over, I have lots of other shows to get caught up on!

Bran Muffins

For as long as I've known him,  PChad has always raved about his mum's bran muffins.  Now, I'm not a huge fan of muffins in general, I'd rather have a cookie or a brownie, so when I think of baking, muffins are not at the top of my list.  But a few days ago PChad asked if I could please make his
mum's bran muffins, so I figured it was time (and he only asked once during the process if I was making them the way his mum did!).  They are pretty tasty... as far as muffins go!

This works the best if you make it in the really big Tupperware Bowl (Wonderlier)

Bran Muffins

Pour 2 Cups boiling water over 2 Cups All Bran (original), set aside (in Tupperware Bowl)

Cream: - 1 1/4 Cup Margarine

             - 3 Cups White Sugar

Add:    - 4 Eggs & Beat

            - 1 Litre Buttermilk

Pour mixture into Tupperware Bowl & mix with Bran mush

Add:  - 4 Cups Bran Flakes

          - 2 tsp Salt

          - 3 tsp Baking Soda

          - 2 Cups Raisins

          - 5 Cups Flour

Let stand overnight in fridge.

Fill Muffin cups & Bake @ 400° for 20 minutes.  Makes 5 Dozen

Rolo Brownies

Every time we go to a potluck, or I need to make a dessert for some event, my go-to thing to make is Rolo Brownies.  I get asked for the recipe for these all the time, so I thought it was time to share...

Ingredients:

• 2 Pkgs of a good brownie mix (don't go to the dollar store, get the Costco brownies, or the 'Chocolate Decadence' mix that costs a bit more.  Trust me, it's worth it)
• Eggs, Oil, & Water as directed on the Brownie Mix
• One 203gr bag of Mini Rolos 

Directions:

1. Prepare 1 package of brownie mix as directed, & pour into greased 9x13" pan
2. Sprinkle Rolos over top (if you want to be crazy, drizzle caramel ice cream topping as well)
3. Prepare second brownie mix as directed & pour over Rolos
4. Bake as directed, adding about 10-15 minutes (test with toothpick to see if they are baked)

Super yummy hot with ice cream!

PChad Makes it to Greenwich!

With only 2 Saturdays left before we move, we decided it was time PChad finally went to Greenwich.  Unfortunately, it was not the nicest day for it, and if it wasn't the last opportunity for us to go as a family, we would not have gone.

 We had tentatively planned to stop at the gas station on the way to buy some sandwiches for lunch (as tradition demands), but the weather wasn't warm, & the forecast was for rain, so we just took some snacks for on the beach instead.

 We found quite a few raspberries along the trail,

& fought off the mosquitoes while picking a few.

 Then Asher found a giant dragonfly, & gave it a ride on his thumb for awhile!

 PChad was quite impressed by the giant boardwalk!

 We didn't really go in the water, other than to quick dip our toes.  We enjoyed our snacks, then headed back.  I can't say PChad got the true Greenwich experience...  Maybe we'll have to come for a visit next time we're on the island & try again!

First Time, Last Time?

Five years ago, when our friends Travis & Katie were up from the States visiting, we made our first trip out to Greenwich.  Since then we have made at least 2 trip a year up to the long boardwalk that takes us to the nearly empty beach.  It's one of our favourite places to go, & we always make sure to bring anyone who come to visit out to Greenwich (although PChad still has not made it out there!)  I took a picture on our first trip of the kids on the sand...

And when we went again a few days ago I took what could be our last picture at Greenwich...

They have grown quite a bit, & we will miss our treks to Greenwich, & the ice cream afterwards!

Chad’s Birthday

Well, PChad’s birthday was a month ago, but better late than never! Chancery likes to give people presents to open.  They are usually things which are hers, she gives them to the person for awhile, & then expects them back…  She gave PChad my hat that I was letting Chancery borrow.

 

The kids picked out an England Football shirt (notice Digby quietly eating the tissue paper)

PChad nicely modelled the shirt for us.

 

I had a great idea to get PChad a painting of a VW Squareback, & through many months of trials & tribulations, I managed to find a painter who was willing & able to paint this for PChad’s birthday!

Dinner Dislikes

We were having Moroccan Chicken a few nights ago for dinner, & the kids have definite parts of it that they do not love.  Usually at the end of the meal we find all the tomatoes from their portions still in their bowl, but the raisins are always a favourite!  The recipe calls for 1/3 cup of raisins, but since I love them too, I tend to add almost a full cup!

 

So, we were dining on our Moroccan feast, & Asher turned to me & said, “Mummy, I do not really like these egg peas.  They are not my favourite.”

 

“Egg peas?” I inquired, “What is an egg pea?”

 

Asher: “These little brown round things.”

 

Me: “Oh, you are silly!  Those are chick peas!”

 

Asher: “Well, I couldn’t remember what they were called, and anyway chicks do come from eggs!”

He Knows Me Well!

PChad just walked into the room a few minutes ago & asked, “What are you watching?”

 

Me:  “The U.K. Christmas special.”

 

PChad:  “Is that Robbie Williams singing?”

 

Me: “No, it’s Gary Barlow.”

 

PChad: “They sound the same.”

 

Me: “Well, they were both in ‘Take That’.”

 

PChad: “He sounds a lot like Robbie Williams.”

 

Me: “Robbie already performed.”

 

PChad: “I thought so!”

Peanut Butter Krunchie

 

These squares are a staple in our household.  They are so easy to make, & so, so yummy!  I can eat a whole row in one sitting, but I try really hard not to!  I made these for my book club & a few asked for the recipe, so here it is!

 

1C White Sugar

1C White Corn Syrup

 

Heat over medium heat, but do NOT Boil

Remove from heat & add:

1C Peanut Butter

5C Corn Flakes

 

Spread in 9x13 Tupperware, or greased 9x13 pan

 

Melt  1C Chocolate Chips, & spread overtop.

Let cool & devour!

Chicken in a Pot

This is one of my old stand-by, super easy, & super good meals that the whole family loves.

 

-Place 3-4 Chicken Thighs & Drumsticks in Crock-Pot

-Shake on some Salt & Pepper

-Sprinkle on one package of Dry Onion Soup

-Add 1 can of Golden Mushroom Soup (NOT Cream of Mushroom)

 

Turn Crock-Pot on low for 4-6 hours

 

Serve over Mashed Potatoes!

Apple Bread Pudding

A few weeks ago, PChad & I went away for the weekend, & the babysitter took the kids apple picking.  She left us with a large bag of apples, so I decided to make some apple crisp.  As I was looking through my dessert recipes, I found one I had put in the recipe box but never made.  It was for Apple Bread Pudding.

 

I am a big fan of bread pudding.  When we eat dinner at a restaurant, I almost always ask to see the dessert menu right away.  That way I can see if they have bread pudding, & plan my meal accordingly!  So, when I found that recipe all thoughts of apple crisp flew away & I knew I was going to be making the apple bread pudding instead.

 

It was a huge hit, & not very difficult to make.  The only thing I wish were different is that you really need to make it just before you eat it, it doesn’t really work to prepare it ahead of time.  It takes about 45 minutes to cook, which is about how long it takes us to eat dinner, so that means I have to prepare dinner & dessert at the same time.  Maybe next time dessert will just be dinner, then I only have to make one thing!

 

Apple Bread Pudding

4 C Soft Bread Cubes

1/4 C Raisins (I always add more)

2 C Peeled & Sliced Apples

1 C Brown Sugar

1 3/4 C Milk

1/4 C Margarine

1 t Cinnamon

1/2 t Vanilla

2 Eggs, beaten

 

Vanilla Sauce

1/4 C White Sugar

1/4 C Brown Sugar

1/2 C Milk

1/2 C Margarine

1 t Vanilla

 

-Preheat oven to 350, Grease 7x11 baking dish.

-In large bowl, combine bread, raisins, & apples

-In small saucepan over Med heat, combine Br Sugar, Milk, & Margarine.  Cook & stir ‘til Margarine is melted.  Pour over bread mixture in bowl, & transfer to baking dish.

-In small bowl, whisk together Cinnamon, Vanilla, & Eggs.  Pour over bread mixture in baking dish.

-Bake @ 350 for 40-50 minutes, or until centre is set & apples are tender.

-While pudding is baking, mix together sauce ingredients in small saucepan.  Bring to a boil.  Serve over warm pudding.

Stir-Fry Sauce

Last night we had stir-fry for dinner.  I usually use a jarred sauce, but I realized as I pulled my ingredients out, that I did not have a jar on hand.  I searched online for an easy substitute, & found one that I could make with what I had on hand.  PChad agreed that this homemade sauce was better than the jarred ones, & it was so easy to make that I will probably plan on making it every time!

 

2/3 C Soy Sauce

1/2 C Chicken Broth (or Beef if doing a beef stir-fry)

1/3 C Rice Vinegar

3 T Sugar

1 T Sesame Oil

1 T Crushed Garlic

1 T Crushed Ginger

2 T Cornstarch

 

Brown your beef, add your veggies to the skillet, mix the sauce in a small bowl, & add to the skillet.  Stir around & cook for a few minutes.  Enjoy!

Eastern PEI

When my Aunt & Uncle & parents were all here, we took a Saturday to explore the Eastern end of the island.  We started by heading to Greenwich, the iconic boardwalk-over-the-marsh-on-the-way-to-the-beach part of the island.

The kids & I head out here about 4 times over the course of the summer.  We love it!

We found this colourful salamander on the path!

 

We then drove further to East Point lighthouse.  As the name implies, it is on the most Eastern tip of PEI.

 

Then we drove some more & found another lighthouse at Naufrage, & we found our hole again!

I can’t believe I just happened to be wearing the same shirt, in the same hole, 2 years later!

 

Then Asher & Chancery decided to play around a bit…

What happend to your legs, Chancery?

Saturday Morning Breakfast

Saturday mornings we usually head out to McDonald’s for breakfast.  But a few years ago, we decided to check out the PEI Preserve Company.  In the summer, it is a great place to go!  They have a large gardens you can walk through, a butterfly house (which we still have not made it to, but next year we will!), ponies & sheep to say hello to, & delicious blueberry pancakes!

The kids love going to McDonald’s for breakfast, but if we mention going to the Preserve Company, they always choose to go there.  We can easily spend the whole morning roaming the grounds & trying to burn off all the pancakes we consumed!  Every time we have guests come & stay with us, we always take them there too.

Sticky Bun Cake

When I was younger, I loved it when my mum, or Aunt made monkey bread.  A few years ago, I made it again, & it just didn’t measure up to my memories of it.  It was dry, & just not that great.

 

A few months ago, I ran across a recipe for Cinnamon Bun Cake made in a bundt pan with Pillsbury biscuits, & decided to try it.  Once again, it was just too dry.  I searched recipe sites for other recipes for a cinnamon bread with the Pillsbury biscuits, & after some trial & error I combined a few elements from 3 different recipes & came up with my own version of Sticky Bun Cake, & it is delicious!

 

Sticky Bun Cake

2 small tubes of Pillsbury Biscuits

3/4 C Pancake Syrup

1/2 C Brown Sugar

3/4 t Cinnamon

1/3 C Chopped Pecans

 

Spray Bundt pan with Pam.

Cut biscuits into 1/4’s & set aside.

Mix all other ingredients in large bowl.

Add biscuits & mix until well coated.

Bake @ 375° 20 min ‘til golden brown.

Cool in pan, then flip onto plate!

Chinese Vegetable Salad

This salad is one of my favourites!  It’s almost always at my in-laws’ family gatherings & it’s one of the foods I look most forward to.  It makes a lot, so there is plenty to share!

 

Chinese Vegetable Salad

1/2 Cabbage –shredded

1/2 C Slivered Almonds

4 Green Onions

1-2 C Bean Sprouts

Mix in LARGE bowl

 

No more than an hour before serving add:

2 T Sesame Seeds

1/4 C Sunflower Seeds

1 pkg Mr. Noodles –broken

1/2 C Chow Mein Noodles

 

Mix the dressing separately & pour on just before serving:

Mr. Noodles Seasoning Packet

2 T Sugar

3 T Vinegar

1/2 C Oil

1/2 C Soy Sauce

Travel Trials

I took a quick trip to Michigan last week for a planning meeting.  When I travel to the States, bad things usually happen with my flights (like this, & that, & don’t forget this!) & this trip was not exempt.

I had heard that the US had eased their regulations on flying with small pocket knives, so I opted to bring my ever present  small Swiss Army Knife.  In Charlottetown, I put the knife in the x-ray bucket & it was returned to me, no problem.

I had a nice itinerary, a 6 am start, followed by a 9:30 flight landing at 11.  My meeting started at 5, so that gave me plenty of time to do a little Stateside shopping first.  When I was given my boarding passes, I noticed that my second flight was a 17:55 departure.  I brought it to the gate agent’s attention, she said the 9:30 flight had been taken off the schedule & that was the only one from Toronto to Grand Rapids.  I’d have to check in Toronto for an earlier flight through another hub.

Toronto’s security took my knife away.  I asked about the new regulations, but they said that only applied to flights within the US, not international flights.  When I told them that it hadn’t been a problem in Charlottetown, they couldn’t verify other airports’ policies, but for Toronto, knives are not ok…  Good to know.

In Toronto I was given a flight to Chicago, & was told there were 2 flights to Grand Rapids.  One at 11:30, & one at 14:00.  The 11:30 flight was full, but they told me to try for standby.  I would land around 10:45, so it would be cutting it close.  We started the flight by sitting on the runway for 30 minutes for our turn to take-off.

During this flight I was told that since I was flying so many miles in one day I qualified for a free snack item!  I had never had that before, so I was quite pleased to get my free bag of trail mix.  I ended up not eating it since I was full, but PChad & the kids seem to really enjoy it!

Of course when I landed in Chicago, it was in a different terminal & I had to wait for a shuttle to take me b/w terminals.  Once I arrived in the right terminal, & found the gate for the 11:30 flight, the plane was just backing away from the gate.  I just missed it by minutes!

I walked around choosing the best lunch option…  An Auntie Anne’s pretzel & Dr Pepper.  It helped soothe my wounded spirit.

I arrived in Grand Rapids around 5 & met another member of the team at the airport who had been on the same flight.  At least I wasn’t the only one arriving late!  We made it to the hotel only about 25 minutes late, & it wasn’t a problem, but I sure missed all the shopping time I had planned on!  After the meeting wrapped up that night I did have a chance to nip out to the grocery store next door & grab a few essentials like Pay Days & Milky Way Midnights!


Day 2 was full meeting day…  and I got the stomach flu.  It was joyous.  One of the perks of the trip was a Chinese meal at one of the best restaurants in Grand Rapids, but instead of going, I went to bed as soon as the meeting was over & slept 14 hours straight.  I awoke in the morning feeling a bit better & wondering what my travelling day home would end up entailing.

In Grand Rapids I was treated to a full body scan & they found the penny I had neglected to remove from my pocket.  The flight was on time with no problems to Cleveland.

I got a message from PChad’s cousin, who was also at the meeting, that her flight from Grand Rapids had been cancelled & she had 3 hours to kill.  I guess I must have passed on my bad luck to her!

Cleveland to Montreal, no problems!  But surely I’d be held up in the long lines at customs & miss my next flight…  Boy, was I surprised to find that our flight was the only flight in customs, & my little detour to the washroom meant that everyone ahead of me had already cleared out & I had a choice of which lane I could go through!

The Montreal to Charlottetown flight was super exciting, as we got to fly on a propeller plane, which is something I do not enjoy in the least.  It’s bumpy & noisy, but it was on time.  I also sat next to a fairly famous DJ, & despite having a conversation with her, in which she told me her name was DJ Kiss, & that she was coming to Charlottetown to spin at one of our top clubs, I had no idea just how famous she was until I saw in the newspaper that she’s quite the celebrity!  Well, I hope she enjoyed the anonymity I afforded her as I treated her as just another gal!

Mississippi Mud Brownies

When I was in high school, I remember buying a brownie mix from the store for Mississippi Mud Brownies.  They were not much different from normal brownies except there was a packet of marshmallow cream that you swirled into the batter before baking.

 

I have not been able to find that brownie mix for years, but have tried to replicate it many, many times.  The closest I got was using the marshmallow ice cream topping, but it doesn’t seem to be available in Canada.  So, it was back to the drawing board.

 

I’ve searched for a decent recipe online, but was just never able to find one that was close to the original.  Then my friend Denise passed on a recipe she had for the brownies.  It’s delicious.  Without further ado, I give you Mississippi Mud Brownies…

 

 

Beat together:

4 Eggs

2 C Sugar

 

Add:

1.5 C Flour

1 C Margarine

1/3 C Cocoa

1 t Vanilla

1 C Coconut (optional)  -I did not add this, as it was never in the brownies I’m so fond of.  I have no idea if the addition of coconut would be good or not.

 

Grease 9x13 & bake @ 350 for 30-40 minutes.  As soon as it is out of the oven, spread a 7 oz jar of Marshmallow Cream/Fluff over the top.  Then swirl the frosting.

 

Frosting:

2 T Cocoa

1/4 C Margarine

3 T Milk

Bring to a boil & add:

2 C Powdered/Icing Sugar

1/2 t Vanilla

 

Try not to eat the whole pan by yourself!

Rocky Road Brownies

I finally found the time to make my favourite brownies for Coffee Break yesterday, & had a few requests for the recipe.  I find that they are a bit labour intensive, but the effort is well worth it!  I would post a picture, but all I have left is an empty pan…

 

Rocky Road Brownies

1/2 C Butter

1oz Unsweetened Chocolate

1 C Sugar

1 C Flour

1/2 C Chopped Nuts (I never add these)

1 t Baking Powder

1 t Vanilla

2 Eggs

-Preheat oven to 350

-In Saucepan, melt butter & Chocolate. 

-Add Sugar, Flour, Nuts, Baking Powder, Vanilla & Eggs. 

-Stir & Spread in oiled & floured 9x13.

___________________________________________________

6 oz Cream Cheese

1/2 C Sugar

2 T Flour

1/4 C Butter

1/2 t Vanilla

1 Egg

1/4 C Nuts (Not necessary by any means)

3/4 C –1 C Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

2 C Mini Marshmallows

-In same Saucepan combine Cream Cheese, Sugar, Flour, Butter & Vanilla.

-Melt slightly & remove from heat.

-Add Eggs & Nuts.

-Drizzle over base, making sure to get the edges.

-Sprinkle with Chocolate Chips.

-Bake 25 min @ 350.  After about 10-15 minutes, as it is baking, start the topping.

-Sprinkle with Marshmallows & bake 2 more minutes.

_________________________________________________

1/4 C Butter

1 oz Unsweetened Chocolate

2 oz Cream Cheese

1/4 C Milk

3 3/4 C Icing Sugar

1 t Vanilla

-In same Saucepan, melt Butter, Chocolate, & Cream Cheese.

-Add Milk, Vanilla, & Icing sugar.

-Immediately pour over warm marshmallows & swirl together.

-Cool & Cut into squares.

 

This last step is the most important…

-You MUST share these brownies & not eat the whole pan yourself!  I suggest you give ME a call when you have a fresh pan of these because they are my FAVOURITE brownie!