In the Kitchen: Overnight Oats

My first experience with overnight oats was a VERY positive one.  It was amazing actually....I just wish it would have photographed better.  This recipe yielded more than what I could eat for breakfast so I polished mine off during an afternoon snack.

1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup almong milk
3 ounces of plain nonfat yogurt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup raisins
half an apple, chopped

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate over night.   Make often!

In the Kitchen: Prosciutto and Brie Sandwich

So this delicious sandwich idea was taken from one of my favorite blogs Cupcakes and Cashmere!  I already had arugula and fig jam and I'm planning to make proscuitto and peas for dinner on Friday.  This was an awesome sandwich and I can imagine enjoying this more regularly.

2 slices fresh sourdough bread
1 Tablespoon fig jam
palmful of arugula
3-4 slices of prosciutto
sliced brie

Take bread slices and top one with brie slices.  Broil until toasted and cheese is bubbly.  Top brie with sliced prosciutto and add arugula.  Spread fig jam on the other bread slice and top off the sandwich.

I purchased some of these Soy Crisps to go alongside our sandwiches.  They were okay, I'd probably buy them again to take to work as a snack but R definitely prefers kettle chips which his sandwich.

In the Kitchen: Apple-Berry Oatmeal Bake

So I was very ambitious last week and I made a breakfast bake that we could munch on all week.  This baked oatmeal dish makes approx 8 servings....which are very generous portions, mine came to the top of my pie plate.  The recipe came from the Whole Foods website and I only altered it slightly.

Canola oil cooking spray
2 cups frozen mixed berries
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped pecans (I did 1/4 cup pecans and 1/4 walnuts)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 cup almond milk
1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk

Preheat oven to 375*.  Oil a 9 inch pie pan with cooking spray; set aside.  In a large bowl, stir together berries, oats, nuts, baking powder, salt, apple.  In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, yogurt, syrup, vanilla, and eggs; stir into oak mixture.  Transfer to prepared pan and bake until firm and golden brown on top, about 50 minutes.  Cut into slices and serve.

I prefer mine cold but you can heat it up in the morning if you wish.

Arrrggghhhh...First Home Game

ECU vs VA Tech - September 10, 2011

R playing Washers.  We spent a good part of the week building and staining this game so it would be ready for it's debut at the first tailgate.

 Friends enjoying beer in the shade.

 Girls at the tailgate in PURPLE.

 The spread on the table - honestly by this point it was nearly devoured.  Friends brought sausage balls, buffalo chicken balls with blue cheese dip, and rosemary parmesan bread sticks.  R grilled chicken and beef kabobs with veggies and I made cupcakes.

 R's amazing tailgate grill makes an appearance and the ECU marching band stopped by for a run through of the fight song!

 Loyal and bold, we're the purple and gold!  We are the Pirates of ECU!

R and I at our tailgate site.  We weren't so happy after returning from the game...unfortunately our boys didn't pull off a win.  Can't say I'm proud of the way we played but I'm optimistic for the next game. 

In the Kitchen: White Chicken Chili

Dinner tonight was de-diddli-icious!  So it was a rainy, dreary day...even when I woke this morning the sky was dark gray.  My inspiration (er, 90% of the recipe) came from Betty Crocker's Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili.  I didn't prep in advance so I had to thaw out my frozen chicken breasts in the microwave before I could even begin ... and ... I didn't want to "slow cook" anything since I was already hungry.  I made mine on the stove instead.

Basically I used this recipe except I added a can of Rotel and about 3x the amount of hot sauce - we love the extra kick!  I served it garnished with crushed tostitos left over from our weekend tailgate.

6 chicken breasts
1 large onion chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 32 ounce carton of chicken broth (then I filled the carton with water and shook it a bit before added an extra 32 ounces of water)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon of dried oregano
couple shakes of salt
1 tablespoon of red pepper sauce (plus more at the end in each bowl)
2 cans great northern beans drained and rinsed
1 can rotel tomatoes and chilis
1 can corn, drained and rinsed
3 tablespoons lemon juice
a palmful of chopped cilantro

Heat broth, garlic, onion, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper sauce to a low boil.  Add chicken breasts.  Wait until low boil continues before covering for 30-40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.  When chicken is cooked, remove from pot and shred with two forks before adding it back to the broth.  Add corn, beans, rotel, lemon juice, and cilantro.  Cook about 15 minutes or until beans are heated through.  Serve with corn chips and extra hot sauce.

My Best Friend's Wedding: Bridal Shower Favors

So the favor for Katie's shower was the most difficult part of the planning process.  I wanted something that fit the theme but unfortunately "tea bag caddies" and "loose tea holders" are not very practical gifts in an area of the country that likes Lipton tea iced with sugar.  I think cookies and cookie cutters are too common.  I decided to do a flavored butter - something that would be tasty on a scone, biscuit, toast, etc.  I found two recipes online and used them both to make this variation.  The cute jars were ordered at Michaels.

Vanilla Honey Butter
Smart Balance Omega-3 Buttery Spread (15 ounce container)
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Start with butter that is at room temperature.  Scoop the butter out of the container and into a mixing bowl.  Using a hand mixer beat butter on low until fluffy (3-4 minutes).  Add sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and honey and mix again on low until incorporated.  I used a piping bag to help get the butter into the jars.  This recipe made 14 jars.

This is not a low calorie condiment by any stretch.  But for a treat or something to make for company this is a quick and easy way to jazz up butter and make it extra special.

My Best Friend's Wedding: Bridal Shower Tea

 I was forced to change the date of my best friend's bridal shower from Saturday to Sunday evening this past weekend due to Hurricane Irene.  I'm so glad I did, my electricity was out for about 36 hours and with so many fallen trees it was dangerous to be out driving.  Some of the other guests were grateful too, it seemed like everyone had a story to tell but on this beautiful Sunday the hurricane was a distant dream.

Katie's favorite flowers are gerber daisies so I wanted to include them in the centerpiece.  Unfortunately I had to get the flowers on Friday and they had to ride in the passenger seat, buckled up of course, for several hours on Sunday while I went to my mom's to get ready before having to set up at the bridal tea sight.  That picture on the left is of the happy couple, they love to cycle together!

 The shop owner set up all the tables with antique linens and mismatched antique tea sets.  We were served blood orange herbal tea, ginger peach black tea, and honeybush apricot tea.

 Each table had it's own set of tea treats.  The menu included gourmet cheeseball and crackers, cranberry scones with devonshire cream and lemon curd, cheddar thyme quiche, rosemary parmesan shortbread cookies, cucumber sandwiches, and red velvet cupcakes. 

 I love savory scones but this was my first sweet one.  I'd definitely make it again!  I have to say I like the term Devonshire cream much better than "clotted cream" - what an unappetizing name!

The beautiful bride sat at the head of the table.

 We played a game where the guests had to answer questions about the bride and groom and another where the guests had to guess which characteristics the groom loves about the bride using the letters of her name.  I'm so glad we decided to play games, they didn't take a lot of time and helped everyone interact with each other.

 It wasn't all food and games, the bride had to get down to business tearing all that wrapping paper so she could view her loot.  I love this shot of her gasping at her new crystal glasses.

The bride, myself, and another bridesmaid.  My outfit was from Ann Taylor Loft and I love that skirt and top combo!

This was the invitation, the bride loves turquoise and monograms so this was perfect.  It was purchased from Wedding Paper Divas.  They really are a great company and their site allowed me to customize the wording and the lettering and they sent me a proofread, electronic copy within 24 hours.   I wouldn't hesitate to order from them again.

This was the party favor for the event.  I wanted everyone to go home with a treat they could enjoy on a bagel, toast, biscuit or scone of their choice.  I've had several flavored butters before and this is one of my favorites!