Blue Diamond Nut Thins

These things are crazy good. Like, so good the husband and I practically ate the entire box on the way home from buying them while grocery shopping. (Keep in mind our drive home from the grocery store is 45 minutes, but still.)

We discovered the regular flavor while visiting my sister in law who is gluten free for health reasons. We decided to grab a box of cheddar flavored this week. Probably should have gotten more than one box.

Don't be put off by the almond. They do have a nutty taste, but it is not overwhelming. I am not an almond eater, but these, I enjoy.

Happy snacking!

~Stefani =)

Dairy Queen

This is not healthy in any way, shape, or form.....but I finally had my first Dairy Queen of the season. The husband and I were spring cleaning his office and decided we needed a treat/pick me up. We ate chili dogs and shakes. I can't believe we held out as long as we did. The DQ has been open for a few weeks now. I say that is some willpower! Especially, since our DQ is more like a local ice cream shop than a chain.

You can see Joshua in the background enjoying his chili dog. I didn't know I got an action shot.

It will be a while until I enjoy this particular pairing or anything DQ related again. Moderation, y'all.

~Stefani =)

P.S. I have made it known that I want an ice cream cake for my 30th birthday.

Hamantaschen

Happy Purim! 

Which sounds odd coming from a Lutheran.

Purim is the Jewish holiday that commemorates what Esther did to stop Haman's plot to kill the Jewish people. Esther happens to be my favorite woman of the Bible.

A while back we found a website called Cooking with the Bible. They have a menu called Esther Saves Her People. Included in the menu are the recipes for each dish. We made the menu for everyone at church a few years ago. The one item that was a hit was the Hamantaschen. Hamantaschen are fruit filled cookies in a triangle shape. I decided that for this Purim I would make a batch for the Sunday Morning Bible class.

 The apple butter Hamantaschen I made. This one turned out the best.

Still completely confused and don't want to read. Listen to the Maccabeats inform you about Purim.

"So raise your glass if you see God in hidden places,
He's right in front of you"

~Stefani =)



 

Popcorn

For Christmas we received this amazing little invention.

This allows us to have low sodium popcorn. It also eliminates all the chemicals.

Just add 1/3 cup of popping corn. No oil necessary. Put in the microwave and it magically pops.

The final product with butter and a sprinkle of salt. 

Now, if you excuse me, I need to go make some popcorn. 

~Stefani =)

Bread Machine Beer Pizza Dough

We like pizza around here. We try to make it ourselves when we can. I am not sure where we found this recipe, but it has served us well.

Ingredients
1 cup flat, room temperature beer (I usually pour the beer in a measuring cup and let sit most of the day)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons yeast
 
Directions
1. Put beer, butter, sugar, salt, flour, and yeast in a bread machine (in that order). 
2. Select Dough setting for 1.5lbs size
3. Remove dough from bread machine when cycle is complete. 
4. Roll or press dough to cover a prepared pizza pan. Brush lightly with olive oil or melted butter (with Garlic powder and Parmesan cheese mixed in.)
5. Cover and let stand 15 minutes.
6. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
7. Spread sauce and toppings on top of dough. 
8. Bake until crust is lightly brown and crispy on the outside, about 24 minutes.

The Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat works well for this recipe.

All the ingredients in the bread machine. Including tons of Garlic Powder.

Joshua spreading the crust.

The final product.

~Stefani =)

"Guest" Post-New England Clam Chowder

This recipe is my dad's best guess of how makes Clam Chowder. He isn't a recipe guy, which is where I get it from. This is far superior than any of the canned varieties. He made it for us when he and my mom came to visit at Thanksgiving. 

Ingredients
1 cup of Celery-chopped small
1 Shallot (a small onion and a clove of garlic work in a pinch)
1/4 cup of Carrot-chopped small
4 strips of Bacon-diced (I use scissors)
4 Russet Potatoes
3 cans of Clams
   1 Drained
   1 Half Drained
   1 Not Drained
1/2 stick of Butter (We use unsalted)
3 tablespoons of Flour
32 ounces of Half and Half
1 cup of Milk
1/2 teaspoon of Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
1-2 Bay Leaves
Salt to taste

How To:
1. Chop or Cut the Bacon (I use kitchen scissors)
2. Brown the Bacon in a Dutch Oven or Large Pot
3. Chop the Carrots, Celery, and Shallot and peel the Potatoes while the Bacon is browning
4. Once the Bacon is browned add the butter and melt (Do NOT drain the Bacon)
5. Add the Carrots, Celery, and Shallot to the Butter and Bacon
6. Soften the Veggies
7. Add the Clams, Half and Half, and Milk stir together
8. Add the Pepper, Italian Seasoning, and Bay Leaf
9. Simmer on Medium to Medium Low Heat
10. While the soup is simmering chop the Potatoes (Do NOT rinse the Potatoes, the starch is helpful in thickening the soup)
11. Add the Potatoes
12. The Soup is ready when the Potatoes are cooked

The ingredients minus the flour. I hope you know what flour looks like. =)

 My dad chopping bacon. It just happens to be Plath's. 

The chopped celery. (For those who are as picky as I am about cross contamination these pictures are not in order.)

Chopping carrots. He grated them first and then chopped them.

Action shot.

The bacon browning...mmm bacon.

Butter! Getting our Paula Deen on.

Add the Carrots, Shallots, and Celery.

Add the Flour.

Add the Clams.

Add the Half and Half and the Milk and Seasonings, heat to a simmer.

 Chop the Potatoes. I looks like he did this after the clams went into the pot. 

Add the Potatoes. Soup is done when the Potatoes are cooked.

The finished product. Delicious!!

If clams aren't your thing, this soup is great without the clams. We just added more potatoes and topped with cheddar cheese.

While this isn't low sodium (I do not know the numbers), I can guarantee it is far lower than Campbell's Chunky New England Clam Chowder. One Cup of the canned variety is 890mg of Sodium. That is almost a days worth on a Low Sodium Diet.

~Stefani =)

What I Ate Wednesday: Valentine's Day

We had a low key Valentine's Day. Mostly, because I just got back from St. Louis the previous day.

We made our own Valentine's Cards.

Joshua's to me is on the left and mine to Joshua's is on the right.(Even my cards are food related.)

Breakfast/Brunch:

French Toast made with Cinnamon English Muffin Bread from our local grocery store, Plath's Bacon, and a Raspberry Mocha Latte.

Dinner:

Take and Bake Pizza from Meijer. So fancy, I know. But they are so good! 

We are just full of romance over here. 

~Stefani =)