Company is Coming to Dinner

I LOVE having people over for dinner!  Mostly I enjoy it because it's fun having friends over to hang out for the night, but also because I don't have to cut recipes in half or make small side dishes since it's usually just Jeremy and me.  Tonight we had our good friends, Jake and Kayla over for dinner, dessert and of course, board games!

On the menu were 2 new recipes and 2 old standbys.  The new ones were: Pineapple Teriyaki Burgers and Frozen English Toffee Cake.   And the old standbys were Cheesy Potatoes and baked beans (from a can). 

I get off of work at 5pm and Jake and Kayla were coming over at 6pm, so right after I walked in the door, I started cooking.  I knew my time was limited before they arrived, so the first thing to do was to get the Cheesy Potatoes into the oven, since they take the longest.  I made a special stop at the grocery store on the way home for the cream of chicken soup for the potatoes...and sadly, wouldn't you know it....in my rush to get it in the oven, I completely forgot to put the soup into the mix.  Oops!  (But they still turned out delicious!) 

Next came the burgers.  The recipe is from Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee on the Food Network!  LOVE her!  I saw her make this recipe last weekend and I thought they looked tasty.   The burgers have onion seasoning mix, teriyaki mix, pineapple juice and  a pineapple ring grilled in them.  YUM!  I forgot to get pictures of the burgers, but here is the link to the recipe.

While the potatoes were cooking and Jerm was grilling the burgers, I finished up my cake.  Since I knew I'd be short on time, I baked the cake and made the ice cream layers the night before.  That way, I just had to assemble the layers, frost it and sprinkle on the toffee chips. 

 

The finished cake, about to go into the freezer.

Playing our new game,"Sequence."

Jake's fancy piece of cake.

Eating dessert!

What a fun night with friends!  Thanks for coming over guys...see you Saturday at the Circus! :)

Frozen English Toffee Cake

1 box devil's food cake mix

1 1/3 cups water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1/2 gallon chocolate or vanilla ice cream (or any flavor)

1 bag (10 oz) English toffee bits

1 container (8 oz) Cool Whip

 

Cake

1. Bake cake as directed on box, in two 8-inch round cake pans.  Cool completely.

Ice Cream Filling

2. Line three 8-inch round cake pans with plastic wrap, allowing 3 inches of plastic to hang over sides.  Divide ice cream equally among pans.  Using rubber spatula, spread ice cream over bottoms of prepared pans, forming smooth, even layers.  Sprinkle 1/4 cup of toffee bits over ice cream in each pan.  Freeze for 3 hours or until solid.

Assembly and Frosting

3. Cut each cake layer horizontally in half.  Working quickly, remove ice cream from pans.  Peel off plastic and place 1 ice cream circle on each of the 3 cake layers.  Stack cake and ice cream layers on top of each other on serving platter.  Frost cake with Cool Whip and sprinkle with remaining toffee bits.  Freeze until ready to serve.  Let stand at room temperature 5 minutes before serving.

Makes 12-16 servings.

I Kissed a Girl...

As I'm sure most of you know, there is a new song out by Katy Perry, called "I Kissed a Girl." At the moment, Jeremy and I are currently obsessed with the song! It's always on the radio, it's now his ringtone for when I call and he even sings it to me! In fact, this is the story of how the obsession came to be.

About a week ago, I was tired and went to bed about an hour earlier than Jeremy. When he finally came to bed, he was about to kiss me goodnight, which he always does, when this conversation occurred:

J: Babe, are you sleeping?

S: (Sleeping) silence

J: Babe? (Gives me a kiss)

S: (Yes, still sleeping) still silence

J: (Gives me another kiss and starts singing) "I kissed a girl and I liked it...the taste of her cherry chapstick"

S: (Starting to gain consciousness and thinking, "What is that noise?")

J: Babe! (Kiss) Are you awake? Babe, I'm singing to you! "I kissed a girl and I liked it..." (Kiss)"

S: (Semi-conscious, but conscious enough to know he's singing and annoying me) Uggggh!

J: Babe, "I kissed a girl and I liked it..."

S: Jeremy!! Pleeeeease stop singing!

The end! The song is now imbedded in both our heads and we are obsessed with it. Here is a link for your listening pleasure!

Paul & Julie...You Guys Rock!

In my evening check of the blogs I read daily, I came across the following post on our friend's blog.  I immediately started laughing and called Jeremy into the room! 

Here's a little background: Paul, Julie and baby Thomas live next door to the house that Jeremy and I want, and currently have an offer on, to buy.  We often joke about how Paul should walk around outside in his underwear and Julie should just start screaming randomly...in order to scare away prospective buyers.  We also have joked about having them take all the flyers from the "For Sale" sign...

Thanks Paul!  You da man! :-)

I Baked a Pie!

I love cooking and baking! I have since I was a little kid. I was always trying to help my mom or dad cook when they were in the kitchen. When I get bored, I have the urge to bake something. I love Food Network! I could watch it all day. From Rachael Ray to The Neely's to The Next Food Network Star...it is all so entertaining to me. I love reading "foodie" blogs about cooking, baking and the healthy way people eat! Ask Jeremy... I've found about 20 "foodie" blogs that I read daily. So, I got to thinking...what if I kinda, sorta starting posting about my cooking and baking? That could be fun, right? Well, to the five people out there who actually read this blog...I'm going to start incorporating things that I cook, the process and the recipes, for your viewing pleasure. Let's start with my very first pie...

While watching "Good Eats" last week, Alton Brown was doing his show on apple pie. It looked delicious and made me want to make a pie...even though I'm more of a cake and cookie kinda girl. I would have used Alton's recipe; however, it didn't seem as "figure-friendly" as I would have liked. So, I searched for a recipe and came across this delicious one from Cooking Light magazine.

This Caramel-Apple Crumb Pie is very easy to make and quite tasty, if I do say so myself! Instead of a top crust, there is a yummy crumb and caramel mixture that doesn't overpower the apples. Delicious!

My ingredients.

Rolling out the crust. (I only had Whole-Wheat flour, so that's why it's darker than usual)

Pinto beans as my "pie weights," while the crust baked.

The apple filling.

The finished product, cooling on the counter!

Caramel-Apple Crumb Pie

Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 1999

Ingredients

Crust:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons chilled butter or stick margarine, cut into small pieces

2 tablespoons vegetable shortening

3 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon ice water

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

Butter-flavored cooking spray

Filling:

1 tablespoon butter or stick margarine

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

9 cups sliced peeled Granny Smith apple (about 2 3/4 pounds)

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons lemon juice

Topping:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons chilled butter or stick margarine, cut into small pieces

1/4 cup fat-free caramel sundae syrup

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°.

To prepare crust, lightly spoon 1 cup flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine 1 cup flour and salt in a bowl; cut in 2 tablespoons butter and shortening with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle surface with ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time; add vinegar. Toss with a fork until moist and crumbly (do not form a ball).

Press mixture gently into a 4-inch circle on heavy-duty plastic wrap; cover with additional plastic wrap. Roll dough, still covered, to a 12-inch circle. Freeze 10 minutes or until plastic wrap can be easily removed.

Remove 1 sheet of plastic wrap; fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Remove top sheet of plastic wrap. Fold edges under; flute. Line bottom of dough with a piece of foil; arrange pie weights (or dried beans) on foil. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until the edge is lightly browned. Remove pie weights and foil; cool on a wire rack.

To prepare filling, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar and cinnamon. Add sugar mixture and apples to skillet; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in 3 tablespoons flour and lemon juice. Spoon into prepared crust.

To prepare topping, lightly spoon 1/4 cup flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and 1/4 cup brown sugar in a bowl; cut in 2 tablespoons butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Drizzle syrup over apple mixture; sprinkle topping over syrup. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until apples are tender. Cool on a wire rack.

Yield: 10 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)

Nutritional Information:

CALORIES 277(27% from fat); FAT 8.4g (sat 4.2g,mono 2.4g,poly 1g); IRON 1.3mg; CHOLESTEROL 16mg; CALCIUM 33mg; CARBOHYDRATE 50.1g; SODIUM 109mg; PROTEIN 2.1g; FIBER 2.4g

"I Love The Vegas!"

Is it seriously July already?! Where has the year gone? Well, Jeremy and I just got back from our little vacation to LAS VEGAS! We had had this vacation planned for about a month and half and were definitely looking forward to getting away for a bit. Just like our trip to Vegas, earlier this year, we met up with our good friends, Greg and Britany, for our fun filled weekend.

We stayed at the Planet Hollywood during our three and a half day trip and enjoyed hanging out in "The Vegas." The Planet Hollywood hotel is still in the process of getting a "face lift" from it's former life as the Aladdin. The decor of the casino, lobby and pool were very modern; however, to our slight disappointment, our room on the 10th floor was still the Aladdin motif! Bummer. Maybe next time we'll get to see the modern and chic rooms.

On Friday night, we had a great time at Rumjungle in Mandalay Bay. Rumjungle is a restaurant/club with a fun atmosphere and delicious food. Plus, what club in Vegas would be complete without go-go dancers in elevated cages!

During the day on Saturday, Britany and I went to a beauty trade show, which was the whole reason this trip came to be. The trade show was fun and there were so many cool hair, makeup and nail vendors. While wandering through the show, I bought a curling iron for way cheap and we bought some very delicious, oven baked popcorn! While Britany and I were at the trade show, Jeremy and Greg entered a poker tournament in our casino. And a big congrats is in order for my poker-playing-husband, who placed 9th out of 112 people and won $118! Woo Woo!!

Besides all that, we spent the rest of the weekend laying out by the pool, taking turns showering in the bathroom with no door (kinda weird), playing in the casino, eating, and my personal fave...shopping (I got some new makeup and a cute new pair of jeans)!

All in all, it was once again another fun weekend in Vegas! Of course, Jeremy already wants to plan another trip back, and I'm all up for it as long as he keeps his promise that we can finally go see "Phantom of the Opera." :)

Viva Las Vegas!

We Want a Dog...Maybe This Kinda Dog

Jeremy and I have been wanting a doggie for awhile now. We've gone over the pros and cons many times and have ultimately decided that we would like to get one eventually, hopefully once we buy a house.

Yesterday afternoon, we were looking at a house and found that the owners were the proud parents of an ADORABLE, 3-year-old Saint Bernard! He was HUGE, but such a sweetie. No joke...his head was about the size of a beach ball and he weighed 180lbs! Though I've been rather opposed to a Saint Bernard, I was taken back by this four legged giant. Plus, who could resist a face like that?!

My areas of concerns for a Saint Bernard are:

1. Huge Furry Snow Dog vs. the AZ summer heat

2. Huge Furry Snow Dog vs. Neat Clean Husband who says he doesn't want an "inside" dog and yet lives in AZ where it's too hot to keep it outside and still wants a Saint Bernard (!?)

3. Huge Furry Dog vs. Neat Clean Husband

4. Huge Drooling Dog vs. Neat Clean Husband

5. Huge Furry Dog vs. Neat Clean Husband who is intimidated by Huge Furry Dogs and yet really wants a Saint Bernard (?!)

6. Huge Dog = Huge Poop

I was reassured a bit, by the owner who says that her dog does well in the AZ heat, but stays inside mostly during the summer. Plus, I was also encouraged by Jeremy's positive reaction to the huge dog. Maybe a Saint Bernard would be alright...not to mention, totally fun! So, the talks of getting a dog have resumed and I've been doing a little bit of research on the breed. Here's some fun facts for you all and if you come across a Saint Bernard for sale, or preferably at the pound, please let us know! :)

The Saint Bernard is a very large, strong, muscular dog, with a powerful head. There are two types of coat: rough, and smooth, but both are very dense and come in white with markings in tan, red, mahogany, brindle, and black - in various combinations. The face and ears are usually shaded with black and the expression is intelligent and gentle. In the rough-coated dogs, the hair is slightly longer and there is feathering on the thighs and legs. The feet are large with strong well-arched toes, making the Saint Bernard's sure-footed in the snow and ice. They have a highly developed sense of smell and also seem to have a sixth sense about impending danger from storms and avalanches.

Temperament
They are extremely gentle and friendly and very tolerant of children. The Saint Bernard is slow moving, patient, and obedient. Extremely loyal, this breed wants to please. Since this dog is so giant, be sure to socialize it very well at a young age with other people. It is highly intelligent and easy to train, however training should begin early, while the dog is still a manageable size. The Saint Bernard is a good watchdog. Even its size is a good deterrent.

Height: 25.5-27.5 inches

Weight: 110-200 pounds

Living Conditions
The Saint Bernard will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors and a small yard is sufficient. They can live outdoors, but would much rather be with their family. They have a low tolerance for hot weather, warm rooms, and cars.

Exercise
A long walk each day is needed to keep the Saint Bernard in good mental and physical condition. Puppies should not have too much exercise at one time until their bones are well formed and strong. Short walks and brief play sessions are best until the dog is about two years old.

Life Expectancy
About 8-10 years

Weekend of Friends...and Stomach Aches

This past weekend was one that I'd been looking forward to for quite a while. I was heading down to Scottsdale because my dear friend, Juliann, was having her Engagement Party and I was meeting up with my other dear friend, Tiffany, for lunch!

Juliann and Tom Sawyer (yes, that's really his name) got engaged in March and are set to be married on April 18th, 2009. I'm a bit sad that I have to wait so long to partake in the wedding celebration, but I know they'll be plenty of wedding festivities along the way. For this joyous event, I shall be re-claiming my title as "Sara Bofferding: Professional Bridesmaid." Plus, I'm super excited that after 4 weddings (3 as a bridesmaid and 1 as a bride), I finally get a PINK dress! Way to pick your colors, Jules! :)

The Happy Couple: Tom & Juliann

The party was Saturday night and it was a fun get together for friends and family to hang out. We had good music, good food and good company. Plus, there were cute little pink and orange M&Ms that said, "Tommy & Juliann, 2 B Married." Awww!

Alli & Me

My parents are so cute, aren't they?

On Sunday, I met up with my best buddy, Tiffany, and her son, Benjamin. Tiff and I enjoyed a tasty lunch at Red Robin, while Benjamin sang us The Alphabet Song and refused to eat his macaroni & cheese. After lunch, we spent some time looking at my wedding pictures and saving them to Tiff's computer, so that she can print them out and feed her Scrapbooking addiction! It was a wonderful weekend in Scottsdale, eventhough Jeremy couldn't come too...

Is he not the cutest little boy...EVER!?

Mommy & Son

So...speaking of Jeremy not being able to come, this gets me to the "stomach aches" part of the blog. Saturday afternoon when Jerm got home from work, he had a bad stomach ache. If you know Jerm, you know that he pretty much ALWAYS has a stomach ache, so I didn't really think anything of it. Since he wasn't feeling well, I headed on down to Scottsdale by myself for the party and lunch the next day. When I got home on Sunday, Jeremy filled me in on the specifics of his stomach aches (I'll spare you the all the details) and it didn't seem like his typical ones. So, yesterday he went to the Dr. and in a couple of days, they are going to do a scan of his stomach to make sure everything is okay with his spleen, pancreas and other organs. If necessary, after that they'll do a scope of some sort. Hopefully, after this we'll be able to find out why Jerm always has stomach issues and he'll be able to finally be free of his aches!