Post and Run!

In an attempt to stick to this blogging thing, I figure I'll try to at least regularly do a quick "post and run" Today's Post & Run is a quick recipe I threw together the other night.

I sauteed up some chicken with a bit of olive oil, pepper, garlic and red pepper flake. Cut it into bite size pieces. I then cooked some rigatoni then tossed the pasta and chicken with equal parts marinara, pesto and alfredo sauce. Quick, easy and yummy. If you try it, let me know what you think!

I'm not obsessing. I'm not!

Ok, so I won't say AGAIN that I'm going to stick to this blogging thing. I'll just say I'll try!

My husband says I'm obsessing over details for Ava's 4th birthday party. I say not possible. :) I've been all over the internet, primarily spending time with my new love Pinterest, looking for great ideas. I've decided to attempt some DIY items. DIY is generally NOT my thing so I thought it may be good (or perhaps really bad) to chronicle the whole process. It will either turn out as a sharing of great ideas for others or turn into a great comic disaster. Either way, I think it's a win. So far, I've completed the invitation. No adventure there as I actually know how to do that. I did, however, find a new place for printing and I was very happy with the result. 123Print's shipping was super fast and I think the quality is great! The challenge I found with many other printing sites is that I couldn't order less than 50. With 123Print, I was able to order 25. I'm happy to now be able to refer my Etsy customers to this site rather than VistaPrint. While VistaPrint is still a viable option for many things, their invite sizes are non-standard which can be tough and I think the 123Print paper quality is far superior for invites. If you check them out, let me know what you think!

Anyway, I decided to go with a red/aqua "theme." I just love that color combo.

Also, while perusing ideas, I stumbled across a coupon for a FREE 8x10 canvas from Canvas People Who can turn down free? So, I ordered a happy birthday sign to display at the party that matches the invite. I'll post pics of that when I receive it. I also have a deal for my blog readers! Click here for 50% off your canvas order!

The crafting starts next weekend. I'll be sure to post pictures of my progress. Or lack of.

Family Recipe Love

I have a whole cabinet full of cookbooks, and random recipes I've printed out, that are terribly neglected. I really do enjoy cooking. I just hate the part about figuring out WHAT to cook. I'm not a very good planner. Anyway, I'm going to attempt to get back to cooking. I can partially thank (or blame) my friend Allie and her blog. She's always trying new recipes and sharing them and it's just so much fun. Even when she burns the brownies. :) So, I was going through my cookbook cabinet last night and found my nana's rice pudding recipe, in her handwriting. It brought back so many wonderful memories and made me really wish this wasn't the only recipe of hers that I had.

Her rice pudding is one of my favorite things ever. It's just not a holiday without it and I seem to be the only one in the family who still makes it for some reason. She also made a mean coconut cake and awesome lima bean soup. I really wish I had those recipes! The very first time she ever met my husband, it was a holiday (Easter I think) and he offered to help her carry the coconut cake into my parents' house. He left the cake on the porch then went inside and told her he'd dropped it in the driveway. 10+ years later, he still remembers the look he got from her and we still laugh about it. I really miss her so much! She was a funny, feisty lady and we adored each other. I often think about how much she'd love Ava.

Oh, I guess I should share the recipe! Her recipe is "soupier" than most other rice puddings I've seen but you really can cook it to the point of being as thin or thick as you want. I prefer it on the soupier side as that's the way she made it.

Nana Doris' Rice Pudding

Start by cooking 1C rice in 2C water. Cook until water is gone. Don't worry if the rice isn't cooked

Add a pinch of salt

Add the following to the pot with the rice:

1/2 gal whole milk

2C sugar

1tsp vanilla

1 can evaporated milk plus one can of water from the evaporated milk can

Cinnamon (this is to taste) I usually cover the surface of the liquid with it

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

Then just put the pot on low and cook it down to your desired thickness. It will thicken a bit more as it cools so pull it off before it's quite as thick as you want it. Stir periodically as it cooks. I usually end up cooking it an hour or more.

If you try it, I'd love to hear how you like it!

What are your favorite family recipes?