So this past Monday was my husband's birthday, Thursday was Valentine's Day and the two of us were super sick - me with a Sinus infection and currently an ear infection while he had a cold, strep throat and a horrible seal-like cough.
I'm not a big fan of anti-biotics simply because I think that people are over medicated, but my opinion came to a huge halt on Wednesday when you could actually see my glands in my throat.
Needless to say, I haven't been cooking much! I have been making a lot of "homemade" pizza though - better than take-out and almost as good as Papa Murphy's!
What you'll need:
Pillsbury refrigerated pizza dough
1 - 2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/2 -3/4 cup marinara sauce
1/2 cup chopped olives
Pepperoni
Thinly sliced green pepper
And whatever else you want on it!
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Spread out the pizza dough, top with the marinara sauce (only a little bit, otherwise it seems like the dough gets kinda soggy...)
Top with the cheese (only use mozzarella, otherwise it doesn't taste as good!), then with the pepperoni, then the olives, then a little more cheese.
This only taste 10 - 12 minutes. You'll be able to smell when it's done! (oh crap, that sounds too much like Rachael Ray...).
PSH
2.17.2008
2.11.2008
Celebritory Black Bean Soup & Grilled Cheese
So I'm not one for grilled cheese and tomato soup - I will eat it, but I like my grilled cheese with black bean soup. Today we had two great reasons to celebrate - my husband's birthday and my new job!
I make a lot of black bean soups - sometimes they're more southwestern, sometimes they're so Minnesotan that I'm not really sure if it counts as black bean soup! Here's the one I made tonight...
Black Bean Soup
3 cans of black beans
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 green or red bell pepper, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
2 cans stock (chicken, beef or veggie works, if you want thick soup, just use one can)
1 tbsp chili powder
1 1/2 tbsp cumin
2 tsp coriander
Salt & pepper to taste
Cilantro to mix in at end & for garnish
1 8 oz bag frozen corn
In a stock pot over medium heat, put olive oil in to cover the bottom then add the green pepper & onions. Sweat until clear & soft for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cook 2 minutes more. Add in all other ingredients except for corn and cilantro.
Bring to a boil and simmer 15 minutes. Then add corn, simmer 5 minutes longer. Mix in some cilantro (but not if you're going to freeze it) or just garnish with cilantro.
Serve hot with grilled cheese sandwiches.
Yum!
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Bread for however many sandwiches
2 slices cheese for however many sandwiches
Kraft American cheese has the best melting, but I really like cheddar or provolone
Margarine
Chili powder
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Spread margarine over one side of each piece of bread. Top bread with 2 slices of cheese, sprinkle with a little chili powder. Cover the cheese with another slice of margarine coated bread and put into the oven.
Flip after 6 minutes, then let toast for another 3 - 4 minutes.
Slice diagonally and serve with the black bean soup!
PSH
I make a lot of black bean soups - sometimes they're more southwestern, sometimes they're so Minnesotan that I'm not really sure if it counts as black bean soup! Here's the one I made tonight...
Black Bean Soup
3 cans of black beans
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 green or red bell pepper, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
2 cans stock (chicken, beef or veggie works, if you want thick soup, just use one can)
1 tbsp chili powder
1 1/2 tbsp cumin
2 tsp coriander
Salt & pepper to taste
Cilantro to mix in at end & for garnish
1 8 oz bag frozen corn
In a stock pot over medium heat, put olive oil in to cover the bottom then add the green pepper & onions. Sweat until clear & soft for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cook 2 minutes more. Add in all other ingredients except for corn and cilantro.
Bring to a boil and simmer 15 minutes. Then add corn, simmer 5 minutes longer. Mix in some cilantro (but not if you're going to freeze it) or just garnish with cilantro.
Serve hot with grilled cheese sandwiches.
Yum!
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Bread for however many sandwiches
2 slices cheese for however many sandwiches
Kraft American cheese has the best melting, but I really like cheddar or provolone
Margarine
Chili powder
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Spread margarine over one side of each piece of bread. Top bread with 2 slices of cheese, sprinkle with a little chili powder. Cover the cheese with another slice of margarine coated bread and put into the oven.
Flip after 6 minutes, then let toast for another 3 - 4 minutes.
Slice diagonally and serve with the black bean soup!
PSH
2.07.2008
Fun Things About Me
| You Are a Bad Girl |
 You are 20% Good and 80% Bad You're a total bad girl, from your wild hair to tattooed toes. But you're too badass to even care if you're labeled "bad"! |
| Your French Name is: |
 |
| Your Five Factor Personality Profile |
 Extroversion: You have medium extroversion. You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party. Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences. But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time." Conscientiousness: You have high conscientiousness. Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life. Most things in your life are organized and planned well. But you borderline on being a total perfectionist. Agreeableness: You have medium agreeableness. You're generally a friendly and trusting person. But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism. You get along well with others, as long as they play fair. Neuroticism: You have low neuroticism. You are very emotionally stable and mentally together. Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly. Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high. In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas. You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits. A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything. |
| People Envy Your Confidence |
 You have the attitude and self esteem to take on anything. Failure is beyond not an option for you - it doesn't even cross your mind. People envy your ability to take on any challenge ... and they're secretly afraid you think you're better than them. You don't. You're just sure of yourself. |
| You Are Fairly Normal |
 You scored 45% normal on this quiz Like most people you are normal in some ways... But you aren't a completely normal person. You're a little weird too! Why You Are Normal: When you're in a car, you prefer to be the driver If given the choice, you would choose to have more money over more time You prefer ruffled potato chips You find the Macarena to be the more embarrassing dance You eat the frosting first Why You Aren't Normal: You would rather be tan than pale You would rather be a movie star than an astronaut You prefer non fiction to fiction You think fishnet stockings are sexy You prefer your family to your friends |
2.03.2008
I Actually Did Work Today
I absolutely love photography - I get inspired every once in awhile to go out on the streets and just shoot what I find. Here's a collage of what I did today.
Don't worry - I'll be posting more food and recipes this week!
On the menu that I know already:
Stuffed bell peppers
Homemade pizza
And others, hopefully not Ramen!
PSH
2.01.2008
Bowl For Kid's Sake
http://communitybowl.kintera.org/pharayda
I'm bowling for the BBBS of South Central Indiana. We do have to raise pledges and let me tell you - I absolutely positively HATE asking for money. But if there's one thing that I do support, it's this.
Your contribution is tax deductible - you will receive a receipt for your 2008 tax forms.
Please contribute - every dollar is very important!
Thank you so much for your support, the children appreciate this more than you know...
Patty Harayda
I'm bowling for the BBBS of South Central Indiana. We do have to raise pledges and let me tell you - I absolutely positively HATE asking for money. But if there's one thing that I do support, it's this.
Your contribution is tax deductible - you will receive a receipt for your 2008 tax forms.
Please contribute - every dollar is very important!
Thank you so much for your support, the children appreciate this more than you know...
Patty Harayda
1.31.2008
More Tangerines Than I Know What to Do With
Jeez, you'd think that I'd learn from the first time - husband does NOT eat all the fruit you buy, especially if it's in bulk. Doh!
So I have lots of tangerines and bananas and the hubby is out of town. What the heck am I going to do? Make 10 cakes? Uh, no... I don't think so. I do not own a bundt cake pan.
I will be bringing these to work tomorrow:
Tangerine-Cream Cheese Pastries -
3 tangerines
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2 (12-ounce) cans refrigerated biscuits
Grate 1 tablespoon rind from tangerines; set rind aside. Squeeze 1/4 cup juice from tangerines. Combine juice, brown sugar, whipping cream, and 1/2 cup butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool slightly. Pour mixture into a greased 13" x 9" x 2" baking dish; set aside.
Combine reserved rind, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 2 tablespoons butter in a small mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed of an electric mixer just until blended.
Separate biscuit dough into 20 pieces. Quickly roll each biscuit on a lightly floured surface to a 4" circle. Spread 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture onto center of each biscuit circle. Roll up, jellyroll fashion. Place biscuits over brown sugar mixture in dish, seam side down, in 2 long rows.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° on lowest rack in oven for 32 minutes or until browned. Let cool in dish 5 minutes. Carefully turn pastries out onto a large serving platter.
Maybe an orange cheesecake??? Ugh, who knows... please suggest to me what to make! I'm desperate to not waste!
PSH
So I have lots of tangerines and bananas and the hubby is out of town. What the heck am I going to do? Make 10 cakes? Uh, no... I don't think so. I do not own a bundt cake pan.
I will be bringing these to work tomorrow:
Tangerine-Cream Cheese Pastries -
3 tangerines
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2 (12-ounce) cans refrigerated biscuits
Grate 1 tablespoon rind from tangerines; set rind aside. Squeeze 1/4 cup juice from tangerines. Combine juice, brown sugar, whipping cream, and 1/2 cup butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool slightly. Pour mixture into a greased 13" x 9" x 2" baking dish; set aside.
Combine reserved rind, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 2 tablespoons butter in a small mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed of an electric mixer just until blended.
Separate biscuit dough into 20 pieces. Quickly roll each biscuit on a lightly floured surface to a 4" circle. Spread 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture onto center of each biscuit circle. Roll up, jellyroll fashion. Place biscuits over brown sugar mixture in dish, seam side down, in 2 long rows.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° on lowest rack in oven for 32 minutes or until browned. Let cool in dish 5 minutes. Carefully turn pastries out onto a large serving platter.
Maybe an orange cheesecake??? Ugh, who knows... please suggest to me what to make! I'm desperate to not waste!
PSH
1.24.2008
See Jane Work
I've had a request for more organizational stuff. It's kind of exciting!I want this home desk - mostly because it's so incredibly simple and dark wood and looks easy to keep it clean (okay, as soon as I see dust I use my microfiber cloth with a little water). It's $199 from Target - and online there's free shipping as of today. The one we have is similar, but no shelves on the sides. I want shelves.
If I had this desk, I would have two small baskets on each side on the bottom shelves and then longer, shorter baskets on the top shelf to hold supplies, like calculators, Beemer Man's pointer clicker test taking thingy for Law School and of course, the laptop and desk lamp on top. I've tried emptying stuff into handmade pottery, but it seems to end up on the floor. And I've tried putting pencils in coffee cups, but my man just doesn't see the light of organizing way.
So, I've turned to See Jane Work for help.
I have my files organized. My binders are in good shape. I've settled down to nice, adult patterns instead of using Target My Little Pony folders that I've had since Kindergarten.These are great for storing stuff like bills, tax information, etc... The Caspari Project Folder is $4.95, well worth the moola - especially for when you go to see your tax man sweat as you pull out the W2's with how little you've really made this past year.
I also enjoy the way they look tucked neatly into their correct spot into their own little file cubby. Yes, I color coordinate but I've only 
bought the cream, green and blue letter trays. I'm that much of a dork!
bought the cream, green and blue letter trays. I'm that much of a dork!If you have time, check out http://www.seejanework.com/, I'm telling you, that website will change the way you think about office supplies and how to organize your home office as well as your cube at work.
Enjoy the shopping! Because I'll be enjoying the organization and the easy finding of the recipes that I'd like to try!
PSH
1.23.2008
My Celeb Look-A-Likes
But this pic was taken when I was super hot and at the Formula One race in Indy. I feel like I look prettier in other pics... Boo for only one pic on my work computer...
PSH
Spaghetti with Green Olive Pasta Sauce
My dearest husband, Beemer Man, hates leftovers. There are only 2 things that he eats leftover.
Turkey/Chicken Pot Pies
Leftover Olive Spaghetti Sauce
And so here's my recipe (and seriously, it's the easiest, I shit you not):
Green Olive Pasta Sauce
3/4 cup chopped pitted green olives, you can use the cheap ones, they're fine too!
1 can tomato sauce
1/2 cup red wine (that you're drinking while you're cooking)
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
Olive oil for the pan
1/3 lb ground turkey or lean ground beef, either works
Soften the onions in a pan on medium heat. Cook them until clear, then add the garlic, meat and olives. Saute until there's no pink left in the meat.
Add the red wine, tomato sauce and 1 large ladle of pasta cooking water. Simmer for 10 - 15 minutes, covered while your spaghetti cooks. (I use angel hair pasta because it reheats well).
This makes enough for 4 servings.
Turkey/Chicken Pot Pies
Leftover Olive Spaghetti Sauce
And so here's my recipe (and seriously, it's the easiest, I shit you not):
Green Olive Pasta Sauce
3/4 cup chopped pitted green olives, you can use the cheap ones, they're fine too!
1 can tomato sauce
1/2 cup red wine (that you're drinking while you're cooking)
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
Olive oil for the pan
1/3 lb ground turkey or lean ground beef, either works
Soften the onions in a pan on medium heat. Cook them until clear, then add the garlic, meat and olives. Saute until there's no pink left in the meat.
Add the red wine, tomato sauce and 1 large ladle of pasta cooking water. Simmer for 10 - 15 minutes, covered while your spaghetti cooks. (I use angel hair pasta because it reheats well).
This makes enough for 4 servings.
1.15.2008
Crockpot Chicken Wings with Potatoes
There's none left for a picture. Sorry.
So after a long day of driving through Ohio and purchasing a car, I was so glad to have a hot meal ready for us in the crockpot! Hubby wanted chicken wings, I really didn't care, they were cheap at the grocery store. What I really wanted was a cornish hen in the crockpot but he's never had that before! And so it came to this:
Crockpot Chicken Wings (Not too spicy) with Potatoes
1 package of chicken wings, I happened to buy 6 HUGE wings
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 package chicken gravy (or make your own pan gravy, it was 8:30 am on a Saturday)
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp cayenne pepper
Salt & pepper to taste
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp cumin
2 tbsp hot sauce (to taste)
3 - 4 potatoes, cut into wedges
1 medium onion, sliced thinly so they "melt" in the crockpot
Preheat a wide pan on your stove on high heat with 3 - 4 tbsp oil, mixed with a little butter.
1. Mix the flour with cayenne pepper, coriander, cumin, salt and pepper. Coat your wings and then shake to get off the excess flour. Sear wings on both sides in the smoking hot pan.
2. Meanwhile, cut your potatoes and your onions. Toss them into the bottom of the crockpot.
3. Once your chicken is seared nice & crispy, toss those onto the top of the veggies.
4. Make a pan gravy with the drippings of the chicken. For me it was too early to even think of mixing & measuring so I used a McCormick's Chicken Gravy packet with 1 1/2 cups of chicken stock. Add the hot sauce to the gravy, taste it, then add more hot sauce or cayenne pepper. If you want your "gravy" thicker, add a can of cream of chicken soup and whisk till blended. Pour over chicken & veggies.
5. Cook on low 6 - 7 hours. We happened to be in Ohio forever, so I think it was in there for about 8, the potatoes were soft and the meat fell off the bones.
I like crockpot meals. They usually turn out no matter what, I would actually make this one again, only with a whole chicken or chicken breast meat but not wings. Or with a roast. Or whatever cut of meat is cheaper at the grocery store.
PSH
So after a long day of driving through Ohio and purchasing a car, I was so glad to have a hot meal ready for us in the crockpot! Hubby wanted chicken wings, I really didn't care, they were cheap at the grocery store. What I really wanted was a cornish hen in the crockpot but he's never had that before! And so it came to this:
Crockpot Chicken Wings (Not too spicy) with Potatoes
1 package of chicken wings, I happened to buy 6 HUGE wings
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 package chicken gravy (or make your own pan gravy, it was 8:30 am on a Saturday)
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp cayenne pepper
Salt & pepper to taste
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp cumin
2 tbsp hot sauce (to taste)
3 - 4 potatoes, cut into wedges
1 medium onion, sliced thinly so they "melt" in the crockpot
Preheat a wide pan on your stove on high heat with 3 - 4 tbsp oil, mixed with a little butter.
1. Mix the flour with cayenne pepper, coriander, cumin, salt and pepper. Coat your wings and then shake to get off the excess flour. Sear wings on both sides in the smoking hot pan.
2. Meanwhile, cut your potatoes and your onions. Toss them into the bottom of the crockpot.
3. Once your chicken is seared nice & crispy, toss those onto the top of the veggies.
4. Make a pan gravy with the drippings of the chicken. For me it was too early to even think of mixing & measuring so I used a McCormick's Chicken Gravy packet with 1 1/2 cups of chicken stock. Add the hot sauce to the gravy, taste it, then add more hot sauce or cayenne pepper. If you want your "gravy" thicker, add a can of cream of chicken soup and whisk till blended. Pour over chicken & veggies.
5. Cook on low 6 - 7 hours. We happened to be in Ohio forever, so I think it was in there for about 8, the potatoes were soft and the meat fell off the bones.
I like crockpot meals. They usually turn out no matter what, I would actually make this one again, only with a whole chicken or chicken breast meat but not wings. Or with a roast. Or whatever cut of meat is cheaper at the grocery store.
PSH
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