You are being invited to a BLOG CHEF CHALLENGE!

I love to watch the Food Network Channel - ESPECIALLY the shows where chefs are given a challenge which usually involves using some sort or secret or strange assortment of ingredients, a time limit, and competition with other chefs. Typically they are judged on taste, creativity/originality, and plating (how nice it looks). Shows like The Iron Chef, Chopped, The Next Iron Chef, The Next Food Network Star are all these sorts of shows - reality shows, but not like the crazy raunchy type. I love to watch these talented chefs create and use such amazing skill under pressure. I like to make my own comments and judgments along with Dan like we know what we are talking about and that we could be judges of such shows. (I would LOVE to taste some of that food!).

SO, I have been thinking lately. I have decided that I LOVE pomegranate, but I have no idea what to do with it. I only see it in stores this time of year and Dan and I usually just eat it in raw spoonfuls from a bowl or we put them in fried won tons with some chocolate (remember THIS?). I was going to look up different ideas about how to use them but decided it would be SO much more fun to try a BLOG CHEF CHALLENGE!!! So, here it is for anyone who will or wants to participate! For those cooks/chefs/and anyone who likes a good competition/challenge. You could even do it for a family activity!AND THERE IS A PRIZE FOR THE WINNER!!!
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Your challenge (should you choose to accept it), is to use the ingredient chosen by the judges (ME and DAN) in a dish of your choosing such as a dessert, appetizer, or main course item. Be sure to include the recipe and a picture!

The Ingredient is the pomegranate. "A pomegranate is a fruit-bearing deciduousshrub or small tree growing to between five and eight meters tall...The edible fruit is a berry and is between a lemon and a grapefruit in size, 5–12 cm in diameter with a rounded hexagonal shape, and has thick reddish skin and around 600 seeds.^[5] The seeds and surrounding pulp, ranging in color from white to deep red, are called arils. " - Wikipedia

here are tips to getting those seeds out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHyqoeB0Wlk

Time: You will have until December 13th at midnight to either post your effort on your blog (in which case be sure to comment on my blog you are doing so) - OR - email it to me - gidget278@comcast.net for those of you who do not blog. The winner(s) will be announced on December 14th.

The Judgment: You will be JUDGED on...well, lets face it, I can't taste it - so I'll have to take your honest word on how it turns out...creativity/originality, whether or not you include a picture, and basically whatever looks good and yummy to Dan and I.

The Winnings: The winner(s) - in case we can't decide - will receive a special prize yet to be determined - but I'm sure will be worth the effort!

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I have no idea if anyone will participate, but I really hope you do!!! I know it is a busy time of the year so I am giving almost 2 weeks for people to be able to participate. Please do it! It will be so fun!

Today was a nice day!

I loved today. It was hard to beat last nights wonderful turkey dinner (I downed two large platefuls of food twice before everyone else was done with their first), but today was good. I woke up after 7 solid hours of sleep - no waking to get comfortable again - no waking to go to the bathroom (I must have been beyond exhausted)- and no waking when Dan got up early to go hunting. I woke rested and refreshed up to the morning sun shining through the blinds. I had a great breakfast, checked some email, had my 2nd breakfast and got ready for the day. I then drove to Michaels where the store was busy, but not crowded and the only time there was no line was when I was ready to check-out - absolutely no wait. AND I got amazing deals. Unfortunately, Michaels didn't have everything I needed so I headed to Joanne Fabrics (a much further drive but the sun was out and the ocean was so blue and clear AND I listened to CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!). They had exactly what I needed and although it was more crowded than Michaels everyone was very pleasant, and when I checked out - the line was super short. And again got some amazing deals! I got home and Dan was home from hunting. He made us Turkey sandwiches (on the delicious dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, turkey and all from yesterday) we watched a little show on the computer then Dan took a nap and I played around with some of my crafts and picked up the house a little. Later, the Sister missionaries came over and helped us put a border up in the baby's room that I LOVE! (Pictures to come later). Then we went to dinner with some friends for one of their birthdays - had amazing food and a great time, came home and snuggled and talked with Dan. Now he is asleep in bed and I am remembering my wonderful day!

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving!

I Made It Monday: Orange Chicken-crockpot

(I forgot to take a picture until we were almost done)

This is a super-duper easy version of orange chicken. Definitely not the best one out there (even though Dan loved it) BUT if you happen to have some orange soda, and not much else it works and it is still tasty. It is SO easy and is just plopped into the crockpot so there is practically no prep work beside measuring and placing into the crockpot. Well, except for the rice you serve it over - but I have a rice cooker so again - easy peasy! Dan really liked it. I thought it was good, but my piece was a little dry in some parts. Dan's was really moist - not sure why. But it is fast and easy. And I loved the sauce on my rice!

Orange Chicken
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can or 12 oz of orange soda (I bought one of those little 50 cent ones outside the grocery store so I could try this recipe)
1/2 cup soy sauce (I think I used just slightly less, because I always think it is too powerful in most recipes that call for this much)
Hot cooked rice

~ Place all ingredients except rice in slow cooker
~ Cover; cook on LOW 5-6 hours
~ Serve over rice.

I Made It Monday: Famous Pork Chops

Another tasty way to prepare pork chops! It is a simple recipe I found on allrecipes.com I followed the suggestions from people who had made this recipes (one of my favorite features of the website) and we loved it! It's definitely not the healthiest pork chop recipe (mostly due to the butter), but it sure was tasty! Its not like you would eat it every night!

Famous Pork Chops

1 cup crushed butter crackers (I used Ritz crackers by suggestions from other cookers)
garlic salt to taste
ground pepper to taste
2 eggs (3 were suggested, but DEFINITELY not needed)
4 Pork chops (for 4 servings)
1/4 Cup of butter (1/2 a cup was suggested, but I even thought I could cut down the 1/4 cup!)

~ Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
~ Meanwhile, a suggestions was to "flash" brown the chops at high to med/high heat in olive oil to keep them moist.
~ In a shallow bowl combine crushed crackers, garlic salt and pepper; mix well. Beat eggs in a different bowl.
~ Dip pork chops in egg batter and then in the cracker mixture.
~ Place pork chops in a casserole dish and place chunks of the butter around the pork chops.
~ Cover with tin foil and bake for 40 minutes followed by 5 minutes uncovered of broiling to make them a little crispy!

We had this dish with mashed potatoes and green beans. SO YUMMY!

30 Week Update

I can't believe I am 30 weeks! Just 10 weeks to go! 70 Days on the ticker. It has been so fun the last few months to feel good and to enjoy being pregnant and feeling and seeing the baby inside. I am continually amazed when I watch her move - I sit and watch for long periods of times when she is really active. I have been feeling great, but I can feel some of the discomforts of my ever increasing size creeping in. I loose my breath much faster, I use about 7 pillows to sleep, I've had a little bit of heartburn now and then, and sometimes I just feel so tight and full. But for now the excitement of the ever approaching D-Day is an "I am so excited but I can wait till it happens; let it take its course" as opposed to being so uncomfortable that I think, "I CAN'T wait to have this baby". Don't get me wrong, I am SO EXCITED to meet our little girl, but Dan and I are enjoying this pregnancy time too!

It was fun to visit family recently in Seattle and share this period of the pregnancy with them. Living so far away I sometimes feel sad that they can't see and be apart of each phase or aspect, so it meant a lot to me to have that time.

Eating has been wonderful! I still have NOT taken for granted how wonderful it is to eat and enjoy food again - perhaps I never will. Can I just say I LOVE doughnuts! My weight has been steadily increasing with a total weight gain of about 14lbs. I weigh more now than I ever have in my life!
My belly circumference has grown 11'' since we found out I was pregnant. It is all fun and exciting. My belly-button is now non-existent. It is just a flat star shape in the middle of my belly. At my last Dr. appointment Dr.Graham was trying to feel for it to gauge my growth and could not find it over my shirt.

Speaking of that last appointment - I survived the test for gestational diabetes. I had to go a few hours without eating, than drink this concoction that seemed like slightly watered down orange flavored cough syrup, wait one hour, than have my blood drawn. It wasn't so bad at first, but by the end of the drink I was feeling a little sick and just sat very still and quiet for the next hour. I made it and there is no gestational diabetes noted. Whew! I'd hate to have to do the 3 hour test!

I also I have started new Prenatal vitamins in the last few weeks - My Dr. in San Angelo put me on Neevo which is typically prescribed for high-risk pregnancies or people who cannot absorb folic acid, but she gave the option for all her patients since it seemed to cause the least amount of nausea, decrease uncomfortable digestive/elimination symptoms of pregnancy, and the nutrients are more easily absorbed in the body than other vitamins. I loved it. NOW, my Dr prescribed a new version called Neevo DHA which is a gel-capsule (MUCH easier to swallow), and has DHA added (which is an omega-3 fatty acid which is supposed to be great for mom and baby), and it makes me feel great! The cost is more than if I were to just stick with generic, but I love how I feel on it and that makes it worth the cost!

I have done a lot more with The Pink Kit (The birthing skills prep I mentioned in my last prego update). I really like it. I am not finished with it and of course I have nothing to compare it to yet but I really like how it is rather simple and straightforward information that has helped me feel a little more prepared, gives me a positive outlook and skills to use, and put a few fears at ease. I really like how it gives good instruction to your coach or partner. Dan and I will go through it together as soon as I get through it the first time. I've been taking my time lately.

Well, that is the update for now. WOW! That was much more than I had planned on saying. Time is ticking, slower at some moments than others, but I'm sure it will fly by as the holiday season approaches!

Not so lost...but still so lost!

Ok, turns out I DID pack my phone charger - I just forgot I'd used it my first night here. So the charger is not lost and my marbles are not lost in that sense, BUT I did forget I'd used it. I'm just a mess I guess.

Lost...Lost...

I don't know what has happened to my brain, but my already precious brain power seems to be slipping ever further away - visible and yet somehow out of reach. I could give about 20 moments where my brain has not been up to par just this morning, but the current frustration is that I let my cell phone die last night only to discover I hadn't packed my cell phone charger (I'm currently in WA for a last visit). Normally I would pass it off as a forgotten item, BUT I remember so vividly telling myself not to forget it, actually carrying it in my hand and I swear I put it in my suitcase, and I don't know how many times Dan told me to make sure I had it. I just don't know how I could possibly forget it or what I did with it - it is making me so mad at myself! I guess I've lost my marbles!

I Made It Monday: Hawaiian Chili

This recipe is super easy and really VERY tasty! It's been in my recipe book since on of my bridal showers where people brought family favorite recipes - this was from Kate Epperson. I've been wanting to try it forever, but always thought it sounded just a little odd. But now that we've tried it we will definitely have it again.

Hawaiian Chili
1 lb Hamburger (we used ground Turkey)
3 cans chili style beans (I only had 2 so I used kidney beans for the 3rd)
2 cans stewed tomatoes
1/2 cup BBQ sauce (We used honey BBQ sauce)
Cooked Rice

~ Brown Hamburger and drain.
~ Add beans, tomatoes and BBQ sauce.
~ Simmer 10 minutes
~ Serve over rice and sprinkle with brown sugar on top if desired (this did add to the dish)

T-O-D-A-Y in a nutshell...

T- is for the Time I spent planning and starting on some home-made Christmas gifts - I need to start while I have the motivation and energy to do it I think. Besides, I'm really enjoying it.
O- is for an Odd nights sleep last night. I often try to sleep on my left(if comfortable enough) because I have read more nutrients are delivered to baby that way, but every time I'd lay on my left last night the baby would kick and twirl and jump until I moved to my right, upon which she would immediately stop moving. But if I tried to go back to my left we would have a repeat, but she just would not stop until I switched to my right. Do I have an amazingly stubborn one on the way?
D- is for Dan who loves me so much and I love him. He is the best! He makes every today so much better!
A- is for the cooler Air outside today. Finally a little relief from the heat and humidity which really helped with...
Y- is for the Yard work that the awesome sister missionaries helped with this morning. They helped me clear out a a garden area with a tree/bush with crazy strong roots for our hopeful winter garden. Then they stayed for lunch - great fun and got a lot done!