christi--I just slice the plantains on a diagonal cut less than 1/2 inch thick. I spray down a pan put a single layer of plantains on it then spray the top. I bake at 450 for about 10 - 15 minutes. (usually about 11) and flip them over every few minutes. They taste like a healthy version (with just a ever so tiny bit of sweet) french fry since it's full of starch. My mom dips hers in ketchup, DH and I eat them plain, my kids are still in the "what's that? I don't want to touch it" phase 
I figured I'll just keep making them every few weeks to they get use to looking at it and then give it a try. Seems I have to do that with almost everything anymore.
mommykicksbutt-- how was your daughters surgery?
Ohara-A cruise sounds great, you totaly deserve one! School is going good. I started again last Thursday. My kids started school this tuesday. I have one in 2nd grade and one in Kindergarten. The other 2 are here at home with me -- but the 4 year old should start a home based pre-school program soon.
Leily--I know you are on vacation but we miss ya!
everyone else I hope you are doing well!!!!!!
Tonight is cheese and beef ravioli with homemade marinara and cheesy bread with veggies (don't know what kind yet)
Then off to my aerobics class.
*Pull out my chair to dust off and notice that there isn't much dust... start to wonder has someone been sitting in my chair?* LOL j/k you guys cleaned while I was gone! (hmm... my house still looks dirty though 
)
Well we all made it back in one piece! It was a wonderful vacation. I went with my BF, his dad, and his mom out to yellowstone, ended up stoping at Mount rushmore too. Stayed in a cabin out in Yellowstone and it was great, saw a lot of wildlife, I got to turn my phone off for over a week, and no worries about time. Ahh to bad it didnt' last another week.
So now getting back into the swing of things at work (oh how I wish the projects I am project managing would have just gone away while I was gone... but That would have been to good to be true)
Tonight I made spagetti with breadsticks... and oh my did it hit the spot! Oh and my favorite way to eat spagetti is with shredded colby jack cheese and parmesean cheese on it... I could eat it like this all day long... but others (rolls eyes) like the sauce so I will eat that the first night too-but leftovers with cheese only please!
cakesbyjess, I am so sorry to hear about your loss I know that can not be easy.
And I must say you guys sure ate good while I was gone... although I was a little dissapointed that I didn't have any welcome home dinners on my doorstep when I got back from vacation... I wouldn't have been picky with any of those leftovers!
Now I know I haven't been back at the table long, but I was hoping for some help in research. I was wondering if you ladies might remember some post that had been made in the last 6 months about people who did cake classes for either kids or adults. I was approached this week about doing a class for a group of ladies. I know what I want to do, but I don't remember where I could get supplies, it is really the tips that I am wondering about. Also how much icing to make.... but that is out there somewhere I just have to find it.
Thanks and see you ladies soon!
Welcome back Leily! You noticed that we dusted off your chair while you were gone in hopes you would come back soon. Kay hasn't been on yet or a few others so they may be running a meal over to you 
I remember reading about those cake parties and I'm not good at finding those threads --where's JanH? She needs to join the table, she's great at that kind of stuff!
Tonight was actually not ravioli--sort of I decided to cook to italian breaded ravioli with homemade marinara instead. Did meat and cheese raviolies so you didn't know what you had until you bit into it. It was actually REALLY good! My DH says he doesn't want it anyother way now--just breaded and with homemade sauce. (what did I just do 
I made more work for myself!)
Ok I know I was missing MIA But I have a pretty good excuse LOL I am having a garage sale Fri. ans Sat. and doing 2 cakes for Sat. So tonight I baked 2 cakes and some cupcakes to sell at the garage sale. Plus mark some items while cakes baked. So tonight was DD dance night and I made Hamburgers and fries. And Dh brought me home burritos on his break..
leily if you think I would dust something you are so wrong honey... Have you seen me cat figurines LOL Do dust bunnies and kitties get along LOL And I was to busy to bring you my leftovers and I will be danged if I will share tonight.. DH brought me home some authentic burritos on his break NOPE NOT SHARING It is all I can do to save 1 burrito for each of the kids that is 2 I can't have WWWAAHHH Glad you had a good time on vaction. Have you been to MT. Rushmore before?? Or was this your first time?? And as for your ?? about a class or a party I will help as much as I can but am unsure exactly what you are wanting..
Melissa if you can dust chairs so good can you come visit for a week to do some good cleaning for me... I have alot for you to do.. DUSTING really kills me.. Seriously I can't breath So it don't get done cause none else will do it WWWAAAHHH Don't you just love it when you try something new that is really difficult and they actually like... GGGGAAAHHH and when you try something easy peasy and they totally hate it.. picky family they stink..LOL
Ok I really got to stop I have to get more done. I was just going to wave to ya all but that didn't happen.
Hello again its me Margaret LOL
Today is a hectic day getting ready for my ds's 14th birthday tomorrow...had to do his cake today, need to clean house.... had dinner ready.... smoked boston butt, bbq beans, momma's homemade potato salad and whoopie pies...
Looks like we might finally have a chance at rain...we are sooo dry here in Kentucky people 
I can't wait till Summer is over!!!!
HOpe all is well at the table tonight!!
Kay-I'm not a big fan of dusting my house either. I live on a dirt road so you can imagine how quick it builds up. My daughter has allergies though
so I have too often.
Christi- hope the party goes well.
Made homemade granola bars last night and they are all gone today so I'm going to make another batch. I have an apple ricotta cake in the oven right now for DH and the kids breakfast.
Kids had spagetti with the homemade marinara sauce from yesterday.
Making a special meal for DH tonight since he's been working so hard and has been worn out all week once kids get to bed. (maybe he'll be in a better mood 
)
We are having: mixed green salad with sunflower seeds-tomato-cheese and dressing. Portabella mushrooms drizzled in olive oil topped with basil-oregano-sundried tomatoes and cheese and then baked. Porchini mushroom encrusted filet mignon with herb butter, fresh green beans, smashed basil-garlic-parmesan cheese potatoes and bread. For dessert is coffee ice cream over sauteed plantains and peaches with homemade chocolate sauce.
Sound Okay or should I change something???
You all have a wonderful night I need to start getting the kids ready for a little bit of an eary bed time and then I can start cooking for a late meal with DH.
alright Melissa... where are those recipes? Homemade granola bars sound good... and oh that cake..even better!
Tonight we took out my BF's dad for Chinese.. we all had Mongolian beef (me & BF w/o onions - bf's dad w/onions) then we went to the movies and saw Balls of Fury.. Kinda stupid but some really funny parts too. If you watch a lot of movies like we do then you will catch the scenes and phrases they use from other movies (we watch a lot of movies-we don't hook up our tv to watch it it is only plugged in for movie watching)
Don't know if I will get to post tomorrow but my Aunt is taking us out to eat at a new restaurant... well new to us.. evidently it has been open for awhile and they have great food so I am looking forward to it... but it will come down to a tough decision of steak or fish...
alright I have to be up early in the morning.. think I am going to go to a parade with BF's dad (he is planning on taking one of his old cars) so I better try to get some sleep so I can at least try to go.
have a great Saturday everyone!
The no-bake granola bars are on recipezaar.com website. The granola bars were really good just a little crumblyI but with the flavor I didn't care. I didn't use the rasins like they suggested but if you wait for the mixture to cool a bit you can then blend in chocolate chips. The recipe calls for 1/2 Cup of light corn syrup but I only did 1/4 C. corn syrup and 1/4 C. honey since I'm not all too crazy about using corn syrup.
The apple ricotta cake is really good but it's very moist from all of the ricotta that's in it. So it's not like a regular cake but more of a wet style cale. The flavor is really good and it starts with a plain yellow cake mix for the base.
By the time DH got home late from work it was 10:35 so grilling a filet didn't sound good to me but going to bed because I was tired sure did. He ate the salad and heated up some taters and the portabella mushroom caps. Maybe tonight we can eat the steaks, I was so disappointed last night but what can you do when it's work? Suck it up and move on.
Here is the recipe I told you about a few months back (when I believe Ohara was looking for a bread pudding recipe-might be wrong) I finally got it from my mom.
Bread Pudding with Whisky Sauce
2 C. stale bread cubes (french bread works best)
4 C. milk, scalded
3/4 C. sugar
1 TBSP. butter
1/4 tsp. salt
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 to 1 C. coarsley chopped pecans (optional)
Soak bread in milk 5 minutes. Add sugar, butter, salt, eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in pecans. Pour into 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Bake in pan of hot water for one hour at 350 degrees.
Here's her pork loin --it's actually really good!
Juanita's pork loin
1 pork loin
1 pkg. of onion soup mix --sprinkle on top
apple cranberry pie filling or just cranberry sauce on and a little around the pork loin.
Pour in a little apple juice/cider in the bottom of pan.
cover and bake until done.
Just dropping in for a quick hello this morning, I had one of the best dinning experiences I have ever had last night! My aunt took her daughter (5-the pillow cake I did was for her) , me, my BF, my Grandpa and my Step grandma out to a local place that we hadn't been before... Oh my god! I will tell you all about what we ALL ate later, but right now we are on our way out the door, Fall softball starts today so waiting for BF to get ready to leave.
I know it is a teaser... but check out their website www.duckcitybistro.com and just look at what they have shown for their menu (oh and this wasn't even half of it, and they would make just about anything you wanted, my 5 yr old cousing wanted about one of everything and they made it for her and then wrote her name on the plate... she just loved it)
mkolmar...thank you for the bread pudding recipe. Do you also have one for the whisky sauce? (pushy I know) I won't get it made right away, but would love to try it. Melissa, when you grill your peaches do you brush them with anything? I want to grill peaches and pineapple ( not at the same time lol) but since I've never done them I was just wondering if you just put them on or if you do something else to them?
leily...their menu looks great, I can't wait to hear all about it.
Christi...how did the birthday party go? Hope it was great.
Kay... how did the garage sale go? I bet you had a busy weekend (you are always busy, so easy bet ) Hope you made lots of money and got rid of bunches of "stuff".
Let's see, Friday night I made roast beef subs and mexican dip. Saturday after DD soccer game we went out for Chinese. We went to a buffet. I did real well I had a salad, a half a cup of hot and sour soup and some steamed shrimp and veggies. No rice, no lomein, no fried anything. Then for dinner I made a turkey breast, noodles, stuffing, gravy and squash and zucchini. I had turkey, and lots of veggies. I did have a couple bites of the yummy stuff but that was it. Oh, and I made a pound cake with strawberries, and homemade whipped cream. I did have a tiny taste of the pound cake. I was pleased this morning when I got on the scale. I have now lost 12 pounds.
Tonight they(DS and DH) will have turkey salad sandwiches. They think that is the only reason to have turkey is to have leftovers for turkey salad Not my favorite. I will have a turkey on whole wheat pita, with fresh fruit and leftover squash and zucchini.
Hope every one is having a nice day. Sorry I was so long winded.
DOH! *as I slap my head* I didn't get the whisky sauce part of the recipe from her. ---I'll see my mom later today so I'll get that part of it then. *sorry* 
When I grill peaches I slice it up and just place on the grill. They stick a bit at first to the grill but then soften up. Tast wonderful over ice cream or as a side dish.
leily---you big tease, that place sounds great and I love their web site.
Getting ready to head to Splash Universe with 3 of the kids (2 year old is staying with papa and granny) they have water slides and all sorts of stuff indoors-
all right ladies... Here is what we all had.
Appetizers (they made these for 6 people, they made enough for all of us to have one)
-Crab cakes with sauce (to die for)
-Steak Portobella mushrooms w/sauce (not bad, but I don't care for mushrooms-but the ones that did ate them all up)
-Chicken on a stick with peanut sauce (OMG!!! I could have only eaten these)
-Crab (again OMG-this was a meal but we wanted it for an appetizer so they made a plate with a piece of crab for everyone, this was my first time having it and I know it won't be this good everywhere but definitely a great place to have it)
Soups:
Creamed lobster soup
Creamed squashed soup
Dinner:
Aunt - Veal with some sort of sauce that was good (this was the first time everyone else had veal, I didn't realize I had had it before until I ate it and it took awhile to realize I had eaten it when I was in Austria.. but still good)
Cousin-Chicken on a stick, Apple, AppleSauce, Corn on the Cob, Mac N' Cheese, and Mashed Potatoes (yep she got it all!-as if she isn't spoiled enough)
Grandpa-Duck w/raspberry sauce (this wasn't to bad, but it was really rich for me so I dont' think I could have a full meal of it but a few bites were not bad
BF-Steak Fillet w/ mashed potatoes (OMG this steak he cut with a fork and I didn't even have to chew it it literally melted in my mouth, also with a sauce but I don't remember what it was)
Me and my Step grandma had the Horsradish Salmon. I don't care for Horsradish but the sauce was amazing. It was a filet of salmon over a layer of spinach layered on smashed garlic potatoes with a pile of string onion rings on top.
I had a few drinks from the bar and wow was the bartender good.
-Peach Kiss (I couldn't resist the peach flavor)
-Apple (yep a little traditional but it was one of the better ones I have had)
-The Razz (Razzberry Stoli, Godivi White chocolate, with a spash of Chambord-wow this was a great dessert)
the rest of the table had the following drinks (but of course I had to try them too!
-007 martini (grey goose vodka w/gin-shaken-no olive)
-Old Fashion
-Mint and Lime Mojito (wow I we wanted to try other mojitos but they were out of mint 
)
-margarita (nothing out of the ordinary)
Desert...
Well we were full before our entrees even came so we only did two deserts
-Death by chocolate (chocolate cake with chocolate chips, chocolate fudge icing, chocolate icing, chocolate whip cream, with chocolate sauce) unfortunately everyone at the table agreed my chocolate cake was better -theres was a little to dry for us
-Snickerdoodle cheesecake.. not what I thought it would be but it was still pretty good.
We got there at 5pm and ended up leaving at 8:30. The atmosphere was amazing, and the head chef was the one that greated us at the door and walked us through their display of speacails *the ones not on the menu* It was just so homey we all loved it even though it was expensive it was soo worth it! We ate a lot and had a lot of extras so it was a high bill but we figured we could have gotten out of there for about $20-$25pp if we hadn't had to try so many things.
And the part I liked the best was that a lot of the seasonings, vegetables, and fruits were grown in the owners garden! yep that is why they were out of mint, they had already gotten it from the garden that day and used up what they had.
so after all that explination tonights dinner just doesn't sound that grand... subway on the way home from the softball game. But it did hit the spot.
*DROOL* leily--sounds amazing my mouth is literally watering right now.
Main all the food and recipes sound so YUMMY. But I made Beef stew and fried bread tonight and I am one stuffed person...It has finally cooled down here. We may get lucky to hit 60 tomorrow. I will be making CHILI tomorrow...I was planning on it but DS got home after work and saw the stew and said you are making CHILI tomorrow aren't you.. I asked him how he knew.. He said he didn't know but he was going to buy the stuff for Chili and have me make it cause he wanted it really bad LOL And DD asked me for it 2 weeks ago when it was really hot out and I told her the first really cold day we get I will make it.... So my kids get there wish.. DH won't be really happy it isn't one of his favs but he will eat it..
leily that restaurant sounded AMAZING
Ohara the garage sale went pretty good. I got rid of alot of AVON and clothes.. I just want to strangle some people though. I never put any sign up only an ad in FRI and SAT paper.. Both said I was open at 1pm-8pm on Fri and 1pm-?? for SAT.. On Fri I got home at 12:30 to start setting stuff out and I had 2 car sitting across the street from my house waiting for me to open. The second I opened the garage door they got out of thier cars GGGGAAAHHH And on Sat. I had gone to bed at 5 am after finishing up cakes.. I got up at 7 am to take DD to do her paper route and came home and went back to bed till 11 am. DD and DS sat several people were stopping and driving by looking for the garage sale since 8 am GGAAAHH several people even went up to the garage to see if anyone was there. So I wound up starting it at noon... Can't people read???? I guess I should have stayed up with no sleep I probably would have sold it all LOL
But I did sleep in today and power lounged the rest of the day.
Ok I think I just wrote a book I better stop.
Tonight I had an ACF meeting so I ate good. I had a chicken breast stuffed with some kind of apple stuffing with spices. Pork tenderloin a mushroom apple sauce and veggies, sauteed veggies, wonderful breads!, potatoe - brocholi and cheese soup, appetizers was breshetta with salmon and scallops. I was there for a wine tasting so got to try 3 different wines with cheese and crackers also. For dessert was chocolat lava cake (it was so rich I could only eat 3 bites--tasted like chocolate butter. mmmm good) and a bite size almond cheesecake.
Signed up to work the Cattle Barrons Ball which is the main fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. I love working with the chefs and learning from them.
Hope ya'll have a good night.
Here's the bread pudding again *this time with whiskey sauce*
Bread Pudding with Whisky Sauce
2 C. stale bread cubes (french bread works best)
4 C. milk, scalded
3/4 C. sugar
1 TBSP. butter
1/4 tsp. salt
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 to 1 C. coarsley chopped pecans (optional)
Soak bread in milk 5 minutes. Add sugar, butter, salt, eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in pecans. Pour into 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Bake in pan of hot water for one hour at 350 degrees.
Whiskey sauce:
1/2 C. sugar
1/4 C. water
2 TBSP. butter
1 or 2 jiggers bourbon whiskey
Cook first three ingredients until dissolved. Remove from heat and add whiskey. Serve over bread pudding. Best served warm.
Ok I did make my chili tonight. It is a sweet chili and my kids love it. When the chili is about done I added my special ingredient brown sugar about 1/4 cup. And DS was watching me do it and kept telling me to add more. I told him no after it simmers awhile it will be perfect. So I go to the store to get more crackers. I get back and taste the chili SUPER SWEET.... GGGRRRRR DS added more sugar while I was gone. He loved it but I didn't care for it. So I added more chili powder and let it simmer forever and it tastes alittle better. He had mentioned while I was adding the brown sugar he said he wanted to get my recipe and do a chili cookoff with me. I just laughed. But when I got home and tasted what he did to my chili I wasn't laughing anymore GGGGRRRR YOU DON"T MESS WITH MAMA'S CHILI both he and DD have told me they don't like anyone else's chili. My mom's is to greasy and soupy mine is thicker and not greasy. And the schools they hate. And my MIL is ok but they don't like it. Sometimes hers is to greasy also and I think that is why they don't like it.
Tomorrow DD has girl scouts. So I am thinking taco salad. A friend of mine works at a fast food restuarant and gave me a huge bag of lettuce and I had just bought a head of lettuce. So I need to use it up.
And then I think I will make meatloaf the next day. DD has been begging for it. And I have been craving it also.
Hey guys!!!! We had jambalya and corn bread last night.
I am rather stumped though and need your help...has any of you all done a "dirty" cake? I am in need of help with "construction" LOL....if you could pm me it would be much appreciated.....oh yeah the dirty cake is of the Male genitalia.
Thanks Guys
Christi
I got your back hon. I did one. I will pm ya ASAP
Tonight was pigs in a blanket (cabbage rolls) with marinara, smashed taters and fresh green beans with butter-salt-and cracked black peppercorn.
Today is 9-11. Please remember that day. God Bless our Troops and bring them home safe.
It was cool here in good ole Ky today....high was about 79
We had chili and hotdogs with corn chips, cheese, green onions and a chocolate cake that didn't need a lick of icing 
Melissa I have never made cabbage rolls..are they hard to make?
Have a good night guys!
tonight was DiGiorno (it's not delivery) I am completely wiped out today. I had a bad experience last night. I am back to school on monday nights so it means a 2 1/2 hr drive to class, 4 hr of class, and then a 2 1/2 hr drive back (getting home about midnight and up again at 5:30 next day for work)
Well it was getting chilly here last night and I thought I cappucino sounded good, so when I filled up with gas I picked up a French Vanilla Cappucino (16oz) Now I haven't had a cappucino since February and I had a bad experience so I haven't had one since.. I thought it was just the place I got it from as I hand't gotten one from there before. Well I don't think my body can handle all of the caffiene anymore. I had it at 5pm and was very ansy all through class very shaky and couldn't sit still... I thought it was just some stress b/c of some stuff that happened. But I then started getting sick feeling and thought I was going to throw up. I ended up getting home and finally ate something at 1 in the morning and I started to feel a little better.... but I couldn't fall asleep for anything... I finally gave up and just went to lay in bed around 3 and I think I fell asleep before 4 at least... then the alarm went off at 6am (yeah I set it a little later)
So lesson learned? Don't drink to much caffiend when your body is not used to it - it will reject it and make you regret it big time. ( I don't eat candy with caffiene very often... maybe once a month at the most, usualy a candy bar every other, and I only have pop about every 2-3 weeks if we go out to eat)
Ok we were really cool here again today. In the low 70's. I have been out of sorts today cause of the day I think. I made taco salad. DD had gilr Scouts so was a rushed night.
Christi I tried to pm you this afternoon around 5 and was having problems with slow computer so I don't hink the pics went through. I am going to try again when I post this..
leily I can't live without caffine I get a headache and feel sick without it. I have the opposite as you. So now you know you can't handle it. I hope you are feeling better now....
Well I better go pm Christi
Cooler here also. We had Italian vegetable soup with crackers. Everyones dinners sound yummy. Hope you all have a great day.
DH out of town for the week 
so its every man for themselves.
Love it 
Welcome to the table Dueter!
Cool here today and I'm just tired so it's going to be either cereal or microwaved whatevers.
Welcome dueter. That is the only highlight for me when DH is out of town. No cooking for me. Enjoy.
mkolmar....maybe they put something in the air here, I am so tired tonight I just want to go to bed. I worked out in the yard all day ( after I did my morning cleaning). I could have taken a nap around 3:30 when DD came home, but I knew that wasn't going to happen.
leily...that is one long day for you. How much longer do you have? Are you just taking classes or are you working toward a degree.
wgoat...I'll take one of everything you had last night please, oh yeah and could you make my piece of cake on the large side.( ok....I can dream. This diet thing is getting old. I've hit another wall. I haven't given up though.)
Kay...girl your always rushed. How have you been feeling?
Tonight we had taco salad. DD had taco meat and cheese melted on taco chips, with sour cream. Hope you all have a good evening.
Hey guys!!! Dinner tonight is leftovers (shhoo glad it's almost over! ) Chili with cornchips, DH wanted something different....scrambled eggs with bacon bits and cheese YUCK ....
Kay thank you for your instructions! I hope you got my pm because it showed for the longest time that it was still in my box
Dueter Welcome to the table these ladies are wonderful
Leilly cappacino does the same thing to me now Hate that feeling...except I do get sick
Melissa I wish we could just have cereal one day for supper it just seems so much easier...but not really less expensive...the kids and DH can eat a couple boxes at a sitting if they wanted to LOL
Ohara don't let that wall get in your way girl...keep up the good work
Have a great night all!!! It's a beautiful COOL night here in Kentucky...hope its wonderful where you all are!
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