Health issues and cooking

Well it looks like I had to finally give in and go to the doctor about my gall bladder. Good thing I went when I did.  I have been having a constant gallbladder attack for the past 2 weeks now. 

I go in on Monday for laprosocpic surgery to have it removed.  The doctor lectured me that I let it go way to long before seeking help.  3 years of attack after attack I should have consulted my doctor.   He threw out some numbers that were scary to me about the fact that I have left it go for so long. 

The biggest thing that is going to change is the way I cook, and eat.   I need to take care of my self and the people I love.   If one of those ways is making sure they are eating nutritional meals and taking care of my self at the same time then that is one step I can do.

I need to do a lot of learning on things I can and can't or shouldn't eat after this surgery.  Any suggestions or help is appreciated. 

Major changes in my life

Many things have been changing in my life.  I had posted a previous post about having time for your family.  Well my family has changed.  I am in the process of a divorce and I am finding new things in my life!  I have discovered a new meaning behind the word "LOVE".  I am learning how a true friend will always love you.  That those true friends might actually be that "love" you needed. 

I am finally going to start re-blogging I need to start sharing my happiness in my life.  Things are really turning around in my life and its time i start showing and sharing it with the world again!   Keep checking back for future updates and creations... -  Those dreams are coming out again!  I will return!

Creamy tomato basil chicken and pasta

Creamy tomato basil chicken with pasta

2 LBS pounded flat chicken breasts lightly floured and sauteed salt and pepper when done
Allow to rest while sauce and pasta cook on back of stove where the heat stays. 

One small container of Philadelphia cooking cream original
1 pint of heavy cream
1 tbsp of minced garlic
10 fresh basil leafs
1 1/2 cup of cherub tomato (or grape, cherry )
fresh ground pepper
2tbsp of flour
3tbsp Olive oil
1/2 cup fresh grated parm cheese

add flour and oil to pan then place on heat after it is combined add garlic  add parm cheese and philadephia cooking cream combined, add in 1/2 of the heavy cream stir to combine add remainder of cream simmer while pasta cooks. just before you drain pasta add basil to sauce (you can shread basil or keep whole ) add fresh ground pepper
Campanile pasta, (Cook in salted water as directed) - Drain all but 1 cup of pasta water

Add 1 hand full of the  tomatoes sliced in half  to the pasta and remainder water.  and 1/4 cup olive oil and fresh ground sea salt.

My Heritage - and a request for YOUR help!

My sister spent 2 weeks burning the midnight oil on Ancestry.com working on extending our family tree branches back to its roots.  She was attempting to find Irish heritage since she was going to be taking a trip to Ireland.  Where she is right now!-  She did not have luck finding Irish blood in our tree.   She did how ever find that our family roots back in this town for many many generations.  More than likely we were one of the first settlers in the area.  Once she made it further she found most all of our heritage comes from Germany.  







This makes so much sense to me looking at the style of cooking my grandmother had.    The home made noodles that remind me that of the German's spaetzle.

All of these things coming in to play I have decided to get my hands on a GOOD German cook book.  When I do get my hands on one that seems authentic that is actually in English ... (Even tho I took 3 years of German in school I'm not sure I could manage my way around a cook book)  I am going to cook and post many items from said cook book.

If anyone out there in blog land - knows of any REALLY good German cook books.  I would love names, suggestions, or even ideas.

Thank you for any help in advanced!!-

picture borrowed from http://www.vipnyc.org/page/7/

Spring is just around the corner

This rainy morning has me longing for the dog days of summer.  You know.  Those days when the gardens are booming with vegetables.  Food sizzling on the grill.  I sure wish that the weather would calm down and give us some nice days.  I have big dreams for my garden this year.  I found these wonderful carrots at the farmers market last year.  They were all different colors.  It was amazing!  I loved them.  I am wanting to plant some of them.  The picture above has potatoes that were 4 different colors. That makes it so nice to the eye when you sit down to chicken and roasted potatoes and you don't have all off white food on the plate.

May the days of weather like this soon be behind us.  To the left of that little shed is where my Garden is.  Behind that shed rests my two Lilac bushes. -  Mind you this is not what it looks like outside.  Today the ground is flooded with water and is so saturated it is running like a river in my  yard

Oh you pretty flowers that grow along my road I can't wait to see you again! 

I know its to early for blooming flowers but I'm ready when they are.!!!!

Lets get growing !

Gadgets and Toys Of a Cooking Mom

I have been compiling a list of wants, desires, and just things I would like to have.  I don't often buy things for my self.   I have never been raised to do the "I want this, I want that, give me give me give me. "   How ever I have things that would either make things in life just a little easier.  Perhaps encourage me to bake more, or things I bake might turn out a little better.  One of those items my work has recently compiled donations from fellow employee's and placed one in our break room.  I LOVE IT! I made my donation knowing I would use it.

I am pretty much the only person in my house that consumes coffee on a regular bases.  I would want to get the nice little pod you refill yourself.  I just think how nice would it be.. plop the pod in the maker press a button and caffeine ingestion commence.  I do think it would be better to just take on my caffeine like this - 

I think we should be able to drive  up to our local star bucks and order up one of these.

My other wish and desire is to have a kitchen aid stand mixer (and a bigger kitchen so i can store all of these wonderful things ).  I would like to have the pasta attachment that attaches to it. 

Now putting all of these items in a kitchen that say I design would be just wonderful but I live in reality and well like I said these are my dreams. 

Or even better something more like this one

Oh now I can't forget .  I do have this love for wine.  I enjoy a nice glass of wine with a wonderful dinner.  I enjoy it in the summer and fall as a great way to unwind the day.  This is my contribution to that lust for wine.

So when that day comes that I win the lotto and I am done giving to everyone else.. these are the things I want to get.  Oh and one last thing. 

If I have a endless supply of money I would get a cleaning service. 

Having fun with google

So today I was just sitting reading my facebook and someone posted an address of a street in Pittsburgh with some instructions on using google maps.  So I look it up and follow the instructions , laughed then looked around.  Eventually I had to google what I was seeing there were so many CRAZY things on this one street.  Needless to say it was a set up.  Carnegie Mellon University fine arts student set up a big event to happen down a street that the "google mobile" was going down.  It was hilarious.  Being as I am located not far from Pittsburgh this meant a lot to me and amused me.  I honestly found so much humor in this ! I ask you to take a tour around this little street in Pittsburgh enjoy a laugh.   So just do as a friend of mine told me and google map Sampsonia Way, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania .  Take a stroll up and down the street investegate the side streets to especially at "firemensway "  Post gazett's news artcle about it