Say "Croissant"

Isaac found this recipe the other day and made us all super yummy, french toast croissants! The recipe calls for pecans, but since none of us are really pecan lovers, we just deleted the nuts...scrumptious!

Croissant French Toast with Pecans

Whisk together 3/4 cup half-and-half, 3 large eggs, and 1 tsp. vanilla extract.
Dip 4 day old croissants, halved, into mixture.
Cook 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans, 1/2 cup honey, and 2 Tbsp. butter in a saucepan until hot. Keep warm.
Melt 1 Tbsp. butter in a nonstick skillet or griddle over meduim heat. Add 4 crissant halves; cook until golden brown. Repeat.
Serve with honey mixture. Makes 4 servings.

Cottage Cheese Rolls

Ok, if you're a bread and cheese lover like me, these are like the best rolls...ever! My Mom used to make them for us when we were kids, they were always one of my favorites! I was super excited when she sent me the recipe, and Heidi was so awesome to make us all a batch! Devon LOVES:)

Yummy Cottage Cheese Rolls:
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 tablespoon butter (melted in the microwave)
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon soda
1 egg (beaten)
1 pkg yeast
1 cup flour

1. put yeast in 1/4 cup of warm water
2. mix remaining ingredients in bowl with yeast
3. let rise 30 minutes
4. grease mini muffin pan well (butter flavored crisco shortening)
5. bake until light brown
15-20 minutes

the last line of the recipe reads: *best is eaten freshly made* no problem with that here:)

Jeans and Java

Isaac found himself the perfect new job! Congrats baby! He's now the store manager for the Java Jeans Bar in Anaheim. It's a high-end denim boutique and bistro in one. Coffee, wine, gelato, denim...what else do you need?
My baby's always been a denim kind of guy. His last job required him to wear a suit and he hated that. So, first day on the job and he's already got the complimentary pair of selvage denim Diesel's. They have zero over locked seams. Everything is french (encased) or cut at the selvage edge of the fabric. These retail at $350.00 and go for up to $700 in Japan...so cute in his new jeans!
Also, those of you who have children, they're having a 60% off sale on all Junk Food tee's. You know I couldn't resist, here's the one I got for Devon...

Anaheim is lovely! While Isaac met with the owner, Devon and I were suppose to be grabbing lunch at the bistro. But, Devon feel asleep again and I ended up munching in the car while I took in these views....

The cutest little hummingbird came to drink nectar from these red flowers. It would have been the perfect nature shot , but of course as soon as the camera came out, he flew away:(

Devon woke up in like 20 minutes. Here she is cranky.... "I just woke up, so could you please not take pictures for once, Mom?"

...much happier with her gelato at the Java Jeans Bar...

~ Thanksgiving For You (and poochie too) ~

Little Pie's tiny turkey treats for your best friend:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_12&listing_id=17774833

Here's the dish I'm making for Thanksgiving (a nice alternative to your usual mashed potatoes) and can be made 1 day ahead:

Sweet Potato and Apple Puree

2 1/2 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams), peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350F. Toss first 6 ingredients into large bowl. Transfer mixture into 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Cover with foil: bake until vegetables are almost soft, about 40 minutes. Mix in apples. Cover and bake until sweet potatoes and apples are very tender, about 30 minutes longer. Cool slightly.

Transfer mixture to processor and puree until smooth. Transfer to microwave safe bowl. Cover and chill.

Stir cream into sweet potato apple puree. Microwave on high until heated through, about 4 minutes. Serve hot.

~ New Life ~

First of all, I must apologize as I have been horrible about keeping up with posts this month. We've only been in Dallas for 2 weeks now and are still adjusting to our new environment.

We love our new loft, but currently have zero furniture (which makes it a little difficult to get motivated for sewing) My mother was kind enough to lend me her sewing machine (until I can get mine out of storage) but I have no table and chair to use it. So, Devon and I have been spending our days here hanging out with my sister, my niece and shopping and eating...tough huh?

The food here is amazing! If you or your friends are ever in the Dallas Metroplex, be sure to check out these restaurants:


http://www.tillmansroadhouse.com/home.html


http://www.tavernabylombardi.com/


http://www.alodallas.com/

~ Yummy Chicken-fried Skirt Steak ~

For you meat lovers out there, this skirt steak served with asparagus and buttermilk buscuits is to die for :) I am in love with the country gravy!

Chicken-fried Skirt Steak with Country Gravy~

prep: 25 min. total: 25 min. makes 4 servings ~

1 cup beef broth divided

1/2 cup all purpose flour

4 4-to- 5 inch-long pieces skirt steak

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick ) butter

1 fully cooked breakfast pork sausage patty (about 1 ounce), finely chopped

1/2 cup whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon dried sage

pinch of ground cloves

1/3 cup chopped green onion tops


Pour 1/2 cup broth into shallow bowl. Place flour in another shallow bowl. Sprinkle steak pieces on both sides with salt and pepper. Dip steaks into flour, then into broth, then into flour again, coating each time.

Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add steaks. Saute until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate.

Pour off butter from skillet Add 1 teaspoon flour from shallow bowl. Whisk in remaining 1/2 cup broth, sausage, cream, sage, and cloves. Boil gravy until thick enough to coat spoon, whisking often, about 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Spoon gravy over steaks!

~ Yummy Spanish Omelet ~

We've been trying to mix it up at bit for dinners. Isaac and I have an agreement (he cooks dinner if I do the dishes) I also do the grocery shopping and was really getting sick of the same ol' same ol'. This week I decided to actually find some recipes and try them out (completely new territory to us) This recipe was amazing hot and served cold for lunch the next day :)

Spanish omelet with potatoes and chorizo

time to make: 30 minutes and serves 4

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 ounces Spanish Chorizo (cured sausage), sliced into thin half moons

3/4 pound red potatoes, diced

Kosher salt and peeper

3/4 cup flat leafed parsley, roughly chopped

10 large eggs, beaten

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Manchego or Sharp Cheddar

Heat oven to 400* F

Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large oven proof skillet over medium heat. Add the large yellow onion and cook for 5 minuets. Add the chorizo, potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, covered stirring occasionally until the potatoes are tender, 10 minutes, Stir in the parsley.

Pour the eggs into the skillet and stir to distribute the ingredients. Sprinkle with the Manchego and transfer to the oven.

Bake the omelet until puffed and brown around the edges and a knife comes out clean, about 15 minutes