orange and green, still reigns supreme

I mentioned these Gradful Mod Thanksgiving Fall Printables back in October.  Now see them in action on Hostess with the Mostess Part 1, The Table.

(Source)

You can click this link to see other pics of the tablescape

BUT CHECK OUT THAT AWESOME ORANGE AND GREEN ORNAMENT TREE. 

I LOVE.

That's all.

          

Chicken Pot Pie

Helloooo.  This is my second try at making chicken pot pie and I think it turned out the same but better.  :-P  There was hopefully a little bit of improvement in sort of knowing what I was doing.

EAT ME.

I basically used this Chicken Pot Pie recipe from Pillsbury and halved it.  And used a different baking dish.  (The recipe was for individual pies so they used 10-oz ramekins.)  I thought it'd be easier so use some dish, so I used a Pyrex pie plate.

Season your chicken and cook it!  I think I put some pepper, some onion powder, and some apple cider vinegar.

So I kinda didn't take pictures of the newly-improved-butter-flour-goop-ness part... but it's in the instructions.  :-P  Combine all your ingrediants and simmer until it bubbles thick.

Spread evenly in your baking dish of choice.

Open some Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers Biscuits!  *POP!* Or... some other variation of Grands or the store brand.

Distribute biscuits on top!  I split a fifth biscuirt to fill in the cracks.  Then shove into the over at 350° and bake for 20-ish minutes or until the biscuits are a golden brown.  (Everything but the biscuits should be cooked and basically edible already.)

SEE!  :-D  All finished.  Pretty easy.



Chicken Pot Pie

4 servings (Half of orginal recipe)

2 tablespoon butter

2 table + 2 teaspoon all-purpose flour

Dash of pepper

1/2 can (5 1/4 oz) condensed chicken broth

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons milk

1 cup cubed cooked chicken

2 table + 2 teaspoon chopped onion

1/2 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup sliced carrots

1/2+ can Pillsbury® Grands!® Flaky Layers refrigerated original biscuits

Additional milk, if desired

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease baking dish.

In 10-inch skillet, melt butter; stir in flour and pepper. Cook about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in broth and 3/4 cup milk; cook until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly. Add chicken, onion, mushrooms, peas and carrots; cook until hot and bubbly.

Spoon mixture evenly into ramekins. Separate dough into 8 biscuits. Press each to make 4 1/2-inch round. Place biscuit rounds on tops of filled ramekins. Cut slits in biscuit tops. Brush biscuit tops with additional milk. Sprinkle with sesame seed.

Bake 17 to 20 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.

       

CUtie CUpcakes

Whhhaa!  How cute is that?  :]  Martha (Stewart), you're so creative.  :]  (Source)

This is so cute too!  And more doable, I think!  I was thinking of making these for my small group, since we signed up for the first week of December.  hehe!  (Though I hope the snow stays away for as long as possible.)  But decided... apple oat cookies (or something less distractinly cute) might be better.  :-P  (Source)

          

so that's what that icon is for

Guess what I just learned to do??

Ok... so it's a little early-90s-esque and... not something I'd consider as classy, modern photography.  And I may have laughed at photographers who do this but I learned something new ok?

Miss Giraffe did a short tutorial on how to do black & white with effects and I learned what the History Brush Tool does!  Lets just say there are many buttons, icons, and features in Photoshop I don't use.  Because I don't know what they do.  :(  I have so many resources and websites bookmarked on Photoshop tutorials but... I always forget to look through them and try stuff.

What are some of your favorite Photoshop effects?  What cool Photoshop tips can you share?

                       

too cold for flats?

I'm pretty sure it's too cold to be wearing flats on this coast... but these caught my eye!  I definitely could use some "office" shoes though... and while I iron out my boots issue.

Hot Kiss Black Women's Corina from Famous Footwear

They're nothing spectacular but I thought that little piece of plaid fabric at the front with the bow was extra cute!  I definitely need another pair of black flats, and I wouldn't mind these!  (Looks wise... don't know fit wise.)

Flake Ballet from Payless

These just look... comfy.  :-P  Though I'm not sure how well the fur lining will hold up to sweaty feet!  I assume it's meant for going sockless?  And Payless shoes always seem to look cuter online than they do in person.  :o\

Flats are so much easier to deal with than boots.  {sigh}

           

Snack-oh was his name oh!

I know it is past Halloween.... but I just found these.  Aren't they cute?!  They're called Snack-o-Lantern Fruit Cups (no, not lame at all...)  :oP  But it's ok since they're so cute.  :]

(Source)

In other news... it is dreary, grey, yucky, rainy, cold here!  Ugh.

I had to walk a mile in it to get home.

On a full bladder.

It was highly uncomfortable.

That is all.

               

Bell Pepper Pesto Tortellini

Bell Papper Pesto Tortellini tossed in garlic and red chilli pepper flakes-infused EVOO is the proper name, but it seemed too long for this blog title.  :-P  But basically... that is what it is!  I'm kind of proud of this recipe since I came up with it all on my own and it was really tasty!  It's so suuuuper easy... it might not count as an orginal recipe.  O_O

First, run to Trader Joe's and pick up a bag or two or three of their dry tortellini.  I accidently discovered them when browsing the aisles.  (So dangerous!)  I got the pesto filled ones... though only cause I couldn't find any of their three-cheese ones on the shelf.  :(  I suuuuppose you could use fresh/real tortellini but mini ones that have shelf life is like... so much better.  Especially for a GREAT quick, ahhh-I-have-nothing-to-cook! emergency, meatless (nothing to defrost/thaw) meal.  :]  Plus, it was only $3 for the pesto one ($2 or $2.50 for the three-cheese one, I believe) and I used it for two meals.

Trader Joe's Tortellini with Pesto Filling

Boil water, cook tortellinis according to instructions.  Remember (something I don't...) the cute little mini tortillinis will EXPAND.  :-P  So about half the bag (1/2 lb) was good enough for the TWO of us for one meal.  (Though it might help to have a side dish or some garlic bread.)

Then dice up (little square bits) some red and green bell peppers.  (Both mostly for color.)

Add EVOO to a pot, enough to toss the pasta in (not for it to swim in).  Don't put too much oil and keep the heat low (about a simmer) since you don't want to fry your tortellinis or have oil speckle/splatter on you.

Add garlic and red chilli flakes (optional but so delicious if you can handle a little spicy) and let simmer for about 5-7 minutes.  You can also throw whatever spices you want in.  :oD

Tip: If you don't own or want to buy red chilli flakes, save some little packets from the next time you order a pizza  :-P

Throw in the bell peppers and let that simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until you decide it's ready!  :oP  Mostly let the garlic and chilli flakes infuse their flavors into the oil, and to soften the bell peppers (and get good flavor into them too!)

Red and green bell peppers chilling out (though I'm sure it was very hot) aka simmering in EVOO.

Hopefully by this point, your tortellinis are ready, drained and waiting!  Try not to overcook them since they kinda start to unravel and the filling falls out.

Combine the tortellini and bell peppers with EVOO.  Toss.  Eat.  Enjoy!  :-D

Bell Pepper EVOO Pesto Tortellini!

The above picture might look a little dry since all the oil probably dripped underneath the tortellinis and... I might've started eating before I remembered to take a picture.  It.  Was.  Really.  Good.  If I can say that about something I cooked.  haha.  Easy peasy and delicious!

I'm not good at the whole measuring bit (at least when I come up with recipes)... and good thing this one doesn't have too much of that... so I'll say... you should just do it.  As in... just make it up.  :oP  Or if you absolutely need some numbers for guidence... to prepare this dish for two people:

- 1/2 lb TJ Tortellini w/ Pesto Filling (adjust accordingly if you're using bigger ones or another kind)

- Half a green bell pepper, diced

- Half a red bell pepper, diced

- 1/3 cup of EVOO

- 3-4 cloves of minced garlic

- FATTY pinch of red chilli flakes, maybe two  ;]

You could probably include chicken or other veggies to bulk it up.  Like I  mentioned before, I definitely suggest having some garlic bread to go with it.  Extra deliciousness.  :-D