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The Half-Blood Princess of Recipes

A few things you ought to know going into this post...
I LOVE TO COOK.
THE GROCERY BUDGET IS THE HARDEST TO KEEP BECAUSE I'M A FOODIE AND THINGS LIKE MANGOES AND STEAK AIN'T CHEAP.
HARMONS IS A LOT MORE FUN THAN ANY STORE AT THE MALL.

While I do love to cook, there is usually one or two days a week when I am exhausted and hangry and ready for really good food RIGHT NOW. I've (mostly) gotten past my stage of going out whenever I felt that way, and nowadays I try to muscle through that hangriness and I cook anyways. But ofttimes, Kevin asks me to put my feet up and read, or enjoy some baby snuggles while he dons the role of chef for the evening. 

Something that drives him bonkers, though, is when he follows a recipe to the T and it comes out differently than normal. I'm guilty of saying something like, "Well, babe, did you add garlic salt?"or "did you simmer for 30 minutes instead of 20" to which he responds, "Garlic salt? 30 minutes? Where does it call for garlic salt?" and I respond with a bashful half-grin, "...it's not in the recipe. I just do it that way." After at least a dozen instances of this happening, Kevin started to call me the Half-Blood-Prince (or princess) of recipes. 

If you don't get that reference, I'm sad for you, and I plead with you for your own literary benefit to read the Harry Potter series, specifically book six.

After trying a recipe once, I rarely make it the same way again. There's so much to be added, so much flavor to experiment with, different portions to test out, ingredients that must be substituted, and so forth. To help appease Kevin's stress, I've started to write my notes in the margins of our cookbooks.

So, without further adieu, here are two classic Boren family recipes that I have tweaked with a taste of Mikayla originality. ¡Disfruten!


Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Brownies
  • 2 cubes margarine
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 t. vanilla
  • 2 t. pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 t. salt
  • 1 t. baking powder
  • 1 3/4 cup flour
  • 2 cups quick or old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 350*.
Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Add oats, butterscotch chips, and half the milk chocolate chips. Spread in a greased 9" by 13" inch pan. Sprinkle with white chocolate chips and remaining milk chocolate chips. Bake 30--35 minutes until golden brown.


Ham Potato Skillet
Servings: 6 
Calories: 306 calories per serving

  • 18 slices Land'O'Frost Ham, chopped into 1 centimeter squares
  • 2 T. brown sugar
  • 2 T .butter
  • 1-2 cups sliced carrots
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup milk
  • 5 diced medium russet potatoes
  • 1/2 t. onion powder
  • 1/2 t. garlic powder
  • Dash of paprika
  • Dash of cayenne pepper
  • Dash of black pepper
Combine ham, butter, and sugar in a skillet. Cook on medium heat for a couple of minutes. Add carrots, potatoes, soup, milk, and spices. Simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Top with shredded cheddar cheese, also pairs well with freshly baked cornbread muffins. Additionally, you may add frozen green peas or corn to the mixture to incorporate more vegetables.

(calorie amount listed above not considering optional sides/toppings listed at the end of the recipe)



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