Skip to main content

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)



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Problem with Chick Flicks.

I really, really, really enjoy a select few movies that I willingly watch over and over again. Pride and Prejudice is one of them. You see, Elizabeth's defense of her family, her sense of self respect, her ability to admit that she was wrong and to appreciate Darcy despite all his quirks, and quizzical brow-ness... it's marvelous. My husband doesn't share the sentiment, could you tell? ... and that's okay. There's rare a chick flick I enjoy near as much as I enjoy Pride and Prejudice or A Walk To Remember , and I wanted to explain why. You see, there's more than just a few problems with (many, not all) chick flicks:  (and if you have a chick flick that escapes many of these pitfalls then please oh please leave it's title in the comment section!) The heroine (or suitor) is less than honorable. I have a hard time rooting for a girl to get a gentleman when she's spending her time being scandalously loose with other men ( #thenotebook) . An...
10 comments
Read more

Where's Number Three

A neighbor in her mid-thirties. A woman in her seventies. Their single commonality? They both asked me: Where's number three? I have a son, his name Charlie And then McKay, he's not quite three In my heart, both fit perfectly Yet others ask: Where's number three? Perhaps it's that I miscarried, My spouse's infidelity, The ache of infertility, A battle raging mentally, Illness on a crippling spree, Our family is complete, maybe. The reason's one or more of these, Yet you dare ask: Where's number three? In this question, running free Are judgements, jeering icily "You're not enough, Mik, can't you see? Buck up and give us number three!" I used to flounder, squirm, agree Or curl up small, cry, and plead. With time, I've seen things differently. I won't explain for number three. The questions of maternity Are just between my spouse and me And Parents, guiding Heavenly So please don't ask: Where's number three? Artwork Credit: Be...
4 comments
Read more

Things I Look Forward To

In my High School yearbooks, the students of the graduating class each year got to choose a quote to accompany their picture. I'm pretty sure mine was by Dr. Seuss, but to be honest, I can't rightly recall. However, I distinctly remember a quote that my friend, Cami, included beneath her picture, I've thought of it often throughout the years: "I believe the secret to life is someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to." -Elvis Presley I've found a lot of truth in that. I'm a lucky girl, and I've never had a shortage of people to love--and honestly, I can't think of a day when I haven't had plenty of things to do (or should do). But when I find myself in an emotional slump, I sometimes think of this quote. It doesn't always work, because heartaches and letdowns are real, but often my spirits have been cheered when I remember something wonderful coming up in my life. Here's a few I've got cooking in my look...
3 comments
Read more