cooking Yay

I have always wanted to be a good cook. I dont' think I will ever be a GOOD COOK but I do try. I really enjoy it. Cooking and cleaning very therapeutic, hahaha if my friends could hear me now. I went out on a girls night out and I had sooo much fun, and came home to find my son for the first time in almost 2 years Sleeping sleeping sleeping whoa now that is a miracle. Good old daddy. A little history... Michael my son love of my life oxygen that I breathe, since he was born would fall asleep in my arms and no one else's he just would not, he would require rocking from mommy up until he was exactly once he turned 1 and that week no more rocking. However for naps he required the all famous nap ride. Everyday I have to throw Michael in the car and if even for 1 block he has to have the nap ride ARGH. I do feel somehow that is going to change soon. He actually fell asleep in his chair the other day. At night however weirdly enough and thankfully he falls asleep in his bed but.. and there is a but... or rather let's call it a butt because pain in the butt it bloody is. He falls asleep in his bed but he has to be playing with my hair or rather pulling my hair, and then he falls asleep. Now mommies who are about to have your first I will tell you what I get told all the time, don't rock him, don't take him out in the car to fall asleep just put your baby down. Ok so you know I had to tell you this, will I practice it no of course not, I yearned for this little tyke for years and if for just a few little years I have to do these crazy things like hang off the bed with my hair being pulled then so be it. Soon enough he will be pushing me away because he does not want his friends to see him with his mommy, and I am going to yearn for that hair yanking desperately. As it is he already picks his playmates over me, except when I threaten to leave hahahah. Just testing. Ok so this started about cooking right well I went out on a girl's night out and had this awesome chicken marsala and thought hmm I wish I could make this and sure enough I searched the trusty internet and found the recipe and if I say so myself it was rather tasty. Here is the recipe:

Chicken Marsala

Serving Calculator (2-24 servings)
cook: 30 min(s)
Ingredients
4 ea Chicken half-breast, boneless & skinless1/4 cup(s) Flour ("Wondra" preferably)1/2 tsp SaltPepper to taste1/2 tsp Oregano, dried4 Tbsp Oil4 Tbsp Butter (or margarine)1 cup(s) Fresh Mushrooms, sliced1/2 cup(s) Marsala wine
Pasta uncooked 1 pound
Spinach gorgonzola sauce 16 fl oz
Gorgonzola cheese 2 tablespoons
Chopped sun dried tomatoes 2 tablespoons
Balsamic glaze 2 tablespoons-->
Procedures
Pound chicken breasts between sheets of "Saran Wrap" until about 1/4" even-thicknessCombine flour, salt, pepper and oregano, blendDredge chicken pieces in the flour, shake off excessHeat oil and butter in frying pan over medium heat.Cook the breasts on medium heat for about two minutes on the first side, until lightly brownTurn breasts over to second side to cook, add the mushrooms around the chicken breastsCook breasts about two more minutes, until lightly browned on the second side, stir the mushroomsWhen lightly browned, add Marsala around the chicken pieces, cover and simmer for about ten minutes Transfer to serving plate.

yum yum yum hubby loved it. He deserved a nice meal.


I went to my friend's charity party a couple of weeks ago and there was a pampered chef rep there who made the awesomest amaretto strawberry puffs well i got lucky and found the recipe on the internet! I made them minus a key ingredient the amaretto lol, however I gave some to my friend Cheryl and as a true friend she told me they were good ;)

Here is the recipe don't forget the amaretto!

The Pampered Chef ®Strawberry Amaretto PastriesRecipe1/2 package (17.3 ounces) frozen puff pastry sheets (1 sheet), thawed1/2 cup sliced almonds, divided2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided1 orange1 container (8 ounces) sour cream1/2 cup powdered sugar1/4 teaspoon almond extract1 1/2 cups thawed, frozen whipped topping12 large strawberries, sliced1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Unfold pastry dough onto Large Round Stone. Coarsely grate half of the almonds using Deluxe Cheese Grater. Combine grated almonds and half of the sugar; sprinkle evenly over surface of dough. Lightly press almond mixture into dough using Baker's Roller®.2. Using Pizza Cutter, cut dough lengthwise into three strips; cut strips crosswise into four squares for a total of 12 squares. Using Mini-Serving Spatula, separate squares evenly over surface of baking stone. Bake 16-18 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Remove from baking stone; cool completely.3. Place remaining almonds in Small Oval Baker. Microwave on HIGH 2-3 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring after each 30-second interval; coarsely chop using Food Chopper and set aside. Zest entire orange using Lemon Zester/Scorer. Combine zest and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar; set aside.4. Whisk sour cream, powdered sugar and almond extract in Classic Batter Bowl using Stainless Whisk. Fold in whipped topping using Small Mix 'N Scraper®. Slice strawberries using Egg Slicer Plus®. Split open each pastry square; arrange half of the strawberries into bottom of each shell. Top each with about 2 heaping tablespoons of the filling and sprinkle with chopped almonds. Top with remaining sliced strawberries and sprinkle with sugared orange zest. Place tops of pastry shells over filling. Serve immediately

So good cook probably not but a good imitation is close enough ;)