ACS Discovery Ball 2012

I am quite fortunate to be attending the American Cancer Society's Discovery Ball this weekend.  The invitation was completely unexpected.  I am so excited.  Here is a picture of the invitation:

I am not sure there is anything better than an event with good food, good drinks, good music, and, most importantly, for a good cause.

Wordless Wednesday

Creamy Italian Chicken

I am completely addicted to finding new recipes on Pinterest.  It is absolutely becoming a problem.  However, I have to say that I am cooking a lot more than usual during the work week.  Well, last week I found a recipe so simple that I could not not try it.  Despite my freakish obsession with grammar, I love using double negatives for emphasis.  It is also a problem.  Bonus:  it is a slow cooker recipe.  I love love love my slow cooker.  Bigger Bonus:  You put the chicken breasts in FROZEN.

1 - 8 oz package of cream cheese
1 - Good Seasons Italian Seasoning pack
1 - Cream of Chicken condensed soup
1/2 cup milk (I added this to ensure that the chicken stayed moist)
1/2 bag frozen peas (I added this because I had them in the freezer)
3 FROZEN boneless skinless chicken breasts

Put the cream cheese and cream of chicken in the slow cooker on high for 20 minutes.  The heat will make mixing the two much easier.  Mix in the Italian seasoning and frozen peas.  Put the frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts in and make sure that they are completely covered with the sauce.  Pour 1/2 cup milk over the chicken.  Cover and cook on high for 6 hours.

The biggest worry I have when cooking chicken in a slow cooker is that the chicken breasts will be dry. Not the case here - seriously moist chicken breasts in a delicious creamy sauce.  I will absolutely make this recipe again.

See Ya Windy City!

Florida isn't so much a place where one goes to reinvent oneself, as it is a place where one goes if one no longer wished to be found.

Doug Coupland

Wordless Wednesday: Macy's On State 2012 Flower Show

How to Peel and Cut a Butternut Squash (and a recipe for a delicious dinner)

There is a first time for everything.  Last night I peeled and cut a butternut squash for the first time.

I often use fresh squash in recipes, but I ALWAYS cheat and buy the pre-cut squash mainly because I am in a hurry and I think, "I will save so much time not having to peel and cut the squash myself."  Well, the price difference  finally got to me:  $1.49 for the entire squash (about 2-3 lbs) OR $5.49 for 1 lb cut.  Come on now, I am busy, but am I really too busy to cut up my own squash?  Answer:  No.

Now, there is one cooking rule I always follow:  don't reinvent the wheel.  When faced with new tasks, I always check out cooking websites, blogs, and, of course, Pinterest, for best strategies.  This task was no different.   After a few searches, I decided to employ the technique recommended on a Simply Recipes post.

I planned to take pictures, but I completely forgot.  Just as well because my squash cutting skills definitely don't compare to the skill illustrated on Simply Recipes.  Even though I didn't have a heavy duty peeler (I know - how did I get through a couple of bridal showers and a wedding registry without one of those?), I still found the technique to be very easy to duplicate!

So, on to the delicious dinner:  Hungry Girl's Chicken Sausage n' Squash Pack.  (Are you familiar with Hungry Girl?  Subscribing to Hungry Girl's Tips and Tricks was a GREAT decision.)  Here is the recipe (makes 2 servings):

Prep:
1) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2) Take a large piece of foil, lay it on a baking sheet, and spray it with nonstick spray (I used PAM butter flavor)

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix 3 cups cubed butternut squash with 1/4 teaspoon dried ground sage, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon salt.  Lay the mixture on the center of the piece of foil.

Cover the butternut squash with:

2-3 links of fully cooked chicken sausage any flavor so long as it is under 8 grams of fat or less per 3 oz serving (to keep it healthy).  I picked up Amy's sun dried tomato chicken sausage from Whole Foods.
1 cup chopped apple (I used a Honeycrisp apple)
1/2 cup chopped onion

Fold together and seal all four edges of the foil pieces, forming a well sealed packet.  Bake for 45 minutes or until squash is tender (45 minutes was perfect for my oven).

IMPORTANT:  Cut packet to release steam before opening the packet entirely.

Here is my picture of the delicious meal (I am still working on my food photo taking skills):

Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts

While I blogged HERE about not being "foodie" material, that is not to say that I do not like good food.  There are several types of food that, as an adult, I feel completely comfortable saying "I do not like."  Recently, I was quite annoyed with my husband because he refused to try a particular dish because he did not like the main ingredient, white fish.  My argument for him trying "just a little bite" was that he had never had fish prepared in a similar manner.  He still refused.

In an effort to practice what I preach, I am attempting to find recipes for ingredients that I allegedly do not like.  First attempt:  brussel sprouts.

Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy recently posted a recipe for oven roasted brussel sprouts that consisted of three ingredients and about 10 minutes of prep time.  PERFECT.  How can I lose by trying it once?

Well, I didn't lose at all.  The brussel sprouts were so yummy!  I will definitely be making them again!  Thank you, Lindsey!

Here is a picture of my brussel sprouts (new goal:  improve quality of food photographs):

The Hunger Games: Part II

Me . . . As I previously mentioned in my last post, I have been eagerly awaiting the first cinematic installment of The Hunger Games trilogy since finishing the books last year.  Well, I was not disappointed but one of my friends was!  I fully recognize that a book cannot be put on the silver screen with all of its magnificent details unless moviegoers are willing to sit through an eight hour film.  I found the adaptation to be just fine.  I didn't give a lot of thought to the casting before I went to see the movie (except that I KNEW Elizabeth Banks would make a fabulous Effie (and she DID)), but I was especially pleased with Woody Harrelson as Haymitch and Lenny Kravitz as Cinna.  Also noteworthy:  the hair, make-up, and costumes.  Bravo!  For the extreme fans, did you see this recent CNN Travel article:  "North Carolina lures 'Hunger Games' fans?"  (I have to admit, I wouldn't mind visiting some of those sites!)

The disappointed friend . . . . well, I think the largest contributing factor to her disappointment was the fact that she finished the book shortly before going to the film.  When you have all of the well written details fresh in your mind, the natural expectation is that you will see them on the big screen.  When you don't, it is, well, disappointing.

The friend who didn't read the books and never wants to . . . REALLY LIKED IT.

So overall, I would highly recommend it.  Especially for a date movie - action, romance, a little comedy - something for everyone.

The Hunger Games: Part I

I can't hold in my excitement any longer.  I am going to see the first installment of The Hunger Games movie trilogy tomorrow!  Pumped does not even begin to describe it.  I read all of the books nearly an entire year ago.  I really enjoyed each one of them.  In fact, I enjoyed them so much that I read all three books in less than one week (and I was working full-time).  It made me feel so accomplished (even though the books have a middle school reading level).  I have spent so much time trying to convince my friends to borrow my copies so that they can enjoy The Hunger Games craze, too.  "Trust me, you will like them.  I PROMISE!"

I know most of the United States has already experienced the newest cinematic hit, but I am very picky about going to blockbuster movies.  While ordinarily I want to be "part of it all,"  I cannot stand to have people (mainly young ladies) talking and squealing during a movie.  So, I prefer to wait about a week after opening night to see the movie for myself.  The downside?  After a week of hearing how fabulous something is, I can hardly wait to purchase my ticket and find my seat.

To Be or Not To Be a Foodie . . .

Chicago is a great place to live if you like dining out.  I am sure you are thinking, "yeah, tell me something I don't know."  Well, sometimes you have to state the obvious.  But seriously, there are so many options that a person is easily overwhelmed when faced with the duty of planning a birthday dinner.  Recently, my husband had exactly that responsibility (yes, I am one year older).  He surprised me with dinner at Charlie Trotter's.  The basis of his decision?  Charlie Trotter's is closing after 25 years of providing foodies with food.

Charlie Trotter's is located on Armitage (a great shopping street) in Lincoln Park.  From the moment that we arrived, we were treated like superstars.  The dinner was amazing.  It was more than amazing, it was an experience.  I can understand how people look forward to these food experiences - even going as far as to travel long distances to dine at these restaurants.  Personally, I find food to only be part of a travel experience, not THE experience.  I don't know how one becomes a "foodie," but I don't think it is for me.  However, that does not mean that I won't be framing my personalized Charlie Trotter's menu.  :)