Cinnamon Roasted Almonds

Check out my crazy 1962 countertop. Nice amoebas, eh?

Okay, important stuff first. You must make these. Don't like almonds? Use pecans. peanuts, cashews. WHATEVER. Just make it.

You know when you go to the fair, or sporting events, and they have the roasted nuts covered in cinnamon sugar? Well, this is the homemade version. And they.are.awesome!

I daresay they'd even be a cute food-related gift for the upcoming holidays! Put them in a nicely decorated jar, and you're ready to go!

I will warn you I had trouble finding a big bag of plain almonds. People tell me the warehouse clubs have them, but I had trouble with my grocery store and Walmart. Just a warning!

And I think 4 cups of almonds is just shy of 1.5 lbs. If that helps.


Cinnamon Roasted Almonds
(Kara's Kitchen Creations)

1 egg white
1 tsp water
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups whole almonds
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions
- Beat the egg white, water, and vanilla in a large glass bowl until frothy.
- Stir in the almonds to coat
- Mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt and cinnamon together and sprinkle over the almonds, stirring until well coated.
- Pour onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
- Bake at 250 degrees F for 60-90 minutes, stirring occasionally


- You want the almonds to be toasted, but don't let them burn!

Gundy's Breakfast Casserole

I was in the mood for something "different" for our weekend breakfast this week, and when I came across this recipe at Pennies on a Platter I thought it fit the bill! (Plus, it made a lot, so I hoped I could take leftovers for breakfast during the workweek!)

This casserole was good, but it wasn't as good as I'd anticipated. I used frozen hash browns (the recipe didn't show a preference) and they stayed a little mushy under all that egg. I also think it needs some kick...this is definately a base recipe, and probably some peppers or hot sauce would be awesome with it.

It was tasty -- I just think the eggs, sausage, and hash browns would've been tastier as three separate entrees.

Gundy's Breakfast Casserole

(Pennies on Platter)

16 ounces hashbrowns or tater tots (I used frozen shredded hashbrowns)

1 cup sour cream

1 cup cream of xxx soup (I used chicken)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I used a mix of cheddar and a mexican blend)

1 diced onion

1 lb. breakfast sausage (I used turkey sausage links, and chopped them up finely. I also put them in uncooked...I keep thinking it'd be a better consistency if they'd have been cooked)

10 eggs

3/4 cup milk

Directions

- Spray casserole dish (I used a 9x13) with cooking spray and place hashbrowns/tater tots in the bottom of the dish.

- Mix together sour cream, cream of xxx soup, cheese, onions, and sausage

- In a seperate bowl, beat eggs and mix in milk

- Combine egg mixture with the sour cream mixture and pour over the hashbrowns/tater tots

- Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (or until done).

First Wedding Anniversary

Today is our first anniversary. It's hard to believe we've been married a year...and bought a house within that year, as well!

Menu Mondays

Hopefully a pretty normal week before the holiday craziness begins!

Sunday: Gundy's Breakfast Casserole and Cinnamon sugar almonds
Monday: Out to dinner for our anniversary
Tuesday: Steak, broccoli, pasta
Wednesday: Soup, salad, and breadsticks night (Zuppa Toscana soup, fresh salad, garlic breadsticks -- who needs the Olive Garden?!)
Thursday: Spaghetti
Friday: Leftovers

More "Green" Cleaning

I have a few more "green" or natural, cleaning recipes to share with you -- but these are the ones I haven't had a chance to try yet.

If you try any of them, let me know how it works!

Window Cleaner
16 oz. spray bottle
Club Soda

- My notes say this is very good for interior windows and mirrors. Depending on what has been used in the past, you may experience streaking the first time or two of use. Once the old film from previous products is gone, the glass will sparkle.

Dust to Dust (Furniture Polish)
Olive oil (light)
Vinegar
Lemon Essential Oil
Water
16 oz. squirt bottle

- Put 2 teaspoons olive oil in the bottle, add 20 drops essential oil, and 1/4 cup vinegar. Fill the rest of the bottle with purified water. Shake well. Good for weekly dusting or mopping. Shake before each use.

Leather Polish
Olive oil
Vinegar
8 oz. Squirt bottle

- 2 parts olive oil and 1 part vinegar. Shake well. Cleans and conditions leather couches, car seats, purses, jackets, and books. Shake well, squirt, then rub. Buff dry with a soft cloth.

Brass and Copper Cleaner
Flour
Vinegar
Salt
Large plastic or glass bowl and spoon

- Mix 2/3 cup vinegar and 2/3 cup flour. Stir until smooth. Add 1/2 cup salt and stir until mixed.
- Spoon the mixture onto copper pots. You want a nice sticky/smooth layer to stay on the metal. Leave on at least 2 hours or even overnight.
- This goop will turn green when it is working
- Rinse off and wipe clean. Finish with a tab of olive oil to prevent further tarnishing.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Liquid Castille Soap
Baking Soda
Vinegar
Tea Tree Oil
Water
22 oz. Squirt bottle

- Mix 1/2 cup liquid Castille soap and 2 cups baking soda together. Work out any lumps with a fork.
- Dilute with 1/4 cup water and add 2 tablespoons vinegar to make foam. Add 1/2 teaspoon tea tree oil, mix, and pour into a 22 oz squirt bottle. Shake well before using.
- Squirt the cleaner inside the toilet on and under the rom and on the seat. Use a high quality toilet brush inside and a sponge for the rims and seats. Rinse with a scented vinegar if you like.

Tub and Tile Cleaner
Baking Soda
Liquid Castille soap
Vinegar
Water
22 oz. squeeze container

- Mix 1 2/3 cup baking soda with 1/2 cup liquid Castille soap in a bowl. Dilute with 1/2 cup water. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar last. Stir until the limps are gone. If you can pour into the container easily then you have the right consistency. Shake well before using.

Room Deodorizer
Mix in a clean spray bottle:
4 tablespoons baking soda
1 quart warm water

- Spray into the air, or onto carpets.

Citrus Surface Cleaner
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Baking Soda
2 teaspoons sweet orange essential oil

- Blending Procedure: using a small food processor, process the baking soda and borax until smooth. Add the essential oil and process further until smooth and free of lumps.
- Store in a glass or heavy plastic airtight container
- To use, dampen dirty area, put on gloves to protect your skin and nails. Scoop Citrus Surface Cleaner using your chosen cleaning utensil (rag, paper towel, etc) and clean the area until sparkling. Use more mixture for stubborn stains, less for minor stains.

Antiseptic Soap Spray
Liquid Castille soap
Purified water
Tea Tree Oil
16 oz trigger spray bottle

- Fill the bottle almost full of water and then 3 tablespoons liquid castille soap. Add 20-30 drops of tea tree ol. Shake to mix.
- Squirt on laundry, doorknobs, bathtub, toilet seats, etc.

Floor Cleaner
White distilled vinegar
Water
Essential oil
16 oz. squirt bottle

- Equal amounrs vinegar and water, 15-20 drops essential oil (reccommend pure peppermint)
- Squirt onto the floor and mop or clean with a rag. Also can be used to cut soap scum in tubs and sinks.

Laundry Detergant Powder
In a large bucket with a lid , mix the following:

Equal amounts of washing soda (NOT baking soda. Washing soda is sold in the laundry aisle), and borax (reccommended ratio: 3 boxes of washing soda to 2 boxes of borax, to make it equal)
2 cups baking soda
4 bars grated Fells Naptha soap
drops of essential oil (reccommended: cedar wood, lavendar, eucalyptus, pine, spruce, and tea tree all mixed)

- Mix well with a large spoon, or close lid and shake
- Reccomended amount for use: about 1/8 cup per load.

Laundry Detergant Liquid
1 cake of soap (must be vegetable-oil based)
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax
8-10 liters water

- Heat water to dissolve ingredients. Allow to cool before use. Glycerin can be added. Use vinegar in the rinse water.

Fabric Softener
2 cups vinegar
2 cups baking soda
4 cups warm water plus essential oil

-- No amount is given with this recipe per load!

Spicy Orange Air Freshener
5 drops orange essential oil
2 drops cinnamon essential oil
4 oz. distilled water

- Put distilled water in a spray bottle, add essential oils and shake well. Spray as needed in rooms or at your work desk to refresh the air.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

I've said before how much I love Picky Palate. But I don't care, I'm saying it again -- I love Picky Palate!

She always takes nice photographs, and her meals are fantastic for weeknights.

This week I made her chicken cordon bleu casserole. DH says it's tasty, and to put it "on the rotation" -- we have a winner, ladies and gents!

I used all mozzerella and cheddar tonight, because it's what I had on hand...but I reeeeeeeeally think the shredded Swiss would make it taste more like actual Chicken Cordon Bleu.

And, as always...casseroles don't photograph well. Just trust me, it's tasty and it's quick (with a little prep work).

Cheesy Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

(Picky Palate)

6-8 servings

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 red bell pepper, diced
1 clove fresh garlic, minced

1/2 lb. diced ham

2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

14 oz. can chicken broth

3 cups cooked rice

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup mozzarella or swiss cheese (I think I would recc: 1/2 cup mozz, 1/2 cup shredded swiss)

Directions

- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

- Heat oil in a large, rimmed skillet over medium heat

- Add onion and bell pepper; saute until softened, about 5 minutes

- Stir in garlic, ham, and chicken, cook for an additional 5 minutes

- Melt butter then stir in flour, salt, and pepper until combined (I melted the butter in the microwave and just added it to the pan)

- Slowly stir in chicken broth until well combined

- Stir in cooked rice, then transfer to a 9x13 baking dish.

- Top with cheddar and mozz/swiss cheeses

- Bake 20-25 minutes. Cover the dish with foil for the last 10 minutes for oozing cheese