Thursday, March 28, 2013

chicken & dumplings



I cant just "write" a recipe.. I have to make it, and write it while Im doing it, than go back later to finish the post. I never remember what I put in or how much! Im all hands on. So- Today we had chicken & dumplings for dinner! Although, today I realized i use biscuits, not the dumpling recipe.... Ive never personally tried it, I just love biscuits! Holla!

I started with a whole chicken, 6 (maybe 7) stalks of celery and carrots in the pressure cooker. Just threw them in whole after being washed; yes... i washed the chicken! Someone told me recently about washing their meat (baaahaha i can only think of sex when i hear this!) One whole onion, peeled and 1 whole "bulb" of garlic! You don't even have to take it apart if you're using a pressure cooker, which I am! Set the time to cook for 45 minutes if your chicken is frozen and 25 if its thawed. Let the pressure lower, open it up and let cool! I threw the celery out.  While the chicken cooled enough to take out and pull apart I started the biscuits.

Biscuits:
2C organic unbleached flour
1T baking powder
1/4t salt
1/2c coconut oil
1C ice cold water (may need more or less, go slow!!!)

Add the dry ingredients in a bowl, and than cut the oil in. I use a fork, I find it easier. After you've accomplished to make it look like a lumpy mess, hollowish out the middle, and add the water, SLOWLY! I started with 3/4c and ended up using 1 1/2c. Lightly toss that together, and dump the bowl on the counter. Knead the dough 3 or 4 times, until its all incorporated and not too doughy. From there I checked on the chicken, shredded it. I used the same pot from the pressure cooker to cook on the stove. Add the chicken back to the broth and add 6 cups water. Put in about  3T. pepper and salt. Bring the soup to a boil, wet your hands and start to take pieces of dough and roll them into balls and drop them carefully into soup. I did about 15, made the first ones bigger, since they'd cook longer while I was rollin! When your done, cover that baby up and turn the heat/fire down to LOW! Leave it covered for 8 ish minutes... I left it on 10 and mine came out a little over done! The trick is DO NOT TAKE THE LID OFF until they are DONE. Once you take it off, you're committed and they wont cook the same anymore. Trust me.  

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

MommyLocs & the Three Complainers

everynight  ok ok.. lets get real. Not everyone makes dinner e-v-errry night, right?  or maybe you do? I can tell you that I honestly dont and Ive tried and tried and tried again... Its.SO.hard! ill tell you why; my kids are SPOILED! one wont eat this, the other isn't hungry. i cater to all of their needs. separate chorizo out of the pan so it doesnt get mixed with eggs, than mix that with beans to make a burrito! what in the hell am I thinking!?!?   NOT anymore! this mama is DONE-ZO! 


Tonight is hamburgers! YUM!! I cant wait to eat some fancy sauce! sweet, delicious & savory homemade fancy sauce.  Look for recipe to follow.

Jalapeño Popper Dip

This morning I woke up feeling refreshed & ready to cook. Rollin with 2 extra kids, sick hubby & teething very unhappy 5 month old what.was.i.thinking! I really wanted to get things cleaned up around the main living level & upstairs... My A.D.D was going off all kinds of crazy! I kept having to remind myself it's ok & cool...

I started with the dip and figured I could clean while the meat was cooking for the lasagna. (Here's that ADD thing again! Who knew lasagna was on the menu ?!?) I had a friend coming into town and wanted things done so we could have a great time together, and not worry about feeding my Klan! The popper dip done, mess clean and baby fed! Whoop Whoop! I was on-a-ROLL! (#ROLLTIDE!) The lasagna was made in a quickness and thrown into the fridge for later.... good thing I was a planner!


This dip I've made a handful of times, after the first time I made it....it was a request for parties/dinners & get togethers. Every time I make it different, not on purpose... I never follow a recipe & I for sure don't measure a thing!

-24 oz cream cheese
- 7-8 jalapeno's (NOT onAstIck bahah) (i used canned a few times, the fresh was better!)
-1/2c mayo
-1 c grated motzerella cheese
-4 palm fulls of parsley (or tablespoon)
-2 ^ ^ Each garlic & onion powder
-1 ^ ^ Dill
-Panko bread crumbs (enough to cover top of dip)
-bacon! No set amount- as much or little as you like (cooked crispy & chopped)
Sprinkle of salt & pepper



I always tell people I dont measure, so here's my method! 





Mix all the ingredients together, usually let the cream cheese sit out for a few hours to soften, add the herbs and let it sit! while thats going, grill/roast the jalapeños, however you prefer. I did it on the stove in a cast iron pan, took about an hour, keeping the heat on very low, simmer even! put a wet paper town in a zip lock & toss the jalapeños in the baggie for like... 30 minutes or so.. they'll be WAY easier to peel! you.are.welcome!










I never got the end pictures, it was gone soon after being cooked! This made A LOT! 

Bake @ 400 for about 15 minutes or until the bread crumbs on top are golden! Serve with Chips!



Monday, March 25, 2013

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo!

On the last few of our drives we saw the signs for the zoo... I wanted to go, so bad... I could almost smell the animal shit ahahaha. seriouslly! I wanted to take the kids SOOO badly! We went up there once, I got some info, and decided on opening day of the africa stuff, we.are.going!


The giraffes are the first animals you see! You cant help but see them. They're HUGE and everywhere!!! They must be stupid cheap hahaha




a little piece of A2theZ

A high of 60 the weather.com says.... so off we drive, heading west cuz.. west is the best! 





 We drove all over the mountains! First was Helen hunt falls. You don't have to pay and can hike through the creek up the mountain to the falls. There are tons of other trails, and more "civilized" trails. 
We didn't drive any further west/ up the hill from there we headed south & checked out some creepy little camp ground and ended up in the hills have eyes country! Creeeeeepy!



 There were a lot of things to do there, although..mostly climbing on rocks, up creeks or steps! The frozen water falls were beautiful.


 Cant beat a photo op! My brother & I and Hubs & I 
brother husbands lmfao
 i always... always always have something to say about sister wives. I see a couple together, who probably isnt even a couple at all! But... Im like oh look! they have a sister wife!!! I LOVE love LOVE the idea of having a sister wife. until it concerns my family... hahahahhahaha. these woman ALL have sex with the same man, but get offended when someone asks if they have orgies? STFU! Come on now, be real!  I joke when we're all out together and tell the "guys" they look like a gay couple with their kids hahah its so funny. other people have over head and laughed... than when they're CAUGHT laughing, they are all ike "you said it" ya, cuz its true hahahaha. i totally appreciate the help. i love that my husband will baby wear! its great for bonding and she loves  it.... and its easy for hikes! we love it!



We found a piece of Arizona while driving around a few days ago!
Literally a piece of home!

Alfonso's!
Of course we went back and had lunch! Same family owns it & it was JUST as delicious... If not better. Jk Brenda! Hahahahaha! seriously though... i want some now after blogging about it! hahaha.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Take a little trip with us!


Today we set out on a mission, Manitou Incline! We pretty much knew that we werent going to get up the whole way, not with our kids and especially not in this shape! but... we wanted to try and see how far we would get. I packed a snack and off we went!
The drive is B-E-A-UTIFUL!  SO.. WE PASSED IT! 
HAHAHAHA


No, seriously though. We drove through Manitou & never say a sign. I figured there MUST be a sign. We ended up driving to Woodland Park. It was a cute town, city maybe? Anyway, its literally in the mountains! We had so many options from there, where to go... ? We asked a few people and decided back.. we're goin, going... back back.. to Manitou! hahaha!

We had an amazing lunch at Hells Kitchen! Great pizza, atmosphere and staff (of one! haha) but for real, the pizza is authentic NY style, it was GREAT! 


Okay, Okay! Here's the fun stuff! We headed down the street to a park. First thing I see, a group of hippie/hipster/kids/homeless looking fucks... thats all I can use to describe them! I tried snapping some pics but... oh well hahah. next time! We did have a blast there! 



Now... This toy/contraption.. All I could hear was screaming! Hahahaha... 







We walked around the town, went in some shops, checked shit out. The locals in most of the shops were assholes, Im assuming because we're not "locals" what-the-fuck-over! my $ is local enough for you to take though right? hippie-sonsa-bitches! 

We decided to take a little mountain drive and head to seven falls


Then... drove to Cheyenne Moutain Zoo.. for a peek!
Those are GIRAFFES! I was amazed! 

On the way home ...