A Magazine Recipe - Spicy Bread Alert!

I flip through myriads of foodie magazines at home, I always peruse through them at the checkout (annoying the man behind me as I hum and ha about purchasing yet another) I sometimes scribble out notes while in the doctors office (because I feel bad ripping out the pages) and yet I can honestly say with all the recipes I see on almost a daily basis I have yet to actually make any of them.

This changes when I spied a focaccia recipe in the October issue of Canadian Living yesterday.
I love all things bread.
My favorite smell is freshly baked bread steaming from the oven.
I burn my fingertips trying to be the first to taste it with a slab of butter.  And it doesn't matter how many times that happens, it will be a constant, it will never change!

Did you know that most artisan breads are best if let to rest at least 30 minutes prior to slicing?
Pffft that may totally be true but this gal doesn't wait for someone else to have the first piece!

My bread maker sits on a shelf in my kitchen collecting dust.  I like to make it by hand(ish).
This recipe peeked my interest with some bold flavors of chipotle and aged cheddar.
Sounds right up my alley!
And boy was it, burning fingers and all.

Normally my breads are mixed, risen and baked all in one day so when I realized I had to proof overnight it was a little depressing.  I hoped I wouldn't wait all night long only for it to be rock hard (ever have that happen?  I have). 
Success!  Totally worth the wait my friends.

I'm Listening To: Workin for the Weekend - Loverboy

Pesto Chicken Pizza, Because SOMEONE Gave Up Pork

Mr. BM has given up pork.
GAAHHHH I KNOW!

Who in their right mind wants to give up pulled pork, pork chops, country ham, BACON??!!  BACON of all things?!
He told me he watched something on tv that made him think he should give it up.
Now, I'm all for personal choice, as long as it doesnt interfer with my meal plans.  Nobody likes a quitter.

We already don't eat a lot of red meat so now taking out the "other white meat" perplexes me slightly.
When its pizza night we have pepperoni, bacon, sometimes ham, what the heck?!  I can't use any of those anymore.
Mr. BM, I love you, really I do, but your whimsical ideas of just "stopping pork" really bugs me!  Just sayin.

Last night was pizza night.  My usual ingredients cast aside like an old toy a child no longer cares about.  I have to come up with a new toy.
Enter chicken.
Now I like chicken on my pizza but the boys usually turn their noses up at it because theirs has BACON on it and mine has spinach.  Not this time, or any other time from now on, you'll have no more pork.
Thank your father kid.
I didnt miss it, I love chicken.  And what I love more than that is pesto and chicken.
DING
Its going on the pizza, yes indeed it is.
So goodbye porkalicious pies, the other white mean now invades your territory, drops its flag and owns it.

PETA better not infect his head or else we are all in trouble!

Enjoy

I'm Listening to: Fix You - Coldplay

A Great Dollar Store Purchase and Vegan Strawberry Creamsicles

Growing up I remember having homemade popcicles.
Such a cooling sensation with the summer's heat blazing down.
Why I never thought to make them as my child grew up is beyond me, I'm a bad popcicle loving mom.  Modern conveniences of running to the store to buy them as a treat just seemed more feasible doesn't it?
Now that I think about it, it never entered my mind to make my own.
Until last week.

I was on the hunt.
I even changed my facebook status to request ideas on where one could locate some wonderful containers (reusable is key).
I know they exist, I am positive I have walked numerous times past them in stores yet when I wanted to get them I was lost.
"check Kitchen Stuff Plus", "Amazon", "Home Outfitters" and the "Dollar Store" were the top 4 responses.
Dollar store, you are my friend, my sanity, my thrifty confidant.   I will check you first because cuteness doesn't mean better.

Thank you for carrying these wonderful holders for frozen goodness for a mere $1.50 Dollarama.

Now time to make some treats!

I have some fresh strawberries

and some leftover coconut milk from the Orange/Coconut Dressing I made for some wonderful Chicken Salad Pitas, this should pair nicely with the strawberries to make a creamy popcicle that is not only lactose free but also vegan!  Here we go!

So simple with only three ingredients, so flavorful and a great after dinner snack (or beforehand but don't tell).

Mash Up Monday - Kale Chips

I feel I need to tell you a dubious story about me and chips.

Preface -
I am a sweet eater and Mr. BM is a salty one.  We buy a bag of chips, I might have a handful and the rest is inhaled within a 30 minute sitcom, you buy me a chocolate bar and its gone in 30 seconds.
On occasion I will indulge in some crunch and salt so there's usually 1 bag in the house dedicated for when those urges arise. (That are almost always eaten and replaced again without me even missing them)

So I go looking for the chips one night and can't find them, I am a tad upset.

I mean its not often I want them.

I get that they sit in the cupboard and taunt Mr. BM, but really?  You had your own bag!

How is it that you didn't know I was going to want them right now? Control yourself!

(don't worry, I didn't yell or anything)

Apparently I was visibly hurt by "someone" eating them on me that Mr. BM offered to buy me 7 bags of chips the next time he went out. GUILT

I don;t need 7 bags, I just wanted that one, at that very moment, is that so wrong?

Now I give you this lead up because a few days later I received my 7 bags of chips!

I laughed.  Hard. 

I barely make it through 1 bag and now I have a stockpile (I felt like a hoarder).  I also received 9 tubs of dip because I mistakenly made a comment that I couldn't eat them without dip....

Well, that's where the happiness ends because again, I go to look for the bounty and find it empty.

YOU ATE ALL THE BAGS OF CHIPS?!

C'MON!

Solution?

KALE CHIPS

The boys weren't huge fans, but maybe because when I seasoned them I used mesquite flavoring on some, seasoning salt on others and finally some curry and they are used to generic potatoes and salt?

Whatever the reason is, I don't care, I don't have to share.

I'm Listening to: People Are People - Depeche Mode

Blueberry Strusel Scones

Boredom set in this afternoon, I had only about an hour before I had to head out and pick up the kiddo and his friend. 
Little Ugh usually has a friend or two over almost every day.  These kids these days seem to know that our house is the house of good eats and flock, I don't mind, really. 
If they didn't come over I would be about 400 pounds by now so c'mon in, eat, enjoy, tell your friends, have them tell their friends friends, but clean up your messes when you leave ;)

We had some leftover blueberries (weird because my kid seems to be like a heat seeking missile when it comes to them) so I figured, hey, I've never made scones before - why not today?  They don't take much time to make or bake so they were the perfect snack for the kids when they got home.
If you've got flour, sugar, baking powder, butter, milk and blueberries you are all set!

The Poutine

Say wha? 
That's french fries with beef gravy and cheese curds for those of you who don't know.
And let me tell you just how wonderful it really is!

Its right up there with a mug of hot chocolate (with those mini marshmallows) on a blistery cold day, a big ole glass of lemonade (with ice and a lemon wedge on the side) on a scorching summers eve, jumping into bed with fresh clean sheets (that's every Saturday for us), a big bowl of meaty chili (with some sour cream and grated cheese please), I think its even better than an a hot fudge sundae (with a cherry on top)!

For those of you who have never tried this or even heard of it, you have NO idea what you are missing my friends.  You should really heed my advice on this one and make this recipe - but not often because it really isn't all that good for you.  Everything in moderation, moderation is key!

Soft Salty Pretzels

This ain't no lazy Sunday for our household this week, no sirree bob!  WE are the proud new owners of an 11 week old Peek A Poo!  I got suckered in by his little face and the calming way he lay in the arms of the saleswoman, what was I thinking?!
We (Mr. BM) named him Dion.  Why Dion you ask?
Because you see, my fiance is slightly (yeah right - understatement) obsessed with the Atlanta Falcons football team and has wanted to name something after a teammate.  Since I told him that he would NOT be allowed to name our child after them, he got the next best thing.
Isn't he a cutie?

Not to sideline him already but this is a food blog not an "I Love My Dog" blog - although I am going to be making some home made doggie treats in the coming months so if you have any friends with dogs - have them come and check out the posts once up! If Dion likes it, I am sure others will too :)

Pretzels, lets get back to them....those hard salty shelled, soft centered doughy pieces of art. 
I guess when I think of dogs I think of ballpark franks and pretzels.  Not strange, when I think of snow I think of  mashed potatoes, snow cones and marshmallows too so I suppose its only natural that when I get a dog I want hot dogs?  Good thing I didn't fall in love with a wiener dog!!

This dough is pretty easy to work with and only takes about an hour to rise.  Total process before inserting in mouth = 1.5 hours

I Have a Snack for YOU! Caramel Popcorn

Who says you cant teach an old dog new tricks?  This week I was lucky to have a friend stay with me who enjoys to eat (well who doesn't really) but doesn't often bake for herself.  I have to say she was a trooper!
We made meat stuffed ravioli (search recipe on the site), mini pumpkin pies, apple oatmeal muffins, and our signature snack food for the weekend - CARAMEL POPCORN
I think I gained about 40 pounds this week but boy was it worth it!
A simple and easy way to spruce up movie night or a take a long treat for a road trip or weekend getaway.
Here is what you need for this delish treat:

Caramel Popcorn
6 c. air popped corn
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. corn syrup
1/2 c. butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp. Malibu rum (but you could use vanilla extract)
1/2 c. chocolate chips (to drizzle over once done)

Over medium heat combine sugar, syrup, butter and salt.  Bring to a boil while stirring constantly.  Continue to boil for another 4 minutes without stirring.  Remove from heat and stir in soda and rum and pour over popcorn.  (I use 2 bowls to coat)  Place on a large cookie sheet (or 2 smaller) and bake for 60 minutes at 250 stirring every 10 minutes to break clumps.
Meanwhile, melt chips in a microwave.  When finished baking, drizzle melted chocolate over entire surface and place in the fridge or freezer to harden. 
Store in a Ziploc or air tight container - if if lasts that long!!