Im on Youtube!

So i've taken this blog thing a step further, and I am not only posting my recipes on here, but I am showing you how to cook the recipe as well on Youtube. I think I can upload the movies here so you can have everything you need on one website, but if you have any suggestions on how to perfect the youtube thing, please let me know!!

Click here to go to my YouTube account :)

Day 45: Pasta Salad

So today I am going to a Memorial Day party at my boss's house. I wanted to make a side dish since they will be cooking hamburgers, and I figured a pasta salad is kind of a no fail. Also what else is a no fail is Paula Deen's recipes! So you can only guess who's recipe I used :)

Ingredients

• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
• 1 pound bow tie pasta
• 1 cup store-bought balsamic vinaigrettedressing
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 (4-ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
• 2/3 cup pitted kalamata olives
• 1/2 diced green bell pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Grated Parmesan, for topping

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the pasta cook it according to package directions.

While the pasta is cooking, in a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinaigrette, mayonnaise, and sugar.

Drain the pasta well, transfer to a large serving bowl, and let cool. Add the tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, green pepper, salt, to taste, and the black pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Sprinkle with the cheese, toss lightly, and serve.

Day 44: Job Chae (Take Deux)

When in Knoxville, I visited the Asian Supermarket, and if I could have I would have bought the whole store! I did end up buying rice noodles, sesame oil, bag of rice, and a sushi mat. I have been trying to recreate Job Chae that I previously have tried, except this time, I thought I had the correct noodles, that could possibly get the job done. Since I had just got done working, instead of using fresh vegetables, I just used frozen vegetables.

I basically followed the Job Chae recipe and instead of using spaghetti, I used rice noodles.

What we thought:

Jimmy would rate this a 7. Lets say he is much more generous that I am going to be. I would rate this a 1. I found it very bland, and for some reason, it lacked the flavor compared to the first time I made job chae. The noodles were different. I am usually very open minded about food, and usually i will try anything twice, even if I hate it, but these noodles lacked the texture and taste that I am used to. I probably did not make them correctly since this was the first time I even attempted to cook rice noodles. I will do more research on rice noodles, and maybe they will be great with different ingredients. I am still trying to perfect job chae. Any suggestions?

Day 43: White Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

2 Cans (13 oz) drained chicken breast

1 Large Jar White Beans

1/2 Jar (15 0z) Salsa

2 Cans (12 oz) Chicken Broth

2 Cups Colby Jack Cheese

1 Tbsp Cumin

2 Cups Crushed Tortilla Chips

Directions:

1. Place chicken, beans, salsa, chicken broth, cumin, and cheese in a large kettle

2. Heat on medium until mixture is hot and cheese is melted

3. Add crushed tortilla chips as topping

What we thought:

Jimmy rated this a 9/10, and I rated this a 10/10. Jimmy says the chili tasted good, but it was missing something. I rated this a 10/10 because its super easy to make, easy on the wallet, and it tasted like the previous white chili i've had at restaurants. I will make this again for sure! On a side note, I added more cheese because I wanted it super cheesy :)

Day 42: Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds cubed round steak, cut into thin strips
• House Seasoning, recipe follows
• All-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can beef broth
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 cup sour cream
• Cooked egg noodles

Directions

Season the steak strips with House Seasoning, then dust with flour. In a large skillet, quickly brown them on both sides in the olive oil and butter. Remove the steak from the pan. Add the onion slices and mushrooms to the pan drippings. Saute for a few minutes, until the onion is tender. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon flour. Put the steak back into the pan with the onion and mushrooms. Add the mushroom soup and beef broth. Cook over low heat for about 30 minutes, covered. Adjust seasoning to taste, adding salt and pepper, as needed. Stir in the sour cream the last few minutes, right before you serve. Serve over cooked noodles.

House Seasoning:

• 1 cup salt
• 1/4 cup black pepper
• 1/4 cup garlic powder

Mix the ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

What we thought: My grandma was feeling sick one day, and she requested that I fix dinner. Well of course, I didn't care, but I had no idea what to make. I decided to make beef stroganoff, which was my dad's favorite, and attempt to make it. Grandpa helped me with this recipe, that I got on Food Network, and it turned out on an average: 9/10. My brother and his fiance rated it a 9/10 because of the mushrooms. I do not enjoy mushrooms, but for some reason, I am ok with mushrooms on this dish. Jimmy, Grandpa, and I rate this a 10/10.

Day 41: Shrimp Pasta Salad

My mom called and recommended a recipe my sister Jasmine and I could make for the blog. I was very eager to try it! It sounded good, and healthy. I had it before at Gilligan's Bar & Grill in Harrisburg, PA. This is where mom got the idea from, I believe. It is very simple to make!

Ingredients:

1 bag of dole lettuce (the salads in the bag. Preferably either spring mix or mediterranean blend)

1-2 roma tomatoes

1 cucumber

1 pound of precooked shrimp with old bay on them, peeled.

Shredded mozzerella cheese

2 cups of corkscrew tricolored pasta cooked as directed

Salad dressing: recommend Balsamic Vinergerite Dressing

Directions:

Cook pasta as directed, once cooked through, chill in cold water, set aside.

Take shrimp if chilled and remove shell and cook just till warm (should already be precooked)

Arrange on plate:

Lettuce

Tomato slices

Cucumber slices

Cup of pasta

Shrimp

Cheese

Ashley's Thoughts:

Jimmy rated this a 7/10 (he's not a lettuce person). I would rate this an 8.5/10. The only thing I wanted was, was more spice on the shrimp. Maybe I am starting to like spicey foods more? Old Bay is still good. I get Old Bay on my mongolian grill chicken at this one restaurant. I forgot to top my salad off with cheese, but that saves the calories anyways. I would make this again for sure! It adds a twist to my regular salads!

Day 40: Chocolate Pudding Pie

I had a dream that I had made this chocolate mousse-pudding pie with a graham cracker crust. I then added crushed oreo and gummy worms on top. Well, I googled this, and to find out, its an actual pie! The pudding box I bought even had the recipe on it. Who knew?! Jimmy says I got the idea from watching Julie & Julia because she had made the same pie before trying Julia Child's cook book. I had watched this movie right before I went to bed, so maybe he's right!

Ingredients:

1 box of pudding, any flavor.

1 container of Cool Whip

Graham cracker pie package

Directions:

1. Make pudding according to directions

2. Combine pudding and cool whip together, mix

3. Put ingredients onto pie crust, let cool for an hour.

I shredded a chocolate bar on top to add to the presentation

What we thought:

Jimmy rates this a 10/10. I would rate that a 10 as well. It satisfied my craving for chocolate and the taste of graham cracker and chocolate was like uber yummy!!