Menu Monday 11/29

Happy Monday!

Here's what we've got planned (from top left):

Rocky Mountain Potato Chowder - Mmmm, we had this for dinner last night. It was a perfect way to put leftover turkey to good use. Get my recipe here.

Asian Lettuce Cups - We love this recipe! I made it once before and was obsessed. The recipe comes from Cooking Light, click here to check it out. It's as good, if not better, than the lettuce wraps from Pei Wei!

Easy Creole Shrimp - It's been a while since I made this dish that I posted about here. It's so easy and yummy; I can't believe I've waited so long between serving this!

Ham, Apple & Brie Panini - Sounds good, right? I've got some leftover ham, and brie that I never used for Thanksgiving. I just Googled both ingredients and stumbled upon this recipe. I'll let you know how it turns out!

Result: Fantastic! It really was like a gourmet, cafe-style panini. YUM. It would be good with any ham, but I'm especially going to keep it in mind any time I have leftover Honey Baked Ham from holidays :)  Here is a picture of our version:

Mini Chicken Pot Pies - Aren't they cute?! Here is the Pillsbury recipe. I am sure these will be good!

Verdict - They were just okay, we gave them a 6/10. They were not that great. I did like the presentation though, and how easy it was to use crescent rolls. I think next time I'll make Southern Living's pot pie recipe and put it in ramekins like this.

Cream Cheese Cupcakes - This is a Betty Crocker recipe (that I couldn't find online), and they were my brother's favorite. Each year, my mom and I still make them on his birthday (December 4th). It's our little way of celebrating. Betty's recipe depicts them with the cream cheese in pretty swirls and patterns and I've had trouble getting them to look that way, but I'm going to give it my best effort again this year. They usually look like the picture above, with the cream cheese in a lovely glob in the middle!

Result: So good! I posted the recipe here.

I will definitely let y'all know how these things turn out. I hope everyone has a wonderful week!!!

Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! We sure did :) I also have to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for your sweet comments on my last post. I was just overwhelmed by them. Thank you SO much, you have no idea what it means to me!

Now, let's talk food.

For turkey day, my mother and I decided to make a recipe from Southern Living's December issue. It's a bit of a twist on your standard potato side dish, and it was fabulous!! I will be making this recipe for years to come, and I won't just reserve it for Thanksgiving either!

Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust

(click here for printer-friendly version)

Ingredients:

1 (14 ounce) package of refrigerated pie crusts

1 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary

1/4 tsp ground fresh pepper

2 cups (8 oz) shredded Gruyere cheese, divided

1.5 lbs Yukon gold potatoes

1.5 lbs sweet potatoes

1 tsp Kosher salt

2/3 cup heavy cream

1 garlic clove, minced

Garnish: fresh rosemary sprigs

This is SO easy and looks beautiful!

Preheat oven to 450. Unroll pie crust on lightly floured surface.

Sprinkle rosemary, pepper and 1/2 cup cheese over crust, and top with remaining pie crust. Roll into a 13" circle using a rolling pin.

Place in bottom and up sides of a 9" springform pan. Fold edges under. Chill.

Peel and thinly slice potatoes. Layer one-third each of Yukon gold potatoes, sweet potatoes, and salt in prepared crust. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layers twice, pressing layers down slightly to fit.

Microwave cream and garlic in a 1-cup microwave-safe measuring cup at HIGH 45 seconds

Pour over potato layers in pan.

Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Cover pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place on a baking sheet.

Bake at 450° for 1 hour. Uncover and bake 25 minutes or until potatoes are done and crust is richly browned. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes.

Carefully transfer to a serving plate, and remove sides of pan. If desired, carefully slide gratin off bottom of pan using a long knife or narrow spatula. Garnish, if desired.

This was delicious as leftovers as well! I hope you will give it a try, you will certainly impressive your dinner guests!

Seven

Seven years.

Seven years has passed since my younger brother, Kyle, left this earth.

He was killed in a car accident at the age of 16.

It was every bit of an accident.

The type of thing that leaves everyone wondering why? and how? and what if?

It was tragic.

It still is.

I was devastated.

Sometimes, I still am.

I miss him.

Always will.

I think of the things I am missing out on seeing him experience.

High school graduation.

Girlfriends.

College.

Career.

Marriage.

Kids.

My kids.

Life.

Memories.

Those are all things I wish I could see.

My whole family, and his friends, feel this way.

So, that's a selfish list.

What I want.

What I miss.

Loss is so hard for those left behind.

BUT,

He's in a better place.

He's missing nothing.

He has everything.

More than I can imagine.

This gives me HOPE.

The reason I am able to go on.

The reason I can smile,

laugh,

breathe,

pray,

and live life to the fullest.

Thank heaven for that.

I can proudly say that I'm 'okay.'

I'm more than okay.

I'm blessed beyond belief.

I am loved.

I am loved by the creator of the Universe.

I have more than I could ever need or want.

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of my brother for 16 precious years.

He was cherised.

Thank you for the hope that I will see him again.

Thank you, Keith for always holding my hand and wiping my tears from day 1.

You do it better than anyone else in the world.

God knew I needed a strong shoulder.

He sent me you.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for being so strong and inspiring.

I cannot imagine and hope to never know what it is like to loose a child.

You amaze me.

Thank you, friends.

Friends of Kyle, friends of mine.

Those of you that ask, who support, that tell stories, that keep his memory alive.

You are precious.

Kyle - Love you, little punk'in. Looking forward to a hug.

**Sorry for the deeply personal post, for those of you that read this for recipes. But, this blog is also about my life, and this is very much a part of it. I have talked about him last year, and the year before. Since I can't imagine a time in life when this day doesn't mean something to me, I felt compelled to continue to acknowledge it. Thanks for your support and love, even if you didn't know him, and don't really know me! :)**

2010 Pictures by Lindsey Lissau

Hi friends! I have to share/brag on the wonderful pictures I just got back from Lindsey Lissau! She has taken our pictures before (and I have decorated the blog with them, so you've seen 'em!). I was ready for a 2010 update and she's my go-to girl!! I work with her husband, Casey, and just love his precious wife. She is wonderfully talented, and sweet too! If you live in the Memphis area I encourage you to check out Lindsey for your photography needs, she's amazing!

I've already picked out my favorite and ordered holiday cards, yay! And there's at least 20 more in addition to these that I adore....

Yep, we're a little cheesy! We can't help but pose for the camera :)

Thanks again, Lindsey! I can't wait to mail my cards, update my blog photos, post on Facebook, print & frame... and stare at these for the next year!! And then, of course, we'll need new ones for 2011 :)

Menu Monday 11/22 and Giveaway Winner!

It's Thanksgiving week! Oh, I'm so excited for Turkey Day.

I'm also so excited to announce my first giveaway winner!! The winner of the magazine subscription goes to:

Michelle from The Yount Happenings!!

Congrats! Michelle, send your address to mkendalljones@gmail.com and I'll get your Southern Living ordered! Yay!

Just for fun, I did a tally of what everybody said they'd like, and like a dork, I made a pie chart. Oh yes, yes I did:

It was really fun to hear your thoughts and read your comments. I especially liked getting comments from readers I had not heard from yet, and loved clicking through to different blogs! I have a feeling I'll do more giveaways in the future!!

Now, for this week's menu:

Gobble Gobble Gobble.

I'm not cooking at home this week, but will be helping mom in her kitchen! We are headed to my aunt and uncle's house for Thanksgiving dinner, but we'll pitch in and bring things! These are a few dishes on our agenda:

Cranberry and Pecan Brie En Croute - I love brie! I have made brie en croute a few ways, but this recipe sounds great, from Tablespoon. Perhaps I'll make this little appetizer and take to our dinner!

Festive Cranberry Salad - This is one of my favorite dishes, commonly made by my mom and Aunt Kay. I'll post the recipe for y'all this week!

Champagne Turkey - My favorite turkey! Mom has been making it this way for as long as I can remember. Click here for my post with the recipe. If you're like me, and doing the turkey intimidates you, this easy recipe will put you at ease! It's fantastic!!

Luscious Layered Pumpkin Cake - I've been meaning to make this cake ever since Meredith posted it! I think I'll finally get around to that this week. Yum!!

Are you making anything for your Thanksgiving festivities this week?

Bacon Omelet Roll

Here's a very easy breakfast recipe for you! I tore this out of a Kraft Food & Family magazine, and I'm so glad I gave it a shot. It's perfect if you have guests for breakfast!

Bacon Omelet Roll

(click here for printer-friendly version)

Ingredients:

8 eggs

1 cup milk

1/3 cup flour

1 red pepper, finely chopped

3 green onions, finely chopped

8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 tsp oregano

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Salsa

Preheat oven to 350. Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper, with ends extending over sides of pan. Spray very well with cooking spray!

In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and flour until well blended. Stir in red pepper, green onion, bacon and oregano.

Pour into pan and spread evenly, pushing to edges.

Bake 14-16 minutes until edges are almost set. Sprinkle cheese on top and bake 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Starting at the short end, roll up omelet immediately by lifting the parchment paper and slowly rolling, peeling the paper away.

Set on a platter. 

PS - that whole rolling up thing was ridiculously easy.

Serve with your favorite salsa (I used a peach salsa, yum) and some salt and pepper.

Delicious!!!

There are really so many possibilities with this basic recipe. You could toss in cooked sausage (mmm), or ham, spinach, mushrooms, onions....pretty much anything you would try on an omelet, you can throw in here!! I will make this again and again since it was so easy and convenient!

Chocolate Ganache Cake

Hungry?

This Chocolate Ganache Cake is the cure for the common sweet craving.

I've made it for Keith's birthday for the last 4 years, and many other times in between. 

It's scrumptious.

Chocolate Ganache Cake

(click here for printer-friendly version)

Ingredients:

1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist chocolate fudge cake mix

water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on box

1 container Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting

1/3 cup whipping cream

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 bars (1/4 oz each) Heath bar, roughly chopped (*or if you store sells it, a half of a bag of Heath Bar crumbles)

Instructions:

Bake and cool cake according to box directions (make 2 layers, in 8 or 9 inch pans)

Place one layer, rounded side down on serving platter. Spread with about 1/3 cup frosting. Top with second layer, rounded side up. Frost top and side of cake with remaining frosting.

In 1 qt saucepan, heat whipping cream over medium-high heat until hot (do not boil). Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Let this cool until it thickens. You'll know this is ready when it mounds slightly when dropped from a spoon (and isn't runny). Pour over top of cake and let it run down sides. Top with Heath Bar.

Refrigerate about 1 hour until chocolate is set before serving. Store covered in the refrigerator.

This cake is so good spread out over a couple of days! I love storing it in the refrigerator because it keeps it perfectly cool and moist. 

We love this cake!! Enjoy :)

Happy Birthday, Keith!

Today is my husband's 27th birthday!!

I love you, honey! I hope it's a wonderful day.

Tonight, we celebrate with the whole family, since it also happens to be his little sister's 21st birthday! Yes, they are siblings with the same birthday six years apart!!! Check out this post I made last year dedicated to them :)

Happy Friday!

Don't forget about my giveaway!

GIVEAWAY: Cooking Magazine Subscription!!

Friends, it's HIGH TIME I do a giveaway on this blog, don't 'cha think!?!?

As a way of saying "thanks, readers!" I decided that once I reached 200 followers (over in my Google Friend Connect ma-jig on the sidebar) that I would host my own giveaway. Well, today I jumped from 198 to 205! So, here we go!

I am gifting a subscription to one of the above magazines to a lucky reader! Winner's Choice!

That's right, one person will win a year of magazines to either Food Network Magazine, Cooking Light, Kraft's Food & Family, or Southern Living. These are my favorite top 4 cooking publications, and I've written about them before in this post. I just love when they come in the mail, and I make so many of my recipes from these great resources!

All you have to do is leave a comment saying which magazine you'd like if you won!!!

It will end on Sunday night, and I will announce on the blog on Monday morning!! I'm so excited to do my first giveaway, and I think a cooking magazine is the perfect item to share with a Keeping Up With The Joneses reader!!

*This giveaway isn't sponsored by these publications, I'm just doing it myself! If you happen to be addicted to magazines like me and already get all of these, then let me know which cooking related magazine you would like to get! A few details since I'm new to this giveaway biz: Giveaway runs from 11/17 at 10:00 pm to Sunday, 11/21 at midnight. ONE(1) entry per email address. Winner will be chosen via Random Number Generator. I will announce winner on this blog on 11/22. Winner will need to contact me via email and provide mailing address.* How's that for me drafting a disclaimer out of thin air? I feel a bit legal now.

Okay friends, let the commenting begin!!!

And if you're not a follower already, please Follow Me! 

Fall Feast!

 Yep. It's midnight and I'm blogging. I'm tired. It's late. But, I had a wonderful evening with great friends tonight! I hosted my Fall Feast dinner and it was so fun! The dishes are all clean, the hubs is asleep, and all I really want to do is snuggle up to my laptop and share! Yep, I'm a freak who doesn't know how to go to bed at a decent hour.

Anywhoodles.

Fall feast!

Here's the full menu! I'll break down each dish in the post! I made this using Tomkat Studio's Thanksgiving collection that I got for free for being a Top 10 finalist! Woohoo! I knew this dinner was the perfect time to use it :) Thanks Tomkat!!

The dinner table. This was before the food was set out.

I stuck with classic white, rustic chargers, and added pumpkins and pears to the placesettings. Plus, I went with somewhat of a 'mini' theme with the ramekins and small dishes. I had practically everything you see here already. Just had to get the fresh pears, and a couple of extra ramekins to have 6 that matched.

The little pumpkin holders are from Pier 1. I love them!!

Okay, now here we are with all the food out!!

Maple Sweet Potato Cups - Result=Delicious!!!! Loved them. So easy, so cute! I did double the brown sugar amount and stirred in about a teaspoon of cinnamon for extra flavor. I will make these again!!! Starting with the frozen sweet potatoes was brilliant; I would have never guessed them to be that good! Click here for recipe.

Sweet-and-Sour Green Beans - These were a hit! Everybody ate their entire serving. Everyone. I was impressed! These are a keeper, for sure. Those mini rectangle dishes are from Pier 1's Tasting Party collection, which I love!! Here is the Southern Living green bean recipe.

Bourbon-Cranberry Turkey Tenderloins & Grilled Oranges - Terrible picture, but absolutely delicious. This was an easy way to prepare turkey, and it was really fabulous. The grilled oranges were good, but not necessary if you have lots of other side dishes. Click here for Southern Living recipe. Another winner!!!

Here is the sauce that went with the recipe above. I'll be honest, there was lots of bourbon (Wild Turkey) in this. It seemed too strong to me when I taste-tested after first making, but it turned out to be great with the turkey. Fantastic!

Other dishes I made included:

Autumn Salad with Maple Balsamic Dressing - Ok, this was great! The dressing is a real winner. If you read the recipe, I would recommend not messing with the bacon/pecan/brown sugar step. Just add pecans and cooked bacon pieces in like normal. Click here for the Land O Lakes recipe. YUMMY!

Marinated Grilled Squash and Zucchini - I've made these before, and they are a good accompaniment to any meal. Here is my post with the recipe.

And last but not least is the dessert!

Here is a picture of the Justin Timberlake Bourbon-Flavored Pecan Pies before I baked them. They turned out beautifully and were very cute in the individual pie pans. BUT, they were very difficult to eat. Not sure if it was because I made them a day in advance or what but we practically needed jack hammers to get it out of there. Yes, I used Pam, but it didn't matter. It was like eating hard candy. It was delcious once you got a bite out, for sure. But, too much work. I will improvise this recipe next time to make it easier to eat!!!!

We had a wonderful, fun night sharing food, family, friendship, stories and wine. I LOVE our little family group! Like a dumb-dumb I didn't take any pictures of the people, hello!!! Ashley/Brooke, please let's get better about this!! 

I am thankful for them, for the delicious fall foods, and for the bed I'm about to finally crawl in!! Goodnight!