Spreading a little Christmas...stress

This morning the whole family was in an uproar. No really there was some seriously loud, angry opinions being thrown back and forth. Someone needed a muzzle. It was me.

I made a error with the bank account funds this week. oops.

The Hubbs was NOT happy and now I'm working on fixing it. I've been productive - I've had two ladies turn in their facebook parties already. A nice bit of sales for the day and month. They've earned a nice PILE of free products as well :)  If anyone is interested in ordering now is the time to do it - head to my website, click "shop online" and type "Kristi" as the host.


Speaking of host specials - have you seen January's??? Well, if not I'll have a January spectacular post! lol
Plus watch for a fantastic give away!

Hop on over to my facebook page and leave me a message! 

This week's menu

Of course, like most women ages 24-56, I am very fond of Pinterest.  I grab recipes there and spread them around - sometimes even in my kitchen! 

Here's the quick version of the things that made me hungry... and will be cooked this week sometime. In no particular order I give you....

Mountain Meatballs

http://www.kayotic.nl/blog/mountain-meatballs

The Hubbs should like this manly meaty meal of awesomeness!

Chicken Cordon Bleu- roll ups

http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/chicken-cordon-bleu-roll-ups/

I think I like this one more than a regular Cordon Bleu because it's just rolled up. I don't like stuffing and pinning.

Mini Chicken Alfredo Shells

http://emilysrecipecollection.blogspot.com/2011/06/mini-chicken-alfredo.html

I may even get the boy to eat these! they look simple and tasty. 

I wonder if I made a double batch if it would feed everyone??

And for me - "Grown up Apple Cider"

http://cooking-in-college.com/2012/10/17/hot-caramel-apple-cider-for-grown-ups/

This just sounds like happy in a...glass  or jug. Depending on how you're drinking it. Haha

I'm looking forward to all of them - would it be bad if I made them all in one day??  

Wanna share a recipe? Hit me up here! 

When a stranger calls

My week has been the strangest most dramatic week I've lived through. Ok, maybe that statement was  a little more dramatic than my week was... but it was definitely strange.

First things first, this marks my third week of working for myself after leaving my retail management job. Working for one's self is amazing. I am more relaxed, I work when I want to work, which by the way is most of my day. I am always thinking about work. Always. It's a sickness.

On the flip side of this coin,  is working on commission completely. It's a world changer lemme tell ya. Instead of heading to a job, being paid to be treated anyway they see fit  and knowing that even if no customers walk through the door, you will still be paid for your time. Working on commission and working for one's self is the opposite. You are treated well (my boss does a great job! ha!) but if you have no customers that day - you've made a big 'ol goose egg.  True, I need to make less money here at home than I did when I was out working at a corporate job...but I still have bills to pay and an anxious husband who's trying to make it all work.

As you may know, I am a direct seller for an amazing company with amazing benefits and great people. Plus I do this from home and only head out the door a couple nights a week. Score! Shameless plug: I will be down in West Seattle for a cooking class at Luso Food & Wine sometime this month - I'll keep you posted.

This week was about bills needing to be paid - See? I'd bring you to the point of this post - my electricity was a bit farther behind than I intended and they called and freaked out... and said that I had to pay it now or else! Dun dun dunnnnn!  So I paid it - which I really didn't have the funds yet to do so. Damn. Did you know that the electric company here charges $120 to reconnect your power if they turn it off??? Isn't that a bit insane? What about people who couldn't pay because they lost their job? How is charging such a HUGE reconnect fee going to help them?

I know, I know they gotta make their money too - but shouldn't an utility company want to help people keep their power on? I mean do they feel bad when a family is cold because they are poor?? What is wrong with this picture?

Alright, enough rant.

My mother washed a whole novel in the wash machine with a load of clothes. I'm not entirely sure how she did that - I mean I know how she physically did that, but how does one miss a BOOK in the clothing?  Jury is still out on how the book was there in the first place. Prime suspect: the three year old.

In other news and in full Christmas spirit we are heading as a family to the Woodland Park Zoo's first "wild lights" display this year! I'm excited to have the boy see all the lights. Evidently Christmas lights are crazy exciting to three year olds! lol. I'm also looking forward to supporting the zoo's first try at this, and hopefully they will continue this next year. I don't want to drive all the way to Tacoma to the Point Defiance Zoo for their's again... It's just too far of a drive for this frugal mamma!

I'm researching holiday cookie recipes today until I find some different ones to make this year. Check out my pinterest boards while I'm looking, I will be repinning like a crazy woman! Also - I'll add some new hotness to the facebook page: www.facebook.com/thepchefs

Well, I think that's all for today, as if you all wanted to know more! haha

Tryin' these out this week....

Sweet Potato Brownies

Ooey Gooey Brownies :)

Sweet Potato Brownie Ingredients:

butter - 1/2 stick

cocoa - 2/3 cup

sugar - 1 cup

egg - 1

salt - 1/4 teaspoon

vanilla essence - 1 teaspoon

sweet potato - 1 (cooked and pureed; can use 1 cup canned instead)

all purpose or wheat flour - 1/2 cup

baking soda - 1/3-1/2 teaspoon

semisweet chocolate chips - 1/4 - 1/2 cup (optional)

walnuts - 1/4 - 1/2 cup (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

2. Heat the butter in a pan and add the cocoa to dissolve it. You could also do this  in a 

microwave by heating the butter and cocoa together for a minute or 2. Transfer mixture to

 a mixing bowl if heating in a pan.

3. Cream the sugar into the butter and cocoa mixture.

4. Add the egg and continue mixing.

5. Add vanilla essence and salt.

6. Mix in the pureed sweet potato.

7. Add the flour and baking powder and mix well until the mixture is even.

8. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts.

9. Grease and dust an 8x8 baking dish.

10. Pour the prepared mixture into the baking dish. 

11. Bake for 25-30 minutes until a knife of toothpick pierced into the cake 

comes out clean.

12. Allow it to cool for a few minutes and then invert it on to a plate or 

cooling rack. Cut and serve.

Ooey Gooey Sweet Potato Brownies are ready to devour!

- From Eatomatic a vegetarian food blog  

There's been a death in family...

My stoneware family that is!

The lovely household cat got on the stove while we were all out and toppled over my stone! Not to mention all the oil on the floor from my recently used stir fry pan but my oldest and first stone was done for. :(

We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of an extraordinary baking stone; "Deep Round"

It was a great stone, round deep and un-glazed. It was my first stone piece and the first piece my husband and I had in our first apartment when we were 19 & 21! It managed to survive 8 moves in 7 years across 3 states...3 different rounds of roommates, countless friends over, 7 Thanksgiving dinners, our wedding and our first child! I cooked everything in it. Cornbread was the last tasty food it baked. It was great for cake, ribs, baked mac n' cheese, cinnimon rolls, biscuts, apple dumpling thingies and brownies. It did it all. It was also the piece that convinced me to start my business with the Pampered Chef. Deep Round; you will be greatly missed and loved! 

I wanted to use this sad moment in my kitchen to help and enlighten you about the Pampered Chef's guarantee and returns.  Now, my stone was WAY past it's guarantee date (3 years) so I wasn't expecting the company to replace it for me. But what if it wasn't?  Have you ever broke something in your kitchen that you haven't owned for long? Or maybe it was so old it was like an old family  friend. Immediately you need to replace it right? How many companies though will let you exchange or return something 3 years down the road? 

What can you do?

#1 Call your consultant (or me:  252-642-7101 / rediscoveryourkitchen@gmail.com)

or If you would like to skip your consultant call: The Pampered Chef directly: 1-888-OUR- CHEF

#2 Have your receipt or your consultants name handy. 

Have you broke a kitchen essential that's not Pampered Chef? Need a replacement for the melted spoons or rubber spatula that's in pieces? Or my favorite the wooden spoon that caught on fire!

Gimme me a call I'm hear to help!

And the end of this tale there is a moral. With every death, new life will take it's place..."Deep Round" will be replaced by Deep Rectangle (lol) 

 OR 

What do you guys think?

Foodie Coupon

Ok, more like a coffee coupon...oh boy do I love coffee. :)

Hamilton Beach Coffee Go or Stay Machine

Coupon!

Walmart.com has the coffee maker for 29.99 ...here


Happy Brewing!

Interesting Tips about food...

This is interesting tips about food: 

Apples: protect your heart, prevents constipation blocks diarrhea, improves lung capacity, & cushions joints. 

Apricots: combats cancer, controls blood pressure, saves your eyesight, shields against Alzheimer's, & slows the aging process. 

Artichokes: aids in digestion, lowers cholesterol, protects your heart, stabilizes blood sugar & guards against liver disease. 

Avocados: battles diabetes, lowers cholesterol, helps stops strokes, controls blood pressure & smoothes skin. 

Bananas: protects your heart, quiets a cough, strengthens bones, controls blood pressure, & blocks diarrhea. 

Beans: prevents constipation, helps hemorroids, lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, & stabilizes blood sugar. 

Beets: controls blood pressure, combats cancer, strengthens bones, protects your heart, & aids in weight loss. 

Blueberries: combats cancer, protects your heart, stabilizes blood sugar, boosts memory, & prevents constipation. 

Broccoli: strengthens bones, saves eyesight, combats cancer, protects your heart, & controls blood pressure. 

Cabbage: combats cancer, prevents constipation, promotes weight loss, protects your heart, & helps hemorrhoids. 

Cantaloupe: saves eyesight, controls blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, & supports immune system. 

Carrots: saves eyesight, protects your heart, prevents constipation, combats cancer, & promotes weight loss. 

Cauliflower: protects against prostate cancer, combats breast cancer, strengthens bones, banishes bruises, & guards against heart disease. 

Cherries: protects your heart, combats cancer, ends insomnia, slows the aging process, & shields against Alzheimer's. 

Chestnuts: promotes weight loss, protects your heart, lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, & controls blood pressure. 

Chili Peppers: aids with digestion, soothes a sore throat, clears sinuses, combats cancer, & boosts immune system. 

Figs: promotes weight loss, helps stop strokes, lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, & controls blood pressure. 

Fish: protects your heart, boosts memory, combats cancer, promotes weight loss, & supports immune system. 

Flax: aids with digestion, battles diabetes, protects your heart, improves mental health, & boosts immune system. 

Garlic: lowers cholesterol, controls blood pressure, combats cancer, kills bacteria, & fights fungus. 

Grapefruit: protects against heart attacks, promotes weight loss, helps stop strokes, combats prostate cancer, & lowers cholesterol, 

Grapes: saves eyesight, conquers kidney stones, combats cancer, enhances blood flow, & protects your heart. 

Green tea: combats cancer, protects your heart, helps stop strokes, promotes weight loss, & kills bacteria. 

Honey: heals wounds, aides wit digestion, guards against ulcers, increases energy, & fights allergies. 

Lemons & Limes: combats cancer, protects your heart, controls blood pressure, smoothes skin, & stops scurvy. 

Mangoes: combats cancer, boosts memory, regulates thyroid, aids with digestion, & shields against Alzheimer's. 

Mushrooms: controls blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, kills bacteria, combats cancer, & strengthens bones. 

Oats: lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, battles diabetes, prevents constipation, & smoothes skin. 

Olive Oil: protects your heart, promotes weight loss, combats cancer, battles diabetes, & smoothes skin. 

Onions: reduces the risk of heart attack, combats cancer, kills bacteria, lowers cholesterol, & fights fungus. 

Oranges: supports immune systems, combats cancer, protects your heart, & straightens respiration. 

Peaches: prevents constipation, combats cancer, helps stop strokes, aids with digestion, & helps hemorrhoids. 

Peanuts: protects against heart disease, promotes weight loss, combats prostate cancer, lowers cholesterol, & aggravates diverticulitis. 

Pineapples: strengthens bones, relives colds, aids with digestion, dissolves warts, & blocks diarrhea. 

Prunes: slows the aging process, prevents constipation, boosts memory, lowers cholesterol, & protects against heart disease. 

Rice: protects your heart, battles diabetes, conquers kidney stones, combats cancer, & helps stop strokes. 

Strawberries: combats cancer, protects your heart, boosts memory & calms stress. 

Sweet Potatoes: saves eyesight, lifts mood, combats cancer, & strengthens bones. 

Tomatoes: protects prostate, combats cancer, lowers cholesterol, & protects your heart. 

Walnuts: lowers cholesterol, combats cancer, boosts memory, lifts mood, & protects against heart disease. 

Water: promotes weight loss, combats cancer, conquers kidney stones, & smoothes skin. 

Watermelon: protects prostate, promotes weight loss, lowers cholesterol, helps stop strokes, & controls blood pressure. 

Wheat Germ & wheat Bran: combats colon cancer, prevents constipation, lowers cholesterol, helps stop strokes, & improves digestion. 

Yogurt: guards against ulcers, strengthens bones, lowers cholesterol, supports immune system, & aids digestion.