Hankerin’ for Naners

08. January 2008 · 2 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: ,

I was straightening out my pantry this morning and came across a semi-old box of Nilla Wafers in the back of the snack section. (Yes, I have sections, but that’s for another post). I tasted a couple and they seem okay. Not super-crispy, but definitely not stale.

So I thought of how I could use them up…the first choice, of course, is to put them in the boys’ lunch boxes every day between now and next week.

But then…I was reminded of a homestyle southern style restaurant I went to for lunch in Warner-Robins, GA last month.   Called Owens Boarding House, it’s an old fashioned soul food joint.  Dessert that day was banana pudding — the REAL banana pudding, custard-style vanilla pudding, meriangue on top, etc.

So that’s what I set out to do. If you rip open the cardboard Nilla Wafers box, the recipe is on the inside of the back panel (I believe it’s ALWAYS printed there — in English AND Spanish). But it’s also here if you’re interested.

I didn’t have enough cookies for the garnish, but I think the meriengue will be pretty enough.

I don’t have a double boiler, but I have a great set of stainless mixing bowls that can be popped on top of a pot of boiling water that works just as well.

It’s in the oven right now, and so far so good. This might be my first successful cooking blog post!! Whoo hoo!

PS: Tonight’s original dessert option was going to be a 7-Layer Jello (courtesy of Paul G.), but I didn’t have enough Knox gelatin in the house. You need 1 1/2 boxes (6 packets).

PPS: I know I butchered the name of the light, whipped white layer at the top of the dessert. Merangue? Meriengue? Meringue? Perhaps that last one! Yes, that’s the one I’ll use.

<— PPPS: It’s done! Isn’t it yummy-looking! To bad there isn’t scratch-n-sniff blogging here.

Hi Honey, I’m HOME!

07. January 2008 · Comments Off on Hi Honey, I’m HOME! · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: ,

I returned from my drilling a couple hours ago. Dave had a wonderful dinner waiting for me of chicken, rice and green beans with a homemade sauce. He melted a slice of provolone cheese on the chicken, it was a white wine sauce garnished with fresh bacon bits. WOW! He’s been doing the cooking for the boys while I drill and lately he’s been doing some experimental stuff on the Sunday nights, just before I get home. It’s fun to taste his creations!

So I had Dave get a picture of me in my uniform…I realized there have been no pictures of me in my day-to-day uniform since late 2004! This was right after I got home tonight, so I’m looking a little beat!

Snap Crackle Pop!

05. January 2008 · Comments Off on Snap Crackle Pop! · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: ,

Today I’m at the commissary with my friend Paul. He’s to blame for things like why I now have a GPS and this addiction to the Pioneer Woman’s website!

(Military 101: The commissary is the grocery store on the military base. By regulation, it provides groceries to authorized buyers at cost + 5%.)
Anyway, we’re looking for snack foods and I see those packaged rice krispie treats…and it reminded me of one of my other attempts to give some homemade goodness to my boys.
Which do you think tastes better? This:


Or this?

Since when is KFC the authority on family values?

05. January 2008 · Comments Off on Since when is KFC the authority on family values? · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: ,

Bring Back Dinner <– Click the link to see more! This isn’t meant to specifically pick on KFC. I don’t mind the occasional (read: 1-2 times per year) fried chicken dinner from a no-kidding friend chicken establishment. (But I’d prefer to go here.)

I’ve been seeing KFC’s TV ads about how they can help you re-establish those good-old-fashioned daily family dinners. I admire the company’s attempts. I also have sympathy for families who are attempting to balance the kids’ busy schedules, the parents’ work schedules and the need for sustenance.

But there’s something about suggesting that KFC at the dinner table is the definition of “family dinner”. It just doesn’t seem the same…

I have a serious soapbox about kids’ fitness and kids’ weight. I’m not the model mother, I’m not super-organic, zero transfat, 8-10 servings of fruits and veggies kind of gal by any stretch. I consider myself a moderate…for the most part, my kids have a healthy diet. And it’s important to me they get lots of playtime…and Jake’s starting to venture into organized sports, and I’m thrilled he’s enjoying his soccer.

Many times over the years since Jacob was born, I’ve seen Jacob and Timmy show interest in a particular food or dish. Let’s start with Kids’ Cuisine:

I consider this the first food that Jake “noticed” at the grocery store. You know what I mean — he’s about 2 years old, I’m pushing him in the cart, and we’re in the frozen foods section. He sees the cartoon character and starts asking for it.

So I get it for him.

And he loves it!

And he asks for it again…and again…and again.

And I want to see my little boy happy, so I’m happy to get it again, especially when it’s on sale for $0.99 apiece at Super WalMart!

Well, in my opinion, these meals are pretty gross. So after a few weeks of this [no, I wasn’t giving these to him every single day — probably 2-3 times per week, though!] it was high time Jake started eating the family dinners, so it was right about when Timmy was born that I started my “Mom can make anything from scratch” campaign.

Starting with Betty Crocker home-baked macaroni and cheese and hand-breaded, baked chicken nuggets. (Pictures are representative only, not my own!)


“Mommy, I don’t like this!”

Let the games begin!

…To be continued! I’m tired!

Cinnamon Rolls, Mommy! The ones you BAKE!

03. January 2008 · 2 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

Yeah. The ones I BAKE. You don’t know how badly I want to try the cinnamon roll recipe featured here:

http://www.thepioneerwomancooks.com/2007/06/cinammon_rolls_.html

But that is NOT what the kids mean. THIS is what they mean:

I was at Target today and was looking for the Pillsbury ones, but alas, they were ALL sold out. Even the “Grands” and Reduced Fat versions. I think the orange flavor was available, but that would not have worked with my kids!

So it was Market Pantry Cinnamon Rolls…and here are some pictures of my “home baked” dessert for my boys.

Yum —

Applying the baggie of icing…actually, I like it this way better than Pillsbury’s thick stuff that slides right off the tops.

Don’t these look like Pioneer Woman’s? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

But hey — when you have two happy boys who cares???



PS: This might lead to more posts about how my kids enjoy foods best when they’re quickly prepared out of a box with a cartoon character on the front — Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls featuring the Dough Boy…I rest my case.

Who’s the latest Victim for the 13th Annual Vollmer Diet Attempt?

02. January 2008 · 1 comment · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

So…who should be our victim this year?

A better question probably is: Which of these diet programs have the Vollmer already attempted??? You’d be surprised!

Since we’re not in a financial position to pay for those “We supply the food” programs, I guess LA Weight Loss, Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig are out.

Did anyone else notice the number of weight-loss program commercials during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve???

One of the ones I noticed was a “free” Weight Watchers online program, that doesn’t involve the meetings and weigh-ins…hmmm….

…okay, I just went to the link and it immediately kicked me to a signup page to include things like “Payment Plan”…WTF???

Off to taking the kids to school/the gym. I foresee the gym being PACKED! Sigh…

We put the DUMP in DUMPLING!

01. January 2008 · 1 comment · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags:

So how were they? With LOTS of butter, they were barely tolerable. But this batch is certainly NOT worth keeping. I guess unless we needed something to keep Howie (our dog) from soiling our lawn. The good news is that the pork loin with diced apples, brown sugar and sauerkraut came out PERFECTLY! Yum! Dave said “this one’s a keeper!” (the pork recipe, not the dumplings).

I’ll try the potato dumpling recipe correctly again soon. I pride myself in learning from my mistakes.

Potato Dumplings — or ARE they?

01. January 2008 · Comments Off on Potato Dumplings — or ARE they? · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags:

POTATO DUMPLINGS: (courtesy of Food Network, click link for full recipe)

Mix instant potatoes for 6 servings
2 eggs
2 to 3 cups flour, plus more for kneading
1 teaspoon baking powder

Combine dumpling ingredients well. Put out on floured bread board and knead more flour in until stiff-like bread dough and it isn’t sticky to your hands. Break off small pieces and form into flat balls, drop into rapidly boiling water. Bring back to a boil and cook 10 to 15 minutes. Cut 1 and if it isn’t sticky inside, they are done. NOTE: If you have more people – say 8 – mix potatoes for 8 and add more flour; for 10 or more, add 3 eggs and more flour. Prep time–10 to 20 minutes depending on how much kneading you have to do to get the dough not sticky. Cooking time – about 20 to 25 minutes or until the dumplings aren’t doughy and sticky on the inside Yield: 10 to 12 dumplings

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Okay, I’d argue that was open to interpretation. How was I supposed to know they meant “mix up everything you need for 6 servings of instant potatoes”. I didn’t include the milk, water, butter or salt. I did NOT make the potatoes themselves.

2 2/3 cups of dry potato mix + 2 cups of flour + 2 eggs = a dry mealy mess!

I was ready to put a comment on Foodtv.com about what a mess I was making…I added an extra egg, some milk and managed to get to the “kneading” portion of the recipe.

The dumplings are now boiling and I’m sure they’ll be bland as hell…no butter, no salt. Ugh.

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