Think Family.Net

August 22nd, 2008 by Natalia

Today, I’m baking and cleaning all day long. Kevin is attending a testosterone filled event(fantasy football draft) tomorrow and he’s in charge of bringing the sugar! By he I mean “I”. He has asked me to make my coconut cake and a bunch of chocolate chip cookies. Cookies are a mess to make so he’s getting Nestle tub o’cookies. I need to spend more time on the cake! Here is my recipe… It’s great. You should try it.

Nat’s Easy Coconut Supreme Cake

Ingredients:
1 box coconut supreme cake mix
3 large eggs
Vegetable Oil
Water
2 creamy vanilla frosting
Filling: 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
4 tbsp milk
1 cup flaked, sweetened coconut

Method:
PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F.

GREASE and FLOUR 3 - 9 inch cake pans.

PREPARE and BAKE cake mix according to directions on package.

While cake is baking prepare filling. STIR together sugar, sour cream, milk, and 1/2 cup coconut flakes.

Remove cake layers from oven and allow cake to remain in pans as you prepare to stack and fill. Remove first layer and invert onto cake plate. Using the wrong end of a wooden spoon poke holes approximately 1-inch apart until entire cake has been poked. Spread 1/3 of the filling mixture on cake layer. Top with next layer and repeat process. Top with last layer and repeat process again.

Allow cake to cool completely.

Frost top and sides of cake.

Sprinkle entire cake with desired amount of coconut.

Enjoy!

March 28th, 2008 by Natalia

Ashton has been begging me to do fondue for a while now. So, tonight, I decided that I would give my princess a treat. We used this stainless steel fondue set that we received as a wedding gift. It’s great. It’s easy to clean, which is a HUGE plus for me.

On the menu was chicken, beef, and shrimp (for Ashton). We had a side of cheesy broccoli rice and a nice salad. I used a broth based cooking liquid instead of oil. (Less fattening and less greasy.) It all turned out great. Ashton and Jackson loved the food. Ash especially loved getting to cook all of her own food. She is so cute. Here she is.

I even think that Jax had a good time. He actually smiled for the camera when I asked him to.

My kids are adorable.

February 7th, 2008 by Natalia

I usually put ground beef in my spaghetti sauce. Since we are skipping the beef right now I came up with an alternative recipe last night. It uses Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage instead. It was yummy. I just thought I would share for those of you looking for ways to skip beef or just cut out some of the fat.

Ingredients

• 1 pound Jennie-O Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage - casings removed
• 1 can diced tomatoes - garlic and onion
• 1 Jar of your favorite All Natural Spaghetti sauce (I like Bertolli)
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp Fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp red wine
• 1 half onion diced
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1tbsp olive oil
• Whole wheat pasa of your choice ( I used thin spaghetti)

Directions

1. Start water to boil for noodles (follow directions on box)
2. Heat heavy skillet over medium heat
3. Add olive oil to pan once hot
4. Add onions and cook until translucent then add minced garlic
5. Add Turkey Sausage and brown like you would beef
6. When Turkey is brown drain off grease
7. Add tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, Worchestershire, and Italian seasoning
8. Bring to boil and reduce heat to low
9. Add wine
10. Let simmer for 10 mins
11. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste

Wallah! Not so hard at all! No beef. Whole wheat noodles and tomatoes - good for you. You can’t go wrong. Add a nice salad to this and your dinner is complete!!! Enjoy!

Tell me what you think.

January 31st, 2008 by Natalia

This is a great low carb meal. I’ve adapted it from one of George Stella’s (had to give him some credit) recipes.

Marinade:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 3 tablespoons
• 1/8 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 dashes cayenne pepper (less than 1/8 teaspoon)
• 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves

• 1 pound (2 large half breasts) boneless skinless chicken breast; sliced completely in half making 4 pieces
• 1-ounce tequila
• 4 ounces shredded Colby Jack cheese

Optional Garnish:

• 1 tub fresh pico de gallo
• Sour cream

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a bowl, place 2 tablespoons olive oil, all marinade ingredients, and chicken, and mix thoroughly.

In a large saute pan, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high to high heat. Place the coated chicken breasts in the hot pan and sear on one side until golden brown for about 1 minute. Turn and sear the other side for a few seconds more, and sizzle with the tequila.

Transfer seared chicken breasts to a lightly greased sheet pan and bake in oven for about 10 minutes until fully cooked.

Remove chicken from oven and top with the shredded cheese. Place back in the oven for just a minute to melt the cheese and remove. Serve and enjoy!

Top it off!
Before serving, top with sour cream and fresh pico.

Tequila Chicken tastes better when eating in the presence of the ones you love. So fire up the oven and call your family. It’s tequila chicken night!

January 20th, 2008 by Natalia

I just found my new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. I’ve been experimenting for months and I finally did it! Delicious!! Not healthy, but it’s sure to earn you brownie points with that cookie lover in your life.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking SODA
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temp
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 - 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 8 oz of your favorite semi-sweet chocolate coarsely chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Line 2 cookie sheets with either parchment paper or silicone baking sheets
3. In 1 bowl, sift together flour, baking SODA, and salt and set aside.
4. In a mixing bowl, place butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Cream until light and fluffy
5. Scrape sides of bowl with silicone spatula and beat in eggs and vanilla.
6. Slowly add the flour mixture and mix only until a batter forms. Do not over mix.
7. Fold in chocolate chunks with spatula.
8. Scoop about 1/8th cup mixture into palm and gently roll in to ball. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.
9. Bake about 15 mins or until cookies slightly brown on top.
10. Allow cookies to cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes
11. Move cookies to wire rack to cool completely.
12. Repeat with remaining dough.
13. Enjoy cookies with family. - Yes you have to share!