Tag Archives: kitchen

dinner’s ready

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Sharon ت

I’ve heard from a few friends that they struggle to plan dinner so that everything is ready at the same time. Today, I’m going to offer some tips to help with that.

The other night, we had blackened fish, green bean casserole and dirty rice for dinner. Each dish has different prep and cooking times. So, I will use this meal as an example.

The following is the prep and cook times for each dish:

fish- prep 10″, cook 5″

dirty rice- prep 10″, cook 25″, and another 5″ to sit and fluff

green bean casserole- prep about 7 or so minutes, cook 30″

The casserole and dirty rice take about the same amount of time and take the longest amount of time. So, that ‘s where we should start. Preheat the oven so it will be ready when your dish is ready to bake.

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First, I put on the water to boil for the dirty rice. Dirty rice also calls for lightly browned ground meat. So, I started browning the meat right after I put the water on to boil.

Next, I let the meat sit for a minute while I opened and drained the cans of green beans and mixed together all of the ingredients for the green bean casserole. I would occasionally check the meat and stir it around.

Once the meat was done, and the water had come to a boil, I emptied the contents of the Zatarain’s dirty rice and the ground meat into the pot of boiling water.

Once that was cooking, I put the green bean casserole into a baking dish, and put it in the oven. Both of those dishes were going to take 30″.

From prep to cook time the fish will only take 15 minutes. So, I waited until the other dishes only had 15 minutes left before I started on the fish.

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I like to take advantage of down time. So, this would be a good time to fix a salad if you are including that on your menu. Or, you can load the dishwasher with the dishes you’ve dirtied so far. Cleaning as you go makes cleaning after dinner a little easier.

When it’s time, prepare and cook the last dish. It’s okay if casseroles finish cooking a few minutes before the rest. It gives them a chance to sit and settle a little bit before serving. Just be sure to leave them covered so that it’s still warm when you fix your plate.

To sum it up:

1)Start the dishes that will take the longest first.

2) Then wait to cook the quickest dish until the equal amount of time is left on the longer cooking dishes. ie. fish takes 15 minutes to prep and cook, wait til there’s only 15 minutes left on the dishes that are already cooking.

Hopefully, this example will help you time your next meal. If you have any questions or if you have your own tips to share, feel free to contact me.

Until next time,

Sharon

Joining these parties:

Take it on Tuesday @ Romance on a Dime

Tutorial Tuesdays @ The Kurtz Korner

Tutorials and Tips Link Party @ Home Stories A to Z

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged cooking, homemaking, kitchen, meal planning, recipes. Bookmark the permalink.

Dumplin’s Chicken and Dumplings

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Sharon ت

About 12 years ago, I cooked some chicken and dumplings for my husband’s uncle. He reminisces over that meal as though it was the best he’s ever had. The dumplings I made for him were way too salty, but he gave me the ultimate compliment by going for seconds. He has been calling me Dumplin’ ever since that meal together. Since then, my recipe has become a combination of the recipe my momma gave me and that of a friend. While the recipe has evolved over the years, it’s been my daughter’s favorite meal since she was about 6 years old. But that’s enough talking. Let’s get to it.

Ingredients:

1 box of chicken broth

3 to 5 stalks of celery, chopped

1 cup of onion, chopped

a bag of baby carrots or carrot slices

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 can of cream of chicken soup

pepper

2 cloves of chopped garlic

2 cans of biscuits

Directions:

After you have diced the celery and onion, bring the chicken, celery, onion, and half the bag of carrots to a boil in the chicken broth. Boil until the chicken is cooked and the vegetables are tender.

Meanwhile, you can chop the garlic, open the can of cream of chicken and set out your pepper.

Once the chicken is cooked through, take it out of the pot and place it on a plate so that it will cool to the touch. Turn the heat down to low.

While the chicken is cooling, stir in the cream of chicken, chopped garlic and pepper to taste. Turn the heat to medium high and let the ingredients simmer.

While this is simmering, open the cans of biscuits, and cut the biscuits into quarters. If you like your dumplings soup style, don’t do anything else. If you prefer creamier style dumplings, sprinkle the biscuits and a rolling pin with a little flour and roll out the biscuits.

Once your biscuits are ready, gradually add them to the simmering pot. Cover the pot, turn up the heat and cook until dumplings have cooked through. While the biscuits are cooking, shred the chicken into bit sized pieces.

Once the biscuits are cooked through, turn down the heat to low and stir in the chicken.

Oh, yeah. Looking good. Go ahead and help yourself. There’s plenty. This recipe serves 8.

Enjoy! If you try this recipe, please let me know how it turns out.

Tip #1: I recommend putting your chopped vegetables in ramekin bowls to get them out of your way as you continue chopping, and it makes it easy to add them in the pot.

Tip #2 Use the dull side of your knife to scoop the diced vegetables into the ramekin bowl.

Tip # 3: Taken from Rachel Ray- Using a trash bowl makes cleaning as you go easy. Once everything is cooking, just dump the trash in the garbage.

Until next time,

Sharon

I’m linking to:

Sunday’s Best @ My 1929 Charmer

Sunday Showcase @ Under the Table and Dreaming

Newbie party @ Debbiedoo’s Blogging and Blabbing

Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle

Market Yourself Monday @ Sumo’s Sweet Stuff

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged chicken and dumplings, cooking, home cooked meals, in the kitchen, kitchen, recipes, southern cooking. Bookmark the permalink.

Cock-a-doodle Candy Dish

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Sharon ت

My Mother-in-Law saw this little bowl in Hobby Lobby and thought of me. Can you guess why?

I love the colors in the rooster and the black background.

It wasn’t long before I decided it would serve as a candy dish.

Then, I played around with it; setting it in different places in the kitchen. I finally decided to put it on the counter space between the kitchen and the living room; making the candy accessible from all directions.

This was an inexpensive and small gift, but I was so delighted to receive it.

And my family is really enjoying helping themselves to some candy.

Todays lesson is this: Today is Black Firday. You might just be getting home from shopping: feet aching, mind reeling, and mood dropping in disappointment that you didn’t find just the right gift for Grandma. However, let’s not get so caught up in the gift giving that we miss out on the true meaning of Christmas. “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to
all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David
a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”–Luke 2:10,11. This is the greatest Gift of all.

Until next time,

Sharon

I’m linking to:

Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage

Potpourri Party @ 2805

Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff and Nonsense

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged candy dish, french country, kitchen, projects, rooster decor. Bookmark the permalink.

Chicken Wire Canisters

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Sharon ت

Come into my kitchen. I have something I want to show you today.

With all of the pictures and posts about chicken wire lately, I was starting to feel a little envious. Then, last night as we were unloading groceries, I looked over and saw my “canisters” and realized, “Hey, I do have my very own chicken wire!” The realization brought me a sense of pleasure, and I couldn’t wait to post about it.

Today, I am delighted to show you my chicken wire baskets that I use as canisters; not in the traditional since, though. I’m not much a of baker, but I sure do love to cook. So, I turned these baskets into canisters that would serve my purpose.

I am currently storing cutie clementines in the largest basket. I just love the colorful presentation.

The middle sized basket holds some kitchen utensils. Eventually, I plan to collect vintage utensils to display.

The little basket acts as an herb garden. Well, sorta. The herb plant is artificial, but the garlic next to the basket is real. Does that count?

What crumbs? ;)

Even if these baskets were empty, they are very lovely all on their own. I love the details such as the ball feet,

the wooden handle, (I don’t see any crumbs. Do you?)

the different images,

and of course, the chicken wire.

I LOVE my chicken wire canisters! Do your canisters serve for baking or cooking?

The lesson for today is this: keep function in mind, and decorate according to how you live.

Until next time,

Sharon

I’m linking to:

Newbie Party @ Debbiedoo’s Blogging and Blabbing

SNS @ Funky Junk Interiors

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged baskets, chicken wire, french country, in the kitchen, kitchen, projects. Bookmark the permalink.

Keeping it Real

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Sharon ت

That’s what my thoughts keep going back to as I reflect on last week in blogland. It can be soooo tempting to get caught up in having the perfectly decorated house, craftiest projects, and the best blog. Traci over at Beneath My Heart posted more about that last week. Click HERE to read it. I kept thinking about Traci’s post after I read it, and I felt a tug on my heart to follow suit. So, today, I’m going to bare it all …my messes and misplaced belongings, because, I’m not perfect.

Here is a picture that I posted of the coffee table I refinished; complete with a cute basket to keep it clutter-free,

and this is a picture of what my table looks like during the day as I work on my blog. (A girl’s gotta have her home dec magazines, USB port and to-do list handy.)

This is my breakfast room by day,

and by night. I call this the “after school” look.

As long as I’m keepin’ it real, look at this faux pax. Even though it’s temporary, it bothers me.

As if that’s not enough embarassment, take a look at this. My sink looks like this more often than not. :(

To my family and friends who think that my house is always clean, are you relieved? This is today’s “lesson”: as you go about life, please keep from comparing yourself to others, whether it’s in your work, appearance, salary, cars, or homes. Guard your hearts and minds, loved ones.

Until next time,

Sharon

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Posted in reflections and tagged coffee table, curtains, home deor, kitchen, painted furniture, reflections. Bookmark the permalink.

Roosters and Sunflowers

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Sharon ت

Rise and Shine! That’s what the decor in my breakfast room says to me.

The sunrise pours through the windows in the morning, showing off the vibrant gold sunflowers and stirring the roosters to “cock-a-doodle-doo.”

Roosters

Rooster prints 1, 3 and 4 (from top to bottom) all came from thegraphicsfairy

Sunflowers

Until next time,

Sharon

I’m linking to:
The Newbie Party @ Debbiedoos

Brag Monday @ The Graphics Fairy

Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

French Inspiration @ The French Cupboard

Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Potpourri Party @ 2805

13 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized and tagged breakfast room, french country, in the kitchen, kitchen, projects, roosters, sunflowers. Bookmark the permalink.

Sentimental Sideboard

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Sharon ت

I love antiques and vintage pieces. They all tell a story, and I love letting my imagination roam to yesteryear to picture how old furniture played a part in people’s everyday lives. I would love for you to take a walk down memory lane with me as I share my sideboard.

This was my parent’s bedroom dresser in my childhood home. When they bought new bedroom furniture, I jumped at the chance to take it. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it, but I did know that I was going to repurpose it.

Before I figured out where it was going, I painted a faux “marble-like” finish on the top. Many people have assumed it was real marble. (Since I totally winged it, I’m surprised by that.)

For the past several years, it has graced my breakfast room as a sideboard.

It warms my heart to have this dresser in my home. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Until next time,

Sharon

Linking to:

Wow us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Power of Paint @ Domestically Speaking

Vintage Thingie Thursday @ Coloradolady

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged decor, faux finish, kitchen, painted furniture, projects, sideboard. Bookmark the permalink.

home cookin’

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Sharon ت

My house feels most like a home when I’m cookin’ for my family. From the savory smells, to the eager anticipation of a home-cooked meal, to setting the table and sitting together… Read the rest of this entry →