Welcome to the Final Countdown!

It is less than two weeks until I leave for the Pillsbury Bake-off Contest!  I also have my very first TV interview with KEPR-TV from Pasco, WA this Friday.  I'm so excited - my TV debut! :)  But, as you know, dinner must still get on the table and my need to make new recipes is never-ending! It is spring break - so that eases all the activities somewhat - but there is all the pesky housecleaning that must be down in anticipation of a TV crew!


Monday - Did you see this Lemon-Pepper Shrimp?  Doesn't it look amazing?!!?  Lady has so might fine stuff over there!  I bought shrimp just in anticipation of making this lemony-shrimpy-peppery goodness! 


Tuesday - Did you see this Crockpot Swiss Steak?  Doesn't it look like comfort food at it's best?  Colleen is veritable fountain of amazing recipes!  I bought some round steak just for this tomato-y goodness!


Wednesday - Did you see this Easy Baked Stuffed Pork Chops? Isn't that an ingenious way to "stuff" pork chops?  Katy really is the sweetest soul and some wonderful stories & recipes.  I am risking the wrath of the Chickies in doing something besides Shake N' Bake for pork chops to try this recipe!


Thursday - I've decided to enter a couple of other recipe contests.  Let's just say tonight's dinner is a test run of an idea I have.  I'll have to keep to it to myself for now....... It's sorta ruining the theme of my week, but you'll have to forgive me!

Friday - Did you see this Caramelized Red Onion-Feta Burger?  Are you tired of seeing it on my blog yet?  Well, Hick Chick must practice!  And feed her Chickies.  And today - prepare it for a TV crew!  So, here it is again! :)

Saturday - My shoe quest to wear to Florida has gone awry.  A mall must enter my life.  And if have to drive 70 miles to find shoes, I think I deserve a nice dinner out too!

Sunday - Happy Easter!!  My Chickies love ham.  I'm pretty "eh" about plain cooked ham.  But to make them happy..... I bought one.  However, potatoes & cheese make ME happy, so this Cheesy Potato Casserole will also be in attendance as well as this Pineapple Casserole which is a wonderful complement to ham.  Mrs. S. declared it a necessary compliment to the Easter ham dinner last year.

Caramelized Red Onion-Feta Burgers

I took a couple of pictures today of my two practice runs of the Burger!

It's Exciting & Busy!

It is getting closer to the Bake-off Contest, 3 weeks tomorrow to the actual contest and less than that until I leave for Orlando!  Things around here are getting busy too, as I prepare to go along with the start of spring.  KK has softball games, I'm still giving an Excel class and I have gotta do something about all the gray hair running amok!  LOL


Monday - A pretty easy day in the 'hood.  No after work/school activities planned.  :)  I didn't get the Oven-Fried Catfish made last week - since it as easy night it shouldn't be a problem!


Tuesday - Let the busy begin!  I should have enough time between getting home and having to go get KK from practice and getting back for the Excel class to make this simple Chicken with Mushrooms & Balsamic Cream Sauce.  Does that look yummy!?!?!  


Wednesday - I'm off to get my hair done!  It has been months since I had my hair done - I am so beyond ready! LOL When I asked KK what they wanted to have - she said "salad".  So - they are having salad.  With whatever they want on it.


Thursday - KK has her first middle school softball game tonight!  I hope the weather is nice (i.e. not windy) and we can enjoy the game!  I am going to bring out the good 'ol crockpot and make one of the easiest recipes ever from A Year of Slow Cooking - Lazy Chicken.  It is good (I'll use my homemade marinara) and easy.  I usually melt a little mozzarella over the top and serve over whatever pasta is hanging out in the pantry.


Friday - I'm taking Friday and Monday off work to hang a little with the Chickies during spring break and get ready for the Pillsbury.  And that means Caramelized Red Onion-Feta Burgers!  Also, a chocolate mousse has been requested.  I have a mix I got from a Dove Chocolate party - but I might get crazy and look for a recipe since I'm gonna be home!


Saturday - SS had an assignment in class that required her to right a letter for product or business.  She decided to write her letter to our favorite sushi place - Tsunami Sushi. We love that place and all the staff and they have moved to super-star status with us because SS received a $25 gift certificate in response to her letter! Way to go SS!  So, we are off to the movies and to use our gift certificate!  YUM!


Sunday - At this point, less than 2 weeks to go! Guess what I'm making AGAIN! 


Have a great first week of spring!

Menu Planner

I made an awesome "Hick Chick Menu Planner".  It makes keeping your week's menu, where your recipes are from, and your shopping list in one convenient place!  I love it - I hope you do to!

Let's Be Healthier!

With only a month to go until the Pillsbury Bake-off contest - I'm thinking about the clothes I need/want to wear for the festivities.  I have gained a few pounds since my diligence of counting points through the spring/summer/fall of last year.  I wanted this week to be a little lighter/healthier to try to get a couple of those pounds back off!

Monday - I really liked the Chicken Tikka Masala. It was super tasty and a little spicy.  I think we will have it will some roasted asparagus and white rice.

Tuesday - I am going to be giving an Excel class at the high school for the next couple of weeks on Tuesday nights.  I have a short window of time to get home, make dinner, go pick-up KK from softball, bring her home, and get back to the school by 6:00 pm.  But, if I don't eat before 7:30 - I know I'm going to be way too hungry.  Here's my answer tonight:  Taco Salad.  I'm going to make up a batch of homemade taco seasoning from my cooking friend Lady, brown some ground beef, slice and avocado.  Serve up with some green salsa and light sour cream, plus some homemade chips (just sliced tortillas baked with some kosher salt), drained black beans, and black olives.  I think the Chickies will even dig it!

Wednesday - I'm very lucky that my Chickies aren't that picky really.  They love seafood, including fish.  One of their favorites is Oven-Fried Catfish, and I've been meaning to try Lady's Homemade Tartar Sauce too.  I originally intended to have Quinoa with Mushrooms and Spinach, but couldn't find the Quinoa.  :(  Maybe we'll have some baked sweet potato fries instead.

Thursday - One of my old favorites that I haven't made in a long time is Chicken Bruschetta Bake from Kraft foods.  I was resistant to try the recipe for a long time - because I was leery of what tomatoes would do to the stuffing mix - but is is really good and tasty.   I struggle at sides for dishes like this though.... probably the ever popular Lemon Garlic Broccoli and I've been on a big cottage cheese kick too lately.

Friday - Last Friday I didn't make the casserole made, but the Chickies weren't home - but in all honesty, by the time Friday gets here..... it has to be Chicken Thighs all Puttanesca.  It is so easy and so good. 

Saturday - I didn't get the Caramelized Red-Onion Feta Burgers made last week either.  I need to make them!!! I need to practice! 

Sunday - I'm going to be all culinary today...... after a busy week, this sounds like it will be so good on a Sunday afternoon.  Southern Pulled Pork mixed up with a homemade BBQ sauce (I have yet to find a homemade sauce I like as much as a store bought cheap brand - but I keep questing!) served over baked potatoes.  If I'm feeling extra ambitious some coleslaw too.... probably not the Best Coleslaw Ever 'cuz it makes a lot.  We'll see what the day brings us.

Have great week and if you haven't already make sure to skip over to Facebook and become a fan of HICK CHICK WA - we have a "Dinner Ideas" post every day, drop by and tell us what's cooking in your kitchen! 

More Reviews

Lemon Dill Salmon - *****
That Dishy knows here salmon.  YUM!

Cube Steak Parmigiana - **** 
A solid 4-star recipe in our world.  I used my favorite sauce instead of what was listed.   

Baked Lemon Chicken - ***** 
This is one of KK's all time favorite recipes.  You know it has to be good to get made more than twice in our world!  I usually double the sauce (we love sauce) and use thighs and/or legs instead of breasts.  It makes me drool just to think about it!

Mexican Chili Pie - *** 1/2 
I'm giving it a 3 1/2 star rating because SS LOVED it.  She is the pickiest of all of us - and she had two giant servings.  I personally thought it was a little bland and dry - and thought the cheddar in the cornbread was a waste, since I really couldn't even tell it was there!

Carrot Casserole - *** 1/2 
I really wanted to love it more.  There is still some in the fridge, never a good sign in my world.

Pantry-Shelf Salmon Chowder - **** 1/2 
This was very good for starting with canned soups.  I didn't realize that it only made 4-1 cup servings (uh... we are hungrier than that for dinner!) so I doubled everything except the salmon ('cuz I only had one can).  It was still had lots of nice salmon chunks.  Both the Chickies slurped it right down without compliant!

Orange Rice Pilaf - *** 1/2 
It had a nice orange undertone.  I still like Herbed Rice better, it won't get made again.


Orange Herb Roasted Chicken - ****
KK said she could really taste the orange in the chicken - I don't notice an over-powering flavor.  I think we enjoy lemon for our citrus more than orange on chicken.


Spicy White Chili - ****
Uh... I didn't find this spicy at all!  And... stirring in the cheese did not give me a cheesy experience at all.  Next time I will just add it on the top of my bowl.  Who I am I kidding... a solid 4-star still isn't enough to make me give up my search!


Roasted Salmon with Balsamic Glaze - *****+
Okay... this sauce/glazed rocked my world.  So simple (I used Splenda) and so very good.  It got on my asparagus (YUMMMMMMMM) and even got on my cottage cheese, which was amazing too!  If I wasn't trying to instill good manners in the Chickies I would have so licked my plate!

Spring is Coming!

The past few days have been beautiful around here!  Over on my Facebook Fan page people are pulling out the grill for making dinner all over the country.  Everyday on HICK CHICK WA on Facebook we will be having a dinner post.  Skip on over there, become a fan, and post what you are making.  Also, if you are looking for a recipe for something in particular - I'd be happy to help out if I can!  Just post what you are looking for and I'll see if I can't find a few recipes.

Now... on to our week. KK is starting softball this week.  It just seems like we finished basketball!  SS is going to be in the talent show on Thursday - it will be a busy week around here, but what else is new right? :)

Monday - I found this Roasted Salmon with Balsamic Glaze.  Doesn't it sound good - I have some nice salmon fillets and I love balsamic.  I'm hoping to find some asparagus on sale.  mmmmmmmmm......

Tuesday - This Inside Out Ravioli has been in my AR recipe box for eons!  It looks easy & yummy - time it gets to be made!

Wednesday - KK's request of the week. Any guesses?  Nope, not stroganoff this time.... you guessed it - shake 'n bake pork chops.  We had this Green Beans with Cherry Tomatoes for our Christmas Eve dinner.  It was so good.... I hope I can find some reasonable green beans and not outrageously priced cherry tomatoes!

Thursday - I am going to try PW's version of chicken fried steak and gravy.  It isn't up on her website - but is in her cookbook (which my chickies gave me for Christmas!).  I'll post the recipe when I do a review.

Friday - You know my Friday story, right.  It has to be easy and I have to love it or chances are I'm going to be a loser and not get it made.  I really enjoyed the Greek Chicken Casserole from Paula Deen.  Since I have all the ingredients on hand (and my feta needs to goooooooooooo) it seems a good time to redo.

Saturday - SS's request this week:  Caramelized Red Onion-Feta Burgers (you gotta love that kid!).  And it is less than a month away - I need to practice, practice, practice!

Sunday - If you haven't been to Grumpy's Honeybunch's blog.  You are missing out!  Shelby is a great cook AND baker (unlike yours truly who isn't such a great baker!).  Did you see her photo for Ground Beef with Beijing Sauce?  It was enough to send me scurrying over to the Steamy Kitchen for the recipe. I'm hopeful to find the ground bean sauce so I can make it.  It looks so yummy!

I hope each of you find a piece of spring this week!