Candied Pecans

I wanted to make a strawberry pecan salad with homemade raspberry vinaigrette and really wanted some candied pecans on it.  Walmart didn't have anything specifically labeled as "candied pecans" instead they had honey pecans or something like that for $4.  I looked up a recipe and knew I had all of the ingredients at home.  Therefore, being my awesome self I decided to make my own candied pecans, but altered the recipe some.

Ingredients
1-1/2 cup of pecan halves
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg white
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Preparation
1.)  Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and cover a baking sheet in aluminum foil.

2.)  I recommend mixing your white sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl (like what you eat cereal out of).

3.)  Whisk your egg white, water, and vanilla in a large bowl until it is frothy.

4.)  Pour your pecans in the bowl with your egg white mix and stir with a spatula to ensure each pecan gets the mix.

5.)  Pour the sugar mix into the bowl of pecans.  Stir well with a spatula to evenly distribute your sugar mix.
6.)  With your hand remove the pecans and evenly spread onto baking sheet.
7.)  Cook for 1 hour and stir the pecans every 15 minutes with a clean spatula.

8.)  Remove from oven and let cool off for 15 minutes.  Enjoy!

Reflection
These were really good, but I think next time I may try to do 1/4 cup white sugar and 1/4 cup brown sugar.  I also may try to use vanilla extract in place of water.

How To Be A Housewife: Eggplant Pizza

It's the summer and I usually try some new foods.  This summer I've been slacking though and haven't really done as much.  After realizing that I gained ten pounds from March 2015 to October 2015 I have somewhat realized that I need to make some lifestyle changes.  My goal for the rest of the year is to try to eat healthier and I'm trying to make that change this week.  So yesterday I went to Kroger and purchased an eggplant for $0.98.  I've never had eggplant before today and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.

Ingredients
Eggplant
Marinara Sauce
Salt
Pepper
Provolone or Mozzarella slices (whichever type of cheese you like)
Oregano
Spinach (optional)
Olive Oil

How To Be A Housewife: Corn Pudding

Corn Pudding, circa Jan. 2015

 I haven't done one of my How To Be A Housewife blogs in awhile...obviously it's not working for me because I'm still slaving at the school house instead of being taken care by a rich sugar daddy.  Anyways, back in January for New Year's I was given the task of cooking corn pudding by The Giver of Life a.k.a. Mom.  During the two weeks we're out of school for Christmas I'm generally in a great mood and don't mind cooking so yeah.  My Mom has been making this since I was a kid and I've always enjoyed it.  I'm not sure if it's healthy but it taste good!

Ingredients...with homemade sour cream since we didn't have any.

Ingredients:  
1-15 oz. can whole kernel corn
1-15 oz. can creamed corn
1 cup of sour cream or oleo as the recipe calls it
2 eggs, beaten
Stick (1/2 cup) of butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
8 1/2 oz. box of Jiffy corn muffin mix


How To Prepare:
1.  Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Soften, not melt, your stick of butter in the microwave.
3.  Beat eggs as if you are making scrambling eggs.
4.  Mix all of the ingredients together.  Pour into an 8 x 8 inch pan.
5.  Cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until fork comes out clean from the center.

Crappy shot but all the ingredients in one bowl.

Spatula courtesy of my coworker/mentor who was also my Secret Santa.

Clean bowl

All ready for the oven!
Excuse the appearance of our freezer.

Finished product
Sorry it doesn't look like something Step Curry's wife made with the presentation and all.

Since I haven't posted anything in awhile I'm going to try and post the HOMEMADE red velvet cake a did despite the icing ruining all of my hard work.  This summer I'm also hoping to try some new things out since I have a little more time despite my second summer class happening and having to work these next few days.  See ya soon!

How To Be A Housewife: Cooking Empanadas

So despite what I say, I do enjoy cooking to some degree.  As I get bored, I become more domesticated and the desire to cook hits.  I decided a few weeks ago that I was going to make empanadas.  I was originally introduced to this dish by my high school Spanish teacher, Senor Vasquez.  Every year that I had him as a teacher we made empanadas and sopapillas as a part of learning about the Latin American culture.

My Attempt: Chicken Pot Pie

So everyone knows that I'm one of those people that becomes really domestic when I'm at home bored.  When I was home for Thanksgiving I planned on making apple butter, but stuff happens.  Now I'm here with an easy recipe for chicken pot pie.

Ingredients:

2 Cans of Condensed Cream of Chicken (10.5 ounces)
1.5-2 Cups Cooked and Cubed Chicken
1/2 Cup 2% Milk
2 Cups Mixed Vegetables (12 ounce bag thawed)

Crust
1 Cup biscuit mix
1 Egg
1/2 Cup 2% Milk

I got this recipe from the Campbell's Soup website and the original serving size was for four so I decided to double up on all of the ingredients which I soon discovered was unnecessary.  The recipe was super easy and simple, so all of you who struggle in the kitchen don't worry.

Taste of Athens: Keba Spitfire Grill

So I've decided that I'm going to start a portion on my blog called "Taste of Athens."  The city name will switch up for wherever I am, but since I go to school in  Athens I mostly eat here.  One of the biggest things about living somewhere else is the food.  Every city has their own little restaurants and Athens is no different, especially since its a college town.  My goal for the semester is to try different places out and give you guys a little review of the place along with some pictures of what I ate.  First up we have Keba Spitfire Grill.

Not sure if this is a good example of the inside of the sandwich, but oh well.

Location:  1850 Epps Bridge Parkway, Suite 111
What I Ordered:  A regular combo with beef, lettuce, tomato, Keba sauce, fries, and creamy feta sauce.
Price:  $9.62

I first heard about Keba from my frat's fellowship chair last semester when Taste of Athens became a fellowship, so this isn't my first time trying it.  The burgers are described as German style seeing how the owner/founder is from Germany and they even serve Belgian cut fries.  You have numerous options for your base (filling/meat) including beef, chicken, pork, feta, etc. and you get to select a sauce that you want on the sandwich.  I chose Keba sauce since it obviously must be viewed as their "signature" sauce if it bares the name of the place.  If you get fries you also get the choice of another sauce so I got creamy feta.  My food was ready within a few minutes which was pleasing seeing how I was starving.

The beef alone is very dry, but I'm guessing this is why they include a sauce because I can't imagine having it with just the bread and veggies.  The meat actually reminded me of the type I see on gyros if that matters at all.  I must say the sandwich/burger was pretty good.  I didn't really care for the Keba sauce though because I just couldn't taste it.  I knew it was there, but yeah it doesn't have much of a kick to it that left me wanting to get it on my sandwich again.  I ended up dipping my food into the creamy feta sauce that I ordered for my fries.  Now that sauce was amazing.  I recommend everyone try that one.  The fries weren't salted if my memory serves me right which is something I don't care for.  I don't need salt on my fries, but I do like some type of seasoning and these didn't have anything.  I'm guessing this is why they offer the option of getting a dipping sauce whenever you order fries.

Overall I'll give them a 3.5 out of 5.  The food was good, but the price was another story.  I don't care for nearly paying $10 for a meal like this, but the food is "different" so I should expect that anyways.  As a college student my pockets can't accept that though.  I'll go back, but probably only if I'm invited there.  If you're a small person I wouldn't recommend getting the regular sized combo as you'll get full halfway through the sandwich.  The small combo is $6.99 and I wish I had got it.  I also recommend sitting down and eating it because by the time I got back to my dorm it wasn't as hot as it probably was when I first got it and how hot food is can play a big deal in the taste.