KRISTEN IN THE RAW.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Let Summer Continue, Please

Sure, we have had 100+ temperatures every day for a few months... but wouldn't you agree that it beats freezing cold mornings, and long-sleeved clothing, and being cooped up in the house, and closed-toed shoes, and icy roads, and dead flowers and grass?

In Texas, there's not much in between blazing hot Summer and freezing temperatures Winter. Just a couple weeks...

So let Summer continue, please. And the tailgate parties at the lake...















And the gorgeous TEXAS sunsets...

Posted by Picasa

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Zucchini Fritters

A friend informed med that it was "blog-or-die" time (guess the quality of my posts aren't too important to her), and since I'd like to live long enough to finish up school at least, I resort to posting another recipe. Deal with it.

This isn't so much a main dish, more of a side dish... I am working on figuring out how to turn it into a main dish, though, because it's so darn delicious and the ingredients are very flexible.

Start by grating three or so zucchinis. "Or so" will be used a lot in this post. Deal with that, too.


Add a handful or so of cilantro and 2 cloves of verrryyy thinly sliced garlic.


Add about 3/4 - 1 c. riccotta cheese. And some leftover shaved parmesan. And if you don't have any of that, buy some, make my ravioli, and then used the leftover cheese. Easy as pie.


Add the peel of one lemon. Certain members of my family (ahem) weren't too crazy about the lemon in these, but I thought it was amazing. So it probably is.


Add two eggs.


Salt and pepper to taste.


Add 3/4 c. flour and stir until just mixed. This is really hard for me to do. It's like my hand starts stirring and it just can't stop. But you can do it, you can stop! Just. Say. NO!

Heat 1/4 in or so of olive oil in a nonstick skillet until it is glistening/shimmering/shiny... whatever they call it.


Add mounds of the zucchini mixture to the hot skillet, spreading out into 3 inch or so fritters.


Fry them over medium/high heat until they are turning brown and crisp, about 3-4 minutes, turning over once.


Drain on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.


Squeeze a little lemon on them, or serve with a wedge of lemon. They're also really good with ranch dressing to dip them into. Serve while hot.


Die of wonderfulness and eat the entire pan before anyone else can steal one. Swat the hand of anyone who walks by with outstretched arms and shoot the evil eye at anyone being critical of your actions.

Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Hudson's

So, back when we were in Colorado, I took a couple pictures of Brad and JoLynn's family. Yeah, way back then. And only a couple because it promptly started raining as soon as we started. Gotta love Colorado.



...love this little goofball with Dracula teeth...


...and this smart, pretty Miss Priss...





... and this handsome, silly guy...



JoLynn pointed out that it's kind of ironic that during these pictures it was - "Caitlin, get rid of the pouty face", "Braden, SMILE FOR REAL, OR ESLE!", "Brantley, quit sticking out your tongue unless you want a spanking!"... and then - "Okay... be happy! SMILE, KIDS!!"

Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Spinach and Mushroom Ravioli

Some of you know that I have attempted vegetarianism for the past 12 months. This has opened up a world of food that I would've never eaten before. Such as... strange vegetables... and tofu... and more desserts (hee hee)... and many other things. One of those being mushrooms. And now I love them. I found a recipe for a spinach and sausage ravioli, switched it up a little, added a couple things, and this is what it became. The big sneak in this one is using EGG ROLL WRAPPERS. Did anyone know you could do that? Because I didn't. And it sure would've saved a world of trouble the first time Aubrey and I had a girl's dinner and attempted making our own pasta. Chewy, salty, thick, inedible. Anyways... marching on.

Spinach and Mushroom Ravioli

A few handfuls of fresh spinach (the recipe originally called for frozen spinach, but I did it both ways and let me tell you, there's a big difference in taste, fresh is definitely better)

1 pkg egg roll wrappers

Lots of mushrooms (depends on how mushroomy you like it) - cut into small pieces

1 c Ricotta cheese

1 c fresh shaved Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish

2 eggs - beaten with 1 T water

Saute the fresh spinach in 1 T of butter. Set aside. Add a little SWOOSH of extra virgin olive oil to the pain and toss the mushrooms in. Let them cook for about 7 minutes, then add the spinach back into the pan and cook all together for about 3 more minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Mix together the Ricotta and Parmesan. Add the spinach-mushroom mixture and season to taste. I threw in a little crushed red pepper for a kick. Oh yeah. Mix all together.

Brush one egg roll wrapper with the egg-water mixture. Add four dollops of the filling about an inch apart. Lay another wrapper on top and cut in fourths. Press down the edges to make a ravioli pocket and brush the edges with the egg-water mixture. Set on a cookie sheet.

Boil the raviolis in 4 quarts of oiled, salted water for THREE minutes. Don't put too many in the pot of water or they will stick together and break (I did 4-5 at a time). Use a slotted spoon to remove from boiling water and place them back on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with parmesan.


They look a little wrinkled and dead when you take them out of the water.


Throw them on a plate, add a little marinara and more parmesan, vegetables... and they're looking a little more alive.


Add friends and your sister's homeade french bread, and you have a party.

Posted by Picasa

Monday, August 29, 2011

Aubrey's 24th

Yes, I know I have neglected my blog for weeks. But for the past TWO MONTHS, I have been working on planning a surprise birthday for Aubrey. And between that, and company, and school, and work, yeah... anyways.

Aubrey does not like surprises. So, to try to justify what I was doing, we start with a beautiful and relaxing setting...


Brad and Jo's patio




Mr. Egg Roll Maker. Eric did a LOT for this party. Planning, getting food, cooking. Oh man. If there was a way to describe the goodness of his eggrolls and his chips and guacamole on this blog, I would try.


Anxiously awaiting her arrival. It's slightly annoying that I didn't even get a picture of her coming in the door. Basically, I told her that some girls were going over to JoLynn's to swim and for dinner. Anyways, her surprise to having about forty people waiting in the living room was evident. OH! THE ICING ON THE CAKE - Marie came out! Two surprises in one, even better.


Just look at that food. Let's take a closer look, shall we?


Hot wings, cheeseball and crackers, eggrolls, grilled vegetable and meat kabobs...


Chips and guacamole and salsa, fruit skewers and dip, sushi...


Kendra helped me put this together by sneaking some pictures from the house...


Oh man. Cheesecake with blackberry and raspberry sauce.




We had a really fun time. I'm kinda proud that she was actually suprised after all this time and so many people knowing. Yes, I'm kinda proud.

Posted by Picasa