Cina-Beer French Toast

Sometimes in life you randomly discover really tasty things. Last Sunday I had one of these days. I had wanted some French toast for a few days and when I woke up before my husband Sunday it was a good time to surprise him with some fresh breakfast. My house is typically stocked for baking as I love to bake, especially bread. So I didn't think twice about having what I needed for ingredients. It turned out I had barley any milk or eggs so I got creative and saw the beer in my fridge and created this:

Cina-Beer French Toast

This recipe makes about 3-4 pieces of French Toast so you may want to double depending on how many you want to feed.

What you'll need:

1 egg

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup beer (dark flavorful ones work the best)

1 tsp cinnamon

3-4 pieces of your favorite bread- sandwich size

Oil for frying

Optional toppings: real maple syrup, fresh or frozen fruit

How to make it:

1. Heat frying pan on a medium heat with about 2 Tbsp oil

2. In a shallow dish big enough to dip your bread into mix: egg, milk, beer, cinnamon. You will want to mix this very well to get all the ingredients thoroughly distributed, a fork works well.

3. Take a piece of bread and quickly dip it in, flip and transfer right away to the hot frying pan. It is not good to let the toast sit in the egg mixture and longer then it takes for both sides to get wet with the mixture.

4. Fry each side of the bread until it is golden brown.

(this is an the un-fried side)

5. Remove from heat and serve with the optional toppings

Notes:

This is a Kristel original recipe created October 2009.

It is best to eat the toast while it is still hot.

The beer adds a new interesting flavor to this traditional breakfast food. Try experimenting with different types and flavors of beer to see what kind you like best.

What does a vegetairan eat: Falafel "burgers"

Falafel

Adapted From:  Joy of cooking all about vegetarian cooking pg 44

By Irma S Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, and Ethan Becker

You’ll need:

1 can pre-cook chickpeas

½ cup chopped onion

¼ cup fresh parsley leaves

2 tsp garlic

2 tsp ground cumin

1 ½ tsp salt

½ tsp ground coriander

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp ground red pepper

2 tbsp flour

Some vegetable oil for frying

Pita bread (1/2 pockets work nice)

Optional toppings: lettuce, tomatoes, and/or sour cream

How to make it:

1.       Chop the following ingredients in a food processor: Chickpeas, onion, parsley, garlic, cumin, salt, coriander, baking soda, ground red pepper.

2.       This mixture should be processed until it is coarsely pureed.

3.       Remove to a bowl and add in the flour

4.       Wet your hands and take a handful of the mixture and form into “patties”. The mixture will make about 4 about 3 inches in diameter.

5.       Let them stand for about 15 minutes.

6.       While the patties ‘stand’ preheat a frying pan with about ½ of oil in it. At this time also pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

7.       Fry the patties until they are golden brown, about 4 minutes on each side. P

8.       Place on a paper towel to drain

9.       Heat pita pockets in oven for about 10 minutes

10.       Make your pita sandwich with the toppings you have chosen and your falafel burger

Notes:

Falafel is the original "veggie burger". 

It is a popular food that originates in the Middle East.

This recipe take around an hour to put on the table. 

It doesn't make a lot of left overs but the cold falafel patties are very good.

Falafel "burgers"

Falafel

Adapted From:  Joy of cooking all about vegetarian cooking pg 44

By Irma S Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, and Ethan Becker

You’ll need:

1 can pre-cook chickpeas

½ cup chopped onion

¼ cup fresh parsley leaves

2 tsp garlic

2 tsp ground cumin

1 ½ tsp salt

½ tsp ground coriander

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp ground red pepper

2 tbsp flour

Some vegetable oil for frying

Pita bread (1/2 pockets work nice)

Optional toppings: lettuce, tomatoes, and/or sour cream

How to make it:

1.       Chop the following ingredients in a food processor: Chickpeas, onion, parsley, garlic, cumin, salt, coriander, baking soda, ground red pepper.

2.       This mixture should be processed until it is coarsely pureed.

3.       Remove to a bowl and mix in the flour

4.       Wet your hands and take a handful of the mixture and form into “patties”. The mixture will make about 4 about 3 inches in diameter.

5.       Let them stand for about 15 minutes.

6.       While the patties ‘stand’ preheat a frying pan with about ½ of oil in it. At this time also pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

7.       Fry the patties until they are golden brown, about 4 minutes on each side. P

8.       Place on a paper towel to drain

9.       Heat pita pockets in oven for about 10 minutes

10.       Make your pita sandwich with the toppings you have chosen and your falafel burger

Notes:

Falafel is the original "veggie burger". 

It is a popular food that originates in the Middle East.

This recipe take around an hour to put on the table. 

It doesn't make a lot of left overs but the cold falafel patties are very good.

What does a vegetairan eat: tortellini casserole

You’ll need:

*1 bag frozen cheese tortellini

*1 jar alfredo sauce OR 1 jar tomatoe based pasta sauce

*You favorite vegetables such as bell pepper, mushrooms, tomatoes, etc chopped into bite sized pieces

*16 oz shredded cheese (your favorite white cheese such as mozzarella)

 

In a 13X9 casserole dish layer your ingredients in this order:

        *All frozen tortellini

        *Your chopped vegetables

        *Your chosen sauce either alfredo or tomato based pasta sauce

        *Your cheese

Make sure to spread all of the layers out so you get an even taste of all ingredients

Bake at 375 for about 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and brown

Notes:

Thanks to Jenny who gave me the idea to get started creating this one! This is a Kristel original recipe. 

It makes great left overs for lunch.

 

Happy Birthday Nolan!

Happy Birthday to Nolan! You are an awesome friend who keeps life interesting and always makes the work day fly by. And something that makes you even more awsome then you already are is you are good cyclone supportor or symthaizer  amongst a sea of black and gold. I hope you enjoy your day!!

Random story on how I met/didn't met nolan....

It turns out that we were actually in marching band together at ISU  for a year. Not sure if we actually met during this time. He transfer to Iowa eventually and I graduated and moved to Iowa City. Nolan got a job at the company I work for. I kept thinking to myself he looks really fimiliar...hum. One day and I don't remember all the details here (Nolan maybe you can fill in) we started talking and have become very good friends. Strange how paths cross isnt't it!

totellini casserole

You’ll need:

*1 bag frozen cheese tortellini

*1 jar alfredo sauce OR 1 jar tomatoe based pasta sauce

*You favorite vegetables such as bell pepper, mushrooms, tomatoes, etc chopped into bite sized pieces

*16 oz shredded cheese (your favorite white cheese such as mozzarella)

In a 13X9 casserole dish layer your ingredients in this order:

        *All frozen tortellini

        *Your chopped vegetables

        *Your chosen sauce either alfredo or tomato based pasta sauce

        *Your cheese

Make sure to spread all of the layers out so you get an even taste of all ingredients

Bake at 375 for about 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and brown

Notes:

*Thanks to Jenny who gave me the idea to get started creating this one!
*This is a Kristel original recipe.

*It makes great left overs for lunch.
*It is an easy weeknight meal as you can go from making to table in about 30-35 minutes

Silent day: A walk around Iowa State in the fall

Homecoming 2009

This weekend John and I went up for homecoming. Its always so wonderful to spend time with my friends and do a little spinning (what the color guard calls when we do routines with our flags).

Friday night we headed up for the alumni band social. afterward we made a social of our own at Welch Ave Station. Then we headed over the the campanile for mass campanileing and fireworks.

Saturday we had to practice for our 1/2 time show, and attend a brunch. Afterward we had some free time...Lynne had just arrived in Ames and we had some fun.

John and me ready to go to the game

My brother and me

My  friend and former roommate Skippy

The team is ready to go

I got nice and close to the field :)

Touch down!

WE ARE WINNING AND WON!

Rockin' it with cy!

After the game we went back and hung to and had Pizza.

Sunday we did a KKY breakfast which then moved to stomping ground (coffee shop) which then turned into some cyclone apparel shopping. It was a great time to catch up and spend time with lots of my good friends.

Silent Day: snow in October!?!

 

 

Succuss hitting the pavement

John and I have been training on and off for a 5k for about a year. Two Thursdays ago we finished our training program and now are able to do a 5k. (flashback....)

Last fall John mentioned he thought it would be a good workout switch up to try this new program called the couch to 5k. I was like ha you are funny um no. John was like just look at the plan its not that hard. Finally I said if you help me find an amazing sports bra i'll try it. So a few weeks later we began. I sucked it up at first but loved how I slowly saw my body change and how I got better and strong as I ran. I did not love it (ok yes i did curse complain and whine a lot) but I needed something new to help me take off my extra lbs. Winter came and it was hard for us to keep going so we got stuck on "week 5" on and off. Spring came along with our new house and running took a back seat again. This June we got seriously serious about it. I started to like running. I love being outside and the more I ran the more I liked it...(flash to present). Were now I can run 3 miles at a time and not be out of breath afterwards. It is hard for me to believe me the person who had never before run more then about 1/4 mile can now (fairly) easy run 3 miles adding up to 9 miles a week. Woofa! Success!

I have talked about my running journey with lots of friends and coworkers (thanks for the support!) and have met my goal I once though unobtainable. My friend Kim has heard about my running and I told her if she ever wanted to start I'd run with her. Last Friday Kim said I want to do it! So we made a plan. I am doing my 3 regular miles with John Tues, Thur, Sun and starting the program fresh with Kim Mon, Wed, Fri. My newest running buddy! Tonight was our first night and Kim rocked it! I am proud of her for taking on the challenge as she has never been a runner before either. For me I gain a gradual increase in miles which is good for taking off more weight and helping my training. After running 3 miles daily and about 12-15 miles a week becomes easier and more of a second nature I am looking to tackle a few new goals. I would like to do a 10k and I would like to do a tri (the smaller sized one). But for right now I'm living in the present and enjoying my ability to run a 5k!

John and I are celebrating our success with our first 5k coming up in November. It couldn't be more fitting for us as its the State Fair 5k!   If you want to start running for what ever the reason and want to know more please shot me an email or leave a comment. Its not as hard as it seems and heck if I can do it I can help you do it to!

Happy 25th Birthday Lynne!

Happy Birthday Lynne! 

You are an amazing friend who makes me smile when ever I'm around you. You threw an amazing birthday party full of fun and I'm so glad I got to share that you with you. Happy Birthday!!!!

Here are some of the fun we had last night at Lynne's villains, killers and assassins party.

I was the wicked queen from snow white

John was a nazi

Lynne's rocking birthday cake- yes that is her cake!

Dr Horrible herself

Hey hey you you I don't like your girlfriend!

Happy Birthday!!

Kelli (evil Dorthy) and me

Kelli and Lynne

Lynne's first picture being 25 (most of the gang)

Watch out for Dr Horrible's evil elixir will get you!