the hangry housewives

Garlic mustard steak marinade

3/11/2015

For most of my life, I had a great disdain for steak. Whenever I saw it on the table for dinner, my throat started to close up and my eyes would build up with water. Maybe not to that extreme, but I found steak bland and tough and just an overall task to finish chewing it. All the cooks I had in my life would throw it into a pan on the stove and sear it with a bit of salt and pepper. Salt and pepper are both great seasonings, but they don't give you that juicy, meaty goodness you can get from the steakhouse downtown. Little did I know that I too could have a cow that delicious on my own plate at home.

I think marinades are what truly make the meat in a meal. You always have the option to use dry rubs, or liquid marinades. I find that dry rubs are better for grilling and liquids are great if you're cooking inside. Cooking tends to take moisture out of the meat as it is, so without a marinade, you don't have much natural juice left. Here's a marinade I've used many a time that gives you a moist, tender and flavorful steak to set down for family and friends!

ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove of minced garlic
1 tbsp worchestire sauce
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp mustard
1 tbsp soy sauce
black pepper

directions:
mix all ingredients together, pour over meat, marinate overnight

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Creamy Spicy Spaghetti

2/18/2015

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ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion
3 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
pinch red pepper flakes
pinch pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 cup water
2 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
box of spaghetti (angel hair preferably)
small bag of spinach (optional)
some kind of already cooked, cut up/shredded meat (I use leftover chicken or sausage) ... (also optional)

directions:
1) Bring large pot of water to a boil
2) Add the spaghetti, cook and drain
3) While waiting for pasta to cook, dice onion
4) Cook onion and garlic in large skillet with olive oil over low-medium heat until the onion and garlic are soft and transparent
5) Add oregano, basil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to skillet. Stir
6) Add tomato paste and 1/2 cup of water
7) Stir mixture until tomato paste is dissolved
8) Turn heat down to low
9) Cut cream cheese into pieces and add to the tomato sauce. Use a whisk to stir until creamy
10) Add half the parmesan and whisk until melted in
11) Add remainder of parmesan cheese and whisk
12) Add spinach if desired and gently stir until it has wilted (3-5 mins)
13) Add the spaghetti to the mixture and stir until the spaghetti is well coated with the sauce
14) Add meat

If you enjoy light, classic Italian food with a bit of a twist, then you will LOVE this dish! The red pepper and the cream cheese steal the show adding both a tasty, creamy texture and just the right amount of spice. This is a great recipe to pair with a chilled white wine or just a tall glass of lemonade tea - whichever you prefer, you will be pleasantly surprised! Happy cooking... and eating!

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My First Christmas Wreath

1/15/2015

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This post is so late, but I just had to share this wreath that Katherine and I made in November!! Most of the things that I got for this wreath were actually 50% off at Michael's. I ended up making the whole thing for under $20! Since this is the first wreath I have attempted, I'm very happy with it! I have acquired a glue gun for my next wreath project thanks to Katherine. :)

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Grandma's sweet cheesy meatloaf

12/2/2014

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My late grandmother and I were never exceptionally close, but one thing she did pass on to my mother, and then to me, were some of her infamous recipes. My favorite recipe of hers is her meatloaf. Meatloaf is great because you can make it pretty much any way you want - you can choose what goodies to mix in with the meat, as long as it's nothing too absurd. The special thing about this particular meatloaf rendition is the sweet sauce on top and the cheesy goodness in the middle. Mmmmm!

ingredients -
1 pound of ground beef
1 cup of panko bread crumbs (or any kind of bread crumbs)
1 cup of ketchup
2 tablespoons of spicy mustard (or regular mustard)
2 tablespoons of worchestire sauce
1 egg (you can substitute egg with a tablespoon or two of mayonnaise for more flavor)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons lemon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
*any other seasonings you want to add*
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (you can use any kind of cheese)

for sweet sauce -
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
3 tablespoons of ketchup

directions:
1) put ground beef into a large mixing bowl and mash with your hands
2) add bread crumbs, ketchup, mustard, worchestire sauce, egg, garlic powder, lemon pepper and salt to the meat and mix everything together evenly with your hands (you can use a spoon or fork if you don't like touching meat, but with your hands you can really bring all the flavors together!)
3) spray a loaf pan with non stick grease
4) take half of the meat mixture and pat it down into the pan
5) add the cheese on top of the mixture
6) take the rest of the seasoned meat and press it on top of the cheese so it is flat and even
7) mix together the rest of the ketchup and brown sugar for the sweet sauce. spread it on top
8) preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit
9) place finished loaf pan into the oven and cook for 45-55 minutes. oven times vary

So, as you can tell, this recipe is super simple and quick! You basically throw a bunch of stuff into a bowl, pat it down and shove it into a heated oven. It makes a perfect, warm meal for the entire family, or even just for one or two! I know most are easy to say "ewwww, meatloaf is disgusting", and yes, the thought of it is rather non appetizing, but you can't knock it until you try it! :)

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Homemade honey mustard chicken fingers

11/30/2014

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Most times when I go out to a new restaurant, I'll have a go-to dish that I know I can order if all else fails, because there is a 99% chance that it will be at least relatively good and I'll at least semi enjoy it. I've noticed that most of the people I know seem to also have this meal (or appetizer, really) as their fall back food. The infamous dish is... DRUM ROLL PLEASE.... chicken fingers! Really, who doesn't love chicken fingers? They're easy to eat, you can dip them in pretty much any kind of sauce, and they're usually priced under ten bucks! It's also a pretty fool proof concept to assume they'll be somewhere on the menu.

Around the time when I first got married, and began an amateur culinary journey, there was a night where I was planning on making my grandmother's infamous cheesy meatloaf. I didn't have any breadcrumbs so I took an impromptu trip to the store across the street and went to the pasta/sauce aisle. I saw the usual - plain breadcrumbs, Italian breadcrumbs, shake and bake. I stopped when I saw something called panko breadcrumbs. The packaging caught my eye, and I had a faint memory of seeing the word "panko" written on menus at my favorite Asian restaurants. I decided to grab the tin, and boy, did it end up being a good idea! Panko breadcrumbs are D E L I C I O U S. They give an extra crunch to anything you coat them with, and they have a subtle, but wonderful flavor (this is when they're plain, but you can also find them seasoned!). Now, when a recipe calls for breadcrumbs, I refuse to use anything but! They are a staple in our household. A $1.50 staple, might I add ;)

ingredients:
1 pound of chicken breast tenderloins
Newman's Own lite honey mustard dressing
all-purpose flour (amount varies, eye it)
panko breadcrumbs (amount varies, eye it)
eggs (amount varies, eye it)
olive oil

directions:
1) defrost your chicken and marinate in honey mustard dressing overnight, or even multiple nights if you really want the flavor to come out
2) fill up separate bowls with breadcrumbs, eggs (beaten or whisked), flour
3) take a tenderloin and dip it into the flour, make sure it is fully coated
4) dip the flour-ed piece of chicken into the beaten eggs
5) place the sticky, gooey poultry into the breadcrumbs and mix around until the tenderloin is covered
6) continue steps 3-5 until all your tenderloins are ready
7) cover the bottom of a pan with olive oil and heat on low-medium heat
8) place breaded chicken pieces into the oil and cook for about six minutes, or until they are golden brown underneath (you'll have to keep an eye on them and check!)
9) when one side is nicely browned, you can flip them over and continue cooking
10) keep cooking and flipping all the pieces of chicken, then serve!

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Crockpot lasagna

11/17/2014

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One type of food that everyone seems to enjoy, old or young, man or woman, is Italian food. Italian dishes are great whether it's sunny and ninety degrees outside or if there is snow on the cold ground and the weather is conducive to wearing gloves and a scarf. However, it is especially comforting when the air is chilly outside and you're spending dinner huddled up at the table with a bottle of wine (sparkling cider for the little guys) and some hungry loved ones.

Going along with that idea, one method of cooking that, to my small knowledge and wisdom, everyone seems to enjoy is crockpot cooking. It makes the sometimes daunting chore/experience/adventure (whichever it happens to be for you) of bringing a dinner together seem like a little less work and a little more fun. You get to grab a bunch of (this time, edible!) components and throw them into an abyss, just like when you made pretend when you were five on the sidewalk making Mom and Dad a meal out of dirt.

Crockpot lasagna is a great simple recipe you can concoct with few ingredients and a shortage of time. You can stick everything in the pot and let it cook without supervision (of course, you don't want to go on vacation and leave your crockpot running, but that's self explanatory).

The ingredients you will need are as follows:

some kind of spaghetti/pasta/tomato sauce, two jars usually works best
a pack of oven-ready or no-bake lasagna noodles
1 pound of ground beef (or any other meat you'd like to use, if any!)
2 cups of mozzarella cheese
1 cup of parmesan cheese
1 small container of ricotta cheese (cottage cheese is a delicious, less fattening substitute for this)
a cup of water

directions:
1) in a large pan, brown ground beef. drain
2) mix sauce into the beef and stir until warm and fully combined
3) spray crockpot with non stick grease
4) add a layer of the meat sauce to the bottom of the crockpot
5) top the sauce with lasagna noodles, usually two pieces broken up make a perfect fit
6) add ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella (no specific measurements, just eye it)
7) top the cheeses with more lasagna noodles, again two pieces broken up
8) add sauce on top, and continue to follow steps 5-8 until you use up the noodles
9) take a cup of water and pour around the edge of the layered mixture. this helps keep moisture in and helps keep the edges from burning
10) add the rest of the mozzarella on top (I found some flavored mozzarella chunks at Aldi so I added those to finish garnishing the lasagna)
11) plug in the crockpot and turn to low. cook lasagna for 4.5 hours, checking a few times to make sure there is no burning or overcooking. some crockpots may take less or more time

The thing I absolutely love about crockpot lasagna is that it is a great item to put on the table at family gatherings, especially during the Holidays! Whether it's Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Dad's 50th birthday party, you can produce it quickly and easily, place a serving spoon in it and let everyone dish some out onto their plates. It goes great as a side dish or as a main course, and you will always have enough for seconds. And believe me, with how yummy it is, they will always come back for more! :)

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String lights

11/13/2014

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A couple of months ago I was too lazy to make dinner (this tends to happen often) so I called in to a local Italian joint and ordered an obtusely large sausage pizza for the two of us. When I opened the door for the delivery girl, she let out a guffaw and jokingly pointed inside. "Why do you already have Christmas lights up?" She was giggling and giving me one very dumbfounded expression. At first I didn't understand but then after turning around, I myself let out a laugh.

I have a fascination with putting up string/fairy lights.

There is nothing cozier to me than seeing little lights, sometimes flickering, when the sun starts to go down and long into the night. Plus, being an inspiring photographer, lights give an AWESOME backdrop, especially when you want to conquer a great bokeh (the out of focus area of a picture) shot. Dimmer than normal lights always give a warm, romantic tone to any room. The great thing is that with an extension cord, you can pretty much put them anywhere. I love having them surrounding fireplace mantels, above beds, in corners of the kitchen, around banisters. They're fairly simple to put up, you can place/drape/tie them wherever (preferably away from animals and kids who enjoy pulling and chewing).

Most stores that carry home decor items will carry at least one box of string lights (you can always pick up Christmas light strings, white always looks classy!). I've picked mine up over the years from Target, Country Treasures and World Market. I love when they have unique designs, such as intricate flowers or English tudor inspired lanterns. Depending on what your personal preference is and how you like to decorate your home, you can usually find a design that somehow fits. I've seen seashells, animals, cartoons, words, letters, holiday designs (Christmas trees, Autumn leaves, snowflakes), etc. You can usually find pretty affordable deals online as well! I've never spent more than $20 on a set, and that was because the particular set came with different flickering/moving options.

So, the moral of the story is, the girl who laughed at me ended up being one hundred percent right. My house does tend to look and feel like Christmas year round, but who doesn't love that feeling? I know I do! :)

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DIY Wood Plank Coffee Table

11/10/2014

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About three and a half years ago, my husband and I took a trip to Ikea when we moved into our first apartment. We were on a budget so we picked up the cheapest bits of furniture that we could find. One of these items was a black lack coffee table. It was good looking enough and it served us well. It still is in good condition, except that it has a lot of cosmetic scratches and dings on the main level, mostly from cats walking across it when we're not looking. The scratches are pretty minor but they still bother me when I see them. I've been wanting to revamp the table for a while now. Paint was one idea, but what I really wanted was to give the table a more rustic, country feel. The idea that ending up winning was to recreate the top level into a wooden plank surface.

My husband and I measured the table and found the dimensions: length - 35.5 in, width - 21.75 in. We drove to the nearest Lowe's and found the wooden planks section. They have a really great selection, but what I had in mind were relatively thin boards that were a bit wide, but not too wide. I ended up finding 1x4x3 boards that were already sanded down and the perfect length for our table at home. Luckily we remembered to bring the tape measure, because when we measured the width, they actually ended up being 3.5 inches wide. This meant we needed seven boards. However, with seven boards, there would be a lot of excess wood hanging off. We decided to go with six bigger boards and grabbed a small one as well, with the same thickness, but a width of 1.5 inches. With the smallest board in the middle of the table, the table would still look manicured when finished. The bigger boards were $3.47 each and the smaller one was $1.97.

Next, we went to the wood stain section and chose a color. I wanted it to look rustic but not too light since the table is already black. I chose Kona (Rust-Oleum Wood Stain) which is a nice dark shade. We weren't sure how much we needed so we got the bigger tub which was $8.98. (We ended up not needing this much at all!) We picked up two foam brushes for $0.98 each and a 8 oz bottle of Gorilla wood glue which was $3.98. So, all in all, we spent $39.98, which I think, compared to going out and buying a whole new coffee table with a similar look, is a steal! Especially since we overspent for the stain - this project could be done with $30!

We got home and brought our material out into the backyard and got to work. We stained one side of the planks and waited about two hours before staining the other side and all the edges. The main issue we ran into was that it seemed as if the planks took forever to dry. I had to wait about sixteen hours for them to completely dry (the next day). I'm pretty sure this was because we started late in the day, about five o clock in November, so there wasn't much sun time and the temperature outside was VERY cold. The tub of the stain said it should take one hour to dry so I'm guessing it was nature that gypped us of a super quick project. Other, than that, everything went smoothly. I decided to only use one coat because I didn't want the planks to look too even or too "perfect". I love how they turned out!

When fully dried, I brought the planks inside, covered the table with wood glue, and placed the planks on top. They aren't completely flat to the point where I didn't need to push down on them to get a good sealing, so I needed to put some weight on top - books worked great for this! After about nine hours, I checked to make sure the planks were fully connected and they were so I removed the weight, and now my table is ready to use! I am so excited that our table now looks cleaner, but also more rustic, and it only took a day, a night and forty bucks!

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Cupcake Inspiration

11/8/2014

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This was one of my cupcake decorating adventures. I decorate cupcakes as a hobby, usually for my husband to take to work, but sometimes I will have specific requests for them as well! What a better way to document my projects and get feedback on them than to put them on here! Hope these posts will give someone great ideas to decorate with!

Enjoy!!

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DIY Autumn Wreath

11/7/2014

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There are countless things that pretty much everyone loves about Fall - the brisk walk you're able to take in a wool sweater with a hot pumpkin latte in your hand, snuggling up with a good book in front of a crackling fire, sweet cinnamon smelling apple pies coming out of the oven - but, one of the BEST things about the cozy cable knit season, are the festive decorations! Every where you go appears warm and inviting, and you now can finally start playing Christmas music (not really, but hey, Holiday season, right?). This is the time of year when you see more friends and more family, so you want your living space to appear and most importantly, be, welcoming.

With a wreath, you can go in whatever creative direction you want to. I picked up this already constructed grapevine circle for a bit under $5 from Walmart. I got a bouquet of faux flowers for $3.99, and a packet of printed burlap for the same price. All I needed was to go home and pull out the glue gun. It was an under $15, simple to do, cute project and now my door is ready for my loved ones to come through.

to make your own wreath:
circle base - stores carry pre-made ones, or you can create it yourself with some kind of vine/foam/wire
decorative aspects - faux flowers, ribbon, string, yarn, fabric, paint, glitter, etc
crafting materials - scissors, fabric scissors, pliers, glue (hot glue gun works best)

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Garlic mustard steak marinade

Creamy Spicy Spaghetti

My First Christmas Wreath

Grandma's sweet cheesy meatloaf

Homemade honey mustard chicken fingers

Crockpot lasagna

String lights

DIY Wood Plank Coffee Table

Cupcake Inspiration

DIY Autumn Wreath

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