The Boys Made Buffalo Sauce and I watched!

Buffalo Chicken Wings

Sunday  morning (on the way to brunch) James and Mo decided they were making buffalo chicken wings with homemade-from-scratch buffalo sauce.

If you are interested in their finger-licking goodness here's what you need for the sauce:

Peppers- they used five jalapenos but wished they were habaneros
Onion
Garlic
Apple cider vinegar 
Butter (not margarine)
Salt
Pepper
Dried cyan peppers
Tomato paste
Frying pan
Blender
Chopping knives

Cut and chop the peppers, onion, garlic
Sauté in a frying pan with the butter
Add the tomato paste
At this point it looks like a thick sauce

Place in blender and add apple cider vinegar to taste
You can add water as needed if its too thick
You can add flour as needed if its too thin

For chicken:
Chicken (wings or thighs)
Flour
Baking soda (use sparingly)
Pepper
Egg whites
Vegetable oil
Frying pan
Baking sheets

Clean the chicken! Ours had feathers and hairs! Gross! James scrubbed them in the sink.

Sift the flour, pepper, and baking soda together in a bowl. Mo didn't use measurements. Use as much flour as you think you will need to cover the chicken. Add a pinch or two of pepper and then a couple of pinches if baking soda (I know lots of folks leave the soda out of the recipe)
Toss the chicken wings in the egg whites and then toss in dry mix. You can do this two or three times if you want a thick coating

Caution- frying can be really dangerous, the oil can splatter and it's really hard to tell how hot it is. Always use low heat and remove children (and pets) from the kitchen during this step

Heat the vegetable oil so that it sizzles when you place something in the frying pan
Add each chicken wing, when the flour turns brown and crispy remove and place in greased baking sheets. The chicken doesn't need to be cooked all the way through yet. 
Place in oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees- check often as all ovens vary

I made some Mac and cheese to go with our meal (and so I had something to eat)

When we were done we had lots of left overs. Instead of packing it up in a plain-ole rubbermaid container, I used a jar from red sauce.  I've been saving jars of all shapes and sizes because pinterest keeps giving me good ideas to reuse them! I sent Mo home with his left overs in a jar. Tie a little ribbon on that bad boy and you have a cute take home that doesn't need returning! 

Crock pot Baked Zitti

Last night, for the first time, I used my crock-pot. I know, you would think a busy lady like me would be the queen of the crock pot. I am was afraid of it! 

I don't typically use or follow recipes, I am more of the just add stuff 'til it looks/tastes good kinda cook. 

But this baked zitti was great AND easy. Crock pot cooking is so easy!! 

What do you need: 

Pasta (I had whole-wheat penne on hand)
Mozzarella
Ricotta Cheese (Part-skim, small container)
Red Sauce (store brand because I didn't make any before hand- oops)
Red Wine
Water

So here is what I did: 

1. Take it out of the box (just kidding, it was in my cabinet, so I cleaned the inside dish)
2. Used some EVOO on the sides and bottom 
3. Smear some red sauce on the bottom
4. Add a handful of pasta 
5. Layer the mutz and ricotta 
6. Drizzle some red wine over the cheese
7. Repeat each layer adding extra sauce on the top layer

I started my crock pot on low and then turned it up to high as we got closer to dinner. I stired it away from the outside every hour or so (I don't like when the outsides of a baked pasta dish gets crusty)

I added more water (maybe a 1/4 cup) 15 minutes before serving because the sauce on the walls of the crock pot started turning black- the pasta was unharmed! 

Serve with cheese on top and garlic bread and maybe a glass of vino

Enjoy! 

Shower Update Pics and Stove-Top Scents

Hello again friends! I apologize for my hiatus from writing. Hurricane Sandy made me do it!

A four day cruise to Bermuda turned into a week long cruise to Boston. We can't complain though. We were safe, warm, fed, and at times truly enjoyed ourselves. Our families lost power but thankfully no one was injured. We have friends who were not so lucky and our prayers go out to them as they rebuild their homes and lives.

What have we been up to? Finishing that darn bathroom! We can shower! Check out that tile! James has been spackling and sanding since we returned. I can't wait to prime and paint.

I found some couches! We are ordering them online but they are the same brand that Ashley Furniture sells so we can see them in person before we purchase! Ordering online will save a couple hundred dollars! And for $100 they will bring it up two flights of stairs!

As I write this my house smells amazing! I have been experimenting with stove-top scents! 

After our trip we had some limes and mint that were going bad :/ I cut up the lime, rosemary, and mint up and threw them into a boiling pot of water with vanilla extract. After some simmering I added some cinnamon sticks.  Every hour or two I add some water to the mix.

Doesn't it look delicious? No? Well believe me, it smelled like Christmas! 

Right now we have tangerines (they were also victim of our absence!) with cinnamon and thyme! The smell is great and I don't have to throw away any food!  We have been able to use these stove-top scents for a couple days each batch. 

I'd like to experiment using lemon or lime with rosemary, and maybe cranberry with rosemary, apple and cinnamon? I am getting some inspiration from Yankee Candle Scents.