The Reasoning Behind This Blog

This blog was originally created because of a class that I am currently taking at Kaplan University. The class is CM 313: Tools for the Digital Age. I had to create a blog about something that interested me or something that I knew about. I chose to do cooking because it has become a passion of mine throughout the years. I use my family as my taste testers to know if it is a hit or complete miss. On this blog I will only post about things that are a complete hit. No one wants to cook something that someone thinks isn't good. I know I don't. We have an option when the class is over to keep the blog going or take it down. I want to keep this blog going and add to it as much as I can. I have so many recipes that I have tried and have been successful with that I would love to share with others. So just because I created this blog for my class, doesn't mean I'm going anywhere. I plan on sticking around and I hope all my followers continue to follow me and share my page.

Blog Tips

• When choosing a theme for your blog, you should stick to something that you know and something that interests you. It makes blogging easier.

• By adding your personal touch to your blog, it can give your readers an inside look into who you are and what your interests are.

• To post a picture on your blog, just start a new post and click on insert image. Find an image you want and upload it. Add writing and post.

• Economy of words is pretty much saying less words by using words that are descriptive. Sometimes less is more depending on the words used.

• http://thepodcastersstudio.com has two podcast channels that give tips on how to make a successful podcast. Each podcast is well explained.

• Need a place to manage your podcasts? Try using www.podbean.com where you don't have to be tech savvy to make a successful podcast.

Facebook & Twitter In My Opinion

Facebook and Twitter are two very popular social media sites that serve different purposes. Facebook allows you to make friends and join groups with people who share common interests as you. On Facebook you are allowed to make albums of pictures for many different purposes. Facebook you can write status updates that can be short or as long as you want and you can also control who is allowed to see those same posts. When it comes to Twitter, you aren't making friends but you have followers and you yourself became a roller. Instead of status updates you have "tweets" that can only be 140 characters long. There is only so much privacy you can have when it comes to Twitter because it is a bit harder to control your privacy settings. Also, you cannot put your pictures into albums you just upload them onto your Twitter page.

Facebook is used more for connecting with friends and family as where Twitter is used to follow what is happening in the news or the latest celebrity gossip. Both social media sites are good for companies to promote their products as well as new promotions. Both sites are also good for music artists to promote their new song or album as well as their upcoming tours. Many people will go to these sites to find out the latest information on a movie that is coming to. Both sites have similarities and differences but the reason for them being so different is that they gravitate to those who have different preferences in what they are looking for in a social media site.

Cooking Can Be Fun Podcast Script

What's for dinner? Isn't that a question you ask yourself a lot? Or what about, do I really have to cook something? Can't we just order in or go out? You might not realize this but not many people actually enjoy cooking. Maybe that is why you are checking out this blog for some new and creative ideas. Some find it to be a chore just like doing laundry. It really isn't as bad as laundry; I rather cook a ten course meal then wash and fold clothes.

If you are eating the same thing day in and day out, then your meals can be a bit boring. Why not get in your kitchen and throw things together. You never know what you can come up with. For example: Did you know that you could make cupcakes with just cake batter and your favorite flavor of soda? Why don't you buy yourself a slow cooker? This way you will be able to go out and when you come back home, all you have to do is serve it and eat it. Add food coloring to some of your food to give it a colorful look that your kids will probably get a kick out of. Cooking really isn't that bad when you think about it. It is actually quite fun and enjoyable; sometimes even relaxing.

Have you ever noticed that your food tastes so much better when you are happy about making the dish? I find the happier I am about making the dish the better it tastes. I tell my kids that it tastes so good because I made it with love. Everything is better with love. So don't be afraid to experiment or think outside he box. Go to the store and grab yourself a can of your favorite soda whether it is diet or regular, caffeine free or flavored and your favorite cake mix and go bake some cupcakes. Just remember to keep checking out my blog for new and exciting meals that anyone can do regardless of your occupation or your schedule.

Ritz Cracker Chicken

Ingredients:

Chicken cutlets

Two sleeves of Ritz Crackers (I prefer Roasted Vegetable for this dish)

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Milk

Sauce:

Can of Cream of Chicken Soup

2 TBSP of butter

2 TBSP Sour Cream

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Crush up the two sleeves of crackers until they are pretty much crumbs

Pour about 1/2 cup of milk in a bowl

Put cheddar cheese on a plate

Take chicken and coat with milk

Then press cheddar cheese so it sticks to both sides of chicken 

Cover both sides with cracker crumbs

Place in nonstick pan or spray a pan with cooking spray so it doesn't stick to pan

Cook for 35 minutes covered

Sauce:

Heat soup, butter, and sour cream on pot until well blended and creamy.

Top chicken with sauce and serve with your favorite side dish

Black Cherry Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 Box Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix

12 oz of Black Cherry Soda

Instructions:

Mix cake mix and soda together

Place in cupcake pan (use cupcake liners so they won't stick to the pan)

Bake at 350 degrees until center of cupcake is well done 

*These cupcakes take a little bit longer to cook than if you followed the directions on the box

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

(Not the best pic. I'll try and update the pic at a later point in time)

Ingredients:

5 lb bag of potatoes ( I used red potatoes)

Butter

Milk

Salt

Pepper

8oz Cream Cheese

Instructions:

Peel and cut potatoes into medium size pieces

Boil potatoes until soft

Drain

Add milk(as little or as much as you want. I normally pour enough to cover the bottom of the pot and add a little more than that)

Add 2-3 tablespoons of butter

Put potatoes back in pot and start mashing

Add cream cheese and mix together

You can either serve as is or bake in the oven at 350 for about 20 minutes.

I baked mine only because I made it early in the day and had to warm it up

Crock-Pot Chicken Parm

Ingredients:

Chicken cutlets (as much as your crockpot will hold or as much as you desire)

Tomato sauce

Mozzarella cheese

Seasonings

Bread crumbs (optional)

Eggs (only if you are using bread crumbs)

Cooking Spray

Instructions:

Spray crock-pot with cooking spray

Season chicken cutlets to your liking (I used garlic powder and dry Italian dressing seasoning)

Whisk eggs in bowl (only if using bread crumbs)

Dip chicken in egg then breadcrumbs

Layer the bottom of the crockpot with a thin layer of tomato sauce, line the crockpot with chicken cutlets, then top with sauce, add more chicken cutlets and repeat the process. Your final layer on top will be tomato sauce

Cook on low for 6 hours

The final 10-15 minutes layer the top with Mozzarella cheese

Serve over pasta or with your favorite side dish

Grilled Tomato, Avocado & Mozzarella Sandwich

Ingredients:
Bread (your choice, your favorite)
Tomato
Avocado
Mozzarella (I used sliced since it was easier)
Butter or Mayo (whichever you prefer)

Instructions:
Slice tomato to thickness of your liking
Slice avocado to thickness of your liking
Spread butter or Mayo on outer part of bread
Put on warm pan on stove butter or mayo side down
Add avocado
Add mozzarella (as much or little as you want)
Add tomato
Add other slice of bread (butter or mayo side up)
Cook until golden on bottom then flip
Cook other side until golden
Let stand approx 1 minute then slice and serve

Egg Cups

Ingredients:
Eggs
Ham or Turkey
Cooking Spray
Salt & Pepper (optional

Instructions:

Take  a cupcake pan and spray the inside of each cup with cooking spray
Put 1-2 pieces of Ham or Turkey into each cup
Crack your egg and put it directly on the Ham or Turkey
If you prefer scrambled egg then you can scramble an egg in a bowl and then pour onto Ham or Turkey
Bake at 375 degrees until cooked (approx 10-15 min depending on your oven)
You can put salt and pepper to taste during any process.
Let stand about 2 minutes then remove from cupcake pan and serve.

Mix It Well

Another of my favorite tools in the kitchen is my standing mixer. This one was given to me by a family friend and I really do not know what I did before this. The standing mixer has made baking and cooking so much faster and easier for me. I am able to throw my ingredients in and while everything is being mixed together I can work on something else. These are pretty pricey especially for the really good ones but they are definitely worth every penny. 

Set It & Go

One of my favorite and time saving gadgets in my kitchen is my Crock Pot/Slow Cooker. This one here is my first one ever and since then I have added two more to my collection. There have been times that I have actually had all three going at once. I really do not know how I managed cooking dinner before I had gotten one. With three kids all school aged and with very different schedules, there were just some days that I was just too busy to cook. I like a hot meal at night and so does my family and we really try to stay away from fast food. Having a Crock Pot/Slow Cooker has saved us money on fast food that has only left us hungry later. I would be able to throw everything in there and just go about my day and when it was time to eat, dinner would be done and ready to serve. Some people might think that they are only good for soups and food of that nature. But, if you keep following my page I can show you some things to make in a Crock Pot/Slow Cooker that you might have never thought would go in there.