Chicken Club Pizza

Okay, I have no pictures of the finished product, because by the time I thought about it, there was nothing left on the cutting board but some crummies and a pizza cutter!

My galpal in BC introduced me to panago's Chicken Club Pizza and I fell in love, so this is my attempt at reproduction. My DH loved it dipped in Ranch dressing, and galpal ate the original dipped in some ranch dip variation, but I like it best naked.

Ingredients:

Pizza Crust (see above photo for my favourite SUPER QUICK recipe - don't worry, it's not a copyrighted recipe, to my knowledge... it's from a church cookbook.)

Red Onion

2 chicken breasts

mozza cheese, shredded

deli ham (i used shaved honey ham)

Ranch Dressing

Fry up the chicken breasts in a drizzle of olive oil with a sprinkle of seasoning salt on each side - medium heat, about 4/5 min per side. Cool and dice the chicken.

Prepare the dough, if necessary, and spread a layer of ranch dressing on the pizza crust in the same way you would pizza sauce.

Cover the ranch dressing with a layer of deli ham slices, then sprinkle with diced red onion (to taste, but probably around 1/4 of a cup of diced red onion.

Toss on the chicken and the mozza, then pop it into the oven for 20 minutes and you're good to go!

I found this pizza to be absolutely DELICIOUS. My DH declared it to be the best pizza he'd ever eaten (however he says this every time I make homemade pizza, so i wouldn't put too much stock in that.)

Thanks!!

Okay, I am going to start this post by stating the fact that I am currently listening to the song "Putting On The Ritz"... you may attribute my current incredibly buoyant mood to this song completely. Actually, to this playlist: http://www.playlist.com/playlist/98424587 ((LOVING IT))

Okay, now that that is out of the way... as you may or may not have noticed, I added a visitor counter to my blog yesterday. I have never really cared/bothered to previously, but I was filling out a form for the heck of it to be on a Mom Panel, and one of the questions had to do with blog traffic. I didn't have a hot clue, so I put it at 100 or less a month, and added the comment that I didn't have a hot clue but that it might be higher.

Well, in the last 24 hours I have had 60+ hits. Even if half of those hits are flukes, I am still a little stunned to realize ... I mean, I know I have some readers. But I had no idea. Thanks, guys! I feel so very honoured to realize that you all feel I'm worth taking a few moments for. I am beyond flattered.

That said, I will try to get back up to posting every day, and I will definitely try to make sure I have more tutorials, recipes, tips, etc for you all!

I do have a quick question... what is it that draws you to my blog? I am honestly curious.


That aside, I will share a few more pictures from my trip - I have started doing some part time daycare to give my DD some company, so I have not gotten a lot done in the last few days. Nothing worth sharing, at least! However today is the last day for almost two weeks, so hopefully I will have something useful for you. And tonight I will try to remember to take my camera into the kitchen with me as I attempt to recreate a delicious Chicken Club pizza I had the other week! If things go well, I'll definitely share that one.

On to the pictures!

DD and I at White Rock! Gorgeous.

one of my favourite shots from the trip (vancouver aquarium)

another favourite shot. My little diva. lol.


My galpal and I on the train at the zoo, with DD and my galpal's neice on our laps

view out the airplane window on the ride home. Gorgeous mountains!

Cake it and Fake It

Now... I have such a confession to make. My cakes are all a lie. I'm such a poser. I... I.... I USE A MIX!!! (most of the time) There. It's out there. It's not coming back.

Honestly, all the fun in the cake, for me, happens after it is cooled. I have made cakes from scratch and I find if you use a good enough mix (read: moist cake!) then who cares. Cost-wise, I don't believe you are saving anything by making from scratch. I am sure there are people out there who would spit in my eye for my desecration of saying it's OK to use a mix. But personally, I am a big fan of the semi-homemade. And PS... nobody ever says "Oh, is this from a mix?".

OK so I would be totally lying if I said I made this cake since I got back. I made it before my trip. I snapped a quick picture of it before it got eaten at the Kidsmart party I was hosting, after somebody declared it was too pretty to cut. Then I told her she could cut away. haha.

So, here's the secret to this particular cake:

Using a mix, follow the directions to make two circular (chocolate) cakes (Devil's Food Cake, for example). Bake and cool. yadda yadda. Slice the curvy tops off to make them even and level.

For the middle: melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips and stir in 1/2 tsp of instant coffee granules. Spread over the top of the bottom cake layer and let cool (fridge/freezer works fine.) While it is cooling, whip up some whipping cream (or dream whip, or pull out your cool whip tub, I don't care)

Throw a large dollop into a bowl, enough to coat the top of that bottom layer of cake. Throw in 1/4 of a cup of icing sugar to thicken it up a bit, and 1/2 cup of chopped strawberries. Add more icing sugar or strawberries to taste, it's your party, girls. (or guys). I cannot stress how important it is to snoop several large fingerfuls. What on earth is the point of baking if you don't snoop?!

Once you are sure your layer of chocolate is hardened, cover it with the layer of strawberry goodness, then place the other layer on top. Line it up carefully and try not to squish out too much of the filling!

For the icing, I was in a bit of a hurry on this baby so I frankensteined together a tub of vanilla icing from the store, plus about equal amounts of whipped cream (or possibly more... i love me a whippedcreamy icing), then I stirred in some cocoa (1/2 tsp) and more instant coffee granules (1/4 tsp or more, to taste). A word of warning, here, though... you might want to use some cold Very Strong Coffee instead, I found that the granules did not all dissolve. Nobody complained, but I glared reproachfully at the speckies. Once again, do this to taste, throwing in more whipping cream, cocoa (or chocolate syrup works too), and coffee flavouring. Believe in yourself! You CAN throw this together!!!

I suggest investing in a real icing spreader. I use one with an offset blade, and I recommend it for easier spreading without getting it all over your hands. (the link is not to my exact one, but it looks like it. just to give you an idea of what to look for!)

Throw a big dollop of whipped cream on top when you've got everything spread nicely, then wash and pat dry three lovely strawberries for garnish. Pretty!!! And this cake was a pleaser. The only problem with it (which i remedied in these instructions already) was that my layer of hard chocolate was on top right under the icing, so when you went to cut it you squished out the middle layer and the cake more or less collapsed. I have fixed that problem, so the only thing being squished when you cut into the hard layer is the bottom layer. If you are still having problems, emit that layer (which is yummmmmmy ): boo) or cut using a hot knife!

edited: I edited this post to get rid of the first half cos it had an awful picture that kept showing up in the thumbnails lol.

Quick Sample

(above : DD and I admiring the starfish below!)

Just a quick sampling of my trip... some photos taken by my galpal! (her laptop doesn't have an SD card reader so mine will have to wait until I get home.)

I must say... travelling / 'touristing' in the Vancouver area is just amazing! If you ever get the chance, take it! It is absolute beautiful. The giraffe is a baby giraffe from the local zoo, and the beach/dock pictures are from White Rock, with a beautiful boardwalk... the tide was going out so we tromped around on the beach. Lovely!

Hi from the Vancouver area!!

So I had a safe and mostly pleasant flight to the Vancouver area. I was fortunate enough to be on a brand new airplane, only a week old. Did I say fortunate? I meant "five hours in an airplane with a toddler and no tv". Fortunatly she spent two of those hours napping, and after the stopover in the middle there was an empty seat beside me so she could wriggle around some more. (She's under two so she was free, which roughly translates to 'sweating all over mommy's lap', also known as 'NEVER. AGAIN.')

My girlfriend's sisters in law and thier kids joined us and we all checked out the zoo. I met a giraffe! DD declared over and over again that it was to be referred to as a "MOO!" We also saw some lions, rode on a little train (CHOO CHOO!) and walked past a coyote (in a cage) who paced back and forth in front of DD eyeing her up and clearly fantasizing about chomping down on that tender little morsel. (Doggy!!! Doggy!!!) Regardless of whether there is two fences in between the animal and your baby, it is incredibly creepy when an animal decides he wants to eat your child and stalks her. I picked her up and hustled out of there; not necessarily for any logical reason but just because that scruffy thing was bothering the heck out of me.

I also did some good shopping. Ohoho. GAP and International Mens Clothing really treated me nicely today. It's a rare shopping trip where I find something great on an amazing sale and just the perfect size for every member of my little family. Apparently I'm just shopping in the wrong province though. lol.

When I get back next wednesday I should have some good photos for you. I got some really cool ones of that giraffe, especially.

Oh... and why am I blogging on vacation? Because there's a few hours time difference and everyone else is still abed. DD was up 5:30 BC time. ;)

Off I Go!

Well, ladies, DD and I are ditching the hubs and jetting off to the Vancouver area for a week this afternoon to visit a girlfriend. Doubt I'll be updating whilst I am away! (Not like I've been faithful while I was prepping to leave, either...)

Taa~!

Lazy Mom Confession

I have a confession to make. Or maybe it's more of a tip, I'm not entirely sure. Regardless, here is the photographic evidence:

No, no, not the fact that DH has not fixed the wall/ceiling yet, I don't feel shame over that because it has something to do with the fact that he can't finish it until the weather improves, in relation to the attic. Don't know, don't care. These rooms will be partially unfinished until whatever star alignment clicks into place, and then I will worry more about finishing them.

No, I'm referring to the bowl up there on top of the microwave hutch. That is my 'catch-all' bowl. When I have some papers I don't want to lose but don't really have anywhere for it to go... in the bowl. Earrings annoying me... in the bowl. The lighter I hide from my hubby so I have it available to light candles? Bowl. Polysporin? Bowl. Ipod? Bowl. Coupons? Broken necklace? Bowl.

I actually recommend having something like this. Provided that you do go through and empty the bowl when it starts to fill up, of course. It's really nice to be able to toss things in that bowl and out of sight, things that would normally take up valuable counter or table space, and provide visual clutter. The fact that it is a bowl instead of a drawer really emphasizes that it is not a permanent residence and that I do need to go through it from time to time and find a home for some things.

Well, except for that lighter. And whatever else I don't want my hubby to find. (wink)

Yesterday and Today (jewelry)

So I've kind of been a bit restless these last few days, and didn't feel much like homemaking. I kept my house clean and my child happy, but other than that, I didn't feel much like continuing the organization and purge process in the office, so it's still not completely done. Instead, I made some jewelry.


This 'keys to my heart' set will probably be for sale when I'm finished/happy with it... it will NOT be staying on the bathtub chain (I can't think of those necklaces as anything but.) I just needed something to keep the charm on for now.

The earrings are wooden earrings I have had for ages, and they are HUGE. When I was done the necklace they happened to match. It's turquoise and some sort of stone bead. My new summer go-to, I think. I would require a bit of persuading to part with this set.

This particular necklace is composed of shell, jade, and more of the stone beads. The jade beads were chosen by DD... this is HER necklace! (her PRETTY, actually) I got tired of her taking off with my strands of beads and semiprecious stones (!!!) and after she nearly ate some jade (!!!!!!!!) I caved and made her a necklace to please her. She picked some of the pieces and I (hastily) put it together.

She seems very happy with it, although unwilling to let me photograph it.

I was, however, allowed to (supposed to) photograph this:

DD: KITTY!

Kitty: HALP!

Yummy Mummy (lol)

found through Domestic Fashionista, one of the newest blogs to join my Bloglines feeds, I took this mydeco quiz to see my decorating style.
I don't know how accurate it is for how my home is right NOW, necessarily, but it's definitely dead on for what I'm aiming for! Sounds like my dream house to me! lol. (I don't know about the dreaming of a family home thing though... in highschool I was convinced I would be forever single and a savvy businesswoman! And here I am, 22 years old and a stay at home mom.... LOL.)

YUMMY MUMMY
You're the intuitive home-maker, par excellence - in fact, you've probably dreamed of having a family home for as long as you can remember. The look is quintessentially feminine: cool, pretty colours; layered patterns and textures; and flawless attention to every little detail. You have a true 'home', full of love, laughter and warmth - and often the reassuring aroma of home-baked goodies.

Living Room
You love to indulge the senses, to pamper and prettify. Just as feminine iconography ranges from the Junoesque to the gamine, from English apple blossom to vampish vixen, so can feminine interiors be expressed in myriad styles. Nonetheless, there are some constants: curvaceous sofas and generously comfortable upholstery, and an eye that misses nothing. There's no doubt who's the mistress of the house! Modern accessories are a good way of diluting too girly an overall look and feel - being practical yet unassuming, therefore allowing you and your guests to enjoy the bigger picture. Neutral wall colours provide a calm, easy background, while glamorous prints and patterns are fun and stylish. At the end of a long day, there's nothing nicer than spending some quality time with the family: no wonder your living room's the place everyone gravitates to.

Bedroom
Your bedroom has that classic look that never goes out of style. Sleep is fundamentally important to our well being. Clean, fresh air can truly aid sleep, but so, too, does a well-made bed and the best mattress you can afford. Touch is an important issue in the bedroom, from crisp, linen sheets to wool or even sheepskin underfoot. Elegance and relative simplicity are keynotes in your bedroom, using rich, chocolate browns to create a warm and cosy escape from the rest of the world.

Dining Room
You're a paragon of style, no-holds-barred entertainer. At home, what could be quite a formal dining style is made more contemporary by its connection to other activities and areas. Keeping place settings simple is clean and classic - and you don't run the risk of your china and cutlery going out of style. In multiple-purpose rooms, flexible lighting is key to making the most of your space; a pool of light suffused across the dining table makes for intimate and convivial entertaining and will focus attention on food and friends - rather than on the painting above the sofa, perhaps, or even pots and pans soaking in the sink. When it comes to entertaining, you like to make an effort for family and friends.

Home Office
You like things floral and feminine, even in the home office. You've probably got other things on your mind right now, but creating a dedicated space where you can work from home - and keep in touch by email - really does make sense. Pretty finishing touches can transform even the most utilitarian desks: a potted plant, a vase of flowers or family photographs can make all the difference.

Kids' Room
Let a child's room reflect his or her personality -- not yours! If you have the space for a designated playroom, great. If not, then giving your kids the biggest bedroom can be a smart move, certainly once they're past the toddler stage: it gives them a designated space to play, enabling you to keep the rest of your home more, rather than less, how it used to be. Cheap and cheerful is ideal when it comes to most things in children's rooms: not only do kids grow fast, they also grow out of fads and phases at an amazing rate.

Conclusion
You lavish time attention and -- most importantly -- love on both family and home.

teaser pleaser

Okay, I've been off for a bit, I'm redoing my office. Right now it is up to the moving-in stage. When we're all done I will post the whole progress, but for now here is a teaser of my hubby playing with an electric socket, and the new colour of the walls.

Haha he is all white with dust and such. There was a lot of wall-patching involved in this process. I am beginning to suspect that our house was never actually painted but just primered, because the 'paint' is the wierdest paint I have ever met, and tends to stick to any shelves or whatever bolted to the walls. So big irregular chunks down to the drywall stuff were everywhere there had been anything screwed to a wall.

April Fools! + Mermaid's Treasure necklace

Glorious music falls from the heavens as light shines around supper; mom is plunking a cake down on the table! However could I, The Princess, get so lucky? Look at those beauteous flowers, the best mommy has ever piped. (granted, would have been better had they been multicoloured, but points for trying)

Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~!

But alack and alas, it is just potatos and meatloaf. Really flavourful and yummy on both counts (ladies, if you aren't using 50% ground pork AT LEAST in your meatloaf, give yourself a spank RIGHT NOW. And then go make a meatloaf.) but potatos and meatloaf nonetheless.

DH could not stomach very much of the potatoes, apparently he's a pretty visual eater and couldn't get past the fact that they were green. However, my meatloaf was forgiven.

I'll be honest, aside from the joy in nicole's eyes when I plonked a cake down on the supper table, I think I really only amused myself on this one, as DH was not feeling super awesome at the time. But I really and truly amused myself, so who gives a poo. Ha. I heart me.

If you are my swap partner, perlabelle, and you happen to read my blog, LOOK AWAY. LOOOOK AWAAAAAAY.

It was the One Tiny Thing swap, and the theme I picked out of her list of five was mermaids. I call this the Mermaid's Treasure necklace. The shell is 1" approx, to give you a basic idea. I decided that I would make a necklace of 'found items' that a mermaid would consider to be treasure. Holding it together is an old fishing hook I mangled (and removed the sharp edges of course)... some of the items are vintage : heart locket, key, blue rose bead.

Splitting Hairs

Yesterday morning, my darling daughter awoke with her usual glorious head of bed-head.

This prompted me to decide that although I was quite fond of the babycurls, the fact that they were starting to get much worse for wear meant it was time they headed off to greener pastures (aka into a ziploc baggie.) I'd been getting sick of her haircut for some time now actually, only really feeling happy with it when it was in pigtails or a ponytail. The wild flickies didn't really do her any good.

Here they are all combed out and ready to go. In case you are wondering how to cut a toddler's hair at home, here is a simple Ten-Step Program:

1) sit toddler down in booster seat.

2) turn booster seat towards tv in livingroom and turn tv to Disney Playhouse

3) fight with toddler for a moment, trying to keep them in thier booster seat when they want to go sit in thier TV Watching Chair.

4) turn off the tv and turn the booster seat back towards the table. Time for plan B.

5) open a bag of gummies in front of the toddler and start cutting hair.

6) start cutting hair, pointing scissors upward and going little snippies to avoid that blunt 'Did your mommy cut your hair?' edge.

7) get frustrated when toddler finishes gummies in 3.5 seconds and wants to watch what you're doing.

8) get toddlers toothbrush and some jam, pb, honey, anything to dab a smidgen onto that toothbrush in a very un oral-care manner to keep the toddler fixated on gnawing on that toothbrush.

9) continue snipping toddler's hair in the fashion mentioned in point 6. Try to keep the front a little longer than the back, to keep things as un-mullety as possible. Feel free to stop if you're not sure if you like it, let the toddler run free, and get back to it later when you decide what it is you don't like about it.

10) Finished! Dust off your toddler, declare her PRETTY! and show her in the mirror!

It doesn't really look like a lot of hair on the floor... because really, it isn't. It's at most an inch off of a tiny little head of hair.

Finished! I did snip a bit here and a bit there later on. when doing DIY hair I like to leave it be a bit, and keep it as low-maintenance as possible. I cut her hair based on the way it falls around her head, a little bit at a time, making the cut follow the hair, not the hair follow a style.



Now her babycurls are all gone! Sniffle. She looks much older now, in my opinion.

On a sidenote, if you manage to get a toddler to sit still for a haircut, odds are not in favour that she will also sit still for pictures afterwards.

Later on, we ran to Safeway and picked up a handful of tulips to put in my fav vase. Normally I am all about yellow tulips (in the house, I'm not huge on the yellows in my garden, but in my house they MUST be yellow) but I let The Princess pick, and to my (lack of) astonishment, she picked pink ones. Which is fine, because she was incredibly delighted to pick flowers to take home, and finds 'her' flowers quite delightful.

The tulips stare accusingly at the scissors, silent but judgemental, while the crossstitching tries in vain to inject some humour into this awkward social gathering.

I'm not the most amazing floral arranger ever. But I recommend, if you are lacking in the floral arranging skills department, that you pick up a vase with this shape. 'all in a row' is pretty easy to handle. (Do pretend not to notice that my big stalks of greenery are the bottoms of the tulips after i cut them up, or that the right side is drooping. I did make it stop drooping, just not until after the photo. And if you're wondering, the cross stitching says 'I don't quite know how to tell you this, but I'm kind of a Big Deal' and is a gift for a friend)