NEWSFLASH!!! BREAKING NEWS!!

Can't even begin to tell you all how excited I am about the latest news!  I have OFFICIALLY published my very first cookbook!!!!!  The good news is that all the recipes on my blog are IN this cookbook, PLUS a bunch more!!!!!!  This is something I've had on my bucket list for quite some time and now I can say I can MARK IT OFF!  So excited.  Hope you all are too!

Something else you'll find in the book at the back is an 8-week (2 month) menu plan (all the recipes are in the book) with grocery lists you can copy and cross off to take with you!!!!!  Doesn't get much easier than that!  That's what sets this cookbook aside from all the others!!!

To get your very own copy, you can go to http://www.amazon.com/JoJos-NumNums-Joanna-Baltzly/dp/1503197263/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415850108&sr=8-1&keywords=JoJo%27s+NumNum%27s and order your own copy there!!!  These are GREAT gifts for those kids, grandkids, new moms, new brides, etc.

Thanks to everyone visiting my blog through these years!!!!

Happy cooking!!!

Baltzly's Favorite Steak Taco Meat

So as many of you know, I absolutely LOVE the Food Network's Diners Drive Ins & Dives show.  And you also know that our family tries to hit as many of these places not only around us but also when we're traveling.  To date we've probably hit about 15 (I know A LONG ways to go) but one of our favorite Mexican joints was up in Flagstaff, Arizona!  OH MY!  It was called Salsa Brava.

My favorite meal there was something similar to an Indian Taco!  It is basically fry bread topped with really yummy steak bites and served with a Cilantro Cream Sauce!  I was able to get the recipes for the meat (marinade) and Cream Sauce, and I figured out an easy Fry Bread recipe that was close enough to this restaurants fry bread!  OH MY!  Mouth is seriously watering!  This afternoon, I've prepared ahead my meat so that's why I'm sharing that recipe tonight.  Hopefully later this week I can share the fry bread and cilantro cream sauce to complete the taco.  Just only have pictures for the meat.

1 1/2-2 pounds Skirt Steak (Flank Steak, etc)
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 c soy sauce
1 t cumin
1 large handful fresh cilantro, finely chopped
juice of 2 limes
2 T Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 t sugar
1/2 c olive oil

Sliver the steak into pieces across the grain on a diagonal.  Place these beef pieces in a gallon size Ziploc bag.  Combine marinade ingredients and pour the marinade over the steak, making sure each piece is well covered.  Cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours, or overnight.  Toss all the beef and marinade into a crock pot.  Turn to low for 2-4 hours or until the beef falls apart.  Serve over fry bread with Cilantro sauce and fix-ins.

Freezer Instructions:  Can put this in the freezer with marinade and simply pull out night before to unthaw and crock pot as normal.

Fruit Tart

Crust:

1/2 c sugar 1 c flour 1 c crushed Nilla wafer cookies 1/2 c crushed almonds 1 1/2 sticks butter, softened

Mix these ingredients together. Grease a tart/pie pan and push this into the bottom and slightly up the sides. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes (don't bake too long).

Filling:

1 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened 1 jar marshmallow creme

Mix these together until smooth and put in the baked and cooled crust.

Top with any kind of fruit you want!!! Then top with glaze with a pastry brush!

Glaze:

1 - 6 ounce can limeade concentrate, thawed

1 T cornstarch

1 T lime juice

1/4 c sugar

Mix sugar and cornstarch together to get all the lumps out in a small saucepan BEFORE you add the limeade and lime juice. Gradually bring to a boil in a saucepan until it thickens. About 3-5 minutes. Let cool and then brush onto the top of your fruit tart with a pastry brush. You will not use all of the glaze.

Chill entire tart in the fridge for about an hour.

Bubble Gum Ice Cream

OH MY!  This is a serious "flashback" moment for me!  Ate the first bite and thought I was young again sitting in my sweet ice cream shop that I grew up eating Bubble Gum ice cream at called Penny Lane!  Haven't had a moment like that in quite awhile and it's one not soon to be forgetten! :) 

I have to say, I started a thread on facebook a few days ago after getting a text from my dear mama that was in Iowa visiting at the time.  Her text is what got this whole thing started and I haven't stopped thinking about it since!!  Her text???  "Driving all over Waterloo reminiscing...wish you were here."

There are a few things significant there!  First and formost, I have the best mom and dad anyone could ever ask for!  They brought me up in the most loving home!  Little did I know the significance this one thing alone would have on me now as an adult and now adoptive mommy!  I often wonder where and what my kids would be doing right now if we hadn't adopted them!  GOD IS GOOD!  I only pray I'm HALF as good as my parents were and still are as parents!  While we were never "spoiled," they definitely gave us a RICH life by making memories that LASTED.  They also made sure that I had made the single most inportant decision I'd ever make in my entire life and that is that I knew JESUS and invited him into my heart FOREVER!!  And because of that, I'm FREE and forever grateful that that was of such high priority in my upbringing!

I am so grateful I grew up in Waterloo, Iowa!  I haven't lived there since 1998, but let me tell you, that was one heck of a town to grow up in!  I met some of the most wonderful people in my entire life there, won't ever forget my years from Kindergarten all the way up to my senior year of high school at the same school, had family that loved me all around (still do), and some of my most special memories were made in that town! 

When I posted this on facebook about Penny Lane, my e-mail went crazy with all the responses of all my friends and family that lived there remembered about this sweet ice cream shop!  All of us have sweet memories of going there!  We remember the aroma almost more than the ice cream, the aroma of FRESHLY ironed waffle cones/bowls! :)  And then I think secondly, we remembered BUBBLE GUM ICE CREAM!  So, I decided to make some up (since it's my middle childs' birthday today - Happy 5th Birthday to my sweet Ezra!) and make a post for you all to enjoy whenver you can! :)  And if you were all here, I'd just invite you ALL over for one HUGE ice cream party on my own back porch! :)  But alas, I live to far from most! 

Thanks so much for making memories in my childhood I won't ever forget!  Hugs to you all!

So incredibly scrumptious! Simply no words!

 This is the mixture in the ice cream machine towards the end!

Bubble Gum Ice Cream

2 1/2 c Heavy Whipping Cream
1 1/2 c Half & Half
2 egg YOLKS
3/4 c sugar
1 t vanilla
pinch of salt
2-3 drops pink food coloring or red food coloring
12 pieces of Double Bubble Gum
1 c colored gum balls (I picked out the pink, white & red cause it matched pink base) :)

In a saucepan combine all the Heavy Whipping Cream, H&H, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Whisk together so the yolks are all blended in.  Put over medium heat and start heating the milk.  Once this is starting to get pretty warm, add the Double Bubble Gum pieces (NOT the gumballs) and raise the heat just a little so it starts to ever so slightly boil (not rolling), and continue whisking unitl all of the gum is pretty well melted (there will be a little residue, but don't worry yourselves).  Once it's all been melted, pour into a tupperware container but don't scrape out the bottom of the pan as the residue will have settled and you don't want any of that! :)  Refrigerate at least 3 hours, but better if overnight!  In an ice cream maker (we have the countertop Cuisinart kind), pour the ice cream into your frozen bowl and let churn for about 30 minutes until it's semi-hard.  Add the gumballs and EAT!  I also put it in the freezer for about another hour for it to harden back up again to a little bit firmer than what an ice cream maker can get it!  Then we eat! :) 

Hope this hits home for many of you!  :)

ZAYCON BEEF EVENT!!!!

Hey guys!!! 

HAD to post about the beef event.

So, I did this event the last time they offered and OH MY GOODNESS how amazing the beef was!!!  I am going to summarize below with the pictures I took from this event I just participated in today!  Keep this bookmarked cause it comes around a few times a year!!  I will let everyone know when it comes around again!

This beef is 93/7 for $2.79/lb.  Here is the description right from Zaycon's website (https://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf10027):

A 40 lb case containing 4 tubes of Fine Grind super lean beef (93/7). Not all cases are exactly 40 lbs. If, upon delivery, your case is not 40 lbs, you will receive a credit to your Zaycon account.

This event actually came right HERE to Maricopa, so all my Maricopa peeps, we don't have to drive in to town to get our beef.  All my other AZ friends, there are MANY locations to choose from across the valley, find the one closest to you! :)

The website is:  https://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf10027. 

Pick up is so incredibly SIMPLE!  You don't even get out of your car.  Basically, you print the receipt for your order, take it with you to the pick up location, drive up to the location, they have signs that say "enter," follow that and it will pull you up to the side of a refrigerated semi.  They'll ask for your name, they'll verify how many boxes you ordered, and then ask you where you want them.  You just stay in your car and they throw the boxes in your car FOR YOU!  Then you drive away!  THAT"S IT!  So all the mom's that dread doing something like this cause they'll have to drag their kids along, NO SWEAT!  Super easy!

Here are a few pictures below:

 This is the box they load right into your car.

 This is what it looks like inside your box! :)

 This is how I divide mine! :)  Each bag 1# each.

Here is one complete box.  I finished off with 39 bags!

FUNDRAISER: Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas

Hey fellow blog readers!!!!

God has laid something HUGE on my heart and I'm taking action!!!!

A dear friend of mine's daughter that I went to school with back in Iowa, is fighting a very long and exhausting fight to brain cancer.  I have shared their blog address many times (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate), so many of you have already heard and read about her, anyways, for a few years now they have done an incredible Christmas event for the Phoenix area by doing something called Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas!  Each year, by donations alone, they provide many of the families' who have little ones battling cancer with a load of Christmas gifts to bring them some cheer!  Many of these families aren't even home for Christmas, but instead in the hospital celebrating with a sick one!  I don't know about you, but just thinking of this puts me in my place!  I can't even BEGIN to imagine going through something like this, but in spite of all the sadness, Kate's family has organized this great event to bring so happiness to some hurting families! 

So, in hopes to check off some needed items requested on their list, I am going to offer two kinds of bread and donating ALL PROCEEDS to this event!!!!  I am offering my Oatmeal Bread (5 mini loaves) for $10 or I'm also offering my Crescent Rolls (16/batch) for $10.  To make it easier, I'm only selling in batches.  These will be on a 'made to order' basis, so please e-mail me to place an order at bbaltzly@gmail.com.  These breads freeze VERY WELL for up to 3 months or so!  These are also great for the Holiday gatherings and parties coming up!  This is an ASKING donation of $10/each, if you'd like to give more, I will just add and purchase more of the items on the list!!  THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS!!!!!  God bless!

UPDATE on 11/15:  A few Iowa friends have asked how they can get in on this!  So, I went to post office today and here's what I found!  I am more than happy to ship you some bread to Iowa!  Unfortunately since I am donating all the ingredients I can't cover shipping! :(  But if you want to order, I found the cheapest for fastest delivery is 2-3 day priority for $10.95.  For this size box, ordering two batches would be more worth your dollar! :)  I'd make it an even $30 for two batches shipped!  :) 

$10 for 5 mini loaves of Oatmeal Bread

$10 for 16 Crescent Rolls

Strawberry Lemonade

One of my favorite drinks to order at restaraunts are Strawberry Lemonades!  The fresh kind, not the "fountain" kind.  Not many restaruants offer it but every time I get to order it, I LOVE IT!  It's pretty easy to make it for yourself at home! 

2 - 12 oz lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 c sugar
20 ounces frozen strawberries, thawed
9 c water

In a blender, puree sugar, strawberries and 4 c water.  Leave somewhat chunky.  In a large pitcher combine lemonade concentrate, 5 c water and strawberry puree mixture all together and stir.  Serve over a full glass of ice!

Zaycon Chicken

REPOST:  October 5, 2011

 I am here to tell you this is an AMAZING price for chicken and WELL WORTH ordering a case before they are SOLD OUT!  GO NOW to this link:  http://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf10027, SIGN UP and order!!!  This event most generally sells out so I would be inclined to believe it will be gone again rather quickly.  Go!  Go NOW and register and order!  SERIOUSLY! :)

***********************************************************************************

WOW!  I'm impressed!!!!  So, many of you saw my post about the amazing chicken deal.  Well, I picked my chicken up yesterday and wanted to show you what I got so that if this event comes to your town, or again comes to the valley that you all can get in on it! :)  TOTALLY impressed!  WOW!  I do know that this company also has "ground beef" events, and FOR SURE, if they offer this in the Phoenix area, I'm participating. 

A few weeks ago, I found out about this chicken event.  Basically, this company offers AMAZING product for an AMAZING price.  This chicken is hormone and injection free.  This event was for boneless, skinless chicken breasts in 40 pound boxes for just $1.49/lb.  WOW!!!  This is stuff I normally used to by at like Sprouts because they offer the chicken with no fillers, it's healthier, better for you, etc.  You also pay an arm and a leg for the stuff at Sprouts!  Not here.  I was so excited. 

I went to the website, registered, and then bought my box ahead for the event day.  This event SOLD OUT, so if it comes around again, you need to be QUICK about ordering! 

My friend and I went yesterday to pick it up!  It was the smoothest, most slick adventure to getting chicken.  Felt a tiny bit guilty as a matter of fact! :)  So, we brought our printed "receipts" with us.  They had a big refrigerated semi trailer in the parking lot of a church in Gilbert.  They had orange cones everywhere and a definite flow of traffic set up!  There was ONE entrance, and about half way around the "U" there was someone checking your name off the list and then they'd put laminated "numbers" of how many boxes you were picking up under your wipers and then you'd keep driving forward and on either side of the trailer you pulled up.  Then there were about 8 people there taking the boxes off the truck (already premeasured and pre packeaged) and putting them into your trunk and off you went!  That was it!  SO EASY!

Got home and immediately started prepping my chicken by taking the yucky stuff off (I'm pretty picky about this! :)) and then putting them into a variety of Ziploc bags.  I decided to bag mine very specifically so that in the future it's super easy for me to make my meals.  I had some in stir fry fashion where I cut my chicken into strips, I put 3 breasts in several bags for when I make soups or taco meat, and then I put 4-5 breasts into a few bags for when I make Christy's Chicken or dishes like Chicken Fillets over Rice, etc.  I LOVE IT!  I am going to show pictures below for you to see.  Wish so bad now that I would've taken pictures of the pick up location.  Maybe next time!  I got a total of about 42-44 single breasts.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS IF IT COMES AGAIN TO PHOENIX OR COMES TO YOUR AREA!  Go to the website here and check for events:  http://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf10027.  If you continue following my blog or my JoJo's NumNums facebook page, I will announce again when I hear they will be here.  It's my understanding they come about 2 times a year.

Here is how the chicken comes. The breasts are together.

 Here you can see the box that it came in.

Here's all my chicken prepped several different ways!

Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha

You have no idea how happy this makes my heart!  With the help of my dearest friend (who used to work at Starbucks), we figured out the combination and I'm telling ya'll, if I were blindfolded and had one cup of Starbucks and one cup of one made from home, I COULD TELL NO DIFFERENCE!

So, here it is!

Now, before I start, sorry for the poor photography.  Drinks I've found are awfully difficult to take pictures of!

 Again, sorry for the not so great picture! :(

This doesn't do it justice! :)

For the homemade mocha additive:
1 can evaporated milk
3/4 c dry cocoa
3/4 c sugar

In a small bowl, mix the sugar and cocoa until there are no more lumps.  Slowly add the can of evaporated milk using a whisk and whisk until everything is completely combined.  Refrigerate any leftovers (which you'll have tons unless you're feeding an army!)

Homemade Mocha!! MMMM!

Salted Caramel Mocha (Hot or Iced)
2 shots espresso
4 pumps Toffee Nut Syrup (FROM STARBUCKS)
2 T mocha
1 - 1 1/2 c milk (steamed for hot version)
Caramel Syrup (ice cream topping)
Coarse Sea Salt

Mix espresso, syrup and mocha until it is blended.  Add the milk and stir.  Top with whipped cream, some caramel syrup and coarse sea salt!

You'll notice the chocolatey look here.

NOTE:  Starbucks sells the Toffee Nut syrup to any customer for $7.95/bottle.  $1 for the pump (this is important cause it's calibrated specifically for the drinks).  This will last you MANY drinks.  You pay over $5 for ONE drink, so think about how much you are saving by just making them at home!  

Shepard's Pie

My dear hubby, though not a stitch of Irish in him, LOVES him some SHEPARD'S PIE!!!!  This is a very common "meat and potato" recipe at our house!  My kids too inhale this stuff, and it's SO NICE cause it's "all in one" so I don't have to cook any veggie sides, etc!  What could get better than that!? :)

So, here it is! :)

1 lb ground beef
1/4 c Worchestershire Sauce
1 packet Brown Gravy Mix
2 T flour
1 c water
1-2 bags frozen mixed vegetables
2.5 lb potatoes (red are the best, but russet will do)
1 stick butter
1 c Cheddar Cheese, shredded

In a frying pan, brown ground beef in the Worchestershire Sauce.  When the meat is done cooking, add the dry packet of Brown Gravy & flour and coat the meat.  Add 1 c water.  Simmer a few minutes until the gravy has thickened.  Mix the frozen vegetables (don't need to heat), and hamburger mix together in a 9x13 pan.  Peel and boil potatoes and mash either by hand or in a food processor or in a Kitchen Aid with a stick of butter.  Layer potatoes on top of the meat/veggie mix and top then with cheese.  Bake @ 350 for 40 minutes.

Note:  I DO make a double batch and freeze this dish just before the bake time.  On dinner day, I just set on the counter in the morning and bake as instructed above.