My 7 Links- slowly getting back into blogging

Hey y'all! How's Autumn going for ya? I know we're only 2 days in, but it's been freaking beautiful here!

Anyway, I've been tagged by my lovely friend Amy Kim over at www.kimchimom.com to participate in an online blogger's game  My 7 links started by TripBase to unite is whatever you blog about. I am so happy that Amy tagged me, because I've been so nervous about jumping back in the blog scene. Also good as I didn't do a 1st year anniversary post! #slacka. So allow me to start:




Your Most Beautiful Post: Still Have Leftovers? Try these Turkey Day "Pasties"

























I woke up early on my birthday to get just the right amount of light to photograph this recipe. If I was going to make my own take of pasties, I wanted to make sure they looked as awesome as they tasted. Living in Germany I've been more inspired by British cooking than German...weird. But look out for some more German recipes soon- have been experimenting on my hiatus :D
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Your Most Popular Post: Chicken Broccoli Penne Alfredo

This is the first blog post that was ever accepted by Tastespotting. After learning more about the photo sites, I tried my hand and had several declined so I stopped. Then I submitted this recipe to Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen and Cook Eat Share and it got a lot of attention so I thought? Why not share this with Tastespotting and holy crap they accepted! This is one of the first recipes I shared on my blog when I really blogging on and off, so it had maybe 45 views which was a lot for even then as I averaged maybe 12 hehe. Thanks mom!

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Your Most Controversial Post: Confessions, Nipples and Other Random Nothingness

While most of my blog posts are recipes, I started this blog to get myself to get motivated about things. Whether food, getting into shape, being a better mother, venting etc, I wrote about it. I am not a great writer, I do love this blog to express myself. Some stuff isn't wholesome lovey dovey stuff, I curse, I talk about masturbation being a military spouse,  rarely, but it's in here. I try to please, but I am not going to be fake to please others. I am really open in person, this blog is really a G rated version! Anyway, this is controversial because of the content and you can see boobies! You will see booty soon! This photo was taken 5 months after giving birth to my 3rd baby- yeah super brave!
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Your Most Helpful Post: Homemade Ricotta

As a budding foodie or whatever the cool word is for loving all aspects of food, as soon as I read that I could make my own ricotta and how freaking easy it was? I was ALL over it! Had a few friends try it themselves and it always nice to hear some tried something because I did! My goal in blogging about food is to get others inspired to cook period.

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A Post Whose Success Surprised You: Parsnip Fritters with Blue Cheese Walnut Whip

These were really really really good, but I didn't think they'd garner much attention. But as soon as I posted I got 3 comments. I was flabbergasted! I didn't think there were many parsnip lovers out there, but I am happy to know there are many apparently!

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A post you feel didn't get the attention it deserved: Santa's Mincemeat Pies

A lot folk doesn't like meat and sweet in the same sentence. I am not going to lie, when I first heard about mincemeat, I thought GROSS! But the more I learned about food, and I actually read the ingredients I thought. YUM. So I had to try this. I couldn't find suet as it was a last minute decision so I went with a David Lebovitz recipe for Quick Mincemeat and it ROCKED! This will be a holiday tradition! The pastry was perfect everything- lucky santa!!
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The post you're most proud of: Peach Barbecue Personal Pizza

So happy I took a chance and it garnered amazing results loved by the whole family! My children normally hate peaches, but they loved this so much. Since then I've tweaked and made even more fruity versions. Taking chances with food is particularly difficult with children in the house sneaking in goodness and them liking it is always awesome! Same with my Autumn Mac N Cheese made with hokkaido squash :)


Well I hoped you enjoyed! Was cool reading through some old post to find these. A big thank you to all who still follow my blog- the support is amazing. I love the blog community xxxxx

Tagging:
Jessica- Mommyhood Next Right

Peggy- My Fiance Likes so it MUST be good!

Becca- Living Wright at Home

Trininista

Celeste- Cooking Creations

Have fun with this! This was definitely fun reading the archives and going back in time. Inspires me to challenge myself even more. And it's so fun reading others' thoughts on their own blog posts read hidden gems!

Sorta Wordless Wednesday- It's Autumn, y'all!

I love Autumn, it's my favorite time of the year. The clean-ish crisp air, the beautiful auburn leaves, the chilly breezes, wearing jackets again (well we were wearing coats this summer, but let's not get into that we're talking about fall!), pumpkins, sweet potatoes,  women walking around in cleavage revealing dirndls and men in leather overalls, beer and wine fests and a shit load of orange stuff! I freaking love this time of year! We have 3 birthdays in this house from Sept-Nov, we have Halloween where the children work.....erm go trick or treating so mommy and daddy can pig out on their hard earned candy, and my favorite holiday THANKSGIVING! The last few autumns we had some hard times, but for whatever reason, we never let it get us down. From September to December 31st I am pretty much happy most of the time. Anyway, this is supposed to be wordless Wednesday. Please forgive me, I don't have my dSLR right now, this summer along with a bunch of other electronics in my house, it suddenly stopped working. So we're working on that, in the meantime, check out our fall decor. It's not really looking like autumn outside, so be bought it in, plus I am not creative enough to go out and make  real sticks and leaves looks nice.

 I should be posting more regularly! I have so much to share. I may do a Deployment Sunday so I can share stories and photos from our eventful 6 months without the husband. The children and I traveled all over Germany so look out for that :)


OK I'll shut-up!

Starting School is a sign Fall's a'coming! My son started Kindergarten at the DOD school here. He is so ecstatic. His father is German and he is fluent in the language, but he didn't like the German kindergarten he went to. He complained that no one spoke English, I told him that you can speak German and we live in Germany! Oh, well. He is a lot happier in the Elementary school on base and he has a little girlfriend. She'd always give him hugs which he "hated" and now he loves her to chase and she's his 'favorite' best friend. So sweet. Anywho, here's his first day off the bus.

It's not really looking like Fall yet....yeah I know today is the first day. But we've been buying autumn stuff for the house since August when they were first on display. I have issues. I really freaking love Fall.

 Yes a Mass (beer glass) is totally fall decor :) Who am I fooling, it's there year around- #lazy.

We used to keep a pumpkin outside our door, but every year someone steals it after Halloween. I was thinking about putting some kind of firecrackers inside and they'd get a bit surprise, but I think keeping it inside would result in significantly less jail time. :D

This is from the parade preceding the Wine fest in my town. We didn't go because we had other plans and the days following it was rainy and cold. I have photos from when I went last year on this blog:)

Blocked street! Yeah, lets go the other way.

I hope to post more frequently soon. Thank you for reading! Next up, check out my fall recipes! I've only been blogging little over a year so it's not totally overwhelming. A lot of sweet potatoes, though! Tschuess!!!

Quickie Update

Hi all! Are you still waiting on that update?

Well, I've starting really working out in July, and man, I have a lot of work to do. In my own opinion anyway. I can be a bit of a perfectionist when I want to be.

My husband has been home for a week now. We are so happy to have him home! I have a few of you on my personal facebook page and annoy many of you on twitter, so that's sort of why I haven't blogged any updates. Sorry.

I've been testing lots of recipes, and have finally found Truvia- a natural sweetener from the Stevia plant. I am excited to try some sugar-free baking as I am addicted to all things sweet. This has been inspired by Rocco Dispiritio's cookbook, "Now Eat This!" I've cooked a few recipes from it, and it's pretty frickin' delicious! Also a great blogging pal, Carolyn from All Day I Dream about Food.

My camera is kaput at the moment, so no recipe sharing until it's fixed. By then it will be Autumn and my photos will suck anyway....but you're not here for the perty photos, you're here for the food right? I can not wait to share. Been testing and remaking some of our family favorites. I also been  extreme-from-scratch mama. I want to show you all that anyone can do it. Plus share my fitness journey! I LOVE the gym and I enjoy feeling good after running, I still have a hate-love thing for running even though  I do it all the time. The first 5 minutes is what I hate really. Anyway, sorry about the rambling, I feel I need to say something.

Oh and I finally have a laptop. My last one's hard drive died and I was without all summer....sigh. I am a shit magnet. Anyway, I have lots of stories to share! Not ALL of you are on my FB friends list....I think....so stay tuned!!! Many besos! Thank you for reading my ramblings.


I've been inspired by so much over the past 6 month and I am still contemplating how to share it all. Y'all care right? The blog posts will not be long. I have no time. I have a kindergartner now with tons of homework!
Sommer J

Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Buttermilk Waffles: The Ultimate Comfort Meal!

I remember being a snooty little rugrat when I first heard of chicken and waffles...it was actually when I was watching an episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air". I remember thinking, "Why the hell would you eat fried chicken and waffles together?" I thought that because my mom was old school, I wouldn't be here making this blog post if I had said the "H" word out loud. Back to the story, I was just weirded out by this strange combination. Waffles- ONLY eggo waffles for me- were breakfast with pork sausage, bacon and or scrapple. And fried chicken was only for lunch or dinner. NO way can you combine the 2!

Fast forward to my adult years as the microwave queen, I still couldn't stomach it. Then when I got into cooking and being the from scratch gal that I am, I could dig the combo. In fact, I wanted to try this last month before my husband left, but was distracted. Then last week, I asked my eldest child after his 2 week stay with his father, what he wanted for dinner and he asked for chicken, waffles, rice and something else in a soup. I liked the idea of chicken and waffles together so I went to work.

I marinate my chicken up to 12 hours prior. First I season, then pour buttermilk over for the juicest most flavorful fried chicken you will evah eat. Adding cornmeal makes a nice crunch, but a little goes a LONG way. No need for more than a scant 1/4 cup or you'll break yo' teeth. The waffle recipe I found on www.cooksillustrated.com. I wanted a great recipe and you can not go wrong at all with America's Test Kitchen! These were some AMAZING waffles, too. It uses powdered buttermilk which is different, but it made the lightest dry mix! I also like it because you don't get the  sour buttermilk taste. 

Also oil instead of butter was used for a crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle waffle. It's damn good! Definitely a hit with my children and my German friends! All you chicken and waffle virgins must try this and pour some good grade b maple syrup on both waffles and chicken! Don't look at me like that, I know you like BBQ chicken and one of the main ingredients is some kind of sweetener! Give this a shot!


 
Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Buttermilk Waffles
Printable Recipe here!
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Ingredients

• 1 Whole Chicken about 4 pounds, cut-up (alternatively you can purchase your favorite chicken pieces totaling 4 pounds)
• 2 cups buttermilk, shaken
• Pre-floured seasoning:
• 1- 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp Seasoned Salt (I love McCormick's Season All)
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning or dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 onion powder
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper or white pepper
• 1/8 tsp cumin
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal

Flour seasoning:

• 1- 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp Seasoned Salt 
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning or dried thyme
• 1/2 onion powder
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper or white pepper
• 1/8 cayenne pepper

• 24- 36 ounces peanut oil

Directions

If you're using a whole chicken, cut up into 8 pieces- remove backbone two breasts, two wings, two legs, and two thighs.

Place chicken in a large resealable bag or large bowl. Season chicken all over. Pour buttermilk over chicken and allow to sit in the fridge 12 hours to overnight or as little as 30 minutes.

While marinating or next day, add flour, additional seasonings and cornmeal to a large bowl.

Once marinated, remove chicken from bag or bowl allowing excess buttermilk to drip from piece. Dip chicken into flour and place on paper towels or a cooling rack with paper towel under.

Heat oil in a heavy skillet (I prefer a cast iron skillet!) 350 degrees using a good thermometer or candy thermometer.Once heated, place as many pieces in the skillet as possible. The reason is so each piece cooks evenly and crisp. Cook about 20-25 minutes. Wash or use another cooling rack lined with paper towels to place cooked chicken- to avoid any sogginess. Remove each piece except breast. I usually let the breast cook another 5 minutes since they're the biggest pieces.

Allow to rest about 5 minutes.

Buttermilk Waffles

Adapted from Cook's Illustrated

Ingredients 2 cups (10 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon table salt 1/2 cup dried buttermilk powder (can be found in the baking aisle) 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup greek yogurt* (see note) 2 large eggs 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 cup peanut oil or vegetable oil 1 1/4 cups unflavored seltzer water *I used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream in the original recipe. I allowed it to thicken by placing a paper towel on a slotted spoon on a bowl to catch the whey. Directions Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 250 degrees. Set wire rack in rimmed baking sheet and place baking sheet in oven. Whisk flour, sugar, salt, buttermilk powder, and baking soda in large bowl to combine. Whisk Greek yogurt, eggs, vanilla, and oil in medium bowl to combine. Gently stir seltzer into wet ingredients.  Make well in center of dry ingredients and pour in wet ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, gently stir until just combined. Batter should remain slightly lumpy with streaks of flour. Heat waffle iron and bake waffles according to manufacturer’s instructions (use about 1/3 cup for 7-inch round iron). Transfer waffles to rack in warm oven and hold for up to 10 minutes before serving with butter and maple syrup. Place waffles and chicken on plate and add some good grade B maple syrup to both! You'll be sent to comfort heaven for sure! Eat Sparingly or every Saturday morning I don't care it's really good! Enjoy!!!!!

Also check out Salty Seattle's GENIUS take on this classic American dish: http://www.saltyseattle.com/2011/01/chicken-and-waffles-meet-modern-gastronomy/