Recipe Friday: Robin Miller’s Risotto

I have a confession! I am addicted to the Food Network and really love watching shows such as Paula’s Home Cooking, Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller, and the Pioneer Woman.

Today’s recipe is from Robin Miller. Robin has fifteen years of experience as a food writer and nutritionist and is the author of the bestselling cookbook Quick Fix Meals. She is the host of Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller.

Robin's recipes and nutrition features can be seen regularly in Cooking Light, Health, Shape, Men's Fitness, and Toddler magazines. She also provides recipes to the American Heart Association, The American Institute for Cancer Research, and Weight Watchers.

Robin’s Risotto with Cheddar, Bacon, and Scallions

Satisfying risotto cooks up creamy and rich with melty cheddar cheese, smoky bacon, and a bit of crunch from freshly chopped scallions.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup Arborio (short grain) rice, about 6 ounces

4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth with roasted garlic

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, about 4 ounces

6 slices bacon, cooked until crisp, crumbled

¼ cup chopped scallions (white and green parts)

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Heat oil in medium pot over medium heat.
• Add rice and cook 2 minutes or until rice is translucent, stirring frequently.
• Add ½ cup broth: simmer until liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently.
• Continue adding broth ½ to 1 cup at a time, stirring frequently until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender (entire process takes about 20 minutes).
• Add cheese; stir until melted.
• Stir in bacon and scallions (reserving a bit for garnish).
• Remove from heat: season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to serving dish and garnish with reserved bacon and scallions.

Sue’s Notes:

• I couldn't find broth with roasted garlic in the grocery store,  so I added 1 teaspoon minced roasted garlic to regular chicken broth.
• You can substitute the bacon with turkey bacon and the scallions with diced red onions.
• Experiment with the cheese. While this recipe calls for cheddar cheese, you can always substitute with a more flavorful cheese such as Asiago.

Happy Eating!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Crafting Examiner Roundup for January 9, 2012

Looking for a few new places to shop for crafts in Illinois, interested in taking a few classes, or trying your hand at a new project? Then come check out this week’s craft roundup from the Arts& Crafts Examiner and the PaperCrafting Examiner.

WarmUp Lake Zurich

Warm Up Lake Zurich was launched last fall at the Ela Area Public Library and organized by employee Laura Cloud as a community project/program for local knitters.

I’dRather Be Knitting Yarn Studio

I'd Rather BeKnitting Yarn Studio was founded in 2003, by Linda Goone. Her mission is to continually strive for a friendly, welcoming community where one can shop for the finest yarns and knitting accessories, while enjoying a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Bird Seed Ornaments

These molded bird seed ornaments are a lot of fun to make, and very inexpensive. You may already have all the materials you need in your home - we were able to make gifts for all the wonderful friends in our life for around $3.

CulturedPearls of McHenry County

The Cultured Purlsof McHenry County are a fun and friendly group of knitters in Northern Illinois meeting together to share ideas , the love of knitting, and to spread knitting in the community.

Happy Crafting!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Foodie Examiner Roundup for January 9, 2012

Are you looking for a few new recipes to make in the crockpot, serve at parties, or bring to a potluck? Then you might enjoy this week’s recipe roundup from the Wauconda Food Examiner.

Appetizers: Bacon and cheese dip

Looking for something interesting to serve at your next party?  Appetizers are perfect to serve at graduation parties, on New Year's Eve, showers, at cocktail parties, before dinner to keep your guests appetite whet, or at the next Super Bowl Sunday event.

Side dish: Oven baked fries

Create healthy side dishes to go along side your favorite meat dishes.

Become a Mindful Eater

Most of our healthy habits focus on what to eat instead of how to eat. The core concept of mindful eating is to eat when you are hungry, instead of for other reasons such as boredom, stress, anxiety, or anger.

Healthy eating: Winter lentil soup

You promised to eat healthy this year and even add a few new food items to your repertoire. Then consider making this heart healthy soup of winter lentil soup filled with lentils, leeks, sweet potatoes, and kale.

Slow cooker: Hearty potato soup

Pull out your slow cooker/crockpot and let it do all the work in your kitchen. Instead of venturing out into the cold night air for fast food, fill homemade Italian bread bowls with hearty chunky potato soup featuring potatoes, onions, carrot, celery, and savory seasonings.

Happy Eating!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Featured Freebies for the Week of January 9, 2012

Hello and Happy Monday to Everyone!

Here are this week's free digital images or printables found on websites, blogs, or submitted to us from friends and followers:

Create with TLC shares a number of free word art including “you are my rock”, “a cluttered desk”, and “happiness is bubbles”

MelJen Designs is sharing seven free digital images to download by clicking here

Patty Wraps is sharing  a few lollipop wrappers for Valentine’s Day including doggie, kitty, and love bug

Jane's Doodles shares  a coffee cup of love digital image

That’s all for this week!  Happy Crafting!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Recipe Friday: Beef and Bean Enchilada Casserole

I love Mexican food and have been craving it for a while. When I discovered this recipe a while back on the Better Homes and Garden website, I knew it was going to be added to my “recipe to try” pile.

What I like about the recipe is that you can easily substitute some of the ingredients for healthier things such as ground turkey or ground sirloin for the ground beef, while still maintaining the taste.

Beef and Bean Enchilada Casserole (adapted from bhg.com)

Ingredients:

½ pound lean ground beef (or ground turkey or ground sirloin)

½  cup chopped onion

1 teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon ground cumin

1 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed (or kidney beans or black beans)

1 4-ounce can diced green chili peppers

1 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream (or light dairy sour cream)

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

8 (6 inches) corn tortillas (or whole wheat tortillas)

1 10-ounce can green or red enchilada sauce

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese (or Colby-Jack, Monterey Jack, 3-blend Mexican, or 2% fat cheese)

Directions:

• In a large skillet cook the ground beef, onion, chili powder, and cumin until onion is tender and meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir beans and undrained chili peppers into meat mixture; set aside.
• In a small mixing bowl stir together sour cream, flour, and garlic powder until combined; set aside.
• Place half of the tortillas in the bottom of a lightly greased 2-quart rectangular baking dish, cutting to fit if necessary. Top with half of the meat mixture, half of the sour cream mixture, and half of the enchilada sauce. Repeat layers. Cover dish with plastic wrap; chill in refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
• To serve: Preheat oven to 350F. Remove plastic wrap; cover dish with foil. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until bubbly. Uncover; sprinkle with cheese and bake 5 minutes more. Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories 429
• Protein (gm) 19
• Carbohydrate (gm) 36
• Fat, total (gm) 24
• Cholesterol (mg) 64
• Dietary Fiber, total (gm) 6
• Sodium (mg) 632

I hope you enjoy this week’s recipe!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

ABC Toys and Crafts Design Team Call

ABC Toys & Crafts are looking for a few new design team members. The term is from January 30th – May 25th, 2012 (4 months). 

Designer Requirements:

• Someone self motivated, that can create freely.
• Any style or skill level may apply
• Must be familiar with the ABC Toys and Craft Product line
• Must have your own Blog and are willing to post once a week on that Blog about the store and the project you made.
• USA designers only at this time (due to cost and the time delivery of items.)

What is expected of the DT Member: 

• You must submit a project once a month to the ABC DT Challenge Blog with detailed items used and links to the items currently available in the store. Projects must be submitted to the Challenge Blog on the scheduled day. Challenge is posted on the first Sunday of every month. Projects are due by the Friday before.
• Comment on the DT Challenge entries Blogs thanking them for playing.
• Post once a week on the DT Blog on your assigned day and on your own blog that same day or if not able to do it on your Blog the assigned day, a day that works for you. (This would be the same project on both blogs.)
• You must display that you are on our Design team on your blog with links to the Blog and Store. Blinkies are provided.
• Most of all enjoy what you are doing and have fun!

What is expected as a project? 

• Create a project within the stated theme or product line of that week.
• Create a card or project using at least 2-3 items currently available in the store.
• You may do a how to video to show how to make a project. (Not required)

How you benefit: 

• You will receive a $20.00 credit each month in your account to purchase the items you will need to create projects. (extra items may be sent with your store order by us)
• You will receive a 25% discount of the SRP of each item in the store when purchasing from the store.
• Inspiration from a great team of designers.

What you need to do to apply:

Email your resume to abctoysandcrafts@comcast.net  with the subject line: DT CALL
Include:

• Name
• Address
• Email
• Link to your blog
• Tell us why you think you are a great fit for ABC Toys and Crafts.
• What design teams you are on and have been on.
• Something about you that we should know that could help us pick you.

Deadline for application is January 15th, 2012

Good Luck!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

LSHD Design Team Call

Little Scraps of Heaven Designs is on the lookout for creative people to add to their design team.

They are looking for artists who mainly focus on making paper crafting layouts.

Here are the requirements:

• Each week the DT member will have a project to make for the DT blog (be it a layout, a card, an altered project, etc).  These will be due every Saturday to be posted on Monday.
• Each week the DT members will also have 1 other required project to make.  If you can create 2 projects plus the weekly DT project each week of the month you will earn an extra $20.00 in patterns a month.
• Check in LSHD DT Group DAILY and post.
• Post on the LSHD Facebook fan page DAILY.  (commenting on posts)
• You must keep your blog up to date.
• Although we have no problem with you creating projects using other pp designs, we do ask that the majority of your work on your blog and Facebook fan page be LSHD paper piecing.  We want those who visit your blog to see that you are a LSHD DT member.

You must be able to commit to the following terms.  If you are unable to commit to the following terms please do not apply.

For your participation on the LSHD Design Team,  you will be given $50.00 in free patterns each month.

To apply please send your submissions to lshdesignsmail@aol.com and include the following:

• Your full name
• Your email address
• Your blog name and link address
• A short Bio of yourself
• Three projects with Little Scraps of Heaven Design paper piecing on them
• A brief statement why you would like to be a part of the LSHD DT.

Submissions for the LSHD Design Team will be accepted until January 5,2012.

Good luck to all those that apply!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue