Food Blog 4: Chicken Tikka Masala Made Easy...

Tonight's food blog an Indian classic- chicken tikka masala- is super simple and super delicious!

All that you need are the ingredients below and about 30 minutes.

First wash and cube 1 pound of chicken. Then brown it in a skillet with a little bit of oil.

Now start your jasmine rise- follow the recipe on the bag. It usually boils at first then simmers for 20 minutes.

Once your chicken is browned stir in one jar of Patak's Tikka Masala Curry Sauce (you can find this at super target) and simmer for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile throw your oven on to 300 and wrap up some naan flatbread (i got mine at trader joes) in foil and heat up for 10 minutes.

When all of your timers go off- plate and enjoy!

Voila! A gourmet Indian meal in minutes!!

love song...

i have always loved this song.
i have always loved adele.
i adore her new album.
so therefore- this song is heavenly.

Food Blog 3: Green chili cream cheese chicken enchiladas

Tonight's food blog goes out to the recently engaged (congrats!!) Miss Erin Cron! At her request:

Danelle's famous green chili cream cheese chicken enchiladas!

* 1/2 pound cream cheese, softened
* 1 cup sour cream
* 1/2 cup green salsa
* 1- 4oz can of green chilies
* 4 (6 ounce) packages seasoned cooked chicken cubes
* 3 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese blend
* 1 tablespoon chipotle spice (I love Penzeys Spices)
* 12 (8 inch) flour tortillas
* 1- 10 oz can of green chili enchilada sause

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly spray an 8x8-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Stir together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and salsa until blended. Fold in chicken and 1 cup of shredded cheese. Evenly divide the filling among the tortillas, and roll into firm cylinders. Place into prepared baking dish and cover with remaining sauce and shredded cheese.
3. Bake in preheated oven until golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Allow to rest 5 minutes before serving.
4. Shake up a margarita and enjoy!

I enjoy with guacamole, chips, mexican rice and black beans.

amen...

love this.

my first national red cross youtube video

my heart truly is in japan today.
you might remember my month long AFE tour of japan and the pacific in 2007 and how much i loved the country and it's people.
when i saw the story unfolding via social media and my buddies at national asking for help with a situation update video i decided to step up to the plate and record a video of myself (by myself) with the mac...before talking points were even issued. (sure glad i said the right things!)

want to help?

go to www.redcross.org and donate to japan earthquake and pacific tsunami.

you can also donate $10 by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to support our disaster relief efforts in japan and tsunami throughout the pacific.

domo arigato!

happy red cross month: get your red cross red velvet cupcake today!

happy red cross month yall!

don't forget to stop by jones bros cupcakes in aksarben village to get your red cross red velvet cupcakes in the month of march!

they will donate $1 back to the heartland chapter for each one they sell.

thanks bill for a sweet partnership and a dream come true for a cupcake/red cross freak like me!

APAT11= fun in the sun

red cross APAT (advanced public affairs team) training is always a good time.
you might remember my previous posts about our annual training in the spring...and usually in warm locations like atlanta and dallas.

this year we are in sunny tampa at the gorgeous mainsail center!

every year gets better and better.
the on camera interviews get easier.
you meet more people and see your besties (like kate pictured above!)

and if you are lucky, like me, you get the chance to be a presenter.
i am co-teaching social media 201 with the always fab gloria from our national headquarters.
it is both awesome and exhausting to present to the best and brightest pr pros.
we taught one workshop today and have four in a row tomorrow for 6.5 hours.
wish us luck!

more to come...

Food Blog 2: Banana Banana Bread

(fresh out of the oven for mr. joel)

For my second food blog I bring you my favorite banana bread courtesy of my favorite recipe site allrecpies.com

Banana Banana Bread

Ingredients

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup butter
* 3/4 cup brown sugar
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.
4. Enjoy.

little miss sunshine...

man i love this little smiling face...more and more each day.

Food blog #1: homemade chicken noodle soup

So after many requests for recipes via facebook after posting pictures of my tasty adventures in the kitchen i have decided to start using my often neglected blog to food blog. (thanks to cari for the last push it took to inspire me to do so.)

After a weekend of making many delicious new meals (wood fired italian pizzas, spatchcock and beer can chickens all on the big green egg grill) today i needed to use leftovers somehow. So inspired by the cold and dingy weather good ol homemade chicken noodle soup it was. And it was indeed old fashioned mmmmm mmmmm good.





Danelle's Red Dutch Oven LeCresuset Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

4 cups wide egg noodles
8 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons fresh cracked pepper
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon Rosemary
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup fingerling potatoes
1 cup carrots
2 cups water
3 cups diced, cooked chicken meat (leftover beer can chicken was fab)
2 cups of love

Directions

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add egg noodles and boil for 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain, and rinse under cool running water.

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, combine broth, water, pepper, rosemary, oregano, salt, and poultry seasoning. Bring to a boil. Stir in veggies. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 15 minutes.

Stir in noodles and chicken, and heat through.

Share with those you love and enjoy!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

First blog from my iPad: 25th annual spelling bee

Last Friday I went to see the 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at the omaha community playhouse and it was HILARIOUS!

Never did I imagine a play about a spelling bee could be so awesome.

It was hilarious, witty and fab!

There was some adult humor so leave the kids at home for this one...but don't miss it!

Get your tickets today here.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

life as a puppy mom day 730...

day 1: 2.14.09

remember my blog from two years ago on valentines day?

day 360: 2.14.10

you might also recall last year's blog

day 730: 2.14.11


not too much bigger.
a little more white hairs.
a little less engery.
a whole lot of lovin'.

thanks for being my funny valentine big buddy dutchie!

happy birthday mr joel

love you more and more each year groundhog day baby!

holy moly-me oh my...

this song has been running through my head all day...
and i still like it.
xoxo

i would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils...

"don't you just love new york in the fall? it makes me wanna buy school supplies. i would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if i knew your name and address."

-you've got mail

does anyone else have an obsession with school supplies?
sharpies and cool gel pens to be specific?

i have always been a fan of school supplies.

my first semester out of college i was depressed when i didnt have an excuse to buy all new ones.

every time im at the store i stop by the pen section to see if there are any new and exciting sharpies.

tonight by wildest dreams came true:

limited edition 80's glam sharpies!

jellie pink
leg warmer orange
valley girl violet
banana clip yellow
argyle green

my favorite thing: how the bottom of the package says 'rad 80's colors'.
i dont think people (with an exception of myself) use the word rad enough these days.

i cant wait to scribble on everything in sight!

if you were a boat my darling...

love jj heller.
love this song.

happiness is...

being an auntie to a cutie pie.

let them eat cake...

dutch and her bff's max and marley had a great time at her recent birthday party.

they even posed for a photo!

can't wait until next year!

happy 2nd birthday dutchie!

we will celebrate tomorrow with your doggie bff's max and marley and this cake.
you are a beautiful girl now- if only you were still this small...

p

happy one week birthday baby adalynn!

last monday night i became an auntie.

introducing the beautiful:
adalynn christine ziegenfuss
12.13.10 - 7:57pm - 7lb 4oz - 20 inches

i cant be more excited to be an aunt.
as you can guess ive taken hundreds of photos (over 700) of the girl already.
it was so cool to be there in the delivery room that day with meg when baby adalynn was borh as big sis/new aunt/photographer.

to see the photostory of baby adalynns birth check out my album here.

here are a few of my favorite photos that i took of her when she was around 48 hours old.








to see more of her 48 hour portraits click here.

congrats meg and cam!
im so excited for you guys and can't wait to spoil you addy!