What happens when you marry two food favorites?  In my case you get Red Velvet Popovers.  My love affair with popovers started as a child at Buffum’s department store.  I was inspired by Joy’s Hot Chocolate popovers and thought why not Red Velvet? These could make someone swoon on Valentine’s Day.

Hot out of the oven they are stuffed with Hershey’s Mini Kisses and topped with a marshmallow.  Served with the Marshmallow Cream Spread schmeered (is that a word) over the warm popover puts it over the top.  The spread is a mixture of mascarpone cheese and marshmallow fluff.  My favorite little taste tasters gave it two thumbs up.

The popovers are super easy to make because you whip it all up in a blender and pour into the pan.  The hardest part is letting them bake in the oven without opening the door.  Thankfully I have a window with a light so I could peek in and see them rising up in the pan and creating beautiful red puffs.

I am always happy when I see Meyer Lemons return to the store.  I am a lemon fiend but these are a notch above with a sweeter flavor.  I traditionally make lemon risotto  with them but decided to try a new take on my favorite recipe.

I diced a green chile, several cloves of garlic and shallots. I placed them in a skillet over medium high heat and sauteed for a few minutes.  I added the risotto and then a splash of chardonnay.  I kept the risotto covered with chicken stock and stirred frequently.  At the end I added Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and lemon zest along with a tablespoon of mascarpone cheese.

It is a new favorite here at my house.  The creaminess of the cheese plays well against the tart and slightly spicy risotto.  I added a handful of corn just before serving.

What are your plans this weekend? I am cooking tomorrow, then taking a much needed photography class.  It is going to be in the 80′s here.  I probably shouldn’t share that. I try to not take our beautiful weather for granted in them middle of January. I am working on a few new projects and Sunday getting together with relatives from out of town.  It will be busy. Hope you have a beautiful weekend!

Did you have a nice weekend?  I finally saw Wicked and loved it.  When I was growing up I loved the Wizard of Oz but they always played it on Sunday nights.  We had church on Sunday nights so there was only one course of action.  Get sick!  I don’t recommend it but I loved that movie. It has been awhile since I had been to the theater and rediscovered my love it.  Is there anything you have lost touch with.

It’s been awhile since I shared what I have been doing else and  thought I would update you, in case you want to try a few of the recipes.

Today, over at Betty Crocker, you can find my Braised Chicken with Red Wine.  I am wishing I had some around for dinner tonight.  It is stormy and rainy here in Southern California.

I love the combination of Chocolate and Chipotle and created a recipe for Chicken Mole Tostada.  It is a little sweet and a little spicy. Even better, it is simple and easy to make after work.

Finally my breakfast favorite – a Dutch Baby pancake. I dressed it up in Cranberries last month but the classic will always be my favorite.

For a treat here are Dulce de Leche Bars using Dulce de Leche Cereal.

Have a great day – cooked up some fun winter treats this weekend just for you!

Last weekend at my niece Olivia’s party we learned how honey is made.  It was so cool. Her grandfather has four boxes of bees that Fernando is harvesting. As I write this I am positive I should have taken better notes so I could share the whole process, but the pictures will have do. These pictures are by Leanna Creel of Creel Films.

I wish I could give you a sample so that you could taste this beautiful honey. The honey is delicious and has a hint of eucalyptus. We learned the honey takes on the flavor of the trees around the bees.  It tastes so much better than what you buy at the stores.  Once you have tasted this you can’t have anything else. My sister-in-law was telling me disturbing info about the honey we buy in our grocery stores. I want to look into it before I share about that.

Honey has medicinal qualities and eating honey from your area is supposed to help with allergies.

He had a smoker that makes the bees sleepy.  When you have 10 little girls and a little boy running around, sleepy bees are good.

He took out the frames from the boxes and even showed us the Queen bee.  Each frame had 5 to 8 pounds of honey.

He pulled out these honeycomb frames which were bulging with honey.

He scraped it off and put it in this spinner. The girls were put to work!

At the end Fernandopoured the honey into these cute little bear jars and the girls got to take a taste home.

My job was to make these little thank you tags to go around the jars.

Truth is I have been hoarding the jar Joy gave me a few months ago.  Why?  I decided it was time to start enjoying this local nectar.  I made Honey and Chipotle chicken.  It is a quick and easy meal. Basically you saute your onions, add the chicken, a bit of chicken stock and garlic.  After browning on both sides you add a mixture of chipotle and honey.  The skillet goes into the oven for 8-10 minutes and you are ready to eat.

I served the chicken with a twice baked goat cheese and chile potato.  The creamy potato was a nice compliment to the sweet and spicy chicken.  I’ll have to be share that one with you soon! Sorry for the poor photos of the chicken! My flash was not working and these winter nights are killing me.

Are you on Pinterest?  I love it and would love to have you join me.  Follow me and I will follow you.  My boards are a blend of ideas for food, home and crafts along with the work I am doing for Pillsbury and Betty Crocker.

Last weekend Olivia, my dear niece, celebrated her 8th birthday in Cowgirl Style.  Her grandpa has horses, chickens and bees at house.  What more do you need to celebrate?

These cute hats became the starting point for colors. I created party printable using green checked paper with pink and black accents.

The girls descended on Pa’s ready for adventure.

He gave the girls safety instructions and they carefully listened.

Olivia took the first ride with her grandpa.

Her friends waited patiently for their turn.

The girls decorated horseshoes with rhinestones and bows.

My sister-in-law Joy created these adorable table settings.

I created straw flags for the lemonade.

For dessert we had Chocolate Fudge Cake Push Ups with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting.

One of the highlights of the party was seeing how honey is made.  Fernando, the resident beekeeper, gave us a demonstration.  I’ll share that tomorrow.

These beautiful pictures were provided by Joy’s sister, Leanna Creel of Creel Films.  Taking better photos is one of my goals this year so I got to ask her a few questions.  It is always fun to have a professional photographer shoot my work and not myself!  She has worked on photos and film for The 12 Days of Christmas at Meadowood in Napa Valley.  She has also worked for Food Network.  Yes, I am envious!  Go check out her work! This is her adorable son Levi.  He had a bee stuck in his hair at the party! My brother saved the day.

Cake Push Ups are easy to make and the kids love them.  You can order the plastic containers here. They are reusable and you can customize with a sticker or a bow.

Last summer I  started using Arbonne’s Fit Kit and love the protein powder.  I do sell it on the side too, in full disclosure.  I lost 20  pounds last year on the program and continue to use it for maintenance.  If you are interested in more info you can email me for more information.

For this shake I used 1/2 cup raspberries and 1/2 cup pineapple.  You can use blueberries, strawberries, mango or bananas.  I have also added a little orange juice or a teaspoon of unsweetened coconut too.  If the berries are frozen I take them out and place in the blender and let sit for 20 minutes.  This lets the berries soften but still thickens the shake without adding water.

Currently I am working the shakes into the Weight Watchers plan. If you are watching it or have weight loss goals you can follow my Skinny Chick Recipes where I am sharing my Thai Chicken Noodles today.

One meal a day as a family can radically change your family. It is consistently listed, as one of the most important things is your children’s life. But I think it is just as important for adults.

• What would it look like if you set goals for 2012 around the family meal?
• What would you like your family meals to look like? How would you like them to feel? You can set goals in this area each year. Here are a few ideas to get started.

1. Eat Together Three Times a week

Action Plan:

• Look over the schedule and pick 3 meals, maybe one is Saturday morning breakfast. Don’t pencil them in; write them in ink.

• Pick three simple meals. Even buy a rotisserie chicken for one meal and then use the leftovers the second meal. Make chicken quesadilla’s or a Thai chicken wrap. Though I love to cook this is about the time together, not the food.

2. Have More Meaningful Conversation

Action Plan:

• Have a jar of questions and pull one out each night. I am giving away a set of Food Talk cards here.

• In January talk about dreams and goals.
• What do you want to do when you grow up & why?
• What new thing do you want to learn how to do this year?
• How could we as a family celebrate birthdays this year?
• What is one thing I could do to help around the house this year?
• Is there a sport you would like to try?
• Is there someone at school who needs a friend?

3. Develop a Giving Heart

Mealtime is a great time to pray for people in our lives and to cultivate a giving heart in our children. Organizations like Compassion or the Dalit Nework allow you to sponsor a child and correspond with them.  You get information about their country and their family.  They write letters and you have the opportunity to write back.  There are great moments to talk about as a family and follow over the years as the child you sponsors grows up.  Some people have even had the opportunity to go and meet the children they sponsor.

Action Plan:

• Select a missionary or organization to follow for the year.

• Share stories about the people you are following.

• Have a prayer jar filled with names and draw one out at each meal.

• Talk about the missionaries and the people they are caring for.

For several years my family has prayed for two children battling cancer. My niece and nephews offered up sweet and heartfelt prayers for their little friends. When one passed away last year they kept praying for other kids with cancer. They developed hearts of compassion.

I am not married and don’t have children but I benefit when gathered around the table with my dearest family and friends. January 1st I went to breakfast with two of my good friends in Corona del Mar. I can get bogged down by my to do list and miss the benefits that time around the table brings. In those moments of conversation, dreaming and believing for more that magical moments happen.

It is food for our souls.

Share the goals you are making this year in the comments below.

 Happy New Year!  I hope your holidays were filled with special times with family and friends.

By New Year’s day I am ready for healthy food.  The sweets and rich food, even when you try to watch it, can get the best of you.  I find my body starts craving healthy and fresh.

Today, I made Baked Coconut Chicken with a Sweet and Spicy Orange Sauce.  It is super easy to make and I think it a dish the kids will like too. Sorry about the not so great photo!  These can be a meal or an appetizer at a party.  For an appetizer I would cut into smaller pieces. They have 6 points on Weight Watchers Points Plus 2012.

You start by mixing the corn flakes, coconut and panko together in a bowl.

Place the egg white it one bowl and the flakes on a plate next to it.  Dip each chicken strip in the egg whites and then in the crumbs.  Make sure they are well coated.

I spray my baking sheet with canola and then spritz the top of the chicken strips too.  This makes it a little extra crispy and helps brown.

In a small bowl mix the orange marmalade, chili sauce and soy sauce.

To kick off 2012 I am giving away a set of Food For Talk  by Julianne Smith. This set of conversation starters will give your family ongoing conversation at the dinner table this year.

To win leave a comment below sharing one of your goals for 2012.  For additional entries like Adventures In The Kitchen on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.  Leave comments back here.

I will pick a winner Wednesday night.  Come back here and see if you are a winner or subscribe to get regular emails.  For more low fat recipes check out my other site, Skinny Chick Recipes.

I hope your Christmas was wonderful.  Mine was spent with family.  Christmas morning is always at my brothers with my niece and nephews.  I love seeing Christmas through their eyes.  This week I have been reflecting on the past year and looking ahead.  Have you heard of one word 2012?  Last year I chose a word, it was fearless and became my theme for the year.  I am pondering what this year’s will be.

I made this Cranberry Oven Pancake this week.  I had a bag of cranberries in my refrigerator.  I saw this picture and had the idea to somehow incorporate it into an oven pancake.

The sugar glazed cranberries have to soak in the maple syrup overnight so there is a little pre planning required.  That can be a struggle for me sometimes.

Drain them and roll the cranberries into sugar and onto a baking sheet.  Refrigerate for 1hour.

I mixed together the eggs, flour and milk and put it in the oven.  The magic is watching the pancake create a giant puff.

When it came out I topped it with the berries and sprinkled with powdered sugar.  You can serve with maple syrup on the side.

I have been working on fun new project healthifying recipes.  Can’t wait to share more in the New Year!