Sunday Funday!

Fabulous Foodie Friends!


Sunday Funday has in store for me.... an early "Bandcake Breakfast" where I go to my alma mater and support my lil brother that attends there now. He is performing in the jazz band at school, and they raise money by serving some pancakes! Get it, Bandcake?! Hahha very cute!


I will then retreat back to the kitchen where I am excited to make a football themed pizza for my girlfriend's Superbowl party at the beach! Here is the link to the pizza I will be making, also Pillbury has a lot of other cool recipes to make when you are short of time, ingredients, or even just patience! They have quick tips too!

Football Pizza

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This cheesy pizza made using Pillsbury® pizza crust and decorated with pepperoni is a perfect treat for the sport lovers - ready in just 30 minutes!

Prep Time: 10 Min
Total Time: 30 Min
Makes: 8 Servings

INGREDIENTS

1

 can (13.8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated classic pizza crust

2

 teaspoons olive oil

1/2

 cup pizza sauce

2

 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)

1/2

 cup chopped fresh parsley

2

 packages (3 oz each) sliced pepperoni

1

 stick (1 oz) string cheese

DIRECTIONS

1 Heat oven to 425°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Unroll dough on cookie sheet; starting at center, press out dough into 14x12-inch rectangle. Brush dough with olive oil; bake 7 minutes. 2 Spread pizza sauce evenly over crust; top with mozzarella cheese and parsley. Arrange pepperoni in football shape on center of pizza (see photo). Cut string cheese lengthwise into 4 strips (save 2 for another use). To make football laces, place 1 strip horizontally on center of football. Cut remaining strip into 5 pieces; arrange vertically on top of horizontal strip. 3 Bake 10 to 13 minutes longer or until crust is deep golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly. To serve, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows, making 16 pieces.

Also, I am now on Twitter! Just for foodie fun, so please follow me in support or to just catch up on twitter time!! You can find me @freckledfoodie8!



Till next~

Freckled Foodie

New Year, New Beginnings!

Okay peeps, yes, I have been MIA for a loooooong time! But I am making it mandatory that I blog every week! I took a lot of time into making this blog, now I need to use it! Sorry for the lapse in updates, but I am back on track now!

I have completed numerous food contests since my last blog entry (whew! almost 3 months have past since my last entry, yikes!). And I won a couple here and there! The last contest you knew I was in, was the Aetna Food Fight competition! I flew all the way to Dallas and competed in a hands on live food battle! I came in 7th place overall (not bad for a first timer!). And to top the cake, I was contacted from Aetna, and they put my recipe in their 2011 cookbook! YAY!

My very first win was ironically from Idaho ( my Dad's native state), and the potato mecca! I won the October contest! I made a Chicken Potato Picatta, and was 1st place, I even won some bucks! Since then, I have entered small little contests, but nothing too serious! I'm still young (yes early 30's is young to all you 20-nothingers!), and I want to focus my interest in this cooking world by reading, researching, and visiting all areas related to building a strong foundation to this journey of mine in cooking! Don't get me wrong, I love this new cooking contest world I'm involved in. I'm meeting lots of new foodies (mainly online) that have similar interest as myself, and who knows, maybe I can get a trip somewhere I would never of thought of going through these contests I enter!

To further my joy of cooking, I am currently planning a trip to ITALY! I'm leaving sometime in the Spring, and I can not wait. I have decided to travel solo, considering I am not going to wait around for friends to save money, get time off, have their kid grow up, etc! The time for me is NOW and if I have to travel by myself to attain knowledge for food...I will! I plan to go to multiple cities (of course!) and also take culinary classes while I am there!

So there is the low down of where I have been, what I have been doing, and what I plan to do!

Cheers to cooking!

Freckled Foodie

I MADE IT!

I am officially a semi-finalist in the Aetna Healthy Food Fight Contest! This is my first cooking competition and I'm going to DALLAS!! I am so tickled pink and excited about it! I am very appreciative of this opportunity and also appreciative of all my friends and family that voted for me!

This is just the start of a new and liberating journey for me! I'm holding on tight and anticipating what's next!!!

Aetna - Healthy Food Fight

Aetna - Healthy Food Fight: Commented on Baked Chicken Dijon Burger with Apricot Peach Chutney and White Sweet Potato Fries. Check out all the recipes and try a new one today. Join The Aetna Healthy Food Fight. Questions let us know!

Circulon Freebies

As you all know,  I am thrilled about anything and everything about cooking. Very importantly, cookware is key to completing a fabulous meal. A fellow blogger that my sister, Cynthia, referred me to is giving away a new set of Circulon Pots and Pans. Her name is Kim, and to other fellow foodies, I suggest you follow her because she has a huge forum of stories, ideas, and  tips that are entertaining and helpful.

You can share a comment as to why you feel you need/want a new set  here:

kimskitchensink.com

Good Luck!

Till next~

Christina
Freckled Foodie

Healing with Cooking

I have found an absolute joy when I am completely absorbed with creating a meal, it brings me love and it brings me peace.  I am distracted with pleasurable feelings and calm surroundings.  I never really have had an outlet before that could automatically give me a rush of joy and contentment, regardless of any previous situations...whether I was having a bad day, if I was feeling down, if I got in an argument, or etc.

I am thankful that I can learn more about this craft, and that it can keep me busy. I hope that in my art of cooking, it helps me heal in parts of my life that needs healing...and also gives me a better appreciation for finding some passion in my life. I look forward to the many books, recipes, blogs, classes, and people that will inspire me to master my new found love.


Till next~

Culinary Skills

           To further my culinary skills, I have been thinking of attending culinary school, or at least some basic culinary classes. Even by reading multiple books, lessons, articles, or blogs about cooking...or even watching as many videos, lectures, or presentations....I need hands on work and practice, from a professional!! I have some different schools in mind, but if any of you have any referrals, please share!

           Little bursts of ideas are swarming my head, and I am anticipating accomplishing them! Thoughts of my own business, shop, or even online outlet....either way it's attainable, I just need the right tools! There is a reason I am dreaming these little steps, I just wanted to share with my supporters! On my way.....



Christina

Freckled Foodie