Ham, Cheese, & Veggie Frittata

My mom, me and Abbie, and my dad on-board Kiss Me Kate

My parents' 28th anniversary was Saturday, September 1, 2012.  On the night of Sunday, September 2, 2012, they invited their friends Dr. Sam, Melynda, and me to have dinner with them at the Fort Worth Boat Club.  We had a little happy hour with wine and boiled shrimp at Cabana #3 before walking up to the club for dinner.  The Boat Club recently hired a new chef, and my parents have been raving about her culinary skills for the past couple of weeks.  Dr. Sam was wanting to apply for membership, so we thought it was a perfect culmination of reasons to have dinner at the club.

This was me... not having any idea what was going on.

I had peppercorn tuna, and it was absolutely amazing! It was cooked just right- not too well done, and not too raw for my liking.  It was atop a spread of green pepper hash, which I'd never had before, but my mouth is watering just thinking back at it.  Everything was delicious, and it is a HUGE improvement from the Boat Club's more recent meals.

When my dad told us the news, my mom had to sit down and I was puzzled...
we weren't sure if we believed him!

After we ate dinner, my dad started acting super weird.  He was hopping around and saying, "Just follow me, let's go see what we find, come on!"  He walked down towards the boat ramp where there are about 30 covered boat slips and started trying to jimmy the locks open.  All I could think was that security was going to show up at any minute and arrest us for attempted trespassing.  My dad couldn't open any of the doors, so back to Cabana #3 we went... but he didn't stop there. 

My dad looked like a kid on Christmas morning

He went inside and got a key that he said was "to the tuff shed" out back.  "Maybe this will open one of the doors!" he said with a crazy, goofy look in his eye.  'Maybe his fish wasn't cooked all the way... or he'd had more wine than I realized,' I thought.  He loaded us up in the car- Sam, Melynda, my mom, me, and my dog, Abbie.  'Oh great, back to the whole getting arrested plan.'

The (very 80's'ed out) interior of Kiss Me Kate

Well we got back to the boat slips and my dad unlocked the door.  "Let's look at this one!" he said.  My mom rolled my eyes and said, "This is the one his friend told him about that's for sale.  He keeps talking about it."  Suddenly we heard an "Aha!" come from my dad as he opened the hatch to go inside.  'OH MY GOSH, what is WRONG with him?!' I thought.  I seriously thought he'd lost it.  He starts looking around the boat, smiling, laughing like a loony person, and saying, "Well, what do ya think?" 

Kiss Me Kate!

"About what?" I asked.  "What do you think... about the fact that I bought this boat?! Welcome aboard the Kiss Me Kate!"  My mom sat down on the steps, trying to process, and I just looked around puzzled.  "For real?!" I asked.  I couldn't believe it.  Well, yes, as it turns out, my dad had bought it for their anniversary.  She's a 28 foot 1980 Cris-Craft... my dad has always wanted a Cris-Craft. 

Kiss Me Kate

We took her out on Labor Day, and what an adventure that was.  He'd never even driven her! Turns out a dual-engine is a little bit more difficult to drive than we'd planned... but 20 minutes later we were out on the lake, puttering around.  I'm definitely looking forward to Andy learning how to drive her, and I know we will have many stories (and blog entries!) to come! That night, I prepped breakfasts for the next week.  I had this recipe for Frittatas from Weight Watchers, but the original ingredients didn't yield much product, so I modified it a bit myself.  It's a perfect breakfast to have premade- just warm it up and take out on the water to watch the sunrise... hmm... not a bad idea!  But until then, I'll be zapping it in the microwave at work in the mornings.

Andy and my dad trying to figure out just how she operates

Ham, Cheese, and Pepper Frittata
Adapted from Weight Watchers by Kate Strickland
Servings: 8; Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 3

Ham, Cheese, and Pepper Frittata

• 2 spray(s) Cooking spray
• 1 pound(s) Potatoes, hash brown, raw, thawed
• 20 large Egg(s), raw, beaten
• 1 Tbsp fat-free milk
• ⅛ tsp salt
• ⅛ tsp pepper
• 2 oz lean ham
• 1/2 sweet red pepper, chopped
• 1/2 sweet orange pepper, chopped
• 1/2 sweet yellow pepper, chopped
• ½ cup fat-free cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Coat a deep casserole dish with cooking spray
3. Spread potatoes around bottom and press potato up sides of tray
4. Place in oven and cook for 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, beat eggs and milk together in a medium bowl
6. Season with salt and pepper
7. Add ham, peppers, and cheese to bowl; mix to combine.
8. Remove potatoes from oven (after cooking for 10 minutes)
9. Pour mixture atop potatoes.
10. Return dish to oven and cook until potatoes are crisp and golden, and the egg mixture is set, about 40 minutes.
11. Remove from oven and let sit about 5 minutes before serving.

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine

Cowboy Breakfast Sandwiches

I recently published Andy's post on a thread on the Runners World website about his training and perseverance to complete his first half-marathon.  Now, as a sequel, here is "the other side of the story."  When Andy and I first met, he was quite the runner.  Our social life took an impact on his running schedule, and he soon fell out of his routine.  Once he was talked into training for the Cowtown Half-Marathon by a co-worker, there was no going back.

MY winner of the half-marathon

Andy was soon training on a regular schedule (the details of which are in his entry along with my Lemon Herb Chicken), and he was slowly increasing his running length, while simultaneously decreasing his time.  One morning, he woke up, ran 10 miles, and came to my house- I was still in bed asleep.  Determination had quickly replaced Lysle as Andy's middle name.  After a few short months of training, Andy was ready to go on February 26, 2012. 

Ted Brewer, 90 ran the Cowtown Marathon this year
Photo by Carolyn Poirot

We woke up at 5:30am (which I ONLY do for work days or if I'm leaving for vacation), got dressed, and headed to the race starting line.  I dropped off Andy in the dark and went to find a parking place.  Lucky me, my mom had decided to write an article about the Cowtown Marathon (which includes a fun (1 mi) run, 5k, 10k, half-marathon, marathon, and ultra-marathon).  This meant she had access to the media room, and I was designated both her and the Fort Worth Business Press' unofficial photographer.  We looked for Andy among the hundreds of starters, but we weren't able to find him amongst the many runners.  I had his phone, so there was no contacting him, so I figured I'd wait and greet him at the end.

While we were idling around during the first hour of the race, I overheard the announcer say that 47 of the 50 states were represented at the Cowtown this year.  The male winner of the half-marathon set a Cowtown record of 1:09, and the female winner boasted a time of 1:24.  I took their pictures, but the one picture I wanted the most was Andy crossing the finish line.  Sporting my media badge meant I was able to go inside of the corrals, and straight in front of the finish line for my shot.  I captured some of the wheel chair "runners" as they crossed, some of the crowd, and then I saw Andy- still donning his Texas Rangers hoodie- making his way down the home stretch.  As cheesy as it is, I just got tears in my eyes as I am editing this- I'm still so proud of him!

Brothers Koby and Kolin Styles just after the Cowtown Marathon on Feb. 26
Photo by Carolyn Poirot

I asked the volunteers handing out the medals if I could have Andy's to give him as he crossed.  The lady was hesitant, but then the nice man next to her laughed and said, "Let the lady give her man a medal! Here ya go, baby! Go get 'im!"  In a few short months, Andy had set what seemed to be a far-fetched goal (no offense, Andy, but that was a LOT of training in a very short time!), persevered, and made it.  He had his days of sore muscles, frustration, and tough (cold!) runs, but he had made it across that finish line.  I snapped my pictures, and I threw that medal around his neck like it was a gold medal in the Olympics.  Andy's IT band was killing him, he was out of breath and exhausted, but he had conquered, and surpassed, his goal.  Andy wanted to finish in less than two hours, and he finished in 1:59:43.  17 seconds shorter than his goal time.  He wasn't in the media room with the first and place winners.  His blisters weren't bleeding like those on the feet of the marathon winner, and his arms weren't aching to the degree I'm sure the wheelchair runners' were, but Andy had crossed his finish line and earned his medal with he rest of 'em.  Despite Andy's initial claims that he was "done with half-marathons," I have a feeling this is just the first of many for my runner man- and I will be there, snapping pictures and beaming, at the finish line of every single race.


Runner Boy found a recipe for breakfast sandwiches one morning, and in true KITK fashion, modified it to best fit our tastes.  They were very filling (perfect for re-fueling after a run!) and had a spicy kick to them to get you up and at 'em. 

Cowboy Breakfast Sandwiches
Andy Jennings
Servings: 2

Cowboy Breakfast Sandiwches

• 4 slices Texas toast (or thick cut bread)
• Butter
• 1/4 pound breakfast sausage, cut into 2 patties
• 3 eggs
• 1/8 cup half-and-half
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 1/4 c jarred jalapeno slices
• 2 slices cheese, such as American, Cheddar or Cheddar-Jack

1. Cook Texas toast either on stovetop or toast in the oven (we buy one called Texas Toast Lite that's already buttered but otherwise you'll need to butter it before tosting).  Set aside.
2. Fry the sausage patties in a skillet over medium heat, flattening with the spatula as they cook. Set aside.
3. Mix the eggs, half-and-half and pinch of salt and pepper in a separate bowl. 
4. Pour the eggs onto the griddle in a rectangular shape. Flip to cook on both sides. Cut the rectangle of eggs into 2 squares and set aside on a plate.
5. Increase the heat, then put the jalapeno slices onto the hot griddle. Let them sizzle for a couple of minutes, chopping them with the side of the spatula as they cook. Cook until the jalapenos have some brown and black bits. Remove from the griddle, then set aside.
6. Pile the sandwiches as following:
1. 1 slice Texas toast
2. Sausage patty
3. Eggs 
4. Slice of cheese and some jalapenos
5. 2nd slice of Texas toast

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine

Cowgirl Breakfast Casserole

Westbrook Family Night at the rodeo!
Carly, Slate, me, Greyson, and Andy

Last year, I wrote an entry about my lifetime love for the Fort Worth Stockshow and Rodeo when I shared my recipe for Green Chili Fudge.  Each year, as a member of the Junior League of Fort Worth, I commit 50 hours to a volunteer placement.  The JLFW places our volunteers at numerous locations, including the American Diabetes Association's Camp Aurora, the Amon Carter Museum, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth, Cook Children's Medical Center, and many more- click here to read more about our community involvement. 

Nicole, me, Jenna, Amanda, Kelly, Meredeth, and Anna
in the Rodeo Program Sales Committee Office

From my sponsor to my Co-Chair- and what a great one she's been as both!
Melissa and me

As a provisional, or your first year in the league, your placement is automatically the Junior League's upscale resale shop, the Double Exposure.  Beginning with your second year in the league, your first year as an active, you get to chose what placement you want.  After having so much fun yelling and selling at the rodeo last year, I immediately knew I wanted to be on the Rodeo Program Sales Committee for my placement.

Shanelle and me

As a member of this committee, we organize the girls who "yell and sell" programs at each of the performances, put the day sheets (the papers that tell which cowboy is riding which bull/horse/etc) into the programs, supervise the sellers, and yell and sell when we can.  We are supposed to attend as many performances as possible, including the Saturdays of the rodeo time that have three performances each.  That means that on Saturdays during rodeo time, we are at the grounds from about 8:00am until 9:30pm- and that makes for one long day!

Hook 'em ITB!
Pam and me

Since we are up at the colliseum so much during these three weeks, we have a meal sign up sheet for girls to bring breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to the committee.  I signed up for numerous meals since I like to cook so much, and my first meal was a Saturday breakfast.  I had made a yummy and easy breakfast casserole for my family on Christmas morning, so I thought I'd let the Rodeo Committee girls try it, too.  I wasn't sure how to adjust my recipe for 25 girls, but the final measurements turned out just right- with a little extra, too!  I bought tortillas to put it in and make breakfast tacos, but the recipe didn't originally call for that.  It can be served in bowls, as a regular casserole would, or in tortillas with hot sauce and shredded cheese on top- however you cowgirls like it!

The firemen hosted a shrimp boil for us one day- thank you!

Cowgirl Breakfast Casserole (Crockpot)
Servings: 30; Weight Watchers Points Plus Value: 6

• 1 doz eggs
• 1/2 doz egg whites
• 1 1/2 (32 oz/e) bags frozen hashbrowns
• 1/2 lb bacon, cooked
• 1 lb sausage, browned
• 1/2 c green onions, diced
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 3/4 lb cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/4 tsp dry mustard
• 1/2 c skim milk

Cowgirl Breakfast Casserole ready to cook overnight in the crockpot

1. Layer potatoes, bacon, sausage, onions, green pepper, and cheese in the crockpot in two or three layers
2. Add cheese on top
3. Beat the eggs, milk, and mustard together
4. Pour egg mixture over the whole crockpot full of ingredients
5. Cook in crock pot on low for 10-12 hours or until eggs are set.

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine

Breakfast Burritos

Every time we go to our little cabana at the lake, there are a few essentials on our shopping list: water, ice, beer, snack food, burgers/buns, and the stuff to make breakfast burritos.  Breakfast burritos are as regular at the lake as blazing sunsets and late nighting on the porch.  Usually either Andy or I- whoever is up first- goes to the outside refridgerator, pulls out the sausage (sometimes bacon), eggs, tortillas, cheese, and hot sauce and gets to work.  So far this summer, they have been a staple on Memorial Day, the "25th" Combination Birthday Party, and most recently, the Fourth of July.

Andy cooking breakfast on Memorial Day Weekend

The Friday night of the weekend of the 4th, Andy and I met my friends from college, Emily, Jennifer, and Elizabeth, along with Emily's new beau and a few others for dinner at Brownstone on West 7th.  We were hesitant at first because we had heard mixed reviews, but Brownstone turned out to be fantastic.  I had chicken stuffed chicken (which I'm working on finding a recipe for) and jalapeno grits- mm mmm! Afterwards, Andy and I went to the grocery store and headed out to the lake. 

Me, Elizabeth, Kelly, Jennifer
Katie and Emily
at dinner at Brownstone

On Saturday, the 2nd, our good friends Chris, Chelsea, Thomas, Will, Jessie, and Jake all joined us for some lake action.  Andy's parents, sister, brother-in-law, and adorable nephew, Greyson, and my parents all came out, too.  (Click here to read about Greyson's first birthday party back in May.)  We spent the day sporting our American flag bandanas, trying to repair our big float that had popped on a nail, and celebrating 'merica style. 

Andy, me, Chris, and Chelsea on the Fourth of July

On Sunday morning, the 3rd, came the first round of breakfast burritos.  We woke up sunburned, exhausted, and hungry.  Andy made the first batch, and his improvised egg seasoning turned out surprisingly well.  My parents, who had been at the Texas Rangers game the night before, came back out and rejoined us.  Again, we worked on repairing the float (yes, still, but this time the patches worked!) and spent the day floating on our smaller, yet unpopped, floats.  Andy grilled a pork tenderloin that my mom had been marinating, and it was delicious.  Throw it on a Hawaiian sweet roll and you have yourself a healthy version of a slider.

Slate, Thomas, me, Andy, and Jake representing in our American flag bandanas

On Monday morning, finally the 4th, came the second round of breakfast burritos.  I like to say that I think mine were better than Round 1/Andy's... but I'm probably a little partial.  My mom did argue, however, that since she wasn't there to judge both, she'd have to "guess that Andy's were better based on his pork tenderloin cooking abilities."  Ouch, thanks a lot, Mom!  Before hitting the lake, I made an altered version of Bethenny Frankel's Mock-a-Mole Guacamole, so look for that recipe coming soon, too!  My oldest friend, Keri, and her boyfriend Bradley came and picked us up on her boat to go play at Bradley's family's houses.  Of course, the one day we were out on the boat all day was the one day I didn't put on sunscreen.   Oops.

My oldest friend, Keri, and I met at the lake the May before Kindergarten started back in 1991! Please note the repaired float floating in the background.

That night, Thomas and his wife Natalie came back out, and my parents' friends Mike and Sondra and Melynda and her boyfriend, Tim, all joined, too.  The fireworks at Eagle Mountain are not to be missed, so we had all kinds of company arriving.  We had a huge dinner that night complete with all of our guests, plus all of the guests at my parents' friends, The Anthonys', cabana, too.

Greyson Westbrook enjoying his first lake adventure

After dinner, we watched the fireworks from the top of our two-story dock.  It was probably the longest fireworks show I have ever seen- a good 35 minutes (to the point where everyone was thinking 'Ok... is THIS going to be the finale? Nope, it's still going.  Gosh, we have work in the morning...'  Lastly, as is his tradition, my dad busted out sparklers for all of us.  In fact, he told my friends that they were "not allowed to leave until they had a sparkler."

Fireworks at Eagle Mountain Lake

It was really great being back with all of my loved friends and family this fourth.  Last year, I had just started my job, and I worked on the Fourth, but I more than made up for it this year.  So next time you have company for breakfast, or just want to whip up a healthy jump start to your morning, skip Whataburger taquitos and try one of these breakfast burritos- they're better for you and will definitely make for better memories than the drive thru line.


Breakfast Burritos

Carolyn Poirot

Servings: 10, Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 5, not including cheese



Eggs and Sausage

• 1 lb reduced fat sausage
• 1/4 c skim milk
• 10 eggs
• 10 tortillas
• Shredded cheese, as/if desired
• Hot sauce, as/if desired

1. In a large skillet, brown sausage over stove top
2. In a medium bowl, break eggs and mix yolk & whites with milk (milk is optional, but it does make your eggs fluffier)
3. Pour eggs into skillet where sausage was browned (the grease from the sausage will be enough to keep the eggs from sticking to the skillet)
4. Scramble eggs while mixing them with the sausage (I add a pinch of salt, pepper, and sometimes grilling spices to mine for more flavor)
5. Warm tortillas 5 at a time (either in a tortilla warmer or wrapped in a paper towel) by microwaving for 30 seconds, flipping, and microwaving for another 20 seconds
6.  Scoop sausage/egg mixture into a tortilla
7. Top with desired cheese
8. Top with desired hot sauce

Enjoy!

• 

Breakfast Burrito

Arkansas Breakfast Squares

My friend, Sara, is from Arkansas.  She came to Fort Worth for graduate school at TCU (like all of us cool kids do), and afterward she worked here in town for a few years.  A great job offer came up back in Arkansas, so Sara moved back in September.  We had a going away party, Fort Worth style, at Mellow Mushroom and said our goodbyes.  Of course, we all promised Sara we would come visit as soon as we could.  Afterall, I'd never been to Arkansas, and she was always raving about how great it is.  Shortly after her move, Andy found a crazy good deal on flights out to Little Rock for January, so we started planning our trip.

Zet and Sara at Sara's going away dinner at Mellow Mushroom, September 2010

 A couple of weeks ago, my little sis, Jennifer ("Zet"), Andy, and I all hoped on planes and headed out to see our long-lost friend.  Sara, like me, loves to cook.  As soon we we arrived, Sara was asking what all we wanted to do, where we wanted to go, oh, and do we like chili?  How about breakfast?  A fellow foodie- I never knew it! The first night we were there, Sara made homemade chili.  I'll post the recipe as soon as I make it myself, although I'm sure it isn't going to be quite as amazing as Sara's.  After scarfing the chili, we adventured out to the bars.  I LOVE piano bars, so Sara took us to Little Rock's version of Pete's, Willie D's.  We call this the "Hey can I have my check?" night.  Shout out to the boyfran on that one ;-) .

Zet and me at Willie D's in Little Rock

The next day, we were very lazy.  Well, Zet and I were.  Sara and Andy took off for an eight mile run.  No, thanks, I'll pass-  I voted for big/little bonding time with Zet.  This first morning, Sara made Overnight French Toast.

Andy and me in Little Rock

After Andy and Sara got back from their run, we all went out to have some drinks along the river.  Later that night for dinner, we went to a place called The Ragin' Cajun with Sara and her friend, Brittney.  We had yummy seafood and then went to the dance/bar area where an 80's cover band was playing.  The five of us dominated the dance floor, and I even had the band dedicating Tom Petty songs to me.  Zet and I were taking our DG salute picture, when suddenly we hear, "Are y'all DGs?? My wife, grandma, sister, EVERYONE in my family are DGs! We get the Anchora at my house every month!"  We start looking around trying to figure out who is singing our sorority praises when we realize that it's the lead singer of the band.  Small world!

Zet and me representing Delta Gamma at the Ragin' Cajun

The girls at Ragin Cajun- Brittney, me, Zet, Sara

Go Frogs! Me, Zet, & Sara at Ragin' Cajun

Andy and me, dancing fools, at Ragin' Cajun

The next morning, I woke up to a glorious smell that I knew immediately- Pillsbury Crescent Rolls.  My stomach was churning, but whatever was baking in the kitchen smelled amazing.  What came out of the oven was what I'm going to call Breakfast Squares.  I asked Sara for the recipe and she laughed.  "Crescent rolls, cream cheese, and sausage," she said.  That's it? Yep.  Easy, delicious, and filling.  Andy's been begging me to make them since ever since we got back from Arkansas, so this morning I thought I'd give him an early Valentine's present.  Sara's Arkansas Breakfast Squares it was!

Like all of my recipes, you can, of course, use regular full-fat/calorie ingredients, but for those of us who are health conscious, the substitutions are great and still full of flavor.

Arkansas Breakfast Squares
Sara Reynolds, modified by Kate Strickland
Servings: 12
Weight Watchers Points Plus Value: 7

• 2 rolls Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Reduced Fat
• 1 lb sausage (I used Reduced Fat Turkey sausage)
• 8 oz cream cheese, fat free  
• 11x13 pan
• Non-stick cooking spray

1. Set cream cheese out to soften
2. Brown sausage on the stovetop
3. Preheat your oven to temperature indicated on crescent roll package (mine was 375°)
4. Spray pan with cooking spray
5. Unroll one crescent roll package and place in a pan.  Flatten so the whole role is laying flat in the pan.
6. Bake the individual flattened crescent roll sheet in the oven for 4 minutes. (This is because the filling can make the bottom layer soggy).
7. Removed pan from oven.
8. Mix cream cheese into the browned sausage.
9. Layer the cream cheese/browned sausage on top of the flattened crescent roll you just took out of the oven.
10. Unroll the 2nd crescent roll sheet and lay on top of the cream cheese/browned sausage.
11. Bake again according to instructions on the package (Mine was 11-13 mins at 375°)

Cut and serve (maybe to your sweetie tomorrow morning!)
Happy Valentine's Day!!

Arkansas Breakfast Squares

Valentine's Breakfast- Arkansas Breakfast Squares