Fun Filled Ice Cream Bowl

I don't recommend this if you're trying to watch your weight! LOL! I sure would never indulged more than once. I use to get requests for these types of snacks at 3am! SMH! Most would request for normal stuff like water, an apple, you know...things of that nature! OH NOOOOOO...not my Ex! It was either a sandwich, eggs over easy on toast, cereal with wheat germ or something like this...vanilla ice cream, with vanilla creamed cookies, strawberries and a drizzle of Carmel on top! Is this what body builders eat to keep their weight up? LMAO! Anyhow, I just thought I'd share...the things you do for the love of Food! In this case, junk food! hahahaha!  Not even sure if I should put this under dessert. 



Jill's Comfort Zone

Sour Dough Pizza

I truly enjoy the taste of fresh sour dough bread. No I didn't make my own I brought some from Giant Eagles Bakery. So I guess I should call this a Semi Sour Dough Pizza?  LOL!  Well Since I'm the only one in the house who enjoys the taste of this delicious bread without anything on it, I had to make something so that it wouldn't go to waste. I couldn't eat the whole loaf by myself so I decided to make some pizza. I haven't made this in years...just might make this for Jazzie's slumber party. ;) Well, they girls truly enjoyed this pizza and didn't complain about the taste of the (not so good...as they would say) sour dough bread. This is really simple and quick to make especially if your not a baker like myself. I've never tried to make my own dough but it's on my To Try List!  ;)

Ingredients:

*A loaf of Sourdough bread (make your own or purchase from you favorite neighborhood bakery)
*A jar of pizza sauce (or make your own sauce)
*Shredded Italian Cheese mix
*Pinot Grigio Salami, sliced (or your favorite topping)

Preheat oven 375 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and assemble ingredients in the order that listed.  Bake for approximately 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.  We always add red crushed peppers and garlic on top of our pizza unless it's a veggie pizza. 





Enjoy!


Jill's Comfort Zone

Root Beer Floats

I am so craving one of these right now!!! I haven't made these in a long time. My daughter, Jazmire, has a birthday coming up (January 18th) and having a Slumber Party!!!! She will be 9 years old! Root Beer Floats are one of my girls favorite treats!!! Well yes it's winter but there's no special time to have a float so this is one of the things that's on the menu for this event!!!! What better way to share one of your favorites with some of your special friends. She's really excited and so am I!!!  I will post the results to this event...wish me luck!  ;)

There's no need for a recipe...the pictures tells it all! ;)

Enjoy!

Jill's Comfort Zone

Shredded Beef

Before I begin, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!!!! I've been so busy in 2010 getting my life in order I haven't had much time to blog. I thank God for a Blessed ending of 2010 and welcoming many more Blessing in 2011! For Christmas my oldest niece, Shaneiqua, and my grand nephew, lil Bilal, came to visit us for a few days and I truly enjoyed their stay! I cried the morning they left...I'm still missing them and hope they come back soon! Love you guys! Many Blessings to my family, friends and blog readings for the year of 2011!!!! It feels good to be sitting here blogging once again. ;)

Today the girls are home from school due to the snow storm and I took the day off. The snow requested my presence to stay at home. LOL! (Well that's my conclusion...) I was stuck on the bus coming home from work last night for 3 hours!!!! It took me almost 4 and a 1/2 hours to get home and I sure wasn't going through that struggle today so home I stayed. ;)

Now that I'm able to upload my photo's to my computer finally I can search my delicious meals with you all! I made this Shredded Beef for my Tacos a few months ago in my crock pot and boy was it delish!!!! We had plenty left over which I used for Taco salad for lunch the next day and the girls made sandwiches with the rest. This recipe is truly easy, no fuss and delicious! I hope you enjoy it as well! We sure did!


*Some ingredients are missing from the picture.  I forgot to add them.  Sorry. 
Ingredients:

*2 to 3lbs round roast
*1 large onion, chopped
*3 Tbsp. canola oil
*3 garlic cloves, minced
*1 tsp salt
*Pepper
*About 2 tsps hot chili powder (Optional...you can use reg. chili powder)
*1 cup water
*pinch of cayenne (optional...I like mines spicy)
*2 jar of your favorite salsa, 1 and a 1/2 jars (save the rest for toppings)
*Tortillas



Toppings:
Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, sour cream and cheese. (or whatever you like)



Brown meat and onion in oil in a skillet. Transfer to crock pot. Add garlic, salt, cayenne, salsa and water. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours.



Remove roast and shred meat with 2 forks. Mines was so tender I didn't have to worry about shredding too much because it was falling apart! Yummy! It just melted in your mouth with every bite!!!!!

*I returned the shredded beef back in the crock pot to absorb the rest of the juice for about 10 more minutes.


Remove and serve with your favorite tops!!!! Truly delish!!!

Enjoy!

Jill's Comfort Zone

Caribbean Fried Chicken

Happy Day After Thanksgiving!  Today is Black Friday and I'm at home spending quality time with my two beautiful girls!  I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving.  Mines was really great...just me and my children.  I had a great spread which I will share with you guys later.

I had a wonderful Wednesday afternoon!  The boss surprised everyone and let us go home early on Wednesday.  Woo Hoo!  That gave me more then enough time to finish up my Thanksgiving shopping!  Going through my cook books I ran pass a recipe that I've been meaning to try.  So before I started cooking my Thanksgiving dinner I had to make dinner for the girls and gave this recipe a shot and it was totally the BOMB!!!!  I was doing so many things in the kitchen I forgot to take a picture.  :(  I apologize. This recipe is truly easy and great for something quick to make on those crunch for time days.  I served this with some navy beans and jasmine

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp orange juice
1 tsp dried thyme (you can use fresh thyme)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/8 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp cayenne (Optional)
4 boneless/skinless chicken breast (You can use any type of boneless chicken with or without the skin)
2 Tbsps butter

Combine all ingredients except chicken and butter in a small bowl; rub onto both side of chicken.  Heat large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until hot; reduce to medium.  Add butter; heat until melted.  Cook chicken 8 to 10 minutes or until browned and no longer pink in center, tuning once.

Enjoy!


Jill's Comfort Zone

Appetizer Jamaican Beef Patties

Good Morning!!!!  I'm feeling really good this AM!  I'm about to start organizing stuff around my new home!  I'm truly Blessed to finally be in my own space again.  It has been a long/stressful journey for me and my girls but we made it through.  I still have a long way ahead of me but I've made it through the worst part so I thank God for that!!!  I still have tons to unpack and I can't seem to find my cord to my camera so I'm unable to upload my pics at this time!  I still have tons of recipes to share with you guys!

I've made this recipe several times and it's always the highlight on the finger food list!!!  The first time I made this was at my Housewarming party years ago and everyone turning enjoyed it!  Unfortunately, I don't have a pic to share with you at this time but I will be making this again and will be sure to take pics when I do!  Enjoy your Saturday!  ;)

Yields 48 appetizer size patties

1 pk puff pastry (or you can use those Goya frozen disc's.  I use those often)
1 Tbsp Jamaican rum
1/2 ground beef
1/2 c. diced onions
1/2 c. sliced green onion
2 Tbsps diced jalapeno peppers
1 tsp thyme
1/4 c. curry powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp cayenne pepper (Optional...I like mines spicy)
1/4 c. bread crumbs

In a saute pan, begin to brown the ground beef over medium heat along with the onion, green onion and the jalapenos.  Add thyme, curry powder, rum, salt and pepper.  Combine and cook for an additional 3 minutes, turn off heat, add the bread crumbs and let cool.


Remove the puff pastry from the freezer about 20 minutes prior to using it.  Lay out the puff pastry sheets and cut out 48 circles with a cookie cutter.  Remove the excess dough scraps and using a rolling pin, roll out each circle slightly.

In the center of each dough circle, place a tsp of the cooled meat mixture.  Fold over the dough to form a half-moon shape.  Crimp together the edges with a fork.  Place on a cookie sheet and place in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. 





Jill's Comfort Zone

Missing My Comfort Zone

Hello All!!!  I truly miss you guys and I'm trying my hardest to get back to sharing my kitchen and my family adventures with you!  This has been a long journey for me and my girls but God is going to see that we are safe and sound soon!  Despite our struggles me and the girls are Blessed!  I'm hoping by the beginning or the middle of October we will be in our new home and I can get back to my Comfort Zone!!!!  My sisters, Sabrina Alexander (R.I.P.), birthday is October 7th and I'm sure she's with me each and every day!  So October is a good month!  I truly miss her so much!  I love you sis!  I've been having a lot of inquiries to why I haven't been posting new food entries for you guys but I will be back in full effect once we are in our new home!  Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts!  Trust me I'm definitely home sick!  LOL!  Our summer has been full of fun, trial and error and now Fall is upon us and I can't wait!!!!  I also would like to thank my friends and family for the support and prayers!  Keep em' coming guys!  Love ya!

Food for thought: Sometimes the dreams that come true are the dreams you never even knew you had.  When life has you questioning which road to take,or which way to go, take a step back, reflect and listen to your heart!  When its hard to stand...kneel!

I've been repeating this to myself since April 2010 and although I've had my break downs I always bounce back once I raise up off my knees!  I hope everyone enjoyed their Summer!  Have a wonderful day!  MUAH!!!!

Love,

Jill's Comfort Zone