house hunters -kansas city

You know the show 'House Hunters' on HGTV? Well that's were I am at right now. Basically the show introduces you to a person, couple or family that is looking to buy a home. They see three homes that they could make work. You are held in suspense until then end when they revile the one they have chosen.

First off picking a house in the Kansas City area is harder than I thought it would be simply because there are too many houses and too many places to pick from. Boston, live were you can afford to. Lincoln, small so pick a nice neighborhood with a good school. Kansas, overload.

In my mind we have narrowed it down to three houses. Our real estate agent says we should see a few more houses on Wednesday. Jim agrees with her, but I'm all set. If you like something why would you keep looking it just makes the final choice even harder.

So here are our current top three, in no particular order.

1. Cape Cod style home in lovely Prairie Village. Prairie Village has good schools and is close to the Plaza area of Kansas City. It's an older neighborhood with huge trees and tons of character. The people that live in this area rave about how wonderful it is. We couldn't find anyone who would say anything negative. It's a nice house, but may have some basement issues. 3 bedroom 2 bath






2. This house is also located in Prairie Village. I love love the kitchen. Jim does not like the outside but I think paint, new shutters, and some plants could help. We both like the two car garage. 3 bedroom 2 bath and an extra room upstairs that could be an office.





3. This is a much newer house located in a newer development in Shawnee. Feels very suburban (like Lincoln) and that always scares me. I think it's too big but Jim is smitten. It has a nice kitchen and a gas stove. Cooking with fire is the best! Also, there is a small pond off to the side which kind of guarantees no other houses being built next to it. 4 bedroom and too many bathrooms







Comments welcome! We'll take all the help we can get.

chicken and mango chutney with roasted potatoes , tomatoes, bacon and onion

This recipe is hijacked from Rachael Ray's BOB (book orange book) Cookbook. I made it the way Rachael instructed then I made up my own (better) way.

Want the original? I won't be offended.

Ingredients
* 1 pound of potatoes, skin left on
* olive oil
* Salt and pepper
* 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
* 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
* 1/2 cup prepared mango chutney. You could use whatever brand you like or make your own. They sell the kind I linked in most grocery stores and it is tasty. It also comes in spicy, if that's your cup of tea.
* 6 slices of bacon, chopped
* 1 onion, chopped

Directions
-Heat the oven to 400
-Chop the potatoes into bit size pieces, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and put them in the hot oven. (25 minutes)
-Chop the bacon and put it in a saute pan. Cook the bacon slowly on a medium heat. Once it is cooked remove from the pan and drain most of the fat. Add the onions and gently cook them. Add the bacon back to the pan after the onions have softened.
-While the bacon is cooking begin sauteing the chicken in a separate pan.
-Once the potatoes have about 10 minutes left add the tomatoes to the baking sheet and continue cooking on 400.
-When the chicken is almost cooked through add the chutney to the pan and continue cooking on low until it's time to eat.
-After the potatoes and tomatoes have roasted toss them with the bacon and onions.
-Serve, eat, enjoy

This meal is a delicious mix of sweet and savory. Yum.

cheesecake tart

I made this a couple weeks ago and shared it with the in laws and the neighbors. All had rave remarks. Enjoy.
Ingredients
* 6 graham crackers (2 1/2 by 5 inches each)
* 1/3 cup whole almonds
* 1 1/4 cups sugar
* 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
* 2 bars (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature (I made a mistake and only bought one bar and it seemed just fine)
* 1/2 cup sour cream
* 1 large egg
* 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* Pinch salt
* 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
Optional topping -I don't like plums so I made a raspberry puree to drizzle on top along with some whole raspberries and blueberries.
* 4 red plums halved, pitted, and cut into 1/2-inch dice
* 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
* 1 pint (2 cups) blueberries

1. Make crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, grind graham crackers, almonds, and 1/4 cup sugar until finely ground; add butter, and process until moistened. Transfer to a 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan. Using the base of a dry measuring cup, press mixture firmly into the bottom and up sides of pan. Freeze at least 15 minutes.
2. Make filling and bake: Carefully wipe processor blade and bowl clean. Place cream cheese, sour cream, 1/2 cup sugar, egg, vanilla, cornstarch and salt in food processor; blend just until smooth. Place tart pan on a rimmed baking sheet; fill with cheesecake mixture. Bake until filling is just set, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer tart pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Meanwhile, make topping: In a medium saucepan, combine plums, 1/2 cup sugar, and lemon juice. Cook at a rapid simmer over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is jam like and moves around pan in a single mass when stirred, 15 to 25 minutes (time will depend on ripeness of fruit). Reserve 1 tablespoon cooking liquid (no solids) for blueberries; cool remaining plum mixture.
4. Assemble tart: Leaving a 1-inch border, spread cooled plum mixture over tart. Reheat reserved plum liquid (on stove or in microwave) until liquefied. In a medium bowl, combine with blueberries, and scatter on top of plum mixture. Chill until ready to serve, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day. Remove from pan before serving.

moving

As a child I moved a lot. I got used to packing up and heading off. I never liked moving but I got really good at it. I think it's the reason I don't save anything. The more you save the more damn boxes you have to carry up and down the stairs!

Well I've been married for just 4 years and we are moving on to house #3. South Boston, Lincoln, and now Kansas City. But moving is totally different now and much more welcomed. We move for a purpose, Jim's job. Since it's a company move it's really nice. On Monday all these burly moving men will show up at my door with a ton of boxes, tape, stickers, and a chart to organize everything. They'll pack up everything (most everything no plants, bleach, gas, frozen food, duh)shove it in their truck and drive it off to storage. Eventually, Jim and I will find a lovely Kansas house and we'll call them and they will just bring everything to our new house. They would unpack it for me, but I don't let them. I would rather have a bunch of boxes around than piles of stuff. Don't worry when I have all the boxes unpacked I just call them and they pick them up. This is nothing like when I was a kid.

The sad part is always leaving friends...

grilled tomato bruschetta

I have never liked tomatoes. I still refuse to eat them raw. However, I am beginning to have an obsession with roasted cherry tomatoes. Yum, they are so delicious. Roasted. Grilled. Same thing, right? Yes! I found this recipe in one of Martha's everyday food magazines and it is so tasty. I fed it to the husband and the in laws and all thought it was great.

Ingredients

Serves 4

* 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for grates
* 1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes, cored and halved lengthwise(I used a melon baller)
* Coarse salt and ground pepper
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar(I only had white wine vinegar and it worked)
* 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
* whatever bread you like. I used a loaf of sour dough cut into small pieces
* 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips

Directions

1. Heat grill to medium-high; lightly oil grates. In a large bowl, toss tomatoes with 1 tablespoon oil; season generously with salt and pepper. Arrange tomatoes on grill, cut sides down first. Cover and grill until soft and charred, 5 to 10 minutes per side. With a metal spatula, return tomatoes to bowl. When cool enough to handle, use kitchen shears to snip tomatoes into smaller pieces.
2. To tomatoes, add garlic, vinegar, basil and red-pepper flakes; season with more salt and pepper.
3. Reduce heat to medium. Brush bread with remaining oil; grill on both sides until beginning to char, about 2 minutes per side.
4. Spoon some bruschetta onto the bread and eat!

stay

We said we couldn't go. We said we wanted to be registered for the referral we are interested in. We said we were sorry to be difficult. We said we are moving and closing on our old house that week. We prayed that the other family would not be so mad at us. We got an email this morning...

They were able to talk to the coordinator. They found another family that could travel in July. (less guilt) Our caseworker said we would neeeeeed to travel with the next group, the first week in August. Okay! Yes! I would love to go then! Just two little weeks later. She didn't tell us to book anything yet. It's not official yet.

So say some prayers for us. Cross your fingers. Pet your lucky rabbits foot. Don't step on cracks in the sidewalk. Do what you need to do (we will) because once we actually book everything, we don't want it to be canceled again.

Speaking of Siberia in August. Could you get any less Siberian? However, I guess our second trip will be in the dead of winter, so we will get to see both seasons and experience Siberia at its best.

should I go or should I stay

Our caseworker really really really wants us to travel in July. If we don't go the family we were going to travel with can't go either. (GUILT) It's July right now! Of course I am a master at putting together last minute trips to Siberia that is not the issue. I don't exactly know the issue. Nervous? Uncertain? Not wanting to have it canceled again!! Not being registered for the referral that we decided on.
If it were up to just my Pollyannaish self I would be on the phone with Victor right now booking tickets. However, Jim is a bit more level headed (stubborn) and really really really doesn't want to go in July. He thinks things need to be smoothed out more. I fell like if we don't go now they are just going to get mad at us.

Advice?