My Epiphany…..Just Do It!!!

When I started the cooking shows and writing the blog, my only goal was a nationally televised show. Just like “I’ll Have Another” (best name ever for placing bets) I had my blinders on. However, as the year has gone by and the response to “Cooking With The Pros” has been tremendous, I now know I can do so much more. With every sport I played, my confidence was raised as a result of “Just Doing It”. Idly sitting by and watching a game, talking about what you would or could do, simply makes you a Monday Morning Quarterback. “Just Do It”. A few years ago, someone told me, “Practice Makes Permanent”. This is not to say hitting the track each morning equates to Jen the Olympian, but it does mean I am rewiring my brain. ( FYI, I am not hitting the track each morning. That is a hypothetical). If you feel passion about anything in life, you become euphoric and driven. Driven is what I have become.  Now that television, radio, cooking classes, catering, and cookbooks are all in my bag of tricks, my message to you…. again.. would be “Just Do It”. My cookbook is in the works, I am teaching cooking classes this summer, and have started to cater on top of the television, radio, and blogging. I am not a motivational speaker, I leave that to my friend Lee Rubin author of Win. When I get nervous, Lee tells me “Do it like you’re running your best race”. What do you have to lose by leaving everything on the track? Running your best race means you leave it all out there. There will be wins and loses in life,  but you can only win if you are actually in the game you want to play. Don’t be afraid to extend your dreams or visions. Rejection or loss is nothing compared to the other option of not even trying. Just Do It!!

I was recently a guest on The Artie Clear Show. Artie has a sports talk radio show out of Philadelphia. We talked about me getting out there and doing it!! I was with Blair Thomas and Lee Rubin

Artie talked about “lite” cooking and this meal below fits the bill!!!

Grill Chicken with a tomatillo sauce, rice with the tomatillo sauce and black bean and corn salsa/salad…lite and yummy!!!

Grilled Chicken with tomatillo sauce

Preparing the “green” tomatillo sauce

This sauce is a traditional green chili sauce

7 tomatillos, husked and rinsed

2 poblano chiles, chopped

2 jalapeno chiles, chopped

 1 small red onion

3 cloves of garlic

 3 tablespoons of canola oil

 Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon honey

1. Pre heat oven to 400 degrees

 2. Toss the tomatillos, poblanos, jalapenos, onion, and garlic in oil on a baking sheet and season with salt and pepper.  Roast until vegetables are golden brown 20-30 minutes. Cool slightly

3. Transfer to food processor and process with the cilantro, adding a little water if needed to adjust consistency , until pureed. Season with the honey and additional salt and pepper if needed. The sauce can be made one day in advance.

Preparing Chicken

2 Chicken Breasts- butterflied and quartered pounded thin. Season with salt and pepper.

1. In ziplock bag, place chicken pieces and half of the tomatillo sauce. Allow chicken to marinade for at least 2 hours.

2. On indoor or outdoor grill, over medium heat grill chicken about 4 minutes per side

Rice with tomatillo sauce

1 1/2 cups of rice

3 cups of water

1/2 cup of tomatillo sauce

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 tablespoon (Goya Adobo Seasoning Salt)

1. Put all ingredients in a medium sized pot. Bring to a boil for 1 minute, reduce heat to a medium low and cover with lid. Cook for 30 minutes. Do not take the lid off!!!

Black Bean Corn Salsa

1 14oz can of black beans

1 14oz can corn

1 red pepper chopped

1 jalapeno chopped

1/2 cup cilantro

juice of one lime

salt and pepper

1. Strain black beans and rinse off liquid.

2. Mix all ingredients together and toss. The salsa is best if it sets at least for 24 hours.

Great recipes to try!!! Yes the are easy!!

Remember..Just Do It and Who Do You Want In Your Kitchen On Game Day!!

Ellie Ritzman…Special Olympian and Philanthropist

in·spire

[in-spahy^uhr]  Show IPA verb, in·spired,in·spir·ing.

verb (used with object)

1.

to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence: His courage inspired his followers.

So that is a textbook definition of the word……

Ellie Ritzman is the real definition…….

 Ellie is an incredible young woman who lives life to the fullest. Yes, Ellie has Cerebral Palsy- a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking; but please don’t think for one moment this young lady is sitting around having a pity party….far

from it!!!

Ellie and Dianne Ritzman

Ellie and her mom..Dianne was my very first friend when my parents did the unthinkable during my 2nd grade year..they moved our family to a new town. After I cried the entire first day, Dianne took me in under wing. Ok..back to Ellie..I learned how awesome this young lady is when Dianne posted her Second Place Finish at the Special Olympics on Facebook. Immediately, I messaged Dianne to tell her how amazing that was. Well, Dianne proceeded to tell me that was only the tip of the iceberg. Not only is she an athlete, she is a philanthropist for the Children’s Miracle Network and has donated her hair to Locks Of Love!!

Ellie and her friend Dawn

We spent an afternoon at Chuck E. Cheese so Ellie could fill me in…

What I learned about Ellie

1.Loves shopping at Claire’s

2.Math is her favorite subject

2. She is an Equestrian

 4.She has a wonderful sense of humor

 5. I am her favorite Penn State athlete ever!

Alright, one of those statements didn’t actually come out in the interview. You decide for yourself.

 Ellie proudly displaying this sign for a cause she is very passionate about!!!

(photo taken by Mariah Ritzman)

Ellie’s Bake Sales are how the money is raised! Love my girl’s PSU pride!!!

(photo taken by Mariah Ritzman)

Ellie’s Cookies and Bake Sale (Ellie’s dad Derek manning the fort)

Ellie has raised over 10,000 dollars for the Children’s Miracle Network. For the last 5 years, Ellie and her parents have been baking cookies and hosting bake sales to raise these funds. How amazing is this young woman’s desire to help others in need

Ellie, a friend and some Penn State Football players!!

Seven years ago, Zimmerman Trucking Company in Mifflintown, Pa, started Kid’s Fun Fest because so many families in the area benefited from The Children’s Miracle Network. Four year ago Dianne, Derek,and Ellie joined forces with Zimmerman Trucking to raise funds for this great cause!! Together they have raised over 75,000 dollars!!

Love this picture!!

Autographs too!!!

Dianne told me how fortunate they are because so many people contribute to Kid’s Fun Fest and Ellie’s Bake Sale. As a Penn Stater, it makes me proud to see these young men giving back to their fans. I am confident the players get just as much, if not more, out of this experience.

Because Ellie is so fabulous, I told her I would help spread the word. Please help Ellie in her efforts to raise money for The Children’s Miracle Network. Here are two ways….

Kids Fun Fest and Truck/Car Show

June 2, 2012 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

$3.00 for adults and free for children under 12

190 East Industrial Drive Mifflintown, Pa. 

Activities for Kids, wonderful raffle prizes,

PSU players autograph session, and great food!!

If you can’t attend, you can donate to The Children’s Miracle Network directly on Ellie’s behalf

 https://donate.geisinger.org/index.cfm?cmnref=zimmfunfest

Please make sure you add Ellie Ritzman in the comment area when you donate

What is a limitation? Ellie doesn’t allow any bumps in the road stop her from being an athlete, fundraiser, and great human being. Everyone could learn something from Ellie about what it means to really live life to the fullest!

Ellie’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

In large bowl, with wooden spoon mix 

 1/2 C Land o’ Lakes margarine 
1/2 C crisco

3/4 C sugar

3/4 C brown sugar

 Add 2 eggs and mix

Add 
3 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Add
1 bag chic chips
Roll into balls, 375 for 12 min

 

We took Ellie’s cookies and “rolled” them in melted chocolate (you can melt chips in the microwave). After putting on the chocolate, place on wax paper and put in the freezer for 10 minutes. Make your sundae with whatever toppings make you happy!!

Remember….Who Do You Want In Your Kitchen On Game Day?

 

Boys Of Summer…..The O’s

When I was a child, my father coached little league and my siblings played. One year, around the age of 8, my father told me I had to be on a team. Because I never played before, I was place on a “C” team which was equivalent to the Bad News Bears (minus the beer drinking and cigar smoking).  Even though baseball paralleled my favorite game kickball, there was one huge difference, I was scared to death of getting hit by the ball. For whatever reason, I couldn’t navigate the glove. It felt big and balky. The only thing I brought to the table for this sport; I could hit the ball and run fast. For all intense and purposes, I should have only been used as a designated hitter.  Sadly, they would not allow that. Dad believed children must be instructed on all aspects of the game; fielding the ball, catching a fly ball, sliding, bunting…so on and so forth. Certainly, they could find a niche for me. Well, they never found one. What I gained from that experience was an even greater fear of the baseball and the awareness that standing in the blazing sun in the outfield was a recipe for disaster and tears. After my pathetic display that summer, my father comprehended baseball was not my calling. He conceded I was “built” for other sports. What I realized was…sitting in the stands with some  peanuts, hot dogs, and sunflowers seeds had a much greater appeal to me. Baseball provides for a wonderful family experience. This year I managed to snag some tickets (last-minute) for the Orioles opening day back in April. Paige, Brooke, Madeline and I hit Camden Yards for the day!!!

Camden Yards…gorgeous facility

Someone is genius.. marketing to kids

  Perfect day…it was incredible

Game Day for the Orioles and the Ravens is always crazy around the Inner Harbor area in Baltimore. The girls and I opted to take the light rail commuter train which has a stop right by the stadium. Please take note we had no Orioles attire. My children felt this was some type of negligence on my part.  Their complaints fell on deaf ears..

Lots of “Pomp and Circumstance” on opening day!!

Royal treatment with the “Orange Carpet” introductions..fans cheering invigorated by the new season….no bitterness held over from last season

More formalities with this very cool fly over…

Looking for the strike…

Moving into position..

Getting some thigh into it…

Gaining the momentum….

And the release………. To be honest, I have no clue if it was a strike..trying to be a good photographer for you all

While people watching a.k.a being nosy, I observed lots of texting and beer drinking..

I went renegade and ”snuck” the sunflower seeds into the stadium. That is not to say we didn’t have Brooke’s one and only choice at all ball park concessions…chicken fingers and fries with honey mustard..

And now some offense…..this is just how I look when I hold a bat

Stepping in…pretty sure my form is comparable 

And contact…..now my ability to hit a 95 mile per hour fast ball is a bit suspect 

A foul ball… this woman successfully caught the ball without getting a concussion or her sunglasses broken…kudos to her because I don’t have that luck

I wasn’t a complete Grinch. We did a drive by of the gift shop..

If you know Brooke, this selection is not a shock!!

As we were walking to the light rail, for our trip home.  I experienced a twinge of envy. So many people spending the day partying with their friends and simply being carefree as I have done so many times pre-motherhood and well post-motherhood too. However, I was jolted back to reality when Paige told me how awesome the day had been. There was no need for me to be envious….the day was awesome with my daughter’s and their best friend

Stadium Food is becoming more and more gourmet and fabulous, but here’s the reality of going to games with children..finger foods. With the kids, the other foods are not and I repeat are not an option. The “mess” potential is way to high…The recipe I have attached..I shared a few months ago, but I suggest the concessions people at Camden Yards and M&T Stadium take my lead on this one..There will be lots of happy fans!!!

 

Crab Melt Sandwiches with Remoulade Sauce

This is a game pleaser that is decadent!!! 

- 1 cup lump crab meat

- 1 8oz block of softened cream cheese

-1/4 cup mayonaisse

-old bay seasoning

-1 tsp Worcester Sauce

- white bread

- white American cheese slices

- eggs (3 to 4)

- milk (1 to 1/12 cups)

- butter

Directions

1. In sauce pan, cream cheese, crab meat, mayonaisse,  worchester sauce, a few

dashes of old bay seasoning over medium low heat. Heat through until texture is smooth and creamy.

2. Remove crust from approximately 20 slices of white bread. In shallow dish, whisk eggs and milk together as you would for french toast add a few dashes of old bay seasoning.

3. Preparing sandwiches, spread bread with crab mixture add one slice of American cheese. Put sandwich together and place into egg mixture. Flip. ( do not allow the bread in the mixture too long as it will become too wet)

4. Place in pre-heated (medium temperature) skillet with butter. Toast each side for 2-3 minutes. Remove from skillet. For additional crispness, place on baking sheet and put into the oven at 400 degrees for 2 minutes per side.

5. Allow sandwiches to rest for a minute and cut into quarters.

Remoulade Sauce (Glorified Thousand Island Dressing)

1/2 cup Ketcuph

1/2 cup mayonaisse

1 tbsp sweet relish

1 tsp hot sauce

Prepare in advance and chill!!!!!

Remember…..Who Do You Want In Your Kitchen On Game Day?