You're Invited :: Junior League of Wichita Kitchen Tours

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You are cordially invited to tour beautiful kitchen and entertainment spaces from Wichita's most exquisite homes at this inaugural event. Be the best maid of honor and take your bride for some pre-gift-registering inspiration, surprise mom with tickets as an early Mother's Day gift, or bring your sweetheart for an unique afternoon date. To purchase your tickets go to www.jlwichita.org

We can't wait to see you there!

Couple in the Kitchen :: from Brady Fritz and Blaine Jenschke

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Their proposal story involves a brand new cutting board... What better couple in the kitchen to highlight on Valentine's Day than Brady Fritz and her fiancé Blaine Jenschke? Brady usually joins us for Diary of a Cooking Addict to share her current cooking obsessions, but today we get a glimpse of Brady and her soon to be husband in one of her favorite places, the kitchen!

Names:  Brady Fritz & Blaine Jenschke

By Day:
Brady / Attorney
Blaine / Meat Scientist                

Years as a couple: 2 years

 

Proposal Date:  June 8, 2012

How did he propose? Blaine had a plan to ask on that Saturday and then once he picked up the ring from the deposit box where it was stored, he threw the plan out the window and asked a few hours later at his house that Friday after work.  I’d always mentioned that I’d wanted a huge, handcrafted cutting board.  He ordered a fabulous cutting board that is seriously 30 pounds and then put everything else inside the box.

Wedding Date: April 6, 2013

What are your Valentine's Day Plans? With Valentine’s Day in the middle of the week again, we plan to celebrate on Saturday, February 16. We’ve been traveling a lot lately and we decided that dinner with just the two of us would be fantastic. We talked about staying in and making one of our favorite meals. With all the wedding planning and other stuff going on, it seems like we hardly have time to cook! So, instead, Blaine made reservations.

Valentine's Day past: We opted for a low key Valentine’s Day last year. We made dinner at home and exchanged gifts. I think Blaine was probably most excited that the gift basket I put together for him included a boxed set of Merle Haggard music.  You can take the boy out of the country...


Do you cook together? I’d say we probably cook together at least once if not twice a week. I’ll admit, I can’t exactly sharpen knives or light the grill so that makes him the perfect person to tackle the entrée portion of the meal! A lot of who does what depends upon the menu we’ve picked for the evening.

When you do cook together, who does what tasks? Blaine is definitely the grill master. I have a grill and I honestly don’t know how to turn it on and I’d like to keep it that way. I usually focus on making the side dishes and dessert. Blaine’s a chocoholic and I love to try new ridiculously over the top recipes that involve chocolate as a surprise for him. Blaine typically cleans up and does the dishes. I love to cook but I usually leave a path of destruction behind me when it is done.

 

Blaine, what is your favorite thing that Brady cooks? Blaine / EVERYTHING!  However, her black bean puree and chocolate, dark chocolate chip cookies have changed my life.

How did Brady learn to cook? Brady / I’ve also benefitted from many marathon cooking sessions with my grandmother, aunts, Mom, and friends over the years, trying new recipes. I come from a long line of fabulous cooks! At one point in my life my mom went back to grad school and my dad worked all the time. My two brothers and I were 8, 7, and 5 at the time. My grandma took pity on us and brought over some recipes and a bag of groceries one day and my cooking lessons commenced. I’ve slowly built my skill set and recipe file over the years. By the time I was in high school, I did all the cooking, grocery shopping, and kitchen work at our house. It ended up being a good thing that I loved to cook!

 

Brady, what is your favorite thing that Blaine cooks? Brady / Hmmmm, Margarita Chicken, perhaps?  Brisket?  Steak? Blaine is really good at seasoning meat and adding flavors (good thing because that’s what he does at work!) so when makes a steak, it’s just about the best steak you’ve ever tasted. I also love when we do our homemade version of Chipotle dishes. Blaine takes care of the meat and his barbacoa and carnitas will rock your world. Great stuff.

How did Blaine learn to cook?
Blaine / I wouldn’t say that I know how to cook per se. I have a Ph.D. in Meat and Muscle Biology, so I am more intrigued with the science to food preparation and cooking rather than doing it myself. Since Brady loves to actually cook, I something explain from a science standpoint as to what she may be doing.

Brady /  I call it dirty science talk. And I still eat cookie dough straight out of the bowl despite his repeated warnings about salmonella!


Blaine... every recipe could use a pinch of... garlic salt.

Brady... every recipe could use a dash of … well, that depends!  I’m on a huge cumin kick right now. I also think that you can never add enough vanilla. 

Photos by Melissa Hebb

Valentine's Breakfast Heart-Shaped Egg Recipe :: from Kathy Sweeney

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How lucky are you? TWO love inspired recipes from me today??? This one's a fun one! Protein plus Valentine's themed equals a dang good breakfast. If you are "scrambling" (heehee, pun intended) to find a way to give your special someones a fun Valentine's surprise tomorrow morning, this is the recipe for you! All you need is an egg and a heart shaped cookie cutter! You're welcome.

XOXO, Kathy

To turn your heart shaped egg into a fun breakfast sandwich, just add your favorite ingredients. You could even use the cookie cutter to make all your ingredients heart-shaped!

Start with a cooking spray coated pan and a couple of cracked and whisked eggs in a bowl. Place heart shaped cookie cutter in heated pan.

Pour mixed egg into cookie cutter until it fills 3/4 of your cookie cutter.

Press down on cookie cutter. A little will come out of the sides, but that's ok!

Let cook...

Use a spatula to flip. Don't worry, it's not as scary as it seems.

Cook the other side and voila!

Photos by Melissa Hebb

Valentine's White Chocolate Pretzels Recipe :: from Kathy Sweeney

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It's almost here! Valentine's Day is tomorrow. What will you be doing to show the people in your life how much you love them? I made these simple and adorable Valentine's White Chocolate Pretzel Rods. Again, it's something easy that can have a big impact, especially when you get a little creative with the presentation! Place these in a small vase or cup to make a bouquet of deliciousness or add a few to clear favor bags for a gift on the go. What can I say? I'm in the mood for love ;)

XOXO, Kathy

To make Valentine's White Chocolate Pretzels you'll need:

1 12-ounce package white chocolate chips

24 large pretzel rods

Assorted Valentine's themed sprinkles

Directions:

Place the milk chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove and stir. (Chips continue to melt while stirring, but if not, continue to microwave for 15 more seconds, then stir). 

Dip one pretzel rod into the milk chocolate and use a spoon to spread the white chocolate on half the rod. Shake sprinkles on all sides. Place the pretzel on a cookie sheet to dry. Coat next pretzel with white chocolate and sprinkles. Repeat until all the pretzels are covered with white chocolate and sprinkles. 

Let dry over night to be on safe side, but if you're on a time crunch use your best judgement ;)

Photos by Melissa Hebb

Valentine's Pink Punch Recipe :: from Kathy Sweeney

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Some of the sweetest recipes are the simplest. That's why I love this quick Pink Punch recipe. Need to add a little rosie glow to your Valentine's Day? Just combine strawberry-apple juice with your favorite clear bubbly beverage (I used 7-Up). Elevate this simple beverage with your presentation. Some dressed up glasses, fun printed straws, cute tags, and heart paper doilies should do the trick!

XOXO, Kathy

Photos by Melissa Hebb

Entertaining :: A Valentine's Brunch from Kathy Sweeney

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A perfect recipe for a Valentine's Day Brunch? Pink, glitter, hearts, chocolate, good friends, and of course, lots of love! Valentine's day is this week... let's kick it off right. 

XOXO, Kathy

Burlap Heart Valentine's Day DIY :: from Kathy Sweeney

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The best DIYs are the one's that anyone can do. And what better time to share something made from the heart than Valentine's Day. Try this simple burlap heart DIY to add a touch of love to your February decor. Let one greet your guests on your front door, surprise your kids with a burlap heart hung from their kitchen chair come Valentine's Day breakfast or add one to a gift box. Whatever you do, just share the love!

Supplies:

Burlap

Pillow Filler

Thread 

Needle

Twine

Scissors

First, stack two sheets of burlap on top of each other. With two layers of burlap, cut out heart shape to desired size. 

Next, attached the pieces of burlap using a simple stitch around the edge of your hearts. When you get about half way around the heart, begin to stuff heart with pillow filler until reach desired fullness.

Continue stitching until "pillow" is complete and no stuffing can come out. Knot thread to hold.

Take a long piece of twine and fold. Stitch twine at fold to dent of heart so that heart can hang.

Go share the love!

Photos by Melissa Hebb