Quick Post

For all of you guys who want to know more about any of the recipes you see please contact Chantilly directly at chefchan84@gmail.com. If you have any suggestions you would like to see on site or if you need some one on one help she would be more than glad to help. My girl is talented and she also does catering. We appreciate your support and feed back as always comments and criticism is welcome in comment box. Thanks guys we appreciate all of you!!!

Cooking With Chef Chan

Mrs. Chan's Potato Corn Chowder Ingredients: 4 large idaho potatoes(peeled and diced) 1/2c of diced onions 1/2 c of diced celery (take a vegetable peeler or a knife and peel the top layer of the celery. It's very fiberous and stringy)  3 ears of fresh sweet corn. (remove kernels) 2 cups of heavy whipping cream 2 cups of whole milk or whatever milk you have in frig as long as it's not skim 1/2 stick of unsalted butter 3tbsp of flour salt and pepper 1tsp of paprika fresh parsley to garnish 1/2 cup shredded parmiagiano reggiano (parmesan cheese) If you can't find the real parm cheese just get the other shredded parmesan cheese. Method of Production: *Dice and peel potatoes.Put potaotes in cold water while you are peeling and dicing and boil until tender. Drain and set aside.(always put in cold water so they can all cook at the same temp and cook evenly through together)  *Dice onions and celery. *Add 1/2 stick butter to a skillet and saute onions and celery and saute until tender. Season with salt and pepper. *While that's cooking remove the corn kernels set aside. Remember to keep an eye on your food. This is called multi-tasking. *Go back to your onions and celery mixture add the 2 tbsp of flour using a wisk to combine. *Cook for 2 mins(that's to cook the flour taste out of it so it won't taste like elmer's glue ) when adding flour to any dish it it used as a thickening agent *Add the heavy cream and milk. Gently stir with a spoon. *Add potatoes and corn. *Cook on med low heat for about 30 mins. cooking time depends on what kind of stove you have. Whether it's gas or electric. Just keep an eye on it. * When your soup has thicken and is the right consistency of soup. Remove from heat. *Here's the time for you to adjust the seasonings. It's always safe to add little salt at a time because remember you can put salt in but you can't take it out. So be careful. *When you get ready to serve yourself some soup. Chop up a little parsley. Add a little parmesan cheese on top and a sprinkle of paprika. Bon Appetit!!!!

A Few Of My Favorite Quotes By Anais Nin

Good things happen to those who hustle. 

How wrong it is for a woman to expect the man to build the world she wants, rather than to create it herself.  

Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. 

Anxiety is love's greatest killer. It makes others feel as you might when a drowning man holds on to you. You want to save him, but you know he will strangle you with his panic. 

I, with a deeper instinct, choose a man who compels my strength, who makes enormous demands on me, who does not doubt my courage or my toughness, who does not believe me naive or innocent, who has the courage to treat me like a woman.

And my all time favorite (for now) :   We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.

Let's Not Stress

Okay this post is somewhat of a rant. I've been under a lot of stress as of late, with the move and changing service its becoming to much. I've been having constant headaches,pains and sleepless nights. What I would like to say is let it go!!!! I've been under heavy stress since April and I'm seeing the effects it has on me mentally and physically. Now I know its easier said than done, but it can be done. I had an epiphany today. No longer will I let it consume me. I've decided that instead of just laying in the bed worrying why I cant sleep I will use that time to meditate, instead of sitting around all day worrying about the move I will start cleaning out and throwing away things I don't want to move with me. I think you see were I'm going with this. I researched and stress causes your body to go into fight or flight mode, which is good in small doses, for example it will motivate you to study for test, instead of watching TV. But to much is really detrimental to your health stress causes your blood pressure to go up, rapid heart beat and increase adrenaline. so being in that state for to long you can see how bad it is for you. So I encourage you all not to sweat the small stuff, because those problems will be here even if you aint. Peace and Blessings

New Found Love

Hey guys just a quick post to let you in on a new found interest of mine. While reading Pleasures by Eric Jerome Dickey it led me to and Author by the name of Anais Nin! If you never heard of her I recommend that you google her the quote underneath the blog title comes from her work. She is amazing and brilliant its hard to pick just one of work of arts so from time to time I may just post some of quotes that inspire me and maybe they will do the same for you.

Inspiration for the week

Inspirational Word of the Week: Wisdom

Wisdom is knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight. Wisdom comes in two ways: It is God-given gift and also the result of an energetic search. The pathway to wisdom is strenuous. God gives wisdom and victory to the godly but not to those drifting through life or acting irresponsibly with his gifts and resources. If we are faithful to him and keep our purpose in life clearly in mind, he will keep us from pride and greed.

Remember: We gain wisdom through a constant process of growing.

1^st we must trust and honor God

2^nd we must realize that the Bible reveals God’s wisdom to us

3^rd we must make a lifelong series of right choices and avoid moral pitfalls

4^th when we make sinful choices or mistakes, we must learn from our errors and recover.

Scripture: Proverbs 4:6-7, "Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."

Blessed

No matter how much I may complain I know I have been blessed with a great family and group friends. I try to treat people the way I want to be treated and send positive energy out into the universe. But it's always good to have a few good individuals who are there to help when you need that extra push and put you in line when you step out of place. The next post comes from a person who is younger than I am but wise beyond her years she is always there to help keep me motivated and focused. I love you Leah!!

Cooking With Chef Chan

Right now my husband is working out very hard. As always I ask him baby what it is you want for dinner. I wasn't that prepared for the answer he gave me, because to me that doesn't even go together. He happens to love okra and tomatoes. And yes we are from the greatest state there is (GEORGIA). So I've decided to share my husband's little creation. It may sound weird but it was really good.   "Mr. ABC's Slimy Sauteed Corn and Tomatoes with Slimey Okra on the Side"   Ingredients: 3 ears of fresh corn on the cob 1 roma tomato diced and peel skin 1/2  cup diced and peeled yellow tomato 1/4 cup of diced onions note:(if you can't find it in the grocery store try your local farmer's stand) 1lb bag of cut okra 1 tsp of fresh parsley  Note: (if you don't have fresh you can substitute dry parsley but only use a 1/2 tsp.)   In a small deep saucepot. Boil 1 cup of water and 1/2 tablespoon of butter. When that comes to a boil, season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium low and add okra. Cook for about 20 mins. Don't stir just swirl okra in pan. You don't want them to break up too much   In the meantime, saute corn and onions on medium heat for about 4 to 5 mins. Season with salt and pepper to your taste. Remove pan from stove and add your parsley and tomatoes. "ALWAYS CHECK FOR SEASONINGS"    Enjoy because my husband did.

Cooking With Chef Chan

Chicken n Rice Ingredients: 2lbs chicken thighs 1 cup of chicken broth (Swanson) 1 cup of white wine 1 small handful of fresh thyme salt and pepper 1 carrot 1 celery stalk 1/4 cup diced onions 2 cups rice Method of Production: *Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. *Preheat your skillet on med heat. *Clean and season your chicken *Once pan is hot put a little of olive oil in the pan and add chicken. You are going to brown the meat on both sides but not fully cook the chicken. It will continue to cook in oven. Set to the side. *In the mean time clean and chop your vegetables. *Measure out 2 cups of rice and 4 cups of chicken stock. * In your casserole dish place your rice at the bottom and add your vegetables and thyme ontop of rice. Season them with salt and pepper.Add chicken on top of mixture. * Pour chicken stock over food. Cover with aluminum foil and cook for 35-40 mins or until rice is tender. *When it's ready pull your sprigs of thyme out and serve.

More To Come

I would like to let you guys know that I want this blog to be huge! As I stated earlier I really don't want it to be all about celebrity gossip. I want it to have my heart an feeling, right now there is a lot going on in my life my hubby and I are anticipating a move (very excited) so I've lost some focus. So as of right now my main focus will be the cooking segment with my good friend Chan. I promise to do that every Wed. But I want you to know i have so much in store for Beautiful Disaster, as soon as I notify and get permission from YouTube I will be posting Natural Hair and Skin Tips. My husband has decided to join as the official yet unofficial game critic and I will have guess speakers from time to time to talk about love, marriage, kids even spirituality! So please bare with me as I promise this will be a great ride. If you like the post please subscribe and post comments and tell your friends. Thanks

Cooking With Chef Chan

Not my Daddy's ordinary Vegetable Beef Soup

Story: In my family my dad is the Master Cook. Whether it's cooking for church events, Sunday dinners, or any functions. He's very talented and has taught me how to cook and I've taught him my new way of cooking :) I remember my daddy making this soup for momma, me, and my sister. It didn't matter what time of the year he made it, we loved to eat it. So I've decided to share my twist on my daddy's Beef Vegetable Soup. I know you'll enjoy as much as I do.

Ingredients

1lb. of Ground turkey

3 cans of diced tomatoes (with garlic and oregano)

1 bay leaf

2lb bags mixed vegetables

1 quart of Swanson Chicken Broth

1/2 cup of onions (diced small but not fine)

2 tbsp (tablespoon) tomato paste

Lawry's Seasoning Salt

Black pepper

2 tbsp (tablespoons) Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Note: I would recommend you getting the tube of tomato paste because you can use what you need and put in frig for later use.

1. In a big preheated pot, add your olive oil, cook your ground turkey and onions. (Make sure you break your meat so you won't have big chunks of ground turkey) Season with season salt and black pepper to your taste.

2. Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 mins.

3. Add your mixed vegetables, tomatoes, bay leaf, and chicken broth.

4. Cook for 45 mins on med low heat. Stir every 15 mins. 

Note: Check your soup for seasonings and the soup will taste better after each day. Use within 3 days.

I'm Back

So I've been missing for a few days the hubby and I went to NC  for Labor Day weekend to see the family and celebrate the lil one 8th Birthday. Fun times!!! But I'm back and rested so business as usual. Up next an all new Cooking With Chef Chan enjoy

Excited

So I'm beyond excited the hubby and I are finally moving on! After 8years in the Marine Corps we have decided to join the Army. I say we because as a spouse your job is the hardest you have to hold everything together, all military spouses (men and women) know exactly what I mean. So this coming Thursday he swears in and we find out our next duty station. Quick Fact I love traveling to new places and seeing many faces but I've made one really good friend in VA whom I will miss dearly but not to worry I will take her with me wherever I go and look for her recipes every Wednesday!!! Love you Oliver & Cross Family. Here's to New Beginnings!

Going Natural

So my friends and I are going natural!!! Actually I've been natural for about two years and I love it. I've been learning a lot from YouTube and different site and as soon as I notify them and get their permission I will post all the tips I have learn that's been very helpful to me. I will also be posting several facials and skin care. I want this site to be your everyday stop for easy and fun tips. Different from the rest no celebrities or gossip here.

Cooking With Chef Chan

ChefChan's Pasta Salad Yield recipe: 5-6ppl Ingredients: 1 box barilla pasta 3 plum tomatoes (small diced) 1/4 c (cup) of diced red onions 1 cucumber (remove seeds using a spoon and small dice) 1 16oz container of Wishbone Italian dressing 1 tbsp(tablespoon) of fresh italian flat leaf parsley 2tbsp kosher salt (if you don't have kosher salt use regular salt, but kosher is always better 1 tsp (teaspoon) of black pepper MOP (Method of Production) *Cook your pasta according the back of the box. Remember: Salt when the water starts to boil and don't over cook your pasta. *While pasta is cooking, chop all of your veggies. Place them in a large storage container.(the one you'll use to refrigerate pasta) *Add the dressing and black pepper to veggies and stir. Set aside. *When pasta is finished. Drain and run cold water over it. (This helps to stop the cooking process) *Add pasta to the veggies and stir. *Refrigerate for 30-45 mins. The longer the better. Enjoy your pasta salad :)

All New Wednesday

I promised you guys last week that every Wednesday I will be posting a new recipe from a very good friend of mine who happens to be a chef! Chantilly received her Culinary Associate Degree from the Art Institute of Atlanta. She is an extraordinary cook and person in general. I'm very blessed to be able to call her my friend. I know you will enjoy her recipes as they are easy to follow and can be for everyday or special use. Be sure to check every Wednesday as we promise to deliver something new and exciting the next post will be her recipe.