Batch Of Happy

Down South

2010-05-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

I was in St. George a while ago and found an awesome mexican restaurant. I seriously can't get their fajita burrito out of my mind and it's been weeks!

Next time you find yourself in St. George, Utah check out:

Don Pedro's

567 South Valley View Drive, St George, UT

Snow Canyon image

Caprese Paninis - I went out of town a couple weeks ago for work, to the exciting city of Casper Wyoming, and ended up finding a fabulous Italian restaurant called Boticelli. Who knew Casper would have good places to eat? Anyway, I ordered their caprese panini and it was so good it reminded me of my trip to Italy last summer. Just put fresh mozzerella, tomatoes, and pesto between some good bread, like ciabatta and press on a panini machine. If you don't have one, a George Forman grill does the trick.

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos - place chicken in a crock pot with some salsa on low for around four hours. About 30 minutes before it's done add some sour cream and shred the chicken. Put chicken on flour tortillas and squeeze some lime juice on top. Add cheese and tomatoes.

Gorgonzola Steak Salad - I went with some girlfriends to the Sego Lily restaurant and had the best salad. It seems pretty similar to this recipe, so I'm going to give it a try and see how it compares.

Image 1, 2

Kitchen Love - Up Close and Personal

2010-05-02T16:21:00.003-06:00

I feel pretty lucky. We live by a lot of my husband's extended family and they are all so much fun and we really love spending time with them.

In fact, the first Thursday of every month, all of us girls get together and have game night. It gives us one night away from the husbands and kids, as well as gives us a chance to see each others homes.

Last month we went to Jenny's house and I'm so mad I didn't bring my camera! She just built a beautiful home and I fell in love with it! My favorite part was her kitchen. It's pretty much everything I want my dream kitchen to be. Pretty white cabinets, dark wood floors, black countertops, amazing appliances (double ovens and double wide fridge - hello!). I may or may not have hugged her fridge, I'm just sayin'.

Since I don't have any pictures, I figured I would post this amazing kitchen and dining room I found in Lonny Magazine, via madeb ygirl. I'm seriously considering putting those dining room chairs in my living room. Beautiful. Enjoy!

Coconut Delight

2010-04-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

I've been dying to try out this recipe for Ina Garten's Coconut Cupcake for forever. I swear Ina Garten can do no wrong.

If you love coconut, but don't want to take the time to make my coconut cake, this is the way to go.

Try these out, their delicious.

Tip: You can half the frosting recipe, or do what I did and use the left over frosting for homemade oreos (it compliments them well).

Easter Dessert

2010-04-04T11:41:00.004-06:00

Last year I spent a lot of time making this yummy Coconut Cake. Although it was totally worth it, I think I'll keep it simple this year.

Tonight we're heading over to my sister's house and I'm bringing my favorite cookies. If you haven't tried my Sugar Cookie Recipe yet, you're going to want to. They really are the best.

I recently made these for a church fundraiser and they sold like hot cakes!

Easter Morning

2010-04-04T11:27:00.002-06:00

I'm sitting in bed watching General Conference. I love that it falls on Easter Sunday this year. It's nice to feel like we are actually thinking about the meaning of Easter for the bulk of our day.

It's a family tradition with the Husband's family to have omlettes during the first session of Conference. I love this tradition. So Husband and I got up and cooked up some yummy omlettes, of which I ate the whole thing:)

Tip: most people cook their eggs at too high of a temperature. Turn your stove just below medium heat and be patient, it's worth it.

Next time I think I'll try these omlettes!

Ace of Cakes

2010-03-18T07:00:00.000-06:00

It's images like these that make me want to take a cake decorating class. Has anyone ever taken one? My friend Lauren, who lives in Texas, took one and said that after just a few short lessons it's quite easy to master. I know your local Michael's Craft Store offers classes. I'd probably take a class if someone did it with me!

photo via Style Me Pretty

Lucky You!

2010-03-16T07:00:00.002-06:00

Ireland is by far one of the prettiest places I've ever visited. It makes me kind of fond for good ol' St. Patty's Day.
It also makes me wish I was throwing a party. Aren't these cupcake toppers cute! Find them at How About Orange. Better yet, throw a party and invite me!

Scones across the globe

2010-03-12T07:00:00.002-07:00

I love a good scone, and I'm not talking abou the deep fat fried American kind. I have two really great memories stemming from a really good scone.

The first is when I was in Europe about 4 years ago. It was in Bath, England in a really fancy restaurant. I wasn't even hungry, but I couldn't pass it up. So I ordered juice and scones. The English know how to do it.

The next is when I was in Canada with the husband a couple of years ago at my favorite Bed & Breakfast (that I like to talk about so much). On our last day here, before we headed back to Seattle, they served these fabulous Lemon Scones (you can see my scone on our table:). They were so good in fact, that I had them wrap me up a couple for later. I recently served them for Valentines Day just as a sweet reminder to my Husband.

Lemon Scones
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 Tbl sugar
2 Tbl baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
zest 1 lemon
3/4 cup cold butter
1 egg
buttermilk
raw sugar
3/4 cup white chocolate shavings

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and the lemon zest into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times to mix the dry ingredients.

Cut the butter into 1" cubes and add to the processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse peas. Crack the egg into a large glass measuring cup and beat lightly. Add the buttermilk until the liquid reaches 9 ounces.

Slowly add the liquid to the batter, pulsing after each addition. Then add white chocolate shavings. Be careful not to overmix. Only pulse until the mixture starts to come together.

Turn out dough on a lightly floured surface. Pat or roll the dough to a 1" thickness. Using a 2" cutter (heart-shapes are fun), cut the dough into desired shape and place on parchment lined baking sheet. Use two baking sheets together to prevent the bottoms of the scones from becoming too brown.

Sprinkle the top with raw sugar. Bake about 15 minutes until lightly golden.

These are really good served with creme fraiche and homemade jam.

Argh Matey!

2010-03-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

I have two reasons behind this post. One, to let everyone know that I seriously have the cutest nephew! And two, my sister-in-law really knows how to throw a great kids birthday party.

I love the creativity that goes into planning a child's birthday party, which is why I tend to post about them. This post is a little late, but I just had to share the details of this pirate party.

Kohen, my nephew, is going through a serious pirate phrase. If you run into him and ask him what a pirate says, he'll reply, in a "scary" voice, "Argh Matey!"

The party came complete with an amazing pirate ship cake, and a ship full of little pirates.

Just What I Needed

2010-03-08T12:42:00.006-07:00

I spent the weekend with a few girlfriends at the beautiful Zermatt Resort in Midway, Utah. It was such a nice, needed break from life. We ate lots of food, talked & talked, and shopped & shopped. These women are so amazing and so fun to be around. They indulged me and let me cook them breakfast. So I grabbed my favorite breakfast cookbook, of which I've shared many recipes from, Fabulous Fairholme. I honestly had a hard time deciding on what to make since everything in this book is golden.

I finally went with the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and was happy with my choice. It was so easy and something all palates could enjoy.

Serves 4-6
5 eggs spearated
zest 1 large lemon or orange
1 cup milk
1 3/4 ricotta cheese
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
dash salt

Preheat griddle or skillet on medium heat.

Mix the egg yolks. Sift and mix the dry ingredients and combine with egg yolks, lemon or orange zest, milk and ricotta cheese.

Beat the egg whites until stiff. Gently fold into the egg-ricotta batter. Lightly oil griddle and pour a pancake-sized amount onto girddle with a 1/2 cup measuring scoop. Cook until bubbles form. Flip and cook other side until golden.

Serve with warm homemade maple syrup.

Tip: This souffle style pancake will melt in your mouth. Flip only once and don't flatten the pancakes after flipping. This keeps it nice and light.

This needs a good, large sized lemon for the right effect. Please, please use ricotta cheese (found next to the shredded cheese section of your grocery store). Substitutes just won't do this recipe justice.

For the Love of Housewares

2010-02-21T16:39:00.006-07:00

I recently had a birthday. This will be my last year to live up my twenties and I've decided that it's going to be really great.

My Husband and some very sweet friends made my birthday very special. It was nothing extravagant (this is the way I like it), but they let me know I am loved.

My dear friend Amanda gave me this beautiful red pitcher, with an even more special note, because "she knows how much I like hoursewares." Don't you love it when friends just get you?

It's been sitting on my kitchen table for a week, unused, because I like staring at it. So I thought you might like to too.

Preserved Goodness

2010-02-18T07:00:00.001-07:00

Remember my tip about always keeping lemons on hand? In fact, in my new Ina Garten Cookbook she suggests that you should always keep lemons and fresh parmesan on hand at all times. I'd have to agree with her! Well, I thought I'd help out a little bit and suggest preserving your lemons so you feel like it's easier to always keep them on hand. Check out the Williams Sonoma site for a great way to preserve your lemons so you can have them accessible at any time.

A Lover's Treat

2010-02-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm always surprised how many people don't realize how easy it is to make chocolate covered strawberries. These would make such a nice (and easy) dessert for your special someone, on a special day.

Perfect Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Small Batch:

2 pints strawberries, room temperature
6 oz milk chocolate chips
6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tbls shortening

Rinse berries and let dry on paper towels for a couple of hours until they're completely dry. Line bottom of baking sheet with waxed paper and place in freezer. Slowly melt chocolate chips in the microwave, stir in shortening until smooth. Remove baking sheet from freezer. Hold each berry by stem and dip in chocolate to cover about two-thirds of the berry. Place berries on baking sheet. Let berries stand at room temperature to harden for at least an hour. Eat within 24 hours. Never refrigerate!

Customized Valentine

2010-02-11T07:00:00.001-07:00

I've never been very fond of the conversation hearts that line the aisles for Valentine's Day, but when I saw this over at realsimple.com I couldn't resist. Try taking a box, lightly sand off the message with a fine grater, and use a food coloring marker to write your own message. Maybe you have an inside joke together? or words that trigger a memory? or funny pet names? The ideas are limitless.

Side note: If you're a fan, I figured you would want to know that my friend Jessica mentioned that the sweetheart brand changed the flavor of their conversation hearts and they just aren't the same.

Another good reason to check out realsimple.com: they have a link to create a customized crossword puzzle. You can fill it with clues centered around your relationship.

Valentine's for kids

2010-02-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm loving this idea over at Martha Stewart.com for Valentine's Day treat packages. What a fun way to involve your kids in love day and a great craft to keep them busy for the afternoon.

All you need is to cut out a picture of your child, scan and print onto heavy cardstock. Let your child write a cute message and attach to bags of sweets. That easy, that cute.

Everyday

2010-02-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

I feel like lately I've had to replace a lot of my everyday kitchenwear. Not only am I in need of flatware (see this post - thanks for all the ideas btw!), but I'm also desperately in need of new glasses and pots and pans. Well, I am happy to say that I finally found some new everyday glassware. Everytime I looked at buying new glasses I felt like I would just break them too easily (I'm pretty clumsy). That is until I found Pottery Barns Cafe Glassware. I love seeing them everytime I open up my cupboard.

Valentine Dinner

2010-02-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

I think the trick to making a really good meal is finding the perfect balance for your palette. I love my new cookbook, because you can find great menu ideas that do just that.

The first recipe that caught my eye was the Tuscan Lemon Chicken. So easy and so good. When combined with Confetti Corn and Stephmodo's Herb Roasted Potatoes it was perfection.

Really, the best part about this meal is that I didn't have to pre-plan my menu. I just searched for recipes for items I already had on hand.
This meal is definitely going to be a staple at my house, and for those of you celebrating Valentines Day at home, this would be sure to impress.

Easy...Peasy

2010-02-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

I saw this recipe over at Sweet Paul and figured it was so easy that I didn't have much to lose by trying it. It literally took me 4 minutes to whip up and throw in the oven. The only change I made was that I only cooked it for 20 minutes instead of the suggested 30.

It's nothing to fawn over, but is actually quite good. It would shine best served with ice cream and chocolate sauce on top. Keep this recipe in mind when you need something quick and easy.

Back To Basics

2010-02-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

A new cookbook it just what I needed to get me out of the funk I'm in. I had this book in my hands for one day and had already tried 3 recipes, all with acclomades. In Ina Garten's Back to Basics she leaves us with great tips, menu 's and ideas of what to keep stocked in our pantries and refridgerators to prepare a good meal at a moments notice. Many of her recipes have items that I generally keep stocked up on and every recipe has a picture, which is a must for me. Trust me, get it and you'll love it.

FYI - It's currently at Coscto for $19.99
This would make a great Valentine's Day gift for those who love to cook.

Restaurant Love

2010-02-03T07:00:00.001-07:00

I had the best girls night out last weekend. My sister and I first went out for manicures. I don't typically get a manicure, but it really does make you feel girly, and for $10 it makes for some nice girl time. Afterwards we headed over to Cannella's for some fabulous dinner. We started out with the risotto cakes, I highly recommend them. Everything else was good, I just wish we left room for dessert. I couldn't help but oogle all the sweet goodness at others' tables. Next time I think I'll go for appetizers and dessert only. Check it out here. I also hear their outdoor dining in the summer is fantastic. You'll have a nice view of the main library in downtown Salt Lake.

Inspired

2010-02-02T07:00:00.001-07:00

I came across another fabulous kitchen via A Delightful Blog. It's seriously gorgeous. Would you cook more if your space looked like this? I'm going through a dry spell and haven't cooked much lately. I did buy a new cookbook in hopes that it will kick me in gear. If it goes well, trust me, you'll hear about it.

Decisions, Decisions...

2010-02-01T07:00:00.001-07:00

I am in some serious need of various everyday kitchen ware. Specifically flatware. What remains of my existing flatware (does anyone understand how forks just dissapear?) is sparse and in bad condition, considering I got only a cheap set for my wedding 8 years ago. Yes 8! don't judge.

So I've started the search, but my problem is that I don't want another cheap set, nor do I want to spend $200! Why do I feel like there is no middle ground here?

I just want something classic, simple, and long lasting. Crate and Barrel has some great options, and while I was in Chicago I checked them out and they are beautiful, but seriously! it's outrageous to charge that much for utensils! Anyone else have good luck on the subject?

Valentine's for Him or Her

2010-01-29T07:00:00.005-07:00

Valentines can be such a fun holiday. Really the hardest part can be finding that perfect gift. As usual, my ideas center around great food. So I thought I'd share some gift ideas that anyone would love, male or female.

How fun would it be to sign up for couples cooking lessons? There are numerous places around the Salt Lake Valley that offer them. Try Les Madeleines (I hear great things about them), Sur La Table, or C aputo 's Market & Deli, to name a few.

For a fun and creative gift, head on over to Color Me Mine and paint a pretty plate, then top it off with some homemad e sugar cookies. Trust me, they'll notice all the effort that went into this gift. Or even better, make a date of it and do both projects together!

I love this idea I found over at Stephmodo - Print up a t-shirt declaring your love for your Valentine, but wait for a big reveal by keeping it under wraps (hide under your coat) until you go out to dinner (may I suggest Stoneground) and when you sit down take off your coat. I bet they get a kick out of it!

I know a box of chocolates is a bit cliche, but if you were to give me a box from Condies Chocolates it would be worth every calorie. They really are the best, and I happen to know the family that runs it. Trust them when they say that they really do hand dip every chocolate (they even taught me how).

If you want to keep it simple, cook a great dinner at home and avoid the long waiting lists at restaurants. I've been dying to try this simple french meal from Stephmodo (can you tell I love her blog?). Instead of spending a bunch of money on gifts, try giving your Valentine a thoughtful card and let them know how much you love them.

Cooking Lessons

2010-01-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

My husbands parent's live a few hours South of Chicago, so we made a quick road trip down to see them. It has been a year since I visited, so it was nice to give them a big hug. Before they knew we were coming out they had asked a family to come and teach them how to make tamales.

It turned out to be a fun cooking lesson for everybody.

Making tamales is quite the process, and I now understand why you only make them for special occasions. I also quickly realized why you wouldn't be able to just follow a recipe and figure it out on your own.

Just to give you an idea of the process; first you boil the meat for 2 hours, then you spend another 2 hours prepping and assembling the tamales, then another 2 hours to steam them. It took up all of Saturday morning, but it was really fun and the final product made it totally worth it. Can you believe this was my first time eating a tamale? I have a feeling I won't be able to eat one from a restaurant because I know it just won't be the same.

Chicago Style

2010-01-27T07:00:00.001-07:00

My first adventure in Chicago was tasting Giordanos Famous Stuffed Pizza. The waiter told us that they put 4 pounds of cheese on every pizza! Seriously?! That means that in my one piece of pizza I ate a 1/2 pound of cheese. I kind of wish I didn't know that, but it was totally worth it! Guess what? They'll ship a pizza any where in the US! For a special occasion that would be really fun.

If you ever find yourself in Chicago, try Rosebud for an upscale Italian meal. The restaurant was beautiful and the food was amazing.

Now, if only I could get to Chicago when it's warm!

Chicago

2010-01-26T07:00:00.001-07:00

I just returned from a quick trip to Chicago. The Husband had to go for work, so at the last minute I decided to tag along and enjoy the city while he sat in meetings. This was the view from our hotel room window looking over Michigan Avenue. It was breathtaking!

The white circular building at the bottom center of the picture is Crate and Barrel, which was four stories of heaven! Why can't we have great shopping like this in Utah?!

My quick weekend consisted of shopping, museums, great food, and then a drive further South to visit the in-laws. Don't worry, my next post will be all about the food, including some surprise cooking lessons.

Valentine's Day Prep

2010-01-22T07:00:00.001-07:00

Seriously so cute. What a great Valentines day gift for your friends/neighbors/loved ones. Cute heart shaped brownies found via Twig & Thistle.

Sweet as pie...

2010-01-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

You all know my love of pie. In fact, I've been dying to make my mini pies just so I can use these cute boxes found via Twig & Thistle. I'm thinking I could find a fun reason to give these out, say......Valentines Day?

Jam Labels

2010-01-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

I previously posed the question asking if anyone had ideas on a pretty way to package jam and I finally found the answer with this free download found on Creature Comforts Blog via A delightful blog. This would make a great hostess gift or favor at your next dinner party.

Winter Picnic

2010-01-19T07:00:00.002-07:00

I have a birthday coming up and this gave me an idea. Wouldn't it be fun to get a bunch of friends together for some cross country skiing and we can pack a winter picnic? Hopefully it would be like the one Sweet Paul suggested on design sponge, consisting of homemade cookies, hot chocolate and great sandwiches. The sandwiches above are filled with greens, chicken, avocado, tomatoes and aioli. I think you could get me all the way around the trail if I knew I could eat this at the end of it.

I covet

2010-01-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Everything about this home is amazing! It's rare that I find photos of a home where I love every room (not just the kitchen)! Found via here, and check out the rest of the home while your'e at it.

Decadent

2010-01-14T08:00:00.001-07:00

I love serving this recipe because I know it will please the masses. It a rich, moist, decant chocolate cake and it's so easy to make! Whenever I'm in a hurry I whip this up and you can't mess it up (my favorite kind of recipe). It's from the "101 thing to do with a Cake Mix."

Death By Chocolate
1 chocolate cake mix
3/4 cup sour cream
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup oil
1 small package instant chocolate pudding
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Beat eggs, sour cream, water, and oil together in a large bowl until thoroughly mixed. Add cake mix and pudding mix. Stir in chocolate cihps. Place batter in a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45-55 minutes until a fork comes clean. Cook cake in pan. When cool, sift powdered sugar on top of cake, or kick it up a notch and pour chocolate frosting on top.

Stress Less Dinner Party Ideas

2010-01-13T08:00:00.001-07:00

Real Simple has some great tips on a "St ress Less Dinner Party." I especially like the idea of skipping the formal tablecloth and using a roll of brown craft paper for the tablecloth. Not only does it look great, but makes for easy clean up. To add to this already great idea, I would place some crayons on the table if your guests include small children. It would provide the kids with some entertainment so the adults could actually carry on a conversation! I'm also really loving the simple place cards.
Take a look at the menu Real Simple provides, it looks tasty. If you try it out let me know how it goes.

Party in a box

2010-01-12T08:00:00.002-07:00

I have a couple of nephews with birthdays coming up, and I thought this was a great idea.

Seriously, why haven't I thought of this? This esty seller has created a "party in a box." Talk about cutting your party planning time in half! Check it out here. How fun would it be to sell customized party kits? Almost as fun as the little chef's party I posted here.

This would be a great way to make it look like you put a lot of hard work into your child's party without any of the hard labor. And for $30 it's not a bad price.

Perfection! Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-01-11T08:00:00.001-07:00

I feel like for years I've been searching for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. I was starting to believe it didn't exist. Even when I did get a recipe, it was always hit and miss. I know I promised this recipe a while ago, but I wanted to make sure that it really was a "no fail" recipe.

This recipe came from a good friends mother who passed away. I wish I knew her better, especially since she must have been an excellent cooks because all of her recipes always turn out to fabulous!

Deanna's Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup butter flavored vegetable shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
2 cups chocolate chips

Cream shortening, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Sift flour, soda, and salt separately, and add to mixture. Stir in nuts and chips. Scoop and roll into balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Makes about 32 cookies.

I've made this recipe probably a dozen times and every time they come out crisp on the edges and fluffy in the middle.
Tip: try the cookies frozen, they are really good.

New Year

2010-01-10T19:07:00.006-07:00

It's a new year and I feel like it would just be wrong to start off without giving you something healthy. I wouldn't even call this a recipe, but it's my go to quick and healthy dinner. You can find the chicken strips and vegetables from Costco in the frozen food section.

On medium high heat pour about a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil into a frying pan. Place frozen chicken in pan, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden, about 15 minutes. Steam vegetables in microwave. Mix chicken and vegetable together and you have a very good, very healthy meal.

Since I like to eat this meal several times a week when I'm trying to lose those extra holiday pounds I try to finds ways of making it interesting. For example: add some garlic and purple onions in the frying pan, or try different kind of seasonings. I also like to have this with a red potato with about a tablespoon of fat free sour cream. Really, there are so many options, but trust me, it's really tasty.

Bahumbug!

2009-12-23T09:02:00.006-07:00

Seriously, I have so many recipes and goodies to post for Christmas and it's like I just realized that it's two days away! Where has the time gone? The only consolation I can give are these great downloadable gift tags from How About Orange for those late night wrapping sessions you have ahead. Hope this help.

If you find yourself in a bind and need some great recipes for those holiday festivities check out my Chicken Corn Chowder Soup (that my brother refers to as "heaven") and Lauren's Crescent Rolls. For breakfast try the Fabulous Crepes, and for dessert maybe try the Surprise Cookies, or my favorite pie crust recipe.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas filled with lots of good food!

Get them here.

This is what I'm using this year. Get them here

DIY Paper Placemats

2009-12-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

These DIY Paper Placemats fround via Twig and Thistle look awesome! This would be a great way to seasonally decorate for all those holiday dinners without having to spend the money. And talk about an easy clean up!

Thanksgiving ends and December Begins....

2009-11-30T11:52:00.005-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I know I did. I was given my favorite assignment of making these rolls, and a bunch of pies and I got to share them with my favorite people.
We had a long weekend full of wallyball, poker tournaments, a late night of card playing at The Terry's cabin, black Friday shopping, and finished it off with Chirstmas tree decorating and the best ever chocolate chip cookies (don't worry I'll share them with you soon).

The first day of December is tomorrow and what a great way to start the month off with a Free Advent Calendar found via Say Yes to Hoboken.

Happy Holidays!

Cupcakes

2009-11-13T15:35:00.001-07:00

I provided the refreshments for a church function a couple of nights ago and was pretty pleased with how it turned out. I went with a cupcake theme and served red velvet, pumpkin, and german chocolate. My favorite is the pumpkin (which I already shared a while back), but the german chocolate is a close contender. I have to admit that this is the only one I cheated on and made from a box, but the frosting I made from scratch, which you can find here.

As far as the decor went, I kept it pretty simple and stuck to things I already owned, with the exception of the acorns which I found at the park.

Tip: Since I like cake served chilled, it worked best to freeze the cupcakes and frost them frozen and then they will thaw within an hour.

Baby Shower Ideas

2009-11-10T16:22:00.002-07:00

My niece Kellie just had a baby girl and named her Alexis Mae (how cute is that name?!). Actually, I have a lot of family and friends having babies these days. So I thought maybe some of you do as well. Here's a couple of great things I found around the internet that might spark some ideas for a great baby shower:

How cute would these paper owls look spread out all over the tables? Found via A Delightful Blog

Then I'd grab all of my scrap fabric and make a banner like this one to hang above the table.

Image found via flicker

For the gift? I would make another one of these bird mobiles I made for my new nephew last January. For a free download go here. Or give me a call if you have questions about how to assembly it.

Now I kind of wish I was throwing a baby shower for someone!

Pizza Dough

2009-11-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

I get asked for this recipe a lot. Honestly, I think pizza is one of my favorite things to make, with the exception of pie of course.

Combine:
2 1/4 Cups Warm Water
2 Tbl Yeast
Let stand for about 10 minutes to activate the yeast.

Add:
2 Tbl Sugar
2 Tsp Salt
1 Tbl Oil
5-6 Cups flour (you know you have enough flour when it pulls away from the sides of your mixer)

Mix for 8 minutes. Roll out and place on pan that has been greased and spread cornmeal all over it. Poke dough with a fork all over so you don't get bubble. Add toppings of your choice. Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes. Makes about 3 medium size pizzas.

Thanksgiving Invite

2009-11-05T09:00:00.007-07:00

Thankgiving is my favorite holiday because it's all about food and family. Over at Design Mom is the great idea to send out Thanksgiving Invitations. I have never thought of this, but I think it's a fabulous idea!

Every year my mother-in-law invites the immediate family over the Sunday before for our own Thanksgiving meal and it has become one of my favorite traditions.

I'm dying to cook a turkey and am currently working on perfecting a stuffing recipe, so hopefully I will have that to share before the holiday comes.

If you have any fun traditions please share.

Menu Tips

2009-11-04T13:25:00.003-07:00

Stephmodo not only has a great menu laid out for the week, but has found a way to better articulate her meal planning than I was able to. Click here for her advice on how to save money on your groceries and eat great meals throughout the week. I did it and I never want to go back!

Royal Eatery

2009-11-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

I've been craving breakfast food ever since I ate at the Royal Eatery a couple of weeks ago. I was downtown for the semi annual book sale at the Main Library. I scored like 20 books for $20. You should check it out, it goes on every October and April. Afterwards a friend and I headed over to the royal Eatery for breakfast and I can't stop thinking about it.

For nothing fancy, but really good food, check it out.
image via flicker

Free Download

2009-10-23T09:51:00.000-06:00

Just in time for Halloween. I found these free, printable Halloween tags. Download them here. If you use them, let me know what you did!

What?!

2009-10-22T10:40:00.002-06:00

Pumpkin Butter! Nuff said.

It's time for Pie!

2009-10-22T07:56:00.000-06:00

Remember the Mini Pies I made? I think about them all the time, and if they weren't so time consuming I would make them all the time. I wonder if these mini pie molds from Williams Sonoma would make them go any faster? I know they would make them prettier.

Halloween Fun

2009-10-16T12:16:00.009-06:00

I love giving my neighbors Halloween treats, especially if they are homemade and packaged pretty. Since I figure it's not appropriate to hand them out to them while they are trick-or-treating, I try to get them out earlier. I frequently get asked for my pumpkin chocolate chip bread recipe, so I figured I'd share it with everyone and hopefully make some for my neighbors this year.

pumpkin chocolate chip bread
5 eggs, well beaten
3 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
2 cups oil
4 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
4 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons cloves
1 teaspoon gound ginger
1 1/4 cups milk chocolate chips

Cream eggs and sugar. Add pumpkin and oil. Add dry ingredients slowly and combine thoroughly. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour into 4 greased and floured 9"x5" pans. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

I like to be generous with the spices.

Just wrap up the bread in plastic wrap, tie a pretty bow on it and use cute tags like the ones I found on etsy.

Image via flicker

"The Menu" Part 3

2009-10-12T15:12:00.007-06:00

This is the final round of my Menu Challenge. I found this recipe on a whim while researching healthy recipes and thought I'd give it a try. It was so easy and quick. It was also nice to watch the video, otherwise I probably wouldn't have chosen this recipe. To watch the video for Balsamic Chicken with Baby Spinach, Over Couscous click here. The only thing I changed was I seasoned the chicken with lemon pepper and salt. It not only gave the chicken some much needed flavor, but color as well. I also cut the breasts so they were much thinner so they would cook faster. When I make this meal again I will probably change out the couscous for some flavored rice.

Remember the mere $20 I spent for all the items I didn't have to complete the menu? Well, I knew that if I made enough meals I would have plenty of left overs for lunches. So not only did we have great dinners, but lunches as well!

"The Menu" Part 2

2009-10-12T15:02:00.005-06:00

I really wanted to integrate some new and different dinners for my Menu challenge, so I decided to try curry for a change. I was pleasantly surprised. Husband and I even ate the leftovers within 2 days. This is one of the meals that I made ahead on Sunday and just re-heated and prepared the rice the day of.

For the Curried Coconut Chicken recipe, click here. The only thing I changed was I substitued jasmine rice for brown rice. Other than that I wouldn't change a thing!

Warning: you're place may or may not smell like curry for a couple of days!

Putting "The Menu" to the Test

2009-10-12T14:23:00.010-06:00

So my Menu Challenge last week went way better than expected. Believe it or not, I actually made 5 out of the 6 meals! The funny thing is that I had a crazy busy week, but still managed to make all these meals partly because they were easy and because I had all of the ingredients since I had planned ahead. I still think the biggest reason was that I knew if I made them I would be eating a lot healthier than grabbing something that you heat up in the microwave.

In my menu planning I had 2 goals; eat healthy, and make the most of what I already had. So the first thing I did was to assess what I already had in my fridge and pantry. Then I browsed through some new and old recipes to come up with a menu. I made a trip to the grocery store on Saturday and bought the few ingredients I needed, which mostly consisted of fresh items that you don't always keep around. In fact, I think I only spent about $20 for those few items I didn't have. On Sunday I made a couple of meals ahead of time that I knew I wouldn't have the time for, which was a total life saver.

Most of the meals were a big success, but throughout this week I'll share only the best of the best.

My top favorite was the tri-tip steak and fries. It's so simple, it doesn't require a recipe. Simply marinate the steak in soy sauce, at a minimum of 30 minutes. Throw them on the grill for maybe about 7 minutes per side for medium-well. What really compliments this meal is the sweet potato fries. Just cut up, drizzle with olive oil and some salt and put in the oven at 425 degrees for about 35 minutes. Time varies on size and amount. Trust me, you'll like this one.

Healthy tip: remember that your meat portion size should be the size of your palm.

In Preparation

2009-10-09T13:53:00.005-06:00

Two years ago Husband and I went to Cincinnati to visit my twin brother and his cute wife for Thanksgiving. I was so excited because we were going to make our very own turkey dinner all by ourselves. It was then that I learned how to roast a turkey. With the advice of my mother I lathered the turkey with mayonnaise, and I’ve had delicious moist turkeys ever since.
Every year I like to have my own Thanksgiving dinner at my own home, right before the actual holiday. I know we haven’t even had Halloween yet, but I’m already getting excited for it, but I can’t help but wonder if anyone has any advice to kick things up a notch? Any tips? Secrets? Do share.

Next up, I’m determined to master stuffing. I’ve tried so many recipes, but I just can’t seem to get quite what I’m hoping for.

Image via MarthaStewart.com

Me, my sister, & my sis-in-law

Cincinnati 2007

Halloween Party

2009-10-07T13:30:00.011-06:00

Have you ever had your calendar fill up before the month even starts? That's my October. It leaves me wondering if this is any indication of what the up coming holidays are going to be like? Since I really don't have time to plan a Halloween party, I figured I could at least put together what I would do if I had the time.

For invites I would do something similar to these from Martha Stewart.com. You can find the boxes and some moss for cheap at the craft store. Years ago I made fingers that look similar to this out of sugar cookies and almonds dyed red for the fingernails. Super cheap, super easy, super crafty!

I would definitely serve some homemade doughnuts. A couple of options are to follow the recipe I found on Better Homes and Garden for Pumpkin Doughnuts. You can also check their site for 28 Yummy Pumpkin Recipes! I've also been dying to try the easy version of homemade doughnuts by buying pillsbury biscuit dough, make a hole in the middle, fry them in vegetable oil, and make a glaze of powdered sugar and juice from an orange.

For decor I would find some jars to fill up with classic Halloween candy and top with a pumpkin, like I found on Martha Stewart.com. The great thing about this is that they make for great decor and party favors. My version would probably be similar to this, but I would use some canning jars I have sitting around to fill with candy to give to all my guests.

Have a Happy Halloween everybody! By the way, you can use all of my ideas if you invite me to the party!

Cupcake Phenomenon

2009-10-06T10:38:00.002-06:00

I get asked all the time about the cupcake stand I used at Husbands Birthday Party. I actually found it at TJ Maxx (love that store!), but with the cupcake phenomenon we are experiencing, I see them popping up everywhere. My favorite is at Crate and Barrel. In fact, I like this one better than mine! Go check it out, buy it, and you'll see how you will find ways to use it.

The Menu

2009-10-05T08:43:00.006-06:00

I have a new goal. I will admit that I've made numerous previous attempts at this goal, just to be defeated. But seriously, I mean it this time! It's grocery shopping with a purpose. I honestly think I spend more time and money at the grocery store than I do on my bad shopping habit. So not only am I on a self-imposed spending haitus, but I am going to start being a smart grocery shopper. I figure if I can actually plan a menu for the week, make a list, and stick with it, I will not only spend less money and time at the grocery store, but I will have better, healthier meals throughout the week. So here it goes.

The Menu:

Curried Cocunut Chicken

Tri-tip steak, marinated in soy sauce, with baked sweet potato fries

Balsamic Chicken with Baby Spinach, Over Couscous

Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Rosemary, Apples, and Onions

(taken from a version of this recipe)

Taco Soup with Homemade Breadsticks

Some of these are new, never tested recipes, and some are old favorites. I'll let you know how my challenge goes and share any recipes that prove to be fabulous!

Image via here

Chocolate Fix

2009-10-02T15:23:00.000-06:00

This is my go to recipe when I want chocolate fast! I've been trying to perfect this recipe for forever, when I learned that it was really the entire recipe that was all wrong. Nikki finally gave me her recipe and it's perfect. My mom always made these growing up, so you know that means they must be easy because she doesn't cook!

No Bake Cookies

3 Cups of Quick Oats
1 Cup Coconut
1 Cup Peanut Butter

Put in a large bowl.
In a saucepan bring the following ingredients to a boil for 1 minute:

2 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup Milk
6 Tsp. Cocoa
1/2 Cup Water

After this boils for 1 minute, turn stove off and add:

1 Tsp. Vanilla

Pour over dry ingredients and mix all together. Spoon balls onto greased cookie sheet and enjoy! I like them best when they are still warm.

Another day in Germany (or paradise, whatever)...

2009-09-29T14:04:00.008-06:00

I distinctly remember a meal I had in a small town in Germany. The town was beautiful, quaint, tourist free, and we pretty much stumbled upon it. While venturing around we found a great Spanish restaurant with some beautiful outdoor dining, which gave us a much needed break from the bland German food we'd been having. The menu pretty much consisted of different tapas in small portions, in which you would order a variety of.

I seriously can't get this meal out of my mind. Husband and I shared a concoction of chicken and potatoes soaked in Sherry, a type of queso with bread for dipping, and melted cheese over steamed vegetables. I wish so bad I could recreate this meal, but I know my efforts would be completely futile. I think my only solution would be to take a trip to Spain. Ready for it Honey?

I think another reason I remember this meal is because of our neighbors sitting at the table across from us. They kept staring at me, so much so that it made me feel uncomfortable. I started to think that I was just being paranoid, but then everybody at my table starting commenting about these people who were staring and were starting to get real excited. So weird. We decided they thought I was famous. Now I wish I had gone up to their table and maybe given them an autograph or two. If only I knew which famous person they thought I looked like.

It's that time again!

2009-09-28T15:44:00.003-06:00

I bought myself 3 huge cans of pumpkin and I can't wait to use it all. I've been dying to eat the pumpkin waffles I made last year, but I was hoping to add a new recipe to the mix. So I decided to revisit my love/hate relationship with Martha Stewart and put her to the test once again.

I went with Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Cupcakes and I was pleasantly surprised. Super moist, super easy, and great presentation. Give them a try, let me know how it goes.

These could also pass as muffins if you forego the icing.

I suddenly want to be French

2009-09-25T11:35:00.011-06:00

Everyone is talking about Stephmodo's renovation of La Maisonnette du Coteau in Beynac, France. I can't imagine renovating such an old home (over 400 years old), in a different country no less! The transformation is amazing, you can even check it out at design sponge.

My favorite part? The kitchen. Check out the stove! And the beautiful dining room. I want those pendant lights above the table. Who am I kidding, I want to have a dining room table!

I'm seriously in awe, and hope that when Husband and I take our trip to France that we'll stay here and take those cooking classes she raved about!

Oh Canada!

2009-09-22T09:09:00.013-06:00

When Husband and I were in Canada last year we got caught in a rain storm and ducked into a little boutique. I fell in love immediately! It was here that I was first introduced to Portmeirion Products by Sophie Conran. I only bought a couple of pieces that would be easy to transport back home, but now I'm so sad that I didn't get more pieces because they are my absolute favorite.

Some of the items I'm coveting, found on amazon.com (Husband take note):

Large Pitcher

Juicer

Footed Bowl

Tip of the Day

2009-09-22T08:53:00.007-06:00

Always keep lemons and limes on hand to perk up any recipe. Seriously!
If you haven't noticed, a lot of my recipes involve lemon zest or lime juice, etc. Lemon zest can be used in meats (remember the roast) and even desserts (remember the coconut cake) or the juice from a lime to add a little zing to any drink, not just diet coke! They even make for great centerpieces, like I used for Husband's birthday.

They're cheap and last a long time in the fridge, so stock up!

Even Ina Garten agrees (click through the slide show)

Image via House Beautiful

Sprechen Sie German?

2009-09-22T08:23:00.011-06:00

When we were in Germany I had the best bratwurst in a little town just off the Rhine, near the Brother's Castles. It was my first bratwurst ever, and it was amazing! Since I've been home I've tried a couple brats and they don't even seem like they are the same product!

Oktoberfest is here (up at Snowbird) and I wonder if it will come close to my real German experience? Any thoughts? Has anyone been? Is anyone thinking of going? Call me, maybe we'll head up there together.

How fun!

2009-09-22T08:07:00.007-06:00

Check out Design Mom and the amazing party she planned for her little girl! She hired Sticky Fingers (in the Denver area) to come and set up, entertain, and clean up. Now that's what I'm talkin' about! The kids made customized chef hats, then were taught how to cook a meal. What was the meal you ask? Parmesan and Ricotta Gnocchi over Peaches with Prosciutto and Parmesan plus Honey Lavender Dressing. I don't even eat that well! And it sounds like the kids loved it.

What a cool business concept. Throw parties and teach kids how to cook. Anyone up for it?
When I'm a mom I hope I'm half as cool!

No Soup For You!

2009-09-21T11:31:00.005-06:00

Yesterday the air was nice and crisp and the sun was still shining, it was fabulous! I've been waiting for this day so I could make some yummy soup. Sunday dinner was just me and husband, so we tackled this recipe together and finally perfected it. Really, this recipe is pretty easy, just a little time consuming, but really worth it.

Chicken Corn Chowder
Serves 8

3 - 4 potatoes (chopped into bite size pieces)
½ cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
½ of a yellow onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ jalapeno
1 chicken bouillon cube (or 1 tsp)
2 cans chicken broth
2 cups water

Bring ingredients to a boil. Make sure that vegetables are fully covered, if you need to add water, do so. Once boiling, simmer until tender.

In a separate pan make a roux:
1 cube butter
¾ cup flour

On medium high heat, melt butter. Once melted, decrease temp to medium heat and gradually whisk in flour. Continue stirring until you get a nice thick consistency.

Then add:
1 tbl. sugar
1 quart of milk

Once this is all mixed, add broth mixture into the milk mixture. Then add the following:

Fresh Rosemary (to taste, you don’t need much)
3 cups cook and cubed chicken (I roast 4 breasts of chicken)
2 cans of sweet canned corn (drain liquid)
1 lb. velveeta cheese (at room temperature, cube, then add)
Salt & pepper to taste.

Cook until the cheese is melted and to desired temperature.

Husband started out by roasting 4 chicken breasts by placing them in a roasting pan, pouring one can of chicken broth, and then seasoning them with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning. I know this is more time consuming than boiling the chicken, but it really tastes the best and makes it so the chicken isn't tough and rubbery. I then used the reserves to replace the one can of broth it calls for in the recipe.

This is probably my favorite soup. It's a large recipe for just two of us, but I like to have leftovers and some to freeze for another day. The only thing that would make this recipe better is if I had made my homemade crescent rolls to dip into it.

Sunday Dinner

2009-09-15T10:46:00.007-06:00

We had family over this Sunday for Travis and Nikki's birthdays. On the menu:

Chuck Roast

Season with Salt & Pepper, fresh rosemary, lemon zest from one

lemon, and 2 garlic cloves. Put it in a crock pot on top of carrots and onions

and pour 2 cans of beef broth over it. Cook on low for about 8 hours.

Carrots

(placed on the bottom of the roast with onions)

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Homemade Crescent Rolls

Homemade Raspberry & Peach Jam

Eclair Cake

The roast just fell apart, it was really good. Putting a roast in a crock pot is great because the only thing I had to do right before the guests arrive was the potatoes and gravy. The best part of the meal really was the rolls and jam. My friend Lauren gave me this recipe years ago and it's turned into a family favorite.

Lauren's Crescent Rolls:

2 Cups warm Water

2 Packages Quick Rising Yeast

1/4 Cup Oil

1/2 Cup Sugar

2 Teaspoons Salt

1 Egg

5 1/2 Cups Flour

In a large bowl pour warm water over yeast and let sit for about 10 minutes in order to activate the yeast. Add the rest of the ingredients and combine. Let stand for 1-2 hours for the dough to rise. Divide dough in half, roll out in circles and cut into pie shapes. Roll into crescent. Place on lightly greased sheet. Cover. Let rise for 1-2 hours. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes, until slightly golden brown. Makes about 2 dozen, depending on the size you make the rolls. I like them big, so I usually only make 16 large rolls.

A great tip I've learned when it comes to cleaning up after serving a large group is to always make sure your dishwasher is empty. That way you can gaurantee you'll have room for all the dirty dishes after dinner. This means making sure you clean up as you cook.

Oh yeah, remember my restaurant recommendation? Well, gift certificates and BBQ sauce make a great gift for guys who like their meat (Travis). And, homemade jam makes for a great parting gift for your guests. My cute niece, Kellie, recommended tying raffia to the container for better presentation.

Enjoy!

Homemade Love

2009-09-10T11:10:00.005-06:00

I had some friends move into a new home and figured a good housewarming gift would be some homemade jam.

I love homemade jam, but I've always thought it would be difficult / time consuming to make. I was completely wrong. I used the recipe off of the back of this fruit pectin packet and was done in 10 minutes flat! It calls for 4 cups of crushed fruit and 1 1/2 cups sugar. You mix everything together and don't even have to turn the stove on!

Since it was so easy to make, I figured I better make some homemade wheat bread to go with it.

Anyone know of a cute way to package freezer jam to give as a gift? Let me know.

BBQ for Summer's End

2009-09-08T14:14:00.006-06:00

For me, Labor Day weekend represents the ending of Summer and the beginning of Fall. Yes, my pumpkin obsession should be starting soon. And what better way to see Summer come to an end with a great BBQ meal. So Husband and I made our way to Pat's BBQ for a little brisquet, ribs, meatloaf, and all the fixen's, that was all to die for! If you're looking for a great, hearty meal that serves you enough food to last a week, this is where you want to be. Check it out here.

Just in case you were wondering, they sell their awesome bbq sauce for $6 a bottle. This is serious stuff!

Italian Feast

2009-09-01T12:30:00.011-06:00

While in Italy we had some amazing food and I've been wanting to recreate some of our favorite meals and share them with friends. We even brought home some spices and pesto that I've been dying to try. And seriously, how could you not miss drinking Fanta? It's either that, wine, or sparkling water, which left us without much options. They also look at you funny when you ask for tap water. Go figure.
I love how meals are an event in Italy so I wanted to experience it the same way, dining al fresco of course.

The menu

Bevande: Orange Fanta

Antipasti: Bruschetta

1st Course: Spaghettie Carbonara

2nd Course: Grilled chicken with pesto

Dolci: Tiramisu

The meal was good, but I think the only thing worth noting was the tiramisu. For the recipe go here. When we were in Rome we had the best strawberry Tiramisu ever, which is why I replaced the raspberries with strawberries. I also ran out of time and couldn't get to the liquor store for the orange liqueur, so instead I squeezed the juice from two oranges and about 1-2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar and simmered over medium heat to infuse the flavors (it worked out quite well).

The best part really was the company! Thanks Dave, Brittany and Madeline for joining us.

Tomato Season

2009-08-21T12:44:00.005-06:00

I had this for lunch today:

And it made me think of this:

One of the first things I had once I arived in Italy was Capreses Salad. We started winding the streets of Venice and found a little restaurant tucked in a street with beautiful outdoor dining and an accordian player. It was everything I had pictured when I thought of Italy.

So, since tomatoes are finally in season, I've been dying to have caprese salad again. I picked up some fresh mozzarella at Costco for just under $7 for 5 pounds last night and it's so good. Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella up and add fresh basil, salt and pepper, and drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegarette. Enjoy!

Because I want to go wherever you go...

2009-08-18T15:06:00.007-06:00

For our 8th Anniversary (yes 8, I know) I wanted to do something special for Husband. I got the idea from the Oh Happy Day blog and knew it would be perfect. I thought it would be simple, but it turned out to be quite the project with many late nights. I pretty much followed the instructions, the only problem I faced was that the map I got was really big! I also thought it would be great to add a beautiful frame, and I knew my friend Alex has mad wood working skills! I got some pins to indicate all the places we've been, and all the places we want to go. Here's the breakdown:

World map 43x30 found at Utah Idaho Supply for $12.99

Pins / flags founds at Utah Idaho Supply for around $3.99/pkg

Foam board at Michaels Crafts for $1.50

Spray glue at Michaels Crafts for $3.00

Wood to make the frame at Lowe's for a total of $10.00

Stain for the wood I already had

Now all I have to do is to figure out where I want to hang it up. Any ideas?

Party Like A Rock Star

2009-07-22T12:39:00.021-06:00

We celebrated Husband's 30th birthday with a backyard party filled with lots of friends and fun. I have to admit that I didn't start planning it until the day before, but fortunately it turned out great. I kept everything pretty simple and kid friendly (since most of our friends now have growing families).

Here are the supplies I purchased:

A few pieces of cute paper (and stuck with a color scheme) - $5

Small cellophane treat bags - $2

Lemons and limes - $3

4 bags of lemonheads - $4

With the paper I made the garland that you see hanging from the trees and added a few details to some of the serving pieces. Then with the treat bags I made party favors for guests to take home.

Afterward, we enjoyed a game of volleyball with plenty of smack talk (some more than others - Robin!). We even had our very own cheerleaders :)

Action shots courtesy of Nat (thanks Nat!)

Keep it Simple

2009-07-14T14:08:00.008-06:00

You want to know what the problem is when you eat Italian food in the States? Way too many ingredients. Seriously, the Italians know how to do it. They keep it simple.

Dinner typically starts at around 8:00pm and you first start off with appetizers, which for us was either caprese or bruschetta. Then you move on to the first course, which is pasta. The pasta consists of noodles and a sauce (no meat, extra veggies, or cheeses). Then you move on to the second course, meat. Typically fish, but sometimes you'll see a red meat or chicken. Then dessert, always dessert. And lastly, a cappuccino or coffee (and if you decline they look at you funny). In between each course they talk and smoke and hang out. It turns into quite the event, lasting at least 2 hours.

While in Rome we found a tiny restaurant tucked away in a little street, where I had the best pasta of my life. It was Spaghetti Carbonara, pictured above, which consists of bacon, eggs, and cheese. That's it. Anyone have a great recipe? I'm dying to test it!

Lunch pretty much consisted of caprese sandwiches. Tomato, mozzarella (the freshest I've ever had), and basil on a roll. That's it. Soooo good!

This may not seem to surprising to those of you who know me, but my favorite place also happened to have the best food. Vernazza, Italy - check it out (the picture speaks for itself).

No time for homemade?

2009-06-22T11:55:00.002-06:00

Last week I went to bookclub and wanted to bring something yummy, but had no time to make something from scratch. I love making rolls, and will have to share my recipe soon, but I just couldn't fit it in my schedule. So, I ran over to Texas Roadhouse (remembering how yummy their rolls and cinnamon butter taste) and bought up a dozen of them. They come all wrapped up nicely in a pretty box and are only $3.99/dozen! So, if you're ever in a bind this is a great option.

If you haven't ever had them, trust me, their that good!

Photo Session

2009-06-16T15:43:00.016-06:00

I get asked about the picture on my sidebar all the time. All of the credit (and I mean ALL of it) goes to my cute friend Br ittany who took them. Isn't she amazing? You should contact her if you're interested.

Anyway, here's a couple more from our fabulous photo shoot. It was so much fun, thanks Brittany!

Gelato Countdown

2009-06-11T15:26:00.007-06:00

In exactly 12 days I will be on a plane heading for Europe with my twin bro and his wife. First I'll be trying out bratwurst's in Germany (can you believe I've never had one before?) and then I'll move down through Italy in search of the best gelato. Seriously, if you know anything about me at all, you know that my favorite part of travel is the food!
It will be husbands first time out of the country (Canada just doesn't count) and we're both so excited. Any tips, favorite restaurants, shopping, or sites that are a must? Please share!

I went out with some cute girlfriends the other night to try out some local Italian pizza at Setebello's and then on for some gelato at Capo Gelateria. It's a good way to prepare for my trip, don't you think? Anyway, these connecting restaurant's are a must date night/girls night, and I highly recommend them!

I inquired about the difference between gelato and ice cream, and besides the differences in ingredients and processes, it apparently has fewer calories! I figured that I can now eat more of it while in Italy.

Outdoor Entertaining

2009-06-08T09:40:00.009-06:00

As previously mentioned, my house is WAY too small for entertaining. On the other hand, my backyard has room a plenty! Which makes for great summer parties. The only bad part is that I don't hardly have any outdoor furniture. What I have learned is that there are tricks to making it work. For instance, that utility table of mine....suddenly looks beautiful with a pretty tablecloth and fresh cut flowers from the garden as a centerpiece. You almost don't even notice the ugly folding chairs that are tucked into the table!

I love it when my cute sister-in-law Nikki entertains. And here's why:

a) she's all about good food and fun (no fuss)

b) she always has an unlimited supply of beverages, with an option that pleases everyone

c) you can hang out all night if you want (she's up for anything)

Images:

Galvanized Metal Tray I can think of so many ways to use this tray! Great to carry anything from beverages, to strawberries, to your paper products.

White Serving Tray with Melamine Serving Ware This tray is so versatile, it could work indoors or out, or even become a permanent fixture on your coffee table! Don't you love the melamine serving ware?

Under the Sea Serving Pieces I've had my eye on this for forever, just waiting for it to go one sale. Everything would look great in this from fruit, to seafood, to dips, to mini desserts.

Hmmm...I should have a party. Maybe a bunco tournament? or how about some Volleyball? Who wants to come? If we were at Nikki's it would be Rock Band all the way!

I promise, you'll never go back

2009-06-04T09:55:00.006-06:00

On Saturday morning I was craving pancakes, but I didn't have much time to make them from scratch, so I decided to make them from the box (not as good, but still worthwhile). I started getting everything out and the husband came in to help when I decided that I wanted to make homemade syrup, so the boxed pancakes would taste better. Husband starts getting annoyed that I'm taking the time to do this. I told him not only will I finish before he makes the pancakes, but he will thank me later for the delicious syrup.

Not only did he thank me while we were eating our pancakes with homemade syrup, but I finished way before he the pancakes were done!

Thanks to Adrianne, I now get why she won't eat store bought syrup. I know I won't!

Just follow the directions on the box.

Another tip: when making boxed pancakes, add some zest from a lemon and it will do wonders!

Fabulous Crepes

2009-06-04T09:41:00.006-06:00

Sunday brunch is my favorite, as you can tell by most of the recipes I include in this blog. This last Sunday I opened up my Fabulous Fairholm cookbook and finally decided on these amazing crepes. They were so easy and quick, just remember when you are making crepes you want them as thin as possible, so spread the batter out as much as you can. I added powdered sugar, strawberries, homemade whip cream, and homemade syrup. You can even omit the sugar and make them a heartier breakfast by making fillings such as scrambled eggs, mushrooms, chives, and sausage. The possiblities are endless.

Fairholme Crepes
serves 4 - 6

1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
dash salt
2 teaspoons sugar (if using sweet filling, otherwise omit)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or melted butter

Whisk together above ingredients until smooth. Place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.

Heat lightly oiled, non-stick skillet or crepe pan over medium heat.

Pour 1 medium ladle of batter into pan and swirl to cover entire pan. Cook briefly and flip over with a wide spatula. Continue to cook until golden for about 1-2 minutes. Make sure that the pan comes back up to temperature between crepes.

To freeze, or not to freeze?

2009-05-29T11:17:00.004-06:00

Did you know I freeze my bananas? No, not the ripe and ready to eat ones, but the ones that don't get eaten before they go brown and are perfect for baking. Why you ask? Well, then I know I have them on hand for those homemade banana bread cravings. I'm still searching for the perfect recipe, and am currently taking suggestions, but honestly, stephmodo never steers me wrong. So maybe I'll have to try out her favorite banana bread recipe.

Image via flickr.com

Wishful Thinking

2009-05-29T10:32:00.007-06:00

If any of you have every been to my home you know that it's tiny! At least it feels that way. I love, love to entertain, but I just don't have the space for it. Which is why many of you haven't been over. I don't have a dining room, but I am constantly dreaming of what it would be like if I did. Right now, my dining consists of a small 4 person table in the corner of my tiny kitchen (and even then, it barely fits).

I am in LOVE with this dining room. Don't you just want to sit there for hours and eat fabulous food! I know I do. And the striped captain chairs...amazing!

Sorry, I don't even remember where I found this image. What I do know is that I'll save it for the day that I can finally duplicate it.

Have a lovely weekend....

Oh My!

2009-05-12T09:26:00.005-06:00

Getting family together for Mother's Day is difficult. I feel like the Mother's still end up doing all the work on a day that is supposed to be for them. So this Mother's Day I had my family over, and all the Mother's had to do was show up. We had a great BBQ (husband was the chef), played a little badminton, and I made these amazing Brownie Peanut Butter Cups. Heaven! Try em, you won't be dissapointed.

Just a little tip: don't use as much peanut butter as it calls for.

Kitchen Love

2009-05-08T13:20:00.013-06:00

I bet I'd cook more often if I had a kitchen like this one. Image via Elements of Style. Check this blog out, it's fabulous!

I'm in a cooking slump. Slump meaning I just don't cook. I could eat cereal.....for every meal.

Well, I call it a slump. The husband says if it's been more than a few weeks it's worse than a slump.

That's right, I just promoted him to full time chef in our household!

Easter Table

2009-04-09T14:24:00.005-06:00

It's all about presentation! I found this great bunny napkin tutorial at Martha Stewart.com. For your centerpiece, put pretty eggs (dyed, or plastic) in a clear vase with a couple of votive candles and it will look amazing! Or, buy a bunch of tulips at the grocery store and put in a pretty vase. The best part is, most of this stuff everyone has on hand so you won't have to go out and buy anything.

Now you have everything you need to host a beautiful Easter meal.

Easter Dessert

2009-04-09T09:20:00.007-06:00

Stephmodo has done it again! The moment I saw this recipe for Coconut Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting on her blog, I knew I had to test it out. It turned out so good, and I think it would be a wonderful Easter dessert. You definitely need to use Martha's Cake Frosting Tips to ensure your cake turns out pretty. Stephmodo adds Lemon Curd to this classic cake, unfortunately I didn't have time to test it out, but after trying the cake, the moisteness of the curd would compliment the cake really well. Serve slightly chilled for best results.

If anyone wants some cake come on over, I've got plenty left!

Enjoy!

Easter Dinner

2009-04-09T08:58:00.006-06:00

Husband made dinner last night. It turned out fabulous! He can make dinner for me anytime.

This recipe can definitely be tweaked. For instance, we didn't have any cherries, so we used Craisens, instead of shallots use whatever onion you have in the fridge, and we ommitted the apple. So it's whatever works for you and your pantry! And it's also fairly healthy (i.e. we omitted the butter as well!)

Pork Chops with Cherry Apple Reduction Sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 pork chops, medium thickness

1 shallot, diced

2 garlic cloves, diced

1 Pink Lady apple, peeled, cored and diced

3 tablespoons white wine

1/2 cup chicken stock

1 tablespoon dijon mustard

1 pound cherries, pitted and diced

2 tablespoons butter

1. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.

2. Season pork chops with salt and pepper to taste. Add to the pan and brown on both sides; remove and keep warm.

3. In the same pan, saute shallots and garlic until soft, about 2 minutes. Add apples and wine; saute for 1 minute.

4. Add chicken stock, mustard, diced cherries and pork to the pan, simmer over medium heat until the cherries are soft and the pork is cooked all the way through.

5. Remove pork and stir butter into the sauce.

6. To serve, drizzle sauce over pork chops.

Makes 4 servings

This would make a wonderful Easter meal, just add mashed potatoes, and asparagus with hollandaise sauce.

Enjoy!

Mustard Roasted Chicken with Vegetables

2009-03-12T13:51:00.005-06:00

I was looking to cook something for dinner the other night that was both delicious and healthy (and as always, easy to make). I remember coming across this recipe (from Real Simple) via one of my favorite blogs stephmodo. I had to tweek it to adjust for the items I had on hand, but it still turned out fabulous.

A few things to consider:

*You don't have to use a whole chicken, I used chicken breasts.

*You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand, I used potatoes, carrots, and onions.

*The sauce can be adjusted, I added a couple tablespoons of honey. It's probably better with a really good deli mustard, but I didn't have any, and my plain, cheap mustard still did the trick!

The recipe is worthy of guests, just add a nice artisan bread and a yummy green salad and you have a quick, easy dinner!

Click here to view the recipe

photo by Ngoc Minh Ngo

Blueberry Pancakes

2009-02-10T14:19:00.006-07:00

When Trevor and I took a trip to Canada, we stayed at a beautiful Bed & Breakfast http://www.fairholmemanor.com/. It was unbelievable! The inn keepers were great hosts and the breakfast was to die for! So good in fact that they made a cookbook, and every time I make something from it, it turns out to be the most delicious recipe I've ever tried. You can check out their website for information on purchasing the book, but in the meantime, you can try out this recipe to give you an idea of how great it is.
Blueberry Pancakes
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons sugar
pinch salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
zest 1 large lemon or orange
3 cups buttermilk (substitute: 3 cups milk with 3 tablespoons vinegar, let sit for 5 minutes)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
maple syrup

Preheat griddle or skillet on medium heat.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt in a bowl. Stir until thoroughly mixed and make a well in the center. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, lemon or orange zest, buttermilk and melted butter. Pour mixture into center of well and gently fold together. The batter should have a pebbly or slightly lumpy consistency (it will also be runny, but you want it this way!).

Coat the griddle with vegetable oil. Pour about 1/2 cup batter onto heated griddle, about 3" apart. Scatter 8 to 10 blueberries on top of each pancake. When bubbles being to appear on top, carefully flip over each pancake and continue to cook until golden brown.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve warm with maple syrup and butter.

*Just so you know, the picture in the cookbook looks way better than mine, but the taste is amazing! And yes, this picture of the Inn doesn't even do it justice.

Sugar Cookies

2009-02-02T13:37:00.006-07:00

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

4 tsp baking powder

5-6 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

Cream butter, sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Gradually stir in remaining ingredients. You want the dough to be soft, but not too sticky. Chill until cold, then roll it out and cut it into shapes. Make sure you cookies are at a nice thickness (thin sugar cookies are never good). Bake at 350 deg for 8-15 minutes (time varies by thickness). Once the bottoms are slightly golden they're done!

Frosting:

5 Tbl butter (room temperature)

3 Tbl crisco

2 tsp vanilla

approx 8 cups of powdered sugar

approx 10 Tbl evaporated milk
Cream butter and crisco. Mix everything together until you get a good consistency.

*This recipe makes about 4 dozen cookies! So the frosting recipe is large so you have enough to frost every cookie!

Martha Stewart and I have made up

2009-01-30T11:29:00.011-07:00

So, I really wanted chocolate, and since this recipe looked so easy, and I had all the ingredients, I decided to give Martha another chance (see my previous post about our quarrel). These cookies were not only easy, but delicious as well. In fact, I think they are my new favorite cookie!

Surprise Cookies
Makes about 2 dozen
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
12 large marshmallows, cut in half horizontally (I think it’s better to use a mound of miniature marshmallows)
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, milk, and vanilla, and beat until well combined. Add reserved flour mixture; mix on low speed until combined.
Using a tablespoon or 1 3/4-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto ungreased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies begin to spread and become firm, 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove baking sheets from oven, and place a marshmallow, cut-side down, in the center of each cookie, pressing down slightly. Return to oven, and continue baking until marshmallows begins to melt, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting over each marshmallow, starting in the center and continuing outward until marshmallow is covered.

Chocolate Frosting – Makes 1 cup
2 cups confectioners' sugar
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
Place confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl. Whisk in butter and cocoa powder. Add milk and vanilla, and whisk until well combined.

Martha, I missed you dearly. I’m so glad we could have the chance to make up.

This is Trevor, my Sous Chef (self proclaimed) and taste tester. He wanted to make sure he got adequate mention for making the frosting. It really was good frosting honey!

This is what my neighbors are getting, how about yours?

2008-12-19T13:53:00.003-07:00

White Wheat Bread

5 cups hot tap water

1/4 cup oil

3/4 cup honey

1 T salt

2 T instant yeast

10-12 cups flour (half wheat and half white)

In bread mixer put water, oil, and honey, (put honey in same cup as oil and it comes out a lot easier!), salt, and 1/2 the flour. Start to mix and then add yeast and enough flour until the dough cleans the sides of the bowl. Let machine knead for 6 minutes. Let rise for 10 to 15 minutes (this step can be eliminated if you're in a hurry!). Put oil on counter and roll or pound into loaves. Put into greased pans and let rise 15 to 20 minutes on top of warm stove. Bake at 350 deg for 30 minutes. After putting bread on cooling racks, rub stick of butter all over the top (this makes your bread look pretty). Make 4 medium sized loaves.

Raspberry Butter

1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 cup butter, room temperature

In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the berries and powdered sugar until softened.

Remove from heat and let cool.

Add butter and mix until combined. This may take a few minutes, but it will come together.

Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Ding Dongs

2008-12-19T13:35:00.006-07:00

Everything is always better homemade than store bought, right? Well, I decided I wanted to make ding dongs, and it turned out so easy and simple (best of all, the ingredients are always on hand at my house). So this is what I did:

Make cupcakes (I just use a box - sooo much easier!), but only fill them about half way (you don't want them to over flow out the top of the pan). Once cooled I "inject" the bottoms with this filling (see picture):

Filling:

1/4 cup all-purpous flour

1 cup milk
1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whisk together the flour and milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Set aside to cool completely.

Once cooled, beat the 1/2 cup shortening, butter, sugar and vanilla on high speed until light and fluffy. Add the milk mixture and continue to beat for 4 more minutes.

You'll want to inject the cupcakes about 3 - 4 times to make sure you get a good amount of filling in there.

For the chocolate topping you can do a ganache (which is good just messier) or use a dipping chocolate (also good, but much prettier than the ganache - depends on what you want).

Dipping Chocolate:

Melt 12 oz chocolate

Add 2 teaspoons shortening, mix until smooth

Then dip the tops of the cupcakes into melted mixture. If serve cold I've found they taste better.

I can't get enough Pie

2008-11-14T14:59:00.005-07:00

Remember those hostess individual fruit pies? I loved them when I was little.

Well, I haven't had them in forever, and I figured they can't be that hard to make, right?

What I did was make the dough (see recipe in an older post below), and cut into circles. I then did an apple filling, but there are so many options! Place the filling on the dough and fold over, crimp, and add slits on the top (just like you do on a regular pie). Bake as directed, and right after they come out of the oven and are hot, pour a glaze (mix powdered sugar and milk together) on top. Serve cold. They are the best two days after baking.

I want brownies, not cake

2008-10-24T12:37:00.014-06:00

Okay Ladies. So I made these the other night and was really excited about them. Martha Stewart claimed they were gooey, which I feel was false advertising. In which I can't help but to post a letter claiming my injustice.

---
Dear Martha,

I tried your Pumpkin Swirl Brownie recipe the other day and was gravely dissapointed. Seriously, I do love your food. Albeit, you make things way harder than they need to be, but I love your recipes/crafts nonetheless. Here's my problem; out of all people, you should know the difference between cake and brownies. Since apparently you don't, I will re-cap for you.
Cake: a food that is usually sweet and baked. When eaten, it makes you feel like you've eaten nothing but air. Most people are deceived into believing that this is not only an appropriate form of dessert, but delicious as well, since it has become the center of many celebratory events (i.e. weddings, birthdays, etc.), but trust me, this is only a ruse.
Brownies: a flat, baked square or bar, which is a denser, richer form of a cake. When eaten you are left feeling satisfied and happy that the calories you have consumed were well worth it.
Do you see my dilemma? When you told me that your Pumpkin Swirl Brownies were A) brownies, and B) gooey, I feel as though you have tricked me.
If I were to form a lawsuit, based on the claim of false advertising, the damages would be based on the following:
1. I spent 1.5 hours prepping, stirring, and baking the so-called “brownies.”
2. I waited for 1 hour in intense anticipation for the “gooiness” I was promised, only to be disappointed.
3. I wasted way too many calories eating air, instead of the rich denseness I kept thinking was coming with the next bite.

4. All those products have now been wasted, in which I have been forced to return to the store to replenish them.
5. Last, but not least, the God-like image I had categorized you in has been shattered. It really is a great and tragic loss.

So, I would prefer that from this point forward, you have learned a valuable lesson. First, that cake and brownies are significantly different, and second, I will never be able to look at you the same.

Sincerely, your former long time follower,

Tish

P.S. A free subscription to your magazine might make me feel better.
---

Ladies,
I only post this recipe, not to advertise it, but in hopes that someone can help make it what it claims to be. I’m open to all suggestions. Is it the amount of eggs/flour? The size of the pan? What?

Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

Ingredients - Makes 16
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (I used semi-sweet)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I used 1/8 tsp)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups solid-pack pumpkin
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts or other nuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan or dish. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper; butter lining.
Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, cayenne, and salt in a large bowl; set aside. Put sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat until fluffy and well combined, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in flour mixture.
Divide batter between two medium bowls (about 2 cups per bowl). Stir chocolate mixture into one bowl. In other bowl, stir in pumpkin, oil, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Transfer half of chocolate batter to prepared pan smoothing top with a rubber spatula. Top with half of pumpkin batter. Repeat to make one more chocolate layer and one more pumpkin layer.

Work quickly so batters don't set. With a small spatula or a table knife, gently swirl the two batters to create a marbled effect. Sprinkle with nuts.
Bake until set, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 16 squares.

Photo courtesy of marthastewart.com

Pumpkin Waffles with Apple Maple Glaze

2008-10-14T07:54:00.010-06:00

Ahhh, again with my pumpkin obsession. I just can't help it, I love fall! We stayed up in Midway with the family for the weekend and I decided to make these wonderful waffles for Breakfast. If you choose to make any of my pumpkin recipes, this is the one.

With the snow having already fallen, I feel like fall has been stolen from me. I took this picture in Midway and it makes me feel like I captured the last of my beloved fall.

Ingredients - serves 4
1 1/4 cups flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup melted shortening

1 large egg
1 large egg white
Topping:
2 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 crisp apples, peeled and sliced thinly
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup toasted walnuts (optional)

Directions
Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, spice and salt together in a large bowl.
Beat together the milk, pumpkin, melted butter, and melted shortening, egg and egg white, in a large measuring cup. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Whisk together to make a slightly lumpy batter.
For the topping: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the apples and let cook until slightly browned, but still crisp, about 4 minutes. Add the maple syrup and walnuts and toss to coat.
Pour and spread about 1 cup batter into the waffle iron. Cover and cook until crisp and a rich golden brown, about 7 minutes. (Try to resist the temptation to open the waffle iron too soon. Steam will puff out of the iron while the waffles cook, when this stops the waffle is cooked.) Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve hot with the apples.

Enjoy! Tish

Rigatoni with Pumpkin and Bacon

2008-10-08T15:31:00.005-06:00

Pumpkin Obsession Part II

My lovely friend Jen makes this great Martha Stewart recipe every year for October book club. Well, she's due any day and I realized that I won't be getting my pumpkin pasta this month and decided to make it myself. It's always a crowd pleaser. I wouldn't serve it as a meal in itself (since it's so heavy), but it's great for a party with lots of other foods.

Ingredients
Serves 6
Coarse salt
8 slices bacon, coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 sugar pumpkin (about 3 pounds), peeled and halved, seeds removed, and flesh cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1 1/2 cups homemade or low-sodium store-bought chicken stock
3 tablespoons heavy cream
Freshly ground pepper
1 pound rigatoni
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
2 tablespoons hulled raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds), toasted, for garnish
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Put bacon into a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until bacon is almost crisp, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a plate lined with paper towels; let drain.
Add onion to skillet with bacon grease. Cook, stirring, until soft, 12 to 15 minutes. Add pumpkin, sage, 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the allspice. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add stock and cream; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to mediumlow, and simmer until pumpkin is soft and sauce has thickened slightly, about 25 minutes. Season with pepper.
Meanwhile, add pasta to boiling water, and cook until al dente. Drain pasta, and add to skillet. Add the bacon and Parmesan, and toss to combine. Divide among bowls. Serve with Parmesan.

Fall Pizza

2008-10-08T15:25:00.003-06:00

I had bookclub at my house and wanted a fall menu. Among other things, I served a homemade pizza that turned out delicious.

Use your favorite dough recipe (make sure you put cornmeal at the bottom of your pan). Top dough with the marinade from an artichoke jar and add a little bit of olive oil.

Toppings include: mozzarella cheese, slices of red onion, artichokes, and a little bit of crushed red pepper and cracked black pepper. Pine nuts would also make a great addition.

So good!

Tish

Pumpkin Obsession

2008-10-07T07:44:00.006-06:00

With the start of fall, my pumpkin obsession begins! These Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are always a hit.

3 cups canned pumpkin
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons nutmeg
3 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
3 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
5 cups flour
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, vegetable oil, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, sugar and salt, and mix well. Add flour and mix to combine. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop dough onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Optional: frosting them with cream cheese frosting

Enjoy! Tish

It's not you, it's the crust

2008-09-15T14:57:00.004-06:00

I LOVE to make pies, but I've decided that my pie making skills are really only mediocre and my crust making skills are the only thing that saves it. This recipe is not too flaky, or dry, and you always wish there was more of it!

2 pie crust:

2 1/2 cups flour

1 cup crisco butter shortening

1 tsp salt

1 egg

1 tablespoon vinegar

1/4 cup cold water

Beat egg, add vinegar & water. Mix (with pastry cutter) flour, salt, and shortening separately (will be crumbly). Add all together and continue mixing with a pastry cutter (will get thick). Work with hands a little bit and mold into a ball. Divide dough in half, roll out onto floured surface and place in a 9" pie dish.

You can either make two pies, or one with the crust on top and on bottom.

ENJOY!

Hint: make sure your working surface is cool.