All Things Yummy

Such a Pretty Salad

2012-02-20T12:46:00.000-08:00

Let's talk salads. I don't really like them. Which has the healthy girl inside me constantly nagging to eat more veggies but I make her be quiet more often then I should. For me, lettuce is like wet paper. It almost makes me want to gag but I'm trying to overcome this revulsion in baby steps. I had a pear that was perfectly ripe, lettuce in the fridge that I keep for my hubby's lunches, feta cheese, and balasmic vinagrette. All the ingredients to make this very pretty salad......

So now you have to ask me, "Danielle, did you eat this very pretty salad?" And I will reply, "Um no, but I made it lovingly and it was too pretty to throw away so I gave it to my husband to eat." He thought it was delicious.

Any advice on how to truly enjoy salads?
Is there any food that has you gagging?

Nigella Lawson's Banana Bread

2012-02-20T12:34:00.000-08:00

I've made many versions of banana bread as I'm sure you've seen many versions of banana bread in the blog world. This recipe is my very favorite. It comes from Nigella Lawson's How to be a Domestic Goddess which is the first cookbook I ever bought for myself. I remember leaving Barnes and Noble so excited to get home and try her recipes. Like many of you, I'd rather sit up at night and read cookbooks rather than the latest bestselling novel. Although a good romance story can tear me away from the kitchen for a while.

If you don't like raisins you can omit them, but I would try it with them at least once. These are not your traditional dry chewy raisins, but plump, sweet and full of boozy warmth morsels of goodness. Hmmmm...I think I just channeled my inner Nigella with that description.

Banana Bread
by Nigella Lawson

1/2 cup golden raisins
6 tbs. bourbon or dark rum (I used brandy because that's what I had)
1 cup plus 2 tbs. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
4 small, very ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp. vanilla extract
9 x 5 loaf pan, buttered and floured, or with paper insert

Put the golden raisins and rum or bourbon in a smallish saucepan and bring to a boil.
Remove from heat, cover, and leave for an hour if you can, or until the raisins have absorbed most of the liquid, then drain.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and get started on the rest. Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium-sized and, using your hands or a wooden spoon, combine well. In a large bowl, mix the melted butter and sugar and beat until blended. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the mashed bananas. Then, with your wooden spoon, stir in the walnuts, drained raisins, and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture, a third at a time, stirring well after each bit. Scrape into the loaf pan and bake in the middle of the oven for 1 to 1 1/4 hours. When it’s ready, an inserted toothpick should come out cleanish. Leave in the pan on a rack to cool, and eat thickly or thinly sliced, as you prefer.
Makes 8-10 slices.

What was the first cookbook you ever bought? Do you still have it?

Bobby Flay's Vidalia Onion Soup

2012-02-20T12:11:00.000-08:00

First off, how cute is Bobby Flay? I'm so excited I won his cookbook Bar Americain from Velva over at Tomatoes on the Vine because now I can look at photos of him while I'm cooking his delicious food.
Thank you Velva.

Is anyone watching this season of Worst Cooks in America? I'm really enjoying it.

I decided to make the same dish Velva made on her blog. It just looked so good and I love onion soup. Bobby Flay's version has become my favorite. I like the use of chicken stock rather than beef. The soup doesn't feel as heavy and rich this way. I didn't make the the pesto this time since my grocery store was out of parsley, imagine that.

Lots and lots of onions which for me means lots and lots of crying. I used my food processor to help me slice them.

Cook the onions for a long long time.

Couple missed steps in there but then add cheese. Try not to eat it all while your slicing.

Broil and enjoy. It makes great leftovers. I had it for lunch 4 days in a row and still wasn't tired of it.

Vidalia Onion Soup with Blistered Vermont Cheddar

Serves 8

Recipe from Bobby Flay's Bar Americain Cookbook

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 pounds Vidalia onions, halved and thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 cup brandy

1/2 cup dry sherry

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

8 cups chicken stock

8 sprigs fresh thyme

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

16 thin slices French baguette, lightly toasted

1 pound aged cheddar cheese, grated

Directions:

1. Melt butter with the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about 40 minutes.

2. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the brandy and sherry and boil until almost completely evaporated, about 2 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in the stock and thyme, bring to a simmer, and cook until the soup is slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and discard the thyme.

3. Preheat the broiler.

4. Divide eight 16-ounce ovenproof crocks between 2 baking sheets. Put a slice of bread in the bottom of each crock. Fill each crock until three-quarters full. Place another slice of baguette over each soup and divide the cheese on top. Carefully slide the crocks under the broiler and broil until the cheese is melted and golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Remove from the broiler and top each with a dollop of parsley pesto.

Parsley Pesto

Makes about 3/4 cup

Ingredients:

2 cups packed fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 clove garlic, chopped

3 tablespoons pine nuts

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Combine the parsley, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and process until coarsely chopped with the motor running, slowly add the oil through the feed tube and process until combined.

2. Add the cheese, season with salt and pepper, and pulse a few times just to incorporate. Scrape into a bowl. The pesto will keep for up to 2 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Do you watch any of Bobby Flay's shows? Brunch at Bobby's is my favorite.

Hey It's Ok...to be a little wimpy

2012-02-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

I'm linking up with Amber for Hey It's Ok Tuesday

Hey It's Ok to be a little Wimpy and.....

to have to close my eyes and turn my head away when I give blood. I'm not a fainter but the needle makes me really nervous.

to not be able to watch horror movies. I still get freaked out when I'm about to turn on the lights by the sliding glass door after seeing Scream and that was years ago.

to not like being in the house alone. You never know who's lurking behind a doorway to jump out and get you.

to shriek like the child and run from a bee. I may be bigger but those freaking stingers hurt.

to have given up hiking because I saw a snake last time. eeeekkkk!

to avoid going to the dentist as long as possible. I'm thinking this time one of my teeth will have to be close to falling out before you get me there again.

So, what are you wimpy about?

Show them you love them with Cookies

2012-02-20T11:36:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late on posting this for Valentine's Day but really these are so cute you don't need to wait until then to share them. I'm thinking of making them for St.Patricks Day with green sprinkles and shamrock chocolates.

The chocolates did this weird bubbly thing while baking and made them look almost like crunch bar hearts. the texture and taste didn't change but next time I'll add the chocolates about 5 minutes into baking them and see if that helps. I think it was too much heat that did it.

Wrapped in treat bags and ready to share.

I prefer my cookies without shortening so this recipe is from Land O' Lakes.

Do you make special treats for the holidays? Any good ideas for St.Patricks Day?

My Big Fat Greek Wedding- Mocha Bundt Cake

2012-02-16T09:05:00.000-08:00

I love romantic comedies, but then again what girl doesn't? So how is it possible that I had never seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding up until a couple weeks ago? Food 'n Flix assigned it for February so I set it up to record on my DVR and on a lazy Saturday spent some time truly enjoying this great movie. I've since watched it again. My favorite scene is Toula's mother trying to pronounce and understand what a bundt cake is. Hilarious and even funnier when she sticks a flower in the middle. I resisted the urge to do that with my cake but now that I think about it, it would have been another good laugh.
If you'd like to participate, there's still time, check out Kahakai Kitchen for more details.

I'm so glad the movie inspired me to bake this cake. It's so delicious. The recipe includes frosting but it doesn't need it. A little sprinkle of powdered sugar makes it just sweet enough.

Have you seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding?
What is your favorite scene?

Brie, Figs and Crackers...So Yummy

2012-02-15T14:39:00.000-08:00

I won some coupons to try Alouette Cheese from Cinnamon Girl Recipes back in November. And it's taken me this long to use one of them, oooops. I'm so glad I finally remembered to take my coupon to the store, remove it from the pouch in my purse and purchase free cheese. Of course, then I had to buy fig preserves and crackers to go with it which weren't free but that's ok, it was worth it.

I tried Alouette Brie Cheese. I love brie, but I don't love the rind, so being able to purchase it without the rind was a big plus for me.

The fig preserves are from France. I was feeling in the mood to be a little fancy and the extra couple dollars were worth it since the cheese was FREE....I get way to excited about not having to pay for something. Thanks Reeni.

Now doesn't that look just delicious?

What is your favorite cheese?

Hey It's OK Tuesday (Valentine's Day Edition)

2012-02-14T09:30:00.000-08:00

I'm linking up with Amber for Hey It's OK Tuesday

Hey, It's OK......

To be super excited it's Valentine's Day. Yes, I know it's over commercialized and a sappy holiday, but I love it anyway.

To not like conversation hearts. Cute but tastes too much like chalk to me.

To have declared today an eating fest. It started with a bagel with cream cheese and mini quiches. There is also lots of chocolate in my future.

To stay in tonight rather than fight the restaurant crowds. The food is never as good on a holiday and it seems rushed so they can turn tables quickly.

To know this is why men buy us cards, treats and flowers.....

To send out Happy Valentine's Day messages excessively on text message, e-mail, Facebook and Twitter. Did I wish you a Happy Valentine's Day yet????????

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Homemade Cappuccino

2012-02-12T17:22:00.000-08:00

Last night we had a fabulous dinner at Ca 'Del Sole and with dessert my husband had a cappuccino. It had been so long since I had one, I usually order a latte, and I loved it. So for breakfast this morning I decided to make my own. I don't have a milk frother but I improvised with a pot of hot milk and my immersion blender. It worked perfectly. The milk was steamy, frothy, creamy and delicious.

I love this cup and saucer. My sister gave me 2 of them for my birthday a few years ago. Makes me smile whenever I use them.

Anthony Bourdain had a cappuccino in Rome on his new show The Layover and it showed the Italians finishing their drink by using a spoon to eat the cream at the end. Delicious!

You'll need an espresso maker for this drink. I use the 12-cup stovetop one. I've had a fancy electric one in the past that didn't make espresso nearly as well as this one does.

Do you make fancy coffee drinks at home? What's your favorite?

14 Days of Love- Treats

2012-02-08T19:20:00.000-08:00

I had to start with the photo for this post because seriously, how cute is this? I saw the idea on Pinterest and knew it would be a part of the Days of Love. Follow the recipe on the Rice Krispies box and sprinkle with pink sugar while the treats are still a little warm. Once cooled, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make these adorable treats. If you spray the cookie cutter with a little cooking spray it keeps the hearts from sticking to the cutter. I must admit I ate all the scraps and a couple hearts while I was making them. They are just too yummy.

I wrapped them up for my family and some friends at work because I really didn't need too many extras in the house. I have already eaten my weight in cereal and marshmallows. It's worth it though.

When was the last time you made Rice Krispie treats?

French Brownies with a Mexican twist

2012-02-06T20:04:00.000-08:00

So are you supremely happy, deeply devastated or couldn't care less about the Giants winning the Super Bowl? I'm happy since I was rooting for them.
What did you think of the half-time show? I thought the costumes for Vogue were an odd choice for the song but overall I enjoyed it. Madonna looks amazing. Definitely inspires me to exercise.
As for the food, I contributed chips, salsa, guacamole and these brownies.....
French Chocolate Brownies that I adapted from Brown Eyed Baker. Follow the recipe but add 1/2 teaspoon, 1/8 teaspoon cayenne to the dry ingredients and 1 tablespoon of Kahula to the melted chocolate and butter. Next time I think I'll add an extra tablespoon of Kahula to intensify the flavor. If you try that, let me know what you think.

The top is crackly goodness and the rest is fudgy chewy deliciousness.

Up close and personal brownie shot, right before I took a nice big bite. Yum!

Oh and a nice photo of my pretty pink self-manicure.

14 Days of Love- Breakfast in Bed

2012-02-05T14:27:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge fan of Valentine's Day. It's my favorite holiday, second only to Christmas. For me it's not so much about the romance but about the reminder to show your spouse you love him/her. Marriage takes effort and being willing to care for your partner even when you don't feel like it. I love the little things- bringing a hot cup of coffee when he's still in bed or starting the shower so it's nice and hot, putting a little love note in his lunch or picking up something at the store I know he's been wanting. So, Valentine's Day is right up my alley. Big red hearts, mushy cards and candlelit dinners....bring it on. For this reason, I started the 14 Days of Love. Every year starting on Feb 1st, I surprise my husband with something everyday. Saturday morning, was breakfast in bed. He loves a traditional eggs, bacon, grits, toast and coffee breakfast so to make it special I used heart shaped molds to make eggs.

During this time of year you can find these molds everywhere. I got them at Costplus. Make sure you spray them well with cooking spray so the egg doesn't stick to the sides.

How cute is this egg? So why not surprise your honey with breakfast in bed one morning. I guarantee the smile of pleasure or shock LOL will be worth it.

Do you love or hate Valentine's Day?

If you love it, how do you make it special?

Blueberry Sour Cream Pancakes cooked in Coconut Oil

2012-02-04T14:27:00.000-08:00

Have you ever cooked with coconut oil? Trader Joes recently started carrying it so I picked up a jar and then for the longest time couldn't figure out when to use it. It just didn't seem right to use it for savory foods and baking with it didn't seem like an option so it sat in my cupboard until pancake Saturday. And we have a winner. I actually prefer it to cooking pancakes in butter. The coconut flavor is very subtle and seems to have a pretty high smoke point so it doesn't burn easily.

I used Barefoot Contessa's Banana Sour Cream Pancakes recipe but instead of bananas I added blueberries. This is my favorite pancake recipe. The batter has a nice tang to it which is great with real maple syrup. Yum!

How do you like your pancakes? I'm a big fan of strawberries and whipped cream.

Anne Burrell- Bucatini All'Amatriciana

2012-01-30T20:40:00.000-08:00

Have you ever received a gift card, you get to the store and are so overwhelmed with all the possible ways to spend free money that you end up picking things that you normally wouldn't buy? This was me in Williams and Sonoma a couple days after Christmas. This was why I ended up coming home with super expensive cans of San Marzano tomatoes as well as other pantry items that I'm not sure what I'm going to do with. Lebanese Couscous anyone? For $14 dollars a bag? Geez! Thankfully, I came across a recipe in Anne Burrell's Cook Like A Rock Star that called for exactly 2 cans of the very tomatoes that were sitting so snobbily in my cupboard. Seriously, who spends that much money on tomatoes and couscous?

Bucatini All'Amatriciana uses guanciale.....um ok I could not find this at the store. I used pancetta instead. Other than that, I followed the recipe exactly.

My snobby (but so so delicious and might actually be worth the price) tomatoes and lots of diced onion.

Onions and pancetta....if only you could smell the wonderfulness of it.

My fancy new toy, a food mill. Do you have one? I can't wait to try making my own gnocchi.

Grinding up those pretty tomatoes and adding them to the pork and onion to make the sauce.

Finish it off with a little olive oil and enjoy.

Banana Crunch Muffins- It's been a rough couple weeks....

2012-01-30T20:10:00.000-08:00

So, it's been a rough couple weeks and I haven't been able to do much blogging. In late December I found out I was pregnant, for the first time, and then shortly thereafter I found out it was an eptopic pregnancy. I'll spare you the details of what that is but you can google it for more info. So far, I've been able to avoid surgery and had a dose of a very powerful drug that has made me so tired and cranky that I haven't done much but sleep. Tonight however, I'm inspired. I miss cooking. I miss blogging. I miss reading and commenting. Well, there's a lot I miss right now and I'm hoping to find a little joy in recipes and writing until I'm physically and emotionally healed.

I'm going thru all the photos I have saved since before the pregnancy and thought what better place to start then with the muffins I made on a stormy cold morning when the only care I had was what to make for breakfast.

Ina Garten is one of my very favorite cookbook authors. I've never had a recipe fail. I sat at my kitchen counter on a rainy weekend morning and flipped thru the breakfast section in several of her cookbooks. I settled on Banana Crunch Muffins since I had a few bananas ready for use.

A hot cup a chamomile tea and I'm ready for baking. I must share my mug with you since it's too cute. Every year we take a trip to Disneyland and each pick out a coffee mug. It's a fun tradition and an inexpensive souvenir.

Muffins hot from the oven. I chose to top them with coconut. It added a nice sweet crunch.

My muffin posing for you. I'm still learning about food styling. It's definitely not my forte but I'm trying.

If you're like me, you break pieces of your muffin off to eat in bite sized chunks. I'm not a civilized cut in half, spread with butter and daintily pick up to eat person.

I debated sharing my pregnancy story but I'm hoping that maybe someone will read this and feel a little less alone with her own struggle with miscarriage, infertility or other pregnancy issue. When I found out I was pregnant, the only thing I wasn't worried about was losing the baby so imagine my shock when the ultrasound showed an empty space where the baby should have been. Talking about it has really helped. Hearing other women tell their stories has really helped. Finding comfort in the support of family and friends has kept me from being swallowed into that pit of sadness that seems to ready to suck me in. So if you read this and want to send me an e-mail or comment because you need a little support, I'm here.

Black Bean Soup- Great to Pack for Lunch

2012-01-18T15:59:00.000-08:00

Does anybody else run out of things to pack for lunch at work? I'm not really a sandwich person so I'm always hunting for recipes that make good leftovers. I've posted black bean soup before but I've since perfected the recipe. It keeps for several days in the fridge and reheats really well.

First saute over medium-high heat, one small onion diced and 2 minced cloves of garlic in approx 2 tsp of olive oil. Then add 2 cans of drained/rinsed black beans, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander and 1 cup of your favorite salsa.

Then add 2-3 cups of water depending on how thick you like your soup. Bring to a bubble and then reduce to simmer for about 20 minutes. Taste your seasoning and add salt and pepper to your liking.

Then using your handy-dandy immersion blender (that you got for Christmas) or your blender, blend until pureed.

Add your favorite toppings. I like shredded cheese and avocado.

What do you usually pack for lunch? Or do you have a favorite take-out stop?

Meatless Monday- Tostadas

2012-01-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Martin Luther King Day everyone! Did you get the day off? I enjoyed this lazy Monday very much. I didn't roll out of bed until noon and then I spent the rest of the day in the kitchen. And I may have watched Life As We Know It and It's Complicated again for the thousandth time.
I love Meatless Monday. It forces me to be creative with our meals and it saves a few bucks. Mexican food is a favorite in our house so Meatless Monday meant tostadas this week.
Pardon the orangey/shadowey photo. I'm still trying to figure out my camera.

I bake corn tortillas sprayed on both sides with a little canola oil cooking spray at 400 deg until crispy. Then I top the crispy tortillas with vegetarian refried beans, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced black olives, diced avocado, salsa and sour cream. Quick, simple and so delicious. You may even have time to whip up a margarita to toast your Meatless Monday success.

Do you participate in Meatless Monday? Or meatless any other day of the week?

Black Bean & Beef Enchilada Casserole

2012-01-07T16:44:00.000-08:00

My husband is a huge casserole lover. I really don't understand it. I mean, I like a good casserole but it's not something I crave. For him, it's the ultimate comfort food. Whenever I ask him what he wants for dinner, the first thing he says is "casserole." So now, I'm hunting for casserole dishes. Especially since we're trying to save money and anything that provides leftovers is a welcome recipe in my kitchen.
I adapted this recipe from Sweet Treats and More.

I used 1 pound of organic grass-fed beef from Trader Joes instead of chicken. It has more fat than I prefer, but I'll take it since it's organic and still inexpensive. Also, I added 1 teaspoon each of chili powder and onion powder to the browned meat.

I opted to serve the sour cream on the side rather than in the casserole. I added a 3.8 oz can of sliced black olives. We love olives in this house.

I topped the casserole with 3 stalks of scallions (white and green parts) diced.

It was cheesy, saucy, beefy bean goodness. Perfect for leftovers at work the next day. Just make sure to reheat in a glass container. I found some cheap glass to-go containers on Amazon. Plastic in the microwave is not your friend.

Do you have any casseroles you can recommend?

Any budget meals that are still delicious?

Martha Stewart's Apple Pie

2011-12-29T10:55:00.000-08:00

Sometimes there's nothing better than the comfort of hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream. It's such a homey Fall dessert and one that I truly love. Recently, I tried Martha's Stewart's recipe and it was delicious.

I don't have a photo of a slice of the pie because ooooopppps I forgot.

What is your favorite pie?
Pumpkin is high on my beloved pie list as well as apple.

Simple Roasted Chicken with Parsnips

2011-12-28T16:06:00.000-08:00

Up until Sunday night, I had never had a parsnip. I had seen them in the store, wondered about them, but never actually tried one. Turns out, it's a lot like a carrot/potato combo. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. I might try a parsnip puree next.

For this simple recipe you will need:

1 whole chicken,
as many potatoes, carrots, parsnips and onions as you like or will fit in your pan.
a couple sprigs each of thyme and rosemary
olive oil
salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 375 deg
Cut veggies into big cubes, bigger than bite-sized, put in the pan, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt & pepper.
Stuff your chicken with half an onion , thyme and rosemary, place on chicken on top of veggies, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt & pepper.
Roast at 375 deg until chicken is cooked thru and juices run clear when cut, approx 1 hour.

Have you ever tried a parsnip? What did you think?

Hey, It's OK Tuesday.....

2011-12-26T18:03:00.000-08:00

I'm linking up with Amber for "Hey, It's Ok....."

Hey, It's OK.............

To take pictures of your pets playing in wrapping paper Christmas morning.

To keep your Christmas tree up until New Year's Day. It's so pretty and took so long to decorate; I'm going to enjoy it until every last needle has fallen off.

To not have sent out Christmas cards this year. I'm thinking I might do Valentine's Day instead.

To be thinking about New Year Resolutions, even though I've never kept one.

To spend excessive amounts of time choosing which Sees candy to choose from the box. You never know what you're going to get.

To be sad 2011 is almost over.

Baked Alaska

2011-12-26T11:48:00.000-08:00

Oh how I've missed my blog. It's been a crazy couple weeks since the holiday started and I took a vacation from blogging. It was hard not to break out my camera for every meal or sneak away to read posts, but it was needed and now I'm ready to get back to it.
My nephew was in charge of dessert for Christmas. He made a spectacular Baked Alaska. Layers of brownie, coffee ice cream, mint & chip ice cream, vanilla ice cream and covered in toasted meringue.

This dessert has major WOW factor. Did any of the kids in your family make something special for the holidays? Although, my nephew is a teenager so maybe kid doesn't apply to him.
I can't wait to catch-up on all the posts I've missed. Is there anything that is a Must Read?

BBQ TriTip Dinner

2011-11-30T20:56:00.001-08:00

We grilled for dinner the other night since we had family over and it was a nice evening for it.

TriTip marinated in olive oil, salt, pepper, and worcestershire sauce.

Rice pilaf with toasted pine nuts.

Roasted asparagus.

Texas toast.

Are you still using your grill?

Emeril Lagasse's Chicken Pot Pie with Taragon Biscuit Top

2011-11-30T20:47:00.001-08:00

A one-pot meal that can be made ahead and has leftovers for lunch....love it!

Chicken Pot Pie with Taragon Biscuit Top
by Emeril Lagasse

ingredients

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 ½ teaspoons salt

¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 3 tablespoons melted

1 pound button mushrooms stemmed and quartered

1 ½ cups small-diced onion

¾ cup small-diced carrot

¾ cup small-diced celery

1 tablespoon minced garlic

¼ cup all-purpose flour

4 cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth

8 ounces Yukon Gold Potatoes, scrubbed and diced

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

½ cup fresh or frozen green peas

1 recipe Tarragon Biscuits

For the Tarragon Biscuits:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1 cup cake flour

1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons sugar

1 ½ teaspoons salt

5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed

1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves

1 ½ cups buttermilk

directions
Set a 12 inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat
In a large bowl, combine the chicken thighs with 1 teaspoon of the salt, ½ teaspoon of the pepper, and the olive oil. Place half the chicken in the pan and sear, stirring occasionally, until the chicken begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside in a separate bowl while you cook the remaining chicken. Place that cooked chicken in a bowl as well.
Add the unmelted butter to the pan and, when melted, add the mushrooms and the remaining salt and pepper. Cook until the mushrooms are well caramelized, 3 to 4 minutes, then add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic to cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly caramelized, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring for 1 minute. Add the stock, browned chicken, potatoes, and thyme.
Preheat oven to 475 degrees
Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat so that the sauce just simmers, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken and potatoes are tender…about 35 minutes. Gently stir in the peas and then remove the pan from the heat. Place the biscuits on top of the chicken and gravy, with 8 biscuits around the edge of the pan and the remaining 4 biscuits in the center. Be sure the biscuits do not touch. Brush the tops of the biscuits with the melted butter and bake until the biscuits are golden brown and flaky..14 to 15 minutes. Allow the pot pie to cool briefly before serving.
For the Tarragon Biscuits:
Sift the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt into a large bowl
Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, work the cold butter into the flour until the pieces of butter are pea sized. Add the tarragon and buttermilk, and with your ands or a rubber spatula, stir until the milk and flour come together to form a dough
Sprinkle some of the extra all-purpose flour on a work surface and place the dough on top of the flour. Use your hands to press the dough into a ½ inch thick disk about 9 inches in diameter. Using a 2 inch round cutter dusted with flour, cut out 12 dough rounds. Be sure to press straight down when cutting the dough…a twisting motion will prevent the dough from rising.
Place the biscuits on top of the pot pie and bake as directed.
Makes 12-16 servings

Do you have a favorite one-pot meal that can be made ahead?

Julia Child's Mousse au Chocolat or Chocolate Mousse

2011-11-30T20:27:00.001-08:00

Decadent and delicious chocolate mousse. They type of dessert you make before the New Year starts and you make too many resolutions about eating healthy and getting into shape.

I made Julia Child's version of chocolate mousse because I know her recipes never fail and her instructions are easy to follow. Make sure you set aside at least an hour to follow all the steps in the recipe. Plus, you'll need to have enough time to let the mousse chill in the fridge so it's best to make it the night before you plan to serve it.

Chocolate Mousse
Mastering the Art of French Cooking
by Julia Child, Simone Beck & Louisette Bertholle

ingredients

4 eggs, separated
¾ cup granulated sugar plus one tablespoon, separated
¼ cup orange liqueur
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
4 tablespoons strong coffee
6 ounces unsalted butter, softened
¼ cup finely chopped candied orange zest (recipe following)
Pinch of salt

directions

Beat the egg yolks and sugar together until mixture is thick, pale yellow and falls back upon itself, forming a slowly dissolving ribbon. Beat in the orange liqueur, then set the mixing bowl over the not-quite-simmering water. Continue beating for three to four minutes until the mixture is foamy and too hot for your finger. Then set the mixing bowl in the basin of ice water and continue to beat for another three to four minutes until the mixture is cool and again forms the ribbon. It will have the consistency of mayonnaise.Set aside.
Place another clean mixing bowl over the basin of not-quite-simmering water, creating a double-boiler. Inside, melt chocolate with coffee, then remove from heat and beat in the butter a bit at a time to make a smooth cream. Beat the chocolate into the egg yolks and sugar, then beat in the orange zest.
In yet another clean mixing bowl, beat the egg whites and salt until soft peaks form. Sprinkle in the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Stir one-fourth of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture, then gently fold in the rest.
Turn into a serving dish, dessert cups or petits pots. Refrigerate for at least two hours, or overnight.

Dark Chocolate M&Ms Cookies

2011-11-30T20:16:00.001-08:00

Have you seen all the flavors of M&Ms they have now? Seriously, I was at Target recently and there were too many to choose from. I picked up a bag of the Dark Chocolate flavor and kicked of Christmas cookie season.

I used the Nestle Toll House cookie recipe but replaced the chocolate chips with M&Ms. So Yummy!

Plenty to share with friends.
I have a bag of the peanut butter M&Ms to try next.
Have you tried any of the new flavors? Which one is your favorite?

Quick Lunch for a Crowd

2011-11-29T11:15:00.001-08:00

On a recent visit to my grandparent's house we had one of those "it's almost lunch, we need to feed everyone but don't know what to make" moments. A quick trip to the grocery store, about 30 minutes in the kitchen and lunch was ready.

I made delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. These were made with Swiss cheese, granny smith apple slices and a little dijon mustard. To get the nice brown toasty color, I spray them with a little olive oil cooking spray before heating them on the stove. I keep batches in a warm oven until all the sandwiches are done and ready to serve.

Grapes with grilled cheese are a perfect match.

Quick pasta salad made with Italian dressing, chopped tomatoes, black olives, scallions and chunks of Parmesean cheese.

Do you have a quick go-to lunch that you make to feed a large group?

Pumpkin Cookies with Maple Icing

2011-11-20T12:16:00.000-08:00

These cookies remind me of baked donuts. They are soft and doughy with a nice spice to them. Unfortunately, I've managed to misplace the recipe but by googling pumpkin spice cookies there are so many that have the same ingredients that I'm sure you could use any of the recipes available online and they would taste just as good. The icing is a simple mixture of powdered sugar, maple syrup and just a teeny tiny little bit of water.
One thing to keep in mind, these cookies are super moist. When I put them in the container, the next morning the cookies had absorbed or possibly dissolved all the glaze and they were a wet sticky mess. Still delicious though.

Running Musings

2011-11-20T11:44:00.001-08:00

Guess what helps get rid of a stitch while you're running.....singing. A friend of mine who spent some time in the Marines explained the reason they chant during their runs is that it helps regulate breathing, therefore getting rid of the stitch. I started trying it, much to my embarrassment, but hey it works. I even sometimes chant Sound Off 123 when I feel a really sharp stitch starting to set in.

I'm sharing this awful photo of right before I left for my 5K because the one they took of me actually running is so so so much worse. I almost cried when I saw it because not only do I look 20 lbs heavier but for for some reason I also look like a man. I'm doing my best to forget I ever saw the photo.

My clunky but very effective massager is key to my running recovery. I also have a foam roller but it just doesn't compare. The massager really targets the side of my shins and calves which tense of the most. Mainly due to the fact that I need new shoes which I'm hoping to buy next weekend.

Anybody else want a scale like this for Christmas? Apparently I've made an error in calorie burn judgement with running. I convinced myself that since I was running I could eat anything I wanted and not gain weight. Wrong! Hence my awful running photo. Bye Bye ice cream. You will be missed.

Do you have any running musings or tips?

Hey It' OK......

2011-11-20T10:57:00.001-08:00

I'm linking up with Amber for "Hey, It's Ok....."

Hey, It's OK.............

To be avoiding the scale since Halloween candy season.

To not like the movie The Christmas Story. I refuse to watch it. Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase is so much funnier.

To sometimes be obsessive about checking Facebook. I really shouldn't be allowed to have it on my phone.

To hate soft water systems. I always feel greasy after showering. Thank goodness my house has plain old hard water.

To reuse a Starbucks cup a couple times before throwing it out especially when now that the Christmas ones are out.

To want a Roomba for Christmas but feel strange about the idea of having a robot clean my house. Didn't they make a movie about this and then the robots took over the world?

To already have Christmas on the brain even though we haven't had Thanksgiving yet. Clearly it's my favorite holiday.

I was going to run this morning but.....it's raining.

2011-11-20T10:50:00.001-08:00

I had prepared myself last night to get up and run in the morning. It's been a whole week since the 5K and a whole week since I've put on my running shoes. But, when I woke up today....it's raining! And not just a little drizzle. It's been a downpour. Which I'm actually fine with since I made a library visit yesterday.

Other than blogging, this is how I'll be spending my morning. A latte and some books to read. You can also pretend you hear football in the background.

How are you spending today? Is it raining in your town?

Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese

2011-11-14T18:41:00.001-08:00

First things first, the 5K was awesome. I had so much fun and I can't wait to run another one. I came in 19th for my age group with a total time of 35:28. Considering there was a massive hill at the end, I'm very proud of my time and finishing strong. I'll post photos as soon as they're available.
On to other things, pumpkin macaroni and cheese was on the menu for the weekend. I figured we needed some carbs the night before the race and this fit the bill.

I found this recipe on We Are Not Martha. Head over to their site for the details. I made a couple swaps though. I used regular macaroni noodles, white cheddar cheese and sour cream instead of yogurt. It was delicious and will definitely be in my dinner menu rotation.

What did you do over the weekend? Any races? Make anything delicious?

Mexican Egg Scramble

2011-11-12T20:10:00.001-08:00

Breakfast on the weekends is my favorite meal. I can take my time in the kitchen and make some of my favorite foods. This morning was no exception. We had to stop at the mechanic's to drop of one of our cars and on the way home we stopped at Starbucks. The Salted Caramel Mocha Latte sounded so delicious and while it tasted good, it's so so rich. Tons of sugar, tons of caffeine- zing! I'm awake. Once we returned home, I started breakfast, well actually it would probably be considered brunch. We like to sleep in LOL

This is my own creation of what I like to call, Mexican Egg Scramble. It consists of roasted potatoes (I buy the frozen bag from Trader Joes and heat them in a little oil on the stove), eggs, Muenster cheese (I usually use cheddar but we were out of it), black forest ham, avocado and pico de gallo. I serve it with warm flour tortillas and orange juice. It's so good and filling to the point that we don't feel hungry until dinner.

I have a "new" camera that I'm learning to use. It's my grandpa's old one and I'm determined to start taking better photos. My nephew taught me a few of the settings. I mainly want to learn how to blur the background and figure out light settings.

Tomorrow is my first 5K. Wish me luck.

What have you been up to this weekend?

A Tribute To My Dad- a Veteran

2011-11-11T12:33:00.001-08:00

This is my favorite photo of my dad and me.

Ducks make me smile because of this memory.

I was young when it was taken.

Too young to remember how old I was at the time,

but old enough to remember the moment.

He died when I was old enough to know my exact age

and he was too young to leave us.

He served our country as a Navy Seal with 3 tours through Vietnam.

He instilled in me patriotism and love for my fellow man.

He loved his family with a protective fierceness

that I will always cherish.

He loved God and modeled faith for me.

He's a veteran and a hero, but most importantly My Dad.

Chocolate/Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies

2011-11-10T14:07:00.001-08:00

So, I'm a little bummed because I had planned on entering this recipe in the LA Times Cookie Bake-off but then life got in the way and I missed the deadline. Ooops. But, I can still share it with you and I'm happy to. These are delicious and my first ever cookie recipe that I created by myself.

I haven't figured out what to name these yet. Any ideas? For now I'm calling them.....

Chocolate/Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies
by Danielle (All Things Yummy)

Ingredients

1/2 cup Oat Bran
1 1/2 cups All-purpose Flour
3/4 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup unsalted butter softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup old fashioned oats (not instant)
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat over 350 degress F.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, mix oat bran, flours, baking powder, baking soda and set aside.

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together butter, sugars and salt until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla. Stir in the bran/flour mixture until just combined. Stir in the oats and chips until incorporated.

Drop approx 1 tablespoon of dough (I use a small ice cream scoop), 1-inch apart for each cookie on lined baking sheet. Bake until cookies are lightly golden, approx 13-15 minutes. Allow to cool slightly on cookie sheet and then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

Anne Burrell's Braised Chicken Thighs

2011-11-04T10:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! What do you have planned for the weekend?
Maybe you'll get a chance to try a new recipe like this one, Braised Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms and Almonds. I'll be trying a couple new pie recipes for an early Thanksgiving I'm having with some family.

The sauce is the star of this dish. To keep it honest, I added a little flour butter mixture to thicken it a little bit. I don't love chicken thighs but in this dish I enjoyed them. I was able to make it for dinner on a weeknight and it didn't take too long. I started it before my run and then fnished it up when I got back so it takes some planning to fit it in if you have evening workout plans but it's quick enough that you won't be eating at 10pm.

I served it over orechiette. Which means little ears in Italian.... too cute.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Pumpkin Chili

2011-11-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

I saw this recipe on Fat Girl Trapped in a Skinny Body and knew I was going to love it. It's delicious and one of those great slow cooker meals that's ready for you when you get home from work. The pumpkin adds a nice creaminess to the dish that tastes so so good. I made cornbread to serve with it as well. Cornbread with a little butter and drizzled with honey, yum!

Check her blog for the recipe.

Anne Burrell's Sweet Potato and Apple Hash

2011-11-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

Clearly I did something wrong. It started out well, but......

Onions and bacon....smelling and looking delicious

Sweet Potatoes and Rosemary ready to be

covered and simmered.

And now we have chunky apples and mushy sweet potatoes. Clearly I did something wrong.

I know I cooked the sweet potatoes too long.

There seems to be way too much liquid left as well which I don't understand since I followed the directions.

The dish was still good but it could have been a lot better. One major change I would make, remove the bacon before the simmer process and then top the dish at the end. My bacon ended up soggy instead of crispy, yuck.

You can find the recipe in her new cookbook, on Foodnetwork.com or below.

Sweet Potato & Apple Hash
by Anne Burrell

ingredients

garnet yams, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice

Extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt

4 to 6 slices thick cut bacon, cut into lardons

1 large onion, cut in 1/2-inch dice

2 Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch dice

4 scallions, white and green parts separated and thinly sliced

1/2 cup green pumpkin seeds (pepitas), toasted

directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In a large bowl, add the sweet potatoes, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, to taste. Toss to coat and arrange them on a baking sheet. Roast the sweet potatoes until they are soft but not mushy, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and reserve.

Coat a large saute pan with olive oil. Add the bacon and put the pan over medium heat. When the bacon has started to get crispy and brown, add the onions, season with salt and saute until the onions are very soft and aromatic. Add the apples and the scallion whites and saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the sweet potatoes, and saute until the sweet potatoes are cooked through and starting to become crispy, about 7 to 8 minutes.

Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with the scallion greens and pumpkin seeds.

Have you ever had a recipe fail? Did you try to make it again?

"Hey, It's Ok....."

2011-11-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

I'm linking up with Amber for "Hey, It's OK Tuesday"

"Hey, It's OK....."

To have squealed with delight when my niece gave me all her Butterfingers from trick-or-treating. Yum!

To watch the same movie over and over again. Somestimes just playing it for background noise.

To be a little worried when I leave the CrockPot on when I'm not at home. What if something happens and the house burns down?

To have 2 favorite football teams. Go Chargers! Go Bears!

To get annoyed that my husband doesn't like sweets as much as I do for breakfast. What I am supposed to do with a dozen pancakes?

To think Tuesday is the hardest day of the week.

Anne Burrell's Sausage Ragu

2011-10-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

I love a nice big bowl of hearty pasta, especially on nights like last night when it's cold outside. Since we didn't have any plans yesterday other than watching football and carving pumpkins, it was the perfect time to try a new Anne Burrell recipe. Be warned, you need at least 4 hours to complete this dish. I set aside 5 just in case. It was so worth it. The sauce has so much flavor that I was tempted to eat it right out of the pot with a spoon.

Sausage Ragu is in her new cookbook Cook Like a Rock Star.

I was lucky enough to win a copy from my local radio station when she was in the area for a signing.

Hours of cooking with lots of TLC.

Topped with delicious cheese and ready to eat.

I normally share recipes online but since this one isn't listed on Foodnetwork.com there are probably some copyright issues. You can get a copy of her cookbook on Amazon or I've seen it at Costco and Target.

Bake Sale Today! Please bid for Kisses for Katie Charity

2011-10-30T11:33:00.001-07:00

Bake is today and open for bidding. Please bid to benefit a great cause.
http://runningricig.blogspot.com/2011/10/bake-sale-open-for-bidding.html

Bake Sale this Sunday- Toasted Hazelnut, White Chocolate/Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-10-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

Just to prepare you, I'm going to be obnxious about this and remind everyone several times over the weekend, but it's for a great cause. Kari at Running Ricig is hosting a bake sale to benefit Kisses for Katie. I'm auctioning a delicious batch of Toasted Hazelnut, White Chocolate/Chocolate Chip Cookies. The sale begins this Sunday at 10am on Kari's website so mark your calendars people. There are going to be many yummy items up for bidding and I really hope you'll participate.

Don't they look good? You know you want some.

Plus, they freeze really well

so you can enjoy them for several weeks.

Trail Mix

2011-10-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

If I go too long without eating, I get very cranky so I like to have a snack readily available if it looks like my next meal is too far in the future. Trail mix is one of my favorite snacks to keep in my desk at work. It lasts forever and is easy to make at home. I tend not to buy ready-made trail mix at the store. It usually contains a couple things I don't like or is too salty for me. Plus, it's cheaper in the long run to make my own and I can control the ingredients.

This mix contains:
Dried apricots
Raw walnuts
Lightly salted cashews
Banana chips cooked in coconut oil
Dark chocolate covered raisins
Lightly salted almonds

What do you like in your trail mix?
I'm a fan of sesame sticks and Chinese crackers too.

Couch to 5K Week 7

2011-10-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

This is how I felt last night when we started Week 7. I felt like my pace was so slow and the 25 minutes without a rest of running was really intimidating. But, I did it. 25 minutes went by a lot faster than I thought it would and I'm so glad I didn't give in and walk. The 5K is just a few weeks away and I really want to be able to run the whole thing.
I've started running with my iPod to motivate me. Any good songs I should add?

Hey, It's OK Tuesday!

2011-10-25T12:08:00.000-07:00

I'm linking up with Amber for "Hey, It's OK Tuesday"

"Hey, It's OK....."

To already be listening to Christmas music. If Costco can start displaying ornaments, then I can load my iPod with Joy to the World and The First Noel.

To have cried a little watching Kim Kardashian's wedding episode. I lost my dad before I got married so I know how rough it is not to have him to walk you down the aisle.

To purchase enough cans of pumpkin to stock a bomb shelter. I just can't get enough. Yum!

To be too scared to go to Halloween Horror Nights. I went once and will forever be traumatized.

To be proud I'm training for a 5K but hate every minute of the actual running.

To wear the same outfits every week to work because it's comfortable and I don't have to think about what to wear.

To sleep in on the weekends and then take an afternoon nap. This is why I don't have kids yet.

If you'd like to partcipate, check out Amber's blog http://whisperingwriter.blogspot.com/2011/10/hey-its-okay-tuesday_25.html

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

2011-10-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

This was my first time working with yeast outside of using a bread machine. I promised myself I wouldn't get frustrated which was a good thing because my first yeast packet didn't bubble like it was supposed to so I started over by proofing it first then adding it to the other ingredients. Second time was a charm and all the other steps was a cinch after that. I used a white chocolate ganache for the frosting rather than what the recipe called for but next time I'm going to try the butterscotch glaze.

These taste even better than they look.

My cute little dough ball.

Dough ball rising just like it's supposed to.

I added pecans before rolling it.

Hot from the oven and ready for white chocolate goodness.

So yummy.

I had to stop myself from eating the whole pan by myself.

The recipe I used is from Sugar Plum.

Congo Bars

2011-10-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

Mmmmm....these are the perfect blend of chocolate and coconut without being too sweet. I made them for a friend's birthday since they travel well and make plenty for sharing.

Plus with the addition of delicious toasted pecans.....so so good.

You can find the recipe on the BrownEyedBaker's website.

Do you have a favorite blog for baked treats?

Brisket with Carrots & Onions

2011-10-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

We had some family over for Sunday dinner recently and I decided to make brisket. I cooked it in my Crock Pot since I was gone for most of the day. I chose Ina Garten's recipe since it called for tomato juice and I had a lot leftover in the fridge from a gazpacho recipe I made. Although the dish turned out good, I don't know that I'd make it in tomato juice again. I hate to say it, but I prefer the Lipton onion mix recipe. I served the brisket with baked potatoes, rolls and a bottle of red wine. We ate outside in between sessions of football watching. Typical Sunday LOL

Brisket with Carrots & Onions
by Ina Garten

ingredients
6 to 7 pounds beef brisket

2 tablespoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon minced garlic (4 cloves)

2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves

1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks

8 stalks celery, cut into 2-inch chunks

6 yellow onions, peeled and sliced

6 fresh or dried bay leaves

1 (46-ounce) can tomato juice

directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (I cooked mine in a slow cooker)

Place the brisket in a heavy roasting pan. In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, garlic, and oregano. Rub the mixture on the brisket. Pile the carrots, celery, onions, and bay leaves on the brisket and pour in enough tomato juice to come about 3/4 of the way up the meat and vegetables. Cover the top of the pan with 2 sheets of parchment paper, then with aluminum foil. (The tomato juice will react unpleasantly with the aluminum foil if they touch.)

Bake for 3 1/2 hours, or until the meat is tender. Remove the meat from the pan and keep it warm. Place the pan on 2 burners and boil the vegetables and sauce over medium heat for another 30 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened.

To serve, slice the meat across the grain. Serve with the vegetables.

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

2011-10-18T15:09:00.000-07:00

I finished this book in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. It's a quick but very powerful read. It's one of those books that you think about for days after reading it. I felt the same way about The Shack which I recommend to friends all the time. I bought my copy of Heaven is for Real at Costco which was a great deal and I definitely plan to buy several copies as Christmas gifts. There is an excerpt of the book available on their website http://heavenisforreal.net/
I hope you'll check it out and let me know what you think.

Any good books to recommend?

Couch to 5K- Week 5

2011-10-16T19:28:00.000-07:00

Today we completed week 5 of the Couch to 5K. This week was jog 5 walk 3, repeated 3 times. My pace is pretty slow, but I'm sticking with it. I don't get a stitch in my side nearly as often and my shins don't hurt anymore. I'm definitely starting to notice that what I eat before I jog affects how well I do. For instance, I had a big carb lunch, a cupcake and then I took a nap....try jogging after that. My tummy was not happy but I survived. I'm looking forward to week 6.

Do you eat anything special or restrict your diet before you jog? I'm really new to this whole 5K training thing. I recently checked out a book called Run Your Butt Off at the library so I'm hoping it will have some good tips.

Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies

2011-10-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

Louanne over at Louanne's Kitchen is featuring 12 weeks of Christmas cookies and I couldn't wait until Christmas to try these. I had to use frozen cranberries since fresh aren't available in my area yet and I didn't do the gluten-free option. These cookies are so delicious. We devoured so many right from the baking sheet that I knew they'd be dangerous to have in the house so I sent the rest to work with my hubby.
Check out Louanne's blog for the recipe.
Are you planning your Christmas baking yet? I'm definitely not ready. I'm savouring Fall right now and not in a hurry to get to Winter.

Cooking with Fabio at Cafe Firenze

2011-10-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

Cafe Firenze is one of my favorite restaurants. It's one of those places that I take my family and friends since I know the service will always be good and the food always yummy. Fabio Viviani of Top Chef fame hosted a cooking class last weekend and I was so excited to attend. The class was a little over 2 hours and was full of fun and deliciousness. The best part, other than Fabio's humor and charm, was of course the food and drink.

Fabio in action. I tried to be as discreet as possible with my picture taking. He didn't mind cameras being present but I wanted to spend more time paying attention to what he was doing than taking pictures.

Jacopo, the mixologist for the restaurant, showed us how to make ginger/cranberry margaritas.

So so good and he definitely didn't skimp on the tequila.

The meal we learned how to make- lemon/garlic chicken, cranberry risotto and pumpkin gnocchi.

The gnocchi was my favorite.

We ended the class with a dessert cocktail- pumpkin pie martinis.

This was super strong so I couldn't finish it but it had good flavor.

If you're ever in the area, please stop at Cafe Firenze for lunch or dinner. I believe there is going to be another cooking class in December, which I fully intend to sign up for, so maybe I'll see you there.

Deen Bros- Buttery Chicken "Scampi" Pasta

2011-10-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of the Deen family and their recipes, despite what Anthony Bourdain has to say. Ugh! I checked out the Deen Bros cookbook from the library and tried their Buttery Chicken "Scampi" recipe. It was really good. I subsituted basil for the parsely but other than that I didn't make any changes.
I'm always at a loss for how to make photos of chicken look appetizing.....suggestions?

Buttery Chicken "Scampi" Pasta
by Deen Bros

4 Tbsp unsalted butter

2 Tbsp olive oil

4 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 cup dry white wine (I used Viogner)

1 1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

3 boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 1/2 inch-long strips

1/3 cup fresh parsley

1 1/2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Cooked pasta, such as linguine for serving

Melt butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant. Add the wine, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Simmer until the wine has reduced by half, 3-5 minutes. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the sauce in the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, or until no longer pink inside and the juices run clear when pricked with a fork. Stir in the parsley and lemon juice. Serve over the pasta.

Coffee Republic, Folsom CA

2011-10-09T16:59:00.000-07:00

Mmmmmm...coffee. I have to admit, Northern California seems to have a much better selection of coffee houses and cafes than we do in Southern California. After hiking by Folsom Lake, we stopped by Coffee Republic for lunch. Super hip and fun inside with nice seating outside.

I started with a snickerdoodle. Mainly because I was starving while waiting for my food and also because sometimes dessert first is a treat. Plus, it was only a dollar.

First, yes I know this photo isn't upright. I can't get it to rotate and I'm too annoyed with blogger to figure it out. Oh well. It's a thai iced latte. I like trying new drinks and this one is really yummy. Mango tea with coconut milk.

My hubby's latte, which since I'm greedy I sneaked a few delicious sips. I swear, if I ever get pregnant I don't know how I'll give up coffee.

Ham, apple and brie sandwich. There was also some kind of berry onion compote on here that was tasty.

My hubby's chicken and artichoke sandwich.

Do you have a favorite coffee house or cafe?
What do you like to order?

Apple Hill

2011-10-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

I was a kid the last time I went to Apple Hill with my family. So young that I hardly remember it but the little snipits I do remember are good and when my family suggested we visit, I was all for it. It's about an hour outisde of Rocklin where we were staying. I couldn't tell you exactly since I'm not from the area and I wasn't driving but it didn't seem too far.

The first thing I noticed when we got there was the scent of apples and cinnamon in the air. It smelled so so good. Can you guess where the smell was coming from? The bakery where heavenly donuts are made. My hubby and I split an apple fritter and I also had an apple slushie.

Next up was the fudge factory. Really crowded and since I'm not a huge fudge fan we didn't buy anything. I did buy some delicious apple pumpkin butter from the market area that I don't have a photo of. So delicious!

Donuts for breakfast the next morning and maybe a few for the ride home.

Have you ever been to Apple Hill? Or some place similar?
What is you favorite apple treat?

Julia Child's French Onion Soup

2011-10-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

Can you tell it was late at night when I took this photo? This was a cold, dark and rainy day dinner. Julia Child's French Onion Soup is perfection. So perfect, I had the leftovers for lunch 2 days in row. Rather than top it with toasts, I ladled into toasty bread bowls. Mmmmm...carb coma.

Soupe à L’oignon Gratinée – French Onion Soup
by Julia Child

6-8 servings

Ingredients:

5 cups thinly sliced yellow onions

3 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon oil

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon sugar

3 tablespoons flour

2 quarts beef stock, boiling

1/2 cup dry white wine

salt and pepper to taste

3 tablespoons cognac

4-6 rounds of hard-toasted French bread

1-2 cups grated Swiss or Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1) Cook the onions slowly in the butter and oil in a covered saucepan for 15 minutes. Uncover, raise heat to medium and stir in the salt and sugar. The sugar will help the onions to brown. Cook for 30-40 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions have turned a deep golden brown.

2) Sprinkle in the flour and stir over heat for 3 minutes. Off heat, blend in the stock. Add the wine and season to taste. Simmer partially covered for another 30-40 minutes or more, skimming if needed. Correct seasonings.

3) Just before serving, stir in the cognac. Place rounds of bread in soup bowls or a tureen and pour soup on top. Sprinkle with grated cheese and brown under a hot broiler until golden and bubbly. Serve immediately.

What is your favorite rainy day dinner?

Fiori's Butcher Shop, Lodi, CA

2011-10-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

I love a good deli. Especially one with friendly service and a nice atmosphere. A friend suggested we try Fiori's Butcher Shoppe & Deli while we were in Lodi and I'm so glad he did. It was really good.
As with most delis, you order at the counter, receive a number and then they bring you your food. I was overwhelmed by all the menu choices and when the server said I could also create my own sandwich as well I thought I'd be there all day deciding. Oh my, way too many choices. If I lived closer, I'd order something new everyday.

Do you see how the menu wraps around the whole counter?

I ordered the half sandwich (Chicken Ceasar) and soup (Tortilla).

The sandwich was delicious on Genova bread. My only complaint about the whole place is the soup.

It was mainly soggy tortilla pieces with some corn kernels added. Not impressed.

My hubby had the turkey on marble rye. He said it was really good.

I didn't try it since I'm not a fan of sprouts.

Overall, loved this place and wish there was one in my area.

Michael David Winery, Lodi CA

2011-10-05T17:44:00.000-07:00

I'm baaaccck! Did you miss me? We went to a wedding at the Grand Island Mansion in Walnut Grove and then up to visit family in Rocklin. It was such a wonderful vacation. While waiting between check-out of our hotel and check-in at the mansion for the wedding, we stopped at Michael David Winery in Lodi, CA. I had read the grounds are beautiful and the wine is really good. It did not disappoint. My hubby was the DD so I got to enjoy several tastings of both red and white.

The white tastings were my favorite.

I didn't bring any home but I'll definitely look for it at the store.

Attached to the tasting room is a small produce market as well as cafe.

We didn't have lunch but I saw several dishes I'd like to go back and try.

The grounds are beautiful. They grow a lot of produce on site.

There's a duck pond as while as an outdoor picnic area.

Obligatory couple's pose. It was such a nice way to spend a couple hours.

Have you been wine tasting?

Do you have a favorite place to visit?

Funfetti Cupcakes? Yes, Please.

2011-09-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

I used to be really snobby about boxed cake mix. What?!? You bought cake mix from a box? No No No, you must bake from scratch. No other way of baking will do. I've given up on this. Sometimes I'm in a hurry or I screw up the cake I was trying to bake from scratch and like it or not, a boxed cake comes out perfect every time. I usually grab a box of Funfetti if I'm going for boxed cake since it's my favorite. It's so festive and well, Fun! Plus you can buy frosting to match. LOL Don't even get me started on the horrors of the ingredients in ready-made frosting, but every once in a while isn't going to kill anyone. I hope.
So I present you with......Funfetti cupcakes and canned frosting with sprinkles. Yum!

My cupcake carrier. I love it. It's has 3 tiers and is perfect for taking lots of cupcakes to parties. Do you notice the NOT FOR BAKING stamped on the plastic? Really, cause I didn't know plastic melts. I'm always amazed at the warning labels I see.

Can't deny the cuteness of the Pillbury guy. He looks very happy with his boxed cake.

Do you boxed cake mix or always bake from scratch?

Peanut Butter-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-09-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

So, you have peanut butter, chocolate chips and oatmeal in your pantry....what do you make? Cookies! If found this recipe on Brown Eyed Baker. I doubled the recipe since I was sharing with friends. Everyone loved them.

Breakfast Bowl with Grits

2011-09-26T21:39:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before that ever since my trip to Alabama (and Waffle House) I'm in love with grits. I have to buy them online since I can't find anything other than instant out here in CA, but it's worth it. At least once a week, I make cheesy grits in a breakfast bowl which consists of grits, scrambled eggs, bacon, and scallions all sprinkled with hot sauce. Absolutely delicious!

Do you have a favorite breakfast?
The weekdays are usually quick bread, cereal or oatmeal but we like to treat ourselves on the weekend.

Couch to 5K-Week 4

2011-09-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

Tonight we started the Couch to 5K week 4. After a 5 minute walking warm-up it's 3 minutes jogging, 90 second walking, 5 minutes jogging, 2.5 minutes walking, then repeat. I felt great the entire time. I only got a stitch at the very end. It's amazing how well my body is adjusting and that I'm actually enjoying the training process. I hope it continues.

The Firm Workout and Jane Fonda

2011-09-23T14:26:00.000-07:00

Does anybody else do The Firm workout? If you haven't, you should try it. As much as I love Jillian Michaels, I have to modify a lot of her exercises. Too many of them put a lot of stress on my back which isn't good for me. I bought The Firm box a few years ago and I dust it off every couple months and go on a step aerobics kick. It's so old school but I love it. I was a huge Jane Fonda fan in my early workout years. I used my mom's old videos and VHS player so old school is just fine with me. Please tell me I'm not the only one. Back to The Firm, my legs are really strong thanks to the box featured above. As an example, my office bathroom has been out of toilet seats covers for several days (UGH) and since I'm too lazy to do the whole toilet paper strip thing, what do we do ladies? we squat! TMI? sorry, but I can squat without any leg shaking thanks to many many step ups on this 14-inch box. Special thanks to Stephanie Huckabee (one of the lead trainers) she's my favorite.
Do you have a favorite old school workout routine?

Should we bring back the leotard, belt and tights outfit? I've seen leg warmers at Targert recently which I thought were super cute.

Apricot and Nut Cookies with Amaretto Icing

2011-09-22T15:22:00.000-07:00

These smelled delicious while baking but I was underwhelmed with the final result. It might be because I substituted hazelnuts for the almonds and pine nuts. Also, I didn't have any amaretto so I used brandy. I plan to try them again when I have all the right ingredients since they are so different from the same old chocolate chip or peanut butter.

Apricot and Nut Cookies with Amaretto Icing
by Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 large egg

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup dried apricots, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted

2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

5 to 7 tablespoons almond flavored liqueur (recommended: Amaretto

Directions

For the Cookies: In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg. Stir in the flour until just blended. Mix in the apricots, almonds, and pine nuts.

Transfer the dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and shape into a log, about 12-inches long and 1 1/2-inches in diameter. Wrap the dough in the plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 heavy baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cut the dough log crosswise into 1/4 to 1/2 inch-thick slices. Transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly apart. Bake until the cookies are golden around the edges, about 15 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.

For the Icing: Place the confectioners' sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Gradually whisk in the almond flavored liqueur, until the mixture is of drizzling consistency.

Place the wire rack over a baking sheet. Using a spoon or fork, drizzle the cookies with the icing, allowing any excess icing to drip onto the baking sheet. Allow the icing to set before serving, about 30 minutes.

Annoyed with Facebook?

2011-09-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

Make Ahead Meal 2- Roman Chicken

2011-09-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

Giada's Roman-style Chicken is one of my favorite make ahead meals. The whole dish can be prepared the night before (or even a couple nights before) stored in the fridge and then reheated on the stove when you're ready to eat. We are big potato eaters so I like to add them to the dish and I cut the chicken into chunks. Serve with some garlic bread and you have a great, easy weeknight meal.

Roman-style Chicken
by Giada De Laurentiis

ingredients

4 skinless chicken breast halves, with ribs
2 skinless chicken thighs, with bones
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus 1 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus 1 teaspoon
1/4 cup olive oil
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
3 ounces prosciutto, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup white wine
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon fresh oregano leaves
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons capers
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

directions

Season the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. In a heavy, large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, cook the chicken until browned on both sides. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Keeping the same pan over medium heat, add the peppers and prosciutto and cook until the peppers have browned and the prosciutto is crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, wine, and herbs. Using a wooden spoon, scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Return the chicken to the pan, add the stock, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 20 to 30 minutes.
If serving immediately, add the capers and the parsley. Stir to combine and serve. If making ahead of time, transfer the chicken and sauce to a storage container, cool, and refrigerate. The next day, reheat the chicken to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in the capers and the parsley and serve.

Couch to 5K Workout 3

2011-09-19T20:14:00.000-07:00

We started the 3rd workout of Couch to 5K last night. This workout is 90 seconds of jogging, 90 seconds of walking, 3 minutes of jogging, 3 minutes of walking; both repeated twice. The beginning was rough since I was tired from work and not really in the mood to do anything but lay on the couch, but once I got started it was great. We powered through 20 minutes and before I knew it, we we're done. I'm loving this program.

California Beer Festival

2011-09-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the California Beer Festival in Ventura. We're not big drinkers, but I had won tickets on the radio so we planned to check it out. We got there right as they started pouring and it was already packed. I have to say, crowds make me nervous and irritable so it was a test of my patience to try and enjoy myself. The event seemed well planned but with so many people and popular breweries next to each other, it was hard to taste a leisurely pace. I ended up sampling with a few sips and then pouring the rest out so we could move on to the next one. I definitely wouldn't pay to attend since I'm not a huge beer fan but I did find a favorite, Burt's Honey Wheat Beer. We left for lunch when it started to get a little rowdy and headed for Rookees, my all-time favorite bar. They have the best sliders. So So Yummy.

My favorite beer.

Ladyface was there. I was tempted to ask if they know Becki.

Delicious Rookees sliders. Try them, you won't be sorry.

Have you ever been to a beer festival? Do you have a favorite beer?

How do you deal with crowds? I get so sweaty and uncomfortable with too many people and long lines. Totally freaks me out.

Barefoot Contessa's Lemon Chicken

2011-09-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

Every month is a new theme for the Barefoot Contessa over at Ina's Garden. This month is comfort food. For me, that's cookies, macaroni and cheese or roast chicken. I chose to make Lemon Chicken since it was an easy dinner recipe for a weeknight meal. The kitchen smells so good while the chicken is roasting, served with a side of buttery rice pilaf and veggies...perfect comfort food.

Have you ever made a Barefoot Contessa recipe? Do you watch her show on the Food Network? I have to say, it's one of my Saturday favorites.

Lemon Chicken
by Ina Garten

ingredients
1/4 cup good olive oil

3 tablespoons minced garlic (9 cloves)

1/3 cup dry white wine

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1½ teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 boneless chicken breasts, skin on (6 to 8 ounces each)

1 lemon

directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Warm the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the garlic, and cook for just 1 minute but don’t allow the garlic to turn brown. Off the heat, add the white wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt and pour into a 9 X 12-inch baking dish.

Pat the chicken breasts dry and place them skin side up over the sauce. Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle them liberally with salt and pepper. Cut the lemon in 8 wedges and tuck it among the pieces of chicken.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts, until the chicken is done and the skin is lightly browned. If the chicken isn’t browned enough, put it under the broiler for 2 minutes. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and serve hot with the pan juices.

Tomorrow we're going to the California Beer Festival. What are your plans for the weekend?

Chimichurri

2011-09-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

I first had chimichurri sauce at LaLa's on Melrose. It was love at first bite. The freshness from the herbs and the heat from the garlic is just so delicious. Since it's not convenient for me to head to LaLa's everytime I want some, I make my own. It's super simple, especially if you have a mini food processor or blender. I serve it on flank steak with garlic mashed potatoes.

Mmmmmmm....just looking at the picture makes me want to go home and make more.

Chimichurri Sauce

by Bon Appetit

ingredients

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more

3–4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced or minced

1 shallot, finely chopped

1 Fresno chile or red jalapeño, finely chopped (I left this out and add a little crushed red pepper)

2 cups minced fresh cilantro

1 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

1/3 cup finely chopped fresh oregano

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

directions

Combine vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt, garlic, shallot, and chile in a medium bowl and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in cilantro, parsley, and oregano. Using a fork, whisk in oil. Remove 1/2 cup chimichurri to a small bowl, season with salt to taste, and reserve as sauce. Put meat in a glass, stainless-steel, or ceramic dish. Toss with remaining marinade. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Remove meat from marinade, pat dry, and grill.

The finish:
Spoon reserved sauce over the grilled meat.

In other news, my hubby and I are signed up for our first 5K in November. I can't wait.

Couch 2 5K, Week 2

2011-09-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

Today we started week 2 of the Couch 2 5K program. Starting with a 5 minute walking warm-up, then alternating 90 seconds of jogging with 2 minutes of walking for 20 minutes. It feels so good knowing I'm staying dedicated to the plan. I usually get bored and lazy by week 2 or 3 of a workout plan but I was actually looking forward to coming home and putting on my sneakers tonight. The stitch in my side isn't as bothersome as before but I am noticing a little pain in my left knee and shins. I think I may need a new pair of shoes. My Nikes have seen better days but overall I feel great. Plus, it helps that my hubby is doing it with me. 5k here we come!

Coconut Waffles

2011-09-12T15:53:00.000-07:00

What better way to start a lazy football Sunday than eating coconut waffles? This is my first time making them and I'll definitely be adding them to the breakfast rotation.
Did you watch football? Who is your favorite team? I always cheer for the Chicago Bears but I have some players from other teams on my fantasy team so I was yelling at the TV all day. I came in 2nd last week. Yay!

Coconut Waffles
by Better Homes & Gardens

ingredients

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder

3 eggs

1 14-oz. can unsweetened coconut milk (I used a can of the lite coconut milk from Trader Joes)

6 Tbsp. butter, melted

3/4 cup coconut (I used sweetened shredded coconut)
1/2 cup chocolate-flavored ice cream topping (optional)

1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds (optional)

Sweetened whipped cream or powdered sugar (optional)

directions

In a medium bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and a dash of salt. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside. In another medium bowl lightly beat eggs; stir in coconut milk and melted butter. Stir in coconut. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be slightly lumpy).

Pour 1/2 cup batter onto grids of a preheated, lightly greased waffle baker. Close lid quickly; do not open until done. Bake according to manufacturer's directions (about 3 minutes or until golden brown). When done, use a fork to lift waffle off grid. Repeat with remaining batter. Drizzle baked waffles with topping, sprinkle with almonds, and top with whipped cream or dust with powdered sugar. Serve warm.

I'll leave you with one more photo of all this yumminess.....

Godiva Pumpkin Spice Ice Blended

2011-09-10T17:21:00.000-07:00

I love going to coffee houses and trying all their latest creations but it's just too expensive. $5 for an ice-blended seems a little excessive to me so when I received a package of Pumpkin Spice Coffee from Godiva with a note asking me to create an indulgent fall-inspired drink I was instantly craving an ice-blended.
Last night, I made some really strong coffee and froze it in ice cube trays. This coffee smells so delicious while it's brewing. If it wasn't late at night, I would have been drinking it right then. You can really smell the pumpkin. I also made simple syrup and left it in the fridge overnight to chill.
This morning I blended the ice cubes, syrup and milk until smooth and served it topped with a dusting of cinnamon. It was so so yummy. I have more ice cubes in the freezer and I can't wait for tomorrow morning so I can have another cup. This will also be a great drink to serve Thanksgiving morning while we're preparing the turkey and all the trimmings.
Thank you to Godiva and Foodbuzz for sending me a complimentary sample of this coffee to try and share with my readers.

Godiva Pumpkin Spice Coffee ice cubes.

Pumpkin Spice Ice Blended
Brew 8 servings off coffee (I used 5 heaping tablespoons of coffee grounds for this) and freeze in ice cube trays.
Prepare simple syrup. Bring 1 cup water to a boil, add 1 cup sugar, reduce to simmer and cook until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to chill in the fridge.
In a blender, combine half the frozen ice cubes (approx 3 cups), 1/2 cup simple syrup and 2 cups of milk. Blend until smooth. Divide between 2 cups and dust with cinnamon. Enjoy!

Too Many Tomatoes- Make Gazpacho

2011-09-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

When you find yourself with an abundance of tomatoes, what do you make? Normally I make tons of bruschetta but this time I blended up a big batch of gazpacho. I must admit to treating it like salsa most of the time. Dipping salty tortilla chips into the blender as it was chilling in the fridge and several days after with the leftovers. I may have even had it for breakfast once. So yummy. I don't remember which recipe I used but they're almost all exactly alike when you google it. I like gazpacho recipes that include cucumber and lots of garlic.

A proper bowl of gazpacho with Parmesean cheese which we had for dinner with proper utensils like spoons rather than slurping out of the blender with chips.

Served with warm and toasty garlic bread.

Are you excited it's Friday? I love the weekends and I can't wait for football Sunday. So far I have 16 fantasy points from last night's game and I intend to add many more points during the next game.

My baby Minute kitty isn't nearly as excited about the weekend since his routine doesn't change at all no matter what day it is. This is how he spends most of his day when he isn't harassing our other kitties. Isn't he cute?

Make Ahead Meal 1- Greek Style Lasagna

2011-09-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

I spent Monday afternoon preparing meals for this week. I've never tackled this many recipes at one time before but I'm tired of eating dinner at 8:00 at night so I thought I'd give it a try. First up was a recipe I've been saving from Better Homes & Garden. Greek Style Lasagna, which one $200 as a prize tested recipe. I can see why it won. The eggs made the lasagna light & fluffy and the feta/cheddar cheese combo gave it really good flavor. Plus, I love black olives.

I served it with garlic bread and sliced watermelon.

Make Ahead- Before

Make Ahead- After....delicious!

Greek Style Lasagna
From Better Homes & Garden

Ingredients
•9 dried lasagna noodles (about 8 oz.) (I used no-boil noodles)
•1 pound ground beef
•1 medium onion chooped (1/2 cup)
•2 cloves garlic, minced
•8-ounce can tomato sauce (I used a 14.5 oz since I like more sauce)
•1/4 cup red wine (I used beef stock instead)
•1 teaspoon dried oregano
•1 egg, beaten
•3 tablespoons butter
•3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
•1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
•1-3/4 cups milk
•1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
•2 eggs, beaten
•1 2-1/4-ounce can sliced pitted ripe olives, drained
•8 ounces crumbled feta cheese
•8 ounces white cheddar cheese, shredded

Method
Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside. (I skipped this step since I used no-boil noodles)

In large skillet over medium heat, thoroughly brown beef, shallot, and garlic. Drain off the fat.
Add tomato sauce, wine and oregano. Reduce heat and simmer the mixture, uncovered, for approximately 10 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.

Remove from heat and mix in 1 beaten egg and sliced olives. Set aside.

In a small saucepan on low heat, melt the butter.

Whisk in the flour, 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper and milk. Continue to cook until sauce is heated through and begins to bubble. Remove from heat.

Stir in grated Parmesan and 2 beaten eggs.

In a 9×13 pan, spread 2 tablespoons cheese sauce. Layer 3 noodles, one-third of the meat sauce, one-third of the crumbled Feta and one-third of the shredded garlic cheddar. Repeat layers twice.

Bake, uncovered, 35 to 40 minutes or until hot. Let stand 10 minutes.

Have you ever made your meals ahead? What are some of your favorite recipes?

Couch to 5k Workout 1- Success!

2011-09-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

I'm hoping to run in the Disneyland 5k in January. Since some of my family will be running as well I don't want to be the lazy unfit bum who walks the whole thing, so I started the Couch to 5k plan. Workout One consists of a 5 minute walking warm-up and then alternating 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes. I knew I had a little endurance so I cut the walking portion to 60 seconds. I'm such a lucky girl cause my hubby offered to do it with me. We did it! The whole 20 well 25 minutes including the warm-up without stopping. It was actually kinda fun counting down the intervals. We ran without iPods since I read you can get frustrated trying to hard to stay in time with the beat of the music.
My only problem, I always get a stitch in my side. What causes this?

Lemonade Cooler

2011-09-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

If I had diet coke in my fridge, my husband would be on a caffeine high all the time. So, I'm always looking for ways to curb the diet coke habit. Yesterday was such a nice sunny day and after a morning full of laziness I ran errands while my hubby worked in the yard. On a whim, I picked up some pink lemonade and sparkling water for afternoon drinks. 2 parts lemonade to 1 part sparkling water, garnish with lemons and enjoy.

I spent the late afternoon. I decided to try the week of meals in a day. I prepared greek lasagna, roman chicken, and baked ziti. I'll be sharing the recipes with you throughout the week. I'm so excited to have food ready for me when I come home from work. All I have to do is reheat. Yay!
Later that evening we had dinner on the patio and watched this little guy. I don't know why, but I think squirrels are so cute.

Weekend in San Diego

2011-09-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

We're so lucky to have family living in San Diego. It's such a great city to visit.

Saturday night we went to see an evening Tchaikovsky symphony which ended with an awesome firework display.

Sunday afternoon we spent some time in the Gaslamp Quarter.

We had lunch at a fun corner cantina.

There was a fresh chips & salsa bar that was complimentary while we waited for our entrees. The chipotle salsa was really yummy.

I had the avocado bacon burger. It was so good. The avocado was perfectly ripe and the burger was so juicy and full of flavor.

My hubby had the surf and turf tacos.

After lunch we climbed many many stairs to explore the harbor. It was worth it to work off our fattening lunches but today my calves are screaming. What you see above is about half the stairwell.

The views were really cool from the top.

Have you ever been to San Diego? What is your favorite thing to do there? I want to go back and see the Chargers play since football starts next weekend.

What did you do for the long weekend?

Fashion Friday- Oxfords

2011-09-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've become more interested in style and fashion. I'm not much of a clothes shopper and I tend to wear the same thing over and over again but I'm beginning to branch out. I started following StyleObsession and she hosted a giveaway from some super cute Oxfords. Guess what, I won. Yay!

Plum for Polly sponsored the giveaway. Check out their site. There are so many cute things I must have and will be bookmarking for Christmas. Which is less than 3 months away. Yikes.
When the shoes came and were sitting on my doorstep, I couldn't wait to open them. Look what was inside.....

How fun is that! Plus, she put a little card in the box a well. Love that.
Thank you to Jessica at StyleObsession and Plum for Polly for my adorable new shoes.
I've been web-surfing way too much in order to find the perfect outfit to wear them with. Photos to follow.

Do you have a paor of Oxfords? What do you wear them with?

Drunken Spaghetti

2011-08-31T16:50:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite Rachael Ray recipes. I've added a few ingredients to it to make it more filling. It's delicious and really fun for a crowd. This time I only used half a bottle of wine since that's all I had left, otherwise the spaghetti would have been a deeper purple color.

Drunken Spaghetti
by Rachael Ray

Ingredients

1 bottle dry Italian red wine

Salt

1 pound spaghetti

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 pound pancetta, smoked pancetta, or speck, chopped into fine dice

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 bundles black, Tuscan, or Dinosaur kale, thinly sliced

Freshly ground black pepper

Freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese, plus a chunk to shave at table

Directions

Pour the whole bottle of wine into a pasta pot and add about the same amount of water. Salt the liquid and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the pasta and cook until just shy of al dente. Heads up: Remove and reserve 1 cup of cooking water just before draining.

Meanwhile, heat a deep skillet over medium to medium-high heat with the extra-virgin olive oil. Add the pancetta and cook until crisp, 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and swirl it around for 2 minutes more. Add the kale, let it wilt and then season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, to taste. Add the reserved cooking liquid, drained pasta and the grated cheese. Toss vigorously for at least a full minute, then serve in shallow bowls. Pass the Pecorino to shave over the pasta at the table.

*Notes: I also added 2 diced shallots, 1 cup of chopped mushrooms and a handful of toasted pine nuts. I substituted the kale for spinach and the pancetta for proscuitto.
3-day weekend coming up. What do you have planned?

Lime Coconut Cookies

2011-08-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

Chewy, sugary, lime deliciousness. I'm always looking for new cookie recipes and I found this one from the blog Lick The Bowl Good She has many other yummy recipes that I want to try.

Of course, I had to share with friends but not before I tucked some away in my freezer for a rainy day.

BBQ Macaroni Salad

2011-08-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

We were having grilled chicken the other night and I wanted something quick for a side dish. One of my favorite blogs is Mel's Kitchen Cafe and that's where this recipe comes from. I made a few changes most notably I used orechiette since Trader Joe's doesn't carry macaroni noodles. The salad was delicious and a perfect addition to our meal.

BBQ Macaroni Salad

Ingredients
8-12 ounces turkey kielbasa, diced (I left this out since we had chicken as a main course)
1 pound elbow macaroni (orechiette)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 celery rib, finely chopped
4 green onions, sliced thinly
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1 cup low-fat mayonnaise (I used full fat organic since that's what I had in the fridge)
1/2 cup BBQ sauce

Directions
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon canola oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the chopped turkey kielbasa and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the meat to a paper towel-lined plate and let it cool slightly before using in the recipe.

In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the macaroni and cook until nearly tender, about 6 minutes. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse with cold water until cool, draining again briefly. Transfer the moist pasta to a large bowl.

Stir in the kielbasa, bell pepper, celery, green onions, vinegar, hot sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Let the pasta sit for about 5 minutes to absorb the flavors. Stir in the mayonnaise and barbecue sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve. The salad can be covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Check the seasonings before serving and stir in a few tablespoons of warm water before serving, if needed to bring the salad back to it’s creamy texture.

Recipe Source: adapted slightly from The Cook’s Country Cookbook

Barefoot Contessa Brownie Pudding

2011-08-27T22:12:00.000-07:00

So, I've decided that i just don't have the patience to take amazing food photos. I so badly want to try what I've made that all I seem to be able to do is take a couple of quick pics. Maybe one day I'll slow down and hone my skills but until then, oh well.
This dessert is so decadent and delicious you'll forgive me for the bad lighting and blur. You must try this. It's chocolate at its best.

Brownie Pudding
by Ina Garten

Ingredients

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus extra for buttering the dish
4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup good cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean
1 tablespoon framboise liqueur, optional
Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly butter a 2-quart (9 by 12 by 2-inch) oval baking dish. Melt the 1/2 pound of butter and set aside to cool.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed for 5 to 10 minutes, until very thick and light yellow. Meanwhile, sift the cocoa powder and flour together and set aside.

When the egg and sugar mixture is ready, reduce the speed to low and add the vanilla seeds, framboise, if using, and the cocoa powder and flour mixture. Mix only until combined. With mixer still on low, slowly pour in the cooled butter and mix again just until combined.

Pour the brownie mixture into the prepared dish and place it in a larger baking pan. Add enough of the hottest tap water to the pan to come halfway up the side of the dish and bake for exactly 1 hour. A cake tester inserted 2 inches from the side will come out 3/4 clean. The center will appear very under-baked; this dessert is between a brownie and a pudding.

Allow to cool and serve with vanilla ice cream

Now I'm off to catch up on my google reader and suffer from some serious blog envy. There's a lot of great talent out there.

Farro, Farro, Where for art thou Farro?

2011-08-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

This has happened to me a of couple times before. Once with grape leaves and another with ladyfingers. I head to the grocery store and they don't have what I need so I go to several more grocery stores and still can't find what I need. Previously, I have cried in frustration. Serious tears people, I'm ashamed to admit. Now, I keep it together and try to substitute. This time, I couldn't find farro. Thank you Giada for noting in your cookbook that barley can be used instead. I must have stood in the rice aisle for at least 10 minutes trying to wish farro to appear but instead I left the store with barley. It was very yummy but I couldn't help but wonder with each bite how much yummier it would have been with farro. Alas, I will be purchasing farro on Amazon as well as quick coooking grits which I can't find anywhere either. Ugh!

Cheesy Baked Farro (Barley)
by Giada de Laurentiis

Ingredients

Vegetable cooking spray

Sauce:
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups warm whole milk
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Farro:
2 1/2 cups grated Parmesan
1 cup grated Gruyere
1/2 cup fontina cheese, grated
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups faro or barley, rinsed and drained
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup plain dried bread crumbs
Olive oil, for drizzling

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

For the sauce: In a 2-quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Gradually add the warm milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the sauce is thick and smooth, about 8 minutes (do not allow the mixture to boil). Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

For the farro: In a large bowl, add the cheeses and stir to combine. Remove 1/2 cup of the mixture and reserve. In a large stock pot, add the chicken broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the farro, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the faro is tender, about 25 minutes. Drain, if necessary. Add the farro, thyme, and sauce to the bowl with the cheese. Stir until combined and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with the reserved 1/2 cup of cheese. Sprinkle the top with bread crumbs and drizzle with olive oil.

Bake until the top is golden brown and forms a crust, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

It tastes better than it looks in this picture. I need more light in my kitchen.
*note I left out the tomatoes in this dish.

Itty Bitty, Teeny Weeny Peanut Butter Cup Blossoms

2011-08-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

Itty Bitty, Teeny Weeny Peanut Butter Cup Blossoms- wow is that a mouthful. I was looking for a recipe that makes a ton of cookies since I like to share and I came across this one from Cookies & Cups You'll have to visit her website for the recipe so I can send her some link love for posting such a delicious cookie. Everyone loved these. Definitely block out some for rolling them into little balls. Took me all afternoon. Although, I was babysitting at the time and had to stop several times to entertain the most adorable baby ever. I'm saving this recipe for many future uses. I hope you'll try them.

Nonna's Biscotti

2011-08-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

For the bridal shower gifts to our guests, I baked a batch of Nonna's Biscotti and attached them to little bags of coffee that I bought at World Market. I chose this recipe since I already had brandy in my pantry and I'm always looking for ways to use it. I should have know better than to buy a huge bottle for one recipe a few months ago. Anybody have any good recipes that use brandy? I'd love for you to share them with me.

Aren't they cute? They keep for several days which is great since you can make them in advance.

Your kitchen will smell wonderful while they bake. I didn't have any trouble with crumbling when I cut them. I recommend you use a thin serrated knife. Once you make the initial first cut, press down hard and quickly; this way you shouldn't have any problems with the biscotti holding their shape.

Nonna's Biscotti
by Toni Oltranti

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons brandy
2 teaspoons pure almond extract
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup whole almonds with skin, lightly toasted , cooled, and coarsely chopped
3 large eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Stir together sugar, butter, brandy, and extracts in a large bowl, then stir in almonds and eggs. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined.

Chill dough, covered, 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.

Using moistened hands, halve dough and form 2 (16-by 2-inch) loaves on an ungreased large baking sheet.

Bake until pale golden, about 30 minutes. Carefully transfer loaves to a rack and cool 15 minutes.

Cut loaves into 3/4-inch slices with a serrated knife.

Arrange biscotti, with a cut side down, on a clean baking sheet and bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to rack to cool completely.

Bridal Shower Luncheon

2011-08-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday was bridal shower day at my house. I was in charge of the food Yay! and the maid or matron (since she's married) LOL handled the rest. It was such a beautiful day and other than the few noisy planes for the air show flying overhead it was a really nice shower. Makes me want to get married again, to the same man of course.
The shower was themed for her honeymoon destination, Italy, France and Greece. So so jealous.

I was lucky to have a little leftover for dinner that night since I was too tired to cook anything else.

Giada's Muffulettas great recipe for luncheons since you can make them the night before.

Caprese Salad

Layered Honeydew, Cantaloupe, Watermelon

Red, White and Blue potato chips from Trader Joes

Dark Chocolate & Cappuccino gelato with an almond twirl cookie.

What is your favorite dish you've had at a shower?

Ventura County Fair Food

2011-08-14T18:01:00.000-07:00

What better way to clog some arteries than eating at the Ventura County Fair, or any carnival for the matter. It seems everything is fried, salted, sweetened, covered in cheese or all of the above.

Kettle Korn is one of my favorite Fair foods. I worked the kettle korn booth one summer and it will always have a special place in my heart.

This is the same booth I worked at and it's been a Fair staple ever since I can remember.

Let's move on too the many many other food options available.....

My father in-law enjoying the roasted corn.

My hubby chose Pinks for his lunch.

He was given a totally macho Jennifer Lopez card for his order. The servers yell at the celebrity to come pick up your order. I saw Justin Timberlake too. LOL

With his hotdog, which I don't have a photo of, he also ordered chili-cheese fries. My heart stopped a little with each bite.

Did you go to your local fair this year? What's your favorite food? I was too stuffed to get my usual cinnamon roll and funnel cake but those are also big favorites.

Spicy Salted Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies

2011-08-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

I'm slowly learning how to create my own baked goods. It's definitely a process trying to get the right combination of dry ingredients to wet ingredients. I usually use the Nestle Toll House cookie recipe as my guide.
I love salted sweet treats and when I saw a bag of chocolate chunks on sale at Target this recipe was born.

Spicy Salted Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies
by Danielle

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs at room temperature
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks
Kosher Salt for sprinkling

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 deg.
In a medium bowl combine flours, cocoa powder, pepper and baking soda. Set aside.
In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat together butter, sugars and salt until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Beat in eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla. Slowly add in flour mixture and mix just until combined. Stir in chocolate chunks.
Using a small ice cream scoop, place scoops of dough approx 2 inches apart on parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake 9-11 minutes or until edges are slightly darkened. Immediately after removing from oven, sprinkle a pinch of kosher on each cookie. Cool on wire racks and Enjoy!

Cowboy Hash and Eggs, Texas Toast and Salsa

2011-08-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about summer is the abundance of tomatoes. I had some from my brother in-law's garden and when I was flipping through Rachael Ray's cookbook I saw salsa. YUM! I served this dish as breakfast for dinner. One thing about this though, I know it says 30 Minute Meals but between all the chopping and steps it took me at least an hour. Even with the lengthy prep time, it was worth it.

Do you like to have breakfast for dinner?

Cowboy Hash and Eggs, Texas Toast and Salsa
by Rachael Ray

Ingredients
Hash, Eggs and Texas Toast:
12 medium sized mushrooms, quartered
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
8 small red potatoes
3 slices applewood or hickory smoked bacon, chopped
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons grill seasoning (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning) or coarse salt and pepper
Hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco), to your taste
2 cups, 8 ounces, shredded sharp Cheddar, pepper jack or smoked Cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons butter, divided
4 extra large eggs
4 thick cut slices bread, 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick, white, wheat or crusty farmhouse
1 clove garlic, cracked away from skins
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or several drops hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco) Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish

Yellow Tomato Salsa: Any flavor or variety of store bought salsa that you may have in your pantry is a fine substitute here as well
3 medium or 2 large yellow tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 serrano or jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 tablespoons cilantro or parsley leaves, chopped
Salt

Directions
Chop all veggies for hash. Pierce potatoes with a fork and cook on high in microwave 5 minutes. Remove potatoes from microwave oven and cool for 5 minutes.

While potatoes are working, add chopped bacon to a large skillet over medium high heat and brown until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain, wipe pan and return to heat.

Preheat your broiler to high. Preheat a nonstick griddle pan for frying eggs over medium heat.

Chop or wedge potatoes. Add oil to the skillet which you returned to the heat, then potatoes. Begin to brown and crisp potatoes, 2 minutes on each side. Use this time to chop your salsa ingredients.

Combine salsa in a small bowl and season with salt.

Back to the hash: add the mushrooms to potatoes. Brown mushrooms a minute or 2, then add peppers and onions and season mixture with grill seasoning blend or salt and pepper, then hot sauce. Cook 3 to 5 minutes longer until veggies are just tender and potatoes are cooked through. Turn off heat and add bacon back to the pan. Combine bacon with the veggies then add cheese to the pan to evenly cover the mixture. Tent the skillet with foil to gently melt cheese over vegetables and potatoes and to retain heat.

Add a couple pats, 1/2 tablespoon butter, to preheated griddle pan. Crack extra large eggs on to griddle and fry to desired doneness. Eggs may, of course, be scrambled as well. As you like!

Place thick cut bread under broiler and toast 6 inches from heat on both sides. Place 2 tablespoons butter in a small cup with a clove of garlic and ground cayenne pepper or a few drops of hot sauce. Melt in microwave for 30 seconds.

Brush toast with garlic cayenne butter and sprinkle with parsley. Remove from broiler.

Transfer vegetable and bacon hash to plates. Top each portion with a single fried egg or arrange the fried eggs evenly over the platter. Serve with Texas garlic toast and serve the salsa on the side to compliment either menu item.

Rachael Ray's Hot Mamacita

2011-08-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

I pulled out one of my old Rachael Ray cookbooks and randomly selected her recipe Hot Mamacita. She cracks me up with some of the dish names. This is for one of her many "stoups" thicker than soup but thinner than stew. Have you ever made one before?
This particular "stoup" is Turkey, Chorizo and Chipotle with Corn Cakes.

I made a few changes to the recipe. Mainly because chorizo freaks me out. I don't know why. I don't mind eating sausage but something about seeing glands and lymph nodes on the label makes me want to gag. Instead, I bought soy chorizo from Trader Joes. This was my first time purchasing it and I was pleasantly surprized. Once added to the dish, I couldn't tell it was soy. Also, I made the cornbread from scratch and added ground flax meal to the recipe. A quick, delicious and hearty meal. YUM-O!

Hot Mamacita
by Rachael Ray

Ingredients
2 T EVOO
1/2 pound chorizo (soy for me)
2 pounds ground turkey breast
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 t (palmful) chili powder
2 chipotles in adobo sauce, chopped (if you don't remove the seeds it will be really spicy)
kosher salt to taste
1 C Mexican beer (I used a Corona)
2 C chicken stock
1 can 28 oz. chopped stewed tomatoes (I used regular diced tomatoes)
1 can 15 oz. red kidney beans, drained ( I used pinto beans)
1 package 5 oz. Jiffy brand corn muffin mix
8 oz pepper-Jack cheese shredded
2 T unsalted butter

Directions
Heat a deep skillet or wide pot over medium-high heat. Add oil and chorizo, brown 1 minute. Push chorizo off to the side and add turkey to the pan. Brown turkey, crumbling meat as it cookis, 3 minutes. Add onions, garlic, chili powder, and chipotles. Cook another 5 minutes. Season with salt. Add beed and cook another minute, stirring to loosen and bits from the bottom of the pan. Add broth, tomatoes, and beans. Bring to a bubble. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.

Heat a nonstick griddle pan over medium-high heat. Mix corn muffin mix accourding to package directions for corn cakes. Mix in cheese. Nest butter in a paper towel and rub grill with butter. Ladle batter onto griddle in 3-inch cakes; cook until golden, 3 minutes on each side. Transfer corn cakes to a plate and tent with aluminum foil to keep warm.

Pour stoup into bowls, top with cheese-corn cakes- like a spicy corn-topped chili pot pie.

Wine Tasting in Santa Barbara

2011-08-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

I must admit to being a light-weight when it comes to drinking. One glass of wine, I'm tipsy and happy but done. So for me, wine tasting trips are more about socializing and scenery rather than the actual wine. My cousin celebrated her birthday by arranging a girl's day wine tasting trip through Santa Barbara a couple months ago. And yes, I'm just now getting around to posting it. Ooops. Better late than never.
So....come along and taste with me.

We visited 3 wineries, Firestone (made famous by Andrew Firestone from the Bachelor), Bridlewood (absolutely beautiful) and honestly I can't remember the name of the third place.

I prefer white wine. How about you?

Most of the scenery photos are from Bridlewood. Since we went on a Monday it was really quiet and the staff allowed us to tour the member's only grounds. It's so beautiful. I would recommend you definitely stop here if you're in the area.

And then our glasses were empty, our heads a little fuzzy and it was time to hit up State St for dinner.
Have you ever been wine-tasting?
Do you have any Santa Barbara favorites?

Wordless Wednesday- My Sister's Garden

2011-08-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

Orange Chocolate Chunk Cake

2011-08-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

I've been missing my blog for the last week and of course all of your posts as well. My aunt and uncle came to visit and I did nothing but enjoy their company. I rarely checked Facebook, Twitter, e-mail or my blog. Now I'm Baaaacccck. My google reader is so full it's overwhelming but I'm going to try and read as many as I can before my eyes cross.
I'll leave you with this post of the yummiest bundt cake I've had in a while. I didn't get a chance to photograph a cut slice. Bad Bad blogger.

I made it for my family. Got to show off those baking skills.

Orange Chocolate Chunk Cake
by Barefoot Contessa

1/2 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1/4 cup grated orange zest (from 4 large oranges)
3 cups all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
3/4 cup buttermilk at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups good semisweet chocolate chunks

Syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

Ganache:
8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan.

2. Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for about 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, then the orange zest.

3. Sift together 3 cups flour, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, combine the orange juice, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately in thirds to the creamed butter, beginning and ending with the flour. Toss the chocolate chunks with 2 tablespoons flour and add to the batter. Pour into the pan, smooth the top, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, make the syrup. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, cook the sugar with the orange juice until the sugar dissolves. Remove the cake from the pan, set it on a rack over a tray, and spoon the orange syrup over the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely.

5. For the ganache, melt the chocolate, heavy cream, and coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally. Drizzle over the top of the cake.

So, what have I missed?

Attack of the Orange Food

2011-07-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

The first thing I thought when I uploaded this photo was "wow, that's a lot of orange." If you have ever shopped hungry, you know that your cart starts to fill up with everything that looks evenly remotely delicious. Well, that's how this meal came about. BBQ chicken, baked beans, roasted sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, garlic bread and there was even dessert which I failed to take a photo of. So much delicious food all on one plate.

The nice thing about shopping hungry is sometimes you pick up a winner. I loved this bbq sauce. I bought it at Fresh & Easy and will definitely be buying it again.
Have you ever shopped hungry? Trader Joes and Fresh & Easy have those little sample tables which helps to curb the tummy rumbling a little but I still end up buying more than I need.

Capellini al Forno

2011-07-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

I love the name of this dish and it makes such a great presentation that it's perfect for company. Also, it doesn't require that many ingredients so it's not expensive to make. The dense cheesy pasta goodness is so delicious.

I'm thinking of making this for family we have coming to visit but I also have so many other yummy things I want to serve. Decisions Decisions..... We spent all day today getting our guest room ready. It's the first time we've had a real guest room. I feel like such a grown-up now. I'm so excited to have them visit. I hope they'll be comfortable.
Is there anything special you do for family that visits?

Capellini al Forno
by Giada De laurentiis

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing pan
1 pound capellini (angel hair) pasta
1 cup plus 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
3 eggs, at room temperature, beaten
3/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup plain breadcrumbs
1 pound prosciutto, sliced 1/8-inch thick and coarsely chopped
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded smoked mozzarella
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 (25-ounce) jar marinara or tomato-basil sauce, warmed

Directions

Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch diameter nonstick spring form pan. Set aside.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain well and place in a large bowl. Add 4 tablespoons butter, 1 cup Parmesan, eggs, parsley, salt and pepper. Toss well until coated.

Sprinkle 1/4 cup breadcrumbs in the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread 1/3 of the seasoned pasta on top. Arrange half of the prosciutto in a single layer on top. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella on top. Add 1/3 of the pasta and push down lightly to form an even layer. Repeat the layers with 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, the remaining pasta, prosciutto, and mozzarella. In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and Parmesan together. Sprinkle over the layers and dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Drizzle with olive oil and bake until light golden on top, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes.

Remove the sides of the pan and cut the pasta into wedges. Serve with warm marinara sauce.

Sour Cream Cake with Candied Orange Peel and Marmalade

2011-07-22T16:14:00.000-07:00

Southern Living is having a Holiday Cake Recipe Contest. They provide a few cake batter recipes to choose from and then you create the rest. I chose the Sour Cream Cake Mix batter to start with and thought I'd work with oranges. While this recipe is good, I don't think it's award-winning so I'm going to keep experimenting until I find the perfect Christmas cake.

I started by making candied orange peel. I'd never done this before but it couldn't be easier and it's really yummy. My hubby kept sneaking pieces while they were drying.

The filling is 1 cup of fresh whipped cream mixed with 1 cup of orange marmalade.
The frosting is 1 cup of whipped cream combined with 1/2 cup marscapone cheese, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 Tablespoons of sugar.
It was definitely a fun and tasty experiment. I'm thinking of trying something with cranberries next. What do you think?
Oh, and it's FRIDAY!. Yay!
What do you have planned for the weekend?

Spaghetti with Asparagus, Smoked Mozzarella and Prosciutto

2011-07-19T12:07:00.000-07:00

This recipe confirms that I don't like boiled asparagus. Next time, I will definitely roast it before adding it to the dish. Other than that, it's delicious and makes great leftovers for lunch since you can eat it cold. I used rigatoni pasta rather than spaghetti since that's what I had in the pantry. Make sure you use smoked mozzarella and not the regular kind since it adds a great flavor to the dish. I think it would be bland without it. Do you have a pasta recipe that is good for lunch the next day?

Spaghetti with Asparagus, Smoked Mozzarella and Prosciutto
by Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients
2 pounds asparagus, trimmed
3/4 pound spaghetti
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut crosswise into strips
6 ounces smoked mozzarella cheese, diced (about 1 cup)
6 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil leaves

Directions
Cook the asparagus in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp tender, about 2 to 3 minutes. With a spider or slotted spoon, remove asparagus from boiling water to a bowl of ice water to cool and stop the cooking. When cool, strain, cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces, and set aside.

Return the water in the pot to a boil, adding additional water, if necessary. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add asparagus to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the pasta, and if needed, some of the reserved cooking liquid. Toss to coat. Add the prosciutto, mozzarella, and basil, and toss to combine. Turn off the heat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve.

Proof I Didn't Peak In High School

2011-07-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

Kari over at Running Ricig is inspiring us to prove that we didn't peak in high school. This means doing the mile run and beating your high school time. Even though I never ran a timed mile in high school I figured if I could at least run a mile at a decent time that would be proof enough. I consider myself fairly athletic. I'm a big fan of zumba, step-aerobics and weight lifting, but I very rarely run. I almost always get a stitch in my side and then I get all whiney and complainy about being uncomfortable. I vowed not to do that this time though. I was going to do a mile if it killed me and it almost did. Sorry Kari, I may have cursed at you a few times. A mile seems really far when you're hot, sweaty and feeling like you're going to throw-up.

This is me sans make-up fresh out of bed with my racing bib and ready to run. Lucky husband was still snuggled in bed but indulged me by taking this photo.

Here are a few things I learned about trying to run a mile outside:
1. The treadmill at the gym is way easier.
2. Do not run first thing in the morning without any water or food for fuel.
3. If it's hot, you'll be even hotter in about 30 seconds.
4. Uphill SUCKS!
5. Running against the wind is not fun.
6. If you're not used to running, you'll be sucking in air so hard and fast it will sound like you're in labor.
7. You'll feel AWESOME when it's over. I was very proud even though it took me a while.

Post-Run and feeling Amazeballs.
Final time 11 minutes 40 seconds (including 30 seconds of walking when I thought I was going to throw-up)
I'm going to try and do this every Sunday to improve my time and stamina. Want to join me?
Thanks for inspiring me Kari. I really enjoyed the runner's high.

After a nice cold shower, I made a huge breakfast to reward myself.

Cheese grits, bacon, eggs with red bell pepper, chocolate chip scones, coffee, orange juice. So delicious. I'm ready for my nap. Happy Sunday!

Brendan's Irish Pub and Restaurant Review

2011-07-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

Last night was party time, birthday style, at Brendan's Irish Pub and Restaurant then back to my place for cake and ice cream. Our good friend was celebrating his birthday and picked Brendan's for dinner. At first, I wasn't thrilled since I'd been to Brendan's when they first opened and the food was not good. However, I'm so glad to have tried it again since this time was much better. The food is much improved and the chef came to our table to introduce himself and deliver our dishes. If you're a beer fan, you'll love the huge selection they have. The atmosphere is fun but very loud. Beware of the strolling bagpipe player as it scared me when he sounded the first note. It was charming in the beginning but became a little too frequent. We sat in an alcove on the side which was great for our party size and private enough that we could talk and be heard clearly over the restaurant noise.

We started with the Irish Nachos. Can I just say, there is A LOT going on in this dish? Thick-sliced potato chips, Heinz beans (which I love), cheese sauce, sour cream, tomatoes, scallions, ground beef, peas and jalapenos. The peas bummed me out since I'm not a pea fun but the rest was tasty.

Prime Rib Sliders. Just OK. The buns were soggy and the onion on top was bland and cold. The prime rib itself was good as were the caramelized onions but the horseradish dipping sauce definitely needed more heat.

Croquettes- SO SO SO YUMMY. You must try these. Perfectly crisp, cheesy balls of potato goodness. I could have eaten many more plates of these.

The birthday boy with his filet mignon entree. He said it was delicious. Also, something great about this place, your entree (any entree you choose) is free on your birthday.
I will definitely be returning to try more dishes. There is a chicken curry entree that looks delicious.
Have you ever returned to a restaurant that you originally didn't like and changed your mind?