Friday, October 22, 2010

The pot post.

No.  This isn't a post about marijuana, despite the fact that I have watched 5 seasons of the show Weeds in one month.

This is a post about a pot.  A pot that I registered for for my wedding, but did not receive.  Mostly because it was super-expensive.  It's a dutch oven.  That's just the way they are.  Expensive.

But thanks to some elusive Crate and Barrel gift cards, my dream of a dutch oven came through.  I caved and I bought it when I was visiting my sister in Chicago (by the way--Monday is the best day ever to shop at Crate and Barrel.  I felt like I was on Supermarket Sweep).

I bought the Mario Batali dutch oven in Polenta.  That is a shade of yellow for all you non-Food Network watching people.
Here it is:

I included a picture of me sauteing some leeks, carrots, and onions for a veggie risotto.  Yum!  Risottos have become my new favorite food.  I could eat any kind.  Cheese, rice, butter, and various other delicious flavors?  Count me in!

The reason I love this pot so much is because the last pot I had that was this size was from a place called Blue Valley Community Action.  If you have never been there, I'm sorry.  Many of my pre-wedding dishes were from Blue Valley.  I appreciate that.  I loved them dearly.  But some of them had one life to live.  And they were trying to come back from the dead.

Such was the case with my old pan.  I once started a fire in that pan with hot oil.  I burnt things that aren't normally able to burn.  Chili.  Water.

When I got this pan, I was in a state of euphoria.  No burnt butter the minute it hit the pan.  No stuck on rice.  It cooks so evenly and nicely I could kiss it.

It can also go in the oven, which I haven't tried yet.  But I will.  Any recipe suggestions??

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Complete and utter decadence.

I have been reading a blog for the past year or so called The Pioneer Woman.  It is funny and enjoyable and apparently super-popular.  I mean, that's as it should be.  It's good.  Ree (the pioneer woman) has different topics she writes about daily such as food, photography, her kids, etc.  It's fun and they seem like a fun family.

She has a cookbook out called The Pioneer Woman Cooks.  In in (and on the blog) she has a recipe for the best chocolate sheet cake ever.

That is saying something.  Not that I ever really eat "sheet cakes", but, you know, I eat cake.  Lots of cake. Usually just in a different shape.  Anywho, I had family coming to town last weekend, so I decided to whip it up.

Although I am not one for multiple steps going into a cake, I decided this would be worth it.  The beginning stages of the cake are on the stove.

At this point you melt the butter and mix in the cocoa. Yum!

Then dry ingredients are mixed in a bowl.  Here I'm getting ready to pour the wet ingredients in.

Then, you mix more wet ingredients in a measuring cup--eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, etc.  All the yummy stuff!  That is added to the bowl.

Yumtastic!  Sorry about the crappy pictures.  I was trying to get some "action shots".  The light in my kitchen is also not the greatest.  Very yellow.

Anywho, then you put this lovely mix into a sheet cake pan.
After baking the cake, I thought these turned out a little thin.  They were kind of brownie-like, which is great, but I like a little more cake to sink my teeth into.  Next time, I think I will make them in a jelly roll pan.

While the cake is baking, you can start making the frosting.  It is delish.  You will want to drink this stuff.  It is basically butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and cocoa.  You really don't need more than that in life, do you?



The last picture is the finished product.  You just pour the frosting on.  Very easy and smooth.  One thing I didn't do was whisk the frosting.  That was a big mistake...huge (name that movie...)  because it looks like there are nuts in the frosting!  My cake would never have nuts in the frosting, so there.  When it says optional, I will never take that option. . . just so you know.

All in all, I was very happy with the flavor and texture of this cake.  It was moist and delicious and stayed that way the whole 3 days it existed. . . I think a second round will be coming soon.

For the recipe, check out this site.  Her photos are amazing.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A healthy snack...for once!

I have come to find that my husband's favorite treat is--get this--yogurt.  How positively sinful.  How decadent.  How...healthy?  Yes.  My husband is about as healthy as you can get.  He was one of those kids who grew up eating Jell-o for dessert.

Which I think is a travesty.

I mean, I know that it's meant to be dessert, but we all know it's a fruit.  There are pictures of fruits on the cover of the box.  It has fruit flavors.  What more could you ask for in a fruit?  Not much, that I can tell you.

So, on to the whole point of this post.  Granola.  I decided to try my hand at making granola to throw on yogurt or to eat by itself for a little crunch.

I was a little worried that it would be bland, but I actually think it turned out well.  The hardest part was finding a recipe.  In fact, it was so difficult that I ended up not even following a recipe.

It turned out to be something akin to this, though:

3 cups rolled oats
1/8 cup flax seed meal
1/8 cup wheat germ
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup (or less?) honey
1/4 oil (this I can't remember.  I don't even know if I put oil in!  I think I did, though)
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 cup dried fruit

Bake at 325 for 15 minutes, then stir up.  Bake for another 8 minutes or until brown.  I would say there is a lot of room to play with proportions and sweeteners.

Here are some photos of the process:




I will  be making my second batch soon.  The first lasted about two weeks!  Nice!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Why, Paula? Why?

This morning when I was at the gym, I watched an episode of Paula Dean.  Now, I enjoy Paula.  I think she is hilarious.  I love to use the words oil and butter because of her.



 But there is one thing about her cooking that annoys me.  The overkill.  I want to say to her, "Paula, sweetie, did you really need to add that mayo to that vinaigrette?  Did you really need to add fresh pineapple, whipped cream, and candied pineapple to the top of that pie?"

The answer is no, Paula, you didn't need to.

Watching this show made me think of my whole philosophy when it comes to making things, food or otherwise.  Function is key.  I'm not going to make something just because it looks cutesy.  I want to use it. I also might want to eat it.  That dang pineapple wedge would just get in the way of me enjoying Paula Dean's Pineapple Creme Pie.

So here it is:  I'm no minimalist, but when it comes to "decorating" my house or my food, less is more.

(Although anyone who has helped me move would say otherwise.)

Friday, October 1, 2010

Excellent waffles!

Crisp Waffles

2 eggs
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted, or vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Heat waffle iron.  Beat eggs with hand beater until fluffy; beat in remaining ingredients until just smooth.  Pour batter from cup or pitcher onto hot waffle iron.  Bake until steaming stops.

Recipe Credit: Betty Crocker

A day off. . . what to do?

Although I didn't do anything special for breakfast today (we went to the Mill, where I got a chocolate cinnamon muffin--weird), I thought I might share with you one of my latest dinners.

After biking to the gym a few weeks ago, I was feeling famished.  Jaime and I were spinning along, talking about something quick we could have for dinner.  I suddenly thought, "Breakfast for Dinner"!  And my husband, being the nice guy that he is just said, "Okay."

I made the waffles from the Betty Crocker cookbook--that's what my dad always did, and they are delicious.  I used my new waffle iron from our wedding (thanks, Porters!) and everything turned out great!

I decided to go for a berry garnish on mine, the husband tried something a little more avante garde--curried chicken.

He is a strong believer that most meals should have a protein.  It didn't go over too well and he quickly took up the berries, too.  Delectable!

So next time you're in a rut, waffles are an easy way out.  And a delicious one.

Friday, October 22, 2010

The pot post.

No.  This isn't a post about marijuana, despite the fact that I have watched 5 seasons of the show Weeds in one month.

This is a post about a pot.  A pot that I registered for for my wedding, but did not receive.  Mostly because it was super-expensive.  It's a dutch oven.  That's just the way they are.  Expensive.

But thanks to some elusive Crate and Barrel gift cards, my dream of a dutch oven came through.  I caved and I bought it when I was visiting my sister in Chicago (by the way--Monday is the best day ever to shop at Crate and Barrel.  I felt like I was on Supermarket Sweep).

I bought the Mario Batali dutch oven in Polenta.  That is a shade of yellow for all you non-Food Network watching people.
Here it is:

I included a picture of me sauteing some leeks, carrots, and onions for a veggie risotto.  Yum!  Risottos have become my new favorite food.  I could eat any kind.  Cheese, rice, butter, and various other delicious flavors?  Count me in!

The reason I love this pot so much is because the last pot I had that was this size was from a place called Blue Valley Community Action.  If you have never been there, I'm sorry.  Many of my pre-wedding dishes were from Blue Valley.  I appreciate that.  I loved them dearly.  But some of them had one life to live.  And they were trying to come back from the dead.

Such was the case with my old pan.  I once started a fire in that pan with hot oil.  I burnt things that aren't normally able to burn.  Chili.  Water.

When I got this pan, I was in a state of euphoria.  No burnt butter the minute it hit the pan.  No stuck on rice.  It cooks so evenly and nicely I could kiss it.

It can also go in the oven, which I haven't tried yet.  But I will.  Any recipe suggestions??

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Complete and utter decadence.

I have been reading a blog for the past year or so called The Pioneer Woman.  It is funny and enjoyable and apparently super-popular.  I mean, that's as it should be.  It's good.  Ree (the pioneer woman) has different topics she writes about daily such as food, photography, her kids, etc.  It's fun and they seem like a fun family.

She has a cookbook out called The Pioneer Woman Cooks.  In in (and on the blog) she has a recipe for the best chocolate sheet cake ever.

That is saying something.  Not that I ever really eat "sheet cakes", but, you know, I eat cake.  Lots of cake. Usually just in a different shape.  Anywho, I had family coming to town last weekend, so I decided to whip it up.

Although I am not one for multiple steps going into a cake, I decided this would be worth it.  The beginning stages of the cake are on the stove.

At this point you melt the butter and mix in the cocoa. Yum!

Then dry ingredients are mixed in a bowl.  Here I'm getting ready to pour the wet ingredients in.

Then, you mix more wet ingredients in a measuring cup--eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, etc.  All the yummy stuff!  That is added to the bowl.

Yumtastic!  Sorry about the crappy pictures.  I was trying to get some "action shots".  The light in my kitchen is also not the greatest.  Very yellow.

Anywho, then you put this lovely mix into a sheet cake pan.
After baking the cake, I thought these turned out a little thin.  They were kind of brownie-like, which is great, but I like a little more cake to sink my teeth into.  Next time, I think I will make them in a jelly roll pan.

While the cake is baking, you can start making the frosting.  It is delish.  You will want to drink this stuff.  It is basically butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and cocoa.  You really don't need more than that in life, do you?



The last picture is the finished product.  You just pour the frosting on.  Very easy and smooth.  One thing I didn't do was whisk the frosting.  That was a big mistake...huge (name that movie...)  because it looks like there are nuts in the frosting!  My cake would never have nuts in the frosting, so there.  When it says optional, I will never take that option. . . just so you know.

All in all, I was very happy with the flavor and texture of this cake.  It was moist and delicious and stayed that way the whole 3 days it existed. . . I think a second round will be coming soon.

For the recipe, check out this site.  Her photos are amazing.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A healthy snack...for once!

I have come to find that my husband's favorite treat is--get this--yogurt.  How positively sinful.  How decadent.  How...healthy?  Yes.  My husband is about as healthy as you can get.  He was one of those kids who grew up eating Jell-o for dessert.

Which I think is a travesty.

I mean, I know that it's meant to be dessert, but we all know it's a fruit.  There are pictures of fruits on the cover of the box.  It has fruit flavors.  What more could you ask for in a fruit?  Not much, that I can tell you.

So, on to the whole point of this post.  Granola.  I decided to try my hand at making granola to throw on yogurt or to eat by itself for a little crunch.

I was a little worried that it would be bland, but I actually think it turned out well.  The hardest part was finding a recipe.  In fact, it was so difficult that I ended up not even following a recipe.

It turned out to be something akin to this, though:

3 cups rolled oats
1/8 cup flax seed meal
1/8 cup wheat germ
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup (or less?) honey
1/4 oil (this I can't remember.  I don't even know if I put oil in!  I think I did, though)
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 cup dried fruit

Bake at 325 for 15 minutes, then stir up.  Bake for another 8 minutes or until brown.  I would say there is a lot of room to play with proportions and sweeteners.

Here are some photos of the process:




I will  be making my second batch soon.  The first lasted about two weeks!  Nice!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Why, Paula? Why?

This morning when I was at the gym, I watched an episode of Paula Dean.  Now, I enjoy Paula.  I think she is hilarious.  I love to use the words oil and butter because of her.



 But there is one thing about her cooking that annoys me.  The overkill.  I want to say to her, "Paula, sweetie, did you really need to add that mayo to that vinaigrette?  Did you really need to add fresh pineapple, whipped cream, and candied pineapple to the top of that pie?"

The answer is no, Paula, you didn't need to.

Watching this show made me think of my whole philosophy when it comes to making things, food or otherwise.  Function is key.  I'm not going to make something just because it looks cutesy.  I want to use it. I also might want to eat it.  That dang pineapple wedge would just get in the way of me enjoying Paula Dean's Pineapple Creme Pie.

So here it is:  I'm no minimalist, but when it comes to "decorating" my house or my food, less is more.

(Although anyone who has helped me move would say otherwise.)

Friday, October 1, 2010

Excellent waffles!

Crisp Waffles

2 eggs
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted, or vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Heat waffle iron.  Beat eggs with hand beater until fluffy; beat in remaining ingredients until just smooth.  Pour batter from cup or pitcher onto hot waffle iron.  Bake until steaming stops.

Recipe Credit: Betty Crocker

A day off. . . what to do?

Although I didn't do anything special for breakfast today (we went to the Mill, where I got a chocolate cinnamon muffin--weird), I thought I might share with you one of my latest dinners.

After biking to the gym a few weeks ago, I was feeling famished.  Jaime and I were spinning along, talking about something quick we could have for dinner.  I suddenly thought, "Breakfast for Dinner"!  And my husband, being the nice guy that he is just said, "Okay."

I made the waffles from the Betty Crocker cookbook--that's what my dad always did, and they are delicious.  I used my new waffle iron from our wedding (thanks, Porters!) and everything turned out great!

I decided to go for a berry garnish on mine, the husband tried something a little more avante garde--curried chicken.

He is a strong believer that most meals should have a protein.  It didn't go over too well and he quickly took up the berries, too.  Delectable!

So next time you're in a rut, waffles are an easy way out.  And a delicious one.