Tonight, in a mere 45 minutes, is The Golden Globes! I am sure lots of you are moaning and groaning and that's fine with me. Wail away, I don't care. I LOVE these things! I love movies as many of you know. They don't have to be award worthy or even well acted for that matter. I just want to be entertained. I love getting lost in a good story. A real quick top five list in no particular order except #1?
1. The Royal Tenenbaums
2. Casino
3. Garden State
4.The Shawshank Redemption
5. Anchorman/ Super Troopers (Yes, Anchorman. Don't judge)
Movies were a big hit for mom and dad, too. We watched endless movies together and every year mom and I would watch all of the awards shows. I loved the dresses, I won't lie, and watching people all teary eyed up on stage accepting awards they were all sure were going to someone else. Mom would make all sorts of snacks and we would play Scrabble. I never once beat her no matter how old I got and she barely graduated from high school. It was a special time for us and now that she is no longer here, I try to at least make it a special time for me.
Tonight I am alone because J is working over nights for the moment which is good because he hates these awards shows even more than you do, I'm sure. So, I threw a load of laundry in washer and made myself some Penne Alla Vodka for dinner since writing about it last night got me craving it. It's simple and fast, adapted from Rachael Ray no less. And I'm with Deb on this one. Hate her silly catch phrases all you want but I wouldn't ever knock a thirty minute meal. Especially not one this tasty.
I'm thoroughly enjoying it with some Hedges wine that I picked up today at the Jungle. Along with a few other goodies I just had to have. My most fantastic Jungle Jims trip ever! And that's saying a lot. I really can't say more than that but I got to see a different side of the business today and it was like Christmas all over again. Life is good.
And as the night goes on it's only going to get better. See, for dessert I made something called Everyday Chocolate Cake. It's not a chocolate cake in the traditional cake sense. It's a loaf cake really. But it's easy, delicious, and I've made it before so I don't even have to wait on it to be done to blog about it. It comes out moist with a deep chocolate flavor and it's one of those recipes that you find yourself looking at the timer just wishing it would hurry up already! It smells divine. And I always, always eat it warmed up with a scoop of Jeni's Queen City Cayenne ice cream. It can also be found at Jungle Jims or Jeni's online website, apprx. $10. The price isn't cheap but as a once in a while luxry, it's totally worth it. One scoop is almost always enough. The chocoalte and cinnamon hit your first and right at the end the warm cayenne pepper creeps up and wham! Smacks you in the face. It's the neatest combination of cold and hot. Just try it.
So, make some coffee and plop a scoop of this ice cream or just your favorite onto a warm slice of this cake. Let the ice cream melt a bit, and then dig in. It's a treat that honestly is so hard to top. As the name says, I would eat it everyday if I didn't want to be rolled out of the door :)
Penna Alla Vodka
Everyday Chocolate Cake
Jeni's Ice Cream
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Food, Food Everywhere And Not A Bite To Eat!
Okay, I have had a craving all week for something. What is it? I don't know! But nothing I have stuffed down my gullet in the past five days has even come close to satisfying my insatiable desire for food. And no, I'm not pregnant :) It's just that I get into these mysterious food kicks, you see? Ever since I was a teeny, tiny toddler I would get into these.. streaks where only ONE thing, one food item would really hit the spot and end my hunger. And make no mistake... I will keep eating until I figure it out and really, that isn't always as fun as it may sound.
Sometimes it's as simple as looking in my amply stocked kitchen. Other times I need to get my ass off of the couch and journey to the store to find out exactly what I need. Hence why I spend endless hours on a crowded weekend walking through Jungle Jims. But even more times still, I find myself here, online, searching some of my favorite food blogs until bam! That one perfect thing with its alluring little photo POPS off of the page and devilishly lures me into a food adventure.
So, for your reading and gastronomical pleasure, I have compiled a tiny list of my favorite food blogs that inspire me daily. Starting with the one that really made me want to cook. Not just bake cook. I introduce you now to Deb Perelman and her wonderful little gem, Smitten Kitchen This a sweet, honest blog about a delightful woman name Deb. She lives in NYC and makes the most stunning things out of her truly tiny kitchen. I can't count how many times I've made her Penne Alla Vodka. From main dishes to noshes to desserts and even drinks she does it all. All the while reminding us that she is no professional and if she is capable of making such delectable dishes in her tiny kitchen with no formal training AND a toddler at her feet, so can we. Did I mention she takes stunning photos, tests her recipes rigorously and is writing a cookbook? I say, step aside Martha. Deb is the new modern domestic goddess.
Next up is Bakerella. This blog is written by Angie Dudley. Its very girly, kitsch kind of website that contain recipes for the most indulgent baked goods your eyes have ever laid sight on and your teeth have ever sank into. She comes across just as sweet as the stuff she makes. A lot of the times she even uses mixes and I don't mind a bit! Her signature? Cake Pops. Little balls of cake on a stick dipped in chocolate. There is a book and a subsequent book tour dedicated to them and they are so adorable they make Hello Kitty look pitiful. Everything is in fantastically cute colors. And to bump it up and notch? Macaron Pops with little bows tied to the sticks. I die. For my birthday, I made myself her Cookie/Brownie Bars. Just recently, she received an impromptu call from Blake Lively, apparently a great baker in her own right, to come on over for the day, hang, and bake. And Disney has commissioned her for various projects involving her whimsical Cake Pops. What a life, huh? Let's hope she doesn't forget us little people down here.
Orangette is such a fantastic find. Molly Wizenberg started her blog, named after one of her favorite candies, six years ago. Before that she spent time in Paris and was in a Ph.D program for a bit. I adore her Cabbage Gratin. And while her recipes are worth the look see alone, I stayed because of the story. Soon after beginning her blog, Molly fell in love with a reader. They are now married and living in Seattle, Washington. In August of 2009, they opened Delancey, a wonderful little restaurant that on a trip to visit family, I had the pleasure of dining in. I kind of bullied the fam into going. I had to try it! I had the Hot Salami Pizza and a spicy Ginger Cake for dessert. The Bourbon Butterscotch Sauce would taste good on a shoe. I'm so jealous. She has written a New York Times bestseller and currently has a monthly column in Bon Apetit. She has a lot on her plate and after eating what she puts on her plates, I'm not the least bit surprised.
Honestly, next time you are bored with nothing to do. Make a cup of tea or fill up your wine glass and have a look at any of these sites. I promise you, within forty-five minutes you will be dying to make at least three things. Hopefully one day, my humble little site will do the same. Until then...I shall dream!
Smitten Kitchen
Bakerella
Orangette
Sometimes it's as simple as looking in my amply stocked kitchen. Other times I need to get my ass off of the couch and journey to the store to find out exactly what I need. Hence why I spend endless hours on a crowded weekend walking through Jungle Jims. But even more times still, I find myself here, online, searching some of my favorite food blogs until bam! That one perfect thing with its alluring little photo POPS off of the page and devilishly lures me into a food adventure.
So, for your reading and gastronomical pleasure, I have compiled a tiny list of my favorite food blogs that inspire me daily. Starting with the one that really made me want to cook. Not just bake cook. I introduce you now to Deb Perelman and her wonderful little gem, Smitten Kitchen This a sweet, honest blog about a delightful woman name Deb. She lives in NYC and makes the most stunning things out of her truly tiny kitchen. I can't count how many times I've made her Penne Alla Vodka. From main dishes to noshes to desserts and even drinks she does it all. All the while reminding us that she is no professional and if she is capable of making such delectable dishes in her tiny kitchen with no formal training AND a toddler at her feet, so can we. Did I mention she takes stunning photos, tests her recipes rigorously and is writing a cookbook? I say, step aside Martha. Deb is the new modern domestic goddess.
Next up is Bakerella. This blog is written by Angie Dudley. Its very girly, kitsch kind of website that contain recipes for the most indulgent baked goods your eyes have ever laid sight on and your teeth have ever sank into. She comes across just as sweet as the stuff she makes. A lot of the times she even uses mixes and I don't mind a bit! Her signature? Cake Pops. Little balls of cake on a stick dipped in chocolate. There is a book and a subsequent book tour dedicated to them and they are so adorable they make Hello Kitty look pitiful. Everything is in fantastically cute colors. And to bump it up and notch? Macaron Pops with little bows tied to the sticks. I die. For my birthday, I made myself her Cookie/Brownie Bars. Just recently, she received an impromptu call from Blake Lively, apparently a great baker in her own right, to come on over for the day, hang, and bake. And Disney has commissioned her for various projects involving her whimsical Cake Pops. What a life, huh? Let's hope she doesn't forget us little people down here.
Orangette is such a fantastic find. Molly Wizenberg started her blog, named after one of her favorite candies, six years ago. Before that she spent time in Paris and was in a Ph.D program for a bit. I adore her Cabbage Gratin. And while her recipes are worth the look see alone, I stayed because of the story. Soon after beginning her blog, Molly fell in love with a reader. They are now married and living in Seattle, Washington. In August of 2009, they opened Delancey, a wonderful little restaurant that on a trip to visit family, I had the pleasure of dining in. I kind of bullied the fam into going. I had to try it! I had the Hot Salami Pizza and a spicy Ginger Cake for dessert. The Bourbon Butterscotch Sauce would taste good on a shoe. I'm so jealous. She has written a New York Times bestseller and currently has a monthly column in Bon Apetit. She has a lot on her plate and after eating what she puts on her plates, I'm not the least bit surprised.
Honestly, next time you are bored with nothing to do. Make a cup of tea or fill up your wine glass and have a look at any of these sites. I promise you, within forty-five minutes you will be dying to make at least three things. Hopefully one day, my humble little site will do the same. Until then...I shall dream!
Smitten Kitchen
Bakerella
Orangette
Thursday, January 6, 2011
A Feast For Five, Eaten by Two
Hello my lovelies! I am sorry for my absence. It seems that the New Year thought it would be wonderful to bestow upon me what I am now calling, "The Zombification Virus". Be careful, it's goin' 'round! :) Joking aside, it was a major suckfest. I despise anything that makes laying in bed, watching Netflix all day totally unfun.
New Years was nice. Nothing special but I think I was in need of a big, healthy dose of boring. That's how I always remember them in my house, too. My family mostly spent the day noshing on cheese and crackers, leftover holiday fixings and cookies, and playing board games. Backgammon, Yahtzee, Scrabble! Just enjoying the last little moments of holiday magic. So, for mine and J's shut in holiday, I cooked.
While J played PS3, I slaved away in the kitchen making mac n' cheese, crumbles, crackers, and sticky buns! All of them were new recipes picked to be decadent, hearty, and warm and to usher in the New Year in total comfort! It gave me a chance to use my new ramekins, Le Creuset baking dish, and totally zone out and destress from my holiday funk.
I suppose it's best to start at the beginning of the festive feast with breakfast. I made Sticky Buns, Bacon, and Scrambled Eggs. I think scrambled eggs and bacon are in no need of explanations. I do however bake my bacon on a wire mesh cooling rack/ baking pan combo in an oven at 400 degrees until crispy. It saves you and your oven from messy grease splatters, burns, and the bacon never gets over done! And the Sticky Buns!! Mmmmmmm.... so simple and sticky. They are flaky unlike cinnamon rolls. They even made me love raisins that aren't chocolate covered. Momma would be sooo proud!
For lunch, we noshed. Holiday leftovers sandwiches, cookies, and an elevated cheese and crackers. Stilton and Walnut Crackers with Granny Smith Apples. Homemade, the crackers aren't like Ritz. They are dense and remind me really of savory shortbread. Cheese and crackers all in one is definitely a plus. Perfect to munch on with sliced, tart green apples and a Manhattan, which, I did :) All while preparing dinner and dessert. I was waaay to excited about these because I got to use my new over price Le Creuset ramekins and deep casserole dish. ( I also got a cast iron dutch oven, tea kettle, and a souffle dish! Santa was ooohh sooo nice this year!)
For dinner, I made the most decadent, fantasical Beer Baked Mac N' Cheese you could possibly imagine in my new casserole dish. Thank God Jungle Jim's is just up the street. It made buying all the cheeses easy and what's best is they have such a great selection. Seriously, my mom has a banging baked mac n' cheese recipe and I love it and will make it for decades to come because it's what I know and love but this... THIS... ooey, gooey, molten, cheesy love! And I don't even like beer! It also rebakes like a dream. Serve it with a great, big green salad and drift away into a food coma for the next few hours.
And just in case you haven't had enough... I made Plum and Raspberry Crumbles for dessert. It's now my favorite non chocolate dessert. Before this.. that did NOT exist. You can make Peach/ Blueberry, Cranberry and Pear, or Strawberry Rhubarb if you like but I love Plums. They looked sooo gourmet all bubbled over the sides of my new ramekins. I put a dollop of Vanilla Bean ice cream on top. Note... let the ice cream melt just ever so slightly. You'll thank me. Even if your tummy doesn't after eating all this :)
Unfortunately, the digi cam is down so all the lovely photos I took cannot be downloaded, at the moment. I promise to just as soon as I can. In the meantime, enjoy.
Easy Sticky Buns
Stilton and Walnut Crackers
Beer Baked Mac N' Cheese
Plum and Raspberry Crumbles
NOTES:
1. When it comes to the Mac 'N Cheese, you can really use whatever cheeses you like AS LONG as you use the same ratios but really, even if blue cheese is off putting to you, try it this way. I promise, you don't notice it.
2. The crumble recipe made ALOT. I only had four ramekins. I made four right away, baked two immediately and refrigerated the others for the next day. The rest? I poured the fruit into a smallish baking pan, topped it, and baked it. The grandparents got it as a New Years Eve dish.
3. No ramekins? No problems! Just bake it in a traditional baking dish. In the future, I'll probably do the same.
New Years was nice. Nothing special but I think I was in need of a big, healthy dose of boring. That's how I always remember them in my house, too. My family mostly spent the day noshing on cheese and crackers, leftover holiday fixings and cookies, and playing board games. Backgammon, Yahtzee, Scrabble! Just enjoying the last little moments of holiday magic. So, for mine and J's shut in holiday, I cooked.
While J played PS3, I slaved away in the kitchen making mac n' cheese, crumbles, crackers, and sticky buns! All of them were new recipes picked to be decadent, hearty, and warm and to usher in the New Year in total comfort! It gave me a chance to use my new ramekins, Le Creuset baking dish, and totally zone out and destress from my holiday funk.
I suppose it's best to start at the beginning of the festive feast with breakfast. I made Sticky Buns, Bacon, and Scrambled Eggs. I think scrambled eggs and bacon are in no need of explanations. I do however bake my bacon on a wire mesh cooling rack/ baking pan combo in an oven at 400 degrees until crispy. It saves you and your oven from messy grease splatters, burns, and the bacon never gets over done! And the Sticky Buns!! Mmmmmmm.... so simple and sticky. They are flaky unlike cinnamon rolls. They even made me love raisins that aren't chocolate covered. Momma would be sooo proud!
For lunch, we noshed. Holiday leftovers sandwiches, cookies, and an elevated cheese and crackers. Stilton and Walnut Crackers with Granny Smith Apples. Homemade, the crackers aren't like Ritz. They are dense and remind me really of savory shortbread. Cheese and crackers all in one is definitely a plus. Perfect to munch on with sliced, tart green apples and a Manhattan, which, I did :) All while preparing dinner and dessert. I was waaay to excited about these because I got to use my new over price Le Creuset ramekins and deep casserole dish. ( I also got a cast iron dutch oven, tea kettle, and a souffle dish! Santa was ooohh sooo nice this year!)
For dinner, I made the most decadent, fantasical Beer Baked Mac N' Cheese you could possibly imagine in my new casserole dish. Thank God Jungle Jim's is just up the street. It made buying all the cheeses easy and what's best is they have such a great selection. Seriously, my mom has a banging baked mac n' cheese recipe and I love it and will make it for decades to come because it's what I know and love but this... THIS... ooey, gooey, molten, cheesy love! And I don't even like beer! It also rebakes like a dream. Serve it with a great, big green salad and drift away into a food coma for the next few hours.
And just in case you haven't had enough... I made Plum and Raspberry Crumbles for dessert. It's now my favorite non chocolate dessert. Before this.. that did NOT exist. You can make Peach/ Blueberry, Cranberry and Pear, or Strawberry Rhubarb if you like but I love Plums. They looked sooo gourmet all bubbled over the sides of my new ramekins. I put a dollop of Vanilla Bean ice cream on top. Note... let the ice cream melt just ever so slightly. You'll thank me. Even if your tummy doesn't after eating all this :)
Unfortunately, the digi cam is down so all the lovely photos I took cannot be downloaded, at the moment. I promise to just as soon as I can. In the meantime, enjoy.
Easy Sticky Buns
Stilton and Walnut Crackers
Beer Baked Mac N' Cheese
Plum and Raspberry Crumbles
NOTES:
1. When it comes to the Mac 'N Cheese, you can really use whatever cheeses you like AS LONG as you use the same ratios but really, even if blue cheese is off putting to you, try it this way. I promise, you don't notice it.
2. The crumble recipe made ALOT. I only had four ramekins. I made four right away, baked two immediately and refrigerated the others for the next day. The rest? I poured the fruit into a smallish baking pan, topped it, and baked it. The grandparents got it as a New Years Eve dish.
3. No ramekins? No problems! Just bake it in a traditional baking dish. In the future, I'll probably do the same.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)