{ The Novice Cook and Other Surprises }

{Season}able Breadsticks

2012-01-10T16:13:00.000-08:00

A lovely company called Whimsy & Spice from NYC shared this recipe on their blog. It was a very easy peasy recipe, and my family loved it. Check it out and enjoy!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-07T16:50:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody! Ready to start fresh this year. I am currently reading a sweet novel called "Friendship Bread" by Darien Gee. Barely a quarter way into the book I wanted to know how to make the bread the author talks about, so I flipped to the back and proceeded to make one of many recipes she suggests. I can only say after baking the zucchini bread version of friendship bread I am an absolute fan! After I shared my treat with the family, I still had extra baking mix. I didn't want to make another loaf so I made mini loaves and had my kids disperse them to the neighbors. I love this bread and the story behind it. Highly encourage reading the book then baking the bread (:

The mini loaves cooling right out of the oven. You can see the cinnamon sugar topping. Yum!

The large loaf was for the family.

The baby loaves all wrapped up and ready to be devoured for snack and lunchtime treat.

Baking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325℉.

2. Add starter (about 2 cups)to bowl.

3. 3 eggs

4. 1/2 cup oil

5. 1/2 cup milk

6. 1 cup sugar

7. 1/2 tsp. vanilla

8. 2 tsp. cinnamon

9. 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

10. 1/2 tsp. salt

11. 1/2 tsp. baking soda

12. 2 cups flour

13. 1 box Jell-O instant pudding ( I used Pistachio, but you can use any flavor)

14. 1tsp. nutmeg

15. Mix in large bowl all ingredients then add 2 cups unpeeled zucchini, shredded- squeeze excess liquid (important so there is no additional moisture).

16. If you want you can add 1 cup of any nuts, I prefer none (:, mix throughly.

17. Grease or spray oil in a loaf pan (mini or large or whatever).

18. In a small bowl mix 1/2 cup sugar with 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Sprinkle sugar in greased pan(s).

19. Pour Mixed ingredients 2/3 into pan, then sprinkle with remaining sugar mix.

20. Bake 1 hr. or until bread loosens from sides and toothpick comes out clean from center of bread.

Enjoy!

Happy Holidays

2011-12-18T17:24:00.000-08:00

Better late than never. It seems I have been neglecting my dear blog for a year, however I have not stopped cooking yummy delicacies and learning new things along the way. This holiday season I have been excited about making homemade gifts for family, here are some of my tried and tested ideas:

1. Candy Cane Marshmallows, 2. Hot Butter Rum, 3. Marinara Sauce and Pesto, 4. Rosemary Pear Preserve and Cranberry Jam, and 5. Chewy Molasses Cookie.

The Candy Cane Marshmallows were from Martha Stewart's recipe; easy, but suggest reading comments after recipe for helpful tips. Hot Butter Rum; no recipe, buy Hot Butter Rum Spices and add Rum with whipped cream (YUM). Marinara Sauce and Basil Pesto are homemade Christmas presents (shhhhhhhh......(;). Rosemary and Pear Preserve (cousin's secret recipe Sorry) and Cranberry Jam recipe, another surprise Christmas treat. And finally, Chewy Molasses Cookie, these are the best molasses cookies I have eaten ( I am not bias :)), really they are easy to make and can compete with another favorite Ginger Molasses Cookie at Paradise Bakery. Just a few ideas that I wanted to share. I hope everyone has a funtastic holiday season, enjoy each others company and savor every moment together ♥♥♥

Cherry Blossom Bliss

2011-03-03T16:16:00.000-08:00

Spring is blooming in the desert and to celebrate the great weather I made some yummy easy to make Cherry Blossom pastry.

All you need is premade pie/pastry dough and canned cherry filling. Heat oven to 375℉. Cut dough into square pieces and add a tablespoon of cherry filling in the center. Brush tops of pastries with an egg wash (egg yolk only, beaten). Cook for 15-20 minutes. Let cool then enjoy! Happy Spring everyone.

Irish Guinness Shepherd Pie

2010-12-01T07:19:00.000-08:00

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I had a couple of leftovers that I did not want to go to waste. So I gathered my extra veggies and mash potatoes and added some ground beef to make an interesting shepherd pie.

It came out wonderfully, my kids loved it. For me the greatest part was being creative and not wasteful with what I had. Here is a recipe of a shepherd pie that I tweaked a little.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon black pepper
16 ounces ground beef or lamb
1 large onion, finely diced
3-4 large carrots, finely diced
1 cup frozen peas
3-4 sprigs fresh thyme, finely chopped
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon butter
1 bottle Guinness
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup stock
1 large quantity mashed potatoes (estimating 6 cups, fresh or leftover)

Preparation:
Pre-heat oven to 400°. Saute′ carrots in the olive oil until starting to get tender. Add in the onions and sauté for a minute or two, and then add the meat. Season with black pepper and thyme. Cook until browned then drain fat. Add the butter and peas. Sprinkle with flour and stir through. Add tomato paste, Guinness and Worcestershire sauce. Let this reduce slightly then add the chicken stock. Allow to reduce down until you have thick meaty gravy. Season to your taste. Remove from heat. Grease a 9 x 13” oven proof dish with butter and add the sauce. Spoon mashed potatoes on top. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the potato is nice and browned on top.

A great meal to serve on a cold wintery day!

Macaroons!

2010-10-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

I love macaroons. Recently, my husband found this wonderful pastery shop that makes them. The above macaroons are pumpkin, hazelnut, key lime, raspberry rosewater and espresso. And just by coincidence I had a sample of each flavor ;-)! They all tasted devine, but I would have to say the pumpkin one was a favorite. Check out the cafe site at http://www.essencemacaron.com/index.php

Cocktail Hour

2010-09-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Dirty martini with Hor d' oeuvres.

Had a little cocktail gathering at home with light fare. We had Chianti marinated salami with rosemary wafers, Dubliner cheese and Rosemary olive oil Asiago cheese, with a side of Blue Cheese stuffed green olives. Dirty martinis were the beverage accompanying the appetizers. So simple and fun to put together in a short amount of time. It was a nice way to relax after a long day.

Ube Yogurt Treat

2010-09-19T13:47:00.000-07:00

Ube, an Asian purplish yam.

This delicious recipe was a favorite of mine as a child. I tweaked it a little to make it lowfat, but the taste still remains the same. I love this recipe; very easy to make with few ingredients.

All you need is a can of Coconut Milk (13.5 oz), 1 cup of nonfat plain yogurt, 1 cup of sugar, and a pound of shredded Ube (which you can find at any Asian grocery store). Puree in blender and add to ice cream maker. Within a few minutes you will have yourself a delicious healthy dessert. Happy eating.

Cherry Pecan Meringue, so light and airy

2010-05-13T17:27:00.000-07:00

Fluffy clouds of goodness.

Sweet and chewy in the center.

You can't just stop at one........

Ingredients

Makes 36
4 large egg whites, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup dried cherries or dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup chopped pecans

Directions
Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat egg whites, cream of tartar, salt, and vanilla until soft peaks form.
Still beating, very gradually (1 tablespoon at a time) add sugar to egg whites. Continue to beat until sugar has dissolved and stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Gently fold in chopped dried cherries and chopped pecans.
Drop meringue mixture by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Bake, switching baking sheets halfway through, until meringues are dry, about 2 hours. Cool completely on baking sheets. Meringues can be stored in an airtight container, up to 5 days.

I need a drink!

2010-05-11T17:44:00.000-07:00

Here is my large stiff and yummy drink.

I am right now in the middle of doing my final paper for my master's program. Lots of research, but finding all the information fascinating and exciting. I have to create a poster presentation of my paper as well, and I am finding myself creating lots of great ideas in my head :)...... But back to my yummy drink; I borrowed it from "Martha", she always has great ideas and recipes. Here goes:

Cantaloupe Shake

1/2 cantaloupe

2 cups nonfat yogurt

3 Tbl. honey

1/2 scoop protein powder

some ice

Blend all ingredients except ice in blender, then put ice in a tall glass. Pour shake into glass and then enjoy! The recipe makes for 2 servings.

Cucumber-Pear Yogurt Shake

2010-05-08T15:57:00.000-07:00

A refreshing drink for a warm May day.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt

3/4 cup crushed ice

1 medium pear chopped

1 small banana chopped

1/4 cup cucumber chopped and peeled

2 Tbl protein powder

Blend all ingredients together until smooth and consistent, then take a sip and enjoy the lovely day!

Sushi for Three

2010-04-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

My kids and I tried to make salmon with dill sushi rolls this afternoon. It was a fun way to get in some time together and do some hands on learning. The results were well worth the fun and anticipation of eating them. Take a look!

The secret ingredients :-)...

My failed attempt at making a perfect sushi roll.

The sushi pro; on her first attempt she scored a nice roll. That said I watched the master and learned her tricks.

A yummy snack that was enjoyed by all!

Orange Oatmeal Lace Cookies

2010-04-15T17:53:00.000-07:00

It all began when I went to a Foreign market in search of rose water for another recipe. I found the water as well as this Orange Blossom water next to it. Rarely do you find exotic items like these at the local grocery store, so I decided to get it also. Not knowing yet what to do with it, I randomly searched for recipes on the internet and found this easy recipe that I could do with my kids.

I scraped off the zest of one large orange, just the smell of the pieces was appetizing.

Then my daughter blended the remaining ingredients together.

When you form the dough use a melon ball scooper and space cookies on sheet in 2 rows; these cookies spread.

Beautiful, light and crisp......addicting. Fortunately it is low in calories and carbs :).

Ingredients:
1 orange for zesting
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup very finely chopped pecans

Instructions:
Heat the oven to 350º. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, using dabs of butter or shortening to hold the corners of the paper in place.

Finely grate the orange until you have 1/2 teaspoon of zest. Cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the flour, salt, and milk all at once, then add the vanilla extract and orange zest and blend for about 30 seconds more. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the oats and pecans.

Scoop and gently shape the dough into 1-inch balls -- each about a rounded teaspoon. Place the balls on the sheet, leaving approximately 3 inches between them.

Bake the cookies on the center oven rack until they are bubbly and the edges have started to turn a dark golden color, about 10 minutes. Transfer the cookie sheet to a wire rack and let it cool for 2 minutes.

Carefully lift the sides of the parchment paper and transfer the cookies to a countertop. Let them cool for about 5 minutes before gently placing them on a serving plate. In the meantime, line another baking sheet with parchment for the second batch (or let the first baking sheet cool to room temperature, then line it with fresh parchment). Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.

A Swedish Meal

2010-04-10T20:31:00.000-07:00

One word, IKEA.... went a little crazy shopping at the market and came home with some delicious goods.

I'll start with the Swedish crispbread topped with hard boiled egg and creamed smoked roe, YUM!

For dinner to compliment our Swedish meal we had asparagus with olive oil and lemon.

Along with our side dish we had a lovely Tomato Balsamic Salad.

And our main dish, gravlax with yogurt dill sauce.

A wonderful simple and easy meal to fix.....with a little help from IKEA ;-).

Old-Fashioned Lavender Honey Ice Cream

2010-04-08T18:23:00.000-07:00

I have an English lavender bush that is starting to bloom, the flowers were just right for making a new type of ice cream for the family.

The honey was just enough to bring out sweet flavor of lavender.

Here the lavender, honey and milk are all combining to make a delicious treat.

The incorporated ingredients, ready to serve.

A lovely light dessert or as my daughter would say "quite refreshing Mom".

Lavender Honey Ice Cream

Ingredients:

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup half-and-half

2/3 cup mild honey

2 tablespoons dried edible lavender flowers

2 large eggs

1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Bring cream, half-and-half, honey, and lavender just to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, then remove pan from heat. Let steep, covered, 30 minutes.

Pour cream mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and discard lavender. Return mixture to cleaned saucepan and heat over moderate heat until hot.

Whisk together eggs and salt in a large bowl, then add 1 cup hot cream mixture in a slow stream, whisking. Pour into remaining hot cream mixture in saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thick enough to coat back of spoon and registers 170 to 175 F on a candy thermometer, about 5 minutes (do not let boil).

Pour custard through sieve into cleaned bowl and cool completely, stirring occasionally. Chill, covered, until cold, at least 3 hours. Freeze custard in ice cream maker. Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden

Strawberry Meringue with Chocolate Chips

2010-03-31T16:34:00.000-07:00

A very simple and easy spring treat that my kids love! Happy Easter everyone.

Ingredients:
3 egg whites
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 tablespoons red gelatin powder
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
Carefully seperate egg whites from yolks - ANY yolk left in the egg whites and you will not be able to make the meringue! In a clean dry bowl whip egg whites, white vinegar and salt until stiff (but not dry!). Add in sugar and jello powder (Traditionally we use Red Jello - such as raspberry or Cherry -- ). Fold in chocolate chips. On buttered cookie sheet, drop spoonfuls of meringue - I do smaller, bite sized cookies. Bake on a buttered cookie sheet for 30 minutes at 250* then turn off the oven and let them sit there over night. Do not peek or open the oven! They will turn out soft and chewy! Preparation time is to make the meringue - Cooking time is total time to make.

Macaroons...post Valentine's blessings

2010-02-15T10:41:00.000-08:00

Rarely do you find a great recipe on NPR, but this takes the cake.....or Macaroon!.... The photos just scream delicious.....I am going to try making these over spring break :)

Photo by Kyle Samperton

Rose White Chocolate Macaroons

Paste

6 egg whites

18 ounces almond flour

18 ounces confectionery sugar

Blend almond flour and confectionery sugar together. After blended, sift. Spread on parchment paper and let dry for one day. The following day, add the egg whites to the mix and stir until it becomes paste.

Meringue

7 egg whites

18 ounces sugar

5 ounces water

1 teaspoon food coloring

Instructions: Cook sugar in water until it has reached 250 degrees. While it is heating, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks. Slowly pour sugar mixture into egg whites on high speed. Let cool while whipping until the bowl is warm to the touch. Add food coloring. Whip an extra two to three minutes.

While meringue is whipping, mix paste (almond flour, confectionery sugar and egg whites) until incorporated.

Stop mixer and add a small portion of the meringue into the paste. (Incorporating the meringue helps loosen the paste.) Add the rest of the meringue, then beat with spatula until fully mixed. When finished, pipe to desired size and shape. Let dry 20 to 30 minutes after piping.

Bake at 300 degrees for 12 minutes. Let cool.

Rose White Chocolate Filling

12 ounces cream

12 ounces milk plus 6 ounces milk, divided

2 ounces cornstarch

Pinch of salt

11 ounces butter

16 ounces white chocolate (solid bar or chunks)

10 drops of rose extract

Instructions:

Combine cream and 12 ounces of milk and bring to a boil.Meantime, mix 6 ounces of milk with cornstarch, add salt, then pour the starch mixture into the cream mixture. Bring to a boil then add solid white chocolate. Mix, then add the butter and rose extract. Let cool. Delicately make small coin shaped indentations in each macaroon disc with your thumb, pipe in filling and gently press discs together to assemble the macaroon.

Sniffles and Homework

2010-02-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Once again a virus has hit home. This week was hard with kids sick, doctors' appointments and school (yes twittering is part of school work).

Little time to do any home cooking, but I wanted to share this delicious soup that I love getting at a Vietnamese restaurant not far from my home. I was able to find a recipe of it, and I have posted below.

Beef Noodle Soup

4 ounces dried rice noodles
6 cups cold water
3 (10.5) cans condensed beef broth
1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger root
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 Thai chile, chopped
1/2 pound boneless top round steak, sliced very thin
1/4 pound fresh basil
4 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro
1/4 pound mung bean sprouts
4 green onions, thinly sliced
4 wedges lime

Instructions: Soak noodles in cold water for 30 minutes. Drain. Bring water to a boil in large pot. Add noodles, and boil 3 to 5 minutes, don't overcook. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside. Meanwhile, combine beef broth, ginger and salt, bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Place equal portions of noodles into 4 large soup bowls, and place raw beef on top. Ladle hot broth over noodles and beef. Garnish with lime wedges, basil leaves, cilantro mung beans, and green onions, and serve.

A Beautiful Day

2010-02-01T05:58:00.000-08:00

With all the rain we've had in the past week, the sun finally came out to stay. The weather is perfect for planting in the garden, and today I did just that. In my tiny garden I planted some early girl tomatoes, better boy tomato, cucumber, mesclun, chocolate mint, greek oregano, violas and pansies. Hoping for a successful early summer harvest.

These are herbs for my windowsill, rosemary, peppermint and greek oregano. They smell so fresh and beautiful.

I rewarded myself after digging in the garden with a quick trip to kokomo for a refreshing yogurt treat. My favorite combination, tart yogurt and raspberry swirl on top of pineapple and strawberry yogurt, mixed with fresh berries, mochi and mango. Yummy and healthy too.

Movie Nite

2010-01-30T07:22:00.000-08:00

Starting off the weekend with a family and friend movie nite. No recipes today, instead we ordered my favorite pizza, NYPD's Fran's favorite and the Meat Lovers Pizza for the guys. We rented the French film "The Class" ( excellent movie), Mona Lisa Smiles, and a Flash of Genius. Eating, learning, blissfulness what more can I say :).

Reds and Browns

2010-01-29T05:39:00.000-08:00

Reds and browns remind me of the upcoming holiday, Valentine's Day and the chocolate treats that go along with it.

A simple dessert you might try making involves combining strawberries and chocolate together. Buy some juicy fat strawberries if they are available where you live and dip them in melted chocolate, refrigerate for a couple of hours, then take out and enjoy!

Fresh and Easy

2010-01-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

During school I often find myself not having enough time to make a fresh and healthy meal for the family. I hate when that happens, but I have found some helpful solutions. Lately, I have turned to Fresh and Easy with their pre-seasoned fish dishes. The fish (salmon, tilapia, etc.) are all fresh and well prepared all you do is cook it, and that takes only a few minutes. As a side dish I usually serve our meal with the grocery brand herb salad. Be mindful that not all the products sold are organic, but they are good quality and the small grocery customer service is excellent.

My favorite items at Fresh and Easy, Oglio Prosecco and Salmon stuffed with Shrimp and Chipotle Sauce.

The Elephant Bar

2010-01-27T05:49:00.000-08:00

If I had to admit one of my guilty pleasures it would be eating at The Elephant Bar. And today I had the opportunity to do that with my two lunch dates. I tried to eat healthy but got a bit carried away for dessert. My meal started off with a ground beef and lettuce wrap appetizer, followed by a lunch combo of tempura salmon roll with a side of pad thai. Though I was satisfied with my meal I was tempted into sharing a small delicious sundae in a deep fried wonton. I do not want to guess how many calories this all added up to; instead I will savor the moment. For a quick recipe of the Beef in Lettuce Wrap see below:

Ground Beef and Lettuce Wrap

2 lbs. ground beef
1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon hot chili oil
1 teaspoon light soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 (3/4 ounce) package stir fry seasoning
2 Tablespoons teriyaki sauce
1 bunch chopped green onion
1/2 (16 ounce) bag coleslaw mix
iceberg lettuce

Instructions: Brown ground beef with a bit of sesame oil and hot chili oil. Add some light soy sauce, pepper, garlic, 1/2 package of stir fry seasoning and 2 tablespoons of teriyaki sauce. After ingredients browned halfway add 1 bunch chopped green onions and 1/2 bag of coleslaw mix and finish browning. While the ground beef mix is cooking, wash a head of iceberg lettuce and carefully pull whole leaves off. When ground beef mixture is done serve with crisp cold lettuce.

Getting Sentimental

2010-01-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

The big guy is starting high school this year, tonight is his orientation.

When my son was a newborn I loved eating a certain egg and meatball dish. My brother-in-law would make this wonderful dish for me sometimes, and he christened it Alex's Meatballs in Egg Lemon Sauce in his honor. Every now and then I will make it for the family and we'll chuckle at how the dish got its name. Thank you brother-in-law for sharing your "secret" recipe.

Photo: http://kalofagas.ca/category/soup/

Alex's Meatballs in Egg Lemon Sauce

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 teacups rice (1 cup), washed
onion
parsley
garlic
salt / pepper
dill
oregano
2 eggs
1/2 cup olive oil
rice
2 eggs, yolk and white separated
2 lemons

Instructions: Mix first 9 ingredients and make into small meatballs. Bring 3 cups of water in a pot to a boil, then add meatballs with some olive oil and dill. Let simmer for an hour (add water as needed). While meatballs are cooking, in a separate bowl beat egg whites well, then add yolks and lemon juice. Slowly add some broth from pot to lemon sauce until meatballs are by themselves. Then pour the lemon sauce over the meatballs, shake around and spread the sauce evenly over the meatballs. Add juice of 2 lemons and dill to taste. Serve hot. YUM! Serves 6.

Go Green

2010-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Going green seems to be a theme around my house. I'll begin with the Green Tea pictured above. Rishi tea is a traditional Japanese tea served ceremonially, but I use it as a morning wake-up beverage of choice. If you add steamed milk with a tablespoon of the tea you get an excellent version of Starbuck's Green Tea Latte. No need to add sweetner, its perfect the way it is. You can find this particular brand at Whole Foods Market.

Just a few things we do around the house to promote environmental awareness. 1. composting, 2. choosing brands that use recycled or recyclable material, 3. recycling paper, 4. using energy efficient products, 5. using earth friendly biodegradable household items, 6. bringing a recyclable grocery bag when we shop, 7. carrying a doggey bag when walking our pals, and 8. maintaining a little garden in the side yard that we grow a few herbs and vegetables in. Some fun ideas that we all can do to save our planet and make it a better place for our kids to live in.

Food + Furniture = IKEA

2010-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

Food takes precedence over furniture in this collage. Yesterday we went to IKEA to look for a computer chair that was both comfortable and stylish for my daughter's desk. She chose a fun printed pattern that reflected her youthful spirit. Unfortunately for me when I go to places like IKEA I never leave without getting other stuff. Case in point, I exited the superstore with food! The above treat is called the Princess Cake and is composed of sponge cake, strawberry jam, whip cream, chocolate and marizapan. The dessert melts in your mouth and leaves you feeling like you're not cheating ;-). In addition to our trip I found a cool blog called Table for Two that has a sweet post about IKEA and the Princess Cake, take a look and explore other good stuff on the site too.

French Women Don't Get Fat

2010-01-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

Mirelle Guiliano is the author of French Women Don't Get Fat and this past October she released her second book Women, Work & The Art of Savoir Faire which I am currently reading with Tucker Miller. In her first book Guiliano talked about how Frenchwomen enjoy eating because they do it in moderation. Her latest book is completely different, instead she discusses how to be successful in the workplace and still enjoy life. I love her style of writing, straight to the point with a touch of humor. I cannot wait for her next book, a cookbook in April.

Chocolate Croissant

A simple and easy way to make chocolate croissants is to buy crescent roll dough at the grocery store ( you can usually find it between cookie dough and butter) add broken pieces of chocolate bark (found in the baking section of the grocery). Preheat oven at 350° and bake according to crescent dough directions. Afterwards, you can sprinkle the croissants with powdered sugar to give a made from scratch look. Bon Apetít.

Short Cuts

2010-01-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

Not quite Valentine's Day but it never hurts to start putting out the treats in the glass candy jar.

I was craving something sweet and chocolaty but didn't want to work hard for it, so I took a short cut and bought chewey chocolate cookies and partnered it with raspberry and chocolate sorbet. Ummm....the kids will be in for a surprise treat when they come home from school.

After the Rain

2010-01-21T06:28:00.000-08:00

Its been raining cats and dogs for two days now. Look at the beauty and destruction that nature can sometimes cause.

My two furry friends, Tucker and Finn. They were not pleased with all the mud and water in their playground.

Even though the weather did make some of us sick we were able to enjoy a healthy dose of Thai Chicken Soup with Mushroom and Baby Bok Choy Salad for dinner.

Thai Chicken Soup

1 whole chicken cut into pieces
8 cups of water
coarse salt
4 garlic cloves, smashed
4 thin slices fresh ginger, plus 1 tablespoon thins matchsticks
3 shallots, thinly sliced
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro (2 cups packed)
2 large lemongrass stalks, yellow and pale-green parts only, sliced crosswise (1/2 cup), plus 1 tablespoon very thinly sliced
3 strips (2 inches each) lime zest plus 2 tablespoons juice (from 2 limes)
1 or 2 fresh green Thai chiles, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce
Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and lime wedges

Instructions: Bring chicken, water and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a large stockpot. Skim foam. Add garlic, ginger slices, shallots, cilantro, 1/2 cup lemongrass, and the lime zest. Reduce heat. Simmer, partially covered, for 30 minutes. Remove breast, set aside. Simmer, partially covered for 30 minutes. Strain soup through a sieve. Return soup to stockpot. Let chicken cool slightly. Remove meat from bones and slice. Stir in chiles, ginger matchsticks and sliced lemongrass into strained soup. Simmer for 10 minutes. Skim fat. Stir in lime juice and fish sauce. Season with salt. Garnish with cilantro, and serve with lime wedges. Serves 6.

Source: www.marthastewart.com

Care for some tea...

2010-01-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

I have a terrible cold from the rainy weather this week and thought I would have some chocolate tea to make it all better. However tea alone is not enough to do the trick, some Green Tea Shortbread kept me very satisfied and happy.

Green Tea Shortbread

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
2 Tablespoons Chinese green-tea powder
1/2 Teaspoon table salt
1/2 lb. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, or granulated sugar

Instructions: Sift flour, tea powder and salt into a small bowl; set aside. Place butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream on medium speed until fluffy (3-5 minutes). Add sugar; continue to beat until very light in color and fluffy, about 2 minutes more. Add flour mixture; combine on low, scraping sides of bowl with a spatula if necessary, until flour is incorporated and dough sticks together. Place a piece of parchment on a clean surface; dust with flour. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness; chill in refrigerator or freezer until firm (about 30 minutes). Preheat oven to 325°. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Cut chilled dough with leaf cutters. Bake until barely starting to color (15-20 minutes). Cool completely on wire rack; store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 weeks. Makes 3 dozen.

Source: www.marthastewart.com

"You can never have enough butter."

2010-01-18T10:29:00.000-08:00

Bonjour! I was craving a Croque Madame this morning and decided to make it for the family. Just one word délicieux (pronunced day-lee-seeuh)! Here is my interpretation of a Croque Madame, I hope you give it a try.

Croque Madame

The Croque Madame is comparable to an American ham and cheese sandwich with the addition of a fried egg on top. My version begins by taking 4 thick slices of bread, fry them in a buttered pan then flip on both sides so the bread slice is saturated in butter. While browning the bread on both sides. Microwave some slices of instant bacon and slice some Brie cheese or whatever type of cheese you prefer. When the bread slices are done put them on a plate and spread Dijon mustard lightly on 2 slices. Place 3 slices of bacon on top of 2 slices of bread then cover each bacon topped bread slice with the cheese and put the Dijon covered bread slice on top. Heat oven at 400°, put more butter in pan and fry 2 eggs. While eggs cook at medium-heat bake sandwich for 5 minutes until you see the cheese melting on the sides. (If the cheese is not melted enough for you increase the temperature to broil and watch the sandwiches so they don't burn.) When the sandwiches are ready place one egg on top of each and season with salt, pepper and thyme. This recipe should make a serving for 2 people. Bonne Consommation!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

2010-01-18T07:15:00.001-08:00

Remembering a courageous leader who had tremendous faith that the world would unite in peace. Let us not forget leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. who sacrificed their life in order to better the lives of others. That said I wanted to post a favorite recipe of Dr. King's and found that he enjoyed Pecan Pie. However, I decided to post another Southern favorite instead. The recipe I found is perfect for today's rainy cold weather where I live. I hope to make it this evening and enjoy watching the news coverage of a very important holiday. Happy MLK Day everyone! Peace.

Cabbage and Ham Bone Soup

1 Tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
1 quart chicken broth
1 meaty ham bone (cooked)
1 bay leaf
2 carrots chopped
2 medium turnips, peeled and chopped
1/2 large head of green cabbage, cored and roughly chopped
2 Tablespoons cider vinegar
1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne pepper (or to taste)
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: In a large pot or dutch oven, saute onion and celery in oil until soft. Add chicken broth, ham bone and bay leaf to pot and bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and let simmer a few minutes to season the broth. Stir in carrots, turnips, cabbage, vinegar, and remaining seasonings. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until vegetables begin to soften. Remove ham bone and let cool. Cut ham from bone and add meat to pot. Cook additionally to heat, or until vegetables are to desired texture. Remove bay leaf and serve. (Makes 4 large or 8 small servings.)

Source: Elizabeth Kelly. Gourmet Food Examiner. January 17, 2010.

Where It All Began

2010-01-17T15:31:00.000-08:00

I have my grandparents to thank for my appreciation of entertaining friends and family. My grandfather is on the far left, Lolo Swally and my grandmother Lola Inday is standing in the middle. The picture above was taken in their garden in Cagayan de Oro City, Phillippines.

My grandparents cheerfully enjoyed sharing their home and company. In honor of their fondness for celebrating food and camaraderie I would like to share with you a favorite filipino dish of mine.

Pancit palabok

8 oz Pack rice noodles
1 Tablespoon Annato seeds (achuete)
1 cup Shrimp juice
2 Tablespoons Fish sauce (patis)
2 1⁄2 Tablespoons Cornstarch, mixed with ¼ cup water
1⁄2 lb. Shrimp, shelled and fried
3⁄4 cup Finely crushed chicharon-(pork rinds)
3 cloves garlic, chopped and-fried
2 Tablspoons Green onions; chopped
2 Hard cooked eggs sliced
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

First soak noodles in boiling water for 20 minutes or until softened. Drain well then set aside. Soak Annato seeds for 20 minutes, then roll seeds with your finger until you extract the color. Add Annato water to shrimp juice in a saucepan. Season with fish sauce, salt and black pepper. Stir in the cornstarch, simmer until thick, stirring continuously until thickened. Put noodles on a plate, pour sauce over it, then sprinkle with crushed pork rinds, shrimps, fried garlic, and green onions. Arrange sliced eggs on top and lemon wedges on the side. To serve, toss pancit mixture and sprinkle with lemon juice to taste.

Most of the above ingredients can be found in local Asian grocery stores. I hope you enjoy the recipe as much as my family and I do. Cheers!

Happy Sunday

2010-01-17T07:20:00.000-08:00

Today's recipe is the Orange Yogurt Tart that I made the other day for dessert. This healthy treat is very easy and simple to make. You may even want to try making it with your kids. I hope everyone's day is as bright and cheerful as "la tarte orange".

Fresh Orange and Yogurt Tart

coarse salt
2 teaspoons powdered gelatin (from a 1/4-ounce packet)
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
3 medium naval oranges
1 8-inch premade pie crust (baked according to directions)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 2 tablespoons cold water and let stand 5 minutes. In a small saucepan, warm half-and-half over medium. When it begins to steam, add gelatin mixture and stir until dissolved, about 1 minute. In a medium bowl, whisk together yogurt, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Stir warm half-and-half mixture into yogurt mixture. Pour filling into cooled tart shell and refrigerate until set, 2 hours. With a sharp paring knife, slice off ends of oranges. Following curve of fruit, cut away peel, removing as much white pith as possible. Slice oranges into 1/4-inch-thick rounds and remove any seeds. Just before serving, arrange orange slices on top of tart.

Source: MarthaStewart.com

When Life Imitates Art

2010-01-16T11:41:00.000-08:00

Meryl Streep is amazingly talented. I saw her movie "Julie & Julia" after seeing her other movie "It's Complicated", and she leaves me in awe. What a lovely movie, my two young children enjoyed all the food making. They stunned me by watching it twice! Bon Apetit Julia....

Opa!

2010-01-15T19:17:00.000-08:00

Greetings everyone ~

Today I decided to start a food blog. For the past 2 years I have been busy finishing a master's degree in Higher and Post Secondary Education and have been cooking to relieve stress and encourage creativity; while at the same time enjoying eating what I make! Tonight the family had a special meal that was shared with two young friends who had never eaten lamb. To their surprise the young ladies enjoyed their meal. Here is the recipe for the lamb which was served with a Greek Salad, then after a Orange Yogurt Tart for dessert.

Baked Lamb with Potatoes

3 lbs. Leg of Lamb
head of garlic
4 lemons
2 oranges
olive oil 1/2 cup
flour
15 medium potatoes
salt / pepper
oregano

Instructions:
Rinse lamb, dry and cut off excess fat. Cut holes throughout lamb and insert garlic cloves. Rub lamb with olive oil, 3 lemons, 2 oranges, salt / pepper, oregano and flour. Bake 450〫uncovered for 45 minutes. Then cover with foil bake at 350〫approximately 30 minutes per lb. (1 1/2 hrs.). Cook last 45 minutes at 400〫uncovered (watch meat). While meat is cooking, peel, clean and quarter potatoes. Put potatoes in bowl with 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 lemons squeezed, 2 oranges squeezed, salt / pepper, oregano and 1/2 cup water; mix well. Put in baking pan, cover, cook 45 minutes at 400〫. Then 30-45 minutes uncovered, last 5 minutes broiled, continue stirring occasionally. Add water or juice if dry.

Efferasto Chef Nasos!