tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57862704294718897542024-03-05T14:09:58.180-07:00My Kitchen QuestBeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-60309190750489423092010-09-19T17:51:00.000-06:002010-09-19T17:51:22.779-06:00Challenge: Sun-dried tomato risotto
Hello, friends!
It's been a long time. I'm sorry.
As some of you may know, I'm a graduate student, and school started for us a few weeks ago. I've been busy with beginning of semester stuff, as well as some looming program deadlines. I haven't been cooking much at all, and have been suffering mightily for it. So has Jeff, patient man that he is.
But, last night I finally cooked again. I've Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-42220985863380577112010-08-19T08:55:00.000-06:002010-08-19T08:55:00.930-06:00Challenge: Curried Couscous
Okay, okay, so this isn't actually challenging at all. The challenging part was that I had never made couscous before, and I can't exactly remember eating it either. So it was adventurous for me on that account, but that's it. And this is my blog, so there.
And, if it weren't a challenge, I wouldn't actually be posting it, because I didn't think it was that good. The flavors fell flat in my Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-38546239923952038612010-08-17T08:25:00.003-06:002010-08-17T08:25:00.684-06:00Fallen Chocolate Souffle Cake
Weeks ago...nay, months ago, I won a cookbook giveaway from lisamichele.wordpress.com, and she sent me a copy of The Sweet Melissa Baking Book. I was so stoked when I got it, I pored over it, and dog-eared recipes I was dying to make, and dreamed of the treats melting in my mouth.
And then life happened. The book got shelved away, along with my baking dreams. I planned on baking from it Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-9415928099225772942010-08-13T08:13:00.001-06:002010-08-13T08:13:00.588-06:00Raspberry Almond Bars
I have a neighbor who does not bake. She used to, but has no desire anymore. She just doesn't enjoy the work. And although she loves baked goods, she and her husband get along just fine without her baking.
But this is mostly because she has me and another neighbor, who have made it a habit to share whenever we bake.
It works out great, actually. I love baking (mostly the eating part, I'll Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-91766158308574537802010-08-10T08:53:00.000-06:002010-08-10T08:53:00.787-06:00BreadI have very few memories from my childhood. Saying that makes me sound like some poor abused refugee kid, but I assure you, I had a very normal, middle-class suburban childhood. I was just a sensitive child to being bullied. So, in a move towards self-preservation, I have blocked out much of my childhood. It's sad, really...I remember mostly bad moments...and I'm quite sure I had much happier Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-18169042466524231082010-08-04T14:20:00.000-06:002010-08-04T14:20:16.170-06:00Chocolate Mascarpone Mousse Tarts with StrawberriesJunior Chef is eating solids now. So far, she loves it all, with the exception of oatmeal. But, she'll gobble that down if we mix in some bananas or applesauce. I'm so pleased she loves food! But, feeding her requires me to think about grocery shopping a little differently. I have to be prepared for the next food, I have to make sure to have fresh bananas and avocados on hand (and that theyBeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-79968305785737573032010-07-27T11:13:00.005-06:002010-07-27T11:13:00.343-06:00Lemon-Basil Pasta with Chicken
I have a secret.
Pioneer Woman's recipes rarely work out for me.
I always want them to, I really do! I love reading Ree's posts. I try her recipes often. But most of the time, they're just okay.
It makes me so sad!
But, the other day, I tried another one. See, she just makes them sound so wonderful. You know. You all read Pioneer Woman. She makes her food sound just delightful. And I love Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-51583866178432613132010-07-24T11:12:00.000-06:002010-07-24T11:12:39.782-06:00Oreo Truffles
A few years ago, I worked as a secretary at a university. In my department, we had lots of student employees and I interacted with most of them on a fairly regular basis. It was a really fun place to work, and most everyone became close friends throughout the semesters. If it weren't so stressful during the regular school year, I'd really miss working there.
Due to the nature of our departmentBeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-6587616003134519342010-07-21T14:21:00.000-06:002010-07-21T14:21:03.851-06:00Zucchini PancakesIt's finally time to start thinking about how to use delicious garden vegetables! Hurrah!
Last week, Jeff and I visited his family in LA. It was a great trip, and it was fun to get away from the daily cares of our lives. Plus, Grandma loved caring for Junior Chef (age 6 mo.) so I was off the hook for a few days, which is always nice.
When we got back, though, we had driven for two days (in Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-34767896786217437352010-07-13T21:56:00.002-06:002010-07-13T22:30:55.524-06:00Cheese EnchiladasI am a food snob.
There's no denying it, unfortunately. I like eating good food, and so often, typical chain-restaurant food does not measure up. The food is often salty (a sure sign that it is full of preservatives) the vegetables are frozen, or the food is prepared cafeteria-style (in huge quantities and plated from vats) and that is never good.
Mexican restaurants are notorious for serving Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-72430568565796716012010-07-08T20:41:00.002-06:002010-07-09T08:22:20.767-06:00Challenge: Homemade Ravioli
There's a restaurant near my house. It's famous for its pizza, and rightly so. We love getting the chicken artichoke, but substituting tomatoes for the spinach. It's pretty delicious.
But they also serve pasta.
And they serve an all-you-can-eat pasta bar.
I only need one plate. I mean, really. Pasta's pretty filling. In my younger days, I could stomach more than one plate, but now...well, I Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-26904869635819264722010-07-04T21:25:00.001-06:002010-07-04T22:24:20.959-06:00Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream
Preserve that perfect strawberry taste, even with imperfect strawberries, with this ice cream. It tastes so fresh, I can hardly stand it. If it only it were as healthy for you as fresh strawberries! But hey, it's loaded with a full pound of strawberries, so it can't be all that bad for you, can it?
This recipe is perfect when strawberries go on sale for a dollar a pound. You can buy a lot, and Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-7411772119838604422010-06-24T15:54:00.005-06:002010-06-24T15:54:00.579-06:00Favorite BakeriesWe recently celebrated our fifth anniversary. I can hardly believe we've been married that long; it's just flown by! To celebrate, we took it easy. Earlier in the day, I picked up a mini cake from a local bakery, The Chocolate Dessert Cafe. When Jeff got home from work, we went out dinner at a great Italian restaurant and took a walk. Simple.
But it sparked this post. See, the bakery is just Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-56557016260886968912010-06-19T17:16:00.000-06:002010-06-19T17:16:00.224-06:00My Favorite AppliancesThere are SO many countertop kitchen appliances out there. And so many of them perform precisely ONE function. Which, to me, feels wasteful. They do take up a lot of room, after all. I got rid of our electric can opener a few years ago because I just thought it was a waste of space. Are we really opening so many cans that we need an appliance to do it for us so we don't get carpel tunnel? I don'tBeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-83650642801209721392010-06-15T10:20:00.001-06:002010-06-15T10:20:00.073-06:00Overnight Apple French Toast
When I was in college, I studied abroad in Paris for a semester. It was amazing. I loved it, and I wish I had been more adventurous or more experienced, because I wasted a lot of my time while I was there. I loved it just the same, and felt like I really grew a lot. I learned to know and love a city besides the one where I grew up, and I learned to find my way around. I became a lot more Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-58769575450729981782010-06-12T08:27:00.004-06:002010-06-12T08:27:00.896-06:00Herbs in My GardenWhen we moved into our new home two years ago, I threw caution to the wind and planted a vegetable garden. I didn't know what I was doing, but the previous owner had installed raised garden beds complete with soaker hoses hooked up to the sprinkling system, and so it was easy. Well, it seemed easy.
That's the thing: anyone can garden. But not everyone can do it well.
I don't do it well. But I Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-81381970935377199512010-06-09T19:56:00.000-06:002010-06-09T19:56:19.768-06:00Cherry, Chocolate, and Buttermilk SconesI love when a recipe is both surprisingly easy and amazingly delicious. It's so rewarding. It makes you feel like a master chef, and you get to enjoy the fruits of your non-labor.
Such was the case with these scones. Which is why there was only one left to take a picture with. At least until I gave it to my sister a minute after taking this picture, at which point it was promptly devoured. This Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-547991515410151812010-06-05T20:27:00.000-06:002010-06-05T20:27:52.178-06:00Bean to BarOne thing I love about where I live is that even though it isn't exactly metro, I can get some really high quality treats. We have a few artisan bakeries and other fun dessert options. We have a local mill that (I've heard) mills great flour (I've been meaning to try it, okay?). Yes, despite being no where interesting, we have delicious food options.
That ability to get great treats locally is Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-74575641533873576232010-06-04T15:41:00.000-06:002010-06-04T15:41:54.251-06:00Buttermilk Pound CakeI love dessert. I have quite a sweet tooth. But I've never really gotten into cake. So many cakes are too fluffy, and I like dense desserts. So when I make cakes, I opt for molten cakes, quick breads, and pound cakes. Those...those are right up my alley. Desserts you can really sink your teeth into. Desserts that are substantial.
I love them. But I still don't make them very often. I guess Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-77526589764770272782010-06-03T18:42:00.000-06:002010-06-03T18:42:03.497-06:00Does it feel like I'm slacking?Because I am. I apologize. This time of year is hectic for everyone, I know. Within about 4 weeks, we have mother's day, memorial day, and father's day, and families with school-aged children deal with the last days of school. On top of that, I have Jeff's birthday and our anniversary, and I've been taking a graduate class, so we have our final projects and final exam coming up in about a week. Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-9641108876841348992010-05-28T21:46:00.000-06:002010-05-28T21:46:52.031-06:00Challenge: Vanilla MarshmallowsSmall pillows of fluffy, sugary goodness. Homemade marshmallows are the perfect snack for someone with a sweet tooth. That is, if you can eat just one. And they are nothing like the ones you can get at the grocery store. These are worth eating, spending the calories. If I had chocolate to dip them in, I would do it, because chocolate-covered marshmallows are one of my favorite treats. I might Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-20936389854362272082010-05-26T20:05:00.000-06:002010-05-30T09:44:24.391-06:00Pork Chops with Apples and OnionsAbout a month ago, my friend Sunny had a birthday. She and I, as well as our friend Julie, are firm believers that no woman should have to cook dinner on her birthday. So Julie and I made her dinner. It didn't actually end up being on her birthday because she went out with family. So she didn't cook anyway. But, this was our way of helping her celebrate. Planning birthday menus is fun, if Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-2228001242388678872010-05-24T09:37:00.001-06:002010-05-24T09:37:00.076-06:00MinestroneSome days are soup days. Especially in the fall and spring, when we have so many in-between days--one day will be nice, and the next...well, not so nice. Those days, when it's cold and rainy (or even snowy), call for soup. It warms the soul and makes the days seem less disappointing. Soup just does that. We've had a lot of those days lately...spring has been slow in coming this year. We put our Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-53297817942812340322010-05-17T10:13:00.001-06:002010-05-17T12:16:32.589-06:00Indian Cauliflower and PotatoesMy first exposure to Indian cuisine was when I was a junior in college. Near the university I attended, there is a very popular Indian restaurant run by some Indian immigrants. At the recommendation of my friend, I tried the Chicken Coconut Korma.
I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
Over the course of my education, I visited that restaurant frequently. I share my passion for Indian food Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786270429471889754.post-90208210625765058832010-05-17T10:06:00.000-06:002010-05-17T12:18:32.749-06:00SabbaticalSorry everyone, for the mini sabbatical last week. I had company and between preparing my house and hosting, I was pretty busy. But everyone has left and my house is quiet. I will get posting again, I promise. And there are some good things coming, too! Indian cauliflower, strawberry ice cream, minestrone...They're worth the wait, I promise. Again, sorry to abandon the blog for a week.Beccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10405985429568422236noreply@blogger.com0