tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22237532620017509472024-03-08T16:16:27.283-08:00Trek or Treats?Whatever amuses this gal with wanderlust and a penchant for cookery.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-55430437398251834732012-06-01T15:51:00.001-07:002012-06-01T15:51:59.074-07:00Crispy Molasses Cookies<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xd8jFC6n1WA/T8lHdpBfRrI/AAAAAAAADC0/jcbI179az_w/s1600-h/molasses-cookie2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="molasses-cookie2" border="0" alt="molasses-cookie2" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SuqSxfo6sHU/T8lHeD3HblI/AAAAAAAADC8/r9FRyORjqog/molasses-cookie2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="264" height="315"></a> <p>Sometimes, the Midwestern, “Go ahead and talk to strangers,” side of me just comes out in full force. When Mr. Trek and I recently moved into our new ‘hood, I started baking like a fiend to provide treats for the neighbors. I received some raised eyebrows from my hubby as he wasn’t sure how people would take to a random stranger knocking on the door with cookies in tow. No complaints from the other side of said doors, so we’ll keep it up! We’re lucky also to have some foodies for neighbors, sharing jam and baked goods on occasion just makes us so much more assured about diving into the California real estate market. One of our dear neighbors offered a bundle of grapefruit and some delightful cookies that I barely shared with Mr. Trek. Whoops! In exchange, I (reluctantly) shared these cookies and this recipe is posted in her honor. I was hesitant because they turned out to be a bit crispier than what I expected. However, they are perfect with ice cream, gelato or sorbet – so I am no longer embarrassed but have found their home – just as we found ours. Sweet. <p><strong>Crispy Molasses Cookies</strong> <p><em>Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com </em> <p><b><em></em></b> <p><b>Ingredients</b> <p>¾c unsalted butter, melted <p>1c sugar <p>1 egg <p>¼c molasses <p>2c all-purpose flour <p>2t baking soda <p>½t salt <p>1t ground cinnamon <p>½t ground cloves <p>½t ground ginger <p>½c sugar <p><b></b> <p><b>Procedure</b> <p>1. Preheat the oven to 350°. <p>2. In a medium bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, and egg until smooth. Stir in the molasses. <p>3. In a separate bowl, combine your dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and ginger; blend into the molasses mixture. Cover, and chill dough for 1 hour. <p>4. Roll dough into walnut-sized balls and roll in remaining sugar. Place cookies 2” apart on parchment-lined cookie sheet. <p>5. Bake for 8-10 minutes until tops are cracked (watch carefully). Cool on wire racks. <p><b></b> <p><b>Yield: </b>3 dozen Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-34388435833809648002012-05-28T11:37:00.000-07:002012-05-28T11:39:52.374-07:00Nostalgic Cherry Pie<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:dcd9da7e-c42f-4983-a71d-9be0e28f8e6d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:410px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!421&type=5&authkey=!ALEuDVigTWLGp28&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cw_UKpeSHBo/T8PGXjdEfOI/AAAAAAAADBY/ECO4SW-j2vU/Nostalgic%252520Cherry%252520Pie%25255B35%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:410px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:410px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!421&type=5&authkey=!ALEuDVigTWLGp28&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:410px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Nostalgic Cherry Pie</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!421&type=5&authkey=!ALEuDVigTWLGp28&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!421&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!ALEuDVigTWLGp28" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>Ah, patriotism. For me, the term conjures images of <a href="http://www.folkartmuseum.org/" target="_blank"><strong>American folk</strong></a> and <a href="http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/usa.htm" target="_blank"><strong>poster art</strong></a> as well as memories of <a href="http://media.gazettextra.com/img/photos/2009/06/22/0624_boothview.jpg" target="_blank"><strong>Midwestern flea markets</strong></a> and <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-lemon-shake-ups-at-92552" target="_blank"><strong>lemon shake-ups</strong></a>. When gifted with a national holiday/vacation day, I relish the extended time available to bake! Following a Friday errand, Mr. Trek brought home a lovely bag of sweet cherries as a treat for moi, Ms. Trek. Ordinarily, I will devour the entire bag in nothing short of 48 hours. However, noting the approach of said holiday, I inquired as to what cherry creation he might enjoy. “<a href="http://youtu.be/OjyZKfdwlng" target="_blank"><strong>Cherry pie</strong></a>,” was the honest response. Always fearing the straight and narrow path, I began searching for cherry/various fruit pies, tarts, cobblers, galettes and other miscellany. Ultimately, the heart of this baker just couldn’t shake the idea of a wholesome, mouth-watering cherry pie. There’s something nostalgic about it all, just like the aforementioned poster art. Maybe I’ll feel as tough as <strong><a href="http://www.adcouncil.org/Our-Work/The-Classics/Women-in-War-Jobs-Rosie-the-Riveter" target="_blank">Rosie the Riveter</a></strong> after enjoying a piece of this treasured part of our American culinary heritage!</p> <p>Notes: I used <strong><a href="http://www.pbs.org/food/features/pie-pastry-made-possible/" target="_blank">Julia Child’s recipe for Flaky Pie Dough</a><em></em></strong> and found that I had enough dough for a double crusted pie as well as one more, open-faced or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv4809RKhzg&feature=related" target="_blank"><strong>lattice-topped pie</strong></a>. Keeping with the traditional theme, I decided to use the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv4809RKhzg&feature=related" target="_blank"><strong>lattice-top</strong></a> for this pie and freeze the other dough (in plastic – freeze for up to one month) for later use. Julia offers three options for crafting the dough: by hand, mixer (with paddle attachment), and a food processor. Usually, I go with the old-fashioned, hand-crafted method, but decided to fit the ol’ KitchenAid with her paddle attachment and make quick work of said dough. I wasn’t entirely pleased with the way it came together, so I’ll most likely go back to my favorite method for the next pie/galette. Some of Julia’s tips for ‘Perfect Pie Dough’ are as follows:</p> <p>- Always use unsalted butter and make sure it is extremely cold. Cut it into 1/2 inch cubes before adding it to the flour.</p> <p>-Use a pastry blender (or your fingertips) to cut the butter into the flour. Work as quickly as you comfortably can and stop when the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.</p> <p>-Keep the liquid icy-cold. Add it a spoonful at a time, using a fork to toss the mixture and incorporate the liquid into the dough. When the dough has curds & clumps that stick together when pressed lightly between your fingers, it’s just right. If you have any doubts, keep in mind that it’s better to add too much liquid than too little; too little, and the crust will be dry and difficult to roll.</p> <p>-Gently gather the dough into a round and flatten it into a rough approximation of the shape you’ll be rolling it into.</p> <p>-Chill it – at least 30 minutes – in the refrigerator. This rest gives the gluten (the protein that forms webs in flour) a chance to calm down so that when you start to roll the dough, it won’t spring back.</p> <p>-Chill the crust after you’ve gently worked/centered the dough into the pan. The gluten needs another chance to relax.</p> <p>In regard to the filling, I used fresh, sweet cherries. The pitting process is simple with a bowl for pits and a paring knife, but can even be easier with a cherry pitter. Mr. Trek and I watched a little HGTV while pitting with paring knives and, twenty minutes later, we were finished! Some people have an aversion to tapioca in their pie filling, and I would recommend replacing it with cornstarch as a thickener. </p> <p><strong>Nostalgic Cherry Pie</strong></p> <p><strong><i></i></strong> <p><strong><i>Crust – </i></strong><em>Recipe Courtesy of <u><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Baking-Julia-Savor-Americas-Bakers/dp/0688146570" target="_blank">Baking with Julia<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P7Q412BfE9E/T8PGYJPVjSI/AAAAAAAADBg/1YJqV_XT5WM/s1600-h/12cherry_pie2012%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="12cherry_pie2012" border="0" alt="12cherry_pie2012" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JB9TognGe6s/T8PGZBlWByI/AAAAAAAADBo/0fOUST16EaI/12cherry_pie2012_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="209" height="249"></a></a></strong></u></em> <p>5¼c pastry flour or all-purpose flour <p>1T kosher salt <p>1½ sticks (6oz) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces <p>1¾c (11oz) solid vegetable shortening, chilled <p>1c ice water <p><b><i>Filling</i></b> – <i>Adapted from <strong><a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-fresh-cherry-pie/" target="_blank">allrecipes.com</a></strong> </i> <p>4T quick-cooking tapioca<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u8ZZ1KVLk1M/T8PGZkENIyI/AAAAAAAADBw/ovReVt8ymvo/s1600-h/14cherry_pie2012%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="14cherry_pie2012" border="0" alt="14cherry_pie2012" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U69Dz3dRUEc/T8PGaJrMRJI/AAAAAAAADB4/M2yUvO-8xJE/14cherry_pie2012_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="210" height="251"></a> <p>1/8t salt <p>1c sugar <p>¼t almond extract <p>½t vanilla extract <p>4c pitted, sweet cherries <p>1½T unsalted butter, cut into small cubes <p>Milk and sugar for coating the top of the pie <p><b><i>Procedures<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wT4rwINfWAo/T8PGbDPlJaI/AAAAAAAADCA/OKDNENiT8bM/s1600-h/9cherry_pie2012%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="9cherry_pie2012" border="0" alt="9cherry_pie2012" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1z-Chvh5S0I/T8PGbmFo0DI/AAAAAAAADCI/5TKwzoN5T1M/9cherry_pie2012_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="204" height="245"></a></i></b> <p>1. Prepare crust in advance (at least two hours but, preferably, overnight). Combine flour and salt in a stand mixer using the paddle attachment. Add the cold bits of butter and continue on low speed until the mixture is crumbly/coarse. Add the shortening, a wee bit at a time, until the mixture is clumpy and curdy and holds together when a small bit is pressed between your fingers. Add the water and mix only until it is incorporated. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and fold it over onto itself two or three times, just to finish the mixing and gather it together. Divide the dough in quarters, wrap in plastic and refrigerate (it will keep for five days in the fridge, or one month in the freezer) for at least two hours.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vEblHB9lVHc/T8PGcDHOjDI/AAAAAAAADCQ/HagRwr0uLIM/s1600-h/4cherry_pie2012%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="4cherry_pie2012" border="0" alt="4cherry_pie2012" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--kT5fbYwafs/T8PGcqt0coI/AAAAAAAADCY/qAAwnstc3L8/4cherry_pie2012_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="195" height="233"></a> <p>2. Preheat oven to 425°. Roll out the crust to fit a 9” pie plate and assemble in the style you prefer. Here is a <strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv4809RKhzg&feature=related" target="_blank">link to a video providing instruction for creating a lattice-top pie</a></strong>. Refrigerate the bottom crust in the pie plate to allow the gluten to rest. Meanwhile, begin the filling! <p>3. Combine the tapioca, salt, sugar and extracts in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the pitted cherries and toss to coat with the sweet-smelling sugar concoction! Turn the cherry mixture into the chilled pie plate o’ dough. If creating a lattice or top to the pie, do so now. Otherwise, try an open-faced pie. Be sure to make a mound of filling toward the center of the pie.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ftqiBOS3jWA/T8PGdLQdc3I/AAAAAAAADCg/yuOke-3U9MU/s1600-h/1cherry_pie2012%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="1cherry_pie2012" border="0" alt="1cherry_pie2012" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7PQV5Ch9SwY/T8PGd00XoNI/AAAAAAAADCo/LHIcBGapf-o/1cherry_pie2012_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="199" height="237"></a> <p>4. Brush the top with milk and sprinkle with sugar. <p>5. Bake the pie at 425° for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375°. Bake for an additional 50 minutes or until the filling in the middle begins to bubble, bubble, toil and trouble. Keep an eye on the crust and wrap the edges with foil if they begin to brown too quickly. <p>6. Take your masterpiece out of the oven, thank it for making your kitchen smell so dreamy, and enjoy! Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-20997178533476760192012-04-18T22:05:00.001-07:002012-04-18T22:24:15.507-07:00Colossal Coconut Cake!<p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; width: 472px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:8d8cc910-b225-45b9-a925-57310a47a3dc" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:472px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!409&type=5&authkey=!AIpyx5yUccWv_dc&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-G1NUMot7lJQ/T4-dEubV3lI/AAAAAAAADBU/hZUE1qF_Oy0/Colossal%252520Coconut%252520Cake%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:472px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:472px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!409&type=5&authkey=!AIpyx5yUccWv_dc&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:472px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Colossal Coconut Cake</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!409&type=5&authkey=!AIpyx5yUccWv_dc&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!409&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AIpyx5yUccWv_dc" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Just over a week ago, my checked suitcase was detained by TSA for a ‘suspicious item’ (according to DFW staff) which turned out to be my 12” offset spatula, or perhaps my tart pan. Of course I was not concerned with whether or not I’d have to sleep in my contacts or wear my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbb66RM4NLs" target="_blank">airplane pants</a> for another day, but if I would have to rethink my cake and tart plans. </p> <p>At any rate, I had looked forward to channeling my grandmother’s infamous coconut cake by baking one of my own. The recipe was quite a bit different from hers, as I didn’t want it to be a comparison – just an inspiration. The offset spatula belonged to my grandmother, as well as the cake plate on which it was served. The cake server belonged to her mother, and it all was prepared in my mother’s farmhouse kitchen. In some way, four generations were involved in this cake. Family and friends gathered that weekend and many enjoyed this moist, delicious and decadent cake. I don’t generally have a sweet tooth, yet somehow I managed to indulge in this little ditty more than once before we departed the land of Texas Bluebonnets.</p> <p>Tip: try splitting individual cakes in half using a simple piece of dental floss or heavy thread. Instantly three cakes become six, delicate layers. Superb!</p> <p><b>Coconut Refrigerator Cake</b> <p>Adapted from <em><a href="http://www.confessionsofacookbookqueen.com/2010/04/easy-coconut-refrigerator-cake/" target="_blank">Confessions of a Cookbook Queen</a></em> <p><b>Ingredients</b> <p>Butter or Crisco (for greasing the pan) <p>Flour (for dusting the pan) <p>1 package (18.25 oz) plain white cake mix (my favorite is Duncan Hines) <p>1 cup milk <p>½ cup cream of coconut*, plus more cream of coconut for brushing the baked layers <p>3 large eggs <p><b></b> <p><b>Frosting</b><b></b> <p>2 cups sour cream <p>1 ¾ cups sugar <p>1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed (Cool Whip – Extra Creamy) <p>3 ½ to 4 cups sweetened flaked coconut (frozen*, preferred) <p>*Note: canned Cream of Coconut can be found in the baking section of your market. Frozen coconut will taste much fresher than the dried variety, and will chill nicely with the Cool Whip. <p>Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350°. Cut parchment paper to line three 9-inch round cake pans. Lightly butter the pans, then dust them with flour. Shake out the excess flour and set the pans aside. <p>Place the cake mix, milk, ½ cup cream of coconut, and eggs in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are incorporated, 30 seconds. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 1 ½ minutes longer, scraping down the sides of the bowl again if needed. The batter should look well blended. Divide the cake batter evenly among the 3 prepared pans, about 1 ½ cups batter per pan, smoothing the tops with a rubber spatula. Place the pans in the oven. If your oven is not large enough to hold 3 pans on the center rack, place to pans on that rack and one in the center of the rack above. Bake the cake until layers are light brown and the tops spring back with lightly pressed with a finger, 18 to 23 minutes. The cake layer on the higher rack may bake faster, so test it for doneness first. <p>While the cakes bake, make the frosting! Place the sour cream and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 ½ minutes. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until the sugar has dissolved, 2 minutes longer. Add the whipped topping and beat on low speed until well blended. Stir in 3 cups of coconut and beat on low speed until mixed. Place the frosting in the refrigerator to chill for at least 10 minutes. <p>Transfer the cake pans to wire racks, with paper towels or parchment paper beneath, and let the cake layers cool for 5 minutes. Run a sharp knife around the edge of each cake layer and give the pans a good shake to loosen the cakes. Invert each layer onto a wire rack, and then invert again so they are right side up. While the cakes cool, use a small brush to gently brush the tops of the cake with the remaining cream of coconut (now you see the need for the parchment paper or paper towels beneath, eh?). Let the cakes cool completely, 15 minutes longer. <p>When the cakes are cool, split the layers horizontally to make 6 layers. Either pull a piece of dental floss (or heavy thread) horizontally through the middle of the layer – moving the floss in a back-and-forth motion. Conversely, you could mark middle points around the side of each layer using toothpicks. Using picks as a guide, cut through the layers with a long, serrated knife. <p>To assemble the cake, transfer one layer, cut side up, to a serving platter. Spread the top with a heaping 2/3 cup frosting. Place another layer, cut side up, on top of the first layer and frost with 2/3 cup frosting. Repeat this process with the remaining layers and frost the top and sides of cake. Sprinkle ½ to 1 cup coconut on top of the cake for garnish. <p>This cake should be chilled at least 24 hours before serving, and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. Best coconut cake ever!</p> Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-84277350340337986952012-02-18T08:40:00.001-08:002012-02-18T08:43:15.441-08:00I ‘Mustache’ You to Try a Cupcake…<p>A cupcake client obtained my donated auction item from my friend’s very special event (<a href="http://bobvaleri.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/and-the-results-are-in-drum-roll-please/" target="_blank">a fundraiser for her father – recently diagnosed with ALS</a>) so I was able to get my creative juices flowing! When asked what her preference for flavor would <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f1b9AzhwdZE/Tz_UZ3oOuaI/AAAAAAAADAI/UfBSYaFm9m4/s1600-h/mustaches%25255B24%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="mustaches" border="0" alt="mustaches" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y4GPJFHw6zw/Tz_UamZVNFI/AAAAAAAADAQ/OKydxVF-TCw/mustaches_thumb%25255B22%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" height="265"></a>be, the answer was simple: <em>chocolate</em>! My go-to chocolate cupcake recipe is divine. It is none other than Giada DiLaurentis’ <strong><em>Chocolate Chip Mascarpone</em></strong> <strong><em>Cupcakes Topped with Ganache</em></strong>. Is your mouth watering, yet? Oh my stars…each little bite is moist with a chocolate chip surprise every so often. It’s just rich enough to satiate every palate. Divine, I tell you. Divine. </p> <p>In addition to selecting this tasty flavor, the client requested decorations that would be a bit whimsical in celebration of her older brother and sister – a tandem birthday party! Mr. Trek and I , as seen above, have a fondness for all that is whimsical and that clearly includes mustaches! I found a variety of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=mustache&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">molds online</a>, allowing for a multitude of mustache choices. <em>Note</em>: I’m happy to put them to use again, so just let me know if you’re in need of some chocolate lips or mustaches!</p> <p><b>Chocolate Chip and Mascarpone Cupcakes</b> <p><em>Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JeP7jPss_3A/Tz_UbkJG_dI/AAAAAAAADAY/O2dL07zj_HE/s1600-h/cupcakes_2338%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="cupcakes_2338" border="0" alt="cupcakes_2338" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ety8TjSJB-Y/Tz_UcTk6KhI/AAAAAAAADAg/iBNXxQ4VwD0/cupcakes_2338_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="303" height="237"></a></em> <p>Yield: 2 dozen <p><b>Ingredients</b> <p><em>Cupcakes</em>: <p>5 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped <p>1 c water <p>1/3 c mascarpone cheese, at room temperature <p>2 1/4 c sugar <p>1 c vegetable oil <p>3 large eggs <p>1 T vanilla extract <p>3 c all-purpose flour <p>1 t baking soda <p>1 t fine sea salt <p>1/2 t baking powder <p>1 c (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (recommended: Nestle morsels) <p><em>Ganache:</em> <p>· 1 cup (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (recommended: Nestle morsels) <p>· 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream <p>· 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract <p>· Special equipment: 2 (12-count) muffin pans with paper liners <p><b>Procedure</b> <p><i>Cupcakes</i>: <p>Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325°F. <p>Combine the unsweetened chocolate and water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until the chocolate is melted, about 2 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes. Whisk in the mascarpone cheese until the mixture is smooth. <p>Beat the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl for 30 seconds. Stir in the mascarpone mixture. Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and chocolate chips in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture. Stir until just blended. <p>Divide the batter among the prepared muffin pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out with no crumbs attached. Cool the cupcakes completely before dipping, about 1 hour. <p><i>Ganache</i>: <p>Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl. Combine the heavy cream and vanilla extract in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until small bubbles appear on the outside edge of the cream. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate chips. Using a fork, gently stir until all the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. <p>Dip the tops of each cupcake in the ganache and transfer to a baking sheet. Place the dipped cupcakes in the refrigerator to set, about 15 to 20 minutes. Allow cupcakes to return to room temperature before serving. <p>Note: For puffier cupcakes allow the batter to rest in the muffin pans for 20 minutes before baking. Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-70906979323904361952012-01-26T20:41:00.000-08:002012-01-26T20:43:26.681-08:00Butternut, Baby. Butternut.<p>Have you ever made a soup that changed your life? So mind-blowing that you could imagine feasting upon it each and every day, not unlike the folks featured in <em><a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Tale_of_Despereaux_being_the_story_o.html?id=rsi8h_NkCosC" target="_blank">The Tale of Despereaux</a></em>? I’d wear a spoon on my head for this soup, my dears! It is sweet and savory, delicately creamy (without involving any dairy in the experience), and ever so slightly addictive. This recipe is a great way to sneak in all of those ‘good for you’ bits in a thoroughly enjoyable dish. Did I mention you can whip it up in no time at all? Sheer perfection. In the words of <a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Tale_of_Despereaux_being_the_story_o.html?id=rsi8h_NkCosC" target="_blank">Kate DiCamillo</a>,“Reader, it is your destiny to find out!”</p><a href="http://www.wholeliving.com/151379/spiced-butternut-squash-and-apple-soup" target="_blank"><strong><font size="3">Spiced Butternut Squash + Apple Soup<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XangdA0254k/TyIrZszz_II/AAAAAAAAC90/3tXqxMvjdAg/s1600-h/January2012-05820.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="January2012 058" border="0" alt="January2012 058" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iivu30dWh4s/TyIrZ1vrZwI/AAAAAAAAC94/j0lHIAFYvuY/January2012-058_thumb17.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186"></a></font></strong><br>Whole Living</a> <p><b>Ingredients</b> <p>2T olive oil <p>1 onion, chopped <p>2 garlic cloves, chopped <p>1 inch fresh ginger, grated (2T) <p>½ teaspoons turmeric<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LHW24MV-aeo/TyIrav1UabI/AAAAAAAAC-A/fiAJp46_gAU/s1600-h/January2012-0127.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="January2012 012" border="0" alt="January2012 012" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-s-XSgez3gsk/TyIra2TDSQI/AAAAAAAAC-M/7ayKaXy1bwc/January2012-012_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186"></a> <p>1/8t cinnamon <p>1/8t cardamom <p>Dash ground cloves <p>2 carrots, peeled and chopped <p>1 tart apple, peeled, quartered, and chopped <p>4c peeled and chopped butternut squash <p>Coarse salt and pepper <p><b>Directions<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7p5V03Hry9g/TyIrbWfmUiI/AAAAAAAAC-U/IHYrvGVa30w/s1600-h/January2012-04513.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="January2012 045" border="0" alt="January2012 045" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nyWEk4QppEY/TyIrbp5rZ-I/AAAAAAAAC-c/lgoHu28587s/January2012-045_thumb15.jpg?imgmax=800" width="144" height="244"></a></b> <p>Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add carrots, apple, squash, and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil; cover partially and reduce to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly. Working in batches, puree until smooth in a blender. Adjust seasoning, if necessary. <p><b>Yield:</b> 6 servings <p><b>Variations:</b> Slow-roast the squash at 425° for approximately 20 minutes, or until tender, before adding to the saucepan. Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-30872806629684247192012-01-26T07:29:00.000-08:002012-01-26T07:29:00.299-08:00Pineapple Zucchini Bread: An unexpected + delightful Discovery<p>There’s something special about zucchini bread. Is it the shifty look that you get from a curious pal, seemingly scolding you with, “No thanks, I don’t like veggies hiding in my sweet treats” or that you are just suspicious of all words that start with the penultimate (i.e. most pretentious) letter in the alphabet? Well, fear not! This <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/zucchini_bread/" target="_blank">recipe</a> is for your nay-sayin’ pals as well as all of the veteran, zucchini-bread fans. The pineapple is the unexpected delight, keeping this bread sweet (but not in excess) and moist (while still maintaining firmness) all the live-long week. Well, maybe not a week…it will be devoured quicker than you can say, “Zacharia Zebra played the zither as he twirled -<br>zigging and zagging all ‘round the world! In fact, it didn’t last long enough for a photograph! One loaf went to the teacher’s lounge, and Mr. Trek + I snorkled down every last crumb of the second loaf within just a few days! There’s an excellent shot of the treat over at <em>Simply Recipes</em>, if my step-by-steps aren’t enough to inspire you to immediately put this in your oven and bake it! </p> <p><em><strong><a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/zucchini_bread/" target="_blank">Simply Recipes – Zucchini Bread with Pineapple</a></strong></em></p> <p>3 eggs<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nHum8xIsifQ/TyEEevf1PeI/AAAAAAAAC84/q_KAG1_JC3s/s1600-h/January2012%252520019%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="January2012 019" border="0" alt="January2012 019" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dWMIUqDZlYE/TyEEfsScaPI/AAAAAAAAC9A/N4OEzFzsYJ8/January2012%252520019_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="210" height="159"></a> <p>1 cup olive oil <p>2 cups sugar <p>2 teaspoons vanilla <p>2 cups coarsely grated zucchini <p>1 can (8oz) crushed pineapple, drained<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PN0KnbSQF_U/TyEEgbjiFUI/AAAAAAAAC9I/XR93KwEJ1uQ/s1600-h/January2012%252520038%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="January2012 038" border="0" alt="January2012 038" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NYtWWaOZ7Lg/TyEEgiqWq5I/AAAAAAAAC9Q/hpIWWwBssFI/January2012%252520038_thumb%25255B12%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="203" height="154"></a> <p>3 cups all purpose flour <p>2 teaspoons baking soda <p>1 teaspoon salt <p>1/2 teaspoon baking powder <p>1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZIfxO6AP8VY/TyEEhPNFsbI/AAAAAAAAC9Y/XLMqlkl4Uyo/s1600-h/January2012%252520048%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="January2012 048" border="0" alt="January2012 048" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6Xc8yjYVVMM/TyEEhlJvIQI/AAAAAAAAC9g/dCg3iPLMASc/January2012%252520048_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="185" height="140"></a> <p>3/4 teaspoon nutmeg <p>1 cup chopped walnuts <p>1 cup raisins <p><b>METHOD</b> <p>Preheat oven to 350°F. In a mixer, beat eggs. Add oil, sugar, and vanilla; continue beating mixture until thick and foamy. With a spoon, stir in the zucchini and pineapple. <p>In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. A third at a time, add dry ingredients into wet and gently stir (by hand) after each addition. Add the walnuts and raisins, blend gently. <p>Divide the batter equally between 2 greased and flour-dusted 5 by 9 inch loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in to the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks to cool thoroughly. <p><strong>Yield: </strong>2 loaves. <p><i>Adapted from a 1974 Sunset Magazine recipe, quoted on Simply Recipes</i> Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-53900606576368044362012-01-17T01:00:00.000-08:002012-01-25T21:29:22.170-08:00Viva la Frida!<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Lk0SWA9T380/TxVdxePqHBI/AAAAAAAAC6w/o_Yo-mMxlSQ/s1600-h/Jan2012%252520219%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 7px 14px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Jan2012 219" border="0" alt="Jan2012 219" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qINr6Wh7NAY/TxVdxhHYPAI/AAAAAAAAC64/AfuHp6QbIPQ/Jan2012%252520219_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="267" height="202"></a>Twenty-twelve…the year of the auspicious dragon (and the phoenix)! I find that it can be helpful to name a year, and allow all New Year’s intentions to be fulfilled by the chosen moniker. 2012 = My Year of Strength. What are your intentions for this new year, and what would you choose for its name?</p> <p>To begin with strength of mind, Mr. Trek and I joined the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/60735.fiftyfiftyme" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> <a href="http://www.fiftyfifty.me/" target="_blank">50/50 Challenge</a>: to read fifty books, and view fifty films, (all new to us) during the year. <a href="http://www.fiftyfifty.me/2012/01/keeping-track-with-pinterest.html" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> is a great spot to track the progress, if you’re doing this challenge or one which is similar. </p> <p>One of the first reads that I chose for 2012 was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Diary-Frida-Kahlo-Abradale-Books/dp/0810981955" target="_blank">The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait</a>. Talk about starting off the year true to theme! <a href="http://planetgroupentertainment.squarespace.com/frida-kahlo-for-library-distri/" target="_blank">Frida Kahlo</a> always has fascinated me, and she truly embodied strength through perseverance and self-awareness. “The body is the temple of the soul. The face is the temple of the body. And when the body breaks,the soul has no other shrine except the face.”</p> <p>Such an <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/conjure_real/4183766387/" target="_blank">inspirational and reflective piece of art and poetry</a> requires a cozy meal that will snuggle you right in! Enter a newly discovered recipe from a *fantastic* cookbook, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Food-Seasonal-Recipes-Sustainable/dp/1402768141" target="_blank"><u>Clean Food</u></a>, loaned to me by Patricia. With the earthiness of the mushrooms and the heartiness of the beans and legumes, it’s basically the love child of a good veggie soup and a bean concoction. The barley puffs up during the simmering process, and the kombu basically eliminates the unpleasantries (ahem, can we say, “Toot City”) sometimes provided by our friend, the lentil. Feel free to throw in any veggies from your pantry or fridge, but plan ahead. This delightful dish, called <em>Goodness Soup</em>, takes approximately three hours to simmer to its fabulous potential! </p> <p><strong>Goodness Soup</strong></p> <p>2 thumb-sized pieces kombu* <p>2T EVOO <p>1 onion, chopped <p>1 lb. mushrooms, chopped <p>5 carrots, chopped <p>3 stalks celery, chopped <p>1 ½ c cooked navy or great northern beans <p>1c hulled barley, rinsed <p>1c lentils, rinsed <p>1T dried parsley <p>1T dried basil <p>1 bay leaf <p>¼ c mirin or white wine <p>2T tamari <p>12c water <p>Sea salt & freshly ground pepper to taste <p>Place kombu* in bowl with enough water to cover, soak 10 minutes until soft. Drain, mince and set aside. <p>In large pot over medium heat, sauté onion and mushrooms in olive oil for 5 minutes. Lower heat and add carrots, celery, beans, barley, lentils, parsley, basil, bay leaf, mirin and tamari. Stir to combine, add water and bring to boil. <p>Reduce heat to low, add kombu and continue cooking covered for a minimum of 3 hours – the longer it cooks, the thicker it will get. Add water as desired to thin, particularly when reheating leftovers. <p>Remove bay leaf (if you can find it), season with salt and pepper to taste and serve. Soup will keep in fridge for up to 1 week or can be kept in airtight containers in the freezer. <p><b></b> <p><b>*</b><i>Kombu</i> – a type of dried seaweed/sea vegetable found in Asian markets; infuses foods with minerals such as iodine and iron. Also known for its ability to tenderize legumes and reduce their gaseous properties. <p><b>Variation</b> <p>Stir one tablespoon miso dissolved in three tablespoons of water into each serving. <p><b></b> <p><b>Yield</b> – 8+ servings</p> Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-54949543460768511602011-12-31T13:35:00.000-08:002012-01-01T16:45:12.478-08:00Dress Up Your Salad…with a Citrus Vinaigrette!Happy New Year! Here’s a tasty lil’ number that will dazzle almost as much as your matching sequined pumps, top hat and light-up headband (yeah, we know that’s how you roll). This holiday, we were gifted us with some stunning, <a href="http://extravagonzofoods.com/" target="_blank">Meyer lemon extra-virgin olive oil</a> and <a href="http://www.brcohn.com/" target="_blank">white balsamic</a> that came in handy for this lil’ number. Fear not, a nice EVOO and balsamic will do. Remember, all that you need for a balanced dressing is an oil and an acid, at an approximate ratio of 3:1! <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TBQ_jfzg_y8/Tvk9baHnJgI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/-CN84mlP-fU/s1600-h/December2011%252520272%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: right" title="December2011 272" alt="December2011 272" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Jf6sLGqKSzg/Tvk9b4msarI/AAAAAAAAC0g/q65mqm8nVOg/December2011%252520272_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="279" height="214"></a> <br><b>Auld Lang Syne - Citrus Vinaigrette</b> <br>Zest of 1 lemon or tangerine <br>2T freshly squeezed lemon juice <br>1/8c lemon olive oil OR a quality extra-virgin olive oil <br>1/4t salt <br>2t white balsamic vinegar <br>1t mayonnaise or Veganaise <br>1t agave syrup or honey <br>Salt + pepper to taste <br>Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Season the dressing to taste, using salt + pepper. Refrigerate for up to 5 days. Serves approximately four party people, delicately dressed (the greens, not the guests). Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-86910101428587326952011-12-26T20:24:00.000-08:002011-12-26T20:33:12.985-08:00Holiday Cookie Exchange!<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-e5SQXMruK9g/TvlJivcUBMI/AAAAAAAAC0o/QaMn4l7Stz4/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520011%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 011" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 011" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eFTZ-lAuD88/TvlJjQMX5bI/AAAAAAAAC0w/-aPjNe5dfD4/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520011_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="256" height="256"></a>“Veni, vedi, vici…bis coctum!” Ah, yes, that’s Latin(ish) for, “We came, we saw, we conquered some cookies!” For the second-annual cookie exchange, we gathered in our best, <s>holiday</s> California-casual attire to swap some sweets and revel in the recipes of our gal pals. This year, we voted for treats in each of the following categories: best looking, best tasting, most creative and most unique holiday treats. Printable details were inspired by those created by <a href="http://www.thebusybudgetingmama.com/2011/12/featured-client-cookie-exchange-party.html" target="_blank">Natalie at BBM</a>. Each prize-winner took home a special gift, and we all departed with multiple plates and boxes of decadent and decorative delights! Here are the treats, and recipes, from this special day! Mark your calendars for next year’s exchange, to be held on December 9th, 2012! Bonus…I’ve decided to offer a <em>Gingerbread House Workshop</em> prior to the cookie exchange. Let me know if you’re interested in participating!</p> <p>This year’s guests + treats are below. Where recipes were not provided, I linked to a similar listing. Thanks to Ginger for her photos!</p> <p>Lisa: <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/rice-krispies-treats-with-peanut-butter-chips-150079" target="_blank">Father Christmas’ Addictive Krispie Treats</a> <p>Martha: <a href="http://www.food52.com/blog/2705_o_magazine_holiday_butter_cookies_recipe" target="_blank">Holiday Butter Cookies<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6PUkHVhfXoA/TvlJktHq5MI/AAAAAAAAC04/9n6nkRbHpQQ/s1600-h/December2011%252520002%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: right" title="December2011 002" alt="December2011 002" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-K4Jtenx8-cw/TvlJlJUa-sI/AAAAAAAAC1A/pfZb-agaNCk/December2011%252520002_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="231" height="284"></a></a> <p>Angela: <a href="http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/potato-chip-cookies-recipe/" target="_blank">“No Kidding, They’re Made With…” Potato Chip Cookies</a> <p>Wendy: <a href="http://thedailydish.us/christmas-cookies/hersheys-chocolate-candy-cane-cookies/" target="_blank">Peppermint Almond Kisses</a> <p>Angela: <a href="http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/turtle-cookies-recipe/" target="_blank">Turtle Cookies</a> <p>Ginger: <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-coated-peanut-butter-crackers/" target="_blank">Ritz on the Rooftop</a> <p>Angela: <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Crisp-Lemon-Sugar-Cookies" target="_blank">Mrs. Claus’ Super Sugar Cookies</a> <p>Charlotte: <a href="http://www.recipe.com/patchwork-mitten-cookies/" target="_blank">Christmas Mittens</a> <p>Angela: <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Chocolate-Mint-Crisps" target="_blank">Dark Chocolate Mint Noëls</a> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X084OzPVYCo/TvlJmP8kxAI/AAAAAAAAC1I/pzRz5CITFb8/s1600-h/1_2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520023%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="1_2011 Cookie Exchange Party 023" border="0" alt="1_2011 Cookie Exchange Party 023" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NsUALSpWUAU/TvlJmqVThoI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/p3DSw1GhKXE/1_2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520023_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g4JbnxXrhkM/TvlJnjbELII/AAAAAAAAC1Y/tMQvgB08RNo/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520007%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 007" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 007" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-egDe89wLkQg/TvlJovPTcwI/AAAAAAAAC1g/D4NXCk0sVOM/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520007_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XLgo2gSDzGY/TvlJph__AUI/AAAAAAAAC1o/HN3--6Wm_gA/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520008%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 008" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 008" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Vr2jpaY0SOA/TvlJqHr-N-I/AAAAAAAAC1w/i-J8q6quPHs/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HoKORbwnxeo/TvlJreKvJTI/AAAAAAAAC14/T3oc4zEyKbg/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520011%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 011" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 011" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fGsFoV_9YbI/TvlJr_b8FkI/AAAAAAAAC2A/rpfvg4fSis4/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520011_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wxwzfrT5fJA/TvlJtMZ6m_I/AAAAAAAAC2I/iiXLrFJgKAo/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520012%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 012" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UihUMTtn7TQ/TvlJti_hCII/AAAAAAAAC2Q/Ld3kHhGDreU/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520012_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u4CvLyNGctI/TvlJvkmTTII/AAAAAAAAC2Y/MsdzOszy-zs/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520013%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 013" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 013" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-evYym4lU-P8/TvlJwG5LHWI/AAAAAAAAC2g/eaO3Ak916SQ/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520013_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ubkUhieKUd4/TvlJxCkw0xI/AAAAAAAAC2o/KMBvWmMGl_8/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520014%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 014" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 014" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tfMg6vtu91M/TvlJxi4MTZI/AAAAAAAAC2w/nskx2TT_mDQ/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3jmKbxKPPiw/TvlJyov-5gI/AAAAAAAAC24/1GqME0eprew/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520015%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 015" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 015" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1FW22Hf6XYE/TvlJzIZvVHI/AAAAAAAAC3A/2xu-d9Cs5WE/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-L8CZKkSXrQ8/TvlJ0bR0BRI/AAAAAAAAC3I/sVzZ6LK2-Gw/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520016%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 016" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 016" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bZxhjoGzTIE/TvlJ0xbxqTI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/9V3HdiOWdPQ/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520016_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-R0HsNflM4zs/TvlJ1yo4VTI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/SOQfgREOJ2U/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520017%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 017" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 017" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4dAF6bhjoGQ/TvlJ2ClH_NI/AAAAAAAAC3g/brLckzhoaGo/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520017_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YmJBXLUQpyg/TvlJ3c8_D9I/AAAAAAAAC3o/BGZbn95rN-g/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520018%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 018" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 018" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-boUin7lvHrk/TvlJ3lh9jwI/AAAAAAAAC3w/2uK3XS-tt9I/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520018_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u-Gic4p4ahk/TvlJ4uo_gSI/AAAAAAAAC34/lwbq3JpLUFs/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520021%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 021" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 021" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Q6boRyV6MMc/TvlJ5OfpDeI/AAAAAAAAC4A/oLav-vCcgSs/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520021_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-X_tHIEBIdaE/TvlJ6P6_ouI/AAAAAAAAC4I/k52NRKhzF8k/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520022%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 022" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 022" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Sx3BsG54mwA/TvlJ6pOJVFI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/OgdRhwdg4PI/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520022_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-B5QkBwg169M/TvlJ7p_NHsI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/w7cIbM5Q1IA/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520024%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 024" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 024" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QluDREaxYM0/TvlJ8FaLzVI/AAAAAAAAC4g/uSu2z3JK0bs/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520024_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ck6MYeAV3uQ/TvlJ-LmHeII/AAAAAAAAC4o/6emGqu6_FX0/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520025%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 025" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 025" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vvJRdhjjzik/TvlJ-j9VsyI/AAAAAAAAC4w/2Nz9AXGL2WQ/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520025_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aqfHqwhe5Rk/TvlKAObLFnI/AAAAAAAAC44/1qVaryDRwvk/s1600-h/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520027%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 027" border="0" alt="2011 Cookie Exchange Party 027" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EYglkAdnqNY/TvlKAe5CCRI/AAAAAAAAC5A/Cf3rUAcO55E/2011%252520Cookie%252520Exchange%252520Party%252520027_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244"></a></p> Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-80376855045620221562011-12-26T18:23:00.000-08:002011-12-26T18:31:58.736-08:00Vegetarian Lasagna…a Christmas Miracle!<p><em>As newlyweds, we felt the need to establish some holiday traditions:</em> <p>#1 – <a href="http://www.sandiegozoo.org/junglebells/" target="_blank">Jungle Bells</a> – visiting the zoo at night <p>#2 – Cookie exchange – try out a new recipe or three <p>#3 – Install a dog door that Chauncey will fear and resist bribery rather than use<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LcS2kvdh26k/Tvkt7uKEhVI/AAAAAAAACy0/7yBgEhMhaaE/s1600-h/tauntaun2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: right" title="tauntaun2" alt="tauntaun2" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FtH1R0D9FLU/Tvkt7xbXljI/AAAAAAAACy8/pUc9KGfPjtM/tauntaun2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" height="127"></a> <p>#4 – The Empire Strikes Back – it’s always winter on Hoth <p>#5 – Christmas Card Lane – holiday lights <p>#6 – Take a hike…or run…or maybe just curl up under a blanket with a book <p>#7 – Make veggie lasagna for Christmas dinner! <p>We’ll point you toward another entry for cookie exchange details but, for now, we’ll share the recipe for the dish that makes anyone feel warm and fuzzy at the end of an intensely scheduled season – or at any time of year. Bonus: it freezes well! Note: prep the veggies in advance, and this will come together in a snap! A little delayed gratification is in order, as the 10min of resting time at the end allows the lasagna to set up so it can hold its shape when you cut/serve. <p><b><font size="4">Sweet Pepper & Spinach Lasagna<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--TBZJKrs3ec/Tvkt9YJfxSI/AAAAAAAACzE/JxH4KALWkIw/s1600-h/December2011%252520285%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: right" title="December2011 285" alt="December2011 285" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Q4HM6sxIJIs/Tvkt92_ydDI/AAAAAAAACzM/U9crZOuC6LY/December2011%252520285_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="268" height="226"></a></font></b> <p>(Adapted from <a href="http://www.bhg.com/recipes/" target="_blank">Better Homes + Gardens</a>) <p>9 dried lasagna noodles <em>(do not use the no-boil, unless you like your lasagna to resemble the flavor of a school art-project)</em> <p>1c chopped onion (1 large) <p>1c sliced, fresh mushrooms <p>4 cloves garlic, minced <p>2T butter (I suppose you could also use margarine…but I’m a hater) <p>1, 7oz jar roasted, red, sweet peppers; drained + chopped (or, if you’re the ambitious sort, roast 2 of your own!) <p>1, 10oz pkg frozen, chopped spinach; thawed + well-drained (thaw in the fridge 24hs or under the tap in a pinch) <p>1, 15oz container ricotta cheese <p>1c shredded mozzarella cheese <p>½c grated Parmesan or Romano cheese <p>2 beaten eggs <p>1t dried basil, crushed <p>½t dried oregano, crushed <p>1, 30½ oz jar meatless spaghetti sauce (c’mon, splurge a little on the good stuff!) <p>¼c grated Parmesan or Romano (for the topping)<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qD_yDJBtPWY/Tvkt_0X2CXI/AAAAAAAACzU/xw8e_mSp4IE/s1600-h/December2011%252520235%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: right" title="December2011 235" alt="December2011 235" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9WZVs41RYx0/TvkuBJ6iVDI/AAAAAAAACzc/XBi2gAj7InA/December2011%252520235_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="127" height="99"></a> <p>1. Cook lasagna noodles as directed, until al dente. Drain + rinse. <p>2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook onion, mushrooms + garlic in hot butter (yum!) until tender but not brown. Stir in sweet peppers and set aside. <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yZ4SJB_yKRg/TvkuDgZmr_I/AAAAAAAACzk/v-VW5kbQ-5g/s1600-h/December2011%252520238%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: left" title="December2011 238" alt="December2011 238" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-06CRFlNsctg/TvkuD87cSLI/AAAAAAAACzs/r2zPVxs_YM8/December2011%252520238_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="137" height="108"></a>3. Pat spinach dry with plenty of paper towels. In large bowl, stir together the spinach, cheeses, eggs, basil, oregano, and ¼t pepper. Stir sweet pepper mixture into spinach mixture. <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f7B9e43t30A/TvkuFUctoYI/AAAAAAAACz0/DEC3zdqmnDQ/s1600-h/December2011%252520259%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: right" title="December2011 259" alt="December2011 259" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-J0NY_Vl-4MY/TvkuF-R74pI/AAAAAAAAC0A/QsRQve0toSg/December2011%252520259_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="173" height="132"></a> <p> <p>4. Spread ½ cup of the spaghetti sauce evenly in a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Arrange 3 noodles over the sauce and layer with half of the sweet pepper-spinach mixture and 1 cup of the spaghetti sauce. Repeat layers, ending with noodles. Spoon remaining spaghetti sauce over the top. Sprinkle with the ¼ cup Parmesan/Romano saved for the topping. <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-M7V9_BhqIx8/TvkuHB8Y4XI/AAAAAAAAC0I/Nl9PgAK6KUc/s1600-h/December2011%252520278%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline; float: left" title="December2011 278" alt="December2011 278" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bBST40Sppuw/TvkuHgnL9ZI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/HXTKgqgud2o/December2011%252520278_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="140"></a>5. Bake, covered, in a 375° oven for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake about 10 minutes more or until heated through. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Makes 8 main-dish servings. Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-14164632197062448462011-11-06T21:41:00.001-08:002011-11-06T21:41:51.826-08:00Roasted Harvest Veg + Sage Pesto Pasta<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:7a046380-c765-4e66-b110-5543d3e94ecd" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:410px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!391&type=5&authkey=6q56Ffh!vGY%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XWAdaR1JOmE/TrdvntnRl3I/AAAAAAAACxc/s7_1xiBrvpQ/Sage%252520Pesto%252520%25252B%252520Roasted%252520Veggies%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:410px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:410px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!391&type=5&authkey=6q56Ffh!vGY%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:410px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Sage Pesto+Roasted Veg</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!391&type=5&authkey=6q56Ffh!vGY%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!391&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=6q56Ffh!vGY%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>At this time of year, an ordinary basil pesto seems so inauthentic. Enter <em>Sage</em>. Think not of it as a Miss America runner-up to basil, no! This pesto was delightfully warm and complex against the roasted butternut squash and Brussels sprouts freshly plucked from the stalk! Do you find as much joy in the stalk-o-sprouts as I? Well, even if you only share my enthusiasm for the easily-obtained winter veggies matched with sage pesto and gorgonzola, this is the recipe for you! All bits and pieces of this recipe easily can be found at your local market and whipped up in 45 minutes, tops. I’ve never seen Sam’s eyebrows raise as high as they did for this tasty little number! We weren’t exactly sure what to do with the giant stalk, post sprout-removal action, so we offered it to our dog for investigation. He was intrigued…but his carnivorous spirit left it untouched. Finally, the most perfect beer pairing: <a href="http://www.brewbound.com/reviews/Stone_Brewing_Co/Stone_Collaborations_2011_La_Citrueille_Celeste_de_Citracado" target="_blank">La Citrueille Céleste de Citracado</a>, a collaborative brew by Stone. Hints of pumpkin, toasted fenugreek, birch bark and lemon verbena. Makes you want to sing, right? </p> <p><b>Pasta with Sage-Walnut Pesto, Winter Squash and Brussels Sprouts<br></b>Serves 4-6, source: <i><a href="http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/2011/11/recipe-pasta-with-sage-walnut-pesto.html" target="_blank">Eats Well With Others</a></i><br><b></b></p> <p><b>Ingredients</b></p> <p>1 medium winter squash, seeded and diced into bite-sized chunks</p> <p>1 lb Brussels sprouts, halved</p> <p>2T (or more, if needed) extra virgin olive oil</p> <p>½ c sage</p> <p>2 large garlic cloves</p> <p>2T chopped walnuts</p> <p>¼ c parmesan cheese</p> <p>salt, to taste</p> <p>½ lb pasta</p> <p>4 oz gorgonzola, crumbles</p> <p><b>Instructions </b> <p>- Heat oven to 450. Arrange winter squash chunks and Brussels sprouts on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper (only one vegetable on each, since they have different cooking times). Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt. Roast Brussels sprouts for 20-25 minutes and winter squash for 40 minutes or until tender. Remove from oven and set aside. <p>- Set up a pot of salted water to boil. <p>- While the water is boiling, make the sage-walnut pesto. Combine the olive oil, sage, garlic, walnuts, and parmesan cheese in a food processor. Pulse until pureed, adding some water if necessary to loosen it up a bit. <p>- Cook the pasta until al dente and then strain, reserving about 1/2 cup pasta water. In a large bowl, mix the pasta, Brussels sprouts, and winter squash. Add the pesto and mix, adding reserved pasta sauce as necessary until thoroughly combined. Taste for seasoning. <p>- Place pasta in four serving bowls and top each with crumbled gorgonzola. Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-76657040812948327282011-11-06T20:51:00.000-08:002011-12-26T19:39:07.267-08:00Hey, Blondie! Pumpkin, chocolate + hazelnut blondies, that is!<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:261cd15f-eccb-4ff0-b7cd-2613768021eb" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 410px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; width: 410px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!381&type=5&authkey=v5v25ezMFRs%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="View album" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-odvsb9F5TGw/TrdkGNTaCXI/AAAAAAAACxY/YUPFOec0wO0/Pumpkin%252520%25252B%252520Chocolate%252520Blondies%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; background: none; border-style: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" title="View album" /></a><br />
<div style="margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: 410px;"><div style="overflow: visible; width: 410px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!381&type=5&authkey=v5v25ezMFRs%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span defaulttext="Enter album name here" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 1.26em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 410px;">Pumpkin, Chocolate + Hazelnut Blondies</span></a></div><div style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 9px 0px 0px 0px; text-align: center;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-style: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: auto;"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 6px 12px 6px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><a border="0" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!381&type=5&authkey=v5v25ezMFRs%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" style="border-style: none; font-family: 'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="border-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 6px 0px 6px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><a border="0" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!381&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=v5v25ezMFRs%24" style="border-style: none; font-family: 'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr>
</tbody></table></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>‘Tis the season for pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins! I can’t seem to get enough squash at this time of year, as you’ll see in some upcoming posts. <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/10/pumpkin-swirl-brownies/" target="_blank">This recipe, from <em>Smitten Kitchen</em>,</a> was happened-upon while perusing <a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> for something new to create from this seasonal, golden gourd. As the initial blogger indicated, it lacked in being thoroughly present in pumpkin or chocolate spirit. Never fear! This is what leftover <a href="http://savorysweetlife.com/2009/08/simply-glorious-chocolate-ganache-recipe-3-ways/" target="_blank">ganache</a>, freshly ground nutmeg and chopped hazelnuts are for! If you don’t have any ganache on hand, melt some milk-chocolate morsels and drizzle those over the top. Voilà! A perfectly decadent fall treat! Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-31699271869849472472011-07-09T17:46:00.001-07:002011-07-09T17:46:19.321-07:00Day 5 = Laundry & Tiring of the Squatty-Potties<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:a598db61-3db2-4fca-a7dc-9ca77969052b" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:400px;border-collapse:collapse;' > <tr> <td colspan=2 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:5px 0px 5px 5px;width:157px;vertical-align:bottom;' > <a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!378&parid=BB3DC76213C1498D!377&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=oNXdTO56Fj0%24" target="_blank" border="0" style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;"> <img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" alt="View album" title="View album" width="157" height="157" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3Ewa3EZBsFE/Thj2UUVNnAI/AAAAAAAAAPM/3HY948Cgc5s/2122197090226F5AB1.png?imgmax=800" /></a> </td> <td colspan=3 style='vertical-align:middle;margin:0px;padding:5px 5px 5px 0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:223px' > <div style="margin-left:10px;top:-3%;" > <div style='width:223px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!377&type=5&authkey=oNXdTO56Fj0%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:223px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Food!</span></a></div> <div style="padding:10px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;width:auto;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 15px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!377&type=5&authkey=oNXdTO56Fj0%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!377&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=oNXdTO56Fj0%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 5px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!379&parid=BB3DC76213C1498D!377&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=oNXdTO56Fj0%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jig_ZXcYF5k/Thj2U2VkzGI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/1NWlaxbpYJA/162795640042F69A63.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td></tr></table></div> <p>Ah, yes...it is at this point in the journey where the culture shock begins to make its presence known as the smog of all things unique, interesting, and exciting dissipates to reveal reality. Meal times are definitely a ritual in Chinese daily life, but eating has become exhausting. Would you consider encountering a Thanksgiving-style spread for each meal over the course of a week? Granted, I'm sure there are people out there who are willing to partake in Italian night at the 'Old Country Buffet' or 'Souplantation' every day for the remainder of their natural lives, but I have begun to miss the conveniences of preparing my own food and eating in a time frame less than 1.5 to 2 hours. The dishes are numerous, and the options endless as you spin the lazy-susan-wheel-of-food-fortune to find a chopstick-full of whatever delight has been presented. The pace is slow, and it is difficult to ascertain the portion size of each meal when you are placing 2-3 bites of food on your dish at a time, and the wheel just keeps on spinning, with dishes being added over the course of the one to two hours that are allotted for the meal. Last night, I took a break from this cacophony of culinary creations and just had a bite of bok choy, two pieces of spicy tofu...and millet wine, called Baiju (白酒<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baijiu">bái jiǔ).</a> However, this does not imply a lack of appreciation or enjoyment of the local food. We've encountered several regional cuisines, since Beijing is such an epicenter for various Chinese emigrants and immigrants from Southeast Asia. Korean BBQ was on today's agenda, with four of us at the vegetarian table. We broiled enoki mushrooms, sweet potatoes, daikon, potatoes, tofu and lotus root on a hot plate in the center of our table, cleansing our palates with lettuce leaves that arrived at our table in a basket. <br>This morning, I dug into the depths of my backpack for the pouch (I should write another entry just on how I have purposed many a pouch for this journey) containing my flax-seed oatmeal and yerba mate tea bags. I savored this ideal little breakfast with a spoon. It's the little, familiar items and moments that can make such a difference in keeping spirits positive and tummies in cooperative.<br>Speaking of familiarity, I made a selfish pact with myself that I could 'hold it' if I really needed to 'go' while on our visit to the Temple of Heaven this afternoon. This, of course, was warranted since I had courageously ventured into squatty-potty (i.e. 'hole in the floor for your business') land with the confidence of Bear Grylls, earlier this week. Why not? Full disclosure permitting, as a hiker/camper/backpacker/traveler for many years, I have made anywhere from the back-woods of the Mackinaw river to the peccary dens of the Amazon my potty. Ah, yes...to be one with nature, when nature calls. A hole in the floor? Surely this is a luxury compared to a dusty rock off a narrow path in the Andes or a port-a-potty at the starting line for a half-marathon in August! The first time, as most first encounters tend to be, was a novelty. "Would you look at that, Angela! There's even a pedal to flush and two impressions of feet, with anti-skid tape, marked so that you can be perfectly aligned. This is even better than you imagined. How difficult can this be?" At this moment, I realized that a skirt may have been a better choice, so I held it just in case...well, you get the idea. There are a few 'hazards' involved with said potties, and it certainly takes a few tries to get the hang of it. Each attempt has the potential for consequences that could not easily be hidden from the group, so I've just strategized my timing of water/tea intake and bathroom availability. I think this is perhaps one of the ways that traveling with a group has allowed me to be a bit less daring with even minor encounters such as these. This is almost like being potty-trained all over again. At this moment, I am empathizing with all of the toddlers waddling around in their plastic-creaking Pull-Ups, wondering the best way to mount/dismount the towering porcelain chair and hear the monumental drips that indicate that they have successfully completed this new right of passage that enables them to function along with the masses.<br>Finally, laundry! Here is a brief introduction to hand-washing your packed wardrobe:<br>Materials required:<br>1) <b>Bag</b>: I like to reuse a plastic bag (i.e. 'GAP') that can be disposed of at the end of the journey. This bag serves the purpose of the large, roomy hamper you may have in your home. This, however, tends to gather all of your garments in a multi-colored, fragrant wad until you are nearly out of underwear and rapidly approaching the 'it had better dry before the flight!' deadline. The timing of removing the items from the bag may also relate to the 'ripeness' of said clothing, and whether or not you catch a lil' whiff as you open the drawstrings to drop in the day's soiled socks. <br>2) <b>Liquid Detergent - travel-sized:</b> Woe to those who choose the powdered variety, as it just adds to the 'itch and crunch' factor which I will touch on later.<br>3) <b>Water</b> - preferably clean, although definitively not at the end of your first scrub.<br>4) <b>Sink/Bucket</b><br>5) <b>Clothesline/hangers/chairs</b> - for draping<br><b>Procedure</b>:<br>1) Plug the sink, and squeeze the liquid detergent into the sink. <br>2) Fill the sink with water, using your hands to swish the blue goo around as if you were the paddles of your Whirpool machine, enjoying its deserved vacation back at home. <br>3) Suds now arising, pat your hands on a little towel and gracefully open the drawstring of your hamper bag.<br>4) Whoops, forgot to mention that you should have plugged your nose prior to step three. No matter, you may now fish each item from the bag and place it in the soapy water, reminiscing of bygone days when this was the norm...or when you should have hand-washed that cardigan instead of shrugging your shoulders and dumping it in with the jeans because you couldn't have been bothered. <br>5) Agitate said garments a bit, your eyebrows raise as the water turns a delicate shade of puce - from the perspiration or smog, you're unsure, but you increase the pace of said agitation in order to remove all particles from your old t-shirts and undergarments.<br>6) Empty the sink, repeat processes above.<br>7) Wring out each item, placing them haphazardly on the plastic bag, and re-fill the sink with clean water for a rinse. <br>8) Channel the functionality of the washer, and create your own rinse cycle with appropriate amount of humming (if desired).<br>9) Drain the sink once more, and wring out each garment, placing them on the clothesline your hotel had the foresight to provide since you did not remember to bring yours from home.<br>10) Curse a bit under your breath when your unmentionables take up the entire clothesline, and four shirts still stare at you in their pile of sorrow from the sink, wondering how you will find a way to hang them up efficiently with only two hangers available.<br>11) Drape a shirt over the shower rod, then hear your mother's voice in your head, "Oh, Angela! Didn't you check first to see if it was dusty?" Check. It's indeed dusty. <br>12) Swear a bit under your breath, return said shirt to sink for a re-rinse. <br>13) Dust the rod, then drape three shirts over it and hang up the other two.<br>14) Tidy the bathroom so your roommate will be none the wiser.<br>15) Take the empty bag back into the main room, and spy your jacket on the bed. This is the same jacket that you had spilled a bowl of stinky tofu and noodles on two nights prior to this one, at the street market. Same jacket that was left for hotel staff to launder as it would take additional time to dry. <br>16) Curse a bit more under your breath. Shrug your shoulders, put it into the hamper bag, and vow to greet the front desk staff with its stinky splendour in the morning. Meanwhile, consider how to properly pronounce in Mandarin, "This stinks to high heaven, because I'm a clumsy tourist; please wash it for room 556 before Monday. Thanks!"<br>17) Repeat until you are willing to a) pay for your items to be laundered or b) dispose of items to make way for souvenirs and reduce future laundry episodes.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UQLtDvmhITc/Thj2WDuQV5I/AAAAAAAAAPU/91BciVfNOjA/s1600-h/DSCN2145%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN2145" border="0" alt="DSCN2145" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AqZJZXWC9Ik/Thj2WvjUn8I/AAAAAAAAAPY/cnr5qESL854/DSCN2145_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a> Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-55683514155574318532011-07-06T20:23:00.001-07:002011-07-06T20:23:33.952-07:00Scorpions on a stick, anyone?<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:843485b6-a5ce-4b5b-b679-68a4ffd0f3f4" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:410px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!347&type=5&authkey=iUzq9ZBHyEY%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2imZ_t4Ux2I/ThUmtAeS2XI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/BfVhwU23X3Q/album%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:410px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:410px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!347&type=5&authkey=iUzq9ZBHyEY%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:410px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">What’s it all about?</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!347&type=5&authkey=iUzq9ZBHyEY%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!347&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=iUzq9ZBHyEY%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>Today was an excellent day for acclimation and processing, as we review the objectives of the program: to devise curriculum to emphasize/explore/identify means of teaching about contemporary issues in Chinese/Taiwanese culture/historical significance in our classrooms back in the U.S.A. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? That's a pretty tall order, but fascinating and already providing endless discussions and opportunities for further inquiry within our group. We are analyzing each of our site visits against the China Institute's five areas of significance: History, Material Culture, Appreciation, People and Culture, and Geography. There have been several encounters that have sparked my interest for lessons to add to the curriculum guide - for the elementary/intermediate level. The majority of my collegues instruct at the middle or high school levels so my learning curve is Everest in scale, in regard to prior/background knowledge and lessons to engage higher level/critical thinking. I've started reading the Chinese epic, 'Monkey', which has striking parallels to Hanuman from 'The Ramayana.' It is this preservation of the traditional literary and artistic forms to tell the current Chinese story that have caught my interest. How to use rod/shadow puppetry (as observed at the Laoshe Teahouse on Monday night) to give voice to the importance of water as a sustaining source for energy and survival in rural areas? Is there a way to use the art of paper cutting to speak to consumerism, or explore Taoism in current art as well as that of the past? Yesterday, I found this outstanding painting (see in attached album) at the Chinese National Museum that was presented in the style of Song Dynasty guó huà (国画), rather impressionistic in a sense. However, this contemporary take on guó huà was disharmonius in its tone - the presence of cranes and power lines were quite dissonant against the serene landscape. This would be an excellent starting point for so many lessons with students of various levels...my mind is spinning with the possibilities. Especially since we will be visiting <a href="http://www.798art.org/">798 Art Zone</a> as part of tomorrow's plan. <p>We have been sharing articles, books, primary sources and artifacts with one another as we encounter many issues. As Carmen (my colleague from Queens, NY) said today, "If you keep sweeping issues under the carpet, you'll eventually have a lumpy carpet." It is still difficult to conceptualize the perspectives and scale of control found here, but with each new resource uncovered/discovered, another piece of the puzzle is revealed. All we can do is enter into each day with an open mind, heart and desire to assemble a unifying narrative that can be presented in a didactic manner to many educators. Did I mention this was a tall order? <p>Still to come this evening...a trip to sample some of Beijing's unique street food in the Donghuamen Night Market, near Wangfujing Dajie. Scorpions on a stick, anyone? Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-87271156868752651262011-07-05T20:39:00.001-07:002011-07-05T21:20:28.979-07:00Greetings from China!<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:99ee6de5-6416-42ad-ba38-8e886fe25f49" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:410px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!315&type=5&authkey=i5CBfB9yR98%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7yMIrmQ9isE/ThPihoviFPI/AAAAAAAAAJs/2RdYH8nLFDM/China%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:410px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:410px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!315&type=5&authkey=i5CBfB9yR98%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:410px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">China</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!315&type=5&authkey=i5CBfB9yR98%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!315&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=i5CBfB9yR98%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>Ni hao!<br>I'm entering my second full day in Beijing, and attempting to use the Internet in the business center. It's a little bit slow, and very little beyond gmail happens to be accessible as the PRC blocks many websites, including Facebook and mass-photo uploaders such as WindowsLive unless you have a VPN...which I do not. I'll find a solution, but it may take a while. In the meantime, I'm sending a few photos in an email and asking Sam to help add this message and images to the blog.<br> The flight was painless; read quite a bit on my nook (they had outlets under the seats, so I could recharge at the end of the flight), watched 'The Adjustment Bureau' (thumbs down!), chatted with a fellow participant (9th/10th grade teacher from Hawaii) and walked around quite a bit. 12-13 hours later, we arrived in Beijing at the new terminal of the airport, all decked out for their recent Olympics. I'm the only one muscling a monster backpack; everyone else is going old school with the wheeled Samsonites. ;o) I tried to sleep for the first leg of the flight, attempting to manipulate my body into the new rhythmn of time...sadly, I was unsuccessful. Since we arrived at 1:30pm (the next day in Beijing - hurrah for the International Date Line!), I knew I had to stay awake until the dinner/performance we would watch in the evening. I went downstairs to the gym and worked out for about 30 mins with a couple of other participants, showered and headed out for our evening at the Laoshe Teahouse. <br>Dinner. *Sigh* The food here is amazing. Seriously, they're not kidding when they say that Chinese food in America is quite dissimilar to what you experience here. It is served family-style, all dishes placed on a lazy susan in the center of the table. We had lemongrass tea (the best tea I've ever, ever had. I'll try to find some and bring it home) and all sorts of dishes. It is traditional for many meat dishes to be served first, with vegetables last -- this has to do with the yin/yang principles of warming up the system (body) and then cooling it down at the conclusion of a meal. There is very little rice served with the meals, at least here in Beijing. This is okee dokee with me! Tofu is prepared here in so many different ways! I feel that Americans have a limited awareness of how to prepare tofu, and even make attempts to hide it in dishes. I, too, am a culprit in this ordeal, as I love to prepare tofu/ricotta stuffed shells -- the tofu taking on a similar texture of the ricotta. "You don't even know the tofu is there, do you! Mmmm, so good!" Well, just three meals since we've arrived and I've probably tried about seven or eight different preparations of the lovely soy illusionist -- sweet and sour tofu is THE BEST. Imagine little pillows of sweet and soft delights, delicately and just ever-so-slightly fried to a golden brown and drizzled with the most brilliant sweet and sour sauce in the galaxy. Oh yes. Brilliant. I'll give you a sampling of the other culinary joys: bok choy, fried rice (just rice and eggs), green tea and banana chips at breakfast, a visit to a noodle house - given a 'sanitized for your protection'-wrapped packet with a small cup, dish, glass, and chopsticks before the family style 'starters' arrive, then your noodles with choice of sauces and vegetables to mix in at your discretion, Peking duck - glazed and crispy, freshly carved near the table and eaten with mushu wrappers (think small tacos!), plum sauce and radishes, a mound of peppery tofu layered with sprouts, varieties of Chinese vegetables never seen before, dishes that just keep coming and coming and coming and coming...ending with vegetables and creamy, duck soup. Wow. I cannot even remember all of the food that we've eaten, but it has all been AMAZING. There were approximately 15 different items served at dinner, in addition to the Peking duck. Dessert is not common in China, and that's my one bit of luck -- otherwise, I'd have to roll home. <br>Well, that and the fact that we're walking. A lot. We were up early for a visit to the Forbidden City, which is enormous and divine in its historical significance to the imperial eras as well its sheer vastness. My only sense of current culture shock is that many people stare at our group, as we are 'exotic' to them. I happen to be the only blonde (how did that happen?) besides our director, so many people approach me and ask to take a picture with me. It is sort of a running joke with the group, "You looked soooooooooooo uncomfortable when those two guys wanted to take their picture with you!" I can understand, and I am obliging, especially when a boy (probably 9 or 10) came up to me in the Museum of Chinese History and said, "Hello? Can you please help me?" "Um, ok. What do you need?" "Please, please will you take a photo with us? You are very beautiful." His friend whipped out a little cell phone camera from somewhere and snapped a photo while we both made the universal picture-posing sign (peace). <br>The Museum of Chinese History and Tiananmen Square were part of the afternoon agenda; Mao's tomb was not open today, and I'm not a fan of embalmed dictators (historically significant or otherwise) so I was perfectly happy to explore the other aspects of the 90th anniversary of the PRC on display. The museum had just recently opened a couple of months ago, and there were many people in town for the commemorative event noted above. The primary exhibit that I explored was called, 'The Age of Rejuvenation' - which omitted quite a few events of (negative) historical significance and had a definite bias, but was interesting to compare to what I saw a couple of years ago at the Soviet Museum in Moscow. Due to the Cultural Revolution, so many artifacts pre-1940s had been destroyed, so many paintings and sculptures to represent this 'Age' had been recreated to demonstrate their perspective (or what they wished to show) from contemporary history. Many, many weapons and representations of the military, rather than what I wished to see -- representations and artifacts from the Chinese literati. However, it was well worth the visit and put a time frame on many events in a way that I was able to understand the gestalt of this era. Good times.</p> <p> </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:874d4bc6-8490-4a1e-9c9a-ef9630dffe69" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:410px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!322&type=5&authkey=BO9!1enqUZQ%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ahtUpCeIsOI/ThPii3aRAlI/AAAAAAAAAJw/O2Bp56rfsgc/More%252520Photos%252521%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:410px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:410px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!322&type=5&authkey=BO9!1enqUZQ%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:410px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">More Photos!</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!322&type=5&authkey=BO9!1enqUZQ%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=bb3dc76213c1498d&page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!322&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=BO9!1enqUZQ%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></p> <p><br>There are three 'Ts' that you must not mention in polite conversation with Chinese: Tiananmen Square, Tibet, and Taiwan. We're discussing all of them in our group workshops and lectures -- it is fascinating. More on this later, if I'm able...<br>A couple of interesting finds: <br>- Toddlers (and a few infants) do not wear diapers. Rather, they have split britches and 'let it all hang out'. Children are often allowed to relieve themselves in the streets.<br>- The traffic is less chaotic than I expected. It's quite orderly, just very congested. There are many motorbikes and bicycles, but not as many of these as there used to be about 5+ years ago<br>- Smog. Wow. It looked overcast all day, and the visibility is just about 3 NY city blocks -- at its max. <br>- Food -- the best in the world -- yes, even better than (or equal to) Italy. I am not kidding -- it is beautiful. A well-balanced mixture of textures, flavors and delights cross the palate at each meal we encounter.<br>- Tummies. It is definitely very hot and humid here, and (generally older) men feel very comfortable tucking their shirts up to let their tummies and lower backs breathe a bit. <br>- Scale. True to the post(ish) Communist visual preferences, everything is of tremendous scale when it comes to new architecture and sculptures. However, there do not seem to be as many colossal skyscrapers as I'd expected. Perhaps it is because we've only seen a certain part of Beijing, but I believe we shall see something to this degree when we head down to Shanghai.<br>One and a half days in, and I have only scratched the surface of the sensorial and enlightening moments experienced. Others included visiting a perfectly created feng shui garden in the Forbidden City, lessons on Taiwanese-Chinese relations, contemporary art and censorship, a traditional shadow puppet performance (!!!!!) while dining in downtown Beijing, watching poodles (dogs are a status symbol here - you have to pay to have them) with dyed fur trapsing the streets with their owners late at night, the Beijing version of Times Square, fresh watermelons arriving in a motorbike sidecar to a small cigarette shop to be sold on the street, using Mandarin to request a wake up call (it worked!) and a few other, minor, phrases to get around....so much!!! Oh! There's even a gas mask in the hotel room! <br>No worries. I'm having a blast, enjoying the tremendous learning curve that was destined to occur while learning about one of the world's first civilizations and its current political, creative, economic, social, and historical significance. Lectures and workshops are on tomorrow's agenda. The raising of the flag in Tiananmen Square, a visit to the summer palace, and the World History Organization conference will come in the next couple of days.<br>Thank you so much to all of you for your support. I feel the most alive when I'm learning about the wonders of our world...</p> Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-66345746722963267422011-06-11T10:08:00.000-07:002011-06-14T10:11:17.044-07:00What’s Worse: Egg Yolks or Heavy Whipping Cream?<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:5f970dd2-bb66-4f6b-9111-d2d509cde54f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:360px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!290&type=5&authkey=Z*1tia8HjSE%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K7WS_qhAfAI/TfeWM4-oHxI/AAAAAAAAAJk/n5dpXsrGI-k/Philadelphia-Style%252520Ice%252520Cream%252521%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:360px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:360px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!290&type=5&authkey=Z*1tia8HjSE%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:360px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Tail Waggin’ Delights!</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!290&type=5&authkey=Z*1tia8HjSE%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!290&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=Z*1tia8HjSE%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>This Saturday morning, Sam finished making another batch of homemade ice cream. On this occasion, he tried a <a href="http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/homemade-ice-cream/Detail.aspx" target="_blank">Philadelphia-style</a> recipe. It’s distinguishing feature is that this batter is egg-free. Most ice creams, indeed any that we’ve concocted, start with a lovely and delicate egg-custard. Philadelphia-style is known for its simplistic, yet rich, base: heavy cream, sugar, and desired flavorings. Sam decided on Madagascar vanilla beans…sophisticated, eh? Did you know that you can rinse and reuse vanilla beans? Bizarre…</p> <p>We have decided to use an alliterative dog-breed name for each of Sam’s ice cream creations, which I then illustrate in Sharpie on our little <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plain-White-Frozen-Dessert-Containers/dp/B00381DIR0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1308070864&sr=8-2" target="_blank">containers</a>. This time, we created <em>Vizsla Vanilla</em> and <em>Silky Terrier Swirl</em>. </p> Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-75807363931449519082011-06-06T21:08:00.000-07:002011-06-06T21:11:16.936-07:00Portabellos for My Fellow!<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-orTjUFpxdEI/Te2kWVnlbcI/AAAAAAAAAJc/WMj-RzvzbGY/s1600-h/April_May2011%252520358%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 18px 7px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="April_May2011 358" border="0" alt="April_May2011 358" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lQB56g7c5r4/Te2kWwepyuI/AAAAAAAAAJg/c6Xed4E96h8/April_May2011%252520358_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="188" height="231"></a>Tonight, we continue with the theme of, “Using ingredients new to my kitchen but somewhat ordinary to everyone else makes me feel lame.” Portabello mushrooms – nope, never cooked with ‘em. Polenta – nope, never cooked the stuff. However, I have partaken in both ingredients outside of said abode, with mixed response. <p>Firstly, the mushrooms. Best Portobello experience ever encountered is credited to <i><a href="http://www.passporter.com/photos/data/717/medium/DSC05645.JPG" target="_blank">Tusker House</a></i> at <a href="http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/animal-kingdom/" target="_blank">Disney’s Animal Kingdom</a>. I think I ate that beautiful Portabello sandwich at least once a week for five months while employed at DAK in the spring of 2000. There really wasn’t much available for a vegetarian at the Disney parks back then (besides <a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4871271478_cf471ac74e.jpg" target="_blank">Dole whip</a> at the <a href="http://www.chipandco.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Walt-at-Tiki-Room.jpg" target="_blank">Tiki Room</a>), and this sammich could really hit the spot after a long day of conservation education chats with many a guest. <p>Nextly, the polenta. I have only had this once before tonight – in PB (<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.homesinpb.com/pacific-beach-san-diego-20Sep2006111614937500.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.homesinpb.com/&usg=__REyDiXkCKqjFoGaVqd_VllZgrwM=&h=1889&w=2700&sz=603&hl=en&start=0&sig2=1wWCwZLV374vrqVBop8bVw&zoom=1&tbnid=mVQ3MoxPb8hM4M:&tbnh=139&tbnw=220&ei=tqPtTY-IMI3ksQPo-Zy5Aw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpacific%2Bbeach%2Bsan%2Bdiego%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D632%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=144&vpy=127&dur=644&hovh=188&hovw=268&tx=180&ty=112&page=1&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&biw=1280&bih=632" target="_blank">Pacific Beach</a> – here in Sandy Eggo) at <a href="http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/thundercats_lion-o_01.jpeg" target="_blank">Ghort’s</a> old pad. Peggy G. had stewed up a bunch of polenta with some tomato sauce, and other found objects, to be served to a number of random gents hanging out at Ghort’s apartment. I was frightened, Aunt Em. Tonight’s polenta fared about the same with me, as I accidentally purchased the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Food-Merchants-Organic-Tradtional-18-Ounce/dp/B000LKYX9S" target="_blank">pre-cooked variety</a> rather than quick-cooked. Note to readers: boiling ten (10!) cups of water is unnecessary for pre-cooked, as you promptly drown the polenta. One-fourth of a cup would have sufficed. I’m still not a fan, but Sam seemed to enjoy it. Wait until he has some homemade grits! If he liked this mush, he’ll adore some well-cooked southern breakfast charm. <p>The Portobellos and polenta were accompanied by some roasted sugar snap peas. These green friends were super tasty after a drizzling of olive oil, salt and pepper before snuggling up to the mushrooms (already roasting for 9 minutes) in a 400° oven for about 7 more minutes. <p>For dessert, Sam brought out a present that I promptly unwrapped only to find… <p>(to be continued in an upcoming post from a galaxy far, far away…) Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-34411525791460896212011-06-05T20:48:00.000-07:002011-06-05T20:50:20.122-07:00Tomatillo-tastic Enchiladas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LVDJ5eDvSjs/TexMMNvQUyI/AAAAAAAAAIs/liPIV3V6utU/s1600/IMG_4186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LVDJ5eDvSjs/TexMMNvQUyI/AAAAAAAAAIs/liPIV3V6utU/s200/IMG_4186.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mcjpBtn2Sgg/TexMU5-EngI/AAAAAAAAAIw/Zo7rGQuPrlE/s1600/IMG_4181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mcjpBtn2Sgg/TexMU5-EngI/AAAAAAAAAIw/Zo7rGQuPrlE/s200/IMG_4181.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g4ErjYnkRfo/TexMfLvpZ0I/AAAAAAAAAI0/uGJ1ggbpGWM/s1600/IMG_4202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g4ErjYnkRfo/TexMfLvpZ0I/AAAAAAAAAI0/uGJ1ggbpGWM/s200/IMG_4202.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMmPl5BtO_Y/TexMn3WwxEI/AAAAAAAAAI4/i6MqafgPfBA/s1600/IMG_4203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMmPl5BtO_Y/TexMn3WwxEI/AAAAAAAAAI4/i6MqafgPfBA/s200/IMG_4203.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MOudfcWLaSo/TexMw_x03KI/AAAAAAAAAI8/miH8k1TZRoQ/s1600/IMG_4180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MOudfcWLaSo/TexMw_x03KI/AAAAAAAAAI8/miH8k1TZRoQ/s200/IMG_4180.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TDNq9SiJx-M/TexM5w6ogsI/AAAAAAAAAJA/zUTUxwONqFM/s1600/IMG_4194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TDNq9SiJx-M/TexM5w6ogsI/AAAAAAAAAJA/zUTUxwONqFM/s200/IMG_4194.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uucy5bYnwgM/TexNDGKcwgI/AAAAAAAAAJE/UgBmABmb7D4/s1600/IMG_4204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uucy5bYnwgM/TexNDGKcwgI/AAAAAAAAAJE/UgBmABmb7D4/s200/IMG_4204.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eKLdW0saonQ/TexNMgpQmtI/AAAAAAAAAJI/sMMSlhRpiqw/s1600/IMG_4197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eKLdW0saonQ/TexNMgpQmtI/AAAAAAAAAJI/sMMSlhRpiqw/s200/IMG_4197.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Swiss Chard. It's a Beautiful Thing. Seriously. Beautiful!! However, it's the tomatillo that has a special place in my culinary heart. *Sigh*</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This evening, I was super jazzed to work with two ingredients that I had not yet previously brought into my kitchen: Swiss chard & tomatillos! The first is a bit understandable, as I've only recently become a fan of greens, but tomatillos?! Good golly, what is wrong with me? I loved peeling these little friends, and was tickled to find how easy this recipe was to prepare. However, I should *not* have promised Sam that we would eat an early dinner because, albeit simplistic in its process, it took almost 2 hours to prep and cook. Yikes! At least I got in a quick jog while these bad boys were baking! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The enchilada sauce is comprised of fresh garlic, tomatillos (yes!), jalapeños, Mexican crema (i.e. sour cream), salt, and sugar. The fabulous filling is comprised of the diced stems of Swiss chard, chiffonade-cut leaves (literally translated, to cut "in rags"), onions, cheese, salt and pepper, veggie broth...yowza! The recipe was lifted from one of my fave veggie blogs, <i><a href="http://www.herbivoracious.com/2009/02/swiss-chard-enchiladas-in-a-tomatillo-sauce-recipe.html">Herbivoracious</a>.</i> Genius! It was super satisfying to create our own enchilada sauce, and my new BFF is the tomatillo.</span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-39737510132098898132011-06-05T20:21:00.000-07:002011-06-05T20:21:45.223-07:00...and Have Buttered Scones for Tea!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rAJYlZGcjdY/TexHTm9eMyI/AAAAAAAAAIk/hnAjRBhCPWY/s1600/IMG_4177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rAJYlZGcjdY/TexHTm9eMyI/AAAAAAAAAIk/hnAjRBhCPWY/s200/IMG_4177.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">"I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I sleep all night and I work all day</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">(He's a lumberjack and he's OK</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">He sleeps all night and he works all day)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I cut down trees, I eat my lunch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I go to the lavat'ry</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">On Wednesdays I go shopping</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">And have buttered scones for tea..."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ah yes, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL7n5mEmXJo">The Lumberjack Song</a>. We decided to partake in <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/353002/orange-poppy-scones">homemade 'buttered scones'</a> this morning in honor of Python's lumberjack. Ours were of the fresh orange and poppy seed variety, from Martha Stewart's <i>Everyday Food</i> 'zine. Super easy and the freshly-squeezed OJ added a nice fresh twist to a light and sweet breakfast treat. I realized, just prior to popping these little lovelies in the oven, that I only had horrible, grey-green sanding sugar (insert s<a href="http://sadtrombone.com/">ad trombone</a> here!), but luckily the color faded away during the magical baking process. Yum!!</span></span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-87618414341260461562011-03-31T09:11:00.000-07:002011-03-31T09:29:13.138-07:00Reflecting on Perfect Days…<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:fae22419-a175-48bd-a603-f0554412dd4f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:410px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!265&type=5&authkey=uOKG2lYXBLM%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_MZQDoTpHr64/TZSoyQsDV2I/AAAAAAAAAIg/mzTp2X2t5s4/album%5B36%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:410px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:410px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!265&type=5&authkey=uOKG2lYXBLM%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:410px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Hillcrest Farmer’s Market</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!265&type=5&authkey=uOKG2lYXBLM%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!265&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=uOKG2lYXBLM%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>When recently asked what would make a perfect day for Sam, he responded, “A day game…watching the <a href="http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=sd" target="_blank">Padres</a> at PETCO Park!” (Within days of this discussion, Sam ventured down to said venue to pick up two tickets to opening day!) When asked for my perfect day, I couldn’t immediately come up with an answer. After all, there are so many opportunities for a blissful day – I’ve been grateful to have many experiences all over the world, and would call several days ‘perfect’. For example: a breathtaking solo climb past languorous llamas up the steep slopes of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huayna_Picchu" target="_blank">Huayna Picchu</a>; crouching in the undergrowth of the Amazon rainforest to stealthily view a pack of <a href="http://slightlyrelevant.com/sr/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/peccary.jpg" target="_blank">peccaries</a> dashing across the trail just a few feet away; walking across a <a href="http://www.taltopia.com/media/65/65470/Autumn-Bridge-angle-.jpg" target="_blank">forgotten footbridge</a> in an Illinois park; watching the ordinary <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-481306/From-pig-legs-Starship-Enterprise--amazing-shapes-people-clouds.html" target="_blank">clouds</a> trade places with animal figures on a summer’s day; <a href="http://www.cloud9living.com/images/products/WAT-SDI-0019.jpg" target="_blank">kayaking in La Jolla Shores/Caves</a> above the spotted backs of <a href="http://www.divebums.com/week/2006/Oct16-2006/leopard-shark_herb-gruenhagen.jpg" target="_blank">Leopard sharks</a>; <a href="http://mikebrunson.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/img_4790.jpg?w=2575&h=1515" target="_blank">rolling out</a> of the interior of a plane into the nurturing hands of the sky’s updraft; passing a football back and forth (at the dog park) with Sam while Chauncey euphorically rubs his back and tummy in the <a href="http://image03.webshots.com/3/4/78/27/18247827uJFgAfLkhx_ph.jpg" target="_blank">grass</a>; watching from backstage as the third graders glow with pride at the conclusion of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvVusSmm4lM" target="_blank">Shakespeare Fest</a> performance and <a href="http://torreytimes.ljcds.org/profiles/blogs/india-showcase" target="_blank">India Showcase</a>; sitting on a bed in a chic hotel, painting pottery on towels with Michelle & her daughter, Elizabeth, after a day of shopping and tea-time on the Magnificent Mile…I am filled with gratitude as I am reminded of all of these perfect days, those I did not mention and those that are to come. </p> <p>Yet, if I were to fashion a perfect ‘San Diego’ day upon request, it would most assuredly include a visit to the Hillcrest Farmer’s Market. It always includes: lusting over handmade jewelry, <a href="http://www.vintagereligion.com/" target="_blank">Día de los Muertos aprons</a>, wire art and handmade soaps; a visit with Janet at <a href="http://www.grammysgranola.com/AboutUs.htm" target="_blank">Granny’s Granola</a>; a stop at <a href="http://peacepies.com/" target="_blank">Peace Pie’s</a> booth with my fingers crossed that they still have at least one delectable slice of their cashew-cheese pizza and coconut milk (straight from the coconut); a custom cookie from <a href="http://www.thecravory.com/" target="_blank">The Cravory</a> (red velvet is my absolute fave!); a taste of Sam’s spinach/feta tamale from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/gourmet-tamales-oceanside" target="_blank">Gourmet Tamales</a>; coveting fresh pastas and sauces from the <a href="http://www.liskoimports.com/" target="_blank">Lisko Imports</a> tables; and always concludes with a $3.00 bouquet of fresh flowers from my favorite flower booth. I’ve included some photos in this entry of many of the aforementioned market-moments. However, if you happen to have ever visited me in this lovely city, you will have experienced most/all of these treats first hand. If not, please visit soon – or live variously through this posting!</p> <p>I would love to hear about your perfect days – please add a comment to this post with your musings as well!</p> Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-72266942830766072342011-03-14T08:15:00.000-07:002011-03-30T08:16:34.397-07:00The Wonderful Wizard of Oz<p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:141a98b7-e138-4de9-aaca-ab8aeb430edd" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:345px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!251&type=5&authkey=7G5FGZ4nwnc%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_MZQDoTpHr64/TZNJUWZlDXI/AAAAAAAAAIM/JyjmTrH3jII/album%5B11%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:345px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:345px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!251&type=5&authkey=7G5FGZ4nwnc%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:345px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Surrender, Cupcakes!</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!251&type=5&authkey=7G5FGZ4nwnc%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!251&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=7G5FGZ4nwnc%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Charlotte, the multi-talented Social Committee chair, asked me to make a cupcake creation to accompany the ‘Wizard of Oz’ birthday spread for our Lower School faculty/staff. My immediate response was, “Of course!!! It’s my favorite film, and I’m such a fan of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonderful_Wizard_of_Oz" target="_blank">Baum books</a>!” Ah, yes…it was only a few moments later that I realized that they would be required at approximately the same time as parent-teacher conferences/conference-note writing and such craziness. However, I couldn’t pass on this opportunity! I found a blog posting at <a href="http://bakingbites.com/2009/05/rainbow-cupcakes/" target="_blank">Baking Bites</a> for rainbow cupcakes and I just had to try them! My culinary confidantes, just mixing/pouring these lovely treats was a process. It took close to an hour to prepare them for baking, and they were overflowing quite a bit! Muffin tops, muffin tops, muffin tops – oh, my! Needless to say, they were too moist upon retrieving them from the oven, so I put them in the freezer to firm up just a bit. Only two were salvageable enough that I felt comfortable serving them to colleagues. Due to the moisture added from the gel coloring, they were super-duper tasty, but too soft to hold their shape. If/when I choose to recreate these little darlings again (anyone need LGBT/PRIDE cupcakes?), I shall reduce the amount of oil called for in the recipe, and use only 2t (rather than 1T) per color when layering the batter in each well. Oh, and silicon liners would be preferred. In the end, I chose to create chocolate ‘munchkin cupcakes’ and decorated them with white buttercream and a few fondant friends from Oz. The ‘Accident in Munchkinland’ cupcake (photo to be added soon!) was inspired by another post I found online – so much fun!</p> Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-55820983987876356422011-03-06T20:16:00.000-08:002011-03-30T21:18:23.609-07:00Veggie Shepherd’s Pie…Divine!<p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:b00fcb1e-ee7e-48e7-9c62-86a135341437" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:518px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!256&type=5&authkey=ZXJTWBRP3is%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_MZQDoTpHr64/TZQAjiH5jkI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/05_qmCHklIQ/album%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:518px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:518px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!256&type=5&authkey=ZXJTWBRP3is%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:518px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Veggie Shepherd’s Pie</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!256&type=5&authkey=ZXJTWBRP3is%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!256&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=ZXJTWBRP3is%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Some recipes just beckon to you and whisper, “Reinvent me, I beg of you! Add your own lil’ flair!” <a href="http://www.molliekatzen.com/" target="_blank">Mollie Katzen</a> can do no wrong, especially in the sense that her recipes seem to welcome creativity. Exhibit A: Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie. I took this recipe from a fellow blogger’s <a href="http://www.eatmedelicious.com/2010/01/vegetarian-shepherds-pie.html" target="_blank">adapted version</a> taken from Mollie’s exceptional book, <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Enchanted-Broccoli-Katzens-Classic-Cooking/dp/1580081266" target="_blank">The New Enchanted Broccoli Forest</a></u> and added a little bit of my own twist. My adaptations* are included below. Please note: this is the most delectable, comforting, cozy, pajama-friendly feast you may ever enjoy.</p> <p><strong>Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie</strong></p> <p><u>Tater Topping (make first):</u><br>2 large potatoes<br>1T butter (or oil)<br>½c milk<br>3 large cloves garlic, minced<br>salt & pepper, to taste<br>½c minced fresh parsley<br><u>Veggie Hash:</u><br>1T oil & 1/3c dry red wine*<br>1½c minced onions<br>4 large cloves garlic, minced<br>1t salt<br>fresh black pepper to taste<br>1 med. celeriac (celery root), finely minced*<br>1 lb mushrooms, chopped (prefer Cremini & baby Bellas)*<br>2 small Mexican squash*<br>1 medium bell pepper, minced<br>2t dried basil<br>½t dried thyme<br>½t dried oregano<br>1-1½c soy crumble*<br>3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese (leave out to make vegan)<br>cayenne to taste<br>paprika<br><u>Make the Tater Topping:</u><br>Peel or scrub the potatoes, and cut them into 1 inch chunks. Cook in plenty of boiling water until soft. Drain and transfer to a medium-large bowl. Add butter, garlic, and milk, and mash well. Add salt and black pepper to taste, and stir in the parsley. Set aside.<br><u>Make the Veggie Hash (and assemble the pie):</u><br>1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Have ready a 2 quart casserole or its equivalent (ex. a 9x13 baking pan).<br>2. Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet or a Dutch oven. Add the onion, and sauté over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until it begins to soften.<br>3. Add garlic, salt, pepper, celery root, mushrooms, squash, and bell pepper. Stir until well combined, cover, and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the herbs, stir, and cover again. Cook for about 5 more minutes, or until the squash is perfectly tender. *Deglaze with wine mixture by stirring and scraping up any browned bits. Let cook until simmering and slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.<br>4. Stir in the soy crumble and cheese. Add cayenne to taste. Transfer this mixture to the casserole or baking pan, and spread it out.<br>5. Spoon and./or spread the mashed potatoes completely over the vegetables. *Rough up the surface of the potatoes so there are bits that will get browned and crunchy. Dust generously with paprika.<br>6. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly browned on top and bubbly around the edges.</p> Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-61811202927338571872011-02-23T21:01:00.001-08:002011-02-23T21:21:00.641-08:00Twice Baked Potatoes. Increasing tastiness by a factor of two!<p> </p> <p>In high school, I dared commence a vegetarian diet at the table of two native Texans – my parents. This was quite a shock to a father who always required that his daughter, “Eat what’s on the table and like it, or don’t eat at all.” Years later, this same cattle-ranching dad would gift me with one of my favorite vegetarian culinary tomes that I continue to earmark: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Horn-Moon-Cookbook-Vegetarian-Restaurant/dp/0060960388" target="_blank">The Horn of the Moon Cookbook</a>. Their twice-baked potatoes are so very, very, very simple and should be categorized in the upper echelons of all comfort-food. There is so much extra filling upon creating this treat, that you can just spoon it out of your bento box for lunch the next day. Although it makes enough for a group of 4-6, they are just as tasty in leftover form. This is one of my go-to recipes, so I just had to share! </p> <p><strong>Twice Baked *Stuffed* Potatoes</strong> <p>Source: <em>Horn of the Moon Cookbook</em> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_MZQDoTpHr64/TWXqAK4fehI/AAAAAAAAAH8/Rl4vxa_FVf4/s1600-h/stocking1%20105%5B41%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 18px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="stocking1 105" border="0" alt="stocking1 105" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_MZQDoTpHr64/TWXqA_oThlI/AAAAAAAAAIA/rgrNWL2W6uo/stocking1%20105_thumb%5B29%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="274" height="422"></a> <p>4 medium to large baking potatoes <p>1c broccoli stems & florets, chopped <p>3T butter <p>1c mushrooms, sliced/slightly chopped <p>6 scallions, chopped <p>1c sour cream <p>1½c sharp cheddar cheese, grated <p>¼c fresh parsley, minced <p>1t salt <p>1/8t black pepper <p>paprika <p>Preheat oven to 425°. Bake potatoes on cookie sheet until tender when pierced with a fork (1-1¼ hours). In a 10” pan, sauté the broccoli in 1T butter over medium heat. When it just begins to get tender, add mushrooms and sauté until lightly done. Drain if needed. <p>Cut the top off of each potato so that the insides can easily be scooped out, cutting off just the skin layer. Hold the potato with a pot holder, carefully scoop out insides and put into a medium-sized bowl. Mash with remaining 2T butter. Lower oven temperature to 400°. Add scallions, sautéed vegetables, sour cream, cheese, parsle, salt, and pepper to mashed potatoes and mix well. Fill potato shells with this mixture. Sprinkle top of each potato with paprika. Yes, they will be overflowing with filling…and delicious! Bake 15 minutes more, and serve! <p>Yield = 4-6 (including extra filling that will remain) Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-90812755849617062962011-02-22T17:29:00.000-08:002011-02-22T17:30:10.504-08:00Baked Oatmeal…oh…my…goodness!<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_MZQDoTpHr64/TWRhTe6XUNI/AAAAAAAAAHk/68ZtsDOUSEk/s1600-h/stocking1%20337%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="stocking1 337" border="0" alt="stocking1 337" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_MZQDoTpHr64/TWRhTxO6tMI/AAAAAAAAAHo/_niw4CgQ0Hw/stocking1%20337_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="191" height="228"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_MZQDoTpHr64/TWRhUdzqesI/AAAAAAAAAHs/hEk3Os7TNDk/s1600-h/stocking1%20334%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="stocking1 334" border="0" alt="stocking1 334" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_MZQDoTpHr64/TWRhUi9VB_I/AAAAAAAAAHw/pCM4dRhdffA/stocking1%20334_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="190" height="227"></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Century Gothic">Approximately ten years ago, I traveled to Colorado Springs to take a position as the children’s zoo coordinator at the <a href="http://www.cmzoo.org/" target="_blank">Cheyenne Mountain Zoo</a>. However, this entry is not intended to reminisce about my thrilling animal encounters (which I am always happy to share with my third graders…ex: the time I was quilled by a porcupine or bottle-fed baby mountain lions) but specifically related to recreating a tasty treat I first sampled at the bed and breakfast while visiting for the first time. It is now the <a href="http://www.summithouseinn.com/about-us.htm" target="_blank">Summit House</a>, but was under different ownership at the time. The point is, this delightful, sweet, and hearty breakfast set me up for success as I endured the hike up the mountain for my tour and interview. My recipe was loosely interpreted on one found at the <a href="http://www.quakeroats.com/cooking-and-recipes/content/recipes/recipe-detail.aspx?recipeId=580" target="_blank">Quaker Oats website</a>, but I added apples, currants, walnuts, and a bit of cinnamon to the mixture. If you’re looking for an alternative to pancakes or peanut-butter toast, this easy recipe should make its way to your table…pronto!</font></p> Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2223753262001750947.post-72195451277724138662011-02-13T06:33:00.000-08:002011-03-30T07:49:27.122-07:00Fro-Yo & LARP!<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:dc911d45-4efb-457d-8eea-0ece65d20ede" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:410px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!235&type=5&authkey=YBug*uSLL*Y%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_MZQDoTpHr64/TZNAe8wDgtI/AAAAAAAAAII/vIYthNEmLdM/album%5B19%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:410px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:410px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!235&type=5&authkey=YBug*uSLL*Y%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:410px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Fro-Yo & LARP!</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!235&type=5&authkey=YBug*uSLL*Y%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://cid-bb3dc76213c1498d.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=downloadphotos&resid=BB3DC76213C1498D!235&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=YBug*uSLL*Y%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>Lord v. serf, patrician v, plebeian, ice cream v. frozen yogurt, pirate girl with tail v. man with shield like a giant piece of toast…oppressor v. oppressed? We meet up with our fabulous friends, the Harmon family, at Morley Field to feast on our frozen yogurt creations from <em><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/tutti-frutti-frozen-yogurt-san-diego" target="_blank">Tutti Frutti</a></em> (Hillcrest) while observing a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqc3XUKNBIs&feature=related" target="_blank">LARP</a> battle. These are the very same folks Sam was required to best during his Amazing Race birthday scavenger hunt<em>. </em>I must say, it is a lot harder than it looks!</p> <p>This entry is posted in celebration of the aforementioned yogurt-haven, <em><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/tutti-frutti-frozen-yogurt-san-diego" target="_blank">Tutti Frutti</a></em>. Nestled on a corner of Park Blvd. in Hillcrest, the décor includes infamous 80s records, embarrassing personal photos of the 80s and 90s, including mall bangs and prom! I’ve never seen a toppings selection like theirs. You know, you can tell quite a bit about a person from her/his assembly of a fro-yo concoction…</p> Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14221174709981806459noreply@blogger.com0