In the mood to bake...

Hello, hello!

I have recently come to the conclusion that no one really likes reading about what I like to make and eat...but I am going to post about it anyway. I usually peruse Pinterest while eating lunch at my desk (ugh, I know..so pathetic!) at work. Today, I found this recipe: snickerdoodle blondies (thanks, Shannon! A little cinnamon and sugar never hurt anyone, right? I didn't think so!

They are in the oven now and smell great. I made a few tweaks in the recipe and doubled the recipe I found (I can't just bring a few brownies into work..that would be cruel!).

the sweet:
Snickerdoodle Blondies

oops...I used Jeremy's special butter since I ran out of my normal baking butter

-1 cup butter, softened
-3/4 cup granulated sugar
-1/4 cup light brown sugar
-2 large rooms, room temp
-2 tsp vanilla extract (I could drink this stuff [I suppose that makes me an alcoholic since it is made of bourbon? I kid, I kid...])
-1/2 tsp salt
-2 cups APF
-1 tsp cinnamon
-1 tsp cinnamon and about 1 tbsp sugar (I think you could use brown or granulated; I used the latter.) for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream softened butter and sugars together until fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs, one by one. Add in salt and flour in half-cup increments. Mix well and spread in greased pan--I used an 8x13. Sadly, this is the only real baking dish I have. Can't wait to register, that's all I have to say! Bake for about 30 minutes until the edges are lightly brownies. Cool and cut. Enjoy!

About 36 minutes pass...and the bars have risen significantly. The middle is still a little jiggly and the edges aren't browned. Hmmm, weird! Perhaps time to actually invest in a real baking pan that is a normal--bigger--size.

Apparently they are good because I went into the kitchen to find this (NOT my doing!)

On a semi-random note, I am super into drinking iced green tea these days. SO YUM. I like steeping it with fresh ginger--I just peel and slice about 10 pieces and leave them in the tea until I am ready to drink it--and lemon. I also toyed around with fresh orange juice--also delish. I think it would be good with a splash of fresh fruit juice or a touch of honey.

Happy eating and drinking, all!

xo,
C

oops, sorry!

Hellllo and Happy July 4th!

So, I kind of forgot about this blog, mainly because I haven't tried too many new baking recipes as of late--things have been busy and it is just too darn hot! It is hot again today, so no baking. We will, however, be grilling!

First of all, cheers!

a little prosecco and Old Speckled Hen

the savory:
Spice-rubbed rib eye with Bar Americain (a la Bobby Flay) steak sauce
-1/4 cup ancho chili powder
-1 1/2 tbsp paprika
-2 tsp oregano
-2 tsp coriander
-2 tsp dry mustard
-1 tbsp + 2 tsp salt
-2 tsp black pepper
-1 tsp cumin
-2 tbsp oil (recipe calls for canola, but I wouldn't take it with a 10-foot pole. Used EVOO instead)

 Spice rub

Mmmmmm, meat :)

-rib-eye steaks

-Bar Americain sauce

Whisk together spices (only 2 tsp of salt--the rest is to go directly on the steaks). Brush steaks with EVOO. Rub spice mixture on steaks (which have been out for about 20 minutes, coming to room temperature). On high, grill spice-side down for 3-4 minutes until slightly charred and then flip over, cooking for 5-6 minutes for a medium-rare steak.

Bar Americain sauce
-1/4 cup Dijon mustard
-1/4 cup whole-grain mustard
-1/4 cup molasses
-2 tbsp ketchup
-2 tbsp honey
-1 tbsp horseradish, prepared and drained
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/4 tsp black pepper

Whisk together. Cover and chill for at least a half hour.

The other stuff:
Grilled corn
Grilled onion, zucchini and summer squash

The final product:

The sweet:

And (this was a staple this vacation...):

I usually make my own whipped cream and hot fudge sauce, but I am on vacation!

Someone clearly got way more hot fudge (me)!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe July 4th!

xo,
C

It's a wine and cheese kind of day

Nothing more lovely than starting off the work week with a unseasonably cold and rainy weather. It's a comfort food kind of day.

Naturally, I decide to spend the rest of my waking hours in the kitchen....This is what I made!

the savory (snack):
So...I decided to make my own Cheese-Its. Mine are gluten-free and use coconut flour instead of regular APF. You could definitely also use half coconut flour and a nut flour, which would add a nice flavor to the crackers.

They just came out of the oven...and they are great! They certainly aren't 100% like a real Cheez-It, but they will do! (Okay, they are really like regular crackers...but still...crunchy and cheesy = win)

They are crunchy, cheesy and will be perfect for dipping or all by their lonesome (I already ate a ton...and I'm not hungry for dinner). I would highly recommend them, or some kind of variation, to anyone.

--1/2 cup coconut flour
--1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
--1/4 cup parmesan cheese
--1 egg
--pinch of salt
--2 tbsp butter

Mix everything in food processor until everything is incorporated. Spread mixture onto lined cookie sheet. Place another piece of parchment paper on top of mixture and roll out until thin. Bake at 400 degrees for ten minutes. After ten minutes, cut crackers into "squares" (as you can see, I failed at that) and bake for another 5-10 minutes until golden brown. ENJOY!

Now onto "real" food--dinner!

the savory:
BBQ chicken thighs

Bone in. Skin on. That is the only way to eat chicken. Salt and pepper both sides. Sear chicken in medium-deep pan until golden brown and skin is golden brown. Since it is raining tonight, I decided to bake the chicken in the oven. This recipe (as are many) is waaaay better on the grill. Put the chicken, skin side down, on an oven-safe cooling rack (this is a must-have...especially for BACON!) and brush with...

The sauce:
Some variation of apple cider vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and spices. Tonight, I used apple cider vinegar and ketchup as the base, a few dabs of Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke, crushed red pepper, a dab of yellow mustard, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce until thick.

...bake for a few minutes. Flip over and brush the rest of the sauce on the skin side. Bake for a few more minutes until optimally caramelized. Yum!

the sweet:
Fleur de sel chocolate chip cookies

I think I got this recept from Brittany? In any case, I am all about salted anything. Especially caramel...which will be highlighted in a future post.

--2 sticks butter, at room temp
--1 cup dark brown sugar
--.5 cup white sugar
--1 large egg
--1 tsp bourbon vanilla extract
--1/2 tsp sea salt
--1 1/4 tsp baking soda
--2 3/4 cup APF
--12 oz. chocolate chips
--fleur de sel for sprinkling

Look at how beautiful this fleur de sel is!

Beat together wet ingredients--butter, both sugars; add in egg and vanilla extract and beat until thoroughly combined. Add in salt and baking soda, then flour in a few batches (as to avoid a flour cloud).  Fold in chocolate chips. Bake on 375 degrees for 8 minutes, at which point sprinkle each cookie with fleur de sel (can buy this at specialty food stores). Bake the cookies for a few more minutes, let cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheets and then transfer to a cooling rack.

Happy eating.

xo,
C

Feels like Monday, but it's Tuesday!

Hello!

I hope everyone had a great long Memorial Day weekend, full of fun, sun, BBQs, beach and beer. 

I also hope everyone took a moment to think about those who have served, are serving and will serve for our country.

~~

the sweet

In true spring/summer spirit, I decided to toy around with rhubarb today. I've never actually cooked or baked with it, but have eaten it plenty of times. All I knew was that it requires tons of sugar and cooking down...or so I thought!

It is the Tuesday after Memorial Day weekend and I clearly did not work 100% of the work day (who does, anyway?!). While browsing Pinterest, I came across this recipe and made it my own (kinda).

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars

Make the streusel top first. Whisk sugar into butter. Incorporate flour with a fork until crumbly. Put in fridge.

-6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

-1 cup APF

-.5 cup packed light brown sugar

-.25 tsp salt

Then make the cake!

-.5 lb rhubarb (I bought almost a pound and used most of it. I love the tartness. I will probably use closed to a whole pound next time.)

-5 medium strawberries, quartered (I couldn't resist coupling the strawberries with rhubarb. I cut out .25 cup sugar because of this addition.)

-1 tbsp light-brown sugar

-1 cup APF

-.5 tsp baking powder

.25 tsp salt

-.5 cup (one stick) unsalted butter, room temp

-.75 cup confectioners' sugar

-2 large eggs at room temperature

-splash or two (my own measurement :). I add as much vanilla as I feel like)

1.) Wash rhubarb, remove ends and cut into .5 inch pieces. Mix with strawberry pieces, tablespoon of light brown sugar and a quarter cup of APF. 

2.) In a separate bowl, mix the butter and .75 cups (or, if you'd rather, 1 full cup) of confectioners' sugar until nice 'n fluffy. Add in the eggs, one at a time, then vanilla. Incorporate dry mixture (flour, slt, baking powder) in a few batches. Fold in fruit.

3.) (You should really do this first, but I don't know how to move a picture to a different location, so this will do. You should always read a recipe all the way through, anyway!)

Pour batter into greased and floured parchment paper (parchment paper, along with silicone baking mats, are my savior). 

4.) Generously sprinkle the crumble over the batter.

5.) Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes until golden brown.

6.) Let cool for a few minutes. Move to cooling rack and remove parchment paper.

7.) Let cool completely before cutting...and ENJOY!

the savory

Seasoned grilled skirt steak (the picture doesn't do it justice, but I got a great crust on the beef)

Grilled corn tortillas

Grilled green and red peppers, onion

Sour cream

Cheese

Guacamole

And now I am exhausted.

Are you trying a new recipe this week?

xo,
C

Hey look, it's "So What!" Wednesday!

So, I guess I am fully jumping on the blogging band wagon at this point and am going to write about things other than food (ha, isn't that hard to believe!). How cliche--I am sitting in a Starbucks and blogging. I feel so...1990s? Emo? Something?

Anyhoo...

I am totally copying Brittany and starting to do some themed posts, including So What! Wednesday. So today, I am saying "so what!" to:

--Just eating a terrible meal at a terrible restaurant. Their breakfast is usually okay, but this was awful. My rice was so overcooked that it was a blob of sticky mess. The salmon was almost fried, though the menu claimed otherwise. It cost $30. That is the Kate Spade phone cover I want. I may just buy it anyway...

--Coming home from work and convincing myself that there was a "bad guy" in my house. I even looked in the closets. I am such a chicken.

--I saw a mouse in our house yesterday. Our house isn't dirty, I swear. Mice can be cute, but not loose all up in my stuff.

--I bought European yogurt by mistake. I thought it was similar, if not the same, as Greek yogurt. Boyyy, was I wrong. I also bought two tubs of it. It is so thin and watery. So yuck.

--I had my first weird wedding dream. Please believe me when I say I truly am not stressed out about planing our wedding or getting married. In my dream last night, my wedding day was a super strange. My dress was way too long and I apparently forgot to have it altered. It was also almost yellow. Ew. The wedding was across the street from our fire house home (hah, what?!) and we had to cross the street through a crazy parade to get to the wedding venue. Then I woke up and it was Wednesday and not Friday.

--I really want a pet. I am allergic to pretty much all animals. We aren't allowed to have pets in our house. Meh?!

--Memorial Day weekend is finally coming up! I don't have any concrete plans yet. I am okay with this!

--I have already worked out twice this week. Small feat, I am aware.
             --jumping jacks, six sets of twenty
             --mobility stretches, two sets of five
             --lunges, two sets of five (on each side)
             --mobility stretches/lunge circuit, two sets of ten
             --push-ups, five sets of maximum reps
             --burpees, fifty timed (these are brutal; I started out at about 9:45, then went to 6:something, just                  over 5 minutes and now I am under 5 minutes)
             --hip stretches

What is everyone else saying "So what!" to this week?!

xo,
C

Pizza!

Happppy Thursday, everyone!

I obviously woke up this morning wanting pizza (and crab rangoon...it is a traditional Thursday craving). Instead of succumbing to eating greasy take-out pizza, I decided to make my own...my own grain-free pizza! The crust is mostly made of vegetables.

The savory:
Veggie Crust Pizza
-one smallish eggplant
-half a head of cauliflower
-.5 cups of whatever kind of nut flour you want (I use hazelnut since I am allergic to almonds. You can't taste the hazelnut at all)
-1 whole egg, 1 egg white
-3/4 cup freshly-grated parmesan cheese
-a few turns of the pepper mill

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut eggplant (you don't even have to peel) and cauliflower into smaller pieces and put in food processor--pulse a few times until both veggies are in fine pieces. Put in a dish towel (not a white one!) and squeeze the heck out of it until most of the liquid is drained from the eggplant and cauliflower (It will probably yield a cup or two). Separate one egg white and whisk in with the whole egg. Incorporate all ingredients in a large bowl.

Smoosh the "dough" out on a greased (use EVOO) piece of parchment paper until it is about a half a centimeter thick (You do not want it to be too thick). Gently place on your heated pizza stone (or just a regular [cold] cookie sheet) and put in the heated oven for about ten minutes--or until the crust starts to look a bit brown. Take out, gently flip over and repeat, this time for only a few moments. You want to make sure both sides are crisp!

Put on whatever pizza sauce and toppings you desire! I made a pizza sauce with hot italian sausage and sautéed onions. And I put on lots and lots of mozzarella cheese!

The sweet:
Store-bought cookies from Whole Foods. I am so embarrassed...but I am too tired to bake more tonight.

You should all try to make this grain-free pizza--it is great! If you do end up making it, let me know how it goes!

xo,
C

Lime

We're almost there...it is almost Friday! The weather has been abismal at best this week. So, once the sun decided to at least attempt to make an appearance, I immediately wanted to bake something bright and summery. LIME. I found a great recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything via-Pinterest. I usually don't really like chewy cookies, but these are probably the best I've had in a long time. The cookie itself is crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside because of the toasted coconut.

I chose to use a little more lime than what the recipe called for. I am embarrassed to say that I forgot to add vanilla (I was way too caught up in the limes), but the cookies turned out okay anyway.

I am interested to see how this cookie would hold up GF. My guess is not too well, but I would love to try!

The sweet:
Chewy Coconut Lime Sugar Cookies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
-2 3/4 cups APF
-1 tsp baking soda
-.5 tsp baking powder
-.5 tsp salt
-1 cup butter, softened
-1.5 cups sugar (I don't think I would use anything but white sugar for this recipe)
-1 egg
-.5 tsp vanilla extract
-zest of two limes (The original recipe calls for zest of one large lime)
-3 tbsp lime juice (I used almost a half cup of lime juice and still want the cookies to be limier!)
-.5 unsweetened toasted coconut
-sugar for rolling cookies

Toast unsweetened coconut in oven for about 5 minutes, until lightly brown (Be careful...they will burn quickly). Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in medium bowl. Beat together softened butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla, lime juice/zest. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients and toasted coconut. Roll rounded teaspoons (you probably don't want to get any bigger than that) of dough into balls and roll into sugar. Place on lined cookie sheets about 1.5 inches apart so they don't run into each other (ahhh, cookie collision!). Baking 8-10 minutes and be sure to let stand for a few minutes before transferring to the cooling rack. ENJOY! These cookies are pretty fabulous.

The savory:
You know what today is--Thursday. That means I woke up expecting pizza or Chinese food (I literally woke up thinking this...I like to plan out my meals, what can I say!). We are getting neither, yay! We also aren't cooking...but it is one step in the right direction! Swordfish kabobs from a nearby Greek restaurant. (Update: it wasn't good. Sticking to pizza and Chinese)

Time to eat some of the cookies that are fresh from the oven! Yum.

xo,
C