When a recipe tells you to watch nuts closely as you’re toasting them, they’re not kidding!
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When a recipe tells you to watch nuts closely as you’re toasting them, they’re not kidding!
Category: Misc
Alton Brown’s Fromage Fort
This, my friends, is absolutely ingenious and, although I haven’t made it yet, the online reviews are overwhelmingly positive. I will be making this soon (I ALWAYS have little leftover bits and pieces of different cheeses), but I had to share with all of you first, in case you’re not an Alton fan (or, like, … Continue reading “Alton Brown’s Fromage Fort”
This, my friends, is absolutely ingenious and, although I haven’t made it yet, the online reviews are overwhelmingly positive. I will be making this soon (I ALWAYS have little leftover bits and pieces of different cheeses), but I had to share with all of you first, in case you’re not an Alton fan (or, like, live in Korea, or something) or in case you missed this episode.
Gingerbread Houses, 2008 version
Gingerbread house that the girl cousins decorated Girl Cousin K, Boy Cousin J, Boy Cousin C, Girl Cousin A, Boy, Girl The boy cousins’ gingerbread house We make these every year and were very happy to have extra cousins on hand to help decorate this year. We let them beautify the dining room until after … Continue reading “Gingerbread Houses, 2008 version”
Gingerbread house that the girl cousins decorated
Girl Cousin K, Boy Cousin J, Boy Cousin C, Girl Cousin A, Boy, Girl
The boy cousins’ gingerbread house
We make these every year and were very happy to have extra cousins on hand to help decorate this year. We let them beautify the dining room until after New Year’s and then we put them outside on the deck for the raccoons and possums and squirrels to enjoy (and did they ever!).
4th Birthday BATMAN CAKE!!!
I had a blast making this cake for my little 4-year old cousin, M. I think he liked it, too!
I had a blast making this cake for my little 4-year old cousin, M. I think he liked it, too!
Buttered Rye Toast and Orange Supremes
Cara Cara orange supremes In my absence from this blog, I’ve also been developing what might be an unhealthy obsession with buttered rye toast (seriously, I could have that for breakfast EVERY DAY) and making orange supremes (perfect little citrus sections, free from pith and membrane). They’re just so much fun to cut up and … Continue reading “Buttered Rye Toast and Orange Supremes”
Cara Cara orange supremes
In my absence from this blog, I’ve also been developing what might be an unhealthy obsession with buttered rye toast (seriously, I could have that for breakfast EVERY DAY) and making orange supremes (perfect little citrus sections, free from pith and membrane). They’re just so much fun to cut up and the kids are having a hard time these days (because of their braces) eating orange pulp from the rind, so these are perfect. They are BEAUTIFUL in a salad. A word of warning: if you serve these to your children, they may not ever eat citrus any other way.
Also, the word “supreme” is supposed to have a little caret symbol (like a small upside down “v”) over the first “e”, but I can’t figure out how to make my keyboard do that! FYI – it is pronounced as if it rhymes with “them”, not like “cream.”
Here’s a video so that you can learn how:
http://www.expertvillage.com/video/16535_orange-supreme.htm
Slow Cooker Chipotle-Lime Chicken Thighs
I recently spotted this recipe on Food Network’s home page while I was searching for something else. We had a busy day and I hadn’t used the Crock Pot in a long time, so I thought it was worth a shot. The verdict? No. Just no. I didn’t even take a photo. Stay away. Very … Continue reading “Slow Cooker Chipotle-Lime Chicken Thighs”
I recently spotted this recipe on Food Network’s home page while I was searching for something else. We had a busy day and I hadn’t used the Crock Pot in a long time, so I thought it was worth a shot. The verdict? No. Just no. I didn’t even take a photo. Stay away. Very far away. It wasn’t terrible, but it was just weird, and the payoff wasn’t nearly worth the amount of effort for this dish. I don’t recommend it AT ALL.
Girl and a buddy playing a piano duet
Grilled Short Ribs sandwich
Any leftovers at our house always seem to wind up in a frittata or a grilled sandwich. Today, I made these for lunch out of our leftover short ribs (plus some muenster cheese), served with the remainder of the fattoush salad from last night.
Any leftovers at our house always seem to wind up in a frittata or a grilled sandwich. Today, I made these for lunch out of our leftover short ribs (plus some muenster cheese), served with the remainder of the fattoush salad from last night.
Salmon with Lentils and Mustard-Herb Butter
Salmon with Lentils and Mustard-Herb Butter I don’t normally cook a lot of seafood, because Girl hates it and threatens to run away from home, but Boy loves it, so every once in a while I brave the wrath and serve it, anyway. It’s kinda fun to see her wrinkle her nose and gag at … Continue reading “Salmon with Lentils and Mustard-Herb Butter”
Salmon with Lentils and Mustard-Herb Butter
I don’t normally cook a lot of seafood, because Girl hates it and threatens to run away from home, but Boy loves it, so every once in a while I brave the wrath and serve it, anyway. It’s kinda fun to see her wrinkle her nose and gag at the dinner table.
Boy was on a field trip in Dallas all day today (seeing the King Tut exhibit), so I wanted to make a special dinner for him upon his return and this one looked like it fit the bill. I wasn’t sure how the lentils would go over, since I’ve only made them once before.
But….WOW, was this yummy!!! It was much easier to actually execute than the recipe made it sound. Once I actually started cooking it, it was VERY simple. Sauteeing the fish in butter gave it a lovely, savory browned crust and wonderful flavor. I was afraid that the leek flavor would be too strong (it has a LOT of leeks in it), but the kids both loved it. A couple of other epicurious readers recommended sauteeing the fish in olive oil, to cut the butter content (why would you want to do such a thing???), but another reviewer recommended added a little pre-cooked, crumbled bacon to the lentils, to add even more sumptuous flavor. I, myself, never pass up an opportunity to monter au beurre or throw in some bacon, so I may adapt a bit when I make this again.
I really can’t recommend this dish highly enough. If your kids are a little adventuresome, they’ll love this, but it’s also “fancy” enough to impress at a dinner party. Would have been sublime with a better wine choice, but we drank what we had on hand, which was OK. If you like the idea of salmon and lentils, but want some other options, these two recipes look great, too:
An open letter to my future daughter-in-law
I am raising for you a kind young man, without a mean bone in his body. He is handsome and funny and talented and smart. I’m sure that you will love him forever and be very happy, but I must apologize. I have failed you. I have tried to combat a habit that will bring … Continue reading “An open letter to my future daughter-in-law”
I am raising for you a kind young man, without a mean bone in his body. He is handsome and funny and talented and smart. I’m sure that you will love him forever and be very happy, but I must apologize. I have failed you. I have tried to combat a habit that will bring you many hours of frustration, I’m sure, but he is just too strong and I now must finally admit defeat.
My only hope is that you are stronger-willed than I am and someday you will be able to successfully train YOUR children to turn their socks right-side-out before putting them in the dirty clothes hamper.
Love,
Your future mother-in-law