Growing up, zucchini was one of those foods that fell in the “yucky green vegetable” category. Had these appeared before me at age 5, I might have reconsidered my feelings on zucchini.
The herbed cheesy filling compliments the sweetness of the baked zucchini. But be careful not to over cook these boats, or they’ll sink under the weight of of their creamy filling. Continue reading
If you’re on the fence about goat cheese, I ask you to hold your judgement until after you try this sandwich. I used to belong to the camp that feels goat cheese is a smelly, unappetizing cheese that one asks to be held off your salad or entrée.
My mind has been entirely changed by two things: first, an amazing tapas restaurant called 4 Sisters Tapas and Wine Bar in La Crosse, WI (of all places…) where I had my first true experience with plain goat cheese, and this sandwich which has made it a staple item in my fridge forever.
Goat cheese is not the mildest of cheese, I will give you that, and taken on its own, it can be a bit overbearing, but with the sweetness of the fig and honey in this sandwich, and the gooey, cream-cheese-like texture it takes on when grilled, this sandwich is a great option for a quick dinner, or a filling breakfast.
So I ask, my darling readers, that you set aside your preconceived ideas about goat cheese until you try it in the sandwich I have been obsessively eating for breakfast for the past week. Continue reading
Happy New Year!
As we dive into 2012, which is already promising to be a succulent and satisfying year for me, I find myself wanting a break from all the sugar-frosted sweet things I’ve been consuming and jumping on the bandwagon with all those who have a new year’s resolution to eat healthier.
How long this will last remains to be seen, but I have always been an advocate for the fact that healthy food is also delicious food, and despite what Paula Dean may have to say, you do not, in fact, need to use that entire stick of butter to create a tasty meal in your own home.
With the holiday ending, I’ve also found myself swimming in leftovers. The half-carved rotisserie chicken I used to make BBQ chicken pizza, the veggies left over from the veggies and dip platter, and the puff pastry sheet I didn’t use when I made (and subsequently parked myself in front of) baked brie.
Since moving into my very first apartment, I am determined to be all grown up and economical, so I sat and pondered what the heck I could make that would use up such a random assortment of leftover ingredients. Continue reading
Merry Christmas Eve readers!
I hope you’re all curled up in front of a corny Christmas special with your loved ones while the smell of roasted turkey or ham wafts through the room! As my special Christmas gift to you, I would like to add to that happy picture the plate of freshly frosted Christmas cookies sitting next to you.
This cookie recipe is my favorite for Christmas cookies, really it’s the only one I ever make during the holidays, and my family usually ends up making a triple batch because they disappear so quickly! This is a really special recipe for me, it’s one of those things that brings me right back to when I was five and eagerly waiting for Santa to come. For this version, I used royal icing and sanding sugar to decorate these, but a jar of frosting and a little food coloring work just as well! Continue reading
I bet you all thought I had fallen off the face of the earth. Or perhaps had taken a vacation to the far reaches of the North Pole and was without cooking utensils and a camera.
What I’ve really been up to is something far more life-risking and all-consuming.
I’ve been moving into my new apartment.
It’s been all building Ikea furniture, unpacking boxes, washing dishes, triple runs to Target on the same day to get that other thing I forgot, and trying to figure out how the heck I more accurately adjust the temperature on my gas stove (I’ve always had an electric) so I don’t burn the cream sauce for the past 3 weeks.
But now, my faithful readers, now, I can finally begin to post again. I officially held my housewarming party this weekend, forcing me to unpack the last remnants of the boxed items and find a home for them, and now, I suddenly find myself free at last to bring you more deliciousness. Continue reading
For all you turkey-for-Christmas-dinner people out there, I have a new method for you to try.
It’s called, the upside down turkey, and it’s a juicy one.
My aunt has sworn by this trick for years, and I’ve always thought it was a little silly until I finally gave in and tried it. This was possibly one of the juiciest birds we’ve had at a Thanksgiving dinner! The hardest part of the whole thing is figuring out where to stick your meat thermometer. Continue reading
It’s been too long! So much radio silence! Where have I been? What on earth have I been doing? Baking is a safe assumption here, but I’ve been up to something even more exciting (well…you know) than baking and I’ve got some big news to share.
I’m moving! That’s right, it’s time for me to get my very own first big girl apartment. As of Thursday I will officially be a resident of St. Paul, MN. Hello urban wonderland! So stick with me, my posts might be a bit on the sparse side as I navigate moving into a new place, buying everything from furniture to glasses to toilet paper, and getting internet in my apartment.
So, as a peace offering, I present to you the most delicious and decorative pie I could muster! Cranberry is a must-have for me this time of year, so wonderfully tart and perfect to mix with sweeter fruits. I’ll even include a how-to so you can master the leaf crust on your own! Far easier than it seems, it will blow your guests away if you’re looking for a show stopping exclamation point to a family gathering.
Martha Stewart, you really worked it. Sometimes I am put off by your recipes, not having white truffle oil, freshly ground nutmeg, or a cornish game hen on hand, but these pecan pie bars are amazing. I’d say hats off to you, but it just snowed here, and I’d really like to keep mine on.
If you’re heading to a Thanksgiving gathering this week and you have no idea what to bring, take these bars. They are wonderfully portable, and taste just like pecan pie! Not only do they taste fantastic, but they’re very easy to make, perfect for when you suddenly realize Thanksgiving is 4 days away and you haven’t done a darn thing to prepare for it yet. (Oops!) Continue reading
I call this my Thanksgiving meal for two! While at my boyfriend’s apartment this weekend, I was feeling particularly festive and decided I wanted to tackle some Thanksgiving recipes. As I sat there pondering what type of stuffing I wanted to make, it dawned on me how many leftovers I always have after Thanksgiving. So how was I going to create a Thanksgiving meal for two? Time to get creative. Continue reading
Cranberry sauce is one of my favorite Thanksgiving foods. The tang of the cranberry mixed with the sweetness of stuffing all piled on juicy sliced turkey is what it’s all about. For years I had only ever had cranberry sauce with a can, so imagine how life-chaning it was for me when I had it at a friend’s house made from scratch! I left determined to try it myself, and it was so easy! Ever since then, I have made my cranberry sauce from scratch. Here’s my favorite recipe!
Ingredients:
The Culinary Capers 
