Recipes!

I'm still cooking a lot. Experimenting, really. I just CANNOT WAIT to have natural lighting in my house! Even so, here are a few of my recent recipes.

http://www.fortheloveofcooking.net/2009/02/vegetable-tian.html

Vegetable Tian...So good!

My own version of tomato basil pasta.

This salsa was so yummy! I wish I could find what I did with the recipe. Though I do remember that if I made it again I would use: corn, black beans, red pepper, avocado, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper.

We're Trying Something New

I've tried some new recipes already this week, and I love them both!

Zucchini Boats

3 zucchini

minced garlic

olive oil

Italian bread crumbs

grape tomatoes

fresh mozzarella cheese

salt and pepper

Cut off the ends of the zucchini. Slice them in half lengthwise. Trim a tiny bit off the bottoms so that they lay flat in the baking dish.  Scoop out the seedy inside to make a boat. Place in 9x13 baking dish.

Mix olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in small container and brush over zucchinis. Slice tomatoes in half and set in the groove of the zucchinis. Sprinkle with bread crumbs.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, until zucchinis are tender. Add pieces of mozzarella on to the boats, and put under the broiler under golden and bubbly.

This new potato soup recipe is so yummy! And healthy, compared to the others! 

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 yellow onion diced

minced garlic

2 tsp lemon zest

2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary

(i used a bit extra of these last two-favorites!)

4 c vegetable broth

1 c chicken broth

6 chopped mini potatoes

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 c baby spinach

salt and pepper to taste

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Heat olive oil, and saute onions until translucent. Add garlic, lemon zest, and rosemary and stir. Add broth and potatoes. Bring to simmer until potatoes are soft. Add chickpeas and spinach. Heat until spinach is slightly wilted. Add salt and pepper and lemon juice.

We finally put up the lamp i bough on sale! Its so bright, and kind of reminds me of a candle. Its a "peace" lamp, literally. Its that cool.

And to hopefully help me sleep, we moved the bed away from the wall and put up the teal velvet curtain! I love how it has already given the bedroom a whole new look and feel.

Puppy Treats!

I'll admit it, Samson is one spoiled puppy. That said, I made him some treats today! 

Someone needs a haircut...

For tonight's dinner I tried a recipe sent to me by my sister. Then i adapted, because I can't follow a recipe.

Tortellini Tomato Soup

olive oil

green onion, chopped

minced garlic

14 oz crushed tomatoes

1 quart chicken broth

1 pack tortellini

2 c fresh baby spinach

1/4 tsp basil

pinch of cayenne pepper

salt and pepper to taste 

parmesan cheese

Heat the olive oil in a large pan. Cook onions, add garlic until fragrant. Add chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Add tortellini, cook until almost tender. Add spinach while tortellini finishes cooking. Add basil and cayenne. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with sprinkling of parmesan cheese.

And somehow I have acquired a collection of green glass bottles...

At Home

Whilst I spend my evenings with Samson, I have been trying new recipes.

Last night's dinner:

Cheese tortellini with roasted walnuts.

1 pack cheese tortellini

1/3 c olive oil

garlic

1 c walnuts, roughly chopped

2 tsp lemon juice

salt and pepper

1/2 c parsley, chopped

parmesan cheese

Cook tortellini. Reserve 3 Tbsp pasta water. Heat oil in medium skillet, add garlic and walnuts. Cook, stirring, until nuts are lightly toasted and fragrant. Stir in the lemon juice, pasta water, salt and pepper, and parsley. Add tortellini, toss to coat. Sprinkle with parmesan.

Left over bananas make muffins!

This recipe was just kind of made up and I don't really remember the steps I used. The recipe I began to follow was not correct. It was funny.

Tonight's dinner: Black Bean Burrito Bake

1 chile in adobo sauce

3/4 c plain greek yogurt

1 can black beans drained and rinsed

4 tortillas

1 c frozen corn, thawed

1 cup salsa

shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Chop chile and mix with yogurt. Let stand 5 minutes. Divide beans, and put 1/2 in food processor to chop. Add all beans and corn to yogurt. Scoop 1/2 c yogurt mix into tortilla and roll. Place in glass baking dish. Cover with salsa and top with cheese. Bake 20 mins. 

Curried Couscous

I felt like trying something new. 

1 3/4 c water

1 c uncooked couscous

1 1/2 c broccoli florets

1/3 c shredded carrot

1/4 c raisins

1/4 roasted cashews, chopped

2 Tbsp white vinegar

1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp curry powder

3/4 tsp salt

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

bring water to boil. gradually stir in couscous. remove from heat, cover and let stand 5 mins. fluff with a fork. steam broccoli. combine all ingredients. 

Holidays and Cooking

cinnamon ornaments

gingerbread

first christmas tree

tonight's dinner:

Saute zucchini, squash and little tomatoes in olive oil with salt, pepper, garlic, and some herbs. I used rosemary, thyme, and basil to mimic the flavors in the dressing.

Add to cooked penne.

Mix in dressing. I didn't use all of the dressing. We like light flavor.

Dressing: 1/2 c olive oil, 1/4 c apple cider vinegar, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1Tbsp dijon mustard, minced garlic, 1/4 tsp dried thyme, 1/4 tsp dried basil, 1/4 tsp rosemary, pinch of salt

I made granola bars!! And they're yum!

3/4 c crunchy peanut butter, 1/4 c honey, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 c old fashioned oats, 3 Tbsp flaxseed, 1/2 c semisweet chocolate chips

Combine peanut butter, honey, and vanilla in saucepan over low heat until melted. Let cool slightly.

Combine oats, flaxseed,  and chocolate chips. Add peanut butter mixture and mix well. Press into lightly greased, foil-lined 8x8 pan. Refrigerate 4 hours before slicing.

Chocolate Earl Gray Cake

Recipe from Real Simple

Ingredients

• 6 Earl Grey tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose Earl Grey
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups granulated sugar 
• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
• confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Coat an 8-cup fluted tube pan with cooking spray. (i used a regular 9" round - but had enough batter for 2)
2. Brew the tea in the water 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags or strain the leaves and set the brewed tea aside.
3. Using a mixer, beat the butter, eggs, and granulated sugar until fluffy. Blend in the chocolate. Beat in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, yogurt, and brewed tea. Pour into pan.
4. Bake 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out with a few crumbs attached. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes. Turn out of pan and cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

The Latest

 mom working on the doily ball

oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookies Yum

my pretty friend Megan

countdown banner :)

first of the little yellow tomatoes in the garden