tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75586262004954052012024-03-20T18:01:35.447-04:00MMMMMM FOOD.....Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-37852379129967644172010-09-22T19:00:00.000-04:002010-09-22T19:00:03.234-04:00WAKE UP! BreakfastMy breakfast tomorrow morning compliments of the sample of Ellie's Krieger's cookbook "So Easy:Luscious Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Week" that I just downloaded onto my new Kindle. :)<br /><br />Mocha Java Smoothie<br /><br />1 Tbl sugar<br />2 tsp instant espresso<br />2 tsp cocoa powder<br />1/4 c boiling water<br />2 c milk<br />2 frozen bananas<br />1 c ice<br /><br />Combine sugar, espresso, water and cocoa powder.<br />Combine coffee mixture with everything else and blend in blender on high until smooth.<br /><br />I bet this will wake me up! :)Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-46309722041431785892010-08-18T19:00:00.000-04:002010-08-18T19:00:00.254-04:00An applicance-heavy mealWe had tacos last night, and I couldn't believe how many kitchen appliances/gadgets I used to make one meal.<br /><br />Pressure Cooker<br />I wanted to make refried beans. The recipe I use calls for 9 cups of pinto beans and takes about 3 hours. I didn't get home until 6:30pm. I couldn't wait 3 hours. In the pressure cooker, it took about 1 hour. I suppose this also includes the use of my stove, but that's a given.<br /><br />Hand Blender<br />Once the refried beans were finished cooking, I used my hand blender to create the pureed with chunks texture it needs without transferring batches to the blender...or using a potato masher (that, funny enough, I don't even own).<br /><br />Blender<br />I made Alton Brown's chili powder for use in the refried beans and to season the chopped beef. His recipe calls for chilies toasted with cumin, mixed with other spices, and powered in a blender. Also, I needed 1/8 c salt for my refried beans and only had corse sea salt on hand, so I used my blender to make my corse salt not corse.<br /><br />Food Processor<br />I made Pioneer Woman's resturant style salsa to go with the tacos. I calls for dumping things in the food process and turning it on. It's easy and awesome! I haven't bought canned salsa since I first tried this recipe....for our LOST season finale party, I think.<br /><br />I wish I could say that I used my salad spinner to wash the lettace, but I got it out of a bag....prewashed. :)<br /><br />Ice Cream Maker<br />We had raspberry, vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate chips for dessert.<br /><br />This applicance use seems to be a little much for one meal. But at least they aren't going to waste. And now I have 5 quarts of refried beans in my freezer for the next taco extraveganza (which, coincidentally, we don't have very often).<br /><br />Do you have any kitchen appliances you just can't do without? Or any you really, really want?Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-26451611157607840762010-08-16T18:30:00.000-04:002010-08-16T18:30:00.473-04:00FoodI self medicate with food. When I'm bored at work and I can't bear to work on another mindless/overwhelming/difficult project, it's hot chocolate to the rescue. When I'm having a bad day it's lunch out. When Mark is gone for the weekend or the evening, it's my favorite food that he doesn't like. It's not always unhealthy food...but it's always food.<br /><br />No wonder I can run 14 miles but can't seem to lose a single pound.Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-91089785054701951742010-06-27T19:00:00.000-04:002010-06-27T19:00:00.972-04:00Shrimp ScampiMy mother-in-law was recently diagnosed gluten intolerant. Whenever she gets down about the things she can't eat, Mark reminds her that now she's forced to eat steak and crab legs instead of some lame pasta with a few specks of crab-like substance in it. :)<br /><br />And he's right. This week I needed to make something for Mark's parents last minute. The two meals I had planned and had on hand were pizza with peppers, onions, and sausages and shrimp scampi. <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/shrimp-scampi-with-artichokes-recipe/index.html">Shrimp scampi </a>it is! :)<br /><br />The recipe I used is another from Ellie <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krieger</span>. Her recipe doesn't use any butter (olive oil instead), and it includes artichoke hearts. It's not a classic shrimp scampi, but it was really good. And my mother-in-law who LOVES butter said she didn't miss it at all. Ellie, you are a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">genius</span>.<br /><br />(Not that I have anything against butter. But, you know, recipes that include whole sticks of butter should just maybe be a special treat rather than an every-day occurance.)<br /><br />Buying this healthier food cookbook is growing on Mark (not that I need his permission). So far he's really liked everything....which is awesome cause he loves his comfort food. :)Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-25404490754670318742010-06-25T19:00:00.001-04:002010-06-28T10:39:20.081-04:00Blueberry coffee cakeI've been eating cottage cheese with canned diced peaches for breakfast as much as possible. I know, shockingly healthy. But I love it, and I look forward to it every day. The problem is that it always leaves me a little bit unsatisfied and hungry again at approximately 10:15.<br /><br />In an effort to fill the void, I tried Ellie Krieger's much healthier version of a <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/blueberry-coffee-cake-recipe/index.html">blueberry coffee cake</a>. She uses a little butter (2 Tbsp) and the same amount of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canola">canola oil </a>instead of sticks and sticks of butter and yogurt instead of sour cream. She also swaps out half of the white flour for whole wheat flour.<br /><br />I had pretty high expectations of this coffee cake since all the reviews said it was amazing and since Ellie grinned so much in the video (I haven't gotten over how annoying that grin can be. she's so....happy all the time!). And it did not disappoint. It was so good! I cut it into 16 pieces like she recommended, and one little square really does fill by breakfast void. Plus, even on day 3 (today), it is still moist. I'm not really sure how that happens without all of the fat/oil...but it happened.<br /><br />Oh! And Mark, who complains when I put whole wheat flour in anything, though it tasted great and not "healthy." :) Bonus!<br /><br />I highly recommend this coffee cake. It's part of a healthy breakfast that you can look forward to. Ellie comes through again!<br /><br />P.S. After day 3 I froze the rest of the coffee cake in individually wrapped squares. I've been eating them out of the freezer ever since. I just thaw them for 20 sec in the microwave after I get to work. They defrost very nicely.Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-3933791655678610312010-06-24T19:00:00.000-04:002010-06-24T19:00:02.337-04:00Curry Chicken SaladI've been trying Ellie <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krieger's</span> recipes this week to determine if I should buy her cookbook. If you think that kind of thorough research sounds very unlike me, you'd be right. You can thank my patient and thorough husband or my lack of desire to go to the store for the fact that I don't have it yet.<br /><br />Anyway, the first recipe I tried was her <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/curried-chicken-salad-recipe/index.html">curried chicken salad</a>, and I enjoyed it <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">immensely</span>. It does taste "lighter"...as in not as heavy...thanks to the yogurt (I'm thinking greek yogurt would make a big difference) and it had a great flavor. Even Mark really liked it (yeah, I'm ditching the lame sexy husband thing...you all know how he is). Even though I usually don't make changes to a recipe the first time I try it...or really ever...I did make 2 changes. First, I used walnuts instead of almonds because Mark doesn't prefer to eat almonds. Second, I used craisins instead of grapes because Giant Eagle seemed to be out of grapes.<br /><br />If you're like me and you totally love chicken salad but can't justify all of that mayo on a regular basis, I highly recommend that you give this recipe a try.<br /><br />Was it the best thing, or even the best chicken salad, I've ever eaten? No. But I really did like it a lot.Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-53169676138220362762010-06-15T18:30:00.000-04:002010-06-15T18:30:00.368-04:00Ice cream updateSo I tried the ice cream, and I'm back to give you the update.<br /><br /><br /><br />Sweetened condensed milk <em>does</em> make fantastic ice cream, but not the way I posted previously. If you use the previous recipe, which includes only 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup whipping cream, and 1 tsp vanilla, your ice cream will be <em>incredibly</em> rich and creamy....and <em>way </em>too sweet for us. After having tried that recipe for vanilla and mint chocolate chip with andies mints, I did a little more research. I discovered that most online recipes recommend something closer to a 3-1 or 4-1 ratio of whipping cream/milk to sweetened condensed milk. Unfortuately, the increased whipping cream/milk requires an ice cream maker, so I went down to the basement and dug mine out.<br /><br />I have now made ice cream twice with this new ratio in mind. I use a 4 cup pyrex bowl, start with the sweetened condensed milk, and then add my other ingredients...whatever whipping cream I have on hand topped off with milk or, as was the case last night, pureed stawberries. Adding 1/8 to 1/4 tsp of salt also keeps the ice cream from freezing into a solid block.<br /><br />It's still a super-easy process that doesn't require cooking or eggs. But, alas, you'll have to invest in an ice cream maker to give it a try......<br /><br />And I <em>highly</em> recommend giving it a try.Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-23573144918585434472010-06-09T18:00:00.000-04:002010-06-09T18:00:03.501-04:00Homemade powdered vegetable stockCould it really be <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/homemade-ingredients/homemade-powdered-vegetable-stock/">this</a> easy?<br /><br />Please try and let me know. :)Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-66398704380151666862010-06-04T19:30:00.001-04:002010-06-07T17:04:25.591-04:00A second new food crushMy second new food celebrity crush is <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/ellie-krieger/index.html">Ellie Krieger</a>. She's a registered dietition who specializes in nutrition and health communications, and she has a show on the foodnetwork.<br /><br />Truthfully, I haven't tried many of her recipes either, but I went through a brief spell where I was obsessed with watching her little videos online. Her approach to food seems really balanced. She doesn't use anything artificial to lower the fat and calories in her food. Rather, she uses whole-food tricks to moderate the amount of high fat/calorie ingredients like butter (moderate, not remove). She also uses whole wheat flour most of the time but includes white flour when it really is necessary. Like I said, I haven't made many of her recipes, but her online videos make me believe that she really knows what she's doing when she makes these substitutions, that she doesn't substitute when flavor/texture of the food would suffer from the substitution, and that her food tastes at least almost as great as the original.<br /><br />Ellie also does a lot of advocating for portion control....which I can't really get on board with (which is precisely why most of my college clothes don't really fit). However, cutting fat and calories and increasing the nutritional value of my food seems like a good idea even if I do continue to fill my plate....twice. ;)<br /><br />So far I've made <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/fig-and-walnut-energy-bars-recipe/index.html">both</a> of her <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/energy-bars-recipe/index.html">energy bars</a>. Excellent. I keep them in the freezer and eat one for breakfast and one for a mid afternoon snack.<br /><br />Up next....<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/rustic-apple-pie-with-dried-cherries-recipe/index.html">rustic apple pie with dried cherries </a>and <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/dark-chocolate-brownies-recipe/index.html">dark chocolate brownies</a>.<br /><br />...and maybe her cookbook. We'll see.Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-9829743460253870092010-06-01T18:11:00.000-04:002010-06-01T18:11:00.081-04:00A new food-crushI have several new food "celebrity" crushes. <br /><br />The first I'd like to share with you is Ree <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Drummond</span>, aka <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/blog/category/pioneer_woman/about_pioneer_woman/">the pioneer woman</a>. She is a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">fascinating</span> woman with a really fun, random voice. And, by all appearances, she makes really, really good food. Not pretentious food, but good, tasty food.<br /><br />I've tried two of her recipes so far. Both were fantastic.<br /><br />The first was <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/04/the-right-way-and-the-wrong-way-to-make-cinnamon-toast/">cinnamon toast</a>. Amazing. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Gooey</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">caramelized</span> and wonderful. Definitely the right way to make cinnamon toast.<br /><br />The second was <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/01/restaurant-style-salsa/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">restaurant</span> style salsa</a>. I loved this recipe. It uses canned tomatoes. It requires no chopping (the food processor does all the work), and yet it tastes fresh and bright. Ree is right, I may never buy jarred salsa again (well...I won't want to anyway). I highly recommend trying it.<br /><br />I think my next step may be buying her cookbook.<br /><br />I have to warn you though, Ree's recipes feed a crowd, and they don't really shoot for "healthy" or "low fat." Her family must get really hungry working on the ranch. :)Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-83789421823507774442010-05-27T18:00:00.001-04:002010-05-27T18:00:00.346-04:00Sweetened Condensed Milk and Homemade Ice CreamI go through these phases. Sometimes I really want to write about food and share exciting recipes with someone, anyone. Sometimes writing feels like work...especially when it involves a computer screen and a keyboard and requires uploading pictures from my camera.<br /><br />But right now I have so many recipes and ideas swimming through my head that I simply must share them....even if I'm only doing it for myself. <br /><br />So...as long as this phases lasts, I'm back.<br /><br />A while ago I read <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/dining/03milk.html">this </a>article in the New York Times about sweetened condensed milk. For some perhaps odd reason I found the article inspiring. I really like the idea of using lowly ingredients to make really, really good food. <br /><br />Take that, food snobs! (Nevermind that the idea came from the New York Times.)<br /><br />Anyway, apparently you can use it to make <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/dining/03milkrex2.html?ref=dining">homemade ice cream without a ice cream maker</a>. Even though I have an ice cream maker, I really, really want to try it. It just seems like it would be incredibly rich and creamy and not at all grainy and thin. <br /><br />What do you think? Are you up for it? It is, after all, like 90 degrees outside.Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-76421903188309967032009-11-24T18:51:00.000-05:002009-11-24T18:51:00.407-05:00When the refrigerator is nearly empty<div>We ate hot dogs last night. That's right. We bought them by request for a tailgate party this weekend (I'm pretty sure it was the first and only time I've bought hot dogs...wait...maybe there was one other time...). There was so much better food at the tailgate that we didn't even put them on the grill. When we got home, I froze three packages and left one out.</div><div></div><br /><div>I haven't been general grocery shopping in three weeks...so hot dogs were a good solution for last night's dinner. But what to make for a vegetable? Frozen? Nope. I don't have any. Carrots. Nope. Gone. The only veggies I had were 3/4 of a red cabbage, some tomatoes, and half an onion.</div><div></div><br /><div>Using some, but not all, of those ingredients and some other stuff I happened to have on hand, I made a totally awesome slaw that I highly recommend. Thanks, Rachel Ray.</div><div></div><br /><div>In a medium bowl, combine the juice of 2 limes, 1/4 c honey, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 2 tablespoons hot sauce. I know it sounds like a crazy amount of hot sauce, but I promise, it won't even be spicy. Whisk to combine. Add 1 small head red cabbage, shredded, and half of a red onion, sliced. Toss to coat. Enjoy tremendously!</div><div></div><br /><div>Again, a cell phone picture. I hope I'm getting a camera for Christmas. :(</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407798333364484018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 183px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPtGy8E8UOHsvqlYY9K6DthvH18-rkpbHwMl18S83lGSIP6dkgPJomGXOmbRFcWaHa5_pb3lJ2dOd225lnqJ7N77alMnOQ2p2iQUJy1f9EO166wUsy-p2HejwUFjEPm2Pzkvxo3sMihn7/s320/slaw.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Now...what to make tonight....<br /><div></div>Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-68157240469278929342009-11-24T18:07:00.001-05:002009-11-24T18:07:00.268-05:00The viewThe view from my office window...one of the best things about coming to work, outside of the people here. I love Columbus.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0Ug5tv4lKsf9DVy9Wa9bQuTaMO0wWkhbg_O4jNFJay_aO3-2wWMbavUWwfiopk8vzei0aP0BAQkTBPWM7eZijhzbKcJqzuKitVB8v4gH4RBoZH1TeKofIfgc8ViIZlmz9t4-YfTtAjpK/s1600/office+view+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406282186161839506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 221px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0Ug5tv4lKsf9DVy9Wa9bQuTaMO0wWkhbg_O4jNFJay_aO3-2wWMbavUWwfiopk8vzei0aP0BAQkTBPWM7eZijhzbKcJqzuKitVB8v4gH4RBoZH1TeKofIfgc8ViIZlmz9t4-YfTtAjpK/s320/office+view+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwBoUiLiyL6x7S72WFGjoG2VxUkQJzEHIhpSGsVhXnIx2x2IwV3MK-vJ2apndGQz_68bZDTb9QYEhlKKBOAxxRPlSkRj9osIM2VapOSHvdiN1jXIDTWwPSF9tycETyfXVm-ovgAIQtX5r/s1600/office+view+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406282090015726978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 221px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwBoUiLiyL6x7S72WFGjoG2VxUkQJzEHIhpSGsVhXnIx2x2IwV3MK-vJ2apndGQz_68bZDTb9QYEhlKKBOAxxRPlSkRj9osIM2VapOSHvdiN1jXIDTWwPSF9tycETyfXVm-ovgAIQtX5r/s320/office+view+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXewahpbF6ZdPKAEbCnsqpzxfZAonAqastH6BThsQyx21zlu6X5bwZQUTZvIhKYUf56TEn6c2y7vchQhRtBtmXPgxxDmF0KO6S1gjR6llpSAp3WTgalpWTihMQccJ-cX-7z7i0U6fQLBYT/s1600/office+view.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406280314720515378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 221px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXewahpbF6ZdPKAEbCnsqpzxfZAonAqastH6BThsQyx21zlu6X5bwZQUTZvIhKYUf56TEn6c2y7vchQhRtBtmXPgxxDmF0KO6S1gjR6llpSAp3WTgalpWTihMQccJ-cX-7z7i0U6fQLBYT/s320/office+view.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-82185921828828031432009-11-20T18:36:00.000-05:002009-11-20T18:36:00.261-05:00Yarn on the cheap and green<a href="http://chaoticcrafter.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/reclaiming-yarn-from-a-thrift-store-sweater/">Reclaiming yarn </a> from thrift shore sweaters is a fantastic idea!<br /><br />I already bought my Goodwill sweater, and I'm ready to go! I even have the pattern for the sweater I'm going to make with it. Now I just need some time.Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-80059841222838064702009-11-20T18:00:00.000-05:002009-11-20T18:00:00.566-05:00I'm a cooking fiend<div>Last night I got home from work at 6:15pm.</div><div></div><br /><div>Around 7:15 a friend came over, and I made dinner. Lamb meatballs over rosemary-honey <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">polenta</span> with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">caramelized</span> onion tomato sauce. It was quite spectacular. This picture is from my new phone...which has 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">mega pixel</span> camera...and um...I need to work on the pictures....but I guess you sorta get the idea.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406201131507425874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXIjd5BatAlCvQlBk7_cVfsl_Q-cZf87jwpi789RYNr1M1mWVDXOh8ERo7WnTtCwyKayBNFMPcAsODAyH30F0lYXMo0pTxqkDjMWMlab0MAIR06VnKkUuvrUDomuiQhdLKB0fyhLASfk7/s320/lamb+polenta.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><p>After dinner I cleaned up, made a shopping list, and went to the grocery store. I had to buy a bunch of stuff for our tailgate party in Ann Arbor this weekend. I got to the store around 8:45 pm. By 11:30 pm, I had finished my shopping and made 4 dips (white bean cilantro dip, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">caramelized</span> onion dip, fresh <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">chipotle</span> salsa, and the makings of guacamole minus the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">avocados...which I will add later</span>), 21 large <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">cornbread muffins</span>, and 48 tiny cornbread muffins. </p><p>I'm thinking that I'm pretty amazing. Hopefully I can get my camera to work better this weekend. Then I can share pictures of all the wonderful tailgate food!</p><p>Game-day food is the best part of football season!</p>Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-68425898135650164672009-11-19T18:30:00.000-05:002009-11-19T18:30:00.758-05:00BeadsCheck out the detail on these <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/kellyp82">homemade lampwork beads</a>. They are amazing!Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-16820471482406109582009-10-31T12:23:00.001-04:002009-10-31T12:23:00.360-04:00Slippers<a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vt_related_1&listing_id=33527984">These slippers </a>are just too <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">irresistible</span>.<br /><br />I'm going to buy the pattern as soon as I have money. :) I'll have to buy a camera too so I can post pictures of them when I finish them. ;)<br /><br />Does anyone know how to make the rubbery sole lines in the picture?Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-77895032868447709412009-10-30T18:00:00.002-04:002009-10-30T18:00:02.387-04:00Butternut squash<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHG1uuKOYQ9uliWWYEw8pkyfmK2tYhao5L4eIgnownzKfIUOea8UmoWf9yErsz2wRzsMfHzbA-5F9dlt17hzIRrXHWr9ZsvvKyihLAmhCvb4CfeLWi2qxJ_pES9Gz3dOQPGT98Dw9HHci/s1600-h/sausagesquashricesoup_s4x3_lg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398428821612533458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHG1uuKOYQ9uliWWYEw8pkyfmK2tYhao5L4eIgnownzKfIUOea8UmoWf9yErsz2wRzsMfHzbA-5F9dlt17hzIRrXHWr9ZsvvKyihLAmhCvb4CfeLWi2qxJ_pES9Gz3dOQPGT98Dw9HHci/s320/sausagesquashricesoup_s4x3_lg.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/smoked-sausage-butternut-squash-and-wild-rice-soup-recipe/index.html">This soup </a>made me realize how butternut squash got it's name. The recipe uses the squash as a thin-ish pureed base for rice, corn and sausage. It's amazing, so buttery and warm and hearty without being thick. It's a butternut squash revelation.</div><br /><div></div><div>I only wish I didn't take it to my sexy husband's family's house for dinner. Of course they loved it, but there were no leftovers. :(</div><div></div><br /><div>(The picture is from the recipe at foodnetwork.com. My camera is still lost.)</div>Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-53025832133863855492009-10-29T18:00:00.002-04:002009-10-29T11:40:11.893-04:00Pumpkin everythingOur fall office bake sale was today.<br /><br />Fall bake sales are the best.<br /><br />I got a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pumpkin</span> cream cheese cupcake, "frosted" with nutmeg cool whip (a revelation) and a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">piece</span> of cranberry coffee cake and a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">piece</span> of pumpkin cheesecake.<br /><br />...A good morning...with a fantastic "breakfast." :)<br /><br />P.S. The pumpkin cupcake was particularly wonderful....and I got <a href="http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/pumpkin-cream-cupcakes-114682.aspx">the recipe</a>!Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-45102200709780051352009-10-06T19:14:00.001-04:002009-10-06T19:14:00.100-04:00Is there a category for the most awful food idea ever?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2_VKGITWAYbkUuzSzupG2H8vzmQEQufY5DdQmTxukcKEEqm_dctvWJOqkvQcU4sNq_VT-ehUgcQHT6ZJKWZYUmuo55RXUm18ghMwlFMynQEKY2qATFAc2LApERQczhEv00_wGSi_ypLj/s1600-h/PA1207_The-ladys-brunch-hurger_lg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389567833087343682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2_VKGITWAYbkUuzSzupG2H8vzmQEQufY5DdQmTxukcKEEqm_dctvWJOqkvQcU4sNq_VT-ehUgcQHT6ZJKWZYUmuo55RXUm18ghMwlFMynQEKY2qATFAc2LApERQczhEv00_wGSi_ypLj/s320/PA1207_The-ladys-brunch-hurger_lg.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Paula Dean's "<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paulas-home-cooking/the-ladys-brunch-burger-recipe/index.html">brunch burger</a>." This is real, guys. The recipe is available on foodnetwork.com. In case you don't want to take the time to look it up yourself, I provided a link. :) AND it's just a variation on the also-real <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Burger">luther burger</a>. </div><div> </div><div>Does this even look good to anyone?</div><div> </div><div> </div><br /><div></div>Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-55633795033471991462009-10-05T18:55:00.000-04:002009-10-05T18:55:00.662-04:00It just might work againI seem to remember that I was in a cooking slump last year about this time, and winter squash and sausage brought me out of my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">stupor</span>. <br /><br />I'm thinking that just might work again this year. :)<br /><br />We went apple picking yesterday. I bought a HUGE amount of apples. So this week I'm going to be making apple pies and crisps and muffins and cakes and sauce for freezing and using throughout the year. <br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mmmm</span>....apple pie.Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-24007832083312805532009-09-30T18:51:00.000-04:002009-09-30T18:51:00.449-04:00Sweet Potato SaladOh man. This looks awesome...and I'm going to make it this week, but I won't be able to take a picture of my creation (I lost my camera a couple of months ago...can't find it anywhere). So this is the best you'll get.<br /><br />I highly recommend that you try it too. Sweet potatoes go so well with black beans and southwestern flavors.<br /><br /><em>Roasted Sweet Potato Salad With Black Beans and Chili Dressing</em><br />Mark Bittman, New York Times. <br />Check out the video <a href="http://video.nytimes.com/video/playlist/style/dining-and-wine/1194820411913/index.html">here</a>.<br /><br />4 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks<br />1 large onion, preferably red, chopped<br />1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil<br />Salt and freshly ground black pepper<br />1 to 2 tablespoons minced fresh hot chili, like jalapeƱo<br />1 clove garlic, peeled<br />Juice of 2 limes<br />2 cups cooked black beans, drained (canned are fine)<br />1 red or yellow bell pepper, seeded and finely diced<br />1 cup chopped fresh cilantro.<br /><br />1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put sweet potatoes and onions on a large baking sheet, drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil, toss to coat and spread out in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast, turning occasionally, until potatoes begin to brown on corners and are just tender inside, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven; keep on pan until ready to mix with dressing.<br />2. Put chilies in a blender or mini food processor along with garlic, lime juice, remaining olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Process until blended.<br />3. Put warm vegetables in a large bowl with beans and bell pepper; toss with dressing and cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve warm or at room temperature, or refrigerate for up to a day.<br /><br />Yield: 4 servings.Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-18362458882588870582009-09-09T06:54:00.000-04:002009-09-09T09:56:32.183-04:00Bento boxesI'm so tempted to start packing lunches in Bento boxes.<br /><br />Check out this <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/dining/09bento.html?pagewanted=1&ref=dining">NY Times article</a>.Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-91282736272880563282009-09-08T19:28:00.000-04:002009-09-08T19:28:00.586-04:00Earrings<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5299310&page=1">This etsy shop</a> is incredible! <br /><br />I love every last pair of earrings she makes...and the necklaces too.<br /><br />I'm going to start wearing earrings, and I'm going to make them.Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558626200495405201.post-57185957157777602982009-08-27T18:00:00.000-04:002009-08-27T18:00:00.127-04:00The stuff that inspires me.Here's the problem. I'm totally fickle. Sometimes I'm totally inspired by food. But not always. Sometimes I'm inspired by other things like my new running program, or knitting, or sewing, or decorating, or entertaining, or whatever the next new thing happens to be. I just like to be excited about something. :)<br /><br />If this blog is going to work, it has to be about all of the stuff that inspires me. So I'm changing the concept. It's still a break from the dailyness...it's just all of them...<br /><br />Enjoy.Ohiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12668165596020664657noreply@blogger.com0