Sunday, August 8, 2010

In Mourning




This blog is mourning the loss of my beloved friend and neighbor, Ben Gardner. I tried many of these recipes out on him and his lovely wife Kate-E before they were ever seen here. He was an amazing friend and truly one of the happiest and most loving people I've ever met. My heart hurts for the loss of him and for his wife Kate-E, who my family and I love dearly.




I don't know how long this break will be but I need time to mourn my friend.




Friday, August 6, 2010

Easy Lunch



I recently hosted a bridal shower for a friend of mine, the lovely Steph and made what felt like 40 pounds of this chicken salad. I've pared the recipe down (lest you make 40 pounds too) and decided to share the chicken salad that received rave reviews!








Steph's Chicken Salad
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups cooked and chopped chicken meat
  • 1/3 cup chopped pecans
  • 2 chopped green onions
  • 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
  • optional: 1/8 cup dried cranberries
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, sweet relish and pepper until well combined and set aside. In a larger bowl, mix together everything else :) You just want to toss it all together until combined - not breaking everything into tiny pieces. Pour 3/4 of the mayo mixture onto the chicken mixture and stir together. If this is "wet" enough for you - you can ignore the rest of the mayo mixture or add it all! Serve it by itself or like I did on cute little tea sandwiches and enjoy!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

mmmmmuffins!


As a raging carb-aholic there is little I love more than bread - but I do love a good blueberry muffin. With a cup of coffee in the morning, or really, snagged from the fridge at 2am where I eat it like a thief in the night - these are delish. :)


Blueberry Streusel Muffins


  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk (I use 2% but whatever)
  • 1-1/2 cups blueberries

Streusel

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons butter, chilled

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and line your muffin tin with liners (use them, you savage). In a small bowl, take 1 tablespoon of flour and toss it together lightly with your blueberries until coated - this will make sure they distribute through the muffins and don't just sit on the bottom of the muffin!

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy and well mixed. Add in the eggs, one at a time - beating the batter until the egg is concorporated before adding the next egg, and then add in the vanilla.

In a separate bowl, stir together the baking powder, salt and flour and set aside. Alternate between adding the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, stirring between each addition until just combined. Fold in your blueberries last and then spoon the mixture into the muffin tin - filling each cup 3/4 the way full.

In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of flour, brown sugar and the cinnamon. Cut in the butter using a fork until mixture resembles course crumbs and sprinke over the unbaked muffins. Bake the muffins for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick in the middle comes out clean.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Kitchen Tip #3



As you can tell - I do a lot of baking. I enjoy the look of total pleasure on someone's face when they're scarfing down a cookie or having a bad day, and then I swing by with a brownie. It's enough to make anyone smile. I've been baking since roughly third grade, so I've got a lot of trial/error knowledge to pass along :) Here's one cookie-changing tip.


Whenever you add something like chocolate chips or raisins, etc to a cookie, cake, bread - whatever. Toss it in a little all purpose flour first so they're just coated. This will help "suspend" them in the dessert so you won't end up with a cake with all the chocolate chips at the bottom, or a cookie with no visible chips on top!

Saturday, July 31, 2010

For Jamie :)


This recipe is honor of Jamie Hart - the lovely sister of my lovely best friend, Deb. Being as she currently resides in England with her wonderful wife Tanya- it has been FAR too long since I've seen her! My scone recipe (being decidedly English!) brought her to mind.


Jamie & Tanya's Simple Scones

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, SERIOUSLY cold
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 large egg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to mix it thoroughly. Next, take your butter and cut it into small cubes and drop into flour. Work it into the mixture with a fork or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add in raisins and toss to combine.

In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and the egg until smooth. Then, using a fork stir the egg mixture into the flour until a large ball of dough forms. You may need to get your hands in there and press it around the bowl. Trust me, it's enough liquid.

Turn out the dough onto a floured board and pat into an 8 inch circle. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar and use a super sharp knife to cut the dough into 8 triangles. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and let rest for at least 7 minutes before eating. It'll be difficult but at least you won't burn your tastebuds off!

Friday, July 30, 2010

Taco Time!


Tacos. I love them. We make them a lot at our place, and I got tired of buying taco seasoning when I was sure I could make it. One day, I was forced into trying it when I was mid-taco making and realized - no taco seasoning. Doh! I stumbled on this recipe and it's divine! Make extra and keep it around for your own taco emergencies ;)


Taco Seasoning

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1.5 teaspoons ground cumin

Optional: for added heat, add in 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes

Mix together. Voila! Taco seasoning!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Cool Drink in the Hot Summer


Who doesn't love a little Sangria? Like a boozy adult-version of fruit punch, it's the perfect party drink for the summer time. A hot grill and a cool Sangria - and you're well on your way to the perfect gathering.


Classic Sangria


  • 1 lemon
  • 1 lime
  • 1 orange
  • 1.5 cups white rum
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 bottle dry red wine (like Blackberry Merlot)
  • 1 cup pulp-free orange juice

Cut the lemon, lime and orange into thin rounds and place into a medium sized bowl or shallow baking dish. In a small bowl, mix together the rum and the sugar and pour over the fruit. Let it "marinate" for two hours in the fridge before pouring into a glass pitcher. Mash the fruit up a bit with a wooden spoon, then pour the orange juice and the wine over the top of the fruit and stir.