Ina Garten's Salmon Teriyaki & Broccoli {Foodgoals 2022}

 

I love the fresh start that the new year brings. I like to make all manner of goals, from reading goals to work goals to cooking goals. This year my cooking goals are to continue eating healthy dishes like this Salmon Teriyaki & Broccoli with Basmati Rice.

I also have some other food-related goals, such as really delving into some baking (both cakes, pies, and other various baked goods, but also possibly breads). Another goal I'm hoping to explore more is to take make some of my "staple dishes" gluten free so my son can enjoy them. In the past few years, gluten-free options, such as all-in-one flours, have flooded the market and made gluten-free cooking so much more accessible, so I'm really hoping to create more foods that he can enjoy! 

Of course, all of these things are subject to the world around us, such as continuing overwhelming illness, food shortages, and quite simply lack of motivation, but I am hopeful to at least grow in all these areas.

Speaking of motivation, if you want to excel at cooking healthfully, it is very helpful if you to have nutritious ingredients on hand and lots of quick, easy, and healthy recipes up your sleeve. If you can get really good at having the right ingredients and the right methods, then half the battle is already won.

Ina's Salmon Teriyaki & Broccoli is one of those recipes. It really couldn't be any easier. Cook up some rice, make a quick teriyaki sauce out of olive oil, soy sauce, sesame oil, maple syrup, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes, get out a baking sheet, place the salmon on it, pour the sauce over it, bake for a few minutes, add some sliced broccolini or broccoli and roast until cooked to your liking. We're talking beginner level cooking here. Plus, easy clean up!

Plate the salmon with the rice and the broccoli or broccolini and you're all set! Quick, easy, and totally painless, BUT also healthy, delicious and flavorful. The perfect weeknight meal! 

Salmon Teriyaki & Broccoli with Basmati Rice

Adapted barefootcontessa.com

by Ina Garten

Serves 4

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1-1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)

1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes

4 skinless salmon fillets (2 to 2-1/2 pounds total)

salt and pepper, to taste

1 pound broccolini, lower third of stems discarded (*or broccoli)

steamed white basmati rice (recipe follows)

Preheat the oven to 400F. Arrange two racks evenly spaced in the oven.

In a small saucepan, combine the olive oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and hot red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil over medium heat, lower the heat and simmer for 3 minutes. Set aside off the heat.

Arrange the salmon fillets, rounded sides up, in a baking dish just large enough to hold them with a little space in between the fillets. Sprinkle the salmon with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and spoon the soy sauce mixture evenly over the fillets. Roast the salmon for about 12 minutes for rare and 15 minutes for medium, depending on the thickness of the fillets.

Meanwhile, prepare the broccolini (or broccoli). Place the broccolini on a sheet pan, drizzle it with 4 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss with your hands. Ten minutes before the salmon is done, roast the broccolini on the second oven rack until crisp/tender.

Divide the hot rice between 4 shallow bowls and top each with a salmon fillet and some broccolini. Spoon the sauce from the salmon over the salmon and rice and serve hot.

Steamed Basmati Rice

1 cup white basmati rice, such as Texmati

1-3/4 cups water

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon salt

Combine the rice, water, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender and fluffy. You may have to pull the pot halfway off the burner to keep a simmer. Fluff with a for and serve hot.

Food Goals @ IHCC

Let's Talk Freezer Meals: Burritos

You're peeking into the freezer of my 25 year old refrigerator that I keep out in the garage.  My parents bought this old thing back when I was in high school.  It's old and it's loud, but it was made back in the day when companies still valued quality. My husband laughed at me when we moved this old fridge from Ohio to Kentucky.  He told me he'd buy me a pretty new fridge, but I wasn't having it.  That was ten years ago now.  My husband laughs about it now and says I was right about this old fridge.  It's outlasted two pretty-as-can-be stainless steel fridges.  We call it old reliable, put all the kids artwork on it, and cover it in magnets.  It's a little dose of the old days and we just love it.

I recently went through a refrigerator, freezer, and pantry purge getting rid of a few old lingering items and eating up the rest.  Now I'm on a mission to stock my freezer full of freezer ready meals. This is brand new territory for me.    

It's true that I do love to cook but,  I don't love to cook 24/7.  My family doesn't seem to understand this concept.  My kids like to eat 5-7 times a day and let's face it....no one likes to cook and clean up that much.  Here's where the freezer meals come in.  In this case I spent about 20-30 minutes putting together 8 breakfast burritos (I should have made more) that are really going to come in handy for the chaotic mornings we have on school days.  

You could stuff these tortillas with any filling (it doesn't have to be breakfast related).  The idea is to make them ahead, roll them up, wrap them in plastic wrap, and place them in a plastic ziploc bag or a tupperware container.  When you're ready to eat one you simply unwrap the plastic, wrap the burrito in a damp paper towel and reheat in the microwave until it's warmed through.  It's easy, virtually mess-free, and open to whatever fillings you like.

For these burritos I bought eight whole wheat flour tortillas and stuffed them with a mixture of one pound sauteed chorizo, 1/2 cup of bell pepper, 1 cubed and boiled potato, 7 scrambled eggs, 2 sliced green onions, a cup of cheddar cheese, and quite a bit of hot sauce.  I added a heaping 1/2 cup of the mixture to each burrito and folded it up.  Next time I think I'll try a bean, rice and cheese combination to have on hand for lunches, but really the ideas are virtually endless.  What combination would you try?

 Do you store freezer ready meals in your freezer?  If so, what are your favorites?  I'd love to know!

Couponing 101

I received quite a few questions and emails regarding my last post about couponing.  Those questions were fresh in my mind as I clipped my coupons this morning and I thought it would be fun to share some tips and tricks with you.  Here they are, in no particular order.

Tip # 1:  Only clip coupons for things you actually use.  Couponing has a way of being addictive.  Take caution not to buy things just because they are a good deal. The coupons above are all things we use (hot sauce, pickled jalapenos, dishwasher detergent, vitamins, aluminum foil, nuts. Italian sausage, canned tomatoes, yeast, Cheerios (for my 5 year old) and cheese. (These coupons total $10.50 in savings)

 Tip #2:  Learn the coupon policy for your store(s).  Every store's coupon policy varies.  Visit your store's website or go to their customer service desk and ask them about their coupon policy. Most stores will double any coupon that is $.50 or less (this is as good as it gets at my store).  However, some stores double coupons up to $1, making each $1 coupon instantly worth $2.  Anytime you can double a coupon worth $1 then you are going to get an amazing deal (you may even get money back)! Additionally, some stores will double the value of any coupon on one particular day of the week.  If this is the case then it would definitely be worth doing the majority of your shopping on that day.  I could go on and on here, but it is best to check with your store.  You'll want to be fully informed so that you don't run into any surprises.


Tip # 3:  You'll find the best deals by combining what's on sale along with your coupons.  Here is a perfect example.

This week my local store has cans of Hunt's tomatoes on sale for $.59 each. I have a coupon for $.45 off 3 cans, which automatically doubles to $.90 off.  Therefore I will buy 3 cans for a grand total of $.87 ($.59each  x 3 cans = $1.77 - $.90 coupon  = $.87).  You really can't beat a deal like that!  Canned tomatoes are a staple, especially in the winter.  I will be so glad to have these on hand in my pantry.  In fact, this leads me to my next tip.

Tip #4:  If there are good deals to be had, and you have the room/space, stock up!  Don't be afraid to ask a friend for their paper when they're finished with it OR if the savings dictate, buy another paper.  The main point is to stock up.  Sales and coupons are on cycles and oftentimes you will run out of a product before it cycles again.   


Tip # 5: Make sure your coupon is the best deal to be had.  Do not go to the store determined to use your coupon without first checking prices for the other brands.  Every once in awhile it happens where I'll clip a coupon and then go to the store to find that another brand is cheaper.  The motto here is to pay attention.  Don't use your coupon just for the sake of using your coupon.  Remember, you are after the best deal. 

Tip# 6: Certain stores, like Walgreens, allow you to combine their store coupons with manufacturer's coupons.  This is one of my favorite tips/tricks.  Walgreens is the place where I find a lot of great deals.  And, I must not be the only one because I frequently see other people couponing there as well. After you clip the coupons from the coupon inserts, get out your Walgreens ad.  Inside the Walgreens ad there is another set of coupons.  Here is an example.

Walgreens has a coupon for $2 off Listerine which they will allow me to combine with my mfg. coupon for $1 off.  I happen to know this particular bottle of Listerine is always $3.99.  This means that with my combined coupon I will be getting this Listerine for $.99.  Again, if possible I would stock up on this because this is a big staple in my house.

I should also mention that in addition to their weekly sales ad, Walgreens also puts out a monthly pamphlet (available at the front of the store by the sales ad) that also has coupons in it.  There have been times where I have used a Walgreen sales ad coupon, combined with a coupon from the monthly pamphlet, and a mfg. coupon. I love that Walgreens allows you to triple up on coupons. However, be cautioned when it comes to using mfg. coupons at Walgreens.  You can use them, but Walgreens will not double them.  Therefore, if you have a mfg. coupon and cannot match it with a Walgreens store coupon then it is best to use your mfg. coupon at the regular grocery store so that it can be doubled.  

Tip # 7:  Be Organized.  If you decide to coupon then you will need some sort of organizer.  I don't have anything fancy or pretty.  I just use an old photo album that has separate compartments and I've labeled each compartment with a sharpie marker. Each week I take care to go through my coupons, removing any expired ones, and at the same time refreshing my memory with the coupons that I do have so that I can better match my coupons to what's on sale that week.  As I make my grocery list I set aside the coupons I want to use and place them in a ziploc baggy to take to the store. 

Tip #8:  Keep your coupons with you.   One of the most valuable lessons I've learned while couponing is to ALWAYS keep my coupons with me.  I keep my coupon book in the trunk of my car so I always have it.  You never know when you are going to find a good deal.  

Tip #9:  Leave your kids, and any other distractions, at home when you shop!  Kids are cute, and I have two of my own, but I try my best to leave them at home when I do my shopping.  There is no way you can pay attention to the deals, your coupons, and the cashier who is ringing up your order if you have kids in tow.

Tip# 10:  Try to plan a menu based on your savings.  Challenge yourself to come up with recipes based on the items you buy with your coupons.  This week it's pretty much a no brainer for me.  Based on the canned tomatoes, yeast, Italian sausage and cheese I will most definitely be making some homemade pizzas.  The coupon for the pickled jalapenos is just the push I needed to make The Homesick Texan's breaded and fried pickled jalapeno slices, which have been on my to-do list for awhile now. 

Bonus Tip:  When couponing, please pay attention to the cashier ringing your order and also double check your receipt to make sure all your deals rang up correctly. Cashiers are busy and bound to make mistakes and sometimes the computers do not code the deals correctly.  Don't be afraid to point out errors while the cashier is ringing up your order.  Also, know beforehand how much you should be saving with your coupons so that you can double check your receipt afterwards and make sure it is all accounted for.  The grand total of my coupons above is $10.50 and I will be sure to make sure I see $10.50 in savings at the bottom of my receipt.

Another Bonus Tip:  If you're interested in couponing, but are feeling a little nervous about it all, then start off small.  Find yourself one good deal, grab your coupon, take it all to the register, and have it rung up separately so you can look at the receipt and understand it.  Next time around you'll feel more comfortable and you'll understand the rules a little better.

As of right now, I only use my local Sunday newspaper for coupons.  Some people like to get their coupons online, but then it is necessary to print them, which does involve extra cost. If you're interested, there are some great online coupon sites out there, namely smartsource.com and redplum.com. 

I hope this bit of information was helpful in answering some of the questions. If you have any additional questions, or tips of your own, feel free to share them in the comments section, or via email.  I'd love to hear about them! 

27 Boxes of Pasta

How many boxes of pasta do you think you have in your pantry?  Today I cleaned out my pantry and I found 27 boxes/packages of pasta!   I have to admit that even I find it a little ridiculous.  I couldn't help but laugh.

Goodness knows we love our pasta in every shape and size.  In my defense, my son is allergic to wheat so about a third of the pasta is gluten-free. 

Anyone want to come over for pasta?  I think I should have enough! 

Papa Bear Oatmeal

Last Saturday, I happened to be flipping through the channels and noticed that Food Network was hosting a breakfast and brunch theme for the day.  Since I love all things breakfast and brunch related, I recorded all the episodes, even some of the shows that I don't normally watch.  Last night I had some free time and I got caught up on hours and hours of every delicious breakfast food you can imagine.  The one recipe that stuck with me, really stuck with me, was this Papa Bear Oatmeal from Paula's newer show, Paula's Best Dishes.   

I wanted it right then and there and vowed to wake up and make it for breakfast this morning.  Lucky for me, I had all the ingredients.  Old-Fashioned oatmeal cooked on the stove with juicy plump raisins, poured in a bowl and doused with a little milk, brown sugar, sliced bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and maple syrup.  Wow!  Not only is this a beautiful breakfast, it's quick, it's easy, it's healthy, and it feels extremely indulgent.  I can't wait to make it again!

Papa Bear Oatmeal

Serves 4

• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant or quick cooking)
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 2/3 cup raisins
• 1 banana, sliced
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 1/2 cup heavy cream (I used 2% milk)
• Brown sugar, for serving
• Honey, for serving ( I used maple syrup)
• blueberries (optional, my addition)

In a medium saucepan, bring 3 1/2 cups water and the salt to a boil. Stir in the oats and simmer until almost thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the raisins and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more

Spoon the oatmeal into individual bowls and serve. Place the banana and strawberry slices, cream (or milk) , brown sugar, and honey or maple syrup into the oatmeal bowl. Stir if desired. 

Notes/Results:  I was blown away by how delicious this oatmeal really was.  I couldn't believe how tasty it was and can't wait to make it again. 

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One of my best blogging friends, Teresa at A Blog About Food, tagged me in "4 things about me".  Normally I'm really bad at these tagging games.  It's not that I don't want to participate, it's just that I forget. If you tagged me and I didn't respond, please don't take it personally.  Chances are that I made a mental note to respond and then forgot.  I'm scatterbrained like that. This year I'm going to try and do better with them.  

Anyway, I lead a real exciting and riveting life (ha-ha)!  Here goes:

Four shows I watch:
1. True Blood.  Best Show Ever.  Period.
2. Vampire Diaries.  Yes, there is a theme here.  Ever since I can remember, my favorite shows have always been vampire-based or mafia-based.  I can't explain why, especially since I don't really like gore.  Go figure.
3. I Survived.  Okay.  Has anybody else seen this show on the Biography channel?  Holy cow.  You just can't believe that people can survive the things they do.  It's amazing, and scary, and unnerving.  Sometimes I have to make myself watch it.  You know, just in case.
4. Hawaii Five-O.   Two words ladies.  EYE CANDY! I first started watching Hawaii Five-O because of Alex O'Loughlin.  I loved him in the vampire series Moonlight, but it was canceled.  When I heard he would be in the new Hawaii Five-O I had to watch it.  Alex O'Loughlin is gorgeous. Completely and totally drop dead gorgeous.  I think he's just about the most handsome man ever.  Did I say EVER?

 The eyes.

 The million dollar smile.

Like I said.  His eyes.  His smile ;-)

During the course of the show, I've also developed quite an infatuation for Scott Caan.  Normally I like men with dark hair and dark eyes, but Scott Caan.  I don't know.  There is just something about him that I find very appealing.  You can tell he's a little bit of a bad boy.  A little mischievous.  A little bit of a smart ass. A little bit of trouble.  A whole lotta fun.  Not to mention, his Dad is James Caan, who played Sonny Corleone in the mafia epic, Godfather. What's not to like about that?

At any rate, Hawaii Five-O is a great show, with lots of eye candy.  I don't miss a single episode.  You shouldn't either.  The way I see it, men have way too much eye candy all the time.  We ladies deserve some too!

Four Things I'm passionate about:
1. Cooking.  I spend most of my time doing it, reading about it, thinking about it, and even dreaming about it.
2. Books.  Books have got to be the best things ever.  Each book is like a brand new adventure. No Kindle for me though.  I have to hold the book, it's part of the beauty for me.
3. Laughing.  I love to laugh.  Chuckling, big laughs, belly laughs, laughing so-hard-you-need-to-cross-your-legs, laughing until you cry, laughing until your temples ache,  laughing until you fall on the floor, and of course, laughing until you snort.  Good times!

4. Traveling. It really doesn't matter where to.  I just like to see different places and meet new people.  I could have a fantastic time in Boise, Idaho or Paris, France.  Every place has something unique to offer.

Four phrases I use a lot:
1. Brush your teeth/hair!  Or, my personal favorite "Groom yourself."  (Mainly for the benefit of my 9 year old daughter).

 2. Shut the door.  You're letting all the cold air in. (Again, for the benefit of my 9 year old).
3. Quit fighting.  (As an only child I really don't understand all the sibling fights).
4. Put your clothing on.  (My son is going through a phase right now).

Four things I've learned in the past:
1. Raising children is an extremely challenging job.   Just when you think you get the hang of it.....someone comes and pulls the rug out from under you. 
2. All you need in life is one good friend.  One good friend can make all the difference.

3.  You have to learn how to adjust.  When I was younger, my Grandpa would always tell me that the key to life was "learning how to adjust".  I never knew what the heck he was talking about, but now I get it.  Life is full of changes and you have to learn how to adjust in order to hang in there.
4.  Always remember who you are and where you come from. I mean this in the deepest sense possible.  Don't let anything get in the way of being who you are.

Four places I'd like to go:
1. Ocean City, Maryland.  We went there every year when I was growing up and I haven't been there in about 15 years.  I'd love to go back, see some old family friends, and take the kids.  Spend the days the beach.  Spend the nights on the boardwalk.  Smell the fresh salty air.
2. New Orleans, Louisiana. I've never been there, but I have a deep romance for it.  The culture, the food, the drinks, the architecture, the wildlife, the gardens, the people.  I have to get there one day.  That will be a trip made either with my friends, my Mom, or my husband.  The kids.....not going!
3. San Antonio, Texas.  I'd like to spend some time on the Riverwalk.  Most of all, I'd just like to see the area, eat some good Tex-Mex, and drink lots of tasty Margaritas.  Preferably alone with my husband.
4. Alaska.  My Dad was in the Army at the height of the Vietnam War. He thought for sure that he was going to Saigon.  When his orders came, he was surprised to find that he was being sent to Fairbanks, Alaska.  Thank God my Dad never had to go war in Vietnam.  Instead, he spent two years with the Army up in Fairbanks, Alaska doing maneuvers and practicing survival skills.  Ever since I can remember, he has loved sharing stories about his time in Fairbanks, Alaska.  You can just hear the passion for Alaska in his stories. I know he'd love the chance to go there again and I'd love to go with him.

 Four things I did yesterday:
1. Burnt and blistered my lip on Dorie Greenspan's Potato-Leek soup.  Apparently that new Dutch oven really keeps the food steaming hot.

Dorie's Potato-Leek Soup with Crouton for FFwD

2. Talked to my best friend on the phone for 2 hours.
3. Shampooed, mopped, and vacuumed the downstairs carpet and floors.
4. Enjoyed several hours of quiet time while my husband took the kids to his Mom's house.

Four things I love about winter:

1. Snow.  I'm crazy about snow.  I think it's magically beautiful.

2. Peace and Quiet.  I love that no one is knocking on the door and the phone isn't ringing off the hook.  It seems like everything quiets down in the winter.
3. Being cozy and snuggling up in PJ's with blankets, slippers, etc. It's the best!
4. Relaxing and staying in. The rest of the year is a mad dash, but wintertime is relaxing and lazy with lots of time for movies, cooking, etc.

I'm supposed to tag 4 people, but I'm no good at picking and choosing.  If you'd like to play along, feel free to.

In the meantime, I'm running out to the store for more oatmeal so that I can have some Papa Bear Oatmeal in the morning! I can't get enough of it!

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Carrot Rice... and a favorite food tip!

I was drawn to this recipe as soon as I first set eyes on it. I couldn't wait to give it a try, so I made it the very next night and fell in love. These are some tasty, flavor-packed meatballs folks. Good stuff! The meatballs are loaded with fun flavors like green onion, cilantro, soy sauce or fish sauce, Sriracha, garlic and just a hint of sugar. Yum! Just thinking about them has me craving them all over again.

I had to share the picture above so you could see all the flavors going into the meatballs above. If you don't care for ground turkey, you can also use ground pork.

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Carrot Rice
Everyday Food Issue 77, page 14
Serves 4
Coarse salt
1 cup long-grain white rice
1 carrot, shredded
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
1-1/2 pounds ground dark meat turkey or ground pork (I used only one pound)
3 scallions, white and green parts separated and thinly sliced
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
4 teaspoons fish sauce (I substituted soy sauce)
4 teaspoons hot-pepper sauce (preferably Sriracha)
4 teaspoons sguar
1 large garlic clove, minced (I used 2 good-sized cloves)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil (will not need if you bake your meatballs)
lime wedges, for serving

Preheat oven to 450F. In a medium saucepan, bring 1-1/2 cups salted water to a boil. Add rice, stir, and return to a boil. Cover, reduce to a simmer, and cook until rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and top with carrot. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes, then stir in carrot and fluff rice with a fork.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine breadcrumbs and 3 tablespoons water. Let stand 5 minutes. Add turkey, scallion whites, cilantro, fish/soy sauce, hot-pepper sauce, sugar, garlic and 1-1/2 teaspoon salt. Gently mix to combine and form 12 meatballs (I got about 17 meatballs).

In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high. In batches, brown meatballs on all sides, 10 minutes total (add up to 1 tsp. oil as needed). Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and bake until cooked through, 10 minutes. Serve meatballs with rice, scallion greens, and lime wedges. (NOTE: I baked my meatballs on a lightly oiled baking sheet at 350F for about 25 minutes)

Notes/Results: Before I called everyone to dinner, I grabbed a meatball off the tray and gave it a try. It was so good that I snuck another one. I started to have thoughts of running away with the tray, but thought better of it. Saying that,these meatballs would be great served on their own, with or without a dipping sauce. They also made for a wonderful meal with the rice. One more reason why Everyday Food by Martha Stewart is my absolute favorite cooking magazine.
Favorite Food Tip: Maybe you've heard this one before, maybe you haven't. Either way, I think it's really cool. Did you know that green onions can regenerate if you put them in a glass of water? I just learned this tip about a month ago and think it's the coolest thing. After cutting off the green tops, just place the white stems in a glass/jar of water and place on your windowsill. Within a day you will notice quite a bit of green growing from the tops of the stems. The green portion grows at about the rate of almost an inch per day. In less than one week, your green onions in the jar will look just like the ones at the store. Call me silly, but I get a big kick out of that. You can continue to cut them back and do this about 4-5 more times. After about the 4th cut, the green portion starts to get a bit soft and it's time to toss them out and start over. Green onions are inexpensive and all, but it really is fun to watch them regenerate on your windowsill. Best of all, it takes little to no effort and it's nice to always have a bit of green to add to your dishes!

Deep Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

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Have you ever heard of a Deep Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich? Check out this quick 30 second video if you're not familiar with the concept.

I first saw it done this summer and have been meaning to post about it for awhile now. A self-confessed peanut butter lover, I'm somewhat puzzled by this creation. I didn't try it at the time, but I think curiosity would get the best of me the second time around.

What do you think?

Could it be worth the calories OR are you totally disgusted?

Food Talk and Barbecue Sauce

"While cooking demands your entire attention, it also rewards you with endlessly sensual pleasures. The sound of water skittering across leaves of lettuce. The thump of the knife against watermelon, and the cool summer scent the fruit releases as it falls open to reveal its deep red heart. The seductive softness of chocolate beginning to melt from solid to liquid. The tug of sauce against the spoon when it thickens in the pan, and the lovely lightness of Parmesan drifting from the grater in gossamer flakes. Time slows down in the kitchen, offering up an entire universe of small satisfactions."

I love the way Ruth Reichl describes her love affair with cooking in this excerpt from her book Garlic and Sapphires. It's exactly how I feel but was unable to put into words. Maybe this helps explain why I love to cook in a quiet kitchen and most often by myself. I don't want an audience. I don't want distractions. I only want to concentrate on what I'm doing. It's like entering a peaceful place where you can lose yourself in the beauty of a recipe. Touching, smelling, tasting, stirring and all the while creating a wonderful dish from simple ingredients. I think cooking is the ultimate art form. Not only sensual, but satisfying. Do you like to savor your time in the kitchen too?

The rest of Ruth's book talks about her life as a well-known food critic living in NYC. In order to remain anonymous she disguises herself in various ways, modeling herself after her mother, an older woman, a gorgeous redhead, a divorced middle-aged woman and various other disguises. With each new disguise Ruth creates a new identity, seeing the world through that character's eyes. Disguised as her deceased mother she begins to understand and appreciate her, as an older woman she feels the despair and loneliness of going unnoticed, and as a gorgeous redhead she enjoys the attention. Each of Ruth's "characters" teaches her something new, making this book not only about restaurants and food, but also about self-discovery. I found this book very easy to relate to enjoyed it very much.


Switching gears completely, I also read Anthony Bourdain's very candid tale, Kitchen Confidential. Having only seen Bourdain for mere minutes on TV, I had no idea what to expect. Sure....I had heard about him and knew enough to know that he was a "say it like it is" kind of person. Turns out to say that he is a "say it like it is" person is to put it way too mildly. Bourdain holds nothing back. His book is so candid that at times it blew my mind ....yet I kept reading. I was drawn in with his tales of debauchery, drugs, sex, thievery, and secrets. The book is definitely interesting and gives insight to the inner workings of a kitchen. I don't know if I can say that I love Anthony Bourdain after reading this, but I definitely respect him for speaking his mind. I get tired of everything always needing to be "politically correct" and found this book to be a refreshing break from all that.

What about you? Have you read the book? What did you think?


Lastly, I also wanted to share Giada's Chicken with Balsamic Barbecue Sauce, recipe found HERE on Food Network. My pictures didn't turn out well, but I loved this BBQ sauce and couldn't pass up sharing it with you all. One full cup of balsamic vinegar gives this sauce such a pleasant tanginess. The recipe made quite a bit of sauce and we used it with several dinners without tiring of it. I will definitely be making it again.

If you happen to have read either book I would love to know what you thought!

A Presidential Visit & Lunch in My Hometown: Elyria, Ohio

Today the President of the United States paid a visit to my hometown Elyria, Ohio. This is big news if you're from a small town, just shy of 60,000 people. In it's heyday, Elyria was a booming and thriving city supported by auto and steel factories. When I was young, it seemed that everyone's Dad worked at Ford, GM or the steel plant. It was just a given. By the time I reached adulthood things had started to change. They were little changes at first, but things quickly got worse. Before you knew it, steel companies closed down, the Big 3 started having layoffs, automotive plants started closing, and businesses and people starting leaving town. Now the unemployment rate is at 10.9%, which is worse than last year.

I've been in Kentucky for about seven years now, but I love to go back home and visit my Dad and my best friends. It makes my heart so happy to cross over into that city line. The people are friendly and genuine and everybody pretty much knows everybody. But, after the excitement wears off, I start to look around and take notice. I take notice of the homes that are vacant, the factories that are boarded up and the businesses that are closed down. I look around and see how much the city has changed, and not for the best. I think about the people I know who are fighting to stay in their homes and having trouble finding jobs and it makes me sick to my stomach. I hate that this is happening in my hometown. I hate that it is happening all over America.

I am glad that Barack Obama chose Elyria as one of the cities on his "White House to Main Street" tour. It seems his visit has lifted the spirits of the city, helping everyone to think positively.

One thing everyone is talking about, is where President Obama had lunch. It seems he dined at Smitty's Place, which is a bar and grill just outside of the downtown area. It's just a neighborhood place where friends meet to indulge in the famous "Smitty burger". Some may even consider it to be a "dive" or a "hole in the wall". Just this past summer, our fifteen year high school reunion was held at Smitty's. Some of us would have preferred somewhere a little nicer, but we sucked it up and enjoyed our reunion outside on the patio at Smitty's. Not one of us would've thought that the President would ever dine at Smitty's, but today he did.
His 24-car motorcade pulled up outside of Smitty's this afternoon and the President dined on his very own Smitty burger, a thin hamburger patty with shredded lettuce, sliced pickles and a dressing somewhat like tartar sauce (delicious). The President's lunch set him back about $4.35. It seems he even bought lunch for some of the regulars.

My phone was ringing off the hook as my girlfriends called to tell me about this. We all laughed and chuckled, remembering just months ago when we stood in the very same spot doing shots with our graduating class.

Here is a picture of me (on the far right) with some friends inside Smitty's this summer.

Here's to my hometown and yours! Let's hope for a brighter tomorrow!

Pretzel Baguettes and Cheese of the Month: Red Dragon with Mustard Seeds and Ale

It's no secret that I love bread and cheese. I may have even shared my unnatural love for mustard a time or two. Imagine my surprise when I found this Red Dragon Mustard Seed and Ale Cheese for sale at my Whole Foods. There was only one wedge left and it had my name written all over it. As I stared at the cheese, admiring it's red casing and it's visual appeal, I started to daydream about all the ways I could use it. I must have been off in another world, which happens a lot by the way, because the cheesemonger was talking to me and I didn't hear him. He said "We have a pretzel baguette that goes great with that cheese." MAMA SAY WHAT?

Imagine my delight at the words he spoke! Pretzel baguette. That's genius, I thought to myself, as I squealed in delight running to the bread section. However, he also mentioned "if we have any left", which kinda of made my stomach sink a little. It must have been my lucky day because there were several pretzel baguettes sitting in the basket and I was in love with them. I picked up two baguettes at $1.99 each and went happily to see the cashier.
We know that pretzels pair well with mustard and we also know they pair well with cheese, but cheese with mustard - yum!

Results/Notes: This is a classic combination. Both the pretzel baguette and the mustard seed and ale cheese were wonderful. The baguette was just like a soft pretzel, but in loaf form; soft and chewy. The cheese is a tangy Welsh Cheddar, made from pasteurized milk, mixed with mustard seeds and ale. It is creamy and almost spreadable at room temperature. Besides pairing well with the pretzel baguette, this cheese would be a great addition to any sandwich that would otherwise call for mustard. I think it would also be great melted into Welsh Rarebit or even added into some homemade macaroni and cheese. This is a great combination for any Superbowl parties coming up. All in all, it was fairly inexpensive. The baguettes are only $1.99 each and my wedge of cheese was about $4. A somewhat healthy and unique snack for around $5. These two goodies get a definite "thumbs up" from me and I will seek them out each and every time I happen to get to Whole Foods.

If you don't happen to have a Whole Foods in your area, you can buy this cheese online at Amazon, here. More often than not, you can ask your cheesemonger for specific items and they will order them for you without the added shipping charges.

In case you would like to try your own pretzel baguette, there is a link to a recipe here. I haven't tried this recipe, but I would definitely like to.

This is the first in my series for Cheese of the Month. Each month I am going to try a new cheese and feature it alone or in a recipe.

Alton Brown's Roast Turkey, Questions, and Awards

Okay, Thanksgiving is long gone and Christmas is in full swing, but let's talk turkey for a minute. Awhile back, I found Alton Brown's recipe for his Good Eats Roast Turkey while searching the recipes at Food Network. I am very big on searching recipes according to their ratings and was surprised to find that Alton's turkey recipe had been reviewed 2709 times and carried a five star rating!! Never in all of my recipe searches have I seen anything reviewed so many times and given such a high rating. I knew that I was going to have to try this recipe for my Thanksgiving turkey.

Here is a quick summary of how the recipes goes. First the turkey is brined. I had brined my turkey last year, using a Martha Stewart recipe and had good results, so I was all for brining another turkey. I prepared the brine, stuffed the turkey in a newly purchased tub large enough to hold it all, and crammed it into the refrigerator in the garage to "brine" for several hours. On Thanksgiving morning, the turkey was rubbed down with Canola oil and stuffed with a red apple, an onion and some other miscellaneous aromatics. It was roasted, uncovered, at a high temperature , 500F, for 30 minutes. After that first 30 minutes, the turkey had a very nice caramel color to it and the oven was reduced to 350 for the remainder of the roasting time, 2 hours.

Alton Brown's recipe for roast turkey can be found here on the Food Network. You can also find a review about this recipe on Teresa's blog, A Blog About Food. Teresa gave the recipe four out of five stars.

Notes/Results: When the turkey was removed from the oven it had an absolutely breathtaking color. It was the most beautiful turkey I've ever cooked. (Too bad I didn't have a chance to take a proper picture of it). My husband carved it up and plated it and we sat down to eat. I was expecting the turkey to really stand out and it didn't. It looked beautiful on the platter, but it tasted just like any other turkey I've ever had. It was moist, but it wasn't anything special. In fact, my mom had brought a small baked ham and everyone seemed to enjoy the ham more. Most of the turkey was left on the platter when the dinner was over. I have to say that I might give the recipe 3 or 3.5 stars out of 5. Pretty on the plate, but nothing great.

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This leads to me to the burning question -- DO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY LIKE TURKEY? DO YOU PREFER TURKEY OVER HAM OR DO YOU PREFER HAM OVER TURKEY? For example, my family told me they wanted turkey for Thanksgiving, so I prepared it and they ended up eating mostly the ham. I think people have to have the turkey setting on the table for Thanksgiving, but don't always want to eat it given the choice between ham and turkey. What do you think?

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The week of Thanksgiving I was given some awards and I am terribly late in saying thank you! Thank you to everyone who shared these awards with me. I feel terrible it has taken me so long to post them, but it has been crazy here lately.

From Chaya of Chaya's Comfy Cook Blog, I received the Honest Scrap Award! Thanks Chaya!

From Nat of Nat's Baking in New York City, I recieved the Happy Mama Award! Thanks Nat!

From Lissaloo at One Step at a Time I received this Sugar Doll Blogger Award. Thanks Lissaloo!


From Rhandi at Straight up Good Food, I received the Kreativ Blogger award. Thanks Rhandi!

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I would love to pass and share these awards with everyone. A couple of these awards ask that you share ten things about yourself. I decided to share ten things I'm wanting to cook and/or bake:

1. Alex Guarneschilli's Cheese Fondue Hash Browns, found here. Toasty hash brown potatoes cooked in a cast iron skilled and topped with an entire wheel of Camembert - Hello...does that sound delicious or what?'
2. I'm on a roll here...Alex Guarneschilli's Spice-Rubbed Bacon with Fried Eggs and Toast Soldiers, found here. Alex takes thick hand cut slices of slab bacon, slathers them in spices and fries them. Fries her eggs in the bacon drippings, basting her eggs with bacon drippings while frying. Basting fried eggs with bacon drippings....hmm...
3. On a roll with breakfast foods, I'd also like to try Pioneer Woman's Bacon, Onion & Cheddar Biscuits, found here. Drool-worthy!
4. On my Christmas cookie list are our favorite traditional cookie we make each Christmas, the peanut butter blossom (a peanut butter cookie with a Hershey kiss in the middle).
5. We have really enjoyed the Cheeseburger Soup recipe that I made last month and have made it twice since then. It is one of our new favorites.
6. In love with Ellie Krieger's new book, So Easy, I've been wanting to make her Emerald Stir-Fry with Beef. A tasty sounding stir fry with all kinds of green veggies.
7. Tamales. I have always wanted to make them, but I never get around to it.
8. Jamie Oliver's Pasta with Camembert Cheese, found here.
9. Baklava, never made it before, but it is one of my favorite things to eat.
10. Chicken Fajitas - anyone have a great recipe?

Hence, the next question: with the exception of Ellie's Emerald Stir-Fry with Beef, none of the other recipes are very healthy at all. I can't make them all back to back, but which ones should I start with? Which ones sound the best to you?

After all, I think the holidays deserve some decadence, don't you?

The Incredible Food Show & Suggestions

The Incredible Food Show was sponsored by Kentucky Proud, a "buy local" initiative created by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Inside of the convention center there were over 100 booths and tables set up with local suppliers. There were so many different foods to sample and they were all local creations.

There were local wines; cheeses; chocolates; local dairy barns with ice cream; bakeries with cupcake buffets; barbecue stations; gourmet sea salts and spices; fishmarkets, beef, lamb and goat farmers; jams, jellies & preserves; gourmet foods; and of course everything made with Bourbon. After all, if there is one thing that Kentucky is famous for, it would be bourbon. What is your area famous for?

There were also local restaurants and caterers with stations set up like this for food demonstrations. I went to one presentation on cheesemaking, which was really interesting. It was put on by Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese. I was hoping it would be more about the process of making cheese, but the owner shared some interesting stories of how he got started. He also said that dairy farmers are really having a hard time right now. Evidently, when the milk goes to market, it is selling for the same price it sold for back in the 70's. Because of the low prices for milk, he is converting even more and more of his milk into cheese products and is thankful that there is such a huge market for cheese.
I loved these Halloween-themed wines. They were $15 a bottle, but I didn't buy any. I am slapping myself for that now. Aren't they cute?
After much shopping around, I bought these two products below from Bourbon Barrel Foods. Their foods are aged in bourbon barrels, leaving a slight hint of bourbon in the products. The Bourbon Vanilla Sugar smells so good and is made with demerara (raw cane sugar) and vanilla beans. The Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt smells slightly smoky.

I would love to hear your ideas and thoughts about how I can use these two products. I definitely want to make a steak and serve the bourbon smoked sea salt on top. Besides the steak, I can't think of how else to use the bourbon smoked sea salt. I'm looking forward to some great suggestions.

Bobby Flay Loves to Talk With His Hands

I thought it was the Italians that were known for talking with their hands? Maybe it's the Irish that love to talk with their hands. In fact, this was one of the first things I noticed about Bobby Flay. The man loves to talk with his hands. I thought it was rather cute. He was very animated and all, but I really wanted a picture of his face. In addition to talking with his hands (a lot), he is also a very quick mover. I did manage some better pics, that I will post tomorrow. In the meantime, I thought these were cute.

I also wanted to say thanks to everyone for all your sweet comments yesterday! I love reading my comments and yesterday's were filled with very kind words. I treasured them all!
In both of these pictures (above and below) Bobby is extolling the virtues of Jif peanut butter. He used peanut butter in a glaze/sauce for some ribs that he made. Bobby shared with us that Jif was his favorite brand. He likes creamy in recipes and chunky on his sandwiches. He also said that you could use natural peanut butter, but that he doesn't like the way it separates. He said he prefers the stabilizers in Jif. Everyone in the audience laughed when he said that.
In the picture below, Bobby is talking about his visit the night before to Malone's. Malone's is a very popular steakhouse in Lexington. It's a very nice restaurant, but one that most people can afford to go to here and there. Nothing super duper fancy. He was telling us that they made him wait in line to sit down. He seemed to like that. Later on, he asked the waiter for a specialty aged bourbon that had been aged six years. He was visited by the chef a couple of minutes later. The chef apologized that they were all out of the specialty bourbon. Instead, the chef offered Bobby some 25 year aged specialty bourbon that he kept in his car!! Bobby really enjoyed the fact that this chef kept 25 year aged bourbon in his car. He did end up having some of that bourbon. This picture is him laughing about his experience at Malone's.
In the picture below, Bobby is busy making my apple dessert. I took this picture while I was standing in line to talk to him. An eleven-year old boy had just asked him what his favorite foods were while he was growing up. He explained that he LOVED deviled eggs, pudding, and lamb with mint jelly. Moments later, he laughed and said that was the "entire extent of his mother's cooking repertoire". Bobby turned the question around and asked the young boy what his favorite foods were. The boy replied salmon and artichokes, which made Bobby laugh. He teased the young boy, telling him that he had just learned what an artichoke was this year. He followed that up by saying how great it is that everyone was interested and learning all about food. He said he hoped that the Food Network had played a big role in that. I was the next person up in line and I shared that I had been watching him on the Food Network for years. I have to say that the Food Network has taught people a lot about food and how to cook. It was their cooking shows that inspired me to get in the kitchen. I, myself, have learned a lot watching the Food Network channel.

Don't you just love the way he's using his hands in every picture? There is a lot I could say about this, but I'll stop here. You know where I'm going anyway:D I'll have some more pictures tomorrow, along with some stories that Bobby shared with us.

I didn't get around to making this week's My Girl Paula selection. My weekend was too busy, and my hubby was sick. This week's selection was Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle and I bet it was delicious!! Head on over to see how everyone else enjoyed it. I'll be back to My Girl Paula next week with Mini Mummies, a great Halloween recipe for the kids!!