well, i attempted to make my falafel i talked about, but i ended up burning it... smoke detector went off and everything. word to the wiser than me, when you are cooking something in hot oil, don't turn your back to shape pita bread dough. make the pita bread before or after the thing on the stove. so we ended up going to five guys when ez came home, after a few tears from me. it was interesting. i was really looking forward to falafel!
i did make some really good waffles saturday morning. i used a recipe from my vintage better homes and garden's cookbook, sour cream waffles. they turned out really good. they were light and fluffy, and i put some fresh strawberry slices on them. the batter is a little thicker than i'm used to for wallfles, but once you add the egg white it really fluffs up the batter and it's easier to pour out. speaking of waffles, someday i want to try experimenting with "savory" waffles instead of sweet breakfast-type waffles. anyone ever done this?
i'm not really sure what year this is from, i'm guessing the 50's
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg yolk
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
3 tbsp melted butter
1 stiff-beaten egg white
mix first 5 ingredients in a bowl. mix next ingredients up to egg white. add to flour mixture. fold in egg white and cook in waffle iron. makes 4 waffles
i took a jog and decided to pick some weeds by the side of the road and put them in a jar. i like this look, i find it very rustic and unfussy.
i wanted to share with you my little herb
garden. now, all my life i have been a brown thumb. potted plants last
maybe a week with me. but, i decided i really wanted to have my own herb
garden and i really pushed myself to make it happen. i read all kinds
of articles and watched youtube videos on the subject. now, i have a
tiny apartment with a balcony that gets a sliver of sunlight, so i
wasn't sure it would work out.
i started with a set of lavender
seeds in a pot i got marked wayy down. that way, i figured if they die,
it's not like i spent all my savings on it. when the seeds sprouted, i
did a little dance all around my apartment, then went on to oregano and
parsley seeds. the parsley went really well, the lavender started ok
then died, and the oregano sprouted but didn't get as high as the
parsley so i chucked it.
i ended up
buying rosemary, oregano, thyme, peppermint and sage plantings at trader
joe's. i planted them in old tea tins. i threw a few rocks in the
bottom, filled it with soil and coffee grounds for fertilizer, planted
and prayed. well, they are thriving! i've picked and dried little cuttings of all of them and have been using them all spring. i don't get a huge amount, but what i get is perfect for 2 people to eat fresh and have enough to dry for later.
i also put some garlic cloves in an old bowl and now have garlic chives!
it is such a satisfying feeling to go onto your deck, pick some oregano and throw it in your salad. it tastes so good because you grew it! i never knew i could know this satisfaction. i never thought i would be a plant person, but here i am. i have a garden!
Today has been one of those rare, blissful Saturdays. Sleeping in, Starbucks breakfast, first day of the farmer's market, walking around downtown and getting our special cinnamon hot chocolate. The day will end with a family St. Patrick's Day dinner of corned beef and cabbage and a birthday celebration for my sister, though her birthday is actually Tuesday.
Being from Chicago, St. Patrick's Day has always been a big deal, even though we aren't catholic. I think I just liked the huge parade, dying the Chicago River green, drinking green river pop and eating corned beef and cabbage with red potatoes and plenty of mustard! But out here in the pacific northwest, where there aren't as many people of Irish descent, it's not such a big deal. It's just another day to everyone. Today, as I was looking for spots of green on people (and not seeing a lot!) I was trying to contemplate why I even acknowledge this holiday. I am not catholic, only partly Irish (altogether, I think I'm half) and I don't drink so the idea of drinking "green beer"is just repulsive. I suppose it's the idea of festivities that I enjoy. It's just one of those extra holidays to break up the mid-winter blues, have a special meal, and wear green. I like the idea of everyone wearing something in the same color on the same day. It's something small that, for a day, unites a random group of people. It's not about making a political statement, or a religious stance, or awareness for some disease; it's just a festive day that people can celebrate. Yes, it is considered a religious holiday, but it's still a fun day of spontaneous celebration! And, the idea of everyone having to wear green is pretty awesome to me, cause green is the best color, so everyone should wear it every day anyway. So, those are my thoughts on this holiday.
Of course, there wasn't a vast array of vegetables at the market, but I was able to score my favorite salad mix! I put together a little video showing my haul and how I wash and store my vegetables. Have a gander!
ps-this video doesn't show it very well, but my sweater is actually kelley green, not hunter. just wanted to clarify!
pps-first video on the ipad! lol
Are you new to the world of cooking? If so, you may want to check out my latest video, a look at some essential kitchen tools you need to start cooking like a grown-up! I also give my own personal "3 cooking rules" Hope this helps you figure out some things you will need and don't need in your kitchen! of course, if you're an accomplished cook, you most likely know all about what I go over.
This was my first experience editing a video!
I just have to share some kitchen gadgets I've been daydreaming about lately. I cook, but I want to love cooking. I find myself drawn to kitchen gadgets in stores, I probably get that from my mom. Some are cool, but some seem like a waste of money as I think "I could just do that with a butter knife.." BUT these adorable gadgets are perfectly useful would make anyone passionate about cooking!
measuring spoons from anthropologie
whale cutting board
this was a Urban Outfitters, but I can't find it on their website
cutest measuring cups ever!
i LOVE this butter dish!
also from anthropologie
tea towels make me smile :)
Rachel Ray "lil huggers"
OK- I think I like the name and the color more than the item itself...
lil huggers! so fun to say!
gadgets I'm wanting right now: a cupcake holder for taking snacks to sunday school
cake decorating kit
pastry brush
kitchen goody I just bought today: deep dish pizza pan!!
I have been getting Woman's Day magazine and I have no idea why. I usually flip through it, it's a tad old for me. But in this past issue they had some slow cooker recipes. We recieved a slow cooker for a wedding presend and I have yet to use it. I don't really know any good recipes, but since I'm getting yhis magazine I might as well get some use out of it, and use my crock pot at the same time!
And it just so happens that I'm a fool for barbeque pork sandwiches, which was one of the recipes! I wasn't too crazy about the sauce, I can't really put my finger on what was wrong with the flavor, but I think it turned out pretty good for my first venture with the crock pot! :) And instead of making them sliders and using small rolls, I just used regular sized buns. I also left out the scallions, maybe that was the missing ingredient... Here is the recipe:
South Carolina BBQ Pork Sliders
Serves 8 Active: 15 min Total: about 8 to 10 hr on low
1 slow-cooker liner (we used Reynolds) 1⁄4 cup packed brown sugar 2 Tbsp each paprika and dried minced onion 1 1⁄2 tsp salt-free chili powder 1 1⁄2 tsp salt 1⁄2 tsp garlic powder 1⁄2 tsp allspice (optional) 4 lb bone-in pork shoulder roast 3⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar 1⁄2 cup sliced scallions 24 small dinner rolls, split Accompaniments: hot pepper sauce, coleslaw
1. Line a 4-qt or larger slow-cooker with liner. Mix 1 Tbsp of the brown sugar, the paprika, minced onion, chili powder, salt, garlic powder and allspice. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp into bottom of slow-cooker. Rub remaining mixture over pork. Add vinegar and remaining brown sugar to slow-cooker; stir to mix. Add pork. 2. Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours until pork is fork-tender. Remove pork to cutting board and pull into shreds. Return to slow-cooker; add scallions and toss to coat. 3. Put about 1⁄4 cup onto each bun bottom. Top with bun tops.
Today I made limeaid for the first time. I've only ever had it at sonic (oh how I love thee..) Apparently Ezra's grandma makes it a lot. We don't have a juicer, so I have Ezra squeeze them all by hand (heehee). I was soo good and refreshing, one sip and I was instantly transported to a world of summer and warmth and lazy days. Ah, lovely limeaid. I think we need to get some more limes. And a juicer. And a bigger pitcher.
I'm adding my little recipe just in case:
4 limes
1quart water
1/2 cup sugar
Squeeze limes and swoosh together in a pitcher. I added some lime wedges and ice to the pitcher.
