Seriously, check them out.
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| Pheasant Valley Winery, Hood River, OR - Primativo |
Friday, September 3, 2010
Middle Class Eats
Although we may only be middle-class citizens, we eat very well. Very, very well. Tonight I marinated top sirloin (not my favorite, but on sale) steaks in my own special sauce, blanched more of the delicious fresh picked green beans Ollie's Mom gave us, and broiled some artisan garlic bread. Oh-em-gee.
We are huge steak lovers around this house. I have yet to eat dinner, but as my sister at Wine Induced Eats does, we have picked the perfect wine for our "American red meat and potatoes dinner". Pheasant Valley Winery in my hometown Hood River, OR, makes a delicious Primativo. My all time favorite there is the Syrah, but hey, a girl can't complain about any red wine.
Fresh veggies from the garden couldn't go any better... for middle class folk, we sure eat well.
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| Marinating Top Sirloin Steaks |
Fresh veggies from the garden couldn't go any better... for middle class folk, we sure eat well.
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| Barbecued Top Sirlon, Blanched Fresh Green Beans, Baked Potato, and Garlic Artisan Bread.... |
Peanut Butter Jelly Time!
Sometimes I revert back to my childhood, when my Mom would make me delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Lunch today - Grapes, Organic/All Natural Peanut Butter and Oregon Marionberry jelly on whole wheat. I recently watched a show on "sprucing up your PB&J" where they made their own peanut butter, added bacon, jalapenos, honey, ... all sorts of random things, and to top it all off, pressed like a panini. For the love of PB&J, I think I might try one of these "creations" next time.
Coconut Macaroons were definitely delicious. A little much condensed milk, but it just made them gooey-er, and sweeter. Not for people that only "like" coconut, this is specifically for the coconut lovers out there. I dipped the bottom in chocolate... Next time I am going to submerge them in chocolate, like a coconut chocolate ball... with something else? Peanut butter? The possibilities are endless.
Coconut Macaroons were definitely delicious. A little much condensed milk, but it just made them gooey-er, and sweeter. Not for people that only "like" coconut, this is specifically for the coconut lovers out there. I dipped the bottom in chocolate... Next time I am going to submerge them in chocolate, like a coconut chocolate ball... with something else? Peanut butter? The possibilities are endless.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Macaroon.... So close to Macaroni
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| Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons |
Despite my late arrival home, after my insane shopping spree (see http://keraemi.blogspot.com) ... I stuck to my original plan of Coconut Macaroons, by request of my co-worker.
Until this blog, I had stuck with "safe" recipes. Things I was pretty sure, or always sure they would turn out fabulous. I am excited about these trials and errors.
The Macaroons are cooling, if I can keep my eyes open long enough to melt some chocolate and dip them... I will. Otherwise they will have to be as is. Fair? I haven't tasted one yet, but anything with coconut and sweetened condensed milk is worth five extra pounds in my book.
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| Cooling Macaroons |
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Viennese Attempt Number 2
Totally not stubborn. I tried once again to perfect these Viennese Fingers, with the self-rising flour that I neglected to use yesterday. Is this simple 5 ingredient recipe really that hard?
They are... interesting. I used my trusty pastry bag, but the dough was so thick this time that it was nearly impossible to make them all the same shape. They look like... dog treats!
I can't quite describe the taste. They are thick and very buttery. This time I drizzled chocolate over the top (you are supposed to dip them in chocolate, but I was afraid of them crumbling again). I can relate them somewhat to shortbread cookies. I could see these as being a very good "tea" cookie, or almost closer to a biscuit. There is very little sugar, and they are extra salty because of the self-rising flour... but the taste is there. Odd, but still there.
No, I am definitely not giving up on these cookies, but I will be trying something different tomorrow... To be determined after I get a good nights rest.
Mmmm....
Forgive my poor camera... can you even decipher what these are? Haaaa!
They are... interesting. I used my trusty pastry bag, but the dough was so thick this time that it was nearly impossible to make them all the same shape. They look like... dog treats!
I can't quite describe the taste. They are thick and very buttery. This time I drizzled chocolate over the top (you are supposed to dip them in chocolate, but I was afraid of them crumbling again). I can relate them somewhat to shortbread cookies. I could see these as being a very good "tea" cookie, or almost closer to a biscuit. There is very little sugar, and they are extra salty because of the self-rising flour... but the taste is there. Odd, but still there.
No, I am definitely not giving up on these cookies, but I will be trying something different tomorrow... To be determined after I get a good nights rest.
Mmmm....
Forgive my poor camera... can you even decipher what these are? Haaaa!
After
Cooling
Yup, this is what I ate today...
One of my favorite things to do is tell my Mom, or sister, (and sometimes poor Ollie) what I ate that day. Today, you are my audience.
For breakfast, I had my favorite Greek Chobani Yogurt (I prefer raspberry) with a little granola. Have you tried Greek Yogurt? You should. Anything that tastes that good that is only 120 calories and has 10 grams of protein should be included in my diet.
A plain ol' PB&J for lunch on whole wheat, with organic all natural peanut butter for lunch and let me tell you, it totally makes a difference. Aaaaand I snacked on some grapes. Decent! Until...
My sweet sweet co-worker, decided I needed to go up a pant size and Sarah and I consumed an afternoon snack of German Chocolate Cake. Not homemade, but still delicious. Mmmmm
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Viennese Fingers... or as I call them, ice cream toppings
Once again, a rough day at work called for a night of soothing relief. I pulled out my favorite cookbook 1001 cupcakes and searched through for a simple recipe. Chocolate Dipped Viennese Fingers sounded perfect.
Dinner tonight was one of my favorites as a child.... well and still is. My Mom called it "hamburger gravy". There's no gravy in it, but plenty of ground beef. All it consists of is mashed potatoes (I always make homemade), browned ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, and a little milk. We blanched more of Ollie's (the boyfriend) Mom's green beans... delicious.
I must have been distracted, because instead of reading the recipe the right way, I omitted the self rising flour and used all-purpose flour. Big mistake. I even got out my trusty pastry bag and shaped them into 2 1/2 inch stars. All that effort, and they completely fell flat. Crumbled everywhere. They tasted delicoius, but that was not the point! (ha) I wanted them to look nice. So as my frustration grew, I figured I would put them in a tupperware container and crumble over vanilla ice cream. Delicious! With such few ingredients, it had the prefect butter/sugar taste. It would have made a delicious cookie.
Time to invest in self-rising flour.
Mmmm....
Dinner tonight was one of my favorites as a child.... well and still is. My Mom called it "hamburger gravy". There's no gravy in it, but plenty of ground beef. All it consists of is mashed potatoes (I always make homemade), browned ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, and a little milk. We blanched more of Ollie's (the boyfriend) Mom's green beans... delicious.
I must have been distracted, because instead of reading the recipe the right way, I omitted the self rising flour and used all-purpose flour. Big mistake. I even got out my trusty pastry bag and shaped them into 2 1/2 inch stars. All that effort, and they completely fell flat. Crumbled everywhere. They tasted delicoius, but that was not the point! (ha) I wanted them to look nice. So as my frustration grew, I figured I would put them in a tupperware container and crumble over vanilla ice cream. Delicious! With such few ingredients, it had the prefect butter/sugar taste. It would have made a delicious cookie.
Time to invest in self-rising flour.
Mmmm....
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Messy Chocolate Heaven
As a huge lover of all things "gluten", I was anxious to try this recipe for a flourless/gluten free cake. Normally when I make a cake, I cheat. I have only once before made a delicious, from scratch, german chocolate cake with a coconut pecan frosting. It was a little dense, but moist, rich, and everything you would want a cake to be. The effort put into that cake was well worth it, but definitely not when you're in a hurry. This gluten free cake? Easier than I ever imagined.
Instead of the traditional cake, I decided to make these into cupcakes. Definitely was the wrong choice. The cake batter easily formed to the sides of the cupcake tins and was nearly impossible to get the whole thing out, in one piece. I had neglected to try them right away... I will honestly say I was nervous. I definitely gave myself an "F" for presentation, but after my little brother tested the first one ... and the second one... I gave it the go ahead.
This is not a cupcake. This is more like the most perfect brownie. Gooey. The perfect density. Chocolatey but not too rich. Wow. After I realized they were something I was not going to toss in the garbage, I decided to make the peanut butter buttercream frosting. This was to die for. Why have I never thought of peanut butter frosting before?! It is creamy with the perfect sweet/salty mix. I had to step away before I ate all of them, and wasn't able to show you my messy masterpiece.
Next time: Doubling the batch, using a cake pan, and eating the entire thing.
Instead of the traditional cake, I decided to make these into cupcakes. Definitely was the wrong choice. The cake batter easily formed to the sides of the cupcake tins and was nearly impossible to get the whole thing out, in one piece. I had neglected to try them right away... I will honestly say I was nervous. I definitely gave myself an "F" for presentation, but after my little brother tested the first one ... and the second one... I gave it the go ahead.
This is not a cupcake. This is more like the most perfect brownie. Gooey. The perfect density. Chocolatey but not too rich. Wow. After I realized they were something I was not going to toss in the garbage, I decided to make the peanut butter buttercream frosting. This was to die for. Why have I never thought of peanut butter frosting before?! It is creamy with the perfect sweet/salty mix. I had to step away before I ate all of them, and wasn't able to show you my messy masterpiece.
Next time: Doubling the batch, using a cake pan, and eating the entire thing.
Garden Fresh
As much as I am obsessed with sweets, sugar isn't sustainable energy. I do love anything and everything food. Within the last few years I have learned to appreciate my body and put good things into it, as well as the occasional treat... or two.
My boyfriend's mother has the most glorious garden. Right now, during peak time for her vegetables and flowers, the garden looks like a jungle. Sunflowers hanging over rows and rows of green beans. Yellow squash so sweet and tender, it almost melts in your mouth. Cucumbers fresh, and perfectly crisp.
Our dinner last night was all things vegetable. Fresh green beans, blanched in water with a tiny bit of salt. Yellow squash sliced, with a brush of olive oil and parmesan, baked to perfection. Baked potato, and a small green salad with fresh spinach, peppers, and avocado. Vegetables never used to be my thing. But these? I could have eaten that squash for days.
Forgive my photography skills... it's another thing on my list of improvements.
My boyfriend's mother has the most glorious garden. Right now, during peak time for her vegetables and flowers, the garden looks like a jungle. Sunflowers hanging over rows and rows of green beans. Yellow squash so sweet and tender, it almost melts in your mouth. Cucumbers fresh, and perfectly crisp.
Our dinner last night was all things vegetable. Fresh green beans, blanched in water with a tiny bit of salt. Yellow squash sliced, with a brush of olive oil and parmesan, baked to perfection. Baked potato, and a small green salad with fresh spinach, peppers, and avocado. Vegetables never used to be my thing. But these? I could have eaten that squash for days.
Forgive my photography skills... it's another thing on my list of improvements.
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