apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Even though the last coule of days have felt positively spring-like here in Northern California, yesterday I cooked a batch of traditional Bolognese sauce. We had some for dinner last night over spinach tagliatelle and the rest went into the freezer for later use. Outside of that-bbq'd chicken tonight, and banana cupcakes for my daughter to take to school next week.

Tonight we'll have creamed chipped beef atop crusty baked potatoes. Stouffer's made the beef; I'll make the potatoes.

I bought farm fresh eggs yesterday and am about to go and make some turkey bacon, those eggs, and a couple of slices of toast. I've never had farm fresh eggs before and so I'm eager to taste them and see what everyone is raving about!

Last night was the big cooking night for me. I made salmon for the first time. It turned out wonderfully! I made it in parchment paper. I first slathered a bit (~1t) of butter, then put a handful of thinly sliced leeks, then the salmon, then a few slices of lemon. It cooked for about, oh, 15 minutes, and it was tasty and delicious. That was paired with some mushroom risotto and a nice salad.

But you know the winner of last night? The thing that everyone must try right now (if you don't have blood sugar problems, that is)? This recipe: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/RecipeDisplay?RID=192 I'm not kidding about this. If you love almonds (and who doesn't?!), then this is perhaps the most perfect cookie full of almond goodness EVER.

making dumplings with few friends and continue our effort to keep our spending on food and drinks below 100 dollars this month.

http://febchallenge.posterous.com/

David Lebovitz's version of Dave Lieberman's Braised Short Ribs with Hoisin Sauce. But I'm cooking it in the slow cooker.

http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2009/02/dave_ls_braised_short_ribs.html

I am having fun in my kitchen today. I started making a whole wheat pizza dough that is currently rising, I then jumped to the cheese crackers Mark Bittman featured earlier this month (one batch topped with cracked pepper and salt, the other with rosemary and salt), I have some peanut butter filled pretzels to coat in chocolate for my husband (belated v-day gift), I'll be putting on a pot of beans with herbs and wine to cook up for the week, and when the pizza dough is ready I'll be pulling out some frozen pureed basil and frozen veggies to make a pesto veggie pizza.

This really is a fun kitchen day. I'm listening to this week's podcast of the Splendid Table as well.

Just "harvested" my first living sprouts and ate them on thick-sliced multi grain bread with hummus.

I will be bottling my first batch of beer this weekend.

I am cooking up the 101 Cookbooks giant chipotle beans recipe. I heard about a wonderful italian bean called a borlotti bean. I wanted to try and get some so I went to the Italian DeLaurenti deli at Pike Place Market and asked where they had borlotti beans. After searching high and low I couldn't find any borlotti beans, so grabbed some cranberry beans because my bus was coming. At the checkout I was just about to complain about not finding any borlotti beans when I noted a small label on the bottom reading "borlot 0.8"...thus saving me humiliation. So these "Borlotti" beans are going into the recipe...

The recipe for the Chipotle beans is really good and the cilantro-garlic pesto is the perfect addition.

http://tinyurl.com/dx4txe This links to the earlier Kitchn article with the recipe link.

Mostly getting rid of leftovers from the week: hot & sour mushroom, cabbage & rice soup and a yellow rice & chicken dish. Will try a cabbage stroganoff recipe tonight to use up the leftover cabbage, and make up a new batch of hummus tomorrow.

I made "Snappy Lemon Cookies" with my 5 year old; it was fun, but they are almost all gone. They are "Snappy" because they are soooo lemony, the most lemony cookie I've ever had -- not because they are crunchy. Actually, the texture is almost cake-like -- tiny thin cakes. They are unlike any cookie recipe I have ever made and unlike any other lemon cookie recipe I have ever found. Earlier this year, I scared myself, and couldn't find the recipe. Thought it was lost -- had to call the friend I got the recipe from 18 years ago, but she had lost it too, and hadn't made them in a very long time. I found the recipe thank goodness! I may play around with them a bit, but I think part of what makes them so soft is also what makes them so good -- lots and lots of lemon juice.

Tomorrow, I make rapini and sausage pasta. I am beyond overjoyed at having found my favourite vegetable for the 3rd time in a year!!!

^ I love lemon cookies! Those sound delicious.

I cleaned out my fridge today! Totally satisfying task, and I managed to eat up all the leftovers at lunch.

Just finished baking a loaf of cheddar ale bread, and I put the other unbaked one in the fridge to see if it will be any tastier after a night's rest.

We're eating dinner out tonight, and I still haven't decided what to make for the Oscars tomorrow...

I'm currently waiting on a bunch of canellini beans with pork ribs (recipe from Meathenge) that are simmering away. They're turning out to be soupier than anticipated, but seem like they'll be very tasty nonetheless.

I tried to make a homemade version of Tastefully Simple's "Nana's Apple Cake." The results were not bad, but not good, either.

According to their ingredients list, all it has in it is: sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, and spice. Then you add 2 eggs to it and 2 cups of apples, bake 45 minutes at 350.

The weight of the mix is 16.5 ounces, so I figured 1 cup of sugar (8 oz.) and about 1.75 cups of flour (just under 8 oz.) since the other 3 ingredients wouldn't weigh much. I used 1 teaspoon of baking powder - I think I need to try a different brand. 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and then about 3/4 teaspoon of homemade apple pie spice.

When I added the 2 eggs, it was definitely not enough liquid. I ended up adding another egg and 3/4 cup of water to get the right consistency. But it was too tough, when it was cooked - too much flour? Maybe it should have been cake flour. Definitely needs more spice as well, the color was way off.

Mine domed, whereas the picture from their website shows a fairly flat cake. I think that has to do with the baking powder, I need to find one with the right chemicals, slower acting.

Started the day with a veggie filled frittata with fake sausage meat and cheddar. Yum. Than my husband made fresh baked french bread (dough was made in the bread machine, finished in the oven) while I made banana walnut muffins. Dinner was whole grain pasta with arugula, grape tomato, garlic, and fresh bread with lime olive oil. A cold day in NY but a warm day in the kitchen.

Left overs were on our menu, Speedy Pinto Beans, Indian Spiced Roasted Cauliflower and Potatoes, Cook's Illustrated French Chicken In A Pot. Planning to make a hugh quantity of Ya Ya Chicken Gumbo today. flfarmgirl http://www.barnappetit.com/

Matzo ball soup! I started some vegetable stock after breakfast yesterday and by lunchtime I had the (vegetarian) Jewish penicillin I was desperately in need of. Today I think I will make Pita bread and do something with butternut squash.

Making single-serving quiches tonight and maybe a bread pudding. I also want to make some muffins so I can avoid stopping for breakfast on my way to work.......

My house still smells good from the delicious pumpkin pancakes we made this morning.

Tonight, pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw and baked beans. I'm pretending it's summer. (snowing tonight)

I kept things very simple this past weekend: scrambled eggs with green chilies and I made a large pot of lentil and rice soup. Hearty and delicious.