Pies and the Like

I pride myself on making desserts from scratch, or at least buying from a place that you know makes them homemade. That's why on Thanksgiving morning, when I asked Amy where that homemade pumpkin pie she promised to bring was, I was directed to an ENTENMANN'S BOX!

The nerve! I give up one of my greatest joys- bringing a homemade pie with homemade pie crust, even if it isn't that good, to the table- and what does she do? Humiliate me! Embarrass me! The only reason I had even allowed Amy that one dessert responsibility was because she knew of a pie-sale fundraiser in her hometown. Fine, I thought, it's for a good cause...

I'm usually a fan on Entennmann's- for a mass-produced baked goods company, they actually make some not half-bad stuff. But never good enough for Thanksgiving!

As I placed my homemade desserts on the table at Thanksgiving, my Apple Pie got some covetous looks. My Pecan Tart even got a couple of "oohs" and "ahhs." The Pumpkin Pie got a cool glance. (Which I was secretly happy about.)

I also had made these delicious Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, which I found on the "Baked Perfection" blog. They are amazing! Mine came out a little chewy on the inside, and when heated in the microwave for a few seconds, remind me of delicious brownies. Perfect with a nice tall glass of milk, and I think good enough for Santa!

I got pretty into the whole pie dough this year- I tried very hard to keep my butter cold, and I made the stuff on Sunday to reheat on Thursday. I think they turned out pretty great, but I'm still learning. I even used little fall-themed cookie cutters to make great decorations on top. Check out the photos below! (You can see the decorations on my Apple Pie got a bit burnt...but still tasty!)







What do you pride yourself on during the holidays! And do you think a homemade pie or other dessert is worth all that trouble like I do?

Thanksgiving Prep!

It's has been such a long time since I last posted! I am pleased to say that I am gainfully (and happily) employed, and will be moving out of the parents' house in a few months. I don't really have much time for cooking anymore, and I rarely go grocery shopping. It's been a bummer, but I'm pysched for thanksgiving!

So usually every year, it's just my immediate family- mom, dad, sister. This year, however, our aunt, uncle and cousin are coming! This means that I won't get to wear PJs or sweatpants to dinner (bummer), but it's really exciting planning a real menu and cooking for people other than my direct family. My sister and I, being the nerds that we are, created a Google docs spreadsheet to organize what we're serving, what needs to go in the oven when, and what ingredients we need to buy. I keep adding and changing the menu everyday, which she gets pissed about. She literally said that we have too much food. What?! Never!

Here's what's on the menu. Suggestions would be GREAT.

Appetizers/Apertifs
-Prosecco with cranberries in the bottom of the glass
-Martinis (amy doesn't know about this yet. but i might want to make a martini.)
-Salmon and dill with creme freche on toasts
-Datiles (dates wrapped in bacon)
-Shrimp cocktail
-Gougeres (Amy might make them)
-Cocktail Weenies (my dad still loves them)
-Cheese and grape platter (cheddar, muenster, brie, gouda)

I think that's simple enough for 7 people. I'm not a cheese person, so I'm going to rely on my sister (Amy) to help pick out crowd-pleasers. I'm hoping it won't be anything too stinky. I am proud to announce I have broadened my horizons and enjoy non-melted cheddar cheese. BIG step for me.

Dinner
-Turkey (I think we're doing a brine- something Amy will be in charge of)
-Cranberry Jelly (my aunt is bringing)
-Cornbread (my aunt is bringing)
-Thyme-Sourdough stuffing
-Yam Casserole (would it be thanksgiving without it??)
-Mashed Potatoes (the best ever, with the use of my new food mill!)
-Green Beans (probably just plain steamed)
-Glazed carrots
-Homemade traditional gravy
-Corn with Mint (from a NYTimes article here)
-Ready-to-bake rolls

We're mostly traditionalists when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, but I'm trying to push it a little bit this year. I love trying new things! I'm still convincing my sister on letting me make a Mushroom and Sweet Potato stuffing. With the dinner, we plan on serving Gewurstraminer wine, and maybe Riesling if people prefer that. We served the Gewurstraminer last year, and it went quite well.

Dessert
-Pecan Tart (I will make this tomorrow and keep it in the fridge until Thursday. I am told this will be fine)
-Splenda Apple Pie (I made it for my dad last year, and it was so delicious, my sister asked for it again this year!)
-Sugar-free and regular Vanilla Bean ice cream)
-Pumpkin Pie (Amy is bringing this up from a D.C. fundraiser)
-Cookies (Amy doesn't know this yet, but I am TOTALLY making this amazing-looking Chocolate Crinkle Cookies. I hope they last until Thursday!)
-Bailey's
-Coffee
-Blueberry Sour Cream Cake (my aunt is bringing)

Dessert is pretty much my territory, and I pride myself on not buying store-baked goods, although they are sometimes just as delicious. I am still debating if I want to make a homemade pie-crust this year. Last year, I used a box mix, and it was actually fluffy and delicious. (I know it sounds ridiculous, but trust me.)

Well as I said, we have quite a bit of preparation to do! I would also love to spruce up the table with some great decorations from Target, but I'm reluctant to go to the store. It's going to be nuts!

What dishes do you make on Thanksgiving? Anything special you're looking forward to?

A New Love

My boyfriend took me out to dinner for my birthday a few weeks ago, and I have to admit... I think I've found something new.

PORK BELLY.

I've been hearing all about the amazing pork belly, and so when Alex took me to the new Aureole in NY, I had to do it. The price of the meal was definitely not ideal, but it was completely worth it. The service, all of the little extras, and, of course, the food, were all amazing.

When it came time to order, I was undecided. I asked the waitress what pork belly was like- I'm pretty adventurous, but still want to know I'll enjoy my food. She simply asked me if I liked bacon, and that was that.

The dish was a "Lobster vs. Pork Belly"

The lobster had an almond foam over it, and the pork belly just melted in my mouth. I usually don't like fatty meat, but this wasn't just fat. It was silk.

I Really Am a Good Daughter...Really...

In the blur of BU Senior Week and Commencement (yes, I am officially a BU COM Alumn!), I completely forgot to send mom a card or any kind of gift for Mother's Day. I know we've all been there, but I felt extremely lame calling her up and offering an empty I.O.U.

So when I got home, I decided that instead of unpacking and doing laundry, I would bake her a cake. We all love coconut and any kind of tropical flavor, so I made a coconut cake with a key lime cream cheese frosting. I made a few slight variations on the frosting by adding 2 tbs butter, 3 tbs milk, more lime juice, and more powdered sugar. I even learned from my past mistakes and evened out the bottom cake with a long knife so it wouldn't look like the leaning tower of cake. I only got to taste the scraps, but they were awesome! I think all we need is a scoop of coconut ice cream, and we've got a delicious almost-summertime treat!

Oh, and I also listened to my friend Lauren's advice and I put a pan of water in the oven underneath the cake pans as they baked. It makes the cakes supermoist and delicious!

Help Someone Get Fed

As I was perusing through CNN's headlines today, I came across an inspiring and eye-opening article. It particularly struck me because, contrary to the name of my blog, there are far too many who don't have the luxury of experimenting with different ingredients or recipes. Many aren't even able to provide a daily meal for themselves.

An amazing man in Queens, with the help of his mother and sister, personally cooks homemade meals for the hungry. Their home-run organization is called An Angel in Queens. Every single evening at 9:30 after he returns from his job as a city bus driver, he delivers a hot meal, hot chocolate, and coffee to those waiting. He estimates that he's served roughly 70,000 meals so far.



Yes, things are tough in this economy, but that's not stopping Jorge Munoz from cooking many hot meals on his $600/week salary. If you have the means to eat three meals every day, can you spare something for this wonderful cause? If you don't have a few bucks to donate, they're also looking for items such as iced tea mix, jeans, and dry soap. Please visit the Web site for more information: http://www.anangelinqueens.org/

Sunday Meals

I love waking up on a Sunday morning and having the entire day to cook whatever my heart desires. Sometimes, you just have one of those perfect Sundays that aren't too lazy, and aren't too productive, and best of all- are absolutely delicious.

This morning, I made crepes and enjoyed mimosas with my boyfriend. I was surprised (and so was he) at how good the crepes came out because I had to use my roommate's Vanilla Soy Milk. They still tasted great, especially with a ton of Confectioner's Sugar, melted chocolate, and strawberry and cream cheese fillings. (The shells around the crepes are conch shells we found in Miami!) What a great way to start the day!




Throughout the entire week in Miami, my friend Leah and I were craving a good steak and potato dinner. So when we went to Shaw's today to make our Sunday dinner, it was like God wanted us to have steak! We got two large chuck steaks for $7! Talk about being economical.

To start, we had a salad with baby spninch, toasted walnuts, strawberries, Craisins, and a Raspberry Walnut spritzer dressing. It was a very refreshing and Spring-y salad.

We decided to brown the steaks, finish them off in the oven, and make a gravy with the juices. Leah made her amazing garlic mashed potatoes and her super fried onions (slightly crispy, but caramelized to perfection). It was exactly what we needed!






Since I can never not have dessert, we made a key lime pie... Very rich and delicious. That's for another post.

Enjoy your days off and make something you're craving!

Bienvenido A Miami

It's been more than a month since I last posted! With the craziness of school and extracurricular activities (aka PRSSA is my life), I've barely had time to cook anything more than a grilled cheese or Lean Cuisine.

Needless to say, spring break in Miami was an extremely welcomed and much needed vacation! Our crew of nine made meals consisting mostly of sandwiches, cereal, and pasta. One day, we did venture out to Puerta Sagua, a Cuban restaurant in South Beach. It was probably my first time having authentic Cuban food, and it was amazing! I'm such a sucker for plantains. I wasn't able to take any pictures, so here are some I found online.



Below is a picture of the dish I ordered: Roast Chicken served with fried plantains, white rice, and black beans. The chicken was so moist and juicy, and was seasoned amazingly. The white rice was just salty and slightly sticky enough, and the black beans were flavored with bay leaves and god knows what else. All in all, it was an awesome meal, and less than $10! It's easily enough for two meals, but I was, well...hungry!



My boyfriend got the Shredded Beef, also served with plantains, white rice, and black beans. The sauce was a little bit sweet but mostly savory and absolutely delicious. It basically looked like this:



If you're ever in Miami looking for a cheap and authentic meal, definitely head for Puerta Sagua. Delicioso!

Superbowl Sunday Recap

One of my roommates and I kind of went nuts with the Superbowl goodies. We actually ended up not having too many leftovers! It was totally worth spending the money and battling the massive lines on Superbowl Sunday at Shaw's, our local grocery store.

Menu:

-Erica's Mom's Seven Layer Dip (with minor changes): Refried beans, avacado, sour cream, taco seasoning, tomatoes, cheese, cucumber, lettuce

-Tostito's Lime Chips (SO good by themselves! We suspect there may be crack involved.)

-Fried Ravioli (Bertolli's because I can't really get fresh Ravioli in Allston.)

-Caprese Salad (Always a simple and easy crowd-pleaser. I was disappointed, though, because Shaw's ran out of fresh basil leaves! What is that?!)

-Homemade Pizza (Dough was only $1.50 from T Anthony's- a local, and only decent, pizzeria.)

Look at me throw the pizza! Just like the real Italians do it! I also made my own sauce (canned tomato puree, basil, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper- yum!) and grated my own fresh mozzerella. It was awesome.




-Veggies and Hummus

-Football Shaped Cookies (Complete with the most delicious chocolate frosting, ever! No pics available. :( )

Ode to Nutella

So my awesome friend Leah (we call her Naka) just summed up most people's feelings about Nutella:

"But I would eat Nutella on tissues."


She made this awesome Strawberry-Banana Bread last night, and she had expressed interest in experimenting with different topics. Apparently, the bar for what Nutella tops isn't set very high. I agree. Let's all just take a minute and thank whoever invented Nutella (the Italians?) for making the world a tastier place.

Take 2: Baking with Apples!

Due to certain New Year's resolutions (which haven't been adhered to very strictly...), I was searching for a great low-fat recipe with which to utilize my new mixer!

I was looking through the community cookbook, and found a low-fat apple cake. It sounded awesome, and doesn't use any butter at all. I'm really not one to favor any lack of butter- especially with baking, but I figured I'd give it a try because my sweet tooth is just plain out of control. I really don't think I'll be breaking any copyright rules posting the recipe, so here it is:


Pat's Low-fat Apple Cake

3 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 c sugar
1 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 oz applesauce
splash of milk
2 or 3 apples
Confectioners Sugar

Topping:
1/2 c brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tbs flour

Preheat the oven to 375. Spray square or round cake pan with cooking spray. Beat egg whites and vanilla together. Add sugar a little at a time. Sift together in a separate bowl flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to first mixture. Add applesauce and splash of milk. Beat until smooth. Add apples of your choice and pour into square or round cake pan. Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle on cake; bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

This cake is super moist and delicious! I really don't even miss the butter at all, and I didn't use any confectioners sugar. I think this is definitely something that'd be better served warm. It's interesting, because of the applesauce and all the apple slices, the texture reminded me a little bit like kugel. It's delicious!

I also started to think that I could make this for my dad, who is diabetic. I'm sure I could substitute both sugar components for the Splenda stuff, and get the no sugar added applesauce. This would be a much better option for him in the morning instead of pastries and coffee cake! I'm also thinking I could add oats to the recipe to give it extra texture, and extra healthiness.

Lesson Learned: I Don't Really Know How to Bake

My KitchenAid mixer was staring me in the face today, and I had to do something about it. So, I decided to look through my community cookbook from my home town and found a chocolate chip pound cake recipe. Baking is still pretty tricky for me, and now I know why even Top Chefs are scared to bake anything. The recipe called for a loaf pan, and I didn't have one, so I improvised... Lesson learned.

I used a muffin pan and a cupcake pan. The cupcake pan is actually pretty sick- my boyfriend got it for me last year for Christmas, and the cupcake pans are shaped like ice cream cones. I don't think I greased the pan enough, so I think I made a mistake there as well.

Take a look at the pictures. The things are ugly as hell, but tasty! A lot of them look and taste like muffin tops. And we know what the best part of a muffin is...

Chicken Marsala A La Marinello: Last Meal on Death Row Worthy!

So you've probably noticed in my list of favorite things is Chicken Marsala A La Marinello, which is chicken marsala made by my boyfriend and served with white rice and peas. I don't think I can give you the recipe since it's a family secret, but it's "sooo easy," and contains a ton of butter. It's one of my absolute favorite meals, so my boyfriend made it while we were visiting his friend Christian on New Year's Eve. It was a perfect way to end 2008!

Alex is a secret cook. He learned great Italian things (boppity boop for all you Family Guy fans) from his mother, who is the queen of the Shrimp Marinara a la Marinello, and so he cooks some staple dishes every once in a while. I'm not a huge fan of Chicken Cacciatore, but there's something about his sauce that is phenomenal. I think he almost burns the tomatoes and gets this awesome flavor out of them. Anyway, it's thanks to him that I really became interested in cooking well, and he's encouraged and supported me no matter what- even with my weird "experiments." Despite the rule that you never buy women any sort of kitchen appliance as a gift, he bought me a Cuisinart mixer for Christmas (that's what I wanted!), and I cannot WAIT to get back up to Boston to bake scrumptious treats!

I even joke around that if I were on death row, his chicken marsala would be my last meal. Too morbid? Nope. Just delicious!