.jpg)
I'm not sure these need much explanation, other than this recipe should come with a warning: Do not eat one unless you plan to eat at least four. The best part about these sticky buns? All the prep was done the night before. No waking up at 5 am to let the dough rise or assemble the buns.
I've decided to take back control of life, at least in those few areas where it might be possible. So on Sundays I sit down and try to make a plan for the coming week: meals, activities, goals, scheduled events. Last Sunday getting ahead of the game inspired a cooking frenzy - it helped that I didn't have to cook dinner (woe to live down the street from a pizza shop). I toasted grains for baby cereal, baked bread (!), simmered apricots and cooked lentils (more baby food).
The bread part required the most inspiration (and motivation). It was the 5th loaf of bread (4th variation) I've ever made (not including sweet breads - I know, shameful) and I wanted to try a new recipe. I'm on the hunt for the perfect whole wheat or whole grain, everyday bread recipe. I'm going to try to keep track of the different breads I make here so I can remember what's good.
I tried no-knead bread once - it was too dense and overall unimpressive. Then I made some Boston Brown Bread (recipe isn't online, but from one of my favorite cookbooks, The Vegetarian Planet). Yummy, gooey, warm...but not your everyday bread. All the while I knew there were some serious bread recipes (the type that are 5 pages long and riddled with information I don't have the time to care about) in my really crunchy, all-natural cookbooks, like the elephant in the room, just waiting for me to give in and give 'em a try. When I finally did take a close look at Cynthia Lair's whole grain bread recipes, I was amazed at how simple they were. They just required time and proper planning, and of course I've got oodles of that....HA! But I digress...I made the Garlic Herb Quinoa bread and loved it so much I made two loaves the next time around. I would have made that one again, but I figured I should expand my repertoire. I searched online for a few hours, and finally went back to my kitchen bookshelf and pulled out the trusty old King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion, and settled on 100% Whole Wheat Bread. YUM!
This week I tried yet another bread recipe: Cracker Wheat Walnut Cider Loaf. This one came from a friend, so I have no link to share. And it probably would have turned out great, had I not decided to screw with the recipe. You see, I had no cracker wheat, so I substituted Farro from the farmer's market. And I had no cider, so I used apple juice instead. I also tried "kneading" the dough in my stand mixer, but it was so wet and sticky it just wouldn't come together. In the end, the loaf ballooned out of its loaf pan and came out with a soggy bottom. But it still tasted divine...
A few Saturdays ago I had a very good day. We woke up early and had a yummy family breakfast of pancakes in our pj's. Then we scrambled to get dressed and make sandwiches before arriving (late, of course) at a local pumpkin patch to meet up with Punkin's 3 (yes, THREE) girlfriends and their parents. It was a gorgeous, warm fall day and the we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. I had even managed to make some yummy Pumpkin Muffins the night before (that's a rare accomplishment) to share with everyone at lunch. After a few hours of scrutinizing squashes and posing for photo ops, we headed home again with a very sleepy Punkin. I don't even remember struggling to get him to nap, so that's a good enough day in itself. Later that afternoon we finally got around to doing some yard work and when the clouds started to appear we headed inside to make dinner and get a certain someone to bed. I found a simple yet delicious recipe for Roasted Chicken with leeks and apples in, of all places, Real Simple Magazine. I can't emphasize enough how simple and delicious it really was. The next day we were invited to go for an evening sail and in a first for me I was able to supply a yummy leftover dinner without really lifting a finger! Not to mention it was a peacefully warm night on Lake Union, just right for dinner-time sailing with two testy toddlers. Punkin was in 7th heaven surrounded by boats, water, and sea-planes. I don't think I've had such an fun, active, and productive weekend in a very very long time.
Sciencemama recently directed me to an interesting food site that I'd probably find much more scrumptious if I just took the time to read through some archives. But since I don't have time for that - maybe You do? It's called Delicious Days. Anyway, it lead me to this great recipe for Nutella Banana muffins which are a fantastic excuse to use up rotting bananas and eat something chocolaty. Last night I decided whip some up using the last of my rotting-so-I'll-stick-em-in-the-freezer banana's and now I have 3 big tupperwares full of muffins! Which brings me to one of the downsides of this site - actually, it's more accurately a downside of being me - which is to say, I'm American and therefore a total jello-head when it comes to using the metric system or converting from the metric system or generally taking the time to do math while baking. So I wound up mixing a whole cup of sugar with the butter and egg instead of just a half cup, which then prompted me to try to save the mess by doubling the recipe, which of course never works out quite right in baking. So now I have 3 FULL TUPPERWARES OF MUFFINS and, um, they're a little dry... Someone should tattoo across my forehead "Bake At Your Own Risk!"
Oh, and if you're looking for a beautifully converted recipe for us simple-minded Americans, you're gonna have to look elsewhere my friend. Because I still don't trust my math and you shouldn't either...
I like to eat. I especially like to eat really really good food. And since I don't especially like eating bad food, and I can't eat at fancy restaurants every night, this means I have to attempt to make myself really good food nearly every day. You'd think this would have made me a good cook, but I will not be so presumptuous. I don't create my own recipes, and I usually stick close to the recipes written by others (unless of course someone tells me to do something different). So I'd say I'm lacking a bit in creative expression. But I love to flip through recipe books and magazines, and long ago my computer memorized the path to epicurious.com. I've recently started browsing food blogs for a greater depth of inspiration, but my search repertoire is still fairly limited. Every so often I come across a recipe (or a website) that just totally hits the spot.
So from now on I'm going to be sharing those little nuggets of inspiration. From the simplest of syrups to the most delectable desserts, once a week I will try to post a recipe or food site that I really love. I'd love to hear your favorite recipes or sources of inspiration, so feel free to leave comments or email me at Queen Zucchini (at) gmail (dot) com.
Brief searching across Ye Internet revealed several recipes for a cornmeal-crusted galette as a popular method for consuming blackberries. As it turned out, many bloggers liked this recipe from Cooking Light. Um....YUMMMMMM....
The reviewer that said you'd have leftover filling was quite right. I even made less and still have a bowl of leftovers. I used more like 3-4 cups blackberries and 1 cup each of blueberries and strawberries from the farmer's market. It was one of the simplest but most delicious desserts I've ever made. I served it with locally made Snoqualmie Dutch Vanilla ice cream and Ginger ice cream. And I gotta admit I like the rustic look of the galette better than that of a pie - sadly I was too eager to eat THE WHOLE THING and forgot to take a picture for posterity. But it was a HUGE hit and I'm about ready to have some more for breakfast.
Pastry:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (about 7 3/4 ounces)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
1/3 cup fat-free buttermilk
Filling:
4 cups blueberries
2 cups blackberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons fat-free milk
1 large egg white
1 1/2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
2. Preheat oven to 350°.
3. Unwrap and place dough on a sheet of parchment paper. Roll dough into a 15-inch circle. Place dough and parchment on a baking sheet.
4. To prepare filling, combine berries and next 3 ingredients (through juice) in a medium bowl; toss gently to coat. Arrange berry mixture in center of dough, leaving a 2-inch border. Fold edges of dough toward center, pressing gently to seal (dough will only partially cover berry mixture).
5. Combine fat-free milk and egg white in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Brush dough with milk mixture; sprinkle turbinado sugar evenly over dough. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until pastry is golden brown. Let stand 30 minutes; cut into wedges.
Many people (including yours truly) would call blackberry vines a nasty and noxious invasive pest of a plant. And about 11 months out of the year that's all they are, creeping across the yard, over fences, under sidewalks. Reappearing seamlessly out of thin air after you've spent hours attempting to annihilate every branch and root, these weeds are relentless. But every August the blackberry bush seems to redeem itself with a bounty of berries and I can't help picking them by the bucket full.
This year I happened upon thousands of bushes overloaded with ripe berries at a local park. At high noon, when I should have been heading home with my tired puppy and very tired and hot toddler, I insisted on picking "just a few" berries. I filled Punkin's little green bucket (and his tummy) with big, fat ripe ones and when I finally headed home I figured my sunburn would be worth the prize. Instead, I managed to dump THE ENTIRE BUCKET ON THE GROUND and not just on any ground, but in a spot the local dogs like to use as their "potty place." I nearly cried as I pushed the stroller around the sad little pile of berries on the ground. And I vowed to redeem myself.
The next day I headed back to the park, this time with an extra 4 hands (and another toddler tummy) to help. We picked enough berries to fill a large colander and the kids (and grownups) ate like kings that weekend.
As luck would have it, and thanks to our very lax "gardening" practices, a blackberry bush has taken over a good chunk of the fence separating our yard from the neighbors. I relieved those heavy branches of their ripest fruit this morning and now I just need a fantastic blackberry recipe for them. I've been scouring the blogosphere for ideas but I'll give big kudos to anyone who can tell me: What's the best blackberry recipe out there?
Came across some great foodie blogs I wanted to share. I can’t wait to use the recipe archives from both sites. And the tips on how to encourage cooking at home rather than going out to eat in Not Eating Out are pretty helpful. My stomach’s growling already...
Not Eating Out in New York City
Domestic Goddess
I’ve let my “Over Easy” breakfast spot reviews fall by the wayside, so here’s another for all the Seattlites out there...
I discovered Portage Bay Cafe (PBC) on my first morning ever as a Seattle resident and I’ve been addicted ever since. I know I won’t do a good enough job describing it here, you’ll just have to see for yourself. But here are some of the high points.
The wait may be long, but that’s often the sign of greatness, and PBC is no exception. If you’re an early riser (or junior is) the wait is less than 15 minutes before 9 am. And while you wait, busy waitresses multi-task at the coffee bar filling double lattes and drips into hefty mugs, and they trust you to tell your server so you won’t have to get your wallet out twice. Once you’re seated, coffee is topped off, orders taken, and food delivered by the time your little one finishes his O cereal appetizer.
Food is generous and hot, and features local and organic produce. Pancakes and french toast come with an open invitation to the breakfast bar, a decent spread of fresh and previously frozen fruit and whipped cream. My favorites are the pancetta cake and saffron sauce Benedict, and the once a year pumpkin-filled french toast. Veggie likes the cinnamon twister french toast, and his only complaint is the scrambles tend to have dry eggs. But most of the time we go with the specials - they’re often the most interesting mix of local and delightful ingredients.
Tables in the banquet room are geared for large groups and families, with paper-topped tables and jars of crayons. The waiting area has a bin of toys, too. The staff is friendly and happy. And best of all it’s dependable - I have yet to have a bad experience at PBC. So for that, we compare nearly every other breakfast spot to Portage Bay.
A Bonus: about a month ago we dropped in at PBC just before 9am on our way to drop relatives at the airport. But the 25 minute wait was going to make us late for their flight. Luckily we’ve somehow become regulars, so the guy with the list just shuffled us right in to a table. Past 20 or so hungry, waiting, would-be diners. Just. Like. That. Now is that service, or what? Become a regular and you’ll get the rockstar treatment too ;)
Ben and Jerry's has brought back from the dead Coffee Heath Bar Crunch! I'm treating myself to a cup...no, a bowl...slathered with hot fudge, and some Bachelor (one of my few...ok MANY...silly indulgences). Ahhhh.....I highly recommend treating yourself to something scrumptiously yummy chocolaty and some silly chick tv. It's a good night for it.
I just came across a website listing all the foods my child should not eat now that we know he has an egg allergy. Here's the list:
...actually, this one's for ScienceMama. Here are some of my favorite vegetarian recipes. I can't say they are particularly high in protein...that's one reason I've gone back to eating meat, giving my kid meat, and forcing my husband to eat meat (not really, but someday, maybe???). But they are good for you and very very yummmy!
Ribolita with Herb Pesto from Cooking Light. This one is chock full of good stuff like kale (or chard, you can use either) and beans. The only problem I have with this dish is the pesto leaves this crazy aftertaste in my mouth that I hate. But it never stops me from eating it!
Bulgar Risotto with Peas and Asparagus from Bon Appetit. Veggie made this for me for Valentine's Day (or was it our anniversary?) - well, he made it all by himself, and wow was it delicious! You can substitute any kind of veggies for the Peas and Asparagus, but so far we haven't ventured out of the comfort zone because it's JUST SO GOOD. The other great thing about this recipe is the bulgur - it gets creamy just like regular risotto, but without the added cream! It's also lighter on the tummy I think.
Veggie got his name as a kid when his school friends got a whiff of his seitan sandwiches with soy cheese and a side of rice balls in the lunch room. Deprived of luxuries like animal fat and bbq’d skin, Veggie’s childhood vegetarianism has made him not only skip the bacon tray at all-you-can-eat breakfast bars, but actually dis-like the unfamiliar texture of fillet mignon and coq au vin.
When I was 10 my mother asked me what I’d like for my birthday dinner. “Pork chops and apple sauce,” I replied.
When I was 11 my mother asked me what I’d like for my birthday dinner. “Pork chops and apple sauce,” I said again.
When I was 12....I think you get the picture. I grew up on steak, game birds, and coq au vin. By the time I hit high school my favorite dish on the menu was fillet mignon with Bearnaise sauce. My mother was (perhaps still is) a baconaholic, and my older brothers were in no way subtle about there distaste for vegetarianism.
Despite our extreme differences in culinary taste, Veggie and I survived the early days of relationship by just not eating. Ha, yeah right. After less than a year of dating, he converted me, and quite willingly in fact, I abandoned game, foul, and cow, and took to eating carrot sticks and edamame. Three years, and many carnivorous cravings later, I came back to the dark side and there I shall stay.
So now it’s his turn.
Last weekend I made him eat New England Boiled Dinner...that’s corned beef brisket with cabbage, carrots, potatoes and beets that is FIVE HOURS in the making. Yeah, you better eat that meat and LIKE IT. Yeah. Ok. Glad we got that out of the way.
For the sake of my culinary sanity, I must have beef in the house! I must roast a turkey for Thanksgiving!! The bacon cannot be abandoned by the BLT!!! I don’t know how to make one, but one day we will eat POT ROAST! Amen.
Oh, and one last thing:
Real men grill steak and eat it.
So occasionally I’d like to write about my adventures in cooking, which have become more adventurous and less cooking in the past year, but whatever. It’s food. EAT IT. I love to cook. I’m not sure if I’m really good at it, or just good at reading directions. And sometimes, clearly, I can’t even accomplish that.
Last night I decided to cook up our acorn squash and thought I’d find some recipe on Epicurious that used quinoa so we might have some protein. And all I have to say is “WTF happened to my food?” Why I thought 1 inch cubes of acorn squash would completely cook in 20 minutes when barely covered in liquid is a mystery to me, but I’ve decided I’m going to blame the 98 reviewers that claimed this recipe was flawless and delectable. After simmering for nearly an hour, some of the squash was still al dente and squash should not be al dente. EVER.
And it’s spicy as all hell, but that’s ok, as long as you’re not planning on feeding it to a one year old. In the end, though, I gotta say it was a tasty dinner, especially on nights #2 and #3.
Check it out here.
The ever hip, family-friendly Wallingford was recently blessed with a rare dining gem. Tilth is a fully certified organic restaurant, and those are few and far between, even in our eco-friendly neck of the woods. I like to consider myself an earth-friendly gal, and the recent trends in buying local and organic have sent my brain buzzing with excitement. I’ve been dying to go to Tilth since it opened in the fall of 2005, and their brunch menu was just as delectably enticing as dinner. So, for our second date since Punkin was born, we booked a table for Saturday brunch, left the kid with a sitter, and headed out for a promising meal.
Food = 50/50. I ordered the Croque Monsieur, a delicious ham and melted gruyere “sandwich” topped with béchamel sauce and a friend egg. Yummmm...Definitely not something I’d make at home, and just the right portion to fill my hungry tummy. Veggie had the truffled scrambled eggs over potatoes and spinach. Good, but we could easily make those at home...eggs? check. truffle oil? check. chives? yup....and Veggie thinks we could do it even better (maybe some wild mushrooms or cherry tomatoes and green onions?). Both dishes came out luke warm. I’m going to attribute that to the server, not the chef (see below). We never did get to try the Grand Marnier french toast with apple compote (again, thanks to the waiter) so our critique is limited to small portion of the menu. The heirloom tomato bloody mary was definitely a step above store-bought mix, but I’m no expert when it comes to vodka in the morning, so I’ll have to let you decide.
Service = terrible. The server was rude, forgetful, left us waiting forever, and even disappeared for 25 minutes during our 2 hour (yes TWO HOUR) meal. It was clear that out of the 4 waitstaff he was the most incompetent, and the others soon began to pick up his slack. But I’ve had better waiters at IHOP, and Tilth can do better than that. The final straw? Our side of french toast never arrived, but we didn’t complain - we were stuffed and ready to get to our movie. When our piss-poor waiter came to deliver the bill, he stopped short, mumbled something about needing to add an item, and returned a few minutes later with a new bill, minus the french toast. No apology. No asking if we still wanted it. Oh no, he just pretended like it never happened. Now that, my friends, is poor poor form.
Overall atmosphere = cold! It was January in Seattle. That week’s forecast was snow, snow and more snow. (and a little rain, too). But Tilth apparently forgot to pay the heating bill. Nearly every customer sat buried in their warm winter coats, clutching tiny teacups of coffee to stay warm. And the coffee? Have you ever been to a breakfast place that didn’t offer you coffee within minutes of sitting down? Cause we had to ask twice and wait 30 minutes before we got a cup (from another server of course) and Veggie began to show signs of stress when he saw the itty bitty cups that he could drain in two gulps. If coffee is the cornerstone of breakfast, Tilth is suffering serious structural deficits.
Kid-friendly? There’s a reason we left the larvae at home. But I did see 3 or 4 little ones, a few even in high chairs. How they stayed warm and how long their breakfast lasted I don’t know. There were certainly no changing tables in the bathrooms or slings for your table-side carseat. But to give Tilth a little credit, they’re not trying to be junior’s favorite, just organic.
Will we go again? That’s a good question. I’d definitely like to see how dinner fairs, and the french toast still has me curious. Compared to our old standby, Portage Bay Cafe, we rate the cost as comparable, the service lacking, and the food only slightly more interesting (PBC also touts local foods and many organics). Given the choice between the two, PBC is a solid winner.
I can’t get enough of sugar these days, and not just any kind of sugar. High quality dark chocolate is my favorite, but homemade cookies are a close second. Those chocolate covered butter biscuits my friend brought me from Harrods of London were gone too quickly. And Ben and Jerry’s Half-Baked frozen yogurt smothered in hot fudge has become a nightly ritual. It’s ok for now.
A nurse told me to cram in as many calories as I can to make up for Punkin sucking me dry each day, and I am taking her words to heart. And for now it doesn't seem to have any drawbacks - in fact I have trouble keeping up with his calorie withdrawal and he's only nursing 5 times/day - there are many days I’ve wished this weren’t so, cause Hey it’s better to be fat and loved than skinny and hated, right Katie Holmes? But seriously, someday Punkin will stop chowing down and I'll still want my chocolate-covered goji berries, and then I'll be in trouble. Intervention anyone?
So back to my sugar addiction - when I get my pre-meal snack on, I reach for the Trader Joe’s chocolate coated chocolate chip dippers and when they’re all gone I hungrily eye the brownie mix on the top shelf....just...out....of....reach.
Posts
All Comments
