My non-baking days are O-V-E-R

Up until 7 days ago, I diagnosed myself as a non-baker.  There are multiple reasons for this – all including baking fails.  Like BIG fails.  Most recently, I was prepping sweet onion rolls the night before Thanksgiving.  Decided I was going to really WOW my guests this year, instead of purchasing store bought.  No surprise to me, all 2 dozen rolls went straight from the oven into the garbage at 11pm.  This is the … oh I don’t know … 5^th batch of <insert baked good here> that has been fully dumped into my trash.  My brother-in-law boosted my mood that night when he told me that it was okay that I didn’t know how to bake – because, really nothing you bake is healthy anyway.  And he secretly ran to Whole Foods Thanksgiving morning and filled my kitchen with dinner rolls.  What a guy!

A few days later…I decided I was done, DONE not knowing how to bake.  I finally listened to my husband (shh!) and started to measure ingredients, instead of my typical ‘yep, that looks like a tablespoon.’ Plus, I was invited to a holiday cookie party and needed a few impressive deliverables.

So.  After a few pain points ‘Alan, does this look light and fluffy?’ ‘Alan, is this the RIGHT kind of baking soda?’ ‘Kristyn, dear god you are making the biggest mess of your life’.  I DID IT.  I made delicious Peppermint Brownies & Lemon Ricotta Cookies.  All ya gotta do is measure – who knew?!

I challenged myself again, just to make sure it wasn’t a one-time fluke.  I used the quart of fresh cranberries we received in our CSA box this week to make Cranberry Orange Bread.  My co-workers asked for the recipe.  Alan’s co-workers give it a thumbs up.  Hubby likes it too.  Success!  Again!

Peppermint Brownies (from Real Simple)

Makes 24
Hands-on Time: 30m
Total Time: 1hr 45m

Ingredients:

For the brownies:

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for the pans
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs

For the ganache:

1/3 cup heavy cream
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract  << WARNING: DO NOT USE MORE THAN THIS, TOO MINTY
1/4 cups crushed peppermint candies (about 5 candies)

Directions:

1. Make the brownies: Heat oven to 350° F. Generously butter 2 12-cup mini muffin pans. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, and salt; set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate over low heat. Remove the pan from heat and mix in the sugar and vanilla. Add the eggs and mix until combined. Stir in the flour mixture until just combined (do not overmix).
3. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling them no more than two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a brownie comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Set the pans on wire racks to cool for 10 minutes, then transfer the brownies to the racks and let cool completely. 
4. Make the ganache: Place the cream and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high, stirring occasionally, until melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk to combine. Whisk in the peppermint extract. Let cool 10 minutes.
5. Assemble the brownie bites: Spread the ganache over the cooled brownies and sprinkle with the candies. Place them on a baking sheet and refrigerate until the ganache is firm, at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours.
6. Storage suggestion: Keep the brownie bites at room temperature in a single layer, covered, up to 3 days.

Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze (from Giada De Laurentiis)

Prep Time:15 min
Inactive Prep Time:2 hr 20 min
Cook Time:15 min
Serves 44 cookies

Ingredients:

Cookies:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
 
Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
 
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cookies:

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In the large bowl combine the butter and the sugar. Using an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon the dough (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto the baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes.

Glaze:

Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1/2-teaspoon onto each cookie and use the back of the spoon to gently spread. Let the glaze harden for about 2 hours. Pack the cookies into a decorative container.

 
Cranberry Orange Loaf
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour 
Servings: 12
 
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup orange juice
Optional sweet glaze – powdered sugar, juice of orange, and vanilla extract
 
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in orange zest, cranberries, and pecans. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together margarine, sugar, and egg until smooth. Stir in orange juice. Beat in flour mixture until just moistened. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until the bread springs back when lightly touched.
4. I added this step, and didn’t measure – opps.  Juice the orange you have leftover.  Add a bit of vanilla extract.  Then add powdered sugar until the mixture become a milky glaze consistency.  Drench the top of the loaf after you remove it from the oven.  This kind of cuts down on the tartness or cranberries.
5. Let stand 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool. Wrap in plastic when completely cool.

RECIPE BOX : Veggie & Rice Soup

Kristyn’s Veggie & Rice Soup

Ingredients:

1 yellow onion, chopped

6 stalks of celery, chopped (including leaves)

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 tbsp of butter

7 sage leaves, diced

3 springs of thyme leaves, minced

1 tbsp of vegetable oil

1 cup of dried jasmine rice

3 pieces of kale, leaves removed & julienned

1 golden beet, peeled & julienned

2 cups of cooked ham, diced (I used the packaged kind)

8 cups of chicken/veggie broth (or more depending on how ‘soupy’ you like it)

Salt & Pepper

Directions:

*Combine onion, celery, garlic, butter, oil, sage, and thyme in a large soup pot.  Sauté until onions & celery are soft (about 10-15 mins)

*In the meantime, in a separate pot, cook the 1 cup of rice according to the package.  Should make about 2 cups when it’s cooked.

*Add the kale, beet, ham, and broth to the soup pot.  Bring to a boil.  Then turn down to simmer on low for 15 mins.

*Add the cooked rice at the very end.  Season with salt & pepper, to taste.

my *lucky* soup pot

Every Tuesday, our CSA farmer sends us an email with the contents of this week’s box and a farm update.  On week 3, she stated ‘Pink Banana Squash - this is a large squash that is perfect for cutting lengthwise and stuffing for the holidays. It also makes a great soup.’  Then it arrived. 

pink banana squash

Enormous!  I am guessing it was 12 pounds?  My kitchen scale doesn’t hold over 10 lbs, so I am not entirely sure.  I stared at that thing in fear for 5 days.  Eventually, I decided, I’ll make soup.  A lot of soup.  Luckily, that same week, we purchased a very coveted Le Creuset soup pot.  Something we have wanted, however could never justify purchasing.  Until we hit the outlet malls.  Zing, half the price of Macys!  Butternut squash has kind of been my ‘thing’ this winter.  However, as always, I try something new every time (recipe below).  So…after making 2 full to the brim pots of soup and a lot of pureeing, the giant banana squash made 30 cups of delicious, savory squash soup.  It’s a good thing I have hungry neighbors and a large freezer.  I am happy that the Le Creuset did not disappoint on its trial run.

simmering

the final product...yummm

After a few more uses of the Le Creuset, I am starting to think it’s my lucky soup pot.  Everything I make in it comes out perfect and delicious.  I even gave it the ultimate test by combining a bunch of random goodies that were left over from Thanksgiving.  I had ½ head of cabbage, and decided to make cabbage soup.  I have never made cabbage soup, let alone eaten it.  Didn’t have a recipe, and just tossed everything in until cooked.  And once again, pure deliciousness.   So, I wonder…what will the lucky soup pot impress me with next?

Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/butternut-squash-and-sweet-potato-soup/detail.aspx
*I omitted the tofu and green chili
*I used curry instead of turmeric

Kristyn’s Cabbage Soup

Ingredients:

*1/2 pound spicy Italian sausage

*1 yellow onion, chopped

*4 garlic cloves, minced

*5 large tomatoes, diced (don’t discard the juices)
*1/2 head of cabbage, medium sliced
*7 sage leaves, julienned
*3 sprigs of thyme leaves
*1 can of vegetable broth
*1 can of beef broth

Directions:

*Brown the sausage, drain extra grease

*Add onions and garlic, sauté until onions are soft (5 mins)
*Add tomatoes+juice, cabbage, sage, thyme, broths and simmer on low with the lid cracked open until the flavors are blended (15-20 mins)

ICIA killed my waistline

It was a long, fun weekend of road tripping to Iowa to see my Spartans play good ball.  My lovely friend decided to treat us, her ‘foodie’ friends, to some of Iowa City’s signature eateries.  Alan & I committed to total carb overload – sigh.  It would NOT be a dining experience at Atlas without 1) Baked macaroni topped with this marinated tomato delicious-ness…and 2) a buffalo chicken burrito.  This was no ordinary buffalo chicken burrito, folks.  It was filled with mashed potatoes, carrots, celery, and crunchy onion straws.  UN REAL.  The following day after tailgate, we dined at Quinton’s.  You can pretty much call this place the home of soup bread bowls.  What a lovely way to warm up after a fall football game.  Did I mention the intense tailgates, filled with traditional Iowa dishes!?  I didn’t catch all of the names – too much captains and coke, perhaps?  Opps.  I think every tailgate had a batch of scotcharoos – essentially a rice crispy treat, made with peanut butter and topped with a huge layer of chocolate.  And some kind of pickle pinwheel, rolled in smoked meat.  Come on, people…ICIA killed my waistline.

So after my long, fun weekend of….non-stop eating in Iowa, I came home to do my normal refrigerator ‘clean out.’  I find that sometimes we have lingering items, that either need to get used or get tossed.  So, I embarked on a 2 hour cooking spree…ya know, while all the goodies from ICIA digested.

·         Quiche.  I am huge advocate that you can put just about anything you like in a quiche and it will taste good.  Not to mention this is a easy re-heat weekday breakfast.  So, I chopped up our remaining fresh herbs (sage, thyme, and rosemary), 1 pre-cooked chicken sausage, piqullo peppers, finely sliced golden beets, and then my ‘usual’ quiche egg mixture.  And it tasted great as I was munching at my desk this morning.

·         Asian Slaw.  This is a staple in our house, mainly because we have mastered the vinaigrette – vegetable oil, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt.  I shredded ½ head of cabbage, 1 carrot, a few chives.  Gingered some golden beets.  Combine with the dressing, add sesame seeds.

·         Roasted Buttercup Squash.  I received this in my farmer’s CSA box 2 weeks ago, but haven’t touched it.  Guilty…didn’t know what to do with it.  Decided to slice off the top, scoop out the seeds, and roast for a little over an hour.  It turned out delicious…sweet, weirdly savory.  I removed the rind, mashed with a fork, and stored in the fridge for dinner tonight.

·         Meatballs.  Still attempting to create the best meatball recipe ever.  Found this one in Real Simple to use as inspiration - http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/spaghetti-bacon-meatballs-00100000068418/index.html   The bacon was a nice touch.  I think I’ll incorporate it in the future.  And is there anything other than Spaghetti and Marinara that pairs better with Meatballs?  No.  So we whipped that up for dinner.  I mean after my carb binge in Iowa, I figured, why stop now?

Revived

Whelp, back at it.  My short lived attempt at maintaining a blog ended after 3 posts.  Not that I have lack of topics to write about, but the lame excuse of lack of time.  However, I have a hankering for blogging.  Crossing my fingers for no more lame excuses.

I’d have to say the most life changing foodie thing that’s happened to me in the past year is enrolling in a CSA.  CSA = Community Supported Agriculture = Members of the community make an upfront financial commitment to a local farm and basically become shareholders of the farm.  In return, the member receives seasonal food from the farm each week.  Mine happens to be certified organic; however there is no reason to be uneasy about the farms that aren’t ‘certified.’  This certification is uber expensive, and many local farms still practice organic farming without it.

 Getting my CSA box every week is pretty much like Christmas morning for me every Wednesday.  I even get a little sneak peek every Tuesday, when Farmer Vicki sends me an ‘update from the farm’ and a list of what to expect in my box.  With every bit of excitement this adventure has created in my household, it has created a bit of challenge.  I consistently attempt to keep weeknight dinners unique.  I have learned to prepare more NEW vegetables & fruit in the past 6 months, than I ever imagined.  At the same time, we get seasonal crops.  So, sometimes, we get bundles of the same veggie for 4 weeks in a row.  And I have to think of new ways to incorporate into our meals, without feeling a bit of wear out.

 This week…beets. 

 I love roasted beets.   Topped with julienned basil, crumbled goat cheese, and balsamic.  I really thought I would never get sick of that exact combination.  But, my crisper has been stock piling beets, and I realized it is because we have eaten the same beet recipe like 7 times in the past 2 months. 

 So, I have been experimenting with different ways to integrate.  I found a few good combinations that I’ll try again.

*Combine the following – 1 julienned beet, 2 thinly sliced apples, minced shallot, ½ thinly sliced celery root (a few celery stalks would work too), juice of 1 lemon, olive oil, S&P

*Roasted dinner – add in beets with other root veggies like potatoes and carrots, and roast with a favorite roasting meat, like pork tenderloin

*and just to pass along my favorite way to roast beets, I tightly wrap multiple beets in a giant piece of aluminum foil.  Add in an obscene amount of good olive oil inside.  Roast on 400 until you can easily piece with a fork.  Save the beet infused oil and use to drizzle on peppery greens.