Talk Derby To Me

Dropping In

Literally.

I know I vanished into thin air. Disappeared like virginity on prom night. You can blame Facebook and my need for immediate gratification. You see I can post wise words there and within seconds, yes, mere seconds, I get feedback affirming my thoughts are valid and worthy to be launched into the universe.

Here, I publish great works of literature and wait, long periods of time, sometimes forever, before I get a peep from any of you...peeps.

Oh, you came here for food topics and photos of my culinary creations? Check out my Facebook page.

Bwahahaha!

Easy Peasy

I love cinnamon rolls for breakfast, well, actually anytime. But I hate spending hours preparing them so I rarely make them.

I found this recipe that promised it was easy and just as good, so I tried them this morning.

And believe it or not, they are stupid good...and stupid easy.

Go...make these now.

Birthday Blast!

I had a fantastic time yesterday as 20 or so of my closest friends came to laugh, drink, dine and play with me!

I made my own cake. Lemon Cake w/Raspberry Filling and a White Chocolate Mousse layer topped with a real cooked buttercream frosting. I used the rose technique from Pinterest with just a hint of pink to make champagne-like roses. Yummy!


We did a Minute To Win It themed game party and it was a super blast!

Check out the photos and videos on my Facebook page.

Thank you to everyone who helped make my day so special, and freakin' fun!!

Kitchen Creations

The creations this weekend all came from the kitchen. After spending all day in the kitchen, I am beat. I wish I had someone to come behind me and clean up my mess. Oh the problems of the privileged.

First of all, I cooked three meals today. This is very rare for me. But on top of all that I made a birthday cake for a certain someone, plus some strawberry pretzel salad.

I am tired.

However, I am very proud of my evening meal. It was all made from my own devices, no recipes.

Chicken stuffed with prosciutto and manchego cheese on a bed of onion and garlic polenta topped with a sweet and spicy barbecue-like reduction. I also made a salad of fresh tomatoes (thanks Charlotte), tomatillos and bell peppers w/basil-garlic vinaigrette. OMG!

Empowering Women and Tomatoes

I have never been a fan of fried green tomatoes, the food, not the movie. The movie I liked. Any move that empowers women to take matters in their own hands is a good movie. Of course, that doesn't mean I condone barbecuing your enemies. That is just, well... rude. And gross.

Back to the food. Tonight I made fried green tomatoes - my way. Sliced thin, seasoned, dredged in flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

Then I took the same mixture and added some lemon juice and beer. It foams up and makes a pancake-like batter.

Dip your tomatoes into the batter for complete coverage and fry up in a skillet with heated oil. It only takes a few minutes each side.

Now, you could just eat these as is and it would be fine. More than fine.

But you know me...I couldn't leave it alone.

I fried good bacon. Real good bacon.

I toasted fresh sliced ciabatta bread, lightly.

I made a garlic balsamic fig aoili - literally just mixed up stuff in the frig (balsamic vinegar, mayonnaise, brown mustard, fig preserves, fresh cracked pepper and minced garlic).

Do you see where I am going with this? Now some may call it a BLT, but I had no lettuce in the house and really, what could lettuce offer to this party?

I call it Bacon Tomato Royale.

Cheeseburgers in Stars Hollow

I tried a new recipe today from The Pioneer Woman's website. I believe this might be the first one for me. There are many sites and bloggers out there who make fun of the redhead and granted, she makes it pretty easy. But I find her more interesting than say, Paula Deen?

Gasp! Yes, I said it. I am not a Paula Deen fan. If that causes you to quit reading. Well, I am sorry. Take care, and have a great life.

If you are still here, thanks for sticking around.

Okay, back to the redhead on the range's recipe. Cheeseburger Salad.

And it was good.

I made it exactly to the recipe. Are you shocked? I know I typically tweak and alter based on my tastes or ingredients on hand, but this time - true to the letter. I meant to tweak it. I meant to add bacon - because, well do I really need to explain why? Everything is better with bacon. But I forgot the bacon because I was watching The Gilmore Girls rerun and it was the one where Rory took her grandmother to the Independence Inn and showed her the potting shed and Emily Gilmore ran away in shock. I love the Gilmore Girls. Sigh. I wish they would come back.

Here is a little bit of trivia for you. Did you know the house exterior of the old Dragonfly Inn is actually the exterior used for the house on The Waltons? It was dismantled from its original lot location that was used when filming the Waltons, and was placed on another set for Gilmore Girls. Isn't that cool?

Where was I? Oh yes, I forgot the bacon. So sue me.

I also burnt the first batch of melted butter because it was when Emily and Lorelai were yelling at each other about the new and "much better than the potting shed" room she created for Rory. Ah family drama. It reaches across all socio-economic boundaries.

German Pancake Breakfast

I realize I haven't posted much about food lately. I really did bake some over the holidays but I failed to photograph or write about it. My bad.

This morning I made Mini German Pancakes from this recipe. Now, the dangers in giving you the link for what I based my dish on is that you get to see how mine looks nothing like theirs. Whatever!

Let me start by saying I halved the recipe and ended up with 11 pancakes. They are thin, like a crepe. Basically, they are a puffy crepe. So 3-4 per person is a good serving portion.

Let me also confess my mistake. I melted the butter in the microwave but forgot to add it to the batter. I found it about 4 minutes into the baking time. So I spooned melted butter on top. I figured what the hell, how could something be ruined with melted butter on it? Seriously, what isn't better with butter?

I think the only problem that caused was they stuck a little, despite me spraying the hell out of the muffin tins, and they were a little mis-shapened because they had started to poof when I poured the butter on.

The sauce I made from scratch and in my head. I had some frozen blackberries (thanks Mom) so I nuked them and started them cooking with some sugar, salt and tangerine zest/juice. My only mistake here was I should have pureed and strained the seeds before it got so thick. I waited too long and the sauce was nice and thick so getting the seeds out was a pain in the you know what. I hate seeds in my fruit sauces.

But it tasted freakin' fantastic! Seriously, I am going to do this again and use it for ice cream, cheesecakes - you just never know where it will show up again.

In the end, both of our plates were wiped clean and the salty bacon I served with it was a nice contrast. I will definitely do this again.

To Dos, not Ta Das

I have one more week of work left and then I am off until January 3, 2012. That is exactly seventeen days off in a row. Pretty cool.

However, I tend to get bored without things to do. So I am making a "To Do" list full of fun and practical things I need or want to do. Let's see how many I actually accomplished come next year.

• Get a haircut
• Bake Christmas goodies
• Clean out closet
• Organize shoes and purses
• Read at least one book.
• Finish editing my book.
• Go to Jungle Jim's in Cincinnati with my Mom and sister.
• Put a jigsaw puzzle together.
• Go to the dog park.
• Clean out/organize kitchen desk area.
• Go to Tickled Pink Memorabilia Mall.
• Organize pantry.
• Imbibe, maybe a lot
• Create something in my project room.

Lunch Lady Favorites

For the past week I have been craving homemade tomato soup. It is probably the weather and the onset of falling leaves and crisp mornings, but like in the past when I have a craving - it needs to be met. Now.

So here is my tomato soup. I never follow a recipe, but it is pretty similar each time.

Start with some olive oil and red onions. Sweat the onions with a little salt and then add some diced garlic. Saute for another minute or two.



Add 1 1/2 c. chicken brother to deglaze the bottom.

I need to say at this point that I am not a real brand-loyal person for the most part. There are a few exceptions and canned tomatoes is one. If I am making chili, I will use Red Gold or whatever is on sale. If I am making marinara, soup, etc. and it isn't tomato season to use good, sweet, fresh ones - I use San Marzano. I guess it really isn't a brand, but a type. Either way, I am loyal.

When I make soup, I make enough for a couple meals. So I use two 28 oz. cans of tomatoes and one jar of roasted red bell peppers (if I don't have any fresh ones I can roast myself, which is always preferred).

 





Then I add 2 T sugar and 2 T. Italian seasoning. If it is summer and I have an herb garden I would add fresh at the end, but I'd still add dry during the simmering part. Remember, dry early - fresh late.

Then let this simmer for at least an hour. Mine simmered today for about 4 1/2.

When you are ready to serve, the soup needs pureed. You can use a blender or a food processor, or like me, use an immersion blender. Mix until smooth. Then I add about a cup of 1/2 and 1/2 and 2 T. goat cheese. If you didn't have goat cheese, cream cheese would work, but I like the nuttiness and sharpness of goat cheese.

You can serve it and slurp it down at this point. But you know I don't leave well enough alone. I like to garnish with a few drops of good balsamic vinegar and a little more 1/2 and 1/2. The key here is GOOD balsamic.

I buy two kinds of balsamic. The first is mid-range priced and I use it for sauces, dressings, marinades, etc. The other is upper-range (as high as I can afford at the time). This is the GOOD stuff. Thick, dark and rich like molasses. This is what I put on my soup.

It is common to serve grilled cheese with tomato soup. The cafeteria lunch lady can't be wrong. But what about serving grilled cheese croutons IN your soup?

Usually my grilled cheese sandwich is one of the few times I actually use american cheese. It melts very creamy and makes a great sandwich. However, for this purpose I'd like the cheese to be a little firmer, so I used a cheddar/colby mix. Then I just cut it into squares and topped the soup.

Perfect for a cool, wet Sunday afternoon, or anytime.



Caramely Goodness

So good you'll slap your mama and your eyes will roll back in your head.

Dead. Serious.

I found this recipe on Pinterest. I am telling you people, if you haven't visited this AMAZING site yet - well, I don't think we can't be friends anymore.

Pies, Cakes and Ice Cream, Oh My

I can't remember the last time I needed to order a birthday cake, but I do know that the days of Wal-mart cakes are way behind me. I certainly prefer to make my own from scratch, but there are a few exceptions. Here in Louisville, there is an amazing place called the Homemade Pie Kitchen or as we refer to it - the pie shop. Besides awesome homemade pies (my favorite is Caramel Apple) and homemade ice cream, they make some amazing cakes, my favorite being Strawberry.

What is your favorite place to buy a cake and what kind?

Creative Tip #10,349

Okay, I know I might be exaggerating a tad, but this tip is worth saving.

I made these cute little mini pumpkin pies. Standard recipe, nothing fancy here. Why fix something that isn't broke? But instead of cutting out circles for the crust, I used a flower cookie cutter and it gave me a nice scalloped edge, but best of all - no folds or wrinkles in the crust.

It really is the simple things in life.

My Struggle

When I get invited to attend a party or event where I need to take a dish, I panic a little. I know that sounds odd, but I feel like I've cooked so many different things I should take something great -- but what? I can't just show up with a veggie tray. People expect more. I expect more.

I love to cook. I love to experiment. I love parties. Why should this bother me so?

Moment of Inspiration

I had an epiphany. No solution to the energy crisis here or path to world peace, but I like it when pieces of my life come together and make sense.

I have been craving cinnamon rolls. You already know this if you follow me on Facebook or work with me (yes, I am referring to you). The craving didn't pass in a few days so I had to do something about it. I starting perusing cinnamon roll recipes when I recognized a common denominator. The dough recipes were all very similar to my mother's yeast roll recipe I use at every holiday. Its official name is Golden Cake Bread and was a $250,000 Pillsbury recipe sometime in the 50's. I know why. It really is that good.

So I made cinnamon rolls using the yeast roll recipe for the dough and filled them with all things good - butter, walnuts, cinnamon, sugar, and more butter.

I let the dough raise twice and then rolled the dough out and filled it, sliced and loaded them into 2 - 9x13 pans. Covered them with plastic and put in frig. This morning when my husband got up at the crack of dawn, he found a note on the refrigerator that asked him every so sweetly to set rolls out on the counter. Okay, it wasn't really sweet, it just said "put rolls on counter". But he knew what his reward would be so he followed directions. Sometimes he does this. Sometimes he doesn't.

Then brush with butter, again.
Put in refrigerator overnight, or you can let them raise at this point. I let them raise in the morning for a couple hours and then baked at 350 for about 25 mins.

Oh. Oh. Oh.

These were so yummy topped with cream cheese icing while they were still warm so it melted and got all gooey. It makes a lot of rolls. So I packed up some for my friend Kat, who just became a first time grandma this weekend and some for my friend Charlotte who was lending me some tables for my rummage sale. Charlotte adopted Toby last year so as a bonus, we got to love on him when we picked up tables and dropped off rolls. AND being the wonderful person she is, she sent me home some Lemon Blossoms of which I've never had before but fell in immediately love with. It is like a pastry swap - OMG! Wouldn't that be a fantastic thing?

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Golden Cake Bread

1 package Active Dry Yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 t. sugar

1 cup hot scalded milk
1 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar

2 slightly beaten eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon salt

4 to 4 1/2 cups flour

In a small bowl or measuring cup, proof the yeast in the warm water and sugar.

Combine the milk, butter and sugar in a large bowl and allow to cool to lukewarm.

Stir in 2 slightly beaten eggs, the vanilla, salt and yeast mixture.

Gradually add the flour to form a stiff batter, beating well after each addition. Cover and allow to rise in a warm place until light and doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Beat down the dough and let it rise again until doubled in size, about 3/4 hour.

Divide the dough into rolls and put in well greased 9x13 inch pan. Let rise in warm place, about 3/4 hour.

Bake in a 350*F oven 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown.

Num Num Num

That is pretty much the sound you could hear coming from our living room this evening as we devoured our pot stickers and rice. Sounds fairly boring, hey?

Not at all.

Consider this an unpaid endorsement for the rice cooker. It really does make a difference. It is that fuzzy logic at work (whatever the hell that is). Damn Japanese. Too smart for their own good.

This rice was just what I had in the house, like most times, and it turned out awesome.

• Jasmine rice
• chicken broth
• minced ginger
• honey
• salt
• pepper
• tumeric
• dried cherries
• toasted slivered almonds

The pot stickers were courtesy of Costco. But I really love them 'em. They are easy to cook - 10 minutes and you are done.

Lasagna Cups

I LOVE THIS!

You will never make regular lasagna again.

Run over to Kevin & Amanda's Blog and get the recipe....now!