Last night was kinda an intense night and BP II was not feeling well. Actually, he said, “It feels like my eyes are going to explode.” Anyway, we have guests coming in from out of town tonight for New Year’s and I have nothing in the house. Also, I have all the ham still leftover. With BP II in bed I forged out into the cold alone to figure something out for dinner. I thought I would be a good girlfriend and make some soup to warm him up. I wanted something simple and quick; I didn’t want to be spending my night watching this soup on the stove. I bought some carrots, celery, egg noodles and chicken stock. I have onions and garlic at home. That is the great thing about soup, you can just throw in some really good ingredients and it will taste great.
I came home and chopped the onions, celery, carrots and garlic. Added some olive oil to a big stockpot and sweated the veggies for about 15- 20 minutes. Seasoned with salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary. I also, happened to have some leftover cheese rinds and randomly threw those in as well. Then added the chicken stock, some water and a couple of bouillon cubes. When the veggies were soft, I added the noodles and some of the leftover ham. The result was really good. I think one of the best soups I have made. With a baguette it was a hearty and satisfying meal.
Next, I have to think about what to make for New Year’s dinner. UGH!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
New Year's Resolutions
I am not typically a person who makes New Year’s resolutions. I mean if you want to do something, just go out and do it. You don’t need a “new year” as motivation. That logic has always bothered me. However, I look at everything 2009 has brought me and as bad as it is out there, with recessions and all the celebrity death’s, I thought it might be positive to set some new goals for 2010. I have made such strides with my cooking and I want to continue to learn and grow as a more experienced cook. I mean I have crossed major bridges, like the pie dough incident and the German potato salad incident. Each one making me a little better or a little bit more knowledgeable. Now I know that it is always a good idea to have a back up pie crust in the freezer for just in cases. Sometimes things just don’t work out. And French onion soup. I have always wanted to learn to make a French onion soup and I thought it was going to be difficult and such a process, but really it was great. I guess learning to just try things is half the battle. Anyhoo, I have compiled a list of things that I would like to make in 2010. Well, it started out as dishes that I would like to make but then that became too difficult so I broadened the parameters a bit.
1.)Learn to make gnocchi
2.)Make a real ragu that you have to simmer on the stove for hours
3.)Find a really good pan sauce that works with all kinds of meat
4.)Make a homemade pesto without a food processor
5.)Make my Nana’s perogies
6.)Learn to make bread
7.)Find some healthier alternatives for my cooking
8.)Make ravioli
9.)Make something that requires real ginger root. It has been sitting in my kitchen forever
10.) A real good lasagna
Monday, December 28, 2009
Is Your Meat Done?
We have all wondered when is my meat done? You don’t want to cut into the meat o all the juices run out before resting and it leaves you with a dry piece of meat. But you also done want to be serving uncooked meat and run the risk of making people sick. The more and more I cook, it becomes easier for me to tell when something is done. I do have a meat thermometer to take the guess work out entirely but it is not digital and takes FOREVER. Therefore I tend to leave it in my utensil drawer. I find beef is the easiest to tell by look and touch. The firmer the meat, the more done the beast is. I found a great video on how to tell with your hand and have embedded it below. Happy cooking!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Hello Neighbors
Every year I like to make a little something for my neighbors. In New York, you live so close to people but never talk to them. I have 3 neighbors but really have no idea who they are. Where do they work? Are they married? Where are they from? Completely unknown. Anyway, I decided to make some cookies and say hi. And would you believe that not one was home.
I figured that the ginger snap cookies, butter cookies and chocolate cover pretzels would be a good mix. I also decided to do this last Saturday, you know the day of the BLIZZARD! I thought I would be snowed in and maybe never see my family again. Well, this was a complete overstatement and everyone and fun of me for going to the store and buying $120 worth of food and not venturing outside.
I started with the chocolate covered pretzels because I thought they would be easy. WRONG! I do not have a double boiler so I thought I didn’t need one and instead up a Pyrex glass bowl over a pot of boiling water. The bowl didn’t exactly fit correctly but I went with it anyway. Needless to say water started boiling over and was a mess. I then switched to a smaller pot but that ended up being too small. A tried a 3rd pot which worked but the chocolate was not melting. Then I remembered seeing the barefoot add some cream to the chocolate and it worked. The chocolate started to smooth out. I was afraid the chocolate wouldn’t harden but after letting them sit out for an hour and then putting them in the fridge, they hardened right up.
Next time I think I will use milk chocolate instead of semi sweet.
I tried the butter cookies next because I thought sugar cookies are a bit overdone. These were plain but I liked them and I got make shapes- if I hade some cookie cutters. Unfortunately, I don’t have any cookie cutters so just a plain unimaginative circle for these. :)
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sifted sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
Sift together flour and salt into a bowl.
In the bowl of a standing mixer, add the butter and mix on medium-high until fluffy and light. Add the sugar and the eggs, 1 at a time, until and mix until combined. Add vanilla and cinnamon. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour to the butter, sugar, egg mixture. Mix until batter looks smooth. Place dough onto a flowered cutting board and cut the dough into quarters, flatten and wrap with the plastic. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 1/2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
With a rolling pin covered in flour, roll out dough quarters 1 at a time, on a floured work surface to 1/4 to 1/8-inch thick. Use a variety of cutters to cut out cookies. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment and space cookies about 1 1/2-inches apart.
Bake cookies until they are golden brown, about 8 minutes. Using a using a spatula, transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
I figured that the ginger snap cookies, butter cookies and chocolate cover pretzels would be a good mix. I also decided to do this last Saturday, you know the day of the BLIZZARD! I thought I would be snowed in and maybe never see my family again. Well, this was a complete overstatement and everyone and fun of me for going to the store and buying $120 worth of food and not venturing outside.
I started with the chocolate covered pretzels because I thought they would be easy. WRONG! I do not have a double boiler so I thought I didn’t need one and instead up a Pyrex glass bowl over a pot of boiling water. The bowl didn’t exactly fit correctly but I went with it anyway. Needless to say water started boiling over and was a mess. I then switched to a smaller pot but that ended up being too small. A tried a 3rd pot which worked but the chocolate was not melting. Then I remembered seeing the barefoot add some cream to the chocolate and it worked. The chocolate started to smooth out. I was afraid the chocolate wouldn’t harden but after letting them sit out for an hour and then putting them in the fridge, they hardened right up.
Next time I think I will use milk chocolate instead of semi sweet.
I tried the butter cookies next because I thought sugar cookies are a bit overdone. These were plain but I liked them and I got make shapes- if I hade some cookie cutters. Unfortunately, I don’t have any cookie cutters so just a plain unimaginative circle for these. :)
Ingredients
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sifted sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
Sift together flour and salt into a bowl.
In the bowl of a standing mixer, add the butter and mix on medium-high until fluffy and light. Add the sugar and the eggs, 1 at a time, until and mix until combined. Add vanilla and cinnamon. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour to the butter, sugar, egg mixture. Mix until batter looks smooth. Place dough onto a flowered cutting board and cut the dough into quarters, flatten and wrap with the plastic. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 1/2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
With a rolling pin covered in flour, roll out dough quarters 1 at a time, on a floured work surface to 1/4 to 1/8-inch thick. Use a variety of cutters to cut out cookies. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment and space cookies about 1 1/2-inches apart.
Bake cookies until they are golden brown, about 8 minutes. Using a using a spatula, transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
