Homemade

Entries Tagged as 'homemade'

Baklava Ice Cream

5.04.2013

This was my first time making ice cream from scratch. I borrowed my Mother’s ice cream maker with the promise of returning it alongside a delicious pint of frozen goodness. My ice cream making interest peaked a few weeks back when I was enjoying a particularly irresistible piece of baklava with a side of ice cream. Scooping both chunks of baklava and the ice cream into my mouth, my tastebuds were trying to grab the flavors as one. Which is when my mind realized I should just combine the two..into a delicious baklava ice cream.

I had a plan – I was going to find a simple vanilla ice cream recipe and customize it with baklava ingredients. However, when I got home and started looking at recipes, I began to feel overwhelmed. So overwhelmed I wondered if it would have been better to just go and buy a pint of ice cream at Kroger. I mean do I use whole milk or heavy cream or eggs? Do I let the mixture sit for an hour in the fridge or overnight?

This wasn’t the kind of kitchen tool that I grew up watching my family use. I was totally clueless and, for the first time in years, the internet seemed to be throwing too much information at me to process. I sat on the idea of making ice cream for a few days. Comparing online recipes with my recipe books until I came onto a decision. I’d just wing it…like I’ve done with so many successful (but also…some unsuccessful) recipes in the past. I chose to go with heavy cream AND milk and to let the mixture sit overnight (just in case).

And let me tell you – I am SO glad I didn’t give up and run to Kroger for a pint instead. All the worry and reluctance was so worth it. This ice cream is like nothing I’ve ever had before. Better than store bought and better than my local ice cream stand. It’s creamy and tastes fresh and full of cinnamon-walnut-honey-baklava amazingness.

Baklava Ice Cream

2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk (I used 2% but whole would work well too), divided
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/8 teaspoons salt
3 Tablespoons cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup + 1 Tablespoon honey, divided
1 vanilla bean, split in half
2 cinnamon sticks
3/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 sheets phyllo dough, thawed
2 tablespoons butter, melted

In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup milk with the cornstarch. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and salt. Set aside.

Combine the cream, remaining milk, vanilla bean, and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a simmer (just until tiny bubbles start to form around the edges) and let simmer for three minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the honey and cornstarch mixture, and return to heat. Bring to simmer, stirring constantly, and let cook until thickened (one or two minutes). Remove from heat and chill the mixture overnight.

The night day: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and transfer to a baking sheet. On a separate baking sheet, place 4 phyllo sheets down and brush with butter. Place the other four on top of those and brush with butter. Mix any remaining butter with the walnut mixture. Cook both in the oven for 25 minutes or until the phyllo has browned and the walnuts are giving off a nutty aroma. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Break the phyllo dough into large chunks.

Remove the cinnamon sticks and vanilla bean from the chilled cream mixture. Prepare the ice cream according to your ice cream maker’s instructions (mine has me stick the cream mixture into the ice cream maker for 20 minutes). 1 minute before the ice cream is done churning, add in the nuts and phyllo dough.

Enjoy right away or transfer into an airtight container in the freezer to enjoy later.

Homemade Mustards: Honey Curry & Beer Thyme

4.16.2013

As spring approaches, I get the “grilling craving”. You know what I’m talking about – where not only the smell of blooming flowers is in the air but also the smell of charcoal and kabobs. This is usually also the time of year that I get the urge to make a new condiment. For me, condiments will always be associated with summer outdoor cookouts. A veggie dog is just not the same without relish, ketchup, and mustard. But woah, have you seen all the preservatives that reside in your standard ketchup bottle? Its a sight for sore eyes!

This is usually why I like to make a few batches of homemade condiment to last me through the summer. Two years ago I posted about Ketchup, last spring was Barbecue Sauce, and this time around I am trying my hand at Mustard. The idea, for me, is that if I make it in the spring then I’ll have the condiments around in the fridge for grill outs and social gathering all summer long.

I’m pretty excited about this mustard because it will last in your fridge for up to 3 months. That means months of veggie dog toppings and Brie Grilled Cheeses! In addition, it makes plenty to share and you get to show off your fancy cooking skills to all your friends. What’s a better conversation starter than ‘Oh, here is where I put that homemade mustard. Yup, I said homemade’ ?

The trick for these recipes is to use enough vinegar that you get a bit of tang with each bite but also don’t use so much that the vinegar becomes overpowering (which can happen pretty quickly). Also, another thing to note, is that whole mustard seeds are super spicy. Like…way more spicy than most people ever realize. This means that you may need to add LOTS more sweetener at the end to get the desired flavor profile you are looking for. Don’t be afraid to mix in some more honey or agave to make it sweet. Or even more curry powder or thyme if you aren’t tasting the added ingredients as much as you’d like. Homemade cooking is all about experimenting so play around with this recipe and figure out what works best for your taste palette.

Homemade Honey Curry Mustard

1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup brown mustard seeds
1/4 cup yellow mustard seeds
1 Tablespoon chopped shallots
1 Tablespoon honey (plus more for the end)
1/2 Tablespoon curry powder
salt

Homemade Thyme Beer Mustard

1/2 cup beer
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup brown mustard seeds
1/4 cup yellow mustard seeds
1 Tablespoon chopped shallots
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
salt

For both or either recipes: Place all ingredients for each recipe into two separate bowls (or just use one bowl if you are only making one of the mustards). Cover and let sit in the fridge overnight.

The next day, transfer everything to a blender and blend until desired consistency is reached (I like to keep a few mustard seeds whole but do whatever fits your fancy). Taste to season and add more honey if it’s too spicy or salt/pepper to help bring out the flavors.

Eat right away or transfer to an airtight jar and keep in the fridge for up to 3 months.

*Please note that the mustard seeds are like a sponge and will absorb any liquid around them so if your mustard becomes dry from sitting in the fridge, just add a few teaspoons of water to reach your desired consistency again

Ginger Citrus Infused Rum

4.02.2013

So remember when I made that Blueberry Basil Infused Vodka? Well, it was awesome. So awesome that I needed to play around with more infusions. From what I had read, you only get better batches each time you try since it’s all about getting used to how long certain herbs/fruits need to sit for.

This time around I used a combination of citrus (Blood oranges, lemon, lime) and slices of ginger. I let this batch sit for a week and half in the fridge (which was a little longer than the vodka) and added more ginger a few times throughout the process. The results? Success!

Again, don’t forget to sample the mixture every day or two so that you know when to add more citrus or ginger and when it’s ready. Also, the infusion process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks – it all depends on your flavor profile. Some herbs/fruits release their flavors faster than others so be patient and make sure to experiment. For more tips on how to infuse alcohol, hop on over to my original post about it.

Also, my last tip is that you use organic citrus for this. This is because the peel is where the pesticides are exposed to and the alcohol will be absorbing all the flavors (and pesticides) from the peel. Perhaps the alcohol kills these pesticides but we don’t really know…so why not be safe instead of sorry? And plus, shopping organic is cool – do it!

Ginger Citrus Infused Rum

Peel from 1 organic orange, washed
Peel from 1 organic lemon, washed
Peel from 1 organic lime, washed
1 inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
2 cups clear rum

Place peels and ginger in a resealable jar. Top with rum, seal, and place in fridge. Shake daily and sample at least every other day. Add more citrus/ginger as needed. Should be ready after about a week! Enjoy!

I served mine with a refreshing Thyme cocktail that I will post tomorrow. Make sure to check back!

Song Pairing:

Citrus Tub Scrub /// Chickpea Spring Issue

3.21.2013

Let’s talk magazine. I love blogs. They are wonderful – accessible, easy to update, and inspiring. But, in my opinion, they will never compare to having a print version of something. Maybe I’m a collector (I do have an obscene amount of vinyl records when we all know I could just use Itunes). But there is just something about smelling the fresh pages, running my fingers across the inspiring images, and clipping out favorite articles that can not be replicated with blogs.

My favorite part about blogs is that anyone can be a blogger. I am a blogger. I have no job that labels me as a ‘writer’ or no diploma that says anything about ‘design’ on it. You don’t need those labels to blog. And I love that. It’s probably my favorite part about reading blogs. Bloggers are people who are passionate about what they are writing because they aren’t in it (for the most part) to get a check at the end of the day.

I used to be a zine nut before blogging because it was our way of putting our info out there. You could make a cooking zine without a publishing deal. Many magazines have turned into that as well. I mean, you still have Rolling Stone and Bust and Cosmo but you also have the ability to make your own magazines with programs like Issuu and Dreamweaver. We now have magazines like Kinfolk and Pure Green Magazine and Chickpea Magazine. These are products of creative people putting themselves out there by making their own magazines. And they are beautiful. And so much more inspiring than any Cosmo I’ve ever read.

This rant is a product of my excitement from the Spring Issue of Chickpea Magazine which went on pre-order last week. It’s filled with beautiful photography, inspiring vegan recipes, and spring adventures. I highly suggest you check out the free version here or think about per-ordering a physical copy for yourself here.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Lastly, I wanted to give you a little preview of what you can expect from my article in the issue. My article is on homemade house cleaners. In it I talk house plants, DIY recipes, and the drawbacks of pre-packaged house cleaners. This article was so fun to write about because it was one big science project. A constant affair of trying out different ingredients and recipes to see what really got the grime off of that damn kitchen sink. The end results were rewarding and I am so happy to share with everyone some favorite homemade cleaners that I use every week.

The one I am sharing today is shockingly easy and cheap. Its my citrus tub scrub. A piece of citrus fruit and coarse salt. That’s it. How easy is that? It will make your bathroom smell like you’ve been growing a citrus plant in there for years while the acidicity from the fruit will scrub away the grime. The coarse salt is used as an exfoliater to get the hard to scrub spots.

Bathroom Tub Scrub

1 pieces of citrus fruit (the bigger, the more surface area you can cover quicker)
Coarse Salt

Cut the fruit in half. Pour a little coarse salt onto the inside of the fruit and gently squeeze out the juice as you scrub the bathroom tub. Apply more salt as needed. Let sit for a few minutes and rinse with water.

Feel free to use leftover fruit to scrub the outside of the toilet, the bathroom sink, or even the floors.

Song Pairing:

Homemade Chex Mix // The Perfect Road Trip Snack

3.18.2013

…And we are back. After 6 glorious days of soaking up the sun on Atlantic beaches and sipping on Bloody Marys at the pool. It’s was wonderful and short lived. I was oh so saddened to come back to this 30 degree and rainy weather. Spring, where are you? Last year I was prepping my garden by this time.However, this year I don’t see the snowy slush temperatures breaking anytime soon. Ah well. At least I have my slight [sort of, not really] tan to hold me over for another month.

Anyhow, the trip was great but I am glad to be back to my kitchen. And my usual eating routine. Vacations often time becomes an epic eating marathon. This is fine when you are hiking for 5 hours a day but when you are just sitting around the pool sipping on Bloody Mary’s…this can be a bit of a negative thing. I also find myself eating out of boredom on long car rides. So, if not prepared then I end up gurgling down three bags of cheetos, a milk shake from Sonic, and endless snickers bars. The sugar high is always met at the end with a feeling of regret and stomach aches.

This time around I made sure to pack the car with goodies so I wouldn’t be tempted with processed candy bars and thick spoonfuls of dairy. This chex mix recipe isn’t lacking all together in processed foods but it is much less processed than buying a bag of it the gas station. And it lasts for a good week so you’ll still have it to munch on long after your hummus has warmed and your carrots start to smell funky from the heated car.

Feel free to play around with ingredients you have on hand and any seasonings you are super into. Although, I would suggest staying away from any seasoning that are lacked with MSG because we don’t want you dosing off at the wheel now!

Side note: I also picked up a copy of Vegan Eats World during my travels so expect some fun international dishes in the coming weeks. EVERY recipe looks amazing and I cannot wait to dig into it!

Homemade Chex Mix

3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
3 cups Corn Chex cereal
2 cups pretzels
1 cup bagel chips (I used sesame flavored), broke into bite size pieces
1 cup cheddar cheese crackers
6 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons worchestshire sauce
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon hot sauce (I used sriracha sauce)

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Mix together the chex cereals, cheese crackers, bagel chips, and pretzels. Drizzle the butter and fold in all the seasonings.

Pour the mixture onto a large baking sheet (or two small ones). Let cook for about an hour and stir every 15 minutes. Once done, remove from heat and let cool completely.

Store in an airtight container or munch down immediately.

Basics: Homemade Tomato Sauce

3.07.2013

tomatosauce

I’m not going to lie to you. It’s the last leg of winter and I am feeling as uninspired by food as is heavenly possible. I’m over root vegetables. And citrus cakes. And winter squash curry. At first, I was pretty bummed out by this realization. But in retrospect – it happens and it’s a good learning experience to look for inspiration in more than just pretty produce and cleverly flavored recipe combinations.

So, I am taking this lull as an opportunity to hone in on basics in the kitchen. If you’ve ever owned a food blog then you’ve probably noticed that there are certain standards that are expected of you. You’ve probably been at a gathering or in a kitchen with someone while they were cooking and everyone turned to you for advice. “Oh! Shelly owns a food blog – ask her!”. I mean, yes, I have an unhealthy obsession with food but that does not make me the best cook in the kitchen. Heck. The whole reason I started this blog was to push me to become a better cook.

Sometimes the goals off VV can get lost in the trends of fun flavor pairings and exotic ingredients. So, as mentioned, this is my opportunity to hone in on basics ranging from nut butter to standardizing a soup recipe to making pasta sauce. The Kitchn recently posted a few articles about recipes you should know by heart. Do you have a basic pizza dough recipe you always turn to? Or minestrone recipe? Or a mindless recipe work that you can just whip up without having to read through 3 pages full of instructions? Knowing a few recipes and basic kitchen skills will help you to be confident next time everyone turns to you in the kitchen.

Often times we get so used to the convenience of buying things at the store that we forget about how simple they really are. I was reminded of this when making vegetable stock and again with this pasta sauce. Did you know you can make your own pasta sauce in about the same amount of time it will take to boil that big pot of water and cook your pasta? Crazy! And you can probably make it with ingredients right from your pantry.

So, instead of tackling that daunting step-by-step on how to make your next elaborate meal…why don’t you take an evening to perfect your own tomato sauce recipe that can be replicated over and over again?

[Oh and side note. I've also been taking this time to do a little clean up around VV. I've put some energy into giving VV's Facebook Page a small makeover and started re-doing my 'Recipe' page [which is a loooong ongoing process]. If your into random recipe suggestions, links to weird / funny / encouraging articles, and the occasional puppy pic – then head on over to Facebook and like VV. Okay, that was my oooonly and last plug-in for the day. But…to be fair, I don’t have any annoying advertisements flashing all over my pages so a quick suggestion won’t ruin it. Maybe? Hopefully? Please, don’t leave!.]

Basic Tomato Sauce

1 16 ounce can of whole tomatoes
2 garlic cloves, minced
Italian herbs (basil, oregano, thyme – dried or fresh)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
red wine , optional

Step one: Chop and prepare your veggies / herbs.

Step 2: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium. Add onions and saute until translucent (about five minutes). Add garlic and saute for another minute.

Step 3: Add wine (if using) and turn heat up to high. Let the wine simmer until almost all the liquid is evaporated. Next, add in the tomatoes and use your [clean hands] to break apart the tomatoes (I like my sauce chunky but it all depends on personal preference). Let simmer under the sauce is thick and has reached your desired consistency.

Serve over pasta, ravioli, gnocci, or on homemade pizza!

Cinnamon Honey Almond Butter

3.05.2013

As I continue the journey with my 2013 resolution of less processed food, I can’t help but continue to be amazed at how easy it is to make staples for your kitchen. From fresh bread to vanilla extract to vegetable broth; all of these staples can be made using only a few ingredients and a bit of patience.

Almond butter, however, may even be the easiest of them all.

I’m pretty much an almond butter addict. Being a vegetarian, I usually let myself have endless amounts of protein rich nuts regardless of the calorie content. I can always seem to justify needing more protein in my diet. So almond butter has become my go-to. If I need a snack before dinner or a sweet dessert, a spoonful of nut butter always does the trick. As is the case for breakfast and even those moments when I’m not hungry but still want to eat (you know what I’m talking about).

However, this stuff is not cheap at the store. And is still, sadly, processed. So why not try making your own?

Honey Cinnamon Almond Butter

2 cups raw almonds
2 teaspoons honey (add up to a tablespoon if you like your butter sweeter)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

First, roast the almonds. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and transfer almonds to a baking sheet. Let roast for 10-12 minutes or until they release a nutty aroma. Remove from oven and let cool.

Toss the cooled almonds in a food processor and let the processor run for 10 to 15 minutes. It’s important to be patient because the almonds go through many stages so you may even want to set a timer. In the first 3 minutes, they will form almond meal that you may have to stop the processor for a few times to scrap the sides. After 5-7 minutes a thick paste will form. And then finally at 10-15 a super creamy butter will develop.

Once creamy, add in the honey and cinnamon and pulse for another 30 seconds.

Serve right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge for later.

Butterfinger Bites

2.15.2013

I know, I know. Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and how could you possible want more chocolate in your life? Well, I meant to post this ON Valentine’s Day but thing got busy (I’m sure you can relate). These little bites were my V-day gift to Wyatt. We play this little devilish game – we both WANT to eat fresh and organic but have our vices. Mine are those little booty puff popcorn things…do you know what I’m talking about? They have the texture of Styrofoam but are REALLY addicting regardless. Wyatt’s vice? Butterfingers. And like clockwork, every time I polish off a bag of those puffs within 20 minutes, I get that disapproving look from Wyatt. And every time we take a walk to the gas station and he picks up a butterfinger, I have to give my ‘you are going to get THAT?’ comment.

In turn, I just couldn’t bring myself to buy him a butterfinger for V-day. I could just imagine that ‘oh..you got me THIS’ comment when I handed it to him. So I made a Plan B – make my own. I have never really made candy before…mostly because I’m scared of the whole baking with corn syrup. But, after much research, I’ve come to the conclusion that corn syrup is NOT the same thing as high-fructose corn syrup that you find in packaged candy bars and that I will not be turning to the dark side if a put a small amount into a treat.

These little bites turned out wonderful. I mix between a Butterfinger and a Reese’s cup…how could it be bad? You will need a candy thermometer for this because it’s super essential that you get the sugar heated high enough so that it hardens but not so much that it burns. Makes sense? Cool. Let’s get candy-making!

Butterfinger Bites

adapted from Not Without Salt

1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water

1 18 ounce bag of chocolate chips
2 Tablespoons milk

Grease a 9×6 pan (I used my bread pan) and set aside.

In a small saucepan, add the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Turn onto medium-high heat and let cook until the temperature reaches 290 degrees.

While that temperature is rising, place the peanut butter, vanilla, and salt in a double boiler. Let water simmer under the bowl while the peanut butter creates a creamy, smooth paste.

Remove the sugar mixture from heat AS SOON as it reached 290 and stir in the peanut butter mixture. Pour into prepared pan and let chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Remove from fridge and cut into bit side pieces. Heat the chocolate and milk in a double boiler until melted and combined. Dip the butterfinger bites into the chocolate and coat all sides. Transfer to wax paper and repeat with the rest of the bites.

Let cool in the fridge for another 30 minutes. Enjoy cold or let them come to room temperature.

Gluten Free Caramel Pecan Tart with Chocolate Genache & Mascarpone Drizzle

1.18.2013

This is Ella. She is one of the best things in my life. She has put up with my nonsense for more years than I would like to admit. She didn’t strangle me after us living together for a year and she still encourages my crazy adventures (like moving down to Nasvhille to chase my music dream. And starting a food blog. And adopting a puppy even though I can hardly take care of myself). Oh, and did I mention she makes me bruschetta… bruschetta that looks like this…

..every September. It’s oh so amazing. It’s also what sparked my Winter Bruschetta post yesterday. But anyways, monday was her 24th birthday (Hey, Ella…we are getting old!) and she doesn’t know where she will be in 4 months. Maybe it’s still here with me in Bloomington. Or maybe she will disappear into the wilderness that is Wyoming or maybe she’ll serve a non-profit programs in Washington, DC. Whatever she chooses…I plan to support her since she supported me all those year. And I didn’t want to support her in the form of gifting another thing to carry across the country. Instead, I made this tart. And I made it gluten-free because I am also trying to encourage her gluten-free food adventures! So much support and encouragement around here, huh?

So here it is. Ella’s birthday tart. The Gluten-Free Caramel Pecan Tart with Chocolate Genache & Mascarpone Drizzle (WOAH. SUCH A MOUTHFUL). I started with an almond flour crust…which gave it the tiniest hint of nutty flavor and then did a date/caramel layer followed by a VERY rich chocolate genache and a mascarpone drizzle. Dayum. It was intense and oh so delicious.

Lastly, I’d like to note that this tart LOOKS daunting because there are 4 components BUT you only cook the crust and there are a lot of repeated ingredients. Do not fear – with a little bit of time and a few fresh ingredients, you will have a delicious and decadent tart in no time! Okay, enough chatting…let’s get baking!

Caramel Pecan Tart with Chocolate Genache & Mascarpone Drizzle

a weird love child of this recipe and this one

For the crust:

2 cups almond flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup agave syrup or maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

For the filling:

10 dates, pitted and soaked in 1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
dash of sea salt
1 cup pecans, chopped (+more for garnish)

For the genache:

1/2 cup maple syrup / agave nectar
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 vanilla bean

For the drizzle:

1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
~1 Tablespoon milk (dairy or un-sweetened nondairy)
1/2 vanilla bean
2 teaspoons honey

Combine the dates with 1/3 cup of water and let soak for one hour.

Make the drizzle first so that the mascarpone has time to absorb the vanilla/honey flavors. Slice the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrap out the seeds. Discard the pod and set half the seeds aside for the genache. Whisk together the mascarpone, honey, and vanilla bean seeds. Stick in the fridge while you prepare the rest of the tart.

To make the crust: Whisk together the almond flour and salt. Add in the agave/maple syrup and coconut oil and whisk until a crumbly dough forms. Grease a 4×14 tart pan (with removable bottom) and press the dough into it. Use a fork to pierce the dough through-out the pan. Transfer to the fridge and let chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake 15 minutes (or just until it starts to firm up and turn slightly brown). Remove from oven and let cool completely.

In a small food processor, combine the dates (including the water they were soaking in), vanilla, and salt. Pulse until well combined and then fold in the pecans. Pour into the prepared crust and stick in the fridge while you prepare the genache.

To make the genache: In the small food processor, pulse together the coconut milk, cocoa powder, vanilla seeds, and maple syrup / agave nectar. Pour over the caramel mixture and smooth with a spatula. Stick back in the fridge for at least an hour (so that all the layers can set).

Right before serving: Whisk a tablespoon of milk (1 teaspoon at a time) into the mascarpone filling until its thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over the tart and garnish with chopped pecans.

Serve to all your chocolate and pecan loving friends!

Ella —– Me

Something for you to dance to while baking:

Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

1.15.2013

If close up pictures of french fries doesn’t make you want to ditch your soup dinner plans and run out to the nearest diner then I do not know what does. Sorry that I just ruined your diet with this photo. Don’t worry, you can start again tomorrow.

I grew up a firm believer that ketchup was for eggs and barbecue sauce was for french fries. Although I’ve grown out of lathering ketchup all over my morning scramble, I still cannot resist a big side of tangy barbecue sauce to accompany my french fries and tofu nuggets (yes, I am guilty – I do enjoy those processed fake chicken nuggets that you can find in you organic freezer section at Kroger).

Although I am known to still down the occasional fry or chicken-less nuggets, I do try avoid the processed and high-fructose packed condiments that fill our grocery stores. Have your REALLY looked on the back of that condiment jar in a while? It’s a rather upsetting sight. Instead, I usually whip up a batch our this barbecue sauce and it usually holds me through all summer (and I participate in A LOT of grill outs every summer).

I decided to mix it up and try a new bbq sauce this time around. It’s definitely not the traditional bbq sauce you are used to (I’d suggest using this recipe if you are looking for that) but it’s a great sauce to use for special occasions. It’s a wonderful way to add new flavor to your condiments or to fancy up a side of fries at a party. The bourbon gives it the inevitable and sophisticated alcoholic aroma while the honey helps sweeten and tone it down.

I made this in my slow cooker so I could walk away and not worry about it. But it would probably be made just as easy in a saucepan by throwing in all your ingredients and letting it simmer down to your desired consistency (bet it wouldn’t take more than 30 minutes!).

Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
12 ounces of tomato sauce
1/3 cup bourbon
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
dash of hot sauce, optional
salt, to taste

Heat the olive oil over medium in a small skillet. Add onions and sauté until translucent (about five or so minutes). Add in the garlic and cook for another minute. Remove from heat.

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and turn the slow cooker on low. Let cook for 8 hours. If the sauce is too thin after 8 hours, remove the lid and let cook down to desired consistency.

Use an immersion blender to blend into a smooth sauce or leave the small chunks of onions (they are delicious!).

Serve right away or transfer to an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. If you’d like to keep it longer, freeze it in ice cube trays for easy access to later.

Because Nobunny is both saucy and probably a bit alcoholic (yeah - not really sure what that means either):

Sweet Potato and Mascarpone Ravioli with Caramelized Onions

1.14.2013

Did I tell you about Christmas? I received so many wonderful kitchen tools and they have been filling my free time with cooking inspiration. First, I received a Tagine which is a wonderful Moroccan clay pot that I’ve been using to cook up flavorful veggie strews. Have you ever cooked with preserved lemons? Or harissa? I had not until I discovered the wonderful world of tagine cooking and now I am hooked!

We also received a pasta maker and ravioli press. It’s a tradition for my Ma and I to make homemade pierogies once a year so I am very acquainted with their pasta machine. But to have my own?! The options are endless! I started my adventures with this ravioli. There is something so wonderful about the creamy mascarpone that pairs nicely with the sweetness of the potatoes and then the savory garlic and onions.

Before we get started I have to tell you that I did a total no-no. In my recipe, I posted a link to ANOTHER recipe so you have to [gasp] follow two recipes at the same time. I know this is both annoying and could possibly even be confusing. BUT, I promise I did it for a reason [and that reason was NOT laziness]! This was my first time making homemade pasta on my own and I am no where near an expert. Thus, I didn’t really feel like it was right trying to tell you how to make it since I am still in my learning phase of this process. And instead, I sent you to a REALLY informative and easy to follow link that I used to make the dough for this recipe. So, I know you are wondering, why even post this recipe at all? Well because the ravioli filing / combo was totally my own inspiration and I found it too damn delicious not to share on here! So, don’t be mad! And I promise I’ll hopefully have my own step-by-step tutorial on homemade pasta one day. Until then, The Kitchn is a wonderful guide. Now, let’s make some ravioli!

Sweet Potato and Mascarpone Ravioli with Caramelized Onions

For the pasta dough:

I followed The Kitc hn’s recipe found here

For the filling:

2 sweet potatoes, peeled
1/2 vanilla bean
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
1/2 Tablespoon lemon juice
Salt

Topping / Sauce:

1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon dried thyme
Salt/Pepper
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon olive oil

Parmesan

To prep the filling: Bring a large saucepan full of salted water to a boil. Peel and dice the sweet potatoes and add to the boiling water. Let boil until a fork can easily pierce through them (about 25 minutes). Drain the potatoes and let cool. While that is cooling, slice the vanilla bean in half and scrap out the seeds. Once the potatoes have cooled, mash with the vanilla seeds (discard the pod), mascarpone, lemon juice, and salt. Set aside.

Follow the Kitchn’s recipe on how to make the dough (follow through step 8).

Once the dough is rolled out to your desired consistency, lay across your ravioli press and fill each pocket with a tablespoon of filling. Lay another sheet of dough across the top and use a heavy rolling pin to gently roll back and forth over the ravioli until its sealed. Repeat with the rest of the dough / filling.

Bring a large saucepan full of salted water to a boil. Add the prepared ravioli (only doing about 6-8 at a time, depending on how large your pot is) and let cook for 2-3 minutes or until they float. Transfer to a wire rack and repeat with the rest of the ravioli.

To make the topping / sauce: Heat the butter and olive oil in a saucepan over medium low. Add in the onions and sauté for about 5 minutes or until they become translucent. Add in the garlic, turn the heat down to low, and let cook for 30 to 45 minutes or until caramelized. Finally, add in the thyme, boiled ravioli, salt, and pepper and turn the heat back up to medium. Saute for about five minutes or until the ravioli just starts to brown.

Serve warm with shaved parmesan.

Track of the day:

Wake up with Mascarpone: Breakfast Bowl & Breakfast Sandwich

1.10.2013

Usually when I purchase mascarpone, I use it up in one sitting by making a fruit dip or smothering on top of cookies. However, this time I’ve been savoring it by throwing a tablespoon or two into pretty much ever meal. Pasta? Sure, why not!? Granola. Yes, please! blondies? Why not dip them in mascarpone? It’s been wonderful to open up the fridge and wonder “what can I douse in mascarpone today?”.

This intention has caused the creation of two delicious, quick breakfasts. I am the type of person who wakes up 20 minutes before she has to leave for work and needs a breakfast FAST. The first one is an indulgent twist on my usual morning granola and yogurt. And the second is a bit more YOLO (do you say that? I don’t actually say that…I just could not think of a better describing word. Thank you mainstream media for RUINING MY VOCABULARY).

Let me elaborate a bit more on my contrast between these two breakfasts. I have a [wonderful] boyfriend who is so skinny that you could probably see threw him when he turns to the side. This really irritates me when we eat 80% of the same foods (the other 20% is him getting a side of fries when I get a side salad) and it’s like he is getting skinnier as I am getting bigger! This is good in the aspect that it strives for me to constantly eat better as to not become the husky one in this relationship. But, at the same time and out of frustration, it also makes me want to down an entire jar of nutella when he is not looking. So this week’s breakfasts have consisted of ‘Morning bebe. Here is a big bowl of Granola / Mascarpone / Fruit that I made us for breakfast” and “Oh, you aren’t awake yet? Well I’m downing this Nutella / Ciabatta / Mascarpone sandwich before you get up” [I mean the Nutella has been in that cabinet for far too long...it could go bad soon! I'm only eating this as to not waste food...maybe...no, not really].

So, whether you are feeling like treating yourself or giving your body a good foundation for the day, one of these breakfasts should satisfy your needs. I’d suggest you whip up a batch of your own mascarpone so you can have yummy, creamy breakfasts to look forward to all week as well!

Mascarpone Breakfast Bowl

1 cup homemade granola (I used my pumpkin granola but use whatever you like)
1/4 cup fresh mascarpone
1/2 vanilla bean
drizzle of honey
fresh fruit

Slice the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrap out the seeds. Discard the pod and transfer seeds to small bowl with the mascarpone. Whisk until combined and then pour in granola. Top with fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey.

Mascarpone Breakfast Sandwich with Nutella & Fresh Fruit

1 slice ciabatta bread
2-3 Tablespoons Nutella or any hazelnut spread
2-3 Tablespoons fresh mascarpone
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Fresh fruit

Slice the ciabatta bread in half and spread the Nutella on one side and the mascarpone on the other. Sprinkle the cinnamon on both sides and spread a single layer of bread. Fold the two pieces into each other and set under the broiler for a minute (or until your desired warm/crispiness is achieved). Eat immediately [preferably before anyone else sees you or else you may have to make more].

Daily dose. Why wake up slowly? Let’s get this day going:

Homemade Mascarpone

1.09.2013

This post has been a long time coming. I promised myself I would make homemade cheese back on my [cringe] summer to do list. And then again [eeeep!] in the fall…and then I stuck it on my winter one. And guess what?! I FINALLY DID IT! And although making my own cheese was both enjoyable and delicious, it kind of made me hate myself more. It was so ridiculously easy to make…probably easier than 80% of the recipes on here…that it really really bugs me to know it took 6 months to get around to making it.

Before you start, make sure you have a candy thermometer and cheese cloth. It’s very important to keep the milk at a stable temperature so it doesn’t burn or not stay warmed up long enough. But other than that, you only need 2 (yes, 2!!) ingredients. Doesn’t it kind of make you mad to think you’ve spent all that money on mascarpone in the past?

Anyhow, this recipe is oh so easy! Just make sure you give yourself enough time for the cheese to strain overnight. I’ve been mixing my mascarpone into almost everything! I stuck it in some homemade ravioli, pasta, and even with my morning cup of granola and fruit! So creamy and delicious!

Homemade Mascarpone

2 cups heavy cream (NOT ultra-pasteurized)
1 Tablespoon lemon juice

In a small saucepan, slowly bring the heavy cream to a small simmer (the temperature should climax at 180 degrees and the goal is to try to keep it around there). Let simmer at 180 degrees for about 3 minutes and add in the lemon juice. Simmer for another 3 minutes and then remove from heat. Let cool to room temperature (best to just step away for a half an hour).

Fill a small strainer with several (I used 3) layers of cheesecloth and put a small bowl under the strainer. Pour the cooled mascarpone mixture into the strainer and stick in the fridge overnight (mine only strained a few tablespoons of whey but the mascarpone came out thick and creamy in the morning).

Add to your pasta, granola, or elaborate desserts! Store in an airtight container in your fridge for up to a week.

Song inspiration (classy but still a bit scandalous):

Homemade Pumpernickel Loaf

1.03.2013

As I mentioned yesterday in my post on Pear, Brie, and Spicy Brown Mustard Grilled Cheese, this is the first time I have ever tackled making homemade pumpernickel bread. I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor complexity that went into this bread. Whoever first invented this must have either seriously known what they were doing or was trying to clean out their kitchen cabinet in the form of throwing everything into a loaf of bread. I like to think it may be my second theory.

This bread is not for the impatient. It has 2 rising cycles so I recommend whipping this up on the weekend when you are planning to be hanging around the house anyways. Or even if you weren’t planning on hanging out around the house all day maybe this can be your excuse? Don’t want to go visit that weird uncle you’ve been putting off seeing in St. Louis? Tell him you’ve got some bread to make that just can’t wait another weekend. He will…probably not understand but at least you’ll get some amazing bread out of it and your home will smell like a fresh bakery!

(more…)

Homemade Grenadine // Tequila Sunrise + Shirley Temple

12.13.2012

Okay, I have a confession to make. I grew up on Shirley Temples. Any fancy occasion that I was out with my family and my Grandma would order her ‘Manhattan’, I would proudly announced my ‘Shirley Temple’ drink order. They would bring it out in a fancy cocktail glass and it would be garnished with a few cherries. Ah, I felt like such a sophisticated ten year old.

But this is where my confession comes in. I went the first 23 years of my life thinking that grenadine was cherry flavored syrup. Wrong. How can you blame me? After all, they did always garnish those Shirley Temples with cherries! It’s actually pomegranate syrup! Who would of thought I was so health trendy in my tweens? If only I knew French then I would have known that grenade means ‘pomegranate’. Ah well. Silly me.

Anyhow, so I’ve been on a drink kick lately. More specifically, I’ve been on a booze kick (see Boozy Stout Brownies, Cranberry Mojito, etc). And my fascination with simple syrups started this summer when I first whipped up that delicious Sparkling Blackberry Lemonade. And then the Rosemary Lemonade. and then the Lemongrass cooler. and so on. You get the point. So when I found out that grenadine was just an over-produced, over-sugared version of pomegranate simple syrup….I knew I had to try my own.

If you are use to making your own simple syrups, you will notice that this process is a bit different because we are starting off with pomegranate juice instead of having the fruit boil and steep into a juice. But anyhow, it’s not complicated and more on that later. Oh! And last thing – don’t wear white while making this. The juicing part is both fun and messy.

Homemade Grenadine

method adapted from Reclaiming Provincial

2 pomegranates
1 1/2 to 2 cups sugar (depending on how sweet you like your syrup)

First, the fun [and messy] part! Making the juice. I used a citrus squeezer and sliced the pomegranates into quarters to juice them. You could use a hand held squeezer if you have it or even a zip lock bag (break the seeds up as much as possible and then strain out the seeds). The goal here is to get as much juice out of the pomegranate without 1. breaking the tiny white seeds within the red seeds because they will release a bitter flavor (hence why a blender wouldn’t work) and 2. separating the juice from the tiny seeds and whites of the pomegranate. If you don’t have a juice squeezer, this may take some creative thinking on your part but it’s not impossible. Using my citrus squeezer yielded about 2 cups of juice from 2 pomegranates so try to achieve around that amount.

Next, transfer the juice to a small saucepan and add the desired amount of sugar (I started with a cup and a half). Bring to a boil over medium heat and then immediately remove from heat. Stir until all the sugar is dissolved (if it has not dissolved already). Let cool completely then transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge.

Annnnd, in case you were wondering what MY favorite ways are to use grenadine are…

Shirley Temple

1 ounce grenadine
2 maraschino cherries
ginger ale or lemon-lime soda

Place the grenadine and cherries in a glass. Fill the remainder of the glass with ginger ale / soda and enjoy!

Tequila Sunrise

2 ounces tequila
2 ounces grenadine
Orange Juice
maraschino cherry or orange slice, for garnish

Place grenadine and tequila in a cocktail glass. Fill the remainder of the glass with orange juice. Garnish with cherries or orange slices.

DIY Kitchen Article /// New Chickpea Quaterly

12.10.2012

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday. I have some exciting news! The preview winter issue of Chickpea Quarterly is finally done and viewable online! I have an extensive article in it on how to stock your kitchen with homemade staples. My article has recipes for how to make homemade almond milk, vanilla extract, and vegetable broth so hop on over to check it out. Oh, and there are some other AMAZING recipes for cookies, winter stews, holiday gifts, and so much more! Plus, the photography is oh so gorgeous and inspiring.

Okay, enough ranting about how much I love Chickpea. But honestly, it’s a beautiful magazine and I love being a part of it. Okay, done (for real this time). I’ll be back tomorrow with a new and delicious recipe for you!

Black Bean & Wheatberry Chili

12.03.2012

Morning, Morning. Can you believe it is already December? It sure does not feel like it. I don’t know about where you live but I’m located in the Midwest and we are suppose to have some 70 degree weather today (such a weird introduction to winter…). Not that I’m complaining but I would have considered making something a little more…light and refreshing had I known it was going to be so warm. Ah well, this chili is oh so delicious regardless of the temperature.

I’m not going to lie. I am really proud of this recipe. It’s packed with so much nutrients I can hardly wrap my head around it. We are talking loads of protein, fiber, vitamin C, iron, potassium, vitamin A, etc etc etc. The list goes on and if you make the beans from scratch… this chili is packed full of fresh and non-processed foods as well. I’ve never felt soooo good about gobbling down a bowl of food. And not to mention, it is absolutely delicious. The wheat berries give it slight chewy texture while the cocoa powder (learned that trick thanks to a very good friend of mine) bring a new complexity to the flavor.

Oh and don’t worry! If my over zealous attitude towards super healthy eating is freaking you out – I made some oh so irresistible Corn Cheddar biscuits to go with packed full of two sticks of butter and loads of gooey cheese [recipe on that to follow tomorrow!]

This recipe is vegan (unless you add cheese and sour cream) and makes about six serving. You could even double the recipe and plan to have leftovers for lunch the rest of the week.

Black Bean & Wheatberry Chili

adapted from Eating Well

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
4 large garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 cups black beans, cooked (I used dried but feel free to use canned)
1 24 ounce can of diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups vegetable broth (I used homemade)
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup cooked wheat berries, cooked*
Juice of 1 lime

Avocado, optional
sour cream, optional
cilantro for garnish, optional

Heat olive oil over medium in a large pot. Add in the onion, carrots, bell pepper, chili powder, cumin, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 7 to 10 minutes or until all the vegetables has softened. Next, add in the tomatoes, broth, black beans, and cocoa powder. Bring the chili to a bowl, cover, and reduce to a simmer. Let simmer for 30 minutes. Add wheat berries and let cook for another two minutes.

Remove from heat and squeeze in lime juice. Serve with garnish options (avocado, sour cream cilantro, plain yogurt, etc).

*To cook 1 1/2 cups of Wheatberries: Rinse 3/4 cup of berries and letting them simmer for 45 minutes or until softened.

November Wrap Up

11.30.2012

…And there goes another month. Isn’t it crazy how fast time seems to be going by? Thanksgiving has come and gone, the Christmas shopping is underway, and holiday cookies are on the mind. How about a quick recap of the past month before we jump into cookie cutters, green/red sprinkles, and chocolate covered everything?

Some favorite highlights from the past month:

1. Rosemary Vegetable Soup with Rustic Bread – Fresh bread and a hearty vegetable soup. Cannot think of a better way to bring in the cold evenings.

2. Cranberry Mojito – Festive and delicious! This drink was the perfect starter at our Friendsgiving party.

3. Pumpkin Dog Biscuits – Tuko turned 1 so I had to spoil the crap out of him with homemade biscuits and a new sweater. Believe me, I will be making these again very soon for Christmas gifts for all the adorable pups in my life.

4. Dark Chocolate Raspberry Espresso Scones – they were an extra amazing breakfast treat! The flavor was rich and complex with a flaky texture that was pretty much irresistible!

And that sums it up!

Moving forward… here are a few winter goals I am planning to tackle in the dark, cold months ahead:

1. Make homemade ricotta cheese (this has been on my list forever and I am going to do it this time!)

2. Get into a morning yoga routine

3. Make more homemade salad dressings

4. Work on my photography skills // work on lighting

5. Learn basic CSS (or at least enough to get my logo up in that corner where the V is!!)

6. Get into Twitter

7. Make homemade cleaning supplies

Okay, that is a start. Should keep me busy for awhile [I hope]. What you are hoping to accomplish this winter?

Spiced Sweet Potato Hummus

11.26.2012

Did everyone [From the US] have a wonderful long weekend? Are you all busy Cyber Monday shopping for the best holiday deals instead of working right now? Don’t worry. I won’t tell! I would be as well but I spent all my money on Black Friday (yup – I’m one of those that goes out at Midnight to save myself 50 bucks). Ah well. It’s all part of the adventure, right?

Oh! Please disregard the shamble that is my ‘recipes’ page right now. It’s in the process of being re-vamped and should hopefully be back to normal tomorrow. Cool? Cool and thanks for being so patient!

Anyhow, wanna talk hummus? Remember when I made that amazing Spicy Jalapeno Corn Hummus? Damn, that stuff was sooooooo good. Well, I’m back with more funky flavors and this one might take the cake. The soft sweet potatoes create the perfect texture for a creamy and flavorful dip. Seriously, this stuff is crazy good. And smother it on top of those homemade Sesame and Poppyseed Crackers and you are golden!

Impress your guests at your next holiday party with not only homemade crackers but homemade dip as well! Or save it all for yourself….that is what I did.

Spiced Sweet Potato Hummus

Adapted from Spoon Fork Bacon

1 large sweet potato, cubed
2 cups cooked chickpeas (I made mine from dried beans but feel free to use canned)
4 Tablespoons tahini
2 Tablespoons olive oil (you may need more if the hummus comes out thick)
2 garlic cloves, minced
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
1 Tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon sriracha
dash of nutmeg
dash of cinnamon
Salt/Pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Lower to medium low and add in the sweet potatoes. Cook until softened (about 10 to 15 minutes). Strain and let cool.

In a large blender or with a food processor, blend all the ingredients together until a desired consistency is reached. Taste and add more olive oil if dry, more sriracha if not spicy enough for you, or more lemon juice to bring out the flavors more.

Serve with homemade crackers!

Sesame & Poppyseed Crackers

11.23.2012

…And it’s over. All the planning, cooking, over-eating, and family time is done. Now…time for a detox. Haha, Just kidding! Time to start planning for December holidays!

These crackers are awesome with some homemade hummus (sweet potato hummus recipe to follow soon!), baba ganoush or with that leftover brie from Thanksgiving (who are we kidding…who ever has leftover brie?!).

Anyhow, these make several dozen so plan to serve them at a holiday party (Ugly Sweater party, anyone?) or nibble away at them slowly as long as they are stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Easy, right?

Also, feel free to get creative with the seed combinations. I used Sesame and Poppy because that is what I had on hand but feel free to use all sesame or flaxseed or sunflower…whatever you are feeling!

Sesame & Poppyseed Crackers

adapted from Salty Snacks

2 cups all purpose flour
1/8 cup poppy seeds
1/8 cup sesame seeds
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease a baking sheet.

Combine the flour, seeds, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the water and olive oil. Fold dry ingredient into wet until combined (don’t overmix or it’ll become tough!)

Roll out in sections (I divided my dough into 4 parts) using either a rolling pin or your pasta maker. If using rolling pin, I would just roll as thin as possible or until desired thickness. Cut squares out of the dough using a cookie cutter and move prepared squares to the baking sheets.

Working in batches, cook for 12 minutes or until browned and crisp. As this round is baking, prepare more crackers with the rest of your dough. Repeat until all the dough has been prepared and cooked.

Let cool completely, serve with dips, or transfer to an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Tuko Turns 1 // Homemade Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

11.20.2012

Woah, time has really flown fast since I posted about Tuko turning 6 months. Since then, we’ve moved into a new house, I graduated from college, and Wyatt started a new full time job. Also, I should mention that Tuko has doubled (if not tripled) in size since then. And he just keeps growing!

For his birthday, we got him a cute little American Apparel sweater and made him some homemade dog biscuits. Spoiled little thing.

These dog biscuits are packed full of pumpkin and peanut butter. Peanut butter is his favorite…in fact he thinks it is exclusively his food. I cannot pull the stuff out of the cabinet without him pawing at me to get a spoonful (again, spoiled little thing).

Homemade Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

adapted slightly from A Beautiful Mess

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup oats
1/3 cup orangic peanut butter
1/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup water

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until a thick dough forms. Wrap in foil and refrigerate for at least one hour (or overnight).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a large baking sheet. Once the dough has chilled, roll out onto a floured surface (roll the dough to about a 1/2 inch thick) and use cookie cutters to make desired shape. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheet and cook for 25 minutes or until the treats are golden on top.

Shower your dog with warm treats and then store the rest in an airtight container for up to a week.

Muesli Bread

10.23.2012

I know I push making homemade staples on you guys (see: DIY ketchup, Vegetable Broth, Pumpkin Granola, etc etc etc) but I only do it with the best intentions in mind. It’s healthier, you know exactly what is going into your body, and it often times taste better. I totally get that you aren’t going to always have time to make everything from scratch but you really should make some time now and then to make homemade bread. It may sound unnecessary when you can walk down the street and pick up a loaf for 4 dollars but let me tell you…nothing compares to homemade bread. There is something so satisfyingly addicting about fresh, steamy, buttered bread hot out of the oven. It’s more addicting than that chocolate you sneak after dinner… than that giant triple espresso latte your body tells you it needs in the morning…this stuff is probably more addicting [and healthier] than crack [although I have no real life experience to testify this - sorry!].

Anyhow, cooler weather means we can turn our oven on for more than 20 minutes without fainting..or worse yet, feeling guilty about having it on. It means we stay in doors more [unless you are a skier...then you are gearing up for your most busy season. Luckily, my brother go the skiing bug in my family so I can safely say I prefer the indoors during the cooler months] so we have more time to prep the dough, we have more excuses to heat the house by turning the oven up, and we have more reason to “carb-up” [probably not a word but I'm using it] so our bodies can use those calories to keep us warm. Okay, maybe I am over exaggerating a bit…it is still 60 degrees out there but when you are dealing with something as amazing as fresh bread, you NEED to extend the bread season as long as possible. So put your slippers on, turn that oven up, and start shivering so your body can crave those carbs!

Last “bread season” I tackled Garlic Naan, Breadmaker Jalapeno Cheese Bread, Pretzel Bread, Fall Focaccia, and Oatmeal Honey Buttermillk loaves (my personal favorite) – to name a few. This season, I am starting it off with this breakfast Muesli Bread! I am really gonna have to go big this season because this bread is already one of my favorites! Not only is it gorgeous to look at but it’s bursting with flavor from the nuts, seeds, and dried fruit! We ate this for breakfast with a thin layer of butter and strawberry preserves…oh. my. goodness. I wish breakfast could be this indulgent all the time!

Muesli Bread

adapted from Minimalist Baker

1 1/2 cups warm water
3 1/4 cups flour + more for dusting
1/2 Tablespoon salt
3/4 Tablespoon fast acting yeast
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup dried cherries (or any dried fruit you’d prefer)
1/4 cup almonds, chopped

In a small measuring cup, combine the warm water and yeast and set aside (this will give the yeast a few minutes to ‘activate’ and start foaming). Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Slowly add the water mixture into the flour mixture and stir until combined (this will either take a sturdy spatula or maybe even your hands…the dough will be very sticky).

Once the dough has formed a ball, place in an oiled bowl and cover with a towel. Look sit for 1 hour in a warm spot and then transfer to the fridge for an hour.

Once the dough is ready, remove from the fridge and transfer to a floured counter top. Knead the dough a few times and then add in the almonds, pumpkin seeds, and cherries. Knead until everything is incorporated (try to keep the add-ins as much in the middle as possible because they tend to burn if they are sticking out on top).

Transfer dough to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and sprinkle with flour. Adjust your oven racks so there is one on the lowest spot and then one in the middle. Place a metal or cast iron (NOT GLASS) pan on the bottom shelf and preheat oven to 450 degrees. Let dough rise for about 20 minutes or until the oven has preheated. Stick the dough into the preheated oven and pour a cup of warm water into the metal pan (it’ll steam – don’t worry! It’s suppose to!) and cook for about 30 minutes.

Remove from oven once the top is browned and serve warm with butter // jam.

Homemade Vegetable Stock

10.10.2012

So I should start by letting you know that I’m a produce addict. Between our weekly CSA box, Farmer’s market, and local co-op, we probably spend more money monthly on organic vegetables than we do on all our utility bills combined. This means that we end up with a garbage full of scraps almost every week. The “right” thing to do would be to start composting but for many [including us] this does not seem like an option. For 1, we rent so the idea of starting a compost for 9 months and then leaving the remains for the next tenant to deal with is just rude (could you imagine having to deal with a compost pile if you didn’t know what you were doing?). And secondly, we don’t have a proper place for it. Our backyard is fenced in but that is Tuko//Taco//Teekee territory and even if we got a bin for it, our little puppy is a nosy creature and would find ways to munch down on composting parts (which would not be the healthiest for the little guy).

Anyhow, I feel bad about not being able to compost. The amount of scraps we create is discouraging and I do believe that there is a lot of nutrition tossed away with those onion ends, zucchini peels, and herbs that have sat out for just too long. Luckily, I discovered that you can use those scraps to ma

ke vegetable broth. It’s quite simple: you just throw your scraps into a zip lock bag in the freezer and whip up some broth when it’s full. This is a truly great time to do this with soup season approaching!

A few reasons why we think you should make your own broth:

1. It’s a way to use up all those vegetable scraps and not waste those ‘on-the-verge’ of spoiling vegetables (just throw them in the freezer when they are too far gone to eat raw but not yet moldy)

2. You know exactly what is in your broth and don’t have to worry about preservatives or other chemicals sneaking into your food

3. It makes using vegetable broth so easy! You don’t have to worry about using up only half a can of because you have a stock pile in the freezer that allows you to only take out what you need

4. The broth will stay good in the freezer for several months (I’ve read different things about the exactly length of time but I’ve heard anywhere between 3 and 5 months. If you are unsure if it’s still good, use your nose! It’s the best judge)

Well, there ya go. Are you convinced yet? I mean, come on! I know you are planning to make loads of soup in the next couple of months…why not have fresh vegetable stock easily accessible for you? I’ve done a lot of research on what you can/can’t freeze and everyone seems to have a different opinion so here is a general list that I use (feel free to just google it if there is a specific vegetable that you aren’t sure about):

Onion//leeks//scallions (red will dye your broth a bit pink which I don’t mind but if you do then just omit)
Peppers
eggplant
root vegetables (beets will also dye the broth purple – again, omit if you aren’t into that)
mushrooms
herbs (basil, sage, rosemary, cilantro, etc) – this includes the stems!
garlic
broccoli
asparagus
fennel
celery

Got it? Easy. Now just start a small stash in your freezer and make some broth when you’ve accumulated around 4 cups. It literally takes the same amount of time it would take to boil some dried beans (you DO make your chickpeas//black beans from dried, don’t you? Maybe I should do a post on that topic as well soon). I usually prep my food for the week every Sunday afternoon and made the broth along side cooking some black beans. So easy and only takes about an hour.

PS- I should note that you don’t need to use frozen vegetables by any means! If you just want to make some broth (not out of leftover scraps), just pick up 4 cups worth of organic produce at your local co-op and follow the same directions below.

Homemade Vegetable Broth

4-5 cups of vegetable scraps (see list above), chopped
Flavoring (bay leaf, a few peppercorns, herbs, etc), optional
garlic clove, optional
Tomato chunks or 1 Tablespoon tomato paste, optional

Place all ingredients in a large pot and cover with cold water (just enough so all the veggies are covered). Bring water to a boil and let simmer for an hour (don’t let it simmer for much more or it starts to lose flavor.

Strain the vegetable mixture and discard the scraps. Let cool completely and either use right away or freeze/refrigerate in quantities that will suit you best (I froze them in ice trays and just made note that 6 broth cubes = half a cup).

Store in fridge for up to 5 days and in freezer for up to 3 months.

Use in all your favorite soups, stews, curries, and risotto including Curried Butternut Squash Soup, Fall Curry, and French Onion Soup.

Sparkling Rosemary Lemonade

8.09.2012

After making the blueberry simple syrup for The Blueberry Limeade Cocktail, I am obsessed! Simple syrups are soooo easy to make and they bring a whole new level to cocktail making. There is just something so elegant and old-fashioned about making your drink out of homemade syrup.

We have been having these ‘ladies nights’ at work once a month that have been super fun. Although social events are pretty common at my workplace because we all go out to shows/concerts when one of our artists are in town, it’s not really the best environment (loud music, lots of drinking, dark lighting) to really get to know each other. We have four departments so you don’t really think about how many ladies there are working here until you put us all in a room together.

The first two ‘Ladies Nights’ consisted of getting cocktails after work. Don’t get me wrong…cocktails are awesome but getting sloppy with my co-works at 7 pm was a bit awkward at first. However, we had a third outing this week and mixed it up by having a vegan potluck in the park (it wasn’t specifically vegan but there are several girls who are vegan so i didn’t want to be that jerk that didn’t consider other people’s dietary needs). Anyhow, I had remembered Tracy from Shutterbug talking about her Rosemary Lemonade on an old Homefries podcast. Perfect! I had to tweak her recipe a bit to make it vegan but it turned out mighty fine (if I do say so myself).

Oh! and with the leftover lemonade, I added some gin and made a perfectly refreshing cocktails. Just sayin’ – it was delicious and definitely took the edge off! Bring a whole new meaning to a flavored gin and tonic!

PS In my recipe below, I suggest that once the syrup is cool that you let it sit overnight in the fridge to bring out the rosemary flavor. However, if you are short on time then you can skip that part for a more subtle rosemary flavor.

Sparkling Rosemary Lemonade

Rosemary simple syrup:

2 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups water
4 sprigs of rosemary

For the lemonade:

10 lemons, juiced (+2 sliced for garnish)
2 liter bottle of sparkling seltzer water
1/4 cup agave nectar (or more to taste- I just left my bottle out so individual people could sweeten their servings to their likings)
Rosemary, for garnish

To make the syrup: Bring the water, sugar, and rosemary to a boil in a small saucer. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let cool. Once cooled, place in a sealed container and refrigerate overnight.

To make the lemonade: Juice the lemons whatever method you would like and cut the garnish lemons into thin slices. In a large pitcher, stick the fresh lemon slices, rosemary garnish, lemon juice, seltzer water, and agave. Adjust flavoring to your likening by adding more agave.

Serve chilled over ice or with a shot of gin!

Moody Monday: Lazy Days

8.06.2012

My Moody Monday picture is not really a specific adventure but just a few snippets from a lazy weekend. Wyatt just got an iphone and is loving the photo apps so I have been letting him enjoy taking most of the pictures lately.

This weekend was very laid back but it reminded me of two things: I cannot wait for fall and I looooove playing games. We played a few drinking game on Saturday with some friends instead of going to the bar and it makes me wonder why we ever bother wasting money going out.

Also, I cooked with Jamie of The Hearty Herbivore on Saturday which was a super great time! We totally nerded out about Foodgawker rejections and sponsorships. Be prepared for a full post about it later this week and more collaborations with her in the near future!