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Young & HungryIf you can't take the heat, get outta the kitchen! |
| 31 August |
There is a method to the madness that is making risotto, but that doesn’t stop the sparks of fear inside me & my classmates each time we see it listed on the board. It seems as though something with such a detailed regimen would be foolproof, but I’m pretty sure disaster can only be avoided with constant babysitting and knowhow from failures past. If you also take into consideration, however, that each individual prefers their risotto served according to their unique taste, then you’re pretty much reaching for the stars. That said, my chef’s stars are, after multiple risottos, within my grasp, so we will follow Guido’s guidelines in the following lesson.
| 20 May |
They always say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and, well, it finally worked, making me the proud new owner of a shiny sparkly glittery diamond ring! That said, I have cooked for many a man without the reward of a platinum set symbol of lifetime commitment, but perhaps I had just not yet reached my full potential as a culinary temptress. On a recent occasion I was lucky enough to be in possession of young hungry fiancé’s favorite childhood recipe courtesy of future mother-in-law. Thank you! Even with my new heightened powers of palate persuasion it helps to have the aid of a good recipe… Such is the history of the following Garlic Shrimp & Rice, which served as a yummy surprise for my plus one after a long day at work and school. I do have to start practicing my homemaking skills now don’t I!
| 1 April |
I don’t know when exactly I fell in love with the concept of Bed & Breakfasts, but I can recall at least a couple fond memories of beds and breakfasts past. The first was on my tour de colleges all around the southeast. My recollection of that stay, being more than 10 years ago, is limited to a delicious Mocha Muffin Recipe. My next experience found me actually in college and staying with my parents and Grandmother in a nearby residence in Winston Salem for Easter. We had both the western style basement suite and a Victorian room upstairs. B&Bs tend to gravitate towards themed rooms; a trait I find quite endearing. Since then I lived next to a very pretty B&B on Piedmont Road in Atlanta. It actually went up for sale, but after several attempts that at least I thought were quite compelling to convince my parents to purchase the beautiful house for Mom to redecorate and me to manage, I was denied.
This trip found me on a tour de Florida and in the lovely town of St. Petersburg where we stayed at the Larelle House on a lazy cobblestone street lined with droopy moss, yet bright with history. The house dated to way back before I was around and was constructed by a hardware salesman for his bride to be! I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect place. Walking up the gated entrance you immediately feel relaxed surrounded by the lush green yard soon to spot the big front porch swing that you just can’t wait to plop down on! But wait, your host Larry is about to welcome you in and give you a tour of his home, beautifully decorated with a myriad of antiques by his wife. When you think it can’t get better, you catch a glimpse of the backyard where they have bicycles for the guests aka yours truly to enjoy and the most elegant underground hot tub surrounded by a flowery gazebo in case you need to relax after a hard day’s vacation. Grabbing a homemade cookie on the way upstairs, the four rooms, themed of course, are just as delightful. I stayed in the Longley room named after the original owner, which sported very luxurious fabrics, a giant fantasy sized bed, and the courtesy bottle of sherry that comes with all the rooms. Since there were only two couples staying at the time I was able to peek into the Hemingway room, which was more studious, but with a dash of fun courtesy of the leopard accents. The Victorian room was also quite nice and just as rosy pink as you would imagine it to be.
| 2 February |
Hey guess what – January’s over! Time to focus on chocolate, fondue, and something delicious to make for that special someone so they’ll still be yours after Valentine’s Day. What’s more romantic than a dinner in? Let me rephrase, what’s more romantic than a dinner in when you’re used to dining out? I might, for once, prefer not to slave the day away, but I’ve no doubt put in more than my fair share of kitchen duty. So what to make for that special someone who will, for this one day at least, be your culinary inspiration? Well, if you’re a lady cooking for your mister, you cannot go wrong with this pork roast. It’s juicy and tender and doesn’t require constant attention so you can focus your first course elsewhere. If you’re a mister cooking for your miss, perhaps this is a selfish choice of meat, but she’ll never question your machismo.
Since I did first whip this up back in 2009 when I was stuffed from an indulgent December, I left the meal at meat and veggies. You surely have recuperated by now and are ready for some starch. Try a mashed parsnip or simple risotto. The gym lines are finally clearing, so you should have more than enough time to give this roast the extra hours of TLC it deserves. I promise you’ll be paid back one hundred kisses over.
| 16 December |
O Kitchen Aid, Kitchen Aid, wherefore art thou Kitchen Aid – mixer? Shiny and red and steadfast mixer… After three mixer-less batches of biscotti, my arms are now made of steel. And the remainder of me: flour, sugar, egg, and nuts… My days of beating, stirring, kneading, battling by hand are now over. I’m passing the torch to you, reader.
But before I say adieu, here is the last and best of the biscotti recipes. The traditional and original recipe from which all my previous variations were born. I was raised on this anise scented cookie and, as my affection has grown with each passing year, look more and more forward to a batch (or two) each passing birthday or Christmas. Of course now that I finally know how exactly to make them, I have no excuse to not have biscotti around at all times. There’s just something to be said for the ones made by Nonna herself, a special Grandmotherly touch if you will. While I know hers will always be the best to me, I hope that yours will be just as perfect. If not, select all, copy, paste, and send to Grandma!
| 7 May |
The next best thing to biscotti must be scones. Not too sweet, not to salty, and the perfect compliment to my latest coffee beverage of choice cafe con leche or a misto if you’re asking Starbucks…Speaking of, I think Starbucks actually sells a maple pecan scone, but they most definitely cost at least $3 and they most definitely are not whole grain like mine are. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that the only reason mine are whole grain is because I couldn’t find our white flour, but they were just as good, if not better, and you get your fiber. I’ll never eat oatmeal again!
Last week, post scones, I was walking around the mall during lunch when I had the realization that scones, like biscotti, are meant to be a part of my life. During the holidays and the associated yearly goal setting I conjured up a new business concept that included my first love, but on said lunch break it became apparent that scones were to be a main player in this venture. Said venture will remain undisclosed. Not that anyone threatening is actually reading this entry, I actually doubt that anyone at all has gotten this far, but I need a life dream and better safe than sorry.
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