Tuesday, July 22, 2008

A quick look at my latest TV obsession...

And there is only one moer episode!

For all you fans of Project Runway, I want to suggest that you check out The Next Food Network Star. Or something. Whatever it's called, it's great and The Jordan and I both watch it.

I've been rooting for Lisa Garza since the beginning and hope to own an apron from her signature collection (from www.couturecaviar.com) soon! She seems uppity, but her whole premise is "Beautiful Basics." She takes aspects of fine dining and makes them more accessible. Love it!

Peace, love, and Lisa Garza winning out over those two goobers,
Kim

Well...

I guess this is the last post I am required to do, but I know I'd like to continue with this. I think I kind of have to - my mom sent the link to all my aunts and uncles. So if you want to keep getting my little tips, suggestions, and recipes, bookmark this page. I've got a lot more to say!

Peace, love, and another project checked off the list,
Kim

Monday, July 21, 2008

Just really quick...


It's ca-razy late, but I had to post super fast that my Jordan is an incredible boy. Not only did he come over here to feed my cats; he also brought me dinner (granted, his mom cooked it, but who cares? It's the thought that counts!).

And? He even took out the garbage. I know I complain about him a lot but I'm lucky to have him.

Peace, love, and a picture of us dressed up to go into a Parmesan cheese plant (in Parma),
Kim


Sunday, July 20, 2008

And also?

The Jordan and I are hoping to have some really nice people over (we have couple friends... how old are we?) and since Jen, of KeithandJen, cooks for the whole crew of us all the time, we are hoping to return the favor. So look for me to blog about homemade mushroom pesto later in the week!

Peace, love, and trying new recipes with my Jordan,
Kim

Yummmmm...

Alright, as we know, the parents are out of town. I have class 3 nights a week, and I usually work Friday and Saturday nights, so it's not like I'm home to cook a lot or eat at home. But, I'm poor and don't feel like eating out every day, so today I made a big ole pot of Knocks'n'Brauts Stew - another Rachel Ray creation. It's super good, with lots of cabbage and dill, even a bottle of beer! Yum! If anyone wants the recipe, let me know. It's a little long, but still really easy. And plus I now have food for the week!

Peace, love, and mustard-y goodness,
Kim

Friday, July 18, 2008

Kegger at my house!

'Cause my parents are going on vacation!

Har har, I'm so kidding. I mean, La and Buddy really are going to Myrtle Beach, but I'm not having a kegger. Nor really doing much of anything, actually. Except cooking, of course!

So it should come as no surprise that I buy cooking magazines with frequency; I recently bought Paula Deen's magazine. La was looking through it and found this AMAZING sounding recipe that's actually super simple. SO. Here's what we had for dinner tonight (as a special dinner since the parents are leaving in the morning. Er. In about four hours.

Anyway, baked potatoes. Broccoli. Caramelized onions (FOUR sweet onions, sliced thin and cooked in only 2 tablespoons of butter). Steaks, with Gorgonzola butter. Sweet Hilton Head wine. Juicy pluots (plum + apricot).

Oh, man.

Buddy, picky as he is, was actually a huge fan of the Gorgonzola butter. And the pluots, even though he allegedly hates apricots. He really liked the butter, though; even though it sounds like a bad idea - I mean, ruin a steak by putting butter on it? But no.

The sweetness of the onions combines with the creamy, saltiness of the cheese; they both offset the simply seasoned steak (just a little Montreal Steak Seasoning) and pull out all this great, simple, smoky flavor from it. So good. And? The Jordan helped a lot. Again! He is just a wonderful boy, you know?

Anyway, I'll be making some pretty cool stuff this week, and I'll post the recipes if ya'll want them. I'm going to a picnic tomorrow and making Curried Nuts and Chicken Spread. And, because I'll be wanting lots of leftovers this week, Knocks'n'Brats Stoup, a RR concoction that is good, hearty, and cheap.

Peace, love, and Vidalia onions,
Kim

PS: The Gorgonzola butter? Take half a cup of softened butter (one stick) and stir in three (3) tablespoons of crumbled Gorgonzola cheese. Once it's all mixed in, stick it in the fridge. Take a dollop and put it on something - a steak, a potato, some bread, your finger. WHATEVER, it'll taste good!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Oh man...

After class last night, I was starving, which isn't surprising when you consider that the class wasn't over until 9 at night and I had eaten lunch (from the O!) at around noon. Anyway, I decided to go to Kazanski's, on Murray Ave.

For the longest time, I've really been hungry for corned beef and cabbage - I always get the extra-lean corned beef; all that fat just weirds me out. Anywy, that's what I ordered, along with a side of lima bean soup (which I may or may not have eaten on my way home... while driving).

Oh.

My.

Goodness.

It was, in a word, AMAZING.

My mom was watching Big Brother 37, or whatever season they're on now, but we were going to watch Wipeout after. So I brought my food downstairs, where my mom proceeded to try it and delcare it some of the best she's ever had, too. Apparently she used to have a really good recipe for corned beef and cabbage, but my picky dad doesn't eat it, so she tossed it. Which means that I will be posting again later today when I find a recipe. Yummmmmmm!

Is it weird that we LOVE boiled cabbage?

Peace, love, and corned beef,
Kim

Monday, July 14, 2008

I learned something tonight...

And I thought I should share it with you. I went to The Jordan's house after class, and, after eating, was asked, "Kim, is this wine any good?"

"Oh. Does wine go bad, really?"

The Jordan informs me, "It sure smells ripe..."

I purse my lips at him and take a sip from the bottle (hush, no one else was going to drink it and I didn't feel like dirtying another glass). I then purse my lips at the horrible, sour, gritty taste in my mouth.

"Wow. I thought you were kidding that there was gunk at the bottom of the bottle. "

As I walk over to the sink to dump the putrid grape juice, I realize, "Huh. Wine really can go bad." Just thought I'd share that little tidbit with you all. Lesson learned? Seal your opened bottles properly. Or just drink it all before it has a chance to go bad. Either way.

Also? Jordan texted me while I was in class tonight, starving to death, and tells me that I can either have ravioli or chicken ad rice for dinner when I get to the house. Actually smiling with glee, I text him back, "DO YOU MEAN CHICKEN AND RICE AS IN MY FAVORITE THING THAT YOUR MOM MAKES???!!?!?!?!"

Jordan: "What?"

Me: "The stewed chicken. Is it the stewed chicken with the rice, like I loooooove?"

*long pause while Jordan apparently has to find out what stewed chicken is*

Jordan: "Well, it's grilled chicken with kind of a Mexican rice."

*long pause while I inwardly weep until I realize...*

Me: "Ooh! It's like a summer version of my favorite!"


And Mrs. M did not disappoint. While the summer version is not as good as the hearty original one, it was still delicious. And please understand, Mrs. M is a wonderful cook and makes all sorts of crazy, cool, exciting things. She rolls her eyes every time my love of stewed chicken with rice is mentioned, in fact. Much like my mother, when I gush about how much I like chicken with cream sauce over toast. I guess I'm simple like that.

Anyway, lots to do!

Peace, love, and simple deliciousness,
Kim

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

And also...

My mom made some AMAZING fish the other night that is too easy and too delicious not to publish.

Those Penzey's spices I'm always talking about (seriously, they should so pay me for talking them up all the time) have found yet another use in my house. My mom used the Mural of Flavors blend (which is salt-free), and here's what she did to get it on the fish:

Take some fish - we like mild fish, so I'd suggest tilapia - and put it on a plate. Dump some EVOO over it and sprinkle on some of the seasoning. Give your fish a little EVOO-spice-massage; flip the pieces over and repeat on the other side. Grill until flaky - find your cooking times (and some great tips for marinades, sauces, and stuffings) here.

We had it with asparagus, broccoli (my dad is super picky), and parsley potatoes. Yum!

Peace, love, and another post,
Kim

This is going to sound ga-ross...

But the BEST way to eat my mom's homemade potato pancakes? With cinnamon applesauce and sour cream, mixed together on top while the pancake is still warm so they get all melty together.

In case you were wondering, I had potato pancakes for dinner tonight along with halushki. Also? (And here comes a recipe) Cucumbers with vinegar and sugar. Again, sounds totally gross, I know. But here's how it's done so it's DELICIOUS.

Take a cucumber and slice. You can peel it if you want, or make it stripy. Whatever. Stick it in a bowl and set it aside. Then get a container that you can shake stuff in. Put in about 1/2 cup of white vinegar and about 1/2 cup of sugar. Add water. Shake it and taste it. If it's too sharp, add a little more sugar and water. If it's just sweet water, kick in some more vinegar. When you get the blend right so it takes good, take it and pour it over those cucumbers. Stick the bowl in the fridge for a while. Enjoy!

Worry not, my babies. I WILL be blogging more!

Peace, love, and gross-sounding-yummies,
Kim