I'm ba-aaack...

Well, as the title of this post suggests, I am back.

Not that I was ever gone.

Ahem.

Anyway, I still love love love cooking and learning about new household tips and the like, so I'm going to try to start blogging again. This time, it's not for a grade, so please notice the emphasis on TRY. It's a nice thought, right? So we'll see.

That being said, I made baked brie AND pineapple upside-down cake on Friday. Okay, the dough on the bottom of the brie was still raw after I doubled the baking time from the package directions (in all fairness, that's probably because I was too lazy to actually roll the pastry dough to the thickness I was supposed to) and the cake was from a recipe on the side of a cake mix box, but they were delicious (aside from the raw dough... which was gross both visually and texturally). For the brie, a put the pastry dough flat, spooned some hot pepper jelly in the middle and slapped a wedge of brie on top. I tucked in all the edges and made a little pouch, then brushed the top with an egg yolk wash. Popped it in the oven (in a greased pie plate) at 400 F for about 25 minutes until the top was a nice golden color and served it with water crackers. Yum!

Alright, kids. Maybe I'll see you later.

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

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

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

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!