Month 6, Day 9

Today I just felt like baking. Vacation Bible School starts in just a few short days and each adult is supposed to provide three dozen cookies on a day we picked. I always always always forget to bring stuff when asked. Never fails. Except for this time. I was talking to my sister about VBS when she mention how tired she was of the standard store bought fair we get every year. 

I suddenly realized how right she was and determined in my heart to be the change I wanted to see. 

So after a nap I sat down at my computer and searched Pinterest / Google for the perfect Chickfila-esk chunk recipe. 

Or may I did that first and ten took a nap. I'm not sure. Anyways both of those happened and I soon found myself taking inventory of my supplies and going too seek more. 

Fast forward a couple of hours and trip through Walmart a batch of cream chese pineapple dip whipped and a pause to clean patio furniture for the snack area, I had my ingredients and was ready to make my cookies. 

I think we've all made homemade cookies a time or two, but this recipe was so specific on how things should be I just knew these cookies would be awesome. 

And they were. I think I'll tweak the recipe a bit and add more chocolate and some oatmeal but other that it. They were delicious. 

Happy sigh. 

Food, Food and more Food

I wasn't joking either, those of you who are friends with my on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, know that I have blown up your feeds with all my free yummy goodness. ;)

I should have a birthday every month.

I don't know what I'm going to do when I have to start cooking for myself again...

[Food from: Jason's Deli (Royale Club), Marble Slab (Butter Pecan!), Papa John's and Moe's Southwest Grill (Chicken Nachos)]

Speaking of cooking for myself..

Before I launched my birthday celebration, I attempted a couple of new pitnerest recipes... all of which fell very flat, and are still sitting in my refrigerate waiting to be thrown out, or something.

My first attempt was cake balls. We've all seen those delectiable cakey goodness floating around pinterest, and have all, at one time or another, thought: Those look simple to make!

Let me tell you this:

1. The potential to be simple IS there 
2. But it really isn't THAT simple
3. At least not for me.
4. Perhaps that is because I decided not to follow the recipe exactly
5. (as I'm want to do) 
6. And .. yeah.. well I'll let the pictures speak for me.

For those of you who can't see the picture, what we have here is a try of cake balls, two of which are sitting in a pool of chocolately goo, otherwise known as "Erin's attempt at chocolate icing". The original recipe calls for chocolate CANDY, but I thought I'd be cheap and go with icing. Unfortunately icing just soaks into the cake (at least my kind does any how) and pools at the bottom of the ball instead of looking nice and candy like.

So the moral of this story is: Follow the directions. The end.

The other attempt I made, looks a bazzillion times better and didn't taste too bad, but I just had a few nit picky things I would change before attempting to make them again.

Personal Pan Pizzas

The Good:
The recipe was fairly simply, and easy to follow.
Its pizza how can you go wrong, right?

The Bad:
TOO.MUCH.OIL.
Honestly who needs FOUR OUNCES of oil just to keep the dough from sticking to the pan?
Also, when they say place a PLATE on top of the dough to let it rise.. well definitely make sure you grease the TOP of the dough well before you do that. Trust me on this one ok?
Too Thick... will stick.

 My biggest beef with this recipe was how thick and bread like the dough was. I felt like I was eating a roll  with cheese and pepperoni, verses a pizza. Next time I think I will ...... cut the amount of dough in half per pizza, or research some other pizza dough recipes to see if there is anyway to make it less like bread.

So that's been my adventures over the last few weeks.

Have you tried any recipes lately? I would love to hear about it!

Pinterest Fail

Its been a while since I've tried something found on Pinterest. I haven't felt like cooking lately, as another blogger has noted its really not fun cooking for one. (hey! I rhymed!) So when I came across (what looked like) a super easy Strawberry Lemonade recipe I was really excited to try it.
1.5 lbs of strawberries? Check.
Lemons Quartered? Check.
1/2 cup of Honey or Sugar? That's it? Ok Check.
2 cups of water? Done!
And blend!!
Wait.. with the lemon rinds on? Yes..? Oook.
Go! 
A few seconds later I was straining the mixture and adding the remaining four cups of water. I eagerly got out my ice and poured a cup of what looked like a delicious mixture..
And..WHAT IN THE WORLD?! 

This was NOT the sweet lemony liquid I was expecting! 

More Sugar!

More Sugar!

Much More Sugar!

Nothing helped.
All I could taste was the lemon rind with a bit of strawberries.

Have you ever eaten a lemon rind?

Yeah, then you'll understand what this tasted like.

I was bitterly dissapointed.

I looooove good lemonade.
After I lamented on Facebook, a friend of mine recommended another recipe, sans lemon rind, that once I recover from this bitter disappointment, I will try it. 

It looked so good though!
So. In conclusion.
When life gives you lemons, make sure you peel them before making lemonade.
#Truths

To Try: 
Strawberry Lemonade Take 2
(Both recipes call for RIND-LESS LEMONS GRR.)
My name is Snickerdoodle
Live a fabuLESS life

Adventures in the Kitchen v. 3.19.12

I think we have established by now, that I am a picky eater. However, there is one food I will consume, every day, all day if I could... and that would be pizza. Not that home-made, thin, crunchy stuff, but think crusted, cheesy, deep dish type pizzas.(Pizza Hut anyon)  So when in search of something new to try, it was a no brainer that the Pizza Loaf was going to be at the top of my list.

This was a really simple recipe, and fun too. Prep time takes about fifteen minutes, and the loaf is fully baked in about thirty. I was really pleased with the result, and its definitely going to be a regular menu item in my house.

I made three batches, the first I used the whole pound loaf called for in the recipe. The second time I divided the pound loaf into smaller sections, and made two smaller loafs, which made easier storing. I will be freezing at least one, to see how it does. I ate some of the first loaf for dinner, and it tastes just as good re-warmed as it did fresh.
 
Things the recipe won't tell you:

• This recipe calls for frozen bread down, and while it says not to let it rise, if it rises in the refrigerator, its no biggie. 
• I don't know what kind of frozen bread dough was used in the original recipe, but mine doubled while in the oven. I don't know why I didn't think of that before, but your nice jelly roll, won't stay so nice after it gets out of the oven. I don't know exactly how to fix that, but it tastes good.
• The original recipe does not have you add pizza sauce to your creation, for good reason. But I  am (sometimes) the type of person who has to find it out for myself, so I did, and I did. Go with the original version. It doesn't taste bad, but it is soggier.
• If you make smaller loafs, don't put them as close together as I did!! The middle won't cook as fast! Blegh! 

Mini Pizza Loafs Fresh from the Oven. 

Pizza Loaf

• Prep: 20 min. Bake: 35 min.
• Yield: 10-12 Servings

203555

Ingredients

• 1 loaf (1 pound) frozen bread dough, thawed
• 2 eggs, separated
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 8 ounces sliced pepperoni
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup pickled pepper rings
• 1 medium green pepper, diced
• 1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives
• 1 can (15 ounces) pizza sauce

Directions

• On a greased baking sheet, roll out dough into a 15-in. x 10-in. rectangle. In a small bowl, combine the egg yolks, Parmesan cheese, oil, parsley, oregano, garlic powder and pepper. Brush over the dough.
• Sprinkle with the pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, pepper rings, green pepper and olives. Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal and tuck ends under.
• Place seam side down; brush with egg whites. Do not let rise. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Warm the pizza sauce; serve with sliced loaf. Yield: 10-12 slices.

Originally published as Pizza Loaf in Quick Cooking September/October 2003, p28

 

Don't forget! My URL is changing in 1 days!
www.mynameis-erin.blogspot.com

Adventures in the Kitchen V.3

There are days when I just in the mood to cook. 
As a college student, I never really had time to do a lot of cooking; so when I did it was always a drudgry because I was tired, exhausted and had a million other things to do, besides eating. 


Enter Pinterest.


The combination of Pinterest + lots of random time on my hands, I have found out that cooking can be very enjoyable when you aren't stressed! Who knew!


My latest creation, can't really be called cooking I suppose, but it was enjoyable none-the less. 


This tale starts a couple of weeks ago, really. I was at my friend's house and was afford some homemade hot chocolate mix. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was the best hot chocolate from a mix, that I'd had in a long while. 


"I need this recipe" says I. 


And she, nicely directed me to "A" website with a simple looking hot chocolate mix recipe. What she failed to tell me, was that SHE didn't make the mix, nor was the website she sent me too, anything like what they had served. 


So I'm happily measuring this and that, heating water, eagerly anticipating my first cup of hot cocoa. 


I was a bit concerned, that the recipe only called from a 1/2 cup of hot chocolate mix, while you loaded up on powdered sugar, creamer and dry milk.. but no matter, this is what it says to do! Far be it from me to say any different. 


The water was boiling at this point, so I pour a mug, generously supplied helped myself to four big scoops of mix. 


My first sip was... nasty.


I stirred some more, let it cool, and went back to review the comments left on the website. 


Another sip, still tastes like dry milk with some chocolate powder. 


I went back, dumped half the container of hot chocolaty mix into my bowl, and tried again.


My disappointment knew no bounds. 


6 cups of waste. 


Was there any way to salvage this at all? 


There was.


Several google searches later, I came across another recipe, that had you add a package of instant chocolate pudding, along with unsweetened cocoa to the mix. 


I knew what I had to do. The next day, David and I headed to Kroger to pick up the ingredients that may just save this mixes life. 


IT DID! 


The stuff is officially AMAZING. Add some whipped cream? Its heaven I tell you. 




Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix [as Modified by yours truly]

2 cups powdered milk

1 (3 ounce) package chocolate pudding mix (use regular not instant) [Erin Notes: Instant works just fine]

1/2 cup powdered instant chocolate drink mix (such as Nestle Nesquick)

1/2 cup french vanilla non-dairy coffee creamer

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup sifted unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions: Mix Well! :) 

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/creamy-hot-chocolate-mix-in-a-jar-for-gift-giving-191970#ixzz1nn3RkGvt

Baked Ravioli

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

* 1 pound ground beef
* 1/2 (25 ounce) package frozen cheese ravioli
* 1 (14 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
* 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
* 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
* 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
* 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
2. Crumble the ground beef into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until no longer pink. Drain grease, then stir in the spaghetti sauce and tomatoes.
3. Spread 1/3 of the sauce in the bottom of an 11x7 inch baking dish. Arrange 1/2 of the ravioli over the sauce. Sprinkle 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese and 1/2 of the Monterey Jack cheese over the ravioli. Repeat layers, ending with the last of the sauce on top. Cover with aluminum foil.
4. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top before serving.

*Not a Tomato fan, so used onions instead...I know not exactly a "perfect" trade off, but I liked it better :D*

And I did two layers of this, turned out quite good IMO.