Cooking Class

My birthday was in September and for my present my awesome sister-in-law got me a "Girls Night Out" cooking class at a place here in Omaha called Classy Gourmet. It was so much fun and my friend from interior design school named Michele came with me! We drank wine, talked with other ladies, and made some really good food. There was one recipe that I learned that I must share with you...It's called Roasted Grape and Mascarpone Bruschetta. I was by far the best thing made there that night and guess what? I'm going to share it with you...

ROASTED GRAPE AND MASCARPONE BRUSCHETTA

16 baguette slices (about 1/2 inch thick)

1 large garlic clove, halved

8 ounces of mascarpone cheese, room temperature

2 T chopped walnuts

48 red seedless grapes, halved

freshly ground pepper to taste

2 T of honey

DIRECTIONS:

Toast bread slices; lightly rub each slice with cut sides of garlic halves. Spread each bread slice with mascarpone; sprinkle with walnuts and top each with 6 grape halves. Sprinkle with ground pepper and drizzle with honey (you can put as much as you want really). Broil then until warm and grapes are slightly bursting.

Believe me they are so amazing and easy, you'll be making them for company this holiday season.

Since the class I took was called "Girls Night Out"we also made something called Chocolate Purses but you can call them Yummy Chocolate Morsels....

YUMMY CHOCOLATE MORSELS

1 sheet puff pastry

32 ounces chocolate chips

2 egg whites

2 T water

2 T sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut pastry sheet into 32 squares; Place 1 ounce of chocolate chips in center of each square and bring each end up to center to create little bundles and twist gently. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Mix egg whites and water together, brush each bundle with mixture and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until pastry is crisp. Let stand for 5 minutes, move to a plate.

NOTE: You can put whatever you want inside of them, maybe caramel, coconut, or or all 3? Then if you want you can also sprinkle them with brown sugar. Play with this recipe.

The Classy Gourmet unfortunately taught it's last class this past Saturday so I can't take anymore classes but it was super fun!! Thanks Jaclyn!

I wanted to share a few interesting things that I've learned and that little light bulb went on in my mind, you know what I mean.

1) Brown sugar is simply granulated sugar and molasses!! Who would of thought? Maybe you already knew that but I was shocked whenever I saw it on Food Network.

2) If you don't have mascarpone cheese or you can't find it in the stores you can make your own with cream cheese, sour cream and whipping cream.

3) You can make caesar dressing without using anchovy paste when you combine: 1 egg yolk, 1/2 C garlic infused oil, 1/4 C lemon juice, 1 T worcestershire sauce, and salt & pepper to taste in a food processor until smooth.

I hope you find these things helpful : )

ENJOY!!!!!!

LINKS FOR THE ABOVE INFORMATION:

http://judyskitchen.blogspot.com/2007/11/mascarpone-substitute.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2210561_make-brown-sugar.html

What I've Been Cooking

So I have been cooking I just have not been creating anything, which was the whole point of this blog. I think I might have to change the "mission statement" of my blog, I know it sounds corny but I need to make sure that I'm actually blogging on my blog...imagine that! So I think this might be more of a healthy/easy cooking, the things that I learn while I'm in the kitchen, and in December I'm starting culinary school so I want to share the things with you that I learning while in school. What do you think? Okay...1 2 3 here we GO!!!

I want to share with you a few things that I've recently been cooking in the kitchen, what I would do differently and what I learned while I was making the item. The first thing is called:

Brooklyn Chili Burgers with Smoky Barbecue Sauce with Oil and Vinegar Slaw

I know, you're thinking wow that is quite a mouth full and let me tell you you're going to want your mouth full of this amazing dish! This dish is by Rachel Ray. I remember whenever I saw her make it on her show 30 minute meals and I knew by the ingredients that it must be good. I added some baked beans and I divided the recipe in half so that Ryan and I were not both trying to eat 6 slider burgers with slaw and beans a piece. The next time I make this I will also put more honey in the slaw and I don't think I would add the oil, it seemed to add a weird smell to it, I don't know why? Also whenever I went to get some Brooklyn beer they didn't have any, can you imagine that, no Brooklyn beer in Omaha (haha). I purchased a bottle of an Amber Ale and I don't think it was powerful enough, I would go with maybe a dark ale and let it marinate for 20 minutes? But let me tell you I don't think I'll need to purchase my own BBQ sauce ever again because I'll want to make this homemade one, it is amazing!! Whenever you make it double the recipe and save half of it for some chicken the next night!

YUMMY!!

Next, I would like to introduce you to someone if you don't already know her, Ree Drummond aka PIONEER WOMEN!! She does a lot more than cooking and blogging. You should check out her website! My sister-in-law and I had the privilege of meeting Ree at one of her book signings in Denver, CO.

She is a very good cook, mother, blogger, writer, and well the list really does go on and on. This picture of her is at like 12:30 AM after she had been signing and talking to people for like 6 hours and she was SO friendly and simply remarkable whenever Jaclyn and I met her. So I talk about her and go on and on about her because I want to introduce you to one of her recipes.

Chicken Parmigiana

I know that this is supposed to be a very simple dish with very little variations but this is truly the best chicken parm I have ever had. And the thing that makes it is the wine used in the tomato sauce. The ONLY thing I would change about this dish would be to use only 2 cans of tomatoes instead of three if you're only making 4 chicken breasts as opposed to 6. But let me tell you it is so amazing!! You won’t be sorry you made it.

So I hope you can have some fun in the kitchen with these delicious meals!!

You can find both of these recipes at:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/10/chicken-parmigiana/

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/brooklyn-chili-burgers-with-smoky-barbecue-sauce-with-oil-and-vinegar-slaw-recipe/index.html

My Obligation!!

I feel like I have an absolute obligation to share this recipe with you. No I did not create it but it is oh so good and I have to tell someone!! It by Giada De Laurentis from Food Network....Drum roll please.........................................

CHICKEN WITH MUSTARD MASCARPONE MARSALA SAUCE

I added some garlic cheese bread and it was just the "cherry on top"! Follow this link to the recipe if you dare.....

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chicken-with-mustard-mascarpone-marsala-sauce-recipe/index.html

Moving!!

Sorry I have not been posting anything, my husband, Ryan, got a job in Omaha and we are moving there at the end of the month, but before we can move to Nebraska he has to defend his thesis on the 20th of this month!

Things have been crazy with packing and finding a place to live but I am so excited to move I loved Omaha whenever we went apartment hunting there. No cooking posts because there has sadly been none of it. You should start seeing some cooking posts starting back up regularly mid September!

Coconut Chicken

I will go ahead and admit that this recipe is partly Martha Stewart's and then I added my own twist to it along with the coconut dipping sauce. I know sometimes entrees are better off without the sauce that comes with it but in this case I think my husband and I would agree that you are going to want the sauce. I also can't say that I've perfected the recipe but I thought that it was a good idea! I hope you like it.

Coconut Chicken with Coconut Yogurt Sauce
3 small chicken breasts
4 Tbs. Panko bread crumbs (Japanese bread crumbs)
3 Tbs. shredded coconut
1 large egg
1 tsp. flour
1/8 tsp. salt
fresh ground pepper to taste

All shown here...


First thing you're going to do is crack your egg and whisk it into a dish you will be able to dip your chicken in...


Then you're going to want to get your coconut and bread crumb mixture together. In another dish you can also dip your chicken into, you will need to then add your panko crumbs, coconut, salt, pepper to taste, and flour.


Then you're ready to start dipping. Dip your chicken first in the egg then press the coconut mixture into each piece and put on a foiled pan with some Pam.


After you're done and all your pieces are coated you might want to add an additional amount of coconut if you want more of that flavor...I added more!! Pop those babies into a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. You don't want to make your oven any warmer or else you will burn all your coconut.


While those are cooking this is when you can start on the dipping sauce.

Coconut Dipping Sauce
1/4 C. plain yogurt
1/2 a packet of Splenda or you could use a small amount of regular sugar
2 Tbs. toasted coconut (add coconut to microwavable safe dish and nuke it for 15-30 seconds, but keep an eye on it and turn every now and then b/c it can burn quick.)


Now simply put all ingredients together and stir together. Put into refrigerator until you're ready to serve the chicken.

Now time to plate....yummmmmmmy!!


I made some of that sweet corn that I bought fresh from the farmer's market the other day and I must say they are so good just warmed in a pot of boiling water with the number one ingredient...BUTTER!!

My husband is leaving for an interview tomorrow in Omaha so I will be going out to dinner with my girlfriend tomorrow. I'll have some time to think about what to make Thursday night. By the way I'm so excited I'm taking a Farmer's Market Grilling cooking class on Friday, I can't wait to share with you all I learn!

Enjoy the coconut chicken!!

Orange Marmalade Chicken

Today is the first day I have cooked since I started this blog, oops! Tonight we had one of our friends over for dinner and in the summer I love to grill as often as possible. I think I discovered that you could use jams and jelly's when my friend Denise made this to die for dressing with raspberry preserves. So here is an attempt to incorporate another "jam" type food into a main entree. I hope you like it. Ryan and his friend ate it all and said it was good, I also thought it was good if I do say so myself :)

Orange Marmalade Chicken
3 Tbs. Orange Marmalade
4-5 small Chicken Breasts (or 2-3 large ones)
Enough Pineapple slices for each chicken breast
pinch of salt
Fresh ground pepper
1/3 Cup plain Yogurt
2 Tbs. Cashews
1/4 tsp. Thyme (optional)


First, add your pinch of salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste on your chicken breasts and pineapple and then in a small dish for grilling put 2 Tbs. of your marmalade.
Then set your pineapple and chicken breasts on a medium to low grill for a total of about 8-10 minutes, flipping both items at the middle of your time, and not forgetting to brush them with your marmalade. (Use it all...mmm so good!!)
In the mean time while your chicken is cooking in a small bowl combine your yogurt and remaining 1 Tbs. of orange marmalade to a small bowl then mix it all together and put in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it.










Do you have one of these?? If so then add your 2 Tbs. of cashews and chop until chunks remain but some of it is small pieces. If you don't have one I would use a larger knife to mince until the right consistency.


Nuts should look like this...

After your chicken and pineapple is done you are ready to plate your chicken. I also made green beans, mashed potatoes, and garlic bread to go with the chicken...It went well together. I didn't add the yogurt sauce on top of the boys chicken because I thought it might scare them...I spooned mine right on top (Sprinkle the cashews on top at this time also).





If you want, at this time you can add the thyme. I noticed after everything was eaten that my pictures aren't that great but you get the idea I think. And now is the time for you to enjoy your creation!!

Hope you are enjoying my blog. If there is something you want for me to make let me know and I'll either show you what I already do when making that certain entree/desert or I will try to invent a way to make it.

Farmer's Market Day!

(Excited to go to the Farmer's Market)



So today has been such a great day. The weather is amazing here...others might say that it's too hot but after the long winter we had I am not going to be complaining at all about the warm weather. So to celebrate the nice weather I decided to go to the pool and get a little suntan. It was so relaxing. There is a little play area for kids and I decided to share with you this very interesting "toy" that is there...
Interesting huh? I think it's a little scary to be honest with you...

After that I decided to go to the Farmer's Market that our town has every Friday in the summer months of July through September. There were so many fun and interesting things that I saw there. They had...Bread...
Corn...

Sauces...

Peaches & Apricots and....



The list really does go on and on. I bought fresh green onions, sweet corn, and some homemade beef jerky for my husband!!
Yum!!!

I know this is supposed to be a cooking blog but there has been zero cooking since I started this blog which is of course a bummer. But I thought that I would introduce you to some o so yummy drinks for the summer. If you're searching for something other than just water to quench your thirst try reaching for these awesome drinks.

Oolong Tea with Peach & MetroMint Water













You can get both of these at Safeway for about $1.30 a piece and they are so worth it. Both have all natural ingredients so they are also good for you and once again o so YUMMY!!!

No cooking tonight, going to friends house for dinner;) Don't forget that Sunday is National Ice Cream Day...if you needed a reason to eat ice cream this weekend you should have one now...

Hello to the Blogging World!

So today is my first post to my cooking blog. Still working out some kinks in the name and the design but I decided why not go ahead and start letting people know my intentions of this blog. With the name of it I'm sure it gives away some of my intent, but I do love to cook, I love pretty much everything about it except for the cleaning up part (but really who does). I have so many cook books, my husband would probably agree that it's a little out of control, sorry Ryan...

My intentions are to share with you what I'm cooking in my own kitchen, ask you what you're cooking and if you have any advice to make what I'm making better, and hopefully in the end it will motivate me to break away from the recipes; don't get me wrong I love using recipes, why because they are generally safe and I know what my outcome is going to be. But whenever you're cooking on your own there are so many outcomes that could come about and I want to explore those outcomes and perfect them.

Even if no one is interested in this particular blog it will give me something to do with all my thoughts about cooking and all the joy it brings to my life!

So here we go!!