Because I still didn't feel like grilling, I went back to a recipe I tried once in 2007. Back then I didn't have the food processor. Now that it had made it's way onto the countertop, I had a much easier time creating the breading of toasted pecans. The most exciting part, though, was finally baking potatoes that looked and tasted right. (I always seem to undercook them.)
Again, I felt like making something different, something I marked in the cookbook two years as a possibility. This was easy enough to make (cooked spaghetti topped with browned beef and other things you would add to lasagna baked for a relatively short time), but it just didn't feel as much like "dinner" as I wanted it to. Maybe I'm just a lot hungrier these days...
I didn't feel like any more grilled meats, so I took out the cookbook to see what I could do with what I had around the kitchen. This is sauteed floured chicken with lemon juice, capers and cherry tomatoes with bow-tie pasta. I thought it was good. Scrappy was not a fan.
I needed something new to eat for breakfast, so I made a loaf of nut bread. It seemed a bit bland (there weren't very many dried cranberries left to add to the dough), so I added some chocolate chips. Still a bit bland, but at the same time still good.
LV was decidedly tired of bringing sandwiches for lunch every day. This was obvious from the way that turkey and other deli selections seemed to be piling up in the meat drawer. All the bread seemed to only be used for making a "toasty sandwich" every other morning (one piece from the pound of ham between two pieces of toast). We agreed maybe he should bring leftovers for lunch.
With the new objective, I seasoned all the pork, grilled it, and let it chill for a bit before chopping it up and adding it bowls of pasta. I also made macaroni & cheese to create a little variety. "I don't want to eat the same thing everyday" had been a stipulation of taking leftovers.
That's all the juice that oozed from the pork while it sat in the fridge. It looked like some sort of meat pancakes drenched in syrup.
For what seems like weeks now, LV has been after the perfect bowl of creamy pasta. One night he went out and bought a package of Pasta-Roni's imitation fettuccine alfredo. Another day we went to a restaurant that used to served big bowls of chicken alfredo. Then we tried a frozen Bertolli pasta dinner that was supposed to be in a creamy sauce. Finally, tonight I sent LV to the grocery store to get a carton of heavy cream and a box of fettuccine. Why not just make it myself?
The cookbook described alfredo sauce as "satiny." Mine was definitely not. But LV still said it was the "best pasta I've ever had" and that I've set the bar too high, like from now I'll be able to make whatever it is he's looking for when he's looking for it.
After compiling a list of my favorite 2008 food pictures, I was motivated to make scones again. The last time I made them they were so perfect. This time they were not. The dough is supposed to be shaped into an 8-inch round and then sliced into wedges. This is not a wedge. My ingredients (and then my dough) grew too warm because I was distracted while baking. So I ended up making lumps of dough. (It was way too stick to handle.) They taste good. And they make a much better breakfast than the cookies I've been eating.
For dinner, I topped baby spinach with loads of red ingredients--red onions, strawberries, grape tomatoes,...--and freshly grilled chicken. Because I'd already spent the morning baking scones, I didn't feel like baking any biscuits to go with the salad. That was okay, though. It left Scrappy plenty of room for her "favorite" chocolate cookies.
Weeks ago I bought a package of wings and then stuck them in the freezer. All sorts of other goodies were also added to the freezer that haven't exactly been devoured. Thus, the wings for Football Sunday had some company--bagel bites and pigs in blankets. A plate like that will leave you not wanting to stay put the couch while you contemplate what you've done to yourself.
LV said he had seen a commercial for meatballs, and that sounded like a really good idea for dinner. I didn't want spaghetti. I made what was left of a box of rigatoni. Then I added all the frozen vegetable that would have been on the side to the pot of meatballs. That probably would have worked better with more delectable vegetables.
First we had leftover kiwis and leftover strawberries over pancakes. (It's been a really long time since we've made pancakes.)
Then I made macaroni & cheese to go with all the leftover meats we had in the fridge--a package of hotdogs that weren't opened during the week Scrappy had off of school, leftover steak, and leftover pork. LV had steak and hotdogs. It had to be better than my pork.
LV once raved about some Shake-n-Bake potato wedges he had many years ago, so any time we have a bag of potatoes in the house I feel compelled to make something like that. Usually I put the wedges in the oven and wonder why they still taste raw 30 minutes later. This time, I thought I should give them more than 30 minutes--more like 45. What came out were burnt and dried up husks that vaguely tasted like potatoes. That big glob of ketchup was to help me avoid throwing them all in the garbage. LV claimed the potato wedges tasted good. I think the steak was much better.
Continuing to keep boring grilled meats at bay, I dumped whatever I thought would taste good enough if sprinkled on top of the pork. (No one said real dry rubs were being utilized in this fight...) Some paprika, chile powder, and... I don't remember coat the top. The baby carrots were growing old, so I divided what was left and called it a meal.
Again, in my attempt to fend off boring grilled chicken, I decided to mix balsamic vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, and a bunch of Mrs. Dash (we don't have any salad dressing in our fridge--that would have been easier) to marinate what I thought were going to be a few chicken breasts but turned out to be lots of strips packed together.
I wanted to make twice-baked potatoes, but didn't bake the potatoes initially for a long enough time, couldn't get the insides to mash, fed it into the food processor, and would up with potato chowder-filled baked potatoes. It could have been worse.
Early in December, I bought all the ingredients I would need to make lots of cookies. And pies. And who knows what else. Come 2009, I have hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, almonds, chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and more crowding my cabinets. January 5 seemed like a good day to bake more Christmas cookies.
I have two cookie presses. Neither has ever been used by me. I'm not sure either will ever be used again. I wasn't particularly impressed with my handiwork, but the Hazelnut Spritz cookies tasted really good.
When I bought Hershey kisses, I thought I was buying them for the kind of cookies that have a peanut butter base... But it turns out the recipe I had was for a chocolate base. It looks like a whole lot of chocolate going on (I didn't roll them all in powdered sugar because that seemed a little excessive), but it tastes just right.
This actually isn't nearly as "done" as it looks. For about four hours at a super low temperature, I let this sit in the oven. Then I popped it it the broiler, and the flames charred everything--onions, etc.--that had been sitting on top. Although I had bought a bag of potatoes that week, I made the instant kind to go on the side.
"This is my favorite chicken."
"Really?" I genuinely find it hard to believe that chicken I produced could be anyone's favorite. Especially when the person stating that this is his favorite chicken has entered debates with strangers on the subway about the best fried chicken and made trips to distant parts of the city for some grilled chicken. Whole Wheat Ritz Crackers and some other mystery ingredients are his favorite?
"Yeah. We only have these for New Year's."
I think has been almost a year since I made these chicken strips. "That's sad."
"Why's that sad?"
"If they're your favorite, we should have them more often..."
Still trying to avoid boring grilled meats, I marinated this with soy sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, and lime juice.
Armed with a new skillet and leftover rolls, LV made bacon and egg sandwiches for breakfast. Mmm...
By the time you reach third grade, navigating your beliefs about Santa can be tricky. I, personally, always wondered why Santa seems to spoil the rich kids. But that was only after I would ponder how on Earth he got into my house. I didn't have a fireplace growing up and I don't have one now. Here is Scrappy's theory: He smells the cookies and knows where to go.
"Can we just leave him some Oreos?"
Oh, no no no. He wants gingerbread cookies. Luckily I've worked out the kinks to cookies that we cut into shapes--Scrappy has her work station, I have mine. That way we can work at our own paces and if she decided she really only want to decorate (and eat the decorations) so be it. I can still finish the batches in a timely manner.
Unfortunately for me, I haven't worked out the kinks with my icing bags and decorating tips. After mixing up way too much powdered sugar with water, I learned that this is possibly the worst frosting to load into a bag. It's not a frosting and will not act like a frosting. It's a glaze. Period. (Sad.)
Meanwhile, Scrappy was having a ball loading up individual cookies with as much decorative sugar as possible. LV simply raised his eyebrows when he saw them. My favorite "linguisticist" couldn't think of a way to describe them.
I found a use for that giant block of ground beef in my freezer: sliders. Much like the cupcakes, there was no input concerning the menu for the Star Wars party. Whatever I felt like making... The first year I did this, I went crazy (exhibit A). The first year, everyone showed up early and ate very little. The next year, I was supposed to be photographing another party so the menu became pizza and chips (exhibit B). That year, guests showed up at least an hour early. This year was supposed to be different. This year I would cook, but I wouldn't spend all my time cooking. This year I would be ready for them when they showed up at noon instead of 1 'o-clock, like the invitation says. This year would be better.
Noon - The doorbell doesn't ring.
1:30 p.m. - The doorbell doesn't ring.
2:45 p.m. - I wonder if I should put my mango salsa back in the fridge. Oh, hark. The doorbell rings.
Everyone loves a good Top Ten list, especially at the end of the year. I'll date this for late-December and we can all pretend to have a nostalgic look back at Happiest Puppies 2008.
10. Blueberries and Cherry Tomatoes with Hamburgers. I like the simplicity. (8/10)
9. BBQ Enchiladas. They look so unsuspecting but actually garnered an angry comment. (5/21)
8. Yum Salad. Mmm... (4/12)
7. Mini Cupcakes. Maybe I just like my little candy "M." (12/15)
6. Blueberries and Grilled Chicken. Maybe I'm feeling nostalgic for summer and blueberries... (7/3)
5. Shake Shack Burger and Fries. I like this picture. I might like the taste more. (5/30)
4. Blackberries, Apricots and Grilled Pork. I haven't prepared anything that colorful lately. (6/30)
3. Birthday Pina Colada. I don't think the wooden counter has ever looked this good. (5/27)
2. Butterfly Cupcake. This would have been my favorite for this list if I hadn't left all the cat food cans piled up in the background. (12/16)
1. Cinnamon Scones. Mmm... How have I gone so long without making more of these? (2/10)
Today was Scrappy's birthday, but it was also the day of her Winter Concert for Chorus. We hurried through dinner so she could blow out a candle on her cupcake before we ran back to the school for what was actually an entertaining show.
I had bought a lot of vegetables the week before and forgotten to use them through the week. I tried to sautee them all for tonight. It was okay.
We don't usually handle Scrappy's class room birthday celebrations, but this year the request was filtered down to me that she wanted me to make cupcakes for her class. When I asked about it, she said, "Um..." and changed the subject. That was a week before her birthday. As per usual with requests such as this, I was left hanging until the night before her birthday. This gave me plenty of time, though, to ponder what I should do with these cupcakes. The response of "Um..." had left the door wide open to interpretation.
Now, with the daunting task of creating at lest 25 pairs of butterfly wings from melted candy, I wasn't about to make cupcakes and frosting from scratch. Boxes of cake mix were on sale for 99 cents and frosting was like $2. Butter cake and vanilla frosting. Done. Well, except for the fact that a box of cake mix yeilds 24 cupcakes and I needed 26. Yeah, I was about to bake and decorate 48 cupcakes...
When LV asked me to bake some cupcakes for Scrappy's class, I'm sure he didn't picture me decorating until 11 p.m. And the whole while I was thinking how quickly a third grader could eat one--how little time there would be to appreciate the work. How the only person I should be trying to amuse with any of this is me. I said I didn't want to deliver them to the class. The last thing I needed to see what was became of them. The cupcakes were perfect just as they were all spread around the kitchen.
I made mini-cupcakes, too. In the end, we had 36 regular-sized cupcakes and 24 mini-cupcakes. A lot of cupcakes... I packed up 30 to go to Scrappy's class. I figured at least one would hit the floor and there are always extra people who deserve a cupcake.
This wasn't the brand of semi-instant yellow rice that I like, so I tried to add more flavor to it. Poultry seasoning does not get me any closer to saffron...
A long time ago, LV bought cake mix and frosting loaded with "fun-fetti." He was supposed to make it on one of his Cake Sundays with Scrappy, but instead it sat in the cabinet until his birthday. At that point, I was supposed to make the cake with Scrappy. But her room was a disaster, so I made the cake and she eventually was able to help me frost it.
There was plenty of fun-fetti in every bite...
Pork tenderloin with asparagus is an LV favorite. This particular tenderloin was loaded with cracked pepper. Perhaps too much. To help mellow it out (and because it's another LV favorite) we had egg noodles.
The grocery store wasn't selling ground beef in anything less than 4 lb. packages. Seriously. What am I gonna do with four pounds of ground beef? I made four little hamburgers for LV and me, and then froze the rest. Unfortunately, I didn't think until after it was over to separate all the leftover meat into smaller sections. I froze it as one big block. The burgers, however, we delicious.
