so ready for this...

I spend parts of my day wishing for the summer. Wishing for no more papers to grade. No more lesson planning. No more coaxing angsty teenagers to do their work. (I could go on...)

Dan and I got out for our first date night in months. (This really could be another post - 'On the Importance of Date Nights with your Husband' or 'Why is it a Surprise that Going on a Date with your Husband is Exactly What you Needed?')

Keeping it to the point, we went to Starbelly in the Castro here in SF and it was completely amazing. I'd gone there with my bff a few weeks before, and was very impressed! I love finding new restaurants! I actually ordered the same exact meal on both occasions, save the drink I ordered on my date night with the husband. I ordered a Shandy, and it changed my life. Wow. I exaggerate. Just a slight exaggeration, though. It really was amazing and swept me away to summer days on a porch, sipping a Shandy and listening to my recently whipped-up "Summer Jamzzz 2010" playlist. (At this point, it should be clear that summer vacation is a mere few weeks away.)

What's a SHANDY???

Basically...

2 parts beer (Starbelly used Drake's, and I will too!)


1 part LEMONADE!!!


Mmmmmmm!!!!

I'm going to play around with the "recipe"...fill you in on details later!

MMMM....yummy! quick!

So I just made a super quick and tasty meal! I like documenting things I eat, and it's always nice to have quick ideas of stuff to make when you're not sure what you'd like to whip up for dinner. You could make it ever-so-quickly! It serves 2 with lots of left-overs. Or two very hungry people. Or 4 people with perfect portions. Or 6-8 people who aren't really looking for a meal, but something to wet their appetite. Enjoy!

You'll need:
-6 mini zuccini squash
-a couple handful of broccoli florets
-1 red bell pepper
-2 or 3 garlic cloves, chopped
-1/2 lb. rotini pasta
-15 oz. jar of sun dried tomato alfredo
-some freshly grated parmesan
-a bit of olive oil

It's so easy:
While the water is boiling for the pasta, put some olive oil in a pan and throw in all the veggies and garlic. Heat up the alfredo sauce. (Store-bought alfredo is what makes this so quick!) Once the pasta is done and the veggies are perfect, mix it all together and top it off with some parmesan cheese. Bon appetit!

p.s. I have a long post about the trip Jack and I just took to Michigan in the works, so stay tuned for the details!

Get in the Halloween spirit!

Witch Finger Cookies


These cookies are delicious! I saw them on "The View From the Bay" and I had to make them! It took me a few batches to get the right look because they really plump up after they've been in the oven. My first batch looked amazing going into the oven, but when they came out they looked like fingers from crazy obese witches. My second batch I overcompensated for the knuckle, so they looked kind of weird. The third batch came out just right. So, a word to those who will make these (and my future self): Make them skinnier than you think they should be, and make the knuckle barely wider than the rest of the finger!

Ingredients:
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 c. whole almonds
*red food coloring (not a must)
*red frosting (not a must)

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients (not sugar).
2. In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, almond and vanilla extract, and then incorporate the dry ingredients.
3. Refrigerate for 30 min. and preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
4. If you have red food coloring, mix it in with some water and paint the almonds, which are going to be the finger nails!
5. You may need to lightly grease your cookie sheet, I used a nonstick sheet.
6. Roll heaping teaspoons into finger shapes. BE SURE THEY ARE NOT TOO BIG! Use a knife to make the marks in the knuckle.
7. Bake for 20 - 25 min.
8. For a truely gruesome effect, dip the ends of the fingers into red frosting!

apple crisp success!

So I found a few recipes for apple crisp that I liked. I used them as a guide and put my own twist on it...Results, a serious success! I love making food - the results are are always so satisfying. (Well, most of the time!) And this time I got to use my new peeling/coring/slicing toy. Fun!


Perfect Apple Crisp



Ingredients:

Approx. 8 thinly sliced apples (I used Golden Delicious)
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup Bisquick baking mix
3/4 cups sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 stick (1/4 lb.) butter, melted
cinnamon (will be sprinkled on top)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix apples, brown sugar, vanilla and lemon juice. Arrange in a shallow baking dish.

3. Mix Bisquick, sugar, baking powder, oats and salt. Add egg and mix.

4. Evenly crumble mixture over apples.

5. Drizzle melted butter over topping and sprinkle with cinnamon evenly over everything.

5. Bake for 35 minutes.

6. Let cool for a few minutes, then serve with vanilla ice cream. (Breyer's Vanilla is most definitely the best!)



Meanwhile, Jack Wyatt is beginning to enjoy tummy time!

my dreams in a cookie!

SOFT MOLASSES COOKIES

I had a hankering for those Archway Molasses cookies and then I decided to just go buy some Grandma's Molasses and make my own! I found this recipe online and then had fun making the most perfect, chewy and delicious cookies, if I do say so myself! AND they are so easy to make that I was able to whip up the dough in 5 minutes with my KitchenAid mixer with a fussy little baby strapped on to me!



Ingredients

3/4 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

1 Cream together shortening and brown sugar.
2 Stir in egg and molasses and mix well.
3 Fold in dry ingredients and stir.
4 Cover and chill till firm (1-2 hours).
5 Preheat oven to 350°.
6 Roll dough into small balls and roll in white sugar.
7 Place on lightly greased cookie sheet or nonstick cookie sheet.
8 Bake at 350° for 9-10 minutes.
9 Leave on sheet one minute until set, then place on cooling rack.
10 Eat them up and/or share with your pals.

black bean tortilla soup...

I am all about making delicious and fresh food these days. Not that I disliked this before, but we got in a rut of quick prepared meals since we've had Jack around! Now I am having fun finding quick and easy fresh options for our happy healthy family. This one is vegan too!

BLACK BEAN TORTILLA CHIP SOUP WITH TOMATO AVOCADO SALSA


Soup:
1 small onion
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium carrot, chopped
2 or 3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups vegetable stock
1 large can black beans ( 19 - 25 oz.), drained
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt

Garnish:
1 medium tomato
1 avocado, cubed
1/4 cup cilantro, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp (or more!) lime juice
lots of tortilla chips!

This is an incredibly easy and fun thing to make...especially when it's chilly outside and your apartment is flooding!

In a medium soup pot, on medium heat, saute the onions in oil until translucent. While that's going, get the celery, carrots and garlic ready. Add them to the pot and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the stock, beans, chili powder, oregano, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Cover with lid, and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes. While the soup is simmering, get the garnish ready in a medium bowl: stir together tomatoes, avocados, cilantro, green onions, oil, and lime juice. Set aside. After the 15 - 20 minutes, use a blender/food processor to blend the soup until smooth. Be careful pouring hot soup! If needed, return the soup to the pot to reheat. Serve it with a generous amount of the garnish on top. Crumble the chips or use them to dip. I imagine grated cheese and sour cream would be delicious toppings too, if you feel so inclined.

Enjoy! This makes enough for 2 BIG bowls. Let me know if you make it!

magical christmas egg nog

I don't really have any occasion to make it this year, but someone should!

4 beaten egg yolks
2 c. milk
1/3 c. sugar
1 c. whipping cream
2 tbsp light rum
2 tbsp bourbon
1 tsp vanilla
ground nutmeg

1. In a large heavy saucepan combine the egg yolks, milk, and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture just coats a metal spoon. Remove from heat. Place the pan in a sink or bowl of ice water and stir for 2 ... Read Moreminutes. Stir in whipping cream, rum, bourbon, and vanilla. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours. Sprinkle sprinkle nutmeg on each serving!

Voila! Delicious christmastimeyummyness!