tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28124088492204758362024-03-14T00:18:59.018-07:00Recipes For LaughterAlexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.comBlogger267125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-28442012813236192112015-10-25T14:40:00.000-07:002015-10-25T14:41:00.543-07:00Chocolate Chip Pound Cake with Maple-Espresso Glaze
Ok, so things have been pretty quiet around here lately. I guess having a kid will do that. I have less time to cook and bake, but really it's the time to type up the recipes that has kept me from posting. For better or worse I guess it seems like I should do the laundry and all that instead of keep up my blog. Here's a recipe I actually made a few months ago, but just stumbled across again...Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-61848812294102842102014-11-16T20:40:00.000-08:002014-11-16T20:40:10.063-08:00Cranberry Bliss BarsThese were called White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies when I found them, but they looked like Cranberry Bliss Bars to me!
I added the white chocolate drizzle and then the cranberries, which does not look as pretty as if you do it the right way--cranberries first, THEN white chocolate drizzle...Oops.
Normally blondies would have me responding, "Why blondie when you can brownie?!" But, I mean Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-8448768332174401592014-11-02T15:35:00.001-08:002014-11-02T15:47:33.324-08:00Tortellini with Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce
I love pumpkin. (See links below.) I love that in the fall you can find a pumpkin version of almost everything (especially at Trader Joe's). This Food Network recipe is a fun and easy twist on a classic. It's only subtly pumpkin-y. The original recipe calls for cheese tortellini, but I think a butternut squash or other type would be great as well.
Related recipes:
Milnot Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-33275211699967391162014-10-26T21:02:00.000-07:002014-10-26T21:11:35.425-07:00(GF) Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pumpkin. It makes just about everything better, don't you think? This is a Philadelphia Cream Cheese recipe that I tweaked ever so slightly to be gluten free. I didn't do the caramel topping, but I bet it's delicious. The cheesecake is very rich on it's own, so I don't think it's really necessary. But, then again, sometimes you might just need a little caramel...
(GF) Pumpkin Cheese CakeAlexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-950908838111877942014-10-05T20:17:00.002-07:002014-10-05T20:17:28.646-07:00Mocha Shortbread Cookies
Yes,
we are still alive. You may have been wondering, since we haven't
posted in quite some time. Actually, Amber hasn't been doing so bad, but
I surely get an F for posts in the last year or so.
In
fact, when I went to use my stand mixer today, it literally had cobwebs
in it. Yes, in the literal sense of the word literal. Sadness!
But,
we're back in business. I've actually made a few Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-6218214835705623112014-05-31T12:28:00.000-07:002014-05-31T12:28:10.448-07:00Slow Cooker Chile VerdeOK so this isn't technically chile verde, I don't think. But it's what I call the product of this slow cooker concoction. It is so yummy it can go in tacos or burritos or quesadillas. Sky's the limit! Plus so very easy.
What's in it
1 Tbl veggie oil
3lb boneless pork shoulder/roast
1/2 tsp ground cumin
salt and pepper
16oz jar salsa verde
1/2 white onion thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1/amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07035136317111466987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-8859058435708701422014-05-31T12:22:00.000-07:002014-05-31T12:23:19.413-07:00Slow Cooker LasagnaHave I mentioned lately how much I love my slow cooker? Especially the one with the timer? Oh how I love it.
I've always come across recipes for lasagne and other casseroles for the slow cooker, and for some reason my brain always translated it into looking something like what you might eat backpacking out of a freeze dried food pouch. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. I finally took the amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07035136317111466987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-47385554499763028722014-03-05T11:58:00.002-08:002014-03-05T11:58:41.012-08:00Kale PestoOh Kale, you eluded me for so long, and I think we have finally come to terms. You are not quite in the 'love' category like your siblings brussels sprouts, broccoli and cabbage, but no longer in the hate category. Now we are going to introduce you to our son, and make him love you from the start.
What's in it
1/2 C kale, rinsed and chopped
1/4 C basil, rinsed
1/2 C walnuts
1 clove garlic
salt
1amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07035136317111466987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-25360712883317755932014-03-05T11:51:00.000-08:002014-03-05T11:59:10.439-08:00Quinoa BurgerI LOVE Quinoa!!! I liked it from the first taste a few years ago, but didn't quite know what to do with it. Then I finally figured out you could basically sub it out for lettuce in a salad and toss with French Vinaigrette, and that power salad sustained me through a year of breastfeeding my son. Fast forward a year and I sign up for Pintrest, and the first thing I see is a recipe for Quinoa amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07035136317111466987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-2826172236835227872014-02-08T18:15:00.002-08:002014-02-08T18:17:18.415-08:00Maple-Gingerbread Cake with Salted Maple-Caramel Sauce
Maple is a perennial favorite around here, and this recipe from Bon Appetit is a creative twist on the usual flavor combinations. I cut this recipe out of the magazine in the fall of 2013, but looking back through my recipe books, I actually found a version that they printed back in 2010. There is a reason this one has stuck around.
Maple sugar can be a little hard to track down, and Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-68920680225585789212014-01-23T21:59:00.002-08:002014-01-24T07:35:24.369-08:00Chocolate Cheesecake (Dairy Free)
For almost a year I've been dairy free, due to the complications of feeding an infant with dairy intolerance. It's been a challenge, but there are some bright spots such as this super yummy chocolate cheesecake that is, believe it or not, dairy free.Lauren found it and asked me to make it for her birthday. I wish I knew about it sooner for my own birthday!
What's in it
For Crust:
1 1/2 - 2 cupsamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07035136317111466987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-69397581369871063852013-12-29T12:12:00.000-08:002013-12-29T12:13:11.699-08:00GF Peanut Butter Cookies
I love the simple ingredients: no other explanation is necessary. Good thing they are easy to make, because they disappear quick!
1
cup natural peanut butter
1
cup sugar
1
teaspoon vanilla extract
1
large egg, lightly beaten
Coarse sea salt
Place the racks in the upper and lower third of
the oven. Preheat
the oven to 350 degrees.
In
a medium bowl, mix the Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-72254907731491784672013-11-20T07:51:00.000-08:002013-12-02T20:14:34.534-08:00Pulled Pork Pulled Pork is the gift that keeps on giving, especially when it is made in the crock pot and ready to eat when you get home from a long day at work. I love pulled pork. Maybe it's because it is a vehicle for BBQ sauce (Sweet Baby Rays and Everett and Jones, to be exact) or because I'm really not a hamburger lover, and this is such a delicious alternative. Plus, you end up with so many leftovers amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07035136317111466987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-5267081246890815062013-11-19T19:14:00.003-08:002013-12-02T20:14:09.979-08:00Butternut Squash PosoleI love soup! I love posole, I love butternut squash. So obviously I had to give this recipe a whirl from Food Network Magazine. Plus it was super simple, which is key for me right now. You can eat it with quesadillas for a mexican twist on grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Embrace winter, make this soup!
What's in it
1 32oz can tomato puree
1 or 2 32oz cans hominy
1 medium butternut squash, amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07035136317111466987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-85824567621941765242013-10-13T16:25:00.000-07:002013-10-13T16:26:43.228-07:00Milnot Pumpkin Pie
What do you do if you have 5 cans of Milnot in your cupboard? First you make a Milnot cheesecake. Then, to spice things up, you should try this under-the-label recipe for "Classic Pumpkin Pie with Maple Whipped Cream and Walnuts."
This is pie is not dense or too sweet, and the Milnot and eggs help the pie set up like a custard. The mixture is liquid at first, but just be patient. In myAlexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-39967636561645345172013-09-22T20:20:00.003-07:002013-09-22T20:24:03.864-07:00Tortas
There are rare, incomparable meals I have eaten that embody the Platonic ideal of certain foods. At the time, all you can do is revel in their glory. You are ecstatic to have the experience of tasting such delectable perfection.
But then problems begin. No matter where you go, no matter how hard you search, you cannot find anything to replicate that original experience. Everything else you Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-68008152889091534222013-09-02T20:50:00.002-07:002013-09-02T20:56:26.126-07:00Fresh Spring Rolls/Salad Rolls and Peanut Sauce
These are a revelation. They are so light and tasty--healthy, even. Until you dip them in the savory peanut sauce that is. These rolls are fun and easy to make, yet people will be very impressed with you. You can essentially add anything you like, then just roll it up--sort of like a cross between a burrito and sushi! This recipe is based on one from the fantastic book Quick & Easy Thai byAlexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-16964163351665075302013-07-30T13:03:00.002-07:002013-07-30T13:21:30.420-07:00Homemade Yogurt
I blame Natalie. She got me into brewing kombucha and now making yogurt.
I never thought about making yogurt at home. It's one of those things that seems a bit beyond the home cook's reach. I read about making yogurt once, but the article talked about sitting it on a radiator to get the ideal temperature. I didn't have a radiator. Besides, dealing with temperatures seemed too finicky for me.
Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-64282845450005999312013-06-10T10:13:00.001-07:002013-07-13T20:05:51.576-07:00French Toast Casserole
We love French Toast - Andy makes the best French Toast, and his secret ingredient is Semifreddis Cinnamon Swirl bread (Semifreddis is a Bay Area bakery, but TJ's carries it in some locations). I never though anything could top Andy's French Toast, until my Mom found this amazing recipe for French Toast casserole. She made it for mother's day brunch, and it was sooo delicious. I have amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07035136317111466987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-16527925822982646602013-06-10T09:50:00.004-07:002013-06-10T09:51:01.405-07:00Quick CornIt must be corn season, seeing we've been eating corn on the cob almost every night, and Alexis' delicious post on Mexican corn. Now that we have an infant, and try to get dinner on the table in a half hour, we've learned some new tricks. Here's a great go-to for weeknight dinners. Super quick and no-mess.
What's in it
2 ears of corn on the cob
How it's made
Grab 2 ears of corn, and do not huskamberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07035136317111466987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-40783146141653368452013-05-12T21:03:00.003-07:002020-08-11T16:10:48.650-07:00Mexican-Style Grilled Corn
Usually, on the side of the street in Mexico City, there is a man or a woman grilling ears of corn over hot coals. The elote's sweet, roasty aroma wafts across plazas, tempting you to buy one even when you aren't quite hungry. Should you indulge in this cheap and tasty treat, the proprietor will offer to slather your corn with crema or mayo, roll it in salty crumbled cotija cheese, dust it withAlexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-49570173384805371622013-05-07T18:04:00.001-07:002013-05-07T18:14:27.027-07:00Snickerdoodles
Junior High Home Ec. Classroom, circa 1996: Crisco and white flour abound. Crackly sugar cookies topped with cinnamon come fresh out of the oven. Not being familiar with this type of cooking (my mom hated Crisco and favored whole wheat flour), I am enamored with these simple and charming cookies. Maybe because I am twelve and can make them independently. Maybe precisely because they are so Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-70289842755032610272013-04-08T21:29:00.000-07:002013-04-12T21:02:26.213-07:00Taco PieI'm in love with casseroles right now, and all comfort food in general (see my recent Chili Mac post). I clipped this recipe from Bon Appetit, from their weeknight cooking section. My favorite casserole in the world is Hamburger Pie, my Mom has made it for me for as long as I remember, and this Taco Pie recipe is a 'Mexican' nod to Hamburger Pie. The recipe is so flexible, you can substitute amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07035136317111466987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-41838313006886502312013-03-29T11:31:00.000-07:002013-04-08T16:05:05.985-07:00Slow Cooker Chili MacNow that I have a very small human in my life, I am once again re-discovering the joys of the slow cooker. My son is so mellow in the morning, so preparing dinner in the morning is best, so it is ready in the evening, when he may not be as mellow. I have this great book 'Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Two' and it really does have some great ideas in it. Here's a recipe for Chili Mac, amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07035136317111466987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2812408849220475836.post-962010612116371642013-03-16T13:15:00.001-07:002013-03-24T15:07:33.533-07:00GF Fudge Chip Cookies
In exchange for picking me up from the airport, I offered to bake a friend some cookies. Any cookies, take your pick. Chocolate chip? Peanut butter? Really, anything you like.
"Great," he said, "Doesn't matter, as long as they're gluten free."
Me, on the outside: "Oh, cool! I've never made anything gluten free before. It will be a challenge!" (On the inside: "Oh shit. I don't have any of the Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419627027821239958noreply@blogger.com0