Beginner Mistake in the Kitchen

I recently read this article from over at The Kitchn about the one mistake beginners make in the kitchen and I am definitely guilty! They say that the best way to ruin meat or other things that are frying/grilling is to move them around too much. I'm generally an impatient person so it's hard for me not to check on whatever I'm cooking. Also there is something about "stirring" that makes it feel like things are moving along even if they aren't. I was very diligent last night when browning chicken breasts not to move them and they turned out great-- what a great tip!

PS. I definitely want to try the chicken recipe that they recommend, looks amazing.

(Image)

Healthy Lunches

Anybody have any healthy lunch ideas or cookbooks?

I am in a bad habit of buying lunch at work everyday and now that Mylo is eating three meals a day we need to get a loose "meal plan" going at our house. I'd love to make up a big batch of a couple of things on the weekend that we could eat throughout the week. I'm thinking chicken breast, quinoa, lentils, couscous, pasta....

Have you ever made the "salad in a jar" thing? Some of these recipes look good from the Kitchn. Would love any blog/recipe/Pinterest resources from readers!

Tuesday Cupcake Roundup

I'm randomly in the mood for cupcakes! I bought these adorable black and white polka dotted cupcake liners a couple of months back from Paper Eskimo but have yet to bake anything.  I might just need to make use of them over the upcoming long weekend. What are you favorite cupcakes? I'm partial to red velvet, dark chocolate and anything with creme cheese frosting or coconut....yummm. Here are some good recipes I found around the web.

PS. What's the difference between a muffin and cupcake? Very fine line if you ask me. :)

Coconut cupcakes with 7-minute frosting and coconut flakes.

Vegan Chocolate Ginger Orange Cupcakes

English Banoffee Cupcakes with Toffee Crumble

Pistachio Cupcakes with Raspberries

Dark Chocolate Fudge Merlot Cupcakes

Vanilla Cupcakes with Raspberry Filing

Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes

All Natural Red Velvet Cupcakes

Spiced Butternut Squash Cupcakes with Maple Creme Cheese Frosting

Cornbread & Cracking Eggs

The other day, as I ran to take my cornbread out of the oven once it began to smell amazing, I suddenly realized, that's a trick I learned from Weeds. Really, Weeds, the show about a pot dealing soccer mom taught me that cornbread is done when your kitchen is suddenly filled with the scent of it.

Also, I learned how to crack and egg with one hand from Sabrina:

PS. Unlike the cornbread on Weeds, mine is drug free!

(Vintage Kitchen image via Gold Country Girls)

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Back in college Teresa and I lived in a house with a bunch of girls.  We listened to lots of Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Shins. No matter what shirt I wore, you could usually see my stomach (apparently that was the style). Teresa still ate gluten  and I created Muffin Mondays for my roommates. Basically, I got up extra early on Mondays and made muffins for everyone. Needless to say, it was a pretty big hit. Who doesn't like muffins?
Here's one of my roommates' favorites:

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
(adapted from Cook's Encyclopedia of Cookies)

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
3 large ripe bananas
1 egg
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup chocolate chips (or more!)

Grease muffin pans or use paper liners.
Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Mash the bananas with electric mixer. Beat egg, sugar and oil into mashed bananas.
Add the dry ingredients, beating on low until just incorporated.
Mix in chocolate chips.

Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake for 20 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.

Ooey, Gooey, Chocolatey, Chewie Brownies!

Jenny made the most delicious gluten-free and vegan brownies as take-away gifts for a baby shower we put on a few weeks back. She used this wonderful mix that can be bought at Whole Foods and online. But wait, it gets better. For frosting, she used the recipe on the back of the bag but substituted the butter with coconut spread and water for coconut milk, then added a bit of coconut extract and sprinkled coconut flakes on the top. Coconut and chocolate?! I can't think of anything better. I snuck a couple of extras into my purse on the way out, don't tell.

Drink of the Month: Lavender Cocktail (with Lavender Fondue!)

Yesterday Jenny, Brittany and I had a little Lavender Party in Britt's back garden to celebrate the unseasonably warm weather that we've had here in Seattle. 
Here is the recipe we used for our yummy Lavender Cocktails
2-3 oz Gin 
3/4 oz Lavender Simple Syrup (see recipe below)
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1 dash Bitters
2-3 sprigs Mint

Muddle mint sprigs in lime juice, bitters and simple syrup. Add gin and ice, shake, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a mint leaf and lavender. 


Jenny made the delicious Lavender Syrup beforehand:
• 1/4 cup Lavender Flowers (stripped from stalk)
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Water
Add ingredients to a pot. Heat while stirring with a spoon until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil, turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let sit for 2 hours. Strain into a bottle or other container, and store in the refrigerator. 

We also had a delicious Lavender Goat Cheese Fondue using the Palace Kitchen's recipe!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup dry Riesling 
• 1/2 teaspoon dried lavender blossoms
• 1 cup (8 oz.) herb-flavor fresh chèvre (goat) cheese
• Pepper
• 2 Fuji apples (1/2 lb. each), rinsed, cored, and sliced 
• Preparation
• • In a 1- to 2-quart pan or fondue pan over high heat, boil wine and lavender until reduced to 1/4 cup, 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Reduce heat to medium-high, add chèvre, and stir until boiling, about 4 minutes. Add pepper to taste. Set pan over a candle or on an electric warming tray.
  • Use forks or thin wood skewers to spear bread and apple slices and dunk them into fondue.
• 
  
• PS. Brittany prepared the other delish dishes you see above including the Japanese Cucumber Salad and Cilantro Lime White Bean Hummus. 
• 
  
• (Cocktail recipe inspired by Cocktail Virgin. Photos by our own Jenny of JKoe Photography).

Irish Cooking with Darina Allen

Would you ever to go cooking school? I'm not much of a cook but I do collect cookbooks from different countries that I travel to and love the idea of going on a "cooking holiday" abroad (you know, Julia Childs-style).

When we moved to Dublin I quickly learned about one of their most famous chef's, Darina Allen. I'm dying to visit her gorgeous organic farm and Cookery School in County Cork, Ireland. The The New York Times essentially calls her the Alice Waters of the UK/Ireland. 


Darina founded the Ballymaloe Cookery School in 1983 and is now the director of the Slow Food movement in Ireland. Obviously she has come up with tons of fabulous Irish recipes (she has 16 cookbooks) but I'm thinking her famous soda bread recipe would be especially appropriate for this week!

In honor of St. Paddy’s Day next weekend I’m excited to say that we’ll have three posts with Irish themes this week! Stay tuned for a guide to Dublin and the Drink of the Month later this week.


PS. Darina's daughter Rachel is also a fabulous chef, check out her drool-inducing home kitchen.
Also, Gourmet.com's World's Best Cooking Schools!


(images from gourmet.com , ralphlauren.com)

Friday Roundup

Friday is finally here! What's everyone up to this weekend? Jenny and I are going to have a little taste-test party for the March Drink of the Month, stay tuned for the results.


With no further ado...here is your Roundup!


Happiest animals in the world! (see also photo above)


I want this spring jacket. Or maybe this bright one?


Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal, get in my belly.


Totally addicting website, what's your color?


Hank the Cat is running for US Senate, this makes me smile. 


A hot tub boat on Seattle's Lake Union. LOVE.


Clever Malcom Gladwell bestseller generator.


World's most livable cities, do you live in one?


Happy Bday Dr. Suess! 30 DS quotes to live by.


Why Rebecca Romaijn named her daughter after after Dolly Parton.


Finally started this book, laugh out loud hilarious.

Friday Roundup

Happy Friday! Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? Teresa and I are having a girls night and going to dinner with friends at Palace Kitchen. The rest of my weekend will be spent hoping for sun, as we have a few photo shoots scheduled. Perhaps some cooking will happen too.

Here's one dish I want to try this weekend, Quinoa Mac & Cheese.

Then maybe some no-bake cookies for dessert. Am I the only one that was obsessed with no-bakes as a child? I think Teresa was too, she's the one who found the recipe. I'll have to share the cookies with her I guess... especially since they are gluten free!

Here's a great way to wrap books as gifts. So many thoughtful touches.

Looking for a good movie this weekend? I saw this one the other day and liked it enough that I'd actually go again. It's very original and it takes place in Seattle!

Hello Giggles has a post that made me smile, Famous Ladies and Their Cats.

Patterned tights.

Did you know, if you send Mickey and Minnie Mouse a wedding invite, you'll get a response? Here are the details.

What NOT to name your baby.

Incase you want to sound posh and work words and phrases like "holidaymaker", "serviette" or "cheerio" into your vocabulary, wikipedia has a page entitled List of British Words Not Widely Used in the US. There are also things like "bum bag" and "shonky". It's a fun list.

One last thing. I pinned this on pinterest the other day but it's getting no love. So, I'm forcing you to read it here. Enjoy!

Friday Roundup

Hi Friends! What are you up to this weekend? P and I are going to spend a romantic weekend-away in Portland. I'm excited to get lost exploring the city just the two of us. 

Here's your weekend roundup!

Adorable couples who have been together a LONG time.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Stuffed Cake Balls. Yes, you heard me right. Sounds divine. 

I finally got some of this and spent 45 minutes putting it on today, but it looks great for my weekend away! Also, this is insane to me. 

Yummy Valentine's Champagne Cocktail.

Kitty-made art. Also, famous ladies and their cats.  

Want to impress your sweetie this weekend? How to open beer with a piece of paper.

I'm dying to visit this crazy bookstore in Buenos Aires. 

25 super-duper foods

Loving this iPhone case but need to stop buying iPhone cases.

What do you think of this pick to play Princess Diana in an upcoming film?

Going to be in Seattle this weekend? Check out this crazy Valentine's Day version of the Underworld Tour.

PS. Isn't that picture of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone the best? I love them both. If you haven't seen it, 'Crazy Stupid Love' is a fun V-day weekend flick!

Friday Roundup

Happy Friday! What's everyone up to this weekend? I finally caught that nasty cold that has been going around so I'll be bundled up with my cutie kitty sipping on tea and OJ. I just got the Kindle Fire so I'm excited to play around with that and see what free books I can get my hands on-- any advice from Kindle owners out there?

Here's your Friday Roundup!


Famous authors predict the super bowl.

Smart addition to your refrigerator.

Sick of sitting at your desk all day? Workout at work. ;)


Why cats are not doctors.


Cute purse I want for spring.

Magical children's nook 

Delish Paella recipe to spice up your weekend.

Big news: Starbucks is expanding their beer/wine sales.


Also, Disneyland is finally allowing employees to wear beards! 

Seven days of hot toddies.


Gorgeous towels from Anthro.


If you're in Seattle, this would be fun to do over the weekend.


30 most anticipated movies of 2012. Which ones do you want to see?

(photo of Marilyn Monroe at ‘The Prince and The Showgirl’ Premiere, 1957.)

Classic Drink of the Month: French 75

Do you have bottles of unopened champagne leftover from the holidays? Why not mix up one of our favorite classic cocktails: the French 75! This elegant, not-too-sweet, drink was created in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris and includes cognac or gin and champagne along with simple syrup and lemon juice. It can be served in a champagne flute or martini glass.

I had a great French 75 in Ballard over the weekend at the Back Bar in Bastille restaurant. Their motto is "Damn Good French Cuisine" -- I can only agree based on the delicious mussels, falafel and crème brulée we consumed. 

French 75 recipe from Creative Culinary

• 3 ounces gin
• 3 ounces fresh lemon juice
• 4 teaspoons superfine granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups ice cubes
• 1 cup chilled champagne
• Lemon twists for garnish

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, sugar, and ice cubes and shake to chill.
2. Strain cocktails into 2 champagne flutes and top off with champagne.
3. Garnish glass with a lemon twist.

(photo from madtini.com)

Friday Round-Up

Do you have fun plans for the upcoming weekend? I'm seeing the 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' with Patrick; excited to see how it stacks up to the Swedish version. 

Friday round-up hot off the press:


9 other must see movies this weekend.

25 things to love about 10 Thing I Hate About You (90's nostalgia, people!)

Interesting NYTimes Op-Ed about Joan of Arc

JFK's Waffle Recipe 

Hilarious hairless cat in a bathtub. 

Jenny is baking THE BEST chocolate chip cookies this weekend...yummmm.

Obsessed with this dress from Free People...alas, so expensive.

We are loving this song and video, also her hair is super cute.  

10 Great Etsy shops from Design Sponge.

"The case for calling your Mom...this is real research" (this was the subject line of an email from my mother this morning).


Happy Friday!




(photo via filmbook.com)