I’ve been watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 clips on YouTube today while making chocolate chip cookies (my second batch in my search for the best recipe) and cleaning up the kitchen (a necessary activity after any baking project). This particular clip is a favorite in the Feller household because you don’t have to see the entire movie for it to make you laugh – and laugh you will. It always cracks me up so it gets played often. “Why you break-a your mama’s heart?” “O sole mio!” Love it!
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Monthly Archives ⇒ January 2012
Foodie Friday – Bourbon chicken (without the bourbon)
A good skillet chicken recipe is hard to find. I know because I’ve looked. But trying all of those other mediocre recipes was worth it to find this one, though. More than likely you already have all of these ingredients (or most of them at least) in your pantry so this is the perfect last-minute weeknight dinner. And it tasted delicious, by the way. Dan had a second helping so I know he liked it, and there were absolutely no leftovers. So if you’re looking for a simple and tasty meal I would highly recommend this recipe for bourbon chicken (without the bourbon). (Don’t ask me why it’s called that, by the way. I’m sure there’s a good explanation, but I don’t know it.)
INGREDIENTS:
5 chicken breasts (I used thin-sliced)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 c pineapple juice (I’m going to try apple juice next time)
1/3 c brown sugar
2 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 c water
1/3 c soy sauce
1 Tbsp cornstarch
DIRECTIONS:
Cut the chicken into 1-2 inch bite-size pieces. Cook the chicken in the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. The chicken will start to get a bit juicy and bubbly. Using either a strainer or the lid of the skillet, drain the juices into the sink. (Try not to drop pieces of chicken into the sink like I did.) Return the pan to the stove top and continue cooking over medium high heat. In a medium bowl whisk together the rest of the ingredients (garlic, juice, brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, water, soy sauce, and cornstarch). When the chicken has a nice brown sear on some of the pieces pour the sauce into the pan and stir to cover all the chicken pieces. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered, but with the lid angled slightly to allow some of the steam to escape. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring a couple of times during the cooking period. Serve over rice. Enjoy!
Based on Jamie Cooks It Up’s Bourbon Chicken (without the bourbon).
Our lives these days
Me: “As soon as I get to work in the mornings I sit down and make a list of all of the things I need to do when I get home.”
Dan: “That’s funny because as soon as I get home I make a list of the things I need to do at work!”
Sad, but true. We’re always worrying about the place we just left. Here’s hoping things calm down soon so we can enjoy our lives a little more.
(Not so) Wordless Wednesday 1/18/12
A new Chick-Fil-A just opened two blocks from our house. I’ve been looking forward to eating there since they started building it because Chick-Fil-As are few and far between in Los Angeles, but this one has been completely packed since it opened on Thursday. Actually, it started before then. I took this picture the night before it opened. The parking lot was full of tents belonging to people camping out to see if they could be one of the first 100 customers through the door. Apparent that entitles you to free Chick-Fil-A for a year (actually just coupons for one free meal a week, but it’s still a lot of food). I’m a big fan of their chicken nuggets and all, but I don’t think they’re worth sleeping outside in 40 deg weather for! Due to the rampant popularity of this new restaurant (seriously, the parking lot is always full of cars) I haven’t been brave enough to try to eat there yet. I think I’ll wait until the hype dies down a little…or I get a really intense craving for a chicken biscuit. One morning I’m going to show up at work with one and make all of my co-workers really jealous!
Straggler holiday recipe roundup
Brownie pie (the only recipe in this list I have a picture of) – I made this for no particular reason in December and it was really delicious. The only drawback is that it’s incredibly rich. You really only want to eat a few bites at a time. So maybe this recipe isn’t for you anti-chocoholics out there, but if you’re looking for something dense and fudgy, look no further. This is definitely the simplest pie I’ve ever made (and practically foolproof).
Eggnog cookies – I can’t recall exactly when I made these cookies (since I don’t have a picture for reference), but I figured nothing was more seasonal than eggnog, so why not make eggnog cookies? If I remember correctly these cookies were pretty tasty, but not really that outstanding.
Gingerbread blondies – I was so excited to make these blondies that I bought a brand new jar of molasses this year, but the end result was a big disappointment. They were too cakey for me (which might have been my own fault) and the spices were too strong (which might also have been my fault). I have a feeling there’s a good recipe in there somewhere, especially since this was originally a Martha Stewart creation, but I didn’t find it on my first attempt. Maybe I’ll try it again next Christmas.
Eggnog bread – After making the eggnog cookies I had almost an entire quart of leftover eggnog sitting in my fridge with no purpose whatsoever. And since I wanted to bring some sort of seasonal baked goods to my parents in Tallahassee I made two loaves of eggnog bread. I didn’t follow the recipe exactly – I added an additional 1/3 c of eggnog and a package of instant vanilla pudding to make sure the bread wasn’t dry, and I substituted 2 Tbsp rum for the rum extract (since I didn’t have any). With those changes this bread was seriously delicious. And I don’t even like eggnog!
Cinnamon bread – I made this bread to take home to Tallahassee as well, but it was just fair. It was definitely better the day after baking when the spices have had time to mingle, but I’d say this bread as I made it was forgettable. I’d like to try a variation to see if I can make a good loaf of cinnamon quick bread sometime in the future, but I’m going to have to consult some other recipes for ideas first.
Candy cane blossoms – I was so rushed to finish these cookies for one of my last holiday potlucks of the year that I didn’t take a picture of them. These sugar cookie blossoms topped with candy cane Hershey’s Kisses got rave reviews at the potluck, but I’m still partial to the peanut butter variety with milk chocolate Kisses. They sure looked pretty, though.
Just another Monday
I’ve had a busy day. I went to work, then to the gym, then to the library and pharmacy, then home to make dinner. I’m tired. Not that today hasn’t had its bright spots. I got to talk to someone at the gym I hadn’t seen in a while, the Lakers beat the Mavericks in spectacular fashion, and I made a really delicious new recipe tonight. I’ve been trying to find a good skillet chicken dish for a long time and I think it’s safe to say that this recipe for bourbon chicken (without the bourbon) is a winner. I’ll write a separate post about it next week, but suffice to say that there are no leftovers. Now if only the dishes would wash themselves, the clean clothes would fold themselves, and the garbage would take itself out I could go to bed. Wishful thinking. Good night!
Birthday gifts (present and future)
Thanks to a generous Amazon gift card that my parents sent me for my birthday I’ve already downloaded these three new books on my beloved Kindle:
Omnitopia Dawn by Diane Duane (<– One of my favorite authors)
Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James (<– Recommended my my mom)
The Faeman Quest (Faeire Wars book 5) by Herbie Brennan (<– Another favorite author)
I’ve also ordered seasons 3 and 4 of “The Big Bang Theory” on DVD because I love the show so much. The balance on my gift card will be used to order as many of the following books as possible when they are released:
The Blood by D.J. MacHale (3/27 release)
Black Heart by Holly Black (4/3 release)
The Serpent’s Shadow by Rick Riordan (5/1 release)
City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare (5/8 release)
The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead (6/19 release)
Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer (7/10 release)
I reserve the right to augment this list at any time. This year is going to be good for reading!
Random Saturday
***It’s was the perfect “drive around with the car windows open” day in Los Angeles. I only took a short drive to Carl’s Jr. to get a some burgers for Dan and me for lunch, but it was enough to enjoy the beautiful weather today. I didn’t even need a jacket, which is saying something because I’m always cold. But today I didn’t have to cover up my Gator t-shirt (worn to cheer on Tim Tebow and the Broncos) with a sweater or hoodie while I was outside. Crazy!
***This winter has been more like summer in Los Angeles. Except for about a week in December when the highs were in the 50s we’ve had unusually warm and dry weather this season. Winter is traditionally our rainy season, but we haven’t had much, if any, precipitation since October. That does not bode well for the rest of the year. Funny enough, this past summer was more like winter with months of chilly, gray days and very little warmth. My brother tells me it’s been the same way in San Francisco so it sounds like all of California has been under the same effect. When did summer become winter and winter become summer?
***I’ve decided to start a search for the best homemade chocolate chip cookies. Up until now I’ve stuck to the classic Nestle Tollhouse recipe on the back of the chocolate chip bag, but I want to branch out. There’s got to be something better out there, right? While watching football this afternoon I made these “Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies” as an experiment. I liked that the recipe called for melted butter because waiting for butter to soften on the counter before I can use it drives me crazy. I’ll write another post about the cookies next week, but they turned out pretty well!
***In 2011 my gym bag was one of those reusable Target shopping bags which is how I discovered how flimsy they really are. By the end of the year it was falling apart, but the last thing I wanted to do was buy a new bag just for my gym clothes. So over the holidays when I was cleaning out all of the closets in the house I searched for something suitable I already owned. At the bottom of one closet I found a collapsible red duffel bag that was perfect. Not only is it not brand new, but I actually bought it back in 1997 for my trip to Europe! Fifteen years and about a dozen changes of residence later that bag is still with me and being put to good use. I love it!
***Dan and I had grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner tonight after watching both the Broncos and the Lakers lose their respective games. That was depressing. I felt a little guilty serving my husband such a juvenile and unhealthy (but absolutely delicious!) meal, but we don’t have much food in the house and I wasn’t planning to go to the grocery store to buy supplies for the week until tomorrow. However, I did meet two of my New Year’s resolutions with our simple dinner – I saved money and didn’t let food go to waste! (Let’s ignore the “healthy eating pattern” resolution for now, shall we?)
Foodie Friday – My birthday cake
I stumbled upon this unique recipe for red velvet cheesecake last Christmas after it was too late to find an excuse to make it for any potluck or party. Phooey! But I’ve kept this recipe in my mind for over a year and when my birthday rolled around I knew I wanted to celebrate with a red velvet cheesecake. Making my own birthday cake might be a little strange, but I really enjoy it. It’s a chance to try something different without the risk of ruining anyone else’s special day. Ruining something for myself is no big deal, but it helps that cheesecakes are really easy to make so there was really no chance of a major screw up. So when Dan and I got home from Disneyland last Sunday I whipped up this eye-popping red velvet cheesecake while watching the end of the Broncos playoff game (which they won – go Tebow!). The cheesecake needed to chill overnight so I didn’t get to try it until the next day, but I was pleasantly surprised when I did serve myself a slice. It’s delicious! Maybe not quite perfect, but close. The chocolate and cream cheese flavors mingled really well and you can’t deny that it looks great! I would definitely recommend this recipe for anyone looking for a new and different dessert that’s easy to make.
INGREDIENTS:
16 oz cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 c plus 2 Tbsp sugar
1/4 c sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
6 oz milk chocolate (I used 1 c milk chocolate chips), melted
2 tsp red food coloring
1 prepared chocolate pie crust
DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in the sugar, sour cream, and vanilla, and then add in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the melted chocolate and food coloring until well-blended. Pour as much of the batter as will fit into the crust – unless you have a deep dish crust you probably won’t need all of it. Bake for 10 minutes at 450 deg F, then lower the temperature to 200 deg F. Continue baking until the edges of the cheesecake are set but the center still wiggles when the pan is shaken, about 30 minutes (make sure you keep an eye on it). Cool the cheesecake on a rack to room temperature before refrigerating. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving. Enjoy!
Based on Sugarcrafter’s Red Velvet Cheesecake.
5 Best Things I Ate in 2011
After giving it a lot of thought, I’ve compiled a list of the five best things I ate in 2011. Not surprisingly the of majority of my best meals happened on vacation. Whether the food is just better or whether it’s just more memorable, eating at new and different places is one of the best parts of being on vacation. Not that Dan and I don’t go to a lot of great restaurants in Los Angeles (as evidence by the other items in this list), but you can’t beat meals in exotic locales. So here they are the five best things I ate in 2001 in no particular order.
1) Dinner at Mama’s Fish House in Pai’a, HI – Liliko’i colada (non-alcoholic), Maui onion soup, Slow cooked beef rib with kalua pig on the side, and “Polynesian Black Pearl” chocolate and liliko’i dessert (see photo above)
2) Frozen butterbeer and pumpkin juice at Universal Studios Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, FL
3) Butternut squash soup, cookies, and Blue Sky soda at the California Academy of Sciences museum in San Francisco, CA
4) “Philly cheesesteak” sandwiches at The Bazaar restaurant in Los Angeles, CA
5) Roasted lamb tacos at Border Grill in Santa Monica, CA
Honorable mention: Homemade chocolate chip, blueberry, lemon raspberry, orange cranberry, and cinnamon scones at my favorite holiday potluck at work.
