This is becoming a habit

Another catch-up post!! I’ll spare you the excuses and just say that I am really going to try to get back on track next week.

I have made so many things for both TWD and CEIMB since I last posted.

Nutty Granola:

Teriyaki Chicken

Caramel Crunch Bars:

And Shrimp and Feta Bake

Ode to Cathy

This week one of my favorite people ever, Cathy of the Tortefesor, chose the CEIMB recipe. Cathy is wildly famous in the food blog world. For example, her post about Naomi's Revenge received SIXTY-FOUR comments.

Even though Cathy is super popular in the food blogging world, as hard as it is to believe, she is even more popular in person. Everyone I know who also knows Cathy agrees that she is the funniest person we have ever met. Also, she is one of the most thoughtful people- for example, I'd bet that she based this recipe selection on careful consideration that everyone else would love taking this to Superbowl parties.

Cathy is really the kind of person that everyone wants as a coworker. Cathy constantly keeps everyone laughing. She and I have shared a couple of very late work nights and one all-nighter, and she is ALWAYS pleasant to be around- even at 2:30 a.m. Also, she is absolutely brillant and always willing to help. She is one of the top go-to people for hard problems and assignments.

I know that it is hard to believe that Cathy is even wittier in person than she is in her blog, but it's true. As for the dip, it was fabulous. :-)

TWD- Floating Islands

This week's TWD recipe was floating islands chosen my one of my favorite food bloggers- Shari of Whisk. I have never heard of this dessert. Apparently, it is a common dessert in France. I had several funny conversations about the islands, but the funniest was tonight with my husband.

Me (reading the recipe about making the meringues): "I just don't see how this is going to work."

Brandon (very very seriously): "It's not going to work!! It's not going to work!!"

I did not know that Brandon was watching news about the stimulus package while I was in my baking world in the kitchen, but his unusually serious tone pulled me back into his world.... He thought I was chiming in to tell him that I didn't understand how the stimulus package was going to work. It was really funny.

The islands were good. Not as good as The Island on LOST, but pretty good.

Catch up post

I'm sorry about the late post. TWD this week was World Peace Cookies. I have made these cookies many, many times. I often tell people that they have changed my life. I am a better person because I ate some. I feel peaceful just thinking about them.... They are really my favorite cookies ever.

This week's CEIMB was Sage Rubbed Pork Chops with Warm Apple Slaw, chosen by Jennifer of Jen B's Cooking Carveout. We really liked this recipe. I thought the pork chops rubbed with the sage, garlic and salt mixture were fabulous.

Also, I have already made the spinach dip, too, but I am still working on my post for it.

TWD- Fresh Ginger and Chocolate Ginerbread Cake

This week's TWD recipe was Chocolate Gingerbread Cake. I made the cake and took it to one of my friends who recently had a baby. I also made one cupcake so Brandon and I could try it. I really liked this recipe. I LOVE ginger, but this was my first time to use fresh ginger.

CEIMB- Chicken Cacciatore

Peggy of Pantry Revisited chose Chicken Cacciatore for this week's CEIMB recipe. Peggy and I work together and are also fellow TWDers. I have gotten to know her through these clubs and I can tell you that she is really special person. She is a wife, loyal mother, ballroom dancer, pianist, nature lover and Yogie. Also, she loves to entertain, so I knew that she would pick a great recipe.

Brandon and I REALLY loved this recipe. I noticed a couple of comments by other CEIMBers that the sauce needed to be amped up a little, so I doubled the recipe's wine, garlic and red pepper and it was FABULOUS!!!!! This was one of my favorite recipes so far.

CEIMB- Beef with Rosemary and Chocolate and Late TWD

I chose this week's CEIMB recipe - Beef with Rosemary and chocolate.  I have been in TWD for about 6 months and in CEIMB for a month.  This was by far the biggest disaster I've had in the kitchen.  First, I could not find a 2 lb tenderloin.   I went to three grocery stores close to my house and the smallest tenderloin I found was 5 lbs ($56).  So, I bought two nine oz filets ($16).

Second, I planned to make this Sunday night so I could take my time.  However, I ended up having to work on Sunday until around 7.  We usually eat at 6.  So, I was very rushed.  I have never made beef if the oven and I was not surprised to learn that this is not my favorite way to cook meat.  I way overcooked my steak- it had no pink at all.  Brandon's was medium, but since it ended up taking TWO AND A HALF hours for the sauce to reduce, he ate his steak without the sauce.  So, my pitiful picture is of one bite of my very well done filet with sauce.  The sauce was really really good, but it took an incredibly long amount of time.  

TWD was savory corn muffins.  I really liked them and will definitely make them again.  I'm having trouble with the pictures and will try again later.  

CEIMB- Fried Rice

This week Jennifer of Running With Food chose Fried Rice.  Brandon and I LOVED this recipe.  It was so fast and easy and I thought it tasted great.  I used chicken instead of tofu, but I may use shrimp next time.  I added broccoli and peas.  Yum!

TWD- French Pear Tart

DORIE GREENSPAN chose the TWD recipe this week.  DORIE GREENSPAN- the author of the cookbook TWD it currently baking its way through.  I was so pumped about this recipe because Dorie has made all the recipes in the book many times, and I knew she had something special to share with us through this recipe.  I am dying to know whether this would have been her pick out of all the things that have already been chosen, too.    

I was also pumped because I got to use two of my new Christmas presents.  

I asked my in-laws for a food processor.  Instead of buying me a new smaller regular ol' food processor, they bought me the 11 cup Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus.  After I watched the 30 minute instructional DVD, I realized that this thing is AMAZING and I do not know how I've ever cooked or baked anything without it.  Besides processing, it also chops and sliced whole fruits and vegetables.  Amazing.  The feed thing on the top is so huge that three whole potatoes will fit in it and the machine will slice all three in about 10 seconds.  It also has a DOUGH feature and special dough blade, which is the reason my mother-in-law selected this one.  How exciting!!

The second gift I got to use was my shiny new 10 inch tart pan with removable bottom, which my friend, Pam, gave me.  When I started this club back in June, Pam bought me mini tart pans for my birthday.  Since I haven't bought any others, all my tarts so far have been minis.  So, this is my first time to make a full size tart.

I started with the Sweet Tart dough with nuts.  It was super easy with my new food processor.  I can't image that Dorie herself used a better tool to make her dough.  This dough is so tasty and baked beautifully.  

After the tart dough came the almond creme, which was amazing.  I really just wanted to eat the entire batch and make more for the tart.

This tart was really really really fabulous.  I have made several tarts since TWD baked La Paulette's Strawberry tart and I haven't been as proud of any as I was of that very first tart.  However, this pear tart was the tastiest one I've made so far.  

TWD- Tall and Creamy Cheesecake

This weeks TWD recipe was chosen by Anne of Anne Strawberry, one of my favorite food bloggers.  She chose tall and creamy cheesecake.  

At the end of most of her recipes, Dorie gives suggestions about altering the recipe.  This cheesecake has a TON of suggestions.  One of my favorite desserts of all time is key lime cheesecake with chocolate crust.  Since I made this for a Christmas party, I made regular cheesecake on a chocolate crust, since I think some people make not like lime....

I really liked this recipe.  It was relatively easy and VERY delicious.  The only not-so-fun part was the long cooking then propping the door open time following by cooling to room temperature and then refrigerating for several hours.  It's not a quick thing to make, but it's very worth the time it takes.

December Catch-up Post

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!!  Recently I've been cooking and baking, but not posting.  So, here is my catch up post, although it is a little hard to remember what all I've made....

First (I think) was CEIMB Curried Butternut Squash Soup.  I don't really love curry, but I LOVED this soup.  It was my first time to use butternut squash and I didn't know it's like a pumpkin inside.

This soup was very easy to make until the puree part.  I don't have an emulsion blender, so I used my normal blender.  When I started blending, the lid (which I was holding onto the base) flew off and the VERY hot liquid exploded everywhere, including on my wrists.  

Even though I probably wouldn't serve this as a main course soup, I really think I will make it many times.

Next was TWD Buttery Jam cookies.  I really liked these cookies.  I ran out of sugar and had to use mostly brown sugar, which my friend Julie liked even better than cookies made with all white sugar per the recipe.   I used raspberry preserves.

I did not make Real Butterscotch pudding, but I hope to make it soon.

Next is CEIMB triple chocolate cookies.  Brandon and I really liked these, but I thought they were best right out of the oven, unlike the buttery jam cookies, which I thought were better the next day.

I've already made the tall and creamy cheesecake and will post on Tuesday.  I am making cherry chocolate biscotti today. 

CEIMB Cornmeal-Crusted Roasted Ratatouille Tart

This weeks recipe was a ratatouille tart in a cornmeal shall.  This will be a boring post, but I really really loved this recipe and I will make it a lot.  I have already started thinking of other things to put in the delicious shells.  I can't wait to make this with fresh tomatoes!!!  Thanks, Wiivers (super cute name!!), for the great pick.

Grandma's All Occasion Sugar Cookies

This weeks recipe was chosen by Ulrike of Kuchenlatein.  This was my first time to make sugar cookies from scratch.  Even though this is the only picture I have, almost all of the cookies were iced stars.  I took the cookies to an ornament swap.  Anna Pike, I am SO sorry you missed it since you are one of my most loyal readers :-)  We missed you!!

I was scared about the dough because it was so crumbly I could barely form two disks, but these cookies are AMAZING!!!!!  And the dough is a 5 on my friend Cathy's lick-o-meter.  I like desserts as sweet as possible and these are pretty much all sugar.  The icing was great, too!!

Linzer Sables

This week's recipe was chosen by Noskos of Living the Life.  I LOVED these cookies!!  I was intrigued by the fact that the dough has equal parts crushed almonds and flour.  They were very yummy and the ground cloves made then a great Christmas cookie!!

CEIMB- Four Cheese Macaroni

This week's recipe was chosen by Beth at Supplicious.  Short post since I'm still very much enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday with my sweet husband and family.  The secret ingredient in this recipe was pureed squash.  Maybe if I hadn't been the one to cook it, I wouldn't have noticed as much, but all I could taste was squash.  I made Ellie's crabcakes with this and they are AMAZING!!!!!

CEIMB- Oven Fried Chicken

This is my first official post for CEIMB! Last week, I joined this club on Thurday, posting day. Last week's recipe- portabella lasagna roll ups- looked so good that I decided to make them Friday night. The roll ups were AMAZING and will definitely be part of my normal recipe rotation!!

This week's recipe was chosen by MacDuff of Lonely Sidecar. One thing I really love about CEIMB is that as of today, there are only 19 members, so I can really read the host's blog and check everyone's site on post day. MacDuff seems like a really cool person- I love people who can write about running 20 miles and enjoying baked good in the same post!! Personally, I have never run 20 consecutive miles, but I have enjoyed several donuts after 5Ks, 10Ks, and one Half Marathon. :-) Oh, and MacDuff enjoys competitive sailing- I don't know anyone who is a competitive sailor (that I know of).

On to the chicken- My husband, Brandon, went to the grocery store for me and bought all the ingredients, including 6 HUGE chicken breasts. They were the biggest breasts I have ever seen. I am seriously worried about all the hormones I have eaten in my lifetime. In Alabama, we have a program called Grow Alabama where you can have locally grown fresh vegetables, fruits and poultry delivered to your house and I am thinking about doing it mainly for the hormone-free chicken.

I thought the chicken was delicious!!! The next time I make it, I will use tenders- hopefully from locally grown chickens.

One other note- along with the chicken, I also made Ellie's Dirty Broccoli. It was okay- not my favorite broccoli recipe, but I ate it- which doesn't really say alot....

Arborio Rice Pudding

This week Isabelle of Les Gourmandises d' Isa chose Arborio Rice Pudding.  I am running so far behind this week, so I made the pudding Monday night and don't get to eat it until tonight, so I don't know whether I like it, but it was very very easy to make- after I finally found Arborio rice at the FOURTH grocery store.  As you see, I made half vanilla and half chocolate.  I used MILK chocolate.  I know this would probably be a sin to Dorie, but I don't like semi-sweet and I want to try this.  It may be way to sweet, but I thought I'd give it a shot.  

I really hope I do like this pudding since it only has four ingredients and I now own enough Arborio rice to make this recipe 16 more times (per the label).

Another??!!

I joined another food blog.  I know- it's crazy and I don't have time, but it is sssoooo much fun!!!  After much consideration, I decided to join Craving Ellie In My Belly (CEIMB).  I made last Thurday's recipe- Portobello lasagna roll-ups tonight, but B left my camera at his office, so no pics yet.  I love love love TWD, but it was a nice change to make a non-sweet for a club.  I am very excited about CEIMB!!!  And, I get to pic the recipe on January 15, 2009!!!  WOO HOO!!

Team Kugelhopf

This week Yolanda from All-Purpose Girl chose Kugelhopf, which I again had to Wikipedia (like Rugelach).  This was my FIRST time to use yeast and I was scared, but with a lot of extra love and attention and some sound advise from Cathy, I was able to get the bread to rise.  Well, me and my oven at the lowest temperature possible.  

I was so so so proud of how well this Kugelhoph dough rose on Saturday that I decided to share it with our Sunday School class at First Baptist Church Trussville.  Our Sunday School teacher, Kelly, is an AMAZING baker.  One of her biggest claims to fame is that someone once ate SIXTEEN of her amazing cupcakes in one sitting.  Needless to say, I was intimidated about taking any baked good to class, much less one I had never made and could not even pronounce correctly.  Since Dorie advises that it is best eaten the day it is baked, I decided to bake it on Sunday morning, which sounded at the time like a great idea.  Well, it wasn't.  My sweet husband is the most patient man I know, but he is not patient on Sunday mornings when I am running late for Sunday School (every Sunday).  In anticipation of the extra baking time I may need, I woke up at 5:00 am to put the dough in the pan to let is rise.  Well, at 8:00 am, the dough still had not risen to "almost the top of the pan."  At first I panicked thinking about all the time I wasted on Saturday, but then I remembered Cathy telling me she put hers in the over to help it rise.  So, I put it in the oven on the lowest temperature for 30 minutes and it looked perfect.  Of course, we were still 10 minutes late for Sunday School, but everyone really enjoyed the Kugelhopf.   It seems that my husband is a lot more patient when the delay is due to a delicious Kugelhopf instead of my third outfit change.  :)  It still wasn't Kelly's Cupcakes, but I was pretty proud of it.... 

Thanks, Peggy, for letting me borrow the pan!!  This Kugelhopf was really a team effort

Rugelach

This weeks recipe was Rugelach, which I had to Wikipedia since I didn't know what Rugelach is :-) Now, I realize that one my favorite bakeries, Edgars, has these all the time for sale.

I almost didn't make this recipe, but my friends Cathy and Julie talked me into it and I am so glad!! I used strawberry jam, chocolate and pecans- no currants. I liked this recipe, but I made it very last minute and didn't feel like I got to fully enjoy the process. Well, that plus the fact that this election is very stressful :-) I don't think I rolled them tightly enough. My husband loved them!

Thanks, Piggy of Piggy's Cooking Journal for the great pick!!