So, Maple Apple Cake: 0 and Pumpkin Spice Muffins: 1
The maple apple cake was a pain to make for something I didn't enjoy. First of all, the recipe made too much, the apples I used were not that great, and I just didn't like it. But, that said, boyfriend liked it a lot. Or at least he told me that so I wouldn't feel bad. Anything where I have to sift is out I think.
I found a recipe for the muffins on my bodywash bottle. The super overpriced body wash that I bought myself...yes. So they were pretty good, and I think they would make a really great coffee cake...
I will post the recipe this week. I have been making Starbucks-style pumpkin lattes also! I don't have an espresso machine, so I just brew strong coffee and I use Green Mountain pumpkin spice coffee which is awesome. The key to making this recipe a success is to strain the milk after to get all the pumpkin out...
I am going to be making cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, and potentially relish. I am not sure if boyfriend's family likes this but I may bring it anyway. The relish can be made in a food processor or blender, or as my grandmother (and now my aunt) did, by grinding the cranberries in a meat grinder. A meat grinder is like a family heirloom to my family. I'm not sure why. But anyway, make sure the cranberries are nicely ground, and if you like (which I do) add orange quarters and grind or process those as well. You can add as much sugar as you like, probably about a cup or less. Most recipes call for more, but you really don't need as much. Also, leave the rind on the orange, it tastes really great all mixed in.
More the come...
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Don't forget the Tums
So today I set out to do two things: drain my checking account and bake. I accomplished both and then some.
I did some holiday shopping, as I am making some gifts for my aunts this year and needed some supplies so I headed to Michael's for some craft stuff. Then over to the supermarket to restock on baking supplies, Walmart, maybe I stopped at Payless shoes (but I did NOT buy anything, I swear!). Once I got home I realized I forgot raisins and needed some other stuff, so over to Target (which, sadly for my bank account, is a mile from my house) and to TJ Maxx.
Once I returned, I made almond biscotti, same as how I made the anise biscotti, but with 1/2 tsp. of almond extract and some chopped almonds. They will go well with coffee, but I still like the anise better.
I also made raisin bread, but had to start over. This morning last night's dough had not moved, so it got tossed, which is a HUGE waste and I am really disappointed about that.
The boyfriend made chili with turkey as promised and it was EXCELLENT. He also made tortilla chips which I thought were really awesome.
And I made an infused olive oil dipping sauce.
And now I need tums from sampling it all.
I did some holiday shopping, as I am making some gifts for my aunts this year and needed some supplies so I headed to Michael's for some craft stuff. Then over to the supermarket to restock on baking supplies, Walmart, maybe I stopped at Payless shoes (but I did NOT buy anything, I swear!). Once I got home I realized I forgot raisins and needed some other stuff, so over to Target (which, sadly for my bank account, is a mile from my house) and to TJ Maxx.
Once I returned, I made almond biscotti, same as how I made the anise biscotti, but with 1/2 tsp. of almond extract and some chopped almonds. They will go well with coffee, but I still like the anise better.
I also made raisin bread, but had to start over. This morning last night's dough had not moved, so it got tossed, which is a HUGE waste and I am really disappointed about that.
The boyfriend made chili with turkey as promised and it was EXCELLENT. He also made tortilla chips which I thought were really awesome.
And I made an infused olive oil dipping sauce.
And now I need tums from sampling it all.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Oh Fall
It's been a while. I am pretty bad at updating, i have been super busy with work and grad school apps, and family things...
However, since Macy's is already decked out for the holidays (as is every other store...wasn't halloween LAST WEEK?!!) I have decided to test a few recipes I would like to use this year.
Last night we (ok my boyfriend) cooked a small chicken. We saved the bones and whatnot for soup, which I just finished making. This time was much better than the last. I would like to try and make some great bread to go along with it, but we'll see. He is going to make chili tomorrow, but with turkey! I am trying to stop eating so much meat, before we were together I rarely ate red meat, and now it's a staple of my diet. Tonight he fell asleep very early and I made a huge salad of mixed greens, added cucumber and red peppers, chick peas, pomegranates seeds and a few pine nuts. I also had a turkey sandwich with sprouts and instead of mayo I smushed up an overripe avocado. One thing I miss about NJ and well, everywhere else, is the produce. For some reason the supermarkets in this area have awful produce. It is either overripe, underripe or goes bad in 2 days. Over the summer we have a great farmers market and farm stands, but come October, good luck. I have always loved pomegranates (even before they were martinis) and bought one at Whole Foods in NJ last weekend. It was EXCELLENT. Probably the best I've ever had. But I got one up here the other day after work and it was not ripe and was very very tart, and was more expensive, which I don't understand because Whole Foods is so "upscale" (well it is! I can't afford to shop there regularly, or ever!).
First, I made anise toast, much like biscotti. Simple, quick and delicious. Variations to the recipe, but I used 2 eggs, 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp of anise extract and a "sprinkle" of anise seeds. I found anise extract for under $2 at the Christmas Tree shops a few months back, and bought anise seeds at the grocery store this week, but they ran close to $8! I am trying to track down my grandmother's recipe for anise cookies...when I was small she used to make them for us, but I'm not sure exactly how they were made.
I also am making cinnamon raisin bread. I am not very good with the yeast though. My first batch came out pretty good, but as I type, I have a covered bowl of dough on the counter that refuses to rise. I do want to try another bread, but it's going to be much sweeter. I found a recipe in the Black Dog cookbook for Maple Apple bread and it looks awesome, but it calls for pastry flour. I couldn't find that ANYWHERE up here, and I was about to order it online, but checked Whole Foods last time I was home and then had it! Sadly, the same could not be said for the Israeli couscous I have been searching for. I had this great dish at a local tappas restaurant with scallops (which I normally hate) and Israeli couscous with some sort of wonderful sauce? that contained bacon, but not in an overpowering way..if anyone has any idea how to make this, please tell me!!!
My grandmother recently passed away, and left behind quite a legacy. Namely, her holiday cheer...and cookies. Notorious for making delicious cookies, these cookies were mentioned three times during her funeral service. Morbid, perhaps. Delicious, most definitely. Though I can't replicate these, I am going to try this year. I asked my mom to send me some recipes...but there is not a shot I could ever make cream cheese spritz cookies as well as her.
More to come very very soon!
However, since Macy's is already decked out for the holidays (as is every other store...wasn't halloween LAST WEEK?!!) I have decided to test a few recipes I would like to use this year.
Last night we (ok my boyfriend) cooked a small chicken. We saved the bones and whatnot for soup, which I just finished making. This time was much better than the last. I would like to try and make some great bread to go along with it, but we'll see. He is going to make chili tomorrow, but with turkey! I am trying to stop eating so much meat, before we were together I rarely ate red meat, and now it's a staple of my diet. Tonight he fell asleep very early and I made a huge salad of mixed greens, added cucumber and red peppers, chick peas, pomegranates seeds and a few pine nuts. I also had a turkey sandwich with sprouts and instead of mayo I smushed up an overripe avocado. One thing I miss about NJ and well, everywhere else, is the produce. For some reason the supermarkets in this area have awful produce. It is either overripe, underripe or goes bad in 2 days. Over the summer we have a great farmers market and farm stands, but come October, good luck. I have always loved pomegranates (even before they were martinis) and bought one at Whole Foods in NJ last weekend. It was EXCELLENT. Probably the best I've ever had. But I got one up here the other day after work and it was not ripe and was very very tart, and was more expensive, which I don't understand because Whole Foods is so "upscale" (well it is! I can't afford to shop there regularly, or ever!).
First, I made anise toast, much like biscotti. Simple, quick and delicious. Variations to the recipe, but I used 2 eggs, 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp of anise extract and a "sprinkle" of anise seeds. I found anise extract for under $2 at the Christmas Tree shops a few months back, and bought anise seeds at the grocery store this week, but they ran close to $8! I am trying to track down my grandmother's recipe for anise cookies...when I was small she used to make them for us, but I'm not sure exactly how they were made.
I also am making cinnamon raisin bread. I am not very good with the yeast though. My first batch came out pretty good, but as I type, I have a covered bowl of dough on the counter that refuses to rise. I do want to try another bread, but it's going to be much sweeter. I found a recipe in the Black Dog cookbook for Maple Apple bread and it looks awesome, but it calls for pastry flour. I couldn't find that ANYWHERE up here, and I was about to order it online, but checked Whole Foods last time I was home and then had it! Sadly, the same could not be said for the Israeli couscous I have been searching for. I had this great dish at a local tappas restaurant with scallops (which I normally hate) and Israeli couscous with some sort of wonderful sauce? that contained bacon, but not in an overpowering way..if anyone has any idea how to make this, please tell me!!!
My grandmother recently passed away, and left behind quite a legacy. Namely, her holiday cheer...and cookies. Notorious for making delicious cookies, these cookies were mentioned three times during her funeral service. Morbid, perhaps. Delicious, most definitely. Though I can't replicate these, I am going to try this year. I asked my mom to send me some recipes...but there is not a shot I could ever make cream cheese spritz cookies as well as her.
More to come very very soon!
Monday, September 29, 2008
but I digest
So I made a pie, and it actually turned out great! Not to show off, but I had never made an apple pie before, so it was messy getting the crusts together (I bought pre-made crust for this time only) but it tastes great, and it didn't even look that bad after it was cooked. I mean I don't think I'm going to have my own cooking show anytime soon...
The real problem was that I could not find recipes online that were consistent. Baking time ranged from 45 - 65 minutes and I probably left it in for 65. I was happy I remember to put foil around the edges because they didn't get burned at all. Then the ingredients for the filling all differed, so I winged it. I like spices, so I added a great apple pie spice I found at Marshalls of all places. The apple pie spice consists of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and mace! (yes, mace). Then a few extra "dashes" of cinnamon and nutmeg. And some vanilla extract. And cornstarch (a tip learned from Grandma many years ago). And a bit of lemon juice, just a tiny bit. I don't do exact amounts for stuff like that. Then I melt some butter and added brown sugar and cinnamon and brushed the top crust. Mmm.
We are still swimming in apples. I need to come up with some more uses for them (other than in my lunch) that are little less calorie-laden.
Did I mention that I also did a zucchini bread last week? Ayye.
The real problem was that I could not find recipes online that were consistent. Baking time ranged from 45 - 65 minutes and I probably left it in for 65. I was happy I remember to put foil around the edges because they didn't get burned at all. Then the ingredients for the filling all differed, so I winged it. I like spices, so I added a great apple pie spice I found at Marshalls of all places. The apple pie spice consists of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and mace! (yes, mace). Then a few extra "dashes" of cinnamon and nutmeg. And some vanilla extract. And cornstarch (a tip learned from Grandma many years ago). And a bit of lemon juice, just a tiny bit. I don't do exact amounts for stuff like that. Then I melt some butter and added brown sugar and cinnamon and brushed the top crust. Mmm.
We are still swimming in apples. I need to come up with some more uses for them (other than in my lunch) that are little less calorie-laden.
Did I mention that I also did a zucchini bread last week? Ayye.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tonight may be the first frost of the year! I can't believe it's already fall, it seems incredible that summer is actually over. As of this weekend, I will have many many many apples for cooking and baking and anything else you might do with apples. If you have an apple recipe that you think I just have to try, send it along! I will be more than happy to enjoy it!
My favorite parts of fall:
fall vegetables
pumpkins
apple picking
(are you sensing a food theme yet?)
cooler weather
leaves!
2008 elections...(ok that's not my favorite part, but a necessary part)
What are your favorite parts?
My favorite parts of fall:
fall vegetables
pumpkins
apple picking
(are you sensing a food theme yet?)
cooler weather
leaves!
2008 elections...(ok that's not my favorite part, but a necessary part)
What are your favorite parts?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
All right, all systems are go. This blog is now officially launched, and for those of you familiar with "Arrested Development," I am ready to get talked up around the water cooler. Life is a little too stressful when I have to deal with other people's websites, but I am more than happy to blah blah away in my own. Summer was too busy to start this, but now that fall is here, I will have all this magical extra time (in between applying to grad school, working on this godawful novel I have been trying to get together and that whole 'employment' thing).
Oh hello!
Welcome to my garden, if you've come in search for tangerines, I am sorry, I can't help you. What I can provide you with is funny and often boring stories on the day in the life here at Tangerine Garden.
I thought I would begin this blog in the fall, as it is my favorite season, and finally the first chance I have to sit down and start something I enjoy! Now that it's getting cooler and the nights are getting darker earlier, I will have plenty of time to tell all of my tales. So, sit back, relax, and feel free to send me suggestions and comments and you travel through the garden!
I thought I would begin this blog in the fall, as it is my favorite season, and finally the first chance I have to sit down and start something I enjoy! Now that it's getting cooler and the nights are getting darker earlier, I will have plenty of time to tell all of my tales. So, sit back, relax, and feel free to send me suggestions and comments and you travel through the garden!
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