tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90894640224604840392024-03-18T13:08:04.932-07:00Tasty TrialsA food blog - original recipes, musings, and more.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-64650049576601162842014-02-12T14:31:00.000-08:002014-02-12T14:31:42.838-08:00Cara Cara orange margaritas (It’s been a whole year!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZhPBPAmTcSCZEUgwwQn5_E91mq7k6uyp_8k5xzMxoXO8xoNVFOGYlXYqyjsLigmNKF4a4ub3ohyphenhyphenA6vgif77f359NpBw9ZPYzHEDHHuvP4ly2A7OhIPbwDDLmSPxA63N0TErmS6EC66A/s1600/cara-cara-orange-margarita-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZhPBPAmTcSCZEUgwwQn5_E91mq7k6uyp_8k5xzMxoXO8xoNVFOGYlXYqyjsLigmNKF4a4ub3ohyphenhyphenA6vgif77f359NpBw9ZPYzHEDHHuvP4ly2A7OhIPbwDDLmSPxA63N0TErmS6EC66A/s1600/cara-cara-orange-margarita-1.jpg" height="640" width="570" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[Tap, tap] Is this thing on?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I did it. A whole year. Not a single post in 2013. I didn’t <i>mean </i>to go a whole year without blogging, but once I started not blogging it was hard to stop not blogging. Wait, what? I think I’m a little rusty…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s where I should probably make a bunch of excuses, but it really comes down to this: I just didn’t feel like it. If I’d wanted to, I could have made time. Today, I actually felt like making time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, hopefully I’ll pop in here a little more often. I’ll shoot for more than once a year. That should be doable. Under-promise and over-deliver, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, I offer you this margarita. Can you resist the draw of the overpriced seasonal oranges? I can’t. With a fruit bowl brimming full of Cara Cara oranges, I did the logical thing – juiced them and made cocktails. You didn’t think I was going to say I ate them, did you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cara Cara orange margarita recipe</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cara Cara oranges have a distinct pinkish flesh and while sweet, are also fairly tart. If you’re looking for a sugary margarita, this is definitely not it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Makes 1</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1-1/2 - 2 ounces tequila blanco (I used Cazadores)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 ounces fresh Cara Cara orange juice</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 ounce lime juice</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 ounce triple sec</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lime wedge</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ice</span></li>
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<li>Run the lime wedge around glass, then dip rim in salt.</li>
<li>Fill shaker with ice. Add remaining ingredients. Shake and pour into glass.</li>
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</span>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com154tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-26158537873145615992012-11-29T06:23:00.000-08:002012-11-29T13:25:57.863-08:00Chipotle-Rosemary Sweet Potato Soup: An Ode to Bacon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh, bacon…</div>
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I love bacon. Always have; always will. And I don’t care if it’s “trendy” to love bacon, or if that trend is deemed “over” by famous chefs. If you ask me, adding bacon to something will most likely make it better. (I am tempted to say that I could eat nothing but bacon, but Andy once ate a whole pound in one sitting and says it put him off the wondrous pork product for quite awhile. I don’t want to risk that…)</div>
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When I don’t love an ingredient, I tend to try to disguise it by either adding other ingredients I do love (hello, bacon), or by pureeing it into creamy soup form. So…garnet yams in our farm box? They could only be turned into creamy soup with bacon. </div>
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After consulting <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Flavor-Bible-Creativity-Imaginative/dp/0316118400/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354198246&sr=8-1&keywords=the+flavor+bible" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Flavor Bible</a> </i>and not finding the flavors I wanted to find listed under sweet potato, I went rogue and just started adding flavors I love. There were definite moments of uncertainty, but I was shocked at how good this soup turned out. The sweetness of the roasted veggies, the smokiness of the bacon, a little heat from the chipotle and subtle hints of rosemary and cumin are just perfect together. </div>
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And if there’s any point while cooking a dish where you can exclaim, “the leeks and shallots are basically melted into the bacon grease!” well, then you know you’ve got something tasty on your hands.</div>
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The moral of the story is that even if you hate sweet potatoes, you will love this soup. Trust me – any recipe that starts by caramelizing anything in bacon grease is a winner (unless you’re a vegetarian, then completely disregard this entire post). </div>
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<b>Chipotle-Rosemary Sweet Potato Soup with Bacon</b></div>
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Serves 4-6</div>
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<li>1 1/2 pounds garnet yams or sweet potatoes</li>
<li>1/2 pound carrots</li>
<li>2-3 tablespoons olive oil</li>
<li>3/4 teaspoon cumin, divided use</li>
<li>2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary, divided use</li>
<li>3 strips bacon, chopped</li>
<li>1 leek, chopped</li>
<li>1 shallot, chopped</li>
<li>3 cloves garlic, minced</li>
<li>1 teaspoon pureed chipotle peppers in adobo sauce</li>
<li>1/4 cup dry white wine</li>
<li>3 cups low-sodium chicken broth (plus more as needed)</li>
<li>1/2 cup heavy cream</li>
<li>salt </li>
<li>pepper</li>
<li>grated cheese, optional</li>
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<li>Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.</li>
<li>Peel and chop sweet potatoes and carrots into chunks. Toss in a glass baking dish with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, and1 teaspoon of rosemary. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Roast for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fork tender. Remove from oven and reserve.</li>
<li>In a dutch oven, fry chopped bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels, reserving bacon grease in pot. (There should be about 2 tablespoons.)</li>
<li>In the same pot, add leeks and shallots. Saute over low heat until caramelized. (This takes quite a while…well over 20 minutes I think, but I forgot to set a timer. Be patient; it’s worth it.)</li>
<li>Add remaining cumin and rosemary, garlic and chipotle puree. Stir to combine and let cook for a few minutes. </li>
<li>Add white wine to pot, scraping bottom to deglaze. Let liquid cook mostly down, then add roasted sweet potato and carrot mixture. </li>
<li>Pour in chicken stock. Bring to a simmer, then cover and simmer on low for about 10 minutes.</li>
<li>Using an immersion blender, puree mixture until smooth. Add chicken stock as needed to achieve desired thickness. When pureed, stir in cream. Season with salt and pepper. Return pot to heat and warm through.</li>
<li>Serve topped with reserved bacon and grated cheese, if desired.</li>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-89292406623407300152012-11-21T06:06:00.000-08:002012-11-21T06:06:02.509-08:00Gingerbread trifle, procrastination and giving thanks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve got a bad case of procrastinator-itis…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve been this way all my life. The only thing that usually gets me going is when it really matters and I’m eight hours away from a deadline that I’ve put off for weeks and start freaking out because I haven’t even started the book I was supposed to read for the report that’s due so I jump in the car to buy the CliffsNotes only to run into my English teacher at the book store with said CliffsNotes in hand. Oh wait...we’re not talking about high school, are we?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nevertheless, what I know about myself is that if I don’t have a deadline, things don’t tend to get done. Giving myself arbitrary deadlines doesn’t work because I know that there are no consequences to letting them lapse. That puts me in a bit of a pickle with the ol’ blog. No hard deadlines = one post every six weeks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I do want to blog and I’ve been thinking about it a lot, actually, which is a good sign. And then the other day my dad asked me one simple question that provoked this post:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“So, are you ever going to put anything up on your blog again?” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This wasn’t the same nagging voice that I hear in my own head. And frankly, I’m pretty sure he was just making conversation since he doesn’t exactly need my blog to keep up with the goings-on around here. But just having the question asked gave me that little kick I needed. And here we are…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November -- the season for giving thanks. I woke up knowing I was going to write a post today about being thankful with an entirely different list in mind. But when I woke up, I could hear the rain falling outside and my plans immediately went out the window. I’m a sucker for rain; could listen to it for hours. So, I’m concentrating on today instead. Lying in bed next to my husband and best friend, listening to that mesmerizing sound of rainfall -- that is what I’m thankful for today. Just this one tiny moment in time…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Gingerbread Trifle with Mascarpone-Amaretto Whipped Cream</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Makes 4-6 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups crumbled gingerbread cake (I used Trader Joe’s cake mix)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup mascarpone cheese, room temperature</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons Amaretto</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 teaspoons honey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup heavy cream</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sliced almonds</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, combine mascarpone, Amaretto and honey on medium speed until smooth. Add heavy cream and whip mixture on high until peak form. Spoon whipped cream into a pastry bag.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In small glasses, layer about half the gingerbread cake crumbs, pressing down slightly. Pipe whipped cream over the top of the cake, sprinkle with sliced almonds. Add another layer of gingerbread cake using remaining crumbles. Press down slightly. Pipe final layer of whipped cream over the cake. Sprinkle with sliced almonds. (There may be whipped cream left over, depending on size of glasses.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Can be made ahead several hours or even overnight.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERy3wdxgtrF70pcfAswWN5HZNbZ6aEKg9eTzRM4p5Yo3yfbc9gF9k1bU5jKPTVOS0AuNNuDc-USmWLcZ8ux565MHcnV25BV1Qgg1r5IUmGtEBWzvgU-noaXHLazZ64vx2vLTg7RG6WPM/s1600/gingerbread_trifle_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERy3wdxgtrF70pcfAswWN5HZNbZ6aEKg9eTzRM4p5Yo3yfbc9gF9k1bU5jKPTVOS0AuNNuDc-USmWLcZ8ux565MHcnV25BV1Qgg1r5IUmGtEBWzvgU-noaXHLazZ64vx2vLTg7RG6WPM/s640/gingerbread_trifle_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simple, ridiculously good, and you get away with using boxed cake mix. What more could you want in a holiday dessert?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A warning: If you make these miniature versions like I did, you may find yourself eating more than one at a time. There’s a possibility you’ll eat three at a time. Not that I know from experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Thanksgiving!</span><br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-1327345030422615542012-10-08T08:24:00.000-07:002012-10-08T08:37:08.318-07:00Pumpkin kegs, harvest sangria and news<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMokXcFdTaBb-NzkNzfpcHnUbloRh4kHbKjMp0V6BGzF50Xz_kzTisDgJ0jUjEwR3rju-kFK40Rxkxv6q0tsJLVLixDbMA-NJ7WJuiiReVjPhyphenhyphenHaFJloZySHbqh4UFAJheDb8YTQy8Qnk/s1600/pumpkin_keg_harvest_sangria_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMokXcFdTaBb-NzkNzfpcHnUbloRh4kHbKjMp0V6BGzF50Xz_kzTisDgJ0jUjEwR3rju-kFK40Rxkxv6q0tsJLVLixDbMA-NJ7WJuiiReVjPhyphenhyphenHaFJloZySHbqh4UFAJheDb8YTQy8Qnk/s640/pumpkin_keg_harvest_sangria_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello? Is there anybody out there? If you are, thanks for sticking around. I can explain my absence…really, I can. And it’s actually a legitimate excuse. Drumroll, please…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I GOT A NEW JOB! And I love it. And I still can’t believe it. And it’s been keeping me pretty busy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are looking at (work with me here) the new Food and Travel Assignment Editor for SheKnows! I couldn’t say anything for a while, but the secret is out now and, cliché as it may sound, I want to shout it from the rooftops. WOOHOO!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning, I was thinking about the fact that I’ve let my blog slide for almost a month. (Nobody loves quinoa salad <i>that</i> much.) I would be lying if I said that a teeny, tiny part of me wouldn’t mind letting it slide for, oh…I don’t know…<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">forever</span> many more months. But then I thought about a conversation I had with my mom a couple years ago and I felt I needed to pay this blog its due. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had just started my little space on the internet and like so many do, I thought I would hit that first publish button and the offers would start pouring in. What offers? I don’t know, really. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to get out of this…I just knew I wanted to get <i>something, </i>anything out of it. There were some rocky times when I had approximately seven readers and I didn’t see much point in continuing. I would whine to my mommy, like any (normal?) 30-year old does, about my woes: “There’s no point…” “This isn’t getting me anywhere…” “Nothing’s ever going to happen…” All I needed were the feet kicking and fist pounding for a full-blown temper tantrum. And my mom, who might be a little bit biased, would always tell me that she just knew something good was going to happen. Mother’s intuition? Try as I might, I didn’t always believe her. But anytime something good did happen, I heard her words. Maybe she was onto something…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was first approached by SheKnows to write and create recipes for them, I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I loved doing it and I really loved that <i>something</i> had happened. And now? Well, I love it even more. I still get to write and cook and create recipes, but now I also get to be a part of the creative process that goes into making the whole thing flow. I always wanted to love my job and now I do. It doesn’t get much better than that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moral of the story? Mother knows best…</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsklIF4eoNb4HEVmh-u0ILlIQedJ2yAxwNsQ_vjQPi_sjRGEaY-4tPWW9kurfN3EkKvouvIvcMQnPtDNGRAzjEN48KxxxjzvURL_E4D98hEAqJ34JJXcrMrjAsAOGKSMNx-3aBxh2QCo/s1600/pumpkin_keg_harvest_sangria_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsklIF4eoNb4HEVmh-u0ILlIQedJ2yAxwNsQ_vjQPi_sjRGEaY-4tPWW9kurfN3EkKvouvIvcMQnPtDNGRAzjEN48KxxxjzvURL_E4D98hEAqJ34JJXcrMrjAsAOGKSMNx-3aBxh2QCo/s640/pumpkin_keg_harvest_sangria_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, see above? Behold the <a href="http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/972859/diy-pumpkin-keg-and-harvest-sangria-recipe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pumpkin keg</a>. Yes, that’s a real beer tap and yes, it really does work. Fill it up with anything you’d like, but I highly recommend my <a href="http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/972859/diy-pumpkin-keg-and-harvest-sangria-recipe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">harvest sangria</a>. <a href="http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/972859/diy-pumpkin-keg-and-harvest-sangria-recipe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here to find out how to make both over at SheKnows. </a></span><br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com87tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-62388300504281916622012-09-13T05:43:00.001-07:002012-09-13T05:43:55.428-07:00Quinoa salad with honey-mint vinaigrette and cats in the dryer<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsLi1lI2FihqzdL0gkhYNK57JPwUmXI3dNpprshHBUEl0RPAGZDOMzWSedFPyvtC3Qq8O_Yd5fpavBZErDMHMPJj5Wg5CVTtcyVlAM3U4kF5uCl8JKaA9GJB-9u7NHy36yKvsOIzKrg8/s1600/quinoa_salad_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsLi1lI2FihqzdL0gkhYNK57JPwUmXI3dNpprshHBUEl0RPAGZDOMzWSedFPyvtC3Qq8O_Yd5fpavBZErDMHMPJj5Wg5CVTtcyVlAM3U4kF5uCl8JKaA9GJB-9u7NHy36yKvsOIzKrg8/s640/quinoa_salad_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh,
September…why are you flying by so quickly? September was supposed to be
different. Unlike August, I was going to be on top of things and post here
regularly. Really, I was. But instead, September has been insanely busy and
downright uncooperative. My requests for its days to slow down have apparently
fallen on deaf ears. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The good
news is that although the month is half over, it has been a fantastic couple of
weeks, leaving me feeling that good kind of exhausted at the end of the day.
And since no real post is coming to my tired brain, I’m just going to tell you
a little story about me. It’s always fun to hear about someone’s <s>craziness</s>
eccentricities, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDru0JKWkhtf43dvJRCJ6ovg51CiUQC7fihyphenhyphen9gCxHyClKSTQaNJ5kb3rV3Ui1fZzC5HOj1saVu72YYD4UL6XF0MnbpiRmxdAyw8gNVfrDZXS8NLfi5IsQlshEj_v1MoPDKQ3J9LaKbrA/s1600/quinoa_salad_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDru0JKWkhtf43dvJRCJ6ovg51CiUQC7fihyphenhyphen9gCxHyClKSTQaNJ5kb3rV3Ui1fZzC5HOj1saVu72YYD4UL6XF0MnbpiRmxdAyw8gNVfrDZXS8NLfi5IsQlshEj_v1MoPDKQ3J9LaKbrA/s640/quinoa_salad_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a
slightly irrational fear (okay, maybe more than slightly) that I am going to
wash, dry, dishwash or cook our kittens. For instance, when doing laundry, I
put all the clothes in the washer or dryer, see that there are in fact no
kittens inside, start the cycle, and then run around the house counting cats
until I have accounted for all three and am completely satisfied that there
could not possibly be any animals on spin cycle. Andy pointed out to me the
other day that it is a little bit odd that I start the machine and then go looking,
but I don’t think that we should start getting technical about things at this
point. Likewise, we usually start the dishwasher when we go to bed and I can’t
tell you how many times I have gotten back out of bed for a head count to make
sure the kittens are not being rinsed amongst the plates and glasses. Silly?
NO! Okay…yes, I know it’s silly. BUT, these kittens are crazy and like to be
places they shouldn’t be. So far, none of them have shown interest in hopping
into a hot oven, but better safe than sorry, I say. In the meantime, Andy will
just have to deal with me yelling upstairs to him, “QUICK! HOW MANY KITTENS DO
YOU SEE???”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other
news, I have realized a love for quinoa (I know I am considerably late to this
trend) and made this salad…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_YG489HH7HRZZHfEvXkg9Ko_X69ps7iqP9wRY7RFFUAIBbOK8MjgzSGGoZQN6nuVkfN8agWjNI7ghfdEHbgTFbp2RhvMbl1u9ued7ijbkJ_CUO8KhW8lFCRIcsG49ADMAWHDMKwI95s/s1600/quinoa_salad_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_YG489HH7HRZZHfEvXkg9Ko_X69ps7iqP9wRY7RFFUAIBbOK8MjgzSGGoZQN6nuVkfN8agWjNI7ghfdEHbgTFbp2RhvMbl1u9ued7ijbkJ_CUO8KhW8lFCRIcsG49ADMAWHDMKwI95s/s640/quinoa_salad_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Quinoa
salad with honey-mint vinaigrette</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serves 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup
quinoa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups
low-sodium chicken broth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 can white
beans, rinsed and drained<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup
halved or quartered cherry tomatoes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup
thinly sliced red onion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2
tablespoons thinly sliced serrano peppers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup
chopped basil, loosely packed<br />
1/4 cup olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2
tablespoons white wine vinegar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1
tablespoon honey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2
tablespoons chopped mint<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rinse
quinoa in cold water and drain. Put quinoa in a saucepan with chicken broth.
Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover. Simmer for about 15 minutes
until broth is completely absorbed and quinoa is tender. Fluff with a fork and
reserve in pot to cool slightly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a large
bowl, combine beans, tomatoes, red onion, serrano peppers and quinoa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a small
bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, honey and mint. Season with salt and
pepper to taste. Pour dressing over quinoa mixture and stir to combine. Stir in
basil just before serving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serve room
temperature or cold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHMxPSxnCymQWTjSfs-D9n7w6Ql3LeNXCv84rteWOqSEccJtCS_rGPCCU0XHomKJ3ADfp_aaJjmr_N2ykP5Y1ApsRCckNdx7FlTFXBpjji5haJ3njxgbJeJE8yT1JP44zEz3ZzuXvmxc/s1600/quinoa_salad_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHMxPSxnCymQWTjSfs-D9n7w6Ql3LeNXCv84rteWOqSEccJtCS_rGPCCU0XHomKJ3ADfp_aaJjmr_N2ykP5Y1ApsRCckNdx7FlTFXBpjji5haJ3njxgbJeJE8yT1JP44zEz3ZzuXvmxc/s640/quinoa_salad_4.jpg" width="568" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is
such an easy dish to make, but it’s full of big flavors and herbs and
spiciness. As summer is winding down, the mixture of bright produce with hearty
beans and quinoa is perfect. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_J6zTj0pjO5u1S4A_L-ZUj4UHmmTCdb4v9b2P_FbFUaK_Bm9dJD2otvvsD8K3RsdsmSymsUPSmIpd1q6HkX7sa76s8AeObyysSzM5s-zJXLv3cWleoesx-25HImlC7R_rgn0R1Q7u5j4/s1600/quinoa_salad_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_J6zTj0pjO5u1S4A_L-ZUj4UHmmTCdb4v9b2P_FbFUaK_Bm9dJD2otvvsD8K3RsdsmSymsUPSmIpd1q6HkX7sa76s8AeObyysSzM5s-zJXLv3cWleoesx-25HImlC7R_rgn0R1Q7u5j4/s640/quinoa_salad_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-69980045726898947802012-08-30T07:41:00.001-07:002012-08-30T14:15:23.215-07:00Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats and memories of “baking”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EECa0yNjC3kQXou0x0OeodVNB-vjBLObAaxS1vLSI1xC5uiBFeGBR0zfhljpYWNmCasSGlPEL5Fz1LmN2-66gvu3dQEj49TeKaDnmDu5iUceAxgB2GAajf4vF9YzL5xAbHW83_sJ4V0/s1600/peanut_butter_rice_krispie_treats_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EECa0yNjC3kQXou0x0OeodVNB-vjBLObAaxS1vLSI1xC5uiBFeGBR0zfhljpYWNmCasSGlPEL5Fz1LmN2-66gvu3dQEj49TeKaDnmDu5iUceAxgB2GAajf4vF9YzL5xAbHW83_sJ4V0/s640/peanut_butter_rice_krispie_treats_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When people recall memories from their childhood, they often involve baking in the kitchen with Mom. When I recall memories from my childhood, I have to say that baking with Mom is not one of the first things I think of. </span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtJUH6Ti_0zLljRQg2m9gj0AmeKpV3jNGNJXtaUMrHSZerU1DHy15maZKbGcQ8HopVOu0B95GSc2hRJRrHzD8T9PbB-F0DY3a4Zu8vPXW9HJ97ldkE8JsJYDfXrZKgztTEomjQtz3ZBY/s1600/peanut_butter_rice_krispie_treats_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtJUH6Ti_0zLljRQg2m9gj0AmeKpV3jNGNJXtaUMrHSZerU1DHy15maZKbGcQ8HopVOu0B95GSc2hRJRrHzD8T9PbB-F0DY3a4Zu8vPXW9HJ97ldkE8JsJYDfXrZKgztTEomjQtz3ZBY/s640/peanut_butter_rice_krispie_treats_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But here are some of the things I can remember so clearly that it feels like it was yesterday:</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dropping a huge canister of Kool-Aid on my bare toe, back when they used to have metal bottoms.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Being stung on the palm by a bee that had affixed itself to my stuffed Garfield toy.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Running my bike into a tree and ending up in the ER. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Putting my sister’s pajamas down next to my bedside in case I threw up that night. I did and the pajama’s served their purpose, although my sister was not so pleased. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Taking the “Daddy Train” to bed every night, which consisted of him carrying me and my sister on his back at the same time. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sneakily getting up early on Christmas morning and going through my stocking, only to tear my stocking as I shoved everything back in. Busted.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AWuqO_f9KnThQoFIvqDCzw4NM1D8Pn48Hwv9Kk0-df53sow9YRWiQrPVrtRCcRqQXNXi1Pp_6UeqrL5pi0bUunEJ_Gz5UsV8MnYqDMMWUAyGWOhsovaj-pxBHKxVx-oIxd2E-Dj6KL8/s1600/peanut_butter_rice_krispie_treats_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AWuqO_f9KnThQoFIvqDCzw4NM1D8Pn48Hwv9Kk0-df53sow9YRWiQrPVrtRCcRqQXNXi1Pp_6UeqrL5pi0bUunEJ_Gz5UsV8MnYqDMMWUAyGWOhsovaj-pxBHKxVx-oIxd2E-Dj6KL8/s640/peanut_butter_rice_krispie_treats_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, you’ll notice that only one of those memories happened in the kitchen and involved a canister of dyed sugar. What can I say? Mom just isn’t a baker. However, as I made these rice krispie treats, a memory came back to me and suddenly I was 5 years old again:</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>I’m standing at the stove on my stool, still barefoot. (Apparently the Kool-Aid incident taught me nothing.) The wooden stool is etched with the phrase, “This little stool is mine, I use it all the time, to reach the things I couldn’t, and lots of things I shouldn’t.” I’m stirring a pot of rice krispie treats with all my might. Even at 5, I’m regretting this decision to help Mom, thinking my arm might fall off as the marshmallow sets up. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Baking? Maybe not. But a kitchen memory with Mom all the same. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It has been a long time since I made rice krispie treats and I forgot how perfect they are, especially when they’re peanut butter laden. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">6 cups crisp rice cereal</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">5 ounces peanut butter cups, chopped</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">4 tablespoons unsalted butter</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1/3 cup creamy peanut butter</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">10 ounces marshmallows</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Topping:</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1/3 cup creamy peanut butter</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1/4 cup powdered sugar</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Cambria; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">2 ounces peanut butter cups, chopped</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Line a 13x9 inch pan with parchment paper.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In a large pot, melt the butter and add peanut butter. Stir together until smooth. Add marshmallows and stir constantly until completely melted. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Add cereal and peanut butter cups and immediately stir to coat with marshmallow mixture. When completely coated, pour mixture into prepared pan. Spread out into corners and press evenly into pan. Let cool.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When cool, prepare topping by mixing peanut butter, powdered sugar and melted butter together until smooth. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Remove rice krispie treats from pan and spread topping evenly over the top. Sprinkle chopped peanut butter cups over the topping and press down lightly to adhere. Cut into squares.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you’re a peanut butter lover, do yourself a favor and make these soon. They are ridiculously easy (except for the stirring), and ridiculously good. </span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-34261346411575973872012-08-27T06:04:00.000-07:002012-08-27T06:04:25.641-07:00Coconut curry mussels and two years gone by<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqerIDqdlkpw9ysdwTs8uyZU0R0JSNLc2mqGCuuiKPXlnhL7seAD7SRPXRZ9ahHC1e9rI-SWu6VUuC8LjCq6PanvBFmhxZYUsktcR9n6yP4MZIpuwh_WhJy2SDgbx6Gka0W6DT1SaW3e4/s1600/mussels_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqerIDqdlkpw9ysdwTs8uyZU0R0JSNLc2mqGCuuiKPXlnhL7seAD7SRPXRZ9ahHC1e9rI-SWu6VUuC8LjCq6PanvBFmhxZYUsktcR9n6yP4MZIpuwh_WhJy2SDgbx6Gka0W6DT1SaW3e4/s640/mussels_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s my anniversary! Well,
not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mine</i>…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This weekend marked the
two-year anniversary of Tasty Trials and although I’ve only managed to get a
handful of posts up this month, I have to say that I’m shocked to have gone two
years at all with any kind of regular frequency. See, I tend to be a
project-starter but not so much a project-finisher, as evidenced by the
countless boxes of <s>crap</s> crafts taking up space in the garage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thoughts like “I will be a
scrapbook queen and document each and every moment of our lives with little
bits of cutesy paper!” or “I can totally make handmade jewelry…think of how
stylish and trendy I’ll be, at a fraction of the cost!” or “Abstract painting
on canvas? Yes, I can definitely make some art worth hanging on our walls,”
propel me to the nearest craft store to buy all the necessary fixings to
accomplish these tasks. My grand plans quickly turn into dust collectors and my
thoughts are replaced with things like, “I hate little bits of cutesy
paper…stupid paper,” and “Why make homemade jewelry when there are perfectly good
diamonds needing to be worn?” and “Huh, so there’s a lot more to this abstract
painting business than I thought…maybe another glass of wine would help.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0MtmdUZPdRLKv3375so5a9Gqn4izIbidaR2Ef9zHjkXsRSHMldMSmdrQb4eayEd0NdaBw7ffyRHWvdWl2QuswqxvfuxWnPZe2aJs6ZkTeKVe4308TjCxyLpB-EoTCV0ZsEAh5BwRylI/s1600/mussels_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0MtmdUZPdRLKv3375so5a9Gqn4izIbidaR2Ef9zHjkXsRSHMldMSmdrQb4eayEd0NdaBw7ffyRHWvdWl2QuswqxvfuxWnPZe2aJs6ZkTeKVe4308TjCxyLpB-EoTCV0ZsEAh5BwRylI/s640/mussels_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Needless to say, I didn’t
think this blog stood much of a chance when I <a href="http://www.tasty-trials.com/2010/08/here-we-go.html">hit that first publish button</a>,
but I seem to have finally found a project I can commit to. I don’t think there
can ever be a defined “finish,” since there is always food to cook and words to
write, and maybe that’s what I was always lacking in a project. It’s here when
I want it to be, tucked away in its little corner of the internet instead of
mocking me each time I squeeze past it in the garage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Last August, I <a href="http://www.tasty-trials.com/2011/08/one-year-old-today.html">recapped my first twelve months</a> with observations and lessons learned. This year, I just
want to say thank you. Thank you to all of you who read my blog and tell me you
enjoy it. Thank you to all of you who have made a dish from these pages and
written to tell me so. Thank you to all of you for sticking around when I’m in
a rut and only posting once a week. These are the things that keep me coming
back here, even when I’d really rather just take a break and let a little
internet dust collect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">To celebrate this two-year
milestone, I made myself a big bowl of wonderfully spicy mussels. You were
probably expecting a cocktail, huh? I’ve got to say, these mussels might be
better than cocktails. Gasp! Crazy, I know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQqdCVs5UiagzH9YHHGLViqTLmX-G0yqDWu8iwqKiVvFmSPoQSImrzPXLjKKOscTW0EcinjIuAhwwoafXCP_ezs09TNAycglIcO3XIEyZzJQheIitEhbyAz1-hZAa6WXZFU4NBOtDc9Y/s1600/mussels_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQqdCVs5UiagzH9YHHGLViqTLmX-G0yqDWu8iwqKiVvFmSPoQSImrzPXLjKKOscTW0EcinjIuAhwwoafXCP_ezs09TNAycglIcO3XIEyZzJQheIitEhbyAz1-hZAa6WXZFU4NBOtDc9Y/s640/mussels_3.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Spicy Coconut Curry Mussels</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Serves 1-2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 pound fresh mussels,
cleaned and debearded<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 lemongrass stalk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 1/2 tablespoons red Fresno
chili pepper, chopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">3 tablespoons finely chopped
shallot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">4 garlic cloves, minced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2 teaspoon freshly grated
ginger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 1/2 teaspoon red curry
paste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">3/4 cup light coconut milk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2 cup dry white wine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2 cup halved cherry
tomatoes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 tablespoon chopped basil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2 a lime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Remove the tough outer layer
from the lemongrass stalk and bruise with the back of a knife. Cut into 4
pieces and put in a medium saucepan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Add chili pepper, shallot,
garlic, ginger, curry paste, coconut milk and wine to saucepan. Whisk to
combine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bring mixture to a boil and
boil for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove lemongrass stalk and add mussels
and tomatoes. Cover and steam for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Remove from heat and place
mussels in a bowl, topping with cooking liquid. Top with chopped basil and a
squeeze of fresh lime juice. (Discard any mussels that have not opened.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Serve with sliced baguette
to sop up juices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzL_0htUFphcfZcAqzHqpZ1mtAQGeJJtO2W-agJ7foJ-Ologcn_za9wtv-ynpnzsi2sUrwWBK2KaWdSiMZ5cp9LrA69jlLO8zcU7U8uLBEoHn_UDj36cR3PxGnfI_TRPP3pFf_qPwKVM/s1600/mussels_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzL_0htUFphcfZcAqzHqpZ1mtAQGeJJtO2W-agJ7foJ-Ologcn_za9wtv-ynpnzsi2sUrwWBK2KaWdSiMZ5cp9LrA69jlLO8zcU7U8uLBEoHn_UDj36cR3PxGnfI_TRPP3pFf_qPwKVM/s640/mussels_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I could eat these every
night. The flavors are incredible…chili, lemongrass, garlic, ginger and coconut,
all combined to form a broth you want to drink. And the mussels themselves? Oh
so tender. The best part about this dish is how easy it is to make. Chop, boil,
steam, done. And then you can settle into this delicious bowl, fit for a
celebration. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxXmANmskZt_wV5Rg06LaYy9P4YKtyyZu_RCEjEP7AwGEHIl0POw8DGu5p-Vi3RTam_SDFtu8Wie1fWkQ2NK4MEP4Kq1BuPn1ckiUYQPa6n40U-4_GOg9T4omG8xGI8A3TSsErmRl7kE/s1600/mussels_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxXmANmskZt_wV5Rg06LaYy9P4YKtyyZu_RCEjEP7AwGEHIl0POw8DGu5p-Vi3RTam_SDFtu8Wie1fWkQ2NK4MEP4Kq1BuPn1ckiUYQPa6n40U-4_GOg9T4omG8xGI8A3TSsErmRl7kE/s640/mussels_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because a new set of copper pots cannot go unmentioned or unphotographed! Squeal!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-74678724162390129152012-08-20T06:40:00.001-07:002012-08-20T06:42:48.904-07:00S’mores martinis and indoor camping<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDy3ygZ-xiwRz-2ffLsa-K8ZsjtbrLtEUDo-gmTbzUXv0JXFfzPS444iOXvG4ImoN0Od7c2B38ptnAS7kYz_kIoPjeRUOXirOT0HNMRNetRQOeFnUsCePP0i3bl9FHIO68fsbrcWSZZo/s1600/smores+martini_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDy3ygZ-xiwRz-2ffLsa-K8ZsjtbrLtEUDo-gmTbzUXv0JXFfzPS444iOXvG4ImoN0Od7c2B38ptnAS7kYz_kIoPjeRUOXirOT0HNMRNetRQOeFnUsCePP0i3bl9FHIO68fsbrcWSZZo/s640/smores+martini_1.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer is almost over and another year has gone by without
us taking a camping trip. Every year we talk about it wistfully, remembering
the campfires, the quiet and clear nights under the stars, the bacon and eggs breakfast
that always tastes so much better from a camp stove, and of course, the
s’mores. But as great as all of those things are, my favorite camping trip ever
took place in our own living room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For my birthday week (yes, week) a few years ago, Andy surprised
me with an indoor camping extravaganza. He is notoriously bad at waiting to
give gifts, and several days before my birthday, he just couldn’t wait any
longer. I was sent upstairs with a glass of wine and instructions to close the
door behind me. Soon after, I heard odd noises coming from downstairs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-aiy-o_PrYcRpHU6DSFn6sl4DyEgKZAaXhEDc3b2sXAi8zzb0VbyPTMTFYxjPwMWK6QIMzoaxL2piqOjbdK8DzQcf06Y74-kjZk2YCKAtbR_qAkdfdnfahr5HIkyHka5p_TeoqCSCbw/s1600/smores+martini_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-aiy-o_PrYcRpHU6DSFn6sl4DyEgKZAaXhEDc3b2sXAi8zzb0VbyPTMTFYxjPwMWK6QIMzoaxL2piqOjbdK8DzQcf06Y74-kjZk2YCKAtbR_qAkdfdnfahr5HIkyHka5p_TeoqCSCbw/s640/smores+martini_4.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turns out, putting up a ridiculously large tent indoors by
yourself can be a bit difficult. The noises I heard were the mile-long tent
poles scraping against the walls and Andy described a scene that I would have
paid to witness. After his wrestling match was over and the entire living room
was turned into a tent (complete with equally large air mattress and fluffy
sleeping bags), we did indeed have our indoor camping extravaganza. And the
tent may or may not have stayed up for at least a week, and I may or may not
have passed out in it after overindulging on my actual birthday. Best camping trip ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j9HSHcL4BUj26HfePW2lJD7fr8k0wuE8Q2kBJIu-iHlNo9f0agsNq47OvCYzV5g2X3q4pnKb8Hf_a2TRlcqbIpcaAjRrs6llbn3b-OLUMxlX2RK0_lxUHfR-juiw2bTvNpwGzZJVGjg/s1600/smores+martini_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j9HSHcL4BUj26HfePW2lJD7fr8k0wuE8Q2kBJIu-iHlNo9f0agsNq47OvCYzV5g2X3q4pnKb8Hf_a2TRlcqbIpcaAjRrs6llbn3b-OLUMxlX2RK0_lxUHfR-juiw2bTvNpwGzZJVGjg/s640/smores+martini_3.jpg" width="624" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For your next indoor camping trip, make a batch of s’mores
martinis in place of the real deal, no campfire necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>S’mores Martini<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Makes 1 or 2, depending on size of glass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 ounces fluffed marshmallow vodka<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 ounce crème de cacao<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon chocolate syrup, plus extra for rim<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons Cool Whip<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">graham cracker crumbs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pour some chocolate syrup onto one saucer and graham cracker
crumbs onto another. Dip the rim of the martini glass into the chocolate syrup
and then into the crumbs to coat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put vodka, crème de cacao, 1 teaspoon chocolate syrup and
Cool Whip into a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into prepared
glass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx6-PcqO7dJ1zr3Uyn2BbVEuYuB06BI1AIiSTD0XtcJzMcleiM9vO26oiWrWkZSEt8YD9iUaqe-1fhyphenhyphenoTo3HI0jfZwPH8TTTKqZG6egFCFQhyphenhyphengJqNZWJ_r4-BdtfqwI8q4mwSfm5RGSk/s1600/smores+martini_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjx6-PcqO7dJ1zr3Uyn2BbVEuYuB06BI1AIiSTD0XtcJzMcleiM9vO26oiWrWkZSEt8YD9iUaqe-1fhyphenhyphenoTo3HI0jfZwPH8TTTKqZG6egFCFQhyphenhyphengJqNZWJ_r4-BdtfqwI8q4mwSfm5RGSk/s640/smores+martini_2.jpg" width="406" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-49790102096302054912012-08-13T06:09:00.003-07:002012-08-13T06:09:51.002-07:00Gazpacho and a mushy post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OHr3vfL1uTbir4Gyl03uvUxrJ0R34gTq6gxupQ_xrC_gbW23WvhcvkVe3QE5bOrzidq9ulZnqCpoku6RacMZWkO1XfRH3Ichv6UjFUjZnRU70WLTQPVthsKWWkfpZ5xVs-Esh4YYTGY/s1600/gazpacho_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OHr3vfL1uTbir4Gyl03uvUxrJ0R34gTq6gxupQ_xrC_gbW23WvhcvkVe3QE5bOrzidq9ulZnqCpoku6RacMZWkO1XfRH3Ichv6UjFUjZnRU70WLTQPVthsKWWkfpZ5xVs-Esh4YYTGY/s640/gazpacho_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">When Andy and I first
started dating, I made him a lot of lists. No, not honey do lists…lists of
mushy stuff like things he did that I thought were cute, things he said I
thought were cute, reasons why I liked him, etc. Is anyone gagging yet?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxF-58F82ip-DseAFZ5jeYmsPTDPUPvSUCWv9V59Xa5zrgwOTwhEM7G_CZSoJUDVLlUtf0PeLixBUZn4z0o1y-ydXeklylQDAX3X-0D9jePleOHjllJPFJ-wOtgVl4tnUe484EVJLmKA/s1600/tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxF-58F82ip-DseAFZ5jeYmsPTDPUPvSUCWv9V59Xa5zrgwOTwhEM7G_CZSoJUDVLlUtf0PeLixBUZn4z0o1y-ydXeklylQDAX3X-0D9jePleOHjllJPFJ-wOtgVl4tnUe484EVJLmKA/s640/tomatoes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Well, there are still plenty
of lists and reasons floating around in my head, but I haven’t actually written
one out in some time. So here we go…things are about to get very mushy over
here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2M19tBxO37HJUqlZO9uCz1j0aZ6gknUc6Lt5XGvsW0J3Wylocs-zzybpmTT-hIWDC3XPEozIHT4jiQi6vV_2AIUTOj6SgUVOMgg2wpfQvfk1tweqgSZjPHrTY8U_G7NkB0Vfv203xmM/s1600/gazpacho_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2M19tBxO37HJUqlZO9uCz1j0aZ6gknUc6Lt5XGvsW0J3Wylocs-zzybpmTT-hIWDC3XPEozIHT4jiQi6vV_2AIUTOj6SgUVOMgg2wpfQvfk1tweqgSZjPHrTY8U_G7NkB0Vfv203xmM/s640/gazpacho_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A random collection of ten things
I adore about my husband:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">That he toasts to true love for
no special reason on a regular day.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">That when he puts his arm
around me after the alarm goes off, we instantly fall back into the best,
deepest sleep ever.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">That Christmas turns him
into a little boy again.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">That he believes in me with
unwavering conviction.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">That he loves rainy days.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">That he has a curiosity
about life and is constantly learning new things.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">That he makes me feel like
the luckiest girl in the world every day.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The uninhibited way he laughs when something really strikes him as funny: wheezy, red-faced, teary-eyed. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">That he can gossip like the best girlfriend ever. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">That although he claims not
to like a certain ingredient or dish, he’ll try it with an open mind if I make it (and usually
ends up liking it).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Which leads me to this
gazpacho. I’d been talking about making gazpacho for a while, but Andy was less
than thrilled about the idea. He’s not a huge fan of cold soup and when I told
him I wanted to load it with radish to use up an excess, that was another
strike against the gazpacho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he will
always try things when I put a spoon in front of him, and much to my surprise,
he loved it. Not only did we eat it for dinner that night, but he also
requested it several more times over the next few nights. Winner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmrCZ68z7wBLpHPVurCIyc3g7d5qH6tu2b_bggupnxWgpu6-fI9MvhXqvTfGj0rHBSDCjCfqU8BJbVxNpEMfRt6Q644P6QsORwHprmGgIwI4HMIgLkU3B2EAjTx9sI43_xLaHkCDkBPM/s1600/gazpacho_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmrCZ68z7wBLpHPVurCIyc3g7d5qH6tu2b_bggupnxWgpu6-fI9MvhXqvTfGj0rHBSDCjCfqU8BJbVxNpEMfRt6Q644P6QsORwHprmGgIwI4HMIgLkU3B2EAjTx9sI43_xLaHkCDkBPM/s640/gazpacho_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Spicy Gazpacho with Radish</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Serves 4-6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">12 ounces tomatoes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 1/2 cup peeled, chopped
cucumber*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 cup chopped radish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">3/4 cup chopped bell pepper
(red, orange or yellow)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 spicy pepper, chopped**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 garlic clove, minced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2 cup tomato juice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 tablespoon olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 tablespoon white wine
vinegar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">salt <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">chopped radish, cucumber and
tomatoes, for serving<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">*If using English cucumber,
peeling is not necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">** I get these incredible
yellow spicy peppers at the farmers market this time of year and have no idea
what they are. Use jalapeno as a substitute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Place first 6 ingredients
into a food processor and puree to desired consistency. Add tomato juice, olive
oil and vinegar. Pulse to combine (or run food processor for a thinner,
smoother soup). Season with salt and pepper. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Chill in refrigerator for a
few hours before serving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Divide into bowls and top
with garnish of chopped vegetables.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeMX7Yfaj5K0x8Ayx3etK-iyRf8szrzrePfMCwQkfp1L3NZ0J_-bUpqh0n01Na1Dvd38PJjJ3iNAiHHuNEv3pim9A0ZBKY1oqdgFWqr1IDBxFEWk27gxew-GB4rFmXAoFEHeQbk4qsOU/s1600/gazpacho_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeMX7Yfaj5K0x8Ayx3etK-iyRf8szrzrePfMCwQkfp1L3NZ0J_-bUpqh0n01Na1Dvd38PJjJ3iNAiHHuNEv3pim9A0ZBKY1oqdgFWqr1IDBxFEWk27gxew-GB4rFmXAoFEHeQbk4qsOU/s640/gazpacho_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This dish couldn’t be easier
to pull together. With no cooking required, it makes an ideal fresh and spicy
summer dinner and is the perfect way to use any excess produce laying around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-68353788554776091802012-08-06T05:52:00.001-07:002014-02-22T15:28:28.552-08:00Summery comfort food: Grilled chicken pasta with homemade tomato sauce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-CHPEJg_S70z0Ik_Viqc-TEJpEDK6AWaGg71gWwlydCyUvdvTMGJqz2diypLxxKZfB5lVI3i0pgplP-RAholPqh7IYzsQ-9XTJtTlFppyAWnYcpLVT3haHBg0u4PEQCFKJ5yX6fBWcA/s1600/grilled_chicken_pasta_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-CHPEJg_S70z0Ik_Viqc-TEJpEDK6AWaGg71gWwlydCyUvdvTMGJqz2diypLxxKZfB5lVI3i0pgplP-RAholPqh7IYzsQ-9XTJtTlFppyAWnYcpLVT3haHBg0u4PEQCFKJ5yX6fBWcA/s640/grilled_chicken_pasta_3.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sometimes, smack in the
middle of summer, a craving for a hearty wintertime comfort food dish hits and
your only recourse is to listen to your stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hot and sticky days, however, aren’t always
the best time to turn on the oven, heat up the house and consume big, heavy
meals. But you can have the best of both worlds…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">To me, pasta always equals
comfort food, even if it’s mac and cheese out of a blue box (which yes, I do
happen to enjoy, especially made with real butter and heavy cream, thank you
very much). As you’ll recall, a bowl of pasta recently <a href="http://www.tasty-trials.com/2012/07/food-that-makes-me-cry-and-curried.html">made me cry</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAx7_zHdKX0Sti331JR9x0PZmZZbKC6DCd0QEfkO51BROrUqjMz74aNzf92Zzu9ENAq6Y_wdEiwM91dzYp-asb8EFY7g79LbgJN6n30NwUkyn5lx5Xb-rIw-wrbBF5uTT7VYaUSj8-eqE/s1600/grilled_chicken_pasta_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAx7_zHdKX0Sti331JR9x0PZmZZbKC6DCd0QEfkO51BROrUqjMz74aNzf92Zzu9ENAq6Y_wdEiwM91dzYp-asb8EFY7g79LbgJN6n30NwUkyn5lx5Xb-rIw-wrbBF5uTT7VYaUSj8-eqE/s640/grilled_chicken_pasta_1.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even though this pasta dish
is hearty and comforting, it’s doesn’t seem heavy. And by grilling the chicken,
you get great flavor without turning the oven on. It’s the best of both worlds:
comfort food with fresh and light summery flavors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU31BdlE77b8DHE8rtOn8UDjh_Vt0xCkCFjFLTlKhtzkfVXafwqlRv8bjozHfkpY5pvUqDMeYGRf1G-PPr6ahym-h9inHPKjwgvvAooBguQyp_6XTZdbxVOTPnpm2ix-h6xMWkyn2hWk/s1600/grilled_chicken_pasta_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU31BdlE77b8DHE8rtOn8UDjh_Vt0xCkCFjFLTlKhtzkfVXafwqlRv8bjozHfkpY5pvUqDMeYGRf1G-PPr6ahym-h9inHPKjwgvvAooBguQyp_6XTZdbxVOTPnpm2ix-h6xMWkyn2hWk/s640/grilled_chicken_pasta_2.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Summery Grilled Chicken
Pasta with Homemade Tomato Sauce</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yield: 8 servings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Time: 45 minutes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">2 <span style="color: #1a1a1a;">boneless skinless chicken breasts</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">8 ounces dried fusilli pasta<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1 cup chopped red bell pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1/2 cup chopped shallots or yellow onions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3 garlic cloves, minced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1 zucchini, sliced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2 cups fresh cherry tomatoes, cut in half<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4 ounces diced fresh mozzarella cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1/4 cup toasted pinenuts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for chicken<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">salt <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">chopped fresh basil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">shaved parmesan cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Heat the grill to about 400 degrees F. Lightly oil the chicken breasts
and season with salt and pepper. Grill over direct heat for about 5-6 minutes
per side, until cooked through. Chop or shred into bite-sized pieces. Reserve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package
directions. Drain and reserve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In a saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add
shallots, bell pepper and red pepper flakes and sauté for about 5 minutes until
softened. Add garlic and canned tomatoes with juices. Season to taste with salt
and pepper. Let mixture simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
When there are about 3 minutes left for the sauce, add the zucchini. Cook until
just tender. Remove from heat and stir in cherry tomatoes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken and tomato sauce. Stir in
mozzarella cheese and pine nuts. Divide into bowls and top with chopped basil
and shaved parmesan cheese. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQytWqUv_n09c-IhElzKKJ4fkesExpvu3tbq3jw-kgp3wzE3CGSGXNnhTZ37ckpvfg_32A-2JDvT41eLhck46iew36n4CIwEH-6OHkgJQxnbqoQU3k__t3qMVNkUD2_Uh1dvtK_2LWEhM/s1600/grilled_chicken_pasta_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQytWqUv_n09c-IhElzKKJ4fkesExpvu3tbq3jw-kgp3wzE3CGSGXNnhTZ37ckpvfg_32A-2JDvT41eLhck46iew36n4CIwEH-6OHkgJQxnbqoQU3k__t3qMVNkUD2_Uh1dvtK_2LWEhM/s640/grilled_chicken_pasta_5.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This dish is full of fresh,
simple flavors that combine to create a delicious one-bowl meal with a hint of
spice and cherry tomatoes that pop in your mouth, perfect for any season,
really. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlQPN5qfvRy26z2OZdm1KTe6tkV7iaL279g_Okyvy8QOU8aJEkJOy5arQRqCJGiVKqwG3emgCaw_CoR-dFlmDi2N9ga-rb4JJZVUEq2Wv-y8BIQJdSjtg2HmGJHoBNpOt1hPmZ2nqevI/s1600/grilled_chicken_pasta_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlQPN5qfvRy26z2OZdm1KTe6tkV7iaL279g_Okyvy8QOU8aJEkJOy5arQRqCJGiVKqwG3emgCaw_CoR-dFlmDi2N9ga-rb4JJZVUEq2Wv-y8BIQJdSjtg2HmGJHoBNpOt1hPmZ2nqevI/s640/grilled_chicken_pasta_4.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Disclosure: I am a member of
the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This content has been
compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for <a href="http://www.collectivebias.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Collective Bias</a>™ and Smart & Final. All opinions are my own. #SFSmarties #CBias #SocialFabric<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-10990424349397062962012-07-30T07:02:00.002-07:002012-07-30T07:02:47.959-07:00Summer bounty and stone fruit tart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsY7o510qfLxR98Qro9UzWGjW0brsbPMvyJ6MGfro5e2Jxl28DyyRAGMoLP6hydKZUpN83cytze-tH50jz1o710fLh9ne4BNZ9Dz7IFGA6u7s2X3sf0U-vLNbYks19O58m-9RUq4zVyE/s1600/peach_plum_tart_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsY7o510qfLxR98Qro9UzWGjW0brsbPMvyJ6MGfro5e2Jxl28DyyRAGMoLP6hydKZUpN83cytze-tH50jz1o710fLh9ne4BNZ9Dz7IFGA6u7s2X3sf0U-vLNbYks19O58m-9RUq4zVyE/s640/peach_plum_tart_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">It’s been a bountiful summer
in my many ways, with work, friends and delicious summer produce (of course),
and I’m so grateful for all of it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">These last few months have
been so busy for me, and although at times I’ve felt like I might pull my hair
out due to the amount of work I faced on certain days, I continue to be
thankful and amazed to be doing what I’m doing. I consider myself very lucky to
get to write and cook and eat and actually love doing what I get paid to do.
(And having too much work is not a bad problem to have.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This weekend I was reminded
how fortunate we are to have the friends we have, who make conversation easy
and who make us laugh that real, wheezing, it’s-getting-hard-to-breathe kind of
laugh. You walk away feeling like you could do that every night, full of appreciation
and happiness. And though these times are not relegated solely to summer, there’s
just something about dining al fresco that makes it all a little better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbL1KPTGie6EVSyGhs_thwUtmm97VIEN-f8cIpzm8_yMsPNlyY_X7CX1eDyit7wwJC_SXaqwRPOF87rF0fEIrjkgROyDNs0JeCr1mz4ThuQsyGHpWo_PoHovwr_2l7ZQOSQRJ9VpO174/s1600/peaches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbL1KPTGie6EVSyGhs_thwUtmm97VIEN-f8cIpzm8_yMsPNlyY_X7CX1eDyit7wwJC_SXaqwRPOF87rF0fEIrjkgROyDNs0JeCr1mz4ThuQsyGHpWo_PoHovwr_2l7ZQOSQRJ9VpO174/s640/peaches.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As for the bounty of
produce, we’ve been kept knee-deep in fruits and veggies for the last few weeks
thanks to <a href="http://www.fullcircle.com/#s.aaw46lzuqayaa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Full Circle</a>. I’ve been trying out their weekly organic produce
delivery and Thursdays have become like Christmas morning. I run downstairs as
soon as I open my eyes to drag in the box from the porch and lay out the week’s
haul on the counter in front of me, making mental notes about what I can create
with all this loot. I do several happy dances. And then (because you can also
add dairy, meat and other groceries to your delivery) I pour myself a tall
drink of fresh, organic, cream-top milk from a GLASS BOTTLE, which makes me
even happier. It’s the closest thing
I’ll ever get to the milkman and I absolutely adore it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRP8TqvHi3WAYKB3CmqZHZGvb_YRueh0N2df4YQYDhLwFOtFVpNxHXfblBOT2ah4yfa9A3mThWfN53jMsDmk-Mnp49iJiG4-2Haamyi2PA30hE6e6stmUxUFD025rTRfhg735Ce54dvcI/s1600/peach_plum_tart_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRP8TqvHi3WAYKB3CmqZHZGvb_YRueh0N2df4YQYDhLwFOtFVpNxHXfblBOT2ah4yfa9A3mThWfN53jMsDmk-Mnp49iJiG4-2Haamyi2PA30hE6e6stmUxUFD025rTRfhg735Ce54dvcI/s640/peach_plum_tart_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now it’s stone fruit season
and we were losing a race against time with a big bowl of peaches and plums… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhkue8y_nJC9A27lQqXZkSMvEvGN8kyovNDpeUKZtlMpPo3fv8WwXT5H_UN0pjRAboiHjp99SSirRQrv9PmTLjDVSpWfde0guwjwTlqi_0MMKMBMaUynbFzROlOaptYQryDdhVwlGWPY/s1600/plums.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhkue8y_nJC9A27lQqXZkSMvEvGN8kyovNDpeUKZtlMpPo3fv8WwXT5H_UN0pjRAboiHjp99SSirRQrv9PmTLjDVSpWfde0guwjwTlqi_0MMKMBMaUynbFzROlOaptYQryDdhVwlGWPY/s640/plums.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Simple, rustic, tart and
sweet; this dessert lets the fruit shine at its peak and it couldn’t be easier
to make. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBr3acGxFhVev0dg6NqIZQOc_5EAhd603nTXMC_n7d6v1pHW2VbbIgAFDyrJa-LI2nKEr3d24IIoSYIn2CblKUb2D5u8tbbFiwC2YgeD2rHzOP_FDi8ahrvUK4A1JQ2WZ_oi46zQqWHfg/s1600/peach_plum_tart_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBr3acGxFhVev0dg6NqIZQOc_5EAhd603nTXMC_n7d6v1pHW2VbbIgAFDyrJa-LI2nKEr3d24IIoSYIn2CblKUb2D5u8tbbFiwC2YgeD2rHzOP_FDi8ahrvUK4A1JQ2WZ_oi46zQqWHfg/s640/peach_plum_tart_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Stone Fruit Tart with
Peach-Champagne Glaze</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Glaze:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 1/2 cup diced ripe peaches<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2 cup champagne<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">2 tablespoons sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Tart:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 sheet puff pastry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">4-5 ripe plums, sliced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">2 ripe peaches, sliced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">3 tablespoons slivered
toasted almonds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1-2 tablespoons honey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 egg, beaten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">flour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>For glaze:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Combine all ingredients in a
small saucepan and heat to a simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, until peaches
are broken down and mixture has thickened. Force mixture through a fine sieve
and return to saucepan. Return to a simmer and reduce until thickened to a
glaze consistency. Reserve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>For tart:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Preheat oven to 400 degrees
F.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Roll pastry out with a
little flour to about 12x12. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush
edge with water, then fold up about 1/2 inch border around the pastry. Use a
fork to press down and seal edges. Prick center of pastry with a fork.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fill tart with sliced fruit.
Sprinkle almonds on top, then drizzle honey over the fruit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Beat egg with a splash of
water, then brush egg wash lightly on crust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bake for about 25 minutes, until
pastry is golden brown and flaky. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let cool slightly. Drizzle
peach-champagne glaze over tart just before serving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Disclaimer: While Full Circle provided me with complimentary
produce delivery, I was under no obligation to write about or review it. All
opinions are my own. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYm4zqSoHn399OoOPCm-Np5GIyo-9rHpIMTk9V1oD6eBhCzaBF7B9h0ramRecJxaMRJ-mJwRnrM7THsdd5Hkt3zrBBtWpn4ywM3TXBzcq8UzC_nE_V9PkeHsUxL8TI-dt48rg_fV_zlo/s1600/peach_plum_tart_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYm4zqSoHn399OoOPCm-Np5GIyo-9rHpIMTk9V1oD6eBhCzaBF7B9h0ramRecJxaMRJ-mJwRnrM7THsdd5Hkt3zrBBtWpn4ywM3TXBzcq8UzC_nE_V9PkeHsUxL8TI-dt48rg_fV_zlo/s640/peach_plum_tart_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></i></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-65503426210283589892012-07-23T07:15:00.001-07:002012-07-23T07:19:44.601-07:00Things I love about summer and homemade choco tacos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you’re in elementary school, the things you love about
summer may differ slightly from what you love about summer when you’re an
adult. There is no doubt that I loved the ice cream man with a capital L when I
was young. Among the missile pops and ice cream sandwiches sat the choco tacos,
which to me were the stuff dreams were made of. I would gladly pony up a week’s
allowance for one of those heavenly tacos.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, as an adult, I admit that I will still buy a choco taco
whenever I see one at a convenience store, but I have become wiser since my
days of standing in line at the ice cream truck. Now I know that not only can I
get them cheaper at home, I can also get them better at home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t get me wrong…the original choco taco will always hold
a place in my heart, but as an adult, here are some things that I love about
summer:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The way the light comes into the dining room windows
midmorning</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The smell of the food being barbecued</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The way Andy smells after barbecuing</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fruit at the farmers market</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The agapanthus blooms in our yard and the bees that visit
them</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fresh, warm air blowing through our open windows</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The way the patio becomes our outdoor living room</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The way the kittens find the changing sun and lay in it</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The warm nights that require only a bed sheet for coverage</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The flip flop tan on my feet</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The stillness of the evenings</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fresh, spicy peppers growing in our garden</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
</ul>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, of course, homemade choco tacos…check out my recipe
<a href="http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/965679/homemade-choco-tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-19601498329477444692012-07-18T05:39:00.000-07:002012-07-18T05:48:18.173-07:00Food that makes me cry and curried cauliflower soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2-Cp_nf2-suKA_Kewp54LPbOIrAc1WyD4UhFB8pbp8B9Vl0JNXnTxpOfFl9PyhiGy5Jrx5-1wAZSXQoVIZ7hSXnQbjzjaBNlX5nWY_PExAogLnLjdcaaUwEr1_LFNK4hKh23foAmlc8/s1600/curried_cauliflower_soup_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2-Cp_nf2-suKA_Kewp54LPbOIrAc1WyD4UhFB8pbp8B9Vl0JNXnTxpOfFl9PyhiGy5Jrx5-1wAZSXQoVIZ7hSXnQbjzjaBNlX5nWY_PExAogLnLjdcaaUwEr1_LFNK4hKh23foAmlc8/s640/curried_cauliflower_soup_2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That title may be a bit
misleading because this curried cauliflower soup did not make me cry. It was
good, surprisingly so actually, since I don’t normally put a lot of stock in
cauliflower. But before we talk about that, let’s go back the food that did
make me cry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is not an unusual
occurrence for food to make me cry. I’m an emotional eater; not in the binging-on-chocolate-because-I’m-depressed kind of way, but in the good-food-actually-brings-me-to-tears kind
of way. I have to admit, not so modestly, that it is my own cooking that
usually invokes this reaction, probably because I have so much passion for what
I do and sometimes it’s just overwhelming. (Andy frequently says that he never
sees me eat with such fervor as when it’s one of my own dishes that I’m very
pleased with.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyA1627NGTR8TD1rxIHNuE-C477YOFEoqY2XV_niVenr_4MMXvZUsDphZNSFh2Sg2eOazuPkx5E6GPF16GrhAVtQS6dRVd7EhDNbTGet9D60uI_5ySycLFEBXxIEPre7E86mxQZWCihE/s1600/curried_cauliflower_soup_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyA1627NGTR8TD1rxIHNuE-C477YOFEoqY2XV_niVenr_4MMXvZUsDphZNSFh2Sg2eOazuPkx5E6GPF16GrhAVtQS6dRVd7EhDNbTGet9D60uI_5ySycLFEBXxIEPre7E86mxQZWCihE/s640/curried_cauliflower_soup_5.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enter the simple bowl of
bacon and parmesan cheesy pasta goodness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was having one of those
days where a tiny little funk had managed to lodge itself firmly into my psyche
for no good reason. Cooking an elaborate meal was not in my future, but I was
craving comfort food in a bad way. I had pasta on my mind and when Andy
mentioned pasta with parmesan cheese, I was sold. As what usually happens when
I’m “not going to cook,” I started cooking after all. Chopping garlic, frying bacon…it always makes
me feel better. With garlic sautéing in butter and bacon grease, I was happy as
a clam. And then the simple assembly of spaghetti, butter, sautéed garlic, pine
nuts, bacon, parmesan cheese and basil brought me to tears. A dish that took
minutes to make had me sniffling a little more with each bite, reveling in its
simplicity and downright goodness until I just let loose and had a good cry
over my bowl. And then all was right with the world…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">…until later that night when
I cried at the end of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">21 Jump Street</i>
(which is a comedy). How many of you thought, “Poor Andy,” just then? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_RI_C3aBS6cFQv0MQel7P7d-PfUpLhNuJO3KGCOFQ_1SZr8SdAA5Da5eTmyCFfyMMwKAPMF4yDYTT4e-ft-h0kfZreBWB5-YPvOx7gvPaC0WtR7WaEOzd0sOrX_iifOXw65Z2Tvzdus/s1600/curried_cauliflower_soup_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_RI_C3aBS6cFQv0MQel7P7d-PfUpLhNuJO3KGCOFQ_1SZr8SdAA5Da5eTmyCFfyMMwKAPMF4yDYTT4e-ft-h0kfZreBWB5-YPvOx7gvPaC0WtR7WaEOzd0sOrX_iifOXw65Z2Tvzdus/s640/curried_cauliflower_soup_3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Onto the soup… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even non-cauliflower lovers
should like this soup. Roasting the cauliflower gives it depth, while the curry
and apple give it a nice flavor and a hint of spice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGv0GklapK5n94wBeRusoQSoseEys_yF7q4A5Qfyz9o2wvAUz14dkJfX1eFREKdeHEolI6Iw58h3c9HqpPQJbf6vVWTOuavqEn6vLkwsHIAFCmCUNGPLdy1vAdE-NJqiDeeba13coRk4/s1600/curried_cauliflower_soup_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGv0GklapK5n94wBeRusoQSoseEys_yF7q4A5Qfyz9o2wvAUz14dkJfX1eFREKdeHEolI6Iw58h3c9HqpPQJbf6vVWTOuavqEn6vLkwsHIAFCmCUNGPLdy1vAdE-NJqiDeeba13coRk4/s640/curried_cauliflower_soup_4.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Roasted Curried Cauliflower
Soup</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serves 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 large head of cauliflower
(yields about 1 1/2 pounds of florets)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups peeled and chopped
apples<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup chopped shallots<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon hot curry
powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon sweet curry
powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 garlic cloves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 teaspoon minced ginger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup white wine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 cups low-sodium chicken
broth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups milk (I used 2%)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons unsalted
butter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tablespoon olive oil, plus
extra for roasting cauliflower<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup cilantro<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 400 degrees
F. Cut the florets from the cauliflower head. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet
and drizzle liberally with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss to
coat. Roast for about 25 minutes, turning once, until browned and tender.
Remove from oven, roughly chop and reserve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a large pot, heat butter
and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add apples, shallots and curry powders and stir to
combine. Sauté until softened. Stir in white wine to deglaze pot and let reduce
until almost no liquid remains. Add garlic and ginger and cook for about 30 more
seconds. Add chopped cauliflower to apple mixture and stir in chicken broth and
milk. Season with salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a simmer, then cover pot
and simmer for 10 minutes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remove pot from heat and add
cilantro. Puree mixture with an immersion blender (or use a regular blender for
a smoother soup.) If soup is too thick, add extra broth or milk. Taste for
seasoning; add salt and pepper as needed. Return to heat and heat through.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjeDpmUvhT7o95g7XqRmjII0oEMmixKoDtb1BZ3Jo7iwb7DmpoB0Co8u2xDRF8GVYscpD-b8hYyVCpe8VUVuiZe2GgW97Ve7CrzluAClPR3CCL8Agz_ufb-XRZcGUFWMiN1sXidIqmQE/s1600/curried_cauliflower_soup_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjeDpmUvhT7o95g7XqRmjII0oEMmixKoDtb1BZ3Jo7iwb7DmpoB0Co8u2xDRF8GVYscpD-b8hYyVCpe8VUVuiZe2GgW97Ve7CrzluAClPR3CCL8Agz_ufb-XRZcGUFWMiN1sXidIqmQE/s640/curried_cauliflower_soup_1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-70167083381811652922012-07-11T05:17:00.000-07:002012-07-11T05:17:50.687-07:00A quickie: The latest news and a cherry-infused cocktail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVwGId-OnRfoixDo_agwYFYUQu6-Vzehe3bWgW_i_kYX8-gpYUbNfzMjKqU91q2MsNByOHERmRZc3VU1j6GYPTQ9i70j-IDWjTx04sMw0kui0x9lEG7eu81Jpxy5_2zllA9Mpje62s8Y/s1600/cherry_liqueur_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVwGId-OnRfoixDo_agwYFYUQu6-Vzehe3bWgW_i_kYX8-gpYUbNfzMjKqU91q2MsNByOHERmRZc3VU1j6GYPTQ9i70j-IDWjTx04sMw0kui0x9lEG7eu81Jpxy5_2zllA9Mpje62s8Y/s640/cherry_liqueur_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This will be short since my
eyes feel like they are about to pop out of my head. Before they do, I have
some news to share…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You might remember these
little darlings:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLOFNvTw4vJ4QTTQao6BPCLhPPwPorYPMAkjzQK6MNjVA4L1dXuJmECUn1gV_50fcdm_Kge-36xnFoP9SwKxrlW6kGN5ROeFVvM_kEDFrvH16Ob6ZcvlK3po1OCklYycZxwusYIkM8mg/s1600/mango_mojito_pops.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLOFNvTw4vJ4QTTQao6BPCLhPPwPorYPMAkjzQK6MNjVA4L1dXuJmECUn1gV_50fcdm_Kge-36xnFoP9SwKxrlW6kGN5ROeFVvM_kEDFrvH16Ob6ZcvlK3po1OCklYycZxwusYIkM8mg/s640/mango_mojito_pops.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My adults-only <a href="http://www.tasty-trials.com/2011/07/where-did-ice-cream-man-go.html">Mango Mojito Pops</a>, the perfect spiked popsicle for summer. Well, they were featured on
Redbook Magazine’s website! Squeal! (I
find this incredibly exciting, in case that wasn’t clear.) Check out Redbook's round-up here: <a href="http://www.redbookmag.com/recipes-home/frozen-cocktails-alcohol-popsicles#slide-12" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">14 Fun, Refreshing "Poptails"</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here’s how I remember the conversation
I had with Andy after I received the email from Redbook (he may remember it differently...):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Me</b>: (Speed
dialing, breathing quickly, heart beating like crazy, trying not to squeal)
Guess what??? I just got an email from Redbook asking if they could feature my
mango mojito pops on their website!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Andy</b>:
(Silence) You mean the Redbook my grandma used to read? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Me</b>: Well,
yes. But it’s still Redbook Magazine! (Now picturing Andy’s grandma, Mimi, reading in
the bathroom)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Andy</b>:
(Realizing that he’d better act excited) Wow! That’s really cool.
Congratulations!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Me</b>: (Still
picturing Mimi reading in the bathroom) Sigh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, I don’t really care
who reads it, or where they read it, for that matter…I’m still excited! Yay!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What’s that? You think we
should have cocktails to celebrate. Okay…twist my arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY76oH-_ikHMtanj9LkwepAMNVInnNUgTNvVPEGkUdUghK1R6l3jo7thEGLfWypytQ4OlzFMynt_CvKr-lz51jhq2fMW4TitLDL9Sn1qvgSGGzrpltSoRkZnu_b3zkakFdObzoOdNgyxw/s1600/cherry_liqueur_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY76oH-_ikHMtanj9LkwepAMNVInnNUgTNvVPEGkUdUghK1R6l3jo7thEGLfWypytQ4OlzFMynt_CvKr-lz51jhq2fMW4TitLDL9Sn1qvgSGGzrpltSoRkZnu_b3zkakFdObzoOdNgyxw/s640/cherry_liqueur_1.jpg" width="542" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Homemade Cherry-Vanilla
Liqueur</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 ounces Bing cherries, stems removed and pitted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 ounces vanilla vodka<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combine all ingredients in a
glass jar and shake well. Let sit for at least a week, shaking occasionally.
Strain and use in cocktails.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out my <a href="http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/963948/homemade-cherry-liqueur-recipe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cherry-Vanilla Sparkler</a> using homemade cherry-vanilla liqueur …it's a slightly sweet and very refreshing
summery cocktail.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfqYfmDX3z-RPyiD_mtCVRtyhNb8q5x5a9-HxO2ECBBgdtaMF5V3M3qLvVRRSRdV_2cvAzCZ4oylc8SlyWSC4UUeOLdNGSj6DA4egfwypUl2TvspTLfCC59-A-ZU0VuKMVFJ3BsjL6dQ/s1600/cherry_liqueur_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfqYfmDX3z-RPyiD_mtCVRtyhNb8q5x5a9-HxO2ECBBgdtaMF5V3M3qLvVRRSRdV_2cvAzCZ4oylc8SlyWSC4UUeOLdNGSj6DA4egfwypUl2TvspTLfCC59-A-ZU0VuKMVFJ3BsjL6dQ/s640/cherry_liqueur_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-91586996832925013132012-07-05T05:32:00.000-07:002012-07-05T05:32:43.241-07:00Biscoff might be crack and Biscoff Cheesecake Ice Cream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlUfggxWg_FWsXyntNlADBJGLMgNyMLMQduP6T2WdCJ5NWY9Ynydv_Ev2AImBQocpfb3jIyNTCKqwwK69oQiKygHEi1EmzDiAlyPxM5v1X4hwfTyri9orrHVnSU3b8T1iFvCml5ESjec/s1600/biscoff_ice_cream_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUlUfggxWg_FWsXyntNlADBJGLMgNyMLMQduP6T2WdCJ5NWY9Ynydv_Ev2AImBQocpfb3jIyNTCKqwwK69oQiKygHEi1EmzDiAlyPxM5v1X4hwfTyri9orrHVnSU3b8T1iFvCml5ESjec/s640/biscoff_ice_cream_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have a confession to make:
Before a few weeks ago, I had never tried Biscoff spread. Never ever. (I know,
I know…) But now I have. And I estimate that in about three months I’ll
probably weigh somewhere around 400 pounds. Thanks in advance, Biscoff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now, I know that Biscoff cannot legally list “crack” as an ingredient on the jar, but who are they
kidding? There must be crack in this product. Why else have I dipped
anything and everything straight into the jar, including, but not limited to,
spoons, knives, and my fingers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGmp-qzJGCdfPeGhTu8V4SXieh23ebQ4g6MzGG5vTDxne6WnnqnjQYsXzhOsoKcmtJJsyNJFGr9t1RP88Z3-ZQ5X_1okdxBYt3mH0x1nKqQ6M34OGMIvQ9WrJhsV5mca9tJfefOIgAz0/s1600/biscoff_ice_cream_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGmp-qzJGCdfPeGhTu8V4SXieh23ebQ4g6MzGG5vTDxne6WnnqnjQYsXzhOsoKcmtJJsyNJFGr9t1RP88Z3-ZQ5X_1okdxBYt3mH0x1nKqQ6M34OGMIvQ9WrJhsV5mca9tJfefOIgAz0/s640/biscoff_ice_cream_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Biscoff spread has been
consuming my brain and I’ve been thinking about ways to use it in a dessert,
although as previously discussed, straight out of the jar does not hurt my
feelings one bit. But I took the plunge and added a large amount of Biscoff
into my cheesecake ice cream base, which resulted in a heavenly frozen
concoction that I could eat all day, every day. The texture here is more like
semifreddo than typical ice cream and about 9 zillion times better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2exwdHGstTCl1uyfGvSzONBsWPAJpCstcAYtWniNerusH8OgnKXp2hxHfsGwaqF9NAL9doCs3aa5iyv3IAcd4NL0sdwIYVUz14IiVhdxfMIu25AyyfeZu9wptws8psPGaI_hyphenhyphenDbN56M4/s1600/biscoff_ice_cream_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2exwdHGstTCl1uyfGvSzONBsWPAJpCstcAYtWniNerusH8OgnKXp2hxHfsGwaqF9NAL9doCs3aa5iyv3IAcd4NL0sdwIYVUz14IiVhdxfMIu25AyyfeZu9wptws8psPGaI_hyphenhyphenDbN56M4/s640/biscoff_ice_cream_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Biscoff Cheesecake Ice Cream</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Makes about 1 quart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">8 ounces cream cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">4 ounces sweetened condensed
milk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2 cup Biscoff spread<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2 cup frozen whipped
topping<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/4 cup milk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">2-4 Biscoff cookies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Combine cream cheese and
sweetened condensed milk in an electric mixer until smooth. Mix in Biscoff
spread, then add frozen whipped topping and milk. Lastly, crumble 2-4 cookies
(depending on how much crunch you want) into the mixer and run until
incorporated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Pour into a container and
freeze until set. Let soften for several minutes prior to scooping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2XtijhM5r6UlA4qrQY1IqcsMhx0NIlx_QzqV3WEDiFI1NuHuLUn6nduqWJMPqmXdsbcfXaEoHH73p00_D8IkQl5dyoNL4PKeVcy4vBSZ9PvsS2Wh2-ens_Iekpu9BmNo6U1HmvrZlBc/s1600/biscoff_ice_cream_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2XtijhM5r6UlA4qrQY1IqcsMhx0NIlx_QzqV3WEDiFI1NuHuLUn6nduqWJMPqmXdsbcfXaEoHH73p00_D8IkQl5dyoNL4PKeVcy4vBSZ9PvsS2Wh2-ens_Iekpu9BmNo6U1HmvrZlBc/s640/biscoff_ice_cream_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Do I really even need to say
anything else about this ice cream? If a recipe has “Biscoff” and “cheesecake”
in its name, you should just go make it…really soon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-61585905975381538822012-06-29T05:43:00.000-07:002012-06-29T06:18:41.147-07:00New babies and a Fourth of July cocktail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTd3s19BGs2T1n6wXXDjIfSU_41B99_kb8HgKEuZqOrAQvWNwWdbI5qGAoV20CMBWBc7WebFawUVtZNTFGck9zaWK6hyphenhyphenuqObWPw6tj9I2tJhYQvkIPZOPnXArO_5jjeIR4v6RYIiyl51I/s1600/watermelon_blueberry_4th_of_july_cocktail_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTd3s19BGs2T1n6wXXDjIfSU_41B99_kb8HgKEuZqOrAQvWNwWdbI5qGAoV20CMBWBc7WebFawUVtZNTFGck9zaWK6hyphenhyphenuqObWPw6tj9I2tJhYQvkIPZOPnXArO_5jjeIR4v6RYIiyl51I/s640/watermelon_blueberry_4th_of_july_cocktail_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, no, no…not those kinds
of babies. We’re talking babies of the feline variety here…triplets to be
exact. From now on, just call us the crazy cat people. I’m pretty sure getting
three kittens qualifies you for that classification.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Allow me introduce you to
Miles, Gigi and Coco…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY98zpWUT_T7ldfRL6BtQ5JLDtcYoP5x_0nrvoRS8pQs0MV64y9mESCbaW9J_HYHcBX5NkLju5pXFJgR1jE2bHqCr91iAChYMyfwyhtMB0GMQcfDaWpTPiQCfpIgZjeorm7gFZOKrCCM8/s1600/kittens_collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY98zpWUT_T7ldfRL6BtQ5JLDtcYoP5x_0nrvoRS8pQs0MV64y9mESCbaW9J_HYHcBX5NkLju5pXFJgR1jE2bHqCr91iAChYMyfwyhtMB0GMQcfDaWpTPiQCfpIgZjeorm7gFZOKrCCM8/s640/kittens_collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last weekend we had an
appointment to take our pup to the vet for some shots. They sometimes have
kittens for adoption in the lobby and before we walked in Andy said, “If they
have a calico for adoption, she’s coming home with us.” Well, you can see that
they did indeed have a calico and there was no way we could break this precious
little bunch up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbH7X4lCSqT0NwxSBY_OzuRVTv3mxeWnEReKKO1veEGkSgBNrRl8hB0eNi1txe2w6SuTCutb1-EhsN28A_JKfmJb5LJ3LqLIyx_1LQYZCBX7Zswwjls7PtVpyP7SCW1KBIoynfGxnIBTw/s1600/DSC_6665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbH7X4lCSqT0NwxSBY_OzuRVTv3mxeWnEReKKO1veEGkSgBNrRl8hB0eNi1txe2w6SuTCutb1-EhsN28A_JKfmJb5LJ3LqLIyx_1LQYZCBX7Zswwjls7PtVpyP7SCW1KBIoynfGxnIBTw/s400/DSC_6665.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turns out they were found
abandoned in a parking lot so they’re a little shy, but they’re coming around
more and more every day. Gigi, the calico, is already sitting on our laps and
purring like crazy. I’m sure the other two aren’t far behind. Febby, our
miniature dachshund, is beside himself with excitement and LOVES them. The
kittens are not in the least bit scared of him and attack his wagging tail
every chance they get. We’re one big happy (slightly crazy) family…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having lost both of our
18-year-old cats earlier this year, I didn’t think I was quite ready for this
step. But all I had to do was watch Andy watching these guys play to know that
we made the right decision. It’s obvious how happy it makes him to have this
kind of energy back in the house. In fact, it’s downright adorable to see the
look in his eye when he holds one of them. In his words, it makes his heart
feel full. That’s quite a return on investment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkinkVT5ai4H0EPzqir05yM8yhxfcL7x6LxGRTnsIw924nmP0mxO6Sh6q6AuNuXOlHkPFeDdhFEfT7QeJk-45BqdN0Mx3bOUDskQiRh708TV8C6lrr8l7saDaIkZW-kVhx-IBr7LeoH0/s1600/watermelon_blueberry_4th_of_july_cocktail_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkinkVT5ai4H0EPzqir05yM8yhxfcL7x6LxGRTnsIw924nmP0mxO6Sh6q6AuNuXOlHkPFeDdhFEfT7QeJk-45BqdN0Mx3bOUDskQiRh708TV8C6lrr8l7saDaIkZW-kVhx-IBr7LeoH0/s640/watermelon_blueberry_4th_of_july_cocktail_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, needless to say, things
have been a bit hectic this week and I haven’t had a whole lot of time for much
besides kittens, kittens and more kittens. However, as you know by now, there
is always time for a cocktail around here, and with the Fourth of July coming
up, it’s a perfect excuse for this festive beverage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b5F-_PlOl_jwHeOfZAdaHUJtxtdgQyROx9Iwzuiy3vAIJvGn2WxODI4RFsDy58b80VU6DNktQMiDCJv9Y_MjPMK4pLbPWPENGKkAix9OJzHZMuTtWl8i7h6MHgQR-go0kOS_wUVc0W8/s1600/watermelon_blueberry_4th_of_july_cocktail_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b5F-_PlOl_jwHeOfZAdaHUJtxtdgQyROx9Iwzuiy3vAIJvGn2WxODI4RFsDy58b80VU6DNktQMiDCJv9Y_MjPMK4pLbPWPENGKkAix9OJzHZMuTtWl8i7h6MHgQR-go0kOS_wUVc0W8/s640/watermelon_blueberry_4th_of_july_cocktail_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Watermelon-Blueberry Cooler</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Makes 1 tall cocktail<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 ounces watermelon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 ounce blueberry vodka<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1-2 lemon wedges<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">blue decorating sugar,
optional for rim<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Puree watermelon, vodka and
juice of one lemon wedge in a blender. Add ice (to desired thickness) and blend
until smooth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If sugaring the rim, pour a
small amount of blue decorating sugar onto a plate. Run lemon wedge around the
rim of the glass. Dip rim in sugar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pour cocktail into glass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nF4CcAlo2W2AFu_CeJ9EAE7xFE81I8Kc_35iVsv0R99aE4Wy0PZXDBFlAZIHnx_aVCHmUxUhT9msymRgMgbefZudgL8sUM2XJ7iLoczUqESBldJsRVIxFmVvS0QydFkvih_OyFyGKh0/s1600/watermelon_blueberry_4th_of_july_cocktail_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nF4CcAlo2W2AFu_CeJ9EAE7xFE81I8Kc_35iVsv0R99aE4Wy0PZXDBFlAZIHnx_aVCHmUxUhT9msymRgMgbefZudgL8sUM2XJ7iLoczUqESBldJsRVIxFmVvS0QydFkvih_OyFyGKh0/s640/watermelon_blueberry_4th_of_july_cocktail_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a simple, refreshing
drink that is a bit more fruit juice than cocktail, but it hits the spot on a
hot day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.tasty-trials.com/2012/05/happy-birthday-to-us-and-sangria.html"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDz5aUUJw8il6zYQhAu1ud_lVG4up0CoYrw33dilSklvbYBbreeg8_Qyb5X1kdc3LMEscfZ8Lj0IYNCkDHbbi6HbxxaKfpLTrGuKnIo-VO_XUYYw74_4UhBY8Mu_EA1jbgJkVPRzVmOsQ/s640/sangria_2.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if you’re looking for
another patriotic beverage, <a href="http://www.tasty-trials.com/2012/05/happy-birthday-to-us-and-sangria.html">White Wine-Berry Sangria</a> always hits the spot...Happy Fourth of July!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com86tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-60410759807776386342012-06-25T06:09:00.003-07:002014-02-22T15:32:39.184-08:00Spicy Tri-tip Skewers for a #SummerGrilling party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZiakEi-vGv1tg6GMWreoaqpzY1y8TW4DmaW9ZQt6LqAlIzQSzxJ6C2p8qTiV2-SWoz2VY0HuRBAa7E8pR01rEykKrBPWlKwsV_TrMsgNkOhA8-EtTG01CPPLZ1iMm4hQ-t8qEx8gedg/s1600/spicy_tri-tip_skewers_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZiakEi-vGv1tg6GMWreoaqpzY1y8TW4DmaW9ZQt6LqAlIzQSzxJ6C2p8qTiV2-SWoz2VY0HuRBAa7E8pR01rEykKrBPWlKwsV_TrMsgNkOhA8-EtTG01CPPLZ1iMm4hQ-t8qEx8gedg/s640/spicy_tri-tip_skewers_3.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The weather
is getting warmer and we’ve taken to the patio once again. Chances are you’ll
find us out there almost every weekend…relaxing, reading, napping, and of
course, barbecuing. So I was more than happy to host a #SummerGrilling party
for Cattleman’s Finest Grill it Up campaign with Smart & Final. The grill
is fired up most weekends anyway…why not turn it into a party?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaePJzYf4L_817EUJmZ7HlAeeet8Y4enFIk-SZVG1LFD-feiO2cVo0x34ag4twBOm_-iZpRIVguYKevY1xOuvGLNadng99UFiDqLgecdCCYwEcOJgHhRpBjLyhIO6cym8W4PFo10Chcgs/s1600/cattlemans_meat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaePJzYf4L_817EUJmZ7HlAeeet8Y4enFIk-SZVG1LFD-feiO2cVo0x34ag4twBOm_-iZpRIVguYKevY1xOuvGLNadng99UFiDqLgecdCCYwEcOJgHhRpBjLyhIO6cym8W4PFo10Chcgs/s640/cattlemans_meat.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mmm...meat.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a small, casual backyard gathering, for no reason other than to celebrate the warm weather and the weekend. You don’t need any other reason than that, do you?</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKvFChvC37wd4xvPtZUroS-IM_kSe-RffZlQ8j70oxbyiNvsHC5i5RHlYVjY8YLbCedXl48u_86EvrlzihMlZMOnMl6cOe9k6YB6yqGb1jk2oIvKKOGY0WDJBa0L9LUjBtq_YR6OGORo/s1600/barbecue_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKvFChvC37wd4xvPtZUroS-IM_kSe-RffZlQ8j70oxbyiNvsHC5i5RHlYVjY8YLbCedXl48u_86EvrlzihMlZMOnMl6cOe9k6YB6yqGb1jk2oIvKKOGY0WDJBa0L9LUjBtq_YR6OGORo/s640/barbecue_3.jpg" height="350" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All set up and ready for guests.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grilling
makes dinner for a crowd easy…all the food is prepped in advance, you can still
be a part of the party, cleanup is a breeze, and it just tastes better! My menu
was pretty simple…I wanted to focus on the flavor of the meat and enhance it
with some spice, and then lighten things up a bit with some grilled fruit and
vegetables. Skewers are the perfect party-food choice since they make the meat
go a long way.</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a
quick trip to Smart & Final for my tri-tip, I was ready to start prepping.
All I’d have to do was a little pre-party setup, throw the food on the grill,
sit back and enjoy a cocktail! Who am I kidding?? All <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Andy</i> would have to do is throw the food on the grill...it's hard to dispute photographic evidence of Andy working and me cocktail-ing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizD3tmj43l6Mm1P0jGsttOflKhzpsrla9oeYs9KcLYF9gnMX6qfhHELuWVtrYTM9lLc19jpSWDcKZb4LHbN28uaD_p3d6WXxyvQtTL3DuzdJ9RbH9VC132OF3xTxlFNClJehFem5M_sPk/s1600/barbecue_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizD3tmj43l6Mm1P0jGsttOflKhzpsrla9oeYs9KcLYF9gnMX6qfhHELuWVtrYTM9lLc19jpSWDcKZb4LHbN28uaD_p3d6WXxyvQtTL3DuzdJ9RbH9VC132OF3xTxlFNClJehFem5M_sPk/s640/barbecue_1.jpg" height="488" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grilling and laughing, and the final product.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzY-nXNEvRqW9EykRdMYPUetG2puFGVn-P1038daK2USrXbGToAexWgmJXYQvm814qHsdnzQdpByo6JoxFVek4bC_C-knTwEQayZumF-saoKJdbPxASmrWO746NBDJ5Eyaqz6Kijllag/s1600/spicy_tri-tip_skewers_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzY-nXNEvRqW9EykRdMYPUetG2puFGVn-P1038daK2USrXbGToAexWgmJXYQvm814qHsdnzQdpByo6JoxFVek4bC_C-knTwEQayZumF-saoKJdbPxASmrWO746NBDJ5Eyaqz6Kijllag/s640/spicy_tri-tip_skewers_1.jpg" height="454" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Spicy
Tri-tip Skewers with Pineapple and Red Onion</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Marinade:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup
canola oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup
low-sodium soy sauce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon
sesame oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3
tablespoons Sriracha hot chili sauce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cup dry
red wine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon minced
garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon
freshly grated ginger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup
lemon juice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 1/2 pound
tri-tip, trimmed and cut into 1-1/2 inch cubes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Dipping sauce:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup red
wine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6
tablespoons pineapple juice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2
tablespoons molasses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2
tablespoons ketchup<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1
tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1-2 tablespoons
Sriracha hot chili sauce (to taste)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2
teaspoon minced garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2
teaspoon freshly grated ginger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Skewers:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pineapple
chunks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">red onion
pieces<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 inch
bamboo skewers, soaked in water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For
marinade:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix first 8
ingredients together. Pour into a zip-top bag and add tri-tip. Place in
refrigerator and let marinate for at least 24 hours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For skewers:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When ready
to cook, thread skewers with one chunk of pineapple, one piece of red onion, a
cube of tri-tip, then another piece of onion and another chunk of pineapple. Repeat
until all the meat is used up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heat the
grill to about 375 degrees and place skewers over direct heat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grill for a
few minutes per side, to desired doneness. (Beware: They cook fast!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For dipping sauce:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combine all
ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat to a simmer and reduce for about 20
minutes, until thickened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serve
skewers with dipping sauce on the side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwzLIek4ijWtcxZ8bSxxsRTfoKcnQL2v3M7WlJnRvKtpflxZgOLhIvg8bn-H1fmPcfDYeMk1aNkXYyhJiLUn7zB2yVymfcL1WXfcBAjBGzm875USI3SRbvT2KkKllmc4v5Vt5E3_qn5k/s1600/barbecue_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwzLIek4ijWtcxZ8bSxxsRTfoKcnQL2v3M7WlJnRvKtpflxZgOLhIvg8bn-H1fmPcfDYeMk1aNkXYyhJiLUn7zB2yVymfcL1WXfcBAjBGzm875USI3SRbvT2KkKllmc4v5Vt5E3_qn5k/s640/barbecue_5.jpg" height="210" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dinner is served!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2qWL9GE5bUZsGeA533pXxSSMg5VGQciKhjn_5UhciVuqGt-PlZMq_ceCIwmKO_nO21n7jqMOC_FcE_V0tuQ-xGl7DlB6U8n3ABVcik2aEAfjThpZDBE6IanqIuEiUhrXC4OSum6egYE/s1600/spicy_tri-tip_skewers_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2qWL9GE5bUZsGeA533pXxSSMg5VGQciKhjn_5UhciVuqGt-PlZMq_ceCIwmKO_nO21n7jqMOC_FcE_V0tuQ-xGl7DlB6U8n3ABVcik2aEAfjThpZDBE6IanqIuEiUhrXC4OSum6egYE/s640/spicy_tri-tip_skewers_2.jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></div>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
These
skewers with a Hawaiian flair have some kick, but the pineapple and red onion
complement the spice perfectly. Pair the tri-tip with skewers of grilled mini
peppers, dressed simply with olive oil, salt and pepper. And don’t forget the
cocktails! I made <a href="http://www.tasty-trials.com/2012/06/its-raining-bring-on-summery-cocktails.html"><b>Strawberry-Watermelon Sangria</b></a> for a refreshing party
drink. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3bNV_ny9rg2vsCNjiXRn5voBKCr1QLFdIWDEKfyEcsd74kvKeZCeHqT024WLqXJ94mgt0yjgIUlXFPYLZmoIdRPxUwKWU0cwR2x_ZAIh7Jw5QEgMz_leHOhrKBmHn_QoIvP_L46iPNA/s1600/barbecue_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3bNV_ny9rg2vsCNjiXRn5voBKCr1QLFdIWDEKfyEcsd74kvKeZCeHqT024WLqXJ94mgt0yjgIUlXFPYLZmoIdRPxUwKWU0cwR2x_ZAIh7Jw5QEgMz_leHOhrKBmHn_QoIvP_L46iPNA/s640/barbecue_2.jpg" height="272" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The aftermath and the best way to end a night...champagne!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Disclaimer: I am a member of the
Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated
as part of a social shopper insights study for <a href="http://www.collectivebias.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Collective Bias</a>™.
All opinions are my own. #CBias #SocialFabric</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
</span></div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-30001207328288741312012-06-21T05:13:00.000-07:002012-06-21T05:13:08.586-07:00Dogs, cheese-stuffed burgers and spiced up fries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIxSEOSpD5crbhg3KMpW__e7mO35COBJbPbf7h8Ebi1dAVLglQSTlQrJKU5f5MKZZiWB1o6whUJWlVcE6lnSbeio-B3GhARRD3TVqEsLeMWV_X9Rq-y5n7akaecoZtb82q0VShMOLtFE/s1600/cheeseburger_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIxSEOSpD5crbhg3KMpW__e7mO35COBJbPbf7h8Ebi1dAVLglQSTlQrJKU5f5MKZZiWB1o6whUJWlVcE6lnSbeio-B3GhARRD3TVqEsLeMWV_X9Rq-y5n7akaecoZtb82q0VShMOLtFE/s640/cheeseburger_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought about my childhood dog while I was
making these burgers and fries. How’s that, you ask?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our family dog, Corky, never had a very big appetite. She was one of those picky dogs that turned her nose up to dog food,
but was definitely interested in whatever you had on your plate, especially if
it came out of a paper sack. As the years went by, she got even pickier. Eventually,
the ruse that Corky would eat dog food at all ended, and my dad started cooking
her beef and chicken, among other tasty people treats. At times, to look in her
bowl, you might think she was eating better than we did. Since Corky also had
issues with not eating while we were on vacation, my mom started buying her
hamburgers from the drive-thru as a special treat and incentive to get her to
eat, with instructions to the dog sitter to give her a quarter of a burger per
meal. It makes me chuckle to picture my vegetarian mother, who can barely
figure out how to order at McDonald’s (true story), ordering a bag full of burgers
there. It’s also why burgers remind me of Corky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apparently my mom’s habit of feeding dogs bad
food goes waaaaaaaay (too many a’s?) back to her childhood. Their family dog,
Puddles, was the recipient of just about anything she ate, including candy
bars. Puddles, for his part, seemed not to be bothered by his diet of chocolate
and nougat, and lived a normal dog lifespan. But the real question is this:
What kind of <s>weird</s> kid willingly gives up her candy to the dog? I’m sure
she’ll chime in…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From burgers to dogs to candy and back to
burgers…that was a bit of a reach, huh?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHEIgEX746IIsBUEqiUd-Muj32xC6i3XQwS1OPLmmdlBsTBgIWo8OcTJqak-dksFSDgcUSpGsl6h4PADazAWmq3Tta0lWANf5rRi_gkiiG9uFg8-fMoKF4kO7KmcwrBo9V7JtnuA04JI/s1600/steak_fries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHEIgEX746IIsBUEqiUd-Muj32xC6i3XQwS1OPLmmdlBsTBgIWo8OcTJqak-dksFSDgcUSpGsl6h4PADazAWmq3Tta0lWANf5rRi_gkiiG9uFg8-fMoKF4kO7KmcwrBo9V7JtnuA04JI/s640/steak_fries.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jalapeño Oil Steak Fries</span></b></div>
</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 russet potatoes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2-3 tablespoons jalapeno olive oil, divided use<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon coriander<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon cumin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 teaspoon garlic powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon salt, plus extra for seasoning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scrub potatoes and cut into 8 wedges each. Soak
potatoes in a bowl of cold water for about 10 minutes. Remove from water and
dry with a paper towel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a rimmed baking sheet, toss potatoes with about
1 tablespoon oil and all spices. Arrange potato wedges on the sheet so they are
cut side down and not touching. Bake for about 20 minutes, then brush potatoes
with extra oil and turn to other side. Brush baked side with oil, then return
to oven for 20 more minutes, or until crispy on the outside and tender inside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remove from oven and immediately season with
extra salt as desired. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The jalapeno oil and seasoning give these just
enough flavor, but don’t dominate the taste of the classic steak fries. If you
want a little extra kick, drizzle a little more oil on the fries when you take
them out of the oven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWU6H6vz3KOJYxJlkxv8kckRDKAigYFU5z9yQTXKshzfs9YS8oy9DeMr29eaquc-AJqw_Re4p6imtTpsgA8rfzUaIn0TXtJ4ofJ9U7QcHgMwmE4KprfIbZuS9SbvpCo17hAIHQkPOYZio/s1600/cheeseburger_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWU6H6vz3KOJYxJlkxv8kckRDKAigYFU5z9yQTXKshzfs9YS8oy9DeMr29eaquc-AJqw_Re4p6imtTpsgA8rfzUaIn0TXtJ4ofJ9U7QcHgMwmE4KprfIbZuS9SbvpCo17hAIHQkPOYZio/s640/cheeseburger_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And those burgers full of gooey cheese and
jalapenos? Although I wouldn’t recommend these for your dog, I do highly recommend
them to spice lovers.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out my recipe here: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/962872/tips-for-the-best-burger/page:2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spicy Pepper-jack Cheese and Jalapeno Stuffed Burgers</a></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnV8tnhZfKw3vfHzfvKL1EYOmu6xUwiRml281Axnv_oK9Jk8-MyRCLx7tRMPR-gqRZsXhZY3kZre9dp4M1naJxYVhQIdyQlLkoX_gwKKK0z0rsx3Z1QvrojOswotsg4ByUhaZGAkcBMoQ/s1600/cheeseburger_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnV8tnhZfKw3vfHzfvKL1EYOmu6xUwiRml281Axnv_oK9Jk8-MyRCLx7tRMPR-gqRZsXhZY3kZre9dp4M1naJxYVhQIdyQlLkoX_gwKKK0z0rsx3Z1QvrojOswotsg4ByUhaZGAkcBMoQ/s640/cheeseburger_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-67464263495302554572012-06-18T06:36:00.002-07:002012-06-18T06:37:35.591-07:00The weekend off and Vanilla-Peach Mojitos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nCVrY9qEEj_-0GKjFgzJJkdBF-WkAF_i1fndZnpRq_Eo_5J1MLhgnR4jbaheEKeVFGMwfR3TT2P-r3Y-3Ry1cc0IVOxxRPDsRWXdWBhg7yG0WA75nwAkz5f0uBjwvur1MJRf2yuHJw0/s1600/vanilla_peach_mojito_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nCVrY9qEEj_-0GKjFgzJJkdBF-WkAF_i1fndZnpRq_Eo_5J1MLhgnR4jbaheEKeVFGMwfR3TT2P-r3Y-3Ry1cc0IVOxxRPDsRWXdWBhg7yG0WA75nwAkz5f0uBjwvur1MJRf2yuHJw0/s640/vanilla_peach_mojito_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I took the weekend off and
it was GLORIOUS. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I didn’t write a single word
for an article. I cooked a Father’s Day meal and got to relax, sip wine and be
with family. There was not a single worry
about getting recipes down or photographing a dish. Mostly, I was lazy and
unproductive. I loved every minute of it.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now on Monday morning, as I
look at the week ahead, I thought I might feel panicky or regretful. I don’t. Not
even a little bit. Let’s hear it for weekends off… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Last weekend, I was in a
race to use up a big box of peaches before they went bad. Of course, a few of
them made their way into a cocktail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRB7AZHayrYT8OmsGOx0aex_DT6rtzpHk8q1ne9h0zmwjTeeYx71P-6nA_9c3NmsUoJZSUDb3scszC0-i6vSZ_aW5Q3CzXmX3xhn8saHb_szNXT1R05lq5UxoCWfukscIfkaFaT4vZktk/s1600/vanilla_peach_mojito_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRB7AZHayrYT8OmsGOx0aex_DT6rtzpHk8q1ne9h0zmwjTeeYx71P-6nA_9c3NmsUoJZSUDb3scszC0-i6vSZ_aW5Q3CzXmX3xhn8saHb_szNXT1R05lq5UxoCWfukscIfkaFaT4vZktk/s640/vanilla_peach_mojito_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sparkling Vanilla-Peach
Mojitos</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Makes 2 cocktails<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 peach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons vanilla bean simple
syrup (recipe below)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2-3 ounces white rum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12 large mint leaves, torn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sparkling wine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Peel and remove pit from peach. Place peach and vanilla simple syrup in a
blender and puree. Divide mixture and mint into 2 glasses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fill glasses with ice and
add 1-1 ½ ounces rum to each glass (to taste).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Top with sparkling wine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note: If you like it minty,
muddle the mint in the peach mixture instead of tearing the leaves. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup sugar</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup water</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 vanilla bean</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slice vanilla bean down the middle and scape out seeds. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water, vanilla bean and seeds. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bring to a boil. Let mixture boil about 5 minutes. Strain and let cool. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssrwXb-aYVDdVD0X6CpH8YcnhqqXaKEIhSszmVC_g0uzfTbicyP4aIkLf9emgezo9Kdog_jLIInoerX59vX-nHeCGgDAHCxNC_KK2clKTNRBc9710lGTVu8GvFYQHk95mt7IQ0JfYsH4/s1600/vanilla_peach_mojito_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssrwXb-aYVDdVD0X6CpH8YcnhqqXaKEIhSszmVC_g0uzfTbicyP4aIkLf9emgezo9Kdog_jLIInoerX59vX-nHeCGgDAHCxNC_KK2clKTNRBc9710lGTVu8GvFYQHk95mt7IQ0JfYsH4/s640/vanilla_peach_mojito_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">The vanilla bean simple
syrup makes this drink something special. It’s a flavor you don’t expect in a
cocktail, but works amazingly well with the peach and the mint. This one will definitely
be making another appearance this summer. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3sTAx7ZKiCNJUPs20uFm1b-JHMuRnNyiABntxMD_TBHzTbb5ie0PwABEJKE_RNVvrCqR3elc8Do5XNxaQOVVIAJWXSpsaZBrY_NeerHZKSq3bCQBVLNbHOlJCWkkzguvYktf8X1PWHA/s1600/vanilla_peach_mojito_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3sTAx7ZKiCNJUPs20uFm1b-JHMuRnNyiABntxMD_TBHzTbb5ie0PwABEJKE_RNVvrCqR3elc8Do5XNxaQOVVIAJWXSpsaZBrY_NeerHZKSq3bCQBVLNbHOlJCWkkzguvYktf8X1PWHA/s640/vanilla_peach_mojito_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-38403023102515501032012-06-14T05:31:00.000-07:002012-06-18T06:38:11.152-07:00A do-over moment: Pistachio and spice-crusted lamb chops<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_13lxYf5NiYVJlKDh3d3K5cafs9ZoWHrnWn00gX9A1X7VR9HdEOrVdcyuieIHR_mhou_LYL1FMQ5joLDEX7L_YMz-hTPZUjdeXI9LMItuMKKbueNbsz12j51zvGOIDgWwaW-enek2hew/s1600/lamb_chops_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_13lxYf5NiYVJlKDh3d3K5cafs9ZoWHrnWn00gX9A1X7VR9HdEOrVdcyuieIHR_mhou_LYL1FMQ5joLDEX7L_YMz-hTPZUjdeXI9LMItuMKKbueNbsz12j51zvGOIDgWwaW-enek2hew/s640/lamb_chops_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes things just don’t work out in the
kitchen. For me, more often than not, it’s because I’m attempting to bake. I’ve
said it before and I’ll say it again: I do not understand the science of baking.
Sure, I can follow a recipe and make something delicious, but when it comes to
actually creating a recipe from scratch, things frequently go awry. Therefore,
when I do bake, I avoid certain things. I tend to stick with premade piecrusts
because homemade pastry and I have a very tempestuous relationship. I
stay away from baking powder and baking soda because I will never understand how
they work. Homemade bread? Ha. You get the point…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADQ5C3MxrsLeUTzoMJvgXqC_pAqiFb6btOYr7XkCj5BH7O751z5s4vlI3-JY6NdCTKa02ST9yqZwIsSQHRPdUN84q0sWbw8sqx3938AQP5dvC1o2U6mUnj2uSLQOWNJowdIdXVNG0eOk/s1600/lemon_rosemary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADQ5C3MxrsLeUTzoMJvgXqC_pAqiFb6btOYr7XkCj5BH7O751z5s4vlI3-JY6NdCTKa02ST9yqZwIsSQHRPdUN84q0sWbw8sqx3938AQP5dvC1o2U6mUnj2uSLQOWNJowdIdXVNG0eOk/s640/lemon_rosemary.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when Foodbuzz and Frigidaire presented an
opportunity to rectify a dish that went all wrong, you’d think I might choose
the disgusting recipe labeled “Awful Cake” in my notebook, or the bread dough
that was so loose and sticky I could barely get it off my hands and into the
garbage, or the mini cheesecakes I made recently that Andy described as
“gummy.” Nope…I tend to cut my losses when it comes to desserts that don’t come
out quite right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead, for my do-over recipe I decided to remake
a lamb dish that flopped, because it REALLY irritates me when I feel like I
have a great idea with great flavors and it <i>still</i> doesn’t work. We’re
talking a serious amount of crankiness here. It might take me awhile to try it again due to said crankiness, but with savory dishes, I usually do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This particular dish was supposed to be a perfectly
cooked, tender, juicy rack of lamb that received oohs and aahs when it was
sliced into. But what did I get? A rack of lamb that was completely overdone on
the ends and almost raw in the middle. Wah-wah. Maybe it was my oven
temperature, maybe the meat was too cold in the middle, or maybe I just needed
a reminder from the universe that everything doesn’t always work out. In any
case, it has been quite a long time since I made this, but I decided the time
was right for another attempt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I’m still bitter about the whole rack debacle,
I chose to make lamb chops this time. Same general recipe and ingredients, but
more control over the doneness. I was much happier this time around…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholTz_zUr9pGTk6VGSDLgJxz16hB7khq6NGMGd8N_yBwDTIzYxQ4ywexa2uV2SuscbbbEUaXGR5kvwQLZbwzVD4mtYMo3hTm4mcnBqY0mP41YX6P_H8vii04bHxmODK6Ht14mXpRi3IUM/s1600/lamb_chops_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholTz_zUr9pGTk6VGSDLgJxz16hB7khq6NGMGd8N_yBwDTIzYxQ4ywexa2uV2SuscbbbEUaXGR5kvwQLZbwzVD4mtYMo3hTm4mcnBqY0mP41YX6P_H8vii04bHxmODK6Ht14mXpRi3IUM/s640/lamb_chops_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Pistachio and Spice-crusted Lamb Chops</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Marinade:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup Greek yogurt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons lemon juice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 teaspoon pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6-8 double cut lamb chops<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Breading:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup panko bread crumbs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 tablespoons shelled pistachios<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon red pepper flakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">salt and pepper, to taste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tablespoon unsalted butter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1-2 tablespoons olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For marinade:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whisk together first 5 marinade ingredients and
pour into a zip-top bag. Add lamb chops and marinate for at least 1 hour in the
refrigerator. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For breading:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a food processor, combine breading ingredients.
Run until mixture is chopped to a fine crumb. Pour into a pie plate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For lamb chops:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When ready to cook, preheat oven to 450 degrees F.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remove lamb chops from marinade and shake off most
of the yogurt mixture. Press chops into bread crumb mixture and coat both sides
well, pressing to adhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heat butter and olive oil in a stainless steel pan
over high heat. Sear lamb chops for about 1-2 minutes per side, being careful
of the crust when turning. Transfer to the oven for about 5 minutes more (for
medium doneness).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyBOOu_FBeNW5_8erQWfs98ppXJtKVCYJt6GSU2kZh4Lo4BGT2datbIHBNeFr1sHZYr8dOOVkS7NBt8XCVgsoiFuLkTA7S01slnX8jzEqiSnObqB2Oa_FSkLdjUx3sWbWNKTv68QAzko/s1600/lamb_chops_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyBOOu_FBeNW5_8erQWfs98ppXJtKVCYJt6GSU2kZh4Lo4BGT2datbIHBNeFr1sHZYr8dOOVkS7NBt8XCVgsoiFuLkTA7S01slnX8jzEqiSnObqB2Oa_FSkLdjUx3sWbWNKTv68QAzko/s640/lamb_chops_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The lamb chops were perfectly cooked and the crust
added tons of flavor from the pistachios and the red pepper flakes. I will
definitely make these again…who needs a whole rack anyway?? I’d call this
do-over a huge success. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCG4s5eGeY-S7JbVcrEnydaI1WvrChqpR6IahE6zFUQpWqFQIwBvH3lIlJXiirFNYU-FstmrqVGKc05s3gfTSasTU4zkCPzZQpbp-64eE13eOElptsjwSLDQ6jEoYtdEyMu4TRygCNKs/s1600/lamb_chops_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCG4s5eGeY-S7JbVcrEnydaI1WvrChqpR6IahE6zFUQpWqFQIwBvH3lIlJXiirFNYU-FstmrqVGKc05s3gfTSasTU4zkCPzZQpbp-64eE13eOElptsjwSLDQ6jEoYtdEyMu4TRygCNKs/s640/lamb_chops_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>This post was sponsored by Frigidaire. When you
share your own do-over moment at <a href="http://www.icebase.com/go2.shtml?zzIM7BHLPZSwoo31/49754bdffa99d1b4/958e7a3c1f03d8ae/karenminer@me.com"><span style="color: windowtext;">Facebook.com/Frigidaire</span></a>, Frigidaire will
donate $1 to Save the Children's U.S. programs. Plus, Frigidaire will help
cover the costs for one lucky visitor to win the ultimate do-over. </i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-5870612775002884542012-06-12T05:36:00.000-07:002012-06-12T05:36:21.080-07:00Mini Meltdowns, Bacon Apple Pie Redux and Beer Cocktails…what more do you need?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLE5sfe7TzDshrVPcsGYCAs2wpbiF_cbXaWy1z4uKUE-h3o5D8WBH1Xx8Ed_arF8bVo2ueVsuGAs_cohJnC2wF1Pjm-NZh3SuuDttG-Q84pBANZBcjwvwOdDCEDiANU496ADM7ww520g/s1600/bacon_apple_pie_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLE5sfe7TzDshrVPcsGYCAs2wpbiF_cbXaWy1z4uKUE-h3o5D8WBH1Xx8Ed_arF8bVo2ueVsuGAs_cohJnC2wF1Pjm-NZh3SuuDttG-Q84pBANZBcjwvwOdDCEDiANU496ADM7ww520g/s640/bacon_apple_pie_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve been
struggling a bit lately, with lots of work and lots of emotion and the feeling
that I’m just barely making it all happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcUIsKBuHQgr5UF0pMKjVK_-2oegM2_5d7CP1nHxh8FNtcOddHvBJXWkXQ2Agq079yOO8Eg6bGfsj7yYb5T26jK1FSNxdQQ-QEhgFEhMMiNRc3xVeWG49ZKBAWhXkAB2QuP3GG5EPBtw/s1600/bacon_apple_pie_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcUIsKBuHQgr5UF0pMKjVK_-2oegM2_5d7CP1nHxh8FNtcOddHvBJXWkXQ2Agq079yOO8Eg6bGfsj7yYb5T26jK1FSNxdQQ-QEhgFEhMMiNRc3xVeWG49ZKBAWhXkAB2QuP3GG5EPBtw/s640/bacon_apple_pie_5.jpg" width="534" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then last
weekend I had a mini meltdown; the culmination of too much stress, a calendar
jam-packed with deadlines, and a lot of change in the last six months. So I
ranted and I cried. I went on and on, while Andy stood close by, knowing he
couldn’t do anything at that moment. Then I sat on the living room table and
cried…that ugly, slobbery kind of crying where you’re gasping for air and you
feel like it’s never going to be okay. But Andy hugged me and things got
better. And once he could get a word in, he helped some more, with a few little
nuggets of advice that were spot on. I feel like I’m slowly getting back on
track…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltFqMCp_A1p1aLwYld0aP8tFdHMa2jJ-4znP9WwnM1NoUynQF_ui8P6VcwS0lzdAZC65aRjmkLlydbxZ6SmKFW4OVPNF_moUO5-LI5-hCySy_D4HwzyHulG-JzFm2dnQyPeSpFZWH3e4/s1600/bacon_apple_pie_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltFqMCp_A1p1aLwYld0aP8tFdHMa2jJ-4znP9WwnM1NoUynQF_ui8P6VcwS0lzdAZC65aRjmkLlydbxZ6SmKFW4OVPNF_moUO5-LI5-hCySy_D4HwzyHulG-JzFm2dnQyPeSpFZWH3e4/s640/bacon_apple_pie_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My blog has
taken a bit of a back seat while I try to regain some sense of normalcy, but I
have been busy in the kitchen for SheKnows. So I’m taking a little shortcut
here and linking to some of my recent recipes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheG9GO5w2Wwv7zvSoD7J8UyLQ5te_B6ota5QjvoP459TGAjBDYos63hrwi1AJcXEmD9t6YZOW8FtnN8A7dPWS9wg5_2qTXZSGsnDnEwegROcjBCzE2XNTfBrBidPJnIQehAx-PGH69lUY/s1600/bacon_apple_pie_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheG9GO5w2Wwv7zvSoD7J8UyLQ5te_B6ota5QjvoP459TGAjBDYos63hrwi1AJcXEmD9t6YZOW8FtnN8A7dPWS9wg5_2qTXZSGsnDnEwegROcjBCzE2XNTfBrBidPJnIQehAx-PGH69lUY/s640/bacon_apple_pie_2.jpg" width="458" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made
<a href="http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/962129/bacon-apple-pie-recipe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bacon Apple Pie again and it’s worth taking a peek at here</a>. (You’ll find
version #1 in miniature <a href="http://www.tasty-trials.com/2011/04/not-your-grandmas-apple-pie.html">here</a>.) The mini pies were a huge success and the latest
full-size version is just as good. Don’t
doubt the salty/sweet combination…it’s incredible. Seriously. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HwnR7-CpNus2e1XApcLxd9Y24L0IjWAXMuMNcdue0Mv6XQUvFO8Ad1fHspy9NhTVjfp1PxUEnox8eRZXHTCxLlxErZubv5QzsimVH7tFNm4cLOi3cHE31CFqdYbFIL0vhwrDiZa-3GE/s1600/beer_cocktails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HwnR7-CpNus2e1XApcLxd9Y24L0IjWAXMuMNcdue0Mv6XQUvFO8Ad1fHspy9NhTVjfp1PxUEnox8eRZXHTCxLlxErZubv5QzsimVH7tFNm4cLOi3cHE31CFqdYbFIL0vhwrDiZa-3GE/s640/beer_cocktails.jpg" width="576" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And really,
it wouldn’t be a complete post without cocktails, would it?? I made some beer
cocktails for a Father’s Day post. <a href="http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/962035/beer-cocktail-recipes-for-fathers-day" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check out my recipes for a Chocolate Stout Martini, Spicy Jalapeno Beer Bloody Mary, and Beer Whiskey Sour here</a>… I admit
that they sound kind of weird, particularly the chocolate martini, but trust
me, I tasted each and every one and they’re actually pretty darn good.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-75894908984843678912012-06-05T05:44:00.000-07:002012-06-05T05:44:29.676-07:00It’s raining: Bring on the summery cocktails and spiked sorbet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It’s
raining, it’s pouring, the old man is snoring…” I’ve had that damn song stuck
in my head ALL DAY LONG and the only song I can think of to replace it with is <i>It’s a Small World. </i>Say it with me: UGH.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reason
for the song is that it actually is raining here in sunny California. And what
do I have for you today? Summer cocktails and boozy sorbet! Rain, schmain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZArAtzoaEpF1Z3DWH_xLW6JbLyntwOjC_lV3gzesOFwASEGrKtDvNSkE3Q7EFKdZGAPt0xr4oYDnP_WvmFWkyClPjA5M_1ArXYyxtHcvgPAEKgu1H8S1TL78ybGKzfUcpuOYqNuPRRA/s1600/strawberry_watermelon_red_wine_sangria_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZArAtzoaEpF1Z3DWH_xLW6JbLyntwOjC_lV3gzesOFwASEGrKtDvNSkE3Q7EFKdZGAPt0xr4oYDnP_WvmFWkyClPjA5M_1ArXYyxtHcvgPAEKgu1H8S1TL78ybGKzfUcpuOYqNuPRRA/s640/strawberry_watermelon_red_wine_sangria_3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I’m sure
you know by now, it’s always cocktail time in my book, but this cocktail came
about because I hate to pour wine out, even if it’s not a 90-plus point award
winner. And after our at-home wine tasting this weekend, we had several bottles
of various cabs open that didn’t quite bowl us over. Nothing a little
repurposing couldn’t help…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
sangria is easy to sip and makes a perfect afternoon refresher. And it’s a
great way to use up any red wine that isn’t quite up to snuff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Strawberry-Watermelon
Red Wine Sangria</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serves 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2
cups cabernet sauvignon (I used one on the sweeter side)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups
strawberry-watermelon sparkling water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup
strawberry vodka<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1
tablespoon lemon juice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">chopped strawberries and watermelon (optional)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stir all
ingredients together lightly. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Serve over
ice, with chopped fruit, if desired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOtFqXnyv7DLYfoffe689mYXjdKmsKehD1VP1vK1yWusofEyfMgMm_mPdT4VXlHJZbw5VySjrwbIIVzdia-C-9wR7fJQI3-QJ0AKbEnh0O0R4hgMJjpHgHkQPRaAfotmojhYWCWRi1lU/s1600/strawberry_watermelon_red_wine_sangria_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOtFqXnyv7DLYfoffe689mYXjdKmsKehD1VP1vK1yWusofEyfMgMm_mPdT4VXlHJZbw5VySjrwbIIVzdia-C-9wR7fJQI3-QJ0AKbEnh0O0R4hgMJjpHgHkQPRaAfotmojhYWCWRi1lU/s640/strawberry_watermelon_red_wine_sangria_2.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have enough
of these and you won’t care what song you’re singing on repeat, even if it is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s a Small World. </i>(And I apologize for
putting that awful song in your head...)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, onto the
frozen cocktails!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxFl1YA3Um0MoEP8l9aX5HDHpf1sQYHFLWGgpPuVREJ_S3O0b3pryDqcYQHcnh2kHnslfAv_GjWwY7TPlggDC4ff7QL_5fPKv8CzjsXm5M79orizegkG-_hWtVDOQGIdvahCwBuSETYE/s1600/spiked_fruit_sorbet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxFl1YA3Um0MoEP8l9aX5HDHpf1sQYHFLWGgpPuVREJ_S3O0b3pryDqcYQHcnh2kHnslfAv_GjWwY7TPlggDC4ff7QL_5fPKv8CzjsXm5M79orizegkG-_hWtVDOQGIdvahCwBuSETYE/s640/spiked_fruit_sorbet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turning
fresh fruit sorbet into your favorite happy hour drink is a snap. Of course,
these don’t pack quite the punch of a real cocktail, but the essence is there.
For a refreshing summery dessert, try <a href="http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/961561/spiked-sorbet-recipes" target="_blank">Watermelon Margarita Sorbet, Mango Mojito Sorbet or Kiwi Colada Sorbet</a>. Check out
my recipes <a href="http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/961561/spiked-sorbet-recipes" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-81893717014775613042012-05-31T06:40:00.001-07:002012-05-31T06:40:28.451-07:00Loss and barbecued ribs…really?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCgV04pmycpKbEz86wze1wqd6ZIK0HEVeHEst7LFkDzbaODjSuavFkx4ycwESbpb1TJ0VK4qapXoxE2sRMr6uY73_fv4WMtVmB2c6ai6gsP-_zvYTq3bmdbjZm05jKMIeWnWewALV_Dc/s1600/barbecued_ribs_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCgV04pmycpKbEz86wze1wqd6ZIK0HEVeHEst7LFkDzbaODjSuavFkx4ycwESbpb1TJ0VK4qapXoxE2sRMr6uY73_fv4WMtVmB2c6ai6gsP-_zvYTq3bmdbjZm05jKMIeWnWewALV_Dc/s640/barbecued_ribs_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seems a bit odd to talk
about the death of a family member and barbecued ribs in the same breath, but
as food bloggers, that’s what we do, isn’t it? Food goes right along with
happiness and everyday life just as much as it goes along with sadness and
tragedy. I won’t pretend like I’m going to transition from death to ribs
seamlessly, so this will be a two-part post wrapped into one, with no attempt
to link the two. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9q_GX9PGdXyuFoJ8_ql4osEc-I_5c7pnZ7ImTvUv2pslACzJgb9gsRvk02eoJHhnhCZNud3TFu1entiLDGxXr4Z-Yyp78OYTJ_wuu53wzluYX3T-MCEAYjp_KMWYzs8ossRk_Ge78Fak/s1600/barbecued_ribs_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9q_GX9PGdXyuFoJ8_ql4osEc-I_5c7pnZ7ImTvUv2pslACzJgb9gsRvk02eoJHhnhCZNud3TFu1entiLDGxXr4Z-Yyp78OYTJ_wuu53wzluYX3T-MCEAYjp_KMWYzs8ossRk_Ge78Fak/s640/barbecued_ribs_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part I:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My grandma passed away on
Friday. She was 90, although according to her, she was perpetually 39 (and had
naturally brown hair). She had a very short illness and left us much more
quickly than any of us could have imagined. And while I’m relieved that she
wasn’t long-suffering, I’m also kicking myself for not seeing her more during
these last years. I can offer no good excuses for my lack of visits, just life
and laziness, really. I’m sure this feeling of regret is a fairly standard
reaction to the loss of a loved one, wishing you had given more now that you
don’t have a chance to anymore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But in her last days, I was able to spend time with her, and on her last night, my cousin and I gave her a very
fitting sendoff, in a way only we could (in that obnoxious granddaughterly way). For that, I’m glad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part II:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As promised, there is no
transition here, although my grandma did recently tell my dad she loved his
barbecued ribs. That’s as good a reason as any for a post, I suppose…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvPVlcjRr-urVBFmGw2v-Tg7MmmwXcC1EdAosAFEhs7HyQEUxlkkvO-QWJolr631IxwHH1ijhlv3JGmHbkz82EK3VLr6oA-q6N_Gk_LUmm5iYW_1gGoHNDXdZkS5IKAGsTzk15CrGXys/s1600/barbecued_ribs_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvPVlcjRr-urVBFmGw2v-Tg7MmmwXcC1EdAosAFEhs7HyQEUxlkkvO-QWJolr631IxwHH1ijhlv3JGmHbkz82EK3VLr6oA-q6N_Gk_LUmm5iYW_1gGoHNDXdZkS5IKAGsTzk15CrGXys/s640/barbecued_ribs_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve been meaning to post
these ribs again for a long time. See, I’ve already blogged about them <a href="http://www.tasty-trials.com/2010/09/finger-lickin-fantastic.html">here</a>,
but since my prior post was lacking an actual recipe and included photos that are
incredibly embarrassing, it needed revamping. And chances are, since that post
was only about a month into my blogging adventure, you probably didn’t see it
anyway (unless you were my mom or one of the nine incredibly awesome people
that threw me a bone with a comment on such a horrible post). So, here’s the
new and improved version. I think it’s a little better…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has become our go-to
rib recipe and the results are perfect every time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7uK-CESrslA7i1EacyapoLywhSf-IhxTA98pGeFLOWbxd3EIfO7-HrGgP70EAj1EUMnU8N5BA3__ObP_ZxVsqEedALKlbbB-yxnsq8sLJHs0H_zyeoaYoy1RWlzyykfL5feMMPqJljM/s1600/barbecued_ribs_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7uK-CESrslA7i1EacyapoLywhSf-IhxTA98pGeFLOWbxd3EIfO7-HrGgP70EAj1EUMnU8N5BA3__ObP_ZxVsqEedALKlbbB-yxnsq8sLJHs0H_zyeoaYoy1RWlzyykfL5feMMPqJljM/s640/barbecued_ribs_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Barbecued Pork Ribs with
Spicy Barbecue Sauce</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 3-lb rack of pork ribs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pecan wood chips, soaked
in water (optional)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spice rub:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">onion powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">garlic powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cumin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">coriander<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ground mustard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">chili powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cayenne pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ground chipotle pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sauce:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 6-ounce can tomato paste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 ounces cider vinegar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8-10 ounces water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup brown sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tablespoon honey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon minced garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon onion powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 -1/2 teaspoon cayenne
pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 -1/2 teaspoon red
pepper flakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon pepper <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the spice rub:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix equal parts of each
ingredient together. (For these ribs, 1 teaspoon each yields about the right
amount of rub. Make a bigger batch to have leftovers.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the sauce:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a small saucepan, whisk
all ingredients together and bring to a simmer. Let simmer and reduce to a
consistency you like. (I like it on the thinner side.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the ribs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trim excess fat from the
ribs and remove the membrane from the underside. Sprinkle the spice rub
generously over both sides of the ribs and rub in. Keep ribs in the
refrigerator until ready to grill. (I usually do the rub several hours in
advance.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If using wood chips, place
in a smoker box and into grill. Heat the grill to 325 degrees F. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place ribs meat side up on
grill over indirect heat and don’t touch them again for 90 minutes. After 90
minutes, glaze both sides of the ribs with sauce, starting with the rib side,
and ending with the meaty side up again. Close the grill and let the ribs
finish cooking for 15 more minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Transfer the ribs onto a
baking sheet and cover with foil for 30 minutes. When ready to serve, cut
between each bone. Serve with extra sauce on the side for dipping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOor0_dC7igVNr3DZ-MvaxCHIttS9xD02Irl_zPBCR9VHxBkUR0r2LcEHBrziTaO9VXtvgKO45iOg89v0DqxAf4TMIrHEYe6vYv7MvCbePcDrTD03gpuPA6mafEf5golTheKBdHhwqJc/s1600/barbecued_ribs_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOor0_dC7igVNr3DZ-MvaxCHIttS9xD02Irl_zPBCR9VHxBkUR0r2LcEHBrziTaO9VXtvgKO45iOg89v0DqxAf4TMIrHEYe6vYv7MvCbePcDrTD03gpuPA6mafEf5golTheKBdHhwqJc/s640/barbecued_ribs_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-82825974891842515612012-05-20T15:19:00.000-07:002012-05-21T05:46:04.661-07:00Comfort food craving: Spicy Tomato Fennel Short Ribs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9VsdiyaU5e2fvfiDZF-y0ksZSvNsTZxlsX_cweWhFiar1HN5j_cvRtWRJVezFCcrcMXyrox08CyE-gXmWyDOUlq8WxndRlyQ5i4phl0zDdzi3wqeuWCNAXiVelPKOSoA3HFyy6GiKOY/s1600/tomato_fennel_short_ribs_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9VsdiyaU5e2fvfiDZF-y0ksZSvNsTZxlsX_cweWhFiar1HN5j_cvRtWRJVezFCcrcMXyrox08CyE-gXmWyDOUlq8WxndRlyQ5i4phl0zDdzi3wqeuWCNAXiVelPKOSoA3HFyy6GiKOY/s640/tomato_fennel_short_ribs_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Being on
vacation has a way of making you crave home-cooked comfort food, even while
you’re sampling new cuisine and tasting amazing flavor combinations. By the
time we got home from our trip I was channeling my inner 1950’s male and just wanted
baked potatoes, pasta, meatloaf, and roast chicken…basically, anything meaty
and starchy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV392IQotaZ2IIUAakMp3ssb_z-APmoGY8H3F7U9mm80qh0WadgLEIp8kuRjvo8bA3yb2uIL-zr5WuHuTROn8yCx-1-b8moHy2dxhpZPyffJRNk111fpCWO-DSJPf_8K8GoF4AbYkHYmU/s1600/tomato_fennel_short_ribs_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV392IQotaZ2IIUAakMp3ssb_z-APmoGY8H3F7U9mm80qh0WadgLEIp8kuRjvo8bA3yb2uIL-zr5WuHuTROn8yCx-1-b8moHy2dxhpZPyffJRNk111fpCWO-DSJPf_8K8GoF4AbYkHYmU/s640/tomato_fennel_short_ribs_6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And thanks
to my doting daddy dearest, our first night home we got just that. Meatloaf and
baked potatoes, all packaged up and ready to eat. How did he know that was
exactly what I wanted? Might have had something to do with the text I sent him
while we were driving towards home. Something like, “Mmmmmm…birthday meatloaf?”
Subtle, huh? (I feel the need to note here that my mom replied to my text,
“Dream on.” Thankfully she was not in charge of the meatloaf making.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1Ey4H_mZuiqdlJUBTKTsvgLKbASXbyQ-ZMKV0fF2lSOIjuuGsL8uhgzGgT2eKFKp6CZL6yg02krItCMt6jrd4WQpB094IyxGlKvTAXpyXdtI4xPX5iXQygoXXuXkbXnEJXYTSzhu_bI/s1600/tomato_fennel_short_ribs_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1Ey4H_mZuiqdlJUBTKTsvgLKbASXbyQ-ZMKV0fF2lSOIjuuGsL8uhgzGgT2eKFKp6CZL6yg02krItCMt6jrd4WQpB094IyxGlKvTAXpyXdtI4xPX5iXQygoXXuXkbXnEJXYTSzhu_bI/s640/tomato_fennel_short_ribs_2.jpg" width="558" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Because of
a very busy first week back and my current penchant for meat and potatoes,
things have not been very exciting in the kitchen. Although my mental notebook
is full of things from our trip to experiment on and I hope to get to those
soon. My taste buds have been inspired by Navajo dishes (hello fry bread and
honey!) and New Mexican flavors. My kitchen is now stocked with fresh peppers
and their dried counterparts; I will master authentic red chile sauce…someday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Until then,
more comfort food...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHRp4-7Yw5Dxgqm5kxFnBAxJmDhxF1kuFgdO_HQBBH98qCIF_4pFmxOWZEbqV7UjAMI1IkI2vMRN7WUdrNF4vpMBCwUNL4fLQ6BLeQdy9xJQDYzGs8leEhvN80a1q-tP8DFSIJvO5Jxs/s1600/tomato_fennel_short_ribs_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHRp4-7Yw5Dxgqm5kxFnBAxJmDhxF1kuFgdO_HQBBH98qCIF_4pFmxOWZEbqV7UjAMI1IkI2vMRN7WUdrNF4vpMBCwUNL4fLQ6BLeQdy9xJQDYzGs8leEhvN80a1q-tP8DFSIJvO5Jxs/s640/tomato_fennel_short_ribs_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Spicy
Tomato Fennel Shorts Ribs over Pasta</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 1/2
pounds boneless beef short ribs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 large
fennel bulb, diced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/3 cup
chopped shallots<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">4 garlic
cloves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 15-ounce
can diced tomatoes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 15-ounce
can tomato sauce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 cup white
wine, divided use<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2
teaspoon red pepper flakes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">salt <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">flour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">fennel
pollen (optional)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">canola oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">parmesan
cheese shavings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">cooked
pasta<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Preheat
oven to 300 degrees F.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Trim fat
off of short ribs, then season liberally with salt, pepper and fennel pollen
(if using). Coat lightly with flour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Heat a
drizzle of canola oil in a large Dutch oven until very hot. Sear all sides of
short ribs until browned, then remove from pot and reserve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sauté
fennel and shallots in the same pot. When bottom starts to brown, deglaze with
1/2 cup of white wine. Cook until soft, add garlic and cook for 30 seconds
more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Stir in
tomatoes, sauce, remaining 1/2 cup of wine, red pepper flakes, and season with
salt and pepper. Place short ribs in the sauce mixture and bring to a simmer.
Cover and cook in oven for about 3 hours, until fork tender and falling apart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Remove
short ribs from sauce and pull apart. Serve over pasta with sauce and parmesan
cheese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LZtyZ7o_ewvalsAyEELIJeraBgwWoukuznPySeGFdLuvSCllOpSnS0RuO_wmgwSd-TKl7eOvSkf5DuRFVyuzOZYLjESu2d5bZT0rdbKFFSnhSCtzzoI_6P6QiCW14iOD9EzCAoafRk8/s1600/tomato_fennel_short_ribs_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LZtyZ7o_ewvalsAyEELIJeraBgwWoukuznPySeGFdLuvSCllOpSnS0RuO_wmgwSd-TKl7eOvSkf5DuRFVyuzOZYLjESu2d5bZT0rdbKFFSnhSCtzzoI_6P6QiCW14iOD9EzCAoafRk8/s640/tomato_fennel_short_ribs_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">If you’ve
got a comfort food craving, this dish has you covered. The short ribs are
ridiculously tender and the sauce is rich and flavorful with hints of anise and
spice. Don’t shy away from this because the weather is getting warmer… although
to look at this meaty pasta dish you’d think it was a bit heavy, the
tomato-based sauce actually lightens things up a bit. I would happily eat this
one year-round.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNSOU71sE6PoB0B-78tbWNWrQjR126vOdbI-nSwGB60iH0FR15VTMNr3gwCX0gq-j4GCOhfVA6hh4-rnod3gKqkDq85BiFMjJ8-97RKwiC3R7FB0xFJtUiKvMDWa6ghGw3_aQJXgoJbo/s1600/tomato_fennel_short_ribs_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNSOU71sE6PoB0B-78tbWNWrQjR126vOdbI-nSwGB60iH0FR15VTMNr3gwCX0gq-j4GCOhfVA6hh4-rnod3gKqkDq85BiFMjJ8-97RKwiC3R7FB0xFJtUiKvMDWa6ghGw3_aQJXgoJbo/s640/tomato_fennel_short_ribs_5.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9089464022460484039.post-5755540925172945462012-05-16T06:10:00.000-07:002012-05-16T08:00:20.929-07:00Back from vacation and Strawberry-Amaretto Tart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfl8VlCRjUe6ZTKbxjGF1w5hl2bEHkpDiAx2Ew1tEPZ0aYdVKAgb6pDm6do2knIedVvYDwcnTeKU0YOz4y2yPB0IWzNumInaSIaZ8umxqmrTpScHfHcQkfa4RF0_gypPK8ml1LquVzHE/s1600/strawberry_walnut_tart_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfl8VlCRjUe6ZTKbxjGF1w5hl2bEHkpDiAx2Ew1tEPZ0aYdVKAgb6pDm6do2knIedVvYDwcnTeKU0YOz4y2yPB0IWzNumInaSIaZ8umxqmrTpScHfHcQkfa4RF0_gypPK8ml1LquVzHE/s640/strawberry_walnut_tart_2.jpg" width="488" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We’re back
from our two-week road trip. I can say that now without talking about <a href="http://www.tasty-trials.com/2012/05/happy-birthday-to-us-and-sangria.html">rabid dogs or worrying about burglars</a>…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Coming back
from vacation is rough. You almost need
a transitional vacation to ease back into the real world where people actually
expect things of you and your only task of the day isn’t to climb to the top of
a mountain. (And then go have a well-deserved beer.) I know, I know…poor me.
There probably won’t be a whole lot of sympathy coming my way for this one,
huh?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p>Settle in...it's picture time!</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">To recap:
3200 miles, five national parks, four states, and a partridge in a pear tree. A
lot of driving, a lot of hiking, and somehow we managed to squeeze in a lot of
relaxation. If the spot that you keep thinking about is your favorite, I can
say without a doubt that Zion National Park takes that honor. What I’d give to
be back here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKEFj5_J02bEMdpH9hbYljdIbxR7FBc0xkYMiiyusrtYMy9ft1kS02qCF0C7fAMdEM0ntTdVS7GRUMRted1Xx9RuIzCV76iLwJQ5se_2LCtATXA1oR5KH-wq9fhzVYxs0vKazSKMLQB4/s1600/zion_utah_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKEFj5_J02bEMdpH9hbYljdIbxR7FBc0xkYMiiyusrtYMy9ft1kS02qCF0C7fAMdEM0ntTdVS7GRUMRted1Xx9RuIzCV76iLwJQ5se_2LCtATXA1oR5KH-wq9fhzVYxs0vKazSKMLQB4/s640/zion_utah_2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Or to hike
to the top of this again:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdh9ewTawZ1-NGsBo3dPKsimPCiWT6-E9-LlVq04E_a4N7BJiK__hH-ssa_6BbeasXfKTIfwRiwd37t7kRZm0AeEUrjgCpNc9xJbCc8C0MiI3Z4VVMrqoZ8RaZBZ2UysvlIZqLj3eL0k/s1600/zion_utah_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdh9ewTawZ1-NGsBo3dPKsimPCiWT6-E9-LlVq04E_a4N7BJiK__hH-ssa_6BbeasXfKTIfwRiwd37t7kRZm0AeEUrjgCpNc9xJbCc8C0MiI3Z4VVMrqoZ8RaZBZ2UysvlIZqLj3eL0k/s640/zion_utah_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Okay, maybe
I don’t want to hike up there again. That’s Angel’s Landing and something to
the tune of 5 miles and almost 1500 feet in elevation gain. It involved hiking on
a ridge so narrow that chains are installed along the way to keep hold of. I’m
not going to lie…that one hurt a little. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The funny
thing is that Zion is one of those places that you can’t exactly put your
finger on as to why it’s so magical. It just is. Sitting on a huge expanse of
grass, relaxing at the base of these enormous formations is inspiring and
breathtaking. In fact, I just described my most favorite moment in the park.
Not hiking to the top of one of these beastly rocks, but sitting in its shadow.
It was truly amazing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Onto Bryce
Canyon, a whole different kind of incredible. This is one of those places you
really have to see to believe, but this is what we spent a lot of time looking
at:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEUTRR-h1Jz8s2LOvzAOaqE4oLmV6RoWVpBz9VcdCCHmQnVsjOR2RPWfpaYcc-plMn0MNUXVeZmt9dxt6KaH1H6BNn6cW3fl7MN_p1I5OsvzZK86PpSDG79CfzYnqjP12Pwn3qliInWw/s1600/bryce_canyon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEUTRR-h1Jz8s2LOvzAOaqE4oLmV6RoWVpBz9VcdCCHmQnVsjOR2RPWfpaYcc-plMn0MNUXVeZmt9dxt6KaH1H6BNn6cW3fl7MN_p1I5OsvzZK86PpSDG79CfzYnqjP12Pwn3qliInWw/s640/bryce_canyon.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The hoodoos
are aplenty in this canyon, but the real fun starts when you actually make your
way out ONTO them. We were perched out on our own little (actually massive)
hoodoo. Completely alone, completely quiet and spectacular. Sigh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDuzWIfTdEFPfVeY5mC49z4D4eNTLk-aB13yLe5iBzhqu6miBQS004oX0o54yadP08P_9P9h5O539UVt9GIAuyatqA04ssZ_OhALFWkbU6JusuIAEXwcFsBeMRzmpEUL7JJAYkG4P0Cg/s1600/bryce_canyon_hoodoos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDuzWIfTdEFPfVeY5mC49z4D4eNTLk-aB13yLe5iBzhqu6miBQS004oX0o54yadP08P_9P9h5O539UVt9GIAuyatqA04ssZ_OhALFWkbU6JusuIAEXwcFsBeMRzmpEUL7JJAYkG4P0Cg/s640/bryce_canyon_hoodoos.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Next stop:
Capitol Reef. From what we had read, we weren’t expecting a lot from this park.
Lesson of the day: don’t believe everything you read. Capitol Reef did not
disappoint. It is full of incredible washes and changing scenery at every turn.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD5MdeiWLBVA2qAmTAn3lL0Z1j2-_H43DQYR43IoJeVJ5657qXMI-el7xo4v9Hv5SNI0bFovVSfocfIGm0l6M_WqVgC2od4Q04R8LF3i1gJcAvmLmWSN5Tji1p15vQi21emV2EOKF4HM/s1600/capitol_reef_utah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD5MdeiWLBVA2qAmTAn3lL0Z1j2-_H43DQYR43IoJeVJ5657qXMI-el7xo4v9Hv5SNI0bFovVSfocfIGm0l6M_WqVgC2od4Q04R8LF3i1gJcAvmLmWSN5Tji1p15vQi21emV2EOKF4HM/s640/capitol_reef_utah.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s also
home to Cassidy Arch, as in Butch Cassidy. Apparently the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang
hung out down in the Grand Wash. That little blue speck on top of the arch is
me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0tciOsTnqDkQ2V5E4jiVN4FuTaPJTuCGSzQ5GuOs7THtQY1P7XR8zNbwUJiz4F99UPcnoZQn_CUFWVoC7pjx_gO568yjCs3aWD93IkvikK0_X1WlNp5ZnqN8_uAK0IpvMMkVf2nBkxU/s1600/cassidy_arch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0tciOsTnqDkQ2V5E4jiVN4FuTaPJTuCGSzQ5GuOs7THtQY1P7XR8zNbwUJiz4F99UPcnoZQn_CUFWVoC7pjx_gO568yjCs3aWD93IkvikK0_X1WlNp5ZnqN8_uAK0IpvMMkVf2nBkxU/s640/cassidy_arch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Natural
Bridges involved more climbing than I care to remember right now. The fairly
cranky ranger that warned us of the hikes being “not good” wasn’t too far from
the truth. Don’t get me wrong; the bridges are amazing, but the getting back up
isn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNY_GTc_rMSCfY0dBzapQaKak50B1B2kQl0KGM6t6B-lPZnVw4021sJPvuEVOGtgCVa310NIkBhRxgWlSCQgt8oajGcp0whHNVq5yXZqlggh4xRHp4ZLpNYKf3GXkGFZ9mKWxKFUmY5GY/s1600/natural_bridges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNY_GTc_rMSCfY0dBzapQaKak50B1B2kQl0KGM6t6B-lPZnVw4021sJPvuEVOGtgCVa310NIkBhRxgWlSCQgt8oajGcp0whHNVq5yXZqlggh4xRHp4ZLpNYKf3GXkGFZ9mKWxKFUmY5GY/s640/natural_bridges.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Two very
quiet days were spent in Monument Valley, and it couldn’t have come at a better
time. Basically, we just sat on our balcony are stared at these sacred
sandstone buttes in the middle of Navajo Nation. Sunrises fit for a postcard:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9_h02KNi1zuF2ywufKyZ113N5WpGZ9RvXUI7ZdiYWu_rNOqw67j7Kl37VO35LRO26fdwsc5Tnwb1_qYNvy8WlFaRYE_U3OVedskr88xpXYOfA37J9tuTeAchLD8eZzEY0NzArboNCyo/s1600/monument_valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9_h02KNi1zuF2ywufKyZ113N5WpGZ9RvXUI7ZdiYWu_rNOqw67j7Kl37VO35LRO26fdwsc5Tnwb1_qYNvy8WlFaRYE_U3OVedskr88xpXYOfA37J9tuTeAchLD8eZzEY0NzArboNCyo/s640/monument_valley.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not a bad
way to spend our birthdays…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Okay, okay…enough
of the trip photos. Onto the good stuff…food! This dessert should help ease us
back into reality. (Or maybe a little nip off the ol’ Amaretto bottle would do
the trick.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDMro5Ey_UUNj08xkJ5pTAkXor7LT_hsKfkfqtxNq3JAWkQVRKMVRXyJ54_iuMtpdPVy6hnr4v83YB4_2-4RGy1t3DanogOfwMzM34iE6AznSgD9kdLM_-9BHXsdWgnkVlJccG-5rjGI/s1600/strawberry_walnut_tart_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDMro5Ey_UUNj08xkJ5pTAkXor7LT_hsKfkfqtxNq3JAWkQVRKMVRXyJ54_iuMtpdPVy6hnr4v83YB4_2-4RGy1t3DanogOfwMzM34iE6AznSgD9kdLM_-9BHXsdWgnkVlJccG-5rjGI/s640/strawberry_walnut_tart_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Strawberry-Amaretto
Cheesecake Tart with Almond Crust</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Crust:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 1/2 cups
slivered almonds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 1/2 cups
walnuts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/4 cup
sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">6
tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2
tablespoon Amaretto<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tart:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">2 small
eggs (or 1 extra large)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">4 ounces
cream cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">4 ounces
chopped strawberries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">2
tablespoons sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2
tablespoon Amaretto<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1
tablespoon heavy cream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Glaze:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">3 ounces
chocolate (I used 60% bittersweet cacao)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">2
tablespoons heavy cream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1
tablespoon Amaretto<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For the
crust:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Finely chop
almonds and walnuts in a food processor. Add sugar and pulse to combine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cream
butter in an electric mixer. Add nut mixture and Amaretto. Mix until well
combined. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Press into
a 9” tart pan with removable bottom. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">When ready
to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Place on a
baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Press down on crust with back of a wooden
spoon, then bake 13-15 minutes more, until set. Let cool completely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For the
tart:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Preheat
oven to 350 degrees F.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Combine all
ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Pour into
cooled tart shell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Place on a
baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, until set. Remove from oven and let
cool slightly, then transfer to refrigerator to cool completely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Do not
glaze until completely cooled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For the
glaze:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Combine all
ingredients in a small saucepan and heat over low heat. Whisk until chocolate
is completely melted and mixture is smooth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Pour immediately
over cooled tart and spread with an offset spatula. Let set for a few minutes
before cutting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">(Depending
on how much space you have between the tart and the top of the crust, you may
have some glaze leftover.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1e9rQ82G5dsgdI2y3GGFCvpXNsVC-TcuNzZjR3Ytca8giQZKyBV2oO3BPUXFQZbFSHml5PZpivdJtpAglThZ74xaqpPUd822VTdnEHeyJsKX_zGmPA9mjxEq17x2DEhMwjCs4xhylPTw/s1600/strawberry_walnut_tart_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1e9rQ82G5dsgdI2y3GGFCvpXNsVC-TcuNzZjR3Ytca8giQZKyBV2oO3BPUXFQZbFSHml5PZpivdJtpAglThZ74xaqpPUd822VTdnEHeyJsKX_zGmPA9mjxEq17x2DEhMwjCs4xhylPTw/s640/strawberry_walnut_tart_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This tart
is as much about the crust as it is the filling. It’s thick, chewy and nutty,
but cuts the richness of a typical cheesecake. The strawberry and Amaretto
flavors are subtle but come through just enough for a hint of sweetness. If
you’re expecting a standard graham cracker crust, this one probably isn’t for
you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMmtRZ8FdiA7bgNxgZtpTumdz8PcCbWTdaAQ93hdet7vyMf6yHW9xfnn611K5DH2yrcbVnox9MkzaH1eXEryT0DqaoqdTpdwl2ltRMvNu8OejRy266L9sApII0XjNg9vGswy16C3_72Y/s1600/strawberry_walnut_tart_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMmtRZ8FdiA7bgNxgZtpTumdz8PcCbWTdaAQ93hdet7vyMf6yHW9xfnn611K5DH2yrcbVnox9MkzaH1eXEryT0DqaoqdTpdwl2ltRMvNu8OejRy266L9sApII0XjNg9vGswy16C3_72Y/s640/strawberry_walnut_tart_3.jpg" width="466" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">**Don’t
forget to <a href="http://www.tasty-trials.com/2012/05/cooking-under-pressure-breakfast.html" target="">enter my giveaway</a>, open through 5/18, for a chance to win a $50
grocery store gift card. Enter <a href="http://www.tasty-trials.com/2012/05/cooking-under-pressure-breakfast.html">here</a>.**<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232312651950176596noreply@blogger.com23