Home Grown Me

2010-11-17T09:19:00.001-08:00

Alpha by Rachel Vincent

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I began reading Alpha, the final book in the amazing Shifter series by Rachel Vincent, I knew I would shed some tears. I also knew that no matter how the love triangle was resolved, I would feel eartbroken right along with Faythe. This book did not disappoint in any way, shape, or form.

Vincent managed to wrap up her series with a dynamic, action packed novel, full of surprises and emotional scenes. I think the most amazing thing about this series is the incredible way Faythe’s character has developed and grown throughout each book. After I read Stray, the first book in the series, I loved it so much I gave it to my mom to read. My mom gave it back after reading a few chapters and said she thought the character of Faythe was spoiled rotten. Boy has Faythe changed! She has gone from being an unruly, immature girl to a mature, confident leader and a strong woman.

If you are looking for a “and they lived happily ever after” ending to this series, you may be a little disappointed in Vincent’s approach. Yes, she provides closure for all the major plot elements in her series, but the ending is realistic rather than fairy-tale-ish. I admire Vincent’s resolve to finish her series with this book while the characters and the storyline are still fresh and interesting, rather than dragging it out for another 5 books like some authors would.

If you haven’t read the Shifter series, you are missing out on an amazing Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy series. I look forward to future books by this incredible author.

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Canning: Tomatoes and Apples

2010-10-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I blogged about food, so I thought I would share a little bit about canning and preserving. First, do not be intimidated. Although it can be a bit time consuming, depending on what you are preserving, canning using a water bath canner is a relatively simple process and the results are well worth the effort.
Walmart sells a basic canning kit which includes a large pot, and several utensils used during the canning process for around $30-$40. You will also need canning lids, jars, and rings.
I purchased the Balls Complete Book of Home Preserving: 400 Delicious and Creative Recipes for Today a few years ago and it has every canning recipe you could possibly need. My other source for recipes, tips and instructions is Pick Your Own (http://www.pickyourown.org/allaboutcanning.htm), which is a fantastic website for newbies.
This weekend I canned tomatoes from my friend Jacqueline's garden. They were beautiful heirloom tomatoes called "Pineapple" and they turned out great. I also canned Apple Pie Filling and apple butter in preparation for the holidays. Nothing is easier than making apple pie with homemade canned filling and a frozen pie crust. The apple butter makes a fantastic hostess gift for holiday parties.
Please, please, please give it a try. I promise you will feel so fulfilled when you see your pantry filled with healthy, local foods you canned yourself.

Restaurant Review: JAX in Truckee

2010-10-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

My friend had seen JAX featured on Diners Drive-ins and Dives, so we decided to stop in for lunch. She ordered the fish sandwich and I had the Crab Cake Slider and Ahi Salad, all of which were delicious! The crab cake had very little breading and was as fresh as it gets. We ordered a side of beer battered onion rings and they were the best onion rings I have ever had. The food was so good, we returned for dinner with an invitation from the Executive Chef to try our hands in the kitchen. Chef Phil made us lobster macncheese with truffles that was so good, I could have taken a bath in it.
The Kobe Beef Meatloaf is out of this world!
We had our appetizers and drinks within a couple of minutes of being seated, despite a large private party on the patio. I have no complaints and look forward to a return trip for breakfast. I hear their Maryland Blue Crab Cake Eggs Benedict is amazing!

Aarti's Pulled Pork

2010-10-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've blogged about a new recipe, but I had to share this one. This is one of the first recipes Aarti Sequeira shared on her show "Aarti Party" after winning the Next Food Network star. It is a super easy recipe, it just takes some time on the stove. The meat falls apart in your mouth and the sauce is to-die-for. I served it on french rolls with homemade sweet zucchini pickles. Enjoy!

Cook Time:3 hr 0 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients
1 boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt), about 3 pounds, excess fat removed
Rub:
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons kosher salt
BBQ Sauce:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 onion, finely minced
2 tablespoons minced ginger
1 serrano pepper, thinly sliced (seeds discarded if you don't like it spicy)
Kosher salt
2 cups mango puree
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons molasses
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
Brioche rolls, split
Bread and butter pickles
Directions
Rub: Combine the rub ingredients, in a small bowl and massage it into the pork shoulder until well coated. Set aside while you make BBQ sauce. You could do this a day ahead and keep refrigerated until ready to use.

BBQ sauce: In a large saucepan, warm the oil, over low heat, until hot and shimmering. Add the cumin and fennel; they should splutter upon contact - be careful! Once the spluttering subsides, add the onions, ginger and serrano and a little salt, to taste. Saute until they soften but don't let them get any color. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients. Simmer about 5 minutes. Taste and season.

Add the pork shoulder to the saucepan, coating it with the sauce. Cover, and gently simmer until the pork falls apart easily, stirring and turning often, about 3 hours.

Remove the pork from the saucepan and shred it using 2 forks. Return it to the sauce and stir to coat with the sauce. Put a generous spoonful of the pork inside a brioche bun, top with a few slices of pickle and serve. Cook's Note: prepare to have your loved one swoon over you!

The Witch is all grown up

2010-08-31T17:44:00.000-07:00

Waking The Witch by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 11th book in the Women of the Otherworld series and features the young witch Savannah, previously introduced in Book 2- Stolen. SO although this book's story line can stand alone, I highly recommend starting with book 1 and working your way through. One of the most satisyfing parts about this book is seeing how grown up Savannah is now, compared to where she started in Book 2 (she was 12 years old then). Also, if you read this book first, the ending will leave you extremely confused...and that's all I will say about that.

***Spoilers***

This was another fantastic addition to this series. I thought Savannah's narrator voice was youthful and refreshingly honest. I adore the relationship that has developed between Savannah and Adam and can't wait to see where the future leads for them. I would have liked to see more Otherworld characters featured in this book, since aside from Adam, the only others made cameo appearances via telephone conversations.

I also would have liked to see Savannah use her powers a little bit more. The fact that Savannah is so powerful, at such a young age, is what makes her so interesting. Hopefully, Savannah will kick a little more *ss in the next installment.

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Funny Vampires? Who knew.

2010-08-22T09:52:00.001-07:00

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wish there was a 3 3/4 stars rating, because that is where I would rate this book.

I would classify this book as "Paranormal Chick-Lit". It revolves around a very intelligent, albeit newly unemployed, librarian who meets a very sexy "undead" man at a bar while drowning her sorrows in some hard liquor. Her new admirer follows her home only to see her get mistaken for a deer by a drunk hunter and shot. Her admirer, "Gabrielle" turns her into a vampire in order to say her life.

The author was extremely witty and had me laughing out loud on several occastions.

I thought the relationship between Gabrielle and Jane (the librarian) sizzled, although I would like to see it explored more in future installments. The character Dick was supremely hilarious and I can't wait to see more from him.

The bits between Jane and her mother had me in stitches!

Reading this helped me understand that books don't have to be serious in order to be entertaining and fun to read.

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Finally hitting her stride....

2010-08-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Curse the Dawn by Karen Chance

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What can I say about the 4th book in this series other than it was really good. Four books into the series, Chance’s world has developed to a point that it no longer leaves me feeling confused about what I have just read. I can read and enjoy each crazy, plot-bending page.
***SPOILERS***
The relationships between Cassie and Pritkin, and the relationship between Mircea and Cassie, have developed at very believable pace. I love that Chance does not feel it is necessary to force a sexual encounter between two characters of the opposite sex, although I don’t think her readers would mind. I do think it demonstrates restraint and maturity to allow the characters’ sexual relations to develop at a natural pace.
At one point in the story, Cassie and Pritkin switch bodies and the results had me laughing my butt off. There is also a very memorable scene involving Pritkin, Cassie and a very large, black cross dresser….and that’s all I’m going to say about that. The sexual tension between these two is killing me! At the same time, I find myself rooting for Mircea and Cassie’s relationship as well.
My favorite aspect of Chance’s writing is her outrageous sense of humor. She is completely unpredictable from one moment to the next, which makes her books very exciting.
I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series.

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Eat, Pray Love: Discussion 3

2010-08-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

Finish Indonesia and discuss general feelings on the book. How did it affect you?
This book really made me want to see more of the world.

Will you go see the movie?
I will definitely be going to see the movie, with as many of my girlfriends as I can gather around. I am a huge Julia Roberts fan and I love that she read the book first. Whenever I go to see movies based on books I love, I always try to keep my expectations low and try to view the movie or tv show as a separate interpretation of the work. That way, I am not disappointed when the movie is not as good as the book (they rarely are) and I get to enjoy another “version” of something I really liked.

Will you read Committed which is Gilbert’s follow up to Eat Pray Love?
I really have no interest in reading about marriage. I’m not married (although Ihave been, albeit unhappily) and have not plans to get married anytime soon.

What are some of your favorite quotes from the book?
Luca: “Vegetarians can eat this, because intestines aren’t even meat, Liz. They’re just shit.” (In reference to lamb intestines)
"Stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be."
"I am burdened with what the Buddhists call the 'monkey mind' -- the thoughts that swing from limb to limb, stopping only to scratch themselves, spit and howl." "Operation Self-Esteem--Day Fucking One."
"Having a baby is like getting a tattoo on your face. You really need to be certain it's what you want before you commit."
"You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That's the only thing you should be trying to control."
"Il bel far niente. "

"The mosquitoes here are big enough to rape a Chicken!"

Night Rising: Putting me to sleep

2010-08-03T07:24:00.000-07:00

Night Rising by Chris Marie Green

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm feeling really, really generous as I write this review, so I am giving this book two stars.
I will skip the plot recap because it was wierd, but not in an interesting way, and I'm not really sure what the point was.
Essentially, the main character is a stunt woman who returns to Hollywood to search for her missing alcoholic father with the help of his former PI coworkers. The catch is that the PI form he worked for specializes in paranormal investigations and it looks like her father may have been made vampire.
The heroine has some strange sexual comulsion which makes her want to pick up skeezy guys in bars for meaningless sex and soon after the start of the book, she begins an intangible affair with her "ghostly" new employer. Confused yet? Me too.
I really didn't care for this book. The characters were weak and boring, the plot went nowhere, and I really had no interest in the main character.
I say skip it unless you have nothing else better to read.

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Dark Prince

2010-07-22T07:47:00.001-07:00

Dark Prince by Christine Feehan

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

First, I have to say I have been looking forward to starting this series for a couple of months now. I have read many positive reviews about Christine Feehan.
I'm sad to say I couldn't finish this book. I gave it 67 pages and a couple of hours of my life, but I couldn't get into it. The characters were silly, shallow, and lacked any kind of emotional depth.
I struggle with any book based on the ability of the heroine to make moronic choices every time she turns around.
If you are into silly, bodice-ripping romances with completely underdeveloped worlds, then you might like this book....heavy emphasis on "might".

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Eat, Pray, Love: Discussion Post 2

2010-07-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

Having finished Italy discuss what the first phase of the journey has been like. Something fun could be that in Chapter 33 while sitting in an outdoor café in Rome, Gilbert’s friend declares that every city—and every person—has a word. Rome’s is “sex,” the Vatican’s “power”; Gilbert declares New York’s to be “achieve,” but only later stumbles upon her own word, antevasin, Sanskrit for “one who lives at the border.” What is your word? Is it possible to choose a word that retains its truth for a lifetime?

Italians view life so differently than Americans. Americans insist on working all the time and we feel guilty if we aren’t in the process of accomplishing SOMETHING, anything. Italians understand the importance of taking time out to experience things and take pleasure from them, rather than rushing from one thing to the next.
Sometimes I feel as though I rush from one item on my “to-do” list to the next. Work, sports practices, school, home to make dinner, etc. It is “estenuante”. This book has helped me to realize I have earned some time to enjoy some simple life pleasures without feeling guilty for putting my feet up, meaning more time for reading and doing absolutely nothing.
Deciding on a word to represent the meaning of my life is not something I could do without some serious thought, however, it would probably be something like “purpose” or “pursue”. I always feel as though I am searching for something bigger, something more meaningful to which I can dedicate my time and energy. I hope “pursue” is not my word when I’m 80, because I plan to be good and worn out by then from living a wonderful, passionate life. “Purpose” wouldn’t be a bad word at 80, because everyone needs something to live for.

2010-07-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

Stray by Rachel Vincent

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stray is the first novel in Rachel Vincent's shifter series, and is about a were-cat named Faythe who's greatest desire in life is to attain independence from her Pride (her family). When she is dragged home from college kicking and screaming by her ex boyfriend Marc, after another female were-cat goes missing, she begins a battle of wills with her father over her freedom. She must also contend with Marc and their unresolved issues.
Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding the missing werecat becomes more and more complicated and Faythe must decide where her priorities lie.
I loved this book! I put off reading it for awhile because the whole "were-cat" thing was a little wierd for me. I kept picturing people shifting into house-cat sized felines and I was really put off. To clarify, in Rachel Vincent's books, were-cats are actually South American jungle cats and resemble black panthers. Once I realized that, I couldn't put the book down.
Faythe reminds me of so many young woman who fight tooth and nail against the pressures placed on them by their families. She just wants to be left alone to live her life and has no desire to settle for being barefoot and pregnant , which is what she believes her father wants for her.
The male characters in this book were very strong and I loved the playful interactions between Faythe and her "brothers". Faythe has a big mouth and she always seems to be getting herself into trouble with her Dad or one of the male members of the Pride.
This book contained plenty of suspense, action, and more than it's share of steamy interactions between characters.
Love, love, loved it.

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2010-07-11T08:57:00.001-07:00

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Outlander tells the story of a woman named Clare who goes on a second honeymoon with her husband in 1945 Scotland. While on Holiday, she walks through the cleft of a rock within a circle of stones (think Stonehenge) and is transported back to the year 1743. From there she meets up with a group of Scottish clansmen and her adventure begins.

I originally read this book (and two of it's sequels) about 8 years ago and I loved it. I had only read one other time travel book before, A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux(also a great book), and this book far exceeded my expectations. Don't be put off by the size of this book, it is a page turner from start to finish.

This book has romance, action/adventure, and a whole lot of interesting history. Gabaldon did an amazing amount of research for this series. The romance is EPIC.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who has an interest in historical romance, time travel, or just getting lost in an amazing read.

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Book Club: Eat Pray Love 2nd Discussion Post

2010-07-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

After reading the book for a week what are your first impressions? So much of this part of the book is about Liz’s battle of modern vs. traditional, where do you fall on the spectrum. Are you married with children or do you never want to get married, or like most I would guess are you somewhere in between?

I have never participated in a book club before, so I’m sure I am about to get too personal with my answer. However, it is my blog so……..
After reading a few passages in this book, I made the mistake of reading some reviews on Goodreads and was astonished to see how many people bashed the author for being “whiny” or who accused her of being “insincere”. I feel completely different about the beginning of this book. I give the author enormous credit for exposing her struggle with depression for the entire world to see. I also give her props for leaving her marriage because I know how much guilt comes with ending a serious relationship. I admire her for following her heart and “doing” rather than just “talking about doing” something with her life.
Now in regards to the modern vs. traditional, please excuse the following…..
The other night I was lying in bed next to my sweetheart, reading this book, and I asked him if I could read a passage aloud. This is the passage I read to him:

“I still can’t say whether I ever want children….I can only say how I feel now--grateful to be on my own. I also know that I won’t go forth and have children just in case I might regret missing it later in life; I don’t think this is a strong enough motivation to bring more babies onto the earth.”

My boyfriend and I have been together for several years and he has children from a previous relationship including a fourteen year old daughter who lives with us full time. He has mentioned on more than one occasion that he would like to have more children….with me. I have never been the kind of woman who daydreams of babies and pink onesies. My best friend had a baby girl nine months ago and I thought seeing her have a baby might kick start my biological clock…..but it hasn’t. My friend’s baby is ADORABLE with a capital “A” and I love seeing how much my friend loves her baby. However, my womb remains happily closed for business without any of those strange “aches” I have heard about.
When I read the passage above, I felt instantly connected to this woman. I have never understood why people assume any woman physically capable of giving birth should have children. Why? Forget for a second that there are thousands of children in this world who want nothing more than someone to love them and keep them safe, why can’t a woman just enjoy her life?
As a teenager and young woman, my family and friends consistently advised me to wait to have children until I had experienced life on my own. “Don’t get married too soon” “Wait to have kids” or “Focus on your career”….now I hear “When are you and Dave going to settle down?” “When are you two going to have some kids of your own?” or “Don’t wait too long to have kids, you don’t want to be 60 when they graduate.” So which is it? And why do people feel compelled to comment on something as personal as having children?
Like the author of this book, I was married before. I was unhappy, trapped, and feel no desire to repeat history. I identify with her desire to do something “more” with her life…even if that means just practicing “Il bel far niente”.
“Il bel far niente” or “the beauty of doing nothing” is my new motto.
I love this book. It speaks to me….often in Italian.

Mercy Thompson: Graphic Novel

2010-07-02T10:07:00.001-07:00

Mercy Thompson: Homecoming by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was my first graphic novel I had ever read. I'm not a huge fan of comic books and I always find the illustrations of characters a little too.....muscular and....well-endowed, which makes them a little hard to take seriously.
I love the Mercy books and have always felt the first book in the series left out a lot of the background and how Adam and Mercy came to know each other. This book answers some of those questions, as well as questions about how Stephen and Mercy met.
It was fun to see an artist's interpretation of Briggs' characters as well.
Overall it was an entertaining, if not short, read. I will probably buy future installments as well.

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Review: Embrace the Night (Cassandra Palmer, #3)

2010-07-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

Embrace the Night by Karen Chance

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the 3rd installment in Karen Chance’s Cassandra Palmer series. It follows Cassie as the newly anointed “Pythia”, also known as the world’s most powerful clairvoyant, as she searches for a counter spell to a curse placed on her when she was a child. I won’t go any further into the plot in this book because without fully explaining the first two books, it would just be too confusing. It suffices to say that there are a lot of people working against Cassie in one way or another and she has trouble knowing who to trust.
As I mentioned above, these books are extremely intricate plots involving no less than thirty or so involved characters, with more appearing around every bend in Cassie’s confusing journey. This has been my chief complaint about these books since I started reading them.
That being said, I love the way the relationship between Cassie and Pritkin has developed as Cassie has chipped away at his defenses. Pritkin is a terribly complex character and Chance has been slowly peeling back his layers like a really stinky onion, complete with the watery eyes.
Chance writes male characters really well. She makes them sexy and tough, but with a vulnerability that only Cassie seems to bring out. Mircea is no exception. It is refreshing to read a book where there are two equally likely potential suitors, yet the love triangle is not overtly obvious.
Overall, this is another enjoyable read from Chance. I look forward to the next installment of the Cassie Palmer series.

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Book Vixen Book Club: Eat, Pray Love #1

2010-07-01T12:04:00.000-07:00

What preconceived notions do you have of the book as a first time reader? What have you heard about it?
I just recently started reading again, after several years of not reading any books, but I have been reading mostly urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
I had heard about Eat, Pray, Love before and knew it was one of Oprah's Book Club pics. Since Oprah usually chooses "heavy" books to feature, in my opinion, I was reluctant to read it.

Why do you want to read it?
I have always been a fan of reading a book before I watch a movie based on it, so when I heard Julia Roberts was starring in Eat, Pray, Love, I thought it would be a good time to start reading.

I found one copy on the Goodreads Book Swap and sent away for it. A week or two later, I saw a twitter post by The Book Vixen asking if anyone was interested in reading this book in a book club format.
So it looks like it was meant to be!

Young Adult Vampire Books Contest

2010-06-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

http://yavampirebooks.blogspot.com/2010/06/200-followers-contest.html

Top 20 quotes from ‘True Blood’ Episode 2: 'Beautifully Broken'

2010-06-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

Top 20 quotes from ‘True Blood’ Episode 2: 'Beautifully Broken'

Book Review: Shades of Midnight (Book #6)

2010-06-19T13:57:00.001-07:00

Shades of Midnight by Lara Adrian

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was not one of my favorite Breed books, but I did like that it deviated from Adrian's usual formula in a couple of ways. First, it takes place in Alaska, not Boston like 90% of her previous books. Second, the breedmate has some past experience with the Breed society (albeit a negative experience), so she is more accepting of the news that Vampires exist. Lastly, there were some interesting developments with the Ancient that were suprising to me, mainly that he has some humanity in him.
Overall is was another enjoyable read and I look forward to the next one in the series.

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Magic Study by Maria Snyder

2010-06-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is the second novel in the "Study" series by Maria Snyder, the first being Poison Study.
First, let me say I still have a hard time with Snyder's simplistic writing style. It reminds me of a something an aspiring high school novelist would write. Some of the dialogue between characters is awkward at times. Snyder gives her characters one-liners that while humorous, appear out of place in the world she has created. Also, Yelena's magic abilities develop unrealistically fast. Snyder talks about the need for magical abilities to be honed and developed, yet Yelena becomes a master overnight.
All that being said, I really like these books for a couple of reasons. These books are unlike any fantasy novel I have read. Snyder has created an entire new world and culture.
Also, these books are definately acceptable for teens and young adults, as they contain NO sex scenes. They do allude to them, but do not provide any details (PG rating).
I am excited to read the 3rd installment in the series, Magic Study".

***On a side note, I bought this book in the YA section because it was $3 cheaper than the "adult" version. Same book, different price.

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New Trailer for Rachel Vincent's latest

2010-06-08T10:19:00.001-07:00

Rachel Vincent's newest Soul Screamers book is out and Kayla can't wait to read it. Check out the trailer below.

My Soul to Keep Trailer

Buy the book on Amazon

2010-03-02T12:13:00.001-08:00

Rogue by Rachel Vincent

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Hello Raw Fish!

2009-04-08T08:11:00.001-07:00

While attending my cake decorating class in Santa Rosa, I was craving sushi for lunch. Luckily, Sappora Restaurant is right next door. This is the gorgeous Chirashi they have there. YUM! The round yellow vegetables are pickled daikon radish and they tasted awsome.....hmmm...must learn how to pickle daikon....

Cake Decorating 101

2009-04-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to score a spot in a cake-decorating class taught by Lorrette Patzwald at the Santa Rosa Junior College Culinary Arts Center. Although Lorrette is better known for her bread work, she won a James Beard award for it, the class was very informative and I enjoyed it immensely. The picture is of the cake I made in class. It's a strawberry butter cake filled with lime curd flavored cream cheese frosting and frosted with White Chocolate Cream Cheese frosting. The roses on top were made in advance and are made of royal icing with cream cheese icing leaves.

Strawberry Cupcakes

2009-03-16T10:09:00.001-07:00

In case you haven’t guessed, I am a huge follower of the locavore movement. A locavore is someone who tries to base their diet on food raised or grown within a certain distance of their home. This means eating what is in season. While I have explained the concept to Kayla on many occasions, her twelve year old brain refuses to accept the idea that strawberries should not be eaten year round, for every meal.
In an attempt to stave the strawberry crisis, I purchased some frozen strawberries (shame on me!) and tried to come up with a strawberry dessert for her.
I adapted the Cream Cake recipe from Sky High: Irresistible Three Layer Cakes and added strawberry puree in place of some of the cream it called for. Additionally, I replaced the rest of the cream with nonfat milk and whipped the egg whites to add the needed fluff to the batter. “Fluff” is my own non-culinary term for air.
I made a frosting out of cream cheese, strawberry puree, lemon juice and powdered sugar. The frosting was way too runny, and ended up more like a glaze. Despite the issues with consistency, the frosting tasted just like fresh strawberries and the whole house smelled like summertime.
Overall, they turned out pretty good for an improvisation.

Hazelnuts, hazelnuts, hazelnuts..and chocolate

2009-03-16T09:59:00.001-07:00

Have I ever mentioned I love nuts? Cashews, almonds, walnuts, etc. It probably stems from my childhood home which was surrounded by walnut orchards. During the Fall, if we needed a snack while we were out playing, we ate walnuts from the ground.
One nut I have never been a huge fan of; the hazelnut. However, I am determined to bake my way through the Sky High Triple Layer Cake book I just bought on Amazon which features several hazelnut cakes.
The hazelnut cake which caught my eye was the “Chocolate-Hazelnut Gianduja Cake”. Gianduja, as explained in the cookbook, is a “Nutella” type sweet chocolate featuring hazelnut paste.
I was unsure of how powerful the hazelnuts would be in the cake, so I added some hazelnut extract just to be certain the flavors would come through. Boy, was that a mistake! This cake was so rich; I couldn’t even finish one slice. Both David and Kayla loved it because it features chocolate whipped cream frosting that is to die for.
The cake texture was good and the frosting was yummy. I would probably make it again upon special request.
As always, if any of these recipes interest you, just email me and I will gladly provide it. nicolerene @ peoplepc . com.

Sky High: Maybe I've lost my mind...

2009-03-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

So David's father's birthday is coming up and it got out that I have been experimenting with cake recipes, so David's stepmother asked me to bake a cake. I hear his favorite flavor is lemon.
Unfortunately, this gave me the perfect excuse to try out every lemon cake recipe I could find. I tried a recipe on epicurious, but the cake turned out really dense. Then I tried a cake recipe from SmittenKitchen.Com and it turned out well, but I was looking for something a little lighter.
I finally got it right on my fourth try. I had ordered the book "Sky High: Irresistable Three Layer Cakes" a few weeks ago when I read the raves about it on several of my favorite food blogs. It arrived yesterday and has some gorgeous pictures of mouthwatering cakes of every possible flavor. And in it there was a recipe for "Triple Lemon Chiffon Cake with Lemon Curd".
I was wonderfully light and fluffy. It was also very easy to frost and was not very crumby at all. I highly recommend it.
I actually modified the recipe to be a two layer cake because I only own 2 9" cake pans. However, with the addition of this book to my collection, that is going to have to change real quick.
I used the remaining batter to make taste-testing cupcakes and sent the entire cake with David to work. He reports that it was gone by 9am the next day. Let me know how it turns out for you.

What was I thinking?

2009-02-18T15:01:00.000-08:00

This weekend was the absolute worst weekend for dieting...yes, I am on a diet but let's not talk about that now.....
In addition to the cheesecake I made for Valentine's Day, it was also David's birthday. So in addition to the HUGE cheesecake, I needed to make a birthday cake as well.
I have been wanting to try one of the cakes featured on smittenkitchen's blog for sometime, but have been waiting for an excuse to overload on all that sugar. David's birthday provided the perfect opportunity.
I chose the Chocolate Sour Cream Cake with Peanut Butter Icing and Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze....WOW, what a mouthful.
Here is a link to smittenkitchen's version http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/08/chocolate-peanut-butter-cake/. She adapted it from the book Sky High: Irresistible Triple-Layer Cakes, which I just purchased on ebay.
I can't wait until it arrives because this cake was fantastic! It tasted very similiar to a giant reeses peanut butter cup.

Red Velvet Sin

2009-02-18T14:40:00.000-08:00

This recipe is ALL over the internet now, in celebration of Valentines Day. I adapted this recipe from Southern Living Magazine. It is sooooooo good.

Prep: 20 min.; Bake: 1 hr., 25 min.; Stand: 1 hr.; Chill: 8 hrs. The cheesecake's deep red filling and snowy topping is wonderfully dramatic. Fresh mint sprigs add a pop of Christmas color.

Yield
Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups crushed oreo cookies
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
2 (1-ounce) bottles red food coloring
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Garnish: fresh mint sprigs
Preparation
Stir together oreo cookie crumbs, melted butter, and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar; press mixture into bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.

Beat 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar at medium-low speed with an electric mixer 1 minute. Add eggs and next 6 ingredients, mixing on low speed just until fully combined. Pour batter into prepared crust.

Bake at 325° for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 300°, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until center is firm. Run knife along outer edge of cheesecake. Turn oven off. Let cheesecake stand in oven 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven; cool in pan on a wire rack 30 minutes. Cover and chill 8 hours.

Beat 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth. Spread evenly over top of cheesecake. Remove sides of springform pan. Garnish, if desired.

Rhonda Y. Coker, Columbia, South Carolina, Southern Living, DECEMBER 2004

Cauliflower Puree

2009-01-26T09:54:00.000-08:00

This is a recipe I plan to make tonight, I will let you know how it goes....

1 head cauliflower, 2 to 2 1/2 pounds
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Pull the leaves off the cauliflower and cut out the core in a kind of cone-shaped section. Then pull the florets off the head with your fingers, using a knife when you need to. Break or cut the florets into smaller, regular pieces (about 1 1/2 inch) and put them in the steamer insert. Bring about 1 inch of water to a boil in the steamer pot, add the insert, cover, and cook for about 15 minutes, or until you can poke a paring knife into the stems and you can feel that there's still a little texture there. (Tooth, it's called.) Stir the cauliflower well a few times while it's steaming so that it cooks evenly.

Dump about half of the cauliflower into a food processor. Measure out 3/4 cup of the steaming liquid, and pour in about 1/4 cup; purée until smooth. Now dump the rest of the cauliflower on top, add about 1/3 of the remaining liquid, and purée again. You'll need to stop and scrape and stir the purée a few times; add more liquid as you need to, but with the understanding that you really want to add as little liquid as you can get away with. With the motor running, process in the butter, salt, and pepper through the feed tube. Taste for seasoning and serve hot. (You can reheat over low heat in the same pan if you're not eating immediately.)

Butternut Squash and Greens

2009-01-26T09:52:00.000-08:00

This recipe was featured on the Food Network Show "The Next Food Network Star" and it is one of my favorites. The original recipe called for goat cheese, but I'm not a fan, so I substitute feta for it.

Butternut Squash
Beets Greens (any green will do)
olive oil
goat cheese
salt and pepper
walnuts
(1/2 cup chopped mint is optional)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Peel and cut butternut squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Place on 2 sheet trays, drizzle with olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt and distribute evenly. Place in oven and bake until softened and golden.
Wash beet greens and de-stem and chiffonade greens. Toast walnuts in a medium skillet over medium heat.
Remove squash from the oven and toss in beet greens, mint and goat cheese. Top with toasted walnuts. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve warm.

Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemons

2009-01-26T09:50:00.001-08:00

This recipe is courtesy of Claudia Roden's cookbook "Arabesque". I made it for my boyfriend and his daughter, and they both seemed to enjoy it. Serve some toasted pita bread alongside.

Ingredients
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 onions, finely chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed
½ tsp crushed saffron threads or saffron powder
¼-½ tsp ground ginger
6 Free Range, organic chicken breasts
salt and freshly ground black pepper
½ lemon, juice only
2 tbsp chopped coriander
2 tbsp chopped parsley
2 small preserved lemons, peel only
12-16 green or violet olives, either stoned or left whole

1. In a wide casserole or heavy-bottomed pan that will fit the chicken pieces in one layer, heat the oil and add the onions. Sauté, stirring over a low heat, until softened, then stir in the garlic, saffron and ginger.
2. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and pour in about 300ml/10fl oz of water. Simmer, covered, turning the pieces over a few times and adding a little more water if it becomes too dry.
3. Cook Chicken for 20 minutes, turnign occasionally.
4. Stir in the lemon juice, coriander, parsley, preserved lemon peel and olives. Add a little water if necessary and cook for about 10 minutes, or until sauce has thickened. Serve with the olives and lemon peel on top of the meat.
Serve over brown rice or cous cous.

Preserved Lemons

2009-01-26T09:44:00.000-08:00

I have been fascinated by Morroccan Food since I picked up a copy of Claudia Roden's "Arabesque" from the library. Nothing is more fun or exciting to me then finding a new recipe I have never tried and giving it a go. Before I could get started, however, I needed to stock up my pantry with some of the necessities of Moroccan cuisine. Luckily, my Tia Marsha brought me a huge bag of lemons from the tree in her yard so I could make some preserved lemons. Also, my good friend Vickie brought me back some Saffron from her trip to Egypt. Here is a basic recipe for Preserved Lemons.

4 Lemons (unwaxed, organic, preferably local)
4 tbls Kosher Salt
Lemon Juice

Cut each lemon into quarters, keeping them attached at the stem end. Pack a tablespoon of salt into each lemon (in the cuts), and squeeze into a canning jar. Fill jar with enough lemon juice to cover. Store in a cool, dry place for one month. Check regularly to make sure lemons remain covered with lemon juice. Add more juice if necessary. They are ready after one month.
When you are ready to use them, discard the pulp, and rinse the skin to remove the excess salt.
They can also be kept in the fridge up to one year.
***Use unwaxed, organic lemons only.

After one month, the skins will be soft and will have lost all the bitterness normally present in citrus peel and pithe.

Winter Squash Galette

2009-01-26T09:37:00.001-08:00

This galette turned out awsome! It was so pretty and tasted delicious.
I highly recommend any cookbook by Deborah Madison. Even if you are not a vegetarian, her recipes may encourage you to make more meatless meals. This one is a great option for a veggie Thanksgiving.

Yeasted Tart Dough with Olive Oil
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup warm water
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/8 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups flour, as needed

2 1/2 pounds butternut squash
1 small head garlic, cloves separated but not peeled
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for the squash
1 onion, finely diced
12 fresh sage leaves, chopped, or 2 teaspoons dried
1/2 cup freshly grated pecorino or Parmesan
Salt and freshly milled pepper
1 egg, beaten

Preparation
Yeasted Tart Dough with Olive Oil
Makes one 9-, 10-, or 11-inch tart, pie or galette, 6 to 8 individual shells

Dissolve yeast and sugar in water in medium bowl and let stand until bubbly, about 10 minutes. Add oil, egg, and salt, then stir in flour. When dough is too stiff to work with a spoon, turn it onto the counter and knead until smooth and elastic, about 4 minutes. Add more flour if necessary to keep it from sticking. Set dough in an oiled bowl, turn it over to coat, cover with a towel, and let rise until doubled in bulk, 45 minutes to an hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut the squash in half, scrape out the seeds, and brush the cut surface with oil. Stuff the garlic into the cavities and place the squash cut side down on a sheet pan. Bake until the flesh is tender, about 40 minutes. Scoop out the squash and squeeze the garlic cloves. Mash them together with a fork until fairly smooth, leaving some texture.
Warm 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sage and cook until the onion is soft and beginning to color, about 12 minutes. Add it to the squash along with the grated cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Roll out dough into a 14-inch circle and spread the filling over it, leaving a border of 2 inches or more. Pleat the dough over the filling, then brush the edges with beaten egg. Bake until the crust is golden, about 25 minutes.

I am so behind!!!

2008-12-09T18:49:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's December already! I didn't get a chance to blog about my first Thanksgiving ever at my house. Every year I have begged my mom to let me host the holiday, but every year the family had other plans. This year, however, my mom was outnumbered.
Although our holiday meal was not entirely local, a great bit of it came from nearby farms. We had a yummy Mashed Potato and Root Veggie Puree which featured local turnips and potatoes. We also had sweet potatoe puree made with local sweet potatoes and our turkey was from within 200 miles of home. Lastly, the pumpkin pie was made with pumpkins from one of my co-workers gardens!
All in all, it was very successful and delicious, if I do say so myself.
But that's enough talk about Thanksgiving...sorry I am so behind. Let's talk about this week's answer to the Dark Days Challenge.
This week we made two meals which featured local ingrediants; zucchini quiche and pork ribs with greens. My boyfriend made the zucchini quiche last night and it featured zucchini grown in our garden and frozen many months ago, eggs from the local egg ranch, milk from Strauss Creamery (not local but not far either), and parmesan cheese (definately not local). It was to die for! I have written about my quiche recipe before, but David's version was much better than me...must have been the cheesy top crust!
Tonight, David and I collaberated on ribs and greens. He made his own rub, consisting of cumin, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and something else he would not divulge. He then rubbed it onto Sonoma Co. Ribs and seared them in a pan of local garlic and Napa Co Olive Oil. He then broiled them to finish them off. Yumm! I wilted down some mustard greens, kale, and swiss chard from our CSA box along with some local garlic and homemade chicken stock. We had some toasted wheat bread (from Safeway's bakery....I know, shame on me) on the side. The ingrediants aren't local, but at least it's baked nearby.

Dark Days Challenge 08/09

2008-11-19T16:00:00.000-08:00

I was really excited to join the Dark Days Challenge with (not so) Urban Hennery (http://urbanhennery.com/2008/10/14/dark-days-challenge-0809/) and couldn't wait to get started on my first local meal of the challenge.
Unfortunately, I was out of town the last couple of weeks and my honey forgot to pick up our CSA Veggie box. I do have some things canned from summer, but short of creating a meal out of syrupy nectarines and strawberry jam, it's slim pickins in the pantry.
As a result, I had to make due with some late season cherry tomatoes and basil from a pot on my deck....yes I am still getting tomatos and basil. What can I say? It's California.
I ended up cooking up some whole wheat pasta (not local), added my own tomatoes (homegrown), basil (homegrown), olive oil (Napa Co.- 40 miles), and garlic (local- 2 miles). It was tolerable considering the circumstances, but I am stlightly disapointed in my first attempt.
We shall have to see what tomorrow's veggie box holds in store for us......stay tuned.

My Sometimes "Go-To" Dinner

2008-10-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

To say I only have one "Go-To" dinner would be like saying I only have one pair of shoes in the closet.....a blatant fabrication.
But there is one dinner I probably make more often than any other because the ingredients are often already in my poorly stocked fridge.
Quiche always sounded kinda fancy to me and wasn't something I ever ordered when dining out. One day I ran across a whole-wheat/spelt frozen pie crust at Whole Foods and decided to give it a try.
I came across a recipe on RECIPEZARR.COM which sounded simple and promising. Here's the link to their version http://www.recipezaar.com/1809
Emeril has a non-vegetarian version that is very good as well.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/quiche-lorraine-recipe2/index.html

***Image courtesy of Food Network- FoodTV.Com

My version is a little bit different, but is pretty darn tasty if I do say so myself. Serve it with a green salad on the side for a well-balanced meal.

Veggie Quiche w/Spelt crust

1 small zucchini, grated, salted, and blotted with a paper towel (removes moisture)
1 carrot, grated
1/2 white onion, chopped (leaks would be good too)
1/4 cup non-fat milk (we love strauss milk)
1 cup cheese (we love Jarlsberg, white cheddar, and Gouda)
4 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 tbls whole wheat flour
1 tbls olive oil
1 Frozen, Whole Wheat/Spelt Pie Crust

Saute the onion w/ olive oil for a few minutes until transparent.
Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl and add onions.
Poor into frozen pie shell. Bake 45 minutes-1 hour in 350 degree oven.
Let stand 5 minutes.
Serve with a side salad. Feel free to mix up the veggies, your imagination is your limit.

Beets, Beets, Beautiful Beets

2008-10-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

Beets are an interesting veggie. As a child I always thought they tasted kinda like dirt.
My mother, however, has always had a love affair with them. She was forever taking them off of my hands by snatching them off of my plate. She also likes figs, which taste like dirt to me too. Perhaps a better term is "earthy" in flavor.
As I grew older, I would occasionally pick one thinly sliced pickled beet from the salad bar and smother it in ranch dressing. This was the only way I could stomach them.
Back in August, I discovered a fresh bunch of beets in my CSA box and was at a loss for what I would do with them. I did a little research on the internet and found a recipe on Epicurious which looked promising. It only took one taste of a freshly roasted beet to realize I had been missing out all those years I was eating the pickled ones from the can.
Roasted beet salads have become a regular on our menu and I look forward to finding beets in our weekly CSA box.
Recently, I decided to try growing beets in our little veggie garden....I'll keep you posted on their progress.
Not only are beets delicious, but they offer excellent nutritional benefits. According to Organicfacts.com, beets are rich in Potassium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus and Copper. They are also relatively low in calories and are considered a natural cleanser for the body.
If you haven't tried fresh beets, please take a stab at the recipe below.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/BEET-SALAD-238644

***Image borrowed from Epicurious.Com

Here is my own take on a roasted beet salad:

4 beets**, tops removed and scrubbed
3 tbls olive oil
3 tbls balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup walnuts
1 bunch arugula (or other baby greens)
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drizzle 1 tbls of olive oil over the beets and individually wrap each one in tin foil. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour or until tender.
Toast walnuts for 3-4 minutes over medium heat in a frying pan. Be careful not to burn or walnuts will be bitter.
Remove beets from oven after 1 hour. Unwrap tin foil (be careful it's hot). Gently rub beets with a damp paper towel to remove beet skins and discard skins.
Toss toasted walnuts and remaining ingredients together in bowl.
Slice beets into bitesize slices. Add beets to bowl with other ingredients.
Serve warm over arugula.

Serves 2 as a main course, 4 as a side dish
***Red beets are sweeter and work best for this recipe. Gold beets can be used, but they have a more savory flavor. Mix it up for a gorgeous presentation. Please choose local, organic beets.