diary from my kitchen.

I have tried again and again to keep a running log of all my kitchen creations.  It's something to show for all the food that disappears and is forgotten.  And sometimes I will have a colossal flop or an unexpected success or a spontaneous personal invention and would like to remember those for important future reference.  However, what usually happens is after a long logging hiatus, I try to recall everything I baked in the last year.  Perhaps this blog will help.  In a perfect world, each entry will be complete with high-quality-food-magazine-caliber pictures.  Right, so.

Thursday, June 9, 2011:
Lemon Cake with Blueberry Filling
  Recipe for lemon cake from allrecipes.com.  I added a spontaneous addition of the blueberry filling, made from frozen blueberries, a little sugar, water, and cornstarch.  It is very light and summery, which I like.  You can taste the box cake-ness of it, which is only okay.  AND it doesn't call for any type of fat - no oil or butter - which, I don't know what to think about that.

Sunday, June 5, 2011:
Chicken and Vegetable Pasta Salad with Asian Dressing
   I'm not restricting myself to baked goods here. :) Bowtie pasta, diced chicken breast sauteed with lemon pepper and seasoning salt and red onion, red bell pepper, can of corn, lots of cilantro, cucumber, Kraft Asian toasted sesame dressing, soy sauce, sesame oil.  I made this for a picnic, and it was perfect for a summer's day outdoors.

Saturday, June 4, 2011:
Monster Cookies
  From this classic cookbook.  But sans the M&M's (sad). This recipe is one of my favorites as it has the best of all worlds: peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chips, and M&M's all in one cookie. AND... no flour!

Pico de Gallo
   White onions, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapenos, limes, lemon juice, salt and pepper.  I stayed up super late chopping so the flavors could mix overnight - and it was completely worth it.  Also for the picnic.


Thursday, May 26, 2011:
Stromboli
   My new favorite pizza/bread creation!  This is pizza dough rolled out, heaped with tomato sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, and sauteed onions, peppers, and mushrooms, then rolled up like a log and baked.  This is also an excellent picnic food; in this case it was used to cover several of my meals during a weekend in a hotel.  I referenced this recipe from allrecipes.com, with my own special twists and touches.

Pigs in the Blanket
  I used pre-made pie crust for the blankets.  I will not do that again.  The texture was weird and unusual for what you would expect from a pig in the blanket.  Flop.... noted.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011:
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins with Streusel Topping
  A classic and a staple.  Good every time.