Well kids, you got to read my adventures in Thanksgiving diner, but now I thought I'd take a second to share my favorite way to enjoy the leftovers:
Thanksgiving Panini
Take two pieces of some rustic style bread (I personally love cranberry pecan bread avaliable at stop and shop)
spread one piece of bread with cranberry sauce
spread the other with mashed potatoes (or in this case sweet potato casserole)
place on one piece a small scoop of stuffing
layer with turkey
add about 2 tablespoons of gravy
top with other slice of bread and put on greased (or rather Pam sprayed) panini press and grill for 5mins. (or until heated through and sandwich has nice grill marks on it)
delicious!!
not feeling my overly simple leftover nom?! You can try one of the many interesting ideas on CHow
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thanks-Nom!!!!
So here it is kids, the one, the only, the likely long,
Thanks-noming feast-tacular extravaganza
First off let me say that my sister and I basically owned this holiday; grabbed it by the balls; had sex with its mom, etc. In this, quite long, blog about thanksgiving I will break it down into a few pieces. First the menu and recipes:
Appetizers
Crustini with caramelized onion and blue cheese
Absolut Brooklyn-tini’s
Soup
Butternut Squash Soup with Apple and Bacon
Main Course
Turkey (I know….get out of town)
Rustic bread, oyster mushroom, hazelnut and cranberry stuffing
Sweet potato casserole with sage
Sautéed mushrooms
Dessert
(hmmmm) Apple pie
POD’s famous crack is whack Pumpkin Pie: as in this pie has never had a crack in it....EVER. kids a damn baking ninja
Maple, pear Cheesecake
Now here are some important notes on my recipes:
- the butternut squash soup: do yourself a favor and tell people what kind of soup this is. It is delicious but when I gave some to Chris to try when I made it he was thoroughly caught off guard as most people don't associate squash with the taste of bacon. Procedural note.
- The Appetizer is very simple: toast some French bread slices, brushed with Olive Oil, and top with a slice of blue cheese and a little bit of caramelized onion, but I should note that this was simply an afterthought, and I had the onions and blue cheese lying around because I made them (along with homemade BBQ sauce for burgers at Chris's house which we ended up never making)so this will be the first and last time I mention them. So if you want to follow this group of recipes with game plan be forewarned.
- The stuffing did not actually get the Oyster Mushrooms that it called for because I could not find them at Guido's, just an FYI
-Also, I have no comments on the mushroom recipe which may or may not be the one that we made (I know it had no cream) because P-nut made it not me (oh and it was f-ing fabulous)
Next the game plan
So, myself + my sister + tiny kitchen x thanksgiving dinner = OMFG!!!!
Knowing this basic math meant that organization was key as was a healthy amount of prep. Obviously the pies were made ahead of time (and by P-Nut with the exception of the cheese cake) but also, the soup was made, the turkey stock (and this was interesting as I needed the neck, which was wrapped up with the turkey, which I then had to cut out and then wrap up the turkey again…so imagine with me our 16lb bird with packing tape all over it…I know….classy). The hazelnuts were toasted ahead of time (though that was all I had to do with the stuffing which P-nut took over and made nom-tastic) and finally, cheesecake was made.
This helped a lot along with being a bit anal retentive about keeping the kitchen clean (though I can’t cook in a mess and am basically claustrophobic in a messy kitchen) and maximizing space. We basically benefitted from acting like sisters, insist on having your own prep station, burners and “discard bowl” so that we were not tripping on each other. Also, we did about two loads of dishes before dinner so that as soon as something was no longer in use it was stowed for cleaning and out of our hair. Though aside, every P-nut and I have to do the dishes because we didn’t cook but this year that right was passed to my mother and aunt while she and I chilled with the vodka. But OMG bellyaching. *mental note to make sure the two of them are drunker before putting them to work again*
So on that note, here are some more things I learned from this hotmess:
- It’s just a holiday! There was some whining, complaining and gnashing of teeth from all parties (including myself) about our “taking over” the holiday but as we all got closer to the day I think we collectively realized that it’s a holiday about sitting down for an epic family dinner to give thanks for all you have including family: NOT about having a delicious gourmet dinner, and with that in mind I think we all enjoyed the holiday more. So let our obsession with good eats be a lesson to you. Thanksgiving may be an excuse to make a delicious diner but if it sucks, the turkey is dry as the dessert, the pie tastes like ass and all the sides are burned, the only harm is you go hungry, not without a great story
- Cook times are LIES!!!! I gave my guests a hour before dinner to come over just in case the turkey was done early…and it still wasn’t enough! So expect your turkey to come out early!
- My mother is a genius. Thanksgiving brunch was a great idea on her part because it gave everyone a relaxing way to spend the morning and my sister and I were alone to think up alibis for terminal kitchen disasters and allowed us to take cute-ifying breaks free of judgment (which we did…and we were cute, curled hair, sweater sets, heals and pearls bitches!)
- Also interesting note about the casserole. My family NEVER has casserole for thanksgiving. EVER! Which may be why I wanted to make one for this thanksgiving…you know…mix things up a bit. And let me tell you the response was hilarious. It made the rounds of the table, everyone had about a tablespoon of it on there plates and ten seconds later it made yet another round and was almost gone. I imagine years of green beans with Campbell’s soup and fried onions is to blame for my family’s weariness ot casserole but it is telling of how holiday cooking works: as a kid there are things you like and things you really don’t like, and when it’s your turn at the stove you tend to shun those things, but it is in this habit that your cooking becomes truly your own. My parents hated it so they never made it. I never got it so I wanted to make it. My kids will probably hate it and never make it….see where I’m going with this. It’s neither here nor there…just interesting.
- I have neglected to talk about the bird...I will! I promise.
oh and just a funny via a friend on Facebook:
Thanks-noming feast-tacular extravaganza
First off let me say that my sister and I basically owned this holiday; grabbed it by the balls; had sex with its mom, etc. In this, quite long, blog about thanksgiving I will break it down into a few pieces. First the menu and recipes:
Appetizers
Crustini with caramelized onion and blue cheese
Absolut Brooklyn-tini’s
Soup
Butternut Squash Soup with Apple and Bacon
Main Course
Turkey (I know….get out of town)
Rustic bread, oyster mushroom, hazelnut and cranberry stuffing
Sweet potato casserole with sage
Sautéed mushrooms
Dessert
(hmmmm) Apple pie
POD’s famous crack is whack Pumpkin Pie: as in this pie has never had a crack in it....EVER. kids a damn baking ninja
Maple, pear Cheesecake
Now here are some important notes on my recipes:
- the butternut squash soup: do yourself a favor and tell people what kind of soup this is. It is delicious but when I gave some to Chris to try when I made it he was thoroughly caught off guard as most people don't associate squash with the taste of bacon. Procedural note.
- The Appetizer is very simple: toast some French bread slices, brushed with Olive Oil, and top with a slice of blue cheese and a little bit of caramelized onion, but I should note that this was simply an afterthought, and I had the onions and blue cheese lying around because I made them (along with homemade BBQ sauce for burgers at Chris's house which we ended up never making)so this will be the first and last time I mention them. So if you want to follow this group of recipes with game plan be forewarned.
- The stuffing did not actually get the Oyster Mushrooms that it called for because I could not find them at Guido's, just an FYI
-Also, I have no comments on the mushroom recipe which may or may not be the one that we made (I know it had no cream) because P-nut made it not me (oh and it was f-ing fabulous)
Next the game plan
So, myself + my sister + tiny kitchen x thanksgiving dinner = OMFG!!!!
Knowing this basic math meant that organization was key as was a healthy amount of prep. Obviously the pies were made ahead of time (and by P-Nut with the exception of the cheese cake) but also, the soup was made, the turkey stock (and this was interesting as I needed the neck, which was wrapped up with the turkey, which I then had to cut out and then wrap up the turkey again…so imagine with me our 16lb bird with packing tape all over it…I know….classy). The hazelnuts were toasted ahead of time (though that was all I had to do with the stuffing which P-nut took over and made nom-tastic) and finally, cheesecake was made.
This helped a lot along with being a bit anal retentive about keeping the kitchen clean (though I can’t cook in a mess and am basically claustrophobic in a messy kitchen) and maximizing space. We basically benefitted from acting like sisters, insist on having your own prep station, burners and “discard bowl” so that we were not tripping on each other. Also, we did about two loads of dishes before dinner so that as soon as something was no longer in use it was stowed for cleaning and out of our hair. Though aside, every P-nut and I have to do the dishes because we didn’t cook but this year that right was passed to my mother and aunt while she and I chilled with the vodka. But OMG bellyaching. *mental note to make sure the two of them are drunker before putting them to work again*
So on that note, here are some more things I learned from this hotmess:
- It’s just a holiday! There was some whining, complaining and gnashing of teeth from all parties (including myself) about our “taking over” the holiday but as we all got closer to the day I think we collectively realized that it’s a holiday about sitting down for an epic family dinner to give thanks for all you have including family: NOT about having a delicious gourmet dinner, and with that in mind I think we all enjoyed the holiday more. So let our obsession with good eats be a lesson to you. Thanksgiving may be an excuse to make a delicious diner but if it sucks, the turkey is dry as the dessert, the pie tastes like ass and all the sides are burned, the only harm is you go hungry, not without a great story
- Cook times are LIES!!!! I gave my guests a hour before dinner to come over just in case the turkey was done early…and it still wasn’t enough! So expect your turkey to come out early!
- My mother is a genius. Thanksgiving brunch was a great idea on her part because it gave everyone a relaxing way to spend the morning and my sister and I were alone to think up alibis for terminal kitchen disasters and allowed us to take cute-ifying breaks free of judgment (which we did…and we were cute, curled hair, sweater sets, heals and pearls bitches!)
- Also interesting note about the casserole. My family NEVER has casserole for thanksgiving. EVER! Which may be why I wanted to make one for this thanksgiving…you know…mix things up a bit. And let me tell you the response was hilarious. It made the rounds of the table, everyone had about a tablespoon of it on there plates and ten seconds later it made yet another round and was almost gone. I imagine years of green beans with Campbell’s soup and fried onions is to blame for my family’s weariness ot casserole but it is telling of how holiday cooking works: as a kid there are things you like and things you really don’t like, and when it’s your turn at the stove you tend to shun those things, but it is in this habit that your cooking becomes truly your own. My parents hated it so they never made it. I never got it so I wanted to make it. My kids will probably hate it and never make it….see where I’m going with this. It’s neither here nor there…just interesting.
- I have neglected to talk about the bird...I will! I promise.
oh and just a funny via a friend on Facebook:
Thursday, November 25, 2010
T-day
a thanksgiving haiku
I am full and drunk
food so good I'm amazing
Happy Thanksgiving
food blog to follow
I am full and drunk
food so good I'm amazing
Happy Thanksgiving
food blog to follow
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
grocery store b4 T-day + Me= beats bitches with frozen turkey
T minus- 1 Day before Turkey day, and I've got a hell of a prep menu:
- first I have to make my turkey stock. This is one of 35 hundred things I need to do before I make gravy, the added oh crap being that I don't even really like gravy which makes me wonder why I'm bothering
- Then I have to make my butternut squash soup...with bacon....nom
-Then the pear cheese cake.
- then I have to iron the table cloth and set the table and clean the kitchen.
I'm so far ready to go, in my yoga pants and tee shirt (uniform of culinary success (and psyching myself up to go to the grocery store which will probably have 70 people per square foot in it as we speak. *picks up bat and reusable plastic bags*
for those of you also dealing with the madness today....
Good night and good luck
- first I have to make my turkey stock. This is one of 35 hundred things I need to do before I make gravy, the added oh crap being that I don't even really like gravy which makes me wonder why I'm bothering
- Then I have to make my butternut squash soup...with bacon....nom
-Then the pear cheese cake.
- then I have to iron the table cloth and set the table and clean the kitchen.
I'm so far ready to go, in my yoga pants and tee shirt (uniform of culinary success (and psyching myself up to go to the grocery store which will probably have 70 people per square foot in it as we speak. *picks up bat and reusable plastic bags*
for those of you also dealing with the madness today....
Good night and good luck
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The Spice of Life
Unwed T-Day guests and Homemade Takeout Edition
First let me say this blog. It is officially a week until T-day, a day that will leave in infamy.
In other news, before you read your weekly spice of life bits, I made homemade Take out this week. In fact, I made it yesterday! The recipe was Martha's (mine is without sesame seeds)
• 2 large egg whites
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
Whip together in a bowl until "Frothy"
add
• 1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
and toss
then heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a pan on Med-High heat (ultimately I turned the heat down a little). cook your shrimps (about 3 mins each side) until crispy. A note here, my shrimp stuck like crazy (even after I was good and added the oil to a hot pan) so the shrimps is gonna stick, and to avoid losing all the delicious crust you put on the shrimp to the bottom of the pan, use a spatula to unstick them. Also, make sure the shrimp are dry, because some of mine were not and the oil under them exploded and tried to eat me.
Once that is done, whip out the pan (and the side of the pan) and add:
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
Cook them down until the sauce is nice and syrupy (5 mins). To this re-add the shrimp and 4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced, and cook it all together for about 1 minute.
Serve over brown rice
offical nom rating (best takeout I ever made at home.
Also Chris got some delivered, to the mall and gave it a 8.5 (more sauce)
so on to the articles
Here is something Interesting I read: apparently the Census is reporting that more and more family's are not embracing classic family values concerning marriage, and daring to form healthy, happy, and functioning homes without the gold-banded ties of marriage. This means more and more unconventional family's will be huddled around the turkey breast this year.
In other Turkey-related news, My sister and I printed this off for our Thanks-noming gastro-feastraviganza ...because there is no such thing as too much information about handling something as important as thanksgiving dinner, but more because it has pictures. via Chow: Thanksgiving 101
Though Epicurious has videos
Not sure how to "pretty" your table before the holiday? Ever wonder how Tory Burch would decorate a table? me either...here it is if you want to see it.
And of course some design ideas by the Dame of Decorating. This one is my favorite
Don't know what to pair with that slow-roasting bird in the oven (no not an Australian euphemism for pregnancy) here are some suggestions:
- from Chow
- from Epicurious
- and for us humble folks, from Cheap Wine Ratings
and finally: are you home? are you sober? if your wine glass empty? then you are failing to observe culture you swine. Go out and enjoy a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau, as today is it's official release day
First let me say this blog. It is officially a week until T-day, a day that will leave in infamy.
In other news, before you read your weekly spice of life bits, I made homemade Take out this week. In fact, I made it yesterday! The recipe was Martha's (mine is without sesame seeds)
• 2 large egg whites
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
Whip together in a bowl until "Frothy"
add
• 1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
and toss
then heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a pan on Med-High heat (ultimately I turned the heat down a little). cook your shrimps (about 3 mins each side) until crispy. A note here, my shrimp stuck like crazy (even after I was good and added the oil to a hot pan) so the shrimps is gonna stick, and to avoid losing all the delicious crust you put on the shrimp to the bottom of the pan, use a spatula to unstick them. Also, make sure the shrimp are dry, because some of mine were not and the oil under them exploded and tried to eat me.
Once that is done, whip out the pan (and the side of the pan) and add:
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
Cook them down until the sauce is nice and syrupy (5 mins). To this re-add the shrimp and 4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced, and cook it all together for about 1 minute.
Serve over brown rice
offical nom rating (best takeout I ever made at home.
Also Chris got some delivered, to the mall and gave it a 8.5 (more sauce)
so on to the articles
Here is something Interesting I read: apparently the Census is reporting that more and more family's are not embracing classic family values concerning marriage, and daring to form healthy, happy, and functioning homes without the gold-banded ties of marriage. This means more and more unconventional family's will be huddled around the turkey breast this year.
In other Turkey-related news, My sister and I printed this off for our Thanks-noming gastro-feastraviganza ...because there is no such thing as too much information about handling something as important as thanksgiving dinner, but more because it has pictures. via Chow: Thanksgiving 101
Though Epicurious has videos
Not sure how to "pretty" your table before the holiday? Ever wonder how Tory Burch would decorate a table? me either...here it is if you want to see it.
And of course some design ideas by the Dame of Decorating. This one is my favorite
Don't know what to pair with that slow-roasting bird in the oven (no not an Australian euphemism for pregnancy) here are some suggestions:
- from Chow
- from Epicurious
- and for us humble folks, from Cheap Wine Ratings
and finally: are you home? are you sober? if your wine glass empty? then you are failing to observe culture you swine. Go out and enjoy a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau, as today is it's official release day
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Best Day Ever!
Kind readers I will be brief, but there is some good news that must be passed along to you kind folks.
I have had a wonderful day:
- My Tiger got a job offer (hurray!!!! so proud of him)
- I didn't get cold called in class
- Rainy gross weather did not get the best of me and my spirits
- and when I walked into Starbucks today Dino was playing and Cranberry bliss bars are out again.
SO suffice to say I indulged. And heaven help me if that bar didn't taste like victory.
Lesson hear: your favorite noms are always improved when they are seasoned with Boyfriend pride
PS. not my image, got it off of living artfully...was too busy inhaling my own to take a picture....sowwy ...bad blogger
I have had a wonderful day:
- My Tiger got a job offer (hurray!!!! so proud of him)
- I didn't get cold called in class
- Rainy gross weather did not get the best of me and my spirits
- and when I walked into Starbucks today Dino was playing and Cranberry bliss bars are out again.
SO suffice to say I indulged. And heaven help me if that bar didn't taste like victory.
Lesson hear: your favorite noms are always improved when they are seasoned with Boyfriend pride
PS. not my image, got it off of living artfully...was too busy inhaling my own to take a picture....sowwy ...bad blogger
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The Spice of Life
The Martha Pie Spread, Evil Holiday Merchandising, Apple Crisp Pillow Talk Edition
Blog, I am sorry I have neglected you, Please forgive me with a double post, the Spice of Life and a Week in undisclosed adventures.
To start, let me say that the menu for the Alexandra/P-nut super Thanks-noming gastro-venture is complete. Turkeys will be herbed and roasted, homemade stock made for artisnly crafted stuffing and gravy. Pies will be made so perfect, Martha Stewarts annual pie spread (dirty description sorry) will look in envy upon them. For lack of a more artistic turn of phrase…shits going to be off the chain.
Example:
here is our thanksgiving: here is the chain:
Thanksgiving
><><><><><><><><><><><><><
notice they are not together....yeah
So anyway, planning is complete.
In other news, I am having a holiday crisis. Now I understand in our current economic climate it is important for retailers to maximize their potential sales for the holidays, and that they may do so by putting out their decorations, gift items, etc for Christmas now. I am not as offended as some of my peers at this with some important limitations: early display of these items is permitted provided:
(a) Thanksgiving is not directly overshadowed by the holiday
(b) no Christmas music, for any purpose, shall be played before the date 11/25
(c) no major Christmas decorations, excepting small posters and table displays, shall be placed in stores before 11/23
Technical? yes. I'm in law school so don't judge me. I sleep like 6 hours a night and spend almost every other waking moment of it studying the law *drolls on self*
Now seemingly all is well with your humble author, and it was until a little blog called Decorista ruined everything for me. I enjoy this blog. A lot. I love interior design. But today when my searches lead me to stylish holiday decorating, I found myself excited at the prospect of decoration, wanting to buy wrapping paper and package tags, problematically two weeks before my own morally acceptable Holiday commencement date. I am in a philosophical quagmire.
On to cooking, I recently (and by recently I mean yesterday) had a much needed girls night with my friend Kate, and I should share that for the first time ever I had acorn squash with brown sugar. I’ve always seen it done that way but never had it myself. And it is delicious. This was served with some chicken with wine sauce (me) and broccoli (her). It was served with a Big House White wine, and let me just say, Big House may be my new favorite, cheaper wine producers. Now I am no sommelier, nor am I in any way shape or form wealthy (insert angry comment about politics here) so I am a fan of decent, go to, cheap wines for your every day drinking. I was previously quite a fan of Big House Red, a wine blend with about 18,000 grapes in it. It’s not sophisticated by any means, but its great for “hey I’m coming to dinner…let me bring the wine” evenings with friends. But I wouldn’t bring it to Martha’s house…in fact I would likely bring a human sacrifice but that’s a different story for a different day. But over all, a good wine for less the fancy dinners. (ps the review link is a great website for finding such wino choices)
I should also add she made me Apple Crisp…let me say this (because I am apparently Richard Nixon) thank God (pun intended) she is a Christian, because she probably could have had her way with me…I looooove apple crisp. And it was banging
Enough of me rambling. Here are your links for the week
OK everyone is freaked out by the Turkey dinner cake but I want to make it. 6 Turkey Recipes
Just put an order if for yAbsolut Brookln, Ill let you know
Not sure what to wear to Thanksgiving, here is some help
and finally, I loved this post from the aforementioned evil blog Decorista about proper table setting. Things my generation need to know to out manner our predecessors
Blog, I am sorry I have neglected you, Please forgive me with a double post, the Spice of Life and a Week in undisclosed adventures.
To start, let me say that the menu for the Alexandra/P-nut super Thanks-noming gastro-venture is complete. Turkeys will be herbed and roasted, homemade stock made for artisnly crafted stuffing and gravy. Pies will be made so perfect, Martha Stewarts annual pie spread (dirty description sorry) will look in envy upon them. For lack of a more artistic turn of phrase…shits going to be off the chain.
Example:
here is our thanksgiving: here is the chain:
Thanksgiving
><><><><><><><><><><><><><
notice they are not together....yeah
So anyway, planning is complete.
In other news, I am having a holiday crisis. Now I understand in our current economic climate it is important for retailers to maximize their potential sales for the holidays, and that they may do so by putting out their decorations, gift items, etc for Christmas now. I am not as offended as some of my peers at this with some important limitations: early display of these items is permitted provided:
(a) Thanksgiving is not directly overshadowed by the holiday
(b) no Christmas music, for any purpose, shall be played before the date 11/25
(c) no major Christmas decorations, excepting small posters and table displays, shall be placed in stores before 11/23
Technical? yes. I'm in law school so don't judge me. I sleep like 6 hours a night and spend almost every other waking moment of it studying the law *drolls on self*
Now seemingly all is well with your humble author, and it was until a little blog called Decorista ruined everything for me. I enjoy this blog. A lot. I love interior design. But today when my searches lead me to stylish holiday decorating, I found myself excited at the prospect of decoration, wanting to buy wrapping paper and package tags, problematically two weeks before my own morally acceptable Holiday commencement date. I am in a philosophical quagmire.
On to cooking, I recently (and by recently I mean yesterday) had a much needed girls night with my friend Kate, and I should share that for the first time ever I had acorn squash with brown sugar. I’ve always seen it done that way but never had it myself. And it is delicious. This was served with some chicken with wine sauce (me) and broccoli (her). It was served with a Big House White wine, and let me just say, Big House may be my new favorite, cheaper wine producers. Now I am no sommelier, nor am I in any way shape or form wealthy (insert angry comment about politics here) so I am a fan of decent, go to, cheap wines for your every day drinking. I was previously quite a fan of Big House Red, a wine blend with about 18,000 grapes in it. It’s not sophisticated by any means, but its great for “hey I’m coming to dinner…let me bring the wine” evenings with friends. But I wouldn’t bring it to Martha’s house…in fact I would likely bring a human sacrifice but that’s a different story for a different day. But over all, a good wine for less the fancy dinners. (ps the review link is a great website for finding such wino choices)
I should also add she made me Apple Crisp…let me say this (because I am apparently Richard Nixon) thank God (pun intended) she is a Christian, because she probably could have had her way with me…I looooove apple crisp. And it was banging
Enough of me rambling. Here are your links for the week
OK everyone is freaked out by the Turkey dinner cake but I want to make it. 6 Turkey Recipes
Just put an order if for yAbsolut Brookln, Ill let you know
Not sure what to wear to Thanksgiving, here is some help
and finally, I loved this post from the aforementioned evil blog Decorista about proper table setting. Things my generation need to know to out manner our predecessors
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Ween
SO I have next to nothing to write about this week because I wrote a paper, and that encompassed my almost every waking minute.
However, I did try something different this week with the conclusion that I hate it and am being unduly influenced by Top Chef: Just Desserts.
I tried to make my own Almond Joys for Halloween.
The first attempt (sans recipe with "how hard could this be" being my famous last words). I tempered the chocolate, but it was not getting to the consistency I wanted, so I added a touch of cream. FAIL. This turned my chocolate into a unhardened mush.
The second time around (after reading a recipe..."ahhh...that's how they do it") I didn't add cream, but non-the-less could not get the texture I wanted. As a result, my Almond joys looked more like little poops then anything else, though that being said they were delicious.
Outside of that debacle though, I have to give a shout out to my mom who hosted a bangin party for my friends and family The spread included: cheese fondue (OK it makes me sound like less of a girl to say this but so much better then chocolate fondue), with roasted veggies, garlic bread (courtesy of Marilou) Spaghetti and Meatballs, Black bean guacamole (or Frankenstein Guacamole) and bleeding heart martini's. Dessert was handled by my aunt, who made mini caramel apples (With Lady apples) truffle lollipops, and pumpkin cupcakes. Delicious.
It was epic...we drank....we ate....we scared some kids...all around an awesome time.I went dressed as Daria and Lauren was Jane (we are awesome)
I should also mention another important lesson I learned this Halloween:
Chris and I had a party to go to Saturday, and I wasn't sure what I wanted to go as. I had it narrowed down to a few choices (hipster, Coco Chanel, lumberjack) and then I realized if I went as a Hipster I could just a case of PBR as a prop.AMAZING
lesson here: if you can use booze as a prop it wins automatically
and remember, it's not a drinking problem; it's method acting
However, I did try something different this week with the conclusion that I hate it and am being unduly influenced by Top Chef: Just Desserts.
I tried to make my own Almond Joys for Halloween.
The first attempt (sans recipe with "how hard could this be" being my famous last words). I tempered the chocolate, but it was not getting to the consistency I wanted, so I added a touch of cream. FAIL. This turned my chocolate into a unhardened mush.
The second time around (after reading a recipe..."ahhh...that's how they do it") I didn't add cream, but non-the-less could not get the texture I wanted. As a result, my Almond joys looked more like little poops then anything else, though that being said they were delicious.
Outside of that debacle though, I have to give a shout out to my mom who hosted a bangin party for my friends and family The spread included: cheese fondue (OK it makes me sound like less of a girl to say this but so much better then chocolate fondue), with roasted veggies, garlic bread (courtesy of Marilou) Spaghetti and Meatballs, Black bean guacamole (or Frankenstein Guacamole) and bleeding heart martini's. Dessert was handled by my aunt, who made mini caramel apples (With Lady apples) truffle lollipops, and pumpkin cupcakes. Delicious.
It was epic...we drank....we ate....we scared some kids...all around an awesome time.I went dressed as Daria and Lauren was Jane (we are awesome)
I should also mention another important lesson I learned this Halloween:
Chris and I had a party to go to Saturday, and I wasn't sure what I wanted to go as. I had it narrowed down to a few choices (hipster, Coco Chanel, lumberjack) and then I realized if I went as a Hipster I could just a case of PBR as a prop.AMAZING
lesson here: if you can use booze as a prop it wins automatically
and remember, it's not a drinking problem; it's method acting
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