Thursday, August 18, 2011

we've moved!

Don't panic. This page will remain active for quite some time, because it's going to take me a while to transfer all the content to the new location. All of your favorite recipes will still be here until further notice.

BUT ....

if you want what's new and exciting, you'll have to head over to my new home:

The NEW BB&F !

Bookmark it! Visit often! Enjoy the sleek appearance, forums, social toolbar, Facebook connectivity, and MOBILE SITE!  I'm so excited and I can't wait to see you there!!!!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Hittin' the books: Extra Credit

Last week I shared some of the books that I think are essential for the home cook - the ones that teach you the basics, and how to be a better cook. This week I wanted to share three books from my library that aren't just full of good food, but also make for a darn good read. Maybe not everyone would want them, but I sure can't live without them. These are the cookbooks that I love so much I'll just sit around and read them when I'm bored. Because I'm a nerd.

I value this book for the storytelling just as much as for the recipes. In The Taste of Country Cooking, Miss Lewis recounts growing up in Freetown, Virginia (founded by her grandfather and other freed slaves following emancipation in 1865). She shares what life was like in a small rural community, and how the food tied in with that kind of country living. The book and recipes are organized by seasons, and everything is simple and fresh. Each chapter begins with a story of what would happen in the community during that part of the year, and is followed by a handful of menus and their accompanying recipes. This is the way rural America used to eat, back when "local" and "seasonal" weren't buzzwords for foodies - it was just the way of life. For me, Miss Lewis is one of those greats I wish I could have had the privelige of meeting. Although she passed away a few years ago, her writing and recipes continue to inspire me and make me love living in the country that much more. Check out this to-die-for menu from the book:

AN EARLY SUMMER BREAKFAST

Ham in Heavy Cream Sauce
Covered Fried Eggs
Pan Fried Sweet Potatoes
Biscuits & Butter
Green Tomato Preserves
and
Coffee

If that's not fuel for working the fields I don't know what is... That's just ONE of the many deliciously simple, hearty country meals from this book. If that's the kind of food you're into, then you need to run out and pick up The Taste of Country Cooking.

The Glory of Southern Cooking by James Villas
I've decided that this is a pretty definitive volume on the subject of southern food. Over 375 dishes culled from all over the south - from the hills of Tennessee to the Carolina Lowcountry - there's pretty much any classic southern dish you can think of, including some fairly obscure and nearly forgotten ones. Although he's not quite the storyteller that Miss Lewis was, James Villas offers a brief history for each recipe in the book. A sampling: Jezebel (a spicy-sweet spread), Kenetucky Cheese Pudding, Creole Barbecued Shrimp, Awendaw, Hummingbird Cake, Pickled Peaches, and of course, Mint Juleps. It's like he spoke to every grandmother in the south and got their most beloved recipes. I have made a LOT of dishes from this book, and have yet to be disappointed. I think you'll all love it too!

Martha Stewart's Hors D'Oeuvres Handbook
Stop rolling your eyes...I'm serious about this one. I may not love everything Martha does, but I don't know what I'd do without this book. There's a picture of every single recipe. All of them. This book saved my life when I was catering for the first time, and even if you don't entertain much there are great little bites to bring to parties, or even turn into a fun dinner. There are also a few things that I like to make and give as gifts for the holidays (the Icebox Crackers are perfect for giving, and super easy). The Pretzel Bites are perfect for when you have friends over on college game day, and the cocktail recipes would perk up any girls night in. There's also fantastic advice on planning a party menu, making things ahead, and how to look for the best ingredients. I almost featured it in my list of essential books, and if you enjoy entertaining at all, it SHOULD be in your collection.

Next week: Indian food, Italian food, and celebrity chefs!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Hittin' the Books: The Basics

I have a lot of cookbooks. A. Lot. But there are a handful that I keep going back to, and feel like everyone should have. If you enjoy cooking and want to learn more, or want to learn how to do pretty much anything better, these are worthwhile investments.

For a while, I was just grabbing any old book with a pretty cover. As I learned more about who I am in the kitchen and the foods I truly love, I started to become a little more selective. I'd like to share with you what I feel are a few essentials for the home cook and, in the next posts in this series, a few of my personal favorites. (I despise dust jackets and throw them in the trash as soon as I get a book home, so the covers may look a little different than what you will find in the stores)

The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer (mine's the 75th anniversary edition)
You KNOW if a cookbook has been around for 75 years and is still selling, it must be pretty important. This is the book that sparked my imagination and really got me interested in cooking. I was amazed that so many different recipes could be found in one book. The easy-to-read recipe format, along with tons of advice and tips, really make this the home cook's best friend. This is actually the second copy I've owned, because I use it so often and tend to wear it out (even when I'm not using the recipes, I look to it as a reference). I can't say enough about how useful Joy has been. I know it won't disappoint you!

Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, with Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck
I would be committing a crime against home cookery if I didn't include this book. You may think that you don't care much for french food, but this is so much more than that. Mastering is an excellent manual for basic skills. It's like having Julia herself coach you through what equipment you need, basic knife skills, all the stocks, sauces, and other master recipes of classic French cuisine. These aren't hoity toity recipes- these are the skills that will make you better at any kind of cooking, the skills that people pay upwards of  $25,000 to learn in their first year of culinary school. Cook your way through the first couple of chapters and I promise you will be better at what you do. It's also important to know that the recipes in here aren't really all that fancy, or difficult, or expensive. It's simple, DELICIOUS, and elegant food that you could serve any time.

Baking with Julia by Julia Child, featuring a slew of famous chefs, bakers, and pastry chefs
Can you tell I love Julia? I once had a friend from culinary school tell me I was "like Julia Child, only hip" - possibly the greatest compliment I've ever received, because I want to teach people to cook and love food the way she did. Anyhoo... This book made me a better baker. As far as I'm concerned, if I ever had the chance to teach a baking class for home cooks, this would be my textbook. She starts with basic, master recipes, then expands on them. I spend my summers baking my way through this book from cover to cover, and I'm a better baker for it. If you love cookies, cakes, pastries, and breads, then you need this book. It's the companion to a PBS series by the same name, and I believe it's still available on DVD. Pairing the two would no doubt be even more enriching than the book alone.

I didn't get a picture because my camera batteries died, but for extra credit you could grab a copy of Larousse Gastronomique. This book is for the pros, and the food geeks. It's a comprehensive dictionary/encyclopedia of cooking terms, techniques, ingredients, etc. My mom found me a copy from the 60's at a used bookstore for $15; brand new it's considerably more. I use it when people ask me a random food question, or if I'm unsure of a certain technique. It's also really hefty, so I may or may not use it to press flowers...

Culinary Artistry by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page
Although aimed at future professionals, I think this is an excellent read for home cooks who yearn to be more creative and cook more intuitively. With tons of input from the best chefs on the planet, they break down what goes into creating a dish, and a menu. There are lists upon lists to reference: foods by season, what goes with what, which herbs compliment this or that, contrasts between ingredients, and so much more. Not to mention the scores of inspiration by the people who do it best. So, you say, it's spring? And beets are in season? I've never done beets, what goes with them? Well let me just turn to page 96 and see what I have handy from that list... You pretty much can't mess it up. The best part is, you'll start to remember this sort of stuff, and throwing things together will no longer involve a book. This is also a HUGE help in the budget department. When I need to do my shopping from the pantry, and don't feel like spending all day looking at my cookbooks, I pull out this book. If I have salmon in the freezer, I'll look at the list of things that go with it and see what I have handy. More than one fantastic improvised dinner has come about this way.

Look who forgot to rotate the picture :)
And finally...
You don't have to get this specific one, but every home cook needs a little guide for substituting ingredients. Ever look at a recipe and think "man, I don't like/can't afford/can't find that ingredient...?" That's what books like this are for. Once I decide I want to make something, I don't want to have to give up on it just because I can't find (for example) juniper berries at the local grocery store. Thanks to a handy substitution guide I know I can toss a little gin in there and call it a day. Run out of baking powder? Well if you have baking soda and cream of tartar laying around, then you don't have to worry. Because this little book told you that would work.

So those are what I think some of the must-haves are- certainly not a comprehensive list...what do you think? Did I leave anything out? Is there a cookbook you couldn't live without? Next Tuesday I'll start sharing some of my favorites that, although not essential basics, I couldn't imagine my kitchen without them :)

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Great Beginnings

This is easily the most exciting part of vegetable gardening - when the first fruits of your labor begin to make their appearances. Little tomato nubbins that seem to turn into green globes overnight, the tiniest of beans and pea blossoms, pinkie-sized peppers...It's all so fascinating, and it's a beautiful moment of realization that yes, you are competent with dirt and seed and shovel. It's also a reminder that soon, you will not have to pay out the wazoo for sub-par tomatoes at the store. No, soon you will step out of your back door, pluck one still warm from the sun, and literally taste summer. Even the edibles that grow wild are peeking up at the sun. There are gobs of wild blackberries all around where we live, and Chris brought me the first ripe one two days ago. "There's...thousands...of them," he said with a huge goofy smile, "they'll all be ready in another week or two." Of course we both knew that already, but the excitement of many, many pounds of free berries is just too much to contain...(Ok, not entirely free. One must brave briars and -possibly- snakes to get at them, but they are worth the risks)

I really enjoy taking pictures of our veggies as they grow, and god bless the macro setting on a digital camera. It makes me look like a legitimate photographer sometimes. So here, I present to you, a little photo essay of what are most certainly some great beginnings:









Tuesday, April 26, 2011

What's going on?

I can be pretty terrible at this blogging thing sometimes, can't I ? That's no good, considering I'm trying to reach 5,000 hits by August. So, since I haven't posted in what seems like ages, you may (or may not) be asking yourselves "what the heck has she been up to?". Just life...and procrastination.

It's spring, and here at little old Ogle Acres that means being outside. Planting, watering, weeding, playing...none of which involve being anywhere near a computer. I used to do my blogging in the morning with my little (huge) cup of coffee, but now I'm doing this:

Told you I had weeding to do
Also, I've been working out a lot. And eating really healthy. I don't know if you've noticed, but this blog isn't exactly about scrambled egg whites, big salads, and standing overhead presses (no, I do not have a picture of that). So, I've been working out how to balance testing and creating the comfort food recipes you all love with the healthy lifestyle I'm trying to live. I don't want to compromise the integrity of classic southern dishes, either - so I don't want to do healthified versions of Southern classics (I just invented that word, healthified. Say it with a southern accent- it works)

So here's what I AM going to do:
1. Practice a little time management and get up earlier so I have more time to blog
2. Add Gardening and Healthy Living pages
3. Use my Sunday dinners for the really good, sinful food we all have come to expect from me.

Are you all ok with that? I hope so. I hope you can bear with me, I'm only human like the rest of you (you did read about my CookieFail, didn't you?!) I'm just a girl in a double-wide trying to write a cookbook, grow some veggies, lose 18 pounds, make some friends, and remain sane while raising a 3 year old.

Sounds like the makings of a pretty interesting blog, to me :)

Friday, March 25, 2011

The Other Red Meat: Venison

1. We live in the country
2. My husband likes to hunt


A lot of people in the South depend on the deer meat our hunters bring home to help keep grocery costs down throughout the year. Many folks think venison is too gamey tasting. I think this recipe/technique will change some minds...

I don't have a name for it. I'm so sorry - I really tried to think something up, but couldn't come up with anything other than "Venison Nuggets", or "Bambi Bites", or "Sauteed Venison Loin Cubes with Peppers and Onions". The first two are ridiculous, the third one is too long and snooty. Feel free to name this recipe for me in the comments section.

One of the best ways to help remove some of the gaminess of the meat is to soak it in watered down milk overnight, or at least a couple of hours. This helps draw out the blood and mellow the flavor. I used the backstrap for this recipe, which is kind of like a tenderloin cut. This was an improv recipe, so measurements aren't precise. You could use any meat for this. It's just a quick, non-Asian stir fry, really.

Remove any tendons and/or  silverskin from the backstrap/tenderloin (which has been soaked, if desired) and cut it into bite size cubes. Toss with a generous sprinkle of steak seasoning and lemon pepper. Let stand while you slice up the veggies

I had some button mushrooms, half of a Poblano pepper, and half of a white onion hanging out in the fridge, so that's what I used. (Poblanos have a little heat - sort of a happy medium between a bell pepper and a mild jalapeno. You can find them amongst the other peppers at any grocery store these days. We love them out here at Ogle Acres!)

Not as old as she looks...
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium high heat. lightly film the bottom with oil. When it's near the smoking point, toss in the meat and cook to medium  rare. Keep it moving around so it doesn't burn or overcook.You really want the pan screaming hot.


Remove the meat to a bowl and add the veggies, cook until tender and lightly charred.

they will pick up the crusty bits and flavor from the meat, so there's really no need to season them with anything more than a little salt.

Toss together the meat and veggies and serve with pretty much ANYTHING. Pile on top of mashed potatoes or rice, buttered egg noodles, or do what I did:

Make an epic salad with mixed greens, scallions, cucumber, blue cheese dressing and blue cheese crumbles. Blue cheese is really fantastic with red meat. That flavor combo just really brings me joy...

If you don't have venison in your freezer, feel free to use beef in this dish. Since it's cooked to medium rare you can use a cheaper cut. The flavors would also work with chicken. It's a tasty, fast, weeknight treat. 

Not Just Any Orange

The Queen of Citrus- Blood Orange
As far as I'm concerned, this is the best thing to ever happen to the world of oranges. I can only find them in stores in February and March, and was shocked to see them here in little old Walterboro!

The flavor is very sweet, floral, and almost honey-like. And the smell, oh, the smell! I would love to just rub the zest behind my ears.

When looking for them in stores, look for an orange rind with a deep red blush to it. When you cut into it the flesh should be fragrant and look, well, blood red. Hence the name.

Apparently I have sausage fingers when juicing...
The juice makes for a FANTASTIC mimosa. Use it anywhere that regular orange juice is called for  for more depth of flavor. Segmented out it's great on salads with grilled chicken.  Treat my favorite orange just as you would any other. But with more respect and adoration, of course, for she is royalty.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Fancy-Pants: Early Spring Omelette

I don't make breakfast quite often enough for you people. I don't know why, either - I tend to eat pretty fun stuff in the morning. Or a cold pork chop - you know, whatever's handy.

I love omelettes: they are quick and delicious, although not always easy. Jacques Pepin (a card-carrying master chef and friend of Julia) says he judges the skill of a chef by how he makes an omelette. Don't be scared of that though, because YOUR omelette doesn't have to be perfect. It should just be delicious! This VIDEO featuring the adorable Jaime Oliver is a quick lesson in omelette technique- he gives you a basic how-to in under 5 minutes.

I called this an "Early Spring" omelette because 1. It's the end of February, ergo: early spring here. 2. The produce involved is what's growing at my house right now. And hanging out in the fridge. Whatever - just go with it...

The spinach is growing in a pot on my porch, I planted it back in December. The cute, trendy, and possibly pretentious microgreens are merely the result of thinning out the salad greens that have sprouted up in a pot in my greenhouse. I think you can buy them, but they are stupid expensive because they are trendy and pretentious, so just leave them out if you don't have a crop to thin. They add nice flavor but aren't essential. (To be honest, I only added them at the end because my omelette was ugly, and they dressed it up.) Also, I went with sun-dried tomatoes because in February, there is no such thing as a truly fresh tomato.

On with the show!

Early Spring Omelet (for one)

2 eggs, as fresh as humanly possible (or chickenly possible?)

1 tablespoon milk

2 teaspoons sour cream

pinch of kosher salt

1 cup fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped

1 tablespoon sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (oil packed- you will need 1 tablespoon of the oil as well)

1 Tablespoon goat cheese, crumbled. (or feta, or monterey jack- whatever floats your boat)

A handful of microgreens (completely optional)

Have all your ingredients ready, because this comes together quickly!


Beat together the eggs, milk, sour cream, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
Heat a small (7-8inch) NONSTICK skillet over medium high heat, and add 1 tablespoon of the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes. Toss in the spinach and tomatoes and saute till the spinach is just wilted. Transfer to a small bowl and pour the eggs into the skillet (there should be enough residual oil in the pan to cook the eggs in).

I have such a crush on eggs...mmmm...eggy goodness...
Now here's where watching that video I linked to earlier will have come in handy, because it's a lot easier to watch and copy than to try and explain in writing. I prefer the french technique because it results in a fluffier omelette. It involves stirring the eggs and shaking the pan violently and waking up everyone in the house with all the racket you're making, until the eggs are almost set. However, you can also gently move them around as the adorable Jamie Oliver does.

When the eggs are about half-cooked (still fairly moist, definitely not scrambled), add the spinach, tomatoes, and cheese.

Slightly off center. On purpose.
Now here's the hard part- rolling this puppy up. Yesterday it went really well and came out beautifully. Today was a bit more challenging (hence the microgreens). You're going to loosen very carefully the edges with a fork, and very carefully slide a spatula under the edge opposite the handle, and very carefully (but like you mean it) do a sort of jerking motion with the pan while flipping the free edge over the filling. And that was the longest sentence in recipe-writing history.

At this point the bulk of the omelette should be on the side of the pan closest to the handle. Slide it to the opposite side, and roll it onto a plate.

Many things can go wrong here, and that's OK. You can tuck loose edges under, wipe the plate clean, and do what I did because the darn thing cracked open when it rolled on to the plate:

Nobody needs to know that this was a train wreck seconds before the picture was taken.
I took advantage of the crack in the top and turned it into a fancy slit, which says "Peekaboo! There's tasty goodness hiding in here!" Then topped it with some microgreens that say "Ho ho! Look how fancy and delicious I am!"

Now, once you have mastered the omelette, your options are limitless. Stuff these babies with ANYHTING (although I wouldn't go over 3 items inside). Fix it plain. Serve it with a salad and a glass of wine for lunch or dinner. There's something really classy and special about it, even though its such simple food.

Try it now! Anytime can be omelette time!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Brewin' a Stew

It's been a long time, friends. We've had some pretty life-changing stuff going on around the Ogle homestead, so I just haven't had time to dedicate to blogging and cooking the way I'd like to. But never fear! I think I've worked out a schedule to give this project the time it deserves, and the food that you all deserve!

A while back, on a cold and rainy day,  I thought there would be nothing better to warm us up than a hearty beef stew. Now, I employ a few techniques that I've learned over the years that make this take a little longer, but it's Beef Stew for crying out loud. Besides, I have never claimed to offer speedy recipes - only tasty ones. Also, note the word "brewin' " in the title above. Yes, my children, that means there's beer involved (mostly because I didn't have any wine...I know, shocking).

There's two main things I do differently from others here: 1) I dry off the meat before browning it, and 2) I cook it in the oven.

Why dry the beef? Because Julia- yes, that Julia - said so. When you are searing the chunks of meat, you are mostly trying to develop flavor. It won't get a rich brown crust if there's too much moisture, so dry it off with paper towels.

Have I told you what a joy it is to have a dutch oven? It doesn't have to be an expensive Le Cruset (like mine, which was a gift from a dear friend, and was apparently free- I didn't ask questions.). You can find a good one at WalMart these days. Just make sure it's enameled cast iron and you will be good to go. It is the workhorse in my kitchen. In mine I've baked macaroni, made chicken stock, braised meats, made stews and chili, even baked bread. My favorite thing about a dutch oven is that it can go from stovetop to oven to table, which means less dishes to wash. Oh, and enameled cast iron is the EASIEST thing to clean EVER.

OK! Lets brew up some stew !


Classic Beef Stew

1 1/2 lbs beef for stew (it's already cut into large chunks for you! Or you could buy a small boneless chuck roast and cut it up, which I have done before)

1/2 cup flour mixed with 1 teaspoon Lawry's, for dusting

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil, plus more as needed

1/2 can beer (drink the rest. Duh.)

1 can beef broth

1 can stewed tomatoes

3 celery stalks, cut into 1 inch pieces

2 carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2 inch pieces

1 Onion, quartered

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Salt & Pepper, to taste


Preheat the oven to 325.
Dry the beef thoroughly with paper towels. Toss in the flour to coat lightly. We aren't breading here, just getting a light dusting of flour to help give the meat a nice brown crust. Heat the oil (which should be just enough to coat the bottom) in a large dutch oven over medium high heat. You want the oil almost to the smoking point. Brown the meat in batches, turning once, until you get a nice crust (you may need to add a touch more oil between batches).

It's important not to crowd the pan or the meat will steam instead of brown. I usually end up doing about 5 or 6 chunks per batch. Remove the meat to a bowl as each batch finishes. What you're looking for here is a crisp, dark crust on at least 2 sides - it will help enrich the flavor of the finished product.

Once the meat is all browned and out of the pot, add the beer and bring to a simmer, scraping up all the browned bits of goodness from the bottom of the pan. Add the beef broth and tomatoes then return your attention to the meat.

If you've purchased beef for stew, chances are the meat is in pretty huge chunks. Cut it into bite size pieces as needed (around 1 inch or so). Return the meat along with any juices to the pot, along with the celery, carrots, onion, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring it all to a boil, stir, cover, and place in oven.

Cook for about 2 hours, but check it every 45 minutes - you may need to stir in a bit of water if it gets too thick. After 2 hours, the stew should be thick, the vegetables soft, and the meat meltingly tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

I know, right! It's so hearty & warming!


I like to accompany my beef stew with crispy egg noodles. It's also good over rice or smashed potatoes.

I know spring is almost here in the Lowcountry, but I have readers in colder climes that I'm sure will enjoy this while waiting for the snow to melt - I'm talking to you, Idaho.

Hope you love this as much as my husband did - and if you don't have a husband, make some of this and you will surely have one by the end of the week.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Kitchen Queries: Bad Fruit

Krystal E. in Texas shot me a text the other day and I just had to share this with you all. Once we got to the bottom of things, I knew it would be an issue that others might have.

"I seriously cannot keep fruit in my house for longer than a day without it getting moldy. I think it's the humidity, any suggestions?"

I had more questions for Krystal before being able to help her. I found out that the offending fruit was primarily berries and they were local and fresh. She was keeping them in green bags, which allegedly keep your produce fresher for longer. No problems yet, right? Well apparently the instructions for the green bags tell users to wash the produce before storing it in the green bag. Which is fine, unless you're talking about berries.

Berries are pretty delicate fruits to begin with, and you want to eat them soon after purchase. If they will be hanging around the fridge for a few days though, don't wash them until you are ready to eat them. The residual moisture will sit on them and speed up spoilage. I'm all for being efficient and pre-washing my produce when I get home, but the one thing I don't do that with is berries.

Krystal said she'd try not washing them in advance, and I haven't heard back from her so I'm assuming it worked out :)

Monday, January 31, 2011

While you wait...

I know, it's been a while. So while I work on some new posts, I thought I'd share a few links for sites that I just adore, and I think everyone else should too.  Just click the hotlinks and prepare to be entertained!

First up is a fantastic woman who really was the inspiration for my own blog, and I hope to meet her one day because I think we'd have a lot of fun hanging out and cooking together. And her husband wears chaps. Maybe he'd let mine borrow some...Oh dear. Where was I?

Yes, yes - The Pioneer Woman . Her name is Ree Drummond. She's married to a cattle rancher, has many children, is an amazing cook, and an incredible photographer. Please don't leave me for her, but definitely check her out. Also, tell her I sent you and that I want to meet her. Ree not only shares her recipes and photos, but also decorating, fashion, and even homeschooling stuff. And I want to be just like her when I grow up (even though Chris thinks I already am, without the cows).

Bakerella - This is, as far as I know, the birthplace of cake pops. If you don't know what they are then you have every reason in the world to visit this site. I'm making her S'more's cupcakes this week. She has amazing tips and inspiration for anyone who loves to bake cakes and cupcakes, and working with fondant. ~*WARNING: AVOID WHEN DIETING. YOU WILL BE COMPELLED TO CHEAT. *~

I have never been anywhere near New York, except for a 3 hour layover in Newark (which had a great view of Manhattan and delicious bagels), But I love Grubstreet . It's New York magazine's food blog, and it isn't just restaurant reviews, friends. It's all sorts of foodie articles, including a regular feature called "The New York Diet". NYD is sort of a celebrity food journal, where a public figure tells us what they eat for a week in the city. (Is anyone else compelled to spell New York, "New YOURK"? Maybe it's just me...)

Because I'm a girl and I like to window shop, there's Polyvore .I was introduced to this site by my future BFF The Pioneer Woman. It's so much fun! You drag & drop clothing, accessories, homewares, etc. onto a background and share with friends. The items are culled from all over the internet, in any price range. It's great for actual shopping, or if you are just looking to kill time and find inspiration.

I have to share my friend Kassandra Wood's blog. Budgeting Mommy follows Kassandra on her adventures in saving money. A lot of what she shares is local to the Carolina Lowcountry, but you can follow her advice and tips anywhere. I've been grocery shopping for a long time, but Kassandra's shopping strategies have really helped save our family money. And on top of that, her family is stinkin' adorable!

Saving the most important for last, The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative is a project started by renown quilter Ami Simms (who happens to be a friend and business associate of my mom, Peg Howard). Ami's mother was a victim of alzheimer's, and this all-volunteer grassroots non-profit has raised nearly a half million dollars for research since 2006. Research funded by AAQI has been groundbreaking, and this is a worthy cause that deserves your attention. You will have to see for yourself the unbelievable artistry involved in the quilts for the AAQI. Stop by and check them out, bid on a quilt at auction, or simply learn about other ways to help. You can also find them on Facebook. ~*Ad revenue from here at BB&F will be donated to the AAQI, so please click for the cause!*~

Well, that should keep you occupied until I come back with some recipes and articles :)

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Family Heirlooms: Frozen Cranberry Salad

I know it's cold outside, but no matter what time of year, this is one of my favorite desserts from Nena Howard. It's a simple dump, mix, freeze and serve recipe in the family of classic icebox desserts. I'm sure it will become a favorite of your family too! (I'll try to make it soon and get a picture up)

Frozen Cranberry Salad

1-8 ounce package cream cheese, room temperature

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1-12 ounce container cool whip

1-8 ounce can crushed pineapple

1-16 ounce can whole berry cranberry sauce

1-8 ounce container sour cream

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix very well. Pour into a standard loaf pan and freeze until solid. Slice and serve!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Gettin' Classy: Buttermilk-Brined Chicken Tenders



I have to be honest here, I haven't ordered chicken tenders out in public since '93. They are fun to make though, and a lot of my readers have kids, and kids like these fried little puppies almost as much as, well, puppies. Not fried puppies of course, because that would be wrong. Moving on...

I want to take a moment to thank all of Japan for panko. This incarnation of bread crumbs has changed my life. If it can be breaded and fried in my house, it will be breaded in panko. Always crunchy, never heavy. LOVE. IT. (You MUST try it on fried okra. It's a revelation)

The marinade I use here is almost the same as what I use on my classic fried chicken. You may think there's a lot of salt here, and there is, but you don't taste it in the finished product. I won't go into the science of brining (if you e-mail me I'll be happy to explain), but know that the magic of food science is at work here. What you end up with isn't salty at all, but unfailingly juicy and flavorful. You can also probably tell from the picture at the end of this recipe that I let my tenders get a little darker than most folks. I assure you this was on purpose. I like the added flavor of a dark brown crust. Not, mind you, burnt. Just darker than average. Alright, let's fry some stuff!



Buttermilk-Brined Chicken Tenders

2lbs chicken tenders

Juice of 2 lemons

1/4 cup honey

2 cups buttermilk

2 Tablespoons coarse kosher salt

2 teaspoons old bay seasoning

1 Tablespoon Sriracha

for breading:

1 cup flour

2 eggs, beaten with 1 cup milk

2 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

Oil for frying

In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, honey, and salt until honey is melted and salt is mostly dissolved (technically the honey won't "melt," but it reaches a nice fluid consistency). Whisk in the buttermilk, old bay and Sriracha to combine. Add the chicken and refrigerate 1-4 hours (4 would be ideal, don't go much beyond that though), turning occasionally.

I almost didn't take a picture of this step. It's not exactly pretty...


Dump the chicken into a colander and let the marinade drain off. Set up your breading station: the flour, egg/milk combo, and panko each get their own bowl, and place a cooling rack over a baking sheet. Dredge each chicken tender in the flour and shake off the excess, then dunk in the egg wash, and coat in panko. Set each tender on the rack.

Ready to meet their destiny


Once you're done breading, pour 1 inch of oil in a heavy frying pan and heat on medium to 350* (you do have a candy/oil thermometer, right?). While the oil heats, 2 things are going on with your resting tenders: 1.) the coating will "set," giving you a crispier result and 2.) it will take the chill off, which will allow them to cook more evenly and thoroughly.  

*if you have a fry daddy or deep fryer, definitely use that. I don't have one yet, so I do it the old fashioned way: in a cast-iron skillet. Please note that I do accept gifts and bribes, though...

Drop the tenders in the hot oil 2 or 3 at a time, depending on the size of your pan. Don't overcrowd! Fry about 5 or 6 minutes, turning once, until deeply browned. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle lightly with salt. Serve to happy childern with their favorite dipping sauce and fries. Or mashed potatoes. Or if you want to be classy like me,  lemon-thyme orzo*...



*Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta and a favorite in our house. Just boil till al dente, toss with melted butter, salt, the zest and juice of 1 lemon, and a couple teaspoons of fresh thyme leaves

Try these for dinner tonight. Hope you enjoy them!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Kitchen Queries: POrk Chop Boredom

Kelly L. asked: "I am tired of cooking the same old pork chops all the time. Do you have any ideas?"

Oh do I! So many of us fall into a routine with our cooking. Between how your parents did things and the magic of Shake & Bake it's easy to feel at a loss for new ideas for your favorite cuts of meat. Pork chops are about as versitile as chicken breasts though, so there's a lot of possibilities!

Go with the boneless ones. You can cut them into strips and use them in stir-fry recipes just like you would with chicken or beef. Or leave them whole, dust with salt, pepper, and flour, and brown in a bit of olive oil. Take them out of the pan and throw in 3/4 cup chicken broth, 1/4 cup white wine, and a tablespoon of grainy mustard. Let that reduce to about 1/2 cup and spoon over the pork chops. You can do so much with a simple pan sauce. Another option would be to saute some sliced apples and onion until soft (after removing the chops), sprinkle with some flour and slowly add 1/2 c chicken broth and 1/2 cup apple cider ( a tablespoon of bourbon wouldn't hurt...). Let that simmer until thick, whisking constantly, and you have a great cider gravy for your chops - I'm a fan of sweet-savory combinations. OR you could cut a little pocket in them and stuff them (one of my favorites). you can make your own stuffing or use prepared store-bought stuffing. Just cram it in the pocket and bake! I'll be featuring a recipe for that soon, but in the meantime you can search "stuffed pork chops" and find a wealth of great recipes. My favorite sites are Epicurious and Allrecipes .

What's Up Doc? : Spicy Roasted Carrot Soup

Bugs Bunny would be so proud!  So would my friend April, who asked me to put up something that isn't loaded with cheese and/or meat and/or butter.

When I told my mom I was working on a carrot soup recipe, she said "you don't really hear of people doing carrot soup these days." Well, that's a shame. It's rich, creamy, delicious, healthy, and pretty easy. It's a nice lunch with a salad or sandwich, and a great use for that handful of carrots rolling around in your refrigerator crisper drawer. It's also a lovely first course for a fancy fall or winter menu...

This recipe is great for doing ahead or in stages. Like most soups, the flavor improves over time. Roasting the carrots with olive oil and honey concentrates their flavor and sweetness and makes for a fantastic finished product. You can roast the carrots a day or two ahead (pick an evening when dinner is on the stove top and the oven is free - multitask!) and keep them in the fridge until you want to finish the soup. The finished soup will separate after sitting in the fridge, but you can just whisk it up and reheat it.

I roast the carrots low and slow to not only help coax out extra flavor, but to keep from over-caramelizing (aka burning) the natural sugars. Caramelized = good. Burnt = bad.

Ready, go! (if you don't want it spicy, just check out the variation at the bottom)

For about 4 one-cup servings

Spicy Roasted Carrot Soup:


3 Tablespoons olive oil

2Tablespoons honey (I used a raw honey)

1 tsp Sriracha (asian chile-garlic sauce. You can find it anywhere. There's a rooster on the bottle)- more or less depending on your tolerance of heat

1 tsp Chinese 5 spice powder

1/4 tsp each kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1lb carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces - DO NOT use "baby carrots"

1 small white onion, quartered

1 can chicken broth

1/2 cup coconut milk

1/4 cup half and half

Preheat oven to 325.
heat olive oil, honey, sriracha, and 5 spice powder in a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat, stirring, until well blended (the spices may foam a bit).

If only you could smell this- well, I guess if you make it you will...


Add the carrots and onion, salt & pepper, and toss to coat. Place in the oven for 1 1/2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.

Thought I'd toss in a "before roasting" pic.

The vegetables should be soft and lightly browned.

Heck, if you don't want soup, just eat them this way!


Let the roasted veggies cool, then transfer them, along with any juices in the pan, to a blender. Add the Chicken broth and coconut milk and puree till smooth. You may need to add up to 1/2 cup of water if it's too thick. I did, and it didn't diminish the flavor one bit.

Transfer the puree to a medium saucepan over medium low heat, stir in the cream, and heat through. Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve. And that's all there is to it, kids!

So good you'll think it's bad for you! But it's not!


You could top this off with a little chopped cilantro and maybe some homemade croutons (cube some bread, toss it in a hot skillet with some melted butter and a bit of chinese 5 spice and a pinch of salt until golden and crispy).

*Sriracha doesn't just add heat, but flavor too. If you leave it out, add 3 or 4 unpeeled garlic cloves to the pan with the carrots. Peel them before pureeing.


*to take this vegetarian, use vegetable broth but omit the onion (canned vegetable broth is onion-y enough). Leave out the cream and use your choice of either extra broth, extra coconut milk, or almond milk. 

*Try substituting curry powder for the Chinese five spice  - SO GOOD!

The variations will give you a different flavor altogether, but still a delicious soup!

Go give it a try - hope you enjoy!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Kitchen Queries: Sugar Substitutes

Anna P. wrote: "What is the best substitute for sugar? I want to make cinnamon rolls but the whole 'diet thing' is getting in the way."

Well, Anna, baking is surprisingly scientific, so tweaking recipes is more challenging. When you're cooking dinner, you can add a pinch of this and substitute that without affecting the outcome of the dish. But when you bake, a whole new set of rules comes into play. Alton Brown's show "Good Eats," and Harold McGee's book On Food and Cooking are great resources for the scientific details, which I won't go into here because people would get bored really fast.

I'm not personally a fan of artificial sweeteners for a ton of reasons, but if you're OK with them, you could substitute Splenda's Baking Blend into the filling of the cinnamon rolls. Usually the dough itself has sugar in it too, though, and I wouldn't make any substitutions there. That's where that pesky science comes in- you don't want to mess with the chemistry of a yeast-risen dough. Of course, the easiest way to make cinnamon rolls diet-friendly would be to make them smaller and only have one! I'm a much bigger fan of real food in moderation than chemically-engineered "healthy" food...

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Dirty Little Secrets Version 2.0 : I can't make grilled cheese

 Why would I tell you this? Because I don't want you to confuse me with a certain person whose name rhymes with Blartha Blewart. I'm a good cook - you wouldn't keep coming back for my recipes if I weren't - but I suck at a lot of things. If you're friends with me on Facebook, you may have seen my cookie confession over the holidays (more on that later). It's so odd, all the things I'm bad at are really simple things that most people can do blindfolded. Like make a grilled cheese sammich.

I can roll sushi. I can break down a chicken in under 3 minutes. I can turn melted sugar and cream into magical candy goodness. I can make butter-poached salmon that would make you weep. But I can't make a grilled cheese sammich. Or chocolate chip cookies. OR plain rice on the stove.

Sad but true, I am a victim of gadgetry. I can't make a grilled cheese in a pan because when I was a child, other people did it for me. When I got older, a little thing called a George Foreman grill came into my life and I used that to make what we all now know as "Panini." Then my Nana (the one that DOESN'T cook) gave me this:
I'm not showing you the inside because I'm not in the mood to clean it...

It makes perfect little triangles, with toasty brown outsides and gooey insides. If I attempt to do that with a spatula and a frying pan, the results are either burnt yet cold in the middle or a soggy mess. I have accepted the fact that I cannot make grilled cheese, and must rely on machines or other people to do it for me.

Note: try putting some Sriracha on your grilled cheese - whether you make it in a pan or a machine. You will thank me, assuming you like fiery hot Asian sauces. It's also fantastic on pizza. And in chicken noodle soup. Confession: I put it on everything. Maybe that will be Dirty Little Secrets Version 3.0 ...

While we're talking about machines that do things for me and fiery Asian sauces, lets talk about my inability to cook rice on a stove-top. Once upon a time I was capable of this simple task. Like anyone raised in the Lowcountry, or most parts of asia, I eat a lot of rice. A LOT. I used to cook it quite often, usually with success.

Then I moved to Japan and discovered a fantastic little thing called a rice cooker.

Say hello to my little friend. No, not the bottle of bourbon in the background, the rice cooker.


"You mean you just put it in there and push a button and it comes out perfect every time?!?! No boil overs? No adjusting of temperatures? I'll take three of them!!!"

That was ten years ago and I haven't done plain rice right on the stove since. Now don't get me wrong - I can cook a mean pilaf or perloo or whatnot. That's different. It's the plain stuff that kicks my fanny every time. If it were up to me, no one in America would be subjected to the torture that is cooking white rice on the stove - every home should have a rice cooker.

On to the Cookie Fail... This embarrasses me almost as much as the grilled cheese (which I am now craving, thanks to typing it over and over)

EVERY. TIME.

At least I could make rice at one point in my life. I have never, EVER, made a chocolate chip cookie worth it's weight in dough. They always come out looking like they dropped from the wrong end of a cow. Assuming they come off the pan at all, as seen in the above photo. The scraps and scrapings are usually edible, but they are ALWAYS ugly. And I don't understand it. I took Baking 101, and although my teacher was a bit of a tool and we all had to hit the bar before and/or after class to tolerate him, we managed to turn out good cookies. Every Christmas I bake like a crazy person and turn out bar cookies and crackers and candies that are divine. I can make a baguette that would make you want to run out, find a Frenchman, and hit him upside the head with it, but I can't make a stupid cookie. Even my 7 year old daughter knows my cookies look like bovine feces, so we stick to making marshmallows together. (So much fun, by the way - try it if you have a stand mixer!)

There you have it. A few of my culinary weaknesses. I also always overcook white fish, and although my baguettes are pretty pimp, my brioche would make a Frenchman want to hit me upside the head. Fudge confuses me, and I have yet to master pound cake (I know, I'm a bad southerner). But all those failures and things I can't do are what make cooking so much fun. Sure, they result in me throwing a fit of epic proportions, but they also show me that with food, you can never stop learning.

No matter how many cookbooks you read, blogs you visit, recipes you come up with, you will never know it all or be good at it all. I love discovering things in the kitchen, and I get as excited as an 11 year old at a Justin Bieber concert when I learn something new about food. That's why I write this blog - because I can't keep it to myself. I love to share my discoveries with everyone else, and I love teaching other people how to cook things. I also love being honest about my failures, because for all you may learn from visiting my world, I'm still learning too. I hope you like the food that I am good at, and I hope you keep coming back for more. Just know that you will never see chocolate chip cookies on this site. Go ask Blartha for that one.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

What A Hunk: Herb-Crusted Roast Beef

I know what you're thinking:

"Roast beef? but that's so expensive!"

Nay, say I, friends...it doesn't have to be. Tonight we're talking about taking a less expensive, but no less delicious, cut of beef and putting it where it belongs- Eye of round roast. The key here is to NOT OVERCOOK it. This recipe may exclude a few parties based on their meat done-ness preference. I say to you now: if you like your beef cooked beyond medium, then don't try this with eye of round roast.

Actually, if you like your beef cooked beyond medium you have issues I cannot address, and you should seek help and/or therapy. But I digress...

In a mostly-related aside, the holiday issue of Food and Wine magazine had an article on intuitive cooking, and I highly recommend it. Mostly because that's how this roast came about and I'm not offering a lot of precise measurements. Don't panic. The seasonings here are pretty classic and fool-proof, so you should be fine working in "handfuls" and "pinches." A certain manic, bubbly, raspy voiced TV cook does it all the time - and this is way better than Rachael's that person's food.


The seasonings here would work on a pricier roast as well, so feel free to experiment.

One other important note - you need a probe thermometer. They're about ten bucks at most mega marts. It's a digital display with a probe on a long wire. Simply insert probe into the meat and set the digital display  to the preferred temperature of done-ness. The beast goes in the oven and the display (usually magnetized) can hang out on your oven door. It will beep when the meat is ready. (I always back it up with an instant read meat thermometer though, just to be safe and double check the temp after cooking)

Okay - here we go!

Herb-Crusted Roast Beef

1- 2 1/2 to 3 pound eye of round roast. (This smallish size cooks quickly, and easily feeds 3-4 people if you have a nice hearty side dish or two)

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

a handful of fresh sage leaves, torn

leaves from 3 or 4 sprogs of rosemary, roughly chopped

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt

2 cloves garlic

about a palmful of fresh ground black pepper (coarse grind)


First things first - crank the oven up to 500 degrees and have a roasting pan with a rack handy.

This is what the roast looks like. Well, it should, at least:

yep - that's a roast

If you flip it over it will have a slab of fat. Don't panic - we like that sort of thing around here. Turn the roast fat-side up and score the fat in a nice diamond pattern, being careful not to cut all the way into the meat. It helps to have an incredibly sharp, fabulous knife like mine:

8-inch Shun Ken Onion series Chef's knife. Merry Christmas to me.
(For those who don't speak chef, this is an awesome knife and my husband gets SERIOUS brownie points for getting it for me)

Moving on - Brush the scored surface generously with the Dijon mustard. Get it all in the nooks and crannies.

Brush the sides too. Apparently I did...
Now toss the herbs, garlic, salt, pepper, and oil into a mini-prep or food processor and pulse to form a paste. Or you can use your awesome Christmas knife to chop and smush it into submission. Slather the herb paste all over the roast and place it in the roasting pan. Or put it in the pan and then slather it. Whatever tickles your fancy.

If I weren't such a pansy I'd just eat that raw. It looks so good...
Now place your thermometer probe in the roast and set it to 130 (medium rare), and pop it in the screaming hot 500 degree oven for 12 minutes. This will sear the outside and get a nice crust going. After 12 minutes, lower the heat to 375 and roast until it reaches an internal temperature of 130. This took my roast about 30 more minutes, but the time can vary. That's why your little probe thermometer comes in handy :)

When it gets to the magical temp, remove it from the oven and let it rest 10minutes before you carve it up. The temperature will go up a bit and the meat should be medium in the center. And now you have time to set the table...

After the meat is done resting take it to a cutting board and slice it nice and thin with your best carving knife. The ends may be a little more well done, but it should be rosy in the middle.

And the leftovers make FANTASTIC sandwiches!

Pictured with yesterday's risotto recipe

And in case you were wondering, I got my roast at Costco. It was a pack of 2 roasts for something like 12 dollars. Well worth it!

This and yesterday's risotto are nice to trot out for company when you want to impress but aren't made of money. If you are made of money, though, use truffles in the risotto and a standing rib roast. And call me for dinner...I'll bring the wine.

Hope you like it!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Leftover Bubbly? Champagne-Porcini Risotto

If, for some odd reason you didn't drink every blessed drop of champagne in your house on New Year's Eve, or squeeze the last few drops of it into a mimosa the next morning, AND you love mushrooms: This recipe will make your day.

If you don't love mushrooms, come back tomorrow.

I fell in love with this dish. I has a strong, earthy aroma and flavor. I think a good mushroom-y dish has an effect on me that I simply cannot describe on a family website. Just sayin'... Gentlemen, prepare to impress the ladies.

Champagne-Porcini Risotto

5 or 6 large pieces dried porcini mushrooms, re-hydrated in 1 cup HOT water (reserve soaking liquid)

1 cup leftover Champagne

1 cup arborio rice (sushi rice can be substituted with excellent results. Shout out to chef Ming Tsai for showing me that via PBS)

1 shallot, minced

1/2 stick (4 Tablespoons) butter

3-5 cups hot chicken stock

1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

In case you were wondering, this is what the porcinis look like in their dried state:

let's keep the poo jokes to a minimum, kids.
They don't look much different in their hydrated state, just darker and soft. Anyhoo, squeeze the excess moisture out of the mushrooms and chop them up fine. Set them aside, and don't forget to save that soaking liquid! (Unless you want to ratchet down the mushroom flavor, which is understandable for most folks. If you decide to leave it out, just know you'll need more broth to finish the dish.)

Now, melt the butter in a nice big pot. If you have a Le Cruset, now would be a time to use it. If you have a big, sexy All-Clad saute pan, by all means use that. And send me pictures because I don't have one. Add the shallots and saute till they are a bit soft, then add the rice. Toss it around till it's well coated in butter and is ALMOST translucent. It should look like this:

Sorta see-through, sorta not...
Now add the mushrooms and 1 cup champagne. Simmer over medium-high heat, stirring, till the bubbly is fully absorbed. Still stirring, add all but about 1/4 cup of the mushroom soaking liquid (if using). There will be sediment in the bottom of that liquid and you don't want that, so pour carefully, or strain it first if you aren't lazy like I tend to be sometimes.

KEEP STIRRING! Preferably with a wooden spoon, by the way. Wooden spoons are gentler and do less damage to the grains of rice. Once the mushroom liquid is absorbed, you may begin adding the chicken broth or stock. I do about a half-cup to 1 cup at a time. Make sure the liquid is nearly completely absorbed before adding more. You will notice the rice becoming creamy and your arm becoming tired. I like doing risotto when I have at least 1 other person handy, because then you can tag-team the stirring efforts. Plus, guests usually want to help in the kitchen...let them if you're making risotto.

You may or may not use all the liquid. What you are looking for is a loose, creamy pot of lusciousness, the rice should still have a little bite to it. Not crunch, but it should be a weensy bit chewy in the center. When it reaches that point, take it off the heat and stir in the Parmesan.

NOW TAKE THE WHOLE POT TO THE TABLE AND SERVE IT IMMEDIATELY! Risotto waits for no man. when you spoon it on to the plate it should creep to the edges like lava flowing from a volcano to the sea. Creep - not rush. Maybe kind of ooze, but this is a sexy dish and "ooze" isn't a sexy word. "Creep" it is then...

It really is a meal in itself with a nice salad of bitter greens, some crusty bread, and a glass of white wine. But my husband believes a meal is incomplete without a hunk of roasted creature involved, so it's pictured below with herb-crusted roast beef. Recipe for that tomorrow.

Oh you have NO idea...
A special note on leftovers: Generally risotto will be devoured by all parties present at the table. If by some act of God it is not, here's what to do with it the next day or a couple days later:

Use a cookie scoop to make little risotto balls. Shove a small cube of mozzarella into the ball and pinch the little hole shut. Roll in breadcrumbs and fry till golden. Little balls of heaven. Leave it to a Southerner to deep fry perfectly good risotto...

Enjoy!