they draw and cook

Just thought I would share this. I came across it a few days ago and have been looking at it everyday. I love it. So inspiring!


http://www.theydrawandcook.com/ 


Here's one of my favorites...

canned clams?

Well, now I'm sick...again. I attempted to go to work yesterday and had to leave early. It feels like I'm coughing up whole lungs. It makes my entire body hurt. But I took some nyquil last night and slept for almost 12 hours (that's not to mention the few hours I got during the day yesterday)! I feel better, but not back to normal. So send some good healing vibes my way. I need them since I have 3 shows and new salon art coming up in the next month. 


But anyway, canned clams...really? I was skeptical. But Priscilla re-opened my eyes to using canned clams with Pioneer Woman's Linguini with Clam Sauce. She made this for us after a long day of skiing. I was surprised when Kevin asked me to make it when we got back. It was just as delicious as I remembered. But the next day I caught his sickly germs, so I was in need of some soup. I didn't want to go to the store, so I just used what I had at home (which just so happened to be another can of clams). I've always loved Clam Chowder, but Kev has always said that he didn't like it. Since it was all we had and he was after all sick and didn't have much of an appetite I used the "well you don't have to eat it if you don't want to." I had a feeling he would like it since he liked the clam sauce. He ate more than me and literally said it was the best soup I had ever made! Now for this I definitely think it would be worth it to get fresh clams, but the canned ones were easy and convenient. The original recipe came from Allrecipes.com, I only changed a little bit.


And last but not least, for those of you who I know will still not try clams...Tiramisu. The Italian dessert loved by all. We made this before the sickness came on, and weren't able to finish the leftovers before they got soggy. So I recommend making this for a dinner party of at least four people. This recipe is quick and doesn't make a giant batch, but it does dirty a lot of dishes, so make sure you have a dishwasher helper on hand. AND don't use a substitute for lady fingers! It will not be as good. This one is from epicurious, which I have been loving!


These are not the healthiest of recipes. I guess winter sicklies call for a little extra fat in their diets. Enjoy!


Pioneer Woman's Linguini with Clam Sauce
Ingredients
1 can clams (drained, but save the juice)
1-2 garlic cloves (minced)
handful chopped parsley
1 T. each butter and olive oil
1/4 cup plus 1/8 cup white wine
1/4 cup plus 1/8 cup heavy cream
juice of half a lemon
1/2 box of linguini (cooked, I used whole grain)
S&P to taste
grated parmesan


Directions
Cook pasta according to package. Meanwhile Saute clams and garlic in olive oil and half the butter over m/h heat about 3 min. Add wine and reduce down about 3-4 min. Reduce heat and add lemon juice and remaining butter. Stir until melted. Add cream, parsley and S&P. Stir until warmed through. Pour sauce over pasta. I let it sit for about 5 min, stirring occasionally to help it thicken up. Top with parmesan.

I remembered to take a picture when
it was almost gone

Clam Chowder
Ingredients
olive oil
2 garlic cloves (minced)
about a 1/4 of yellow onion (diced)
1 peeled and diced carrot
2 celery ribs (diced)
1 can clams (drained, save the juice)
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
two small to medium sized peeled potatoes (diced)
3 T. butter
3 T. flour
1 cup heavy cream
pinches of S&P, sugar 
1 t. red wine vinegar (or any vinegar on hand)


Directions
In a soup pot saute garlic, onions, carrot and celery in olive oil only for a couple min. Add water, clam juice (I used what I saved from the linguini recipe too), parsley and potatoes. Bring to a boil and simmer 15-20 min until potatoes are soft. Meanwhile melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for about 1 min. Pour in cream whisking constantly until smooth. Add to soup, reduce heat and stir in clams, S&P, sugar and vinegar (I used balsamic vinegar). Simmer 10 min, make sure no to boil. 

Tirimisu
Ingredients
3 eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar
1 (8 oz) container mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups espresso
2 T. Marsala wine (or Kalhua or if you have a good quality strong espresso you can eliminate)
18 lady fingers (found them at Homeland)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder


Directions
Beat yolks and 1/2 cup sugar on medium for 2 min. Beat in cheese until just combined. In another bowl beat whites until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. In another bowl beat cream until soft peaks form. Fold cream into cheese mixture, then fold in whites. Mix espresso and Marsala if you're using it. Dip half the lady fingers in espresso and line the bottom of a small glass baking dish. Top with half the cheese mixture. Top with the other half lady fingers dipped in espresso, then with the rest of the cheese mixture. Chill 6 hours or overnight to set. Sprinkle with cocoa before serving.

So dangerous!

new Radiohead on yet another sick day

Just had to share these tunes. I love Thom Yorke's dancing! The new album is pretty awesome. The hubby is sick today, so we are listening to it in bed. :)

mountain valentines, salmon, pizza, shortbread cookies and fondue...oh my

Get ready for a super long post. Just a warning. 

The only good picture of day
(aka: before I fell down the mountain)

We got back from Colorado on Tuesday. It had it's ups and downs, but overall it was a really great trip. Downs: Skiing (more like falling and crying uncontrollably) down a blue the first run of the first day, not a good idea. Even though I've been skiing more than once, I am way out of shape and should have started on the bunny slopes. The rest of the day was good despite being very sore. The other down was the second day. It started out good. I checked out early and spent the rest of the day on the deck in the sun with some hot tea. Kevin boarded all day and only fell once, but the one time he fell he forgot to zip up the pocket that had the video camera in it. So it disappeared forever. AND this was a borrowed camera, so now we have to buy a new one to replace it. Not good! But the ups outweighed the downs! We got to spend a lot more time with David, Priscilla and Georgia (oh and Teague)... Got to see Kevin's sister Kerri and husband George... Went to the Denver Museum of Science and Nature which had a planetarium!...Ate some delicious food out and in...And got some hot tub time (much needed). 

Denver pho

Kevin, Georgia and David

Priscilla and I with our Valentine scarves

Valentine breakfast courtesy of David

My doggie Valentine :)

And last but not least I have a few recipes to share. The first is a collaboration of 3 different recipes, the second is my first original cookie recipe!!! The third is what I am making for recipe club tomorrow, and last is our belated Valentine fondue. Enjoy!
Crispy Dijon Salmon
Ingredients
2 salmon fillets 
juice of 1 lemon
dash salt
drizzle of olive oil
1 T. dijon mustard
1/4 cup panko or other type of bread crumbs
1/2 T. dried Italian herbs
dash garlic powder
1/4 cup grated parmesan 


Directions
Coat a small baking dish with olive oil. Preheat oven 425. Place salmon in dish, squeeze lemon on top and sprinkle with salt. Spread the mustard evenly over the top of both pieces. In a small bowl mix together bread crumbs, herbs, garlic powder and parmesan. Top each piece of fish with a mound of the bread crumb mixture. Bake 20 min. 


Notes
This is a mixture of like 3 different recipes. It's an interesting flavor. Kevin loved it! It would be good with a good green veggie like broccoli or brussel sprouts.


Shortbread Sugar Cookies (my own recipe!!!)
Ingredients
2 sticks unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 T. powdered sugar plus more for rolling
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. lemon extract
1/2 t. almond extract
2 cups flour


Directions
Cream butter and sugars. Add egg, vanilla, lemon and almond. Mix until well combined. Add flour and mix until a sticky dough forms. Coat hands in powdered sugar and roll dough into round disks. Place on greased cookie sheet and chill 1-2 hours. Preheat oven to 325 and bake 15-18 min.


Notes
Yes, these disappear too fast to have a picture, but trust me they are beautiful little sugary treats to have with tea or anytime.


Quick Pizza Crust
Ingredients
1 1/4 t. active dry yeast
1 t. sugar
1 cup warm water
2 1/2 cups flour
1 T. dried Italian herbs
1 t. salt
2 T. olive oil


Directions
Preheat oven to 450. Dissolve yeast and sugar in water and let stand for 10 min. Stir together flour, salt and herbs. Add this to the water along with the olive oil. Beat until smooth and let rest for 5 min. Roll out on a floured surface, Top with favorite pizza toppings and bake on a cornmeal dusted pan 15-20 min. (You can also brush the crust with garlic butter...MMM!)


Notes
I made breadsticks out of this dough too. I added a little bit of garlic powder to the dough, brushed with garlic butter and added parmesan cheese on top. Just roll out like usual and cut into slices with a pizza cutter, bake only 10-15 min. 


Dark Chocolate Fondue
Ingredients
12 oz chopped dark chocolate (make sure it's NOT baking chocolate)
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
your favorite fruits, cubed pound cake, rice krispy treats, etc.

Directions
In a fondue pot slowly heat cream on low until bubbles form around edges. Pour in the chocolate stirring until melted and smooth. You can also add 1 T. of your favorite liquor such as Kahlua or raspberry schnapps. 

strawberries, pineapple, banana, blueberries
and pound cake for dipping

quick recipe: strawberry cupcakes

Well we're leaving for Colorado on Thursday, and the week is pretty packed before we head out...so this will probably be my last post until we get back next Tuesday. I don't really have any updates, just wanted to share this delicious cupcake recipe. The icing tastes like homemade strawberry ice cream! And sorry I haven't had food pictures lately. The sweets usually disappear too fast. I'll try to remember to keep the camera close while I'm cooking. :)


Strawberry Cupcakes with the Strawberriest Buttercream
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter (room temp)
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 t. baking powder
1/2 cup milk
2/3 cup strawberry puree (fresh or frozen)


Icing
1/4 cup strawberry puree
1/4 t. vanilla
1/2 cup butter (room temp)
2 cups powdered sugar


Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and baking powder. Then add milk and strawberry puree (I like to just pulse the strawberries in the blender and leave some chunks for texture). Mix until well combined. Fill muffin cups and bake 18-20 min. Let cool completely before icing. For the icing combine butter, vanilla and strawberry puree (you don't want chunks in this one). Then slowly add the powdered sugar. Beat on high for 2-3 min until fluffy. Spread or pipe onto cupcakes. 

cinnamon roll and submission saturday

Done! I love the wood piece. I'm not all that excited about the print, but maybe it's because I've been looking at it all day everyday for like 6 days now. They are sent in, so cross your fingers. I'll find out the 18th if I got in. 

Reality

Now

And we made cinnamon rolls this morning. They were super delicious and quick since I made the dough last night.


Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 t. active dry yeast
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 egg
3 cups flour
1 t. cinnamon
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup raisins


Icing Ingredients
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 8 oz. package cream cheese
1 1/2 T. butter
1/4 t. vanilla
2 T. milk


Directions
Warm milk in a saucepan until bubbles start to form around edges. Remove from heat and add butter. Stir until melted. Add water and cool until lukewarm. Add sugar and yeast and let stand 10 min. Add salt, egg and 2 cups of flour. Stir in remaining flour a little at a time. You may need to add a little more to get the dough to pull together. Knead on a floured surface until springy and elastic. Roll out into a 12x9 rectangle. Mix cinnamon and sugar. Brush butter onto dough leaving about 1/2 inch edge dry. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture, nuts and raisins. Roll toward the dry edge. Seal seem with water. Cut with a sharp knife or fishing line into 12 rolls. Place into a well greased baking dish. Cover with plastic and let rise for 1 hour. This is the point where you should put them in the fridge if you're making them the night before. Preheat oven to 375. Bake 20-25 min. Meanwhile combine frosting ingredients. Add more milk to reach desired consistency. Spread over warm (not hot) rolls. 
Enjoy!!!

snow day #2 art and fish sticks

Ok not really fish sticks. These are much better. They are baked instead of fried. 


Panko Crusted Fish Strips
Ingredients
1 egg, lightly beaten
S&P
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 T. creole seasoning
1 T. olive oil
2 tilapia fillets, cut into strips
1/2 cup mayo
1 t. dried parsley
1 t. dried dill
1 T. dijon mustard
1 T. lemon juice
2 T. horseradish


Directions:
Preheat oven to 475. In one bowl beat egg with S&P. In another bowl mix bread crumbs, seasoning and oil. Dip fish strips in egg then in bread crumb mixture, make sure to press on the crumbs to stick. Place on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake 6-8 min until tops are golden. Remove from oven and flip strips over. Bake another 6-8 min until golden on other side. Mix remaining ingredients to make sauce. 


This was a great meal after working hard all day on my print. I still have the details to go. I have to work tomorrow, so my plan is to get it done Friday and send it in. Wish me luck! Oh and that experiment on wood turned out to be really cool. While my screen was soaking I played around on it with colored pencils, metallic ink, and sharpie. I think I will be submitting this as well. What do you think?

metallic ink makes his face shimmer

angle shot

snow day #1 continues with de-stress sweets

Ok here are my stress baking results...

Banana Cupcakes
Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 stick butter
1 egg
3/4 t. vanilla
1 cup flour
1/8 t. baking powder
1/8 t. baking soda
1/8 t. salt
1/2 cup buttermilk* (or substitution)
2 medium bananas (mashed)


Directions:
To make buttermilk substitute combine 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 T. white vinegar. Let stand 15 min. Stir before adding to batter. Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Combine all dry ingredients and add a little at a time alternating with buttermilk. Mix on low speed for 2 min. Fold in mashed bananas (I had a little over 1/2 cup. I wouldn't recommend any more or the batter might be too wet.). Spoon into lined muffin tin. Bake for 25 min. Let cool completely before icing. You can ice these with anything you want or not at all. I used Chocolate Buttercream and made little strawberry hearts. Here it is...


Chocolate Buttercream Icing

Ingredients:
1/2 stick butter
1/4 cup cocoa
1 cup powdered sugar
2 T. hot water

Directions:
Blend butter, cocoa, hot water and half the sugar. Add remaining sugar and beat on high speed 2-3 min until light. Spread or pipe onto cupcakes.


And last but not least, these should be called quadruple chocolate cookies. They are super chocolatey and are good for that time of the month or when you're feeling stressed... or really just anytime. Here they are...


Double Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
3/4 t. salt
1/4 t. baking powder
1/3 cup chocolate chips


Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder. Add to butter mixture. This is extremely hard if you don't have a stand mixer. It's seriously like the thickest cookie dough I've ever seen in my life. I did it with my hand mixer many times before I had my beloved stand mixer, but it wasn't easy. Chill the dough for 30 min. Preheat oven to 350. Shape dough into balls and place on a greased cookies sheet. Bake 10 min. Remove from oven and smash cookies down with the back of a spoon. Return to oven 3-5 min. 

glorious!

And hubby just walked in the door! YAY!!!

snow day #1

So far, this snow day sucks! I got up early to help Kev dig his car out of the ginormous snow drifts. It took him forever to get to work. I was just sitting here twiddling my thumbs until I heard from him. As soon as he got to work they called a code yellow which means no one can leave until further notice. He is not only having to do his normal groups but pick up the nurse tech responsibilities for the people who couldn't make it there this morning. I'm telling you... I am meant to live in the tropics. 


Sorry to be a negative nancy, but this is not my idea of a good time. Enough venting. Deep breath. Time for some stress baking. What shall I make today? Any suggestions? 


I have soup to eat from last night too. Here's that recipe...


Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup
Ingredients:
vegetable oil
1/2 yellow onion (thinly sliced)
2 celery ribs (thinly sliced)
4-6 shitake mushrooms (thinly sliced)
2 T. grated ginger
1 stalk minced lemongrass
2 t. red curry paste
1 quart vegetable broth
3 T. fish sauce
1 T. brown sugar
3 cans coconut milk
1/2 lb. peeled shrimp (chopped)
juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup chopped cilantro


Directions:
Heat oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Add onions, celery and mushrooms. Cook about 5 min until soft. Add ginger, lemongrass and curry paste. Cook one min until fragrant. Add broth, fish sauce and brown sugar. Simmer about 15 min. Add coconut milk and bring back to a simmer. You can go ahead and add the shrimp here and let them cook in the soup, but I like to saute them first (its up to you). Just make sure they are opaque throughout (about 5 min in the soup). Garnish with lime juice and cilantro. 


Be sure to check the doodles page (on the left side at the top now) for progress on my print. I'll post the finished product here when I'm done. After baking I'm going to work on it some more. I'll most likely be back with updates. So for all you others out there that are snowed in, if you're bored check back here later today. (I promise not to vent anymore). I already feel better just talking about baked goods.