Cookbooks

I have a ton of cookbooks. And if I had to tell the truth I use very few. I have a couple that I have tried and never used again. A few that have one or two recipes in them that I love but nothing else. And about 3 that I use ALL the TIME.

I have WAY to many...

See those? Never even cracked them open. Well, I have but none of it seemed like it was very simple to do and what I didn't realize when I bought them, was that they are not books from the US. So the recipes call for stuff that can be very hard to find.

Here are my sometime books...

Pizzas - for the occasional crust, that's it. I don't need someone telling me what to put on top.

Fast, Fresh & Spicy Vegetarian - Some great easy recipes, but I seem to only make one thing out of it.

Rachael Ray' Get Togethers - good ideas, just never get around to making them

Deceptively Delicious - Love the idea, why I got it. But, well, I realized that she was making "kid" food. And I don't want to make "kid" food.

Now my favorites:

The Joy of Cooking - Yep, love it. I can almost always think of something random and it will be in there.

Betty Crocker's New Cookbook - Hands down, my most loved book. I would give it to all my friends if I could find it. I have yet to try a bad recipe out of it. 

Weber's Big Book of Grilling - AWESOME! As long as I follow Weber, I don't mess up. 

and what you can't see

Where's Mom When I Need Her? - Mom gave it to me when I went to college and it is still one of the best books. 

PW's Blackberry Cobbler

This was a great one. Very easy and fairly quick. I highly recommend it. 

Let's start with the "dry team".

I'm channeling my inner Alton Brown.

1 C. Self rising flour (or 1 C. flour + 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder + 1/2 tsp. salt)

1 C. Sugar

- Mix.

Add 1 melted stick of butter.

1 C. whole milk.

Whisk until combined. 

Pour into a buttered dish. Doesn't really matter what kind your use. I don't think.

Plop in two containers of blackberries.

You will need to push them down a bit.

Now sprinkle some more sugar on top.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Till it looks like this...

Yum!

Here's PWs recipe. Just don't compare her pics to mine.

No Menu

Sorry, no menu for this week.... cuz I ain't cookin'. It's my birthday week and I am taking it off. But, since I have not updated for a bit I will give you guys some very late meals from a few weeks ago.

Today I will tell you all about how much I LOVE leftovers from holiday appetizers. More specifically, brie and bruschetta. Here is what I like to do with them...

I like to turn it into the next days lunch.

Take your favorite tortilla... Central Market Whole Wheat is a staple in our house.

- Throw a few slabs of brie and turkey in the middle.

I leave the white stuff on the brie, I like it.

Next some leftover bruschetta.

Two days old, meaning much more flavorful.

Wrap it up and throw it on the griddle, panini  it, warm it however you want.

I like the griddle because it gets nice and crispy.

There you go! A yummy adult leftover wrap.

Here's another one I do. You can actually make this as an appetizer, but we usually just make it after everyone has left and the kids have gone to bed. It's a little midnight snack.

A sliced baguette lightly toasted, a slice of brie then melted on top in the oven and a dollop of bruschetta on top. Ugh, my mouth is watering right now. 

Weekly Menu and Birthdays

I have two birthdays to get ready for this week and Patrick will be out of town all week. So that means that I will be doing a lot less cooking. Ok, I say that, but in reality I will just be spending less time on daily dinners. I plan on making two large salads that can be used for both lunch and dinner and then only two more meals. But have no worries, I will also be making a few party foods for our tiny get together this weekend.

Mom's Macaroni Salad
- This was a summer staple growing up. Not the healthiest but add a side of veggies and I don't think it's that bad.

Asian Noodle Salad
- I've been sneaking around the Tasty Kitchen website and found a few that I just can't wait to try. In fact, last weeks Coconut Curry was from there. Yeah, I know. I need to post about it. Just in case I don't get to it.... It was a total do over. LOVED IT. So will be trying another asian inspired meal.
It also looks great for a take to work meal.

Chef Bowls
- CM has a deal were you buy their premade meal and get salad and bread for free. A night of not cooking? Sign me up!

Chicken
Yep, that's it. chicken. I have no idea what will go with it.

How bout a few extras....
Caesar Wonton Bites
- My world has been opened to wonton cups. It might never be the same.

Homemade Graham Crackers
- Did I say I wasn't going to spend as much time in the kitchen?

Chewy Sugar Cookies
- Already made a quick batch this week....WOW!

Homemade Granola Bars
- Ok, I may be going overboard now.

My Garden

I have a postage stamp for a backyard. 

I dream of having enough room to have rows, actual rows of veggies.

Until then, this is what I have squeezed into my postage stamp.

Our fig tree. I should have taken a picture to show you that it seems to be a bit short statured. In fact, it looks like a huge bonsai tree. But it still gives us pounds of figs ever year. I love seeing how pricey they are at the store and then adding up the money as I pick. I'd say we yield at least $60 worth.

In about a month I won't know what to do with all of them.

My leeks, apparently they only take a season to grow. These have been slowly maturing for over a year. Who knows when I will be able to enjoy them.

Peppers, for some reason I'm just not that great at growing them. But I never stop trying.

Tomatoes, also a bit disappointing so far. I have yet to have enough to include them in a recipe.

Ugh, my oregano. I cut this darn thing down to nothing twice a year and it still tries to take over. You can't even see my Lemon Thyme next to it.

If you know where I live, please, come on by and grab some.

Now to my baby...

My Pomegranate tree/bush.

For the past 3 years it has dropped its flowers so I have yet to get a fruit from it.

This year I have close to 10 fruits growing.

I can't wait for the fall to enjoy them. Until then, I will be fighting off all birds who try to get to them before me.