I would typically think the title of this recipe - Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Garlic, and Shallots - would be a paradox. If you are eating brussels sprouts you're probably trying to be healthy. Then you add bacon, which is not necessarily a health food. However, I found the recipe in Cooking Light and it calls for two strips of bacon, which really make the recipe quite tasty. The recipe can be found here: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/brussels-sprouts-bacon-50400000116749
I enjoyed it, but warn fellow chefs to be careful not to burn the garlic when you're cooking it over medium high heat. I think I got distracted and it took me longer than expected to cut up the bacon strips.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Game Day Recipes
It's that time of year - the weather has gotten too cold to spend much time outside and we're relegated to the couch, watching sports on the weekend. Not bad if you don't go stir crazy. Two days ago was a full - but disappointing - sports day for me. I watched the mighty Tar Heel basketball team fall to the FSU Seminoles, Drew Brees and the Saints lose to the 49ers, and the Pats topple the Broncos (I was rooting for that one).
Even though two of the three games didn't go my way, I was able to whip up some tasty food to comfort my friends and I during the Tar Heels loss. One recipe is quite simple; the other takes more time (and ingredients). Here they are:
Guacamole (from allrecipes.com). The recipe is: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/guacamole/detail.aspx Fresh and tasty (if you can find good avocados in winter) and to add a little extra spice, put in more than a dash of cayenne and maybe some jalapenos. I did both and it was still manageable.
The second recipe I think should be renamed "Extra Meaty Chili" because it calls for three pounds of meat and bacon bits. I didn't have bacon bits, so I cut up little pieces of bacon and added them after frying on the range. I also ran out of room in my slow cooker (which is meant to serve 4-6 people and this recipe feeds 12). As a result, I had to cut back on the 4 cans of beans it calls for, so my chili's meat to bean ratio was skewed toward the meat. The chili calls for two pounds of ground beef and a pound of sausage. The recipe is called Boilermaker Tailgate Chili and is found here: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/boilermaker-tailgate-chili/detail.aspx
Happy cooking!
Even though two of the three games didn't go my way, I was able to whip up some tasty food to comfort my friends and I during the Tar Heels loss. One recipe is quite simple; the other takes more time (and ingredients). Here they are:
Guacamole (from allrecipes.com). The recipe is: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/guacamole/detail.aspx Fresh and tasty (if you can find good avocados in winter) and to add a little extra spice, put in more than a dash of cayenne and maybe some jalapenos. I did both and it was still manageable.
The second recipe I think should be renamed "Extra Meaty Chili" because it calls for three pounds of meat and bacon bits. I didn't have bacon bits, so I cut up little pieces of bacon and added them after frying on the range. I also ran out of room in my slow cooker (which is meant to serve 4-6 people and this recipe feeds 12). As a result, I had to cut back on the 4 cans of beans it calls for, so my chili's meat to bean ratio was skewed toward the meat. The chili calls for two pounds of ground beef and a pound of sausage. The recipe is called Boilermaker Tailgate Chili and is found here: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/boilermaker-tailgate-chili/detail.aspx
Happy cooking!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
How to Save Money on NYE in NYC
Last night despite all odds, I found a way to have an awesome NYE in NYC without spending a ton of money. Impossible, you say. No, it's not. I went out to Brooklyn with some of my best college buddies to hang out and play poker. Despite getting all my money taken at poker on Thanksgiving, last night I was victorious. Further, I managed to pay for my cab home with some money left over. Much more economical than a typical NYE in NYC (and probably more fun, too). Suck it, Ryan Seacrest.
Making Broccoli Exciting
For those of you who don't love broccoli, I've discovered two recipes that make broccoli pretty tasty. The first is from Cooking Light. To make it, I recommend using Trader Joe's freshly shaved Parmesan, Romano & Asiago cheese. It's called Lemon-Parmesan Broccoli. The recipe can be found here: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/lemon-parmesan-broccoli-50400000115791/
The second recipe is Broccoli with Garlic Butter and Cashews. It's also a tasty recipe but requires cashews, as the name implies, which are expensive. It also calls for the cashews to be chopped. Since it is a pain in the butt to chop nuts, I recommend putting them into a plastic bag and beating them up with a meat tenderizer. Worked for me. Also, when making this recipe, I put the cashews in the pan with the butter/garlic mix, which you are not supposed to do. My nuts got burned. I might have to re-make without burning the nuts to see if that makes a difference. However, even with burnt nuts, the broccoli is still pretty tasty. The recipe can be found here: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/broccoli-with-garlic-butter-and-cashews/detail.aspx
The second recipe is Broccoli with Garlic Butter and Cashews. It's also a tasty recipe but requires cashews, as the name implies, which are expensive. It also calls for the cashews to be chopped. Since it is a pain in the butt to chop nuts, I recommend putting them into a plastic bag and beating them up with a meat tenderizer. Worked for me. Also, when making this recipe, I put the cashews in the pan with the butter/garlic mix, which you are not supposed to do. My nuts got burned. I might have to re-make without burning the nuts to see if that makes a difference. However, even with burnt nuts, the broccoli is still pretty tasty. The recipe can be found here: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/broccoli-with-garlic-butter-and-cashews/detail.aspx
Corn Spoon Bread
As a relatively easy and delicious side dish for the winter months, try some corn spoon bread. It's kind of a mix between corn bread and corn pudding, if such a thing exists. If you've made Paula Deen recipes before, you know that everything is better with eight ounces of cream cheese.
The recipe is here: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/corn-spoon-bread/detail.aspx
Friday, December 30, 2011
2012
Although I haven't historically made New Year's resolutions, there are two things I'd like to do in 2012: become a better cook and also complete a triathlon. One requires a lot more work than the other, particularly because my awesome friend Jena bought me a slow cooker for Christmas. Over Christmas break, I made a new cookbook by cutting out recipes from the last six months of Cooking Light. My sister asserted that I wouldn't make any of these recipes, but rather that this was just a project to keep me busy over the holidays.
I am determined to prove to her that I will cook and also become a very talented cook. I've made about four things in the past two days and will lead off with what's been my favorite thus far, Guinness Lamb Stew. The recipe can be found here: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/guinness-lamb-stew-50400000109599/
There are a couple things I've learned thus far in my new found cooking career. At first I was hopeful that I was going to save a bunch of money by cooking my own meals rather than ordering from Seamless and/or stopping on my way home for dinner every night. However, I've learned you have to be very careful to manage your input costs. The lamb in this stew is amazing. However, it also cost $12.99 a pound at Citarella, which means my cost for 7 servings of this stew, including all items, is about $35 (I used two pounds of lamb). That equates to about $5 per serving, which isn't horrible, but is also not too much cheaper than the $8-10 for daily lunch. Hmmm.
I've also learned some new ingredients. This lamb stew is the first time I purchased and consumed turnips, which are kind of similar to radishes. I had to go to several stores to find them. Further, I learned that Guinness is not only good for drinking, but can also be used to make a very flavorful stew. I'm proud to be executing one of my goals for 2012 and I still have a couple of days before the New Year's begins. Hooray!
I am determined to prove to her that I will cook and also become a very talented cook. I've made about four things in the past two days and will lead off with what's been my favorite thus far, Guinness Lamb Stew. The recipe can be found here: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/guinness-lamb-stew-50400000109599/
There are a couple things I've learned thus far in my new found cooking career. At first I was hopeful that I was going to save a bunch of money by cooking my own meals rather than ordering from Seamless and/or stopping on my way home for dinner every night. However, I've learned you have to be very careful to manage your input costs. The lamb in this stew is amazing. However, it also cost $12.99 a pound at Citarella, which means my cost for 7 servings of this stew, including all items, is about $35 (I used two pounds of lamb). That equates to about $5 per serving, which isn't horrible, but is also not too much cheaper than the $8-10 for daily lunch. Hmmm.
I've also learned some new ingredients. This lamb stew is the first time I purchased and consumed turnips, which are kind of similar to radishes. I had to go to several stores to find them. Further, I learned that Guinness is not only good for drinking, but can also be used to make a very flavorful stew. I'm proud to be executing one of my goals for 2012 and I still have a couple of days before the New Year's begins. Hooray!
Iceland
In October, a friend and I visited Iceland for five days. It was beautiful, relaxing and we were one with nature, quite a change from New York City. Unfortunately someone stole my Nikon D90 on the trip, which was a total bummer for a number of reasons. I bought a replacement camera in Iceland, a simple point and shoot, which I'm sure was marked up at least 50% to what I could have got it for on Amazon.com
I would definitely recommend visiting Iceland, just do it before October and also don't leave any high end consumer electronics in your purse when you go out. Here's one of my favorite videos of us snowmobiling out on a glacier.
I would definitely recommend visiting Iceland, just do it before October and also don't leave any high end consumer electronics in your purse when you go out. Here's one of my favorite videos of us snowmobiling out on a glacier.
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