Confessions of a Wanna be Chef

Coconut Pecan Pound Cake

2011-12-10T11:58:00.000-08:00

I would never consider myself a baker. I don't have the patience for it most of the time. All that measuring bores me. Can you say, ADHD? LOL!!! Anyway, since it's Christmas, I decided to make something that I have never made before. Pretty good for the first time, huh? I'll let you know later how it tastes.

Delish Dish

2011-08-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

Bruschetta

This is easily my favorite summer time treat. Usally served as an appetizer, I can eat this as a meal anytime. Thats saying alot, because I usally hate tomatoes. It is amazing to me that I love this dish. Bruschetta can be made many different ways, with many different toppings, but my recipe is so simple. Tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, Balsalmic Vinegar, salt and pepper. That's it!!! Oh so Good!!!

Salmon ala Yummie!!!

2011-04-15T19:14:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I blogged but that doesn't mean I haven't been cooking. Jd mentioned awhile ago that he wanted some Salmon and me being the Master Chef that I am said,"No Problem". Ha ha..Being so brilliant in the kitchen, I decided that just plain Salmon wasn't going to do. I whipped up a creamy dill Sauce to jazz up this piece of fish....Pretty yummie If I do say so myself..What can I say, cream sauce makes everything better!

I don't know why, because I have never made a Pineapple upside down cake before, but I am pretty much obsessed with making them. I still haven't perfected them just yet, but It sure is fun working on it!

Hollandaise Heaven!!

2011-02-11T07:38:00.000-08:00

Hollandaise Sauce!!! Is there anything better than that. I think not! I have always loved this buttery sauce. And again I was amazed at how easy it is to make..Well, I do have to admit my first attempt at it was a total flop. Still to this day, I have no idea what went wrong but I am pretty sure that curdly goo is not what you would want to see on your plate. I was utterly crushed at my disastrous try and I almost gave up. Well, I pulled up my boot straps, took a deep breath and tried again. This time it worked, well sort of. I think I did pretty good the second time around and I didn't get any complaints from my husband so I think I could count this as a success. Of course, it could just be because under the sauce was a huge hunk of steak!!

I got some brussel sprouts from my Bountiful Basket and thought I would cook them too. A couple of years ago, Ina Garten made a brussell sprout recipe on her television show and I always thought it look interesting. A lot of people I know hate brussel sprouts but I guess that is because most people don't know how to cook them. This recipe was really good. What can I say, any recipe that includes bacon can't be all that bad!!!

Onions, Onions and more Onioins

2011-01-14T12:01:00.001-08:00

Well, it's been awhile since my last post. Christmas and a car crash has seemed to overwhelm me and taken the wind out of my sails for the last month or so. I had an unfortunate incident with a school bus which let me without a car. I have been so stressed about finding a new one, cooking has been far from my mind. Now I am going to say something terrible so close your ears if you are sensitive. THE ONLY PEOPLE GOING TO HELL ARE LAWYERS AND CAR SALES MEN!!!!!!!!! Sheesh, I was so sick after buying our car, I wanted to crawl in a hole. What an ordeal!!!

Anyway, I did manage to cook a litte. I finally made a recipe I have always wanted to try. French Onion Soup..OH MY!!!! Once again, a very simple recipe that tastes so good. The hardest part about it was carmelizing the onion.. Holy Moly!!! It takes along time to carmaize those darn onions. But so worth it!

It ain't Jell-o!

2010-12-14T13:46:00.000-08:00

The only thing good about expensive fancy restaurants, is of course, the Creme Brulee. I found that out a few years ago when my husband and I got a night without the kids. Extremely under dressed and feeling out of place, we waited patiently with the other "losers" that didn't have reservations. Finally it was our turn..........Can you say, "ala carte"? Want salad with your over priced steak? Extra! Want potatoes with your over priced steak? Extra! We actually paid 7 dollars for a 1/4 wedge of iceberg lettuce with a dab of dressing..What a Rip!!!! Any guesses how much our bill was? So anyway, because of a mess up in the kitchen it took forever to get our food. Lucky for us, they were feeling very generous. We got to share a very tiny ramican of Creme Brulee. On the house!!! This was a delight and the best part of dinner. To quote my husband,"Creme Brulee is like magic in your mouth". No joke. It really is that good. I have always wanted to learn how to make it and was shocked when I learned how easy it was..I even got to use a blow torch....Watch out Emeril Lagasse, here comes trouble!!

2010-12-08T16:13:00.000-08:00

And the winner is......Chicken Picatta!

This recipe is one that I have always wanted to try. Well, I did actually try it once, but I am trying to forget about it. Serveral years ago during my lonely single years I went on a date with this total "Nut Job". I remember thinking, "can this date be over yet". Anyway, I ordered Chicken Piccata and well, it wasn't that good. So, I had a bad date and a bad dinner all in the same night. Can it get any worse? Halleujah I am not single anymore.

So years later, I try again, but this time I am cooking it. I took the recipe from a cook book I got several months ago called, "Now Eat This" by Rocco Dispirito. I had the chicken but nothing else for the recipe. That ment I had to load up the kids and get to the store soon because I only had a few hours before my husband got home. All seemed right in the world, until I got home, unloaded the kids, went inside and realized that I had forgotten the eggs...Crap!!!!! I loaded the kids back into the car and ran to the nearest 7-Eleven. Wait for it, this is where it gets good...I went into the store grabbed a Big Gulp and Nibs for the kids, paid and got back in the car. I got home, unloaded the kids, got in the house and realized that I forgot the Damn eggs again!!!!!

Long story short, I finally got the eggs, got home and made what I thought was going to be a delicious dinner.....The Verdict....NOT!!!!!! Well it looks good, but in my humble oppinion it is not worth your time. The recipe calls for Capers. I have never cooked with them or ate them and I probably won't gain. It just gave it a flavor I wasn't used to. Well, the real Judge, my husband hasn't tried it yet, so we will see what he says.......I will let you know.

2010-12-08T13:15:00.000-08:00

I have exactly 3 hours to get to the store and make dinner before my husband gets home. Hmmmm, what will it be? Stay tuned to a computer terminal near you........

2010-12-06T15:32:00.000-08:00

Ham- and cream Chesse-Stuffed chicken

This recipe wasn't anything special, It was just a recipe I got from the Deen Bros latest cook book, Y'all Come Eat. I love this book. Not because of the amazing recipes inside. Don't get me wrong the recipes are great, but I love the title of the book. It reminds me of my childhood and the many holidays spent in Oklahoma. Nothing warms my heart more than the memory of my Aunt Gayle uttering one simple phrase, " Y'all Come Eat".

2010-12-05T19:20:00.000-08:00

Recipe #1 Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic with Garlic mash Potatoes Garlic mashed Potatoes

I know, I know, I thought that same thing you are thinking. Forty Cloves of garlic, wow that's a lot. But frankly, the garlic was the least of my worries with this recipe. The recipe called for Cognac and white wine. I want to give up now. I have never cooked with alcohol before and the fear quickly set in. Not being a drinker, I called my friend to see if she could help me find the Cognac and my Sister had some cooking wine in her pantry so I borrowed that too. I actually pealed 40 cloves of garlic...Yee Haw!

When I first smelled the Cognac, It made me feel sick. Gag, it was gross. I couldn't believe I was about to cook with this stuff. When It was time to add the Cognac and wine, the smell was nauseating, but I put it in. At this point I had no confidence that this was going to taste good at all. But I soldiered on and finished the recipe and even made some garlic mashed potatoes for a side dish.

I was hesitant to even taste this dish, but when I did I was shocked how good it was. The Cognac and wine had turned into the base for a thick gravy and the garlic cloves were all tender and sweet. I loved it and and my three year old son said, "this is delicious mom". My husband even like it too.

My Quest to be a better cook!

2010-12-02T12:14:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, my husband Jd went on a business trip to Houston. Knowing that I love cook books, he brought me back a copy of, "BAREFOOT IN PARIS, Easy French Food You Can Make at Home," By Ina Garten. I loved it and spent hours looking through the pages imagining making and eating the delicious looking recipes inside. Well, about 4 years have gone by and I have yet to make one recipe in that book. Honestly, I have many cook books that have yet to be cooked from. I think a big reason for this failure was fear. Some recipes, for me, just seemed way over my head and the ingredients too unfamiliar to cook. Whatever the reason, I want to become a better cook. No, this is not the Julie&Julia Project yet again. There is no deadline or pressure. I just want to look at a recipe and say, "I can do that". I am not a writer and I promise there will be no movie or book deals. I am just going to cook, Why? Because I love it. So, I am just going to start cooking and see what happens.

Updates and pictures to come soon~~