Life's a changin'

I have to laugh when I look back and see that the last time I posted was February 8th...a mere 6 days before my life completely changed. All I can say is that life has been full in the last 6 months! It's amazing how off the blog grid you get when you are dating!

Blame this face.

And would you believe me if I told you that it all started with a complete blind date?
Well, believe me.
His boss met me, thought I would be perfect for him, gave him my phone number and left it all in his hands to make the first step...and he did.
He called me on Valentine's Day (what?!) to set up a lunch date and the rest is history.
I fell in love.

Perhaps someday I'll get around to telling our "love story"...

Pinterest

Pinterest is wonderful.
The Pinterest "Education" tab is even more wonderful...or perhaps I should say it is wonderfully addicting. I could spend hours on there (and have).
Here are some of the things that I have been teaching.
Some of the ideas came from my own head but, to be honest, most of them came from Pinterest. My favorite.

Source: theinspiredapple.blogspot.com via Kim on Pinterest

Artichoke Bread

February 5, 2012
The day the country sat on couches, ate lots of food, and watched the Patriots play the Giants...
I think the Superbowl is entertaining, as long as there is food, great commercials, and friends.

That being said, I think I really like the Superbowl because it gives me an excuse to cook and feed people - my favorite!
This year? Artichoke Bread.
It's basically deconstructed artichoke dip. Delicious.

Here is the link: http://www.closetcooking.com/2010/01/artichoke-bread.html

While you are there, you might as well check out the rest of his recipes. He has talent. I have yet to be disappointed.

Throwing the rulebook out the window.

I just a whole bell pepper...and lots of spinach.
I feel a little like Popeye. Are my muscles bulging yet?
All that vitamin A and vitamin C better stop any student germs from making me sick.

Tonight, I did something that I never do: I cooked without a recipe (gasp!).
I am a rule follower and a recipe follower. I never ever just "put a little of this and a little of that"...I am too much of a control freak for that :)

Times are a changin', though, because tonight, I made stuffed bell peppers and I just randomly threw ingredients together, stuffed, baked, and ate. And let me tell you: the final product was delicious.



Red bell peppers stuffed with a mixture of brown rice, ground turkey, Italian seasoning, sauteed red onion, garlic, Italian breadcrumbs, a little milk, crushed red pepper flakes, and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese on top.
Try it. I dare you to cook with a recipe.

Say CHEESE!

Last month, my friend group started a tradition - Iron Chef battles. A little cheesey, you say? Why, yes, yes it was.

Our first battle was Iron Chef Santa Barbara Battle Cheese! And it was cheesey and wonderful.

I was so impressed by everyone's dishes. My friends are awesome.

Helping me bring my A-game was this recipe: Carmelized Pear and Gorgonzola Quiche.

I recently fell in love with gorgonzola cheese and this quiche did not disappoint my gorgonzola taste-buds.

Caramelized Pear and Gorgonzola Quiche

Filling:

1/4 cup pancetta (diced)

1 large shallot (diced)

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 pears (cored and sliced into bite sized pieces)

4 eggs (lightly beaten)

1 cup half and half

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1/2 cup gorgonzola (crumbled)

1 pre-baked crust (I use my single crust pie crust - flour/tiny bit of sugar/salt/milk/oil)

Cook the pancetta and shallot in a pan. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the sugar and cook until bubbly, about 3 minutes. Add the pear and saute until tender, about 3-5 minutes. Mix the pears, eggs, half and half, thyme and gorgonzola and pour it into the pre-baked pie crust. Bake in a preheated 375F oven until golden brown on top and set in the center, about 25-45 minutes.

Next battle? Battle Pizza Dough. It will be brought.

a personal favorite.

gifts, XI

140. buying things on sale
139. picnicing at the park
138. receiving mail
137. new books
136. eating tangerines
135. walking at night in silence
134. beautiful sunsets that take your breath away
133. curling up in a chair in the last gleam of the day's sun
132. reminiscing
131. drinking water (excessible, free water)
130. listening to a new song
129. taking a back road and not the freeway