Tapas-giving 2011

Happy beginning of the Holiday season! I hope you're not stressing out about all of the weight you'll gain because of the holiday season. This is the best time of the year, people! So, I implore you to stop freaking out about eating too many pieces of chocolate or munching on too much bread. Here's a tip: eat what you want, stop when you're full. Boom! Now go, eat, and be merry. But fist, finish reading this post...

Thanksgiving is one of my absolute favorite holidays. Mostly because I love food. Family and friends are pretty awesome too. I knew it was going to be a great day as soon as a song from 'Newsies' was performed at the Macy's parade. Once it was time for lunch, my day just kept getting better. Because of my new vegetarian status, my mother deemed me the "problem child." Not that she doesn't love me, oh on the contrary! I received my own personal bowl of stuffing (meatless) and vegetable gravy. It was a rather traditional meal full of turkey, stuffing, jell-o, and love.

After a much needed power nap, Tapas-giving commenced.

For the past couple of years (maybe closer to a few, or half-dozen, I honestly can't remember) my family and I have been going to our family friends' home for an after-Thanksgiving party. There was so much food, music, and fun! This year my family brought patatas bravas with dipping sauces and a chick-pea chorizo salad. The potatoes were AMAZING.

I loved the mayonnaise/garlic dip. It was amazing with everything. But seriously, what is not to love? Mayo AND garlic. Yum. My friend Emmy sneakily maneuvered the bowl in front of her sometime during the night. Luckily I was sitting next to her, or there would have been an issue.
I'll get the recipe from my father and add it to here soon because everyone should try this deliciousness. Seriously, it's amazing.

I love a good party full of people talking and laughing. There is always a moment at a party when the food is placed on the table, everyone digs in, and the next twenty minutes of conversation are about how wonderful everything is. Is there ever a moment when food doesn't bring people together? How horrible is it when a party has nothing to munch on? On a scale from awesome to super-lame, it would sit somewhere between taking the ACTs and my normal Friday night (which often includes bed by 11pm and knitting).

I love the holidays! So much food and so many friends! Please be sure to enjoy your holiday time! I know I will (mostly due to the new elf-suit I just purchased...best Black Friday buy EVER!)
Much love to you,
Michelle!

My blog is becoming like the eggplant I left in the fridge...

Hello all! Welcome back to Michelle's blog. This was an extensive hiatus and I do apologize.

I live one of those thrilling lives you only read about in magazines. And by magazines I mean 'Boring Life' and 'So You Spend Every Free Moment Doing Homework'. Obviously the readership of these magazines lack in numbers. So instead of making up dumb excuses about the past, I'll just go forward and hope you lovely readers (if there are any besides my lovely friend Emily [who reminded me to blog]) forgive and appreciate my written word.

This past weekend I, and twenty other people from my school, traveled down to Georgia to protest the School of the Americas (check out soaw.org for more information). It was a twenty-two hour drive one-way and boy was that exhausting. For supper we stopped at this Tai restaurant and I was ravenous. Like, if that waiter didn't stop filling my water glass and get me my damn food, I was going to eat him. After a million and three quarters of an eon, my curry arrived. This, dear reader, was the tastiest curry I have ever had (no offence Dad) with vegetables cooked to perfection. At that moment, if someone would have attacked me and politely gave me the option of my purse or my curry, I would have gone with the purse. (Joke is on my attacker, I have no money.) After we got back from the protest (LONGEST DRIVE EVER!) I had two days of school and then Thanksgiving break! Woo! I got home and Dad took me out to an Indian restaurant and of course, I ordered the curry, medium spice. Again, this was delightfully wonderful. Not as good as the curry in Georgia, but darn close.

Many times in my twenty years of existence, I have overwhelming jealousy for certain people. My darling friend Kelsey, http://roahg.blogspot.com/ , is one of those people. She is currently in Rome. She just got back from a trip to Paris. She is going to Dublin. She is such a wh@%e! In a good way of course. I hope she gets eaten by leprechauns. Tonight we were chatting and Kelsey informed me of the world's most beautiful sandwich. I have yet to make said sandwich, but according to Kelsey, "it's like a chorus of heavenly winged babies."

I'm going to call this the Cherub Melt:
Grilled bread of choosing
Fancy French Fromage
Camenbert
place on previously prepared bread in skillet
spinach over the cheese
fresh of course
not too much
on the other slice of bread you must spread some apricot jam
grill (with flip) until golden brown as desired

Now, if anyone out there (who is not Kelsey) tries this, let me know. I will get on it once I buy some groceries. I love sandwiches and if you want to know the extent of my sandwich love see my previous post "You scream for ice cream, I cry out for a sandwich" I'm told it's a goodie.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving loyal reader! I will be sure to post on this marathon of food I will be partaking in (from a vegetarian stand point!)

Delicious Weekend and a Side of Potatoes

Hello lovelies!

Here's an update of the rest of my weekend (which was relaxing and fantastic)...

On Friday I went to the local Catholic Worker house to prepare supper and generally have a grand time. I was told that there was a large zucchini and we were going to use it for a pasta-less lasagna. I wasn't prepared for how enormous that vegetable was. Probably the size of a small child, I should've measured it against the highly energetic six-year-old Scott. He probably wouldn't have sat still for long enough. I'm not exactly sure on the recipe for this, but I'll give it a go (from memory...)

Pasta-less Lasagna:
-Vegetables that you want (we used carrots, eggplant, red pepper, cauliflower, and mushrooms)
-Spinach
-A giant zucchini
-Tofu
-Ricotta Cheese
-Pasta Sauce
-Italian Seasoning


Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

1. Wash and chop veggies (this includes slicing the zucchini to look like pasta sheets, get where I'm going with this? Hope so.)
1.5 Do something with the tofu (yes I know this is horribly vague, but honestly I have no idea what to do with tofu) season I think.
2. In a large pan, layer zucchini slices, spinach, veggies, sauce, tofu, and ricotta cheese.
3. Place in the oven for 45 minutes or until done.
4. Eat and enjoy with an insane amount of people.

That is a horribly written recipe and I apologize, but if you have some cooking smarts you should be able to figure something out from it. It is so very tasty.

Saturday I don't think I actually cooked anything at all. Nope I didn't. I did stop at the farmer's market though. Also, sweet potato sushi is fantastic. It made my stomach smile. For supper I had margarita pizza from Pizza Lucé and that was also like eating a bag of happiness. Though it didn't even come close to the pizza my padre makes, it was darn close and actually made me miss eating at home (hint hint family...)

Today (being Sunday) I was in need of delicious brunch food. I love brunch. Mostly I love "breakfast foods" at non-breakfast times. Luckily I purchased potatoes and garlic at the farmer's market yesterday!! Okay, confession time. I was planning on making breakfast potatoes and specifically purchased breakfast potato things. You caught me. IMPORTANT NOTE: This happens to be the first thing I would be making completely on my own. So I scrubbed and sliced the potatoes, heated oil, cooked the taters, threw in some garlic and onions, salt, and pepper, and BAM! delicious potatoes. Yes, that's right. I am the queen of potatoes. Just call me Michelle Russet, although many of you already do.

Potatoes a la Michelle:
-Potatoes (you choose how many, I don't know how hungry you are!) (I did three medium ones if that helps...)
-Oil (olive is preferred but I only had canola and that worked just fine) about a table spoon for the skillet and a teaspoon for the taters
-Butter (optional)
-Garlic (I used one clove but I could've used more seeing as I love garlic)
-Onion (again, if you love onions, use half! I did two slices of an onion and then fourth-ed those)
-Salt and Pepper

1.In a large skillet heat up oil and butter.
2. Chop up potatoes into small chunks.
3. Coat potatoes with teaspoon of oil in a tupperware or a bag. Add a dash of salt and pepper.
4. Put potatoes in oil. Cook for three minutes, flip, then continue to cook for 5-10 minutes
5. Mince garlic (or you call your father, ask how to de-germ garlic then just leave garlic in large chunks because garlic is delicious) and add to pan
6. Slice onion and add to pan
7. Cook for about 4 minutes or until everything starts looking a delicious brown color.
8. Take off heat, season with salt and pepper, and if you're daring like I am--add cheese.

Boom! Delicious potatoes

If these recipes don't work, don't blame me. I am not an expert on culinary affairs, I'm just making this stuff up. But I would think they work...let me know!
Much love,
Michelle

Chicken for Dinner or Reasons Why I'm Becoming Vegetarian

Hello my army of readers. Okay, I don't think it's that many, more like a small platoon. Oh, who am I kidding, I know nothing about warfare or the military.

Normally you would be reading my musings on a Saturday, but the events of last evening were just so...eventful that I just had to share.

It all started on September 28, 1991. My roommate was born on that date and from then on her life was propelling toward the dinner party that would take place on September 29, 2011. To celebrate birthdays with my roommates we each get to choose something we would like to do. Last year I dragged them all to a showing of Harry Potter 7 Part 1 because, well I don't need a reason, Harry Potter is awesome.

This is relevant because Meghan wanted to put on a birthday dinner complete with fancy chicken and side dishes. I was going to make a green bean casserole (or a "hot dish" for Minnesotans) but became swamped with homework that I was unable to help. Essentially I was a hermit in my room until the party was supposed to start. But as I went into the kitchen I noted an air of disarray and general confusion. Apparently this chicken is supposed to contain onions, lemons, and oranges stuffed up its butt. Well two things were wrong with this situation:
1. It seems that oranges were not purchased. Instead, there were grapefruit. Possibly blood oranges, but the consensus was grapefruit. Not the same.
2. No one gutted the chicken. The giblets were left all up in the rear of that poor pollo. Another roommate, Leah, said she came home to see three ladies staring up the butt of a chicken. Chicken juices everywhere. I'm really glad I was watching a movie for class.

Now at this point, I sensed general frustration. Roomie Katie (my third and final roommate) needed to make her cookie salad, puppy chow was being shaken in the living room, and all together there were too many cooks in the kitchen.

So we ordered pizza.



Now, I also mentioned that I am becoming a vegetarian. I've tried this many times before, but I think it just might stick this time. I don't really buy all that much meat as it is and being a modern-day hippie, most people already assume I am a vegetarian. Not that I'm conforming to peoples' expectations. Disease from meat really skeeves me out. Hard core. Plus, I need to start making healthier and more conscientious food choices. I will most likely start this diet after I finish the meat I have already purchased because I don't want to be wasteful. On that note, I must find a way to use a fourth of a tub of vanilla yogurt before it goes bad...if you have a suggestion let me know, but before October 1st. Yes, tomorrow.

Love to you!!
Michelle

The Comfort Weekend

Hello! ¡Hola! 你好

After I posted last week about becoming a weekend warrior of the kitchen, my roommate Katie and I decided to have tacos and tater-tots. T&T night is sort of a tradition in this apartment stemming back to freshmen year (so last year) when the dining room would always serve tacos with tater-tots. It may seem like that would be the strangest combination in the world, but trust me, it really works. Just ask Taco John's.

Because of my insanely busy schedule during the week, I was forced to eat canned soup, sandwiches (no complaints there...I just bought salami), frozen dinners, and left-overs. I tried making a taco with pita bread. It was not delicious. At all. Such a weird texture, but I was far too invested in eating to stop. One of my frozen meals was from P.F. Chang's and oh dear higher-power-that-be was it fantastic. I love P.F. Chang's. It even required me to use the stove. Yea, hardcore.

The best part of the week just has to be the part we are in right now, the weekend. Why? Because it is the weekend, duh. AND my mom is visiting me at school!!!

I have to say that I have the best mom in the world. Sorry other moms, there is no contest. When I was helping unload her stuff, there were bags and bags of ingredients and a plant. Gerber daisies to be exact (my second favorite flower...they transport better than sunflowers). Let the cooking adventures begin!!

Well Friday night we went out. Hey, I'm in Duluth, there are so many delicious restaurants and both of us were exhausted. Little Angies here we come! Or there we went. Nothing makes a stomach happy like Tex-Mex.

For today, the theme of the meal was comfort. Which works so well with Mom here! We prepared creamy chicken wild-rice soup, rolls, and apple pie. When ever I have creamy chicken wild-rice soup it makes me feel warm and loved. It has to be one of my favorite meals that Mom makes.

Every bite is like a tummy hug wrapped in a warm blanket. Yea, that magical. Combine it with garlic butter rolls (store-bought but oh, so wonderful) and it's a party of teddy bears dancing on your tongue to "Here Comes the Sun." Splendid.


Did I mention we had pie? Actually, as I type this we're waiting for the pie to cool and I'm supposed to be reading for marketing. I love pie. It reminds me of a sandwich. It's a stretch, but hey there is two outer-carb layers and filling. Ergo, sandwich.

For this pie I was Queen of Apples. I also cut my finger. My roommate sells those super sharp knifes for that company that everyone knows of (I can't remember the name) and boy, are they sharp!

So after repairing my injury and washing my hands I got back to being Queen of the Apples. Mom bought two different types of apples, Granny Smith and Honey Crisps, because a lady at the grocery store suggested to. We put in extra cinnamon because that's what my grandpa does and he makes absolutely delicious apple pies. I can't tell you if our pie compares yet for I haven't tasted it yet. It is just sitting there. Taunting me. I want pie.

Because this post is so darn long (apologies) I'm not going to include recipes, but there will be some eventually! So stay tuned.

Love,
Michelle

Empty Cupboards and Humus Sandwiches

As you can clearly see, my cooking experiments haven't been taking off like I had expected. It may be because I have not nearly the ingredients that I would like/can afford, that my schedule is crazy busy as of right now, or that every time we use the stove the smoke alarms go off.

This is the new, delicious plan. I am going to make myself a weekend-warrior chef!! (Dons war paint and flowery apron)

Starting this weekend (after I go grocery shopping and buy some food that isn't canned soup) the food shall be fantastic for two days. After a week of eight am classes and endless meetings, a weekend feast is a perfect way to unwind.

But you may be wondering, what did you make in the previous days while your blog sat empty and sad? The answer to that, noodles and soup. Oh and sandwiches of course. I think I've eaten seven turkey, cheese, and humus sandwiches.

Also, granola and yogurt is the best snack ever. Here's my fool-proof recipe:
-granola (1/2 cup to whatever you want, you're the hungry one here)
-yogurt (1/2 cup or seriously, if you like yogurt, put in more yogurt! It's going to be amazing anyway)

1. In a bowl (that you can eat out of) mix granola and yogurt.
2. Eat.

Hooray for tasty snacks! And hooray for you.

You Scream for Ice Cream, I Cry Out for a Sandwich.

Now the week of free food has ended and the real fun is beginning.

I went on my first successful grocery shopping trip yesterday and returned with delectable foodstuff and only minor emotional damage. Being in a new grocery store, I had absolutely no idea where anything was located. Scratch that, I knew where the cheese was kept. Mostly because cheese is a staple item. Since I am currently the only resident out of four roommates in the apartment, basic items that were necessary for survival this weekend were purchased. I was going to be cooking for one and I needed substance. Therefore, it was sandwich time.

Every time should be sandwich time.

I have a mild love affair with sandwiches. Nothing too big, except for they are the greatest invention of all time. Liz Lemon practically summed up my life when she said, "I believe that all anyone wants in life is to sit in peace and eat a sandwich." When sexist persons yell out, "Woman! Make me a sammich!!" I do. Then I sit there and I eat the "sammich" in front of them because I don't take to kindly to sexism. And I love sammiches.

All I wanted today was a sandwich, which was perfect because all I really had for food was sandwich making materials. After an epic battle with the toaster oven (which it won...twice) I just decided to eat the burnt bagel and make the most out of this sandwich. Even the worst sandwich is better than none. It was so simple, just cheese, turkey, and zesty italian dressing. Delicious.

I'm on a quest for the perfect sandwich. I think I came close once, but the bread was just a bit over toasted. The satisfaction that comes from taking the perfect bite, where every ingredient is present and accounted for, is mind blowing. Life would be so much better if everyone had a sandwich.

Now that the school year is officially starting on Tuesday, I'll be doing some serious cooking. The roommates will be present, I'll be in need of delicious food, and nothing makes you feel better than a nice home-cooked meal. Except for free tuition or a text book that doesn't cost over $100. So, please grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax, and attempt to wrap your mind around the concept of me cooking.

The Week of Free Food

So you may be thinking, "Michelle, why aren't more of your hilarious cooking mishaps...I mean "adventures" on this blog?!" or you are probably just thinking about how delicious tacos are. Well the thing is I'm currently on campus, but all of my meals are being provided through this orientation group that I'm volunteering for. Yippie!! I'm especially stoked because my fridge currently has the following items:

• Tea/Juice V8 drink (super delicious by the way)
• Water
• Juice Boxes of the fruit punch variety
• Strawberry Jelly
• Velveta Cheese (thanks Mom!)

Yea, not even a culinary genius could come up with a meal given these ingredients. I'd love to see that as the challenge for Iron Chef. I think Bobby Flay would stab his foot with a parring knife on purpose to leave early. 

I've been thinking of some ideas for how to best set this blog up. My darling friend Kelsey (who you can find here http://roahg.blogspot.com/ and creep/read about her lovely adventures in Italy [SUPER JEALOUS BTW]) suggested I post the recipes that I'm using along with suggestions, comments, and overall experience. So that's what I'll be doing from now on! Hold on to your chef hats ladies and gentlemen. This is going to be a bumpy ride.  

Sour Cream for Moist-ness?!

I know that I said my dive into the culinary world would begin on Sunday, well that turned out to be incorrect. Mea culpa. My amigo Jerry came over today and we decided to bake (him being a fancy-smancy award-winning high school culinary dude...yea whatever some kids are talented.)

Cookies were the name of the game. Basic, delicious cookies. There was only a ten percent chance of me screwing anything up and/or burning the house down. Being exciting and adventurous people, we chose to attempt chocolate-chip cookies but with a twist! Sour cream was called for, like half of a cup! Weird, right? Well, I thought it was. Turns out adding sour cream just makes your cookies moist. (side note: moist is one of those words that is incredibly fun to say and yet oddly disgusting at the same time. moist, moooist, moiiiist, moisssst. yea now I've disturbed even myself) If for some insane reason your home didn't have sour cream (like miniature possums ran through the front door and went straight for the fridge) plain yogurt could be used. Right, because I just happen to have a tub of plain yogurt and not sour cream. Good one Betty Crocker.

Because I am currently still at my parent's house, we had no need to go to the store. It's like we have our own personal ingredient store. We are never, ever without a certain spice. Ever. I think we have a life time supply of pink sea salt just lying around. Yea, pink sea salt. Fancy. So when we went to add in the chocolate chips, low and behold, there they are but only about a fourth of what the recipe called for. In went caramel bits! Which made me incredibly happy because I love caramel far more than chocolate. Dear Betty said it should take 12-14 minutes for the cookies to get their act together. Lies. It was more like twenty. Perhaps it was the oven. Nah, I blame Betty. All in all they were delicious especially with milk (but really, what cookie isn't good with milk. All cookies are good with milk. All of them.)

Here's what our delicious creation looks like (or I should say looked because they are now in my stomach)

Sorry for the poor quality, took this snap shot with my phone. 

So, I wouldn't say this is my grand debut as a culinary icon but, hey, it's a start. Rome wasn't built in a day people. So stay tuned! (please) (thank you)

Time to Cut the Apron Strings

In, well now 2 days seeing as it is 2:15am I shall begin a culinary adventure all my own. That's right, I'm spreading my wings and learning to season or boil things. No longer will I be hiding behind the apron strings of my mother or chef coats of my father. Now don't get me wrong, I am a master chef of the essentials (mac&cheese, toast, pizza, cookies, and cereal) but there is a reason that grilled cheese is my favorite meal to prepare. But the time has come. I shall be a domestic goddess or perish.

I love everything about food. Just not preparing it. Or cleaning up after the meal is done. Okay, I love to eat. Growing up with a chef dad and my awesome mom (who bakes like there is no tomorrow) I never found it necessary to dabble in cooking, it was always done for me. Everyone always says, "Oh I bet the food at your house is just swell!! You should invite me over sometime!" Uh, one, yes the food is always delicious (minus that mushroom veggie thing we once had, ew) and two, no sir I just met you at the grocery store and I think you smell like an un-cooked potato. So I sluffed off cooking for 19 years because I thought, hey not a necessary skill at this moment. That mentality has really come back to bite me in the ass. Big time.

You may be thinking, "Michelle, why don't you just buy yourself a meal plan! Wouldn't that prolong your whole "not cooking" phase?" And to that I say, meal plan is not an option. Though a free meal on taco and tator-tot day would be fantastic.

Alas, this blog will be about my attempts at preparing delicious meals for myself and my roommates (if they dare eat what I prepare) and perhaps interesting food-related things I find on the interweb or in magazines and books. I know a food blog isn't as original as sliced bread (see I'm already doing food humor!! Jokes like that are like oranges...rather a-peal-ing!) but being a food writer is a dream of mine (because HELLO free food for reviews!!) and why not start now! Or, in two days.