It's about dancing in the rain.

For the past few days it was down-pouring in Duluth. The bright side in this cloudy situation was I wore my trench coat and looked like a detective, which is always a good thing. Always. Then as I traveled south for a home visit, the rain followed me. It's a good thing I love rainy days. Weather like this is sort of a free-pass to play chill music, wear comfy clothing, grab a cup of coffee, and just be lazy. Check, check, check, and check.

Currently I'm listening to this playlist from 8tracks.com

I want to marry these guys (and their voices) from LittleLionWoman on 8tracks.

Feel free to stay a while on my page and listen! I don't mind, really.

Mom made me a delicious iced coffee, which thankfully has a straw in the glass allowing me to type and drink at the same time. Impressed? I would be. Her iced coffees always turn out better than the ones I try to make. According to Mom, I do everything right, yet I have a feeling she adds a secret ingredient, like blood of a unicorn, to make it so delicious (and give powers of immortality!)

Here are the incredibly easy steps to Mom's perfect iced coffees:

1. Brew a large pot of strong coffee. (We prefer the caramel-flavored stuff, but only for iced coffee. I think flavored coffee is disgusting when it's warm)
2. Allow said coffee to cool to room temperature.
3. Pour coffee over a glass filled with ice. (This ice is going to melt, so you will want a lot of it. First, it waters down the extra-strong coffee, and second, it makes the iced part of the iced coffee.)
4. Add a shot of flavored syrup (I suggest caramel if you decided to go with the caramel coffee), some flavored (or not) creamer (again, caramel is delicious), and unicorn blood (just kidding...not really)
5. Stir, sip, and enjoy

So my mom says it's not unicorn blood, but mother's love. Sure...

Sometimes I wish I was Shakira.

I mean, honestly, wouldn't you want to be able to dance like that? Or be able to call up Rafael Nadal to handsomely pose in a music video? Plus, I wouldn't have to stress over sounding like such a gringa when I speak Spanish.

WORD.

Yesterday I needed to relax. Currently I'm working an eight to four job and assistant stage managing a local production called The Royal Family. Needless to say I am a bit swamped. So I headed through the down-pouring rain to Barnes & Noble.

Bookstores are my secret retreat. Everything about them calms me. The blend of hushed conversations, coffee smells, and endless opportunities for getting lost in a story work perfectly together. I ended up spending far more money than I care to admit, but, in my mind, it was worth it. Being a mild magazine junkie, I picked up three travel magazines and the latest edition of Lapham's Quarterly.

I have never read LQ before, but according to its website, every three months a new issue is released full of historical documents, pictures, data, etc. related to a specific theme. The Spring 2012 theme is "Means of Communication." How perfect! Communication major Michelle GEEKED OUT! My eyes were bulging with wonder, hands rapidly flipping through the pages, I may have even squeaked. The copy I initially picked up had a disgusting mystery smudge on the cover, so I exchanged it for one with the white cover in pristine condition. If I had discovered LQ the same time I went to the Newseum, my head would have imploded with joy.

I also picked up a new cookbook titled The BrokeAss Gourmet. Every recipe looks incredible and I can't wait until I have some time to look at the book (perhaps I'll try a few recipes as well!)

Words are incredibly intriguing. It is mind-boggling to me how many different languages there are and the various means people use to communicate. One of my favorite communication quotes (yes, I do have more than one) is from Emperor Charles V,

I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to my horse.

Our words constantly change, morph, and adapt.

Recently, I discovered popsicle should actually be Popsicle because it is a brand. The true name is an ice pop (thank you Wikipedia) and Popsicle became a generic trademark after its surge in popularity. Of course I had to do more research on generic trademarks, which lead me to click on a page about metonymy, and, eventually, I ended up reading about heroin on Wikipedia. How I got there, I have no idea, but I did discover that heroin was originally owned and branded by Bayer.

Everybody was Kung-fu Blogging--HI-YAH

New design, new content, but still the same Michelle.

So, you may or may not have noticed how on top of my blogging game I've been lately. And by "on top of my blogging game" I mean I have been terrible at trying new recipes and documenting the process. Absolutely horrible. I still eat and sometimes I cook, but nothing worth a new post. Unless you really wanted to hear about me purchasing a #13 from Jimmy John's for the past couple of days, then I apologize.

From now on this isn't going to be solely a food blog. I'm traveling soon and would like to document all of my fun adventures! Plus, I'm spending my first summer away from home in a wonderful city that I love. Just a Chef's Daughter is now going to be full of adventures, fun stories, and occasionally some recipes.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
Actually, this news is fairly relevant.

Remember my darling friend, Kelsey?

Besides being an excellent Viking explorer, she is the author of a smart, entertaining, and all-around beautiful blog which can be found here: Ramblings of a Hypothetical Giant. Too bad I'm about to beat her blog into a bloggy pulp.

That's right, folks. We're having a blog-off. Her latest post is relevant to my culinary pursuits, so I'm (attempting) to do a witty-styled update a la Kelsey. Hopefully this battle will encourage us both to write and perhaps communicate more with each other. Crazy, I know, but it just might work!

Remember me?

What's up culinary world! (or in reality, the people I tell to read my blog)

You know, and hopefully love, me as "just a chef's daughter" and I have some exciting news for you! The "chef" himself created a blog!. He actually has time and the skills to keep up a food blog.
Note: there are a lot of nerd references in it, because he's a nerd. (Love you Dad!)

I highly recommend it to you, my lovely reader, because well, he's my dad, and also because I think he is one of the greatest, most over-worked, and under-appreciated chefs in central Minnesota.

Here is his blog ya'll: subscribe, follow, stalk, whatever, just visit please.
A Chef's Musings

I was unsupervised in the kitchen...

Due to the insane amount of homework, I decided to blow off my reading and bake instead.

I found this beautiful recipe in Cookin' for Trouble by Bitchin' Kitchen and immediately wanted to eat it. But, I would have to make it first.

no-bake cream cheese peanut butter pie

Grocery List
1 1/4 cups salted pretzels (this is necessary for the crust)
3/4 cup dark brown sugar (1/4 is used for the crust)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (also for crust)
1/2 cup cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
2 cups heavy cream
6 oz semi-sweet dark chocolate finely chopped
-crushed peanuts (optional)

Gear
food processor (haha, right)
9" round pie plate
2 medium mixing bowls
electric hand mixer (we'll get to that later...)
medium saucepan

Now, the first thing to do is make the crust, but that also requires a food processor, which I don't have. Instead, I bought a graham cracker crust fully aware it wouldn't be nearly as delicious. And with this disclaimer...

Pretzel Crust
Put the salted pretzels in a food processor and pulse until fine. In a large bowl mix together the pretzel crumbs, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, and the melted butter. Press the crust mixture into the pie plate. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
*If you do have a food processor I would suggest making this crust. The filling is really sweet (and DELICIOUS) and some saltiness would be perfect. A rolling pin, or heavy text book could also work to smash the little pretzels into smithereens!! I'm just lazy.

Cream Cheese Peanut Butter Filling
In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, and peanut butter, and whip until smooth using a hand mixer. (Trust me, find a hand mixer. It's doable without one, but your arm will get incredibly sore. Plus side, I can skip going to the gym because my arm is ripped.) In another medium bowl whip 1 cup of heavy cream with 1/4 cup of brown sugar until stiff peaks form (I had no idea what this meant. Honestly, I still don't know what it means. Just mix for a while until all is mixed.)
Delicately fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. (Remember when I said my arm became jacked do to the intense mixing I just did. That makes "delicate folding" a "bit of a problem")

Yea, that happened. Gross, right?!

Spoon the filling into the pie shell and refrigerate for 1 hour. (Everything worked out splendidly, just remember be gentle!)





Chocolate Whipped Cream
Heat 1 cup of heavy cream in a medium saucepan just until bubbles form around the edges; don't let it boil. Remove from the heat. Add the chopped chocolate, and whisk until melted. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

(You're a bit impressed right now, eh?! Yea, I did all of this SUCCESSFULLY!)

Shkiaffing it Together *Shkiaffing is a word known to Bitchin' Kitchen fans. If you're not a fan, Ma please! Get on that. It's worth it.
Once the chocolate cream is cool, whip until thick. Slather the pie with the chocolate whipped cream, and garnish with the crushed peanuts (optional) (I used crushed pretzels my roommate Leah was kind enough to pick up from a gas station. I crushed the little buggers with my political philosophy textbook, but I'm sure any textbook would work just as well, you may just lose the angst-y flavor). Refrigerate for 3 hours to set. (This is the longest three hours of your life. Seriously.)

This is a wonderfully delicious pie. I am so gosh darn impressed with myself.
Now go, eat, and be merry!
--Michelle

Expectations and reality

Expectation: I am going directly to my room and writing my four-page essay due at 9:15am tomorrow
Reality: I am going to go to the gym, do a yoga video, and watch youtube

Expectation: Use newly purchased cookbook to make delicious meals for self
Reality: Get barbecue sauce all over my keyboard from the non-chicken chicken nuggets I am eating...with cheetos.

Expectation: I am going to write all of the time and have millions of followers!
Reality: Hopefully I stop neglecting this blog...

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