February Recipe Share

Yes, this is up before the end of February. Can you believe it?!?! I feel like I've been so behind on everything, so it feels good to be ahead of everything.

One thing I should share briefly, is that I have started to eat Gluten free. Which means to wheat, barely, oats, etc. It is a huge adjustment, but I started it to see if it helps my migraines and so far it seems to be helping. I feel like I have so much more energy and feel so much better. Anyway, since I started Gluten Free it's kinda like a whole new way of cooking. I mean not really, but I can't bake and such like I used too. I'm trying new things. So I'm not sure how many of you will try these, but seriously, I have enjoyed eating Gluten Free. It's been a good change for me.

Now, once again I've been awful about pictures. I really gotta get back into taking them. Maybe next month. So once again I apologize.

First up:

Alison's Gluten Free Bread

This was my very first loaf of Gluten Free bread. I'll be honest, I was scared to try it. I heard that Gluten Free Bread was not very tasty and would be nothing like normal bread. I almost didn't try it. I'm glad I decided too. First, I have to say that I was freaked out about the texture of it, it was more like really grainy brownie batter than any bread dough. I did add a bit more flour than the recipe showed, to see if I could get it to look a bit more like normal bread but I didn't. I was shocked at how much it rose!! I mixed it up in the bread machine and then baked it in the oven.

Verdict: I will totally be making it again!!!! It was a little bit crumbly, but very good. It was sweeter than normal bread, but I was fine with that. I also heard that GF bread should be stored in the fridge to last longer, and that also helps with the cutting/crumbling of the bread so I stored it in there. It feels great to know I can have bread again. :) Though in the future, I'm going to cut this recipe in half. I don't need a ton of bread. Now I'm not scared of trying to make GF bread.

Second recipe I tried:

Quinoa and Black Bean Casserole from UBake

1 cup dry quinoa

1 cup salsa

2 eggs

1 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

2 cups shredded sweet potato

3 cups black beans (or 2 cans, drained and rinsed) NOTE: I used the cans

1 T ground cumin

liberal pinches of salt and pepper

Cook quinoa according to package directions. I googled how to cook quinoa in a rice cooker and cooked it that way.

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix quinoa, black beans, sweet potato, half the cheese, and the cumin, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. In a small bowl mix the eggs and the salsa, then pour over the vegetables. Pour all ingredients into a 9x9 casserole dish coated with nonstick cooking spray.

Sprinkle on remaining cheese and bake for 30 minutes, uncovered.

Can serve on a bed of spinach if you would like.

Makes about 8 servings.

Now, first off, I've always wanted to try quinoa, mainly because it sounds so exotic and it's fun to say. Yup, I'm odd, but hey, at least it got me to try a different food! Now I have to say that I did not like the smell of the quinoa cooking. It kinda grossed me out, I couldn't place the smell, but I just didn't like it. It was not pleasant. I still went ahead with the recipe though. It was very easy to put together despite all the ingredients.

Verdict: I topped mine with a bit of sour cream after trying the first bite. I thought it tasted like it was missing something, but couldn't place it. I couldn't taste the sweet potatoes and it tasted very Mexican-ey. I enjoyed it. The downside is that when it was re-heated it didn't taste as good. I didn't really care for it. It's hard to explain. I don't think I would make this again. Though I'll look for another recipe to try quinoa again.

And of course I saved the best recipe for last!!!

Traditional Gluten Free Pizza Crust

Tonight I was craving pizza. I did some searching last night for a crust recipe and with the help of a group on Facebook found this one. Now keep in mind I have been making homemade pizza crust for years. I have never perfected the recipe, but I have made decent crust. After the bread, I was a bit concerned about the consistency, but wanted to try it. No issues at all. Was very similar in consistency to my normal crust from scratch.

Verdict: OH. MY. GOODNESS. I think I have found THE pizza crust recipe. Even if I go back to eating wheat, and this crust tastes good reheated, I'm sticking with this recipe. It was a thinner crust, with just enough flavor. I loved the texture and the taste of it. It kinda reminded me of a Pi Pizza crust, but with Italian Seasoning in the crust. I can't wait to re-heat this and see how it tastes. :) I also think it might make good croutons or flavored breadcrumbs to use in other dishes.

January Recipe Share

One of my goals is to try 3 new recipes a month for a year. I succeed in that for January. Of course I forgot to take pictures of the goods, but I did find all of these online.

First up:

New York Cheesecake from Mr. Food I made this for Christmas (we celebrate it on New Years Day) with the in-laws with a homemade chocolate sauce. I have made cheesecake before, but not this style. Now I have to admit that I did not follow this recipe exactly. If you know me, you know that I won't buy pre-packaged cookie dough. Instead I made sugar cookie dough from scratch and used it as the crust. I really missed the graham cracker crust. I was not fond of the sugar cookie one at all. Everyone but me loved the filling. I thought it was missing something, but couldn't place my finger on it.

Verdict: I would try this recipe again, but I would do the traditional graham cracker crust. If at that time I still feel like something is missing from the filling, then I won't make it again. Oh, and it did turn out just like the picture!

Second Recipe:

HOT FUDGE CHOCOLATE SAUCE

3 T. Cocoa
1/4 c. Butter
2 c. Powdered sugar
3/4 c. Evaporated Milk

In a 2 qt. saucepan melt the butter with the cocoa until smooth.
Add the milk & sugar slowly until all lumps are gone.
Bring to a boil & continue boiling until thickness you desire.
Put on ice cream or cheesecake, or simply eat with a spoon. (Not that I have ever done that....)

Verdict: OMG. I have made this one TWICE. OH SO GOOD! It stores perfectly in a pint size glass jar in the fridge. Growing up Ma made something similar, and I didn't have her recipe, but I called her and this is very similar if not exact to it. It is heavenly. I think that this recipe is from All Recipes. I didn't save the link from it....I copy and pasted it into a word document....but it is AMAZING.

Third Recipe:

Lemon Poppyseed Bread from Joy of Baking Now this one I once again realized I forgot part of it. I forgot to make the topping that goes on it. I have a love for Lemon Poppyseed muffins and breads. I just love that combination.

Verdict: I wasn't that impressed with this recipe. I thought that the bread was try and that there wasn't enough of a lemon flavor. I don't think that I will make this recipe again. Though if you try it and make it with the topping, let me know what you think! I could be persuaded to try this again, because it totally could have been my error and the topping could make that much of a difference.

I'll post this again monthly and I think that the recipes will vary more than just baking. I'm planning on trying a couple gluten free recipes, and Andrew wanted me to post a couple vegetarian ones. I think I'm going to accept his challenge, since I didn't finish the 7 day challenge. Oops.

Journal Jar Question: {Instrument}

Since I can't think of anything off the top of my head to blog about today, I'm going to use my trusty journal jar and choose a question! Today's question is:

"What instrument do you wish you could play and why?"

I have always wanted to play the piano. I think it sounds so beautiful and that it would be very relaxing to play. Way back in 5th and 6th grade I played the clarinet. I have no idea why I chose that one, but I gave up band. I regret not begging to take piano lessons. A couple of my friends played piano and we would all sing (me very off key!) to the songs. We spent many a lunch hours doing that in the band room.

Maybe now that I'm an adult I will eventually take piano lessons. I think it would be a wonderful hobby to take up. Maybe I should add it onto my bucket list.

My tattoo

I have been wanting a tattoo for a long time. In fact it was on my list of things to do before I die. I just couldn't decide what or where.   On Monday I woke up and decided that I wanted to get one this week.   Of course Jason made it happen for me.   He has been wanting me to get one for quite a while.   I knew I wanted a bird of some sort and I wanted it on my ankle.  Jason suggested a sparrow since I love them, and of course it was perfect!  I went with it.   Brought a few pictures with me to Rochester Tattoo and asked if Angie was available since I liked her work I seen on myspace and she was.  Perfect!   She sketched out what I wanted and off we went.

Here is the stencil:


Angie working on the outline. The outline hurt the most and it wasn't intolerable at all. I thought the pain would be much worse than it was. There were a couple really sensitive spots, but nothing bad and that made me want to cry.



Me watching Angie tattoo me.



The outline is done!


The shading being worked on.


Check out some of the color. Love the colors!


My artist Angie hard at work on me. She was so cute and pregnant.


Check out all the colors and the ink!


And the finished product!!


Click here to see it larger. :)

It only took about an hour once she got started. Since it was an hour, the tat was $100. I don't think that is bad at all! I just love my little sparrow tat. I feel like I should name him.

One thing to check off my bucket list now.