{ Bacon & Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms }

April 30, 2012

Sitting here, in almost May, looking forward through the spring, summer, and fall, is dizzying. So many special occasions coming up, so many big changes, so many day to day hurdles. It’s hard to know what to make of it when it feels like life is flying by.

A few weeks ago my sister, Lauren, got engaged. Actually, her fiancé Bradley proposed during our monthly virtual ya-ya book club, which was just about the cutest thing ever. I already adored him, I know he’s going to make my sister very happy. Not to mention that because of their engagement and eventual wedding I have the perfect excuse to spend time noodling around on pinterest planning bridal showers and bachelorette parties and special surprises. Surprise to nobody, I’ve been dwelling a lot on foods to serve. Cute, delicious finger foods.

I love mushrooms stuffed with pretty much anything. There’s something about the taste and texture of a mushroom cap contrasted with sausage or cheese or rice that’s so perfect. These little ones are beyond delicious… I’m a lover of goat cheese in everything, but in this case it was especially perfect. The salty bacon, the earthy rosemary, the juicy mushroom, the tart cheese. Heaven.

Bacon & Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

24 small cremini mushrooms

1/2 cup goat cheese

3 strips bacon

1 tbsp fresh rosemary

1 tbsp fresh oregano

Salt

Remove the stems from the mushrooms and clean them out. Cook the bacon. Let the goat cheese come to room temperature.

Chop up herbs and crumble bacon. Mix cheese, herbs, bacon, and salt. Fill each mushroom with stuffing. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

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Categories: appetizers, roasted meats and veggies
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{ Jack n’ Coke Pie }

April 22, 2012

Last month a friend of ours was having a party, which means that I was left with the impossible task of deciding what kind of pie would be best to bring. We were coming off of National Pie Month, which meant that I was over cream pies; my brain was stuck. Nothing new was in season and out of desperation I asked what his favorite mixed drink was. A formula that had worked before, I hoped I could find something in his response. Chris’ favorite drink, it turns out, is a Jack and Coke. And that my friends, makes a pretty delicious pie.

This pie was pretty simple- a coca cola chess with a Jack Daniels whipped cream. The chess is simple and traditional and the cream is potent. The combination is reminiscent of the drink but not overpowering. The feedback I got from those who actually drink whiskey was enthusiastic, so I whole heartedly recommend this combination. What other cocktails would you like to see as pie?

Jack n’ Coke Pie

Pie dough:

1 1/4 cups flour

1 tbsp shortening

1/2 tbsp sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 stick butter, cold

1/4 cup water, cold

Pie filling:

1 12oz can cola

5 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 tbsp flour

1/2 cup butter, melted

whipped cream

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 tbsp sugar

1 oz Jack Daniels whiskey

Begin by making your dough. Mix together all the dry ingredients. Work the shortening in. Cube the butter and work in with your hands until the mixture is the consistency of corn meal. Slowly stir in the water, a little at a time, until a ball forms. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

To make your filling pour the cola into a medium sauce pan over low heat. Simmer until reduced by half– your goal is a syrup, approximately 1/3 a cup of liquid. In a mixer combine all filling dry ingredients. Add in eggs, one at a time. Add the butter, melted. Add in syrup. Add in vanilla.

Roll the dough out and press into a pie dish. Pour the filling into the center and bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until mostly firm. Remove from the oven and let set.

To make your whipped cream combine cream, sugar, and whiskey in a bowl. Whip on high speed for 3-5 minutes or until it holds a peak. Serve alongside pie.

 

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{ Chickpea & Quinoa Cakes }

April 18, 2012

I promise that my intention is not to make this blog into a quinoa fest. But this was another recipe so good I would have shared it anyway, so here it is–quinoa and chickpea cakes with chipotle and curry. Spicy, rich, filling, and stupid good for you.

It’s meals like this that make quinoa fun.

 

Chickpea & Quinoa Cakes

1/2 cup cooked quinoa

1 can chickpeas, drained

1/2 onion

2 garlic cloves

1 egg

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp curry

1/2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp chipotle

1/4 corn flour

1 tbsp chia seeds

Salsa and avocado to top

Combine all ingredients but the corn flour in a food processor. Blend until all the ingredients have been broken down. Place in a bowl and stir in the flour. Heat 1/4″ oil in a heavy pan. Form the batter into 3″ round cakes. Fry on both sides for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Top with salsa and sliced avocado and serve.

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Categories: beans, slaws, quiches, mashers, and casseroles, pastas, nuts, and grains
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{ Quinoa Stuffed Portabellas }

April 8, 2012

This month Dan and I are eating a little differently. Part cleanse, part elimination diet, part recipe-creating challenge, we’ve cut some things out to shock our bodies and our habits. We’re 8 days in and I’m split between loving it and thinking it’s stupid. Basically, we’re doing no meat, no booze, and low carbs. The low carbs has been umbrellaed to mean both no processed grain and very few whole grains. I really want a super fluffy pancake. What I have enjoyed, however, is the challenge of coming up with meals that fit into this very limited scope. I’ve been experimenting a lot (I made cauliflower falafel!) and we’ve both tried things outside our comfort zone. I think that even after May 1st we’ll keep some of these recipes in our canon. Tonight’s dinner, for instance, is portabellas stuffed with quinoa, feta, and shallots. Simple, delicious, and extremely full of good.

Quinoa Stuffed Portabellas

4-6 large portabellas, depending on how many you’re serving

2 cups cooked quinoa

1 cup crumbled feta

1 tbsp butter

1 large shallot

1 tbsp fresh rosemary

Dash of curry

Dash of garlic powder

Dash of paprika

Dash of pepper

Dash of salt

Olive oil to drizzle

Parmesan to top

Cook your quinoa. Stem and gill your mushrooms.  In butter, sauté shallots (sliced) and rosemary (chopped) until tender. Mix together quinoa, feta, shallots, and spices. Place the mushrooms top down on a baking sheet. Fill them with quinoa mixture. Drizzle with olive oil and top with grated parmesan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until the mushrooms are tender.

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Categories: pastas, nuts, and grains, vegetables
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{ Meredith’s Strawberry Pie }

April 4, 2012

This past weekend our niece, Meredith, came up to Baltimore and had a special aunt/uncle & niece visit. This trip was our Christmas present to M this year, we wanted to give her something special, something she’d remember, and thought a weekend alone where she got to pick the activities would be perfect. I’m so glad we did, I hope we can make this a tradition. We had such a good time with Meredith, and I hope these visits will be memories she cherishes.

We had a jam-packed weekend. She came up midday on Saturday and after a short reading break (on her request) we headed out. First we went to a park to do some swinging and climbing. Then we chucked the rules out the window and had gelato before dinner (M got strawberry/raspberry, Dan got pistacho/creme, and I got raspberry/mojito). After gelato we walked around Fells Point, listened to a street performer playing the bagpipe, and then headed to dinner. Our original plan was to go to one of our favorite restaurants, Ale Wife, because they have amazing burgers for Dan and I and incredible mac n’ cheese for Meredith. They were packed. So we redirected and went to Pratt Street Ale House. When we got the menu we saw that they didn’t have traditional mac n’ cheese, only mac n’ cheese bites. I was so worried M would be upset, we’d promised her AMAZING mac and who knew if we could deliver. But when it came she looked at me and said “This is great! It’s like macaroni AND chicken nuggets! It’s like NUGGET CHEESE.” I love that kid. She also said, at a different point that day “Mac and cheese is my favorite food! NO! CARROTS!”

On Sunday we didn’t waste much time hitting the town. M and I went to the Walter’s Art Museum to visit their Drop In Studio, where we made a necklace based on the jadeite necklaces in their collection. After a while playing with puppets and reading in their Family Activity Center we headed up the street to the Enoch Pratt Free Library, where they were hosting a Fairytale Festival. This was incredible. We made all sorts of art, pet therapy dogs, M got her face painted, and we spent very much time watching a magician who was the most impressive thing ever. I’m pretty sure M’s take away from the whole weekend might be MAGIC DID YOU SEE HIM MAKE THE COIN DISAPPEAR. We then moved on to the main attraction for the day, the Fluid Movement roller show. As an active member of FM’s summer water ballet, the roller show is so much fun to watch. This year’s show was a tribute to Baltimore’s West Side, which included Frank Sinatra doing a cartwheel (on rollerblades) AND the entire audience going outside to parade around the block. It was excellent. And the best part was that Meredith was able to get both the autograph of and a picture with one of the talented skaters, Jobi.

On Monday Dan went back to work and Meredith and I had the day to ourselves. First she came down to my museum to test out some elementary activity packs I’ve created (she was a wonderful test subject), and then we went home to make strawberry pie. Meredith is planning on competing in the B’Eat More Pie Fest this year (in the Cutie Pies category for bakers under 12), and wanted to test out a strawberry pie. While we both agreed that it was delicious, she’s now considering how a plum pie would work.

All in all, we feel super lucky to have this sweet girl as our niece. I should probably start planning next year’s visit to Bmore… I’ll have to find a way to beat the magician! See more pictures from our weekend here.

Meredith’s Strawberry Pie

crust:

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 sticks butter

1/4 cup shortening

1/4-1/2 cup ice water

1 egg for brushing over

filling:

1 pint of strawberries

1/4 cup sugar (or less if the strawberries are very sweet)

1 tbsp corn starch

1 tsp vanilla extract

To make the crust, mix together flour, sugar, and salt. Work the shortening in with your hands. Cube the butter and work it in. Pour in vanilla. Add ice water, a little at a time, until the dough has formed into a ball Wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Clean and quarter the strawberries. Mix with remaining ingredients. Roll half the dough out and place in the bottom of the dish. Scoop in filling. Roll the remaining dough out and cut into strips. Layer the strips on top of the pie, weaving them together. Whisk egg and brush over exposed crust.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.

 

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