I am on a roll

Dinner was absolutely amazing as I predicted

I present - Mushroom and Pea Pan-Friend Gnocchi

Here is the the picture from hellogiggles blog where I found the recipe, it looked way way enticing to me...

(I was sold on having to try this out when I saw the pictures of it and the ingredients included garlic, onion, pepper, and gnocchi)

I got too excited to really golden up the gnocchi... and I used some different mushrooms... still absolutely amazing. I can only imagine letting it fry a little more to get golden and a bit more crunch... any-who on to the recipe and cooking.

Fresh basil and garlic chives chopped up to add later....

Cooking up the garlic, onion, mushroom combo with some broth, you add 2 cups of broth and boil it off... this take a little while, so wait a few minutes before cooking the gnocchi after you add the broth...

(I sorta freaked at this point because it looked like ALOT of broth and I didn't think it would boil off... it does and quicker then you would think)

Gnocchi cooked up and strained....

I used frozen peas because thats what I had (resourceful girl here, since I figured I had a can somewhere and didin't!) I added them a few minutes before taking this all off the stove so they could cook a little bit on the heat..

yum!

You tranfer the veggies out of the skillet and whip it down, add some oil and fry up the gnocchi... adding the basil (and other herbs you decide to add) once they are gold brown... I had a little troubl not getting the gnocchi to stick to the pan... I am thinking b/c they where sitting for awhile before I threw them in there?!? Anyhow, I got hungry and impatient and just moved forward with the slightest hint of golden...

You throw the veggies back in the pan and heat it all up and mix it all up, and serve up! You won't be disappointed... (Mine does not look as good at hellogiggles picture, but it was delicious!)

                            

Here is the actual recipe from hellogiggles.

Mushroom & Pea Pan-Fried Gnocchi
(serves 2)

Ingredients:
• 2 tablespoons garlic
• 4-6 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion
• 8-10 shitake mushrooms
• 7-10 large crimini mushrooms
• ½ cup peas
• 2 cups vegetable stock
• Salt
• Pepper
• Crushed red pepper
• 1 handful basil (16-20 leaves)
• 1 package gnocchi

Method:

1. Dice garlic and onion. Add to skillet and begin to sauté.

2. Meanwhile, dice shitake and crimini mushrooms. When onions begin to sweat, add mushrooms, and sauté for 3-5 minutes.

3. Add 2 cups vegetable stock. Bring to boil and then reduce to a heavy simmer.

4. Boil and prepare gnocchi as package recommends.

5. When vegetable stock is almost fully evaporated, add ½ cup peas, remove from heat, and set aside.

6. Wipe out skillet and add 2 tablespoons olive oil and bring up to temperature. Add gnocchi and sauté until golden brown. Add chopped basil to skillet and sauté for 2 – 3 more minutes.

7. Add mushroom mixture to gnocchi and sauté for 2-3 more minutes or until everything is up to temperature. Add salt and pepper to taste.

And last but not least, chow down! 

And I woke up this morning and decided the bacon that has been chillin' in the fridge was ready to be cooked this morning.

I was too impatient to cook up the hash-browns we have in the freezer but opt-ed for toast (I love toast though, so it wasn't too difficult)

Had the last Banana - Strawberry  smoothie for awhile today (the BF has an allergy to bananas, very tragic I know!) and of course my coffee...

Don't I look healthy.. don't let it fool you, I am just very Susie-Homemaker this week.

It was terrible... let me tell you..

And someone wanted to do dishes....

Roughly 24-30 hours before Kristopher is home... I am thinking I might make up some pizza dough to have ready for something delicious later this week... 

BTW have I mentioned that I love my 3 day weekends every weekend... A new job might crimp this style.. but if it pays more money it might be worth it... might... 3 day weekends sure are lovely.

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Mousse

I got my bake on today.... and I am quite pleased that I only messed up once, and it wasn't a tragedy : ) Nor did I forget the sugar (although I did have to run up to the store again b/c I apparently only had 1 cup of sugar left in the house.. why I dunno... but that problem has been averted) 

I made a chocolate mousse cake with peanut butter mousse and chocolate curls to top it off.. all from scratch people.... wohoo me! I haven't baked a cake in awhile, think the last was the cupcakes for dinner at the Calderwoods... that was awhile ago...

The cake is fun and easy, and strangely it has a whole cup of coffee in it.

I got the cake recipe and ideas off of Sweet Tooths blog site... which does look a little more mousse-y, and she did a hazelnut mousse version.

Chocolate Cake

1-3/4 cups all purpose flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cups good cocoa powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp kosher salt

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare you 8" cake rounds by greasing and flouring them

- Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together into a bowl and mix until well combined

- In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry

- With the mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine

- Split the batter into the prepared pans

- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean

- Cool in pans for 30 minutes, then turn onto a cooling rack to cool completely

- Once cooled, use a large serrated knife to evenly split each layer into 2 and level off any domes from baking ( I just cooked 4 separate cakes to avoid having to split them into 2)

- Layer cakes and mousse, sprinkling toasted hazelnuts between each layer for a nice crunch. (Its ideally for a hazelnut mousse cake)

(Here is where the mistake happened)
I have not ever made Mousse before, and was talking to one of my lovely friends on the phone while making it. After getting off the phone I realized I was suppose to whip the whipping cream (go figure) separate, til stiff, and then fold it in...

well I had just added the whipping cream straight to the mixture and beat it in with the mixer... whoops!. It turned out fine, I mean I suppose its more icing like, rather than mousse-y... but its still delicious and edible.

The mousse recipe I used is here on grouprecipes.com.

Peanut butter Mousse

• 1 18 oz jar creamy peanut butter
• 2 8 oz pkgs cream cheese, room tempshopping list
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups chilled whipping cream

1.  Bring cream cheese to room temp.
2.  Using electric mixer, beat peanut butter and cream cheese in large bowl to blend.
3.  Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract and beat until well blended.
4.  Using clean, dry, COLD beaters, beat 2 cups whipping cream in a COLD medium bowl until stiff peaks form. (This is the part I didn't read or follow :X )
5. FOLD (do not stir) into peanut bitter mixture in 4 additions.
6. Enjoy!

And the chocolate curls are discussed (and pretty super easy) on the pioneer womans blog. ( I also plan on getting sufficiently lost on her site finding lots of other fun things to make).

When I make these again, Im probably going to half the amounts she used, I had a small pan, and it got thick b/c I ran out of room to spread it out thin like she says too... and it made way more curls then I needed, (but it was also nice to have extra practice and mess up times)  I ended up just putting the extra in a Tupperware container and stuck it in the freezer.

And now the cake is chillin' in the fridge, because frankly, I feel like it might melt and slip-slide off itself. I def recommend if you are making this for an event, to assemble on location, It gets a little wiggly with all the mousse between the layers. (Or again this could be because of my human error in making the mousse)

Anyhow now I am off to make dinner... which is another new adventure. I will share later I am sure, if it is at yummy as I think it will be.

Is it Christmas yet??

So I decided the other day, while going about my blogging, and internet shopping and drooling that I need to start a wish list, or Christmas list??... bc I had quiet a few things I need fixed, knew of, or just would like... and I have decided this is the best place to keep track of those things and share... so here we go, in picture format (because thats is just way more fun)

1. Agantha Christie's And Then There Where None. Love the book, just need my own copy (And yes, I know its like 3 bucks online.. just haven't gotten to it yet)

2. Cole Haan heals.... If you haven't ever tried on a pair of his heals... DONT. Or just be prepared to fall in love... they have air nike technology in them... I understand why they have a pretty penny for their price tag... but if I could stay in them comfortably all day... I think thats worth it for a good pair of heals... well when they are on sale... and I have a reason/job to wear them for.

3. Enzo Angiolini Nude colored, Nordstroms exclusive 'Sully' pumps... just google them.. I can't get a bigger pictures.. but they are lovely.

 4. Briville mixer. They are new to the US... but suppose to be amazing (rave reviews) and more powerful then KitchenAids dominating mixer... soo naturally I want it...

 5. Cake Decorating set... I want to take classes, but there are so many options for 'kits' and all this stuff, and obvisously it is cheaper to buy the kits then individual pieces, but the likely hood of using all the pieces in the kit... well yeah... so what do to?? individual pieces? 55 piece set? 101 piece set? or the ultimate 177 piece set?? I think Black Friday and store coupons with a craft store could bring down the $200, 177 piece set to something really cheap? can get it for 100 right now if I wanted.. but do I do that?? Christmas present ideal, right?! I don't have to pick it out/debate what to get or pass on... and am happy anyways.. perfect thing... lol

 6. A standing floor mirror. And by standing I mean lean against a wall mirror.. I love them, and have always wanted one, but needed a place to put it... ok, I still need a place to put it... but I love it none the less.

7. I NEED to get my sewing machine repaired.. I bought it for $4 at an ultimate garage sale about a year ago... and it needs tuned up, but I am dreading taking it in to have them tell me it needs a lot of work or something... so it sits in the closet, and I dream of projects to do... prob-lo-matic.

Whats already on your Christmas list?? or just Wish List? 

Caution: Dork post...

Not that the rest of mine aren't far off from dorky... but I pulled out the bf's Nikon camera... I just love playing with it, now if I just had more to take pictures of... hmmm

(Just too cute/funny not to include)

Anyhow, I was quite busy yesterday and today...

I finally went back down to the DMV and passed my driving test (written portion is required to transfer from CA to OR license) and then headed to the library... O, M, G!
I was frankly unprepared for a urban city library I suppose... It was beautiful....

Then once I got a library card, I had to think of things to find and pick out.. I ended up with
And there were non by Agatha Christie, I haven't read it in years, but remember it being fun... and then to totally random pulled off the shelf books...
It that a Moose in your Pocket?! and
I think I  love you...

so we shall see, and 3 on a hold list....

And I am still trying to figure out how I checked them out... you see, they have a self check out system... you scan your library card like any other barcode thing... but then... you just put the stack of books you are checking out on this pad, I am talking all together... just like in the picture above stack... and it somehow in a second "wham, bam, thank you public library guest" they are checked out, Craziest thing ever.... still trying to figure it out... freaking technology!

I also had a phone pre-interview that went well, have a real phone interview next Wednesday... cross your fingers... 

I am also procrastinating putting together the application information for a assistant planner position.. there are 4 supplemental questions... not choice 2 of, or even 3 of... they have 4 they want answered, plus a resume and cl, and their application... #$%*@(! already annoyed with it, and I have just looked at it.. due the 1st, should get started, oh, yesterday... 

anyhow, instead of doing that.. I decided while at target today to finally get a binder together for my random recipes.... 

Heres the dork factor, that I am soo excited to put this together and make a cover...

And its the best time to do stuff like this, b/c its back to school supply time, so I was able to get, said, sweet dividers for $1... thank you very much.. also these sweet clips... 

                                          

which the Bf is going to hate b/c its more stuff on the fridge, but I need more to be accountable for when the library books are due, and running schedule, duh! 

He might just have to deal... at least I was considerate to match the three he had on there already, right?

Now if I could just convince the cucumber plant to stop trying to attach to the garlic chives... I know, a tough weekend...

That and maybe lay off the Ruby pictures... nah...

(Dead squirrel ... Ruby saying "what?!")

(all pretty with her 'eyeliner' on, and mickey in the background)

(Happy to see me, wanting to be pet, tough caught in action :P )

Home grownin', home cookin'

Ok, so its not all home grown, but things are growing! see....

 the cucumber has exploded...

Ok, I will stop with the gushing over the cucumber.... I thinned out the Tomato plant, so all of you thinking I should of done it when you looked at the last pictures of it, its done... hopefully its not totally pissed.

I stirred up a lot in the kitchen today. After budget planning (why do I get a sick enjoyment out of it, even when the numbers don't look that good) which calmed my nerves and helps me know its going to be ok (not like the job is changing right now or anything). I decided to make a grocery list and only go to the store and by those things.... 

Successfully at 2 of 3 stores (curry paste is only at one store, and veggies and nuts are better at Trader Joes then at Fred Meyer, which had the best deal on flour). I did end up with two bottles of wine, but that was in the plan to stock up slowly when its on sale, so that I am not running out to the store for a bottle all the time, thus only buying it when its on sale and saving money and time all around. (the wine was 3 for $10, I had to)

Anyhow, on to the exciting part... 

To the kitchen:

1. Pesto.... it had to happen, the basil is out of control, and it uses up a lot of basil, and can be frozen.... 

Start with a food processor, makes it easy, all just goes in until its done.. throw in a few cloves of garlic (recipe said 2,,, i said 3 1/2) (also I was trying to make an extended amount, so I winged some of the recipes numbers) Pick lots of Basil (2 1/2 cups)...

 Olive Oil (1/2 cup) and Lemon Juice (1 Tbpn) (this recipe actually didn't have cheese in it, I think its b/c its a sorta vegan focused cookbook, either way, it makes pesto a tad cheaper to make so I am giving it a go)

 

Throw everything in the food processor on top of the garlic already in there... (pine nuts - recipe called for a cup... I did 1/2 cup pine nuts 1/2 peanuts... then modified as I taste tested.. would probably do 75-25 pine to peanut next time)

Make lots and lots of noise and bother all the neighbors... hopefully they are at least content knowing you choose the middle of the day to make this rather than at 10 pm at night :) ... 

I went back and added more basil.. and a bit more garlic and pine nuts... although I wouldn't recommend it, I had to fight alot b/c I ended up with chucks of garlic and pine nuts I had to re-arrange and re-blend to get all chopped up...

But I ended up with enough pesto for probably 4 dishes. I put it in these little Tupperware containers and threw it in the freezer to wait to use until the boy is back... lucky him. I did taste test it though and its pretty delic.

Then it was on to new adventures.

I have been craving tacos for probably a month, no joke. Probably due in part to getting spoiled with free tacos at happy hour in SLO and not ever having to actually make it. I decided I was going to try it all, tortillas included. 

Flour, baking powder, oil ( I used grapeseed b/c thats what I had), and hot water... and a dry skillet... see the steps below (oh and I used a rolling pin after the first one, the recipe says to just press them out, but they are too thick for my liking, the rolling pin worked great)

1. Dry ingredients, (3 cups flour, 1/2 baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt) and then the oil (2 Tbsp.). I just folded it in with my hands.

2. Add hot water, it doesn't actually say how much, just until the dough is smooth, start small..

3. It should end up looking like this...

4. Divide it up into small balls, recipes says 12, your call how big you want them, but it does make 12 good size ones...

 5. Easy part, roll them flat... you can do this while you cook them if you are quick, I suggest getting a few rolled out so you can figure out the heat/time it takes on the skillet without toasting them...

 6. Dry skillet on medium high worked for me... 30 seconds a side is almost always exact, any time over you end up more toasted and like you are cooking a quesadilla. so set a stop watch or timer, or just watch your watch....

Bam... Tortillas (cheap and delicious and warm too!)

I think I would make less tortillas and make them larger next time, but they are perfect for small little tacos.... and they are easy to make, seriously... and delicious. A dangerous combo... 

Then I went on to make the taco meat, which after making both (the tortillas and meat) I would suggest doing the meat first (that way it can simmer and get more flavorful while you make tortillas)

I tried to modify the recipe b/c I got a deal on ground beef at the store... def don't need 3 times the water (calls for 1 cup)

For the standard recipe...

Bring 1 cup water

2-3 california pepper pods (I used 1 jalapeno)

and 1 to 2 skinned whole tomatos to a boil, then simmer for about 5 minutes....

Remove from heat and set asside, you will puree it once its cool in a food processor or a blender...

Dice 1 medium size onion (This one was huge.... look at that, and remember I have small hands!)
I suggest smaller-ish pieces if you aren't a huge onion fan.

Brown the Ground beef and the onion on a large skillet (I  used the same large pan to save on dishes)

While its browning, puree the tomato/chile sauce, be careful... to much water, and you will have a mess all over :) *no comment on why I say this...

 Add the puree to the meet along with taco seasoning... I used a combo of cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder and red pepper flakes (1 part each and 1/4- 1/2 the red pepper flakes) (it calls for about 3 teaspoons of seasoning.

It has you serve after about 10 minutes but mine had too much water (the reason I would suggest using less if planning to double or triple the recipe) so I left it on simmering... it still is, and its getting better flavors too... I think I would ad the seasonings when browning the meat and onions next time as well to help with the same thing.

Otherwise, it was delicious with the tortillas and some lettuce, cheese and tomato cut up....

Now the only problem is that I realized after making this one for the picture that I have enough taco meat for weeks... but I guess in that aspect it is a great left overs dish... and I will have plenty for awhile... : )

Now... one last thing, b/c I realize I have a long post going here... I was at TJ's and found this... they had some instant coffee thats suppose to be really good, like a regular cup of joe.

                                                

I got it for camping so hopefully this will do the trick and be delicious... otherwise I am returning it and crying... and continuing to hope for a good instant coffee to come about.

Anyhow, enough for this weekend... until next time, I will be eating tacos... lol