Life in the Kitchen

Summer BBQ's

conqueringlives — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:54:44 -0700

Last night I threw a summer BBQ for my friends. It was real simple. I didn’t have time to cook because I was at school all day (summer school. it sucks). Anyways, I got hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon and baked beans. Everyone was happy, there was soda and chips. It was so so simple and not even that expensive. I expected about 30 people to come and so everything was under $60. I really would recommend it, I love doing things for other people, so it was great for me!

Yummy Chocolate Chip Scones. They were so good. Great with...

conqueringlives — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 21:09:38 -0700

Yummy Chocolate Chip Scones. They were so good. Great with coffee in the morning before work! Here is the recipe. Mine had a strong taste of flour, I am not sure if that is suppose to be the case or if that was my fault. But try it out and see how you like them.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup cold buttermilk
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup all purpose flour (Bob’s Red Mill)
1 cup white whole wheat flour (Bob’s Red Mill)
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp chilled butter (must be cold) cut into small pieces
3/4 cup chocolate chips
cooking spray
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
1 1/2 tbsp sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°. Combine the first four ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Cut in chilled butter with a pastry blender, or you could use 2 knives, until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Gently fold in chocolate chips. Add milk mixture, stirring just until moist.

Place dough onto a floured surface and knead lightly four times with floured hands.Form dough into an 9-inch circle onto baking sheet, about 3/4” thick. Using a knife,cut dough into 12 wedges all the way through.

Brush egg white over dough and sprinkle evenly with sugar. Bake until golden, about 18-20 minutes, depending on your oven. Serve warm.

Mac and Cheese

conqueringlives — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 21:06:51 -0700

I finally made it to the kitchen the last couple nights. My family has left me at home for 3 whole weeks so hopefully I will take this advantage to get in the kitchen. So I made this Macaroni and Cheese tonight for dinner and it was pretty great. I just followed the recipe exactly and it turned out fantastic.

Revolutionary Mac & Cheese Source: Cate’s World Kitchen adapted from White on Rice

Ingredients: 2 cups dried pasta 2 1/2 cups skim milk** 1 cup loosely packed cheddar cheese, shredded by hand 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp dijon mustard, can omit and substitute nutmeg instead (for either, start with a little and add more to taste) 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions:

In a small saucepan, add pasta and milk. Bring to simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, until pasta is soft, stirring frequently and ensuring milk does not boil.

Turn heat off, add cheese & salt & and stir to combine. Stir in the mustard or nutmeg & cayenne a little at a time, to taste. Cover and let stand for a couple of minutes, then stir again and serve. If not creamy enough, add milk a little at a time, and gently stir.

If you would like to bake it at this point, place in a baking dish and top with a generous sprinkling of cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 10 minutes until cheese has melted.

As a side dish this makes enough for 4 people with no leftovers (can easily be doubled).

I HAVENT COOKED YET

conqueringlives — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:39:31 -0700

I am so sorry I haven’t cooked yet. I feel terrible but I’ve just been so busy with summer school mainly. And I don’t really have too many idea’s of what I should make, it’s depressing. If anyone has some idea’s of what they want to see me conquer (make) in the kitchen let me know and I will see what I can do!

We're BACK!

conqueringlives — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:56:48 -0700

Life in the Kitchen is back. Unfortunately only for a couple months again. I am back from college living in my parents house for the summer. Dorm life is rough without a private kitchen. Living at home means I get a kitchen to myself (for the most part) and free ingredients to work with! I have a few idea’s and hopefully this summer I will have time to share some of the things I make with you! Right now I am home sick with the flu, I am taking an online class, but as soon as I am done with my work for the day I am heading up to the kitchen to see what I can find! What will it be? I don’t know yet, but I will keep you updated with my conquer in the kitchen and (of course) my failures.

Only Six Days

conqueringlives — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:51:09 -0700

I only have 6 days with a kitchen. Then I move to school and won’t have a kitchen to experiment it. Maybe I will make a friend with a kitchen and they will let me use it. Who knows.

I have been on a missions trip so I haven’t cooked for about 2 weeks. And I am so sorry! This week I promise to try to find my way back to the kitchen!

Red Velvet Chip Cookies

conqueringlives — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 17:40:01 -0700

Makes about 20

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup heavy cream or milk*

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon red food coloring

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375.

Cream butter and sugars together until fluffy.

Add egg, vanilla, and heavy cream and combine until smooth. Beat in red food coloring.

Stir in cocoa, flour, baking soda and salt until just combined.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough and set on baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Friends in the Kitchen

conqueringlives — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 19:11:30 -0700

Hopefully tonight I’ll be making some yummy treats with my friends after we go out to dinner. Maybe some red velvet chip cookies. We will just have to see!

my failed fudgy brownie recipe. :(

conqueringlives — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:22:00 -0700

my failed fudgy brownie recipe. :(

Failure in the Kitchen

conqueringlives — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:12:03 -0700

So I thought my kitchen and I had been getting along pretty good the last couple weeks. But tonight, the kitchen won. I made some ‘Fudgy Brownies’ that didn’t turn out as expected. They are so bland and unsatisfying. The picture I got off the internet looked great, but they just ended up being boring. I could try adding something to them, and maybe I will do that one day and see how they turn out. But if that doesn’t work this recipe is going away for life.

And here I sit, sad and unsatisfied with my brownies. Let’s hope when people wake up tomorrow and try them they like them more than I did. I could never throw them away, so it may take awhile for them to be eaten up.

BBQ's

conqueringlives — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 23:56:29 -0700

Last Friday I had a BBQ at my house. Super simple, because I knew people wouldn’t care all that much. All I did was buy some beans, hot dogs and chips, and made an amazing pasta salad. I love the pasta salad and so do many of my friends. It has pasta, baby arugala, beans and red onions. It is super healthy and yummy yummy. I will post the recipe soon for you!

I’ve been enjoying summer a little too much and not cooking a whole lot. I did make my brownies the other day and some chocolate chip pancakes for my best friend. But other than that my kitchen time as been limited. And soon I won’t even have a kitchen to cook in because I will be living in a dorm. OH CRAP! But I am sure I can use this blog for other food things.

Any idea’s of what I can blog about after I move in August?

My Chocolate Chip Cookies

conqueringlives — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:02:33 -0700

I made my chocolate chip cookies the other day. They were the best I have every made. I think it is because I mixed all the ingredients really well. I never turn the mixer on super super high, but this time I did. And it seemed to work out really well.
Everyone raved about how good they were. And my best friend, who tries everything I make, said they were my best batch every. I was so proud of myself. :)

I'm a lier.

conqueringlives — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 23:51:00 -0700

Okay, so I lied about my diet. I backed out before I even started. But starting tomorrow morning I am going to start eating healthier and making healthier choices. As well as cooking healthier treats and foods. I will of course share with you my ups and downs and if I happen to find any good recipes that are healthy I will post them!

Here I goooooo!

Dieting!

conqueringlives — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 01:12:00 -0700

So my friend and I are going to start a diet. The purpose of the diet is to reset your metabolism.

All I can eat in this diet is water, beans, and veggies. Although I have one free day a week to eat what I want. So cooking is going to be very interesting! I won’t be making as many treats. Hopefully this will help with my health and after I will eat healthier and less food.

I am not sure how long I will be on the diet, and it’s going to be very difficult. But I know I can do this!

lovelylovelyfood: Chocolate Cookies With Dark Chocolate...

conqueringlives — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:02:07 -0700

lovelylovelyfood:

Chocolate Cookies With Dark Chocolate Kisses

I am going to try to make these soon. I just have to get my hands on all the different types of chocolates the recipe asks for!

Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies

conqueringlives — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:15:00 -0700

Pretty good. But make sure you have milk around to wash it down!

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In large bowl, beat butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir into the butter mixture until well blended. Mix in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or just until set. Cool slightly on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

I haven't been cooking....

conqueringlives — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:59:11 -0700

Sorry. I haven’t been home to cook. I got in late late last night (early morning actually). And I haven’t been making things or looking for good recipes. But now that I am back I’ll be in the kitchen a lot more. Also I will be baking for a crowed, aka my friends, so that will be fun. I will find some good recipes that please all taste buds! Can’t wait!

Messy kitchens

conqueringlives — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:00:06 -0700

I am crazy about having a dirty kitchen. It is one of my biggest pepeves. It is really hard for me to be in the middle of baking and I look around at the mess. I try to start cleaning up, but it is pointless because I am not even done with everything. I have to be really patient with myself and tell myself to wait until I am done with everything.

Also, I always feel like I have to hand wash all the measuring cups and pans and bowls that I use. My dishwasher is perfectly capable of washing them, but for some reason I spend like a half hour cleaning and washing dishes after I have baked. I guess it isn’t a bad thing, but it is kind of odd.

High Cholesterol

conqueringlives — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:00:06 -0700

So, I found out last week that I have high cholesterol. I know part of it is genetic because my mother has always had high cholesterol. But I am only 18. I need to start cutting back on the bad food and the fatty cheeses and such. But it is just so hard. My favorite treat is a bowl of Cheese-its and a Diet Coke. I can’t resist.

I don’t know what to eat and how to help lower my cholesterol. I know if you eat healthier that helps (obviously), but that isn’t going to completely do it. I should work out more, that may help the situation a little bit. I hope it gets better, I don’t want to end up with a heart condition or something in the near future.

Learning (the hard way)

conqueringlives — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:36:06 -0700

So, I’ve been ‘conquering’ my kitchen for a little over a month now. I love being in there and being able to do my own thing. While my parents were gone it was so nice to be like ‘hey its 10pm and I am bored. I’ll bake!’ and not having to worry about waking people up. It will be different while they are home. Especially because my mom will be around, asking me questions and bothering me. I don’t like people asking me questions while I am baking. I might come off as a jerk when I am cooking, but it is my time. I want to be alone with my ingredients.

things I’ve learned

read the recipe thoroughly before you start (in case you have questions or are unsure about things)

bake at night, so you are alone and at peace

making a fancy little breakfast for yourself counts as baking time!

I need to learn to make real meals now. I have got desserts down. I am such a picky eater though, that dinners are hard to make, or even decide what to make. But that is going to be my next step. To learn how to make full on meals! This I’ll be interesting.