Something Like Saag: Attempting Indian

The Story

This picture doesn't look very appetizing- just very green. 

This isn't really a story. I like Indian food. I am decent at making curries, so why not try saag, since I always order it at Indian restaurants? 

My mom was confused. She kept asking me what it was, and what was in it, and telling me she had "something like this before." I kept telling her it was Indian food, and she kept asking. Ah, Nibblet. 

Simple Spinach and Sausage Lasagna (Lasagne?) for Mina

The Story

Lasagna is kind of ugly.

Lasagna (or apparently, lasagne) is very easy to make, and I guess I could make this post more "exciting"by making my own sauce, but alas, I was lazy yesterday, and Mina requested a lasagna recipe. Additionally, my brother is moving to New Jersey and will be living alone, so this is a basic recipe for him to reference when he has to start cooking for himself regularly. But, the pictures in this post are super boring. 

Also, while I wouldn't describe myself as a super-healthy cook (I love butter, and olive oil, and cheese, and carbs, and the word "paleo" makes me involuntarily scrunch up my face and make gagging noises- sorry!), I always try to ensure that my food isn't devoid of nutritional content, so I did add spinach and onions to this recipe, and only used 3 layers of noodles to avoid making this dish too pasta-heavy.

Butternut Squash Soup: Bribery Helps

The Story

Soup/ Bisque

I think I mentioned this a while ago, but I flew to Florida in late October to be maid of honor in my friend Lauren's wedding. Her ceremony was held at sunset on the beach in St. Pete's, and was absolutely gorgeous, if a bit windy. The reception was a blast (nothing like dancing to Nicky Minaj's "Pound the Alarm" with your mom), and after the dancing ended, my friend Mina almost worked up the courage to go in the ocean. 

Trying to get Mina to go swimming. She has a fear of "natural bodies of water."

Unfortunately, when we woke up the next morning, we all faced the nasty reminder that the winds that had only slightly marred the ceremony the night before were a mild side effect of Super Storm Sandy. With the giant storm approaching the Northeast, many of our flights were delayed or cancelled.

Almond Scones with Orange Glaze

The Story

In addition to slacking off when it comes to posting my recipes and food creations, I can also slack off when it comes to providing requested food items. I told my mom I would make these delicious-looking almond scones for Valentine's Day, and I failed to bake scones until today.

In my defense, I made her three kinds of homemade truffles, and these delicious chocolate cupcakes for Valentine's Day, so I thought the scones might not be fully appreciated with all of the cocoa-based competition:

Side note: Ringing endorsement from my brother- "This is the first scone I've eaten that I haven't felt like I had a mouth full of dirt. Is this how they're supposed to taste? Not like those hard-as-a-rock things from the grocery store?" (Answer to both questions: Yes!). 

Amazing Brined Turkey and Southern Cornbread Stuffing: Belated Thanksgiving Post

The Story

I think this is pretty.

Truth: I am easily distracted, and as much as I like to cook, remembering to turn recipes and crappy iPhone photos into blog posts is not my strong suit. The whole "cooking blog" project was derailed, and I've been refinishing furniture and recently bought a staple gun to do more DIY projects. 

Anyway, I am back at it, and working forward from the oldest pictures in my phone. So, time for my Thanksgiving recipes. I made turkey that was actually delicious! I will never go back to regular turkey again- brining every Thanksgiving from now on! The stuffing ("dressing") was pretty tasty too. 

Red Wine Tri Tip Roast: Cooking Meat is NOT Hard

The Story

Really not that difficult....

My friends always say that they can make pasta or vegetables or fish or whatever, but they don't know how to cook meat. But seriously, it's not hard. If you can turn on an oven and set a timer, you can cook meat. Just don't over cook it. And let it rest. 

Fool proof instructions below. But, if you just don't like touching raw meat (I really think that's a major issue for a lot of people), just get over it.  And turn on your oven.

Shepherd's Pie with Turkey and Butternut Squash: My ugly but delicious, healthy version of a classic

The Story

You are so, so, so ugly... but delicious.

So, I don't cook the healthiest food.... delicious, but not usually something a dietician would endorse. Not to say that I am as bad as Paula Deen, but I also don't consider salads meals. 

This was my attempt to be healthy, and seasonal, and use up random ingredients in my mom's kitchen.

I think it was successful, and my brother agreed... he ate two giant servings. Although, he also called me crazy and "meticulous" for cutting up tons of carrots, celery and onion in the same tiny shapes...