Best Foreign Cocktail.

And the Oscar goes to.....

The Moscow Mule.

Happy Academy Awards Day! 

If you live in Hollywood..... happy traffic Sucks because of all of these road closures and tourists day.


After a morning of flea market antique hunting for wedding swag and braving the nasty oscar traffic I have given myself permission for a 2pm cocktail. My life is rough.... I know.

I was introduced to the Moscow Mule while in San Francisco last month and it is my absolute favorite cocktail right now. It is perfect for a sunny afternoon of ooh-ing and ahhh-ing over Oscar dresses (and Ryan Gosling) and it is super easy to make at home!

The Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

2 oz Vodka

1/2 oz Fresh lime juice

Ginger Beer (I used diet because the real stuff has up to 56 grams of sugar which is a big no no on the bridal diet)

That's it!

Method:

Fill a glass with ice. Add 1/2 oz lime juice, 2 oz vodka, and fill the rest of the glass with ginger beer. Stir gently... preferably with an awesome metal straw. 

CHEERS!

Banana Bread

Ok, this is the last "since we got engaged" post for a while...... maybe.
But.... since we got engaged I have been on this "look at me, the perfect fiancé" kick. Seriously- up in the morning making eggs, being nice to our stupid fourth child dog that bites my ankles, trying not to leave wet clothes in the washing machine for four days until they are moldy.... you know, the normal stuff.

I am a feminist's dream.

So, this morning I woke up with the grand idea of baking banana bread to go with our A.M. coffee.

It's really the best feeling when you slave over a hot oven and then use all of your strength to make french press coffee just to find out that SOMEBODY doesn't like banana bread. Who doesn't like banana bread?
I am re-evaluating my trust for this man..... doesn't like banana bread- psh! Banana bread is delicious. My sister is pretty much named after it.
(Love you, Hannah Banana.)

mid morning snack..... all to myself. 

Banana Bread 

3 1/4 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

4 large eggs

2 1/3 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons butter, melted

3 cups mashed, very ripe bananas (about 6 bananas)

1/4 cup creme fraiche

2 teaspoons vanilla

Method

Beat together eggs and sugar until pale yellow and ribbons begin to form, about 10 minutes. Add oil, butter, bananas, creme fraiche, and vanilla. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Fold dry mixture into banana mixture and mix until just combined. 

Divide batter between two loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour 15 minutes or until golden brown. 

Yield: 2 loaves. 

Happy Easter.

Happy Easter everyone!

I hope finds you surrounded by friends and family...... and boyfriends meeting the family. (ah!)
Yes, Richard is meeting the fam today which was pretty good timing because I could stress bake without looking like a nut. I am not stressed. If anything I should be stressed about any judgment on what an outstanding catholic I have become.

Ah, baking pies.....

farmer's market strawberry rhubarb pie

Strawberry rhubarb is my absolute favorite pie which is great because I am absolutely amazing at baking it. I will post the recipe soon. Seriously.... soon.

Since I apparently not only gave up exercise for lent, but also blogging.... now that Easter is passing I will be more on top of my blog.... and maybe exercising. Probably not, though. 

While the pie is in the oven....

Easter morning baked eggs

Ingredients:

Eggs

Ricotta cheese

Mushrooms

Prosciutto

Shallots

Black truffled cheese

Fresh herbs

That's right. I am covering pies, Easter, and breakfast in one blog.... check me out. 

blackberry lemon pie with a graham cracker crust

Ingredients:

Graham cracker

Sugar

Cinnamon

Butter

Fresh Blackberries

Fresh lemon juice

Cream cheese

Sweetened condensed milk

Lemon zest

Method:

Combine crushed graham crackers, sugar, and butter to form crust. Bake about 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven. 

Combine cream cheese, condensed milk, lemon juice, and zest. Pour mixture in cooled crust. Top with blackberries and lemon zest. Refrigerate over night.

Thank you Tom Rice for this amazing recipe

And because I have to.....

braised bunny in a mustard cream sauce served with carrot ravioli

Yep, Easter week at Le Cordon Blue.....

Sunday morning.

I am already getting sick of eggs.
I think I did two blog entries that were actually about eggs.....
A little bit about me? I get bored of things very easily.
However, this is my 4th (?) Sunday morning post, so at least I am still doing that.
At least I am still blogging. (Rachel Hoffman, I hope you are proud of me for sticking to so many things...and words lately. I am such a grown up)

This morning I had a fancy shmancy potato pancake recipe in mind, but opened the pantry to find nothing that I needed and no motivation to drive two blocks to the market.

SO....

Sweet potato pancakes with herbed goat cheese.

All of the ingredients were already in my fridge and probably about to spoil. 

Ingredients:

Sweet potatoes

Fingerling potatoes

Onion

Green Onion

Egg

Flour

Salt and Pepper

Goat Cheese

Green Onion

Parsley

Method:

Two cups of coffee in I was beyond lazy and actually microwaved the potatoes. Yes. I used the microwave and I feel so guilty that I can't even lie about it. 

Pierce the sweet potatoes (I used 4) and the fingerlings (I used 2. You can use any white potato, but this was all I had.) Microwave each potato for 2-3 minutes until cooked. Set them aside and let cool. 

Saute the onion in a little butter. I added maybe half a clove of minced garlic. Peel and mash the potatoes together. Add onion mixture. Add one egg, about half a cup of flour, 2 teaspoons of salt, a pinch of pepper, and some green onion. 

Fry in oil until golden brown. 

For the topping I just finely chopped some green onion and parsley and combined that with some goat cheese. Season and viola. No trip to the market needed. 

Sunday morning.

I may need to stop referring to these as "Sunday morning" posts.

It is now Tuesday.

Blame the vacation..... and being stranded in the middle of nowhere for a night.

nowhere land.

14 hours prior to my Jetta leaving me beyond disappointed in her and me leaving my boyfriend with a glimpse of what a temper tantrum could have looked like.......

Please note the "could have...."

Not a good idea to have a temper tantrum in front of a boy. Car broken down, stranded, craving pizza, no hot water in the hotel, too tired to get naked.... none of the above in an excuse for acting bat shit crazy. You will be driving that broken down, piece of shit Jetta home by yourself and I will have no sympathy for you. Drama free is the way to be. You're welcome. 

.....Ok, so 14 hours prior we were enjoying our second breakfast at Random Order Coffee where we ate amazing chicken pot pie. Yes, for breakfast. 

We enjoyed breakfast there the day before as well. Coffee, snacks, and a city view. 

We nursed our hangovers with Baileys and coffee and reminisced about all of the things that you should not tell your boyfriend when you have had one too many cocktails. 

Do not ask your boyfriend of 3 months to move to Portland with you when you are in the middle of ordering a grilled cheese and french fries so that you can see straight. 

Ask him when you are sober. 

When he looks at you like you have lost your mind (which you probably have) tell him you were totally kidding..... which you weren't. 

Next Sunday is back to eggs and good decisions. Promise.

Sunday morning.

Sunday #2 found me in full home (bedroom and bathroom) make-over mode because I am the best girlfriend ever. I even went to the market in my painting clothes in the pouring rain. I guess I am just always thinking of others. 

Home make-over mode calls for a good hearty breakfast...... preferably covered in cheese and sour cream. It is 9 pm (post painting, now) and the thought of cheese and sour cream covered ANYTHING just made me hungry again. 

huevos rancheros.

Huevos Rancheros:
Oil/butter
Eggs
Corn tortillas
Onion
Garlic
Pepper jack cheese
Bell pepper
Can of diced tomatoes
Chicken stock
Jalapenos
Cilantro
Cumin
Chili powder
Salt
Pepper
Tabasco
Cayenne pepper

Black Beans:
Can of black beans with juices
Jalapeno
Onion
Garlic
Cumin
Chili Powder
Tabasco
Salt

Method:
Begin by making the rancheros sauce. Sweat onions and bell peppers in a sauce pan about 3-5 minutes. Add garlic, spices, and jalapeno. Cook until fragrant. Add Can of tomatoes and the juices and 1 cup of chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and cook about 15 minutes. Season with salt and add a good amount of chopped cilantro just before serving.

Prepare the black beans. Seriously- Emily McCallister, you are a saint for sharing this black bean recipe. It is my absolute favorite.
Saute onions and jalapenos. Add garlic. Add black beans and the liquid from the can. Add spices. Let the beans cook for a bit and then mash everything together with a potato masher. Season with salt.

I fried the corn tortillas because it is delicious to do so (and also SO heart healthy) but you do not have to.

Fry eggs in a little oil and butter. I like my yolks extra runny, so they only need to cook for about a minute per side. Once flipped- sprinkle some cheese on top to melt.

To serve: 
Place fried eggs on top of the corn tortillas. Finish with rancheros sauce and garnish with cilantro. Serve with refried black beans. I also served mine with sliced avocado and sour cream.

Mexican food kind of completes me.

Sunday morning.

It has come to my attention that I eat eggs for breakfast just about every day. It has also come to my attention that I am a fan of chopping up some veggies, maybe adding a little cheese, and making the exact same "healthy" veggie scramble every Sunday morning to make up for my generally not so healthy shenanigans from the night before. Tasty? Sure. Boring? Absolutely.

So in an effort to jazz things up a bit-- every Sunday will now be dedicated to making a new egg dish until I run out of ideas or the thought of them makes me sick.

scrambled eggs with toast.

Ingredients:

Whole grain ciabatta bread

Goat cheese

Onions

Mushrooms

Eggs

Green Onions

Salt and Pepper

Method:

Caramelize onions (slice them very thin.) Add mushrooms and saute over low heat while you prepare the rest of the dish. 

Slice bread about an inch thick and place under the broiler for a minute or two until toasted. 

Spread a layer of goat cheese on the toast and put it back in the oven for just a minute to melt the cheese a little bit. If you forget about your bread it will turn black very quickly and your kitchen will be filled with smoke. Personal experience...... good morning. 

Top toast with onion and mushroom mixture. 

Scramble eggs. Over done eggs are gross, so make sure you remove them from heat about 60 seconds before they are cooked to desired doneness because they will continue to cook. 

Pile scrambled eggs on top of toast and garnish with green onion. 

Delicious and boyfriend approved.