My 100th Post & My Christmas Bounty!

Wow....100 posts...I can't believe how quickly it snuck up on me!  To be really fair, I should have hit this milestone a few weeks ago, I do have a few recipes and restaurant reviews that I haven't posted yet, but with the holidays and some personal stuff that came up, I just got behind.  But I am excited that I get to show off all my fun new cooking gifts that I got for Christmas on my 100th post!

My family and I had a wonderful Christmas this year, filled with old traditions (biscuits and gravy for breakfast and wearing the silly paper crowns that come in the Christmas crackers during our Christmas feast) and new ones (going to the Clees family's on Christmas Eve for Chili and getting Chinese take-out for dinner).  But it didn't really matter what it was that we did, it just mattered that we did it together, because that is what the holidays are really all about!  I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family, we all really do enjoy spending time together, so that makes it all the more fun when we do.  Speaking of my wonderful family, they have been really supportive of my blogging (quickly learning not to take a bite of their food before I take a picture when we are out at restaurants and coming over to try out my latest creation); and my newfound blogging hobby was clearly not forgotten by them when it came time for Christmas shopping!  I hit the jackpot!  In years past they have always told me how difficult I am to shop for, so I guess my new hobby has made things easier for them, which in turn, benefitted me!  So here is a tour of my new foodie gadgets....I can't wait to try them all out!

Digital Food Photography Book and a Collapsible Light Box (Not pictured)

My mom got me the light box and my sister got me this cool book.  The light box is so neat; it pops up out of a case, then folds flat for storage and it came with a tripod, some extra spotlights and a few different colored backgrounds.  I am still working on figuring out how to best use it, but I can't wait to take my food photography to the next level with the light box and the photography book!

Stainless Steel Cheese Knives

I actually got these knives at a holiday gift exchange that my girlfriend's and I have every year.  There were lots of fun gifts to choose from, including a Fajita Set and MAC eyeshadows, but I just couldn't resist the cheese knives because I LOVE CHEESE!  Not only do I love cheese, but I love to entertain, and serving cheese and crackers is so easy and elegant....and now I have the tools to do so!

Non-Stick Baking Mats

In my recent baking adventures I started using parchment paper on my cookie sheets...and wow...what a difference it makes!  No more sticking to the tray and they just cook so much more evenly.  Since I would like to consider myself somewhat "green" I thought that it would be better to have re-usable mats that served the same purpose.  My mom got these for me at Macy's, they are Martha Stewart brand, and they even have a dozen little circles on each of them to show you where you should place the dough!

Cooking miBook

My sister got me this, and it was a total surprise! I had never even seen one of these before (which is very unusual for me, I like to think that I am up on all the latest gadgets).  Basically, it is supported by Food Network and is a mini computer/tv thing that you set on your kitchen counter and it allows you to look up a recipe and cook with it step by step!  It is like private cooking lessons!  It is loaded with over 300 recipes and tips.  I can't wait to try it out and learn some new tricks of the trade!

Spode Baking Dishes

For those that have known me a long time, you know about my love of all things polka-dot...especially black and white polka-dot!  I was so excited to get these dishes; they are not only practical, but so cute!  I saw these on the Macy's website back in September and casually mentioned to my mom how cute I thought they were, I had completely forgotten about them, and was so excited to find them under the tree!  They are really heavy duty, and will make for such a nice presentation when I have guests over.  Now I just need to figure out what I want to use them for first!

Cuisinart Non-Stick Hard Anodized 10 Piece Pots & Pans Set

While I am completely in love with my new Spode baking dishes, I think my favorite gift was the pots and pans set!  When I first moved into my house I owned nothing but a bed, a tv and a retro baby blue velvet recliner; I had always lived in the dorms in college, so I had no need to acquire any kitchen stuff.  So when I got my first house I needed everything....and everything, well....costs a lot of money....so I ended up just buying the cheapest set of pots and pans that I could find at Kohl's.  And while they were good to me, it has been 4.5 years and they have seen better days.  So I was elated to get a brand new set of heavy-duty pots and pans that don't have any scratches or chipped coating!  The sizes of these pans are much better than my old ones, and I can't wait to get cooking with them!  So thanks again Mom & Dad....I love them! (Oh yeah, and thanks for coming over and helping me clean out my kitchen cupboards so that I had a place to put them!)

So to all my friends and followers....it looks like I am all set to bring you all more foodie fun in 2010!

Macaroon Christmas Tree

Merry Christams to All!  Hope everyone is ready for the big day tomorrow....it sure did seem to sneak up on me this year!  I have just a few minutes before I have to go get ready to go to Christmas Eve services, but I wanted to post this just before I left because it is just so cute!  A couple of weeks ago I had the Food Network on and was just sort of halfway watching it when I glanced over and saw Sandra Lee putting this tree together, I thought it was cute, but then didn't give it much more thought until my mom said she had some leftover White Chocolate that she didn't know what to do with....aha....light bulb went off in my head and I said that I would take it and make this tree!  I got the stuff that I needed (or thought that I needed, as I never even bothered to look up the recipe but just make it from memory) and started putting it together.  While I wouldn't call this the easiest thing to make, it is not hard, you just need a bit of patience trying to get the macaroons to stick to the cone before adding the next layer, but I would do a few layers and then let it sit before coming back to it.  I am taking it over to our family friend's for Christmas Eve dinner tonight.....and even if no one eats it....I still think it is too darn cute!

Macaroon Christmas Tree

adapted from Sandra Lee

Click this link for the original recipe.

For my changes, I didn't use any additional sugar, and instead of Red Hots I went with Peanut M&M's.

Also, I didn't refrigerate mine to harden, that probably would have sped things up.....but I still got it to work!

Time to get ready for church.....MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Apple Dumplings

I had never eaten an apple dumpling, or any kind of dumpling for that matter, but when I saw this post on Krista's Kitchen, I just had to try them!  Growing up, my Grandma always made the pies for our Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations....there was always apple and cherry, and they were amazing!  The crust was flaky and tender, and we all looked forward to them each season.  Well, as Grandma got up there in age (she is 93 today!) she passed over the pie making duties to my mom, but for some reason, my mom could never get the crust to cooperate for her.  So about two years ago, mom gave up on her pie making efforts, usually delegating that task to a guest that would be joining us for the holiday.  This year though, I knew my Aunt Nancy would be making pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving, but I felt that we needed a little bit of variety, so I decided I would make these apple dumplings.

These were actually quite simple to put together, which was surprising to me, since they do start with a pie crust base.  They made made my house smell so good while they baked, with all the apples, butter, cinnamon and nutmeg!  I took these to our Thanksgiving dinner and we ate them with vanilla ice cream and homemade whipped cream, they were quite good!  They tasted a lot like an apple pie, but with the gooeyness on the outside of the crust instead of the inside.  I would try these again, but I felt that they maybe had a bit too much nutmeg or cinnamon in them, giving them a sort of "spicy" flavor.  But the crust was tender and flaky, which if you ask me what makes a good pie, it is all about the crust!

Apple Dumplings

adapted from Krista's Kitchen

For the dumplings:

2 1/4 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2/3 c. Crisco
1/2 c. milk

Stir together flour and baking powder. Cut in Crisco. Stir in milk to form a soft dough and knead 2-3 times in the bowl until everything sticks together. Roll out to 1/4" thickness on a floured surface. Cut into 6 squares.

Filling:

3-4 baking apples, peeled and cored
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1-2 Tbsp. butter for dotting

Cut apples into large pieces and arrange in the center of each dough square. Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Dot with butter. Lightly brush a small amount of water on the edges of the dough. Fold the corners up to the center. Pinch to seal. Transfer to a rectangular baking dish.

Sauce:

2 c. water
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. butter
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Bring the ingredients to a boil, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved. Pour into the dumpling filled baking dish. Bake dumplings at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

Sweet Potato Casserole

I know that I may be in the minority on this one, but for some reason I just can't seem to get on board with putting marshmallows on my sweet potatoes.  Maybe it is because I became a sweet potato fan later in life via the sweet potato french fry craze, but whatever it is, I just don't think they go!  I got this recipe out of Cooking Light a few years ago and modified it to exclude the marshmallow topping, instead opting for some chopped pecans, but if you must, throw some marshmallows on top.  But whatever you do....you MUST make this!  Not only is it so incredibly easy, it is delicious!  For some reason I only ever seem to make it on Thanksgiving each year, and each time I can't believe that I have let so much time pass, yet I just don't seem to get around to making it again until the following Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone is enjoying their December's so far.....mine is flying by...so much to do, so little time!

Sweet Potato Casserole

adapted from Cooking Light November 2007

2½ lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 in. cubes
¾ c. packed brown sugar
¼ c. butter, softened
1½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. vanilla extract
½ c. finely chopped pecans, divided
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375 °F

Place sweet potatoes in a large pot, and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes or until very tender. Drain; cool slightly.

Place potatoes in a large bowl. Add sugar and next 3 ingredients. Mash sweet potato mixture with a potato masher. Fold in ¼ cup pecans. Scrape potato mixture into an even layer in an 7 x 11 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with the remainng pecans. Bake for 25 minutes.

Confetti Dip

I had a lot of family coming into town for the Thanksgiving holiday, and per our tradition, we were going to have Mom's Special Lasagna for dinner at my parent's house together on Thanksgiving Eve.  My mom's "special" lasagna is actually just the classic Stouffer's lasagna, it's not homemade, but it is darn good and you just can't beat the ease of it.  Plus, she always figured that she was going to be doing so much cooking the next day that she deserved a break the night before!  Just before I was heading out to my mom's, I got word that some of our relatives had hit some traffic and were running late.  Well, I was HUNGRY, and I didn't figure that my mom would have any snacks to hold us over until dinner, so I rummaged around and threw together this dip based on some snack bites that I had once seen in a magazine.  When I got to my parent's, I popped it into the oven and soon we were munching on this delicious dip!  I basically just threw in some sliced black olives and pimentos and mixed it with some mayo and shredded cheese.  I wanted to add some onion, and I didn't have any green ones, so I threw in some dried, minced onion, not ideal, but it worked.  My aunt and my grandma loved this dip, in fact, they put the leftovers on turkey sandwiches and toast over the next few days...so I guess it is a keeper!

Confetti Dip

10 oz. can sliced black olives, drained

1/4 c. chopped pimentos

4 green onions, chopped (I had to substitute dried, minced onion)

1/2 c. mayo (I used light)

2 c. shredded cheese, flavor of choice, I used a colby blend

Triscuits

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a pie plate with cooking spray.

Combine all ingredients except for the Triscuits; mix well.  Pour in pie plate, bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.  Serve with Triscuits.

Zucchini Corn Cakes

Remember when you were a kid and getting mail was like the coolest thing ever?  Well, I must be a kid still because I love getting mail!  I am not talking about bills, or junk mail or even catalogs (although I am always quite thrilled when my US Weekly arrives); the mail that I love getting is the personal kind.  With everything going electronic and paperless these days, writing someone a letter is usually done at a computer, not with a pen and paper; but there is just something about a handwritten note that still brings a smile to my face.  Luckily for me, my grandmother who lives in California still likes to still down and write me a letter from time to time.  She usually just tells me about something going on with one of my other cousins or she will include a picture or even a coupon, but the last letter that she sent to me included a recipe that she and my cousin had recently made.  I was happy for the new recipe, but it didn't quite beat the joy that a handwritten letter from my grandmother brought to me.  I have a whole box of letters that she has written to me over the years, and they are truly some of my most prized possessions.

The timing of her letter and recipe couldn't have been more perfect, I happened to have some zucchini in the fridge the needed to be used and a box of Jiffy Corn Bread mix in the pantry.  The recipe called for shredded zucchini, so I was also really excited to use my new Titan Peeler (yes, the ones off the infomercial, but I bought mine at Bed Bath & Beyond), not only does it peel, but it juliennes.  I have to say, the peeler worked perfect for this, and I was able to put these together in no time!  I did jazz mine up a bit from the original by adding in a handful of shredded cheese (because in my opinion cheese makes everything better) and topping them with a dollop of sour cream, and next time I think I might add some green chiles!  These were delicious and easy, and I ate them just as they were for my meal, but they would also be great served as a side dish.

Keep in mind, if you are looking to brighten someone's day, sit down with a pen and paper and write them a note because it is usually the little things in life that mean the most!

Zucchini Corn Cakes

adapted from Women's Day - Sept. 15, 2009

1 medium zucchini, shredded

1 box Jiffy corn bread mix

1 large egg

1/2 c. milk

1/2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

1 Tbsp. canola oil

Sour cream, if desired

Place shredded zucchini in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 2 minutes on medium-high heat; drain.  Combine zucchini, corn bread mix, egg and milk.  Let stand for 5 minutes and stir in cheese.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet.  Drop heaping tablespoons of the batter into the hot oil.  Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side, or until golden brown.  Serve with a dollop of sour cream if desired.

Microwave Acorn Squash

A couple of weeks ago when I was walking through the grocery store I spotted an acorn squash, at that point I realized that it had been at least 10 years since I had eaten one, so I decided that that was going to change! I plopped a good looking one in my cart and finished up the rest of my shopping.  Later that night I decided to cook it for dinner and rememberd an easy recipe that I had seen in a Simple and Delicious magazine; after a bit of searching, I found it and was able to whip this up in just 15 minutes.  I couldn't believe how easy this is by using the microwave, and the first bite brought back memories of when my mom used to make this when I was a kid, which is just what I needed on a Sunday night in November!

Microwave Acorn Squash

from Simple & Delicious Sept/Oct 2008

1 medium acorn squash

2 Tbsp. packed brown sugar

1 Tbsp. butter

2 tsp. honey

Dash of salt

Cut squash in half; discard seeds.  Place squash cut side down in a microwave-safe dish.  Cover and microwave on high for 10-12 minutes or until tender.

Turn squash cut side up.  Divide the brown sugar, butter, honey and salt evenly in the centers of the squash.  Cover and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

Red Curry Shrimp with Jasmine Rice

A couple of Sunday's ago I didn't go to the grocery store as planned, and once six o'clock rolled around, I was hungry.  Rather than running out to grab something, I figured I should try to throw something together with the stuff that I had on hand.  When I looked in my cupboard I found this:

It was a jar of Thai Kitchen Red Curry Simmer sauce, I had bought it a few months ago when I had a coupon for it, and had yet to try it.  I remembered that I had some shrimp and frozen broccoli in the freezer, so I figured I would try it out.

I knew I needed some sort of rice or noodle to serve it over to soak up the sauce; so I was very happy when I came across this:

Uncle Ben's Jasmine Ready Rice!  I think I bought this with the intention of using it with some sort of Thai stir fry I was going to make once; well it didn't happen then, but on this night I was happy to find it, especially since it only takes 90 seconds in the microwave and it is done.

So I gathered my sauce, shrimp, rice, frozen broccoli and red bell pepper that I had found in the fridge and started cooking.  Well the strangest thing happened, from start to finish the entire process took just 15 minutes, which is at least how long it would have taken me to run out and grab some food somewhere!  Plus, it was a much healthier option than anything I would have gotten.  The flavor of this was good, very mild for those of you worried about spice (but it could be easily taken up a notch with some siracha sauce) and it paired so well with the Jasmine rice.  I was very proud of myself for making such a colorful, healthy meal....and my stomach was grateful that it only took 15 minutes!

Red Curry Shrimp with Jasmine Rice

(Serves 2 )

1/2 lb. uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined (If using frozen, just run under some water for a minute)

1 (11.9 oz.) jar Thai Kitchen Red Curry Simmer Sauce

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 c. broccoli florets (I used frozen, but fresh would work)

1 (8.5 oz.) bag Uncle Ben's Jasmine Ready Rice

In a medium saucepan, heat simmer sauce until boiling.  Add shrimp to sauce and reduce to a simmer.  Cook about 3 minutes and then add the red bell pepper and broccoli.  Meanwhile, cook Ready Rice according to package directions.  The sauce is done once the shrimp are fully cooked (pink).  Divide rice into two bowls and top with the shrimp sauce.  Enjoy!

Cheesy Potatoes Gratin

By no means has it actually felt like Fall yet here in Arizona, but that hasn't stopped me from wanting to eat Fall type foods, specifically, casseroles!  I know I have previously pledged my love for almost all things casserole, so when I say these on Kaitlin's blog, I knew I just had to make them soon.  As luck would have it, I happened to have a package of homestyle potato slices in my fridge that were quickly approaching their expiration date, so I took it as a sign!  After getting home from work one night, I was able to quickly throw these together, especially since the potatoes were already sliced (the original recipe called for peeling and slicing the potatoes).  I had just gotten these cute little red ramekins and had been looking for a reason to try them out, but I suppose you could just put everthing in one large dish, it might just have to cook for a bit longer.

I had one little problem while making these, at some point, my toaster oven that I was baking these in turned off!  I was pretty sure that I set the timer for the alotted time, but somehow it went off, and I didn't hear it ding over the TV.  When the smell finally brought me into the kitchen, I could tell that they weren't done, so I just had to guess on how much time they needed until they were done.  After the delay,I was finally able to dig into the potatoes, and they were worth the wait!  They were creamy, cheesy and just so comforting!  I think I went a little bit overboard with the garlic, but that is a personal preference, so adjust accordingly!  These could even be made into a nice meal with the additional of some ham to the mix....but entree or side dish, they are still delish!

Cheesy Potatoes Gratin

adapted from Kaitlin in the Kitchen

20 oz. pkg. Simply Potatoes Homestyle slices (found in the refrigerated section by the eggs)

1/2 c. half and half

4 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese, grated

2 c. extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, divided

2 small garlic cloves, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

Butter, to butter the gratin dishes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, add potato slices, half and half, 1 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic and salt & pepper.  Stir to combine, making sure all the potatoes are well coated; if needed add more half and half.  Generously butter your ramekins or baking dish (this adds flavor, don't use spray).  Spoon the potatoes evenly into 4 small ramekins and flatten to make sure they're in an even layer.  Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, then remove and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.  Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.  Let cool for about 5 minutes before eating.

Beer Cheese Dip

I actually made this dip for one of my tailgates earlier this season, but I forgot my camera that day, and my sister called dibs on the leftovers. I told her she could have them as long as she took a picture and sent it to me....well, she lost her camera cord....so it took awhile....but she finally sent it so I can post the recipe for all of you!

At this point, I can't even clearly remember what game I made this for, but I am thinking it had to be University of Washington....which was an exciting game as my Sun Devils scored a touchdown as time expired to win the game!! Everyone in the stadium figured we were heading into overtime (which I was a bit miffed about because my DVR was going to miss overtime...and yes, I go to the game and re-watch it on TV, it is just my thing, don't judge me!).....but then a beautiful rainbow pass dropped the ball into the waiting hands of Chris McGaha, who seemed to be in just as much shock as the rest of the crowd! It always seems that we come up on the short end of these last minute scores (which, incidentally, is the reason for three of our losses this season), but this night was different for a change.

We were having a really casual tailgate that night, just Washington "Husky" Dogs, Washington Apple Pie....you get the drift. I knew we needed some sort of munchie to tide us over until we grilled the hot dogs, so I went searching on Recipezaar and came up with this little gem. After reading the ingredients, I was sold, and I knew my crew would be to....I mean it has two kinds of cheese, ranch dressing and beer in it...can it get any better? Well, I whipped this up in my Kitchen Aid mixer, and let it sit overnight until game day, the verdict, it was a HIT! Everyone wanted to know what was in it, and couldn't stop eating it. I served it with some pretzel crisps that I found at Costco, because pretzels + cheese + beer = YUM! Like I said earlier, my sister took home the leftovers, and I am guessing they didn't last long. For those of you weary of the beer part, you really couldn't taste it, but if you want to leave out the liquor all together, just substitute some apple juice!

Beer Cheese Dip

adapted from Recipezaar

2 (8 oz. each) pkgs. cream cheese
1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix (Like Hidden Valley)
2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 c. green onion, tops only, chopped
1/3 - 1/2 c. beer, any flavor (I think I used Bud Light) or use apple juice

In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese and the ranch dressing mix; mix until smooth. Stir in the cheddar cheese and the green onions. Slowly add beer until you reach your desired consistency. Cover and refrigerate overnight; serve with pretzels, crackers, veggies, etc!

Yupha's Thai Kitchen

A couple of weeks ago, I made plans to go out to dinner with "My Biggest Fan" (aka Kelly) and her family, as usual, she wanted me to pick the place, and preferably make it someplace new. When we get together, we tend to always go for Mexican food, and while neither of us have ever been known to turn our nose up at a good enchilada, I thought we should shake things up a bit. I had remembered reading about Yupha's awhile ago, and I always had wanted to try it, and with it conveniently being located in Tempe between my house in Scottsdale and her house in Chandler, it just made since. Plus, she and her husband Jimmy love them some spicy food, so if we weren't going for Mexican, at least they could still get their spice fix! Never wanting to miss out on some Thai food, or getting to play with a cute baby, my sister came along with us as well.

Yupha's is located in the same plaza as Vincitorio's Restaurant on the Southeast corner of McClintock and Elliot. They used to be located on Rural and Elliot, but have moved to this new location in the past year. The space is big, open and modern; with high ceilings, minimal furniture and modern art, it makes for a very relaxing vibe. We arrived at 6:30 on a Thursday night, and while the place wasn't completely full, most of the tables were occupied. Our waitress came by and took our beverage order, and then gave us some time to look over the menu. And time she gave us, because it seemed like it was 10 minutes before she finally returned; they must have been understaffed that night, because it was just her and one other waitress covering the whole restaurant, so we decided not to get to upset by this.

When she finally did return to take our order, she couldn't have been more pleasant; answering our random questions and suggesting items on the menu. Kelly and Jimmy ordered the Thai Rolls to start and I got some Tom Kha Gai soup to begin with. The spring rolls came with four in an order, and plum sauce on the side for dipping. Everyone's first reaction to them was how skinny they were, and not in a good way. The menu described them as being filled with bean threads and vegetables; well, upon their first tastes, Kelly and Jimmy saw a bean thread or two inside of them, but other than that, it just seemed to be all wrapper. They were cooked to a nice, golden, crunchy brown, but they were seriously lacking in the veggie department. The plum sauce was good, but they are probably not something that I would recommend for anyone to order.


I absolutely love Tom Kha Gai soup, but almost every Thai restaurant that I go to doesn't offer just a single serving bowl of it, they get all fancy and serve it in these giant silver urns, so I rarely end up ordering it. When I saw that I was able to order just a bowl of the soup, I knew that I had to give this version a try. Well, I have to say, this was the best version I have ever had; it had a touch of heat, mixed with the cool coconut and lime leaves, it was heavenly. My sister had never tried this kind of soup, so I scooped some into a bowl for her and she too thought that it was really good. The flavors were so well balanced, that I really could have eaten a giant urn full of this version!


I like all different kinds of Thai dishes, curries, noodles, etc., but on this particular night I wasn't feeling that adventurous, so I decided to go with the old Pad Thai standby. Kelly decided she was going to have the Pad Thai as well (but I won't bore you all with two pictures of the same dish). I ordered mine mild with the chicken and shrimp, while Kelly ordered hers at a hot heat level and with just tofu. When the dishes came out they were giant plates, just heaping with noodles. The ever present crushed peanuts and bean sprouts were strewn across the top just waiting to be mixed in to the delicious sauce and noodles below. Both Kelly and I dug in and were immediately happy with our dish; the noodles were perfectly cooked, and the sauce had just enough sweet and heat to give it a savory flavor. We both really enjoyed this classic, and I even felt that this is quite possibly the best version that I have ever had. My only complaint would be that I got a whopping two shrimp in my dish, and one of them was so hidden I didn't even find it until I was boxing up my leftovers!


Laura, whom I usually refer to as the Pad Thai Queen, because she never varies from her order, actually surprised me and ordered the Roasted Duck. Well, I shouldn't say this totally surprised me, because while she loves a good Pad Thai, if there is duck on the menu, it is no contest. She was quite surprised by how many different duck dishes Yupha's had on their menu, typically, if there is duck, there is one option, but they had at least four options plus a duck special! Not being one for spicy food, she opted for the Roasted Duck that was served over a bed a steamed spinach and with a brown sauce on the side. When her plate arrived, she was amazed to see the entire duck on her plate...bonus! The duck's skin was nice and crispy, and when dipped into the brown sauce, the flavor was really accentuated. Laura was really happy with this dish, and while it didn't scream Thai food, she was happy to pass up her usual Pad Thai in favor of the duck (though that didn't stop her from stealing a few bites off of my plate)!

Jimmy was in the mood for curry, and finally decided on the Green Curry with Beef, at a hot heat level! When the bowl came out, I could smell the heat wafting off of it and the scent of the lemongrass; it looked really good. After piling his plate with rice, he scooped beef and green curry sauce over the rice to begin his feast. He really like it, the meat was tender and the heat of the curry was tempered by the rice. At one point, he ran out of rice, and due to the shaky service, we waited a long time before Laura told him to just eat the rest of her rice; which was a good thing, because we might still be waiting for rice and water today! Once he got more rice, Jimmy was able to polish of the curry and declared it to be a success!

When we first got to the restaurant, Logan was still asleep, and of course he decided to wake up just before we got our food....but he is such a good baby that it didn't cause any problems. Laura hadn't seen him since he was a few days old, and she was excited to see how big he had gotten at five months old! We tried to take some pictures with him at the end of dinner, but he wasn't in the mood for photographs, but that didn't stop us from trying!

Myself, Laura, Logan & Kelly

(Not Pictured - Jimmy the Camera Man!)

Dinner was excellent, I am so glad that I finally made it to Yupha's, and I think the consensus of the group was that this was some above average Thai food. As always, we went for the company, but enjoyed the food, not a bad Thursday night at all!

Yupha's Thai Kitchen
1805 E. Elliot Rd., Suite 115
Tempe, AZ 85284
www.yuphasthaikitchen.com

Creamed Spinach

I have been cooking I promise, but I haven't been blogging about it, and I don't really have an answer as to why. This is the spinach side dish that I made to go with the Stuffed Pork Loin and the Individual Pumpkin Cheese Cakes; that was two weeks ago. I guess I have been rather busy, but that is not an excuse, so I would like to apologize to "My Biggest Fan" for my absence....I vow to get back on track this month!

My dad loves a good creamed spinach, so when I was trying to figure out a vegetable side to go with the pork, I decided that creamed spinach would be perfect. This is a version from Emeril Lagasse that I found on Recipezaar, it was really simple to throw together, and reheated well. The only issue I found was that it was a bit runny, so I think the spinach needs to be rung out really well before the liquid is added, but other than that....it was just delicious! (Please pardon the picture.....there was just no pretty way to photograph this!)

Creamed Spinach

adapted from Recipezaar

3 Tbsp. butter
3 lbs. fresh spinach, washed and stemmed (The original said to chop, but I skipped that)

Salt & pepper to taste

2 Tbsp. chopped garlic

2 c. Half and Half

2 c. Italian blend cheese, shredded, divided

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Lightly grease a 2 quart baking dish; set aside.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; add butter and stir until melted. Add spinach to skillet along with salt and pepper; saute for 3 to 4 minutes or until all the spinach is wilted. (At this point, I would remove the spinach and squeeze out all the extra liquid) Add the Half and Half and the garlic to the spinach; bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 6 minutes, or until mixture begins to thicken. Remove pan from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups of the cheese. Pour into prepared baking dish; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake for about 4 - 6 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Stuffed Pork Loin

So after I had volunteered to make family dinner, I had to figure out something to make for it! I wouldn't call my family picky eaters (except maybe my dad), we all are pretty adventurous, it just seems that we all happen to have really different tastes, so I was struggling to figure out something that I thought would appeal to all of them. My other issue that I was trying to work around was that I didn't want to actually have to be physically cooking something and be distracted from watching the game....because if you know me....I don't like to miss a minute...I even record and re-watch games! I was going through some recipes that I had saved and came across this one, I thought it would be perfect, it included at least one ingredient that everyone liked; Dad (bacon), Laura (pesto), Mom (spinach) and myself (cream cheese). But the big seller for me was that after I prepared it, I could stick it in the oven for an hour or so and just concentrate on watching the big game!

This really didn't have a lot of ingredients, and the presentation was quite fancy, the most difficult part was just figuring out the best way to cut the pork to get it to lay flat, but once I figured that out, I just pounded away with my meat mallet to flatten it some more! I really should have taken some before pictures of the process, but I was making three other recipes at the same time, so I just didn't have time. The original recipe used a pork tenderloin, but the one at my store were so small and narrow, that there was no way that I was going to be able to get all the stuffing ingredients in the middle, so I substituted the pork loin and it worked out just fine. The whole family really loved this; the pork was tender and the flavors worked really well together, and it just looked so darn fancy on the plate! I served it with Parmesan couscous (which my mom so graciously prepared since it wasn't quite half-time and I couldn't be torn away) and some creamed spinach (recipe coming soon!) It was a wonderful meal, and would work really well for a dinner party since all the prep can be done beforehand.

If you are looking to show off in the kitchen, you must try this!

Stuffed Pork Loin

adapted from Favorite Family Recipes

1 (2-3 lb) pork loin or tenderloin (I used loin because the tenderloins were too small to stuff)

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. jarred roasted red peppers, chopped

6 - 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (I just left them whole)

1 pkg. dried pesto seasoning (Like Knorr brand, usually found near the pasta)

Fresh spinach leaves to taste

olive oil

salt

pepper

Cut the pork almost in half, then starting at the middle, cut each side almost in half again so that it lays flat. Pound with a meat mallet to get the pork an even thickness. Spread the cream cheese over the pork evenly, leaving about 1 inch around the edges. Lay the roasted red peppers over the cream cheese then top with the bacon. Evenly sprinkle the pesto seasoning over the red pepper layer, then top with the desired amount of spinach. Starting at one of the short ends, roll the pork up jelly roll style. Using kitchen twine, tie the roast closed with about 3 or 4 pieces of the twine. (At this point, I wrapped in plastic and chilled until ready to cook.)

To cook the pork, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place pork in a baking dish; drizzle with the olive oil and add salt and pepper to taste. Bake for 60 - 90 minutes until pork is cooked through. Let it stand about 10 minutes, then slice it and serve it!

Individual Pumpkin Cheesecakes

This past Sunday night I had volunteered to make dinner at my parent's house for a Family dinner while we watched the Cardinals on Sunday Night Football (for those of you that missed it, the game was awesome, we beat the NY Giants!). After I finally decided what I was going to make, I was still looking at recipes online when I came across these little gems. I LOVE cheesecake as some of you may know, and I remember having a pumpkin cheesecake that my aunt made at a Thanksgiving probably 15 years ago, but I haven't had any since. I felt that it was fate that I try these out because for the bottom crust you were supposed to use a gingersnap cookie, and I just happened to have half of a box leftover from when I made the Pumpkin Pie Dip for the tailgate a few weeks back....jackpot! These were really easy to throw together, my mom and my sister both loved them, especially since they are just the perfect little serving size. These could definitely be jazzed up with some whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon, but they are tasty just how they are!

Individual Pumpkin Cheesecakes

adapted from Put A Lyd On It

18 paper baking cups

18 gingersnap cookies

12 oz. cream cheese, softened

3/4 c. sugar

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie spice

2 eggs

1 c. mashed pumpkin (From a can, 100% pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix)

1/3 c. light corn syrup

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Place baking cups in muffin pans; press a gingersnap into the bottom of each cup. Beat cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch and pumpkin pie spice with an electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs and blend to combine. Add pumpkin and corn syrup to the mixture; beat for 1 minute. Divide filling evenly into the prepared baking cups. Bake for 30-35 minutes until just set. Let cool briefly, remove from muffin tins and chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Enjoy!

Harry Bissett's Bayou Grill - Athens, Georgia

After an amazing dinner our first night in Georgia, we were hoping that the trend would continue. On our first night in Athens, my dad had made reservations at a restaurant that specialized in Louisiana style cooking, so we were looking forward to some good ole' Southern cooking! Harry Bissett's is located in a building that looks like it should really be an office building, but alas, it is a giant two story restaurant with a bar and patio on the first floor and the restaurant on the second floor. Upon our arrival, were immediately seated in a large round booth on the second floor. The restaurant's interior is fairly plain, with a few pieces of art here and there.

We began to look over the menu and decided to get some soup and an appetizer to share. We ordered the Sherry Crab Bisque, which was a rich cream broth highlighted with sherry, red and green peppers and lots of crab. This bisque was outstanding! Each bite had the perfect combination of all the elements, it was smooth and just out of this world delicious! We all really liked this, but I think it was I who was the biggest fan, as I wouldn't let the waitress take the bowl until I soaked up every last drop with the bread that was on the table.

We considered getting the Barbecue Shrimp for our appetizer, but when we asked the waitress about them, she said that they were quite spicy. While my dad and I would have been okay with this, the frightened look in both my mom and sister's eyes made it clear that we needed to pick something else; so we decided on the Oyster's Rockefeller. I have always loved Oyster's Rockefeller, I even went as far as to make them at home once (and almost lost a finger in the process), so I was eager to try this version. My dad is more of a raw oyster fan, but since the oysters were from the Gulf of Mexico (he won't eat raw from what he refers to as "warm waters") he thought that the Rockefeller sounded like a good idea. There are many versions of Oysters Rockefeller, some include bacon, some include a heavy bechemel sauce; but these were very simple and light. The topping was just a combination of spinach, butter, celery and onions, but they were seasoned just perfectly, and I felt that they were one of the best versions that I had ever had. The topping didn't mask the flavor of the oyster, and the spinach was nice and tender. We had only gotten an order of four oysters, but we were all wishing that we had gotten more.

Mom was in the mood for some fish, and since the Catch of the Day was Salmon, she decided to get the Catch just simply grilled. She also got her choice of two sides and chose a garden salad and the jambalaya. When her plate came out, the fish had nice grill marks on it and it was very good in size and served with a slice of lemon on the side. She took a bite and discovered that it was very dry, which meant that it had been overcooked. She didn't bother sending it back, but she said that even if it wouldn't have been dry, that the flavor wasn't anything special. Her side salad had come out before the entrees, and it was really small, but it did include dark greens and not just iceberg lettuce. She liked the flavor of the jambalaya, but once again was perplexed by the small portion. All in all, she probably had gotten about 1/4 of a cup of the rice, while her fish was a really large portion. Over the course of our meal, we noticed that this seemed to be the pattern, huge entrees and small sides, which really makes no sense when looking at it from the cost perspective of the restaurant!

At first, my sister and my dad were going to order the same thing, but ultimately, they decided to order two things and then share bites. My sister ordered the Carpetbagger Steak which was a filet mignon topped with fried oysters and a Bearnaise sauce. She chose the side salad and the Brabant Potatoes, which were basically just potatoes cubed and roasted. When her plate came out, it was quite the sight to see. The steak was quite large, and was cooked to a perfection with a pink middle. The crispy oysters and the Bearnaise sauce were both excellent and plentiful. She tried each element on their own, but said that it tasted best when some of each were all featured in a bite. She was very happy with her entree, and while she ate they potatoes, she didn't think they were anything special.

I had a hard time deciding what to order, but I just kept coming back to the Veal Lafayette, so I decided when in Athens, do as the Athenians do! When my plate was served, I couldn't believe how huge the portion was! There were three large pieces of veal had been pounded thin, lightly battered and then sauteed, they were then topped with a cream sauce that was laced with crawfish tails, dill and sherry. I had never had crawfish before this, but upon my first taste I decided that I had been missing out! The tails were so sweet and tender, and when mixed with the sherry and the cream, it became a delicious sauce. The veal was nice and tender, and tasted wonderful smothered in the Lafayette sauce. For my sides, I chose the Dirty Rice and the Green Beans. I hadn't had dirty rice in a very long time, but my first bite was as good as I remembered. This version was speckled with ground beef and onions, and the seasoning was salty with a touch of spice, making it just perfect. But the real stand out of the sides was the green beans! The beans had been slow cooked with bacon, and well, bacon makes everything better! But seriously, the beans were so tender, they just melted in your mouth, and the salt from the bacon gave them just the right amount of seasoning. I gave my dad a bite, and declared that he should have ordered the green beans, which coming from my dad, is a big deal!

Like my sister, my dad wanted some red meat, so he ordered the Uptown Stuffed Filet. The meat was stuffed with blue cheese and then covered in a port wine sauce. Like my sister's steak, his too was cooked perfectly, making it extremely tender and juicy. My dad loves blue cheese, and the addition of the cheese to this steak did not disappoint. The port reduction sauce tamed the tangy blue cheese just a touch, making it a wonderful compliment to the dish. Like my sister, he too had gotten the side salad and Brabant Potatoes for a side (so boring!). He really enjoyed his meal, and after he and my sister swapped bites, they decided that they each preferred the dish that they had ordered to the other one, so I guess it worked out just fine!

I wasn't really in the mood for dessert (shocking I know), but my mom and sister really wanted something sweet to end the meal, so I told them to just go ahead and pick something and I would try a bite. Well, they picked something that I probably wouldn't have chosen, Sweet Potato Pecan Pie, but I was willing to give it a try. Well let me just say, they made a wonderful pick, the pie was so good! I was a bit hesitant at first because I am not a fan of pecan pie, but this had just a small layer of the pecans on top of the sweet potato filling, and it really complemented the filling just perfectly! The pie was topped with some Chantilly Cream (a type of sweetened whipped cream, in this instance, vanilla) and was truly heavenly. It is very similar in taste to a pumpkin pie, in fact, I am not sure I could tell the difference if I didn't know what I was eating. Both my mom and my sister thought that this was the best dessert ever, and started thinking about how they could recreate it for Thanksgiving!

While this meal didn't top our meal from the previous night, for the most part, it was a really good meal. While we did find some faults (overcooked fish and skimpy sides) we did experience some of that Cajun flavor that we were looking for. Athens is a small town, and I would reckon that this is one of the better restaurants in town, and if I did find myself there again, I probably would find my way to Harry Bissett's, if for nothing else, just to eat bisque and pie!

Harry Bissett's Bayou Grill
1155 Mitchell Bridge Road

Athens, GA 30601

http://bayou.harrybissetts.net

The Atlanta Fish Market - Atlanta, GA

I can't believe it has been three weeks since we got back from our Georgia adventure and I haven't posted about any of the delicious food that we ate! And eat we did; lots of wonderful seafood and Southern delicacies were on our agenda, and while I never did get any chicken and waffles (don't scrunch your nose at this, it is darn tasty), we did have some really wonderful food!

Our first night of the trip we stayed in Atlanta near Lenox Square, which is a big shopping district. Pre-trip my dad had done some research and had gotten us reservations at The Atlanta Fish Market, which was touted to have some of the best seafood in Georgia. After getting changed at the hotel we headed over for our 7:30 reservation, and even though it was really only 4:30 Phoenix time, we were starved due to traveling and the lack of a formal lunch. I was in charge of the driving during the whole trip since my dad had hurt his back, and while I don't usually mind driving, I am not fond of the passengers trying to tell me how to drive or that they accidentally forgot the directions! After a few maneuvers that could possibly be considered illegal, we finally found the restaurant, which incidentally is hard to miss due to the 65-foot high copper fish that sits out in front of the restaurant!

The restaurant was housed in a large brick building, and upon entering the high ceilings and colorful decorations gave it a very inviting feeling. We were taken to one of the large booths that ran along one of the aisles. Have I ever mentioned how much I love booths? It is just so much more comfortable, you can spread out, and if you are a girl...there is always room for your purse! This booth could have easily sat six people, so there was no fighting for elbow room. Our waitress came over and discussed the specials, then took our drink orders and left us to look over the menu. This menu was massive, there were so many delicious looking choices, we just couldn't decide! I think before she took our order, at least three of us had changed our orders at least three times!

When our waitress returned with our drinks and some crusty sourdough bread, we put in our order; a few appetizers for sharing and our entrees. We dug into the bread like we had not seen food in days. It was warm on the inside, and crusty on the outside, the perfect way to start our meal. Luckily, some of our appetizers arrived, otherwise we may have put ourselves in a bread coma!

The first thing on the table was the Creamy New England Clam and Cod Chowder. My family is a bunch of seafood soup loving fools, and we always seem to get clam chowder when we are out, so we were anxious to try this version. At first impression, I was a bit taken back by the appearance of the soup, I am used to a chowder that is very white, but this one had more of a golden hue to it. But all first impressions immediately went away as soon as I took a bite, it was the most amazing chowder I had ever had! It was thick enough, but not heavy; it had a nice seafood flavor, but not in an overwhelming way; and the potatoes were cooked perfectly. My whole family thought that this was a superb chowder, and the bowl was empty in a flash. In truths, I could have had another bowl just for myself!

My dad and sister were really excited to see New England "Steamer Clams" on the menu, so we got an order of them as well. Normally when we get these, the clams come swimming in the broth, but in this instance, the clams were served on the side from the broth, so you just dipped the clam in the broth. Wow, these were amazing!! The broth had such great flavor; garlic, lemon, butter and the clams were so tender it was a match made in heaven. A close second was dipping the bread in the leftover broth...mmmm.

My dad also wanted to share a salad to start and chose the Blue Cheese Caesar, since my mom does not like blue cheese, it was up to my sister and I to help with it. We all found the concept of a Caesar salad with blue cheese to be very intriguing, and the result was delicious. Basically, it was a regular Caesar salad, that was then topped wih crmbled blue cheese for some added punch. The three of us that ate it really liked it, you could still taste the Caesar dressing, but for a blue cheese lover, this is one tasty salad (and I don't even normally like salad!).

We had just barely finished all our starters when our entrees started to arrive. My mom one was one of the people who couldn't quite decide what to order, but utlimately, with some guidance from our server, she decided on the Jumbo Sea Scallops Hong Kong Style. Hong Kong Style is the restaurant's signature fish preparation, and you can get it with any of the fresh seafood selections that they have that day. So for the scallops, they were sauteed with sherry soy, scallions and ginger then served over a bed of sauteed spinach with a side of sticky white rice. The presentation of the dish was beautiful, and my mom couldn't get over how huge the portion was! Typically, restaurants will give you about 4 or 5 large scallops as a serving, this dish had about 10! Mom took her first bite and was very happy with the dish. The scallops were sweet and tender, and when contrasted with the salty soy it was a delicious combination. I was lucky enough to score a scallop off her plate, and it was so amazing, the flavors were so delicate and especially good when eaten with some of the spinach that had been cooked in the same broth; it was a very successful dish. Mom had a hard time eating all of the scallops, but she just couldn't bear to see any of them go to waste!

My dad ordered something I have never seen him order in a restaurant, lobster. It is not that he doesn't like lobster, it is just not something that he ever seems to be in the mood for (with the exception of when it is in a bisque - see I told you - seafood soup fanatics!). I guess the description of the 1 1/2 lb. "Signature" Whole Stuffed Maine Lobster was just too enticing for him to pass up. The lobster was HUGE, it took up an entire plate to itself, forcing the whipped garlic potatoes and green beans to occupy their own plate. The lobster had been split down the middle but left the tail meat intact to be dipped in drawn butter, but the rest of the shell was stuffed with Alaskan King Crab stuffing, which was basically like a giant crab cake! Dad really loved this, he said the lobster was cooked perfectly, and was not rubbery at all. The King Crab stuffing was seasoned well and really complimented the sweet lobster. The garlic whipped potatoes were also excellent, with just the right amount of garlic and extremely creamy from the butter. He too had a hard time finishing his meal.

I was in the mood for crab, but I am not a fan of crab legs and I didn't think I could eat two whole crab cakes so I decided to order the "King" Crab Fritters off of the appetizer menu. When my plate came out, I was presented with three medium sized fritters, some homemade potato chips and a side of spicy remoulade sauce. I cut in to the first fritter and was pleasantly surprised to find basically a crab cake! It seems that they had taken their typical crab cake mixture, dipped it in a light batter and deep fried them. The crab was wonderful, there was not a lot of filler, just crab and I really liked the remoulade sauce. The homemade potato chips were still warm and cooked just enough to give them a nice crunch. I felt that this was an excellent value because I was basically get the crab cakes at a much reduced price, and since I got samples from everyone else's plates...I had more than enough food to eat.

My sister was going to order the crab legs, but then she decided that she could get those anywhere, so she went with the Surf Special of the Day, the "Lobster & Frites." It consisted of a 6 oz. lobster tail dipped in their thin batter and flash fried and was served with french fries and some honey mustard dipping sauce. When her plate first arrived she was a bit confused because she didn't think it looked like a lobster tail, but she went ahead and started eating anyway. As she started eating, she realized that there wasn't any honey mustard dipping sauce (she has a major obssession with this stuff), while we waited to flag down the waitress, my dad finally tried a bite of her meal and said, "Mmm, those are some good shrimp." What? Shrimp, she had ordered lobster! Well when the waitress came back she confirmed that they gave my sister the wrong meal, and like magic, the lobster appeared, but we got to keep the shrimp too due to the mix up! Boy were we lucky here, these were the best fried shrimp we had ever had. The batter was so light, that it gave just enough crunch without masking the shrimp flavor. My mom, dad and I were happy to eat the plate of shrimp that we were given by mistake!

While my sister too enjoyed the shrimp, she loved the lobster. It had the same thin batter, and the sweet lobster paired really well with the honey mustard dipping sauce. She gave me a bite and it was delicious, a unique preparation that really highlighted the lobster very well! (Now this looks more like a lobster tail!)

Even though we had eaten way too much already, especially due to the tasty bonus shrimp, we just couldn't resist getting some dessert....I mean we were on vacation! I really wanted to get the bread pudding; I used to be very against bread pudding, but now I can't seem to understand why? This version was dotted with golden raisins and served warm with a butter rum sauce....it was divine! The raisins really made this exceptional, I think golden raisins get a bad wrap most of the time, but when they are warmed up their sweetness really shines through. My mom is a big bread pudding lover, and thought that this was an excellent version.

My sister is not a fan of bread pudding, so we ended up ordering a second dessert, the warm apple tart with cinnamon ice cream. The tart was excellent, it had a crumb topping and the crust was so flaky and delicious. What really set this tart apart was the homemade cinnamon ice cream that it was served with, it was a wonderful combination that made it very unique.

While we probably didn't need to have dessert, we were glad that we did, but we were very, very full! My sister declared it the best meal she had ever eaten, and most of us agreed that as a whole, the meal was AMAZING! Our trip to Georgia had started off on a high note, and I know if I ever get back to Atlanta, a trip to The Atlanta Fish Market will definitely be on my itinerary!

The Atlanta Fish Market
265 Pharr Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30305

http://www.buckheadrestaurants.com/