Hmm..

These are a few of my favorite food magazines. Do they contradict one another? Always. I like to think it's a balanced perspective. Do you have any food or cooking magazines you adore? I'm always on the lookout for more!

Baked Pasta

I have made this baked pasta so many times in the past few months. It's such an easy little meal that provides us with many leftovers and makes a great dinner to give to a friend who might need it.

As I was making it again last week, I decided I should share it with you. I haven't cooked much lately, for a few reasons, and most of my attempts at cooking lately have left a lot to be desired (boring blueberry muffins, not worth sharing!) and this recipe seemed like an fun, quick thing to share.

And then I did that thing I do. I did that thing, where I photograph the whole process. The shredding of the cheeses (mozerella and fontina), the browning of the ground meat (you could use turkey! I used beef) and the boiling of the pasta (but not too much, let the meat do the talking). I even got a shot of the whole thing mixed and piled into a baking dish that was headed for the oven.

Then, then it came out of the oven. It came out, glorious and bubbly. The salads were on the table, the drinks poured and the table set. And so it happened. I plated the pasta and ate a delicious, hearty meal, without ever stopping to photograph the best part, the finished product.

So, I guess you'll just have to make it yourself to see!

Baked Pasta 

serves 4-6
time: 30-45 minutes

ingredients

1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce or homemade sauce if you're fancy like that
1 lb of ground beef (I'm sure turkey would work here too)
1 onion, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 lb of pasta (adjust as desired, I prefer less pasta so that my sauce:pasta:meat ratio is where I like it)
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese (I add fontina and parmersan, depending on what I have on hand)

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9x11 pan by coating it with a light spritz of oil.

Cook pasta as usual; in a large pot- boil water, toss in pasta, cook for 8-10 minutes.

While pasta is cooking, drizzle the olive oil in a large pan and toss in the onions once the oil gets warm. Cook the onions for about 5-7 minutes, until they become translucent. Then place the meat in the pan and cook until browned. When the meat is done, pour the marinara sauce over it and let it simmer until the pasta is ready.

Drain the pasta and return it to the large pot, then combine the meat and sauce mixture with the pasta. Stir until evenly distributed and then mix about 1/3 of the cheese in the pasta mixture. Pour into the pan, sprinkling the rest of the cheese on top and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden.

Enjoy! (and take a picture for me, would you?)
-m

Happy New Year!

As we begin 2013, I'd like to take a moment and think back on the past year.

for just a second or two.

or maybe just a second.

There. Done. Moving forward! Ready for 2013?

I am!

In fact, I'm ready but noticing that my time lately feels so limited and while I want to write and share and learn, I'm hoping to do so in directions that aren't entirely food related. So, I've begun writing a bit here. I'll still share my recipes and food related posts on this lovely little space but for everything else, the hodgepodge of life, I'm trying something new. (the link will be under the banner, labeled 'pastiche', in case you want to check it out later!) 

Hope 2013 has started out swimmingly for you!

Enjoy!
-m

Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm not gonna lie, this year has kind of stunk. It's not too terrible really, just so many ups and downs. I feel like just when I get grounded, something wipes me out. I can't remember the last time I felt relaxed or calm. I'm either exuberantly excited or a bit down in the dumps. With a year like this, I'm totally ready for the holidays and January 1st. Bring. It. On.

With that being said, I can point to many things I'm thankful for, but one thing in particular. I'm thankful that my dad, who had a massive and scary stroke over a month ago, is recovering well. He spent a week in the ICU, unable to do much with his right side or speak, and was moved from one hospital setting to an acute rehab facility and is now in a residential facility where he is walking (yippee!) and talking up a storm. This month has been rough but inspiring. I see his strength in his struggle and I know I have that in me as well, the struggle is our strength. Through the struggle we find out what we will fight for, what we will move mountains for and see ourselves truly.

Now, I'm going to roast some veggies and begin my holiday prep. Seriously excited this year, time to get cheery!

Enjoy,
m

Rosemary Rolls

A year or so ago, I made these rosemary rolls from the pioneer woman. I loved them instantly and they were easy peasy. Then I did my October unprocessed (holy moly, that was a year ago) and couldn't bear to look at the ingredient list in the premade, frozen rolls. I tried to make yeast rolls from scratch, but they never lived up to my standards (thanks in most part to my grandma's amazing, fluffy, golden, tender rolls that melt in your mouth and I think make a great savory side with butter or an amazing dessert treat with a hint of jelly.. mmm..).

Yesterday, I decided to try my hand at another yeast roll. I'm not quite ready to give my grandma's recipe another try (there was a rolls turned hockey puck incident in my kitchen last year that left me feeling less than confident) I thought I'd try another rosemary roll recipe, this time with yeast rolls from scratch.

Do you love rosemary? I can hardly believe how much that scent does for me. I've been in a funk lately, and I keep trying to pull myself out of it, and I succeed for days or even a week here or there, but I eventually get sucked back in. Yesterday morning I was feeling the funk, you know what I mean? I didn't want to do anything, see anyone. I was forcing myself to go for a bike ride, knowing that I need that exercise to work through whatever is going on mentally, but I just broke down before I could even get out the front door. I took off my helmet and didn't know what to do.

Dylan asked me what I really wanted to do, how did I really want to spend my day? I had to think, but eventually it came down to wanting to do something with a finished product. I haven't cooked a lot lately (as you can plainly see) because even cooking has felt a bit like a blessing and a curse.

Long story, a bit shortened, I decided to roast some veggies for a soup. It seemed like a good place to start. I walked out to the front yard to pick some rosemary to throw in the pot. I grabbed the stem of the thickest little stalk and stripped it slowly of its aromatic leaves. I carried the little leaves inside and began chopping them up into itsy bitsy pieecs and with each slice the scent felt a bit as though it was waking me up.

It made me fantasize about those rosemary rolls from last year and I decided I just had to make some fabulous rolls to go with this delightfully autumnal soup. I went to my favorite place for recipes, food gawker, and found this wonderful recipe for rosemary rolls and whipped up a batch. The recipe was easy to follow and they taste great. I subbed a bit of flour for some whole wheat flour, and they are still light and fluffy.

Go give them a try!
Enjoy!
-m

Super Easy Hollandaise Sauce

Fun!

We had a very fabulous little brunch get together this weekend and I decided to make a sausage hash, topped with fried eggs and hollandaise sauce. I chose not to take pictures because I was sure it was going to turn out horrible, go figure.

Anyway, I was prepared to put some blood, sweat and tears into the sauce (not literally, of course, that goes by another name, surely). I bought waaay too many eggs, figuring I'd make attempt after attempt at it.

Instead, I rocked that sauce in one easy go, if I do say so myself. I found and used this recipe for Julia Child's method- using a blender. I have to say it was the easiest thing ever. Seriously. You have no excuses- go make some hollandaise!

Easy Blender Hollandaise Sauce

Enjoy!
-m

p.s. Have you heard of bromosas!? Craziness.

Lessons Learned: Wheat Free, Week Three

Breakfast! Eggs, Canadian bacon and zucchini.

It's been about three weeks since I dove head first into a wheat free life.

I feel I've learned a few tidbits worth sharing:

• Breakfast can seem challenging when you are used to muffins, cereal and toast as options; but my wheat free (gluten free? eh, the terminology doesn't concern me at the moment) breakfasts have been pretty fabulous and incredibly tasty (see the picture above if you don't believe me). I am eating quite a bit of eggs, but I also have leftover meats and veggies, nitrate free sausages and uncured bacon. Along with my green juice, of course. It's undeniably filling and I'm rarely ravenous by lunch, it's a good feeling. 

• Also, I thought these breakfasts would be so utterly time consuming, but they are in fact rather quick. I often cook up the bacon or sausage the night before, while I'm cooking dinner, and have them ready to be reheated in the morning. I'm trying to tell myself 'no excuses', not having enough time is one of my all time favorite excuses to try to trick myself into bad habits.

• Have I mentioned one of my favorite things I've read recently? I don't recall where it was but it suggested that instead of saying "I don't have time" replace that phrase with "It's not a priority" because that is in fact what you mean. Try it next time you find yourself uttering that excuse and you'll find you will either make time for it or realize it just isn't a priority.  

• When I search for 'gluten free' foods, I often am inundated with fake cupcakes and cookies even though I'm honestly looking for satisfying meals- not cheat treats. Booger. I'm still searching for more fabulous blogs/sites. If you have any, please share!  
• If a cooking video on you-tube has the word 'sexy' in the title, don't click on it. They're being literal. Even though they are talking about zucchini as pasta. 

hungry hungry hippo

 

• My hunger used to feel all consuming. I was constantly hungry, and it was non stop. A ravenous beast lived in my belly and turned me into a grouchy witch whenever I waited more than two hours between snacks or meals. Now, three weeks wheat free, I see how people wait for meals- I can see how hunger should feel. I can handle the hunger a lot more than I could before. I'm snacking way less, and finding it much easier to say no to the cookies in the staff room (yes, that actually happened. Cookies, doughnuts and muffins, oh my! I walked away from them all.)

hunger cycle pre-wheat free

While it's not the best graphic, you see the spike and the drop so dramatically

•  I ate some pizza last weekend, and it was delicious. About two hours after the super carb meal, I was completely overrun with the desire for cookie dough. I had some almonds instead, but it was a tough choice. I really wanted some sugar. I can't help but think there's a correlation here. 
• I am having wheat once a week or so, if I want it. Trying to stay balanced! 

Super satisfying lunch option: walnuts, aged white cheddar, chopped zucchini

• Simple lunches, like the one above, have kept me satisfied and I am so surprised. I used to pack so much stinkin' food every single day. This is crazy and I'm loving it. I am drinking lots of water and adding green tea to my days as well, I'm sure that helps too. 
• While wheat is what I'm avoiding, I'm also staying away from sugar and I've found that once I have a bit of sugar, just a teeny tiny bit, the cravings for more last all stinking day. Geez. Not worth it. 
• I'm not the only one in the household noticing that it feels better to eat less wheat. Dylan has adopted the breakfast routine and eats whatever I cook for dinner, and he has been talking about how fabulous he's feeling overall. 
• I'm feeling pretty good too- but, in full disclosure, my sleeping has been strange. I've been waking up at about 3am and finding it hard to go back to sleep. I read something that suggested a few nuts or nut butter before sleep to keep blood sugar satisfied throughout the night. I've tried it and it seems to work. I'll take it! 

 It's been interesting, trying to avoid wheat and sugar, and remain on the unprocessed side of life. I'm loving it so far!

Hope your weekend is just fabulous!
-m