This Makes My Mouth Water

i stopped using capitals because the shift key on my computer gets stuck when i try to use it

ever since that conversation i had a few days ago, i began compiling dishes that i loved from eating out.  i knew i wanted to write my own recipes that were inspired from those dishes, but were not the exact recipes.  so to help myself i’ve used menu descriptions, thanks to the internet, other food blogs and websites, and my mental memory of each experience.  i have to say, i’m pretty impressed with myself so far:

entrees
fennel pollen encrusted salmon
pork shoulder
olive oil poached salmon
rosemary skewered scallops
mustard crusted chicken
coffee crusted steak

sides
risotto
israeli couscous with pancetta, corn, and tomatoes in a cream sauce
creamed spinach
asparagus with hollandaise
ginger rice
saffron rice with currants

apps
warm spinach salad
cheesy focaccia
cheese and olive oil dip

desserts
carrot pineapple upside down cake

but doesn’t everything look good on paper?

Losing One’s Direction?

Last night i had a very interesting conversation with a friend from school who reminded me of myself at this time last year.  I was very comfortable with the way my life was, and didn’t want it to change.  I didn’t want to leave college and enter the real world.  And like my friend, not only did I have no idea what i wanted to do in this new life, but i had no way to figure it out.  I knew that i liked to cook, and knew that i loved my family and friends but i still had no answer.

Instead my cousin approached me when she found out she was heading to nebraska for grad school, she asked me if i wanted to join her.  I figured “hey, why not?”  It’s the one time in life where you have no responsibilites and can do whatever you want.  But this didn’t mean that i gave up on my dreams of cooking, like my friend probably figured it did.  So he asked me, what happened to my passion for cooking?

In addition to watching food network, going to farmers markets, and reading food blogs, I wrote my first cookbook over the summer.  This is when i realized i never shared the final draft with you.  Here’s some of the recipes:

Dips

Hummous

Babagnoush

Spinach Dip

Crab Dip

Not Your Average Joe’s Bread Dip

 

Breads

Banana Bread

Monkey Bread

Crusty Italian Bread

Blueberry-Lemon Loaf

 

Sides

Brussel Sprout Hash with Caramelized Shallots

Caramelized Butternut Squash

Succotash

Loobee (Lebanese green beans with tomato sauce)

Ginger Rice

Green Bean Casserole

 

Main Courses

Pecan Crusted Chicken                   Chicken Cacciatore                           Rosemary Chicken

Chicken Tenders                               Company Chicken                            Honey Chicken

Turkey Meatballs                              Turkey Burgers                                  Turkey Meatloaf

Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin                Mac and Cheese with Chicken and Broccoli

Spicy Baked Macaroni                     Pasta with Shrimp, Asparagus, and Tomatoes

 

Desserts

Monster Cookies

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Reeses Mini Cup Cookies

White Chocolate Cherry Chunkies

Coconut Macaroons

Chocolate White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

I’d love to publish it, but this book was many a compliation of recipes i’ve loved from other cookbooks.  So now I’m working on my second one tentatively titled “Restaurant Worthy.”  They’re all dishes that i’ve had at different eateries, but since i don’t have the recipes, i’m writing my own. 

So although i couldn’t tell my friend what to do with his life, i found a direction for myself.  Food is great, and i will always want to share it with anyone who will listen.