Daring Bakers Challenge: Raspberry Opera Cake! May 28, 2008

I am so thankful to be a member of this amazing amasse of baking adventurers! Viewing the seven pages of directions did cause me to be taken aback a couple of weeks ago, but once I saw the expression on my family’s faces after tasting this creation I am so thankful I was given the challenge!

Here is my raspberry opera cake, complete with lots of pink food coloring and pieces of raspberry between the layers!

And thank you to Becca Berlow, my honorary daring baker, who helped me a ton with this challenge this weekend on her vacation!!

delicious ratatooty…I mean ratatouille! May 27, 2008

now you might think this looks like dog slobber or something to that effect, but in actuality this is my new favorite healthy summer veggie dish! and its french and insanely delicious! and we watched the movie while we ate it! how ridiculous can we get?!?

The recipe comes from Mrs. Julia Child!

“Memorial” day of eating May 27, 2008

Sissy, Mom and I went to Chestertown on Saturday for my 10 mile race and we had a great time being foodies afterwards at the festival! Check out our lemon with peppermint sticks!

lots more fun things to see…

there ain’t nothin more american… May 19, 2008

than good ol` apple pie! I visited my friends Meaghan and Jeff with Erica this past saturday night for Jeff’s 30th birthday celebration! I neglected to take a nice sunny day photo of my creation, so this one was taken at 8:00ish pm in the giant food parking lot on rt.3 in fredericksburg (oh how i miss thee college town..), va! This was my addition to the festivities.

The recipe comes from my well tested standby, New Best Recipe cookbook!

Dark Chocolate & Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies May 16, 2008

I am visiting my favorite professor this weekend on my trip to Virginia and I was trying to think of an awesome cookie recipe that incorporates chocolate (her honest to God addiction) and was cute and kid friendly (for her 4 year old Nadia!!)! I remembered these cookies from my childhood!

Here is the recipe my lovely mother typed up for me.

Broccoli, Chicken & Pine Nut Couscous May 15, 2008

Laura has been dying to try couscous, so we got a pine nut flavored version from Wegman’s on Sunday. I decided to pair it with come chicken pieces and our good old standby baked broccoli. This was quick and real tasty (as I ate it in less than 3 minutes!…I know-not good to gulf food…but I did run 4 miles!)

Hopefully Laurita’s leftovers will taste just as good tomorrow, when I am out with my mentor again!

Holy Frijoles May 14, 2008

Yesterday I chopped off about 5 inches of hair off my head, and it was so nice out I decided to forego slaving in the kitchen for a fun dinner outing with sista!

Check out the food: I got veggie taquitos (the frying was perfect!) and laura got beef tacos. The salsa is delicious there and the atmosphere is so hipster chic. (almost too hipster for me..but not at all for crazy laura!) For my celebratory enjoyment I got the mango margarita! woo weeeee.

hella good Flank Steak with potatoes & asparagus May 13, 2008

Here is my favorite meat recipe IN THE WORLD!! Momma requested for Mother’s Day and I was happy to oblige!

The double baked potatoes and FRESH asparagus (thank you daddy’s garden!) were nice additions.

Grandma has been making this recipe for-ever and I cannot wait to make it for the next girlie party, because it is so easy and so divine!!

momma loves Key Lime Tarts May 12, 2008

Not only did I make tarts this weekend, but I also made a pie for grandma! Double duty key lime goodness up in my kitchen! And this is extra exciting, because this is my first submission to Sugar High Fridays! Thanks to Helen for hosting the Citrus Challenge!

Here is one of the tarts that was quickly devoured at roughly 6:30 pm last night!

Chicken, Arugula & Cherry Tomatoes + Lemon Wine Sauce May 8, 2008

Last night’s dinner was a conglomeration of leftover ingredients and my chicken piccata addiction!

yay for thirty minute meals…after a 7 mile run! woot!