• Blog - Kitchen

    Sushi Saturday

    March 9, 2013 - By 

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    I decided to get brave and try making sushi at home after having been to a sushi party at a friend’s house.  I was able to get a lesson in making a roll as well as good advice on purchasing the fish and making the rice.

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    I picked up the equipment I needed this week such as the bamboo mat for making rolls.

     

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    The process definitely gets easier once you’ve made a couple rolls. I’m sure it’s like any skill. It must be practiced and honed to get it right.

     

    Between the wasabi and the radish sprouts in this roll it was REALLY spicy. Clears out the sinuses, that’s for sure.

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    Of course since I’ve never done this before I had no idea how much to make. Yeah…I definitely made way more than we could eat.

    We called up the neighbor to help us eat some.  I’ll certainly try it again but will make much less and try some other ingredients for fillings.

     

  • Blog - Kitchen

    In the kitchen

    February 27, 2013 - By 

    Monday was a “stay home” day for me knowing that the rest of my week was much busier. I made my list and got started as soon as everyone was out the door.

    I spent more than half the day working in the kitchen. First was my dad’s recipe for Whole Pea Soup, so much better than split pea. Although finding dried whole peas is very difficult in the stores.

    Next I started a batch of homemade bread, a recipe from my friend Sandy. I believe it was her grandma’s recipe.  I changed things a wee bit and the loaves still turned out really good.

    While the bread was rising I stirred up a batch of pumpkin muffins from the Betty Crocker cookbook with some healthy substitutions. The recipes call for it to be in bread loaves but I just adjusted my time a bit. 20130225_1452

    My last goodie before getting dinner prepped and in the oven was some Chewy, No Bake Granola Bars. They are so yummy! I put chocolate chips on half the bars since I’d rather have them plain. My photo was an afterthought as I was wrapping them up for individual servings.

    They are so good!!!

    I like domestic days…feels good to make things that are healthy and provide homemade, non-processed food for my family.

  • Blog - Kitchen

    Birthday cake

    February 8, 2013 - By 


    Let me just start by saying, I am not a baker. I’m not good at it nor do I enjoy it. But my kiddos think that mom’s homemade cakes and especially my frosting are the best.

    My cakes are generally lopsided. I blame the oven, but it’s very likely my fault.

    This cake came to be because the first one I made broke into about 7 pieces when I was taking it out of the pan.  I nearly cried…

    Did I mention I don’t like baking…?
    I made a whole new cake this morning. I left it in the pan until I was sure it had “set” so to speak.
    This one came out in one piece..thank goodness.

    I decided to use some of the chunks of cake to create a hill for the freshly washed Army men to make their stand upon.

    This was also good to help camouflage the lopsidedness of the cake.
    Since I was adding crumbly cake to the top and trying to frost it as well I needed something to cover my mistakes. Crushed up graham crackers fit the bill.  It looks a bit like sand or at least some rugged terrain if you use your imagination.

    I hope he likes it…

    I do know that it tastes better than it looks. 🙂