So obviously I haven't  posted in a REALLY long time...and the last time I did I just put up pictures.  That will soon change!  Those pictures will soon have companion recipes.  With virtually no summer classes and a Bountiful Basket on the way, nothin' is going to stop me now.  We'll see how laziness plays into this...

Parmesan Chicken Galore!

"Man Catchin' Beignets!"

• I made these for "White Day" with my old freshman roommates.  It's our way of celebrating our Caucasian heritage.  It was around Mardi Gras, so I decided to try out these little beauties.  I snagged this recipe from Allrecipes.com.  They were an absolute hit and easier than I thought they would be.

• 
  

• 1/2 cup water

• 1 tablespoon yeast

• 1/4 cup shortening

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup boiling water

• 1 cup evaporated milk

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 7 1/2 cups flour

• 1 quart vegetable oil for frying

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions

1. Pour 1/2 cup room temperature water into a small bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and let stand for about 5 minutes to dissolve.

1. Combine the shortening, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Pour the boiling water over the shortening mixture and then stir in the evaporated milk. Wait for the mixture to cool down until it is lukewarm. Then, add the yeast and water mixture and beaten eggs.

1. Slowly mix in the flour until the dough forms a ball. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

1. Working with a small portion (a little larger than a baseball) at a time, roll out the dough 1/8-inch thick. Cut the rolled out dough into strips 2 to 3-inches wide, then cut again in the opposite direction and at an angle, making diamond shapes.

1. Heat your oil for frying in a deep and wide, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat to 360 degree F (180 degrees C).

1. Slide dough slowly into the oil to avoid splattering and deep fry until they puff up and are golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully remove onto a rack with paper towels underneath and allow to cool until you can handle them. Place in a clean paper bag with confectioners' sugar and shake gently until covered generously or, use a sifter to dust the beignets with powdered sugar.

Seminary Muffins!

Can we just all agree? Yum! These little babies are both healthy and delicious. Got this recipe from Allrecipes.com. No butter or oil necessary without the unpleasant grainy texture typical of no butter/oil baked goods. It was my valentine for my roommates. No way to say "I love you" like warm, soft muffins! Definitely a fantastic experiment!

1 egg

1 1/3 cups ripe bananas, mashed

3/4 cup brown sugar, pakced

1/3 cup applesauce

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 cup chopped walnut

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chip

Combine egg, banana, brown sugar, applesauce, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Gently stir in flour ingredients and oatmeal into banana mixture. Mix in chocolate chips and walnuts. Pour into greased muffin pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

Aren't these just beautiful! This was my very first time making actual enchiladas, although enchilada casserole is great too. As always, no set recipe.

Hamburger meat

Salt and pepper

Taco seasoning

Salsa/Taco Sauce

Green chili

Can of black beans

Green enchilada sauce

Cheese!

Brown hamburger meat and add seasonings (taco seasoning, salsa, salt/pepper, green chili). Add black beans and lightly reapply seasonings. Let simmer on low heat for about ten minutes. Place meat mixture in tortillas, roll tortilla, and place in greased pan. About six enchiladas fill a 9x13 pan, depending on size. Sprinkle with cheese, smother with enchilada sauce, and generously sprinkle with cheese on top. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. For a crispier look, place in the broiler for a few minutes when finished cooking. Eat and enjoy!

Cuppycakes!

So I just knew the cake decor would come out sooner or later. The post title is a reference to Christmas Eve on Sesame Street- an unimaginable masterpiece really. Just ask my sister who experienced it for several years. Anyways, Rachel Judd baked the cupcakes and asked me if I would like to decorate them. They were for the RAs who just moved up into the hood, otherwise known as the buildings next door. I went a tinsy bit over board in sheer anticipation and planning.

Cupcakes #1: Pictured on the left. Chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and a semi-sweet garnish. Super duper easy peanut butter recipe, which will follow, from frostingrecipes.net. For the garnish I melted semi-sweet chocolate chips in a plastic bag. When it was nice and melted I snipped a little bit of the corner off and made the swirly designs on wax paper covered cookie sheet. They went in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. Peel, place, and tada!

Peanut Butter Frosting Recipe:

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
3 tbs. milk
2 cup confectioner's sugar

1. Add butter and peanut botter in a bowl.
2. Beat them well, with an electric mixer.
3. Slowly mix the sugar and add the milk when it gets thick.
4. Beat for 3-5 minutes or until ready.

Cupcake #2: Pictured on the right. Funfetti cupcake with store bought white frosting and topped with toasted coconut. I just colored the frosting to make it more festive. And toasted the coconut in broiler for about 7-10 minutes. Kind of cheating, but it was what I had time for.

*Note: Frosting is usually easiest to work with (i.e. piping) when it is chilled.

Your very own Soup and Salad Bar!

Alright...the long awaited first REAL post. It's real because it's about food and it actually has pictures of food, which by the way is my most frequent picture subject, not people. I can't eat people because that would be unethical and disgusting. Anyways, I made this for a friend of mine, Taylor Telford, and myself. The soup is Campbell's vegetable beef-I didn't have THAT much time.

Bagel: So yes, that is a bagel, a wheat bagel. I put cheese, Italian seasonings, and garlic powder on it before I shoved it in the broiler in the oven. Sounds interesting, but surprisingly good. (Side note: a few good spices are essential to cooking in general, but required in college. Italian seasoning and garlic powder are some of those. A little bit of flavor goes a llllllloooonnnnnngggg way.)

Salad: Pretty easy: baby spinach, carrots, ham lunch meat, and apples. All cut up and served with poppy seed dressing. Once again, surprisingly good. Poppy seed dressing is not essential, but delicious if you want to make a food investment. Next time instead of buying that bag of Twix for cramming, which doesn't really help you anyways, get some poppy seed dressing. Your body will thank you for it someday.

Cooking 101

Hello worldwide web! I just decided about twenty minutes ago I needed to start a blog for college cooking. It seemed like a good idea...time will tell if it REALLY was a good idea. My grades will also be a good indicator. I was inspired by a simple recipe my sister-in-law Lauri shared with me. College is challenging enough without eating unhealthy. I have always loved cooking and this gives me a chance to share it with the people I love and some I also don't know. Random posts about flowers, another love, and the chef herself may also make an occasional appearance. Well...here I go! Bon appetit!