I may not be the kitchen natural my sister, Rebekah, the chef is, but its not like that has ever stopped me from learning something new.
So I decided to try out some new recipes with all the new cooking appliances post-wedding. So why start with just one thing? I started the day with a new contraption: the Apple Baker, a small bowl that looks more like a ring dish than a cooking dish. It is a pottery piece from Mark of the Potter in Clarkesville, Georgia. They do amazing work, and there are several unique pieces for cooking. (www.markofthe potter.com)
First, I had to core the apple. It turns out that coring an apple is much easier with an apple corer utensil. I had a knife. It hurt my hands to push through, but it was worth it. Insert Apple Baker dish. I added some pure maple syrup, sugar, cinnamon and butter to the apple. I put it in the oven at 350 for 35 minutes. It smells soooo good.
My helpful husband tried to take the apple out of the oven, and he tipped it over! Some of the liquid spilled all over the bottem of the oven. Of course, when I questioned him about what happened, he sarcastically said "nothing" with a grin on his face. That's great; just one more thing i'm going to have to clean up. Oh well. That is what love is for. :)
I also decided it was time to utilize our new bread maker so cheese bread it is. I really believe I could be French except for the smoking; I could honestly live off of cheese, bread and wine. Man cannot live by bread alone; he also needs the cheese and wine. First step is to open the bread maker....I said open the bread maker....grrrr....Honey! Help! (Did you ever notice that all Southern women were married to, dating, working with, just meeting this Honey character?) It turns out that the handle on the bread maker is not helpful in opening said bread maker. "Honey" works his magic and finds an opening. I swear I was so much better at solving all of life's problems and all of my friend's problems prior to marriage. Now, I just find that Honey is an incredibly helpful person to have around. So I start measuring out the ingredients: the ricotta, the cheddar, tobasco, and flour.
Somehow, though details are still inconclusive, I managed to spill flour all over myself, the bread maker, the floor and the counter. I am told I let out a small yelp. "Honey" came in, looked at me & the mess, laughed and went back to work on his laptop. "Thanks. I got it, Honey." My first thought is I wonder how bad flour really is for dogs. My puppy is my favorite vacuum. It works out well for all parties involved really; she's happy, and I have less mess to clean up. Honey was not so cool with that plan so I was on my own digging flour out of the nooks and cranies after I undusted myself. I got everything together and threw it all in the bread baker.
As the bread is cooking my husband turned the TV onto the Food Channel for me. "What are you trying to do to me?" Honey says: "I just want you to help inspire you to be the next Paula." In this episode the husband was "being nice" by offering to bring her breakfast in bed... after she finished cooking it. "Um, yeah, nope!" I hope he doesn't start getting ideas like that. I still like my breakfast in bed, newlywed spoiling.
I like getting a few culinary ideas from the Food Network every once in awhile, but find that many food shows have gone the way of reality television: Its not reality! Most people don't have garnishes on their dishes at home, immediate access to all of the ingredients their little heart desires (not enough room in my pantry for that), someone else to clean up any mess during commercials or someone who preps all the pre-measured ingredients in cute little glass bowls ahead of time. Cooking is more of a trial and error accomplishment. Enter guinea pigs (i.e. my unsuspecting friends); love you guys!
So I decided to try out some new recipes with all the new cooking appliances post-wedding. So why start with just one thing? I started the day with a new contraption: the Apple Baker, a small bowl that looks more like a ring dish than a cooking dish. It is a pottery piece from Mark of the Potter in Clarkesville, Georgia. They do amazing work, and there are several unique pieces for cooking. (www.markofthe potter.com)
First, I had to core the apple. It turns out that coring an apple is much easier with an apple corer utensil. I had a knife. It hurt my hands to push through, but it was worth it. Insert Apple Baker dish. I added some pure maple syrup, sugar, cinnamon and butter to the apple. I put it in the oven at 350 for 35 minutes. It smells soooo good.
My helpful husband tried to take the apple out of the oven, and he tipped it over! Some of the liquid spilled all over the bottem of the oven. Of course, when I questioned him about what happened, he sarcastically said "nothing" with a grin on his face. That's great; just one more thing i'm going to have to clean up. Oh well. That is what love is for. :)
I also decided it was time to utilize our new bread maker so cheese bread it is. I really believe I could be French except for the smoking; I could honestly live off of cheese, bread and wine. Man cannot live by bread alone; he also needs the cheese and wine. First step is to open the bread maker....I said open the bread maker....grrrr....Honey! Help! (Did you ever notice that all Southern women were married to, dating, working with, just meeting this Honey character?) It turns out that the handle on the bread maker is not helpful in opening said bread maker. "Honey" works his magic and finds an opening. I swear I was so much better at solving all of life's problems and all of my friend's problems prior to marriage. Now, I just find that Honey is an incredibly helpful person to have around. So I start measuring out the ingredients: the ricotta, the cheddar, tobasco, and flour.
Somehow, though details are still inconclusive, I managed to spill flour all over myself, the bread maker, the floor and the counter. I am told I let out a small yelp. "Honey" came in, looked at me & the mess, laughed and went back to work on his laptop. "Thanks. I got it, Honey." My first thought is I wonder how bad flour really is for dogs. My puppy is my favorite vacuum. It works out well for all parties involved really; she's happy, and I have less mess to clean up. Honey was not so cool with that plan so I was on my own digging flour out of the nooks and cranies after I undusted myself. I got everything together and threw it all in the bread baker.
As the bread is cooking my husband turned the TV onto the Food Channel for me. "What are you trying to do to me?" Honey says: "I just want you to help inspire you to be the next Paula." In this episode the husband was "being nice" by offering to bring her breakfast in bed... after she finished cooking it. "Um, yeah, nope!" I hope he doesn't start getting ideas like that. I still like my breakfast in bed, newlywed spoiling.
I like getting a few culinary ideas from the Food Network every once in awhile, but find that many food shows have gone the way of reality television: Its not reality! Most people don't have garnishes on their dishes at home, immediate access to all of the ingredients their little heart desires (not enough room in my pantry for that), someone else to clean up any mess during commercials or someone who preps all the pre-measured ingredients in cute little glass bowls ahead of time. Cooking is more of a trial and error accomplishment. Enter guinea pigs (i.e. my unsuspecting friends); love you guys!
Personal observations
Baked apple was: The apple separated from its skin, but tastes delicious!
Cheese bread was: The cheese bread was a fail though. Apparently, when the instructions say include yeast or bread machine, they mean yeast and bread machine, I guess. The bread did not rise.
Honey rating
The baked apple was: Was very good. It was an interesting combination of sour and sweetness at the same time.
The cheese bread was: Even though the bread didn't rise correctly, the bread still actually tasted pretty good.
The baked apple was: Was very good. It was an interesting combination of sour and sweetness at the same time.
The cheese bread was: Even though the bread didn't rise correctly, the bread still actually tasted pretty good.
(P.S. I love being a food guinea pig.)
(Please note that Honey received the moniker "Vanilla" for a reason, and Honey rating on food may not accurately reflect true taste in food, but I still love him immensely.)
How enjoyable! Can't wait to try out "our" apple baker!
ReplyDelete