Happy Monday! My kitchen was closed this weekend, as we focused instead on some other projects around the house…
Hubba Bubba built Baby Girl’s crib…
- Archives
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October11th
Weekend Projects
Posted in: Home Decor, I Love My Husband, Life, My House is a Wreck, Projects
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October7th
How do you maintain your girlish figure?
Are you one of those regimented types who both works out and eats a proper rainbow’s worth of antioxidants every day, never veering off the path of dietary piety? (I am not sure those people really exist anyway, kind of like mythical creatures. At least I do not want to believe that those people really exist.)
Or are you one of those bastions of discipline, sampling and savoring just a tiny taste — a lone Oreo, a single strip of crispy bacon — and nothing more? (I don’t “get” you.)
Do you adhere to a healthy diet on most days and allow yourself the occasional cheat day?
Are you naturally rail-thin? One of those lucky stars who can eat whatever they want, not work out, and never gain an ounce? (Nobody likes you.)
Or, like me, do you work out just so you can eat everything you want and deny your palate (and linebacker-like appetite) nothing? Half a stick of butter on your baked potato… three scoops of Rocky Road… popcorn and candy at the movies? Hey, with those sprints you did, you earned it.
Being pregnant has afforded me the unique pleasure of being weighed at the doctor’s office every four weeks. (Har har.)
When I went in September, I had mysteriously added a whopping NINE pounds to my already impressive corpulence. I was only supposed to gain, like, four pounds. Oopsie.
Do you think that stopped me from shoving Tollhouse cookies down my gullet? Or housing Ben & Jerry’s? Or baking and subsequently, ahem, devouring pumpkin bread? Uh, do you know who you’re talking to?
No. It didn’t stop me. I took my extra nine pounds walking every day. And together, The Nine and I attended Bar Method classes almost daily. Nothing comes between me and my treats. I was like a mother who gets three jobs to support her children. Treats and I were staying together at all costs, even if it meant two workouts a day.
And you know what? It worked. At this month’s doctor appointment (a.k.a. THE WEIGH-IN), I had acquired a mere 2 pounds since last time. VICTORY IS MINE. And so is this deconstructed version of apple pie a la mode. With homemade caramel sauce. Booya!
HOT BUTTERED CINNAMON APPLES
1/2 stick unsalted butter
4 Granny Smith apples
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 C sugar
Pinch of saltPeel, core, and slice apples into bite-size pieces. Toss with lemon juice to prevent browning.
Melt butter in a pan over medium heat until hot and foamy. Add apples, cinnamon, and pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until apples begin to soften, about 7-8 minutes. Gradually stir in sugar (if serving apples as a side dish instead of a dessert — highly recommend with ham or pork, btw — you may want to use a little less sugar). Cook until apples get slightly syrupy and taste delicious when you sneak a bite.
PANKO GRANOLA
2 C oats
1 C panko breadcrumbs
1/2 C slivered almonds
1/4 C brown sugar
1/4 C maple syrup
3 T canola oil
1/4 t salt
2 T granulated sugar (optional)
Cinnamon to taste (optional)Preheat oven to 300. Combine oats, panko, almonds, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl or measuring cup, whisk together maple syrup, canola oil, and salt. Stir the maple mixture into the oat mixture until thoroughly combined. Spread onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil and lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 1 hour or until granola turns golden brown, stirring every 15 minutes. Taste post-baking. You may want to add the additional 2 T sugar and cinnamon. Up to you.
I adapted this from one of Alton’s recipes, if you want to check out the original. I adjusted according to what I had in the pantry. Also, my oven doesn’t go as low as his does, so I had to adjust that too.
CARAMEL SAUCE
1 C sugar
1/4 C water
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 C heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla
Pinch of saltPour sugar into a small, heavy saucepan and pour water evenly over it. Set on medium-high heat, swirling the saucepan by the handle until the sugar is dissolved. Avoid letting the syrup boil until the sugar is dissolved. Turn heat to high, cover the saucepan with a lid, and boil for 2 minutes. Uncover the saucepan and continue to boil until the syrup darkens. Keep swirling the saucepan by the handle until the syrup turns a deep amber color and just begins to smoke.
Remove from heat and, using tongs, gently lower butter pieces into the syrup. The syrup will boil up so be careful. Gently beat until the butter is incorporated. Stir in cream (again, it will boil up so be careful), then stir in vanilla and a pinch of salt. Be careful — it will be extremely hot throughout the entire process. The sauce will thicken as it cools. Serve warm or at room temperature.
xoxo,
P.S. You could use store-bought caramel sauce instead of homemade. And if you wanted to simplify even further, you could also use store-bought granola or shortbread cookies and only make the apples. A perfect week-night dessert!
P.P.S. Happy Birthday to brother-in-law Dan!
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October6th
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October5th
No recipes today because I’ve been a little under the weather. Nothing major — just some headachiness (is that a word?) and congestion — but since I had a whole pot of chili leftover from Sunday, there’s been no need to drag myself off the couch and into the kitchen. I’ve been neti potting, and Baby Girl has only been slightly restless with my lack of movement.
This morning, however, I had an email from my friend Amelia asking for a new book suggestion. So I thought I’d share with you a few books I’ve read lately.
