Forking Up

So, here's the recipe I wanted to get up here before the holidays, because it makes an excellent side dish or appetizer, and it's super easy to put together! Aside from the pimentos, I typically have all these things in the house, too.




Anyways. Pimento cheese was something totally new to me, as a New Englander. When I first tested this recipe, I simply threw in the ingredients I found on the Wikipedia page (yes, pimento spread has it's own Wikipedia page) and hoped for the best. It was tasty... but did it pass the test? I brought in the results to my coworkers and my desk-mate, a true Texan, said it was the best Pimento cheese he's ever had!


So I guess I did it right the first time ;)

As I said, this is the perfect appetizer for any gathering. Add a bit more mayo and cream cheese to make a dip, or a bit more cheese to make a cheeseball, or leave as-is for a spreadable cracker snack. The possibilities are truly endless!

Pimento Cheese Spread
(Adapted loosely from Wikipedia)

• 1 8oz bag sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 8oz bag colby jack cheese
• 1 oz brick cream cheese (I used neufchantel)
• 2/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 4oz jar pimento peppers, drained and diced
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced small
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp paprika

*keep a bit extra cheddar cheese on hand in case cheese mixture gets too soft*

-In a stand mixer fixed with a paddle attachment, combine all ingredients. Stir until well combined, adding more cheese or mayo to desired consistency (I like mine with a bit more cheese). Taste, adding more seasonings as desired

• 1.5 oz vodka
• .5 oz fresh lime juice
• .5 oz cranberry simple syrup (see below)
• 1/2 cup ginger beer
• ice
• lime wedge, for garnish

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup cranberries
• 1 tbsp orange zest

My new foodie obsession: Pho. It's one of those tastes that's just impossible to explain. Before I tried it, I had heard people sing the praises of Pho, but I didn't get it. How could mere chicken soup be SO GOOD? Then, upon moving to Austin, my friend took me to her favorite Pho spot.

I was hooked. Something about it--the veggies, the tender meat, the delicate noodles, or the flavor-packed broth--just works. It's one of those stick-to-your-ribs comfort food that's hard to beat.

So, days into the first bits of fall, a cold hit my nostrils. All I wanted was this sweet, spicy soup to kick the cold out of my nose. Some adjustments had to be made to make it tummy-friendly, like omitting the noodles, but overall this is pretty perfect. The spicy zing helped drain my sinuses while the hearty broth gave the protein and nutrients I needed to kick the cold.

And playing the part of the noodles in this sickness busting recipe? Zucchini strands!


Simply use a julienne peeler and peel the zucchini down to the seeds on all sides. Viola! Instant, paleo-approved, gluten-free noodles!

Paleo Pho

• 5 cups chicken broth (I made mine homemade: 1 whole chicken + 2 carrots + 4 celery stalks + 1 onion + 1 tsp peppercorns + 1 tsp salt + 2 bay leaves + enough water to cover it all, simmered until chicken was cooked through, strained and fat scooped off the top after chilling overnight)
• 3 whole star anise
• 1 knob fresh ginger, peeled and cut into chunks
• 3 garlic cloves
• 2 whole cloves
• 1/2 cinnamon stick
• 1/2 tsp. black peppercorns
• 1.5 cups cooked, chopped chicken (used chicken I pulled off the bird used in the broth)
• 1/2 cup diced mushrooms
• 1/2 cup kale, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 onion, sliced thin
• 1 jalapeno, sliced thin
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 zucchini, julienned
• 1 lime, wedged

-Start by simmering the broth for 30 minutes with the star anise, ginger, garlic, cloves, cinnamon, and peppercorns, until the broth is fragrant and flavors have intensified.

-Strain the broth, getting all the spices out, then return to medium heat.

-Add the mushrooms, kale, onion, jalapeno, and chicken. Cook for about ten minutes, letting veggies soften and flavors meld.

-Prepare serving bowls (4-6) by placing equal amounts of julienned zucchini in each bowl. Ladle soup into bowls and top with cilantro and lime.
 

I'd never in my life cooked a turkey before, and I was very excited to take on the process of making THE. PERFECT. TURKEY. I consulted the expert, Alton Brown, and some family know-how, and the results (as you can see) are pretty dang perfect!

Juicy, flavorful, and a good blend of new and old techniques. Crispy skin is KEY. I even made homemade gravy to smother it with. All in all, my first turkey was a success!


Tips: Don't stuff the turkey with stuffing! Cook stuffing separately to ensure a juicy bird. Save the giblets to make THE BEST GRAVY EVER (trust me!) Save the bones (and any veggie trimmings you have leftover) to make stock.


Fool-Proof  Turkey with Giblet Gravy

• 1 Turkey, about 12 lbs
• 1/2 cup kosher salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup apple cider
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 gallon chicken broth
• 1/2 gallon vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
• 1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
• 1 ginger knob, sliced
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 gallon of water

Aromatics

• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp allspice berries
• 1 apple, sliced in half
• 1 lemon, sliced in half
• 1 orange, cut in quarters
• 1 cup water

Herbed Butter

• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons herbs de provance
• 1 tablespoon truffle oil
• 1 tsp fleur de sel

For the gravy

• Neck and Giblets from the turkey
• Drippings from the cooked turkey
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup red wine
• 3 tbsp flour
• salt and pepper, to taste

Brine
-At least 24 hours before you plan on cooking your turkey, combine all of the brine ingredients in a large stock pot (big enough to hold your turkey!) stir well until salt is dissolved (it helps if the broth is a bit warm), and place the turkey in the pot.


Cooking
-Mix together the ingredients for the butter. Remove the turkey from the brine and pat dry.

-Use a sharp paring knife to make small cuts in the turkey skin. Use your finger to make space under the skin, and stuff the butter under the skin. Gently pat the turkey all over to evenly distribute the butter as much as possible.



-In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the aromatics and microwave on high for one minute. Drain off the water, and stuff the turkey cavity with the fruit.

-Set oven to 500, and roast the turkey for a half hour. Remove from the oven, and place tinfoil over the breast ONLY (spray the tinfoil with cooking spray). Reduce heat to 350 degrees F and roast for another two and a half hours, or until the internal temperature at the thickest part of the bird reads at least 160 degrees F.

Gravy
-Cover the neck and giblets with an inch of water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and let simmer for one hour.

-Drain the drippings into a pan, removing any burnt pieces, and set the heat to low. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk into a roux.

-Once the giblets are cooked through, tear the meat off the neck and chop up with the giblets. Save at least a cup of the water. Add the meat to the roux and stir in the wine and broth.

-Add some of the reserved water and whisk until desired thickness is reached.

Vanilla Bourbon Cupcakes with Peach Buttercream
(cupcake recipe adapted from Wonky Wonderful)
For the Cupcakes

• 11/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 stick butter
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (vanilla bourbon if you have it!)
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup bourbon

For the Glaze

• 1/2 cup each flavored bourbon (OR 1/4 cup bourbon + 1/4 cup peach nectar)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup agave nectar

For the Frosting
(note: there will be a LOT, reserve the extra to put on fruit)

• 1 stick butter, room temp
• 1/2 ripe peach
• 2 tsp peach vodka
• 2-4 cups confectioner's sugar

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

-In a medium bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients for cupcakes. Set aside.

I-n the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed, cream together the butter and brown sugar. Once light and fluffy, add the rest of the wet ingredients and mix until well combined.

-Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix together until there are no lumps. Fill cupcake wells (lined with liners or greased) 2/3 full.

-Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Place on a cooling rack.

-While cupcakes are baking, prepare glaze: mix together all glaze ingredients and simmer over high heat until reduced by half and syrupy.

-Use a fork to prick holes in the top of each cupcake. Pour glaze over warm cupcakes, about a tablespoon each. Let cool before frosting.

-While cupcakes are cooling, prepare frosting. In a stand mixer on high, mix the peach until it is pureed. Add butter and vodka, then slowly add the confectioner's sugar until desired consistency is reached.

Note: I ran out of sugar before the frosting was stiff enough to pipe, but the drippy frosting ended up looking fun and rustic and worked just fine.

There are two kinds of people in the world.

1. Those who get sick of the same ol' candy
2. Those who want ALL OF THE CANDY ALL OF THE TIME.

This solves both of their problems. It's basically like making candy out of candy, and it is the perfect way to eat ALL OF THE CANDY ALL OF THE TIME.


Plus, the pretzel-bark bottom ensures a bit of salt to cut all that sweet.

The recipe is really more of a series of suggestions, since it can be adjusted for anything you have on hand--or anything you steal out of your child or younger sibling's treat bag (I won't tell). You can even share the result with them!

This is also a great way to use up any leftover Halloween treats after the holiday. And it looks pretty neat, too!


Monster Mash Halloween Bark

• About 50 pretzel thins
• 1 12oz bag of white chocolate chips
• 12 Halloween Oreos, broken into fourths
• 1/2 cup candy corn
• 1/4 cup Halloween M&Ms (extra points: pumpkin spice!)
• 1/4 cup Reese's Pieces
• 1/8 cup peanuts
• 1/8 cup Halloween sprinkles

-Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and arrange the pretzel thins in a single layer so that they're touching.

-In a double boiler over low heat or in a microwave at half power, melt the chocolate chips until smooth.

-Pour half of the melted chocolate chips over the pretzel thins and use a spatula to smooth the surface.

-Drop the rest of the ingredients, minus the sprinkles, and press them lightly into the surface.

-Drizzle the rest of the melted chocolate over the top, and sprinkle the sprinkles over the top.

-Let set in the fridge for at least an hour, then break into chunks. Store in a cool, dry place in an airtight container.

Risotto is one of those dishes that people think is too complicated to try. After all, countless food shows have showed chefs foiled when they were assigned, or attempted, a risotto.

In reality? It's so easy. Yes, it's technical. Yes, it's time consuming. But if you can pour broth into a pot and stir, you're going to be just fine.

Simply keep an eye on the texture and diligently add more broth or wine until the rice goes from singular granules to a flowing, creamy consistency. No cream required!--but I do dollop some sour cream on top. Just because.

It's also one of the most versatile dishes--add some veggies to liven it up. Add a protein and you have a full meal. Plate it fancy and be super impressive. It's up to you!

I went with some seasonal flavors and the result was just fantastic. Feel free to use the base recipe (onions, rice, broth) and jazz it up how you wish. Let me know how it goes!

Pumpkin Risotto with Roasted Garlic

• 1 cup aroborio rice
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 2 cups chicken broth (use vegetable for vegetarian)
• 1/4 cup pureed pumpkin
• 1/4 cup onion, chopped
• 1 bulb garlic, roasted (cut top off garlic, drizzle with olive oil, bake in tinfoil at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until insides are soft)
• 1/4 cup grated parmsean cheese
• 1/4 cup frozen spinach (or 1 cup fresh)
• salt and pepper
• drizzle of oil + 1 tbsp butter

-Warm the oil and butter over medium heat, until melted. Add the onion and cook until just soft. Then, add the rice and stir until it has absorbed all the liquid.

-Add the wine and stir until the rice has absorbed all the liquid. Repeat with the broth, adding by the quarter cup until all liquid is absorbed.

-Stir in the pumpkin, roasted garlic, and spinach. Check the tenderness of the rice. If it is not done (should be soft, not hard or sticky, thick but does not hold shape) add more wine and broth in alternating batches, letting the liquid absorb each time.

-Add the cheese and salt and pepper, to taste. Serve.

It's the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEEEEAR!

I feel like people can be divided into two groups: Christmas people, and Halloween people.


Um, and I guess Nightmare Before Christmas People that incorporate both... so maybe three kinds of people.

I've already enjoyed my first PSL of the season. And am slowly accumulating various Pumpkin Spice treats to try. So of course, I was going to try my hand at some seasonal French Macarons. Spiced orange French macarons, to be exact.


While these don't actually have any pumpkin, they DO have a hefty shake of pumpkin spice. With the accompanying Spiced Orange Curd it's the perfect treat for when the air gets chilly and you need something cozy to munch on.

Bonus: the egg yolks you separate from the whites go into the orange curd! It's really quite perfect.

Don't get discouraged if they fail the first time--these cookies are VERY temperamental. The good news is that even if they don't LOOK like macarons, they'll still be tasty!


Spiced Orange Macarons with Spiced Orange Curd
(Adapted from Food Network's Recipe)

• 1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup almond flour
• 3 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp pumpkin spice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the orange curd

• 1 orange, zested and juiced
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp pumpkin spice
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter cut into pieces

-Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

-Sift together the confectioner's sugar, pumpkin spice, and almond flour.

-In a stand mixer on medium, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until frothy. Turn the speed to high, and slowly stream in the granulated sugar. Whip until stiff peaks form. Add the vanilla extract and mix until just incorporated.

-Add the almond flour mixture and fold into the egg whites until well combined. The perfect texture is described to be like "lava"--it should flow slowly off the spoon when pulled from the batter, and look shiny when at rest.

-Using a piping bag, pipe 2-3" diameter circles of the batter onto a cookie sheet fitted with parchment paper or a silpat. Smack the pan on a hard surface to remove bubbles, then let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.

-Bake for 20 minutes, until cookies are shiny and small "feet" form.

-While the cookies bake, prepare the orange curd: In a pan over low heat, mix together all ingredients and whisk constantly until thick, about 12 minutes. It will further thicken as it cools.

-Sandwich two macaron shells with a bit of curd

This is a sponsored post, in that I received complimentary product as well as the chance to win monetary prizes from BLENDABELLA. 

I have fond memories of enchiladas for dinner growing up in Western Massachusetts. Little did I know, authentic enchiladas did not use a condensed soup base (in fact, the recipe was on the back of a soup can!), and the real ones were actually way more flavorful and spicy!

Since moving to Austin, I've been educated in the complex tastes of this Tex-Mex favorite. Of course, I wanted to start making it in my home kitchen. I've played with the concept of an enchilada--tortilla wrapped around various meats and veggies, topped with a spicy sauce, and smothered in cheese. I can't say that my recipe is authentic, but it sure is flavorful!


So when BLENDABELLA reached out to me to create a recipe for their Blogger Challenge, I knew exactly how to feature their Zesty Mexican mushroom blend. Enchiladas are so versatile that this recipe can quite easily be adapted for any recipe. Swap out the tortillas for an almond flour or low carb version. Take away the beef and double up on the mushrooms. The flavor of the sauce is so great that you don't even NEED the cheese... but I can't resist.

You can follow BLENDABELLA by following these accounts:

• Website: http://blendabella.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLENDABELLA/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLENDABELLA?lang=en
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blendabella/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/blendabella/
• And you can purchase BLENDABELLA here! https://giorgio-foods.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage

Have you ever tried BLENDABELLA mushroom blends? Let me know in the comments!

• 1 jar BLENDABELLA Zesty Mexican mix
• 1 lb ground beef (omit if vegetarian, replace with a second jar of BLENDABELLA)
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 cup Mexican beer
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 beef broth cube, crushed (sub for vegetable cube if vegetarian)
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp habanero hot sauce (optional)
• 8 tortillas (I used low carb)
• 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
• salt and pepper, to taste
• sour cream and chives, to garnish

This is a recipe from my now-dead blog, Quarter Life (Crisis) Cuisine. The recipe may not be new, but it sure is good!

I don't care that it's still 100 degrees. Or that the seasons in Texas are just "hot" and "not as hot." It is September, school is back in session (I only know this because traffic is 100x worse now), and the Halloween decorations are popping up everywhere.

IT IS FALL.

I also don't care how "basic" that makes me. I can enjoy all the best bits of fall without winter being right around the corner? Great.

I can wear my Northface/leggings/Uggs combo when it gets chilly and it doesn't need to be covered by a head-to-toe parka? WONDERFUL.

I can still eat pumpkin and apple and spices all I dang well please? PERFECT. I will start with this Vegan Low Carb Pumpkin Sage Bisque!

This recipe was inspired by a favorite bakery back home (Second Street Bakery, if you're ever in the area) and I worked like a madwoman to try to recreate it. I think I did a pretty good job! I even made it VEGAN and LOW CARB. Woo!

Please note that the rosemary is NOT in the recipe. It was a last minute addition because Rosemary grows like MADNESS over here--HUGE bushes of it. I've never seen so much rosemary. It's pretty cool.

This is also accidentally vegan! So, yay!--if that's your thing. If it's not, then you'll still enjoy it. Promise. Substitute with cream if you really feel like it.

Pumpkin Sage Bisque

• 1 small sugar pumpkin (~2 lbs) peeled, seeded, and cooked through
• 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, diced
• 1 quart vegetable broth
• 3 leaves sage, chopped fine
• 1 tsp sriracha
• 1 can coconut cream
• pinch of nutmeg
• salt and pepper
• 1 tbs olive oil + 1 tbs margarine or butter substitute

-In a large saucepan, melt the butter and warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and garlic and cook until onions are translucent.

-Add the pumpkin, sage, nutmeg, and broth (you may need more or less, enough to cover the veggies by a little less than an inch) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for ten minutes.

-When carrots are tender, puree the soup with an immersion blender or in batches in a food processor. Add sriracha, salt, and pepper to taste.

-Add coconut cream, slowly, mixing constantly, until soup is at desired creaminess. Top with a dollop of condensed coconut cream or sour cream.
 

Every year, my husband and I find some reason to visit New Orleans. While we never have gone during the most popular time of year, Mardi Gras, there is still so much to do, see, and EAT in this incredible city.


I love my new city of Austin, but New Orleans is quickly finding a place in my heart as one of my very favorite cities. I hope to live here someday, but in the meantime I treasure these yearly trips.

Here are my suggestions for the BEST food in town!

Killer Poboys
219 Dauphine and 811 Conti (inside the Rose Bar), New Orleans, LA 


Poboys are one of those things you'll find EVERYWHERE in New Orleans, so it's hard to know where, exactly, the best ones will be. You won't be disappointed if you stop into Killer Poboys. It was suggested to me by multiple trusted sources, and it did not disappoint on the first and second visit, and it wasn't until much later that I realized my friend was close buddies with the owner! What I liked best about Killer Poboys was that there were options that weren't deep fried, but just as tasty. Definitely my go-to spot in the quarter for Poboys.