Category: cooking


Dec
2012

Symphony of smells – aka dinner

categories: cooking, erin is ...

11:40 a.m. Oh, I wish you could smell my house right now. I just finished prepping tonight’s supper for the crock pot and the aroma is DIVINE. We’re going to try this Smokey Roast recipe from Everyday Paleo* and probably these Barbecue Potatoes. (The potatoes have no barbecue seasoning, it’s just referring to an option for the cooking method.)

*I’ll freely admit that I don’t get the Paleo thing. My rudimentary understanding is you eat only foods or use methods of food prep that were available in Paleolithic times … and I’m even fuzzy on that. So when I see paleo brownies and paleo nutrition bars, I get a little skeptical. It does make it easier to search for food that doesn’t include “package of …” ingredients, though.

I guess you could say I’m “inspired by” this recipe instead of actually following it? I’m using the Penzey’s Spices Arizona Dreaming blend instead of making the suggested spice rub and it’s HEAVENLY. Ingredients: ancho chili pepper, black pepper, onion, garlic, paprika, spices, cumin, citric acid, Mexican oregano, cilantro, lemon peel, chipotle pepper, red pepper, jalapeño, cocoa, natural smoke flavoring. This is also known as some of my favorite spices and herbs all rolled up into one.

I’m not usually a big believer in the browning/searing before putting in the crock pot, but it does seem to make a difference with beef. Today it made a HUGE impact in the spices. I heated the dollops of coconut oil, seared the meat on each side, and heady scents exploded throughout the house.

We still have four more hours of this thing cooking …


Dec
2010

And yes … more baking!

categories: cooking, mommy

“Gee, Erin … how on earth have you not managed to lose the last of the baby weight? And the twelve pounds remaining from Seth?”

Gosh, I have no clue. Maybe it’s the extended breastfeeding, getting pregnant again, and now breastfeeding again. Maybe it’s the asthma that makes exercise much less fun. Maybe it has something to do with YET ANOTHER BAKING ADVENTURE tonight.

Just look at these … how could I resist?

Chocolate Cookies with Mint M&Ms
Mom’s Delicious Chocolate Cookies

My mom has a recipe – I forget where it’s originally from – that makes the best chocolate cookies ever. As well it should since there’s 1.25 cups of butter in these things. I decided I’d make them tonight so I could send some to my brother as a Christmas treat. Thus the mint Holiday M&Ms on top … quite a delicious addition. As I was mixing the batter, Seth asked, “Cimmanon?” So I added about 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon.

These are to die for, and incredibly easy. Since I’d like the rest of you to share my baby weight, here’s the recipe.

  • 1-1/4 c. butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 c. all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 2 c. sugar
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 3/4 c. cocoa
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 c. chopped nuts

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Blend well. Add dry ingredients and nuts. Bake at 350 for 8-9 minutes. Cool for one minute only, then move to rack.

If you’re going to add M&Ms to the top, do so right after you get them out of the oven. It makes it much easier to transfer the cookies … something about structural integrity, I’m sure.

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