My Favorite NEW Cookbook

I'm sure a lot of you visit the blog Our Best Bites. I have visited the site several times and drooled over the delcious looking food. I was even going to make one of their recipes when I discovered they were going to publish a cookbook. Now I realize that MOST of the recipes in the cookbook are also on the blog, but I am really a fan of a good cookbook--just ask my husband, he thinks I have some cookbook hoarding disease. So, I bought the cookbook three weeks ago.

Since then, I have made The World's Best Dinner Rolls (I'm not bragging--that's what they are called):

I then prepared their Cheesesteake Sandwiches. I am going to confess here that I thought that the flavor was going to fall short, so I generously added Montreal Steak Seasoning. A seasoning that can do no wrong on any meat as far as I'm concerned.

I then made their super delicious Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos. No picture, but they were soooo good that Ryanna--the resident cheese hater--LOVED them. I just dipped them in sour cream and salsa, but I hear they are good with the lime cilantro dip that is also found on their website.

I then had to try their Brazilian Lemonade--ever since my friend Koby made it and brought me enough to leave me in deep desire for a month or more. What better to wash down those taquitos with?

Sunday I pulled out all the stops and made their Pineapple and Ginger Flank Steak--which is not to be found on their blog--only in their cookbook apparently. We put the steak on top of their Coconut Rice (once again not found on the site, but in the cookbook) and for a side dish we did super yummy Carmelized Green Beans. Fresh green beans with red onion and bacon--can you ever go wrong with BACON?!?!?

And then Ryanna's birthday. What to do for her cake? I don't do cutely decorated cakes. It should probably be in my genes, but I don't go there. I happened to be flipping through this cookbook and saw a picture of their Chocolate Mousse Crunch Cake and Ryanna's eyes got really big and she said, "I want that for my birthday cake." (along with some chocolate ice cream with brownie bits because she is MY daughter)

Doesn't that cake look fancy and it's sooo easy--even making your own mousse is really not a big deal.

This week I took it a bit slower and only made a Pesto Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes recipe (yes, I made the pesto from scratch and it turned out delightful), but I can't find this recipe on their blog either. Although it is similar to their Creamy Pesto Pasta--it's not exactly that recipe. Apparently, you really do need to buy the book.

You think I'm done? I'm not even started. However, last night I did make their Orange Kissed Cookies and called it good. I'm making myself type this right now, so that I don't eat every single cookie that is left.

And you, what is your favorite recipe you've discovered from their blog?

Spice it Up!

I love to cook. I love to eat. Sounds like a Dr. Seuss book huh? My grandma is one of the best cooks I know. Seriously, the woman invents her own salad dressings and can cook anything and everything. She is a master gardener and grows the huge bulk of her own produce. Given her credentials and experience with cooking, when she told me that she thinks that Penzey's Spices are some of the best around, I had to see for myself.

About two years ago, she took me to one of their stores which is located in a strip mall in Scottsdale. If you've never been spice shopping, it's a lot of fun. In fact Penzey's in general is a lot of fun. They send out a free catalog that lists all of their spices, detailed descriptions of what each spice is good for and there are always free recipes as well. They also publish a cookbook magazine that comes out 6 times a year. Put that on my list of magazine subscriptions to get.

In the store, there are glass jars filled with each of the spices they sell, so that you can have a whiff. Trust me, if you've never smelled two different cinnamons next to each other, you wouldn't understand. I love cinnamon, so I bought the strongest one. I also bought some ground white pepper, Apple Pie spice (I put it in the waffle batter I made on Sunday and it gave them a little sweet kick which was yummy), taco seasoning, cocoa powder and got a free jar of their chili seasoning which is also good for meats in general.

I also have to applaud the company for their packaging. Both of the spices I've opened up are so packed full that some of the spice spilled out as soon as I opened them. You know how you open up a bag of potato chips and--surprise!--they're half missing. Not with this company. You get your money's worth for sure. Also, you can buy in much bigger quantities that those little jars that you get in a normal supermarket.

If you enjoy cooking at all, you should at least go to the site and request a free catalog. You won't be disappointed.

Cookie Exchange Extrodinaire

(Several of the dessert plates are hidden under other plates because we had so much!)

I had this great idea last week to get together some girlfriends and do a cookie exchange. I love to take plates of homemade goodies to friends, but it gets a bit overwhelming to think of making multiple desserts in large enough quantities and in a fast enough time that they are still moist. I had heard of this concept of exchanging Christmas sweetness before, but I had never participated--let alone thought of hosting the whole event.

Well, I went ahead and dove in and contacted a bunch of friends--there ended up being 8 of us total--and we got together this morning to divide the spoils. It was absolutely amazing to see that many cookies/treats all in one location.

The way I worked it was to have each woman bring a dozen of whatever she chose to make for each of the other women. So, there were 8 of us total, so I had to make 7 dozen of something to share with the other ladies. I chose to make Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwiches (homemade oreo with peppermint filling, dipping one corner in a chocolate glaze and rolling it in crushed peppermint candies--I know, I know--pretty gourmet--look for my TV show on the Food Network later this year).

(These are the mini cheesecake type desserts)

Well, the cookie I picked wins an award for smallest quantity ever for a recipe. I ended up doubling the batch FOUR times. That's right, if I would've done individual batches I would've made it 8 times!!! AND, that didn't make enough cookies either. I ended up supplementing with a shortbread type cookie called Cinnamon Coins.

The biggest problem with the whole exchange is that after seeing all of these scrumptious desserts, none of us want to give them out! I think a new tradition is born.

Featuring: Coconut Macaroons, Pecan Sandies, Peppermint Oreos, Cinnamon Coins, Nutter Butter Cookie Truffles, Ginger Crinkles, Fantastic Fudge, Cream Cheese Cups, Candied Pretzels & Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chippies!

I'll Make You [Chocolate] Pancakes, Pretend Like it's the Weekend...

Sunday is one of the few days that I involve the oven/stovetop in my breakfast preparations. I'm more of a night time cooker--for various reasons.

I actually love breakfast foods. I think they're best prepared on lazy weekends and for evening meals. I've heard there are people out there that don't fall victim to the spell of pancakes, waffles, hash browns, bacon, omelets, french toast, cinnamon toast, fresh orange juice, muffins in varying flavors and nutrition levels, flavored syrups, need I go on? Breakfast foods are the simplest preparation for the greatest satisfaction. I must not be the only person in love with this genre of food or we wouldn't see nearly so many Denny's, IHOP's or Waffle Houses dotting the country--and those are subpar at best.

This morning was going to be a pancake breakfast. Nothing too fancy, but my regular recipe was ruined by my own frequent use and some errant drips that stuck the recipe to another page and ripped the ingredient list to shreds. I don't like those Bisquick pancakes. They're such a poor imitation. Growing up my grandma never one time made me pancakes from a mix. She only does them from scratch and boy are they de-lish!

Since my regular recipe had gone the way of the Earth, I had to find another recipe. Enter the chocolate pancake recipe. It still has all the healthfulness that a regular pancake can provide (as my grandma would be quick to cite butter was a member of the dairy group and all-purpose flour as a member of the grain family). It just adds a little bit of cocoa to make chocolate pancakes!!!

My kids love pancakes and when I asked them if they'd like chocolate pancakes, it was a bit like asking them if they'd like me to take them to Disneyland. Owen started chanting, "Chocolate cake, chocolate cake, chocolate cake!" and I was left remembering the Bill Cosby routine where his children championed him with, "Dad is great! Give us the chocolate cake!"

I probably should've put raspberries, strawberries or a banana as a garnish, but I didn't. The kids were in heaven and Owen even requested a leftover pancake for lunch. Children after my own heart--obsessed with chocolate and sweets.

***Editor's Note: Is the lighting in that picture of Ryanna just awesome? (I have to point that out because my pictures always look so completely subpar next to so many of my amazing picture taking blogger friends. That's right and only 4.0 megapixels to work with.)

You're so smooth...

The cooking group in our ward did a whole night on berries. I was really excited to organize it because I wanted to learn about making jams and smoothies and see what other ideas women had.

It was delicious!!! I never eat before attending these cooking groups anymore because I always want to sample everything and just sampling leaves me stuffed--I think I'll go ahead and coin the term "The Costco Effect." Those of you who shop there will know exactly what I'm talking about.

I came home really inspired to jump on the homemade smoothie wagon. I am a HUGE fan of Jamba Juice, but it can definitely become an expensive habit...especially since my kids are addicted to the stuff from the womb.

Here's what I'm doing for mine (no exact measurements, 'cause with these ingredients, you can't get it wrong!):

Simply Orange orange juice (no from concentrate stuff 'cause I want to max out my vitamin intake)

Lime Sherbet (better for you than ice cream--no fat! and the flavor is great!)

Frozen Fruit mixture (mine has pineapple, mangos and strawberries--bought at Costco)

Frozen Raspberries (from my grandma's garden)

Honey (not much--a teaspoon)

Vanilla Yogurt

Turn the blender on liquify and in a minute you have a delicious treat that my family absolutely loves!!!