KitchenOfKy

Seriously, what a crazy weekend I had - much of it in a good way.... but the catalyst for it all perhaps wasn't the best. First things first - my 21 Day Detox went right out the window. :( I am a bit disappointed with myself, but I can do it again another time. I had a weekend of endless eating. It started on Friday (It is Easter weekend, my dad's anniversary and another funeral this weekend) and only just wrapped up today - Easter Monday. My Uncle lost his brother last Sunday. It was sudden and very unexpected. Apart from being brothers - they were business partners, friends and neighbors. They farmed together their whole lives, lived a 2 minute walk from each other, they raised cattle and kids, looked to one another for advice and support and of course, spent a lot of hours having fun and probably sharing a few stories not meant for us. My Aunt, Uncle and cousins have been one of my strongest support networks over this past year, and my heart was hurting for them all we...

A while back, I asked for requests to give me some baking/cooking inspiration. I got but one (Well, now I have 2 - Faye... your peppermint patties are coming, I bought all the stuff for them)! My nana a.k.a Grandma requested Maple Walnut Muffins. So, this past weekend, I made the woman some Maple Walnut Muffins to fulfill her request and recognize her March birthday, albeit belated! Maple Walnut Muffins as found  here : 2 cups all purpose flour 1 tbsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup real maple syrup (not Aunt Jemima) 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 2 eggs 3/4 cup milk (I only had almond milk, it worked just fine!) 1/2 walnuts (please use more! there weren't enough!) 1.In one bowl, mix the flour, sugar and salt together. Set aside. 2. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Beat in the eggs and stir in the delicious maple syrup. 3. Alternate between adding the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture. Stir. It will seem really runny. ...

I'm pretty certain that when I get going in my small little kitchen, I start to look something like a mad scientist -hair goes everywhere, cheeks start getting flushed from a combination of excitement and heat being generated in the small space of my condo, I get focused and won't stop until I get just the perfect combination to make the perfect creation! Tonight's concoction - Turkey Chili & Cinnamon Buns!  ***Warning - A lot of sugar and butter is about to be consumed!*** Cinnamon Buns - adapted from here:    3/4 cup milk 1/4 cup butter or margarine 3 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1/2 tsp salt 8 gram package of self - rising yeast 1/4 cup white sugar 1/4 cup lukewarm water 1 egg 1 cup brown sugar, packed 1 tbsp cinnamon  1/2 cup butter or margarine 1 cup pecans Glaze/Sauce 3/4 butter or margarine 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 1. Heat milk in a pot until it bubbles, remove it from the heat and mix in 1/4 cup butter until melted. Set ...

Sundays are always so bittersweet - a day for relaxation but also signals the last day of the weekend for us 9-5ers. Today, my only need to do  was to run 13km. I haven't mentioned this yet, but I signed up for a half marathon. I know half of you (the 4 people that probably actually check this) are wondering why the heck I'd do that and the other half have probably already ran one! This 21.1km trek is something that I have mulled over for a number of years and I decided that 2012 is the year it is going to happen. Up until this point, I've run a few 10k races but have never ran more than 10k. Every time I ever ran a 10km race, it seemed that I took a couple months off before hand, showed up and then as I ran, remembered how terrible it was to run without training. I've made a pledge to myself to approach this one slightly different - ie. actually train. So far, so good! I ran through January to set up a decent base and started a training schedule a few weeks ago. The tr...

And it continued.... My grandpa is AWESOME . I seriously love that man. He's been eating Roger's Porridge mix since 1984. I am not kidding you. We discussed this on my last visit. He has been eating this mix everyday since 1984, and he even buys it in bulk and drives it down to Phoenix, AZ with him. I am not exaggerating, and not at all joking. He is 86 years old, still drives, still golfs and still gets goofy. That's proof that breakfast is the most important meal of the day . No effin' around. When I was in Safeway on one of my many shops, I walked by this epic porridge mix and couldn't leave it on the shelf. I took a bag home with me (I paid, don't worry). I've adapted the recipe that was on the back of the bag shown in the picture. These cookies aren't pretty and to be honest - I am not even sure how they taste baked. Side bar - I don't eat my own cooked products unless it's cooking. The baking doesn't interest me. Do I eat the unb...

So, when I posted last night, I thought that my baking for the weekend was over! I was SO wrong. After sitting in a classroom for the last 2 days, I guess I needed some expression of creativity! I cranked the tunes, pulled out the cook books and got down to work! First up! Pumpkin Oat Muffins adapted from  http://sweetandnatural.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/pumpkin-banana-oat-muffins My version: 1 can pumpkin (not the pie filling, we're talking straight up pumpkin) 1 cup of applesauce 1 tsp vanilla extract 3/4 cup flax meal 2/3 cup agave nectar 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup Rogers Porridge Mix (or oats of any type is fine, this is just what I had) 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon (also added nutmeg and cloves) 2 eggs Mix all of your wet ingredients together (I am sure you know the difference between wet and dry). Then, mix all of your dry ingredients together in a separate bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet on...

Seriously, peanut butter & chocolate... How can you go wrong!? You can't. It's impossible. I find myself researching all of the millions of ways that I can incorporate peanut butter into my baking....as well as my other guilty pleasure - Nutella. While this creation has left our friend Nutella out of the equation, it is a form of chocolate that I love to eat with a spoon out of the jar - straight up. Sometimes, I'll even have a spoon of peanut butter & then combine it with Nutella - bliss !! I first made this cake in August, on a whim, when I was bored & feeling creative. I gave the entire thing away but not without enjoying some of the ganache while I was baking it!  I borrowed the recipe from this website  http://dinnerwithjulie.com/2011/08/27/chocolate-peanut-butter-cake/  who adapted it from another great site  http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Cake-with-Cream-Cheese-and-Butterfinger-Frosting-231746 . So, wi...

For months I've been pouring over food blogs - it's become a borderline obsession of mine. If I find myself surfing the 'net, I will check Facebook, my gmail account, my work email account and between those food blog sites. I have a few "old reliables" if you will, but as I continue to harbor this need for blog sites, I've found that there are more and more and more people just like me (or arguably, I am just like them) that also LOVE food, cooking, baking, their kitchens, their cookbooks, sharing food and also, love food blogs. I've attempted this blog thing once before and ran out of material, but I've decided that rather sit back and envy those who have their very own grown up blog sites - I will try to attempt one myself. God knows I am cooking and baking in the kitchen enough that I do need one. Now, if only I could find a way to make this my day job.  In honor of Valentine's Day, I kicked off my weekend by making my old "go to" S...