Saturday, November 13, 2010

Food Blog Friday: Everyday Chocolate Cake

Today's Food Blog Friday is from my favorite food blog - Smitten Kitchen. And the best part is - it's an adapted recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks, "At Home with Magnolia." This cookbook is written by the owner of Magnolia Bakery, in New York City. Made famous by Sex and the City, Magnolia has people waiting around the block for their cupcakes. My favorite is, of course, the Red Velvet. But today's recipe is a totally different beast.

Everyday Chocolate Cake is a one-pot adaptation of the cake from the Magnolia cookbook. Deb also does a great job of explaining what you need to do if you're using Dutch-process cocoa or regular old Hershey's cocoa powder (That's me!).

It's a really delicious, moist cake and for a chocolate lover like me to say that I actually enjoyed a cake that wasn't smothered in chocolate frosting or erupting with molten chocolate ganache, that's saying something!

Monday, November 8, 2010

How excited am I?

To own this book!
I just love the Barefoot Contessa. I really hope that Barefoot Bloggers lets me back in, but even if they don't - I am still going to cook my way through this  book. It's fabulous! The recipes I am most excited about are the Caesar Swordfish, weeknight bolognese, red velvet cupcakes, spaghetti and meatballs and -most of all - Jeffrey's Chicken. The one Ina cooks for Jeffrey every. single. friday. night. Those two are just the cutest. Yay, Ina!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Pretty lunch!

I got invited out to lunch. And boy am I excited to have a reason not to  put on my beloved, but rapidly wearing out, Lulu Lemon yoga pants!

So in honor of the occasion, I made a polyvore set of my dream work lunch outfit. I don't actually have all these items, but it's the inspiration, ya know? Can't wait!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Dinner Tonight.

Tonight I am going out for my first Beginner Level 3 Salsa class. Yes, I'm very advanced. It only took me approximately 3 months to go from Level 1 to Level 3. And I still have to work on my "following." That basically means I do whatever I have memorized as the next step regardless of what my partner is up to. Yikes!

Anyway, since I am going to be out from 7 - 8, I thought I'd put together a healthy meal to eat at home when I get back. So I am making this fabulous fish dish from Bon Appetit!


It is delicious. Buttery, with a great salty tang from the soy and lime and a delicious kick from the subtle heat of the raw ginger. It is also so. darn. easy. If you aren't a big fish eater, this is a great recipe to start with. Enjoy!

Missing Barefoot and Coq Au Vin

So I am the worst Barefoot Blogger. I got the boot! I got so distracted with the house this summer, I just totally dropped the ball. I am petitioning for reinstatement, but I don't blame them if they want nothing to do with this slacker :)

Anyway, since I've been missing Ina, I thought I'd make her Coq Au Vin recipe from the Barefoot Contessa "Back to Basics" cookbook. If you don't have this book, run to the store. It's so great - and it really does teach you to make very delicious, sophisticated meals with just a few thoughtful and fresh flavors.


I love Coq Au Vin. It was one of my grandfather's favorite dishes, and I remember him storming around the kitchen, dirtying a hundred spoons, bowls and pots trying to get this thing to come together. It was arduous. And the result was delicious. So how did mine turn out?


This picture really doesn't do it justice. It was fabulous. And yes, it's quicker than the original, but it's still a bit of an undertaking. There's browning, sauteeing, oven-braise time, and then you take it off the heat and stir in some flour/butter mash to thicken the sauce. Then you simmer it for 10 minutes, while making mushrooms sauteed in butter. Then you combine it all and devour it. And oh my is it ever worth the effort! Particularly, because Julia Child's recipe would require that I clone myself 5 times. And those clones would probably be like me and drink too much of the wine that's supposed to be in the stew and start eating the raw mushrooms and I'd have no food left.

So just go with the version, okay? You won't regret it.