Blogger & Cookbook Recipes I Tried This Month - January 2012

January was a very happy month for me. It was a month that provided a big breath of fresh air. A time to take a breather and relax. I've been giving myself the gift of time--time to do things for myself. It's wonderful. I'm rediscovering things about myself. I'm leaving time for hobbies new and old. I get more time with family and more quality time with my husband. I feel wonderfully balanced and fulfilled. I say this not because I wasn't doing these things before, I say it only because I feel it is a real focus for me now. Sometimes I think we are so laser-focused on work, deadlines and other goals that we forget about true leisure time and exploring a variety of activities that make us happy.

Would you believe me if I said I've only baked once this month? It's amazing how much focused, free time I've had since completing Tuesdays with Dorie. I miss the fun of TWD. But I love the extra time I have in my schedule for exercising, painting my nails, writing thank you notes, developing my own recipes, going out with friends, quilting, organizing my home, reading, ping pong, playing board games and much more! It's quite refreshing.

Like many of you, I made a list of specific items I wanted to accomplish in 2012. Among that list, was a focus on cooking...and cooking within my means, whether that be time or financial resources. I genuinely love being in the kitchen--I crave the creativity that I feel when I am making meals and the satisfaction from feeding my family. It's so fun to discover new flavors, techniques and recipes that will become staples in our home. This month I found myself delighted with many great recipes to try. Some are from food bloggers and others from cookbooks I own. Let's review them, shall we?  

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal by Two Peas and Their Pod 
I've made this recipe at least three times. It's warm and delicious. It's fantastic as is, but I've mixed it up and doubled the apples and tripled the cinnamon. Last time I made it I doubled the recipe and we enjoyed it all week long. It refrigerates well.

Toasted-Coconut Pecan Butter by Heather's Dish
This recipe was a revelation. On a week where I wasn't allowing myself sweets, it sure stepped up as a great substitute. (Yes, I understand it was full of fat and that my coconut was probably sweetened...but at least it wasn't a cupcake or gelato!) I had it by itself or with a sliced apple. I loved it cold, too.

Creamy Avocado Pasta Sauce by Two Peas and Their Pod
I talked about this Creamy Avocado Pasta Sauce recipe for days. I even persuaded like five friends and family members to make it within a week. It's crazy how quick it comes together (15 minutes, people) and it was so yummy. It made for a perfect Sunday lunch. I will be keeping avocados on hand now just for this recipe.

Roasted Fajita Chickpeas by Heather's Dish
These roasted chickpeas were a great afternoon or evening snack. I like the flavor of fajitas, though I think next time I make them I would make some seasoning adjustments that suite my preferences better. I do have to say I though, the baking time was right on par.

Bruleed Grapefruit by The Vintage Mixer
I'm always inspired by Becky's monthly local and seasonal produce list and recipes. I never buy enough grapefruits...and I have no idea why. We love grapefruit in our house. This 3 minute recipe was a good breakfast any day of the week. Plus, I love using real maple syrup.

West African Chicken & Peanut Stew with Chiles, Ginger and Green Onions by Kalyn's Kitchen
It's not everyday peanut butter is used in savory dishes, so I was excited to make this stew. I love ethnic flavors. It was particularly cold on the evening we enjoyed this...it was so warm and comfy and spoke to our souls. The green onions are a must-have. I served it over my recipe for pureed cauliflower...which I plan to share very soon!

Hambone and Bean Soup Mix Soup by Honey Baked Ham Company
We won a ham at a company party and with only two people in the house this recipe was the perfect solution to using up the rest of the meat and hambone. It was yummy and made SO much soup.

Grapefruit Poppy Seed Loaf by The Year in Food
This loaf cake was technically the only item I baked this month. That is nuts. For a girl who baked nearly 60 recipes from September to November, I sure got a break. I loved using grapefruit in baking, along with alternative ingredients like yogurt and olive oil and whole wheat flour. The result was delicious. It was a very delicious and subtle citrus treat.

Tuna Sandwich with Coconut and Cilantro by The Year in Food
This take on the tuna sandwich is enough to bring converts to the church of tuna. The flavors are complex, bright and at time buttery delicious. I loved how it allowed me to use up random ingredients in my fridge and pantry like capers, green onions, cilantro and flaked coconut.



Spicy Mexican Coleslaw with Lime and Cilantro by Kalyn's Kitchen
No picture here, but man this coleslaw was good. I think I ate half the recipe all by myself. Next time I make fish tacos I'm absolutely topping them with this coleslaw. 

Hachis Parmentier by Dorie Greenspan from Around My French Table Cookbook
I've had this French-style Shephard's Pie dish on my to-make list for nearly 2 years! I'll tell you what, it was worth the wait. You make your own beef broth (bouillon) and pair it with sausage and cubed steak for the filling. The topping is sinfully creamy mashed potatoes with heavy cream, whole milk, Gruyere and Parmesan. Man we loved this dish.

Fresh Ginger Ice Cream with Homemade Speculoos Cookies by David Lebovitz in The Perfect Scoop  
Confession: I actually made this in December. But I had to include it. I love ginger and it was so fun to make ginger ice cream. I think next time I'll double or triple the amount of ginger, as I would have liked to make it more prominent. If you make the recipe, be sure to make the speculoos cookies to mix in. They provide a nice spice and crunch to contrast the ginger ice cream.

Salmon Cakes by America's Test Kitchen in America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook
We were left with a bunch of salmon filet leftovers and turned them into salmon cakes. Holy cow delicious. I even opted out of pan-frying them and baked one. It turned out just as flavorful and much more healthy!

Oven-Roasted Home Fries by America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook
Perfect Long-Grain Brown Rice Cooking Method by America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook
Breakfast Sandwiches with Perfect Fried Eggs by America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook
This cookbook is a staple in our home. The recipes are tried and true and we have loved every single one we've tried! I highly recommend you get yourself a copy.

I love trying new things and I love putting my cookbooks to use. Afterall, why do we buy them anyway? I love the food blogging community. I love following other food blogs and trying out their recipes. I love how I can wake up one morning, not know what I'm making for dinner and then find an inspiring recipe on a blog and whip it up that night. On the other hand, say I've got a grapefruit that needs to be used up. I can search my favorite food blogs and find a recipe for that ingredient.

What did you make this month? I'd love any recommendations for February.

Peanut Butter & Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

I love peanut butter. And I have a very low tolerance for bananas. That is except when they are in the form of being frozen. And I have to add another qualifier to make bananas edible for my palate--they must be in a shake. Yesterday morning I made a delicious smoothie, shake or whatever you want to call these liquid breakfasts. I made my recipe for a Peanut Butter & Banana Oatmeal Smoothie.

Since my husband is the only one in our house that eats bananas fresh, we always have one or two bananas from bunch that need to be frozen. Needless to say, I have a plentiful supply of frozen bananas for protein shakes and smoothies. I love it--I get the health benefits of bananas, without actually having to eat them fresh.

Grandma Beda's Swedish Pancakes Recipe

God middag, friends! That's good afternoon in Swedish. It’s a special day on Project Domestication for two reasons: one I was interviewed on Danish Mamma’s blog about my love for all things Scandinavia and my Swedish blood. And two: because I am sharing a family recipe with you today for Swedish Pancakes.

My mother's grandparents came to Salt Lake City from Stockholm, Sweden. My grandparents grew up in Salt Lake City, my mother in Los Angeles and I here in the beautiful state of Utah. Through these generations, my family has preserved some of our Swedish heritage. Though I'm as American as apple pie, (and make a darned good one, if I do say so myself) I devour everything Scandinavian and feel connected to my ancestors through keeping Swedish traditions alive. One of my favorite ways to do so is through, you guessed it…food!

I love Swedish Pancakes. These light and delicate thin pancakes are wonderful. You could say they are a cousin to the French crepe, really a cross between the Western flapjack and traditional crepe. We serve them rolled on a plate and with lingonberry jam and a dusting of powdered sugar. (Though, if I’m being honest I should say it’s more of a dumping of powdered sugar for me. I did this as a kid and old habits die hard.)

Roasted Cinnamon-Agave Apples over Steel Cut Oats with Toasted Coconut

 

Oatmeal is one of my most favorite breakfasts. It doesn't matter if it's a weekday or weekend--I'm always up for a nice warm bowl of oats. I like to switch it up too, by making steel cut oats. If you've never tried steel cut oats, you are missing out! Steel cut oats have this amazing chew. They are actually from the inner portion of the oat kernel, called groats. Instead of being rolled they are cut by steel into two or three pieces. Pretty cool, ey?

Sometimes I treat myself by adding my Roasted Cinnamon-Agave Apples to steel cut oats. It the perfect topping for a warm, hearty breakfast full of wholesome, healthy ingredients. And to make it even better, I sprinkle on toasted coconut. It's insane how good this oatmeal is--I'd expect to order something this at a weekend brunch spot.

Studio DuArte - Gold Hoop Earrings

I don't own a lot of jewelry. But the jewelry I own, I absolutely adore.

This Christmas, my sweet husband bought me these large gold hoop earrings from Studio DuArte. It was a total surprise. I've wanted gold hoop earrings for years, and I've seen this particular pair a couple times at the Studio DuArte booth when we've visited New York in the winter. To my surprise, my husband bought them at the Bryant Park booth while I wasn't looking.

I love these earrings. They go with anything. I can dress them up or down. One of my favorite parts is the clasp, or the way you attach them on. Not sure what to call it? They are handmade, hammered, gold-filled large light hoops. The hoops are hammered on one side and approximately 2 1/2" in diameter and very light weight. Seriously, sometimes I forget I'm wearing them.

All Studio DuArte jewelry is designed and made in Brooklyn, New York and created by owner, M Cristina Duarte Veronese. You've got to check out all the jewelry on her site.

Podcasts to Love: America's Test Kitchen Radio

If you're interested in learning more about cooking techniques, equipment reviews, blind taste tests, the origins of recipes and hearing interesting stories about people who surround the world of food--then of course you should look to the folks of America's Test Kitchen. Today, I decided to download the America's Test Kitchen Radio podcast and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was entertained and educated--who am I kidding, I knew I'd love it. After listening to their first two episodes I was ready to make Lemon Icebox Cheesecake, not be so worried about only using fresh lemons in baking and read the book, Season to Taste.

If you are new to America's Test Kitchen here's a bit about them:
America's Test Kitchen is a real 2,500 square foot test kitchen located just outside of Boston that is home to more than three-dozen full-time cooks and product testers. Our mission is simple: to develop the absolute best recipes for all of your favorite foods. To do this, we test each recipe 30, 40, sometimes as many as 70 times, until we arrive at the combination of ingredients, technique, temperature, cooking time, and equipment that yields the best, most-foolproof recipe.

I am a huge fan of everything ATK puts out. I subscribe to Cook's Illustrated, love Cook's Country and have purchased way too many of their cookbooks! They also have a fantastic (and free) app for your iPhone and iPad. So download their podcast, it's free too.

Desk It Weekly Calendar & Meal Planning

Last night I finished my weekly meal plan. It's going to be a great week, ladies and gentlemen. When I was in NYC last month I discovered the perfect sticky calendar to put on my fridge for meal planning: the Desk it Weekly Calendar at the Museum of Modern Art store.

There is plenty of room to write your meals, side dishes and even some space if you want to include any activities or commitments you have going on each week. It works like a gem. Plus I'm just obsessed with its minimal design. I'm not one to normally stick something on my fridge, so if I do--you know it's going to look good.

Desk It Weekly Calendar
Museum of Modern Art Store (MoMA)
$8.95

And just in case you are wondering what's on our menu this week. I'll give you a little tease.
Hambone Soup (recipe & mix from Honey Baked Ham with modifications) with Field Green Salad
Ina Garten's Mustard-Roasted Fish with steamed sweet potatoes and green beans
Kaylyn's Kitchen West African Chicken Stew
Dorie Greenspan's Hachis Parmentier with Iceberg Salad

Utah Local Love: The Magic Potato at The Chocolate Dessert Cafe in Orem

It's been a great week. I've shown you my favorite spot in our kitchen right now, told you about the best men's facial product to scare away ingrown hairs and well, let's be honest...I'm still thinking about last week and all those doughnuts! (Note to self: never include ingrown hairs and doughnuts in the same sentence! Ew.)

Today I want to tell you about The Magic Potato. It's found at one of my very favorite local bakeries, The Chocolate Dessert Cafe in Orem.

Isn't it gorgeous? So what makes this Magic Potato so magical?

Well first off, it starts with a sweet potato. I go goo-goo for sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are one of my most favorite foods. I'm used to their savory side, minus that one Thanksgiving side, so this is a real treat to enjoy anytime of the year. The Magic Potato was actually inspired by the owner's favorite steakhouse side dish, but it's so much better and such a dessert. Okay, onward... Then enters the buttery, brown sugar and pecan-crust-slash-crumble. And to take this dessert over-the-top The Chocolate tops it off with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Now that's indulgence.

The Magic Potato encompasses what a dessert cafe should serve. It's a made-to-order, individual-sized dessert. You order it at the counter, then wander around the enchanting home-turned-cafe to find a cozy spot. Since The Magic Potato is made-to-order, you can expect about a 10-15 minute wait. But that's just more time to chat with a great friend, date or browse your iPad, phone or laptop (yes, they've got free wireless) until a cute counter girl or boy serves up that sinfully good sweet potato.

This is a must-try dessert in my book. It's warm and cozy and loaded with buttery, crunchy sweetness.  Give it a try this weekend. I'd say it is the perfect dessert to share, but let's be honest. I never share.

The Chocolate Dessert Cafe

Web: http://thechocolatedc.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thechoco
Twitter:http://twitter.com/TheChoco
Blog: http://www.thechocolatedc.com/blog/

Locations:

212 South State in Orem

9118 South Redwood Road in West Jordan

Hours: 

Monday – Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-11pm

If you want to read some of my other features on The Chocolate Dessert Cafe, visit my other blog, Utah Loves Cupcakes.

For Your Man: Ingrown Hair Night Cream by The Art of Shaving

Ingrown hairs. First thought: “Ew!” Second thought: “Ouch!” Third thought: “How on Earth does a man get rid of those nasty, hurtful ingrown hairs on his face?”

If you’ve got a tall, dark and handsome man in your life. Or just a man with a lot of hair on his face, chances are you know exactly what I’m talking about. Somehow the strain of the shave does this… Actually, I looked it up and ingrown hairs, also known as razor bump, happen when shaved hair gets trapped inside the follicle or grows back into the skin. Ouchy! If you care to get all doctor-ish—the term is Pseudofollicultis. Sounds serious!

Well, ladies. Today I have the answer for you and your man. It’s a glorious product made by The Art of Shaving folks appropriately titled “Ingrown Hair Night Cream.” And guess what it actually works.

I bought it for my husband this Christmas. (Perfect stocking stuffer, right?) He put it to use and no joke—two weeks later his ingrown hairs were gone. No way, you say? I say yes. It got to be all those high-quality ingredients at work. Here’s how this ingrown hair night cream works:

• Shea butter softens the skin, allowing ingrown hairs to break free.

• Jojoba oil moisturizes and helps unclog pores.

• White willow bark and meadowsweet extract, containing salicilin, gently exfoliate and release the trapped hair.

• Botanical extracts that are rich in fruit acids improve the look of the skin’s texture.

Seriously, it’s amazing. The difference is beyond belief. I highly recommend (read urge) you to check out The Art of Shaving and this legit ingrown hair night cream.  I first discovered them on a business trip to Phoenix. It was one of the coolest, specialized store for men I’ve been in. I instantly fell in love. So I bought my husband The Art of Shaving Starter Pack. He loved it and honestly had the best shave of his life. Plus, I think he felt cool for using a brush to lather on the shaving cream. I think it was his best shave yet.

When we traveled to San Francisco last June, I bought him a straight blade shave service at The Art of Shaving. It was so stinking cool. Plus it was on his bucket list to get a straight-blade shave, so more bonus points for this wife! Browse their Barber Spa menu.

Can you tell I’m a huge fan of The Art of Shaving?

And guess what? They’ve come to Utah! They are now at Fashion Place Mall. If you are looking for a special Valentine’s Day gift for your man, schedule him a straight blade shave (Royal Shave) or buy him some high-quality shaving products. He’ll love it. I promise.

One last tip: subscribe to The Art of Shaving on Facebook, Twitter or sign up for their email newsletter: The Brotherhood of Shaving. I’ve scored big time with free shipping and discounts. The price on these products are not cheap—as are most high-quality products.

Above the Fridge Love - Displaying Cake Stands and Such

Lately I've found myself admiring this lovely spot above our fridge.

When we remodeled our kitchen I knew I wanted both open and closed shelving throughout the kitchen--and I knew I wanted some above my fridge. But when all was said and done,  I was stumped on what to fill it with.

Finally, I just decided to give up on the idea "decorating" the spot and bit by bit filled it with everyday items that we already owned. So now I've got my all-purpose flour, old-fashioned oats, glass water bottles (from IKEA, you must get these as I love them!), a variety of cake stands, quazi-gravy boats and random dishes.

Somehow they all fit together perfectly and voila...it's a functional, decorated space. And I love it. It's so clean, crisp and useful. One of my biggest philosophies for decorating our home is making sure everything we purchase has a purpose or personal connection. I have the hardest time buying decorations for decorations sake...

So there you have it. My functional over-the-fridge storage space. :)

Utah Local Love: Provo Bakery

I guess I've got doughnuts on the mind this week. I seriously have no idea why. Maybe it's because the closest I've come to flour, butter or sugar this week is wearing my King Arthur Flour t-shirt while working out. Hum...could my subconscious desires be coming out in these posts?

Well, Wednesday I blogged about my trip to the Doughnut Plant in New York City and man, that Creme Brulee Doughnut was a gift! Today, we head back to my home state of Utah to Provo Bakery. In my mind it's home of the most delicious maple bar. I'm a sucker for a good maple bar. I hate to admit it but anytime someone brings doughnuts to a gathering, I pretty much box-out my friends to snag the maple bar. Seriously, why do people only put one or two maple bars in the box when they buy a dozen? Crazies.

But you know what? Provo Bakery makes so many more delicious doughnuts and bakery treats. Among those are those gooey-looking, upside-down muffins in the picture. I can't remember their official name but I believe it's something like sticky honey-bran muffins. I order them every time I go to Provo Bakery. I think I added the sticky--trust me, they are sticky. I'm also adore Provo Bakery's apple fritters, Venetian cookies and pumpkin-shaped-and-colored bread bowls. Of course, you're going to find lots of other types of doughnuts, muffins, muffin tops, cookies, danishes, breads, cupcakes, cookies, baklava and more!

Next time you are in Provo, head to Provo Bakery. Man, I want a doughnut!

Provo Bakery
190 East 100 North
Provo, Utah

(801) 375-8330

Hours:
Tue-Fri 7 am - 6 pm

Sat 7 am - 5 pm

Other posts you may like:

Doughnut Plant in New York City on Project Domestication

Decorate the Christmas Tree Doughnuts on Project Domestication

Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Holes on Two Peas and Their Pod

Potato Doughnuts and Egg Nog on Cafe Johnsonia

Mighty O's Donuts in Seattle on Stephmodo

Doughntus with Burnt Caramel and Sea Salt on White on Rice Couple

Travel Bug Becky: Doughnut Plant in NYC

I was lucky enough to visit New York City twice last year. I see each trip to the Big Apple as an adventure and a challenge. I try as much as possible to experience new things and venture out into each neighborhood.

My October visit keep pulling me to the Lower East Side—in the case of this blog post—for some of the best doughnuts I have ever tasted. The name of the place: Doughnut Plant.

Doughnut Plant doughnuts are made with the highest quality all-natural ingredients. There are no trans fat, no preservatives, no artificial flavorings and no eggs. Their glazes are made with seasonal, fresh fruit and fresh-roasted nuts. And let me tell you, folks--you can tell! Now that’s what I’m talking about when it comes to doughnut glaze.

The owner Mark Isreal has a great history with baking and has transformed his grandfather’s original recipe into one heckuva doughnut shop. You can read more about their history on the Doughnut Plant’s site.

 

The Doughnut Plant is one tiny little location, at least the area where customers can go and I like it. It’s cozy and fair warning---warm. The doughnut to human ratio is about a million to one, but don’t be too intimidated, remember you get to eat these things.

In instances like this I hate deciding what flavors I will try. So I said to myself, “Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the most delectable doughnut of all?” Okay, I’m lying. I pretty well new this--I did my research and many a recommendation touted the Crème Brulee doughnut above all else.

And they were right. Ridiculously right.

The Doughnut Plant’s crème brulee doughnut is a work of art. Hand-piped, homemade vanilla cream fills the tender doughnut. Then owner, Mark Isreal continues his magic by sugaring the top, then finally blowtorches it to burn the sugar into a stupor of crackly splendor.

And what better to enjoy a well-crafted doughnut with than my favorite New York milk from Ronnybrook Farms.

I knew I wouldn’t be back for a while. And even if I did happen to be returning for Christmas, what if I didn’t make it back? I had to try more flavors. And with a helpful counter boy, my girlfriend and I couldn’t resist nothing less than six doughnuts.

We both agreed the crème brulee was reason enough to venture to the LES…and we’d do it again if it meant we could feel the way we felt when indulging on this delicacy. We adored the vanilla bean glazed and the raspberry glazed types. I would order them again. We also tried the peanut butter banana, Valhrona chocolate and the last I can’t remember. Shoot!

Next time you are in New York City make sure you take a train to the Lower East Side to visit the Doughnut Plant. Bring cash, bring an appetite and above all else—order their Crème Brulee Doughnut.

Doughnut Plant

doughnutplant.com
Facebook.com/DoughnutPlantNYC

Twitter: @doughnutplantny

379 Grand Street (Essex Street)

New York City, New York

(212) 505-3700

 

The Best of Project Domestication 2011 - Top 10 Recipes

I will remember 2011 as a year of many things--but one thing is for sure--it was a great year.

Last year I left you with a Top 10 Domestic Happenings of 2010. I'll do the same this year, however as I wrote my list I had to shrug because many of those happenings were not blogged about. So many wonderful instances occurred in and out of my home: I visited New York City twice and had the time of my life, we bought our first home and remodeled our kitchen and more, I played with lots of new ingredients like black cocoa powder and fresh figs. My husband and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary in the beautiful city of San Francisco, I shoped online more than I ever have before, I contributed delectable recipes to a wonderful new online magazine, supported and enjoyed local Utah restaurants and businesses and I acheived the goal of finishing every single recipe in the baking cookbook of all cookbooks--Baking: From My Home to Yours.

Tonight, I will leave you with my Top 10 recipes of 2011. It's been hard to pick favorites, but somebody had to do it. Thank you all for a wonderful year! I look forward to 2012 and all it's deliciousness and domesticity.

Project Domestication Top 10 Favorite Recipes of 2011
(and in no particular order!)
1. Apple Coconut Family Cake
2. Our PreThanksgiving Dinner
3. Chocolate Pudding
4. Dressed-Up BLT Bar
5. Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
6. Pumpkin Stuffed with Everything Good
7. Grilled Corn on the Cob with Fresh Lime and Cotija Cheese
8. Brown Sugar Bundt Cake
9. Cocoa Buttermilk Birthday Cake
10. Pecan Honey Sticky Buns

Honorable Mentions:
Adam's Mini Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Caramel Pumpkin Pie
Rum-Drenched Vanilla Cakes

Salt and Pepper Shortbread Cookies
{Faux} Espresso Cheesecake Brownies
Irish Soda Bread
Golden Brioche Loaves
Flaky Apple Turnovers
Alsatian Apple Tart
My First Jelly Roll
Floating Islands
Ginger Jazzed Brownies