Crochet update :)

So Not only have I been busy cooking, but I have also been busy crocheting.  I have been working on the blanket for the BF and on mine occasionally (those have not been photographed), I made a baby hat that I forgot to take a pic of, a scarf-let for my mom, and slippers. I have pics of the slippers and the scarflet. 

They were both very easy to make, but for the slippers it is super important to use the proper sized needle and yarn. I was making the slippers for my mom's friend and ended up make three separate pairs because I used different yarn one time and the wrong needle the next time. This is the second pain with the too big hook. [Yes, I know how terribly pale my skin is...I am translucent as my friends say ;)] I got the pattern for the scarflet here and the slippers here. 

Do you crochet? If not be careful if you start- it is super addictive!

Happy crocheting!

Smashley

Leftovers re-vamped

Howdy all!

I don't know about you, but sometimes leftovers can be so blah. So why not make something new with them and make them ten times better? So that is what I did. We had some shish kabob and my mom and I needed a full dinner. So I got creative with some pasta and kabob. 

I sauteed some onion and garlic in EVOO with salt and pepper. Then I added in the kabob and some fresh cherry tomatoes cut in half and let them cook. Once everything was warm I added some white wine and a splash of half and half.  Finally at the end added in some fresh chopped rosemary, basil, and thyme. Before serving I  tossed in some spaghetti and cooked for a couple more minutes.  Whilst I was cooking, my mom made some garlic bread with crusty bread, butter, and chopped garlic. Every thing was great and pretty ;), except the cut of meat wasn't the best and was really tough...(some pieces were almost inedible lol).

What do you do in a pinch for dinner?

Happy eatings,

Smashley

Zucchini feast

Good morning!

I have a few posts I am going to do..lots of updates. So here is the first of I think at least 3 posts.

 One of my favorite parts of summer are the squash and zucchini. I know the best zucchinis are the small to medium ones, but when you grow them at home and don't go out every day, sometimes you get giant ones. Then you have a lot of food to make. I went a little crazy one night when I was left in charge of using a massive zucchini.  I made zucchini naan pesto pizza, grilled zucchini strips, and attempted to make baked "fried" zucchini. Everything was good, but my mom and I agreed hat the grilled strips were the best...they were also the easiest lol.

The pizza used garlic naan that I bought at an import store (but a pita would would also work fine), homemade pesto (we make so much right before the first frost and freeze it), EVOO, garlic, onion, tomatoes, rosemary, and of course zucchini and squash.

I first sauteed the veggies, garlic and onions until tender.  (next time it might be nice to use a little white wine...but I don't think we had any open at the time)

 After the veggies were tender and shrunken, I smeared the pesto on the naan, and topped with all of the veggies.

 Of course a pizza is not a pizza without cheese :D

 

I put the pizzas on the grill to melt the cheese. I did not put them directly on the grates, but put them on foil on top the grill. They cooked long enough the melt the cheese but I didn't want to burn the naan. 

 

Next I sliced the beast and tossed with EVOO, A&P, and some garlic powder. 

 I threw the slices on the grill on foil and let the grill do its magic. So easy and so tasty.

 

The last of the trip were the baked "fried" zucchini. I used Italian bread crumbs, seasoning salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning for the breading, and an egg and milk wash.

 I baked them at 400 till crispy...sorry I don't know the exact time.

Then enjoyed the feast. I made a sauce of (ok I know this sounds weird, but it was fab) mayo, ketchup, horseradish mustard, and my beloved Franks. YUM!

Hope the zucchini feast inspired for when you have some extra zucchini.  What is your fav summer veggie to eat/cook?

Happy eatings,

Smashley

New look

Hola amigos,

I was bored today and decided a change was needed. How do you like the new layout/background. I thought it was fun and cheery. Please give me your input!

Happy eatings,

Smashley

Fancy grilled cheese

Hello everyone,

Grilled cheese sandwiches are a great way to get rid of left overs (so is its Mexican cousins the quesadilla). Just about anything goes, I have heard of sandwiches with jelly, any kind of cheese, fruits, meat, just about anything. Like a blank canvas.  My lunch today came to me during my sun session. I was soaking up some sun this morning and saw our nice and big rosemary bush which made me think of our out of control basil plant around the corner. I couldn't help but want something with the fresh herbs. So I contemplated what to make. I knew we had some smoked, beer-can chicken my parents made this weekend. Originally I was thinking a salad, but then thought of the smoked horseradish cheddar cheese we had gotten in Wisconsin and the crusty bread on the counter. Light bulb! In a stroke of genius I thought of  this sandwich. 

The sandwich contains the crusty bread (buttered of course), a smear of horseradish brown mustard, the smoked horseradish cheddar, some regular cheddar, smoked chicken, and some freshly chopped rosemary and basil. It was a little messy to make, but super tasty. I made one of me and one for my dad. My dad's turned out nicer because I used two spatulas to flip and started at a lower heat to help melt the cheese a little. Next time I would use a George Foreman grill to get a more even toasting and less of a hassle flipping the sammy.

What is your fav grilled cheese?

Happy eating y'all!

Smashley

Flädlesuppe

Gross Gott!
So going along the lines of my previous post, I had to make one of my fav soups ever! It is a traditional soup made in the Baden-Württemberg by the Swabian. The soup consists of the pfannkuchen cut into strips and the put into broth and topped with chives. This soup always makes me feel soo good and is a total comfort when I am sick. I know it sounds weird to put cut up crepes in soup, but they are like a softer noodle. It is so good and simple. One of the first things I learned to make when I was a kid. LOVE IT!

As a side note, my dad made the drink next to the soup, it was water with some lemon slices and cut up fresh raspberries. Also pretty darn tasty.

Well, that is all for now,
Happy eatings!
Smashley

Cooking with my Oma

Guten Tag!! 

Today was my first installment of learning some of my grandmother's cooking. My mother's side is all German, so we made some German food. I learned how to make  her red cabbage and pfannkuchen (crepes). Good old German comfort food <3 

 Starting my red cabbage (next time I was told I have to cook the bacon then add the onions)

 Added the cabbage and seasoning

 After cooking down. YUM! we used a little too much vinegar and I needed to chop/fry my bacon a little more.

This was the begining of the pfannkuchen, all mixed and runny

  

One of my first to fry- a lot easier to cook than what I thought

 My plate full!!! not too bad for my first time :)

My next visit I will make her kartoffelsalat (potato salad). YUM! 

What is your fav comfort food you grew up on?

Prost!

Smashley