A Cook's Quest

I just sat down tonight and realized that I haven't posted a recipe since the Oatmeal Bread.  Honestly cooking has been the last thing I had time for this week.  It has become so bad, that my nine year old son is reading recipes and giving me suggestions for items he wants to see resting on the table.  They have all had to eat left over soup and, believe it or not, even fast food for dinner...not something that happens in this house very often. What is the cause for all this crazy talk of fast food and leftovers?  SCHOOL...and I'm not talking about the kids going to school after Spring Break, I'm talking about ME going to school.  Yes, for some reason I decided to add one more thing to my schedule and what better than 10 credits at the local college while working full time?  Maybe for some the idea of returning to college is absurd but  I have to admit, I have missed it and I can't wait to get on track. So, please...

Since starting this quest, I have developed a love of making my own bread.  Dinner rolls, bread sticks, biscuits,  cinnamon rolls...you name it, I want to make it. There is nothing that can replace the smell of bread baking, well eating it does, but in the smell category baking bread draws everyone in.  It is homey and comforting. When I smell bread baking, I am reminded of being a child watching my grandmothers make delicious breads for huge groups of people.  Grandma Doris, was famous for her cinnamon rolls and parker  house rolls.  Not one family gathering passed without one of these recipes being passed around the table.  Her hands moved so quickly that I couldn't quite figure out how she shaped the dough, all I knew is I wanted to eat them as soon as possible.  Grandma Betty was a restaurant owner, specifically a cafe, and she made the best breakfasts of anyone I know; included in those breakfasts was always, alwa...

Gnocchi (pronounced nyō'kē) is a recipe that I had never even considered preparing....ever.  I had a myriad of reasons, they look too time consuming, they must be hard to prepare, potatoes in pasta sounds weird, you get the idea.  But, after seeing gnocchi recipes on every good Italian site or in every good Italian cookbook I was finally convinced that maybe, just maybe, there was something to these little potato pastas.  I was waiting for the perfect day to try my hand at this new dish.  When my parents offered to take the kids for a few days over spring break I decided it was time.  Not only would I have the time with no interruptions to make the dish, but then my hubby and I could have a special dinner together when he got off of work.  So I stopped at the store after work and made the choice to put these gems in a cream sauce made with heavy cream (it's a special ocassion don't give me too much flack,) ham and peas.  I was hoping for aspar...

I just wanted to direct everyone to my side bar, directly above my profile.  I was asked to be featured by Key Ingredient , on their food blog describing my desire to make tasty food on a super tight budget.  Talk about surprised!  Having your blog "found" and noticed isn't an easy feat since there are about a million (give or take a few,) food blogs and websites on the internet.  The feature is located here if you would like to check it out. In case you haven't seen Key Ingredient before (there is a link on the side of my blog) it is a group of food bloggers that have posted their recipes.  On the site you can search by ingredient, save recipes and even post your own.  Go check it out sometime!

I love meatloaf, especially my Dad's and I love meatballs.  One day I realized that meatballs are essentially the same concoction of meat, filler and seasonings as meatloaf and I decided to take my favorite meatloaf recipe and put it into meatball form.  This recipe was born and it was quite simply a delicious idea; one that I am going to repeat with my Dad's recipe and others like it. Ok, so enough with my undying  love of meatballs.  This recipe is simple, fast and very kid friendly.  I love the smoky/salty flavor from the bacon paired with the sweet tangy flavor of the barbecue sauce.  Match it up with noodles, rice or your favorite potato dish for a quick weeknight meal.  Barbecue Bacon Meatballs Recipe Source: A Cook’s Quest 1-1½ pounds ground meat (beef or turkey work best) ¾ c quick oats ½ c milk 1 egg ¼-½ c grated onion 1 tsp salt 1 tsp garlic powder ½ tsp pepper 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 3 slices bacon fried and ...

There are many ways to cut costs on food, whether you are a single person or a large family. All it takes is a little bit of time, and a small amount of planning. Until I really started examining my family’s spending habits I didn’t understand how I could be spending so much money at the grocery store. Once I decided to utilize the resources around me, sales, coupons, and local vendors, I found out that saving money on food is not as hard as I thought it was. You don’t have to be a Coupon Queen or have vast supplies of food. I am a cook that has quite an array of stock piled ingredients, mostly whole foods like beans, pasta, rice, frozen veggies, canned veggies, sugar, flour, and proteins because I find that if I have those staples on hand along with fresh ingredients such as milk, eggs, veggies and fruit all the time, I can easily make a meal. What each Cook does is personal to their lifestyle, but below are some of the tricks I have learned. • Buy ingredients on sale and buy mult...

The last time I made my Barbecue Bacon Meatloaf (recipe to come soon), I decided to venture into the world of home made barbecue sauce.  I have never been able to find a store bought sauce that tasted the way I wanted my barbecue sauce to taste.  All the brands were too tangy, too spicy, too smoky, or just "too" something and I decided enough was enough.  I had been missing out on some great recipes because I couldn't find a sauce that I absolutely loved.  I came up with the brilliant plan to Google for a recipe.  Ok, that turned out to be an overwhelming experience!  There are about as many versions of barbecue sauce online as there are potato salad recipes in the United States.  Everyone, does something just a little different.  So I joined the crowd and made my own.  It is thick and sweet with a little kick and a slight tangy finish.  The thing about barbecue sauce is that there are many common ingredients, but the proportion and ...

I would bet money that there isn't a potato dish that I haven't loved.  You know what I adore about potatoes?  There are so many ways to prepare them so they never get boring and they are so inexpensive to make.  You can dice them, shred them and slice them; you can boil, bake, and my personal favorite method, fry them; you can add any variety of ingredients and 99.9999% of the time the result is something that is mouth wateringly delicious.  I am constantly on the lookout for potato recipes because potatoes are insanely cheap.  I usually go for a Russet or Yukon Gold because they are easy to find in the potato state that I reside and usually in my budget.  But, my favorite by far is a small red potato such as the Klondike Rose.  Red potatoes are low in starch which makes them perfect for boiling and roasting, not to mention the sweet flavor they have.  Pair a red potato up with a little salt, pepper and butter and I am in starch heave...

There are occassions that sometimes require really good food regardless of the price.  I have rules for these occassions, 1)I have to get at least a taste of the fabulous food, 2) Others eating the food have to really appreciate it so this usually excludes children (though mine love most of these dishes) and 3) The food has to include ingredients that I don't use everyday.  There aren't many occassions like this, but I thought my book club would be a perfect time for one such recipe. Once a month I get together with a group of women for a book club.  Like my really good food rules, there are a few book club rules, 1) Everyone brings food, 2) Everyone brings a drink of choice, and 3)No men or children. The result is easy conversation--sometimes about the book we read--a lot of laughter and most importantly relaxation from busy lives.  Often we start and end the evening gathered around the food; last night was no exception.  The...

If there is a bread heaven I am in it right now.  Oh. My. Gracious! These are the best rolls I have ever made or eaten (sorry Dad.)  They taste exactly like a perfect loaf of french bread, brown and crusty on the outside with a perfect chewy center, only miniature.  They are light and fluffy, tender and moist, and did I mention absolutely delicious.  Becase they are easy to make, with very few ingredients (no milk or eggs), and taste so heavenly I have found my go to roll recipe.   I really don't know what to say other than make them as soon as you can.  While you do that...I'm going to get another while they are still warm  :) French Bread Rolls Recipe Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe Yield: about 12 rolls ** Cooks Note-This recipe is easily doubled 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C) 1 tablespoon active dry yeast 2 tablespoons white sugar 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 teaspoon salt 4 cups all-purpose flour In a large b...

Have you ever experienced the smell of burnt peppermint? No, you say? Well if you wish to subject your sense of smell to this nauseating scent come on over to my house; I'm sure the odor will last for days! After the mint filling in these brownies oozed all over my oven and turned into a piles of blackened peppermint, there is no escaping the smell. I tried leaving for a while with B3 (my youngest) to let the house air out , but we returned to, yep you got it, the smell of burnt peppermint. Had the recipe been at least somewhat edible I wouldn't be so bothered by the persistant odor invading my home however, it is next to impossible to eat more than one bite of this dessert and not encounter the scorched pepperpint flavor. I had such high hopes for this brownie recipe; it combined two of my favorite flavors, chocolate and mint, and looked so elegant and pretty in the photo. Maybe this would become one of my "go to" recipes when I was requested to bring a dessert.....

You know how when you live with someone long enough it seems like you can read their thoughts? This morning my husband was standing in our pantry staring at the many boxes of cereal and I could just tell that maybe it shouldn't be a cereal morning.  When I offered up breakfast burritos he gratefully said, "yes, please!" These burritos are very common at many fast food restaraunts and you can easily pay a lot of money for them.  I love making them at home because I can make a big batch for breakfast and also make some for the freezer.  On busy mornings it is a snap to pull one out, pop it in the microwave and head out the door with a hot breakfast in hand.  Use whatever fillings your family likes and enjoy a portable hot breakfast! Easy Breakfast Burritos Recipe Source: A Cook's Quest, and many other cooks 1/2 pound sausage, diced ham, chorizo, or turkey sausage 1 small onion 6-10 eggs red, yellow, green or orange pepper flour tortillas cheese Brown you m...

Since starting this blog it has been my goal to try as many new recipes as possible.  Well, sadly I have been so busy that I have slacked in the new recipe department and done what most cooks do--cook what is familiar and easy.  My husband asked me why I didn't post some of our tried and true favorites, and I wondered the same thing.  So each week, along with the new recipes, I will post some of our favorites that make appearances regularly.  As always, I hope you enjoy them as much as my family does!

Even though Spring is finally arriving we still have some cold weather that reminds me how much I love cold weather food.  You know the stuff I'm talking about, hearty, rich, and tasty dishes that "stick to your ribs," and warm you from the inside out.  Last we had a few cold and rainy days and I decided that I had better take advantage of them and make at least one last cold weather dish.  After going through a few recipes I decided a chicken stew would be a perfect choice, only it needed a twist.  I saw a recipe on the Betty Crocker website that used Alfredo sauce with chicken and veggies to make a thick soup, the best part was that it was made in the crockpot--BINGO!  After simmering away all afternoon, a rich, cheesy, flavorful stew emerged that hit that cold weather spot.  It might be the last chance for cold weather food until next fall, but this definitely won't be the last time I make this simple stew!  Serve it with a simple green salad ...

As a self proclaimed bread lover , I am always happy to find a new recipe that I can easily make and that also tastes delicious with a multitude of other foods. These Divine Breadsticks from My Kitchen Café are my new favorite bread item. Yes, I know the Pizza Dough and Ciabatta Rolls were also declared favorites, but I just can’t help myself! Warm out of the oven they are a little crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Not to mention they are fast to prepare, less than an hour from start to finish and that includes rise time and baking time. If you aren’t comfortable making bread, try this recipe. Even without a stand mixer it would be an easy recipe to start with. Then try to stay out of them until it’s time to eat…it is extremely difficult! Divine Breadsticks Recipe Source: My Kitchen Cafe *Makes about 20-25 breadsticks, depending on how thick or thin you cut them 1 ½ cups warm water 1 tablespoon instant yeast (also known as rapid rise yeast) or 1 1/2 tablespoon...

 I recieved this e-mail that is bothering me a little bit. Dear Cook, I stumbled across this blog quite by accident and was intrigued by the concept you present.  The recipes look good, similar to what my family would prepare as far as ease, flavors etc.  But, I don't think you are completely honest about your total costs and thus it appears you are deliberately misleading readers into thinking that cooking this way is not expensive.  The ingredients in many of your recipes are not cheap.  Please, going forward, be honest about your costs so that real cooks, in real houses, with real budgets can shop at the store and use your recipes without going into sticker shock. It goes on for a bit about price comparisons etc. but I won't bore everone with that.  I just want to publicly set the record straight.  I do not tweak numbers and I do not lie about prices.  What I do though is shop in a way that allows me to spend $100-$200 per month for ...

Don't be fooled by the name, this "brownie" recipe is more of a bar cookie recipe.  I'm not saying these "brownies" are no good, because they are very very tasty, so tasty that both my husband and I were sneaking them for our breakfast this morning hoping the kids wouldn't catch us, but the texture is not that of a soft brownie.  It is firmer like a bar cookie, moist and delicious with dots of semi-sweet chocolate blended with the rich white chocolate base. Maybe I over baked the whole thing and that is why I ended up with a cookie instead of a brownie but I must say I am happy with the error and plan on making this next time I need to provide a "treat," for a get together. Black and White Brownies (Bars) Recipe Source: King Arthur Flour adapted slightly by A Cook's Quest 1 cup chopped white chocolate 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs 1 1/4 cups ...

Sure, it "looks" like an unassuming cookie as it sits on the plate, but it is not my friends.  This cookie is something else entirely.  I promise, if you like peanut butter you will love these cookies.  Oh, my heaven, they are so good--soft and chewy, with a warm chocolate gooey center and then a second surprise with the little kick of cinnamon.  I have mentioned before that my husband's favorite flavor combination is peanut butter and chocolate so I made these for him, but I will confess I ate about six of them before he got home.  This is a cookie that I could eat a lot of. Secret Promises Cookies Recipe Source: Adapted very slightly from Cookie Madness  by a Cook's Quest 1 1/4 cup all purpose unbleached flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 cup butter 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 cup smooth peanut butter 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 24-30 good quality chocolate candies that don't get too hard when col...

Rice-a-Roni, a San Francisco Treat!  You know the jingle, it began airing on TVs across the country in the late 1950's and may still be going to this day.  It promoted an easy rice side dish for families who needed something fast and easy to put on the table.  I grew up eating this stuff, and I must say I really do like it.  I remember standing next to my mom watching her brown the vermicelli or orzo in butter, then adding water and the little packet of seasonings then thinking it was going to be the most delicious meal ever. (I know, most kids don't get excited about rice a roni, but my love of food started very early.)  What I don't like is the ingredient list, I just get a little weirded out by ingredients that are listed as "natural flavorings," what is that supposed to mean? Or ingredients that are too hard for me to pronounce, if it sounds like a chemical used in a science lab should we really be ...

I have had many carrot cakes in my life. Most, I am sad to say were not good, not good at all. The biggest downfall is that many times they are dry or the flavors too over powering.  This carrot cake though,  is amazing and I am not afraid to say it out loud. It is uber moist and tender with a little bit of tang from the sour cream. There is just enough cinnamon and the perfect amount of carrots to make the eater wish they had asked for a bigger slice. I love that it also has pineapple in it to pair with the sweetness of the carrots, not to mention it can be mixed by hand in a matter of minutes. Fabulous, I tell you! Go make one now, you won’t be sorry. The Perfect Carrot Cake Recipe Source: Adapted by a Cook’s Quest from Rachel Ray Magazine 1 c flour 1 tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda ½ tsp ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling ¼ tsp salt 1 c brown sugar, packed ¼ c sour cream, divided ¼ c vegetable oil 1 egg 2 tsp pure vanilla 1 ½ c shredded ca...

I bet I had you all fooled didn't I?  I'm sure that by reading my past entries it appears that I all I cook with is butter, sugar, and all things bad.  Well, I hope you see with this recipe that we do eat a healthy balanced diet full of lean proteins, vegetables and whole grains.  Most recipes only get better with additions of butter and olive oil, however it is difficult to take the fat out of a meal and have it still taste good.  Turkey is a great way to get lean protein that is full of flavor because turkey will absorb any flavor you pair with it. Now I don't want to hear, "gross," or see your nose turn up as you read this.  Ground turkey is delicious and very easy to work with.  Make sure you buy the extra lean turkey that is made from turkey breast meat.  It is much lower in fat and calories than even extra lean ground beef, however if you buy the breast/dark meat blend it is still very low in calories and fat in comparison to beef. ...

Ok, this might sound strange to some who read this, but I had no clue what Ciabatta (prounounce Chee-bat-a) bread was until Jack In The Box added sandwiches made with it to their menu.  Now don't judge me, I just happen to live in a rural area that isn't known for it's culinary scene. Since trying my first fast food version of this delicious, chewy bread, some years ago I have seen it on the Food Network many times as a base for sandwiches.  Now the delima, where do I find it since there is no such thing as an Artisan bakery around here?  Well, of course, I turned to the internet so that I could learn to make my own. This recipe, is a little time consuming but EASY!  If you aren't comfortable making bread yourself yet this would be any easy way to start.  There is no hand kneading to worry about, no forming rolls or loafs, just measuring and watching the clock.  The final result is a slightly crispy exterior, with a very moist, chewy crumb on ...

I just want to say I'm sorry for the lack of new recipes this week.  I have been sick with strep throat so I'm not cooking at all.  I owe a HUGE thank you to my wonderful husband and my in laws for taking care of the kids while I have been sick.  Hopefully in a few days I will be feeling well enough to start cooking up a storm like I normally do.  Thanks for reading, and I promise to return as soon as I can with some great new recipes!! Oh, a P.S. My mother in law gave me a camera so there won't be anymore blurry camera phone pictures...woohoo!!

Many a Saturday night in high school I would spend the night with my friend Nikki.  On Sunday mornings we were expected in church regardless of the late hour we had stayed up the night before. Of course, being high school girls, we stayed up late doing silly things that only high school girls do and then we slept until the very last second with just enough time to get dressed and brush our teeth.  Since we didn't leave enough time for breakfast it could be a very long morning...that is until Nikki got her driver's license.  We learned from the older kids who attended the same church that there was just enough time between Sunday school and church services to make a run to a local grocery store that sold incredible, fresh, homemade doughnuts.  After a little bit of coaxing and pleading, her parents began allowing us to take the van and get our mid-morning Sunday snack.  Many of my adventures with Nikki were a little odd to those who weren't actually t...