A Cook's Quest

During the warm summer months I am always trying to find new ways to make corn.  A few years ago I discovered this delicious fresh corn salad and a new way to make creamed corn .  Both dishes have been crowd favorites at family gatherings and potlucks. After seeing a post on Pinterest that instructed how to roast frozen corn in the oven, I decided to start experimenting. The final product was beyond tasty!  It was sweet, caramelized, and just a tiny bit spicy.  My family loved it, and I think it will be my new summer corn dish.  I can't say enough how much I loved it.  Honestly, I probably would have eaten most of it by myself if my family hadn't been around. Next time you need to make a side dish make this one.  ENJOY! Pan Roasted Corn Recipe Source: Jenn  1 tbl. olive oil 1 tbl. butter 3-4 ears of fresh corn, kernels removed from the ears 1/2 cup chopped red onion 1/4 tsp. salt a sprinkle of cayenne pepper (this is ...

It is time for another round of Secret Recipe Club recipes.  I love doing this every month, because it introduces me to blogs that I wouldn't otherwise see.  This month I was lucky enough to be assigned to Fantastical Sharing of Recipes written by Sarah.  What I love about this blog is that Sarah has a similar take on food as me.  She tries to cook at home and not from packaged meals, but she also cooks what her family loves.  Not everything is the healthiest but she is always trying new recipes and sharing them with her family. As I started going through her recipes, I found many that I wanted to make.  Her one pot spaghetti looks awesome, and has been pinned for future reference.  I almost went for the cheddar baked potato soup , but the weather here is just too warm for that.  So, finally, I settled on this chocolate chip coffee cake .  I love coffee cakes, and Sarah says "adores," it and it is super easy to make.  I didn'...

A while ago, my friend Ellie sent me this recipe to try. We used to work together in the same office before I left my job at that company.  At work we always talked food and shared recipes that we had tried.  When I started this blog she gave me ideas and was one of my first blog followers.  She was a huge supporter of me as I chased after my dreams of becoming a teacher.  I knew that when she sent me this recipe it had to be good, because her recipes always are. I tried it soon after she sent it to me.  I have made it many times since.  But, I never took the time to take pictures and type a post about it.  I knew that it had to be shared because it is the best baked french toast I have ever had.  Finally here I am sharing it with all of you. This recipe originates from the Pioneer Woman's website .  Now, there is another clue it's good. If the Pioneer Woman makes it, it is good!  The first time I made it, I followed the recipe ...

Hello everyone! I realized this morning that not only have I not been blogging much lately, but I have not blogged in a MONTH!  I "think" that life will be settling down now and I am excited.  Part of my New Year resolutions was to not forget about my little spot in blog land, and I just haven't done a very good job of that. Since graduating from EOU in December, I have been focused on family and substituting.  I was fortunate enough to do two long term sub jobs, one of which ended yesterday with the last day of school, and to be called in frequently when I wasn't long term subbing.  Two weeks ago I signed a contract for my own classroom, so I will be teaching 3rd grade next year!  It is satisfying to know that the risk of leaving a stable job in a completely different industry to finish my degree has now paid off.  I am blessed beyond belief and thankful to be offered a job when so many others are struggling to find one. With all that, I am getting b...

Well, another month has rolled around, and it is time for another round of the secret recipe club.  This month I was assigned a fun blog called, The More Than Occasional Baker  written by Ros.  Ros has a love for baked goodies, both sweet and savory, and enjoys participating in cooking challenges. I really enjoyed looking through the many different posts at The More Than Occasional Baker.  There is a wide variety of delicious recipes to choose from.  I was drawn to all 30 of the recipes made with  peanut butter   because it has been a while since I have tried anything new with the husband's favorite ingredient, but in the end practicality and time won out.  I chose these tasty Cheese, Tomato, and Herb Twists because I needed an easy and tasty side dish to serve with dinner one night.  I had all the ingredients on hand and was able to whip these babies out in no time flat. Honestly, I was a little worried about how these w...

As I have mentioned a time or two on this blog, I LOVE bread.   In the past, I have made all kinds of recipes from delicious orange rolls , to satisfying bread sticks and bread bowls for hearty soups .  But, my all time favorite way to eat homemade bread is in the form of toast. Now, I am not a toast snob.  I really love any kind of bread as toast.  Whenever I make a loaf of Oatmeal bread , or no knead bread I save a slice for a snack or breakfast.  Then I toast it up and cover it with butter...oh, it is so good!  A few days ago, as I was sprinkling said toast with some cinnamon and sugar, and I realized that I had never made cinnamon swirl bread.  That was about to change! I went on a quest to find a recipe.  Luckily,  I had one already pinned on my Breads page  on Pinterest.    It comes originally from Babble.com.  The author, Jaime, originally posted the white bread recipe on her blog, Sohpistamom , an...