A Cook's Quest

Hooray!  It is Secret Recipe Club time again.  This is such a fun group to be a part of.  My blogging has slowed down significantly over the last year, but I wouldn't miss one of these reveals! This month I was assigned to Cooking Whims by Megan.  She not only shares recipes, but fun food finds, and her life experiences.  I really enjoyed getting to know her and her family through her blog.  She says, "I am no chef, but I do love to cook and bake and photograph everything under the sun."  She likes to try new recipes and document them on the blog. When it came time to choose a recipe, I struggled to make just one for my post.  I pondered these  Homemade Oatmeal Granola Bars  because I have struggled to find a granola bar that I really, truly loved.  I also considered  Rosemary Roasted Chicken  and  Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Burgers .  But, I finally settled on these  Strawberry Cupcakes with Cream ...

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...

I love a good pasta salad, but I am also very picky about my pasta salads.  As a result I don't typically eat other people's salads, nor do I try new recipes.  I stick with what I know and love.  However, this month I stumbled on to this Orzo, Cranberry, and Apple Salad when I was assigned to Life and Kitchen for my Secret Recipe Club blog. Life and Kitchen   is run by Lindsey, a busy mom who enjoys cooking for her family and having fun.  She writes her blog for her daughter and family in a hopes that one day they will understand what day to day life was like growing up in their family.  Lindsey's most current posts don't have meat in them.  In 2012  she gave it up and no longer cooks with meat products.  But, that doesn't mean her recipes aren't super tasty! And, her older recipes do have meat so if that is what you are after you can find it on her blog.  I searched through her blog and found many recipes I was tem...

Today's recipe isn't technically a recipe, but it has become one of my favorite food treats.  I love that it gives me protein, but also tastes like dessert at the same time.  It is cheap, it is easy to make, is portable, and it can be changed to suit your tastes. I discovered this recipe on Pinterest , and have not changed it very much.  This version is my favorite, but I have made other additions such as white chocolate chips, strawberries  blueberries, and different flavors of yogurt.  You can really do anything you want with it.  ENJOY! Cookie Dough Greek Yogurt Recipe Source: The Suburban Girl Gone Country 1 small container Greek yogurt (I prefer vanilla flavor, but you can do use any flavor/brand you like) 1 healthy teaspoon peanut butter 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips a splash of vanilla (I really like vanilla) a dash of salt (because I like the sweet and salty combination) Combine and enjoy! ...

I am so excited to share this recipe with all of you today!  Why, you ask?  Well two reasons.  First, because today is Secret Recipe Club reveal day and I was assigned to an AMAZING blog and second, because the AMAZING blog is packed full of healthy, but delicious recipes. The recipe I am in love with is Baked Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries with Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce and it comes from Laura over at The Healthy Jalapeno .  Her blog is full of recipes that are made with fresh ingredients that are good for your body.  She says she has, "no special talents," but don't believe that because her food is awesome!  Every recipe she makes for her new hubby and herself looks tasty, with a capital T!   I first contemplated one of her many smoothie recipes  , because I am always in a rush in the mornings and need a filling, healthy breakfast.  Then I spent some time on her snacks page drooling over a ton of options for my wine book c...

I have been searching for years to find a sugar cookie that I love.  The problem is that everyone has their own preferences when it comes to cookies: crispy, soft, chewy, gooey, etc., which makes it hard to find the "perfect" recipe.  Your perfect is probably not the same as my perfect. When it comes to most cookies, I like them soft, but not so soft that they are underdone in the middle.  I have been using a recipe for years that had amazing flavor and stayed soft through the baking process; however, the high volume of eggs made the cookies very puffy and they didn't keep their shape very well.  I was ok with puffy cookies because they were just for me and my family, but once in a while I wanted a cookie that would hold the cutter shape better. This cookie does that! Thanks to the lovely world of Pinterest , I have finally found a cookie that meets my requirements.  This recipe comes from the blog Make Bake Celebrate and it is soft and still looks lik...

For the last few weeks my part of the world has been enduring freezing temperatures   By freezing I mean highs around 15 degrees Fahrenheit.  If anything says soup weather, these temperatures sure do! So, for this month's Secret Recipe Club I chose this   Light Cheddar Broccoli Soup  from I Am a Honey Bee .  I loved that Nicole, the blog's author writes a blog with recipes, restaurant reviews, and scrap booking posts.  It is creative and fun, and I loved checking in to see what new surprises might be posted. On to the soup! Not only was this soup warm on a cold winter's day, it was great to try a recipe for a family favorite that is lower in fat and calories, but full of a TON of flavor.  It was easy to make, and it took little time or effort.  I stayed to true to the recipe and didn't make any changes other than the type of low fat cheese I used. ENJOY! Lite Cheddar Broccoli Soup Recipe Source: I A...

Let me tell you a secret.  I didn't used to eat breakfast. I know, I know, it is the best meal of the day.  I always made sure my kids ate it every morning because I wanted them to have a good start, but I just couldn't find the time to eat it myself.  Instead, I would drink my soda and grab a snack about 11 a.m. to hold me over until lunch.   On the rare occasion when we made a big breakfast, or went out to eat breakfast, my go to meal was ham and eggs with hash browns and sourdough toast.  It was always wonderfully delicious and perfect in every way--at least in my opinion.  With my commitment to eating healthier this year, my ideal breakfast  ins't a good option anymore.  I know that I need protein in the mornings.  I have been eating a lot of hard boiled eggs and fruit, which gets a bit boring.  Insert this recipe for Baked Ham and Egg Cups , and the boring stops.  They have the flavors of my f...

I have been trying to write this post for quite a while.  With the New Year comes the tradition of making promises to yourself and others, making goals, and, essentially,  resetting parts of your life.  It is a start over point if you choose to take it. Every year I join others in creating goals for myself and my life. This annual tradition always sparks some anxiety in me because I want to do many great things, and I don't always have a plan for making them happen.  I held off sharing my ideas, hopes, and goals with anyone, blog land included, because I wanted to make sure that I was being realistic with myself and not setting myself up for failure.  When I was in banking I read a book about setting goals.  It explained how writing your goals was important, well here they are for me to look at, read, and reflect on throughout the year. There are three areas I want to focus on in 2013: My Health -   In 2013 I will make better food ch...