Blueberry Ebelskivers

Inspired by the ebelskiver pan N got for Christmas from J's mom:

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/blueberry-filled-pancakes.html

Remade on:
01-19-2013 for John's birthday; used blueberries stuffed in raspberries as filling:

02-03-2013 for brunch w/the locals - tried a chocolate variety & salmon-dill

Simple Brownies

Brownies made from 100% cocoa chocolate:
http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2012/08/my-favorite-brownies/

We still like the cocoa brownies recipe best.

Shrimp & White Bean Salad

Quick weeknight meal:

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/shrimp-white-bean-salad-50400000125928/

We used spinach and arugula instead of chicories, dry thyme instead of fresh, and we skipped the zesting to make this meal more casual.  The shrimp was raw and fresh from Whole Foods.  The salad turned out great!

Orange mini muffins

From the O'Leary family cookbook:

 

Result:

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream

Made in Minnesota over Christmas vacation.  Fun use of beets.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/red-velvet-cupcakes-50400000123760/

Sweet Potato and Apple Latkes

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/health/sweet-potato-and-apple-latkes-recipes-for-health.html

These were a nice twist on latkes, but when we simply followed the recipe exactly as written, we ended up with something good, but perhaps a little too soft and crumbly for our liking. Putting them on a cookie sheet in the oven for 10-20 minutes didn't change things much, either. One observation was that we ended up with far fewer latkes than predicted by the recipe, which suggests that we should have made them smaller. Doing so may have led to firmer latkes.

Pumpkin Pie with Brown Sugar-Walnut Topping

We finally got around to using the pie pumpkin that was kicking around the fridge for about a month. We don't have a go-to pumpkin pie recipe, so tried a new one this time.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pumpkin-Pie-with-Brown-Sugar-Walnut-Topping-355849

The use of brown sugar and walnuts did lead to a pumpkin pie with a distinct flavor, but we found it a bit too sweet, particularly in the topping. Next time, we should use less sugar in both the filling and topping.

Remade on:
12-27-12using only 3/4 cup sugar for the entire pie

Papalote Hummus

We didn't have any lemon juice around, but were in possession of a whole jar of Papalote salsa.  Decided to make hummus based on it instead.

Ingredients:
1 can chickpeas
4 Tbsp tahini
4 Tbsp Papalote salsa
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 roasted garlic cloves
pinch of smoked paprika
salt

Prep:
Food process til smooth.

Pork Shoulder Stew

Inspired by an excess of peppers after a girls' campfire weekend.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pork-Stew-with-Sweet-Hot-Peppers-from-the-Abruzzo-351490

Remade on:
12/10/12 - Used less fennel seed than last time (it is unclear whether we used exactly the amount the recipe called for slightly less) and more rosemary. This made things better, we think.

Rosemary and Garlic-Roasted Pork Tenderloin

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/roasted-pork-tenderloin-50400000124499/

Paired with roasted Brussels sprouts and a "Warm Walnut Spinach Salad" that we didn't actually like all that much:

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/warm-walnut-spinach-salad-50400000124501/

Spicy Sausage and Chard Pasta

Dinner with Elliot in lieu of Loi.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/spicy-sausage-chard-pasta-50400000123762/

Paired with guacamole, steamed artichokes, baked feta, and toasted lavash.

Remade on:
2013-03-10 using homemade sausage spicing & ground pork from butchery class; posing next to our new wallpaper:

Local early fall bounty

1. Steamed white corn
2. Tomatoes with EVOO, fig balsamic and herbed feta
3. Brussels sprouts with bacon, roasted at 500°, then 400° when the smoke alarm went off (Result: slightly soggy; perhaps it would have been better to cook the bacon and sprouts separately. Also, to use oil with a higher smoke point.)

Quinoa Salad with Avocado and Peppers

Salad loosely inspired by other recipes and what was in the refrigerator.

Ingredients:
2 C Quinoa
1 can black beans

~3 peppers, some of them cooked, some of them not
2 Avocados
Cherry tomatoes
Early girl tomatoes
Parsley
Cilantro

Juice of 1 lemon and 1 lime

5 cloves garlic

Salt and pepper

Pinch of cumin

Extra virgin olive oil

Feta crumbles

Baked Feta and Guacamole

Casual gathering for eclipse (Sheelah, Melinda, David)

Good guacamole
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/chunky-guacamole-recipe/index.html
Remade on:
10-14-2012
05-28-2014 for our Bridal Party Party
06-04-2014
02-27-2015 for a game of Settlers w/E. & S.

Amazing baked feta
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roasted-Feta-with-Olives-and-Red-Peppers-109194
Remade on:
10-14-2012
01-13-2013
03-02-2013
12-20-2014

For dessert: Chocolate crackle cookies à la Alice Waters

Chocolate Crackle Cookies

From "The Art of Simple Food"
http://figsinmybelly.blogspot.com/2009/12/chocolate-crackle-cookies.html

Remade on:
5-20-2012

Best Cocoa Brownies

These have become our favorite brownies:

http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/01/best-cocoa-brownies/

Remade on:
2013-04-11 for Dan & Mary's wedding shower

Smoked Paprika Roast Chicken

Dinner with Loi:

Smoked paprika roast chicken - http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/smoked_paprika_roasted_chicken/
Accompanied by: Greek stuffed tomatoes

Red Wine Chocolate Cake

J cooks for N for V-Day: 

http://smittenkitchen.com/2011/09/red-wine-chocolate-cake/
 

Roast Pork Loin

J cooks for N for V-Day: 

Roast pork loin with garlic and rosemary
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roast-Pork-Loin-with-Garlic-and-Rosemary-101684

Accompanied by kale and chocolate cake.

Remade on:
01-21-2013
02-14-2013 Made pork shoulder w/Simon & Garfunkel herbs for V-Day

Herby Kale

J cooks for N for V-Day:

Kale, garlic, lemon, rosemary, reggiano cheese, mildly inspired by:
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/kale_with_sausage_and_white_beans/

Paired with roast pork loin and chocolate cake.

Remade on:
2013-04-14 with chard, w/o sausage
2013-06-02 with sausage, w/o stock

Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins

Orange chocolate chip muffins:
http://www.evilshenanigans.com/2011/01/orange-sour-cream-chocolate-chip-muffins/ 
- Used greek yogurt instead of sour cream

Chicken Kabuli

http://www.food.com/recipe/chicken-kabuli-murgh-kabuli-245052
Also on pg. 220 of our Indian cookbook.
Better made a day in advance.

Accompaniments -  Elliot's Dal.

Moroccan Spiced Salmon

Moroccan Spiced Salmon - http://leitesculinaria.com/67494/recipes-moroccan-spiced-salmon.html
Accompaniments - salad & Elliot style Brussels sprouts

New Year's Day Pasta Dinner

Portobello mushrooms, roasted red pepper, Trader Joe's marinara
Fresh pasta. 1/2 semolina, 1/2 regular. Fold in thirds so that pieces of dough are as wide as the pasta maker.
Brussels Sprouts: 500 degrees, EVOO, S&P, 10 mins.
Store bought chicken, Mitchell's Ice Cream
N.B. Elliot did most of the work