No Tuesdays With Dorie Today, But Great News!

Sorry, folks. I didn't make creme brulee for today because I don't own a butane torch (I'm sure residence life would love that one!), a lot of TwDers were skeptical about the broiler method, and my ramekins are at home. However, I do have some important news concerning Tuesdays With Dorie. Because there are so many members joining constantly, the last day to join the group (ever?) is October 31. Then no more newbies will be accepted. If you were debating on joining, I would suggest you decide within the next month.

I do have some exciting news though! I entered a Healthy College Cookbook Recipe contest. So long ago that I thought I lost. Well, I received an email today, and three of my recipes were chosen! Sure, I only win $25, but I do get a copy of the book when it is published in March. They chose my peanut butter oatmeal, Thai-inspired beef and pasta, and chicken curry. Looking back on those old posts made me realize how horrible my photography skills were. I'm getting somewhat better with placement and lighting. I'll be sure to blog about the book when it comes out. I really should enter more recipe contests.

Contest at Baking Delights!

Want to win an autographed cookbook? Marye of Baking Delights is giving away five copies of Secret Suppers. I wouldn't mind having another cookbook :)

To read about the contest itself, please visit this post.

A Challenge I Have Neglected

Does anybody remember when I made my 100 foods to make list? Although I have been cooking new things, I haven't really been following my list. And some things I have made but never blogged about. So I decided to update my list and either link to what I have done or bold it. How is everyone's list coming along? Did anybody even make a list? I know Javagirlkt has.

For those of you who are not familiar with this, I decided back in March I was going to make a list of foods that I either have never made, have made but not in a long time, have made but screwed up *coughFUDGEcough* or have made but want to try a different recipe. So when you see common recipes like cream pie or chocolate cookie, I mean either a new recipe or a successful recipe (such as not having my cream pies be all runny - twice!).

If you want in on the action, feel free to create your own list and share with me. It can be 50 things, 100 things, whatever. My list is a lifetime goal. However, I know some people like to set goals for the year. You can be as broad (pie, cake, fish) or as specific (tiramisu, butternut soup, biscotti) as you want. There really are no rules, and everyone has a list, whether mentally or written out.

1. Baked Alaska
2. Yeast bread
3. Biscotti
4. Thumbprint cookies
5. Pizza dough (never blogged about it)
6. Pie crust (never blogged specifically about it)
7. Kabobs
8. Pound cake
9. Mango salsa
10. Chutney
11. General Tao’s chicken (I messed up the sauce because I forgot the sugar)
12. Donuts
13. Biscuits and gravy
14. Gumbo
15. Jambalaya
16. Clam chowder
17. Tiramisu
18. Baklava
19. Ice cream
20. Torrone
21. Paella
22. Flan
23. Homemade oreos
24. Bruschetta
25. Bolognese sauce (I made this two nights ago but I didn't have red wine, so I'm going to try this again)
26. Crepes
27. Fortune cookies
28. Irish soda bread
29. Potato farl
30. Ice cream cake
31. Homemade marshmallows
32. Fudge (I'm talking without marshmallow cream or evaporated milk)
33. Chocolate orange peels (haha FAIL! Not even close)
34. Homemade tootsie rolls
35. Homemade cow’s tails
36. Funnel cake
37. BBQ sauce
38. Hamburgers (still working on a blog-worthy recipe. I just randomly throw stuff together)
39. Milkshake
40. Hummus
41. Egg rolls
42. Pulled pork sandwiches
43. Stuffed chicken breast
44. Stuffed meatloaf
45. Homemade lemonade
46. Carrot cake
47. Cocktail
48. Homemade pocky
49. Bread bowl
50. Gingerbread house
51. Fondue
52. Omelet
53. Bread pudding
54. Peda
55. Samoas
56. Do-si-does
57. Thin Mints
58. Tagalongs
59. Soft pretzels
60. Angel food cake
61. Cinnamon rolls
62. Cheesecake
63. Filled cupcake
64. Peanut butter cups
65. Peanut brittle
66. Exotic meat
67. Fish
68. Cream pie
69. Brownie
70. Blondie
71. Drop cookie
72. Cut-out cookie
73. Non-chocolate cookie
74. Chocolate cookie
75. Veggie casserole
76. Beef casserole
77. Chicken casserole
78. Puff pastry
79. Stuffing
80. Vinaigrette
81. Pickled
82. Calzone
83. Bread machine
84. Egg
85. Caribbean
86. Éclairs
87. Dip
88. Seafood (I don't have a great picture, so I have to redo this recipe)
89. Truffles
90. Coffee cake
91. Tart (I need a tart pan first!)
92. Scone
93. Tortilla roll-ups
94. Italian wedding soup
95. Creamed soup
96. Custard
97. Ramekin
98. Granola bars
99. Rice Pudding
100. Stuffed French Toast

16 out of 100. I need to get moving.

See? I Eat Real Food In College...Sometimes

Back in August, I asked for some fish ideas. I was talking with Kim via email, and she showed me a recipe where you throw everything in foil and either grill, broil, or bake. I thought this would be very convenient for a college kid - throw everything together, throw in the oven while studying, and you have yourself a nice meal in one. Actually, I eat a lot so one packet definitely didn't fill me up, but the concept is still nice. Although this specific recipe isn't the one she gave me, Kim did inspire me to look up packet meal recipes.



One question though - I was supposed to remove the skin from salmon, correct? Like, it was already cut into fillets and bones removed, but one side still had the skin.

Mediterranean Salmon Fillet


Served with sugar snap peas

1 (6 ounce) salmon fillet
lemon pepper or lemon juice + black pepper (to taste)
salt (to taste)
dried dill (to taste)
2 Tbsp chopped tomatoes (drained if using canned)
2 Tbsp sliced ripe black olives
Crumbled feta cheese
2 Tbsp pine nuts (toasted optional)
1 piece heavy-duty aluminum foil

1. Rinse fillet well under cold water then pat completey dry using paper towels. Spray one side of foil with cooking spray. then place fillet in middle.

2. Sprinkle with lemon pepper, salt and dried dill. Then top with tomatoes, olives, feta, and pine nuts.

3. Fold the long sides of foil over the fillet then roll up the short sides to seal. Place packet seam sides up on a greased baking sheet. Bake 400F for about 20 minutes or until the fish flakes with a fork.

Source: Recipe Zaar

Tuesdays With Dorie - Dimply Plum Cake

Another Tuesday, another wonderful recipe. I don't eat plums very often. My dad, on the other hand, eats plums, peaches, and nectarines like candy. So it's not the abundance issue. It's just...I don't eat plums. When this week's recipe was Dimply Plum Cake, I knew I had to make it for my dad. I went home (again) this past weekend because I had tickets to see Colin Mocherie and Brad Sherwood. Since the city is closer to my house than my school, it made more sense to just go home.

This felt like the perfect fall cake. Instead of cardamon, I used cloves. I could definitely taste the cloves but it didn't overpower the cake. You could probably use nutmeg, cinnamon, or a combination of all three. I have no idea what cardamon tastes like, so I can't tell you if that was a close substitution. All I know is it tasted good!

The cake did get slightly soggy from the fruit, so it kinda fell apart when cut. Then again, I didn't remove it from the pan to cool, so that might have be my fault. Dorie gives all kinds of ingredient substitutions so you can enjoy this all year round. I want to try the peaches, lemon juice, and basil version.

Dimply Plum Cake




Thank you Michelle from Bake-En for picking this for September! For the recipe, please refer to p. 41 of Baking: From My Home To Yours or online at Bake-En.

I Need Those Garlic Entries!

Just a reminder that I'm this month's host for Weekend Cookbook Challenge. I only have two entries so far, so run to your kitchen and start cooking!

The theme I chose involves my favorite ingredient - garlic! I'm not talking about a pasta dish that happens to have two cloves of garlic. No, I'm talking about garlic being the main star, whether it's in the sauce, stuffing, whatever. And some of you may even be daring enough to make a garlic dessert.

How do you know if garlic is the main star? Chances are garlic will be in the title of the dish. Or make the dish and ask someone to smell your breath. If you are unsure, just ask. :)

So go to your cookbook collection, pick out a book, and start making those garlic dishes! If you can't use a cookbook for whatever reason, or you are struggling with finding a recipe, you may use a recipe from the internet.

Send your entries to mooseymoosecc[at]hotmail[dot]com with the following:

-Your Name
-Your Blog's Name
-Entry Link
-Picture (250x188 preferred. If you can't resize the picture, I have no problem resizing it for you)

I'll reply to each entry, so if you don't get an email after a week or two, please send it again or leave a comment on my blog.

Deadline is Tuesday, September 30.

Tuesdays With Dorie - Chocolate Chunkers

If you are a chocoholic, this is the cookie for you. Expensive? Yes, because you'll want to use the best chocolate available. I still have some left, but that's because they were hidden in the freezer. I strongly suggest adding the raisins because they complement the chocolate really well since there is so much of it. I also used walnuts for the nuts. I was pretty happy that these cookies didn't spread, although I highly recommend letting them cool on the trays for about 10 minutes before removing to the cooling rack. Otherwise, they will break.

Word of advice from other TwDers - do not refrigerate the cookie dough because it will be too hard to scoop. If you must chill them, scoop them into cookies first. Also, the baked cookies are very fragile. I took some in my purse Saturday night when I went to see Jeff Dunham, and somehow they got broken into tiny chunks.


Chocolate Chunkers




Thanks Claudia from Fool for Food for picking these cookies! You can find the recipe on p. 70 of Baking: From My Home To Yours or online at Claudia's blog.

Adopt A Blogger Event

I almost missed this round of Adopt A Blogger Event, hosted by the lovely Kristen of Dine and Dish. Actually, I did miss the sign-ups, and when I left a comment about missing it, Kristen informed me she had a surplus of newbies who needed a veteran blogger. Score!

I'm proud to introduce my adopted blogger - Lauren of I'll Eat You. Welcome to the foodie world! Lauren has been around since May 22, 2008. This is going to be one interesting relationship because she is from Philadelphia, and I am from Pittsburgh. We may be from the same state, but we are from two different worlds (go Steelers!). Oh the tension there will be when the Steelers play the Eagles haha

Rivals or not, we agree on food. She is a fellow Tuesdays With Dorie baker and does restaurant reviews. That will definitely come in handy if I ever make it to the city of brotherly love.

So please take a few minutes and visit Lauren's blog. If any veteran bloggers (been around 1 year or more) want to adopt a blog, Kristen needs a few more people.

EDIT - This just in! Lauren is not a fan of the Eagles. I love her already haha

Moosey's Tip #1

After I came home from grocery shopping today, I started thinking. Most college kids complain they don't have time or the capability to cook a nice meal. True, we are constantly running around doing homework, going to class, doing extra activities, working a job or two, etc. But what's the difference between a working college kid and a working parent? Working parents also run around doing work, raising families, doing extra activities, etc. So why can't the rules of menu planning and budgeting apply to a college kid's life?

So while I was putting the groceries away, I decided to share some tips periodically about how I manage to find time and money to cook. Even though these tips apply to me being in college, they can apply to anyone who leads a busy life and has to maintain a budget.

Moosey's Tip #1: When buying meats, buy the value packs. They are usually cheaper by the pound than buying smaller portions. Since they are pretty much thawed when you get home, take the time to cut the meat into enough portions for one meal. You can even take it one step further and cut the meat into strips or chunks. Wrap each portion in plastic wrap and place into a freezer bag. That way, when you are ready to cook, all you do is grab one portion and let it thaw. You don't have to worry about letting the entire meat thaw, cut what you need, and place the rest back in the freezer.

Tuesdays With Dorie - Chocolate Whopper Malted Drops

When Rachel of Confessions of a Tangerine Tart chose Dorie's Chocolate Whopper Malted Drops, I almost had a fit. I hate Whoppers, not because of the taste but because of the texture. They just hurt my teeth every time I eat them. My original plan was to skip this week's recipe, but I was told by fellow TwDers that the Whoppers soften up a bit in the cookie. I rethought my decision and decided to halve the recipe. I made these when I went home for Labor Day weekend because if they didn't turn out, my dad and brother could eat all the cookies. Not to say my roommates wouldn't eat them, but they actually watch what they eat, so I would still have a bunch leftover. I suppose I could have treated the communication department...

For those of you not familiar with Whoppers, they are malted milk balls. Some countries have a similar product called Maltesers.

Because I didn't want to pay $4 for a small thing of malted milk powder, I bought regular chocolate milk powder. Apparently, the recipe does not specify vanilla or chocolate powder, so the reviews were mixed. Using the chocolate powder makes the cookies extra chocolatey. Some bakers thought it was too much chocolate, so next time they would omit the chocolate chunks. It's really about personal preference. The cookies were very fudgey. I don't know about the others, but mine turned out to be ridiculously soft, but they still held together. I enjoy them best frozen as I do my homework.

When I was buying the Whoppers, I saw peanut butter and strawberry versions. Maybe I'll bake these again with the peanut butter Whoppers.

Chocolate Whopper Malted Drops




Recipe can be found on page 85 of Baking: From My Home To Yours or check out Rachel's blog.

Wanted: Garlic Entries!

Just a reminder that I'm this month's host for Weekend Cookbook Challenge.

The theme I chose involves my favorite ingredient - garlic! I'm not talking about a pasta dish that happens to have two cloves of garlic. No, I'm talking about garlic being the main star, whether it's in the sauce, stuffing, whatever. And some of you may even be daring enough to make a garlic dessert.

How do you know if garlic is the main star? Chances are garlic will be in the title of the dish. Or make the dish and ask someone to smell your breath. If you are unsure, just ask. :)

So go to your cookbook collection, pick out a book, and start making those garlic dishes! If you can't use a cookbook for whatever reason, or you are struggling with finding a recipe, you may use a recipe from the internet.

Send your entries to mooseymoosecc[at]hotmail[dot]com with the following:

-Your Name
-Your Blog's Name
-Entry Link
-Picture (250x188 preferred. If you can't resize the picture, I have no problem resizing it for you)

I'll reply to each entry, so if you don't get an email after a week or two, please send it again or leave a comment on my blog.

Deadline is Tuesday, September 30.

Great Summer Salsa

With the summer coming to an end, we foodies better take advantage of the crops, including corn on the cob. Before I went back to school, I made this salsa. Our grill broke at the house, so we've been using the George Foreman grill, but you can only do so much with it. So I decided instead of grilling the corn called for in this recipe, I was going to broil it. I forgot the brush the ears with melted butter before broiling, so that might've made a difference in taste (whoops!)

Sorry for the horrible picture. I didn't have time to stage it better because it kept going and going.


Grilled Corn on the Cob Salsa



2 corn on the cob, hulks and threads removed
2 Tbsp melted butter
4 tomatoes
6 scallions, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp olive oil
Tabasco sauce, as needed
Salt and pepper, as needed

1. Brush the corn with melted better and grill or broil for 20-30 minutes, turning occasionally until tender and brown. Once cool enough to handle, remove kernels by standing each cob upright and slicing down the length of the cob with a knife.

2. Plunge the tomatoes into boiling water for 30 seconds. Then immediately plunge into ice water. Peel the tomatoes (skins should peel easily) and finely dice the flesh. Mix diced tomatoes, corn kernals, scallions, and garlic in a bowl.

3. Stir together lemon juice, oil, Tabasco sauce, salt, and pepper. Pour over tomatoes and corn and mix well. Cover and let sit for 1-2 hours before serving. Serve with either nachoes or on top of chicken.

Source: 400 Sauces, 2006 p.83

Somebody Loves Me!

Aw, Nancy from The Dogs Eat The Crumbs has given me this award! Thanks so much! We discovered each other's blogs through Tuesdays With Dorie. I'm supposed to give this award to 10 blogs (!!!), so here goes:

Alwayz Bakin
Baking With Dynamite
Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice
Cooking in Cleveland
Eat Me, Delicious
Gulf Coast Gram
Megan's Cookin
Obsessed With Baking
Peanut Butter Boy
The Cookbook Junkie

Leftover Egg Whites No More!

Don't you hate it when a recipe calls for egg yolks and you have no clue what to do with the egg whites? I remember my friend saying a long time ago she made meringues and I should really give them a try. I knew what meringues were and that they involved egg whites, but I actually never had a meringue. I have made Dorie Greenspan's recipe twice this past summer - once following her recipe using almonds and again substituting walnuts and adding coconut. I prefer the almonds, but really it's up to preference.

If you are like my family and I and never had meringues, be prepared. The texture is weird, so I didn't like the way it felt on my teeth. But somewhere after the first few cookies, I changed my mind and now I crave them.

Cocoa Almond Meringues



These cookies were baked back in June. As much as I've been posting, I can't seem to catch up on my recipes haha You can find the recipe on page 155 of Dorie Greespan's book Baking: From My Home To Yours.

No Cake Mix Here!

This blog is officially Baked From Scratch. What does that mean? I don't use boxed or packaged mixes. Now, I believe I have posted a few recipes that were made with Bisquick because I wanted to use it up, and I used cookie mix once because it was sent for free to test out the winner for a contest. Other than that, when I say homemade, I truely mean homemade. In fact, besides the extra minute or two to measure ingredients, a homemade cake takes almost the same amount of time and effort as boxed cake. The difference is you know exactly what goes in the cake.

If you are also a Baked From Scratch blog, please join to let the world know there are bakers who don't cheat.

Tuesdays With Dorie - Chunky Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Chocolate Chipsters

Since I went home for the mini holiday break, I took advantage and baked the next two Tuesdays With Dorie challenges. This week's recipe was Dorie's Chunky Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Chocolate Chipsters. I was pretty excited because this is one of the first recipes that caught my eye when I first got the book. I cut the recipe in half because I was baking cookies all weekend. Then I froze half of those to snack on throughout the semester. A lot of the bakers (including myself) complained that there isn't enough peanut butter flavor. In fact, I tasted the cinnamon before the peanut butter. I love peanut butter cookies, so next time I'd increase the PB and cut back on the cinnamon. Some even used peanut butter chips. I found that mine spread a lot (because of the margarine, perhaps?), so I only baked 9 per tray.

They remind me of oatmeal raisin cookies but with peanut butter and chocolate chips instead of raisins.


Chunky Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Chocolate Chipsters




Thanks goes out to Stefany from Proceed with Caution for choosing this week's recipe. You can find the recipe on p. 73 of Baking: From My Home To Yours or online on Stefany's blog.

Hosting Weekend Cookbook Challenge - Again!

Because I had a lot of fun hosting my first Weekend Cookbook Challenge, I offered to host WCC for September. The theme I chose involves my favorite ingredient - garlic! I'm not talking about a pasta dish that happens to have two cloves of garlic. No, I'm talking about garlic being the main star, whether it's in the sauce, stuffing, whatever. And some of you may even be daring enough to make a garlic dessert.

How do you know if garlic is the main star? Chances are garlic will be in the title of the dish. Or make the dish and ask someone to smell your breath. If you are unsure, just ask. :)

So go to your cookbook collection, pick out a book, and start making those garlic dishes! If you can't use a cookbook for whatever reason, or you are struggling with finding a recipe, you may use a recipe from the internet.

Send your entries to mooseymoosecc[at]hotmail[dot]com with the following:

-Your Name
-Your Blog's Name
-Entry Link
-Picture (250x188 preferred. If you can't resize the picture, I have no problem resizing it for you)

I'll reply to each entry, so if you don't get an email after a week or two, please send it again or leave a comment on my blog.

Deadline is Tuesday, September 30.