Sorry for the delay!

I'm so sorry for not updating this in sooo many months!!! There are so many things in life that take my attention away from this(and other things) that I can't even keep track of what is going on!

I got married on October 16th! It was a beautiful day and everything turned out perfect! Here are a few pictures!
My amazing family! Thank you all for being there! I love you guys!

Me and my husband!

I made upside down blackberry apple ginger bread cake. I got the recipe from this blog: http://www.eating-sf.com/2010/07/nectarine-raspberry-upside-down.html
But I switched the fruit to what was cheaper in October. It was soo yummy.


And I made individual marbled cheesecakes. I kind of put a couple recipes together to get what I wanted.....


I guess life has just thrown other things at me. I started working at a new job, and like it WAY better than my old one. It's a local grocery store. I work in the bakery area, And although I'm not actually doing any baking, just stocking and dating and stuff. But everyone is super friendly and it will work for the time being.

One of my friends took a web design class and asked if she could make me a website for my little business that I want to start! She did such a great job! It's not online yet, we will be figure that out in the next few months or so and working out all the kinks and such. Here's a direct link!
http://edison.seattlecentral.edu/~dpham004/web110/a7/aboutme.html

I think I will be doing my blog a little differently at times. I guess I find it hard to take pictures step-by-step. So instead maybe I will just put a picture of the finished project and maybe one or two other photos if possible!
Let me know how you like it!

Here's some Rye bread that I made today! It's a recipe from my grandma and I haven't made it in forever. It's soooo yummy. I really enjoy it!


2 C. Rye flour
1 C. Whole wheat flour
1 TBSP. Yeast
5 C. Unbleached white flour
1 1/2 TBSP salt
3 c. Warm water

Put the yeas in a small about of warm water. Add a little honey or sugar.
Mix flours and make a well for yeast. Put the yeast in the well and mix in a small amount of flour. Let rise.

Add water and salt and mix. Turn onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. About 7 minutes. Put into a greased bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled.
Shape into a loaf(I made a big and little one). Let rise 30-40 minutes.
Preheat oven(with a baking stone or an overturned baking sheet, and a pan filled with water) to 425*F. Score bread.
Bake 50 minutes(I took my little one out about 35-40 minutes)

Oatmeal Pancakes with Huckleberry Compote!

Well I finally found the pictures that I took when I made these yummy pancakes!(and they are pretty healthy too!!) Sorry for the lack of post. But I have a couple that I will put up today!

Pancakes:
1 cup Flour(can use white or whole wheat)
1/2 cup Wheat Germ
1/2 cup Rolled Oats (not instant)
1 TBLSP. Baking Powder
1 TBLSP Cinnamon
1 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp Allspice
1/4 cup White or Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
2 cups Milk
1 tsp Vanilla
1/3 cup Oil (I use half oil and half applesauce, or you can use all applesauce)

Sift all dry (except oats) into a large bowl.


In a smaller bowl whisk the eggs, milk and oil(applesauce) until well beaten. Add the oats and let sit about 10 minutes to soften.


Meanwhile, make the compote!
2 cups fresh or frozen Huckleberries(or any other berries)
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 TBLSP Cornstarch
1/2-1 tsp Lemon or Orange Zest

Add all ingredients to a saucepan and cook on med-low, stirring frequently until thick.


Now pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until just blended.




Heat a small skillet on medium/medium-high with a little butter. Pour enough batter(bout 1/2-1 cup) into the pan to cover the bottom.


You know it's time to flip it when it gets bubbles on top!


Use a spatula to slowly loosen the edges. And with a flick of the wrist, turn it around(Takes a lot of practice!)
Stack on a plate and keep warm in the oven until all pancakes are made.
Top with the lovely huckleberry compote and add a pretty flower.



Eat and enjoy!

Sushi!

Sadly I haven't updated anything lately. I have made some things and just don't feel like taking pictures or am just too tired! Also, the computer I am using from a friend doesn't like to work with the memory card from the camera.
I made oatmeal pancakes with huckleberry compote and took some pictures, but now I have to locate that memory card!

In other news, I have order business cards for my home baking business that I plan on starting. It is going to be called "Pixie's Pastry Parlor". I am excited to get it up and running. Although I still have a lot of work to do!

Well for this entry I made sushi!
(This is for the sushi rice, I cut it in half because a full recipe is a LOT of rice and a LOT of sushi)

2 cups short grain rice ( I found so bamboo rice at the store and it was green, so I tried that! It was good!)
2 cups water(plus more for rinsing)
1 TBLSP sugar
1 TBLSP Rice Vinegar
1 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt
Place rice in a bowl and rinse with cold water. Drain and repeat 2-3 times until water is clear.
Place 2 cups water and the rice into a pot and bring to a boil.

Once it starts boiling, turn heat to low and cover.
Simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and let stand covered for 10 minutes.
Combine the rice vinegar, sugar and salt in a small bowl and heat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds.
Transfer the rice into a large wooden or glass mixing bowl.
Add the vinegar mixture.
Fold thoroughly to combined and coat each grain of rice with the mixture.

Allow to cool at room temperature before using to make sushi.

For the veggies I am just using thinly sliced carrots and cucumbers. You can add other things like avocado, sprouts, tofu. Whatever you want.


Okay, now that you have the rice ready, you need to place a bamboo mat on the counter so it's like this!

I get my nori(seaweed) at Owajimaya.


Lay it on the sushi mat with the shiny side facing down.

Take a wooden spoon and spread some rice onto the nori. Make sure that it's even! Be sure to leave a little off the top edge so you can seal it.


Then, some vegetables about 1/4 of the way up the roll.


Start rolling it up. Keep it tight and straight.

As you roll the sushi the top of the mat should be perpendicular to the bottom half.


Once your to the end, lightly roll and press the end of the nori so that it sticks!


Now you have a sushi roll!




Now take a sharp knife and rub a little oil on it. Slice the ends off of the roll(and eat them as a snack).
Slice the roll into about 1" pieces.



Serve with soy sauce and wasabi for dipping!
Eat and enjoy!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies!

I wanted to make some cookies today because I haven't made any in awhile. I also didn't want to go to the store so I used what I already had at home. I took some better photos today because I figured out if I clear off the little side table in the living room I can catch some natural light and have better looking pictures. I just got to keep practicing!

This recipe is doubled. I wanted to make enough cookies. They always go so fast! Made about 3 1/2 dozen.

1 C. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 C. Peanut Butter (chunky or smooth)
1 C. Sugar
1 C. Brown Sugar, packed
2 Eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla
1 3/4 C. Flour
3/4 C. Oats
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 1/2 C. Chocolate chips (I only had 1 cup, but that's okay)
1/2 C. Crushed Peanuts

Preheat the oven to 375* F.

Cream butter and sugars for about 2 minutes.


Add the peanut butter and beat until light. Scrape the bowl a few times.


While that is mixing, sift the dry ingredients into a bowl and add in the oats. Stir.



Once the butter and sugar is fluffy, add the eggs and vanilla.

Beat until blended. Making sure to scrap the bowl.


Add the flour to the mixture and mix only until blended.
Add the nuts and chocolate.


Just run the mixer about 15 seconds, just enough to mix.


You can use an ice cream scoop to scoop the cookies(mine was a little too big).


So I ended up just using a teaspoon, that made cute smaller ones.


Bake 10-12 minutes. You want the middles to be a little light in color and the sides a golden brown, cookies will cook a touch longer on the pan before to take them off to cool.


After about two minutes to cool on the pan, take them off the pan with a spatula and let finish cooling on a wire rack.

Try not to eat too many at once, you'll get a tummy ache.

Eat and Enjoy.

Awesome Oatmeal!

Today is my day off, and it's rainy and gray out. It's the perfect weather for oatmeal!
Oatmeal doesn't have to be mushy and sticky and gross! I add lots of treats to my oatmeal that are healthy and delicious! Here's how!

1/2 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
1-2 Tblsp. Brown Sugar
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Cup Raisins(or any dried fruit)
1/8-1/4 Cup Nuts(I used walnuts, pecans are awesome and so are Almonds!)
1/2 of a Banana(or apple, or pear!)

In a small sauce pan add everything except the oats. Heat on Low-Med until almost boiling.
Make sure to stir often so it doesn't burn and curdle, YUCK!


Add the oats and cook and stir frequently for about 8-10 minutes.


Put into a bowl and top with a bit of brown sugar and milk.


Eat and enjoy!

Cheesy noodles! A.K.A Mac and Cheese.

A girl at work brought in mac and cheese from the deli across the street for her lunch today that really made me crave mac and cheese for dinner tonight. But not the boxed kind!
So I made some delicious cheesy noodles in about 20 minutes and scarfed it down in about 5.

2 Tblsp. Butter
1/4 c. flour
1/2 small-medium onion, chopped
1-5 cloves garlic, minced(depending how much garlic you like, I love it)
Salt and pepper to taste
about 8-10 oz. dried pasta shapes(I used a mismatched mixed combo, whole wheat and regular flour)
3 1/2- 4 C. Milk
1/8tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1- 1 1/2 C. shredded cheese. Sharp cheddar, pepper jack, white cheddar, Gruyère, swiss, whatever you'd like.

Boil some water in a large pot and cook the noodles al dante. I like to add some broccoli and peas or other veggies about half way through so I have some veggies with my noodles and I don't have to dirty more dishes since I don't have a dishwasher here(Oh how I miss that!)
Drain the noodles and put back into the pot.


In a large sauce pan melt butter and add the onions and garlic and sauté until tender


Add flour and stir and cook for about 30 seconds



Add milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Whisk until thick.



Add cheese and stir until melted.


Pour onto noodles and mix it all together.


At this point you could put the noodles in a baking dish and top with bread crumbs and cheese and set it under a broiler for a few minutes until it's crispy and delicious.

Honestly, I was so hungry I had to skip this step. I just sprinkled it with some Parmesan cheese and pepper and devoured.