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.

Easy as Pie! Tortilla Pie!

Well I wanted to make something super easy and quick today. Had a bunch of leftover tortilla shells from tacos the other day and froze them. So this worked out well!!!


Tortilla Pie:

2 tsp. oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. chili powder
1 can black beans or kidney beans, drained
1 can diced tomatoes
1/4 c. corn meal(or you can use corn kernels, I didn't have any otherwise I would have)
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
6-9 corn tortillas

Heat oil in a large frying pan, add onions and peppers and sautee about 3 minutes, add garlic and sautee until soft.


Add the spices and cook for about one minute


Add the beans and tomatoes and cornmeal, simmer for about 10 minutes or until cornmeal is tender. Make sure to taste and add some salt or more chili or you can add jalapeños if you like it a little spicier!


While bean mixture is simmering heat a cast iron skillet and heat up the tortillas until a little black on each side.

Set three in the bottom of a pie pan and put half the bean mixture and 1/3 of the cheese and some sour cream or plain yogurt on the tortillas, repeat the layers and add the last three shells on top.





Finish with cheese and put into the oven for about 20-30 minutes until the cheese is all melty.


Eat and enjoy!

Delicious crispiness of happenstance.

So I made rice crispy treats because I just wanted to make something cute and simple. The recipe is really easy, I just followed what was on the box, but added some of my own things, because that's what I like doing. So here you go.

5 C. crisp rice cereal(I used 1 cup cocoa crispies, and 4 cups regular)
4 1/2 C. Mini Marshmallows (or about 40-45 large)
4 Tblsp. butter.
1/3-1/2 C. Peanut butter(crunchy or creamy)
2 tsp. Vanilla
3/4 C. Chocolate chips
1/2 C. unsalted, roasted peanuts.

Butter a 9"x13" pan and add a strip of tin foil across the pan and up the sides to form handles. I used mini tart pans and cute little star pans. You can use whatever, just make sure to butter it!

Put the cereal, chocolate chips and peanuts into a bowl(You don't have to, it just makes it easier to add to the other stuff when it's ready)

Melt butter over low heat in a large pot. Add Peanut butter and vanilla and stir until combined. Add marshmallows and keep stirring until all melted.

Remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients.
Stir until it is all mixed and coated.
Press into pans and chill.

Once cold you can make a little frosting to put on it, or you can just take them out of the pan and serve as is.




Frosting:
Powdered Sugar
Milk
Food coloring

Just put about 1/2 c. of powdered sugar into a bowl or separate into small cups.
Add just enough milk to make a thick paste.
Add food coloring until desired color.

Spread on treats with fingers or spatula.


Eat and enjoy!