Adventures in Zucchini Bread

Last night I used a wonderful Zucchini Bread Recipe from 101cookbooks.com. I'd never had zucchini bread before, let alone made any... but seeing how much I love pumpkin bread, I figured that this would also be up my alley. I am happy to report that it's excellent!

I did not include any of the optional ingredients such as crystallized ginger, poppy seeds, lemon zest or curry powder.

Easy Bistro Chicken... it's what's for dinner! (It's all we have time for around here, so eat it and shut your mouth!)

Chopped Onions


Stewed Tomatoes, Peppers and Mushrooms

Tomato Paste and Zesty Italian Dressing

Chicken Breasts!

SIMMER!

Sprinkling of Mozzarella

Stir, Voila

Giant Cupcakes on Parade

Well, I made my first Funfetti Giant Cupcake last night. It was someone’s birthday at work yesterday so I figured that I had a great excuse. Of course, I have no idea how I’m going to get it to work.

There are a few small problems with the pan. One box of cake mix does work fine, you just split it evenly between the two sides of the pan. There’s a half that belongs to the base (where the wrapper would be) and the other half is where the icing would be (you cover that part with icing when you put it together). But, the half that you put icing on is very shallow, and it cooked much more quickly than the base. The base actually took quite a bit longer; the middle just did not want to cook. I finally had to shimmy the top half out of the pan (sooner than I like taking it out) and put the base back in for at least 10 more minutes.

Second, maybe this pan does make a giant cupcake, but it does not make a giant cake. You couldn’t take the result of this pan to a 13 year old’s birthday party and expect to feed all the kiddies. Even though it still uses one box of cake mix like another cake you might make, the way it’s put together and the way you’ll have to cut it will just make less slices for hungry, grabbing paws. Remember that since it’s two halves that you have to put together, you have to cut off a good bit of the middle part of the cake that rose; you need two flat halves. I took a picture of the cake next to my cactus margarita glass for perspective.

This cake would be an awesome supplement to something else. After all, it’s pretty cute and decorative. But once you cut the first piece I wonder how much it will even look like a cupcake anymore. I love this pan, I’m excited to make giant cupcakes for people, but I’m just warning you not to put all your eggs in the giant cupcake basket.

Desperate

I am so PIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSED!!!!!

Tuesday night boyfriend took me to a little Italian restaurant near us that we'd never been to (not on Valentine's Day because he had to do something for work Wednesday night). Well he lucked out. We've had some snow, lots of sleet, and it all turned to ice. His work was canceled Wednesday (and it's still canceled today! WTF). Mine was not (and isn't today either), but lots of people didn't show up anyway. I had to cover for lots of people and I was incredibly busy the entire day. Boo!

When I got home from work he'd gotten me peach colored roses, a book I'd been wanting to read and some chocolates. I gave him the new Bloc Party CD, an iTunes gift card, and then began to make some FONDUE.

I think I'd said that I'd never made fondue before, but the recipes I found were simple enough. The scariest party was lighting the Sterno can to put in my centuries old fondue pot that I bought 2 summers ago at a yard sale.

The cheese turned out delicious! Who needs the Melting Pot!? I cut up a loaf of French bread, Pumpernickel, some golden delicious apples, and carrots. I used sharp cheddar for the cheese dip.

The chocolate turned out fine, not knock-your-socks-off fantastic, but pretty good. I was so full at that point from devouring over 8 oz. of cheese with boyfriend that I couldn't eat much of it. I used milk chocolate (his favorite) and we dipped bananas, strawberries, pound cake, brownies, and graham crackers in the pot.

Oh, did I mention that because boyfriend had a snow day yesterday and it was Valentine's Day that I decided I deserved a day off from the gym? Did I mention that we went out to dinner Tuesday and then stuffed ourselves with fondue (a dieter's worst nightmare) Wednesday night? I went to the gym this morning; it was hell on Earth. I mostly fast-walked because I couldn't stand running. I wish I could use the elliptical machine instead of the treadmill, but that machine is always the first to be taken.

I weighed myself right before my shower. Do you want to guess? No, of course you don't... because the results are too horrible to imagine! For the last 1.5 weeks of working out, of incorporating Slim Fast into every breakfast and lunch, I've GAINED TWO POUNDS!

I have lost absolutely nothing, my endurance isn't getting any better, and I'm really getting disappointed and losing my drive. I was having a hard time accepting that I hadn't lost any weight yet, but when I woke up this morning with two additional pounds, I just couldn't believe it. Maybe it's better to be a little plump around the edges. What do I have to do to lose weight!?!! Maybe now that all this Valentine's/chocolate/dining out business is done with I'll be fine and I should just chill out.... maybe...

How Do People Do It?

Working out and waking up your body after 20-something years of slack and laziness is a difficult thing.

Days I've gone to the gym include last Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and yesterday and today. I wake up from my warm, comfortable bed at 6am and haul my ass down to the gym (looking a little rough, might I add) where I sweat, gasp for breath and pray that I can astrally project my consciousness out of my body for the next 20 minutes.

For all this, I only burn about 160-180 calories.

Check out what 200 calories looks like. It's a half a bagel or two dinner rolls! Hell, 160 calories is one can of soda (if I decided not to drink diet... which I wouldn't... but that's not the point!). The point is that it's really a little discouraging. My waking up early, sweating and panting can all be for nothing SO easily. How am I supposed to lose weight?

I guess that over time my body will get more capable of running for longer periods of time or increasing the resistance. It's possible that so far I've lost one pound, but it's really hard to see the small notches on the scale, so I could be imagining it.

I'd really just like to look damn hot in a bikini before I get old...

The Fanciest Dinner I Will Ever Have

First, I can't figure out why I'm so shocked by Anna Nicole Smith's death! I had to keep refreshing the news websites just to make sure that it wasn't a hoax. It's wild!

But in other news, I was feeling like a celebrity this week. It was my boyfriend's parents' anniversary, and instead of going on a mini vacation they decided to go to one of the best places to eat in the world - The Inn at Little Washington.

Not only that, we didn't sit in the dining room with everyone else. They had reserved the best table in the house, the kitchen table! When they opened the doors for us that lead into the kitchen, all of the chefs were standing at attention until we were seated. The head chef came out to shake our hands and greet us. Gregorian chants were playing and bounced around the church-like ceiling. It really felt like walking into a sacred place, and the chefs were intense!

Describing it doesn't really do any good, because when I heard about it beforehand I still didn't get it. Pictures won't do it justice, either... but I have to post them (just a sample... There were four courses between six people and I took photos of everything). It was an enchanting night. It probably also completely counteracted my hard work at the gym Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday morning as well as my light eating habits. But it was a once in a lifetime opportunity (no, it really was, the kitchen table alone cost $300... not including any food or drink).

The front of the Inn.

My Carpaccio of Herb Crusted Baby Lamb with Tabouli and Rosemary Mustard. I ate quite a few baby animals... don't judge! Once in a lifetime opportunity!!

My Macaroni and Cheese with Virginia Ham and White Truffles - very awesome!

Painter's Palette of Homemade Sorbets - beautiful!


My Dessert - Chocolate Mint Fantasy: Mint Ice Cream Festooned with Chocolate Streamers


The sitting area where we waited before the kitchen was ready for us.


And, what my boyfriend described as - awesomely creepy Rococo monkey murals.

But, I love bread....

I did not get up with my alarm at 6am this morning and go down to the gym, but I did

a) Set my alarm for 6am
b) Lay out some gym clothes the night before
c) Wake up (accidentally) at 5am and feel ready to go

I'd say that all in all this is some progress.

I was looking at that site that I mentioned yesterday again (Hungry Girl), and I read about how the site's owner lost almost 30lbs. Apparently, she gave up flour, bread, pasta and starches. I really don't know much about weight loss, and obviously it worked, but is it safe to eliminate an entire food group from your diet?

I know that tons of people lost tons of weight using Atkins. But I also know that particular diet can cause gout and other things that come when you're stuffing yourself with bacon and beef jerky. Does anyone know a little bit more about the value of eliminating flour/bread/pasta/etc. from your diet?

Cake and Ice Cream Plug

I recently found a neat new website at hungry-girl.com. The website posts all kinds of food news and tips, looking for low calorie snack options, etc.

I think I found the site while searching for low calorie Starbucks options. They also posted about Edy's limited time American Idol ice cream! It sounds slightly ridiculous, but Take the Cake really is the most amazing new flavor of ice cream. If you've ever enjoyed Birthday Cake Remix from Coldstone Creamery, then you know that cake ice cream is spectacular (and this is a hell of a lot cheaper and lower in fat and calories than Coldstone).

Go try it!

I'm Thankful, Sure

So... everyone have a good holiday?

Mine started off pretty well. I made sweet potato casserole and a pumpkin cake (recipe courtesy of the back of the pumpkin pans I bought from Williams-Sonoma) to take home. This was my first time making anything to bring home, and I was excited about it.

Because I had made this casserole once before for a Thanksgiving potluck and peeling the potatoes had totally exhausted me, I wanted to peel them a night early this time. This is also when I learned that when I made them for the potluck, I was using the peeler upside down and with a protective strip of plastic over the blades... tell me again I should go to culinary school!

So after that fine example of high intelligence, all I had to do was mash 'em, mix 'em with some tasty stuff like brown sugar and put the pecans on top. I think it turned out well (after all the shenanigans early on...).

The little pumpkin cakes turned out well also. I don't know if I'd ever made a cake completely from scratch, including the icing. It was a lot of fun and smelled great.

Of course, making the icing was a little scary... one whole package of cream cheese, one whole stick of butter...

I usually try not to invite heart attacks into my life...

In the Williams-Sonoma cake example pictures they have the icing drizzled over the cake. I don't know how they did it, because this icing wasn't exactly the drizzly kind.
All things considered, Thanksgiving day itself was good. All the food was great. Of course, it's a little disappointing not having a big family or lots of friends to share it with. Thanksgiving, at least to me, seems like it should involve more than just the immediate family. But what can you do when the rest of your family is pretty far away, your brother refuses to cross the Mason-Dixon line, and your friends have family to share it with who aren't quite as crazy. My dinner highlight was my dad thanking the pilgrims during grace...

After dinner at my house, boyfriend and I went to his grandmother's house for Dinner Part II. It's amazing how different our families are. One of his cousins kept showing me dirty jokes and pictures on his cell phone, that was... festive?

I also spent a lot of time at a friend's house. He recently built himself an amazing home theater system. He has a massive project which he hooks up to the tv, dvd player, xbox, and wii. He installed shakers in the couch that vibrate you when there's a lot of bass (watching a loud action movie or blowing up stuff on one of the gaming systems). When he decided he wanted more shake, he purchased another set of shakers; this is the kind used in rides at amusement parks. When it's on, the entire house is shaking and the lights flicker. Probably, his house will crack and implode, but it's probably one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. We endured a very rough Virginia vs. Virginia Tech game on it, then switched to xbox.

The subwoofers were knocking things off shelves. These pictures just don't do it justice.We left early on Sunday to beat the traffic. When we got home I completely vegged on the couch and finished the Angel series. The end left me feeling awful; one because it's somewhat of a cliffhanger, two because I always get that hollow feeling once I finish a series (book or tv). It's like losing a friend! Even when it pisses you off, you're still invested in the characters and the outcome. The end is always too soon, and there's no good way to wrap it all up. I surfed around looking for character or director interviews, trying to give me some finality, but I didn't find anything that satisfying.

It was also a little scary finishing because I'd been watching it for so long. It was my hobby, my thing to do when I wanted to relax. Now do I actually have to face the world? Make decisions? Do grown-up stuff? Take responsibility? I'll have to find something else to hide out with soon!

It's Not Exactly a Pint of Ben & Jerry's

I came home with yesterday with guilt, sadness and a rampaging headache. Not even watching the antics on Bachelor in Rome last night helped (although it was funny to hear one of the women whose occupation is "socialite" call the others "commoners" and explain how she judges them because they weren't raised to be princesses like she was).

I even made another batch of pumpkin ice cream last night hoping that would make me feel better, and it didn't work! WTF! I may have even liked the recipe a little better when I messed it up and used egg whites instead of egg yolks! Don't ask me, I'm just a crazy woman.

But you probably already knew that. I could swear to you that I'm not crazy or compulsive, but after I tell you that I went out this weekend and bought those Williams-Sonoma baking pans I was oogling, why would you believe me? You probably also think I'm 800 pounds with chunks of pumpkin hanging out of my mouth and stuck in my hair the way I talk about food. You're probably thinking it's amazing I could even get out of bed let alone walk into Williams-Sonoma.

So, if you're still reading instead of reporting me online as another blogger on the edge... please enjoy this photo biography on the life of a pumpkin... except I cheated a little because I really used canned pumpkin instead of straining my own.

The Pumpkin Ice Cream Recipe; I'm Enjoying the Hell out of it Right Now!

Mac & Cheese [Chicken]

I don't know if any of you are lucky enough to have been to RockBottom Restaurant & Brewery, but it's pretty dang awesome. I first found it in Pittsburgh, PA, where the service, food, and beer were always exceptional. Luckily there is one in DC as well.

My favorite dish there is the Mac & Chicken. It sounds ridiculous, it sounds like something on the kid's menu, but I love it. It's an amazing comfort food, as well. I always try look for recipes that are close to it. Today I found one that seems fairly similar, just substitute the ham for chicken. Martha scores again:

Macaroni and Cheese

Serves 8; Prep time: 30 minutes; Total time: 1 hour
If you like, use just one type of cheddar or mix with another melting cheese, such as pepper Jack, Muenster, Swiss, or mozzarella.

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 pound elbow pasta, cooked and drained
4 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
4 cups milk
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded yellow cheddar cheese
1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded white cheddar cheese
8 ounces ham, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
2 slices white sandwich bread

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Cook pasta, and drain; reserve. Meanwhile, in a 5-quart heavy pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk in flour to coat onion. In a slow steady stream, whisk in milk until there are no lumps.

2. Cook, whisking often, until mixture is thick and bubbly and coats the back of a wooden spoon, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in cayenne, if using, and 1 cup each yellow and white cheddar cheese. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

3. Toss pasta with cheese mixture; fold in ham. Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or individual dishes. Set aside.

4. In a food processor, pulse bread until large crumbs form. Toss together with remaining 1/4 cup each white and yellow cheddar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Top pasta with breadcrumb mixture. Bake until top is golden, about 30 minutes.

Note: This recipe makes enough to fill eight 12-to-16-ounce baking dishes. Divide the macaroni and cheese evenly, sprinkle with topping, and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden.

And speaking of cooking, on the recipe for Coconut Sticky Rice that I posted a few weeks ago, make sure you are using rice that is ALREADY cooked before adding the sugar and coconut milk. Yes, I was stupid enough to make that mistake my first time making it.