So funny story...

...Actually it's really not funny.  I failed to complete the coconut cream pie.  What's this, you ask? Well, really I'm just a big lazy slob.  Truth be told, after serving until 4:30 on the first day of school (which incidentally involves kids actually being in attendance at the school for an hour, and then heading out to lunch at a less than kid-friendly establishment, and all sitting in my section) and then transiting home, I bailed on the completion.  Instead, I heated up last night's hamburger soup, which I then served with a loaf of Safeway's "french" bread, and some olive oil and balsamic.  Then I vegged.  Until 10PM when I thought to myself - crap, I'd better at least make the pate brisee so it can chill, and I can get up ridiculously early to finish it before heading out for a ladies lunch with my x chromosome family members tomorrow.

So. The Pate Brisee.  This went marginally well again, though I had one false start when I quadrupled the salt instead of double checking the quantity before charging ahead and dumping it in.  Fortunately only the salt and some flour were wasted.  On the plus side, I actually had wax paper for the kneading and the chilling tonight.  This is to be continued when we see if I have the culinary savvy to handle the Sherriff coconut cream filling, and the pie shell pre-bake.  Until tomorrow then.

Two Soups for YOU!

Tonight I went grocery shopping.  I spent twice as much as I'd hoped to, but a large shop was in order, so it worked out OK.  Instead of coming home to put the groceries away and relax like any normal person would on a holiday Monday, I decided to make not one, but two kinds of soup.  I have completed a hamburger soup, which I am currently scarfing down a bowl of.  I used extra lean ground beef, beef stock (I am not at the level of boiling beef knuckles, or whatever higher planes of yuck await when making your own stock) crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, chili powder, hot sauce, canned peas, onions celery and macaroni.  I sauteed the beef and onions together, then added the broth and tomatoes with a bay leaf, basil, boiled grated garlic, seasoning salt and then the peas and macaroni a bit later.  It is yummy.  Due to a slight over-pour on the chili powder, it also has quite a kick to it.

I am currently mid simmer on what I hope to be Minestrone - Isis style.  I've already ruined the beans I bought to use.  Apparently dried beans require something other than a simple boil - duly noted.  I've never cooked barley before, so I'm hoping that works out, otherwise I'm going to have tomato vegetable water. Awesome.

***

Ok, so I've completely finished.  The vegetable soup worked well enough, the barley added substance and the soup is colorful, if not a little bland.  Or perhaps I think its bland because I don't generally consume things that lack a maimed animal of some sort. I may not like the raw meat, but once its cooked, it becomes my BFF.   It is now 9:45 PM, I still have laundry to do (though all the machines in our building are currently occupied) and I have just now sat down to relax.  Upshot, I have dinner cooked and ready for tomorrow, all I have to worry about is some bread to go with, and I can take some veggie soup for lunch.  Maybe they'll even let me borrow (read: take at my leisure) some cheese to spice it up.  

Tomorrow night - coconut cream pie!  My charming husband's weakness of weaknesses.  I am cheating and going the easy route, having purchased the custard mix in Sherriff form, but I will be making the pate brisee (pie crust) from scratch, and blending the whipped cream myself - so its not a complete cheat.  I will let you know the result...or not, if the result is extra good! ;-)

Happy Labour Day!

Saturday Traditions

I work every Saturday.  I hate working Saturday's.  My tradition is, when I get off on time, to come home and make KD.  I love Saturday KD.  This time, though, we had no KD so I pulled my culinary skills out of the lazy cupboard they've been kept in this week, and put them to use.  I made shell pasta, and drowned them in a sauce of 3 TBLSP whipping cream (unwhipped) 1/2 cup grated marble cheese, 2 TBLSP Cheez Whiz, and 2 TBLSP Butter, melted and stirred.  I added some SnP and hot sauce to taste.  Then, the best part, I served myself and drowned it in KETCHUP, essentially ruining the sauce but making it taste so good.

That's all for today. Happy Labour Day Weekend.

Definitely Slacking

This morning I made carrot muffins with cream cheese icing.  Nothing like grating carrots for twenty minutes before nine in the morning.  I thought the muffins were a bit dry, but I added a bit more frosting and they went over well at work.

Got something that can only be called migraine-esque mid afternoon at work, and even though my charming husband spent time rubbing my temples, I couldn't be bothered being fancy for dinner.  I completely copped out with shake and bake drumsticks (in the microwave, no less) frozen corn, and instant potatoes.  Nothing to write home about.  Really shouldn't even be blogging about it, but here we are.

Hopefully I can be a little more inventive tomorrow.

Stovetop Beef Stroganoff

Tonight, after a day of ridiculous demands, frustrating public, and rain during my transit ride I was in the mood for something quick.  I had put some beef stir-fry strips in the fridge to thaw and they were ready by the time I got home.  I browned them, added cream of mushroom soup, 1/4 cup of half and half, worcester sauce and some of the starchy water from some boiled pasta.  I also used some various salts n spices on the meat.  I added a can of sliced mushrooms and some steamed broccoli to one of my favorite time-crunch recipes.  I have no picture for you as I was too hungry and grumpy to bother with the camera. 

I considered making cinnamon buns tonight, but the second wind has bailed on its scheduled start time, so I am sitting here watching my charming husband play Metal Gear Solid on our PS3, and avoiding getting out of my chair at all costs.  Hopefully more motivation tomorrow.

**EDIT**

Apparently its "worcestershire".  Where's the audio pronunciation guide when you need it?

Salmon on Saturday

Saturday afternoon and I'm at the grocery store. I can't decide what to cook.  In my arms I have ingredients for homemade pizza crust, I'm looking at a full chicken I want to roast, and the salmon steaks are on sale.  I believe I mentioned that we are on a budget, so I give up on two out of the three and go with the salmon.  What I don't realize is that the salmon that I'm contemplating not only has the skin on (I do,in fact, realize that) but it is still full of bones and not fully prepared.  We've covered my aversion to raw meat, and salmon is no exception. Nonetheless, I dutifully cut off the skin, and removed every bone I could find with my hands.  I did not enjoy it, but breaking the barriers of the ook-factor make me happy. Then I proceeded to create poached salmon with a TRUE Bearnaise sauce (which worked out better than the last, but not Le Cordon Bleu good).  Also, I didn't know that whisking could count as cardio, but going solely based on the sweat I broke, here's hoping I worked off even an ounce of the butter I ate this week.

I made the sauce out of white wine, vinegar, vermouth, tarragon, and green onion, simmered and reduced, then blended with egg yolk, and boiled butter, and whisked until frothy.  I simmered leeks and carrots in chicken stock and mushrooms and tomatoes in butter.  Added rice to the leek/carrot mixture.   The salmon was the best part, I wish I'd done potatoes again instead of the rice concoction. I do have a picture but its on my blackberry (camera is still out of batteries) and my blackberry is in the bedroom with my still sleeping husband.   

After five days of working and cooking, you may not hear from me for a couple days or so.  I am craving cinnamon buns, so I will post the triumphs and fails of my first real attempt, if there happens to be one, but otherwise its grilled cheese and tomato soup for a couple days.  Next week's challenge - gourmet on a budget, using ingredients out of the fridge and freezer, supplemented only with fresh produce and spices.  I think I spent about 3 weeks worth of grocery money this week. 

A Change of Plans

So here I am.  Its Friday night.  We were planning to go out tonight to pick up a hot jacket for my charming husband, my thought was if we're going downtown, why not get some sushi? Vancouver has fabulous sushi, and we don't enjoy it often enough.  But, me being me, the plans have changed.  I made a deal with my charming husband.  He is in charge of renting 3 movies, and I am in charge of dinner.

Dinner.

I am attempting sirloin in "shoot me I didn't have any tarragon" bearnaise sauce with brown mushrooms, green beans, and boiled new potatoes.  If it works out, he will be a happy camper.  I've already opened the wine.  I'm not sure if that's a sign or not.  More on the outcome after a second (read: fourth) glass.

***

Ok, too many glasses later and the supposed bearnaise sauce has adapted into what can only be called a bastardized bechamel with the addition of white wine, and cream cheese.  Don't even start with me on the calories - it was this or McDonald's, at least this will look fabulous (I hope). On that note, I've realized that the key to successful cooking is butter.  Everything turns out beautifully with real butter, except my ass.  But who's talking about that? Let us discuss this instead.  My charming husband is still at the movie store and all the food is ready.  I called him and he is almost finished up, so my task is to keep the steaks from overcooking, the mushrooms from going cold, the sauce from separating, and myself from eating all the bread. So far only one of the above is successfully happening, and I can tell you it ain't the bread.  My biggest problem whilst cooking is timing, I blame it on the size of my kitchen, but really I think its due to lack of organization, or the order of the battle, as it were. 

No picture tonight as the camera is out of batteries and we're starving.  

**EDIT** Whoo Blackberry picture saves the day, though it doesn't do the buttery goodness justice.