Rosemary Hummus

I would first like to take a moment to thank the men and women who have/are/will serve/ing/ed in the military. Happy Memorial Day!

I love days like Memorial Day...family and friends, cookouts, beer, the pool...it's great. It's even better when it is all done remembering those who have sacrificed their time and their lives to serve in this country.

I couldn't imagine.

For another type of holiday, Christmas to be exact, I attended a little cocktail party and someone brought rosemary hummus.

I had never had it.

It's pretty darn good.

I didn't think to ask where they had gotten it because I just assumed that I skimmed over it each time at the grocery store...my attention span is not all that impressive.

I'm the type of person who goes to the grocery store, with a list mind you (I love lists), and as soon as the cashier grabs my first item for checkout I remember something I forgot...then when I am putting my groceries away at home I remember that other thing I forgot. It always happens.

Well this rosemary hummus that had been on my mind all holiday season is literally nowhere to be found.

I searched for a recipe I could make that does not have tahini because that stuff ain't cheap. Poor college student+ain't cheap= ain't happenin'

I found this one and only recipe and proceeded with caution. It isn't exact, it's not quite the same but I don't hate it. Its good enough!

Rosemary Hummus
Adapted from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 clove garlic, peeled
2 (15.5 ounce) cans garbanzo beans, drained
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup cold water
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Strip rosemary leaves from stems, discard stems, and place leaves in the bowl of a food processor. Add garlic and pulse until finely chopped. Pour in the garbanzo beans; process until evenly blended.

With food processor running, slowly pour in the olive oil, scraping sides of the bowl as necessary. Pour in balsamic vinegar and process until evenly blended. Taste, and add more vinegar, 1 tablespoon at a time, as desired. Pour in the water and process to make a spreadable consistency. Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if necessary. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill before serving.

Homemade Kettle Corn

I hope everyone had a fabulous Valentine's Day...

I did :)

In fact, I am inclined to label it as the best Valentine's Day I ever had.

It was already a long day. After a draining day of interning and having class, I dragged my feet up to my door barely able to keep my eyes open and calling on the last of my strength just to hold up the bag on my shoulder for the minute walk to my door.

When I opened the door I was instantly revived by shock and surprise. The table was set with flowers, candles, tablecloth and heart confetti. I gasped when I took it all in and then noticed the balloon and that my plate was filled with chocolate.

I wasn't expecting anything like this whatsoever.

We were just planning to make a nice dinner together...which we did...and it was perfect.

After dinner we exchanged gifts (which is something we don't tend to do for Valentine's Day...but thought "what the hell...why not?" this year.)

I got us both a couples massage (cant.fricken.wait) and he pulled a box with a red bow out of thin air and handed it over to me with the cheesiest of cheesy grins.

I think this is where I smacked him because I thought the thoughtful dinner setup and candy was my gift.

Upon opening the little box he was met yet again with one my gasp/squeel/shriek reactions. It was an opal necklace.

Opal is my favorite of all favorites. Not only because it is my birthstone but it is simply beautiful and has sentimental value in my family.

Yeah, I'm pretty darn lucky.

Does anybody else nearly faint at the smell of fresh kettle corn when you go to a carnival or fair?

I do. I have been kicking myself for not getting one of those 4 foot tall bags of the sweet and saltiness that comes straight out of a huge black kettle. I'm fairly certain that the only reason I refrained was because I was fighting with trying to keep down the strawberry donuts, texas tenderloin sandwich, soggy fries drenched in vinegar and salt, and strawberry shortcake.

This is just speculation because I cannot possibly come up with another excuse.

Well guess what? You can make something similar...that tastes almost like fresh kettle corn from the fair...at least enough to hold you over until the next time you decide to make a sport out of getting fat off of fried...well...everything.

Fried kool-aid? That is just silly.

Homemade Kettle Corn
From Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels

Directions:

Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, stir in the sugar and popcorn. Cover, and shake the pot constantly to keep the sugar from burning. Once the popping has slowed to once every 2 to 3 seconds, remove the pot from the heat and continue to shake for a few minutes until the popping has stopped. Pour into a large bowl, and allow to cool, stirring occasionally to break up large clumps.

Buffalo Wing Onion Rings

Lately I have found myself gravitating towards my favorite childhood snacks.

My pantry now has a box of dunkaroos (the best kind that had the cinnamon graham cookies and vanilla icing with sprinkles) and a box of chocolate teddy grahams that are enticing me at all hours of the day.

I am not sure what possessed me to purchase these boxes of processed sugar and memories of the many summer nights I spent in front of an episode of "Are You Afraid of the Dark" (hiding under a blanket of course).

But I am glad I did.

For they are still oh so good for my mouth and soul alike.

Something I wish I had been able to enjoy when I was a kid? These buffalo wing onion rings. Why have I never thought of these until now?! I have been really missing out...

I must say though...making onion rings...it's tedious. After dipping the 4th ring I was "so over it". But the final product made it worth it.

If you have the patience of a 2-year old, make these with a partner. I wish I did. But I was rewarded for my hard work...I really was.

Buffalo Wing Onion Rings
Dame Good

Ingredients:

1 large white onion
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup hot buffalo sauce
2/4 cup egg whites
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup corn flakes
1 oz package dry ranch seasoning
1/2 cup wheat flour
cooking spray

Directions:

In a casserole dish, combine onions, buttermilk and 1/2 cup hot sauce. Allow to soak for about 2 hours.

Place corn flakes in a food processor and pulse until they are fine crumbs. Mix corn flakes, bread crumbs and ranch in a medium-sized bowl.

In another bowl, mix egg whites and 1 tablespoon of hot sauce. Put the wheat flour in a separate bowl.

Take each onion and dip in the flour, follow by dipping the same onion in the egg whites and then finally in the bread crumb mixture. Place onion rings on a baking sheet fitted with a baking rack (I actually use a cooling rack) so the onions cook evenly. Once all the onions are dipped, spray lightly with cooking spray.

Bake at 450F for 10-15 minutes flipping onions halfway. Serve warm with ranch.

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

I did something fun last night.

The kind of fun that calls for heels and good perfume. Shawn and I had a date night...on a sunday...we're wild like that.

Last tuesday was his birthday. My old man turned 25. We both love comedy and enjoy the raunchy and dirty humor that is of Daniel Tosh on Tosh.0.

Thankfully I discovered he was coming to Columbus so I eagerly snatched up a couple tickets and surprised him with it while we were watching Tosh.0.

It was hiiiiilarious.

I love to laugh. After eating, laughing might be my favorite thing. Lucky for me I have my own personal little clown.

Of course the half bottle of sweet red wine that I enjoyed over our homemade steak dinner helped.

But really, it was so so funny. I am not sure what kind of person it makes me to enjoy his humor. It is so wrong on so many levels but if I had room to roll on the floor I would have.

No joke.

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

From Cookinglight.com

Ingredients:

Bread:
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana
1/3 cup plain fat-free yogurt
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
6 3/4 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
2 tablespoons chopped dry-roasted peanuts
Cooking spray

Glaze:
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon 1% low-fat milk
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare bread, combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed. Add granulated and brown sugars; beat until blended.

Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through allspice) in a small bowl. Add flour mixture to banana mixture; beat just until blended. Stir in nuts. Pour batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Remove bread from pan; cool.

To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar, milk, and 1 tablespoon peanut butter in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle glaze over bread.

Whole Wheat Cherry Walnut Bars

Who likes free stuff? Me me!! I am actually kind of amazed at the lengths I go through for free stuff...or to win something. Winning is so much fun am I right?

I don't know who else remembers being at that tender young age where you realize boys actually don't have cooties...in fact boys are kinda cute. I reached this stage around the same time that Usher arrived on the scene. Yes I am talking about Usher Raymond. I remember when "My Way" came out and I was infatuated.

I am not the biggest Usher fan nor do I consider myself obsessed (as I do with many other things...pugs, chocolate, margaritas...you know) but I have been secretly jealous of everyone who was able to snag some tickets to the Usher concert this Wednesday...

Jealous until I won a ticket of my own...yep! Thats right! I won't say what I had to do but I'll attribute it to having a gorgeous friend and lots of  loud "fans" aka Shawns friends...so not really "fans" but its fun to think that.

Needless to say I am excited...it's been a while since I have gone to a big concert...in fact I think the last one was Justin Timberlake...Notice the theme here...what'r'ya'gonna'do?

These bars=good. You can mix and match with different fruits and jams.

Whole Wheat Cherry Walnut Bars
From foodnetwork.com

Ingredients:


1 cup quick-cooking oats
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour or regular whole-wheat flour
1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup canola oil
1 egg, beaten to mix
1 egg white
3/4 cup chopped dried tart cherries
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
Cooking spray
1/4 cup "fruit only" apricot preserves

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, wheat germ, cinnamon and salt.

In another bowl, whisk together the honey, applesauce, oil, egg and egg white until well combined. Stir in the oatmeal mixture until well combined. Add the dried cherries and walnuts.

Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Put the preserves in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. As soon as the bars come out of the oven, brush with the preserves. Cool completely and cut into 12 bars, about 4 by1 1/2 inches each.

Funfetti Bark

Yep, I'm still on a bark craze. Well actually I made this when I made the Cupcake Bark because I wanted to play around with the idea. Not only am I now obsessed with bark but I have always been obsessed with cake batter. Yep, I'm a bowl licker. Many times I prefer the batter over the baked good...and I am well aware that that sounds just a tad bit crazy but I'll accept that.

Cake batter ice cream also happens to be my faaaavorite ice cream. Give me a pint of Edy's Light Take the Cake Ice Cream and call it a day. And...believe it or not...funfetti cake is my alltime favorite cake. Yeah, I realize it comes out of a box and I'm not a fan of using a boxed cake. I did find a pretty good homemade funfetti recipe that does the trick but every now and then...a girl needs a box of funfetti.

Yeah, this is what I call funfetti bark...proceed to drool.

Funfetti Bark
Dame Good

Ingredients:

3 cups white chocolate chips
3 tablespoons funfetti cake mix (dry)
sprinkles (nonpariels)

Directions:

Melt 3 cups of white chocolate in the microwave for 45 seconds at a time, stirring each time. It will take about 2-4 minutes. Once the chocolate is completely melted, stir in 3 tablespoons of the cake mix. When that is completely mixed in, stir in desired amount of sprinkles. Pour the chocolate on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Top the bark with additional sprinkles. Put the chocolate in the fridge until it hardens, about 30-45 minutes. Once cool, break into uneven shards and store in airtight containers. Enjoy!

Cupcake Bark

So far my 2011 has been a decent year :) I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year! I'm not typically one to make new years resolutions. I try to set goals for myself year round but this year there is one thing I want to do and that is make more time for my girlfriends. I miss them all the time since I graduated but I am so exhausted from school and work that by the time I get home, I just want to lay on the couch and do nothing. The fact that I tend to be quite lazy probably doesn't help either. With Shawn only being in town a very limited amount of days (mostly only on the weekends), its gotten hard to prioritize my time with my friends. So this year, I am going to improve on this and give them the effort they deserve. I don't want them to think I take them for granted or that they are not a priority in my life because they are...those girls mean the world to me...

Anyhoo....

I rang in the new year with pork and sauerkraut. My family always did the sauerkraut on new years. It's a German tradition that is supposed to bring good luck. Because pork is a fat pig, it is supposed to symbolize an abundant year ahead and sauerkraut is made with cabbage and the green in cabbage symbolizes wealth and money. I went over to Shawns and his roomates and I filled 2 large crockpots with our "good luck" and had a nice hungover feast. Crossing my fingers!

So I think my first blog post of the year should be kind of epic. That's how I feel about this bark. Bark is fun because you can throw whatever you want into melted chocolate and hope for the best. I've been on a abit of a bark craze for the holidays so I was inspired to say the least...

I had a couple of boxed cake mix in my pantry that my dad had sent me and they have been sitting there collecting dust because I prefer to bake from scratch. I absolutely cannot waste any food so I decided to play with them and see what I can do with cake mix other than cupcakes. I made cake mix cookies sandwiches and a couple kinds of bark...

This first one is what I call a "cupcake" bark because I made it in 2 layers. The first layer has yellow cake mix and is colored yellow and the top layer is colored pink to resemble frosting and is topped with sprinkles. This would make a great little diy birthday gift because it's so cute!

Cupcake Bark
Dame Good

Ingredients:

4 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
3 tablespoons yellow cake mix (dry)
yellow food coloring (use an oil-based coloring, a water base will shock the chocolate, or use colored melting chocolate)
pink food coloring (use an oil-based coloring, a water base will shock the chocolate, or use colored melting chocolate)
sprinkles

Directions:

Melt 3 cups of white chocolate in the microwave for 45 seconds at a time, stirring each time. It will take about 2-4 minutes. Once the chocolate is completely melted, stir in 3 tablespoons of the cake mix. When that is completely mixed in, stir in desired amount of yellow food coloring. Try not to add too much, you just want a light yellow. Pour the chocolate on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Put the chocolate in the fridge until it hardens, about 30-45 minutes.

While the first layer is cooling, melt the remainging 1 1/2 cups of chocolate in the microwave. When it is completely melted, stir in desired amount of pink food coloring. Pour pink layer over the yellow layer and top the pink layer with sprinkles. Put the bark in the refrigerator until cool. Once cool, break into uneven shards and store in airtight containers. Enjoy!

Homemade Caramel Puffcorn

Does anyone else hate the couple days after Christmas too? I miss it! I had a very good one though. It was low key and my first year in a long time not going to Minnesota for the holidays. The dinner went well, I didn't mess anything up believe it or not! I got some nice gifts and some surprising gifts. Shawn got me a 32 inch flat screen tv. I was beyond shocked, I guess I had accepted my old 19in box tv from the 90's and that I wouldn't be able to afford a nicer one until after I get a real job. It is beautiful and I have yet to get off the couch and stop watching it...yes, I'm on the couch now.

Kirby got a lot of presents and is now a spoiled little boy. He has been depressed since my dad left with his dog, they were inseperable :( The day after Christmas I was privileged enough to spend the day with Shawn's family. We ate a lot, looked at family pictures and went on a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt was actually so much fun! I have a blast with them...they're simply awesome.

One of the things I made for Shawn's families goodie basket was this homemade caramel puffcorn. I remember once in High School a friend of mine got this stuff from a vending machine and it was one of the best things I have ever eaten. I am pretty sure I ate most of his bag. But since then, it has been nearly impossible to find in a grocery store. The craving was overwhelming me so I decided to make my own. Oh...my...gosh...it is sooooo good!

Homemade Caramel Puffcorn
From Food.com

Ingredients:

1 (8 ounce) bag corn puffs
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

Place corn puffs in a large roasting pan. Cook together butter, brown sugar, corn syrup for two minutes, stirring constantly. Add baking soda to the mix. This will cause the mixture to foam so make sure you use a 2 quart saucepan.
Pour caramel mixture over corn puffs and stir until mixed. Place in a 250 degree oven for 45 minutes. Stir at least every 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven and pour on wax paper and break apart.  Enjoy!

Puppy Chow

Christmas is just around the corner. This is unbelieveable to me, mostly because I have barely even put thought into gifts and shopping. It is going to be tight this year because let's face it, I'm poor because I spend the little cash I have on food. There could be worse addictions/obsessions right? I will probably just get my parents a little something and Shawn. Oh and Kirby of course! I like to come up with thoughtful quirky little gifts that maybe somebody wouldn't buy for themself. I am having a hard time with Shawn though, he's tough.

I, on the other hand, think I am extremely easy to shop for. I am not hard to please and have so many likes and needs that it would take very little effort and thought to find me something to squeal over. If I made a list of all the things I would be happy to get, this post would be a mile long. I would love anything that would help me out in the kitchen, I desperately need and want Giada's knife set. My knives suck, plain and simple and it doesn't help that I am a terrible chopper. My food processor sucks too. It is a miniature one and when I am cooking large quantities it is a pain to use. I could go on and on about all the things I could use in the kitchen....

I love fancy perfumes (Miss Dior Cherie...mmm). Shabby Chic anything makes me swoon. Vintage jewlery takes my breath away. Give me anything with a cupcake on it and my day is made. I firmly believe a girl can never have enough shoes. I love booties to no end. I could spend days in Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, H&M, Victorias Secret, Bath and Body Works, Charlotte Russe, Pottery Barn, Sobo Style in Clintonville, Target and any shoe store.

I have a strange obsession with all things that adorn pearls, bows, or ruflles...yes, I'm super girly and love victorian romance. I LOVE to read...my personal library can never get too big. I have a great appreciation for all things old, vintage and classic. I have this weird thing for mens socks...I think it's because I love oversized, wool, comfy socks and the really soft cloud-like ones you get from Bath and Body Works. I love all kinds of movies...yep, I'm easy ;)

To be frank, and this sounds cliche and corny, but I just want time with my friends and family for Christmas. I feel that the older I get, the less time I get with the people I care most about. The shiny presents and fancy ribbons become less important. People are so busy and time flies so fast. I am looking forward to the comfort food, and the quality time this Christmas...I am so cheesy, I know it.

What should I get Kirby? hmm...

Oh, I forgot this blog is supposed to be about food. This here is one of my favorite holiday snacks. For Christmas and holiday parties at school growing up, someone ALWAYS brought this. I hear that not everyone has heard of this? That is preposterous to me! Everyone should have this in their life and on their "holiday eats" list...end of story. I may have eaten a whole large bowl of this in front of the tv delightfully enjoying some ABC Family cheesy Christmas movies...just maybe.

Puppy Chow
From Food.com

Ingredients:

3/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter
8 cups Crispix cereal
2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Melt the peanut butter, chocolate chips, and butter together. Pour over the cereal and peanuts in a large kettle or bowl and stir well. Pour the powdered sugar into a large brown paper bag and add the cereal. Fold the bag to seal and shake well to coat evenly.