Posts Tagged ‘autumn’

I know, I know, my last update was a slow cooker dish too, but I just had to make something in my crock pot again because look what I got on Friday:

We had our annual prop sale in the test kitchen / studio and tons of wares sent to us from companies and retailers (to test) all went on sale for crazy cheap prices. I got this $65 crockpot for $20 and frankly it looks like a rocketship compared to my old one. And when Pam was giving out packages of short ribs she ended up not using, I snatched up a couple pounds and knew immediately what I’d be doing with them this weekend.

I’ve had this dish bookmarked since right before summer started and finally felt like it was the right time (aka 60° and cloudy) to make them. Braised short ribs are something I’ve lovingly talked about before, and this is a fun Vietnamese twist on the flavors. These short ribs are unbelievably hearty and rich and have a nice subtle flavor from the ginger. The refreshing rice noodles served alongside (or under) help cut the richness of the beef, which may sound like heresy, but once you taste it, you’ll be on board.

I could honestly dance a jig right now.

Not only did I find out I get to go to Louisiana for culinary/press tour at the end of the month (carriage rides! fabulous restaurants! touring John Besh’s ranch!), but the entire week the temperature stayed below 80°, and often evenings were in the low 60′s. I have never felt happier to welcome fall, and my God, I am welcoming it by dusting off the Crock Pot and cooking me some soup!

I had a ton of errands to run today and knew it was going to be rainy and slightly chilly, so this morning I threw all these things into the pot and went on my merry way. 8 hours later I had an aromatic, hearty (but healthy) and delicious soup I could eat for the next few days. It’s just so easy – how can people not love the slow cooker life?

As I type this, I keep hearing “The Final Countdown” by Europe in my head, which thanks to Arrested Development, plays mentally whenever something epic is happening in my life.

Thanksgiving is like the Superbowl of any home cook. We lay it all on the line. We  usually cook for more than we’re used to. A wider array of palates. Kids are involved. Adults are involved. You have to write timelines. Utilize every inch of kitchen space. Work together.  It’s like a marathon of cooking and I go at it headfirst.

This Thanksgiving was the same, yet different. The past few years I’ve been responsible for the turkey and a few sides, collaborating and cooking with my mom. But this time around my sister DeAnna and I (the cooks of the family) took the reins, cooking for our family, plus her in-laws, at her house. We divvied up dishes and responsibilities, and I took on the stuffing because frankly, I could just have that for Thanksgiving and be happy.

I’ve had this recipe saved for over 2 years, just waiting for the chance to make it. I love and adore my mom’s stuffing, but it’s very traditional and I’ve been dying to make something a little different. I knew this could be it – just a slight twist on the classic flavors with a few interesting additions. You’ve got bread and celery and stock, but you’ve also got leeks (my addition), bacon, and cashews. When I saw this on Smitten Kitchen I loved it for it’s onion-receptacle (which I ended up nixing for its fussiness), but really wanted to pursue it for its flavor profiles. And thankfully, I did. The cashews add such an awesome salty, layered flavor and texture, and seriously, leeks and bacon have never been bad before, and they’re definitely not bad here.

I also included the recipe for pink fluff, a Jones family tradition we have both on Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s like white trash Bavarian Strawberry Cream with Jell-O and Cool Whip instead of gelatin and cream – a recipe from my mom’s step-dad we all indulge in every year.

So Happy Thanksgiving to all, enjoy the (enormous) amount of photos below and the holiday!

Quick look at what we’ve got going on right now…

Inspiration (the Bon Appetit cover – not The Shining).

Bacon… glorious bacon, for the stuffing.

The best yeast rolls in the entire world.

Full post later, but I just wanted to check in and wish all my fellow Yankees a happy turkey day filled with food, fun, friends, and family.  Enjoy the day!

Cooking for one can be tricky.  Most people I know who live by themselves end up snacking for dinner simply because the idea of making a recipe that serves four is either too expensive, time-consuming, or they worry about having leftovers.

I’m not afraid to have a week’s worth of a certain dish around or spend hours making something, but more than often I like to whip things together for dinner 3 out of 5 weeknights, usually fitting the breakfast taco or wedge salad bill. But then you can find recipes like this which gives us singular cooks all hope.

I’ve had this recipe sitting around a bit because not only was it sold as a 15-minute soup, it was designated a “Cooking for One” recipe in Everyday Food, which naturally caught my eye. Throw in the fact I’ve eaten conference food, Lunchables, and far too much Diet Coke in the past few days… well, let’s just say I was craving something vegetable-packed, healthy, and satisfying.

One last thing – I’m in the running at Bon Appetit’s Blog Envy Bake Off for my chocolate pumpkin cheesecake squares and would send thousands of hugs and kisses out if you could take a few seconds to go vote for me and all the other fantastic blogs and recipes listed. It’s a really fun contest with so many great entries, I’m just excited to see my blog amongst them. You do have to register to vote, but trust me – it’s worth it!

Vote Vote Vote!