Potato Bread

I cook more than I bake because cooking is generally healthier, more required in my life and smaller in batch size (or it's hard to bake for two people).  However, we have a group of friends that come over every other week for a gaming event.  They play Pathfinder with Tony (for those of you who might be interested).  I sometimes play too, but due to time constraints and personal interest it's pretty rare.  But having a group of 6-8 hungry people at my house seems like the perfect opportunity to bake.  It should be noted here too that a couple of the guests are vegan, so I try to accommodate them.

I'm pretty much in love with bread, which is wrong is so many ways, and had the hankering to make scratch Potato bread.  I used this recipe, which was the only one I could find that actually used potato instead of potato flakes.

Vegan Butter - looks a lot like regular butter

I'm not really sure how vegan butter exists but it does.  I also learned that Vegetable Shortening would have also been an okay substitute for butter.

The batch was two big for one pan, but as you can see a little small for two.  

The bread was a little lumpy and had a thick texture.. but good none the less.  I think I'm still learning how to use yeast properly, which may account for the texture. 

And of course -it's delicious with Jam.  

Beyond Chocolate

It's true... I've been known to be a bit of a hater when it comes to impressive displays of flowers and chocolate.    I don't ever want to feel bought, or like I need to be bought.  What makes people exciting to me is the ideas we can share and express - no expensive and showy display can ever really correct for a lack intellectual connection in my book.  It's just how I am, and I can't really "fix" it.  (Nor I have I thought it needed fixing)


However, this disposition, has some unintended affects.   One of which being, I can be unappreciative of romantic gestures.  (Even though I like romance, I'm just not about to fall for something I've deemed "silly" or canned).  A wild display of chocolate and flowers by a hopeful soul last year was not met with my interest (and the longer version of this makes for a very good tale indeed).  


So I tell you all this, so you know that when I say "I was swept away by my Valentine" this year... it really means something.  


Tony took me to a phenomenal restaurant downtown called Oceanaire, which is special for at least two reasons  1)because Tony really dislikes driving downtown Minneapolis (and he did) and 2) it specializes in seafood, which is my favorite.  


And now, let me allow the photos to do the talking.  

Jumbo Shrimp Crab Cake

Capresse Salad

Scallops and Lamb (Love!)

Mashed Potato Heaven

Asparagus with Hollandaise (that was beyond all reason good)

Crab

Banana Cream Pie 

Feeling Special

 To top off the evening Tony took me to a live comedy show - and we laughed until we thought we wouldn't be able to breathe anymore.  I used to see stand-up comics more often, and have been wishing to do that again; I guess someone was listening ;)

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Have you ever had a date night worth raving about?


If you have been, do you like live stand-up comedy? If not, do you think you would?

V-day 5K

This Saturday Tony and I participated in the Valentine's Day 5K put on by Twin Cities in Motion.  It was Tony's first 5K and what an thrilling and chilling day it was.

Waiting in the car to stay warm before the race starts

It was a frigid 1 degree when we woke up the morning of the race.  COLD.  It did warm up to a balmy 3 degrees before we ran.

Tony's look here expresses how I was feeling

I have to say it was one of those races where I thought twice about going, but I didn't want Tony to catch wind of it so I tried to project lots of outward enthusiasm.  

Ready to run

 There is a tradition at this race of wearing sign that display your relationship status.  I made my own unaware that they have them there, but kept them because ours are pretty cute and fun.

Add caption

Truth is we walked more in this race than I normally do, but that's okay - it's still good to get out there.  Our time was still relatively solid: about 46:30, and we weren't last (for some reason Tony was worried).  We also did another thing I don't normally do in races which is skip - between the "taken" signs and skipping I think we made a pretty goofy looking pair.   

Run Friends: Sara and Ann

At the end of the race, I caught up with a couple of running buddies - it's a little cliche but I think it's true what they say Women (and men I suppose) from Minnesota are tough - who else would run in 3 degrees?

Have you ever ran in the "extreme" cold?

11 Things

I've been TAGGED! by Kat at Tenaciously Yours  Woot.  I'm excited because it's fun, and also because I need to refuel the blog a little here. 

Okay so the deal is I share ... 11 things about me. ... answer 11 questions posed at me and then pose 11 questions at others.  

11 things about me

1.  I'm the proud owner of this bright pink coat and I have to say that I get positive comments on it all the time.  The interesting thing is that I literally found it hanging outside in the street (by the trash) in my neighborhood.  

oh bonus: bf pic!

2.  I'm kind-of sort-of addicted to Taco Bell.  Umm... Cheesaritos? and by kind-of sort-of I mean very. 

3.  I've done a lot things and partaken in a lot of activities that are commonly dominated by men.  (Engineering degree, I teach math, downhill ski, video games... to name a few).  I'm not particularly tomboyish, so I guess this kind of baffles me. 

4.  If I didn't have to do the thing where I pay bills and grow up... I would seriously consider being an eternal student.  For now, I'm settling on being an eternal learner (oh, and I'm fortunate enough to work at a school). 

5.  The Handmaids Tale is perhaps the best book I've ever read, and hence Margaret Atwood one of my favorite authors

6. I can be annoyingly technical, and I have a bad habit of correcting people on details.  You say it cost $8, I'll be sure to let you know it was actually $7.95.  I'm also good for the exact time, the exact temperature, and the right pronunciation.  (However, I'm not good enough at grammar myself to correct people on that)

7.  I love my cats way too much for me to ever be normal. 

Sugar interacting with the TV

8.  I'm a huge geek and watch way too much geeky stuff (LOTR, StarTrek: TNG....) .  Bonus points for being able to name the show above.  

9.  When I'm not vegging out on geek-dom, I like the Food Network (and Top Chef, which is on Bravo)

10.  Despite 8 and 9 I actually think of myself as outdoorsy, even did a stint in winter camping once.

11.   While I'm an unfortunately picky eater, there are some simple foods (made right) that I fold for every time.  buttered bread, Coffee and cream, mac and cheese, yellow corn, Mexican rice... others too.  

Now, questions for me! 

1. Are you a shoe person or a purse person?  Shoes, for sure.  I have too many to count, plus if you add running shoes, ski boots, rock climbing shoes and other specialty foot wear - the expense and the amount really add up.  Purses - on the other hand.  I have one that I use and it's a clearance item from Target that I've had for over a year or more. 
2. What’s your favorite scent?  Coffee and Chocolate combined 
3. Cloth napkins or paper towels? Probably cloth, but admit ably use paper towel for convenience purposes.  
4. Your house is burning down.  What three non-living things do you grab and why?  Of the top of my head - SmartPhone (access to so much),  The Complete FarSide (would be super difficult to replace),  and my cooking knives.  Everything else feels pretty replacable, or impossible to grab like china. 
5. Would you ever admit to having road rage? Ok, I wouldn't, but I seriously don't have road rage.  No, seriously! 
6. Have you ever purchased something off of Etsy?  If so, what?  And was it fabulous?  Or was it a Regretsy? Oddly enough, I have not, but spent a lot of time browsing there.  
7. If you could take one news station off of the air, what would it be? FoxNews
8. How would you rate yourself on a scale of one to crafty?  We assume that rickrack is somewhere in the middle.  I'll give myself a 6, I really really like crafts, and have managed to make some interesting knick-knacks, but I seem to lack just enough time and skill to get any better.  
9. What’s your standard drink order at a restaurant?  Chardonnay 
10. Share your definition of the perfect home-cooked meal.  Bonus points if you share recipes too.  I think anything with rice probably ranks pretty high.  However, I would add - Potato Sausage from a specific place in the UP (upper michigan) is probably number one.  Add in a freshly made buttered dinner role and I'm in heaven.  
11. Plaid: Do you wear it ironically, because it’s comfortable or never? I own some, but those skirts are too small right now(and may be that way forever), but I guess I must like plaid enough to keep those items around.  

Now, questions for you! 

1. Do you think those personality tests have validity, or is it racket?
2. Are you an audio-book reader? Why or Why not?
3. Do you have a favorite protein?
4. Half-Priced-Books?  Yes or No
5. Are you a numbers person?
6. Pick One. Arranged Marriage or Permanent state of singlehood
7. If you could do any job - what would it be? (money or market don't matter)
8. How long can you hold your breath?
9. Do you speak (or sort of speak) any foreign languages ?
10. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life - what would it be? (assume nutrition is irrelevant here)
11. Do you hate the dentist?

The following should consider themselves tagged!


Cats-with-Cats


Healthy in the Making


Dream Strive Succeed


Toccando Il Cielo


Up and Running


And if you are not tagged, feel free to answer the questions in the comments or on your blog (which you should link to in the comments)

Mexican Lasagna

The inspiration for this recipe comes from the Healthy Tipping Point blog, but it's fair to say it's mostly my own.  

Brown ground meat, I choose turkey.  I seasoned it with garlic salt, cumin, paprika and cilantro.  Mix in 8oz can of tomato paste thoroughly.  Then add fresh diced tomato (1 - 2), or just use one (15oz) can of diced.    

Spread the meat layer in the bottom of a casserole dish, then layer with tortilla shells.  

Next Layer is 2 cans of re-fried beans.   I chose a combination of re-fried black and pinto.   

Another layer of tortillas.

Next layer is Mexican rice, which you can create however you chose.  I've made Mexican rice a few different ways, but in this case I just deglazed the same pan I cooked the meat in with about 1/2 cup water and sauteed in a red pepper.  Later added 2 cups cooked rice (1 cup uncooked).  A pretty basic version.  I then topped everything with a sprinkle of cheese.  Then bake at 350 to 375 degrees until cheese is melted, about 20 mins.  

  

This dish got a gold star from the boyfriend and was super delicious.  This version made a huge volume, so perfect for leftovers during the week.  

Good Day

Good Coffee

I knew when I signed up for the One Breath, One Step event I was it was going to be well worth the money spent (Especially since I got a great deal!).  It was a full morning filled with powerful speakers and they really got me to think.

They also got me to cry, to laugh, and reflect.  

Good Agenda

I was thinking a lot about strength.  I was reminded that I've been strong through a lot.  Needless to say, going through a divorce and changing careers over a short period of time can be really rough.  I was thankful that a lot that was behind and that I have had so many chances to grow.  Running and becoming more active have been a big part of that.

Someone there (a guest) said that for period of their life they were just surviving.  Now they are reviving and in the future they hope to thrive.  I can see that cycle in my own life, and I honestly see myself thriving in the future.  I think in all these cycles it takes strength.  Strength to survive, strength to revive and even strength to thrive.

Good Speakers

As I go through this process, I feel that I'm rising up out of a dark place.  I feel good about my direction, and that I'm beginning to get my life.  One speaker, Phil had this to say "when you are rising up, don't forget to reach down" meaning that we aren't just here in this life for our own self-absorption.  Once we find our strength, we need to pass the good stuff around.  

Good Friends

I'm not quite sure what it will mean in my life to "reach out"... but I have some ideas.  Some ideas are grand and complex and need to be processed and mulled over.  However, some ideas are simpler, perhaps reaching out  means making sure to ask a friend how they are doing, or sharing a good meal, or inviting old and new friends over to enjoy company and conversation or even just giving off some positive energy (a smile or a friendly hello!).

Good-ies

Going Vegan for a Night

In an effort to be more environmentally conscious and humane we have been trying to eat a little less meat around her even though it's not our natural bent.  Some vegetarian meals have actually become standard fare: - like a favorite of ours: breakfast burritos, a flexible recipe which I should share soon.   That being said our diet is not often vegan-esque.

A couple good friends of our however, choose to be Vegans or eat vegan 100% of the time (or whatever the most proper way to say this is).  As someone who enjoys having people over and cooking a nice meal - I saw it as my duty to learn to cook this way.  I also thought it would be a lot of fun.  In the past for parties I've been sure to include a few sides, but this was my first time cooking a "full meal."  I also feel  it necessary to add that my vegan friends never asked me to do this, and are incredibly accommodating about their diet preferences.  Not that they need to be so much, but this is certainly their disposition and I think they would appreciate me saying so.      

   

To prepare, I had spotted the some books books at Half-Price-Books (a truly wonderful place) and thought they might be of assistance.  I don't buy recipe books too often, what with the internet and all, but Everything Vegan was full of nice colorful pictures as well as tips and tricks.  I'm fairly unfamiliar with vegan proteins such as Tempeh, Tofu and Seitan, so I wanted some tips!

Tempeh

Together we choose to cook the Thai Golden Curry (Chappell 152), because who doesn't love curry? (seriously? who?) and we have worked with Tempeh once before. (early in our dating days we made a meal for a similar group of friends).  Legally, I don't feel comfortable sharing the exact of the recipes with you, but I can describe it as a creamy (coconut milt) fruity (mango) mix.  It was certainly a curry, but in a future version I would amp up the savory elements of this dish and probably add a little more salt.  

Thai Golden Curry

I also grabbed Betty Crocker's Indian Home Cooking, because the boyfriend loves him some Indian food.  Also, there we lots of pictures and the recipes seemed to be simple enough to follow, but still relatively authentic (or at least not much dumping sauces from jars).  Indians recipes tend to be vegetarian and often vegan as well.

We choose Potatoes with Cauliflower (Iyer 148).  It was a flavorful blend of classic Indian spices such as Coriander, cumin and turmeric.  Also, a little ginger and watercress... ingredients I don't often come by.  Tomatoes too, and what would a meal be without tomatoes.

One aspect I really like about this dish was much less heavy tasting than "similar dishes" I've had at restaurants.  I'm not sure what would account for that exactly, but I think it's worth noting.

Potatoes with Cauliflower

I also made a batch of Naan - using soy creamer instead of soy milk as the link suggests.

Naan

My Plate

The best part about Indian food is the mixing it all together on your plate.

Thoughts:
-A "real meal" can be a vegan meal food can be hearty and filling... I often think kale and pine nuts when I think "vegan", but this was flavorful, hearty and satisfying.
-Buying cookbooks isn't completely outdated, I enjoyed having these useful guides to help me venture out of my typical and familiar culinary playground