Macarons

A friend made some wonderful macarons for a shower recently, and when asked for the recipe, sent a link to this video that had step by step instructions on how to make macarons.  I wrote down the ingredients, then deleted the email without writing down the instructions.

Usually I can figure out a recipe from just the ingredients - cream butter and sugar, add eggs, etc., but this one was more complex.  And I couldn't find the original link.  But then, I found this one from Martha Stewart that has the same quantity of ingredients (71 g almonds; 117 g sugar, etc.) so I'm assuming that the link was either from the Martha Stewart site, or Martha had someone help with the recipe, or something along those lines.

I'm posting the link so I don't lose it again. . . .plan to post the recipe, steps, etc. when I get a chance.

How to review a book

I forget where I found this, but I wanted to keep it.  In case,  you know,  I actually have time to read something.  And then have time to review it. . . .

1.) What did I like about the book? Was it funny? Did it make me cry? Did I like a character? Was it really interesting? Did I learn something new? Even if all the book did was make you feel good, then that’s what you right. It was a fun, relaxing read. It really brought an issue to life. Things like that. You can write about two sentences. If you’re having a hard time thinking of something specific, close your eyes and think of the book. The scenes that leap to mind are probably what you liked best about it. And unless they’re the end, you can describe those scenes. If you really liked how the book ended, just say that because we all know spoilers are no fun.

2.) What didn’t I like about the book? Was it hard to read? Did a character really get on your nerves? We’re none of us perfect, so if there’s a small flaw, you may want to note it.

3.) How did the book make me feel overall? Was I satisfied? Did I want more? Did something feel left out? Was the book relaxing? Intellectually stimulating? Just plain silly? So wonderfully sad, I can’t stop crying?

Answer those three questions and the next thing you know, you’ve written a review.

Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Buttermilk Slaw and Herbed Mayo

Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Buttermilk Slaw and Herbed Mayo

Yield: 4 Servings

For the chicken:

• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce (preferably Tabasco)
• Kosher salt
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken cutlets (about 1 pound)
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons mixed chopped fresh herbs (such as basil, chives, and/or tarragon)
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 large eggs
• Canola oil (for frying)
• 4 potato rolls (preferably Martin's)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature/

For the buttermilk slaw:

• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• Kosher salt
• 1/4 small green cabbage, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
• 1 medium carrot, peeled, coarsely grated

• Prep the chicken:
• Combine buttermilk, hot sauce, and 2 tsp. salt in a large, shallow bowl. Add chicken, cover, and chill 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise and herbs in a small bowl; cover and chill until ready to use.
• Place cornstarch in a shallow baking dish. Combine flour, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, black pepper, and 1 1/2 tsp. salt in another shallow baking dish. Lightly beat eggs in a shallow bowl. Remove chicken from buttermilk mixture and dredge in cornstarch, shaking off excess. Dip in egg mixture, letting excess drip back into bowl, then coat in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Repeat for a second coating. Place chicken on a lightly floured sheet tray; chill at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour.
• Make the Buttermilk Slaw:
• Whisk buttermilk, mayonnaise, vinegar, pepper, honey, and 1 tsp. salt in a medium bowl. Add cabbage and carrot and toss to combine.
• Fry the chicken:
• Pour oil into a heavy-duty pot to a depth of 3/4" and fit pot with deep-fry thermometer. Heat oil over medium-high until thermometer registers 350°F. Reduce heat to medium, then fry chicken pieces, two at a time and turning occasionally, until crispy and golden and the internal temperature registers 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt.
• Assemble the sandwiches:
• Spread rolls on cut sides with butter. Heat a large skillet over medium. Working in batches, cook rolls, buttered side down, until browned and crisp, about 1 minute.
• Spread one side of bun with herbed mayonnaise. Build each sandwich with chicken, pickles, 1/4 cup slaw, and remaining bun. Serve remaining slaw alongside.

More links. . . .

Doughnuts. . .

Old Fashioned Sour Cream Doughnuts

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts



Copy Cat recipes
Barbecue Pizza, Cheese Bread, Pretzels, Chimichangas . . . . .

For a slow afternoon when I'm looking for something to make.

Random Links

How to make garlic bread from scratch

A Grilled Cheese Sandwich That's Cheesy Inside and Out

DIY Breakfast which include links to making homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Another Pizza Pocket Recipe

Homemade Cocoa Puffs which is off the What Should I eat for Breakfast Today site which sounds interstin'

Lunches

A link to 30 days of lunches:
http://www.peanutblossom.com/blog/2013/08/lunchbox-recipes.html/

A bunch o' links

I've been collecting links. . . . finally figured I'd post 'em all instead of leaving them in an email. . . . . with the idea that at some point I'll use them / consolidate them / do something with 'em. . . . .


Chicken Recipes
. . . . . .for one day I'm looking for something different to fix. . .

http://cafejohnsonia.com/2012/05/cilantro-citrus-chicken.html
http://theviewfromgreatisland.com/2012/02/minimal-monday-chicken-roasted-with-black-olives.html
http://damndelicious.net/2014/11/15/southwest-buttermilk-baked-chicken/
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/lemon-chicken-1266
http://damndelicious.net/2014/12/31/lemon-butter-chicken/

KAF King's Hawaiian Roll

A book that sounds interesting. . . .about a Shepherd. . . 

Slow cooker Mac & Cheese

Grilled Salmon Tacos with Avocado Salsa

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

S'mores and more S'mores


Cupcake recipes (need to combine / figure out which sounds best for M's birthday)
Salted Caramel
http://www.food.com/recipe/salted-cream-cheese-caramel-frosting-475015
http://hugsandcookiesxoxo.com/2012/07/caramel-of-my-dreams.html
http://www.barefeetinthekitchen.com/2013/03/salted-caramel-frosting-recipe.html
http://karinscupcakeadventure.blogspot.com/2011/05/heath-bar-cupcakes-with-salted-caramel.html

Strawberry
http://onesweetappetite.com/strawberry-swiss-meringue-buttercream/
http://www.cookingclassy.com/2014/06/strawberry-cupcakes-strawberry-buttercream-frosting/

Drinks
Raspberry Lemonade
Watermelon Lemonade

Bike Trail Links

Noonday Creek Trail
http://tcacid.com/noonday-creek-multi-use-trail/7

Mountain Bike Trails:

http://www.sorbawoodstock.org

http://sorbawoodstock.org/olde-rope-mill-park/
http://www.sorbaatlanta.org/
http://www.rambo-mtb.org

Roswell Alpharetta Mountain Bike Organization
http://www.atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails/a-getaway-close-to-home-sope-creek/
 
Elsewhere in the South:
http://www.sorba.org

Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association

Paved
http://www.silvercometga.com
http://www.bigcreekgreenway.com

A few links . . .

Started looking for ways to serve cabbage . . . .

Curried Cabbage
Grilled Cabbage
+ the comment about using the leftovers in fish tacos . . .
Turkey Enchiladas
Panzanella

Delia --

http://www.deliaonline.com

Plain Scones

English Muffins

Crumpets

Plus from my inbox . . .

Copper Pennies

1 pound carrots
cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon 1 tsp. brown sugar ½ tsp. apple cider vinegar 1 Tbsp.butter water enough to cover halfway salt Wash carrots and cut into 1/2 inch rounds. Place in pan with enough water to cover them about halfway, a sprinkle of salt, a piece of cinnamon stick (or light sprinkle of cinnamon) and a smidge of brown sugar(the brown sugar is almost an aromatic here; maybe it's psychological, but it's more caramely if I add even a 1/4 tsp of brown sugar...)
Simmer til tender, but not soft. Drain, keeping the liquid. Put the carrots in bowl and cover. Return liquid to pan, with cinnamon stick and gently boil until reduced to a few spoonfuls and slightly thickened. Remove cinnamon stick (if applicable), add a few drops of cider vinegar (maybe 1/4-1/2 tsp), the merest of hints of cold butter and swirl to combine. Return carrots to pan and toss quickly to glaze. Serve warm (immediately) or let sit on counter for up to six hours and serve at room-temperature. Keeps chilled for a few days

Links. . . .

A bunch o' recipe links:

How to make a Chick-fi-a Sandwich at home:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/07/the-food-lab-how-to-make-a-chick-fil-a-sandwich-at-home.html?ref=obinsite

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/11/chocolate-peanut-butter-cupcakes-buttercream-recipe.html

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/06/strawberry-shortcake-cupcakes-recipe.html

Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes:
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/01/chocolate-raspberry-cupcakes-recipe.html

Radio Plays

http://www.artc.org/topic/podcast/

Playing with your food:

http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d21f4cde24b4f812f156d3b52&id=88c3b2efd1&e=b8a6616bba

Summer Reading Book List suggestions:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/27/living/anna-quindlen-raising-readers/index.html?hpt=hp_bn11

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/book-lists-and-recommendations/ages-8-10

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/835.Books_for_eight_year_old_children

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/book-lists-and-recommendations/ages-8-10

 http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/book-list/more-book-lists/book-every-type-ages-8-10

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cake

http://makebakecelebrate.com/reese-cup-cake/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvBJcjqhlPs

More Recipe Links

Various recipe links. . . . .

http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/snack/other-snack/half-sour-pickles-deli-style.html

http://eartheasy.com/blog/category/healthy-home/

http://www.burpee.com/vegetables/tomatoes/all-about-tomatoes-article10033.html

http://www.deepsouthdish.com/2012/07/blackberry-preserves.html

http://southern.food.com/recipe/homemade-blackberry-jam-40235

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2014/02/04/chocolate-chip-peanut-butter-cheesecake-ball/

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2014/02/06/healthy-chocolate-lava-cake/

http://www.skinnymom.com/2014/01/05/skinny-pineapple-salsa-chicken/

http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/04/thai-chicken-enchiladas/

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2013/12/27/pistachio-chocolate-truffles/

http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/808094/noodle-dishes-from-around-the-world

More KAF Links. . . .

More recipe links from KAF!

Heavenly Healthy Banana Bread
Whole-grain pizza crust
Barbecued Chicken Pizza
Cupcakes with Bubble Sugar
Baked Zucchini Sticks
Blueberry Breakfast Cake
Nanaimo Bars
Cast Iron Pizza 

I think I'll try the zucchini sticks for supper - maybe with burgers?  Sliders?  The banana bread I've made before, and despite having whole wheat flour in it, it's really tasty (maybe the brown sugar and honey has something to do with that?). I've also mande Nanaimo Bars, but there's a couple of tweaks in this recipe I'd like to try.

I'm more interested in the Bubble Sugar than the Cupcakes - looks really cool!  When it's a bit cooler, I'll probably try the pizza recipes.  The whole-grain one uses roasted potatoes as demo pizza topping.  And I love potatoes on pizza!  Especially if there's some nice rosemary to go with it!

For the rest of the week. . . I'm thinking a fish dish one day (tilapia for the kids; coho salmon for the parents), spaghetti (leftover sauce from last week's lasagna), maybe some Chicken Calypso with island peas and rice or Scallops with creamy bacon corn sauce (both Publix Apron recipes; typically, Publix's recipes use too much prepared stuff,  but if you can substitute something with less salt or additives, they're not bad).

Links

I've been keeping a bunch of emails, just to keep the recipe links in them. But that's what this is is for. . . .

A couple from KAF:

Doughnuts!
Favorite Fudge Birthday Cake

In other news. . . . swam a mile yesterday. I was planning on swimming a half mile . . .then decided 1000 yards. . . .then decided 1000 didn't sound nearly as good as 3/4 mile. . . then figured go ahead and go for the full mile. . . .