WHAT'S COOKIN' Halloween Week? *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

[Phentex]

I'm usually well into stews and soups by now and I have made a few. But the weather is so nice, we're still taking advantage of the grill. My bread making has resumed, though, now that I don't have to worry about passing out in the kitchen.

I hosted book club this past week and made a bunch of dips and spreads. However, I was really in a rush and when I tasted my veggie/dill dip, it seemed to lack flavor. Of course, I upped the ante with a bunch of garlic and a little dash of this and a little dash of that. I stirred it up and moved on.

Later, I wondered why it was the least eaten of everything I made. :blush:

HOLY COW - WHAT DID I DO? It was pungent. And pretty much inedible. It had a sour cream and mayo base and I should have known the flavors needed time to develop. That's my scary contribution of the week.

Oh I also realized you can't really halve a pumpkin dip recipe. The pumpkin is too pumkiny so I ended up adding the second block of cream cheese and following the full recipe. Luckily, the termite teens had no problem polishing it off with sliced apples.

[grasswire]

1. pumpkin dip?

do tell

[Phentex]

9. It's pretty basic...

cream cheese, pumpkin, powdered sugar, some spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg

The real recipe is

2 blocks of cream cheese
2 c powdered sugar
1 can pumpkin
2 t cinnamon
1 t ginger

cream until fluffy... but you can add what you like. Some people like a little brown sugar (maybe half and half with the powdered sugar). I serve it with apples and gingersnaps.

[Denninmi]

2. At least it should keep you safe from vampires!

;-)

[Phentex]

10. True. I think I could blow fire with my breath!

I hate that I served something inedible!

[Tesha]

3. Fall means we can bake again!!!

Mmm fresh bread - oh and those cook all day stews and soups. Its actually been cold enough to enjoy holding a steaming hot bowl!


I'm trying to come up with a fun menu for Halloween - its going to be oxtail stew for the grownups - but what for the 6 and 8 year old boys???

[Phentex]

11. Chili?

Or hotdogs shaped like octopus?

Mine like soups ads stews but they are older.

[grasswire]

21. I used to serve kids chili, and carrot-raisin salad

The "black" and orange of the carrot raisin salad was cool, and chili just seems to go with Halloween IMO. Cornbread muffins, and you've got a meal.

[Tesha]

24. great idea... thanks (nt)

[hippywife]

4. I'm back in the kitchen today.

Since about 3:30 this afternoon, I've made:

a loaf of artisan bread (mixed enough dough only for one loaf. Don't ask me why.)

A double batch of these muffins: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/simply-sinful-cinnamon-muffins-recipe

a fresh tomato sauce and angel hair pasta with salad for dinner

a batch of molasses cookies: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Molasses-Cookies/Detail.aspx

All of the dishes are washed and I'm pooped out.

:hi:

[Phentex]

12. MMM... sounds good!

Suddenly we had rain move in and humidity and HEAT! Looks like I can bake bread again on Friday, lol.

[hippywife]

18. Both the muffins and the cookies

are to die for. The muffins require a lot of dirty dishes if you do a mise en place, which is almost required for them.

I know Bill is glad when I bake a loaf. I try not to do it to often any more just because I don't think we really need that much bread. But we were having spaghetti, so you need the bread to mop up the sauce, even though it is totally unnecessary alongside the pasta, ya know?

Happy baking! :hi:

[yellerpup]

Smiling & moppin' up sauce!

I can picture that! :pals:

[yellerpup]

20. OOPS! Dupe!

:blush:

[Blues Heron]

5. lovin' this cooler weather

but I've been slacking off in the kitchen lately, hitting the sub shop for those steak and cheese grinders.... heh... but today I got a nice head of broccoli from the farmers market and did up a stir fry

one onion cut into strips
one big clove garlic chopped
piece of ginger peeled and chopped finely
small head broccoli cut up, stem peeled and sliced
sauteed onion, garlic, ginger in oil
added broccoli, added a dash of sesame oil
sauteed 5 min
added couple good dashes of mirin (seasoned rice wine)
sauteed covered 5min
added couple good dashes soy sauce
added one dried hot red chilli, de-seeded
let steam 5 min

served w/ rice

came out pretty good, everything balanced, broccoli cooked but not overcooked, nice subtle heat from the hot pepper... :)

[Phentex]

13. I need to stir fry again...

been a while. We ordered takeout last week and while I love it, I am reminded I could make it myself for much less! (Probably not as tasty but good anyway.)

[yellerpup]

6. This week I'm baking cookies for the homeless.

We have an outreach in our village called Midnight Run that takes sack lunches and socks into NYC to distribute to the homeless. When they first started they used to make weekly runs, but now with so many more people living on the streets (and with so much more public support) they are making runs now every night. I started baking cookies to slip into the bags years ago at Christmas because I feel that everyone deserves someone's best effort at Christmas time. Of course, there is no reason to make it a once-a-year contribution. I'm baking oatmeal cookies with the leftover sugar from my last batch of candied ginger and that adds an inscrutable something special to the taste. Good cookies and clean socks should bring a smile to a few faces!

Last night's menu for the home front was Thai Shrimp marinated in a tamarind-based marinade, coconut rice, and steamed bok-choy. Really delicious! :hi:

[Phentex]

14. That's great!

My son and I were watching Thintervention and one of the guys said he hadn't had a cookie in 6 weeks. My son sad that's just sad. I agree!

[yellerpup]

19. What a sweetheart of a boy!

Yes, it is just sad. I stocked up on cookie goodies today at Costco: 4# chocolate chips, 3# walnut pieces, 2# pecans, 3# almonds, 2# pistachios, 4# craisins, 4# butter & 10# sugar. :woohoo: I'm psyched to start baking! Give your son a hug and a virtual cookie for me! :hug:

[Lugnut]

7. Soup!

This is the last week for the local farmer's market. I picked up a huge cauliflower and some broccoli for soup. I combined both in a thick creamy cheddar broth and it's delicious.

[Phentex]

15. I love those creamy soups!

Cream of anything. :) Sometimes with bacon.

[Lugnut]

17. You just gave me an idea.

Aldi's has 5# bags of red potatoes on sale this week for $1.69. I have a ham end and some cooked bacon in the freezer. I see cream of potato soup in my future. :)

[jtuck004]

8. Polenta Lasagna

Fried sliced polenta on bottom
egg, cottage cheese (don't like ricotta), pepper, fresh garlic mozzarella mixed and spread over the polenta
chopped up italian chicken sausage in a pizza sauce from the store (I can make it, but was looking for speed)
another layer of polenta, then a layer of the sauce\chicken sausage over that
topped with paremesan then some mozzarella.

400 degree oven for 20 min, uncovered for 15.

That is one I am going to be making a bit more this winter, but time to get back to bread since it is cooler...

[Phentex]

16. Sounds yummy! I am the opposite...

I like cottage cheese for just eating but I don't like to bake with it. I don't know why.

:hi:

[tigereye]

23. that's very interesting!

[spinbaby]

22. Not much

House is all torn up with remodeling. Still haven't made the apple cake and I really, really want to.