Potato Skin Pizza

Potato Skin Pizza with Bacon and served with sour cream. The best part about this pizza is the dough! The dough is made with half white flour, half whole wheat flour and honey! This pizza is sadly not one of my specialties but if you come over and ask GD to make it, you'll be one satisfied customer. 

Bittersweet Trio

Last Saturday, my family (all the D's) and another family the S's went for a walk at Mendon Ponds Park in Rochester. Wow! What a beautiful fall day! Part of our walks adventure was to find some unique things in nature for one of the S's to bring into school. I found a beautiful vine of bittersweet and brought it back home and put in some jars on my kitchen table. I can't take credit for ripping the vine out of the wilderness but I did carry it all the way back to the car! I still have some bittersweet left...any ideas for some other crafts?

Bananas Foster & French Toast

The highlight of last weekend was on Saturday morning, when my Dad made French Toast with yogurt, bananas foster and topped with a homemade candied walnut! This was the most delicious french toast I've ever had! I think the secret of this great meal was using smaller pieces of toast and a hint of almond extract. Good job Dad! 

Dreaded Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies are one of my favorite things when I come home! Recently I made them and something went horribly wrong. They came out like flat pancakes! I couldn't figure out what was wrong so after a few trial and errors I decided to make them with an added 1 teaspoon of baking powder! That did the trick! Yummy! I wish there was still some left!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks of butter

3/4 c brown sugar

3/4 c granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 t salt

1 t vanilla

1 t baking soda

1 t baking powder

2 1/4 c bread flour

Lots of chocolate chips

Combine in the order above. Bake at 350 for 9 minutes. 

A Perfect Pairing

After watching a few episodes of the cooking series Top Chef, Papa D and I, AM started a "kitchen showdown" yesterday. It was around 5:30pm and we were ready for dinner. We decided to cook based upon the theme of the show. The show wanted the chefs to create a perfect pairing of ingredients. We began our own challenge and after a taste test, we were declared immunity and allowed to advance to the next round! 

Sundays Perfect Pairing

Pan Seared Salmon wrapped with Hickory Smoked Bacon

Parmesan Risotto 

Romaine Lettuce with Goat Cheese, Homemade Candied Walnuts, and a Balsamic Dressing 

Dessert

Pumpkin Cheesecake 

Together Crocheting

DD and I have been being very creative lately. We've both been exploring beyond the kitchen and making more than just food! Last weekend, after much trial and error DD and I tried to master the art of crochet. Despite DD's love for knitting she attempted to help me learn. With the help of this book, First Crochet by Lesley Stanfield I successfully finished a small red hat with tassels! I really feel in love with the beautiful knots from the pattern and I just started my next project! Can't wait to share! Until my next project! AM

MacIntosh-The Apple of My PIE

Macintosh is the ONLY apple for pie when baking in The RQ's kitchen, UNLESS you can find Idareds! Makes the perfect pie, every time!

Recipe:
MacIntosh or Idared Apples (6-8)
Lemon juice to toss sliced apples
Sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg
Pie Crust:
2 cups flour
2/3 cups butter
7 Tblsp water
Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then reduce to 325 for 25 minutes.

Together Knitting

Recently I (DD) crafted these hats for a dear friend whose most recent addition is a ONE "Little JS." He is most precious and now sporting his wears! And, just in time for the COLD season!