Cinnamon Rolls? Umyesplease.

It was inevitable. Once I got a stand mixer, I sort of, kind of, definitely had to make homemade cinnamon rolls. A difficult, time-consuming recipe that I've always been a little freaked out to try, but thanks to my LIFE CHANGING Kitchenaid Stand Mixer, I felt a little more at ease diving into the recipe. I, of course, used Pioneer Woman's recipe for Cinnamon Rolls, but didn't use her icing - I just wasn't really digging maple flavored icing. So I found an amazing recipe on All Recipes, a cream cheese laden, thick gooey icing recipe.

I made the dough the night before - that was easy enough...the mixer worked like a DREAM, it was quiet, efficient, and got the job done perfectly - sort of like the traits I'd want in a man.

The next morning, I finished up the recipe. I'll admit, it did take a LONG time, a long time that I was wondering if the whole process was actually worth it in.....but, of course, it was. They turned out perfect - gooey, 6,346 calorie laden buns filled with buttery, cinnamon-y goodness, topped with a "Oh my gosh, I don't care if this exceeds my weekly caloric limit" cream cheese-y frosting.

All in all, a GREAT recipe, one I would definitely make again, and DEFINITELY recommend to everyone. I would also recommend getting on your treadmill immediately following consumption of these rolls, and running for a very, very, very long time....or just accept the fact that you will gain 20 pounds after eating these, and call it a day, like I did.

Dinner Party For Three

I just love throwing dinner parties. I throw them a few times a month, actually. Elaborately planned out, exquisite events, worthy of full page spreads in the finest culinary magazines of the world.

Actually, thats a really big lie . My 'dinner parties' are far, far from this. But that doesn't make them any less wonderful. They usually consist of me, my sweetheart, my very best friend, and my cat. They are full of 'buffet style' food served and eaten around my coffee table, with candles and wine glasses scattered throughout the living room, and a great soundtrack of Moulin Rouge music in the background ...but nevertheless, I think we all have a wonderful time, and I wouldn't trade in my little 'dinner party' family for anything!

Here's some of my concoctions I've whipped up at the past few 'parties'!

Pork Picatta - a modified Giada De Laurentiis Chicken Picatta recipe - she used thin cut chicken cutlets, I used thin cut pork cutlets. Practically the same thing, right?

PS - I breaded my pork in breadcrumbs/parm. cheese, and beaten egg to give it a nice, thick crust. Try it!

BBQ Jalapeno Poppers -

I deemed this dinner "A Little Bit of Everything". We've got bruschetta, deviled eggs, and BBQ Jalapeno Poppers by The Pioneer Woman. Oh boy, could I go on and on about these jalapenos - they are SO good. These are something you just have to try to believe. They were a little intimidating at first - I was filled with this overwhelming fear of squirting pepper juice in my eye and becoming permanently blind and having to explain to people how it happened and being deeply embarrassed....but thankfully, I was fine, no juice was squirted, and my eyeballs are still intact.

Chicken With Olives - (also by the beloved Pioneer Woman) - this is a GREAT entertaining dish. It was cheap to prepare (chicken wings and drumsticks are always decently priced!), easy to make, and had some really beautiful colors going on too. Over a bed of pasta...it rocked our socks off. Really. The chicken, and a great Caesar Salad with homemade dressing made for a a really rockin' night.

Smile and Enjoy The Little Things!

Sometimes the littlest things can cheer up a troubled heart....a homemade Pecan Pie, fresh flowers in the middle of winter.

We may not be Jewish, but durnnit, we love our Lox and Bagels.

Not much to report, except N and I were craving Lox and Bagels something fierce, so I put together a creative little smorgasbord featuring lox, bagels, and everything else we could ever want on our lox and bagels.

The End.

Home For The Holidays

Christmas Morning breakfast at the parents house - above, see a super amazing Ham, Asparagus & Cheese Strata, courtesy of Better Homes and Garden magazine. (No, I don't subscribe, I swear. My Mom does. Really). That, and a Citrus/Toasted Coconut salad that only took about 6 h0urs to make, and despite being REALLY, REALLY good...no salad should take 6 hours to make, so that recipe will not be passed along. Thankyouforunderstanding.

Oh, and no family breakfast is complete without booze....so we threw some Mimosa's in there, as well. (With locally made sparkling wine, may I add). It was a wonderful, boozy brunch and day. And night.

Ohhhhh, Thanksgiving Day. Oh yes. You are truly my favorite food holiday. I think about you all year and anxiously await all your carbilicious amazing-ness. This year, as I have for the past few years, I took over most of the cooking duties (except for the turkey and stuffing, of course. That will remain Mom territory for as long as she willingly will let it be). We had a true feast. Delicious Brined Turkey. Herb and Sausage Stuffing. Mashed Potatoes (literally MOUNTAINS of them, check out the bowl in the far right corner of the picture!), Sauteed Fresh Green Beans and Mushrooms, Sweet Potato Casserole, Corn Casserole, Homemade Cranberry Orange Relish, and of course Pie. A super yummy Turtle Pumpkin Pie....

It was all fantastic. As was the day. And the company. And the 37 pounds I gained by that night. Lovely.