Kitchen Gadget Girl

With the new school year upon us, my daughter and I decided that each week we would bake a new cookie together. According to the papers I received from school yesterday, it is a great idea to cook with your kids, as it works on exciting math skills like fractions and measuring. Personally, I don’t care as long as the final product is good! This week, we made Banana-Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies, starting from a recipe from my new Martha Stewart’s Cookies book (which I love, love, love!). Here is our cookie:

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This was not really a traditional dinner party, in the sense that we did not all sit around the table. But we did eat the same thing, Sweet and Sour Cabbage with Smoked Pork Chops. Why, you ask, did we not eat together?

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Last week, my friend Becca emailed looking for a recipe that would use the Trader Joe’s Puff Pastry and green apples that she had on hand. She was looking for something sweet and quick. I turned to the Food Blog Search, organized by Elise at Simply Recipes, with help from Kayln and Alanna. In no time at all, I found recipes for Apple Tart from Cerrus & Bacchus, and No Cinnamon Apple Turnovers from Tasty Palette. Quick and easy, and each recipe included pictures. Try it next time you are looking for a new recipe!

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Because we are going out of town, and because I am not fond of returning to a refrigerator full of spoiled veggies, I decided to cook my way through our CSA box last night. We were headed out to a BBQ with friends, and I thought I would bring enough veggie dishes to satisfy us all. This is what I did with my box:

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Now that you have brought together all your supplies and have your fruit, it is time to make some jam. Best to set aside at least 3-4 hours, so we aren’t rushing anything. Here we go!

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I was e-chatting with my new friend Button Willow the other day (she has designed some great stickers, BTW), and we got to talking about Limoncello. This Italian liqueur is my new favorite activity, as it is easy and fun to make, plus makes a great impression. Here, I share with you two recipes for Limoncello, one that began as a recipe from Sunset Magazine. Since it takes 80 days to make, start sometime this summer and you will have gifts in place for the holidays!

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Remember on Sunday, when I told you about the big box o’organic strawberries from CostCo? Well, turns out, if you don’t eat them quickly, they kind of turn to mush. So, we are racing against time, and tonight’s recipe is just one way I am using them:

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In yesterday’s post, I suggested an orzo pasta salad with shrimp served in 1/2 an avocado. Elaine requested the recipe, so here it is. The salad can be modified many ways - use chicken instead of shrimp, add olives, green/yellow/orange bell peppers, currants, whatever you would like. The original recipe came from The Frog Commissary Cookbook. Hope you enjoy!

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Last night, I craved BBQ chicken and baked beans, and since I have been sick for the last week and only started feeling better yesterday, that is exactly what we had. The bean recipe turned out great, here it is for your enjoyment.

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Since watermelon may increase your libido, I thought a drink using this licopene rich fruit was in order. Starting with a recipe I found in Everyday Food, I designed this summer drink to use an overripe watermelon and an over abundance of limoncello. Hope you enjoy! (more…)

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