I’ve been thinking all day long about my Amy’s Tamale Verde. When I finally got to come home and eat it, it was totally worth the wait. SO good! This has got to be my favorite frozen entree ever. I like to serve with extra organic salsa and it’s always perfect. I also made a simple salad drizzled with woodstock dressing to have on the side. Yum! Last time I was at the store I also bought Amy’s Mushroom and Olive pizza and I’ve been thinking about that too…has anyone tried it? I think Ryan and I might have frozen pizzas though for dinner on Saturday night so I don’t want to ruin my pizza craving yet by indulging. Maybe next week…………..or just tomorrow! haha 🙂
Tonight in school we are making creme brulee, panna cotta, bread pudding and, hopefully, ice cream if we have time (Ryan is crazy jealous—Chef said she might make us her special peanut butter ice cream tonight)!!! I have yet to use the cool ice cream makers our school has hidden somewhere and have always wanted to. This class is turning out to be a lot of fun. I have a HUGE project due though that I will be spending all Saturday on here. I have to design my own dessert menu, cost everything out and then make two of the items for my final practical in two weeks. Here’s what I am thinking:
Hot Peach Cobbler with Lemongrass Ice Cream and Candied Basil
Peanut Butter Smores with Homemade Marshmellows, Hot Chocolate Sauce and Peanut Nougatine Crunch.
and for the kids…..
Sugar Cookie Monsters with Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies!
This is tentative because I have to see what exactly the school can get me, ingredient-wise. I wanted to do a lemon-verbena ice cream but I can’t get lemon-verbena so I’m substituting lemongrass instead. What do you think? I have to cost every ingredient out as well as the plate price and selling price so this is going to be a pretty big project. I’m going to try to get it all done here on Saturday so I can get it out of the way since I have to work all next week.
Much better than writing a thesis though, which is what I was doing a little over a year ago! 😉
I’m packing more Annie’s Bunnies for snack later because if we do get around to making ice cream it won’t be ready tonight because it has to set overnight.
ald
July 10, 2008 at 9:27 pmHi Jenna!
I love reading your blog – awesome recipe & cookbook suggestions (I am addicted to EDBV!) and you have a great attitude about food!
I love to bake and mess around with flavors myself – and was thinking would pineapple or mango cobbler work more complementary with your lemongrass ice cream & candied basil? The dish feels really thai to me and those flavors work great with thai fruits.
Your other dishes sound delicious!! Peanut Nougantine Crunch?! Sounds
divine!
Good luck!!
Justy2003
July 10, 2008 at 9:47 pmOh my, tonight’s menu sounds AWESOME! I want to come to your class! 🙂
Bread pudding is amazing and I recently had panna cotta for the first time and it was delicious as well!
I think I’d pick the PB S’more from your menu for sure! I looove s’mores (remind me of camping!) and putting peanut butter on anything always makes it better!
Sweets are definitely my weakness…I think I’d gain 20 pounds if I were a pastry chef!
BethT
July 10, 2008 at 10:00 pmI too would KILL (kill.) for a homemade s’more.
Kath
July 10, 2008 at 10:02 pmDesserts sound great! We just had to do a cost analysis in Food Comp too 🙂
polly
July 10, 2008 at 10:08 pmJenna,
You are very creative, I love it!
I am not sure if you have your back story anywhere on the blog, but where did you go to college and what was your major? I forget! I know you met Ryan in an elevator a couple years ago and the rest was history and now you’re almost done with your schooling to become a pastry chef! All very cool just curious to what your undergrad was? Maybe writing? I forget. I think you said you’d like to write cookbooks. cool!
Kristen
July 10, 2008 at 10:09 pmMy husband and I had Amy’s Mushroom & Olive pizza almost weekly during the last cold winter we spent in Nebraska. It was a weeknight lifesaver! Enjoy! 🙂
Tracy
July 10, 2008 at 10:17 pmHey Jenna! I’ve been reading your blog for several months now and love it! I was wondering if you could tell me what brand of muesli you buy and how you make it? It looks so good! I’m also wondering about wheatberries…where/what type do you buy and how do you cook with them? Sorry for the detailed questions but your food looks fab!
Sara
July 10, 2008 at 10:21 pmOh my gosh, you should make the Peanut Butter Smores with Homemade Marshmallows, Hot Chocolate Sauce and Peanut Nougatine Crunch! Those sound divine! 🙂
Emily W.
July 10, 2008 at 10:44 pmSo here’s a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.
Red Fridays.
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the ‘silent majority.’ We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.
Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of American’s supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday — and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that .. every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red.
By word of mouth, press, TV — let’s make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once ‘silent’ majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.
The first thing a soldier says when asked ‘What can we do to make things better for you?’ is ‘We need your support and your prayers.’ Let’s get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.
Nicole
July 10, 2008 at 11:23 pmI love your blog! I’ve never commented before but I felt the need to let you know.
Also, PS: I love you is the ultimate chick flick! It kept me crying the entire time (literally..the entire time).
Julz
July 10, 2008 at 11:26 pmI adore the lemongrass Idea! You could also do candied lemon zest if you wanted to, but I think the basil = perfection! Mint is always so commonly associated with freshness in desserts, but personally, I think basil adds such a different freshness! Almost a “just picked” sort of freshness if you know what I mean! Oh, by the way, I can give you my address so that you can fedex me the desserts, no problem. (I knew you were going to ask anyways, so I figured I’d just make it easier 🙂 )
Have fun at class tonight! And enjoy that ice cream!!!
Emily
July 10, 2008 at 11:43 pmWhat about blueberry frozen yogurt or something like that…i just love blueberries and peaches..so summery and i feel like it still can work with the basil? Just a thought!
Love the smores idea too!
Maureen
July 11, 2008 at 12:05 amwow, the lemongrass and basil combination sounds like perfection!
Hey Jenna, what happened to the glass of red wine with dinner thing you started last week?
Janine
July 11, 2008 at 12:52 amI think the PB S’Mores sound AMAZING! I always love any dessert that has peanut butter in it!
Erin
July 11, 2008 at 1:47 amAmy’s is SUCH a lifesaver… I don’t know if I could live life without their Split Pea Soup!!
I’m sure whatever dessert you make will be drool-worthy, as they seem to have a tendency to be… 🙂
~Erin @ “Vegan & the City”
Betsy
July 11, 2008 at 2:21 amoh. my. god. they all sound amazing. especially the smores. can you send some up to me in ny? please???
Alison
July 11, 2008 at 2:41 amJenna, it is definitely my favorite frozen dinner too! Delic! I also really like their brown rice with vegetables and tofu. Love Amy’s!
linds
July 11, 2008 at 2:41 amOh my god. Those s’mores sound like they would be the greatest creation ever. You should mail some out, I’d totally buy them 🙂
AshleyH
July 11, 2008 at 3:10 amI think your menu sounds great. I have never tried that pizza but I love the mexican casserole bowl (i think thats what its called 😉 ). You should give it a try!
jenna
July 11, 2008 at 3:54 amMaureen,
I’ve sort of been in “detox” mode after drinking wayyyyyy too much alcohol last weekend. It just hasnt been appealing!!
girlatastartup
July 11, 2008 at 4:46 amJenna,
I forgot to say “Congrats” on your externship. I can’t wait until you put out a cookbook someday!
Kat
MizFit
July 11, 2008 at 10:34 amhuh
Ive never had that amy’s before (I mean I had a bunch of em just not that one..) but if it is THINKING ABOUT BEFORE EATING worthy I have to check it out!
Miz.
Kristen
July 11, 2008 at 12:01 pmI love how you put your microwave dinners on a plate! They look so much nicer!
Natalie
July 11, 2008 at 4:22 pmI love Amy’s stuff! I actually just had the Southwestern Burrito for lunch. I haven’t tried the cheese tamale yet…but now I definitely will. Looks delicious!
Chef Erin
July 11, 2008 at 4:44 pmI just had Amy’s Mushroom and Olive pizza the other day for lunch! It was so very good- it took all my will power not to eat the whole thing in one sitting.