Happy Monday!

As most of you know, I spent last week knee-deep in the Florida countryside (yes, Florida has a countryside) amidst chickens and alligators, helping the lovely White on Rice Couple shoot the new Steamy Kitchen cookbook. The cookbook will be out in a year and….drum roll please….my hand is in one of the photos. I feel so special!

Jaden, Diane, Todd and I had an absolute blast. Todd and I were in charge of all kitchen prep and production, while Jaden and Diane styled and shot the food. Looking back, I really don’t know how we managed to make sixteen recipes the first day and thirteen the next, but somehow we did. We fueled on soy sauce, coffee, pizza, tequila and wine. Not necessarily in that order. Jaden’s blog was one of the first blogs I ever read, and it was just so cool to finally get to meet and spend time with her. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that her family is among the kindest and most generous that I’ve ever known. On the last day, after we had finished all of our work, Jaden let me play around in her kitchen and studio, which was like letting a little kid loose in a candy store. Let me tell you, that woman has a serious prop (and cookbook!) collection.

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Read the rest of Authentic Shrimp Fried Rice (395 words)

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Post tags: Asian cuisine, make-your-own-takeout, quick and easy, recipes

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Over the weekend, Adam and I took a short trip up to Mendocino, a seaside Victorian village about two hours north.

And when I say “village”, I mean village! The town was simply a row of quaint clapboard homes perched high on a cliff over the Pacific. It was like something out of a novel, with a very Cape Cod-esque feel. We both loved it!

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Read the rest of fire-pot soup (612 words)

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Post tags: Ethnic food, make your own take-out, recipes, soups, thai

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ohheywhatsupitssaturdayicantwaittogotothefarmersmarketandgoonawalkinthesunshine

Sorry.

I’ve had a little too much coffee this morning. I really shouldn’t be trusted with sharp objects. Or a blank WordPress post.

The coffee I speak of is Cuban coffee. Man, is that stuff ever S-T-R-O-N-G. I’m pretty sure one shot of cuban espresso equals, like, six cups of normal coffee.

I drink it every day. It’s amazing.

This morning I wanted to write a little “how-to” post for how I make my coffee every morning. I don’t own a coffee machine and my second French press broke six months ago (picture shattered glass + coffee all over my floor). After that, I drove myself down to the TJ Maxx and bought myself a little ten dollar stovetop espresso maker. It works like an absolute dream and now I can never, ever go back.

I found my favorite brand of espresso at Target, of all places! Growing up in South Florida, I’ve had my fair share of Cuban coffee and, in my opinion, it’s the best stuff on earth. Oh, and cafe con leche? I swoon.

To make one stroonnnnnggggggg cup o’ joe you’ll need a small stovetop espresso maker. Unscrew the bottom portion and fill it with cold water up to the bolt. Then, place the little gasket inside and fill the gasket up with ground espresso. Like so:

Be careful not to overfill the bottom portion with water or else you will have a little coffee explosion happening. Eyeball an invisible line inside right where that bolt is and don’t go over. As for the ground espresso, no need to pack. Just fill ‘er up then smooth over the top with a spoon or butter knife.

Then, screw the top on and add a spoonful of sugar inside.

Close the lid, place it on the stove and you’re in business. Crank the heat to medium high and in about six minutes, you’ll hear the most beautiful noise on earth: your cafe cubano gurgling and bubbling up through the percolator.

You’ll thank me later.

Mmmmmmmm pour into your favorite little mug or espresso cup and drink.it.down. It’s going to be strong! You can add a little milk if you like but then technically it becomes a cafe con leche.

I recommend hunting this Cafe Bustelo brand down at Target! One big bag only costs about $3.00 and it lasts a good while in the fridge. You can find stovetop espresso makers at TJ Maxx, Sur la Table, William Sonoma or your local cooking store.

ihopeyoulikethiscoffeandhaveawonderfulsaturdayeveryone!!

(warning/disclaimer: do not handle sharp objects after drinking this coffee)

© Jenna for Eat, Live, Run, 2012. | Permalink | 61 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Breakfast, drinks, recipes

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It’s Thanksgiving week!!!!

I love Thanksgiving week. The food, the smells, the laughter…Thanksgiving week is a food blogger’s dream. So let’s talk side dishes. What are you doing? May I humbly suggest this rice plus these brussels sprouts? I know this might sound sacrilegious to some, but………. I’m not the biggest mashed potato fan.

I know, right?

That’s probably just because I hate making them so much. I really do. In terms of starch, I like sweet potatoes loaded with enough maple syrup, brown sugar and marshmallows to give you an emergency dental appointment. I also really like rice. Pretty rice, that is.

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Read the rest of wild rice with caramelized shallots, cranberries and pecans (309 words)

© Jenna for Eat, Live, Run, 2011. | Permalink | 69 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: recipes, rice, side-dishes, starch, thanksgiving

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It’s that time of year again! Time for turkey, mashed potatoes, pie and stuffing ourselves silly before laying on the couch and watching football for five hours straight. I’m actually going home this year so I’ll get to enjoy a homecooked Thanksgiving meal prepared by mom, the best chef out there. (Mom? Can you please make those mashed sweet potatoes with the syrup and roasted marshmallows on top? please?) However, I’m also going to be cooking an early Thanksgiving dinner here for Adam and my friends. Being a foodblogger = enjoying holidays twice. Actually, being a foodblogger = cooking for holidays twice while your friends reap the benefits of your labor.

During the next two weeks, I’ll be posting recipes from my pre-Thanksgiving menu. But right now, I wanted to share what’s been inspiring me in blogland lately!

Apple Celery Root Gratin by A Spicy Perspective

Thanksgiving Turkey Pot Pie by Chef Fish via Tasty Kitchen

Cranberry Upside Down Cake by Brown-Eyed Baker

Quinoa Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Kale, Dried Cranberries and Red Onion by Two Peas and Their Pod

Cornbread and Chorizo Stuffing by Handle the Heat

Cheddar Green Bean Casserole by Life and Kitchen

Acorn Squash Lasagna by Tracy Carolyn

Pumpkin and Apple Cider Fizz by Kitchen Konfidence

Black Bottom Pecan Pie by Kiss by Whisk

Smoky Shrimp with Parsnips and Brown Rice by Bev Cooks

What’s on your Thanksgiving table this year?

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Post tags: around blogland, recipes, thanksgiving

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This afternoon we had our monthly book club meeting! Yay book club! Yay excuse to eat pie, drink coffee and champagne, and gossip about fashion, boys, books, babies and blogs. Really, what’s not to love?

We talked about Room, which we all loved. I didn’t think I would like it very much, especially after reading another equally depressing book, but surprisingly I really found myself loving the plot and the characters. Especially Jack! Oh, Jack. If you haven’t read Room, you must!

However, the best part of today’s meeting was not the book. No, it was the PIE that Korina made!

More pie? Yes! More pie! Hers was better than mine, too. Like…way better.

Gooey caramel + bananas + whipped cream + sea salt brown sugar > raspberries

I just can’t win….but I.keep.on.trying!

Another exciting feature of today’s meeting was the highlighting of Ashley’s hair. And having her lead our discussion with foils all over her head, a crying baby in her arms and a plate of pie next to her. The woman can multitask! She’s such a mom sometimes.

I also rediscovered my love for the kryptonite below. Oh french vanilla nestle coffee mate, where have you been all my life? I just want to bathe in your sweet, artificially flavored vanilla bean glory. I want to drizzle you in my freshly ground French roast and sip and savor each little drop of caffeine-induced sweetness.

If you’re wondering, it’s 7:04 on Saturday night and I’m at home baking dough balls. Where else would I be? Maybe you should just go make this pie, drink four cups of coffee with french vanilla creamer and then we can talk.

okaythanksbye

Banoffee Pie

makes 1 pie

Print this recipe!

Ingredients:

1/2 recipe flaky pie dough (or pre-made pie crust of your choice)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

3 ripe bananas

1 pint heavy cream, whipped with 4 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp brown sugar + 1 tsp sea salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Roll out pie dough and place in a greased pie dish. Crimp sides and prick crust all over with a fork. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden. Remove and let cool.

Place can of condensed milk in a small saucepot, fill with water, cover and boil for two and a half hours. Set a timer!

After can is finished boiling, set aside to cool completely before handling.

Slice bananas and place all over bottom of pie crust. Carefully open the condensed milk can and pour toffee all over bananas. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with brown sugar and sea salt mixture. Serve pie immediately or place in the fridge until serving.

Time:

4 hours (includes time to make toffee and pie dough)

© Jenna for Eat, Live, Run, 2011. | Permalink | 54 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: baking, behind the butter, book club, Books, let's talk, pie, recipes

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I’m a bread girl. Always have been.

Give me a big hunk of chewy, soft French bread to gnaw on and I’m one happy camper. And I don’t just love bread—I love the entire bread baking process. I love the scent of the yeasty dough in my hands and the way it always takes on a life of it’s own. I love the mixing, the proofing, the baking…and most of all, I love the eating!

Yep, I’m a bread girl all right.

However, even though I love it, I definitely don’t profess to be some sort of bread guru. Friday, for example, I wanted homemade naan with my channa masala and had no earthly idea how to make it. Where does one turn with that craving strike?? What does one do?!

Friends, allow me to show you.

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Read the rest of Roasted Garlic Naan Bread (1,347 words)

© Jenna for Eat, Live, Run, 2010. | Permalink | 63 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: baking, bread, Indian, recipes, weekend project

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Today I made meatballs.

And before you all start to freak out and tell me just how uncool meatballs are, let me explain myself.

Okay fine, the truth is that I just wanted meatballs. They’re not only great to make ahead of time and freeze, but they’re also just pretty darn tasty. Plus, they’re superrrrrrrr photogenic.

No? You’ll see what I mean in a minute.

I make mine with ground turkey instead of beef and bake them instead of fry them. I like to be healthy, you know?

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Read the rest of Let Me Feed You a Meatball (455 words)

© Jenna for Eat, Live, Run, 2010. | Permalink | 106 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Dinner, make ahead meals, recipes, turkey

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Hello, Thursday.

Most mornings I’ll eat a bowl of cereal, some oatmeal or a toasted bagel with cream cheese. It’s just easy and, let’s be honest, I wake up starving every morning and it’s all I can do to sprint to the kitchen and stuff my face with whatever I see first.

Last night though, I got to thinking. Breakfast is my very favorite meal of the day and I work from home. So why aren’t I spending more time making beautiful and creative breakfasts for myself? It’s odd, really.

So this morning, I made something extra delicious and it would be just cruel not to share.

Oh yeah, and it has squash in it! As if you are looking for another reason to cook some up today.

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Read the rest of Whole Wheat Butternut Squash Pancakes (273 words)

© Jenna for Eat, Live, Run, 2010. | Permalink | 81 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Breakfast, pancakes, recipes, seasonal ingredients, whole wheat

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Please tell me I’m not the only one who still has more than a mild obsession with those jumbo frosted cake-like cookies found in the aisles of Wal-Mart and Costco.

Please. We can tell each other these things. I don’t judge.

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Read the rest of DIY Wal-Mart Crack Cookies (657 words)

© Jenna for Eat, Live, Run, 2010. | Permalink | 118 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: baking, cookies, frosting, how-to, recipes

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