The Smells in My Kitchen

Talk about anything under the sun or stars - but keep it civil. This is where we really get to know each other. Everyone is welcome, and invited!
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Postby Petra456 » Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:32 pm

Fred, I've always wanted to do something like the Daring Baker's Challenge, but was a little intimidated and didn't think I could always commit to a strict time frame.

I'd be willing to do a sort of modified version of it, though, here on pweb if anyone is interested. The basic premise is that people take turns picking recipes for a challenge. The recipe is posted and whoever wants to participate takes a crack at making it within a certain time frame (a month? two? four?). Then you post pictures of your end result, and write a little bit about your experience of making it. Then it's someone else's turn to pick a recipe, and so on. It doesn't have to be strictly baking; savory recipes are welcome as well. And although difficult recipes can be fun to tackle, they don't HAVE to be complicated to count as a challenge.

I'm just thinking of how many of us went on to try making a Dutch Baby after Jan posted about it, or Steph's mac & cheese, or any of the recipes people have posted up here. Even something simple can be something new and fun to try. And if you find you're too busy to participate in one round, or the recipe isn't in line with your diet (not vegetarian/contains allergens/etc) then you can either just skip it or make a modified version.

Again, don't know if anyone would be interested or not, but it's something I've thought about before, and Fred's post about being uninspired in the kitchen brought it to mind again.
That actually sounds like a lot of fun! I know i'll stress over which recipe i'll pick when it comes to my turn, but I think it would be great to see how each person's turned out.

I'm totally in if more people decide to participate!

Edit: Grrr, new page!
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Postby Caspian » Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:38 pm

Homemade, almond-cream-filled croissants. (He really loves almonds).

I am so very afraid of laminated doughs. I've managed to avoid them entirely in my baking excursions thus far, but this weekend I will spend two days turning dough. Oh dear. Words of encouragement, please!
My experience with croissants is that they are fairly labour-intensive, but not difficult. With your baking experience I am positive they will give you no problem at all.
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Postby LilBee91 » Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:54 pm

I'd be game for a Baker's Challenge.

And Kelly, I'm sure they'll turn out wonderfully. Butter always makes things delicious and you're pretty much a kitchen master.
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Postby Young Val » Sun Mar 20, 2011 3:32 pm

Triumph!

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you snooze, you lose
well I have snozzed and lost
I'm pushing through
I'll disregard the cost
I hear the bells
so fascinating and
I'll slug it out
I'm sick of waiting
and I can
hear the bells are
ringing joyful and triumphant

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Postby Eaquae Legit » Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:15 pm

Wow those look delicious...
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Postby Luet » Sun Mar 20, 2011 4:39 pm

You made me want pastries last time when you just *talked* about making them. Do you know what you just did to me?
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Postby Rei » Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:59 pm

Those look very tasty!

In other news, the other day I made sparkling lemonade. From scratch. Including making my own bubbles.
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Postby steph » Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:55 pm

Want! Those look amazing, kelly!

And I'd like some homemade sparkling lemonade to go with them. :)
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Postby Jayelle » Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:20 am

*drool*
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Postby Petra456 » Mon Mar 21, 2011 7:31 pm

Those look amazing! They're making me hungry...

Edit: It apparently made Will hungry too, he just asked me to make him croissants. I have this problem that when someone wants me to make something for them, it bugs at me until I have to try.

What recipe did you use, if you don't mind me asking?
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Postby Young Val » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:39 am

Thanks guys! I am definitely going to make them again!

We only baked six of them and stored the rest (unproofed) in the freezer. That way we can just take a couple out and bake them and have fresh croissants whenever we like! It was a long process and a lot of work (made more tedious by the almond filling, for sure) but not actually difficult.

Fred, I more or less followed the Willow Bird Baking tutorial, found here:

http://willowbirdbaking.wordpress.com/2 ... -chocolat/

Also, her updates and other tips here:

http://willowbirdbaking.wordpress.com/2 ... otutorial/

http://willowbirdbaking.wordpress.com/2 ... t-masters/

http://willowbirdbaking.wordpress.com/2 ... s-round-2/

I watched many, many youtube videos, particularly of Julia Child.

I used this recipe for homemade almond paste:

http://www.mysisterskitchenonline.com/2 ... ond-paste/

and then used that to make almond pastry cream:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/ ... nts-103999
you snooze, you lose
well I have snozzed and lost
I'm pushing through
I'll disregard the cost
I hear the bells
so fascinating and
I'll slug it out
I'm sick of waiting
and I can
hear the bells are
ringing joyful and triumphant

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Postby Eaquae Legit » Sun Mar 27, 2011 2:26 pm

Not nearly as impressive as almond croissants, we had delicious cheesy nachos with guacamole and salsa fresca tonight. Yum.
"Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul." -- Pope John XXIII

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Postby powerfulcheese04 » Sun Mar 27, 2011 4:52 pm

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Nate and I made homemade meatballs, marinara sauce and cheddar biscuits. :)
-Kim

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Postby Syphon the Sun » Sun Mar 27, 2011 5:36 pm

Oatmeal raisin cookies (with extra raisins, because even Deb's extra raisins recipe doesn't have enough!) sitting on the cooling racks, now.
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Postby Young Val » Sun Mar 27, 2011 5:46 pm

Ali, I would seriously kill for nachos right now. They are one of my main weaknesses and I almost never make them at home because it would just open the flood gates!

Brent, do you have a soda streamer? (I think that's what they're called? To make your own bubbly water?) If so, I'm jealous. I used to hate carbonated water, but last summer I started mixing it with a splash of juice and garnished with fruit and it was the most refreshing thing ever. Now I am obsessed.

Kimmie, those look great! I've actually never made my own meatballs and now am itching to try it!

Syphon, I have nothing to say except SWOON. WANT. Also so glad Smitten Kitchen is getting love around here!
you snooze, you lose
well I have snozzed and lost
I'm pushing through
I'll disregard the cost
I hear the bells
so fascinating and
I'll slug it out
I'm sick of waiting
and I can
hear the bells are
ringing joyful and triumphant

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Postby Rei » Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:20 pm

No, sadly I do not. My methods involve less technology and more yeast. That said, I would love a soda streamer (I had no idea what they were called) as I have seen one in action once and it was marvelous!
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Postby Luet » Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:05 pm

I started mixing it [carbonated water] with a splash of juice
This is my preferred drink at home. It's great and not bad for you. I get sick of water after awhile.
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Postby Petra456 » Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:13 pm

Yesterday I made a HUGE pot of homemade spaghetti sauce and let it cook for a good five hours or so, very yummy.

Dessert was a chocolate crostata with pecans. We forgot whipped cream, but it was amazing anyways.

I always forget to take pictures.
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Postby Eaquae Legit » Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:01 am

Kelly, you've really got to try making yourself a pot of earl grey tea, then put it in the fridge to cool. Mix it 1-1-1 with water and cranberry juice. (Well, see what ratio works for you, but I find 1-1-1 perfect.) SO nice in summer!
"Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul." -- Pope John XXIII

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Postby Eaquae Legit » Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:14 am

Also, now I'm totally wanting meatballs.
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Postby powerfulcheese04 » Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:20 am

They were delicious! And I have leftovers for lunch! 40 minutes til delicious meatballs... :)
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Postby fawkes » Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:44 am

I made lemon whoopie pies yesterday with a lemon-marscapone filling. Yum!

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Postby Eaquae Legit » Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:30 pm

They were delicious! And I have leftovers for lunch! 40 minutes til delicious meatballs... :)
Made penne with tomato sauce with (fake) sausage bits fried in. Yum!
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Postby Claire » Tue Mar 29, 2011 7:22 am

This doesn't really have a smell, but I'm eating my favorite easy breakfast: plain yogurt with a teaspoon of apple butter and a handful of chocolate chips. Satisfies the inexplicable sweet craving I have in the morning, and is still relatively healthy! :)

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Postby Syphon the Sun » Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:27 am

Breakfast!
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Postby Jayelle » Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:51 am

Inspired by Kelly's kitchen challenges (khallenges?), I asked for Paul to make me a cake for my birthday that was inspired by my favourite candy of all time - Junior Mints.

I am very excited for tomorrow to see what it will be like. Chocolate cake, mint-leaf infused buttercream filling, chocolate glaze, topped with Junior Mints as garnish. Should be amazing. I'll post pics when he makes it.
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Postby Young Val » Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:04 am

Ooooooh! That does sound amazing, Jan!
you snooze, you lose
well I have snozzed and lost
I'm pushing through
I'll disregard the cost
I hear the bells
so fascinating and
I'll slug it out
I'm sick of waiting
and I can
hear the bells are
ringing joyful and triumphant

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Postby Young Val » Sun Apr 10, 2011 5:42 pm

Jan, how was the birthday cake? Do you have pictures?

I've been cooking a lot lately. Today I made Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese-filled muffins because I had some extra cream cheese lying around that needed to be used up. They are reeeeeeeally good. Dangerously good, even.

I also made enchiladas recently (including corn tortillas) which are time consuming but always oh SO worth it!

I'm working up am idea for a cooking/baking challenge and will hopefully being posting about it soon (assuming those who voiced interest remain interested).
you snooze, you lose
well I have snozzed and lost
I'm pushing through
I'll disregard the cost
I hear the bells
so fascinating and
I'll slug it out
I'm sick of waiting
and I can
hear the bells are
ringing joyful and triumphant

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Postby Eaquae Legit » Tue Apr 12, 2011 3:58 pm

Today my dear and wonderful spouse had dinner waiting when I got home from work. What a treat!
"Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul." -- Pope John XXIII

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Postby neo-dragon » Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:07 pm

Take that, traditional gender roles!
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Postby LilBee91 » Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:33 pm

But isn't EL a guy?
=]
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Postby Gravity Defier » Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:28 pm

Today my dear and wonderful spouse had dinner waiting when I got home from work.

Is this a standard feature? If it is and I had known this, I would have married a long time ago.
Se paciente y duro; algún día este dolor te será útil.

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Postby Jayelle » Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:26 pm

Jan, how was the birthday cake? Do you have pictures?
It was amazing. He made the filling out of custard that was infused with real mint leaves - so much better then mint flavouring, and the frosting was chocolate fudge - it was all really tasty without being sickeningly sweet. It was a hit at the party.
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It needs to be about 20% cooler.

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Postby Eaquae Legit » Fri Apr 15, 2011 6:09 pm

Tonight, despite really not feeling up to it, I made my own green Thai curry paste, and curry following that. I totally winged it, and it turned out delicious. I'm so thrilled because I despise the paste we use and sell at work, and we can't afford to eat out. I had it with carrots and mange tout and that amazing puffy deep fried tofu that I can never seem to make myself.

Rei had it with prawns, and he says it was amazing. I'll take his seafood-eating word for it. Also, he made cookies today, so he's earned some culinary karma for that.
"Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul." -- Pope John XXIII

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Postby Petra456 » Sat Apr 23, 2011 5:36 pm

Well, I gave in and i'm attempting croissants for Easter tomorrow. They're on their first hour in the fridge...

Also, I HATE the smell of yeast. Bleh!
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And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.


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