New Year and New Opportunities

Happy New Year! 2013 is here and I am still in denial (thus the January 7th post I suppose). I am done with school for the first time in almost 3 years and while my work life is ramping up, my time away from home (and unfortunately the kitchen) will only be for a little while so I am constantly thinking about all the things I want to accomplish this year food wise.

Lucky me, my year got started off in a great direction when I submitted a recipe and picture for Fabio Viviani's Kitchen Academy Challenge. Now clearly I have mad love for Fabio already so I subscribe to his blog, and his Facebook.. and his Twitter and a newsletter...anyway, point is, he gives 5 ingredients you must use and whatever other ingredients you want. Then, you make a dish, snap a photo and submit it and your recipe. I missed Week #1 but Week#2 was carrots, mozzarella, mint, pine nuts and ham. So I made this:

Carrot and ham soup with a mint pesto and mozzarella croutons. And guess what?

I ended up on his Pinterest board: Fabio's Kitchen Academy Challenge #2

Okay, it is a contest...but I did not enter it just to have a chance to win (and looking at the competition, holy smokes there are some creative folks out there and winning is probably not an option!) but to prove my culinary chops. And that is among my resolutions: get better in the kitchen and take risks and put myself out there. It may not be my full time job, or even a part time one, but I love it. The only thing I enjoy more than cooking and creating recipes and making food for others is being with my awesome family and friends. So, I raise my tongs to you readers...this year is going to be tasty!

Pinterest Recipe: No-Bread Cheese Bread-sticks

My friend Kandice has made a commitment to make every recipe she pins on Pinterest. I have not been as dedicated as that but I am making an honest attempt to try them all.

Cut to tonight when I had a head of cauliflower I had yet to use and remembered that I had pinned a recipe for cheesy garlic cauliflower bread-sticks. You read that correctly: cauliflower. As it turns out I had already heard from my friend and fellow food blogger, Cooking for Betty that she had tried the cauliflower pizza crust and had been happy with the results.

This recipe was super easy, and I had all the ingredients on hand minus the fresh garlic (which, umm how did THAT happen?) so I substituted with more garlic powder and a little Tastefully Simple Garlic Garlic. My family's verdict? My husband and step-daughter were practically fighting over them at the table and I will be making them again this weekend on order request. And let me say as a cheesy bread-stick expert, this is a keeper for sure!!

Steal of the Week: Ancho-Glazed Salmon

I love it when a plan comes together! So that recipe I pinned to use with my expertly (ahem) prepared salmon?Fantastic! Simple ingredients in a spicy and sweet rub made delicious fish and sweet potatoes!

The fish cooked while the potatoes broiled and I quickly steamed some fresh broccoli to round out our meal. Hubby gave it two thumbs up! Now I just need to practice my fish mongering skills!

You can find the recipe here: Ancho-Glazed salmon

Salmon: Teaching Myself to Swim in the Culinary Seas

I bought some beautiful salmon this weekend in an effort to continue our journey of eating more healthy. I just prepped them for tonight's dinner and realized I should have paid more attention in Chef Edward' salmon skinning class! But, I prevailed. The fillets are skinned, re-checked for bones, and bones removed. I also have fillets that do NOT look like they have already been eaten on and a new recipe to try that I just pinned. Here goes nothing!

Crock-Pot French Toast: The Next Day

So, the Crock-Pot French Toast? This was what I woke up to the next morning. The house smelled like someone else was in my kitchen making French Toast (as if THAT would ever happen) and it looked delicious. The recipe (and others I found on a quick search just to be sure) said to take the lid off the last 15 minutes of cooking in order to brown the bread. THAT was a huge step although I don't doubt had I just scooped this into a bowl it would have been met with delight as well. However, the crisping did make it just like French toast out of the skillet.

The verdict from the family? Anything that my step-daughter says to make again is a keeper and hubby AND small son both gobbled it up. I couldn't resist serving it with bacon of course!

The original recipe linked to Pinterest is found HERE. 

You can follow my food and recipe board on Pinterest as well....I am always finding things that are interesting, inspirational and like this French toast, recipes I have to try. And as if there was a question, yes I have a bacon love page too!

French Toast! In a Crock-Pot?

I just put this together. Pinterest strikes again! Trying out this French toast recipe made overnight in the slow cooker. I bought a beautiful loaf of raisin challah and I am crossing my fingers! If it works I will share recipe and link tomorrow !