This Year I'm Going to #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks | My Challenge Log

Being a gastronome and a bibliophile can be dangerous to one's living space. Stacks of books piled precariously on tables and floors, shelves sagging under the weight of "too many" books, plastic storage tubs so heavy that it takes all your might just to scoot them a few inches either way...yeah, it's like that. And while many of these books are beloved favorites that I'd never be able to part with, I'm guessing that at least 1/3 of them are ones that I haven't gotten around to reading yet.

I tend to save certain books to read later because they're mine. "Oh, I'll just read this review book or this library book or this new release in a favorite series first. That's mine, so I can get to it any time." Only I rarely do. So I've decided that I need to crack those perfect spines and get to reading. This way, I can start clearing out our already small living space. If I read it and love it, I will keep it. If not, I will pass it on to somebody who I think will love it, I'll donate it, or I'll add it to my paperback swap shelf.

Foodies Read 2016: My Challenge Log

With the new year quickly approaching, I've decided that I need a new challenge. While I do share books and cookbooks on a fairly regular basis already, I came across the Foodies Read Challenge hosted by Heather at Based On A True Story recently and decided to hold myself a little more accountable. I do have several shelves, piles, and boxes of books that I've been "meaning to" devote some time to anyway.

I hope you'll enjoy following along with this challenge. I will post the titles I've read on this page, as well as links to the monthly link-ups at Based On A True Story so that you have some great resources for titles to add to your own shelf or as gift ideas for the foodie bookworms in your life.

A bit of tasty chatter ...including events, mixers, and randomocity.

Pheeeeew!  Can I just say?  January was insane!  I'm not really sure if I came up for breath for at least 31 days.  There was so much going on and so many things to take part in.  I hosted three events here other than my ongoing Tortilla Soup event.  ALL of which included roundups and one of which included a giveaway...Presto Pasta Nights, Tackling Bittman, Bread Baking Day #36 (plus the Tortilla Soup Challenge roundup #4)!  I'm not complaining, though.  I had an absolute blast!  Lost in a bit of a whirlwind.  But never-the-less...  I also participated in a couple challenges, including Ott'A's Iron Chef Challenge: Duck and the newly minted Dessert Wars: Nutella.  (BTW...I am honored to be the winner of the Iron Chef Duck challenge- I'll be receiving $150. worth of duck from Maple Leaf Farms!  Awesome☺.) There was so much more...each day was filled with something tasty.  2011 definitely started off with a BANG!

Speaking of events, there is pretty much a never-ending list of things to do, and I know it can be mind boggling.  From experience.  I have a page that lists many different ones that I either participate in or mean to participate in.  You can get there by clicking here...or click the tab in my navigation bar directly under my header at any time to get there.  I use this as a reminder to myself almost daily!  Plus, Jac from Tinned Tomatoes recently started The Food Blog Diary as "a place to find up-to-date food events, challenges and competitions to take part in or just to follow for a bit of foodie inspiration."  Stop by and check it out if you're looking for fun foodie events to participate in...or if you have an event that you want others to know about!

I think I'll be laying a little low this month.  Jumping in when something fits a theme, but I'm feeling the need for a little less "pressure".  So...  At least that's how I'm feeling right now.  But I can be fickle, so no guarantees.  I won't be laying off the posting though...because I have lots of fun and delicious things lined up as we speak.  I can't deny you anything that is both fun and delicious. 

Did you, uh, notice that picture?  The of the KitchenAid up above?  After many years, I decided to finally give my trusty, old white mixer a makeover!  Long overdue.  Inspired by Tamy over a year ago, it's something I've been meaning to do, but only just got around to.  Okay, got around to coaxing Mexi into doing it for me.  Same difference, right?  Right.  From basic white to hammered copper in the matter of a couple of hours.  It's like having a brand new mixer...and I LOVE IT!  So pretty.  I may have nuzzled my cheek across it.

before

after

Next project...that horrible place where my counter top meets the wall.  Ugly.  I've been trying to pretend it's not there since we moved in.  That's a bigger project, but one that will probably at least get started when the weather warms up!

And finally I want to thank the sweet Louanne from Louanne's Kitchen for passing this Stylish Blogger Award on to me!  Thanks Louanne!  I'm supposed to share 7 random things about me...and then pass this on to 10 other bloggers.  I'm horrible at the passing part.  I don't really know where to begin.  I'd love to know 7 random things about every single one of you, so if you're in the mood to share, then grab this award and play along!!



Here's 7 random things about me:
1. I was born in the year of the rabbit.
2. I sing all the time.  ALL THE TIME!  I love music and many different kinds.  I worked in record stores in high school and college before going back into food service.
3. Supernatural is my favorite tv show.
4. I'm the oldest child...and I'm twelve years older than my youngest sibling.
5. I hate having cold feet.  Like, literally.  I also hate sleeping with socks on.  These two things are often at odds with each other in the wintertime.
6. I am a complete and total bookworm.  Always have been.  I have so many books that I don't actually know how many I have.  I have boxes and boxes of them, as well as sagging bookshelves throughout the house.  I don't think one can ever have too many books.  My husband tends to disagree.  But loves me anyway.
7. I can recite the entire movie The Goonies word for word.

Thanks for hanging out with me in the midst of my mental-spewings today.  Back to food soon...

A Taste of India ...for PFB challenge #3 ~Luxury Dinner Party

Challenge Prompt: Celebrate! You've made it this far, and the next challenge is to hold a party for your friends and family (at least four guests, you can include yourself in the 4 person count). Whether you're an experienced host or an entertaining newbie, get creative and host a luxurious dinner party where your guests will discover new tastes and exotic flavors.

I'm gonna be honest with you.  I was scared about this challenge in particular.  Shakin' in mah boots.  When you I think "dinner party", I think money.  Not something in surplus these days.  Heck, it's not something I'm even feeling comfortable with.  Hence, the knee-knockin', shiver-inducing, mind-numbing jitters that I felt even contemplating this challenge.  I mean, dinner party to me actually means luxury...not a word I entertain often.

So, with my initial freak-out out of the way, I offer you the best advice I have to give you when it comes to planning a party of any sort... Just Breathe!  Yes, deep breaths.  Clear the clutter, the unobtainable dreams, and any dread from your mind and sit down...with a fresh mind and a blank notebook.  Brainstorm.  Jot down your thoughts...do you have a theme...idea...goal...challenge?  Important thing number two... Lists!  I cannot survive without my lists.  Once I think I have an idea, I form separate lists for Food (shopping and timelines), Decorations, Guests, Recipes, Inspiration, etc!  Also...work with YOUR ...Budget. The one you actually  have...not the one you wish you had.  Once you've made your lists...and whittled them down to fit your budget...and have continued to breathe through it...start executing!

I decided I wanted to have a dinner party with the Tastes of India!  I realize that India is large and diverse and that this would only be a sampling...an introduction, if you will.  But the flavors were fresh, bold, and exotic to everybody who would be attending the party...so it was the perfect choice for me! 

Would you believe it if I told you that I threw a Luxury Dinner Party for SEVEN guests for just SEVENTY dollars?  Well, it's true.  I let go of the things that were stressing me...and opened my eyes!  If you're working on a budget, I suggest that you take stock of the things that you already own...and the things your friends, family, and neighbors already own!  Afterall, a dinner party should be about good food, good company, and the atmosphere that comes from the combination...and worrying about serving dishes, plates, glasses, and decorations detracts from that.  All of the money I spent, I spent on food.  The decorations, dishes, bowls, utensils, etc...all came from my own stock or that of my family.  When I invited them, I also asked if they could scour their kitchens/pantries/storage areas for anything that was warm and earthy and could be paired with other things to look "Indian-y".  I also chose a menu which I could execute a day in advance.  Food that would hold up to a final re-heating just before party time...that way I would be free to join my guests and not be stuck in the kitchen. 

Paired with a beautiful if a little chilly with gale-force winds... late day time slot...I had the perfect setting for introducing four generations of my family to some of the tastes of India!  Great food.  Great company.  Great conversation between the oooohing and aaaaahing and marveling over the fabulous, warming, mesmerizing flavor combinations!

My biggest advice to you when throwing a Luxury Dinner Party on a budget...RELAX and ENJOY YOURSELF...and then your guests will, too.

Thanks so much to everybody who had given me support (and votes!) in the first two PFB (Project Food Blog) challenges!  This has helped me advance to this third round...and I am so grateful for that.  Voting on challenge #3 begins tomorrow...and I hope that if you've enjoyed my entry for this round, that you'll head on over and show your support again! ☺

Challenge #1 entry

Challenge #2 entry

I'll add the links to the (unlinked) recipes as I post them throughout the week...

Paneer Tikka

 Murgh Korma (Chicken Cooked in a Yogurt-Almond Sauce)

 Cheese Vali Gobi (Cauliflower w/ Cheese)

 Kaddu (Indian Spiced Pumpkin)

 Garlic Naan

 Neebu ka Sharbat  (Fresh Sparkling Limeade)

 Phirni  (Light Rice Pudding)
 

Warm Garam Chai

Sweet and Spicy Chili

A while back, I was one of the fortunate bloggers to be contacted by Diana of POM Wonderful. She asked me if I'd like to try POM....um, YES! I actually had always wanted to try it...don't know why I hadn't gotten around to it yet. Just one of those things, I suppose. When Diana told me she was going to get a case (A CASE!!) shipped out to me, I was super excited. I think this may have been the first "promotional"-type item I was offered as a blogger...and I felt cool. I told hubby.... see, I told you this blogging thing was awesome ...he nodded and smiled. I probably sounded like a gushing-goofball when I thanked Diana and told her I'd let her know as soon as I posted something about POM. She was very kind and though she would no longer be in this position once I posted, she told me to send my info along to Molly and Janny who would be handling all the POM Blogger fun...so, Molly and Janny I am sorry it took me so long....I didn't forget!

When the case of POM arrived, the first thing I did was crack one open and take a big swig....WHOA...tart! But you know what? Addicting. I keep drinking and actually realized I really enjoyed the tartness of the juice. It is sort of reminiscent of cranberry juice, but with more punch to it. I ended up drinking a couple of bottles...the rest survived the move with us...and I finally decided it was long past time for me to figure out what I actually wanted to make with it. I browsed the POM website and was amazed by the number of recipes posted there! I found lots that I wanted to try (of course) and decided I wanted to make chili with it. I liked a chili recipe I saw on the site, but decided to make my own chili recipe somewhat inspired by the one there.

Sweet and Spicy Chili

w/ the flavors of pomegranate, star anise, allspice and peppers

Yield: ~3 quarts

20 oz. ground turkey

3 Tbs. Olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 c. pearl onions, peeled (frozen will work)

3 garlic cloves, minced

3 bell peppers, chopped (preferably several colors)

1-2 jalapenos (to taste), chopped...seeds & all

5 allspice berries

1-2 star anise, whole

1 cinnamon stick

1/4 c. ancho chili powder

1 1/2 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

2 bay leaves

6 oz. can tomato paste (pref. no salt added)

2 c. POM Wonderful juice

1 quart broth/stock (of your choice)

1 can (15 oz) dark red kidney beans, drained

1 can (15 oz) white kidney beans (cannellini), drained

Sea Salt- to taste

Garnish...choose your favorite chili toppings

First, brown your ground turkey in a dutch oven. Add olive oil, then both types of onion and garlic and stir occasionally for a couple of minutes, until just starting to soften. Add bell peppers and jalapenos. Cook for a few more minutes, stirring from time to time.

Grind up your allspice in a mortar.

Add it to the pot, along with your star anise, cinnamon, chili powder, cumin, black pepper and bay leaves. Stir around for a minute or so, letting the spices bloom. Add tomato paste and stir it in good, letting it cook for another minute or so...this will cook down that tomato flavor and make it nice and sweet.

See all that gorgeous color on the bottom of the pan...it is NOT burnt! It is flavor...and it has been building up the whole time you've been adding more ingredients. Add the POM to the pot, stirring up the fond (brown bits) from the bottom as you go along. Let it cook down for another couple of minutes.

Now add your broth/stock to the pot, followed by the beans.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and let it cook, partially covered for about 20-30 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for a bit to cool down. Discard cinnamon stick, star anise and bay leaves. Season to taste with salt, if you think it needs it.

Ladle into a bowl.

Garnish with your favorite toppings. I love to add garnish...it brings a note of brightness to compliment the earthy flavors of the chili. I used two types of cheese (have I ever mentioned how much I love cheese?): shredded cheddar and crumbled queso fresco, avocado, cilantro and a few squeezes of lime.

This chili is both sweet and spicy at the same time. The pomegranate and the spices add a sort-of warmth as well as sweet....so it's not a cloying sweetness. The jalapenos with their seeds & ribs and the chili powder bring that underlying heat...you know the kind...it makes your nose run a little while you can't stop yourself from wanting more.

I like to use big, rustic cuts for chili...look at those large chunks of vegetables paired with the gorgeous beans...oh yeah. It is a feast for the eyes and the soul...as well as being satisfying to the tummy.

Do you know that some cultures in history believed the Pomegranate held profound and mystical healing powers? I believe it! I want to say thanks again to the folks at POM Wonderful. I really enjoyed getting to sample your product...and I will definitely buy it on my own.

If you don't believe me, just see what I do next...I'm going to send this over to Deb at Kahakai Kitchens for Souper Sundays, too!!!

Chicken Salad w/ Cherries, Apples & Almonds (Mr. Peeps shares his Chicken Salad)

Jennifer from Savoring the Thyme sent another challenge out to foodies recently...make something healthy and somehow incorporate a Peep! I'm gonna have to say, this was a hard one. I could think of lots of different not so healthy things to concoct with a Peep or two, but healthy?

That was, until this little yellow Peep hopped over and told me I should make some good old chicken salad. Mr. Peep hopped right onto my cutting board and watched as I chopped some celery and measured it. He then proceeded to level off my almond slices. He tried one of my tried tart cherries and reeled back with a pucker. He also stopped me after dicing up only half of an apple...whoa girlichef, enough of that! Mr. Peep told me to go ahead and put all of the good into a bowl with some diced, cooked chicken and mayonnaise. I did.

Riding on a Cloud...with this Pink Cloud Pie!

 Can I just tell you, I am riding on a cloud right now! My Spartans just made it to the Final Four!!! Woo Hoo!! Okay, had to show some love to my boys. And now on to the "real" content of this puffy post. Karen at DomesticMuse is hosting a challenge called Everything Old is New Again; I love the idea of this challenge! My grandma has so many recipes tucked into her recipe box and I'm always asking her how do you make such-n-such, so this is a great opportunity to get down & dirty with some vintage recipes. I actually chose to update a recipe that grandma makes for almost every holiday. Green Salad or Lime Salad or Green Jello Salad are all names that it answers to. Truth...I've never really liked it. Everyone else seems to, though. I was inspired a while back by a recipe Joy the Baker posted. She used a jello salad much like my grandmas and turned it into a pie. I thought...I HAVE to try that with my grandma's Green Salad. I bookmarked the recipe and have thought on it ever since. When Karen's challenge surfaced, I figured it'd be the perfect time to give it a go. I did decide to update the recipe a bit...change it to something I would actually like to eat (sorry Gram). Have you ever seen the movie Waitress? Love it! In a nutshell, Kerry Russell's character is a pie maker...all kinds of pies for all kinds of reasons. One of the pies she makes is called Mermaid Marshmallow Pie...this is another inspiration for my creation.

I'm also gonna do double-duty here and make this my entry for this month's You Want Pies With That? The theme being Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous...you create and bake a pie with a rich & famous person in mind. Picking someone to attribute this to, taking the Everything Old is New Again theme into consideration as well...it's going to be....ah, I'll tell you at the end of the post! I want you to see it first!

Old Recipe- Grandma's Green Jello Salad
1 pkg. Lime Jello

1 c. hot water

1/2 c. pineapple juice

1/2 pint whipped cream

1 (10 cent!!) small jar maraschino cherries, drained

1 small pkg. Philly cream cheese

chopped nuts

1 can crushed pineapple, drained well

Dissolve jello in hot water and pineapple juice. Let cool until slightly set. Add cream cheese and fold in whipped cream, cherries, nuts and pineapple. Pour into mold and let set.

...and now, changed to make it "new again"....

Pink Cloud Pie

by girlichef

Graham Cracker Crust:

9 graham crackers

1/4 c. brown sugar

7-8 Tbs. melted butter

Place crackers in a large zipper bag. Crush to fine crumbs. Place in bowl and mix w/ brown sugar. Have your quality control people in place to check the texture of the graham crackers (um, that would be the munchkins). Drizzle in butter and mix. Press into pie pan. Bake in preheated 325°F oven for 10-15 minutes, or until golden. Let cool completely.

1 (3 oz) pkg raspberry jello

1 c. hot water

1/2 c. pineapple juice

1 c. heavy cream- whipped until stiff peaks

1 c. raspberries, fresh or frozen

8 oz. cream cheese or neufchatel, softened

1/2 c. chopped walnuts

1/2 can (20 oz. can) crushed pineapple, drained well

Dissolve jello in hot water. Stir in pineapple juice. Put in refrigerator until slightly set, about 1-1 1/2 hrs. Stir in cream cheese (I used stick blender). Fold in whipped cream. Add raspberries, nuts and crushed pineapple.

Mix all together gently. Pour into prepared graham cracker shell. Put in refrigerator until set, about one more hour. 

Now, take:

2 c. heavy cream

1/4 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

juice from 1/2 c. crushed raspberries

pink mini-marshmallows (I picked them from a mixed bag)

Place all in bowl and whip until stiff peaks form. Blop it onto the chilled pie and spread gently. Top with pink mini-marshmallows.

Serve. Will keep wrapped in foil for a day or two...not sure, it hasn't been that long yet.

This was such a fun challenge...well, two fun challenges! Are you wondering which rich & famous person I'm dedicating this pie to? It's all pink and fluffy and girly, so it's got to be Anna Nicole Smith. I wasn't really a big fan of hers, but I know she idolized Marilyn Monroe (old) and went to Hollywood to remake herself (new), just as Norma Jean did. Anna Nicole loved pink and was often "riding on a cloud".  Hers is a tragic story...sad, I think. But wouldn't she have loved this pie?

*Update 4/3/11--->I am sharing this post with:

Roasted Pork & Poblano Chili

A few months or so ago, there was a challenge set forth by Gloria Chadwick from The Food & Flavors of San Antonio to come up with an original chili recipe. I only recently came across Gloria's wonderful blog, and let me say, it makes me hungry each and every time I visit it! I think I've said it before, but I'll say it again...I am so in love with Mexican food and Tex-Mex food...it's a long-standing favorite of mine (the first "favorite" food-type I remember having, actually). Well, I thought on it and thought on it...and of course waited until the last possible minute to actually finalize my recipe and get it made in time to make the deadline for this month. By the way, this is an on-going challenge (monthly) and your chili even gets a chance to make it into a new cookbook (credited to you of course), head on over to Gloria's blog to check out all the details! Anyhoo...I'd been thinking white chili for this month...but, after roasting a lot of pork for "pulling" yesterday and having some very tasty leftover seasoned, roasted pork, I decided I wanted to use it in my chili recipe. So, along the lines of a white chili, I used green ingredients...but I used so many, that mine is actually more of a "green" chili. I also added some hominy, so it's actually sort of Posole inspired. Roasting the chile's and the tomatillos & garlic...plus the roasted pork...makes this chili sooooo earthy and satisfying! Normally I like to top my chili with some fried tortilla strips, but the hominy brings that satisfying corn flavor all by itself...seriously, I didn't miss the tortilla garnish here. The garnishes I do recommend adding bring a bright, fresh contrast to this earthy, comforting chili...so add them if you can. So, please check out my entry into this month's Chili Cook-off Challenge...and if you decide to make some, let me know what you think! Oh yeah, it may seem a little labor-intensive, what with all the roasting, shredding & peeling, but honestly it's not so bad and it is more than worth it for the wonderful layers of flavor it brings to this chili. Roasted Pork & Poblano Chili
Yield: ~9 c. (just over 2 quarts)

3 Poblano chiles 
1 Jalapeño chile 
5 garlic cloves, whole 
5 tomatillos, husked & rinsed 
1 Tbs bacon grease (or olive oil) 
2 small onions, chopped 
1 tsp whole cumin, crushed 
½ tsp whole coriander, crushed 
1 tsp dried marjoram 
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper 
1 Tbs (from small can) diced, green chiles 
1 can (15.5 oz) white hominy- drained, not rinsed 
1 can (15.5 oz) cannellini beans (white kidney beans)- drained, not rinsed 
1 ½ qt. chicken stock or broth 
2 c. shredded, roasted pork (*see recipe below if needed) 
~1 tsp. salt (or to taste)
 
Garnish: 
Cilantro, ripped or chopped 
Queso fresco &/or Queso Quesadilla 
Sour Cream 
Avocado 
Lime

Preheat your broiler or a grill. Once hot, place all chiles, garlic cloves and tomatillos on to roast. Roast until soft and blackened. Carefully remove from broiler, with the accumulated juices. Place all into a blender jar EXCEPT one of the poblanos. Blend until smooth. 

Peel & seed the remaining poblano. Chop it up and reserve. Set a strainer over medium-sized bowl and pour in mixture from blender. Using a spoon or spatula, push through leaving skins & seeds behind. Reserve strained mixture (discard skins & seeds). Heat bacon grease (or olive oil) in a Dutch oven. Once hot, add onions and sauté until soft, just a couple of minutes. Add cumin, coriander, marjoram & black pepper. Stir for a minute or so, this will allow the spices to “bloom” or start to release their oils. Add the reserved poblano, the diced green chiles and the reserved strained mixture. Cook, stirring over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes or so, allowing mixture to cook down a bit. 

Add hominy & beans (drain, but don’t rinse…will help the texture later) and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and let cook for about 10 minutes. Add pork and about a teaspoon of salt (taste to check). Bring back to the boil for a minute or so, then it is finished. 

Ladle hot chili into bowls and garnish with cilantro, crumbled or shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream and a squeeze of lime. Roast poblanos, jalepeno, tomatillo & garlic until blackened in spots and very soft. Blended mixture passed through sieve. Ready to add to hot pan. Layering on those different layers of flavor for a well-rounded taste. Pouring in the reserved blended, strained poblano mixture.Adding the hominy, beans and chiles. Stir in that chicken broth/ stock. Finished and ready to ladle into the bowls!

Serve with all those bright, fresh flavors to add contrast to the earthy, homey flavor of the chili. Soul-satisfying!

* Use your favorite, seasoned roasted pork OR Use this:

~3 lb. pork butt/shoulder

2 Tbs. paprika

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 Tbs. Brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp. dry mustard

1 1/2 Tbs. ground cumin

2 Tbs. sea salt

Mix together the six spices to make a dry rub. Rub all over the pork. Let marinate an hour or up to overnite. Slowly roast in a 300 degree F oven, approximately 3-4 hours or until easily shredded. You will have more than 2 cups, but you can use extra for something else yummy.

I'm also going to submit this as my recipe for this week's Souper Sunday over at Kahakai Kitchen. My fridge is full and we need to start eating up some of the goodies made this week, so really, I'm not being lazy... okay, I kind of am. I hate wasting food, though!