From my kitchen: how to make brown butter

Brown butter is magical.  It is right up there with unicorns and rainbows and perfect hair days.  And it is a game changer in the kitchen.

It enhances the flavor of both sweet and savory dishes.  It brings a nutty, warm taste to the dish and the smell of it may quite possibly be the most heavenly thing you ever have smelled in your life.  And, really, it could not be more simple to make.

How to Make Brown Butter

 Simple start by melting your butter over medium heat.  And make sure that it is real butter.  None of this fake, processed margarine stuff.  Ideally you want to use a light colored pan so that you can keep a check on the color of the butter.  I like using my stainless steel pot or my french oven.  Using a wooden spoon, swirl the butter all over the pan so that it melts evenly.  

As the butter melts, it will begin to foam.  The color will go from a bright yellow to a golden honey color and then finally to a toasty brown.  The minute you smell the nuttiness of the butter, it is time to take it off the heat.

If there a few bits at the bottom, that is okay.  I like those brown bits.  Some people don't, but I do.

And that is that.  That is how you make brown butter.  Try it in risotto, cookies, rice krispy treats, over roasted vegetables.  The list goes on and on. I have yet to meet a dish that could not benefit from a little brown butter.

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The beauty after the storm

Happy Friday!  Whew... We made it to the weekend.

This week was crazy.  Wild, shake-the-house thunderstorms that kept us up all night and a job layoff scare had us feeling a little beat up.  Nothing like a potential life shakeup or a scary storm to remind a person of all the great things in life.  All is well now and we are refocused on our abundance of  simple joys.

So on that note, here are a few things I am loving this Friday morning...

:: David survived a major layoff at his company.  And not only that, he has been moved to a different department with much better hours.  All of this translates to more quality time together as a family. HOORAY!!!

:: This weekend we are back in Austin to hang out with family and friends.  Does not get any better than that!

:: I know that y'all are probably sick of me going on and on about how much I love Downton Abbey.  But I really, really do.  Good storyline, interesting characters, amazing clothes and scenery.  I think I was meant to live back in that time period where pale skin was truly appreciated and envied. Seriously... if you have not checked out this show, you are missing out.  It is the kind of show that you will want to watch the entire season in one day. I get so excited every Sunday knowing that it is coming on that evening.

:: I went to my first Fort Worth book club last week and it was awesome!  We talked about the Girl with The Dragon Tattoo.  I had already read it, but did not mind at all talking about it with these fine ladies.  It is a small thing like a book club that makes me feel like I am making this new city my own in the way of new friends and things to look forward to.

:: Browning butter.  I am on a bit of a brown butter kick these days.  I am trying it in everything from my Brown Butter Salted Rice Krispy Treats to risotto to roasted brussel sprouts.  Who knew that such a simple technique could make such a big difference.  If you have never used browned butter before, I would highly recommend it.  I think I will do a post on how to do it next week.

:: My gluten-free and dairy-free challenge is going super well.  I thought that it would be really hard.  But surprisingly, with the exception of day 3 and 4, it has not been too bad.  And the results have been promising.  No more stomach upset and my pants fit better.  Woohoo!  So we shall see how it progresses over the next few weeks.

:: I have some very promising meetings scheduled for next week.  Too early to share details, but I am nervous and excited all at the same time. Fingers crossed!

:: Today is beautiful and sunshine is streaming in through the windows.  I had all these plans to cross things off the to-do list.  But instead, I think Little B and I will be playing hooky in order to go outside and enjoy the gorgeous weather.

Happy Friday, everyone.  I hope you have a magnificent weekend.

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From my kitchen: maple almond butter

I am always amazed when I go to the store and check out all the food labels.  It seems like they all say "may contain traces of tree nuts and peanuts."  The grocery store can be a war zone for people with food allergies.  Anything from cereal to frozen fish to granola bars to ice cream to the bread they make in the bakery.  It drives me crazy.

It is difficult to determine if it is just legalize slapped on everything no matter what it is to protect companies from lawsuits or if there really are minute amount of allergens in absolutely everything packaged on the store shelves.

No matter what it is, it sucks.  What is an allergic girl to do!? 

For me, peanuts are the arch nemesis.  One trace of those stinkin' bad boys can send me straight to the ER... or worse.  So I take those stupid food labels very seriously.  No room for error.

And while I could look at that situation as horrible and unfair, I don't.  Instead, I get even.

Over the years, I have taught myself to make all of my favorite foods at home where peanuts can never touch them.  And the beauty of it... I can usually make them taste better than ANYTHING I can buy at the store.  I love that!  It makes me feel so empowered and confident.  And a little part of me wants to say "nah-nah-na-boo-boo" to all those food makers.

One of my favorite recipes to fall in this category of greatness is my Maple Almond Butter.  I find that many almond butters can be too dry, sucking all the moisture out of my mouth, and too bland.  But I have found a few tricks to change all that.  Roasting the nuts, maple syrup, and sea salt are the key components to transforming this once boring almond butter.

Maple Almond Butter 

1.5 cups of raw almonds
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1- 2 pinches of sea salt
1-2 teaspoons olive oil 

In a bowl, drizzle maple syrup over the almonds and toss so that all the nuts are evenly coated.  Then spread the almonds on a rimmed cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Sprinkle with a pinch or two of salt.  Roast them at 325 degrees for 20 minutes, tossing at least once during that time.

When the nuts are fully roasted, remove the pan from the oven and let cool for at least 10-15 minutes.

Pour the nuts into the food processor and pulse to begin breaking them up. Add a drizzle of your oil and run the processor. Every minute or so, remove the lid and scrape down the sides. Repeat this process until your nuts have broken down into butter. You may not need all the oil, it just depends on the moisture content of the almonds.  I find that this entire process can take just a few minutes or 10-15 minutes.  It just depends on the almonds.

Store your homemade almond butter in the fridge for up to a week (though mine never lasts that long).

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Thunder clouds rolling in...

As I type this, thunder clouds are rolling in, swapping out our busy sunshine days for a bit of blustery, stay at home under the covers sort of day.

I am liking this weather shift.  It is in tune with my mood.  Mellow, introspective, and content with the simple things in life.  At this moment those include a good book, a mug of tea and my girl snuggled up against me watching Super Why.

Later we will enjoy a lazy dinner at home, a glass of wine, and a quick catch up on the latest episode of House Hunters International and Alcatraz.

We have been busy these past few weeks... good busy.  But it is nice to have a little mid-week time-out before the next round of fun busy starts up this weekend.

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Little Moments: feeding the ducks

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Meal Panning Monday

 
This past weekend I decided to make an 19 lb. turkey! 

No real occasion except that we were celebrating a rare weekend with David at home with us.  Love those kind of weekends.  So you will note a menu full of dinners to use up all that leftover turkey.

• Monday: Turkey Pad Thai (using gluten free pumpkin ginger rice noodles)
• Tuesday: Steak with crispy roasted cauliflower
• Wednesday: Turkey soup full of corn, garlic, onions, and greens (perfect for a rainy weeknight)
• Thursday:  Turkey enchiladas
• Friday: Dinner with my parents

Even with all these dishes, I have so much turkey leftover.  But I love that.  I just diced up the leftover meat and put it in the freezer. 

And to be even more efficient with that huge turkey, today I will make homemade turkey stock.  It is so healthy for you, could be not easier and is so much better than anything you can buy in the store.  Hmm, maybe I will post a recipe about it later this week.

So what are you cooking this week?  Leave me a comment and let me know.

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I drank too much kombucha last night

Little known fact....

I used to work at a yoga studio a while back doing all of their marketing efforts.  It was very interesting and awesome experience that I am happy to count in my life adventures.

To say that I met some unique people would be quite an understatement.  I did not even know people like that existed before I started working there.   So many were incredibly fascinating in a very authentic and enlightening sort of way.  I learned a lot from them and thoroughly enjoyed my time with them.  Other people were, well... how do I say... interesting in a different way.

I think this video just about sums it up.  If you have ever done yoga, thought about doing yoga, or even if you have just experienced the granola side of Austin's culture, this video will crack your ass up.

Enjoy!

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A gluten-free science experiment

A couple days ago, I sent out a quick tweet...

Toying with the idea of cutting out all gluten for a while.  It's a little overwhelming.  

Anyone out there with tips on how to get started?

I was SHOCKED by the response that I got.  Apparently this is a very hot topic with a lot of people. 

I received so many tips, ideas, and practical advice.  So much more than I expected.  But what fascinated me most were the reasons each person had for making the choice to go gluten or grain free.  Some were doing it for fertility reasons.  Others because horrible migraines.  And some due to tummy issues, like me.  But what is most interesting is that their paths to their decision were not straight forward at all. 

For me, I have been toying with the idea of giving up gluten for about a year now.  Tummy troubles and lack of energy have been plaguing me ever since Little B was born.  It seems like once I popped out a kiddo, my body came with completely different operating instructions.  And someone forgot to give me the manual.

Ice cream would have me clutching my stomach for days.  I would be exhausted after a full night of sleep.  Weird headaches.  I was kind of down all the time.  I was just OFF.  There is no better to explain it than that.  At first I thought it just went with the territory of raising a rambunctious child.  But while all my other mama friends seemed to bounce back mentally and physically, I did not.  I thought maybe my iron levels were low.  I was checked out by my doctor and they found nothing. Then I hypothesized that maybe dairy and I could no longer friends.  So I cut all dairy.  I made sure that I ate really healthy.  I got enough sleep.  I took my vitamins.  I worked out.  But nothing seemed to be helping.

Then this past fall, all my symptoms became a lot more intense.  I am sure the stress of the move did not help anything.  But it has been getting to the point where I dread eating because I know my stomach will hurt afterwards.  I hate feeling this way.

So enough is enough.  I don't know for sure that gluten is causing any of my discomfort, but I do know that I need to do something.  And after talking with many, many people, gluten could be a likely culprit.  

So on that note, the gluten-free science experiment begins this week.  I am very hopefully as my tummy is already not as feisty as it has been.  I am committed to this for a minimum of a month, but would like to do it for 3 months.  We will see how it goes.

I am very inspired by some of the friends that have already reached out to me.  You can just tell in their voice and in their words that they feel so good and that gluten-free was a great life-changing decision for them.

I would love to hear from any of you out there that are already gluten free or are even just considering it.  To know your stories and any helpful suggestions that you have for a newbie would be like gluten-free gold.

So leave me a comment or shoot me email offline.  I seriously would LOVE to hear from you.

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From my kitchen: Slow Cooker Ham and Lentil Stew

I think that stew gets a pretty bad rap most of the time. 

Stew is like the homely girl standing in the corner at the school dance wearing five different shades of brown.  She looks boring and most people just gloss right over her and never give her a second thought.  Why pay attention to something that appears to be so blah and uninteresting?

Well, I will tell why.  Because once you get to know her, you learn that she is interesting and full of warmth and flavor.  In fact, she is so awesome that you can't believe that you have not been friends this whole time... And yes, I am still talking about the stew.

Stew is the underdog of the culinary world.  It sure isn't the prettiest dish with its various shades of brown.  But once you eat great stew, you are constantly rooting for it and singing its praises from the rooftops.  Let's scream it all together now... Stew is robust and melt in your mouth delicious!!!

For those of you who have had great stew, you know what I am talking about.  For those of you who have not, I am about to rock your world!

Slow Cooker Ham and Lentil Stew

1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion 

2 carrots

1- 2 parsnips

 4 cloves garlic   

3-4 cups water
1 package of dried lentils
  4 cups diced ham (diced)
1 ham bone (this is the best secret ingredient!)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

1 bunch greens (this could be spinach, kale, chard, whatever you have on hand)

Directions:

To start out, pull out your trusty slow cooker.

Drizzle your olive oil over the bottom of the slow cooker pot.  Then, roughly chop your onion, garlic, carrots, and parsnips.  Throw those into the pot.

 Rinse and drain your lentils, removing any rocks or weird looking lentils.  Add your lentils to the pot. 

Add the ham and the ham bone to the pot as well.  NOTE: If you do not have a ham bone, use chicken or beef broth instead of water.  The ham bone provides a LOT of flavor and you will need to make up for it.

Pour your 3-4 cups of water to the pot.  If you want it more like stew, use less water. If you like to have it more soup like, use more water.  Sometimes, I replace a cup or two of water with dark beer.  But I live wild that way!  No matter what though, you want to make sure that you have enough liquid to fully cover the lentils.  But it is okay if the ham bone sticks out a bit.

Cover the slow cooker pot with a lid and set it to cook at least 4 hours.  But if you can try to set it up to cook for as long as you can.  I usually let mine cook in  the slow cooker for about 6 hours.  FYI... your house is going to smell so good.

When those 4-6 hours are up, take your washed greens, tear them up a bit and throw them into the pot.  When you mix it all together, the heat of the stew will automatically wilt the greens and give such a great pop of color amongst all the brown.

Then just serve it up in a bowl with a slice of crusty bread and a glass of red wine and enjoy.  It is velvety and rich. And it seems like something that should be really bad for you, but it isn't.  It is full of fiber and it is relatively low fat.

FYI... This stew freezes really well.  I usually package the leftovers into individual servings so that they are really easy to just pull out of the freezer, pop them into the microwave and eat within a matter of minutes.  So much better than those freezer meals you find at the store.

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Weekending

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Little Moments: strong willed

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House Hunters International Junkie

Is anyone else out there crazy addicted to House Hunters International?!!

I know that I am late to the game on this one, just getting cable and all.  But bear with me because I freakin' love this show.  What is not to love?

Amazing foreign cities - check.

Interesting people with gobs of money - check.

Seeing how other people live - check.

This show is like crack to me.  As soon as my little one is shuffled off to bed, you can bet that you will find me hunting for the remote to turn this show on.

I think I may be turning into a cable TV junkie.  We might have to plan an intervention.  But let's wait til summer to do that.  I need to catch up on a few more shows first.

But back to HHI... David and I have this dream of living in a foreign country at some point in our lives.  Spain or Argentina would be top choices.  With the whole Spanish-speaking thing and really great wine and food, we would be silly to not include those countries. 

I have never been to either country.  David has spent quite a bit of time in Argentina on business way back when.  And based on what he has told me, I think I could love it.

And Spain.... <sigh>.  That country is calling my name.  Did you ever see that PBS show with Gwenyth Paltrow and Mario Batali?  That just made me want to go to Spain even more.

What I don't get about these people on HHI is how they can afford to do this.  Or even what jobs allow them to do this.  Basically, these people have learned something with their lives that I have not yet figured out.  And I want to be let in on the secret.

I love when they show up in their new country with a million dollars and the realtor guy says that their budget may be too small.  A million dollar budget is too small!!  That is crazy talk.

Yeah, I am going to have to research our appearance on HHI a little more (and come up with a few million dollars in the meantime too) before we can make that dream happen.

But until then, to all you other House Hunter International junkies, let's be friends.  Tell me where you would live if you could live anywhere.

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Giveaway winner!

Hooray for Katie! The literary gods were on your side today.  You will soon be able to add While I'm Still Myself to your home library. Check your inbox for an email from me.


If you didn’t win, never fear…more giveaways coming up in the future.

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Little moments: guarding the piggybank

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On my mind this Tuesday morning...

via

• Coffee is my salvation this morning.
• Between the baby waking up, the thunderstorm, and the dog afraid of the thunderstorm, very little sleep was had in this house last night.
• Last week I met up with a friend from high school that I had not seen in over 16 years.
• So fun!
• But kind of freaked out that I am over 16 years removed from high school.
• How in the hell did that happen?
• Loving the AMC show, Hell on Wheels.
• Not so sure about AMC's show, The Walking Dead, that was recommended by my friend, Chrissy-Lynn.
• Zombie guts. Gag.
• There is a strong possibility that Chrissy-Lynn may end up on my shit list for that recommendation.
• The person who bought our Austin house sent us a picture of how she redecorated Little B's room.
• I am sure she meant well.  
• But lady, that was not cool.
• I did not authorize that khaki paint.
• How dare you repaint my baby's adorable room with my authorization.
• Get outta my house!
• Except it is not my house anymore.
• Sigh.
•  I really want to get some wellies for Little B.
• Her chubby, short legs would look so cute in wellies.
• Plus she would LOVE the mandatory splashing that comes with wellies.
• Coffee in five, four, three, two...

Your turn.

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Today I am loving...

:: This little Firecracker has decided to start calling us Colleen and David instead of Mommy and Daddy.  While we are struggling in trying to figure out how to halt this new trend, it is funny to have her walk up and say "Colleen, need change the diaper". (And no, I did not miss a word.  That is exactly how she says it.)

:: The sunsets in Fort Worth really are spectacular.  Every evening we get an amazing show that was just a little bit different than the evening before.  It is truly beautiful.

:: We finally got some family photos up on the wall.  NOW, it is starting to feel more like home.

:: Downton Abbey Season 2 is in full swing!!!  Last night I hosted a Downton Abbey premiere party.  We celebrated by eating Parmesan truffle risotto, drinking lots of wine, and speaking only in British accents for the whole evening.  Well, actually the British accents only lasted about 5 minutes, but we still had fun.

:: An amazing day with my friends, Adrienne and Dave and their 3 girls.  Adrienne, Dave, and I have known each other since we were 16.  They are high school sweethearts that have stood the test of time.  How sweet is that! I love that we now live closer together and get to visit so much more than before.

:: My new, big, red pot.  A lovely Christmas gift from my parents.  For its maiden voyage, I cooked up a wicked beef and barley stew.  Amazing!!!

:: I love that I can check out e-books from the library and get them instantly on my Kindle.  While the Kindle does not replace the feel of a good, heavy book, it is pretty fun and convenient.

:: A happy surprise.  My long time friend, Michele, and I had not spoken in almost 6 months due to crazy lives.  But after an impromtu phone call, I learned that she just moved back to Dallas from New York.  And with me in Fort Worth, that made for a wonderful, happy surprise for the both of us.

:: I have a new book club in the works with my sister-in-law and her friend.  I will bring the book suggestions, they will bring the friends. I am so excited! A monthly night of wine and good books and a fantastic way to meet new friends.

What are you loving today?

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Meal Planning Monday

I am feeling good about this week.  With my Dowton Abbey premiere party last night and few fun things planned for later in the week, I am starting to feel like I am getting my groove back.  And that groove is making its way into the kitchen.

I am feeling inspired again.  A newly built kitchen island thanks to my amazing husband (and Ikea) will make the process so much easier than it was before.  New recipes to try out. Different seasonings to test.  Yep it is going to be a good week in the kitchen.

• Monday: BBQ chicken and coleslaw
• Tuesday: Parmesan truffle risotto and sauteed spinach
• Wednesday: Homemade pizza
• Thursday: Dinner out with the girls (which means leftovers for David and Little B)
• Friday: Hamburger sliders with sweet potato fries

What are you cooking this week? 

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From my library: While I'm Still Myself (and a giveaway!)

While I'm Still Myself by Jeremy Mark Lane
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Normally, I am not the biggest fan of short story collections.  Usually, I find that the story is too short to allow for me to make a real connection with the main character.

So when the author, Jeremy Mark Lane, contacted me to do a review of his book of short stories, I was a little hesitant.  I felt that I would be predisposed to not like it.  But boy did he prove me wrong.  The man knows how to tell a good story.  In fact, with his haunting writing style, he would be fantastic campfire storyteller!

While I'm Still Myself includes 7 different stories:

• That Winter
• The Guest
• The Reflection, Only Hers
• The Pebblestone Five
• Shape
• Souls in the Wind
• Round Bale

The Reflection, Only Hers is my favorite.  It is haunting and yet you are still hopeful as you are reading it.  I found myself thinking about the story and its main character long after I finished it.  I was rooting for her and wanted to know what happened next in her life.

There is one thing that I do not like about the book - I do not feel that the synopsis/back cover does justice to the contents inside.  As I mentioned, Mr. Lane's writing style is haunting, rich, and a little bit dark.  It is not fluffy and does not deal with light subjects.  I like that about his writing and feel that the synopsis does not accurately portray his style.

Through out all of these stories, I found myself wondering more about the author and what inspired each story.  So I asked him...

When you sit down to write a story, do you know how the story ends before you start or does it figure itself out as you write?
I typically start with a character and a situation, and the details play themselves out. I can survive this way with short stories, but in my next project, which will likely be a novel, I will have to do a far  better job of mapping things out.

How did inspiration come to you to write each of these stories? For instance, I would love to know what your inspiration was for The Reflection, Only Hers.

It all springs out of my own experiences and memories. I believe that to be the case for any writer - I can't imagine writing creatively without tapping into my own life. The challenge then is wrapping it in a fictional context and shaping it into something that a reader enjoys.  The Reflection, Only Hers was born from the idea of someone living with the fear of a family illness. I won't say too much, but like all of the others, it came from watching and listening to people very close to me.

  What other writers do you enjoy reading?

A couple of Texas writers that I love: John Graves and Larry McMurtry. Graves' style is like no one else, and McMurtry's ability to craft a big, sweeping novel is incredible. I also love Tolstoy and Capote. Tolkien as well. I am a sucker for the epic, which is strange given my preference for writing short fiction.

Have you always known that you wanted to be an author?
I wish I could say that I always knew. The truth is, I didn't sit down to write a single thing until about two years ago (at my wife's insistence). After I finished the first story, it was clear that I had found something that I should have been doing all along.

As a special treat to my readers, I will be giving away 1 copy of While I'm Still Myself.  Here's how the giveaway will work:

Catch Jeremy Mark Lane here: Shop, Twitter, Blog

Giveaway ends Tuesday, January 10th 7:00pm US Central

One entry per person

One winner chosen at random

To enter, leave a comment telling me what book you are currently reading.

Good luck!

Giveaway is closed.

Katie from It's in the Details is the winner!

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2012 Resolutions

Yes, it is January 4th and I am just now getting to making my resolutions.  I hope my tardiness is not a theme for 2012.  But better late than never, right!

:: Operation Happy has officially launched.  If I had to think of one word that I want for my 2012 theme it would be happy.  2011 was rough and it is time for some good ol' fashion happiness around here.  So with that theme in mind, I am bringing the happiness back in the form of planned weekends with friends, good books, more date nights, and breaking out the good wine on a weeknight just for the hell of it.

:: Get my ass back in the gym.  I think about 98% of the population has this same resolution.  It makes sense after the gluttony of the holidays.  So yesterday, I officially ended my 2 month long hiatus from working out and joined the local YMCA.  And I have to admit my 45 minute run yesterday felt pretty awesome.

:: Learn how to make polenta and Irish soda bread.  I never attempted either of these before.  I think they will be fun to add to the repertoire.

:: Find me some kick ass babysitters!  I don't even need to explain that one to all you mamas out there.

:: Jump into online investing.  I have a 401K and such, but I have never bought and sold individual stocks on my own.  I want to learn a bit more about how it works and see if I can make some extra mad money on the side.

:: Get our budget back in order.  With the selling of our house in Austin and moving to Fort Worth, everything in our budget has changed.  So it is time to get refocused, making sure that we are spending and saving our money wisely.

2012, I have a good feeling about you.  Happy New Year everyone!

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From my library: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

 
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
 
I just finished Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.  It is the first book that I read on my NEW Kindle!  A wonderful Christmas present from David.  So far I am loving it.

Anyways, back to the book.  This is one that you should definitely add to your list of books to read in 2012.  It is haunting, suspenseful and just really fun storytelling.  So entertaining that I read it within two days. I did not want the book to end.

Jacob is very close with his grandfather.  They share a close bond and an amazing friendship.  Growing up, Jacob's grandfather would share these unbelievable stories from his own childhood during the World War II.  These stories would center around a home for peculiar children in Wales.  Jacob's grandfather would show him old photographs of a girl who could levitate, a boy with bees in his stomach, and another girl that could lift a boulder with one hand.  His grandfather described a place that is magical and mysterious - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

As Jacob grows older, he soon believes, like the rest of his family, that his grandfather's tales are just that... tales.  Nothing more than made up stories meant to entertain a child.

A few days before turning sixteen, Jacob witnesses the death of his grandfather outside his house.  Claiming to be killed by a monster, the grandfather asks Jacob to find, “the bird, on the other side of the grave”. Encouraged by his psychiatrist, Jacob takes on a journey to the island that houses this made up home for Miss Peregrine's peculiar children.  Hoping to find something of his grandfather’s past that will calm his nightmares, Jacob finds so much more.

There is a teaser that there may be a sequel.  I can only hope.

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