Posts tagged ‘goat cheese’

February 25, 2011

Link Love: Feb. 25

by Amanda

It happens every year: I call up my mom and tell her which Girl Scout cookies to buy. She tells me she already ordered them, and she doesn’t remember which ones she chose. The girls show up to our house with boxes of Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Samoas and occasionally Do-si-dos. I never satisfy my craving for Thanks-A-Lot or Lemon Chalets. I really should have just stayed a Girl Scout. Sadly, it wasn’t even my choice when I stopped in the seventh grade. My troop disbanded leaving me stripped of my patches and cookie-selling abilities. I really only was in it for the cookies.

This week’s link love includes a recipe for Tagalongs, the cookie I unscientifically deem as most popular in my what’s-your-favorite-Girl-Scout-cookie poll. Maybe I should create my own recipe for Thanks-A-Lot or Lemon Chalets. If only I had a sample of the real deal to work off of…

Homemade Tagalong Girl Scout Cookies from Cakespy for Serious Eats

artichokegoatcheesestrata

Artichoke and Goat Cheese Strata from Cooking Light

PBfull Banana Bran Muffins from Gracefulfitness

Moroccan Skillet Quinoa and Chicken from Simply Gluten Free

shrimpsaganaki

Shrimp Saganaki from Eating Well

What’s your favorite Girl Scout cookie?

December 29, 2010

Best Meal of 2010

by Amanda

Talk about a clutch hit. I had to wait until December 26th for the best meal of the year. The good news? It was made in my own home. Which means I can make it again in 2011, and you can too.

Roasted Root Vegetables with Walnut Pesto

Pumpkin Risotto

Braised Short Ribs

Goat Cheese Biscuits (recipe from my friend Katherine)

Ingredients:

2 cups self-rising flour (you can make this by combining 1/2 tsp salt and 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder per cup of all-purpose flour)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons (2 ounces) cold unsalted butter (cut it into tablespoons)

4 tablespoons (2 ounces) goat cheese

1 cup (8 ounces) buttermilk

Extra butter to grease pan and top biscuits

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and put the skillet or glass baking pan in the oven while you do the directions below.

2. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.

3. Cut the cold butter and the goat cheese into the dry mixture.

4. Create a well in the middle to pour in the milk.

5. Pour in the milk.

6. Mix together.

7. Take out the pan and put biscuit size amount of dough on it, drizzle with butter.

8. Bake for 12-14 minutes.

And yes, the best meal of 2010 included dessert. Specifically, chocolate souffles from now closed restaurant Etas-Unis in New York City (RIP). Thank God for recipes to keep foodie greatness alive.

Chocolate Souffles

2011, you have a lot to live up to. I’m ready to see what you’ve got.

What was your best meal of 2010?

November 29, 2010

Thanksgiving Recipes: The Sides

by Amanda

In my opinion, some of these sides almost stole the show. Does that make them good or bad sides? Are they supposed to be playing supporting roles? Honestly, I’m not too worried about figuring out the answer to that question.

Goat Cheese Stuffed Pears

from Live Laugh Eat–>Click to find the recipe on Allie’s blog!

Parsley Smashed New Potatoes

from EatingWell

Ingredients:

2 pounds new or baby red potatoes, (1- to 2-inch diameter), large ones quartered

2/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt

2 scallions, cut in half lengthwise and finely chopped

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons butter, softened

3/4 teaspoon salt

White or freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Add potatoes, cover and steam until very tender when pierced with a fork, 20 to 25 minutes. (Check the water level near the end of steaming to be sure the pan doesn’t boil dry. Add more boiling water as needed.)

2. Meanwhile, combine yogurt, scallions, parsley, butter, salt and pepper in a large bowl.

3. Mix the cooked potatoes into the yogurt mixture, breaking them up with a fork until they crumble apart and lightly clump together.

Roasted Root Vegetables with Walnut Pesto

from Cooking Light

Ingredients:

Vegetables:

3  cups  (1-inch-thick) slices carrot (about 1 pound)

3  cups  (1-inch-thick) slices parsnip (about 1 pound)

3  cups  (1-inch) cubed peeled turnip

3  cups  trimmed halved Brussels sprouts (about 1 pound)

2  shallots, peeled and quartered

1  large onion, cut into 8 wedges

Cooking spray

1/2  teaspoon  salt

1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper

Pesto:

2  cups  basil leaves

1/4  cup  (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano

1/4  cup  coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted

4  teaspoons  extravirgin olive oil

2  tablespoons  water

1  tablespoon  fresh lemon juice

1/2  teaspoon  salt

1  garlic clove, peeled

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°.

2. To prepare vegetables, place first 6 ingredients in a single layer on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Lightly coat vegetable mixture with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; toss. Bake at 425° for 1 hour or until browned. Transfer vegetable mixture to a large bowl.

3. To prepare pesto, combine basil leaves and remaining ingredients in a food processor; process until smooth, scraping sides. Spoon basil mixture over vegetable mixture, and toss to coat.

Sweet Potato Biscuits

The biscuits were my least favorite side and the only recipe I can’t share because it came from a cookbook. These made me grateful for the Internet’s user reviews that make awesome screening devices for recipes.

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side?

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