Sunday, February 28, 2010

menu : week nine


SUNDAY
Oven roasted pull pork sandwiches
coleslaw
homemade fries

MONDAY
Pasta with pecorino and black pepper (Back to Basics, page 143)

TUESDAY
Vegetable soup

WEDNESDAY
Broccoli and cheddar and bacon and cheddar loaded baked potatoes

THURSDAY
Pulled pork tacos
black beans and rice

FRIDAY
I am going to make another attempt to take the kids into NYC to meet my husband for dinner.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

menu recap : week eight


SUNDAY
The indian dinner that I made turned out great. It is a ton of work and took hours to make that many dishes, but it was worth the effort. Everyone loves indian food and there was just a bit left that I packed in the lunch boxes.

MONDAY
Pasta with roasted vegetables and arugula was just a ok. I will not make it again.

TUESDAY
The Pan Bagnat was a success. It is a great make ahead meal. Everyone likes theirs a bit different, but they are not hard to make so it is fine. I can never make enough rosti, all four love it.

WEDNESDAY
Pork Stir Fry over Crispy rice is a fast and good dinner that all the kids love.

THURSDAY
Pasta with sauce is one of my husbands favorites. I made a big pot of sauce that allows me to freeze some to use for other dishes.

FRIDAY
I tried a new pizza dough but was not impressed with the recipe. I will go back to mine. It took me almost a year to come up with the one that I use all the time now. See below for my recipe for dough.

Pizza Dough
3/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees)
1 envelope active dry yeast

2 cups (or more) all purpose flour
1-1/4 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil

Cornmeal

Pour the warm water into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Stir in yeast. Let stand until yeast begins to foam, about 5 minutes.

Add sugar, salt, and olive oil into the yeast mixture and mix. Add 2 cups of flour and mix until dough forms a ball. Test dough to make sure it is not to sticky. If it is, add more flour by tablespoons until dough is no longer sticky. Mix for a few more minutes until dough is smooth.

Lightly oil a bowl with olive oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl and turn dough in bowl to lightly coat the dough with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and then cover with a dish towel. Let the dough rise in a warn draft-free area until doubled in size.

After the dough has risen punch the dough down. Split the dough into 2 or 3 balls. Cover the balls that you are not using. Dust working surface with flour and roll out the dough. Start in the center and work your way out. Make the dough a little smaller then your baking sheet.

Preheat over to 550 degrees.

Sprinkle baking sheet lightly with cornmeal, this will prevent the dough from sticking to the pan. Transfer rolled out dough to pan.

Top with whatever you desire.

Bake pizza until it is browned on the bottom and cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Friday, February 26, 2010

perfect : decor


Wall art by Prairie Path.

photo by prairie path.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

treat


Today was the kind of day where you think to yourself I really need a treat. However the day was such that it has drained me and even looking for a treat is a task. If I could treat myself to a treat I would have one of these.

photo by levain bakery

Sunday, February 21, 2010

menu : week eight


SUNDAY
Onion Bhajis (Food Bible, page 50)
Naan (The Joy of Cooking)
Raita (The Joy of Cooking)
Chana Masala (The Smitten Kitchen)
Aloo Patak

MONDAY
Pasta with roasted vegetables and arugula (Food Everday, January 2010, page 13)

TUESDAY
Pan Bagnat (Food Bible, page 89)
Rosti

WEDNESDAY
Pork Stir Fry over Crispy rice

THURSDAY
Pasta with sauce

FRIDAY
Homemade pizza