I'm going out of order, so there: Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it? (Author: Gretchen Rubin)
This may not sound like any big whoop but Joe and I didn't go out to dinner at all this past weekend. AND. We didn't order pizza or Chinese or any other food deliverables, either. No. We cooked. Like, using real recipes and everything. This is weird because, in my mind, the weekend = going out to dinner. I don't know why. That's just how it is. So, in order to break the habit, we didn't go out to eat all weekend.
This is in an effort to eat healthier and, just as important, save some money. Plus, as it turns out, I actually enjoy cooking. I know. I KNOW. Who am I? I made banana bread on Saturday and then spent I don't know how long grilling and skinning (ew) red peppers to make a red pepper sauce to have with dinner (chicken) and just...what? But it was so good! And I got to use some wedding gifts, so win win win.
Yesterday, I finally dislodged the stand mixer from the pile of wedding gifts we haven't unpacked yet (because we have nowhere to put them and so they sit, unused and depressed, just like all the enchanted crap in the Beast's castle) and found a place for it in the kitchen. I flipped through the recipes that came with it and decided to try the brownies, mostly because I wanted an excuse to eat some brownie batter. This is kind of embarrassing, but I was totally intimidated by this mixer, like, I don't know, maybe because it's so heavy? Heavy machines tend to be the most dangerous (LOGIC) and that means the stand mixer is the kitchen appliance most likely to hurt me. Unless, like, the refrigerator falls on me or something WHICH COULD TOTALLY HAPPEN. The brownies were good (but not as good as these) and BONUS the mixer did not kill me or hurt me at all. At least not yet. I'm keeping my eye on it. Anyway. I think I'm going to try some chocolate chip cookies next. Yes, mostly to eat chocolate chip cookie dough, WHAT OF IT?
I used our food processor last night to shred potatoes for latkes. Talk about your frightening experiences! (But it was so fast! TWSS!)
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I find the stand mixer is The Best for is making homemade marshmallows. If you've never made homemade marshmallows, find a recipe and TRY THEM RIGHT NOW! (Also, if you locate one that uses a tiny amount of instant coffee, use that recipe - it's a magic chemical reaction that makes them taste super-buttery!)
ReplyDeleteYou know what scares me? Electric can openers. I can't figure those things out to save my life. (No, I'm not joking.)
ReplyDeleteIf you're looking for a quick and easy (three ingredients!) dessert that the stand mixer helps you to rock, I suggest meringue cookies. They are easy and yummy and somehow people are impressed by them because the idea of meringue is intimidating. (Like souffles, which I do not have the bravery to attempt.)
ReplyDeleteOne time I got my fingers stuck in the beater while it was still on. I screamed and screamed. Had a pretty sweet bruise after that.
ReplyDelete