I live in a cabin in the woods

test

2015-05-12T16:33:00.001-04:00

How about a cottage near the beach.....

2011-09-08T20:41:00.000-04:00

Yes, it is true, Im moving to the sunshine state.Naples, Florida! No more cabin in the woods.... more to come...........

Im Back!

2011-02-07T14:27:00.000-05:00

Back from Mpls. about a week ago and had allot of things to catch up on... so now I will be back to work on my blog , giving you more helpful hints and recipes..... thanks for waiting:)

egg series

2011-01-27T14:58:00.000-05:00

My egg series will be located in the tab labeled "Fun Facts". It will be more than just fun facts, I hope you will find it informative and useful for your daily cooking. Enjoy!

Back to the grind......

2011-01-27T14:52:00.000-05:00

Well I made it back to GA after a wonderful trip home to ...freezing MN. I had so much fun seeing all my friends and a few I haven't seen in years! The weather: cold at first then it warmed up a bit ...into the 20"s I believe. hmmmm its 50 something here in GA, and sunny. Well back to reallity and blogging about real stuff you want to hear! I'm starting a series on eggs... yes the good old egg. stay tuned...............

2011-01-20T21:48:00.001-05:00

Pineapple Orange Marmalade

No more coffee?

2011-01-20T12:47:00.000-05:00

Well, it's official....I'm all out of my "free" starbucks coffee... well it really wasn't free, as a starbucks employee, you get to have 1lb a week... but you sure work your butt off for it! (ironic that it's national coffee break day) Here is a good recipe for dessert with coffee, coffee and cream cheese cake:

One batch of batter is divided to produce this delectable double-layered cheesecake. Be sure to soften the cream cheese thoroughly so that it combines easily with the other ingredients to form a smooth batter.
CRUST
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
FILLING
4 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons instant espresso coffee powder
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1. Heat oven to 325°F. Wrap outside of 9-inch springform pan with heavy-duty foil. Combine all crust ingredients in medium bowl until crumbs are moistened; press into bottom and 1 inch up sides of pan. Bake 8 minutes or until set. Cool on wire rack.
2. Beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl at low speed until smooth. Beat in flour. Add eggs two at a time, beating just until combined.
3. Pour 2 1/2 cups of the batter into medium bowl; stir in vanilla. Refrigerate. Dissolve coffee powder in cream; stir into remaining batter. Reserve 3 tablespoons of the coffee batter; refrigerate. Pour remaining coffee batter into crust. Place pan in large shallow roasting or broiler pan. Add enough hot tap water to come halfway up sides of springform pan.
4. Bake 40 minutes. Carefully slide oven rack out several inches; pour vanilla batter around edge of cheesecake (batter will flow evenly to cover top of cake). Drizzle with reserved 3 tablespoons coffee batter. Carefully pull tip of small knife through batter to create swirls.
5. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are puffed and top is dry to the touch. Center should move slightly when pan is tapped but should not ripple as if liquid. Remove cake from water bath; remove foil. Cool on wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours. Refrigerate uncovered overnight. (Cheesecake can be made 3 days ahead.) Store in refrigerator.
12 servings
PER SERVING: 495 calories, 36 g total fat (21.5 g saturated fat), 9 g protein, 35.5 g carbohydrate, 170 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, .5 g fiber

Mis en place....

2011-01-19T16:46:00.002-05:00

What? (French) This is the key to success in all baking and cooking. It really means being prepared:
Read recipe from start to finish before doing anything else.
Assemble all ingredients (make sure you have everything you need).
Room Temp....milk eggs etc. ( unless recipe calls for chilled).
Assemble all tools needed.
Weigh or measure ingredients.
Pre-heat oven (at least 15 minutes).
The goal of Mis en place is to have everything you need ready to go so you don't have to stop in the middle of preparing once you begin. Stopping midway can affect the outcome of your dish.......

To Minneapolis I go!

2011-01-18T10:01:00.000-05:00

YAY!
I am heading home for a few days, leaving this Sat. Jan 22nd , coming back on Jan 26th... not enough time but will still be fun. I am hosting a brunch at my daughter Natalie's house on Sunday. I think we will have a good turnout. Whats on the menu you ask?
Well for starters coffee and mimosa's
Cheesy egg bake
Frittata's
Cheesy Chile relleno squares (really yummy)
Marji's caramel pecan breakfast casserole
The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond's BEST coffee cake ( it is the best)
www.thepioneerwoman.com
Orange cranberry scones (just like the picture in the last post)
Cheddar bacon scones
Platter of bacon and sausage
probably some muffins too
OBTW I will be doing all the cooking/baking!
Hope to see you there!

Homemade orange/cherry scones

2011-01-17T17:41:00.002-05:00

Yes , I know they should be orange /cranberry scones, but, I only had dried cherries...still really good, the orange is more pronounced so you don't taste the cherry very much, that and my food processor kind of chopped them up too much......user error,,,,,,,,,,,,OH and very yummy thick orange vanilla icing!

oooooow ..... 60 degree's here today....

2011-01-16T18:30:00.002-05:00

Yes this is the same snowman a few posts ago.....

Oh Honey!

2011-01-13T19:53:00.002-05:00

I think I'm going to invest in beehives...I mean, really , to make real honey... I've always wanted to do that. I will dress up in the net and fetch me some honey...maybe I can sell some too....have you seen the prices of honey lately?? Yikes

This is some real honeycomb I bought at a regular grocery store. I believe I paid about 8 bucks for the jar. It's good to buy local honey because it can help you with local plant allergies... don't ask me how, but that's what they claim.

Toto....were not in Minnesota anymore........

2011-01-13T18:01:00.002-05:00

AT LAST!

2011-01-13T17:53:00.001-05:00

AHHHHHHHHHH .....at last.... I was able to get out of my driveway today and actually see the sun and civilization again! It is nice to be snowed in, but wow, I learned that I do need to be around people, not just poodles! Romeo and I did have some nice quality time together.
But I'm sure he is happy that I got out because he now has some more of his favorite treat; duck jerky. I also bought him more chicken jerky too. That stuff actually smells good. I bet I could make my own .......hmmmm maybe I will add a category for dog treats. I think I will!
Got more bird seed too. They eat allot, so if anyone says to you, "you eat like a bird."......well I'm just sayin....

Cabin Fever

2011-01-12T10:13:00.001-05:00

Well, it's been 3 days since the"storm of the century" for Dahlonega. I've been in my cabin, no way to get out.... they don't seem to plow around here....That's OK! I stocked up on everything , including propane for my nice cozy fireplace. Six inched really cripples this ole mountain.....way too icy to drive on hills.

I'm working on the layout of this blog and have hit a few walls, certain lay-out problems, but I will figure them out! Sorry about the pineapple video not opening up , I will get that fixed if its the last thing I do! uuuuggggghhhhhh.
Going to add some yummy recipes today too.
love to you all
Joni

My afternoon snack

2011-01-11T15:54:00.002-05:00

mini popovers and espresso, made with my cool espresso maker of course!

How to cut a pineapple

2011-01-10T16:31:00.001-05:00

View Full Album

Pineapple Orange Marmalade

WHAT THE.....

2011-01-10T13:12:00.002-05:00

Hay! Didn't I move to Georgia? What is with all this snow? Romeo want s to know too... We got about 6 inches I think. I moved from MN, the coldest planet on earth.... to GA..... to escape winters...I do admit it is very pretty and makes me think of home, but I also know it will be gone in a week, so actually that is the perfect kind of winter to have .....yay!

The snow has brought many hungry birds to my feeders. I lost count at 15 different kind of species. I identified two new types that I had never seen before; the Eastern Towhee and the Brown Thrasher. As a novice birder, I am thrilled to say the least. I also have a nice bright red Cardinal that comes regularly with his wife:)

My amazing Coffee find!

2011-01-07T00:08:00.002-05:00

WOW, when I first saw this "thing" it scarred me...but I kept seeing it on cooking shows, magazines, websites...etc. SO as a former Starbucks' employee, I had to investigate. I needed a way to make good tasting espresso shots with out buying an expensive espresso machine... the key here is "good espresso shots".... well I don't know what took me so long but I'm glad I finally joined the party! It is so easy to use and vary affordable too, about $20 bucks for the small one.
?What is it you ask?
.... The Bialetti Moka Express (stove top espresso maker)..... FANTASTIC-O! just grind your coffee for espresso and you will have a nice cup of hot creamy rich espresso...........just like that.......enjoy!

BIALETTI MOKA EXPRESS

What the heck does Speck mean??

2011-01-06T14:29:00.001-05:00

I just learned a new term today....Speck, lightly smoked pork that is cured and air-dried, adds richness to many dishes. hmmmm....... who new?
I will post a recipe with Speck in it...

Ingredients

6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
4 fresh thyme sprigs
3 garlic cloves, divided
1 pound fresh chanterelles, cleaned, cut into 1/3-inch-thick slices
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
4 ounces 1/8-inch-thick slices Speck*, rind trimmed
6 3/4-inch-thick slices ciabatta or pain rustique
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 large eggs
2 small heads of butter lettuce, coarsely torn (about 11 cups)
6 cups mâche or arugula (3 1/2 ounces)
Vin Santo Vinaigrette

Preparation

Preheat oven to 500°F. Combine 4 tablespoons oil and thyme in large bowl. Press 2 garlic cloves into oil with garlic press; whisk to blend. Add chanterelles and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Spray rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Spread mushroom mixture on sheet. Roast mushrooms until tender, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes.
Cut Speck crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick strips. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in small skillet over medium-high heat. Add Speck; sauté until crisp, 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
Toast ciabatta slices until golden; rub with remaining garlic clove. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil. Halve each slice lengthwise.
Fill large skillet with water and bring to boil. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Crack eggs, 1 at a time, into custard cup, then slide egg from cup into water; reduce heat to low. Poach eggs until whites are set and yolks are softly set, 3 to 4 minutes.
Meanwhile, toss lettuce and mâche with enough vinaigrette to coat. Mound salad on 6 plates. Using slotted spoon, remove eggs from water, dab with paper towels to absorb excess liquid, and place atop salads. Garnish with mushrooms and Speck. Place ciabatta fingers around salad and serve immediately.
*Look for Speck at Italian markets, specialty foods stores, or online at igourmet.com

SOME INTERESTING FACTS

2011-01-05T17:17:00.000-05:00

SALT:
Did you know that Homer, the Greek epic poet, (not Homer Simpson) called salt a "Divine substance" and Plato, the classic Greek philosopher said salt was dear to the gods. Salt was so valued that the town of Jericho created a salt trade center over 10,000 years ago. Humans and animals would not survive without it. Salt has a fascinating history.
There is a great book out called SALT A WORLD HISTORY, by Mark Kurlansky. It is a must read for any history or cooking enthusiast!

I live in a cabin in the woods....

2011-01-05T15:03:00.000-05:00

Why does that remind me of Sponge Bob?