Sunday, September 30, 2012

Chicken Tikka Masala


My dad turned us onto this Chicken Tikka Masala recipe from America's Test Kitchen. Someone posted it on the site, Group Recipes, which is where I found the text. The recipe is solid, but had to make some minor tweaks to make it taste less like Penne a la Vodka. Continue reading after the jump for my adaptation.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Sour Cream Buttermilk Biscuits


I don't know where my obsession with biscuits stemmed from because I didn't grow up eating them. Nonetheless, I was making them constantly a couple of years ago. These Sour Cream Buttermilk Biscuits from the blog, No Ordinary Homestead, are probably my favorite biscuits ever. After years of making just buttermilk biscuits, I learned that by adding sour cream, they become even more moist. You won't be disappointed by this recipe.

Apple-Oat Crisp


K would have this dessert year-round if he had his way. He has a weakness for warm apple desserts and since I haven't mastered pies yet, I make this Apple-Oat Crisp from About.com for him every autumn. The recipe is super simple, sans spices. You may sprinkle some cinnamon or nutmeg if you wish, but I don't think they're necessary. I do recommend doubling the topping though.

The original recipe seems to have changed since I copied it, so please follow my version after the jump. Also, to make it easier for you, topping measurements have been doubled.

*Revised October 21, 2012.

Sweet Potato and Cheddar Bread Pudding


Fulfilling my promise to post our favorite recipes, here is the Sweet Potato and Cheddar Bread Pudding I made two years ago. It's perfect as is, so I have no changes to the recipe from the blog, Dixie Caviar. It's actually an adaptation of a Butternut Squash and Kale Bread Pudding by Molly Wizenberg. I chose to stick with Dixie Caviar's version as peeling sweet potatoes is easier for me than peeling butternut squash. However, I'm sure the original recipe is just as good. 
 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Bouquet Pop-Up Card

Here's the other card I made from the pop-up book. For this, I used some craft punches I happened to find at work. They were giving them away for free, so I happily took them home as I was considering buying some.


Tulip Pop-Up Card

A variation of the tulip card found in Playful Pop-Up Cards, by Takami Suzuki. I finally made a real cover for the card. The book doesn't have any templates for covers, so you have to create your own. Honestly, I didn't have the energy or willpower to cut more paper after working on this and the other card (to come in the next post), so went with a very simple design.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Chicken and Dumplings


On a crisp night like tonight, I crave comfort food. One of my favorite dishes even though I didn't grow up on it is Chicken and Dumplings. K found this recipe a couple of years ago from the blog, Culinary Adventures, but it originates from Cooks Illustrated. What I love about this version is that the dumplings are fluffy and substantial and the broth is creamy. I have never tasted Chicken and Dumplings like this before, but only want this kind.  

Friday, September 7, 2012

Perfect Turkey Burgers


For whatever reason, we don't eat hamburgers at home. However, we do have these 'Perfect Turkey Burgers' on occasion. The self-proclaimed burgers, found on Cheese-Burger.net, are indeed perfect. They're moist, flavorful, and lighter than a beef burger. They taste even better with garlic mayo, which is just garlic and Japanese mayonnaise. The latter is more acidic than Hellman's, for example. So, if you're using any American brand of mayonnaise, I'd recommend adding some lemon juice to it.

Find the recipe after the jump.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Zucchini Tomato Tart with Potato Crust


Thanks to our friends Glara and Rick, we were given a giant zucchini from their garden. K made zucchini fries in the oven with the first half last week. They didn't look as great as they tasted, so we'll attempt them again. With the second half, I decided on a savory tart. It's an adaptation of Jaime's (our old cooking club companion) Zucchini Tomato Eggplant Tart with Potato Crust. Since K is allergic to eggplant, I simply omitted the eggplant and added some more tomatoes. I also used a casserole dish instead of pie pan because the potatoes yielded so much. If you wish to use a pie pan, I'd recommend cutting the recipe in half or by one third. With the egg filling and hash brown crust, it makes a great breakfast.