Hooray!

My awesome cousin Kimi made a mention of my blog in her entry here! It's got a recipe for No Knead Bread, which is about the easiest time you'll ever have making anything if you read the recipe and then watch the video. She also included some other tips about the details (from me) and variations on it (all her).

My roommate sent me a link the other week to a website called the Black Cab Sessions. It's got a bunch of videos of indie artists who have come to England and are then filmed singing a song while sitting in the back of a moving cab. The idea is extremely cool, and very well executed. I would highly recommend watching My Morning Jacket. The lead singer, Jim James, has an absolutely incredible voice. Enjoy!

Carrot Mac and Cheese

When I was younger, I never liked cheese by itself- something about the smell and the texture just weirded me out. But nowadays, I can never get enough- especially if it's mac and cheese! When I saw this recipe in Food and Wine, it intrigued me because it was such a different take on "healthy" mac and cheese.
I do have to say, my first attempt at the recipe — minus tarragon, and with more cheese — was way too bland and carroty/orange-y (yes, it called for juice and zest from an orange). This time, I nixed the orange, added half an onion with the carrots, and made sure to put in plenty of salt. The result? Not bad at all!
I'm also including a song in this post, because a few weeks ago I remembered Epitonic, this website that I used to visit regularly in high school. They posted all this awesome indie music for you to listen to and download, along with an in-depth description of the band and suggestions of similar artists. This was the place where I first discovered Spoon, who is now one of my favorite bands. The website is pretty much defunct and very difficult to navigate properly (it died shortly after they redesigned it), but the music is still up there. I browsed through and got a whole bunch of new music, but this one in particular jumped out at me.
Etienne de Rocher - Out to Sea. (Artist page here.)

Carrot Macaroni and Cheese

(adapted from Food and Wine)

• 3 medium or large carrots, sliced thinly
• 1/2 small white onion, diced
• zest (in large strips) and juice of one small navel orange (optional)
• salt and pepper
• 3 cups penne rigate or other short pasta
• 6 to 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon (optional)

- Preheat oven to 350*F.
- In a medium saucepan, combine carrots, onion, orange zest/juice, and 1/4 cup water. Season with salt and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, until the carrots are soft. Discard the zest, then puree the rest of the mixture in a blender until smooth.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, reserving 3/4 to 1 cup of the pasta water.
- Return the pasta to the pot, along with the carrot puree and water, and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the pasta is coated with a thickened sauce, about five minutes.
- Stir in 3/4 of your cheese and cook, stirring, until creamy, about two to three minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and tarragon.
- Transfer the pasta to a medium baking dish and top off with the rest of the cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Let stand for five minutes before serving.

Enjoy! I will probably be making a post for zucchini bread some time soon, after I make it this weekend.

Chocolate-Haupia Pies

Here's the recipe for the Chocolate Haupia mini pies I made on Valentine's Day.

Perfect Pie Crust

(adapted from The New Best Recipe)
makes 7-8 mini pie crusts, or one 9-inch pie crust

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 7 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• 4-5 tablespoons ice water

- In a medium bowl, sift the flour, salt, and sugar together.  Add the butter in pieces, either pulsing in a food processor or mixing in with fingertips, until the mixture is a pale yellow and resembles coarse crumbs, with the butter bits no larger than small peas.
- Sprinkle 4 tablespoons of the ice water over the mixture.  With a rubber spatula, use a folding motion to mix.  Press down on the dough with the broad side of the spatula until the dough sticks together, adding up to 1 tablespoon more ice water if the dough will not come together.  Flatten the dough into a 4-inch disk, wrap in plastic , and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator (if it's been more than 1 hour, let it sit until it's malleable).  Flour your work surface and slowly roll the dough with a pin by rolling a quarter turn of the disk with your right hand, then turning the dough on the surface and repeating the motion.  Continue to turn your dough and flatten it in quarters until it is 8 to 9 inches in diameter, then lift it up onto your rolling pin and place it upside down.
- If you're making mini pies, roll your dough out in length another few inches, then cut out circles with about a 4" diameter.  Remove the circles and press them into muffin tins by draping them over the top and lifting the edges to ease the dough into the lower creases of the tin.  Trim the excess edges and crimp with a fork if desired.  Re-roll the rest of the dough and cut out more 4" circles.
- If you're making one 9" pie crust, roll your flattened circle out another 3-4" wider than your pie plate.  Roll the dough into your pin again and unroll it evenly over your pie place.  Life the edges of the dough and ease it down into the lower creases of the pan.  Trim the overhanging dough and crimp the edgeswith your finger or a fork.
- Refrigerate your dough-lined plate or muffin tin until firm, about 40 minutes, then transfer to the freezer for an additional 20 minutes.  (This sounds ridiculous, but Best Recipe gives a good reason for it.  Refrigerating the dough relaxes the gluten so the crust doesn't shrink during the baking, and freezing it helps make the dough flaky.)
- Preheat your oven to 375*F.  Remove your pie crust from the freezer and line the crust(s) with heavy-duty foil both inside and over the shell, folding the edges of the foil to shield the edge of the crust.  Distribute pie weights, pennies, rice, or beans along the bottom (fill the entire inside of the shell if you are using rice or beans, since they are lighter).
- Bake the crusts until the dough looks dry and light in color, 25-30 minutes.  Carefully remove the foil and weights by gathering the corners of the foil and pulling up and out.  For a partially baked crust (if you're using a filling that you are baking again later), continue baking until light golden brown, another 5-6 minutes.  For a fully baked crust (which is what I used for this refrigerated-filling pie), continue baking until deep golden brown, another 12 minutes.  Transfer the crust(s) to a wire rack.

As for the pie filling, I just used instant Jello Chocolate Pudding mix, Coconut Gelatin mix from the Asian grocery store, and Cool Whip.  However, to make a truly authentic and homemade version, follow the recipe posted here Enjoy!

Valentine's day sweets

Even though Valentine's day is supposed to be a day for lovers, I like to indulge in the cheesiness and spread the cheer around. So this year I had a party and made a LOT of sweets. Here's what I made:

Chocolate Haupia (coconut pudding) Mini Pies

Strawberry Shortcakes

Shortbread Hearts

Oatmeal Lace Cookies with Chocolate

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Vanilla Cupcakes with Guava Buttercream Frosting

Recipes to follow in subsequent entries. If you're dying for a particular one right now, let me know; I'll be happy to post it.

It's almost Halloween...

Well, three weeks from it, anyways. My roommates and I made witch hat cookies yesterday, but when we piled them up on the plate it ended up looking more like Chocolate Island from Super Mario World. So if you're wondering what that little green thing is- it's a Dino-Rhino.
Anyhow, recipe as follows, and a song from Patrick Wolf called Ghost Song to accompany the witch hats.

Witch Hat Cookies

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup packed granulated sugar
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 bag Hershey's Kisses

- Adjust the oven racks to the upper and lower middle positions, and preheat the oven to 350*. Grease two baking sheets.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter until creamy, then add the sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat the peanut butter in until it's fully incorporated, then beat in eggs in one at a time, and finally add the vanilla extract.
- Spoon small balls of the dough, about 1 inch in diameter, onto the baking sheets, then bake for 10 to 12 minutes, switching the pan positions halfway through.
- Once out of the oven, let cookies cool for 1 or 2 minutes, then stick an unwrapped Kiss in the middle of each cookie.

weird but good

This recipe won 2nd place at UCSD Sixth College's annual Chocolate Festival recipe contest in my freshman year (first place went to a chocolate souffle). Chocolate and caramel go hand in hand, but you'd never guess what this sweet's base is- saltine crackers! That's right. I got this recipe from a swim team kid's mom, who made it at our annual holiday party, and had a very hard time believing it. Of course, the crackers are unsalted, which does make a big difference, but still! How could something that you normally eat when you're sick or with soup possibly make such a sugary snack? I've tried using graham crackers as a base before (easier to break), but I've been told that it's a little too sweet that way.

Chocolate Toffee Crackers

(makes about 1 lb.)

• unsalted saltine crackers (enough to cover the pan)
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups sliced almonds or pecans (optional)

- Arrange a single layer of crackers with sides touching, but not overlapping, along the bottom of a shallow, non-stick baking pan. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a small saucepan, combine the butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly until melted. Cook for two minutes once the mixture comes to a boil, then remove from heat and spread the caramel quickly over the crackers. Use a spatula to make sure the caramel covers all of the crackers, then add the nuts.
- Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from oven. Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the pan. Wait several minutes for the chocolate to melt, then spread it evenly over the crackers.
- Refrigerate the crackers in the pan for 30 minutes. Remove and break into pieces- use a butter knife to gently break the crackers apart along the seams if you want neat pieces.

Here's some music to dance to while you bake:
Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp
Klaxons - As Above, So Below (Justice remix)
Scissors For Lefty - Ghetto Ways

lazy weekend

Long weekends are a good time to sleep in late and wake up in the afternoon to make breakfast. Here's a recipe for pancakes from Bon Appetit that sounds weird but tastes REALLY good. They've got a lot more texture and flavor than regular pancakes, without being too odd.
It's a little tricky, at least for me, to make these pancakes without burning them- I use a cast-iron pan to make them. You also need to keep a good eye on the heat if you're using an electric stove, because the pan will get hotter even if you don't adjust the temperature. After burning the first few pancakes I made, I turned the heat down to a medium-low and let the pan cool before trying again.

Banana, Raisin & Oatmeal Pancakes

From Bon Appetit
(makes about 12)

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup packed golden brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup plain (or vanilla) yogurt
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup raisins (I used golden)
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for griddle

- Whisk the oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon into a medium bowl.
- Whisk yogurt, milk, eggs,and vanilla in another medium bowl to blend.
- Whisk the dry ingredients into the yogurt mixture until just blended. Fold in the mashed bananas, raisins, and melted butter.
- Brush a non-stick griddle or skillet with melted butter and heat over medium-low heat. Pour the batter by 1/3 cupfuls onto the griddle, and cook until bubbles form on the top  and the bottoms are golden brown, about two minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook until the bottoms are golden, about another two minutes.

Here's some happy music for the three-day weekend:
- Oh No, Oh My - Jane Is Fat.mp3
The title of this song is so mean it's hilarious, but the song is actually completely different from what you might expect given the name. It's a surprisingly sweet song about love, really, upbeat but quiet.
- Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) & Britt Daniel (Spoon) - Let The Distance Bring Us Together
This song is from a Post-Parlo Records EP back in 2002 with four songs from this unexpected pair. I don't own the CD itself- it was printed in a pretty limited run- but I did manage to find all four songs on the internet. It's worth listening to if you are vaguely into either band. This song in particular works really well to combine both sounds in a way that ends up being pretty awesome on its own.
- Mount Righteous - When The Child Awakes
I saw this band play with the Modlins just yesterday. I had never heard of them before, but it ended up being pretty incredible. It's a large group of kids from Texas (about 12 of them) who each play a different instrument and sing, kind of a cross between a chorus and a marching band. Sounds really weird, but it was amazing to watch, and a good listen, too.

slightly quirky

Today I've got two songs and an adapted oatmeal cookie recipe.
It's not always a good thing to deviate from the standard, but sometimes the results are pretty awesome. Of course it's always going to be a matter of personal opinion, but these cookies, which I dubbed Trail-Mix Cookies, were pretty well-received. I took a recipe for oatmeal cookies off the back of a can of oatmeal, then added golden raisins and sunflower seeds. I tend to prefer golden raisins to regular ones, since they're sweeter; the sunflower seeds were thrown in as an experiment in flavor. They add a slightly nutty flavor that isn't overwhelming, and help make the cookie a little less sweet for those who aren't sugar fiends. I baked them into bars since it's faster and gives a nice combination of dry and moist pieces.

Trail-Mix Cookie Bars

• 1 cup (16 tablespoons) butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/3 cup roasted unsalted sunflower seeds

- Place the oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 340 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs and mix well.
- In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking powder, spices, and salt well, then add this dry mixture into the butter mixture. Combine well, then add the raisins and sunflower seeds, mixing well.
- Press the batter evenly into a 9-by-9-inch nonstick baking pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the entire top is firm and a light golden color. Let the pan cool before cutting into bars and removing.

The two songs below are among my favorites, and are very catchy, even if opposite in mood. MGMT's song is an upbeat dance tune of the indie genre. You've probably heard of this band if you listen to rock/alternative stations, since their single "Time To Pretend" has gotten decent radio play. The lead singer has a surprisingly high-pitched voice that works really well for such a sexy song. Facing New York is a lesser known band that manages to turn out some of the most interesting yet melodic songs. I saw them live this past summer and they put on a pretty awesome show, including double drumming. The song here is off their self-titled album, which is pretty melancholy overall, but somehow makes me happy when I listen to it.
MGMT - Electric Feel
Facing New York - Cutting My Hair.mp3

what to do in warm weather

When it's warm outside, I always want good pasta. Here's a recipe I made up for sun-dried tomato "pesto". It's made with sun-dried tomatoes in oil, garlic, and pine nuts. The result is a nice, light sauce that is both lighter and slightly tangier than marinara. You can get small jars of sun-dried tomatoes from Trader Joe's. Personally, I like to have fresh steamed broccoli with the pasta.

Sun-Dried Tomato "Pesto"

• 1/2 of an 8.5 ounce can of Sun Dried Tomatoes in oil
• 4 to 5 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• Extra-virgin olive oil

Place the tomatoes (with oil from the jar), garlic, and pine nuts into a blender or food processor. Add in enough olive oil to almost cover the other ingredients. Blend the ingredients, stopping occasionally to redistribute the ingredients if needed. If the sauce is too thick for your liking or you have trouble blending it, add more olive oil. Serve over warm pasta, tossing well.

And some music to go with the weather as well:
Bob Dylan - Summer Days
TV on the Radio - Staring At The Sun

Extra post because I'm restless

Too much coffee is a very bad thing. Especially when you don't really need it, haven't had a lot to eat that day, and your friend is offering it to you for free. Very, very bad idea. But sooo tempting. So, the result of my useless restless energy is: a bonus entry! More music.

So this band, The Hush Sound, is a piano-pop-rock group from Chicago. Here's the catch- they are labelmates with Panic at the Disco and Paramore, on the label owned by the dude from Fall Out Boy. Why on earth would any person who isn't a teenage girl listen to this, you ask?  The answer is that they're honestly a great band that could stand well on their own, on any other label.
Both the female pianist and the guitarist sing, although they tend to alternate as leads on songs. This results in two pretty different songs, but they're both awesome. Their new album, Goodbye Blues, has a ton of songs that vaguely echo the jazz songs of your parents' favorite radio stations, but are still very much contemporary.  People who are into Jack's Mannequin and Something Corporate will probably like these songs, but I'd encourage people with more eclectic tastes to try it out too.
Molasses
Momentum
If you enjoy the music, please purchase the music from the artists!