Sunday, September 29, 2013

Spinach Pie

There are a few vegetables I am obsessed with. First is Broccoli. I eat it raw and I eat it often. Second would be lettuce. I am a salad monster. Third would be spinach. I regularly add it to my smoothies

I have my veggie guilty pleasure as well. Such as taking spinach and eating it between layers of fat filled flaky goodness.

This is where Spinach Pie comes in. A quiche tasting substance that always leaves you satisfied and makes your tummy beg for more. 

Ingredients:
5 Eggs, divided
1/2 medium onion
2 Tb olive oil or butter
1/2 tsp salt, divided
1/2 tsp black pepper, divided
1/2 tsp nutmeg, divided
1/4 tsp onion powder
1 tsp freshly diced garlic
.75 lb fresh spinach
3 Tb Parmesan Cheese
3 Tb Milk
1/3 C Cheese (1 C if doing option 2)
3 Tb Bread Crumbs
1 Egg Yolk

1. Start by hard boiling 2 eggs and preheating the oven to 325 degrees.

2. Dice half of a medium onion and fry in 2 Tb olive oil or butter on medium heat. Add 1/4 tsp of onion powder, diced garlic, black pepper, and nutmeg. When it turns translucent take it off heat and put it aside.

3. Take a .75 lb bag of spinach and take off all stems from the leaves

4. In a large bowl add 3 raw eggs and beat until combined add a 3 Tb Parmesan cheese and 3 Tb milk and mix in.

5. Take all the spinach leaves and slice the spinach into small pieces then place the in the frying pan that holds the onion mixture on medium low heat.

6. While it reduces cut the boiled eggs into thin slices.

7. When the spinach reduces to about half its size mix it in with the raw eggs. When thoroughly mixed add in 1/3 C of shredded cheese of choice and 1/4 tsp nutmeg, salt, pepper, and 3 Tb of bread crumbs.

8. Option 1 is to fill the pie crust half full with the spinach mixture, arrange the sliced boiled eggs,

Top with the rest of the spinach mixture

and top with a rolled out pie crust.

Option 2 is to fill with half the spinach mixture, arrange the sliced boiled eggs, top with 1/3 C cheese,

Add the rest of the spinach mixture.

Bake either option for 45 minutes.

At the very end if you are doing option 1, coat the pie with a watered down egg yolk and put back in the oven until golden brown.

If doing option 2 top with 1/3 C of cheese and put back into the oven until cheese is melted.

And you have a delicious spinach pie! This is a great option for breakfast or dinner. So take a bite and try not to grab another slice.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Tamales Finally

So I promised in this post, that I would dish out the recipe for my grandma's famous tamales and I am finally fulfilling my word. WARNING: May result in fatigue after spending an entire day making them and will be accompanied by an addiction to their delicious taste powers.

So here it is...

Ingredients
Panca (Corn Husks) - 1 Pack
Chicken - 1 whole small
Pork - Picinic boneless (.8 lb.)
Eggs - 6
Onions - 1 large
Achote (Spice) - 1/2 Tb
Cumin - 1/2 Tsp.
Garlic Powder - 1/2 Tsp.
Red Chile Puree - 3/8 C
Garlic Puree - 1/4 C
Salt
Water
Oil - 1 C & 7/16 C
Tamale Flour - 1/2 Pkg
Shortening - 3/16 C
String - A few feet

Friday, September 27, 2013

Belle minus the Beast

My favorite Disney character is Belle. I always thought her and I were a lot alike. We both dream of adventure and love to read! The only difference is that I currently don't have a fluffy, growling beast that I am falling head over heels for.  But, (spoiler alert) I think I finally am going to be Belle for Halloween this year.

So for a few years now I have been adding titles to my master list of ... BOOK I NEED TO READ BEFORE I DIE.
Well that last word sounds a little grim, considering that I ultimately will have to meet my demise.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Capturing Beauty

Which looks better?

Exhibit A
or...

Exhibit B


Thankfully I have passed the photography phase which reminds me of an ugly Christmas sweater (by the was Exhibit A tasted wonderful...scientifically speaking)

Tangent: A little bit about "Exhibit B." I went to the Cocoa Bean cafe and tasted one of their famous frappes, (by famous I means comments made by BYU students who are coffee virgins). On the pretense that it tasted like Kneader's Mexican Hot Chocolate (Which I spoke of my obsession here). The Verdict? No. I'm sorry fellow peers, but (forgive my sin) it tastes too... chocolaty. It just wasn't my thing, but my journey continues to find a Mormon approved coffee like substance. I am going to check out a new cafe called Decadence, which sells brewed cocoa sometime soon.

Anyways... after getting my new baby, (Nikon D5200!) I decided to enroll myself into my universities beginning photography class. 

Update: I got a MacBook Air and Photoshop which will aid me in my quest of image greatness.

So I decided it would be a good idea to post some of my pictures and get some constructive criticism. 

Week 1: Cropping





Wednesday, September 25, 2013

It Started With Mexican Hot Chocolate...

One night after running a 10k my wonderful roommate took me to Kneaders. It is a cozy little restaurant/cafe that is popular in Utah. As I looked through the tantalizing desserts my roommate recommended I get Mexican Hot Chocolate. Jalapeno Peppers blended in chocolate was my instant visualization. Seeing my indifference to the idea she quickly told the cashier two Mexican Hot Cocoa's. When the food got to our table I stared at the brown cup overflowing with whipped cream and sprinkled with tiny chocolate shreds. "You'll love it, I swear," I heard her say as I timidly placed the rim to my lips. The only time I had an experience like this was around age 5 when I placed the first creamy white graham cracker encrusted bite of cheesecake into my mouth. I tried to act cool the rest of the night, but I knew my life had been altered forever. The only way I could describe the taste was like coffee. Granted I have never sipped a drop of coffee in my life, (Mormon) I think I understand why people drink that stuff every single day. At almost four bucks a cup I have been looking for a recipe that could meet my expectations.


I have a long way to go, but while I was searching I found this little nugget of gold (or chocolate).

Kneader's Mexican Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
3 1/2 C milk
1/3 C sugar
1/2 C hot water
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. salt
Whipped Cream
Dash of cayenne pepper
chocolate shreds

Instructions:
1. In a saucepan, combine cocoa, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper and salt.
2. Stir in hot water. Bring to a boil. Keep on medium heat. Boil, stirring for 2 minutes thoroughly. Add milk, stir, and heat making sure not to boil.
3. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla. Beat until foamy, Serve hot with chocolate shred and whipped cream.


Sunday, September 8, 2013

Fall Semester

It has been a while since I posted and some great things happened...

1. Got front row seats to Studio C



 2. Went to my cousins wedding where I got some beautiful shots





3. Grew some tomatoes and met a pet pig



4. Had a spa day with the sister and the pup



5. Went horseback riding



6. Started School