"Experimenting." And the tasty results.

If you know anything about my cooking habits, you know that I love trying new things. I especially love making up new recipes! "Experimenting" is what I call it, and more often than not it ends up working out deliciously.

I made a few new things yesterday and today. Yesterday I made a version of sticky buns. I was making bread, and ended up with enough dough for three loaves. I finally got my bread loaves to rise as high as I wanted them to by simply putting more dough in the pans. I made a recipe for "four loaves," divided it in three, and used two portions to make the bread and one to make the sticky buns.

This is the "recipe" I developed:

Homemade Sticky Buns
Cut one loaf's worth of freshly-made bread dough in 12 portions. Form into rough balls, and place in a well-buttered pie plate. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat 1/2 cup brown sugar (or you could use rapadura) and 1/2 cup water until bubbling. Remove syrup from heat and add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 2 tablespoons butter, and 1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon. Whisk thoroughly to combine.

Pour cinnamon syrup over dough in the pan (it will run between the balls and end up on the bottom of the pan). Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

To serve, place a large plate upside-down over the pie plate and (using hot mitts) flip the pie plate and serving plate upside down, transferring the rolls to the plate with the syrup ending up on top. Let cool for about 10 minutes; serve warm.

This is from a date night over a year ago, but I love it. Hubby looks a LOT different since he's lost weight! FYI, that's sparkling grape juice in our glasses... that was before my 21st birthday. ;)

Recreate our at-home date night meal!
Tonight my hubby brought steaks for a special date-night supper at home, so I decided to dress up the usual sides a bit. I had ten pints of fresh sweet corn in the freezer (now there are nine), and I basically used this recipe from the Pioneer Woman to make the corn. I used milk, though, because I didn't have cream. It would be better with cream, of course!

I followed these instructions to make the steaks and they turned out quite delicious. Then I made a salad, using fresh peaches and Romaine lettuce we got from Trader Joe's last weekend. Here's that recipe:

Summery Romaine and Peach Salad with Peach Vinaigrette
To make the vinaigrette, combine the following:
1/4 cup peach white balsamic vinegar (or you could use white wine vinegar) Check out this source of peach balsamic. (Not an affiliate link.)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 tsp dry basil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon honey

Mix in a pint jar, cover tightly, and shake until dressing appears creamy. Shake again just before serving.

To make the salad, roughly chop 6-8 leaves of romaine, rinsed. Cut a ripe peach in half, remove the pit, and slice thinly (slices should be about 1/8 inch thick). Finely shred 2-4 tablespoons of your favorite white cheese (I used Monterey Jack). In a medium bowl, toss lettuce, peach slices, and shredded cheese. Drizzle individual servings with vinaigrette.

This meal would be great served with sweet tea or your favorite variety of white wine. I'm plotting a pie for the rest of the peaches--they're all perfectly ripe right now, and I want to use them before they're over-ripe.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm too passionate about good food. Then I realize that being passionate about what we eat is a good thing! Everything in moderation, I promise. I do think about other things!


What have you been eating lately? Tried any new recipes? Created your own? Tell me about it!

Cinnamony French toast, homemade pancake syrup, and take-that-Starbucks

You know those times you try something new in the kitchen and it's a complete flop?

I definitely have experienced that.

Today, however, was not one of those times. Today I tried THREE new things and they ALL worked! I was so excited.

We had French toast for breakfast this morning, one of Joshua's favorites. I love putting cinnamon in the batter that the bread gets dipped in (I REALLY like cinnamon), but usually the cinnamon doesn't mix in and just floats on top. So the first few slices get lots of cinnamon on them and the last few don't get any. Not cool. Today I changed around how I mixed the ingredients for the batter and it worked beautifully!

First, I beat two eggs in a medium bowl. Then I added about 1/4 cup dark brown sugar and beat it again till there weren't any lumps. Next I mixed in about 1/3-1/2 cup plain (homemade) yogurt (I don't usually measure) and beat again till smooth. Then I whisked in 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and it mixed in beautifully! Finally I added 1/2 cup 2% milk (or so), and it was perfect. Usually I mix the eggs and milk first, so it starts out pretty runny. This time the batter was quite thick when I added the cinnamon, so the cinnamon mixed in well. It made amazing French toast!

While I was cooking the French toast I made homemade syrup to go on it. Last night I Googled "homemade pancake syrup" and found this recipe. It was so easy, and it tasted incredible--my husband absolutely loved it. I don't know if we'll quit the store-bought syrup altogether, but we'll definitely be using this pretty often. I added about a teaspoon of butter and a few drops of vanilla extract to the mixture after I took it off the heat, plus a little extra water because it was getting thick. I poured it into a half-pint jar when it was still hot, and it solidified in there pretty quickly as it cooled, but I'll just microwave it before I need to use it again. I know it's still lots of sugar, but at least there aren't any weird ingredients like in store-bought syrup, and NO high fructose corn syrup! Yay!

Finally, I made a homemade chai latte this morning. Yeah, you read that right.

I felt like cinnamony, spicy tea to go with the French toast, and then it hit me: if I can make a latte with coffee and hot milk, why not make a chai latte with tea and hot milk? Duh.

It worked. Really well.

I steeped a chai tea bag in half a mug of boiling water, for quite a while (to get it strong). I added milk to mostly fill the mug and popped the whole thing in the microwave for a minute and a half to heat it up well (you could just steep a chai tea bag in a saucepan of 1 cup milk, too, and forgo the water entirely). The milky tea, a healthy teaspoon of coconut oil, and about 1/2 teaspoon of honey went in the pitcher for my immersion blender and I blended it like I do with my coffee (for about a minute, agitating the blender to incorporate a lot of air into the stuff). I finally realized why it gets such a rich foam: the fat from the coconut oil helps the milk (just 2%) get really foamy and creamy. YUM.

Man, it was good. I'm doing this all the time now, when I don't make a coffee latte. Seriously, who needs Starbucks?!?

I apologize for how long this ended up being, but I hope you go try at least one of these things. I kind of tend to geek out over food. Good food, that is. You won't find me going into raptures over a burger and fries. (Unless, of course, it's a homemade burger, grilled and juicy, with oven-baked fries tossed in olive oil... sorry. I'll stop now.)

Eggs {Foodie Friday}

Fridays are "Foodie Fridays" here at Living in the Light!  If you're new here (especially if you're visiting from the A to Z Challenge)--welcome!!  I'm so happy you're here.  Check out my "About Me" page HERE, some of my favorite posts on marriage HERE, and my two most popular posts HERE and HERE.

You might have noticed a trend with my posts.  I like to talk about God, a lot, and I like to talk about marriage.  But that's not all I write about.  I'm also passionate about food.  And when trying to come up with an "E" word for the first Friday of the A to Z Challenge, the most logical choice was Eggs!

I love eggs.  They're among the most versatile foods, they're cheap, they taste good, and they're a great source of protein and other nutrients.

Just a few of my favorite ways to cook eggs:

-Scrambled
-Fried (in coconut oil, they're SO good!)
-Hard-boiled
-In quiche (check out Elsie's instructions HERE)
-As omelets
-Scrambled with veggies and cheese
-"Eggs in a nest" (fried in a slice of bread with a hole cut in the middle)
-In egg bakes (go HERE for a recipe!)

One way I've never learned how to cook eggs was poached.  As a kid, my mom would occasionally make poached eggs on English muffins with homemade Hollandaise sauce.  I never liked how the English muffin would get mushy, and how thick the sauce was.  No offense, Mom, if you're reading this. :)  My mother is an AMAZING cook--I just never liked Eggs Benedict! :)

However, I have always liked hard boiled eggs (never tried soft boiled).  I have fond memories of coloring eggs at Eastertime with my parents and siblings.  I always felt bad destroying the pretty shells, but it was worth it to dip the egg in salt and pepper and eat it!

As a child, my favorite way to eat eggs alternated between fried (using toast to mop up all the yolk) and scrambled.  My mom always beat the eggs with some Dijon mustard, tarragon leaves, salt, pepper, and a little milk.  And she stirred them constantly while they cooked, so they were soft, tender, and delicious, not dry or tough, like scrambled eggs can be.

What about you?  Do you like eggs?  What's your favorite way to cook and eat them?  Are there any other "E" foods you like?

Two Original Recipes-- Steak Enchiladas and Fish & Pasta

If you've been following me on Facebook, you'll know that I've been having some fun in the kitchen lately, making up new recipes!  If I had an unlimited grocery budget, I might do that more--but then, it's fun to get creative with the bountiful blessings we do have. :)

Last week Joshua got some steak for a treat, and they were so big we had leftovers!  So I made them into yummy steak enchiladas.  This recipe (and the next one--I have two for you!) are both highly adaptable to your tastes and to what you have on hand.  Feel free to make substitutions.  I never leave recipes alone, so I sure don't expect you to! :)

Creamy Steak Enchiladas
Serves 2-4 (depending on how hungry you are!)
Total preparation & cook time: 50 minutes to 1 hour
Make this a quick meal, ready in about 30 minutes, by using packaged tortillas and chunky salsa, instead of making a tomato-onion mixture and tortillas from scratch.  I made everything homemade, but that was only because I didn't have salsa and I don't like store-bought tortillas!

4 large whole-wheat tortillas

• For tortillas:
• 1 c white whole wheat flour
• 1/8 c shortening (or you could use butter or coconut oil)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• approx 1/4 c water
• Mix flour and salt in a bowl.  Cut in fat until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Stir in water, 1 T at a time, until dough forms a soft ball.  Cut into 4 parts and roll into a circle (about 8 in. in diameter) on a lightly floured surface.  Meanwhile, heat a dry skillet on medium-high heat.  Cook tortillas 2 minutes on a side or until bubbles form; undercooking a bit is fine.  Tortillas should still be soft and flexible.

2+ cups cooked, thinly sliced steak (or chicken, pork, or ground beef)
2+ cups fresh spinach

1 1/2 to 2 cups chunky salsa, or the following:
1 onion, chopped
1-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 tsp basil
1/4 tsp chili flakes or powder
1/2 tsp salt

• For tomato mixture (let simmer while making tortillas):
• Saute' onion and garlic until soft.  Add remaining ingredients, simmer until ready to add to enchiladas.

Mix in a medium bowl:

• 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup (you could probably substitute sour cream for this but we like the flavor of the soup)
• 1/4 c. milk or water
• 1-1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese (or cheese of choice)

Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease 9x13 baking dish.  In each tortilla, roll about half a cup of steak, half a cup of spinach, and 2-3 T of soup mixture.  Place in pan, seam sides down.  Spread remaining soup mixture over tortillas.  Evenly distribute tomato mixture or salsa over soup mixture.  Sprinkle additional cheese over all if desired.  Bake 20-30 minutes or until bubbly.


Lemon-Garlic-Rosemary Tilapia with Pasta and Spinach
Serves 2
Total preparation & cook time: 35 minutes

2 tilapia fillets (or other light white fish)
zest of 1/2 lemon (3+ teaspoons), divided
1/2 tsp rosemary, fresh or dried
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp salt, divided
2 T butter, divided
1/4 to 1/2 lb pasta of your choice (depending on how much you want to eat)
2-3 c. spinach, fresh or frozen

Heat oven to 375 degrees.
In small bowl, mix rosemary, minced garlic, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 T butter, and all but 1/2 tsp of lemon zest.  Crush with your fingers or a mortar and pestle.
Place fish in a small baking dish, such as a glass pie plate.
Spread the butter mixture over the fillets, half on each.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.  Baking time will vary depending on thickness of fillets.  Watch carefully to avoid over-cooking.

Meanwhile, boil 2 quarts water.  Add pasta and 1/2 tsp salt.  When nearly done, add spinach and cook until pasta is al dente and spinach is just wilted (or thawed and heated, if using frozen).  Drain.  Toss with remaining 1/2 tsp lemon zest and 1 T butter.  Serve fish on a bed of pasta and spinach.

What are some of your favorite recipes?  If you try either of these, let me know what you think (and if you changed anything ;) )!

Linking with Upward Not Inward, Your Thriving Family, Consider the Lilies

a few little things

blessings

Most delicious pork roast ever: rub roast with a little oil and then a mixture of herbes de Provence, garlic (I used powder) and ground pepper.  Massage it into the meat, and then sear in a hot pan until brown on all sides.    Meanwhile, rough-chop one onion, two stalks of celery, four cloves of garlic, and if desired two (large) carrots.  Place in slow-cooker.  Rest browned roast on vegetables, pour 1 1/2 cups water over all, cook on high for five hours.  Bliss.  Plus your house will smell incredible all day.


I realized something: having a clean, organized house actually does make me happier.  I am now even more motivated to finish off my big cleaning list.  I checked a few things off it yesterday: the closet is now reorganized, mostly cleaned up, and mostly decluttered.  A little bit is left for today, and I intend to leave it perfect.  I got rid of a fair bit of trash; it was fantastic.


Apparently my husband really likes it when I sit down with him when he comes home instead of when I keep working.  He actually forced me to sit down and stop cleaning last night.  Then, since we had friends over, my friend Ruth did the dishes so I didn't have to.  I realized something else: when I get into "cleaning mode," it's really hard to stop!

My maternal grandmother called last night.  I get to see her on Friday.  I'm pretty excited.

My mom called this morning.  I also get to see her on Friday.  And my dad, my siblings, and other family and friends.  Can. Not. Wait.


Hubby and I had a fantastic morning.

I am guest-posting again today!!  At a fellow young wife's blog--actually, it's Jami's at Young Wife's Guide.  She's such a lovely lady, and she and her husband just found out last week that they're pregnant with their first baby!!  I am thrilled and honored to be guest posting for her today (and tomorrow, with part 2 of the post).  Stop by Jami's blog to read my post and leave her a little love!


We are so blessed.  I'm so thankful.  God is SO very good.