Time to go to the store...

I love the way my little fridge looks full of produce!  So colorful!  A kitchen adventure just waiting to happen!

At least we've still got salad dressings and some fruit

This is how you chop onions

She is a genius

Note the rubber gloves too... hand and eye protection

Talk about a multi-purpose kitchen

Believe it or not, this is my refrigerator.  On the right is a series of "humorous" postcards from the CFA institute that are supposed to help keep a light perspective about the amount of time you must commit to studying.

A New York City map (House Number and Transit Guide) of Manhattan circa 1942.

My house is covered in post-it labels.  At the bottom are the days of the week.

For those wondering, we are in the "kitchen" and now I know how to count to 10.

Yummy.

Patience is a virtue

Part II of the great pizza adventure... caramelizing onions.  

I sliced 2 yellow onions and sauteed on medium low heat until they started to become soft and transparent.  

Then, I turned the heat way down (only higher than simmer so that the burner didn't click), and stirred frequently until they turned a deep golden brown.  I think it took almost an hour.  

Once they were brown, I added 1 teaspoon of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar, turned up the heat a little more and then cooked about 10-15 minutes longer.

Trust me on this one... I don't think you're supposed to spread pizza dough with a spatula

I made pizza yesterday, including a dough mix from Whole Foods  

I followed the directions to the letter, but it seemed kind of sticky and funny so I added flour

Even after letting the dough rise for over an hour,  it was a blobby mess.  I ended up having to spread the dough into the pan with a spatula.  That is not normal.

Fortunately, the pizza came out okay once baked.  Note the "Gluten Free" part on the box- we'll not be trying this one again.  

This is definitely an ego blow... Was it me, or was it the mix?  Was it because I whisked everything by hand because I don't have a mixer?  (And yes, my arms are still a little sore).  Did I mess something up because I was listening and repeating Russian dialogues and vocabulary words while making the dough?

My heart goes out to all the Celiac suffers out there, but I'll take my pizza dough with gluten, thank you very much. 

That'll wake you up

I had enough "sprit points" a few years to get a Senseo coffee maker.  It is super easy to use and clean, makes a cup of coffee in about 90 seconds and makes both coffee and expresso.  Plus, perfect for a single gal like me, my Senseo makes individual cups of coffee.

The single drawback is that it requires pods.  Good news is that I found cases online.  I ordered both the medium roast and the dark roast, which works out to 216 cups of coffee for just under $0.26 a cup.  

That is 216 mornings of alertness for less change than lives under my couch cushions.

Blue Willow

I found this set of China in an antique store in Madison, CT for a ridiculous price.  So pretty.  It has 6 complete settings and a serving platter, except there are only 4 berry bowls.  

I love them and use them every day.  Big fan of blue and white porcelain.    

Where the good stuff gets made

  

This week I made my first 4-burners-at-once-meal in a long time.  Delicious.  Recipe soon to follow.

  

Every cooking adventure should include garlic, shallots, and/or onion

Kitchen conundrum

I couldn't wash the dishes until the dishwasher was emptied, and darn it anyway, the thing wasn't unloading itself.

Nothing seems to motivate like an "after" photo though

Oh these? All the better to see you with, my dear...

Check out the spuds.  You need sunglasses for these babies!

Absolutely Loving Cooking in my New Kitchen...and Looking Stylish!

In honor of finally having a gorgeous kitchen in which to cook (not to mention a fabulous sunset views while cooking), I bought myself an apron at Anthropologie over the weekend. Did not realize it was actually a kid's apron... I picked it because it inspires me to cook delicious creations!

"Baker's Delight Kid's Apron"

www.anthropologie.com